Munk-a ek flæja, þótt mik feigan vitir, emk-a ek með bleyði borinn (I shall not flee, though my fate be near,
I was born not a coward to be)
- Sigrdrífumál, 21
"I don't want to fight you!" Link stated as he aimed, "Can you understand me!?"
The brute raised his ax, eyes vicious. He rolled his shoulders as Link loosed an arrow, fletching grazing the barbarian's shoulder as his ax swung overhead. Link and Luna jumped away as the ax whirled, the wielder's feet sometimes briefly sliding on the ice. The blizzard subsided, though snow and ice flakes blew about. He eyed Link's bow, hesitant to approach an archer head-on.
Link grunted. "Bruce, maybe he'll stop fighting if we only hurt him?" Link checked on Luna, who had jumped to a distant ice berg for safety, Kibou staying with her.
The Zora glared. "Are you a moron!?"
"I'm trying to help a misguided life."
"They don't deserve second chances, Link!"
A whirling ax made Link and Bruce jump to opposite icebergs. The mountainous man pointed his ax at the Hero of Time, lowering it to Link's height. "Ah hah hah hah! Lítilmenni!" He swung his ax with such gusto his feet slipped apart. "Oh-wuh!?"
Bruce leapt over, thrusting his spear into the barbarian's bulky chest, though did little.
The wildman plucked the spearhead out himself, realigning himself. "Óskatt." He swung his two-handed ax wildly while stepping forth. Bruce skipped about to avoid the continuous attacks, jabbing his spear whenever he could though the barbarian's swings easily batted aside his spear. The Zora backed off to avoid being hit, parrying the ax which chipped his spear shaft.
Link shot a flurry of arrows, several bouncing off the brute's helmet, a few missing, some going into his chest and shoulders. Despite arrows sticking out his torso, the wildman jumped to Link's iceberg, whirling his Dane ax without restraint. Link ducked and leaned to avoid the swings, iceberg rocking from momentum. Link found a break in his attacker's swings, and bashed his Fairy Bow into the barbarian's fingers.
The wildman flicked his hand. "Ahhk!" Axehead tilting against the ice, Link found his opening, stepping upon the slanted helve then leaping, thrusting his knee underneath the spangenhelm mask and hitting the brute's chin, staggering him. Link leapt and, aiming mid-air, shot several arrows into the barbarian's helm, arrows bouncing off but denting it; the brute grabbed Link's leg, the hero's eyes going big as he was slammed into the ice.
"Zora!" Bruce jumped over, charging the recovering wildman, ramming his spear into his foe's back. The flint dove into flesh—the brute grunted and turned, movement pushing Bruce sideways who refused to let go of his spear, staying on his feet as he slid.
"Ha, flatnefs...drepa!" yelled the brute, who pulled the spearhead out his back but held onto it, as did Bruce, the two stuck in a test of strength.
The barbarian swung his long ax one-handed, Bruce slanting his spear shaft up to intercept the incoming helve while avoiding the ax head. Bruce let go of his spear, tackling into the wildman's midsection, momentum causing the brute to slip on the ice. Mounted atop his downed foe, Bruce tucked his arms in and sawed his fins to and fro, cutting open the barbarian's chest, blood spewing out.
"Fengu!" The wildman grabbed Bruce's fin and wrenched it sideways, sitting up and headbutting Bruce, helmet smacking into skull. As blood drizzled from Bruce's head, the Zora rolled backwards and staggered away, holding his bleeding head.
The barbarian stood, gripping his ax and going for the kill—a chain spike stabbed into his shoulder. Grunting, he turned. The retracting chain launching Link through the air where he realigned himself mid-air, bashing his shoulder into the brute's spectacled visor and knocking him over. Link shot his Hookshot into the air while flipping it, holding it by its spike, then whirling it like a flail, chain retracting as Link slammed the handle upon the downed brute's sternum.
The brute convulsed, air knocked out of him. Link aimed his Hookshot, though the brute got up and charged irregardless, ax high. Link aimed sideways and shot his Hookshot, then swung it around, whipping the chain across the barbarian's legs, tightening chain tripping him. Growling, the brute knelt, awkwardly attacking though Link leaned away while still gripping his Hookshot, retracting chain allowing him to swing away.
Growling, the brute grabbed the chain and yanked, pulling the Hookshot out Link's grasp. Untangling the chain around his legs, the wildman tossed the Hookshot into the waters then attacked Link, who rolled to and fro repeatedly, evading the angry northman as his ax slammed into the ice, cracking the iceberg in twain. The halves floated oppositely and rocked, Link and the brute balancing.
Bruce reappeared, forehead still bloodied. He jumped to the barbarian, unleashing a flurry of spear jabs. "Zora ra-ra-ra!"
While receiving multiple stabs, the brute thrust his shaft sideways, disarraying Bruce's spear then bashing him in the face. The wildman tackled into Bruce, lifting the Zora then throwing him into the icy waters. Link withdrew his bow. Seeing this, the northman leapt over, Link's halved iceberg severely limiting space. Heaving his ax with all his might, the brute howled. Link dove under the incoming Dane ax, gripping his Fairy Bow by either end and ramming the middle upwards into the descending helve, stifling the weapon.
Shouting, the brute kneed Link's stomach then swung his ax upwards into Link's sternum, the much smaller man convulsing down.
The brute raised his ax as wind blew snow around. "Fjarrafleina þik munu fáir kunna!" A spear emerged from the brute's neck.
Bruce landed nearby, body wet. The barbarian fell to his knees, griping the shaft sticking through his neck. Bruce grabbed the shaft and rotated the brute's neck with it. The barbarian grinned, shaking his head. Bruce grunted, rotating his spear so acutely the wildman's neck cracked. He went limp, the Zora pulling his spear out.
"Link!" Bruce ran over, checking on Link. "Are you dead?"
Link sat up. "No, I'll be alright. You'd be surprised how durable my tunics are!" Groaning, he stood. "Ax still hurt me, tho... Thanks for saving me, tho."
Bruce sighed with relief. "I'm just glad your guts didn't spill out."
"Oh, I've been through much worse, believe me..." Link's eyes widened, the waterdrops all over Bruce freezing. "Aren't you cold?"
The Zora rolled his eyes. "I already said I was used to icy waters, Hylian."
Distant shouting echoed. Link and Bruce looked over. A dozen northmen appeared from the snowstorm, wielding swords and shields but one an archer, they unarmored but led by a helmeted spearman wearing a byrnie, sword and seax sheathed at his belt, mjǫllnir hanging from his neck. All the barbarians were much taller and larger than Hylians.
The armored leader observed Link and Bruce. "Rekkar þat þóttusk..." He clattered his spear and shield together. "Bardaga!" The barbarians roared, rushing towards the iced lake.
Bruce clenched his teeth. "I'm not holding back anymore, Link! I'm killing these beasts whether you like it or not!"
Link sighed at the situation. "If I must fight men, not monsters... So be it." He withdrew his bow, shooting some arrows, though the wildmen blocked with their shields, jumping from iceberg to iceberg, gradually encircling their foes. Link put away his bow and picked up Koðránsson's Dane ax, sliding his hands to either end. Although the ax was clearly not made for Link's height, its thin blade kept it wieldy.
While Bruce dealt with his five foes and the leader, Link faced the other five swordsmen and their archer. Two swordsmen leapt onto Link's iceberg, shields up and blades ready.
Link swung his Dane ax two-handed, striking enemies' shields then pulling his ax back to parry incoming swords with the shaft. Link rolled sideways, evading a blade then propelling himself upwards, swinging his ax like a whirlwind, rotational blows bashing aside their shields and staggering them, though they recovered. Link descended while slamming his ax upon a raised shield, splitting the wood apart then cutting the man's forearm.
"Ow!" The injured barbarian chopped at Link, who thrust his ax forth while skipping backwards to avoid a shot arrow, the archer patiently waiting for a clear shot.
The second swordsmen charged, keeping his shield extended. Link rolled sideways while hooking his Dane ax around the charging brute's leg, tripping him. Link realigned his ax and whirled it around his head, the shieldless wildman forced to parry with his sword while the three previous swordsmen jumped to other icebergs to gradually get behind Link.
Link overwhelmed the shieldless barbarian with wild swings, sometimes grunting, keeping his foe preoccupied. Link thrust the top of his ax into the swordsman's knee, downing him. Ax whirling overhead, Link spun around to face the man he tripped who got up, smashing aside his shield. Link pulled his ax back, sliding his hands down the shaft to swing with great force—the barbarian's sword came upon Link's cap, though the momentum of Link's ax went on and cleft the brute's forehead, blood spraying across the ice as he fell.
Although the man's blade did not cut through Link's cap, the impact still hurt him, blood trickling down the hero's face. He rolled his shoulders as another arrow whizzed by. Link turned as the three other swordsmen leapt onto his iceberg, chopping their swords while keeping their shields up. Link twirled his ax in a figure eight pattern, disarraying incoming attacks, his foes using their numbers to push Link backwards.
Link jumped then kicked from their shields, leaping to the next floating ice. The three swordsmen jumped after him, Link dodging another arrow while going to the next iceberg, Bruce using the same tactic at the opposite side of the lake to avoid being surrounded.
Landing on the next floating ice which was rather isolated, Link spun around as his nearest pursuer made the jump. Link swung his ax upwards from below, ax digging into the sternum of the leaping barbarian. Link arched his ax, slamming the stuck barbarian through the iceberg, ice and water dashing out. Link pulled his ax out the sinking brute while jumping onto the other half of iceberg, the two other swordsmen sliding to a halt.
"En ósnjallr maðr uggir hotvetna," a swordsman complained.
Link batted down another arrow shot by the archer, then aggressively paddled his ax to make his iceberg float away from the swordsmen. Link ducked, avoiding another arrow. He let go of his ax and withdrew his Fairy Bow, shooting arrows at the swordsmen as they jumped along the icebergs, though they were quite good with their shields and blocked his projectiles.
Link leaned, evading another arrow while shooting at the archer, a few sticking in the archer's chest. The archer grunted, kneeling from pain. Link checked his quiver. Three arrows left, gotta save them for when I really need them...
Bow put away, Link picked up the Dane ax as the two swordsmen made their way towards him, the barbarian whose knee he injured staying put. The next two wildmen came, their weight rocking the halved iceberg. Link backflipped to the previous floating ice, his two foes jumping at the same time, landing so heavily the iceberg partly sunk and startled them.
Balance regained, Link hacked away at the barbarians' shields; although much smaller, he was quite agile and dexterous, continuously attacking. His ax sparked against their bosses, their swords swinging, though Link jumped like a cricket, always staying along the edge of the iceberg yet never touching the water. Circling around the swordsmen so that one was always behind the other, Link arched his ax, hooking the barbarian's shield and pulling it down; he thrust the ax into the man's face, who reared from pain.
"HRRARRHHH!" The injured man swung his sword while bashing his shield, Link jabbing the top of his ax to intercept the attacks. The other swordsman went around, slashing at Link's side and hurting him.
A gurgled scream echoed.
Link looked around. "Bruce!"
The Zora had fallen onto his back, three swordsmen hacking away at him, their two other companions lying dead elsewhere.
Link rolled between his two attackers then jumped to the next iceberg. Dropping his Dane ax, Link felt an arrow thud into his back. Nevertheless, he withdrew his Fairy Bow and nocked an arrow, a fiery aura swirling around the arrow...
Their leader pulled himself out the water and onto an iceberg. "Vosi..." Shivering, he jumped to the next iceberg, eager to attack Bruce—a Fire Arrow whizzed forth, hitting the iceberg. The ice melted, Bruce and his three attackers disappearing underwater, the leader jumping off the last fading chunk and reaching safety.
All the barbarians looked at Link, flinching.
"Fljúganda fleini—flugglöð!? Töfr!" the leader cried.
Bow put away, Link pulled the arrow in his back down then out. He got his ax, his two pursuers reaching his iceberg.
"HYAAAHH!" Link pulled his ax back and swung with such force his feet turned, ax shattering through shield and head in one swing.
The felled man weakly rolled over. "Deyr sjalfr it sama..."
The other swordsman exploited Link's opening and chopped at Link's head, blade edge curling on impact and making Link grunt (good thing he had a really, really hard head). The hero staggered from the attack but blocked the next with his helve but received a shield-punch to the face. Imbalanced, Link's heels slid to the edge of the iceberg. The brute closed the distance and thrust his shield, Link not having the room he needed to swing his ax.
Link dropped his ax, grabbing the bottom rim of his foe's shield and lifting it into the incoming sword, disrupting the swing. Feeling the wildman's weight bearing down on him, Link ducked, pulling the brute's legs and making his feet slide off the ice. Link took out a single arrow from his quiver, ramming it diagonally upwards from underneath the chin, piercing the brainstem and killing the wildman instantly.
An arrow glanced off Link's forehead, he wincing. Link picked up a sword and shield and jumped after the archer, blocking arrows shot at him.
The archer ran away, leaping from iceberg to iceberg, keeping distance from Link while shooting. "Hah hah! Nálgasktu mik, ef þú megir!" He nocked another arrow—Bruce leapt out the waters, sliding his fin across the archer's neck. The archer held his throat as blood gushed out, falling over and bleeding out.
Link regrouped with Bruce, the frosty Zora covered with fresh scars.
Panting, Bruce slightly bowed. "Thanks for saving me, Link. I'm cut up pretty badly though, heh heh..." Bruce's gashes froze over, though he was quite hurt and in pain.
"I'll deal with their leader. Find Luna and make sure she's safe."
Bruce nodded.
Link took the few remaining arrows from the dead archer's quiver, now having six arrows. Link then ran the opposite direction of the withdrawing Zora, jumping onto the next iceberg. The leader leapt onto the adjacent iceberg, the swordsman whose knee Link had wounded retreated behind the lake, then disappeared into the snowstorm.
Despite covered in frost and ice-cold dampness, the leader appeared untroubled. He saluted with his spear. "Heill skaltu, Baldri." He gestured to himself. "Stendr í brynju burr Þorsteinns!" He leapt forth, lunging his spear as he descended.
Link knocked aside the incoming spearhead with his shield, swinging his sword, which the leader shielded from easily. The spearman used his height to his advantage, frequently jabbing his spear while keeping distance, the continuous thrusts holding Link back. Too short to easily reach his taller foe, Link's swings couldn't reach the spearman, and the few times he did he only struck the shield.
Link jumped sideways to cut-off the leader from his distance, Link's chops only hitting the shield. Link's smaller size also meant he easily dodged thrusts that slid past his shield. Link skipped around his foe's shied and thrust into his side, though the rounded tip of his Germanic sword failed to pierce the spearman's mail shirt. The leader bashed his shield into Link's, staggering the Hylian, then push-kicking Link over.
The spearman lunged downwards, Link kicking the spearhead aside then flipping back on his feet. The leader thrust again and again, Link's shield gradually pecked loose, holes appearing within the boards.
Irritated by Link's skill, the spearman grew impatient. "Bæsingr!" He lunged heavily, spearhead piercing Link's shield and nearly hitting his face.
Link tilted his spear-pierced shield, forcefully realigning the spear down. Link stepped upon his shield, pinning the spearhead between shield and ice. "HYAAHH!" Link's Jump Attack descended, sword glowing blue with Magic. The leader raised his shield, Link's glowing blade crashing upon it with such force the shield shattered, throwing the spearman off his feet so hard he lost his spear.
The leader slid until his head went over the edge of the iceberg. He sat up, unsheathing his sword and parrying Link's next attacks. He stood, Link's sword clinking against his byrnie and helmet. The armored barbarian swung back, Link blocking with his shield and chopping aggressively, breaking links off his foe's mail shirt and denting his helmet.
With his free hand, the leader grabbed the top rim of Link's shield, pushing it down then swinging overhead, hitting Link's head. The Hero of Time gasped, staggering as blood leaked down his face, Kokiri cap holding together. The leader punched Link's face then raised his blade—Link backflipped, evading his foe's sword, but slipped upon landing.
Link squatted up as the leader rushed forth. Link leaned on his heels as his foe's sword thrust past his face slicing his cheek open. Yet also, Link rammed his sword into the charging man's sternum. The sword plunged through his mail and stuck out his back, yet the wildman kept going, sliding down the blade until the hilt reached his chest.
The leader mounted Link, bashing his sword pommel into Link's head, blood leaking out with each hit. Dazed and bloodied, Link tucked against the barbarian's armored belly, impeding room for further injury. The wildman sat up, realigning his sword—Link raised his pelvis, his foe briefly imbalanced, Link grabbing the hanging mjǫllnir and pulling himself free. He pressed his feet against the barbarian's chest and outstretched his legs, sliding backwards as the sword slashed into the ice.
Link rolled backwards over his shoulders. "Oh-whoa!" He nearly slipped off the edge of the iceberg.
The barbarian got up, still impaled by the sword once wielded by Link. The wildman retrieved his spear and threw it at Link, the hero twirling once to avoid it. Weaponless, Link grimaced.
"Dygði—þitt veit ek líf of liðit!" The leader charged—an arrow with a blue aura struck his helm, blocks of ice growing throughout his body as he slowed, sword stopping just before Link.
Panting and bleeding as cold winds howled, Link let his arm drop, Fairy Bow in hand. He shouted as he drop-kicked his icebound opponent, ice shattering as the numb leader was hurled back, splashing into the frigid waters...
