Hey everyone I just want to thank everyone who's following me for being patient with me and my stories I decided to take a break from writing stories for awhile and concentrate on myself, but enough of that here's the next chapter of my For Honor story.
Chapter 2: A New Beginning
As the door opens I watched as a large white bearded man walks in, it was a Viking bigger if not more muscular then I am, his long hair is ash white and his eyes were bright blue, wearing leather armor with three tusks on his left pauldron, head of a wolf on his right, his arms had tattoos of symbols that are unknown to me and wore a helmet with silver wings. I didn't say anything, and was ready to fight if I have to even I'm not strong enough. "I see that you are finally awake boy", his tone was deep just like a Vikings tone should be, but it was soft. Before I could think of what I wanted to say he continues, "you've been sleeping for many days since we first found you fighting off the bandits and have not awaken 'til now boy. But since you're awake now how do feel son? Is your leg still sore, you were lucky that neither the arrow or spear hit the bone otherwise you would not be able to properly stand on that leg anymore".
I didn't know how to respond, I couldn't even believe this is actually happening, I mean a Viking and his clan saved me? I thought they were just bloodthirsty killers who love the thrill of battle, who raid villages and strongholds killing everyone in their path and leaves none alive. I tried to sit up but couldn't for some reason. "You're not strong enough yet lad", the old Viking continues to speak, "your wounds haven't fully healed yet and will take time before your strength returns". He then walks over in the over room coming back out with a what looked like a crutch.
Old Viking: "But for now use this, you're gonna need this for awhile until then, but first let's get you dressed before heading outside".
So pulling the fur pelts off he helps me sit up walking over to the dresser with a pair of tunics getting me dressed, gently pulls me up with thick hands using the crutch to help find my balance to stand. Looking down I notice how swollen my leg is through the bandages and god even by looking it hurtsHe walks in front of me to open the door and felt suns light hit my eyes and the cold air hit me as I limp outside. My eyes started to hurt from the brightness, but after a few seconds the stopped hurting as they slowly adjust I could see that it was lightly snowing, the whole village of other Vikings all of them big and muscular even the women here are all muscle wearing leather armor some with chainmail armed with shield and sword, or spear, axes, bearded axe, swords longer then mine, children chasing each other with wooden swords. I watched them as they were doing their own thing. "It's amazing isn't it," the Viking spoke looking at his clan, "seeing my people live their lives even when we will have possible grim times ahead of us". I just nodded watching them.
Viking: "Come, let us walk together through the village shall we"?
Taking my time we begin to walk by them when I begin to notice that some were staring at us, mainly me which wouldn't surprise since I'm a foreigner to them, some looked me with disgust possibly because I'm a knight, some were kind, some were curious, some looked with pity and I hate pity. "If I may ask you a few questions," I begin to talk earning his attention towards me, "where am I exactly and who are you"?
Old Viking: "To answer one of them my name is Gudmundr".
Right there I stopped where I was and just stared at him, this was not some old Viking that I'm finding myself walking with, this is a living legend who is both respected and loved by many of his people. His legend spread so far that even I heard so much about him, whose led his people, his brothers and sisters to many victories.
Me: "Wait you mean you're THE Gudmundr, the legendary warlord known as the 'Jarl of Wolves' the 50 men slayer who has the gift of taming wolves to fight in his battles"!?
Gudmundr: "*chuckles* Yes that is me boy, I'm surprise that you know something's about me for someone your age".
Me: "I used to read stories about you and your battles in my homeland when I was little. I never thought I would have a chance to actually meet you let alone be in your village. I must say seeing you it's a great honor".
Gudmundr: "Hehe boy I'm just an old Viking whose song is made by his act of how he wishes to be remembered".
Me: "I-I am still honored to have the chance jarl".
He smirked at me and we continued walking slowly taking my time not to stress my wounds especially my leg.
Gudmundr: "And to answer your next question your in my village, among my people, home and land, we saw you fighting a large group of bandits and would have died if not for our aid".
I still had more questions to ask but I wasn't which to start with, I mean this is a Viking village, yet they seem different, I don't even know how to say it. As we continue walking I saw in the lower part of the village a small courtyard a few Vikings fighting each other with different styles of combat, while others would watch and joke, while others do whatever they're doing and just seeing this makes them look more...normal, it's as I said I don't know what to say. "Come boy I want to show something", the jarl said as we head for the front part of the village in the lower section walking through the gateway then mounting on horses by the stables. As we rode on the horses there was only silence, I didn't really know how to speak after so many things have recently happened, so I continued follow Gudmundr wandering what he wanted to show me and why but I said nothing remaining silent. Riding up on a hill few miles away from the village, the jarl help me down taking taking both the horses and tying the to a horse post. Looking down and I saw the entire village surprised to see it was big and how much it had to show, a castle, more houses, more then one courtyard, on the far left it has fields for cropping, a large inn in the middle, it even has a dock for boats and Viking ships. I'm not one for views or sight seeing but this beautiful especially with the snow. "For years even as a pup I would always come up here to relax my mind whenever times do become grim", Gudmundr spoke looking down at his village.
Gudmundr: "Tell me boy, what do you see down there"?
Me: "I'm not sure what you mean my lord, I see a large village filled with warriors, has good source of food by water and land, homes, a inn filled with music and ale to talk and rest, few blacksmiths, courtyards and that's it".
The jarl just laughs, possibly not taking my answer serious enough as I list what I saw.
Gudmundr: "The exact answer I was expecting to hear was hope".
Me: "Hope"?
Gudmundr: "Aye, the world is changing boy, these lands won't be the same as will my people, I felt change in the wind and the trees tell me something is coming and we must be ready for whatever it maybe. That is why we must have hope, it's what keeps us going keeps us alive, for fate is our teacher, and we are but it's students".
I felt myself nodding in agreement with the jarl, just hearing the way this man spoke tells me that he has seen many things in his days up to present, the world is slowly changing, and we must be ready for whatever fate has in store for us. Though the moment was interrupted by the sound of horses coming from the woods, turning around I saw a small group of Vikings riding towards us and leading them was a woman, who looks to be young carrying a bearded axe wearing armor covering her right arm while left arm was covered only around the shoulder and the upper part of the arm and wearing a helmet with two small horns on both sides pointing down. The riders slow down the horses until they have come to a complete stop, the young girl looking at me with discuss and even hate something I didn't expect to see, but softens as she changes her direction towards Gudmundr. "What is this jarl", She spoke discuss in her tone, "you let this foreigner, this enemy to still live and aloud him to stay in our home"?!
Gudmundr groans taking off his helm showing more of his face to be shown rubbing his eyebrows in aggravation. "For the last time child he is not our enemy, and he was badly wounded almost beyond aid, it was no place for a young man to die and wouldn't be right to leave him to bled til death had claim him".
Young woman: "But he is a knight Gudmundr he will-".
Gudmundr: "That is enough Amora"!
There was nothing but silence and tension between the woman and the jarl for a moment until Amora spoke again but in a calm but firm, "Very well...Father". I looked at both of them back and forth, I couldn't believe what I just heard, this young Viking is Gudmundr's daughter, I thought he never had children. Amora still mounted onto her horse gallops towards me, her green eyes staring in my own before lifting her axe up signaling the other Vikings to move now then out of know where my crutch was knocked away by her the blunt back of the axe head knocking me down landing on my back almost knocking the air out of me, something tells me that she and I are not going to get along anytime soon. "By the way before I forget father", Amora spoke again, "members of the silver wraith clan is setting up camp close to our borders, should you wish to prepare to strike". The chieftain helps me back up, feeling my leg burning as I try to stand on it. "Forgive me for my daughters behavior boy", Gudmundr said wiping his hand over his face in frustration.
Gudmundr: "Her heart is committed towards our people, to protect them and bring glory to them in battle even in death".
Me: "It's okay my jarl I kind of expected something like that to happen, but if I may ask about this clan your facing"?
Gudmundr: "Another tribe whose been our rival for many, many years now, long before even my fathers fathers time we've been at war with each other".
Me: "So their is no way to make peace with one another"?
Gudmundr: "Their is but one way, and I will not allow it to happen".
Me: "And that would be what Gudmundr"?
Gudmundr: "The chieftains son marries my daughter, I will not force my own blood to marry someone who she does not find worthy".
I nodded in agreement looking back down at the village once more before we both mounted on our horses and returning back home, I do not know why but something tells me that my story is only beginning and that this is where I belong.