The Viking ships were faster than any we had in our own navy and before the first catapult could even launch one missile, the Vikings had landed on the northern shore. Stoick suggested taking on the larger portion of the Frankish army but Ragnar insisted on taking on the weaker force on the north side of the Seine and Oswald agreed seeing as it would lead to fewer casualties on both sides in Oswald's opinion.
"Men, this is the time where we decide the fate of our villages and should we fail here, Berserker and Hooligan alike may starve!" Stoick shouted. "But if anyone doubts me now, you have the option to stay on the ships though most likely you'll be caught by the missile of a catapult and sunk to the bottom of this river and thus never enter Valhalla. But for those who come with me, more than glory awaits as these deeds will be the deeds that save Berk, save Berserker island, and bring justice to the Danes who have been wronged! Those who die will die as heroes for having saved our villages, their wives, their children, their clans, their fellow men, their tribe, and the memories will be sung in the tales of heroes who faced danger! Now with me, to Valhalla and beyond!"
The Berkians cheered as Stoick gave his speech and they all rushed to the shore and headed immediately on the right flank of the Franks. Seeing this, the Oswald and the Berserkers headed in somewhat of the opposite direction to close in on the left flank. Ragnar and his men formed a shield wall and headed right down the center and it seemed to work as the combined forces of Hooligans, Berserkers, and Danes outnumbered the Franks on the north side of the Seine River. The Franks then halted hoping to hold the lines and surprisingly stared down the invading heathens with such valor and staunch bravery.
However, even valor could not beat the superior tactics and superior numbers of the heathen raiders. Oswald and his Berserkers gave a war cry which terrified the Franks, though they stood their ground. The pincer movement led by the Vikings seemed to squeeze the Franks into a tight spot from which they had no hope of escaping and Stoick plowed through many of the Frankish soldiers like wheat. Ragnar and his men with their axes seemed to make short work of the shields of those on the front line and the line had faltered.
"You know, I doubt I remember having this much fun in any point of my life!" one of the Vikings shouted as he hacked through two of the Frankish knights. "Spitelout! Spitelout! Oi! Oi! Oi!"
Stoick faced off many of the knights and the way he would catch them off guard was to get them to believe he would make one move and then make another. His hammer seemed to turn the protective chain mail into a hazard as broken pieces of the chain mail soon found their way into the flesh of the pummeled Frankish knights. When using the hammer wasn't fast enough, Stoick would put away the hammer and take out his ax which made short work of the Frankish chain mail.
To make matters worse for many of the Franks, the agility of many of the Vikings made them unable to make use of any shield walls as they were used to fighting dragons. Many of the Berserkers and the Hooligans would simply jump over the shield walls and then hack the Franks up from behind. It didn't seem to be going well for the Franks and this one Frankish knight somehow knew of the Nordic tongues and requested that he fight one on one with Stoick.
"You and your men fought well choosing to die with honor despite overwhelming odds," Stoick replied. "I will give you an honorable death in return."
Soon the sword of the Frankish knight clashed with Stoick's ax and it seemed like the Frankish commander would win, but often times Stoick would pull back. After a few injuries in the duel, Stoick knew that trying to rush and take down the Frankish knight would be futile. He would have to outsmart a superior duelist on the field of battle after allowing him the honor of a duel, one on one.
"It is as I suspected," one of the Hooligans declared. "Stoick doesn't have it in him. He'll be cut to pieces and then the mantle of leadership shall fall to me."
Stoick would then come a little closer to the Frankish knight to let him swing but then either dodge or block the blows.
"Just fight him you coward!" the doubtful Berkian shouted.
"I do nae like Stoick any more than you but ye'd best hold your tongue if you know what's good for you boyo!" Spitelout scolded. "He is after all the chief."
The Frankish knight had seen that his fighting skills were a bit superior and then he let his confidence get the better of him. He swung quite a few times only for Stoick to block and dodge suddenly to find Stoicks hammer upon the back of his right shoulder and Stock's ax into his left shoulder. The Frankish knight knew he would die and then looked Stoick right in the eye not refusing his fate. But it was a look of pity upon Stoick rather than a look of fear.
Stoick then plunged his ax right into the chest of the Frankish knight and removed it quickly as to allow the Frankish general a quick and painless death.
"You see Alvin!" Stoick scolded. "This Frankish general had more honor than you as he chose to fight for his people without question. For all your disobedience and questioning my orders, you put yourself in grave risk. This is your second chance Alvin and there will not be a third! If it wasn't for old times' sake, I would have either had you banished or given the blood eagle!"
"Victory is ours men! The spoils and plunder will await us!"
The Vikings cheered as they heard Stoick's speech. Though 111 Franks looked on in fear, not merely from Stoick but from the looks of Ragnar and Alvin as Ragnar's reputation was one of a fearsome warrior. The Franks on the other side of the river saw the slaughter of their own men and though they had the greater numbers on the south side of the Seine river, they knew that the Vikings that remained outnumbered the remnant of their forces and they fled at the sound of the victory cheers of the Vikings.
"Now one question remains on what we are to do with the prisoners," said Ragnar.
"I suggest that before Stoick realizes and tries to have them ransomed and that way they know the price of defying their oath of honor with you," Alvin suggested.
"That and it will serve well to demoralize the Franks remaining in the ultimate prize, the city of Paris itself," Ragnar replied.
The prisoners were led back aboard the ships as they sailed down. I then saw from the top of the church that the Vikings were coming. I had to warn as many people as I could for my vision had come to pass. I know the arrogance of many of our people would come back to haunt us. I had to make sure as many innocent people could leave Paris before it was too late as the smaller garrison in Paris had no chance of holding the city.
