Chapter 11
Ragnthor
It took them a week to reach Dawnstar but it was a week without trouble. They only saw wolves once. It was a large pack of ice wolves. Ragnthor was in the process of taking off his pack when Slasher walked up, snarling.
A large wolf walked out in front of the pack, legs stiff and hackles raised. Ragnthor dropped his pack on the ground and pulled his new dagger out of his boot. He felt a hand on his arm and looked up to see Lydia staring at him. He knew what she was thinking.
"I know what I said, lass, and I will try but that alpha is a monster. Slasher is a big dog and I have never seen him get hit in any fight. It could go either way and the pack might attack if the alpha falls." Lydia nodded and removed her hand.
The tension in the air was so thick as they circled, you could break your fist on it when it exploded. The alpha had attacked first with a noise out of a nightmare as he lunged at Slasher. Slasher rose on his hind legs and racked the wolf in the face. As the wolf shook his head Slasher dropped on its neck and bit down. The wolf shook and bucked, trying to shake him off. All that seemed to do was make him mad. He shook the wolf a few times then let him go. As the wolf back off Slasher charged, knocking him over. Soon he had the wolf on its back and it was over. Slasher ripped out its throat. He then turned to the pack and walked to ward them, snarling and snapping his jaws.
The pack turned and ran off, whining. Slasher walked over to Ragnthor. He reached down his hand and rubbed Slasher's head.
"Now that's a good boy. Now go and clean up, we don't want to walk into town with you all covered in blood."
He knelt down and slipped his dagger back into his boot and put his pack back on. Later that day they walked into Dawnstar. They booked rooms at the inn and sat down and talked about the past week. Ragnthor was just as loud as the rest of them but soon excused himself from the party.
The sun was just over the horizon as he walked over to the blacksmith's forge. As he sat down on the grindstone a couple walked over to him.
"What are you doing here at the forge? Most travelers spend their time at the inn."
Ragnthor stood. "The forge is a great place to be at peace. And I was hoping the blacksmith would come by. I was hoping to talk to him."
The man laughed. "You are right about the peace. And we run the forge. What do you need?"
Ragnthor shook their hands. "I was hoping to use it. I have made almost a full set of weapons and arms for….someone I care deeply for. I have finally got the metal need to finish the set."
The man nodded. "You can use it. What kind of metal do you use?"
Ragnthor pulled out a bar and handed it to him. "It's a mix of steel and metal that falls from the sky. It is hard to find but stronger the ebony."
The man nodded and handed back. "The metal feels good. The name's Rustleif by the way. This is my wife Seren."
Ragnthor nodded. "Thank you. Is there anything I can do to repay you?"
Rustleif laughed. "No. It's good to see someone working this old forge. I haven't had much time lately." They shook hands and left.
Ragnthor was hard at work and almost done when someone touched him. As he turned around he saw Lydia standing there.
"Well you're right on time. I was just finishing something for you. A sword and shield to match the armor I gave you."
He handed them to her and she tried them on. "Thank you Ragnthor, they are perfect. How did you know what size to make them?"
Ragnthor just shrugged his shoulders. "I have an eye for sizes." She nodded and they walked back to the inn.
The next morning Ragnthor was almost ready to beat his head on the table. "Why did we come here? There nothing to do but mine and drink."
They all laughed at him. "Well it was you that wanted to come here." He did slam his head into the table as they kept laughing at him.
He walked to the mine and got a job there so he could afford to drink at night. And that continued for a week. Every day he would wake up early and they would laugh at him for wanting to come here. He would walk to the mine, grab a pick and work all day. After a hard day at work his friends would help him drink all the money he made away. On the 7th day he quit his job because it was time to pack so they could leave for the tomb.
That night he was drinking with Lydia. "I have never drank so much in my life. Why did I ever suggest going here and why did you support me?"
Lydia smiled and laughed. "You are my Thane. Who else am I supposed to follow?"
Ragnthor shook his head. "Well you could have warned me. There is nothing here. There is a mine on each side of town. And more alcohol than I have ever seen. That pretty much sums it up."
Lydia smiled and nodded. "As long as we travel together remind me never to spend a long length of time here." Lydia nodded as Ragnthor ordered another bottle of mead.
Suddenly someone grabbed his arm. He turned and saw it was Ralof. Behind him was Brasella, holding a cake. Ragnthor dropped his head and started rubbing his temples.
"No Ralof. It is not a good time for this. Let's try for next year, maybe."
Ralof laughed. "I think this year, my friend. It has been 8 years since we did this last. Barkeep! A round for everyone here! It's my friend's birthday!"
A roar went up around the inn. "But only one round." Everyone came up to the bar and congratulated Ragnthor. He shook hands with everyone.
Rustleif and Seren came up. "Well congratulations. And thank you for staying as long as you have. Not many people come to Dawnstar and few stay for more than a day. It will be sad to see you good. You have done more good than you think here."
Ragnthor smiled and nodded. "Well I wish I could stay a little longer, working in the mine was good honest work. But me and my friends are leaving on the morrow. We have been on a short leave from the Legion but a mission we are part of is starting soon."
Soon, on their own money, most of the people there were drunk. He was walking to his room when Lydia pulled him aside. She smiled at him.
"Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday? I had forgotten."
Ragnthor shrugged his shoulders. "I really didn't want anyone to know. And I don't truly like being the center of attention. What irony that I am at the pivot of so many things." As he looked down at her she looked indecisive.
Then she stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss. "Well happy birthday."
He gave a half smile and stared down at her. "I thought we were taking this slow?"
She smiled coyly up at him. "We are. This was just the only way I could give you a present."
He laughed and turned walked to his room. As he lay down on his bed he could remember how her lips felt. As he drifted off to sleep he was thinking that this was the best birthday he had in a long time.
The nest morning they left. When they walked out the sun was just peeking over the skyline. Ragnthor adjusted his pack and took a deep breath. It was the last peace he would have in a while. As soon as everyone was ready they moved out. It took them a week to reach the tomb. The got there early in the morning. They sat down and ate cold meat out of their packs.
Ralof looked at him and asked "So how old are you now? You must be pushing close to 30 now."
Ragnthor nodded. "27. I wouldn't call that pushing yet."
He took a bite of food and sighed. "27 and I have more scars than a man twice my age. It has been a long haul."
He smiled. "And now you know why I want to retire to farm for the rest of my days. Add to the world instead of taking."
Soon others started to show up. Ragnthor greet all with a smile and asked them to sit down and join them. As more and more showed up Ragnthor found himself sliding closer and closer to Lydia. After a while Hadvar showed up. As Ragnthor looked up he saw Hadvar's face shift into one of anger and started to stand. Hadvar walked up to Ralof and drew his sword.
"Ralof you damn traitor! What are you doing here!?" He grabbed the front of Ralof's armor.
Ragnthor walked over and put his hand on Hadvar's arm. "Stand down Hadvar. We are here for the Legion."
Hadvar looked at him in shock. "The Legion? But Ralof is a Stormcloak."
Ragnthor shook his head. "Not anymore. We talked and I managed to make Ralof see that serving the Empire is better than tearing it apart."
Ralof nodded and Hadvar relaxed. "I'm sorry Ralof. Can we try to be friends again? This war has torn us apart."
Ralof smiled and nodded. "It was hard to lose a friend, thinking that he was following the wrong path."
Hadvar nodded and they sat down with Brasella and started talking. Ragnthor breathed a sigh of relief and smile. He sat back down with Lydia. She kind of leaned on him.
"So Ralof and Hadvar are going to be friends again? It's good that we are all finding each other again. You know, for an angry, brutal and ugly man, you are doing a lot of good here."
Ragnthor snorted. "Ugly? I will have you know that I have had many women on my travels want me to bed them. Maybe I should leave and find one of them."
Lydia laughed. "You might have to tell me about some of them someday." Ragnthor smiled and put his arm around her.
Hadvar walked over and asked "And who is this smiling young lady? She can't be part of the Legion."
Ragnthor looked up and smile. "Surely you remember the little wisp of a lass who used to follow me around."
Hadvar got a shocked look on his face. "Surely this can't be Lydia! Hell, the last time I saw you were so broken inside that you looked shriveled."
He recoiled and Ragnthor laughed. Lydia must have glared at him. "
This is one and the same. And no she is not in the Legion. She is my traveling companion," She hit him, "also known as a Housecarl. I'm Thane of Whiterun. Not bad for a footloose wanderer."
Hadvar looked shocked as Ragnthor laughed. "Well you would know these if you would stop by for a visit." Hadvar laughed and they continued talking.
Soon Legate Rikke showed up. "Lydia. Stay here with Slasher. There are enough of us to stay safe."
Lydia nodded and slid closer to Slasher as Ragnthor stood and walked over. Rikke was stand next to a tree.
"Alright men. Odds are that the Stormcloaks are already her and dug in. They may need some convincing to leave. We have no idea how far they have descended into the barrow but that really doesn't matter. We are here for one thing. The Jagged Crown. It is an old Nordic relic. On its own it not much but having it will give Elisif an even stronger claim for the throne. But whatever happens we cannot let the Stormcloaks have it. Destroy it if necessary." They nodded.
Rikke continued. "We are not cowards and don't need a speech to charge into danger. Just remember to trust the man beside you and we will get out of this alive. Now lets go."
With that she turned and, drawing her sword, walked toward the barrow. As the second highest ranking person there Ragnthor walk behind her. There was a line of men in front of the barrow.
"Charge!" Rikke yelled.
The lines met with a crash. The man Ragnthor fought was a good soldier. After a flurry of blows they had locked blades, coming to a standstill. Ragnthor let go of his sword with one hand and swung his fist. It connected with the man head, dazing him. Ragnthor quickly ran his blade through the man's gut. He turned to see the fight was over.
Wiping his blade and regretting not getting armor, he followed the rest of the men into the barrow. From there the fighting was quick and brutal. The narrow hallways don't give a lot of room for grace. Soon they had gone farther than the Stormcloaks had. They came to a stop in a room with pictures craved on the walls. A pair of Stormcloaks we dead in front of the door at the end. Rikke bent down and picked up a dragon claw made out of metal.
"Who knows how to use this to open the door?" Ragnthor walked up and pulled the claw out of her hand.
He looked at it and then started moving the stone circles on the door. Then he put the claw in and gave it a turn. The door dropped and revealed the way forward.
"How did you do that?" Rikke asked impressed. Ragnthor gave a laugh.
"I can't tell all my secrets. I have to leave some reason for you to keep me around."
And then he walked through the door. Soon they were cutting their way through draugr. Some of the men had never seen them before and were unnerved by the sight. However Ragnthor, Ralof and Brasella cut through them quickly. Soon they were at the final room. There was what looked like a corpse sitting on a throne. As they drew close there was a popping sound and suddenly they were surrounded by draugr. Then the thing on the throne rose. It was a heavily armored draugr.
Ragnthor hollered "KEEP THE OTHERS OFF ME! I WILL HANDLE THE BIG ONE!" He heard grunts of acknowledgement and charged.
The thing moved fast for something long dead. It matched Ragnthor blow for blow. Soon it was clear that he would have to do it soon for he was tiring and the draugr wasn't. He waited until the draugr swung and he moved. He swung his sword with all the strength that he had left and managed to disarm it. Then he ran his sword through its chest and watched it fall. On its head was the crown. He pulled it off its head and put it in his pack. As he turned he saw the battle was over. Rikke walked over to him.
"Did you get it?"
Ragnthor nodded. "Good. Take it to Tullius and see if he has anything else for you to do. If not come back because I will. And take the two who came with you."
Ragnthor nodded and motioned for Ralof and Brasella to follow. As he was getting ready to leave he heard familiar noise. He walked behind the throne and there was another word wall. He focused on it and another word was revealed. The word was TIID, time. Ragnthor wondered what it might do but decided to way until he had time to safely try it. So they left the throne room. They made their way back out the barrow looting the bodies on the way.
When they got back to Lydia she had a fire going. Ragnthor got worried and hurried to put a hand on her face. She looked up with a knowing expression on her face and shook her head. She was warm so he withdrew his hand. It was snowing and had dropped around a foot of snow in the time they were in the barrow. He put on his pack and gave the signal to move out.
"We are going start to Solitude. With luck we will be out of the snow country before the snow gets to heavy and the sooner Elisif gets support for the throne, the sooner this damn war is over."
They nodded as he whistled and Slasher ran ahead as a forward scout. They made good time despite the amount of snow falling. By the time they made camp the snow was up to their knees but it had slowed down. Ragnthor quickly dug down the ground and set up a tent and started making a fire. Soon he had a roaring blaze going with Lydia close to it. He gave her a worried look but she shook her head. He nodded and started cooking dinner. Soon they were digging into a warm dinner.
Ragnthor looked at the sky. "Well it looks like we might get a clear night. That's good. We still have 2 weeks of travel to Solitude without the snow."
Ralof nodded. "If it snows much more we might be stranded for the winter. That's not something I look forward to."
They all nodded. A few hours later they were making ready for bed. Ragnthor held open the tent flap for Lydia and whistled for Slasher. The all settled down for the night, Slasher between them. As they drifted off to sleep Ragnthor had the nasty feeling that tomorrow would be harder than that day had been, and he was right.
It started snowing again around the middle of the night and continued until morning. Ragnthor was just waking when he heard Ralof curse. He pulled on his travel clothes and opened the flap only to find deep snow. When he got out and stood he found it was up to his waist.
"Well shite." Ralof nodded and then helped Ragnthor make a fire.
In about an hour they had a pot of porridge ready to eat. And soon after that they were ready to go. Ragnthor broke trail all day as the snow got deeper and was bone tired that night so Ralof took care of dinner. It still hadn't stopped snowing. It snowed for a week. And for a week Ragnthor broke trail. On the morning of the 6th day the snow was chest deep. When Ragnthor walked outside all he saw was white. He didn't even bother with food. He just pulled on his pack and tore into the snow. It was slow progress.
Around noon Lydia walked up and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't you think it is time for a break?" Ragnthor turned around with a wild look in his eyes.
He growled at her. "Do nae mettle in matters that are well enough in hand." She backed away without a word.
About an hour later the snow started to get shallower. Ragnthor tore into the snow with renewed vigor. By nightfall the snow was down around their knees. And Ragnthor was done. He had pushed himself as hard as he could for 5 days and was done. He dropped to his knees and just sat there, chest heaving.
He didn't really notice when Lydia took off his pack or when Ralof put him in the tent. All he knew was that he had stopped moving and that he was cold. He took of his coat and slipped under his furs, trying to warm himself. He was just getting warm when he drifted off to sleep.
He woke with Lydia's arms around him. He cursed himself for pushing that hard and he carefully removed himself from her arms. After he had slipped on his clothes he walked outside. The snow was no deeper than I had been the night before. He made a fire and started cooking the last of the meat.
As he tossed Slasher a piece he said "You better take down a deer soon or we will have no meat for dinner." Slasher looked at him and he seemed to nod.
Ragnthor laughed and turned back to cooking. Lydia was the first out. As she rubbed her eyes she watched her. Soon she hunkered down by him.
"Sorry for snapping at you yesterday and for pushing myself so hard I worried you."
She nodded. "Just don't do it again." He smile and nodded.
Soon Ralof and Brasella came out. Ragnthor smiled at them. "It's good that you finally woke up. I want to get an early start today."
Ralof just looked at him. "You know, if it was anyone else I would wonder why you are moving after a day like yesterday. But you have convinced me to join the Legion, built a house in a week, and then plowed you way through a 6 day blizzard. I really have nothing else to say."
Ragnthor laughed and nodded. "So you won't complain that I want to move after breakfast."
Ralof just shook his head. "You never cease to amaze me. Sometimes I wonder if all that wandering knocked something loose in your head." Ragnthor just laughed and tore into his meat.
Soon the camp was down and they were on their way. They moved quickly, only stopping for a noon meal. During dinner that night Lydia sat close to him. He nodded her and quickly finished and went to bed. The next morning he saw that Lydia had slid closer to him during the night. He smiled and felt bad at the same time.
She really does care for me and I have been a bastard for throwing my life seemingly away. He quietly got up and went out to prepare breakfast.
It was bread because that was really all they had left. Soon everyone was up and finishing breakfast. They broke down camp and were off. The rest of the week was like that. Fast moving and eating nothing but bread. But they managed to make up the time lost fighting through the snow.
The morning of the 14th day the saw the point that Solitude was built on. A few hours later they were walking through the gates. As they stopped in front of the inn Ragnthor handed Lydia a small pouch of gold.
"Go in the inn and get a room for yourself. We need to go and report in. If plans change I will inform you." She nodded and walked in.
Soon they were standing in front of Tullius. He stood in front of them with his hands behind his back.
"So you are the first back from the Pale. I trust that you were successful." Ragnthor reached in his pack and handed him the crown.
His eyes grew when he saw it. "So this is the Jagged Crown. It looks very…Nordic. Auxiliary!"
A young man walked in. "Go to the Jarl and tell her that we were successful and that I will be there in a short while to deliver it myself." The man nodded and ran off.
Tullius turned back to face them. "So you are the son of old Freynar. I was about your rank when I met him. I always wondered if he survived the war. I guess he did. Speaking of rank, I am allowing you to jump rank again. I am promoting you to Legate. You now serve only me and Rikke. Now the only reason I am doing this is while you were gone we got in group of 25 men from the fort you retook. They will all be under your command as well as the 2 standing here. Now normally I would give you a week or so to get to know the men and train them but we have a war to win. And besides these men have proved their skill in both taking a fort from bandits and then holding it until we got there."
Ragnthor nodded. "Thank you sir."
Tullius waved his hand. "Don't thank me. Jarl Balgruuf has sent a message to me that he believes Ulfric will attack his hold soon and he requests the Legion help him guard it. Whiterun is the most important hold. It must not fall. I would send Rikke but I don't think she will make it in time. So I will send you."
Ragnthor nodded. "It will be done sir."
Tullius nodded. "Then get to it. Move out!"
Ragnthor walked out into the courtyard and saw that then men had gathered. "Ralof and Brasella, please go stand with the men. I am going to try my hand at a speech."
They nodded. As the men gathered he stood with his hands behind his back. "It's good to see you again men. It appears that I will be the one to lead you into battle. And don't think I won't be there with you. I won't send anyone somewhere I will not go myself. And today we leave on a mission. Jarl Balgruuf has requested Legion Soldiers to help defend the town from the army of Ulfric Stormcloak. We will be forced to bring battle to men who may truly be our brothers. If any of you wish not to fight I will assign you duties that keep you away from any fighting. But we leave for Whiterun at once. I do have some things I need to do before I leave. Getting armor is one of them. Never had a chance to after the fight. Ralof and Brasella will be in charge while I am away. I should catch up by nightfall. Move Out!"
Then men turned and left while he stood there. After they left he walked over to the blacksmith.
As he walked over a man looked up from the forge and raise his hand. "Greets. You must be the new Legionnaire that's making wave. A little over a month and already a Legate."
Ragnthor smiled and nodded. "That's me. I'm looking for a new set of armor and not any of that Legion armor. It just doesn't stand up to the damage I can take in a fight."
The man walked over and they shook hands. "My name's Beirand. What kind of armor are you looking for?"
Ragnthor looked around. "The strongest you can make."
Beirand nodded. "I think I have what you need. Now I need you to take off your shirt young man. I need to get your measurements." Ragnthor nodded and stripped off his shirt.
Beirand's eyes grew wide. "Not a young man. Now I see why you want the good stuff. Go ahead and get dressed. Will the Legion be covering the cost or you?"
Ragnthor smiled and pulled out a bag of gold. "I will. The Legion doesn't like special orders."
Beirand laughed. "That is true. Take a seat there. I will have this ready soon."
Ragnthor nodded and sat down to watch him work. He conceded the Beirand was as good a smith as he was but moved much faster. Ragnthor asked the metal to change and slowly it did. Beirand told the metal and it jumped to obey him.
A few hours later he was done. "Get up lad and try this on."
Ragnthor stood and pulled on the greaves, slid the armor over his head and buckled it down and then pulled on his gauntlets. They fit like a glove.
"I have to ask where you learned your craft. I can make something this good but it would take me a day or longer."
Beirand just laughed. "I have to save some secrets. But the trick is not to ask or force but find the middle ground where the metal wants to serve you."
Ragnthor nodded as he slid on his pack and stuck his helm under his arm. "Well it's a shame you live so far away or I would bring you all my metal work."
They shook hands and Beirand asked "Where do you live?"
Ragnthor felt homesick as he replied. "A farm 2 or so miles outside of Whiterun. Just reclaimed the land after 8 years of wandering only to get caught up in this mess."
Beirand nodded. "And a true mess it is. Well if you are ever in the city feel free to stop by for supper. I'm sure me and my boy would love to hear your tales. The wife…not so much." Ragnthor nodded as he left to see Lydia.
He found her sitting by the fire with Slasher curled around her feet. "Why you big softy. I bet people wouldn't even think you were a half wolf looking at you." Slasher's tail thumped on the floor as Ragnthor drug a chair over next the Lydia.
After he sat Slasher put his head on Ragnthor's leg. "Now Lydia, I have been promoted to Legate…"
Lydia smiled and punched him in the shoulder. "That good isn't it. Why do you have a sour expression on your face?"
He continued "And me and my men have been given the task of protecting Whiterun from Ulfric and his men. And I would like you not to be there."
Lydia glared at him. "You are my Thane. Why would you not want me by your side?"
Ragnthor met her glare. "Because you are more than that. I know that I can fight with great power and less regard when you are near but I don't want that. I need to always have a clear head because it's not just me, Ralof and Brasella anymore. I have 25 other people counting on me and the orders I give them."
She gaze softened slightly. "Ok. I will because I can understand where you are coming from."
Ragnthor nodded. "And I would like to ask another boon. I would like you to stay at the farm until the end of the war. I have a feeling it would be longer than the end of winter or the start of summer at the latest." Lydia stood so suddenly her chair it the floor.
She snarled at him. "Why should I stay home? Why should I be anywhere other than where my Thane is?" Ragnthor stood and out arms around her.
And she fought against him and he honestly thought that she would bite him if he wasn't wearing armor. He held on for a long time knowing that if he let go too soon he would end up getting hit. Hard. After a while she calmed down and he grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Why. Because I have gone through the effort to make sure that this isn't your fight. Because I don't want to lose you. Call me selfish but it would kill me to lose you. To battle. To Ralof."
She gave a little hiccup of laughter. "To Ralof? Why would I want him? I think Brasella would kill me if I tried."
Ragnthor smile as he looked her in the eyes. "Thank you. I will feel much better knowing you are safe from harm. Now give me a kiss my dear, and I will soon be home."
She gave him a exasperated look and blushed. "So it's my dear, is it?" He nodded and she reached up and gave him a quick kiss.
He reached into his pack and pulled out a massive bag of gold and handed it to her. "This is all I have. There should be upwards of 10,000 gold in there. It should cover all expenses you acquire. And keep Slasher, I will feel better knowing he is with you and I have no place for a dog on campaign. Please stay here for a week before leaving. I want you nowhere near Whiterun during the battle. Now I must go if I am to catch up to the men by dark. I will see you soon little one." He smiled at her then turned and left.
-Author's note: Round 11. That means there is only 5 more to go. So finally done with another one. Took longer than I thought but that gave me time to think about how the next chapter will go. Which you can help with! I am letting my romantic side out. Seeing as it is Christmas time I am doing a 12 days of Christmas from Ragnthor to Lydia. Well 12 days of New Life Festival. And not a parody one like you can find online but a real one and the struggle is real. So if you have any good idea's, leave them in a review and i might use them.