I haven't run into this yet, but for every comment I get saying I'm robbing Game of Thrones... I will kill off someone you love. Fair warning. I'm not saying GoT is bad, I'm just saying that I've put too much time into real sources as a history major in college, and read too damn much Tolkien to be accused of leeching off Martin. Rant over.
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Kim woke up with a splitting headache to the point where she didn't want to get up. If she laid around long enough, maybe she wouldn't have to. She pulled the unbelievably soft pillow over her head like it would make her invisible. They wouldn't leave without her, would they?
A knock on the door really pissed her off. "Noooo..." Kim whined into the darkness of the room. The knock sounded again. "Kim's not here! Go away!"
The door creaked open and she heard the softest of foot steps. "So you want your bed head all day?" So maybe there was one person she was okay with seeing today...
Kim sat up slowly with a hand to her head. She smiled when she saw that Jack had brought a small bucket with a wooden ladle. "You're a lifesaver, Jack," Kim said with a smile as she took the ladle and gulped down the refreshing water. Her eyes almost bugged when it she discovered it was cold and didn't taste like sediment and mossy rock. This was well water. Water intended for drinking.
"So I've been told," Jack chuckled as he sat down on the bed behind Kim. He wasn't in his chainmail and black leather armor yet, wearing his only v-neck and a pair of soft deer hide pants. which told Kim they weren't immediately on the move somewhere with a dangerous road ahead. Not yet, anyway.
Kim hummed to herself as she drank the water that almost had an earthy sweetness to it while Jack took care of her hair, always so serious about the matter. He never once accidentally tugged her head back by catching a knot or tangle. "What time are we taking off today?" Kim asked almost absentmindedly. Jack's leadership had been accepted to the point where they just asked him things and he would have an answer. None of the group ever felt like they didn't have the ability to disagree.
"We're not traveling today," Jack said, still focused on her hair. "I talked to Edgil, and he's going to let us rest and relax for a few days."
"Are you serious? We actually get to sleep inside for another night?" Kim's eyes brimmed with hope. "I'll lay off the nabid at dinner tonight so I can enjoy this bed," Kim said as her fingers ran over the soft furs. "Nasty hangover, too."
"We'll be staying for two more nights, unless you, Jerry or Milton object. And after last night, I figured you'd need t drink half that bucket of water."
"They better not object," Kim growled, pulling her pillow to her chest. "Do I have a reason to get up?"
"Mmmm... not really," Jack scratched his scruffy chin and chuckled as Kim laid back down, her hands resting on her little belly.
Jack sighed and laid next to her, but made sure not to touch her, afraid of breaking any boundaries. "Staying in bed till noon?"
"I don't even know when noon is," Kim turned her head and looked at Jack, her eyes scanning his face, calculating. "You're changing, Jack."
Jack turned to return her gaze. "What?"
"This place is changing you, Jack. You're so much more serious than you were when we met. I can see the change in your face. Not just the beard coming in, but in your eyes. Please don't grow cold."
Jack inhaled and slowly released it, staring up at the ceiling again. "I don't know what to say, Kim. I can't help it. I'm stressed, I guess. I'm trying to keep us safe," Jack admitted.
Kim hooked his chin with a finger and made him look at her. "Jack, you can't prevent every bit of bad luck. You don't have to be the great protector. Be one of us, be our friend and stand with us when something does happen," Kim advised softly. Her friend was aging too quickly, the burden he placed on himself was methodically working him down.
"If I'm supposed to be protecting you, why are your words giving me strength?" Jack asked with a humorless chuckle.
Kim rolled over so her whole body faced Jack. "I don't know," she answered honestly, but her chest bubbled with pride knowing she gave him strength, knowing she was part of what gave Jack the superhuman determination to be... him.
"I'll let you get on with your lounging." Jack made to get up, but Kim pulled him back down by the shoulder.
"You should relax for a bit, too. You only do when I'm there with you," Kim said in a serious tone. She was right. He only did rest his mind when he knew she was safe.
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Finally the two friends decided they should make some form of appearance before someone got suspicious.
Jack went to his quarters and donned his chainmail shirt and leather jerkin with sleeves that hung just above the elbow. He tied his sword belt around his waist and left, finding Kim in the hall.
"There you are. Ready to see what there is for breakfast?" Kim asked with a little smile.
Jack smiled back and nodded his consent. His eyes traveled up and down Kim's small frame. She wasn't wearing her grime covered t-shirt and jeans anymore. Instead, her long legs were encased in chocolate brown leather leggings that clung nicely to her toned muscles and ass that Jack had to try not to stare at. A daisy yellow tunic with slitted sleeves and ruffled cuffs complemented her golden hair, and a thick brown leather belt gave her an even more athletic, slimming look. She didn't have her bow with her, but her dagger in its sheath found a home in the back of her belt.
The two young warriors entered the great hall to find Milton and Jerry feasting on fresh eggs, milk straight from the cow and goat, along with delicious wild berries.
"Kim, Captain Brewer!" Milton raised his wooden cup in toast. "Good morning, guys."
"Morning, Milton," Jack laughed, shaking his head at his title that was quickly spreading.
"Have you ever had quail eggs? These are unreal!" Jerry said with a stuffed mouth.
Jack and Kim joined the boys at the table in the middle of the hall, not assuming they were still invited at Edgil's table.
"Friends such as these are difficult to come by and hard to keep," Edgil said as he came from his own room. "You sit below when you have been offered above."
"We didn't want to sit at the big table to find out that was a one time thing. Then it would be really awkward when we had to pack up and sit down here," Kim explained their decision.
Edgil laughed wholeheartedly and smiled as he stood between Jack and Kim, a hand on their shoulders. "Tell me, are any of you familiar with the hunt?"
"I don't ride, I'm afraid," Milton said sadly.
"The Cyneric people do not make a ceremony out of hunt, friends. We are much closer to forest and beast than the Epineian. We hunt on foot with bow and spear. The hunt to us is sacred, and a necessity to our food stocks and welfare. To hunt when unnecessary is a punishable crime."*
"I'm down for a hunt. It'll be great to catch my own dinner," Kim smiled at him.
"Excellent, Lady Kim. Seeing you bright and golden like a beautiful flower makes me beg the question, how do you all find your new clothing?"
"This man skirt is dope, yo! Kinda itchy, though..." Jerry said as he scratched himself under the table.
"It's a kilt, and you're supposed to wear it with underwear," Milton said flatly, used to his companion's shortcomings. "This tunic is splendid, Edgil. What is the fabric?"
Edgil ran his fingers over a sleeve of the navy blue tunic that went to mid bicep and the bottom hem met the knees. This is a silk and wool blend. It breathes and flows well to allow agility, but warm and durable as well."*
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Breakfast ended and the friends parted for a morning nap at the suggestion of Edgil. They were later awoken by Thosean slaves. They were not treated poorly, but as more along the line of servants. Though they were servants, the quality of life in Cynerheld, is better than that of Thosea.*
Kim joined Edgil for the hunt, Jack went to the training grounds, Milton had much to do on his maps, and Jerry said something about Est teaching him to shoot.
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Jack sat on a stump and watched the younglings as they learned from the older warriors. Hold your shield higher. Don't lock your knees. If he steps this way then you step that way. This is how Jack learned as well before he picked up his own training sword and intermixed it with karate. His own experiences with the Thoseans and bandits was a wake up call that combat was not as simple as the training grounds would make it seem.
Funny how you can act like you know all the steps until you get out into the shit and protocol, choreographed training is forgotten and replaced by read and react mind flashes. Cynerics teach how to defend against Cynerics. Fire with fire. They're not teaching Cyneric versus Thosean, Cyneric versus freestyle bandit. There are variables and moving parts that these young men and growing boys won't understand until they're outside these walls.
"You there, stranger," a voice caught Jack's attention. "You are a friend of the Jarl's are you not? Jarl Edgil speaks highly of your blade skills. Care to demonstrate?" the bear of a man asked, a sword and shield in his hands.
"I don't know..." Jack stalled.
"Captain Brewer, a Thosean slayer, is afraid to spar with a true Cyneric in front of the pups?" he challenged in front of the small group of bystanders.
Jack sighed and stood up, going to the rack of training weapons. Real metal, but blunted and rounded blades. He took trainers to match his own sword and hand ax.
Jack took a defensive stance, his ax sideways and ready to block, his sword raised high to either strike or be a second blocker. The large Cyneric circled him and rushed, attempting to run Jack down with his shield.
Jack sidestepped and slashed the warriors knees as the warrior went past him. "That's too basic. Anyone who knows the most basic footwork is going to make a joke out of that," Jack told the man. He wasn't out to embarrass. Jack was supposed to be embarrassed in this fight, but Jack would make it a lesson. "In singles combat, don't just take a charge."
The man came back and stood toe to toe with Jack. He swung over and over at Jack, who was able to bob and weave most of the attacks. "Make use of the follow through. You can usually turn it into a follow up attack."
Jack demonstrated by swinging down with his sword but swinging back up the way he came instead of a static, low return. "Two attacks out of one with momentum in your favor."
Jack's sparring partner went on the defensive, hiding behind a raised shield. Jack answered by throwing a snap kick at the wooden barrier for one. The warrior braced behind it to steady himself. Jack swept the lead leg, which sent the man to the dirt. "Because you have weapons, doesn't mean that's all you need to use. Be versatile and read your situation. You can't just follow blindly. Have you ever fought a Thosean? Have you ever fought when your life or the life of someone close to you mattered on your blade? Things change, and you need to be ready to adapt." Jack didn't consider himself an expert or a sword master, but it doesn't take more than one real fight to understand that gets sporty out there. He returned the trainers and went to find Jerry.
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Kim and Edgil quietly stalked through the forest, bows out and arrows knocked. Edgil was on the trail of something large and he swore it was getting nearer.
Kim was just happy to be outside and in the fresh air while on top of things. It was better to be the hunter than to worry about being hunted. Neither of them had spoken since they passed through the gate, and she was honestly okay with that.
"You're very quiet, Lady Kim, unlike Lord Jerry," Edgil mentioned as if reading her mind.
"The only thing Jerry is lord of is the nut burgers, Kim said with a chuckle. "So... how did Jack being a captain spread all over?" Kim asked, realizing she'd never asked about it.
Edgil shrugged. "Jack is a noble man in bearing and can handle himself in a fight. He cares for his friends not only as a friend but as a leader. He fits the title and as for how it spread, Vakker doesn't get a lot of visitors, let alone warriors and a scholar."
"Jack is a good guy. I'm a little worried about him, honestly," Kim admitted to the last person she ever expected to talk to about this.
"Hmm?" Edgil grunted in response, his eyes never leaving the tracks. "Why would you be worried about your friend?"
"Jack's taking too much burden on himself. He's not just being our leader, but he's exhausting himself trying to keep us out of trouble," Kim explained. "I'm afraid that's all he'll be, and he'll stop being our friend."
"Ah," Edgil stopped, sniffed the air and crouched low to the ground, and Kim followed. "You're afraid this place will take his character?" Edgil asked in a whisper.
Kim stopped in her tracks and raised her bow. She pulled the string back and held it she her finger was at the corner of her cheek. She inhaled deeply and held her breath. She released her finger and the arrow flew into a bush. Edgil almost chuckled until he saw the bush move and a great deer bounded away, the arrow shaft breaking off from the tip when it hit a tree. Kim had hit her mark.
"Give him reasons to be calm. Find a way to make him hold to who he is," Edgil suggested.
"What do you mean? How do I do that?"
"I don't know young Jack like you do. What is it about him that you don't want to change?"
"Well, he's funny. He has a good sense of humor. And he's kind. He cares about us as people. Jack wants us to be happy and comfortable, not only safe. He's actually kinda sweet," Kim finished her last sentence with a smile, the image of Jack grooming her every morning came into her mind.
"I could be wrong here, Lady Kim, but I feel Jack will remain Jack to ensure he is always your friend. If you plan to keep him as only your friend." Edgil's insinuation made the hairs on the back of Kim's neck stand up.
"Of course Jack is still my friend," Kim tried to change the wording.
"I said if you plan to only keep him as a friend. You could do worse than young Jack, Kim, far worse. And if you and your friends are in Weite for a long time, companionship makes life more bearable here," Edgil suggested.
"Are you saying I should... court Jack?" Kim used the era's own term.
"I'm not telling you one way or another. I'm using you shouldn't not court the young captain. You two would be a smart couple, and well respected here. If you do not court Jack, however, have fun getting the young King Brody to stop hounding your hand."
The pair continued to follow the blood trail Kim's arrow had provided. Finally they came upon the beast, in the grass and panting.
Kim sighed and kneeled beside it as she took out her dagger. She raised its head by the antlers and slit it's throat to quickly bleed out instead of waiting till it died. Though seemingly barbaric, it was the merciful thing to do, Kim knew.
The young woman wiped her dagger off on the older man's pants before returning it to it's sheath, causing Edgil to chuckle at her attitude.
"Let's get him home," Edgil grunted as he slung the hunted over his broad shoulders.
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Kim and Edgil returned to Cynerheld to the sound of horns blowing, calling for the gates to open as well as a welcoming.
Edgil dropped off the carcass with the slaves in the great hall. The two then made their way to the shooting grounds where Jack, Jerry, and now Milton were learning the skill of archery under the direction of Est.
"Hey Kim, have a good hunt?" Jack asked with a smile as he set his bow down and approached her.
"Yeah, I did. I got a deer," Kim replied with a smile and tried to quash the butterflies rising in her belly at the thought of Jack and the prospect of dating him. She had found him attractive since they met, his rugged shadow making him devilishly so now. Kim had never thought about moving past friends with him. Now, it didn't seem so bad an idea. What wasn't to like about him?
"Lady Kim is quite the huntress," Edgil said, a hand on each of her shoulders. "You're lucky to have her with you, Jack," Edgil winked at him and left the group of young friends.
"He winked, why did he wink at me?" Jack asked in a small panic.
"Probably because he knows you like Kim, bro," Jerry offered.
Jack actually blushed, and Kim had to stop herself from doing a happy dance because that was as good as confirmation.
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Time passed in a leisurely fashion for the four friends as they enjoyed Edgil's hospitality.
Kim bettered her bow and dagger skills with Est while Jack, Jerry and Milton trained with Edgil and his best warriors. They were more of a challenge than the blow gut Jack "sparred" with on his first day.
Now was the third day, the next morning they would set out again, this time for the home of the Magnons. Jack felt more confident at the idea of traveling since they had gotten here in one piece and had further training.
"Tonight, my friends, we will dance and drink and make merry!" Edgil shouted, his arms up high. "Tonight is the Feast of Völundr,* the patron god of Cynerheld and god of smithing."
"Dude, we get to jam out tonight?!" Jerry asked, more than a little excited.
"Yes Jerry, he means there's going to be a dance," Milton said, rolling his eyes. "None of us can dance, though."
Kim scoffed. "Speak for yourself, peasant!"
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The men dressed in their armor, as nothing was more noble and pleasing to the gods than a man dressed to defend what was his, whatever that may be.
Kim on the other hand, was not in the yellow tunic she had quickly grown to love. Instead she wore a white dress that cut off at mid thigh with full sleeves she had rolled up to her elbows. A double rose floral print ran vertically up the body of the dress without it being overly busy. The dress cut into a v-neck, but stopped at the first hint of cleavage.
Jack's jaw dropped when he saw her.
"Hi Jack," Kim said, biting her lip nervously as they met in the middle of the hall.
"H... hi Kim." Jack's tongue was nowhere to be found. "Nice, you, uh... that dress, really pretty," Jack stumbled all over himself until he connected his own hand to his face in a vicious slap. "Hi Kim. You look really pretty in that dress. There. Fixed it," Jack said with a charming smile.
Kim just laughed and shook her head. "I'm glad you like it. That armor suits you, by the way." Kim reached out and touched his chainmail sleeve. "Do you uh.."
"Do you think we should..."
"Yes, you two should dance," Milton got the words out for them as he sauntered past them, a drinking horn full of nabid in his hand.
Jack and Kim smiled at each other, Jack offering his hand and Kim taking it in hers. Cynerics danced and buzzed around them, already dancing and enjoying themselves. The pair watched the others' fluid movements until they felt sure of themselves.
The music of the Cynerics was a lot more... melodic, more peaceful than the Americans had expected. They thought there would be less harp and lyre, more bass vocalizations and violent drums. Maybe it just wasn't that kind of song.
The kind of song they had expected did kick up next, and that was all it took for Jerry to start gliding across the wooden floor like only Jerry could.
"This is a Cyneric party!" Kim shouted. "You best believe I can move to this!" Kim broke it down. Hard. Her movements became rigid and spastic, her body near flailing. She almost hit someone with every other forceful jerk of a limb.
Jack was afraid, nervous for Kim. Was she seizing? Was she possessed? His questions were answered when he saw a smile on her face and a beautiful, happy sparkle in her eyes. This was how Kim Crawford got down.
Jack became even closer to petrified when the man who was both Warden and Jarl, Edgil Cyneric himself, broke through the throng and matched his movements like clockwork to Kim's. Everyone was doing it. Kim quickly realized that without even knowing it, she was doing the Dance of Cyneric, a ceremonial dance going back fifteen generations.
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The night wore on and became quite lengthy as the inhabitants of the hall feasted and danced. The entire population of Cynerheld was in attendance, the party overflowing into the streets. Even Jack got a little tipsy on the honeyed nabid that was so sweet on the tongue and went down the throat smoothly.
Kim, unlike the first night, stayed perfectly sober. She had completely reversed rolls with Jack, except for the fact that Jack was still awake and upright.
Another slower, beautiful song of lute and soft strings left a warm glowing atmosphere in the hall.
"May I have this dance, m'lady?" Jack whispered into Kim's ear, his hands resting on the middle of her back. Even rather intoxicated, Jack was a gentleman, respecting Kim and her body.
"Captain Brewer, I think you're drunk," Kim giggled in his ear in response.
"What makes you say that?" Jack asked, pulling back a little so their bodies weren't flush against each other.
"The fact that we've been dancing all night, and that you just asked me to dance all over again," Kim said, giggling again at tipsy Jack.
A look of hurt and sadness immediately washed over Jack's face. "You're laughing at me and you didn't say yes. Does that mean you won't dance with me any more? Do you not like dancing with me? You don't like me at all..." Jack trailed off, feeling completely dejected. He turned to sulk off somewhere when Kim caught his arm and made him face her.
"Quite the opposite, Jack. I really, really like you. I feel confident telling you this now because you probably won't remember this in the morning. I won't tell you when you're sober because you might reject me, and life here is going to be really awkward if you turned me down," Kim poured out her entire heart.
Jack's face changed from emotional agony to a softer, caring look. His eyes were full of admiration, lust and pure care and devotion. "Kim, awake, hammered or sober, the answer would be yes. From the day we found each other in the Void, till the day I die defending you and making sure you're safe and sound, the answer will be yes."
Kim smiled brightly at him and threw herself at him. She smiled even wider when his arms wrapped tightly around her back. Nabid or not, she knew the truth behind those words, she saw the sincerity in his eyes. He meant it, and Kim was more than okay with their exchanged confessions.
Life here in Weite was too short, too dangerous to live on what ifs and buts. Their chemistry was so strong, she wasn't sure how she could have ever doubted that they couldn't be together. One of them could die in two days or next month. She couldn't waste that time weighing pros and cons. Life in Weite was about actions.
Jack created enough space between them for him to duck his head and capture her lips. Jack tasted of sweet honey, causing Kim to contentedly sigh into the kiss. Kim tasted of the apple she had eaten only ten minutes ago when they had taken a short break from the dancing. The combined sweet natural tastes in both their mouths ensured that neither of them were tongue shy. At a Cyneric feast, this was not an uncommon sight, so nobody made mention or stated anything against it.
As far as Jack and Kim were concerned, they were the only two in the room. They were lost in a strange, perilous world together, but because it was them together, they felt like they could handle it.
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*The Cyneric view/relationship to Weite is similar to the waste nothing, respect all attitude of Native Americans.
*The Epineian style is based off Hellenistic Greece.
*The Vikings did keep slaves, though usually treated MUCH worse than the Cynerics' slaves.
*Völundr is a master blacksmith in Norse mythology.