Chapter 9
Ragnthor
About 5 minutes after Lydia left Ralof came down. Ragnthor was finishing frying potatoes and Ralof sat down.
"So what did you make the hard working men for breakfast?"
Ragnthor stood and slid the potatoes onto a plate. "The meat of an animal the only lives in warmer places and cut and fried potatoes. I figure that some good food before hard work and a long trip would be good." Ralof nodded and dug in.
They ate in silence. They were just finishing when Lydia came out and Brasella walked down the stairs. Ragnthor stood and dished the remaining food onto plates.
"Eat and enjoy. Me and Ralof are going out to finish. We should be done by noon. We will take the carriage out of Whiterun to Solitude. I have talked with the man and he says that for a little extra fee he might be able to take a week off the trip." They nodded and Ragnthor walked out the door.
He led Ahearn out of the stable and hitched him to the wagon. When he got to the field he pulled out his pipe and filled the bowl. Then he attacked the field like a mad man. He was flying, working at double the speed of yesterday. By the time Ralof came out 30 minutes he was dumping his first load and was on his second bowl.
"Gods man! Who set a devil under your tail?"
Ragnthor waited for Ralof to climb on then drove to the field. "Had a spat with Lydia. She managed to strike one of the few nerves I have. I don't know if she just spoke out of anger or not but she called me out on not being a Nord for feeling I need to join the Legion. And I lost my temper. I threatened to remove her from her post as Housecarl."
Ralof looked at him with a questioning look in his eyes. "Ok. But how does that explain the speed at which you are working."
Ragnthor sighed as his pipe went out. "Because I have to do something. I am so frustrated with life right now. I feel like slamming my fist into the wall until it breaks and honestly I might still do that. But right now I want to work." Ragnthor filled his pipe again.
Shite. I only have one, 2 if I'm lucky, more bowls left. He lit it and grabbed his fork and went to work.
After a few hours he slowed down to a more manageable speed. But inside he was still stewing inside. A few loads later they were almost done and that's when something pushed him over the edge. As he was throwing hay off the wagon onto the stack one of the tines on his fork snapped off.
He lost it. For half a second he considered breaking the fork then he swung at one of the upright posts in the stable. There was a massive crack and searing pain but he swung 2 more times, each time rewarded with another crack, until Ralof grabbed his arm.
"Easy there lad, it's just a hayfork. 5 minutes and you can have it back on. Did you really need to break your hand?"
Ragnthor looked down and saw the mangled form of his hand. "Son of a…" he cursed as he cast a healing spell on his hand.
Most, but not all, of the bones knit and the flesh was unbroken over his hand. He ripped off a strip a cloth from his shirt and bound his hand tight so the bones wouldn't move. It hurt like hell but when he looked up his mind was clear for the first time all day.
He smiled an easy smile. "I told you I might break my hand. Turns out I needed more pain to clear my thoughts." He laughed as he bent to pick up the fork. "Go back to work. And go your own pace. I will be back after fixing the fork."
Ralof looked at him. "Are you sure you're all right?"
Ragnthor nodded. "Just lost control. But I got it all out of my system. Besides we are almost done."
With that he walked around to the far side of the stable and got to work fixing the hayfork. He gently put the tine back on and reinforced the other 2. He then walked over to Ralof. Ralof looked up and Ragnthor nodded and they got back to work. About an hour later they were done.
As Ragnthor lead Ahearn, Black Moon and the cow to the other field Ralof asked "Are you coming in? I think the girls have lunch ready for us."
Ragnthor shook his head. "No. I don't need to eat. And besides I thought we would take longer and already have my pack out here. I will just wait out here. It might be a while before I will be back. It seems that I spent less time on the farm now I came back."
He slapped Ahearn as the horse ran through the gate. He then walked over to his pack and sat on a chair by the stable. He pulled back out his pipe and filled it. He looked in the bag and found he had used the last.
"Well shite. I guess I have to give it up until spring." He crumpled the bag and tossed it then sat there slowly puffing away.
Lydia
She was just pulling some potatoes out of the fire when Ralof walked in.
"This is all we have." She put them on the table.
When she saw Ragnthor wasn't inside she asked "Is Ragnthor coming?" Ralof shook his head and sat down to eat.
"Should I go and get him?" She asked as she walked toward the door.
"No lass, I don't think you should. What you said to him really shook him up. When a tine snapped off the hayfork his temper washed over him. He slammed his fist into one of the posts in the stable and broke his fist. And he would have kept swinging if I hadn't stopped him. I honestly don't think it is safe for you to be out there." Lydia looked out the window and saw him throw a sack on the ground while smoking.
He must be out of the plant he smokes.
As she walked back and sat down she asked "Why would it not be safe?"
Ralof looked her in the eyes. "Because I would wager he thinks you betrayed him. He is a man who puts great stock in loyalty. He would do anything for a friend and you cut him to the quick."
She nodded and said "But why wouldn't I be safe?"
Ralof took a bite and then said. "You never really knew the true him. He was a violent and angry child. And the only soft thing in his life was you. He loved you lass and it tore his heart out to leave. He stopped by Riverwood when he left and told me. I think the only time you saw his true self was when he took on the boys threatening you, do you remember?"
She nodded her head and thought back. He had been like a force of nature.
"He was only 11 or 12 but if his father hadn't grabbed him he would have killed the boy he was slamming in the face and most likely would have tracked down the other 2 and ended them as well. And the time you met the wolves in the woods. He almost died making sure you were safe. Hell, he still loves you lass, though I haven't a gods damn clue why. Any sane man would have given up by now. And he is aware that you hate him, breaking his nose made that clear, but I honestly don't think he ever expected you to insult the core of his being. Most men you cut that deep will storm off and some even cry. Ragnthor isn't like that. He gets angry, and when he gets angry he breaks things or people. You saw those scars that healed wrong, like he had been left to die?" She nodded.
"Well there are only 2 reasons he lived. His love for you and because he tore his soul back from Arkay. He has always fought with his anger and tries to keep it deep within him. He has changed some in his years away. His anger has cooled on the outside but underneath it is boiling and hot, constantly trying to escape. You are very lucky lass. If anyone else would have said what you did they would be a broken and bloody pile of flesh in the corner. I would wager that when he replied to you, you were scared, bone deep, by the look in his eyes." She nodded.
He had looked like someone how would crush her just because she looked at him wrong. She shivered thinking about how close she had come to dying.
"He was fighting a battle deep within himself. I have seen him look like that only once. His father said something and Ragnthor said no and then attacked his father and the only reason Freynar won was because he was older and knew more. The weird thing was Freynar was proud after that. You are very lucky he loved you. He might not anymore, you never know what the heart will do when it get hurts by the one it loves. When we leave stay near me. I can't stop him but I can slow him down."
Lydia shook her head. "No. I did this and if it comes to that then I will lay in the grave I dug."
Ralof nodded. "That is a good plan. And might be the only thing to save you."
A half an hour the house was clean and they were ready to leave. Lydia locked the door then turned to look at Ragnthor. As he turned his head she saw his eyes. They were filled with pain. She brought up the last of the group. As she walked by the stable she reached down and picked up the bag he had thrown down. There were still a few leaves in the bottom. She stuck it in here pocket.
They walked for about an hour before they got to town. The carriage was late so Lydia walked up to where the Khajiit stayed when they were in town. They were there so she walked up and spoke with the leader.
"Hello. You trade in a wide assortment of good don't you?"
The lead Khajiit looked at her. "Yes. What is it that you would like to trade?"
She reached her hand in her pocket and pulled out the bag and handed it to him. "I don't know what this is and I was hoping you would. One of my friends smoke it and he ran out today."
The man took it and smelled. "Ah, this is the leaf of a plant from my homeland. I have found that not many here smoke it so I don't carry it often. Though there a fellow trader who carries a large amount. He should be around Solitude for the next 2 weeks. They are more…accepting of our kind there. Tell him 'The men of the White city have closed their doors again'. Do this and he will give you a reduced price."
She held out her hand and they shook. "Thank you. It is for a man who always has cared for me."
The Khajiit nodded. "Thank you. It is nice to meet one of your kind how does not distrust us."
Lydia nodded and left. Soon the carriage arrived and they got in. And it was the fastest ride of her life. The driver had hitched a second horse and drove them hard from town to town. Every 3rd town he would switch out teams.
It was amazing to see the world speed by so fast. While it did take a while and they had to stop 2 days in so their driver could sleep, they made it to Solitude in a week. It was night when they rolled in and everyone was tired.
It was shocking how tired you could get after doing nothing for a week. They staggered to the inn and got rooms. Ragnthor only bought one and she was scared he would make her sleep at the bar.
But he turned to her and said and a rough voice "Get up stairs and to bed. There is a lot on my mind I want to think through before tomorrow." His eyes were wild and daring her to say something. She just nodded and went up to bed.
When she woke the next morning she went do stair and Ragnthor was still sitting at the bar drinking. When she walked over he stood.
"You have the day off. Feel free to explore the town."
She looked up at him "But I thought we were all joining the Legion today?"
Ragnthor shook his head. "Me, Ralof and Brasella are joining the Legion. You are not."
Her gaze hardened as she looked at him. "And why am I not?"
He glared at her and it took she had not to back down. "Because you are my Housecarl and I say so. If you want more of a reason then stay. If you want you are still free to leave."
Her gaze softened "I will stay Ragnthor." She saw something flicker through his eyes but it was gone so fast that she didn't know what it was.
Soon Ralof and Brasella came down. They were soon gone and Lydia left a few minutes later. She walked outside the gate to there the Khajiit traders made camp.
She walked up to the leader and asked "Do you have any of the plant from Elsweyr that you smoke? A trader in Whiterun said you might."
The Khajiit looked up at her. "Did he have anything else to say?"
She thought for a moment "The men of the White city have closed their doors again."
The Khajiit smiled and nodded. "That is something that my friend would say. He is warning me not to go near Whiterun for a long while, the men there are feeling violent toward our kind. Thank you for that. Now how much are you willing to buy? I will give it to you at cost."
Lydia nodded. "I would like as much as you have. I have a friend who picked it up in his travels and he ran out a week ago. He smokes when stressed and I haven't been helping."
The old cat nodded. "Affairs of the heart rarely go well." Lydia both blushed and glowered at him.
He just laughed. "Forgive me, just an old cat's musing. I have 5 lbs at the moment. It will only cost around 45 gold." Lydia pulled out her coin pouch and counted out the gold. There was very little left.
"About how long will this last?"
He thought a while. "It should last 6 to 8 months depending on how much he smokes. With luck I should have more by then."
Lydia nodded. "Will it cost the same then as now?"
The old cat nodded. "Is there a place a can meet you?"
Lydia nodded. "I live near Whiterun. Do you have a name?"
He laughed. "My name is Ri'saad. It is nice of you to ask."
Lydia held out her hand. "It was nice to meet you Ri'saad. And thank you. You were right, the heart is a tricky place." Ri'saad laughed as she walked back into town.
She was just walking back into town when the others came up to her.
Ragnthor looked happy. "We have joined the Legion. Well mostly. We have a fort to clear of bandits. Tullius says it will show our worth. And I think he is judging me against my father. Said he knew him back in the old days, during the Great War. I guess he wants to see if I really am my father's son." Ralof laughed and slapped him on the back.
Ragnthor turned to her again. "I ask you as a friend. Would you like to come and help us?" She nodded and they went and put on their armor.
After they left the city Ragnthor stopped. "I have something I need to do for the Grey Beards and I think it might be easier if we all went. I have to delve into a tomb and retrieve an old horn for them. Would you all like to help?"
They all nodded and they followed Ragnthor down to the river. "The fastest way is to swim."
And with that he jumped in. Lydia followed close behind. The water was cold but moving kept her warm. Within moments she was across and was shaking herself dry. Ragnthor had them moving at a brisk pace through a swamp. About 30 minutes later a shape rose out of fog. It was an old Nordic barrow.
He had up his hand and Lydia crouched and walked over to him. "What is the matter?"
Ragnthor looked around. "There is something moving out there. Ralof and Brasella, show us how good you are with those bows. Me and Lydia are going to sneak in. The moment you think we have be spotted fire and give a cry. Then follow us to clean up the rest."
They nodded and Lydia crept forward with Ragnthor. They were close enough to touch the mound when they heard something shift. Suddenly the heard the sounds of arrows followed by a battle cry. She darted forward and plunged her sword deep into the first person she saw. She felt something strike her back and spun with her shield out. She felt the bones of a person's neck break before she saw them. Soon her eyes were fixed on Ragnthor. He was charging some mage. The mage was casting fire and ice spells and Ragnthor just ran through them. He was just about ready to swing when the man fell. On him was Slasher. He looked up at Ragnthor then ran over to her.
Ragnthor started laughing. "So you couldn't handle being home alone. Well if you are here you are going to work." They all laughed as they made their way into the barrow.
They cut their way through the upper floors quickly. There were a few mages but soon there was nothing but draugr. After a few floors there was this bright light coming from around the corner. Lydia sheathed her sword and kept her shield at the ready while she walked towards it. About 10 feet passed the corner there was a massive hole in the ground. The light was coming from the bottom. She stared in awe at the sight.
Ragnthor walked up beside her. "You want to go down and see it up close?" She nodded. "Well we will see if we can."
Lydia drew her sword and started to walk down the slope circling the hole. Soon they reached a level spot. There was a strange clacking noise when something rose in the back on the room. Lydia gave a start as she saw it was.
"By the Nine! It's a walking skeleton!"
Off to her side she heard Ragnthor laugh. "They aren't so bad. Just give them a light tap and their bones scatter."
And then to prove his point he slammed his left fist into the closest ones chest and the bones just fell to the floor. He laughed and walked into the middle of them and took them all out before Lydia had a chance to react.
He walked over to the far edge of the room and motioned for her to follow. Lydia sheathed her sword and followed. They walked down the side of the hole and the light great brighter. Soon they were are the bottom and Lydia was awestruck.
There was some kind of light source but she couldn't see from where. There were a few trees and a little pool off to the side with a small waterfall pouring into it. She felt Ragnthor's arm wrap around her and she tensed. He tightened his grip and sighed.
"It's beautiful, isn't it? And peaceful. More than you would expect from a place such as this."
Lydia relaxed and asked "How could a place like this exist? We are hundreds of feet below the ground and there are trees, grass, life."
She unknowingly laid her head on his shoulder as he replied. "There is only one way little one. It is by the grace of the gods. Even though sometimes we think they have vanished or leave us to our fate, they always have places like this. Their own little gardens where those who find them find peace."
Lydia looked up at him and saw the lines of his face ease. "I'm sorry Lydia. For my outburst at the farm. I knew where you were coming from and I shouldn't have lost my temper. I have always considered myself a True Nord and this is the only way I can see to truly save Skyrim. But I should have remembered that others don't see it that way."
Lydia raised her head. "No, I'm sorry. I let my anger loose and it cut deep. I had also forgotten that you were born here and lived here most of your life."
She shook his arm off and reached into her pack, pulling out a bag. "I noticed that you had thrown your bag that holds what you smoke on the ground."
She hands him the bag. "I bought you some more. Take it as a peace offering."
As Ragnthor smiled at her she dropped her head, feeling heat climb up her face. She felt his hand on her chin as he lifted her face. All traces of anger had left his face.
"Thank you Lydia. I was wondering when I would have the chance to get more. But I will not take it as a peace offering. I will take it as a give from a friend." Uncontrollably she blushed even more.
Ragnthor laughed. "I could just kiss you right now. But I won't. I'm just happy that we are friends again."
Ragnthor
He stood there for a moment just watching her. Slowly he seemed to be breaking down the walls she had built around her heart. He let go of her chin and followed the chanting he had been able to hear since he had made it to the bottom.
He walked through the pool and up on the other side. There was another wall covered in scratches. As he focused on the wall a word stood out. It was FEIM but he didn't know what it meant.
He summoned his strength and shouted "FEIM!"
It fell like nothing had happened until he looked at his hand. He could see through it. For a moment he panicked then he thought of something he could do.
He snuck up behind Lydia "Boo".
She spun and swung at him. Her fist passed clear through his face. She looked shocked.
"It's a new shout. It turns me into a ghost, which feels really weird. This would have been helpful a few weeks ago. Just imagine the look on your face if your fist would have passed through my face." They both started laughing.
Ragnthor shook it off. "Let's keep going. We still have a lot of things to do today."
Suddenly his form solidified. Lydia slammed her armored fist into his side then smiled. "I deserved that."
Lydia nodded and they walk out of the hole and continued through the barrow. It wasn't long before they reached the final room. As they walked through the ground shook and pillars burst up out of the water. It was a rather inspiring sight.
As the approached the end of the room Ragnthor cursed. "Damn, someone beat us here. There was supposed to be a horn sitting here." As he looked around where it should have been he found a note. It said to rent a room in Riverwood.
He turned and stood. "Well there is nothing here. But there is a paper trail leading back to Riverwood. I will look it up when I get back." They nodded and left.
They booked it back through the barrow and hurried to the fort. When they got there they were surprised. It was not the bandits that they were expecting but a handful of farmers using the fort as a base to protect the families. Ragnthor asked to speak with the man in charge. Soon a man walked out. He was a thin wiry man, well suited to hitting real bandits between their strikes on the farms.
Ragnthor walked up to him and held out his hand. "Hello. My names Ragnthor and we are with the Legion and are investigating bandit reports around this fort." The man shook his hand.
He had a strong grip and deep voice. "Greetings, my names Birger. You're about 3 days too late. Me and my fellows banded together and drove them out. We're keeping the fort clean until someone with power can take over. Seeing how you came and the Stormcloaks didnae, we'd be glad to join you and will happily turn the fort over."
Ragnthor laughed. "Well that was easier than I thought it would be. We were prepared for a long fight instead we allies for the fight. It's good to have you."
Birger nodded. "It's good that the gods sent someone who would talk rather than someone who charged in sword drawn. Would you like to spend the night here rather than make the run back to Solitude tonight?"
Ragnthor looked back his friends and they nodded. "If it won't trouble you over much we would be glad to spend the night." Birger nodded and lead them inside the fort.
They had a night filled with drinking and laughing. Ragnthor drank as much as everyone else but maintained a clear mind, just in case that the men that greeted them were the bandits they were sent to kill. Ragnthor slept light outside of Lydia's door. Nothing happened during the night. He heard Lydia stir before she walked out the door. He quickly rose and looked like he was walking toward her door as she came out. She rubbed her eyes.
"You look tired. Are you not used to sleeping in a guardsman's bed?"
She laughed. "Aye. You have spoiled me. Giving me my own room, mostly good food every day."
Ragnthor gave a bow. "Anything for you dear lady." She punched him but for some reason it didn't hurt.
They walked out to the courtyard and saw that the men were working on cooking breakfast. Birger raise his hand as they approached.
"Good morning my friends. I trust you slept well in this drafty thing they call a fort."
Ragnthor laughed. "We did. And thank you for offering. It would have been a cold night to sleep on the road." They were just sitting down to eat when a horn broke the calm.
Birger stood and yelled "MEN. PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR BATTLE!"
Ragnthor reached for his sword then remembered he had left it in the room he was given. He pulled the dagger he kept in his greave and ran over to Birger.
"Get you men up on the wall and use bows. Me, Lydia and Slasher will hold the gate. I plan to break the spine of these bandits." Birger nodded and ran off to his men.
As Ragnthor and Lydia ran for the gate he hollered "You and Slasher work as a team. But when the chief comes, leave him for me." She nodded and they stormed out the gate.
It was a large group of about 40 bandits.
Ragnthor put on and easy smile and asked "What can we do for you men?"
One of them shouted back "We are here to take our fort back."
Ragnthor nodded his head. "Is there any way you would leave without a fight?"
Only a roar answered him. "No. Then so be it. Archers!"
The air was filled with the whistle of arrows and some of the horde dropped. They charged and Ragnthor roared and attacked.
He switched his dagger to his left hand. As he reached the first person he grabbed her by the throat and stuck his dagger in the woman's side 3 or 4 times. Picking up her sword he blocked the next attack with the blade of his dagger and drove his sword through the man's neck. He took a blow on his armor as he ripped the sword out and rammed both blades through the next one's chest. All this happened in mere moments.
Soon a battle haze filled his vision. Only bits of the battle came through. Driving his dagger through the top of one's head while driving his sword deep into another's chest, feeling the blow of an axe sink deep, the white hot pain driving him to momentary clarity, sensing that Lydia was in danger and throwing the sword hilt deep into a man approaching her from behind, throwing his dagger into the neck of a man and half decapitating him when he pulled it out, the dagger breaking and then tearing into foes with his bare hands like a man driven mad.
Soon the fighting stopped and he stood there, bleeding from over a dozen different wounds. He looked up and saw the bandit chief staring at him like he was a devil, the rest of his men surrounding him. Ragnthor tore off his helmet and smiled.
"Would you like to settle this in a one on one duel?"
Lydia rushed up to him. "Do not do this Ragnthor. Do not throw your life away for a fort. Retreat and try again."
Ragnthor looked down at her. "You do have a pretty face. If I fail I'm glad I was able to see your face again. My lovely little one."
He threw his helmet on the ground and started walking toward the chief. When he got there he tore off his shredded armor and tossed it on the ground, causing a fresh stream of blood to pour from a massive wound on his side. The man had a greatsword.
"Do you mind if I keep my gauntlets on? I seem to have no other weapon than my fists."
The man nodded. "To the death then? Winner take all?"
The man straightened. "Aye. And my men will honor it."
With that he swung. Time seemed to slow as Ragnthor dodged the blow and swung his fist with all his strength. It hit the sword just above the cross guard and the blade shattered.
The bandit started in disbelieve as Ragnthor assumed a brawler's stance. The bandit swung and he grabbed the man's fist and crushed it, armor and all. He then broke the man's arm. The fight was short and brutal. In order to stay on his feet Ragnthor broke the dam between him and his anger. Every time he swung, he left dents in the bandit's armor. Soon he lost where he was. He was soon kneeling over the man slamming his fist into the side of his head, roaring at him to leave Lydia alone. Suddenly his gauntlet crumpled, the pain drawing him back to the present.
Feeling his strength leaving him he stood and pulled the man up with him. Ragnthor lifted him above his head, blood gushing from his wounds, and then hurled him at the ground. There as a massive crunching sound as the man's armor flattened.
He roared at the men surrounding him "LEAVE NOW OR MEET THE SAME FATE!" Ragnthor turned and saw Lydia running toward him.
He took a step toward her when his strength failed and he hit the ground. The last thing he saw was Lydia kneeling over him with a worried expression on her face.
-Author's note: Round 9 and another original Author's note. This is one of the fight scenes that make this a rated, well I don't know what but don't let small children read it. And if some of the things feel over the top just remember that you can do amazingly brutal things when full of anger and defending those you love. And if you are looking for a good after the Dragonborn becomes a hero and tries to live a normal life, try A True Nord by JacksDirtySecret.