Fuck.
I apologize for lateness again I just have so many things to do. Actually I have a quiz on Andrew Jackson and a test on the 30 years war tomorrow hahahahahaha fuck it here's a chapter bitches
I hope you know how much pointless research went into this
(thank you so much you lovely reviewers I hope you know I actually smiled for you guys, and I tried to clarify my dialogue ok?)
The light tapping of a woodpecker awoke him.
He wearily blinked open his eyes to greet the ray of sunlight streaming in from the edges of the door.
He glanced around his sleeping quarters, a bed within a closet. It was standard for a home owner, but concerning to him, as he wasn't quite aware of how he managed to both end up in the closet as a guest and then locked in. Hadn't he not been sitting outside with Njal last? "Perhaps that ugly troll dragged me in here? knocked me out and stole what's outta my pockets, the foul little...""Good morning, Saemund."
He jumped up at the sudden interruption of Njal standing there, the closet door wide open. "Before you go insulting my troll and I again, you have to go pick something up from the town."
Saemund could only blink back in response.
"Hellllllooo Saemund" Njal waved his hand in front of the Danes face "go" He imitated a running man with his fingers, "to the town" pointing over to the front door, out of sight to Saemund. "NOW"
Saemund attempted to make a quick dash, fearing that the Norwegian was angry again, and only managed to slam his legs into the opposing wall.
Falling back down again, Saemund clutched his knees to his chest. "FUCKKKKKING FUCKKK THAT HURT."
Njal still stood there, watching him roll around cursing at nothing. "Brilliant job, Dane."
"FUCK THIS CLOSET, IT'S SO TINY… FUCKING HELL MY LEGS."
"I don't think my closet appreciates you yelling at it, and it certainly doesn't want you to fuck it. So please, you can sleep outside if you like. No closets to fuck out there."
Saemund frowned at him, gained his composure and stepped out of the bed closet, walking away from the Norwegian and examining the rest of his house.
"No regular cots to sleep on? What kind of house is this?" Saemund realized after catching not a single trace of there ever being any benches lining the sides of the long house. There only appeared to be a fire pit, placed centerfold as always, and a short wooden table on the opposing side. Behind Saemund was two bed closets, placed side by side, and a small area meant for cooking. The Front door, set back by a short entrance hall, had a red lion painted on it, which Saemund saw repeated on several shields placed around the houses blank walls. Overall there was nothing spectacular about the Norwegians home, its furnishings were sparse and its size none too spectacular, but something about it just piqued Saemunds interest. Was it the lion? No, Saemund had seen it plenty of times before. Perhaps it was…?
"If you're looking for a rich man's house then you will not find one around here." Njal spoke up. Saemund had forgotten he was still standing there, watching him inspect his home.
"Is your Kingdom really that poor? I know it is not as great as mine, but surely your people have amassed as much as mine in their raids?" He turned back to Njal
"I did not say I wasn't rich. I own all the land in this valley actually; those fields of wheat and all those livestock are mine, and I needn't any help from my status."
"Then… why do you? You purposely live like this? You could have an entire bedroom to yourself! A storeroom to keep anything you could ever want! You could throw a great feast and be the talk of the town!"
"I don't want to be the talk of the town, which is exactly my reasoning. Harald may have united Norway as you know it, but there is far more outside these borders. Petty kingdoms still fight us from the north, which is none too far away, mind you. Sticking out like a sore thumb, a gold and silver laden sore thumb especially and that just spells disaster. Better to work hard for my money anyway, as no one steals sheep over gold." Njal finished with a fierce determined look, which Saemund saw as a clear reason to not talk any longer.
"o-oh… that… makes sense. Well um, oh, what was it you wanted me to pick up? Something from the town?" Saemund would rather get away now than face whatever work this man might make him do; being a farmers hand sounded none too appealing.
"Ah, yes that." Njals expression softened instantly "I need you to go pick up some cloaks from the red haired woman in the town, she fixed them up for me as I thought you'd probably need something warmer than what your used to. I also need you to stop by the man, Thorsteins house. He should have a note from my brother…"
Saemund marched out of the door quickly enough, calling "Alright! I'll be back soon!" behind him.
"Town's the other way, Dane."
"Got that!"
And with that, Saemund went off to meet the lovely inhabitants of Norway.
Or not so lovely.
I mean no disrespect lovely Norwegian people, but everyone back then was kind of a dick by today's standards, yes? (I love your Fjord horses by the way; I wish my pony could sport such a Mohawk)
Um yeah, just some straight up VIKING HOUSE HISTORY for you guys
Yep
Oh! The head of the house and his wife would sleep in a bed closet, locked from the inside for safety/privacy, and the rest of the inhabitants would sleep on benches lining the interior walls. Except Norway is strange so I say, No benches! Two closets! Win win!
No there was no toilets
He lives in more of a wooden long house as opposed to the more commonly photographed sod houses. The red lion isn't particularly historical, I just really like it and Norways crest (along with the other Nordics/not Iceland) has a lion in it so… but I didn't research the crests history or anything.
Viking beds (I'm guessing the ones in the closets) were some of the first platform beds to be build using wooden slats, so that they may be easily transportable. As in, able to be carried out of the house and then rebuilt on their boat. Yes. They took their beds with them. Ikea is very historical guys.
Yeah, boring chapter is boring.
Hold out for a while, break is almost here and that means more writing time!