Chapter 8 Giant Slayer

• Viggo was free-spirited and she knew he hardly ever took anything seriously. She would pray for the woman he chose to marry. She would have to have a lot of patience as her mother would say. Viggo, who had spent the night with few of the dancers was now dressed and smiling. though his father had decreed that he and Baldr would need to find their bride otherwise their father would do it for them. They had eight months and now they had six months, so for now he was going to have his fun and wait till after Baldr had chosen. Viggo was three years younger than his brother and he was enjoying life because for now he didn't want to be chained down to one woman and have children. There would be time for that, but until then he enjoyed his nightlife and being free.
• Elsa looked at her brother, "I didn't see Baldr or Elvinia this morning; did she leave again? Is that why Baldr isn't here? I swear he has a thing for the newcomer, regardless of what he says because his actions say otherwise."
• Viggo grabbed a loaf of bread with cheese and some of the salted pork before responding, "I called him out on that very thing last night, but he stated that I was wrong than taking another to bed with him last night."
• Elsa finished her milk, "Lydia, right?"
• "Yes, how did you know?" Viggo asked her because he knew for a fact that his kid sister had gone to bed before Baldr left for his room with the dancer.
• Elsa got up, "Lydia came out of Thane's room then I overheard them talking about their wedding being arranged for next week. I think you need to go find Baldr before father finds him and Elvinia."
• "You thinking something is about to go down?"
• "Lydia knows about father's decree, she is too eager to get out of being part of the harem. She would do just about anything to get out of it, and through the Thane's title, she would be moved up to a new station."
• Viggo nodded and quickly left the great hall to go and find his brother before their father found the two. The Hold was massive, so finding them wouldn't be easy, however, he did have an idea where to start looking. Hopefully, their father wouldn't get there first. He got on his white mount and headed off to where the Thane's children had once lived, not too far was the village that had been attacked, recently. He remembered his brother stating that they should investigate the areas and see what could be found. he and Baldr had gone with a small hunting party but that ended up being a very bad decision. Three men were killed by giants and two were taken by something underground. Only five survived out of the seventeen members. This was why their father the chieftain put into effect the curfew where everyone was in their homes before sunset.
• Elsa and Beadu finally headed out as well, their horses were saddled and a few of the guards were ready to escort them to wherever they would go until they were back behind the walls of the Hold.
• Beadu kept silent because she didn't want to reveal her own heart only that she wanted to be the wife of the Great Bear, for that was Baldr's nickname to many that have fought alongside him. Before the sudden change in plans, she was thrilled to be the one to marry the man named Baldr, she had fantasized for some time about what it would be like to be loved by the Great Bear. When she learned that the chieftain, Ingemar was to marry her because he had lost his wife of many years devasted her for she didn't want an older man but the one she was first promised to. She found herself being jealous of the woman traveler because no other had ever made an impression on Baldr, and even her husband, the chieftain, was amazed at her fighting abilities. Even though, he was already on guard because of the prediction he had been given, as a child. Knowing that she was possibly the one to take his throne had brought a feat upon him that he had never felt. Though he didn't say this to his new bride, she had second sight and knew that he feared that the woman could have killed him even when she was bound. Though she showed restraint, he feared that it was a ploy. Beadu remembered that her husband, Ingemar had stated that the woman being a warrior must be a war maiden. She remembered hearing the term for all who remember the legends heard at one time or another about the war maidens who were a dying breed. she remembered hearing the stories of how once they were blessed by the gods and used to do the god's bidings until one that was prized had gone missing. She was said to be taken as a babe and her mother slaughtered. It had been many years ago even before her grandfather was a child. There were many stories about the legend, and since then there hasn't been another war maided. She remembered her grandmother would tell her stories about the warrior women, they were bred for war even as children the war maidens were expected to survive through trials or fight to their very end. War-maidens were a small group of one of the fiercest warriors that could slay monsters that were said that couldn't be killed. Their armor and blades were made by the deity of war.
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• Beadu remembered what had transpired before she was even dressed this morning, and though she could not make out what was being said. She had seen the look in her husband's eyes, a look she hoped he would never give her. Her husband had opened the door telling the Thane to round up personal guards and be waiting by the entrance of the gate. He was not pleased she could tell as his face which was normally ivory was now red with anger. Whatever the Thane had told him, had caused her husband to quickly dress in his armor, and quickly one of the servants came to attach the cloak to the chieftain's shoulders. The chieftain slid his broadsword into the sling that was on his back, he placed his crown onto its mantle then put on his helmet He had left abruptly and she hadn't seen him since, this morning. Already outside, she was amongst the people in the hold, by the color of the women's dresses she knew who was higher class versus the ones who were farmers and even the slaves. Elsa didn't get on her horse for she walked her through the town, she and her mother use to go walking through the square. Elsa had taken over her mother's responsibilities after she had passed, and now she was handing over the torch to the new Lady of the Hold. Once they passed the temples, Elsa introduced Beadu to the orphanage where the children, who had lost their parents due to illness or because of war, were kept.
• "These are the children that help out in different areas of the Hold. If no one claims them or if they don't run away, they either join our army or are sent to work the land. There are two girls here and over at the blacksmith are two of the four boys. The other two boys are working the mines, so they work and earn their keep. Once they become of age they are on their own, which is why some of them enlist or go to work the jobs they were trained for. The girls are nearly fourteen, so they either marry when they turn sixteen or they are sold. Tomorrow the boys that are working the mines will be leaving the orphanage to start their lives. The two working blacksmiths were adopted by the metal worker because of the attacks more weapons and armor are needed, so he needed more hands."
• "So only the girls will be left here then?"
• "Not for long. Since Lydia won't be working with the servants, the younger one will be taking Lydia's place, and the older sister is to marry the captain of the guard's son."
• "I thought you said these girls won't leave till they are sixteen though?"
• "The younger one is nearly fifteen, besides she will be working the kitchen and helping out with the cattle. Her older sister will be married to the captain's son in mere weeks. Besides, no sense to keep just two girls in one house when there is much work to be done."
• Elsa finished showing Beadu the area then they went outside the gates, where they were headed to the first village that was near the cove, which was a fishing village. One of the guards carried a banner as he lead the way to the first destination. Beadu turned to Elsa, "Are you angry or bothered by something?"
• "Something. However, that is my problem, not yours." Elsa said nothing else as her horse began trotting as did the others keeping up with the chieftain's only daughter. Beadu wondered if Ingemar's children wanted him dead because they were not pleased with their father, there was a lot of resentment but on the other hand, not one of them was fighting over the throne. BEadu thought about the first night she and Ingemar had made love, he had told her that was to give him sons, heir to the throne for his first set of children were tainted with the blood of their mother. The chieftain was very displeased with his children because he treated his only daughter like she was another woman in the village, though his daughter had done everything to please her father. Viggo didn't care too much about his father's orders, Viggo would always follow Baldr to the ends of the realm.
• This family was very complicated from what she knew, Beadu said nothing else because she knew that the girl like to keep what goes through her mind to herself. Beadu even considered that maybe Elsa didn't trust her, either. To be honest, Beadu could understand why, as well.
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• Chieftain Ingemar and his men, scoured the land, going through the area with a fine-tooth comb. Though the area was quiet, he had to admit his adoptive son knew the area better than the others. There were no traces, searching from the hot springs down to the cove. He saw his daughter and new wife heading to the fishing village, so he decided to search the abandoned villages, he use to take Baldr there to learn to fight and hunt. This was when his oldest brother was alive before Ingemar became the chieftain. He rode in silence when the scout was sent out first making sure there were no dangers up ahead. He remembered when he was once the head of the army, he remembered seeing his brother smiling when Agnes had given him a son, they named him Baldr. Ingemar wanted that, he had feelings for Agnes. He was jealous of his brother and when Baldr was ten, he was father was in an accident. Unfortunately for his brother, Delmar died before help could reach him. When Ingemar married Anges, he wanted to burn Baldr with his father so that they could be together but Anges refused it. She had begged for her son's life, for that was all she had of her precious Delmar. He hated her for he could give her another son, and he did. Viggo's birth wasn't as climatic as Baldr's birth. Though Ingemar had given Anges everything she could ever want, two more babies, it wasn't enough. Her love for Delmar corrupted Ingemar's heart where he no longer cared to have Ange's heart. He watched her die just as he watched his brother dying, he should have killed Agnes the same day he had killed his brother. He believed she knew that her husband's death wasn't an accident and yet she didn't try to revenge her husband's death, instead she protected the heir and agreed he would never take the throne. Now here he was searching for Baldr, who Ingemar arranged for him to marry a mage from Adalwolf's court in the North. Since he didn't kill Baldr when he could have it was time Baldr paid his debt. His thoughts about the newcomer resurfaced as the others were looking through the abandoned village. He had thought his destiny had been wrong for he had never seen a woman warrior, he didn't even allow his daughter to learn to fight because he didn't want her to take his throne. He wasn't going to allow a woman to take his throne from his hand, but now that this strange woman was here, he had to wonder if this warrior was under the impression if she married Baldr then she would take the throne that way. She was going to have a rude awakening if she thought that.
• In the distance, Viggo saw his father in the abandoned village, luckily Viggo had already searched the area and knew his brother wasn't there. His father had his men just as Elsa had stated, so now he knew that Thane and Lydia had caused this, which explained why his sister was upset. Viggo snickered at the saying about scorned women there was some truth and not just a mere saying. Viggo nudged his horse to go on, there was a small village on the other side of the hot springs, he wondered if Baldr was there, but then again he remembered the children, who were saved by the newcomer. He then realized his brother would want to check the destroyed village because the other day they couldn't. Viggo didn't have to think twice as he headed towards the destroyed village, there were a few more and he knew his brother all too well. His horse had quickened his steps, moving with haste. Hopefully, Viggo thought, he would be right about the location and let his brother know what was going on.
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• Baldr and Elvinia had taken a trip to the village where she had fought the creatures two nights ago. While they were there, he taught her a few words but not enough that she could hold a conversation. What she couldn't say with words she drew about what she had seen that night and led him to where she had saved the young boy. He handed over the reins to her letting her lead them to the waterfall where she had hidden the first night. His hands were on her waist and though they had gotten closer, there was a barrier and it wasn't just the language. She had no idea his intentions and there was still the question of whether she was going to stay or leave. Though she wasn't in any rush, she didn't want there to be any regrets from the consequences of her making the wrong decision. She was used to having a schedule or plans before she made her decision she rarely detour from her script. The decision to go on this venture was the first time she had done something that wasn't planned, it was a flying by the seat of her pants kind of moment. Thus so far, she hadn't regretted that decision, though it was out of her comfort zone, she was looking forward to the adventures that she would face, and of course, her newfound freedom. She filled her pouch with fresh water while Baldr's horse was drinking by the pool of water. Her stomach growled for she was finally hungry, she went into her pack and started chewing on the jerky which she handed to Baldr. He looked over at her pack, wondering what she had in there. He knew she carried everything she owned there, which was interesting. She noticed him staring at her bag, though she had no desire to let anyone into her life, she did decide to let him see a few things. She opened her bag in front of him, displaying her armor set and other things that were part of her life. Though she hid the gun she was given right before she had taken this venture, she watched him as he touched the items in her pack. He pulled her dagger out, it was a gift from Roger when she turned sixteen. She kept it with her always, but Baldr knew this weapon, it was a weapon made by the Slayers. He knew of them though he had never met one before, this could be the reason she knew how to fight. Elvinia and he heard someone coming their way, and that was when he saw that it was his brother coming, when Baldr saw his brother's face he knew that it was urgent.
• Baldr handed, her back the dagger then went up to his brother, "What is it?"
• "Our father is with his men, trying to locate you brother."
• "What does he want?"
• "Someone told the Thane that you and she were together, and father doesn't exactly agree with the union of you with her."
• "Was he not the one that made the decree that we were to choose a bride before the end of this season? Now I have found a bride, he refuses her because of his damn fear of that prophecy."
• Before Viggo could respond, their father had finally caught up and there he was with his men. "It is not fear, Baldr. She is not one of us and what could she offer to our Hold? She has nothing but her weapons and warrior skills, she would be a perfect bride for a soldier, not the chieftain's son."
• Elvinia looked at the others as they argued amongst themselves, having no idea why they were angered but she had eyes and common sense, she knew whatever it was about, and she was at the center of it. Elvinia went to grab her pack when two guards from those who came with the chieftain. Baldr raised his sword towards them and said something but the chieftain signal his other men to draw swords, even though Baldr and Viggo's backs were against one another, though they were half-brothers they fought for each other regardless. The chieftain got off his horse, then ordered his men to take the woman but before they could take a step. The ground rumbled beneath their feet, and the trees were falling for something bigger was coming their way, something that had caught their scent was coming under the ground. Even the birds that were in the trees began flying out of fear. Not one of them held their swords toward each other instead they were preparing for something out of the darkness. She pulled away from the guards who were no longer paying attention to her, then without warning the ground began to open up. Two of the guards were grabbed and pulled down below as their cries of terror were quickly snuffed out. Eyes from the darkness revealed themselves, creatures were spewing out, skeletal creatures with dark red eyes. There were more coming, their claws with sharpened razors for nails, but that wasn't the worst part as giant hands began pulling themselves out of the holes. Its eyes were blacker than night, no light was in them. It towered over the creatures, they were here for her, they were here to kill her for she was who they were hunting for. The giant roared as it stood to its full height, towering over everything and everyone. Elvinia grabbed the spear from the soldier's back, she thrust the spear quickly nailing some of the creatures in a row, like shish kabobs that were placed on the grill. The men began to fight the creatures that lounged out of the holes from wench they came. However, the giant had its eyes on Elvinia, who was grabbing her bag then she began to run.
• she had no idea where she was going, but right before she made her turn the ground beneath her feet began to disappear, though it was meant to take her to another place, she pushed herself into the air something she had never done before until now. She gripped the ledge of the rock face, then she began hoisting her body back up, till she was out of reach. Elvinia took another step when the giant also began climbing the rock face, he was not allowed to let her live. She hadn't been given her mother's blade, she had yet to drink from the pool of Destiny. He knew if she had either, no one would be able to kill her. He wasn't going to let that happen, not while he was alive for his master had given him the way to kill her.
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• Directly behind her, he thrust his fist into the rocks sending a ripple with the poison from the witch that was to kill her on impact. What he didn't know was that she unknowingly gave the elixirs in her youth. Though the ripple in the rock face sent the surge to her and before she had the chance to move the rock spear went through her shoulder. The giant grinned with his jagged razor teeth, thinking he had killed the war maiden's daughter. It didn't last very long, his wicked smile was short-lived when he saw her pulling the spear out of her shoulder. The magic didn't work, he saw in her eyes the winter eyes darkened before she aimed the spear directly at the giant. She jumped off the ledge coming down directly on him.
• She didn't have a plan instead something in her heart snapped, whatever she was holding back was released when the rock spear shot through her, and she broke the rock spear right before she leaped down onto the giant. Onto its face she landed then took the spear that he had used on her now she rammed the rock spear through its face, forcing him to release his grasp on the rocks and they began to fall. Again, she took the rock spear, and with her screamed battle cry she again rammed the spear into its head, over and over. The giant crashed into the ground but she didn't roll off of the giant. Instead, she fell onto her knees as the rock spear crumbled in her hands. She didn't know what had happened for a moment; she remembered what she felt at that moment that still radiated through her. The surge of power ignited her soul, something she had never felt before, but now the energy surge was lost to her. The giant bleeding onto the ground, for life, no longer resided in the creature. for it was dead and never coming back, stepping off the giant and back onto the ground. She watched as the giant melted back into the ground until it dissolved leaving nothing behind.
• Her wound already healed by the time she made it to where the attack had started, they had lost a few of their warriors but Baldr and Viggo still stood next to their father Ingemar who only had four our his guards remaining. The creature's bodies had turned to ash, no bones or anything was remaining of them. Baldr turned to see Elvinia with dried blood on her shirt, but even the chieftain had to turn and look, for in her hands she carried the head of the giant that was the only thing she had managed to save before the rest of it had dissolved back into the depths. She swung the giant's head over to the chieftain's feet who had to acknowledge that even he couldn't have slain the giant and that he couldn't do what she had done. The chieftain had to rethink his position, was it better for her to be his enemy, or was it better to keep her close? He had to use his wisdom rather than his blade, he knew that she was stronger than his army combined if it meant keeping her on his right side just to learn before he made another decision that could make the prophecy come true. Chieftain Ingemar didn't let his eyes leave the strange woman though he was speaking directly to Baldr, "You want her as your bride?"
• "Yes, I do want her as mine."
• "Teach her our ways, and wait at least three months, then if she chooses you you have my blessings. I want her to be part of our military, show her our Hold, and make sure she understands our customes. For now, she may stay in the barracks with the other soldiers."
• "Why wait three months?"
• "I want to know if she is trustworthy, if she learns our ways and wants to stay here, then we go from there. She starts tomorrow training with the men, not just patrolling but we need to do the sweep to every village. You and your sister will teach her our language, she must be fitted for her armor and have other clothing for soon our allies will be coming here. Already a few of the Holds have had issues and we are discussing the plan on taking care of these creatures."
• "Chieftain, why the sudden change of heart?"
• "She has saved our Hold more than once and maybe she has a purpose for being here, and I am being an old fool for letting my imagination of getting the best of me."
• Baldr knew that the chieftain was up to something, he wasn't the kind to admit he was wrong, but for now, there was peace amongst them and then he turned back to Elvinia and signal for her to come. Baldr looked over at Ingemar, "She could stay in my room, why the barracks?"
• "Only for tonight, she must work herself up the ranks to gain favor in our courts."
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• They returned to the Hold with the head of the giant being carried by the remaining guards. That night was a celebration for Elvinia, who had slain a giant that was said couldn't be killed by a mere mortal. Though they didn't know the truth about Elvinia, the ones who did were not able to tell her who or what she was. For now, though, she was able to be amongst them without feeling as though she had to be wary. Tonight, somehow it was as though she had found her place. Ale was being poured as the feast was being served, though Baldr sat at the long table with those she assumed were his family, she however sat with the soldiers. Did they believe she was a soldier, willing to fight in their army? She had no qualms about fighting for a cause, however, these creatures were not her foes. She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, at least that was her thought about it all. However, another part of her wondered if her being here had set off a bomb of sorts, had she attracted these creatures here by chance or accident? Those around her were singing and having their fill of their glutton desires. Though she didn't understand exactly what was being said she did as the others did when the announcement of Thane set to marry Lydia. Elvinia looked at Baldr as he and his siblings were not smiling or showing amusement as the others. When everyone started back to drinking others were wrestling of sorts and cheering. Lydia smiled for she was no longer a servant but her title was to make sure everything was done for the chieftain and his new wife. Lydia spied the newcomer, for her plan didn't go as she had thought it would, but for now, she would bite her tongue and watch. Baldr didn't blink even though he was displeased that the dancer that he had in his chambers. she had believed it was a good idea to sabotage the relationship between him and Elvinia. though he wondered how she had found out about them, she had supposedly left his room before he even had decided to go to Elvinia. Even though it might have been possible for her to have followed him, after all. Ingemar was playing nice for now with Elvinia, though Baldr had rather leave here and take his brother and sister with Elvinia and just leave the area. After the announcement of Thane marrying Lydia, Baldr got up and walked over to Elvinia who was finishing her drink. He held out his hand for her, which she had taken unaware of why or what he wanted. Viggo and Elsa got up and walked after Baldr, though this had upset their father who did not comment, he wondered what his children were up to when already there was enough treachery going on. The bard began to sing while playing his lute. Other instruments were played when Baldr held on to Elvinia leading her while they danced. Viggo didn't have a lady in waiting, not yet anyways. However, tonight, he instead decided to dance with his sister tonight. She hadn't had any fun during these celebrations because she was promised to another and to keep her pure, she had to have an escort. So tonight, while the music played, he would give his sister a chance to have some fun.