Chapter 8

Ragnthor

They made it back to the farm in 2 days. They had pushed their horses hard and rode in around noon. Slasher ran up the path to the house barking like a mad dog.

The door quickly opened and Ralof stepped out. Ragnthor held up a hand as he loped over to the stable. He swung off and started stripping the tack off Ahearn. Lydia was started doing the same a few moments later.

"Lydia, go to the house. I will take care of the horses."

Lydia shook her head. "No. I am your Housecarl. I will not let you do my work." Ragnthor eyes and face took on a look that demanded total obedience and, shaking his head, walked over and grabbed her saddle from her.

"Go. The last week has given me much to think about. You were there for most of it but Ralof and Brasella will likely have questions. I would like this time to ponder what I need to say and how it should be said." The look faded as quickly as it had appeared and his normal, happy face was back.

"You can stay if you want. I forgot to remember the shame that would come from me doing your work. Feel free to talk if you like." He finished her horse then went back to his.

Lydia spoke after a little while. "How, and why, did you act like that a moment ago? For a moment you looked like you could tell a mountain to move out of your way."

Ragnthor laughed. "How I don't know. I have had people tell me that for years. And why, sometimes it seems to work in my favor if I tell a person head on rather than be nice about it." Lydia nodded.

Soon he had finished and they walked to the house.

There was some kind of food cooking and Ralof was sitting at the table, staring into the fire.

As Lydia walked to her room he said "Well it took you long enough to get back. We were just about to started off on the road to Solitude." He smiled and walked over to Ragnthor and they grabbed forearms.

"It's good to have you back. To tell you the truth it was getting lonely just sitting here. How did you and Lydia do it?"

Ragnthor laughed "Well I did it through constant hard work but I don't know about Lydia. She didn't know how to lay stone and did nothing but read for 2 days."

Ralof nodded and Ragnthor asked "Now who cooked this lovely food? It smells great."

Ralof smiled. "As strange as it sounds Brasella did. Swathing a field takes it out of you. For 3 days I was so tired I could think of nothing but sleep. After the first hungry night she started to cook. And it turns out she is a damn fine one at that. Stick your finger in there and try some."

As Ragnthor reached his hand toward the pot Brasella appeared out of thin air and slammed a serving spoon into the back of his hand.

He turned and smiled. "And here is the chief herself. How long will it be before the food is ready to eat?"

Brasella snorted and smiled "It won't be ready til almost dark. That should be long enough for you to stagger up the stairs and take that armor off. It smells like you have worn it for days. And then you can go and haul enough water out of the well to heat both you and Lydia a bath."

Ragnthor smiled. "Of course, dear woman." And he went up the stairs.

When he got to his room he started loosening the straps the kept his armor tight. He hung it on a rack he had in the corner of his room then sat down on his bed.

"By the nine it has been a rough week. It feels good to be home, even for a short time." He shook his head and smiled.

He slipped on his boots and went out to the well. By the door there was a tin bath. He took it and filled in about ¾ full. Then he brought it back in the house and set it by the fire to warm. While he was waiting he went back to the well and poured a few buckets over his head and then changed into some clean clothes. When he came back in the water was warm and he packed it over to Lydia's door and knocked.

"What do you need? I'm not dressed yet."

Ragnthor smiled "That might be a good thing. Slip something over yourself and get the door. I have bath water for you. It's even warm too."

She opened the door wearing a long nightgown. Ragnthor walked in a placed it by the fireplace and walked out. "I will be back to get that when you are done."

Lydia

As soon as he left she stripped off her clothes and sank into the water. It was warm enough she wanted to go to sleep. She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to make it look like she hadn't worn a helmet for a week. She soon gave up and just sat there soaking in the warm water.

She thought about what had happened the last 2 weeks. She had been given a Thane and not just any Thane but the Dragonborn himself. She had seen in 1 week more combat than she had face in months, and it was the most dangerous fights she had ever been in. She had, in a different way, made a pilgrimage to High Hrothgar and seen a Grey Beard and even heard their voice and it had shaken the mountain.

As she sat soaking she lost track of time. The next thing she knew was Brasella knocking on the door "Food is ready Lydia. I would hurry or these 2 louts will eat it all."

She sprang out of the water and threw on some clothes and walked out the door. As soon as Ragnthor saw her he stood and moved farther away from the fire so she would have room. She felt a strange feeling inside her. As soon as she sat Brasella put a bowl of stew in front of her. She nodded on thanks. As she started to eat Ralof spoke up.

"So how was the trip?"

Ragnthor looked up. "Well it was pretty smooth. A few small fights. The hardest thing was climbing the 7,000 steps. The snow averaged 4 feet and in some places got up to 6. I'm glad you got the field cut. It will be a rough winter. Great time to come home."

They all laughed. "Now you said fights, what were they?"

Ragnthor's smile left his face. "There was a group of bandits about a half days ride outside Riverwood. They will never trouble a soul again. Then we took on a troll that was threatening Ivarstead. The beast was a freak. It could regenerate like nothing I had ever seen. Then there were 2 more trolls where we stopped to camp on the mountain. While they were tough it was nothing that we couldn't handle."

Ralof nodded. "Troll are nothing to joke about. I have fought only one and it was the hardest fight of my life. So what did the Grey Beards want?"

Lydia noticed that he skipped over her freezing then realized that he was helping her save face. Not telling that she was almost beaten by the cold.

"Well I think they really just wanted to see if I could make it up the mountain. But mostly it was a ceremony. They taught me some more of the dragon speech that I can use to fight and then there was a ceremony bestowing on me the title over Dragonborn. After that we rushed back here." They finished the rest of the meal in silence.

Soon Ragnthor stood. "Well I'm getting some sleep and you should too Ralof. Tomorrow we stack the hay. As soon as that's done we leave for Solitude." Ralof nodded and followed.

Lydia and Brasella stayed up and talked for a while. "So what did Ragnthor leave out?"

Lydia thought for a moment. "I almost died twice. Or I guess you can say Ragnthor saved me twice."

Brasella's eyes widened as Lydia continued "The first time was during the second fight against trolls. It had almost knocked me down and I had barely pushed it off and was preparing to go down fighting. All of a sudden I heard Ragnthor's voice above the roaring of the troll, telling me to hold my shield over the middle of my chest. I did and just before its fists crushed my skull something slammed into my shield then it was almost pulled off my arm. It was Ragnthor's sword. He had driven his sword clear through the troll. The shield stopped it from hitting me."

Brasella's eyes were wide in shock. "That's frightening. That fight must have been intense. But you said he saved you twice."

Lydia nodded and continued. "We camped there that night. By the time camp was set up I was freezing. Ragnthor told me to get in the tent. I cover myself in furs and was still freezing. By the time Ragnthor came in with food I was curled up on the floor. It felt like there was an ice wraith there, sucking out the warmth. Ragnthor shook me and gave me hot stew then went back outside. He piled snow against the tent and it got warmer. By the time he camp in the tent was warmer but I was still freezing. He sat down and pulled me into his arms. He felt like a fire. And he didn't do anything else, just sat there with me in his arms. He told me of places he had been. And I slowly drifted off to sleep."

Brasella nodded. "He is a good man. Might make a good husband one day too."

Brasella recoiled as Lydia glared at her. "Do not tell anyone what I have said. I am his Housecarl and it makes my job easier if I am seen as strong rather than weak."

Brasella nodded as Lydia stood. "It is time for rest. I will see you in the morning Brasella."

And then she went to her room. She wondered why she had told Brasella that. Then she realized that she had accepted Brasella as a friend, one of the few she had. She then lay down on her bed and went to sleep.

Ragnthor

Ragnthor woke to the smell of food. He pulled on his shirt and pants and walked down the stairs. Lydia and Brasella were cooking something. He saw Ralof stagger out of his room and down the stairs. When Ragnthor reach the bottom he laughed.

"I could get used to this. Not having to make my own food."

Brasella turned around. "Well if that is how you feel you can make breakfast tomorrow. We will make dinner because after stacking all that hay you might forget to feed us."

Ragnthor laughed as Ralof groaned. "It a good thing we are friends or I would just leave you to do this yourself."

Ragnthor slapped him on the back and laughed. "You sit and eat for a while. I will take my food on the run and get started."

Lydia brought him a plate and he ate standing. Soon he finished and went outside. He pulled Ahearn out of the stable and harnessed him to the wagon, threw a hayfork in the back and led him to the field. Ahearn rammed in head into his back.

When Ragnthor looked back Ahearn was like Really. First pulling a sled now hauling hay, He arched neck, Do I look like a work horse to you.

Ragnthor laughed. "You look like a horse that would get fat sitting in a stable."

Ahearn snorted and Ragnthor laughed harder. "Relax. There is only about 40 tons to haul. Which means you get to eat a lot once the snow flies. And all you have to do is stand there while we fill the wagon the haul it to the stable."

Ahearn shook his head and followed Ragnthor to the field. They stopped just inside the gate and Ragnthor got his hayfork and started throwing hay into the wagon. Just like fixing the fences it was hard work but if you know what you're doing it is easy.

Ragnthor relished in the hard work. It was something he hadn't done in 8 years and it felt good to use his muscles for something that wasn't killing or hurting another person. Soon he was working fast and singing an old song. About an hour later Ralof came out as Ragnthor was dropping a load at the stable.

"Well Ragnthor, you sure do move fast. How much did you just drop?"

Ragnthor threw the last fork on the stack "About 2 tons. That gives us about 20 more loads to haul."

Ralof shook his head and whistled. "You think it will be that much?"

Ragnthor nodded "I would wager that we might get 20 tons but no more." Ralof nodded and grabbed another fork and they went to the field.

They worked hard and were a little less than half done at noon. It was hot and Ralof had his shirt off. When they took a break he asked why Ragnthor still had his shirt on.

"Because I get cooler when the wind blows with a soaked shirt."

Ralof just looked at him. "Fine, it's because of all the scars I have. I took it off the first day I was fixing fence and Lydia saw and was shocked, I heard her gasp. And it is pretty bad. I don't think there is more than a few places where there aren't any scars. And there are a lot of bad ones. I have been left for dead more than I like to remember."

Ralof look unbelieving. "Show me."

Ragnthor took off his shirt. "Just tell me if you see Lydia coming. I don't want her to see it again."

Ralof looked at him. "Your right, it is bad. I think the only person I saw with more was your father and he had more life under his belt than you."

Ragnthor nodded. "Well let's get to work. It feels good to have the shirt off." Then had been working for about an hour Ahearn snorted and Ragnthor looked up.

"Brace yourself Ralof, there is a Dark Brotherhood member coming. Let me handle it."

Ralof kept working as he asked "How do you know?"

Ragnthor threw his fork in the wagon and stretched "It's that red and black armor. I would wager that bandits I killed had families because I don't think they would work for trolls."

Soon the man was there. "Ragnthor of the Isles, I have come to complete a contract. Goodbye."

The man charged and Ragnthor jump into action. The man foolishly tried to stab him through the chest. Ragnthor flowed around the blade and grabbed the man's wrist and broke it. Ragnthor twisted his arm behind his back and used the man's knife to pin his leather bracer to the back of his armor. He then put the man on the back of the wagon.

"I would like to see your contract." The man just looked at him. "Maybe you have heard of Freynar the Vast." The man's eyes widened. "He was my father and I could beat him in single combat at 17. Now can I see your contract?"

The man used his other hand to pull something out of his pocket. It was a standard contract. It seems the bandit chief had a wife who wanted Ragnthor dead. It was signed by a woman named Astrid. That named tugged at his mind.

"Return to this Astrid and tell her that she should call off the hit. And tell her she should research her targets better." The man nodded and ran off.

After he was gone Ragnthor asked Ralof if he remembered the name Astrid. "Maybe. Wait, wasn't she that skinny blonde girl in Riverwood when we were children?"

Ragnthor nodded. "That sounds right. Well shite, I guess you never know how someone will turn out. I wonder if we had offered to play with her more that she wouldn't have joined up with that group."

They got back to work. Soon it was dark. They only had a quarter of the field left to do. They dumped the last load and walked to the house. When they got inside the found that the women had cooked the last of the venison and had it ready for them. Ralof went to sit as Ragnthor looked for them. He found them in the upstairs sitting room.

"Thank you for cooking. Would you like to come down and eat with us?"

They nodded and Brasella said "Yes we would. We were seeing if you would come up and ask. I would wager that oaf Ralof is sitting down there stuffing his face." Ragnthor laughed and nodded.

They walked down stairs and sat down to eat.

As they were eating Ragnthor asked "Have either of you heard of a person named Astrid?" Brasella shook her head but Lydia nodded.

"Now I don't know the whole story but about a year, maybe 2, after you left we got reports that a family living about a mile outside of Riverwood was killed by bandits but the daughter survived. I was in the guard detachment that was going to check on the scene and to try to find the girl. Well I say girl but she is around our age. Well when we got there the house it was almost completely burnt to the ground. The other men wanted to just go back but I walked in. I found the door to the basement and in the far corner there was a shrine set up for the Black Sacrament. Everybody though she was dead but it the back of my mind I thought there was a chance that she might have been scoop up by the brotherhood. Turns out I was right."

Ragnthor nodded. "Thank you Lydia. Now I know what made her snap. Me and Ralof grew up near the lass. I might have to look her up when this dragon nonsense is over." Lydia nodded.

Ragnthor finished his meal and stood. "Another hard day of work tomorrow. I shall try to wake up in time to make breakfast. And with luck we will leave for Solitude tomorrow night." He walked up the stairs and went to sleep.

Lydia

She went to bed not long after Ragnthor and slept fitfully. She knew it was soon time for them to join the Legion. She worried over that choice. He was her sworn Thane and had made a solid fight on why they should join but she still felt like she was betraying her home land.

She tossed and turned all night and found it a relief when she felt and heard the fire being started in the morning. She pulled on her shirt and pants and walked out honestly expecting to Brasella making breakfast. She saw Ragnthor bent over the fire with something sizzling in the pan.

"Morning little one. I decided to use the rest of the special meat. Today is going to be a big day."

Lydia nodded. "Did you sleep well?"

Lydia shook her head. "I always get nervous before big trips. And I am still torn over joining the Legion."

Ragnthor nodded. "I can understand that. I feel the same way."

Lydia felt a spike of anger and spoke without thinking. "Why would you feel torn? You have spent the last 8 years away. Hiding from Skyrim and her problems."

As soon as she saw Ragnthor stop moving and saw his muscles tense she regretted what she had said. He replied in a low voice filled with anger both cold enough to shatter steel and boiling enough to melt stone.

"Do you mean to say that I am not a true Nord? I can trace my family back to the original 500 Companions. My family has loyally served the kings of Skyrim since then. My own father gave 30 years of his life in service to Jarl Balgruuf and his father before him. The day before he died he had come home from clearing a bandit den for the Jarl. And you dare to assume that I am not a true Nord. I am a full grown man, Lydia, with a good head on my shoulders. I have the right to choose how to live my life. If my father was alive him might grab my neck and beat the skin off me for this but I am joining the Empire. It is the only way I can see Skyrim staying free from the elves. If you feel you cannot serve under a man such as myself then leave. I will release you from your service to me and you can go back to Balgruuf. But if you stay never imply I am not a true son of Skyrim. It tears my heart out to bring battle to her strongest protector."

With that he turned and started to check the meat. Lydia could see that his muscles were still taunt as the skin on a drum.

She hung her head. "I am sorry Ragnthor. I spoke without thinking. Sometimes it seems like you have just dropped into this world and are determined to shape it as you want. But you are a Nord. And I don't want to leave your service. You are everything a Housecarl could want in a Thane. You are strong, noble, honorable and have a firm sense of justice. If you will still have me I would like to stay." Ragnthor slowly relaxed until he was almost back to his normal self. He smiled but she could see it didn't reach his eyes.

"I would be honored to have you stay. You are everything a person could hope for in a Housecarl. You are strong, motivated, willing to question my choices, which lets me see another path, and not to mention beautiful." Lydia felt heat rise in her cheeks and anger flare but she kept it under control.

"Now get ready. Ralof and Brasella will be down soon. You need to be packed and ready to go when we finish with the field." Lydia nodded and went to pack.

-Authors Note: Round 8 and an original Author's note. Sorry this one took a while to finally get written. All you gamers out there know what came out 18th of November. Dragon Age Inquisition. Which has totally taken over my life. It was only the intervention of some good friends that broke its strangle hold over me. Which need to happen. Over 50 hours in and I have only done maybe 6 main quests. And again thank you for reading. I only keep writing for you guys. Otherwise I might have stopped after chapter 2.