A/N: Thanks for reading again. It really means a ton. :)Eitilt :means fly. His mushrooms are the Agaric, which were actually used for their trances.
Bodhran is a Celtic Viking drum.
The Harp was a man's instrument in the Viking ages
During this time, Most Christians everywhere circumzied their boys.
Frøyasvann is made up village: The name means Freyja's water
Does the mention of penis count as mature?
As the months dragged on Toki and Asmund become very close. Asmund would teach, train and tell Toki stories of the great Vikings and even greater Gods. When Toki was not with Asmund he would hang out with Pickles. They would play games, fish, sword fight, and drink. Sometimes Toki would sit and watch Pickles consume mushrooms he called "eitilt". Pickles would eat about a handful and try to go berserk and dance but he was such a tangle of limbs he looked more like squid or an octopus. It was always for a good laugh.
Toki had tried to follow Charles around to see what he was up to, or to learn his secret techniques of being silent. Something Toki wasn't very good at. Charles was always carrying a bag either filled with silver bars or artefacts traded or raided. Asmund didn't raid as much as other Viking clans, he rather be paid for protection by earls, kings and villagers. It was much more profitable. His clansmen and family would never be hungry.
It was in one of these villages Asmund heard that Bergson was planning to raid them. Asmund would not have that. It was his territory. If Bergson raided them, they would go to war.
He immediately sent Charles to deliver the threat to the Bergson clan. He knew Bergson would not harm Charles, they had been in to some duels before and the smaller man ALWAYS won. Asmund would just have to wait, he looked at the position of the sun. Toki was late for his Harp lesson. He would bet his blade that Pickles had been consuming mushrooms and was showing Toki the proper way to beat the Bodhran.
When Charles arrived at Bergson's village he was greeted in the most hospitable way possible. A horde of men ran towards the small man, weapons held above their heads, ready for the attack. He dodged them easily without his glasses falling. Removed his lance, his preference in weaponry. It costed him heavily but it was worth the price. He took his stance. He was prepared to strike but a commanding shout had stopped him. In fact everyone stopped fighting when the voice was spoken.
"Idiots. What are you doing? He is alone." Charles looked up at his defender. He stared in awe at the tall blonde before him. The rumours were true. Skwisgaar Skwigelf was a beautiful as they say. He was taller than a tree and his eyes were colder than the Fjorn during the winter.
"Well, why have you come here?" He looked down at the shorter man. His sneer ever present.
Charles stood taller, he did not fear the man before him. "I wish to relay a message to your Chieftain." he sheath his lance. Skwisgaar continued to look down at him.
"Oh you cant see him! He is out with his new bride to be." Piped up Grubber from behind Skwisgaar. The blonde groaned. Couldn't he handle business with out this guy talking. Skwisgaar shot him a death glare and proceeded to talk with Charles.
" I will take you to him, is that what you want?" Charles silently nodded and followed after him. Grubber tagged along as well, much to Skwisgaar's annoyance.
They entered the hall where Bergson was unsuccessfully wooing his bride to be. She immediately perked at the sight of the giant blonde. Skwisgaar presented Charles to the older man.
"Offdensen?! What a pleasant surprise. How are you? How is Asmund?" Both Skwisgaar and Grubber stood in the background confused at what was taking place before them. Both Charles and Bergson hugged and greeted each other " Be healthy" . They sat down at Bergson's huge table.
"I am here on a matter of business." at these words Bergson sent away his bride and Grubber. Skwisgaar was allowed to stay.
"As you know several territories in Norway are under the protection of the Kyrri clan." be brought out a huge map from his satchel.
"In case you forgot which ones" He began pointing to several plots on the map "This one, this one , this one, several small ones over here, this one, this one and this large one." Bergson leaned back suspicious of the man's map.
"Why are you giving me a geography lesson? I know where your territories are." He reached for the map, But before he could even touch it Charles slammed a knife in the table between the map and his hand.
"Then why are your men being spotted in Frøyasvann?" Bergson laughed at the smaller men being dominant.
"I need the sod and metal they have to forge more weapons and items of trade. Nothing huge"
"You do understand that those materials will not just be given to you" Offdensen stated matter-of-factly.
"We will do what we have to, to get those materials." He leaned towards the smaller man threateningly.
Offdensen was unfazed. "If you attack those people, there shall be a war. You encroached on our territory already. This will be your only warning." With that he rose. He was almost out the door when Bergson called him.
"How is Asmund's son?" he knew the answer. He just loved to ask the questions, seeing the pained expression on Asmund's right hand man.
"Dead." He was answered quietly. Bergson saw no pained expression. He wouldn't be granted that delight. Offdensen left and travelled back home, to a curious young man bent on learning of his secretive ways.
Skwisgaar was less then pleased after Charles had left. He did not want to engage into a Viking war. Especially not with the Kyrri clan.
"We cant raid those people." He stated to and already angered Bergson.
"And who are you to tell me where we should raid?" He scoffed at the blonde.
"You heard what he said. As honourable Vikings, we cant go to war with that clan" He stood his ground.
"Shut up! You have no right to tell me what is honourable. I am the Chieftain. I say what we do, where we do it. Understand?" He rose to his full height to intimidate the man.
"PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT" was the only response he had received before Skwisgaar left.
The following weeks everyone was on edge. Would Bergson raid the village? Would they have to got to war with the clan? Should they bring in other clans to help fight? Asmund did not want to do that. Sure he was friend with neighbouring clans, but Bergson is and always will be his fight. Toki was especially nervous. He played with his ring constantly watching the shine in the silver. He secretly wanted to fight Bergson.
It was after three long weeks. Asmund was delivered the devastating news that Bergson in fact did not heed their warning. The village burned to the ground. Everyone was either dead, injured, raped or without any source of income. Asmund shook his head, Bergson was warned.
He announced that they were going to war to his clan. They cheered, they knew who their enemy was. They began to prepare their weapons, helms and chain mail. Pickles was worried about the involvement of Toki. He argued that Toki should be left. But neither Toki nor Asmund would hear of such an idea. Pickles relented and went to prepare.
Asmund beckoned for Toki to follow. He led him to a small room filled with weapons and armour.
"Toki you shall ride beside me." Toki was shocked with the order. It was an honour to ride with your Chieftain but next to him, That was beyond honour. It was, it was, no words could describe what it was. Asmund smiled and handed him a chain mail shirt, and a long Y style sword. Toki looked at in awe. It was broader than a normal Y style but the weight was perfect. The hilt was bronzed and held black uncut sapphire that led up to a Aquamarine and Black Sapphire encrusted pommel. It was frightening sword. The aura of warrior surrounded it.
"Toki I had a friend make this. He is a blacksmith for everyone these days not just his clan." Asmund looked in thought. "You know what, his daughter maybe blind but she is one damn good blacksmith. Her father needs to wash more often."
Asmund gave Toki everything he needed. He kissed both his cheeks. And left to prepare for the battle that was to come. Toki held his sword, he felt there was something missing. He admired how the steel reflected off his ring.
"That's it!" he ran to find an engraver.
The Bergson clan got news of the battle. The men were excited to fight, not even caring for what the fight was about. Skwisgaar on the other hand was very displeased. He himself refused to be involved in the raid himself, but the war he was thrown into. He couldn't do anything about that.
He was in the middle of cleaning his sword, which he named Alföðrkokkr (which roughly translates to Odin's cock.) Grubber madly blushed at the name and yelled at Skwisgaar for it Skwisgaar had responded with a shrug. Grubber's presence had been constant lately. He was practically asking for Skwisgaar's dick. Skwisgaar wouldn't even humour the thought, The guy was too clingy, not good clingy like sticky paste that won't get off the bottom of you shoe clingy. He sighed. He wanted to play his lyre, but if Grubber had even thought he heard the sound he would run over to the now close home of Skwisgaar and never leave. Offer to do his housework, clean and all that, if he could stay. Who was Skwisgaar to deny the lonely man? He groaned once again. Dammit. His eye caught a gleam in the light. He had retrieved a new ring. It turned out Netta could not make a new ring after all. A one time thing. He settled for a skull in plain silver. It was okay, but it wasn't IT!
He continued cleaning. He would soon have to leave before grubber had a chance to prepare his horse for him. Odin that kid got annoying.
The day of the battle The Kyrri clan marched out with their heads held high. Some walked and some rode horses. Toki rode with ease. On the farm they had a work horse. When the day of work was done, he would go for rides. He was prepared to fight.
Asmund looked at Toki like a proud father. He was proud. He taught Toki for the short while he was in the clan. Was he ready for a battle? It was up to the warrior to decide. He noticed the little addition to Toki's sword as he sheathed it.
"Liten Kanin. That engraving. It is very nice." Toki blushed. Almost every engraver he went to refused his request. He finally found one, he was laughed at, sure, but the engraving put a part of him in to the sword. He unsheathed the sword to run his fingers over a rabbit with a twig in his mouth. A huge Harrier behind the rabbit was Spreading his wings, which travelled up to the tip of the sword. The sword didn't have a name yet, but it was an attachment to Toki's arm already. Asmund announced they were to be off. The horses pounded their feet and the Viking roared. The battle will soon be among them.
Despite arguments from Bergson, they would fight far from their villages to keep from damaging anything. Bergson sat upon his horse bored out of his mind. Skwisgaar was slightly disgusted with his demeanour. Over the years he knew the man he just seemed to be worse and worse. He was disgusting, and was not a man to honoured, much less respected. He was just big and scary, so people just feared him. He looked over head and saw the Kyrri clan approaching. There was a young man riding gracefully next to Asmund. A helm was covering most his face , so they could not place his age. He had broad shoulders, strong arms and long chestnut hair braided behind him. He looked like a warrior, but the cat fish whiskers kind of destroyed the image. But Skwisgaar was still wary of him.
Bergson on the other hand was laughing to himself. Asmund is a full. That man cant even grow a beard.! He thought to himself. He got off his horse to meet Asmund. He commanded Skwisgaar to stay back. To which he was responded to with a PFFFFFFFFFFT. Asmund did the same with his cohort. They met at the centre. Both the clans miles away from each other.
"My good friend. Who is that child you bring with you" Bergson asked as they talked.
"He is of no concern to you"
"He is going to be killing my men, I do believe he is."
"There wouldn't be any killing if you listened to my warning"
"You can't claim every territory."
"No but I can protect the ones that are mine, and avenge the ones that have been destroyed" With that Asmund left. He got back on his horse and rode to where the rest of the clansmen were.
"So, what is the plan?" Offdensen asked when they were all together.
"We attack head on. No tricks. Bowmen, there will be men attacking on their horses, aim for the horses not the men. If we bring down the horse we could limit the casualties. For the rest of us, Odin will protect us. If we happen to die, we shall all meet again in Valhalla." All men got off their horses and prepared for battle.
Soon a horde of men were charging after them, and they charged back. The bow men shot the horse, bringing down the men on them. Swords clashed and axes were struck. Toki fought were the force of an angry god. He was making his way up to his main target. It was hard to miss the big man.
Skwisgaar noticed him making his way toward his Chieftain, he wanted to save him, and wanted him to die as well. He fought and thought, never really paying attention to the men he stabbed or decapitated.
Toki was not paying attention to anything but what was in front of him. To many times Pickles, Offdensen or Asmund saved the young man's life.
The battle continued and many men had died, but they still fought. Skwisgaar was tired of the fighting, the excitement only last for so long. It wasn't until he saw Toki leap at Bergson did he even attempt to move.
Toki struck Bergson in the side with his sword. The cut was deep but, once the adrenaline of a fight kicked in nothing could stop a Viking on a rampage. Bergson swung his axe towards Toki's head. Toki was only able to dodge by a hair. He through his body against the great man , knocking him over. Toki wasted no time to stomp hard on the man's chest. The look in his eyes were feral, he wasn't a man any more. He was an animal.
Pickles from afar whispered to himself "Tá sé imithe berserk" He has gone Berserk. A fate he had attempted on several occasions. But something wasn't right, it did not feel like a momentous occasion. That wasn't Toki being one with his war animal. This was a monster. Pickles immediately ran towards the younger man, He had to be stopped before he kills him.
Asmund saw the same thing Pickles did. Something wasn't right. He tried to run towards the boy but men were blocking his path.
Skwisgaar was ready to strike, but was stopped when a blood-curdling howl erupted from the smaller man. "What in the name of Odin?"
Toki saw red. Pickles had grabbed him off him, right as he was about to cut off Bergson's head. The both landed on the ground. Bergson shot and wasted no time grabbing his dagger. While Toki was down he stabbed Toki the side. Toki had screamed out in pain. He sounded like a feral animal. He jumped off pickles, clutching his side he was ready to fight some more. He would not die by the hands of this man. Bergson raised his hand about to slam his axe down when-
"STOP!" Asmund walked up to them. "We are done here. Toki go to the horses."
Toki snapped out of his trance, he shamefully handed his sword to Pickles and bowed his head as he walked towards the horses.
"No, I don't think we are done here Asmund." Bergson stood his ground "He was about to take my life."
"He wahld 'ave if I didn't stahp him. Be grateful ya' Brute." Pickles spat at Bergson's feet.
"Fine the battle is over." Bergson relented. "Go check your injured, I will check mine. Asmund nodded and both he and Pickles walked away. The battle war over. They would see who had won.
When The both were out of ear shot, Bergson leaned over to Skwisgaar.
"Go after the boy. I want him alive, you hear me." Skwisgaar nodded and as silently as he could saddled up a horse and was off.
Asmund saw him riding away. He saw the location he was headed too.
"TOKI! TOKI RUN!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. Pickles screamed as well. Hopefully both their voices would carry as the raced toward him.
Toki had heard faintly. He looked up and saw the God racing towards him at top speed on a horse. He jumped on one and ran off. They both were riding at top speed, it was a matter of endurance. While Skwisgaar liked riding straight forward, Toki rode with twist, turns and curves. He used his manoeuvre to his advantage. The less practised man had to constantly slow by a fraction to keep up with his turns. Soon they were in a clearing Toki's horse hit a dead end. He jumped off and tried to run, but Skwisgaar's taller legs out ran his. The blonde tackled Toki and they tumbled to the ground. They fought and rolled around on the dirt and grass. Toki's helm had fallen off in the struggle, Skwisgaar saw his face fully.
He stopped wrestling Toki and stared into his eyes. The were the palest blues he had ever seen. In fact he had seen them once before, years ago.
"Hey, do you have like a sister?" Skwisgaar had to ask. Same chestnut closured hair and pale blue eye.
"Not any more. Haven't I met you somewhere though?" Toki recognised the man on top of him from somewhere. He was tall, very tall. He had seen the same golden hair and high cheek bones. But what was most memorable was the same sneer. Toki looked him in the eyes. Where had he seen him before. His fingers grazed the ring he wore on his hand. Oh shit!
"YOU!" Toki struggled under the man, trying to release his hold. Skwisgaar was not letting up so easily. "Get off me!"
"No you will run away" Skwisgaar was strong but Toki had gained muscle since the last time they had met.
Toki pushed the taller man off and tried to run, but Skwisgaar's long reach soon caught his wrist. Skwisgaar looked down at the younger man's wrist. This seems familiar
He looked at the younger man's face and saw the same painful stories that were shadowed by hope. The glacier eyes that had bewitched him all those years ago.
"Oh fuck, you were a man?" Toki was taken back by the sudden outburst. He looked down at himself, when had he ever not been a man? He was confused by the taller man before him.
Skwisgaar noticed the ring on the his fingers and laughed quietly to himself. "That ring you have, it belongs to me"
Toki looked down at the ring. He didn't want to part with it. The ring held so many memories, it was his final memento of his family. Skwisgaar saw that Toki would not want to give up the ring, and hell it look better on him anyway.
"You can keep it." Toki smiled. His signature childish smile. Skwisgaar was enamoured by Toki. He was broad and strong, yet had an air of innocence and childishness to him. He couldn't help but smile with him. He let go of his wrist.
"Get out of here. Okay. This is the second time I let you go. Don't make me have to do it a third time." Toki was shocked. He could run. He nodded determinedly.
"Thank you." He kissed the man on the cheek in thanks. "May the Gods have favour in your fate." He ran to where his horse was and jumped right back on it. He wasted no time in running away. Skwisgaar walked slowly to his horse. The eyes. They had done it again. They were honestly the most beautiful ones he had ever seen. He had formed a stupid story about losing him while running on foot. Maybe he should leave the clan. The he thought about Elis and his family. He couldn't leave them after all they had done for him. But Bergson, He was terrible and becoming worse as the time passes. He had a lot of thinking as he rode back to the village.
Toki's horse ran as fast he would go. The area where he got off was dense with trees. It was hard to tell from which way he came from. He kept taking twist and turns but the are began looking the same. He decided he would stop and walk around on foot to see if he could find a path.
A while after he had started walking he heard voices and the hoofs of horses. Shit, why now all of a sudden did his wound want to hurt. The he heard it. The loud deep voice. Bergson. That's why. He bolted toads his horse. He climbed on and tried to escape the forested area. The sounds of charging horses were getting closer.
"Hey!" a man had shouted from behind him. He tried to go faster. More voices, more horse, more men. He tried the same manurer he had done on Skwisgaar, but these men were more accustomed to his tricks. He kept on riding, not sowing his horse down once. It was the moment when another horse had stopped directly in front of him did he stop. He was quickly surrounded.
He knew what they would do. Strip him, take his valuables and humiliate him in front of their village. He looked down at his precious ring and as quickly as he could he swallowed it. They would not have that.
Skwisgaar found his way out of the forest much easier. He looked out at the battlefield that was littered with dead bodies. He saw Asmund, Pickles and Charles with a group of Asmund's men.
Skwisgaar slowly rode over to them. Upon seeing him both Charles and Pickles unsheathed their weapons. Asmund put his hand up to still them.
"Why are you here?" He asked the taller man.
"I just wanted you to know, You boy, he is gone. I let him go." Asmund looked relived. Pickles wasn't buying it.
"Whydja jest let him go?"
"Bergson. He has become a Tyrant. He isn't a man to be respected or followed. It wasn't right to capture him." He looked back at Asmund. "Go home. Your boy, he should be waiting." He smiled and rode off.
"May the Gods see what you have done, and have favour in it." Asmund called after him. Skwisgaar thought to himself. If the Gods favour it, I will see those glacier eyes again.
Skwisgaar arrived at his village just after the others. The villages were gather in the middle of the village cheering and yelling. Why? Had they won? Skwisgaar shoved through the crowd of people only to see a naked and tied up Toki on his knees in the dirt. Skwisgaar was appalled. Toki's body was littered with fresh wounds and bruises. His knife wound wasn't that bad before, if he didn't get treated soon it would only get worse. Toki had his face hidden by his hair, he didn't want to see the looks the villagers were giving him.
Bergson was prancing around Toki as if to show him off.
"What shall we do with this boy?" He kicked Toki in the ribs. Toki fell over only to pick himself up again.
"Boy! What's your religion?" Bergson asked. Toki spat out blood.
"I believe in the All father, Of Odin." He answered.
"If that's so. Where is your foreskin?" Toki blushed madly. "We would have strung you up by it, but it turns out you don't have one any more"
"M-my Father was a Christian man." He stuttered. He looked Bergson defiantly in the eyes. "I believe in Odin, may he see you for the worthless trash you are." angered by these words Bergen kicked in the face. Toki fell onto his back exposing his fore-skinless member to the village.
"I have had my fun with him, who wants him as a slave?"
"I do." It was the first time Skwisgaar had spoken since the whole ordeal was taken place. Bergson smirked and threw him a rope to tie around Toki.
"Take good care of him." The crowd departed. But before Bergson left "Oh. Skwisgaar. Don't lose him again." The tone in Bergson's voice serious. He will be watching Skwisgaar closely now. That thought alone frightened him.
He decided to carry Toki instead of dragging him. They entered his house where Grubber was waiting patiently.
"Why are you in my house? No forget that, help me with his wounds." Skwisgaar commanded as he laid injured Toki on his bed.
"Who is he?" Asked grubber.
"My new slave" Skwisgaar's mouth spread in a slight smile. Maybe the Gods did favour him. He will see those eyes again.
In a distant village Asmund worries for Toki. But he believes he will find his way back soon.