Hello everyone I just want to apologize for the wait but I'm still making stories and will still continue to make more. By the way here are what the names of the my OC characters mean in Norse so far:
Bodilla-Warrior maiden
Carr-From the broken mossy ground
Davin-Intelligent
Disa-Spirited
Chapter 4- Night of songs part 2
"Come on Tyler keep up", Bodilla teases me as she throws a spear at a deer successfully killing it, we have been looking for something to hunt for at least an hour until we came across a herd of deer, I admit she's really good at it and so far has four deer and to make it more fun she and I decided to keep score while on horses while Amora went to the opposite direction to hunt. So far I only caught two large hares and a deer which is not bad since it has been a long time but I know I can do better than this. "Ye know if you weren't so noisy you would catch more", she joked hinting the fact of me wearing armor but I couldn't help but chuckle knowing that it's become a habit of mine to always wear it due to wars and bandits or even other mercenaries who are paid to track and kill me. "I would but then again I can't help myself even if I were to try", I joked back earning a chuckle from her. Coming to a stop near a tree deciding to take break from the long horseback stretching myself. "You know you don't have to wear all that armor so much since you're staying with us, and we're only hunting", Bodilla points out. Pulling a blanket out from the back of my saddle I walk towards a tree spreading the blanket out on the cold ground, removing my sword off my back resting it gently on the tree and taking a seat closing my eyes enjoying the beaming warmth from the suns rays while my new friend joins me. "Well when you're always on the road looking for work, and never staying in one place for long while fighting bandits it becomes a habit", I said earning an understanding nod.
Bodilla: "Well since you is staying maybe ye should try".
I smirked a little as I stared at view of the many trees and mountains a sight of pure beauty despite the dangers that lurks within. "So copper for your thoughts", Bodilla asks nudging my arm with her elbow. "Just seeing all of this, the forest and mountains, it's beautiful", I said softly as I continued, "I can only imagine this is why Vikings love being in it all, besides hunting big game or having a advantage when being raided there is so much beauty that this world has to offer, places to still explore what hasn't been discovered yet".
Bodilla chuckled and said, "Never took you for being insightful, for a 'knight'".
Hearing the last part being hinted with tease I looked at her and spoke back with tease, "And you is not for a 'Viking'". She opens her mouth to speak but no words came out, only to stare at me with a slight shocked expression which caused me to chuckle before lightly smacking me from the back of my head. "Must you be so violent", I questioned jokingly receiving a chuckle.
Bodilla: "Yes I do".
Me: "Even if I didn't deserve it"?
Bodilla: "Even if you didn't deserve it".
I just rolled my eyes resuming to stare at the view of the forest and mountains, it was something to cherish while it lasts because it won't be their forever. It's like Gudmundr said before how the world is changing, and it won't be the same forever. So while I have time to still I'm going enjoy these moments and discover more places and tell the world about it, and be sure it's good otherwise where's the in a story if you don't involve someone's head falling in a rabbits hole, inventing the game of gulf. Who would've thunk to do a ending like that for a story, I would find that humorous if it happened like that. "So tell me Tyler, do you plan on staying" Bodilla asks me interrupting my trace of thoughts. Taking a deep breathe I said, "I honestly don't know to tell you the truth. As a mercenary I don't exactly stay in one place forever". She nodded understandably before saying, "Well maybe you should stay, we may not be much but we care for each other and never go hungry". I wasn't sure on how to respond to that idea, wherever I went I don't stay long for trouble always seem to follow me or it just happens whether by timely coincidence of me being present of it. "So if you do stay, might as well tell 'bout yer self", Bodilla spoke nudging me a little.
Me: "Well that depends on what you want to know".
Bodilla: "How about your family? Your mother and Sire, or father as you would call him? What are they like"?
Instead of answering I said nothing as I felt myself physically becoming heavy not because of the armor but rather from the emptiness and thoughts of my dead parents. A child given birth from a mother he never knew and father who died protecting his son, which lead to greater pain inflicted others who never wanted him except for one. I felt my eyes filling with tears I quickly turned away not wanting her to see my pain. "Are you alright", Bodilla asked me, "if you don't want to talk I won't force you to".
I wiped the tears from my eyes trying to hide it and looked at her, "I don't mind talking but not about my life ", I said in a raspy voice. She nodded seeing the pain in my eyes, wrapping her arm around my shoulders trying to provide some comfort. It was helpful but it wasn't enough to ease it away and I don't think anything will ever ease my trauma. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked, do you want to talk of something else", Bodilla asked. I nodded being grateful too change the subject and gives me a chance to ask her one I want to understand. "Bodilla there is something I must know or at least I want try to understand", I began earning her curiosity of what my question could possibly be. "I probably shouldn't ask this but, why does Amora hate me so much, does it have to do with me being born a knight", I asked firmly but soft. For a few moments there was silence except for the cold wind gently blowing, I may have been too straightforward with the question maybe even one at the wrong time since I don't know everyone here in the village, I was about to change it and ask something else but then Bodilla spoke and said, "I can't tell you Tyler, as much as I want to I can't. For I am her best friend despite how she acts towards you but it's still not my place to say, you will have to ask her".
I nodded understandably and said back, "I understand Bodilla and I won't push you to tell me, you made an oath and will attend to keep it, I will ask her eventually when the time is right". She nodded back as a sign of thanks before rising up from the ground stretching herself saying, "Well no point in sitting around anymore we better get our kills back to the butcher before it starts attracting wolves or bears". She offers me a hand and I gladly took it rising up as well stretching myself before grabbing my sword, there's still sun light to spend before tonight's events. I can't help but feel somewhat excited about it for it will not just be a chance for me to learn more about their culture but it rather their songs, the food, and maybe the dancing which I wouldn't mind watching with a pint in hand but I am no dancer, so it might just actually be fun. We got back on our horses and rode back to the village with our kills, but I couldn't help but feel bothered by something, almost like, well I don't actually how to describe it, but it feels empty but also like it's being filled and it's warm. Maybe it's only me from always being deep in my thoughts, but I can't help but feel like maybe something about me is changing and I just don't know what it is yet.
Sometime has passed and we arrived back to the village having help from other Vikings with our kills while some of them left to fetch the ones we didn't bring with us. After that I went home, huh who would've thunk I would say that to call a place my home, to prepare for the big feast but now I am stuck for I don't much to wear nor any that would make me look presentable for the occasion, maybe that's just how they are and the only thing to do is shave. To be honest this was actually becoming quite frustrating since I do not exactly dress as they do to look the part and I won't break Bodilla's promise. Wait a second, realizing what I just thought, I think I actually do. I opened the wardrobe that was against the wall next to my bed and found a Viking set of armor. A big cloak with a hood made of brown bear fur, probably used for traveling to keep them from drawing attention but I'll still wear it. Some leather belts, a long sleeve under shirt, a short sleeve blue shirt, leather pauldrons, a set of steel vambraces, leather tunic, a pair of brown pants and a pair of fur boots. The best part about it was it didn't take me as long to put as it would with my armor, it had a few sheathes of its own, but their used for holding spears, axes and bow. Just wearing this armor is very comfortable not to mention warm, good to wear now since winter is closing in this year will be early for snow to fall. I left my home to search for the lass now looking like the part for tonight's event only without having any Norse tattoos of course.
And as soon as I entered the hall and I have to say I thought just seeing it outside could tell me how big it is, but by the lord it's huge! Five long tables with ten seats on both sides of each table, pillars carved in runes, barrels stacked on both sides along with some small tables for two, and a big fire in the middle which is right now cooking a boar that is looking to being done by now. It is rather very drooling and rather very tempting to steal for oneself to take, but then again who's crazy enough to make such an act. But in the back where a I believe Gudmundr along with Amora will be seating, their an entire wall is carving of their god Odin, and by name of Jesus Christ the time they took to do it was worth it, the sculpting is beautiful they have incredible dedication to honor their gods.