The clouds were a brooding grey lined with the fiery gold of the setting sun. The storm had passed. Faint rumbles of distant thunders carried still but all that remained of its rampage was the wet earth. Fresh torches were lit as Ingrid tended to the animals, calming the old sow was not an easy task. But the merry sounds of cheerful shrieks and laughter and 'battle cries' gave proof to her claims that Thor's work of beating his anvil had truly ceased. For those children wouldn't dare interrupted the thunder god's work. And if they could find pure joy in the mud then so could the stubborn animal.

Syn gave an indignant low snort before forcing her aged joints out of the gates. The other farm critters followed the old pig. Two younger pigs, from Syn's last litter the previous spring, scampered out from behind her to nose and grunt at the small creatures coated in mud. The children only shrieked more at the sensation of twitchy snouts rubbing against their arms and backs, before one of them started snorting after them, with the other mud child following their lead and joining in the mimicry. Syn huffed and found a patch of grass on the far corner to settle herself on as she watched the young ones. Syn was not one to wallow and gave a harsh grunt when the young lad came too close. Not feeling a twinge of guilt as a flash of fear shone through his dark eyes, for he knew better. The fear didn't last long though as the smaller child came and tackled him back into the sludge.

Ingrid tsk'd at the old sow. Hucking the sticks and debris the storm blew into the shelter, out of the pen. Syn shook off the touch as Ingrid rubbed between her ears, giving a low short snort.

"Looks like we've got two more piglets, eh? Guess we should clear out extra space in the shed. Animals aren't allowed in my house." Ingrid watched as her son wiped furiously at his face to get the mud off.

"I am no piglet mama!"

"Strange, I can here my Little Eret but I cannot see him. Little pig do you know where my son is?"

"I'm right here!" Eret giggled as his mother continued to ask the little pig where her boy had gone. Ingrid squatted before him and helped wipe off the remaining mud from his face with the hem of her apron. Feigning shock she placed a hand over her 'startled' heart.

"My goodness child! I've found you! You must teach me this strange magic. For Loki himself surely could not be so convincing. I thought you were a muddied pig."

Eret gently grabbed his mothers face, leaving two dirty prints on her cheeks, and shook his head as if he were scolding a child. "You're so strange mama."

Their play was cut when a shrill cry sounded. Sitting in the mud was a small lump, sniffling and whining as it rubbed it's one eye.

"What's wrong dear? What happened?" Ingrid called the child over but she would not budge. She groaned bitterly at Eret and shoved him off when he tried to pull her hand away from her face. He huffed and pouted his way out of the pen as Ingrid came and calmed the child down, enough to understand the whined mumbles meant that the young girl had gotten mud in her eye. Carefully, though with a bit of force, Ingrid got the imposing dirt away from Fena's eyes and clean as much as possible. The sun had not yet set but it was clear the child was getting tired and hungry. Getting the young girl to her feet she ushered her out the pen to where Eret was hunched over a small puddle, poking at the worms wriggling about inside it.

"Your fathers should be home soon. Head down to the water and start cleaning yourselves up." Ingrid patted the old sow, who was not pleased at having to move again, and watched the children make their way down the path. "And leave your dirtied clothes on the shoreline. I'll be there in a moment and bring clean ones."

She wasn't entirely surprised to hear another battle cry and turned to watch her son, already stripped of tunic and trousers, careening towards the river. Fena was still not impressed and stomped behind him.

The water was still chilled from winters thaw. But the temperament of children flips quickly like the flick of a flame. A few tugs, jumps and splashes, and they where contently wrapped up in their new game until their lips were blue, caring not how cold the waters were. Fena, however, felt the bite of the cold first. She could not handle the cold as well as others, often wearing an added layer on top of her winter clothes and still she would shiver. With Ingrids help she was clean enough to sit on the shore to dry and watch as Eret splashed about a while longer. Her mother Gyda was inside their house, cooking a simple meal from their stores, but claimed she had no clean clothes for her daughter. So Ingrid held a shaking Fena in her lap, wrapped in thick furs, helping the child to dry off before dressing her in the dry shirt she brought for her.

Gyda seemed almost void after the festival four months prior, and hardly acknowledged her child. At Rurik's request Eret kept Fena in their home until the fires had died down. Rurik didn't think his wife would bring harm to the child but he made notice of a dark look behind her eyes whenever they landed on her. Gyda was in some dark trance, staring at the dancing fires in their home long into the night, only moving to add more fuel to the flames or to cook. So Ingrid took on more care for the small girl, keeping an extra shirt or blanket for her in her own home. Rurik cared earnestly for the girl, but with the elders tension, and the caged dragons now loose from the chaos just weeks prior, he could not be around as much as he would like. He felt guilt for leaving more responsibility upon Ingrid, but he assured it was only until they could completely quell the elders unease at Fena's dark omen.

Fena had ceased her shaking but still shivered and snuggled deeper into Ingrids hold, absently playing with the ends of the woman's long raven hair. At his mother's instruction he had gotten most of the mud off. Eret was fighting with clumps in his hair when they heard voices just down the path, and a faint orange glow coming with it.

"Da!" Eret raced from the waters towards the torchlight. Ignoring his mothers protests to at least put his trousers back on. He had not seen his father for three days and would welcome him heartily, clothes or no. Fena was happy to see her fathers face appear from the paths edge near the house, but still she was too cold to move herself. With some struggle Ingrid managed to get on her feet with Fena still held in her arms, grab the tunic brought for her and meet up with them beside the house. Rurik placed the torch in its holder before readily taking his daughter who reached out for him. Drawing her in closely as he felt how chilled she was, bringing her small hands to his lips and breathing warm air on them, wrapping his own cloak around the furs she was already snuggled in. Ingrid could not stop the grin that spread across her face as she watched the senior Eret grapple with his son who sprang upon him as they rounded the corner.

"Your lips are blue! And your hands and feet are like ice!" Eret chided his son. "Surely you shall become a jotun before the sun rises."

"You still have mud in your hair." Ingrid picked at pieces and strands as little Eret swatted her hands. Her husband looked up at her curiously.

"And you, my dear, have mud on your cheeks." She dismissed them.

"Go get changed and then come up for supper."

"Do as your mother asks." He set the child down, watching his son grumpily trudge his way back down to the rivers edge.

Fena had stopped shivering as Rurik caught a glimpse of his wife through the window. A knife trembling in her hand as she stared at the dried meat she was cutting. He passed Fena over to the broad man beside him, since Ingrid was occupied with wiping her face clean, and went to calm whatever shadow hovered over Gyda this night. He stuck his chin out proudly as Fena lightly traced the lines tattooed on it. Taking her hand gently in his, he gave it a light kiss and she settled into him, resting her head on his shoulder. He tried to keep her awake, but the days events and play had worn her out, and all the jostling and poking could not fight it off. They did manage to get her to stand on her feet and release the furs to dress her, just as little Eret came running back. Seeing her wrap her arms around herself, the lad picked up the discarded furs and wrapped them around both of them in a tight embrace, which Fena returned. Not releasing each other from their huddle, the two waddled giddily inside when Rurik invited them in to eat.

The meal was eaten in relative silence. With minor updates on the elders paranoia, re-trapping the dragons and the recent capture of a scout from the east, most likely sent to see how easy a target Holl had become in light of their recent circumstances.

"He wont last long," Rurik commented. "He's been trained for interrogations, if the scars are anythings to note. But he's still quite young. Soon we'll know what that old fart-slinger Jorgen wants from us."

"He has not withdrawn support, as my ships still do trade with his. Whatever he wants, I don't believe he means to take by force." Eret led troops by sea while Rurik led by land. Jarl Vidar saw high potential in both men, but could not place one above the other. So he judged their strengths and divided his soldiers between the two captains by water and earth.

Eret had cunning and strong instinct, the ability to turn the tides in his favour with the endurance to match any ruthless storm he sailed. And so was charged with leading the sailors and ships.

Rurik was sure-footed with keen sight, able to blend with shadows in the mid-day sun and take forces, greatly outnumbering his own, completely unaware. Vidar saw him best at leading his men on foot. But Rurik's men where now hesitant with his orders and took more council among themselves.

"If my soldiers would get their heads out of their asses we might already know for certain if Jorgen seeks war or aid." Rurik pulled Fena onto his lap as she tiredly reached out to him. His precious gift was always enough to calm his unease. It was for her that he sought to regain control, to give her a world not built on fear or shifting loyalties, but fortitude and prosperity. Holding her closely he would give her the world if he could.

"They are just spooked is all brother. They have never had reason to doubt you before, but this has them on edge-"

"As it should."

Gyda did not look up from the candles flame when all eyes landed on her. Her words adding tension to the already thick air surrounding them.

"I never said they did not have cause-"

"I did warn you. I told you only pain and suffering would follow you if you pursued me."

"This has nothing to do with-"

"The moment you set foot on our shores, you set your fate. Your spawn is proof of your damnation." Hazel eyes flicked dangerously towards the young girl, quietly braiding the long tendrils of her fathers beard.

"Gyda." Ingrid called softly. Hurt and worry showing clearly on her face. She wanted so much to reach out but flinched her hand back when Gyda sprang to her feet. No one moved. Eret and Rurik where on alert now, hairs standing on edge, not taking their eyes off Gyda. Ingrid softened her look as best she could and whispered to her son.

"Take Fena back to the house and go to bed." Little Eret looked between his mother and Fena's, unease shining in his eyes. "I'll be along shortly. Go now."

Rurik hesitated, but followed her lead and set Fena on her feet to go with Eret. She softly bid them all goodnight, not fully aware of what was truly going on around her, and took Eret's hand as he lead her up the adjoining path between the two houses. Gyda did not move. Her eyes where now trained on Ruriks. Unrelenting and spiteful. He could not see any light behind them anymore. All life had left her.

"I warned you. Only pain and sorrow would follow. You set the coals alight when you stole me from my home. Your fate was sealed that day."

"Stole?" Eret chanced a glance at Rurik.

"I had no choice. I've told you that before. When the terms of marriage when south with Fiflavellir, the men felt dishonoured and started a brawl. It got out of control and the few dragons they had caged got set loose in the chaos. True I fought against you when you came at me with the blade, but your home got blasted in! Was I just supposed to leave you to burn? Just let you suffer? I took you from your burning house to be with Ingrid at least! Praying that she could give you a sense of light again. Of comfort. Of peace." Rurik was on his feet now, sprung from his passion. He breathed deeply, slowly inching closer to Gyda.

Eret too was at his feet when he notice Gyda twitch and adjust her stance at her husbands movements. So caught up in the commotion before him, he almost missed the distant sounds of timber bursting apart. Ingrid heard the faint explosive sounds and reached for her loves arm, drawing his attention briefly to her worried gaze. Standing beside him now and looking down at him, for she stood a head taller than he, she was torn. They both remembered the final day in the city. The smoke and ash and panicked cries. She remembers being escorted to the docks and watching Rurik carry Gyda over his shoulder while fending off any opposing forces. The city stood no more. Her heart was torn then, between her life long friend laying unconscious beside her on the deck of Eret's longboat, and to her family she had to leave behind. She felt it tear again now as more eruptions sounded from the village not too far off from their homes. She wished so desperately for her friend see reason, to leave this madness that shadowed her and return to her. But she feared for her family now too, blood or not, and the two children held up in her home.

"Go home and seal the doors. Keep the children calm and quiet." Eret gave her an earnest look. She hesitated before grabbing Erets shield and cautiously racing towards her home. Rurik was still, hands held before him as if he approached and injured fawn.

"There was nothing left for you in that city. But I never held you against your will. I told you which towns lay around us to the East and South of Holl. I never chained you down or locked you in a cage like some animal. You were no thrall. You owed no debt. And yet you stayed. Why did you stay? If you saw no hope. No life here. I never forced you to marry me either. And yet you did. At your asking. Why ask if I was to only inflict pain and misery upon you?"

A loud crash shook the ground. The rising clamour was enough for Eret to secure his blade back to his belt and step outside. The fiery glow accompanied the growing smell of brimstone and burnt wood in the distance. What caught Eret's eye was the specks of torches bobbing through the trees.

"Rurik!" He called back, glancing between the scene behind the doorway, to the coming crowd, to the direction of his home.

Rurik was now right before Gyda, gingerly reaching for her hands but she pulled away shaking her head. Reaching to her boot she pulled the dagger he gifted to her all those years ago and held the tip to her throat.

"You will know the pain you put me through. You and your cursed Hel-spawn." Rurik made to stop Gyda when she lifted the blade to strike. A felled dragon crashed into the side of the home, causing all to fall under the impact. Eret stood just outside when it happened and rushed to find his friend beneath the rubble. He found Rurik on top of Gyda, who despite protecting her from the debris, could not stop the blade. It sat just above her heart, but only just. Blood dripped between her lips and with one last gargled breath, sputtered her last words.

"They come for her."

He could not save her now. The monstrous nightmare that crashed into his home was still flaming when it fell. It set all around it a blaze. Eret dragged Rurik from the scene and handed him an axe embedded in a nearby log. Rurik could not pull her from this fire. It was too late he knew. But it was still so much to comprehend all at once. It took a right slap across the cheek to bring him into a form of focus. Gripping the axe he looked between the coming mob about half way down the road from the village to their farmland, and the adjoining path that lead to where his daughter now stayed.

"Ingrid is with them. They know to hide by the docks if need be. But there will not be the need." Eret pulled Ruriks head towards his, holding his gaze. "They will not get to her." Rurik let the tears fall and exhaled sharply through flared nostrils. Satisfied, Eret patted the side of his brothers face and they set off to face the coming crowd.

Ingrid almost wept at the sight of the two children, spread haphazardly across the bed, fast asleep. The feeling of relief didn't last long as a close explosion caused both children to jolt upright in fearful cries. Forgetting the open door entirely, Ingrid shushed them softly and got them both to their feet.

"Eret, you remember what your father told you? What to do in times like this?" She held his face firmly in her hands. Fena stood beside him, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and sniffling. "You stay under the brush and follow the river to the docks. Stay hidden until who comes for you?"

"I don't know." He whined. It was a lot to ask a six year old, especially after such a rude awakening, but she had to be sure he understood.

"You do not come out unless I, your father, or Rurik come for you. Right?"

"Right."

The dragon thunderously crashing into Fena's house caused them all to cry out and huddle closer. New tears forming in Fena's eyes. Neither wanted to let go of Ingrid's legs, but she got them to hold onto each other as the sounds of shouting grew nearer. Ingrid saw torches just across their bare field, but their voices carried. They were coming to see where the dragon fell and for the witch. That could mean Gyda and/or Fena. Most likely Fena she reasoned.

Lifting the trap door in the middle of their home, she ushered the children towards it. They begged not to go, her heart aching at their pleas, but she would not have it.

"Go. Do as I've told you. Once you're outside, stay hidden and follow the river to the docks. Do not move from there. We will find you." She passed Eret his practice sword, mustering her best smile. "My brave boy. I'll be right behind you."

Ingrid placed them both in the tunnel space before they could protest more and closed the door. Praying they would listen and not stay under there. The voices where now right beside her house. She rushed out to meet them, feigning innocence and asking what was going on.

Fena, tired and fearful, did her best to calm down as Eret took hold of her hand and encouraged her as best a six year old with a toy sword could. He was just as afraid true, but he knew enough that once he took the sword in his hand, that he had to be a warrior. Like his father. Seemingly unafraid of anything in his sons eyes.

Tears still fell from her eyes, but she had quieted now. Enough that Eret felt sure he could lead them out with little to no sound to be heard. Doing as he was told he lead them through the thick brush and shrubs towards the river. Once there he remembered to follow the water in the opposite direction that it was flowing, and that would take them to the docks. Men and women, young and old where scouring the trees along the river. Eret thought they were looking for any other dragons, not aware they were looking for the girl when they did not find her amidst the rubble of her home. They had come close to being found twice, but not quite. There was splashing behind them as a few went to check the reeds in the shallows.

A deafening guttural roar sounded in the direction they were headed. Not close enough that the beast was on top of them, but loud enough to drown out Fena's startled scream, before Eret clamped a hand over her mouth. Neither child dared to move as the search party changed objectives and headed towards the noise. They waited until they heard the sound of fighting ahead.

Just as Eret was about to move he stopped again at the sound of rustling leaves. He flailed and cried out when someone picked him up from behind. Strong arms restrained his as a large and sweaty hand covered his mouth. Fena screamed when she felt rough hands grab at her. Her fight didn't last long though when she faced the man who had her, relieved to see Eret's father was that man. She gripped tightly to his shirt and furs and buried her face in his neck as she sobbed. A frightened four year old is not easy to soothe, but Eret managed to lull her almost back to sleep. His son was another matter, not one to give up easily. Stubborn, like his mother. With his instruction, the first mate holding the boy swiftly rendered him unconscious.

"Take him back to his mother and meet us at the ship. We'll stay hidden until the chance comes we can slip away unnoticed." Holding the boy closely he went in the direction of Eret and Ingrid's farm. Shifting his hold on the girl Eret wrapped his cape around her, shielding her from sight, as he and his crew headed in the direction of the docks.

A few small dragons still terrorized the townsfolk, but they had yet to reach the waters thankfully. Eret was certain the gods were merciful to them. The first mate was the last on board Erets longboat and gave assurance that the coast was clear. Eret glanced down at the now sleeping child in his hold, still clinging to his tunic in fistfuls. At his command, his men pushed off the dock and paddled out into more open waters. Those who weren't rowing, stood from their hiding spots. Eret let his cape fall and shifted the child slightly, looked back to shore.

He wished he hadn't. There on the shore he saw Rurik. This was their plan. This is what they agreed. Rurik would draw the attention of the angered mob while Eret ushered the girl to safer shores. Rurik knew it. Rurik knew he had to let her go for now. But the heart-wrenching bellow he cried as he fell to his knees was too much for Eret to bear witness too. And so he fell to his knees as well with tears in his eyes. The last he saw of his friend and brother was the enraged villagers swarm him.

The following morning the ship docked at a trade town they did usual business with. Fena was awake but not fully alert. Eret set her on her feet and took her hand in his as he lead her towards a modest little hut on the edge of the market place. Sellers where just setting up their stalls and placing their wares in the dim and foggy light of the early morning hours. An elderly women excited the hut and was startled to see Eret before her with the small child. But she heard his recount of events prior and took pity on them. Fena shied away at first from the wrinkled and hunched old woman, but took her hand in place of Eret's when he assured her she was safe. As kindly and softly as she could she managed to get Fena to agree to some breakfast inside the hut. She hesitated when she did not see Eret move to follow them. He knelt down to be eye level with her, and pulled a crudely crafted knife from his belt. He explain how his son had crafted it for her as a gift for her fifth birthday, but she could have it now if she promised to behave and wait patiently until someone came for her again. Fena nodded solemnly and allowed the old woman to usher her inside. The last she saw of him was as he walked back to his ship.

The old woman comforted the child as best she could, in light of what she'd just been put through, and assured her that it would not be long until someone came for her. To bring her home.

But no one ever did.