Chapter 3 – White glare

.

It calls him. The call must be answered. It lures and tempts. I'm going, I will not resist. The 'white glare' blinds and warms. I must relax myself. I must go near it as much as possible. It is talking. It's coming closer. It starts to form a shape. But it isn't recognisable. It's tall and wide.

- Come. Mist.

Finally, words I can understand.

- Who are you, where are you, what do you want?

- Come. Mist.

The 'white glare' starts to fade away, it's shrinking.

- Please, no!

It's getting colder. The 'white glare' disappears. It feels so empty without it.

He woke up soaked in sweat, again. He was shivering, but Ulfric was full of happiness. Finally. He went out from his hovel. There was a huge mist over the land. It covered the Dark Mountains, the little hills, and Kingshouse too. The sea couldn't be seen because of the dense mist.

He dressed up and went out to find the 'white glare' of his dreams amidst the mist. Though there was mist everywhere, he followed his instincts. He felt that something dragged him, led him towards his destination. He went north, into the forest. It was very cold that day and the wind was blowing harshly. The mist was getting thicker and even snow started to fall. Ulfric was going and going, it was way after midday, but due to these weather conditions and the rough ground of the woods he was getting tired. But his will gave him endurance. He was very determined. He was going and going. It was colder and darker. He fall onto the ground breathing heavily of tiredness, and he could only think about the 'white glare'. I'm so close. I can feel it. As his last bit of energy left him, he was feeling warmth. He knew that this was the coming of death. He followed a dream like a lunatic and then would be frozen to death because of it. What an idiot way to die.

Then he felt the breathing of death. I accept my fate of foolishness with dignity, that's all I can do now. Something kicked him. He stared up and there was a white horse breathing over him. Ulfric stood up, then recognised the horn on its head. He couldn't believe his own eyes.

- My dreams. It was you.

The unicorn touched with his horn Ulfric's head. Help. Go. Big land. Look. See. Know. Help. The creature stepped back and looked in Ulfric's eyes. The blue eyes were so clean and sharp, so that those could cut ice. It was frightening. The eyes, the glare, the stance, the situation. Ulfric couldn't move in his fear and amazement. Then the unicorn turned around and was going gracefully into the thickest and darkest part of the surrounding mist. Ulfric shouted, called it back, tried to go after it, but after just a few steps he understood it. That was all. He gathered all his strength and directed himself to his home. He felt that he will survive and get back. He had now a purpose in his life for the first time. He was someone now. He mattered.

.

He sat by the fireplace and tried to thaw his body. The mist started to disappear, the moon was high on the sky. He was glaring in the fire. He was thinking about the words. He got to the conclusion that he must go to the Continent. And there he will see something, that will help him understand the other part of the message. Or his mission. He felt that this was all about a mission. For him. Just for him. He is the Chosen. He recognized that he started to think about himself as a great, supernatural being, who can change the world with his words and acts. He blushed in shame. He tried to force some humility on himself. The Continent. But noone could leave the isle without the permission of his lord. He had to figure out a way. Get to a trader ship? The merchants will not risk the kindliness of Lord Magnar. And I have nothing to offer them. Our ships? The Lord own all the ships of Kingshouse. Go to the other Lords? They would recognise my missing too soon and would me catch before I could leave Skagos. And the other Lords have also no interest in letting me to Westeros. He couldn't figure out a way to solve this problem, so he decided that he will rely on his instincts and the unicorn will maybe help him again somehow. He closed his eyes and waited for the aid.

.

He opened his eyes. The sun was over the horizon. He slept almost until midday. He thought about his extraordinary journey of yesterday. He wasn't surprised that he slept so much, after being through that lot. He dreamt nothing or at least he couldn't remember. So he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Nothing. Nothing happened. Not a word, not a feeling, nothing. He was disappointed. He was getting no help. He must make it alone, it seemed. How could he reach the Continent? He looked at the sun then decided to go to the Great Hall. There is a small chance that the Red Bear will give me the permission to cross the sea. A very small chance, indeed. Lord Beor is judicious. He grabbed his axe and set out to Kingshouse.

.

The flag of the green lobster showed the presence of strong wind. The Great Hall was loud due to the men and women inside. They feasted joyfully. A wedding party was held. Two common people of the lands of Kingshouse married each other. The party must be held in the Great Hall by tradition. And the Lord must pay the half of the wedding's cost by tradition. Tradition was important for the Skagosi. Though some traditions changed over the years. The tradition of the first night changed hundreds of years ago. The Lords always renounced their right for the first night exchange for coin, animal, weapon or other sort of things. And everyone was happy with that. From the existance of this alteration, not even one Lord dared to claim the right for the first night. It was always more benefitial to choose the wealth and peace, than the temporary joy and the rage of the subjects.

Ulfric stepped into the Great Hall. Lord Beor Magnar was sitting by the head of the table. His face was full of worry. Then he spotted Ulfric. The Red Bear's face become relieved. He stood up and started to go to him. Suddenly Beren stood in Ulfric's way.

- Where were you, Ulfric, hah? We were looking for you.

- I've seen your tracks on the ground around my home. I always knew that you like me, you missed me – smiled Ulfric.

- Don't play the funny guy. I asked you a question. All the people here know their place, know how to obey, know how to do for the community. Only you, you are withstanding. Why can't you just go, go far away from this land?

- Today is your lucky day then, when your wish is to be heard by the Gods. I'm planning to do so.

- What did you say? You …

- Enough, Beren. Where were you, Ulfric? Answer.

- I've been to the Dark Mountains. I visited an old woman there.

- The hag? That fool witch? Why would you have done, such thing? You're true to your name, Ulfric, the Loony. I'm not even surprised.

- Beren, shut your mouth – said the Lord angrily and loudly. The dead silence set in immediately. When the Red Bear is furious, noone should talk. Even the crying toddlers and newborns knew this. – What did she say? – asked Lord Beor with unusual suspicion and anger.

- She helped me, she told me what to do to solve my problem. I've been having dreams for months. She told me how to understand those dreams.

- Did she …, did she say anything else? – The glare was stinging, like a thousand needle on the head. The widely opened brown eyes cried loudly for answer.

- Nothing. That was all.

Lord Beor sighed in relief.

- Fine. And what about this nonsense, that you want to leave Skagos?

- I have to go the Continent. I …

- Because of the witch? What did she …

- No. It's about my dreams. I can't expect you to believe my words, but a unicorn appeard in my dreams and he called me. I've found it deep in the woods, in the mist. It told me to go there.

- Ulfric, the Loony. What an absurd, unbelievable tale, or should I say, lie you're trying to tell us. You've gone completely mad. We know that unicorns exist, but they are rare to be seen. And they don't speak to us. You've always thought that you're special, that you're better than us. But this stroy, this lie. It's again a clear evidence of your arrogance and self-love.

- I said that I don't expect you to believe me. Though you know, that I'm no liar – he looked deep in the eyes of the Red Bear. – I'm just asking you to let me go. My reasons are my business.

Everyone was waiting for the answer. The slience was so deep, that the scratching of a wood-beetle in one of the chairs was audible. Lord Beor seemed to be confused. He was thinking thoroughly. He was watching the ground thinking, then he made his decision. He turned his face towards Ulfric and looked in his eyes.