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Post by KD on Jul 14, 2014 2:43:20 GMT -5
She was silent for a long time. "Because it would be so much easier if I could see you as an animal the way you see me. But I can't. We're bound to our natures, all of us, and slitting your throat while you were unconscious is not something that's in mine. To add to it, if you'd died by my hand, your father would have hunted me down anyway."
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Post by Jenny on Jul 14, 2014 2:51:05 GMT -5
“He would,” Ulfr readily agreed. “Audun let you loose as an entertainment, not by sympathy. Perhaps I allow you to live because it amuses me. I would see how you survive the winter, woman. Mayhap it will kill you so I will not have to go through the trouble.” He had not reached for his dagger, nor did his stance imply that he meant her harm, he was simply observing her there.
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Post by KD on Jul 14, 2014 2:53:32 GMT -5
"I know. He said so when he let me loose." She nodded slowly at his words. "Yes, that's what I thought." She disappeared behind the wall of the tower as if that was the end of the conversation.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 14, 2014 3:13:00 GMT -5
Ulfr watched her leave, and made no move to pursue her. She meant him no harm, not to him, not at the moment. She was just trying to survive. He chuckled a little. Like a beast who would always be a beast no matter how much you try to tame it. She wouldn’t be tamed, not by him. He was content at the moment to allow her to live in the wild. He left the ruins in which she took shelter and moved down the path. He was, however, content to set off every single trap she had made, now knowing where each of them were by his slow progress up the mountain pass.
Setting off the last trap, he avoided the sharp barbs that came his way, finding them of no consequence, knowing of the limitations of traps himself when one was keeping their eyes open. His horse was watching him, if the mare had been startled by the noise it was not impressed. He mounted it, laughing lightly, turned and rode away back to the manor, as the moon dipped low on the horizon.
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Post by KD on Jul 14, 2014 3:25:26 GMT -5
Eira watched him go silently, thinking she kept seeing slight traces of a good man somewhere behind his eyes when he showed it once in a while. If he would ever truly let himself be one, which she doubted. Still, she was alive for the moment.
The moon's glow caught the white fur of the mysterious stag as it stepped onto the forest's edge and watched him leave with that same eerie precision it had showed before.
Eira had no idea it was doing that. If she had, she might have tried to discourage it, worried that it would be killed. Not by Ulfr, perhaps, but by someone.
She shivered and drew the hood of her wolfskin back over her head as an icy wind suddenly picked up, sending clouds rolling through the sky. The autumn harvest was at it's last end but the cold had come in faster than they had expected, she overheard that when she was near the farms. She thought of the little girl she had helped earlier and hoped that she and her family had enough food. The Jarl's household would be fed easily but what about the rest of them?
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Post by Jenny on Jul 14, 2014 12:28:02 GMT -5
Ulfr did not happen to see the stag, but if he did, he would certainly give pause just to see its beauty. For a hunter to kill such a reverent beast would be almost a sin.
To his credit, the Jarl was not without mercy, for he allowed families to keep a large portion of their own harvest, having plenty for his own household after gathering tithe from the common people. He advised his people to ration out their stores carefully, for the winter would span longer than was known, if the quick frost had any indication. He would likely eat heartily and well, but a few extra grains here from the Jarl’s stores if a family needed to eat was not unreasonable, mostly to the kitchen servants, who too were fed well. It was a fine place to serve, the Jarl’s manor.
Ulfr dismounted and led the mare into the stables, unsaddled the horse and put a blanket over it so it would not grow ill after the night’s ride. He placed the saddle back in his place with the other well-kempt saddles, of which the stable master could be proud, and snuffed out the lamp he had lit so that he could see. It was not wise to leave a lamp unguarded, for if it should tip it was likely the straw would kindle and the stable would go up in flames. A horrible loss that would be, and terrible, for the beasts within.
When he entered the manor, the door man snorted awake and stood up from his seat, his candle having burned nearly to the nub. “Lord Ulfr, your father has missed your presence this even’tide, he had hoped to dine with you.”
Ulfr grimaced. “Thank you, Brandr. You may retire now.” Ulfr turned as the man bowed to take his leave. “And thank you, for keeping the light burning.”
Brandr looked pleased at the praise. He bowed again and went towards the servants quarters. He would likely be up quite early, perhaps for only a few hours rest, but it was his position in this household. Still, Ulfr had a pang of guilt for the old man. Ulfr shook his head and bounded up the stairs.
His father had missed him. This could not bode well at all.
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Post by KD on Jul 14, 2014 12:38:46 GMT -5
Some of the thralls, including Brittany, were still up and awaiting Ulfr's return as well once they'd realized where he'd headed. There was really only one reason for the Jarl's son to have headed into the woods at this time of year. Once again, he didn't return with Eira in chains...or her head. Brittnay sighed in quiet relief and the young man beside her looked rather morose. It was selfish, Brittnay had scolded him, for him to wish she'd be brought back but he had been besotted with the Celt and now he would probably never see her again.
Brittany shot him a glance and narrowed her eyes. "Don't even think about it." He'd mentioned his crazy idea to run off to the woods after Eira a couple of times. "You don't know the first thing about surviving in the wilderness."
"She could teach me...she's a goddess, remember how they said that barbarian knelt in front of her before she took his head?" he said dreamily.
"She's not a goddess, she's a woman trying to survive. If you run off, not only will you be a burden to her during a hard winter and probably die yourself, if others start following you, the Jarl will wipe all of you out." She whacked him upside the head. "Get to bed, it's cold out already."
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Post by Jenny on Jul 14, 2014 13:11:22 GMT -5
Ulfr went to his room quickly, his eyes darting around, as if expecting his father to be watching out for him. He let out a long sigh after he had shut the door. Habitually, he undressed, preparing to sleep, and stretched out on the large bed after pulling shut the curtains, to stave off the chill. He put his arms behind his head, his thoughts unquiet. He had no reason to lie to his own father before, but he needed to explain his absence so late in the night, which was not a habit of his. He usually exercised during the early morning before he breakfasted, so that he would not get stomach cramping, and though he would be gone for a few hours, it was never in darkness that he had returned. He could say that he was trailing a “rare prey, and he had been indeed, but his father may have cause to seek this beast out on his own, and he wanted no danger to that ethereal stag he had witnessed.
By Odin, this matter vexed him so! Just what was he doing? Did he mean to take the woman’s head or not? Growling in frustration, he flopped onto his side after pulling up the bedcovers, pounded his pillow with his fist a few times, though it did not make him feet any better, and resolved to try to get some rest, for he was certain his father would want a word with him at first light, but only a few hours away.
Indeed, in the morning Ulfr was summoned. He promptly dressed and went off to the Jarl’s bedchamber, muttering to himself, quite bleary eyed and in no mood to speak with him.
Ulfr tapped on the door and his father bade him enter. Rather than lying on the bed, the Jarl sat upright in a chair, perched precariously on the edge of the seat. And he was blunt. But why was he is such a foul mood?
“Explain yourself, Ulfr. Why were you not present last even’tide? I had meant to call upon you for an important matter.” Halldorr said, his mouth turned down into a scowl.
Ulfr had to think quickly, and suddenly came up with a likely explanation. “I was visiting a woman, if you must know. Must I tell you of my private affairs?”
“Yes! And no…” Halldorr looked uneasy, and Ulfr felt a small victory.
“What is this matter of importance you speak of?” Ulfr tried to change the subject.
Halldorr raised his brow. “A woman is what I had in mind indeed, but not the like you must have visited.”
Ulfr looked at him guardedly, and the Jarl continued after clearing his throat. “I thought it high time that you were married, my son.”
“Married?” Ulfr’s mouth went agape. He had not expected this.
“Yes, married. You are more than sufficient of age and you cannot keep chasing women’s skirts as you do.”
“Father, I think this is hardly the time to be discussing this.” Now it was Ulfr’s turn to be uneasy.
“And why not?” Halldorr replied sharply, indignant. “You are my only son and heir, is it not a father’s right to wish for more?”
Ulfr chuckled and ran his hand through his hair. “So I see. Is that what this is about?”
The Jarl ground his jaw. “I have a noblewoman in mind, she could bear you many fine sons.”
“And have I ever met this woman?” Ulfr narrowed his eyes, not wanting to lose ground.
“Do you expect to marry for love?”
“You did.”
The Jarl sighed and rubbed his temples. “Allow me to arrange for a meeting, that is all I ask. When you see her—“
“If it will make you quiet upon this matter, then I agree, but I promise nothing. Are we done here?”
Halldorr looked slightly hurt, and Ulfr hated himself for snapping at him. “I am sorry father. I should not have been so curt with you.”
The Jarl smiled wistfully. “I married young, Ulfr. So much younger than you are now. I wished for you to experience what I could not. But I have waited long enough.”
Ulfr bobbed his head. “I understand father. I will meet this woman, and we shall see what transpires.”
“That is all I ask.” Halldorr nodded in return. “Now go, I will expect you at the breakfast table. I need to dress.”
Ulfr pressed his hands together and was all too willing to go. He let out a long breath as he walked down the hallway.
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Post by KD on Jul 14, 2014 13:30:33 GMT -5
The frosts were constant now. Eira judged they'd have a snowfall soon. She sniffed the air, thinking it wouldn't be today or tomorrow, however. She continued to build up her stores as best she could. Lucky for her, the stream emptied into a small underground pool deep within the space, open enough it was still fresh but closed off from the sky enough it was unlikely to freeze. And there were fish, sickly things compared to the ones on the outside but they would suffice in a pinch. It also meant she could wash herself, which she was very happy for.
In between building her stores up, Eira carefully draw a quantity of large stones...as big as she could carry...into an empty room. She'd found metal tools she could adjust to use, not as well as her stoneworking tools back at home, but she could make due with them. Her father had been a metalsmith by trade, the Jarl himself wore the proof of how exquisite his craftmanship was. Eira worked better with wood and stone. It was her hands that had carved the pictographs into the stones of their sacred grove. She could do elaborate work or the simplest of signs to point the way down a road. It calmed her to light a small stone brazier with a small fire in the room she'd chosen to lay the stones and go to work, losing herself in the enjoyment of carving away designs bit by bit, watching the elaborate knots and patterns slowly form, entwining with symbols. A stag, a hawk, a bear, a boar, an entire forest rendered in twisting design. Commemorating her father and her tribe, often heedless of the tears that trailed down her face until her sight was blurred from it, finally giving herself time to work through her grief. Sometimes it seemed that the pain would forever strike her heart at odd times and only this tribute to those fallen people gave her any comfort in the cold night.
The mood throughout the hall was a bit more upbeat than it had been amidst the worries about the harvest and the tidings of a bad winter. The servants moved easily and the guardsmen seemed more relaxed. The feasts had reassured even the thralls and people smiled in the presence of their masters and chattered happily when they were alone. No one mentioned Eira by name but occasionally they spoke of her, hoping she was well.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 16, 2014 0:40:20 GMT -5
A week had come and gone by, but Ulfr did not relax, caught between worrying when his father would bring in this noblewoman he had in mind for him, and thinking about the Celtic woman out in the forest… Hel must have cursed him with some sort of madness when she crept into his mind. But he did not want to think upon his intended either.
When he passed by, servants would suddenly hush and disperse, or would serve him quietly with small, secret smiles on their faces. He wasn’t sure what to think of that, for if it was regarding his upcoming engagement, Odin unwilling, he would have expected stiffness and jealousy, at least from the servant maids he had tousled.
A few weeks passed, and at last the Jarl requested him for a dinner, telling him to dress and groom well, and to expect guests… or perhaps a certain noblewoman, to be sure. He did so, muttering as he put on his best jerkin, and walked to the dining hall. He paused and took a breath before going in, his eyes looking along the long table, which was set for four.
There was a man sitting to the Jarl’s right side. His hair and long beard were once raven black, but now they were streaked with grey. His clothes were likely his best, though they lacked the same quality of make as his own. Beside him, to his left, was seated a woman, her hair a golden red, braided long down her back. She wore a cream colored shift with long sleeves with what could be pearls along the sleeves and at the clasps of her cuffs. She also wore a necklace of ivory colored pearls and wore a touch of rouge upon her pale cheeks and upon her lips. She could be the second or third born daughter of this man. She had an instant smile for him, looking him up and down approvingly, though subtly.
The three seated stood as Ulfr began to cross the room, trying not to stare at her. She was lovely, he had to give her that. But he wondered what sort of reason this match was to take place. Did this man want to marry his last daughter to a wealthy gentlemen, or was there something more to it than that?
But it mattered not to him, what mattered was the fact that the look on his father’s face was much too cheery. He eyed him as the Jarl made introductions.
“Ah, my son Ulfr, at last. Ulfr, this is Lord Volundr and his lovely daughter, the Lady Astrid.” He motioned to each in turn, Volundr bowing deeply and Astrid giving a delicate curtsey.
Ulfr bowed to each in turn in manners of etiquette. “My Lord, my Lady.” He went to his father’s left side, across from Volundr. They were all smiling at him ridiculously, as if he had been a subject of conversation he had not been privy too. Ulfr cleared his throat and tossed his napkin in his lap. A servant went forward to fill his cup with wine and he took a deep draught and set it down.
He awkwardly sat through dinner, not offering conversation and not speaking unless spoken to, his phrases short and to the point. The Jarl obviously disapproved, Ulfr knew his face well enough for that. Astrid kept giving him glances beneath her lashes, her cheeks rosy, not saying much at all either. When the meal was over, his father suggested that he take Lady Astrid for a walk to see the grounds and that Volundr and he would stay and speak a while.
Ulfr breathed in and out his nose and then gave Astrid a smile, giving her his arm.
In their time alone, Ulfr did not know what to expect. Would the woman prattle on and speak of nothing but nonsense? Or would she stay bashful and silent.
But surprisingly, she was not bashful, nor did she speak nonsense, though her conversation was light, the questions always open ended so that he would have to converse with her in some way. Ulfr had to admit, she had learned her role well, though the real Lady Astrid was yet to be discovered. She looked sweet enough but looks could be deceiving.
He cordially wished her a good night when they had circuited the grounds, and in the presence of the woman’s father. She was interested in everything, of course, and would comment often that the Jarl, and thus Ulfr himself, had many fine things. Was this flattery or was she already counting the coinage that would be in her pocket if this marriage would progress. She watched him leave with a docile expression after wishing him a good night as well.
He passed his father stiffly, heading for his room, not wishing for conversation, or to hear anything his father had to say to try to convince him that this was in his best interest, how fine a match they would be, and the like, saying that he had a headache.
Ulfr was not bothered again that evening, or the very next day. Indeed, his father had allowed some time to pass before suggesting that Ulfr take the Lady Astrid, who were guests at Asger’s former estate, for a ride. When he heard Asger’s name mentioned, he wondered if the Lord Volunder and his daugher were in any way related to him. Since he had been left alone, Ulfr felt like he owed his father some favor, so he agreed.
It had been some time since he had been in the forest, and he took Astrid there, though he skirted away from his sanctuary, not wishing this woman to see such an intimate part of him. She was dressed smartly in green velvet, which set off her hair nicely, her hands gloved in lace. She was lovely, indeed, but he would not be easily swayed from his determination that he would not be matched, not by anyone.
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Post by KD on Jul 16, 2014 0:58:26 GMT -5
To Eira's people, white stags were considered messengers from the otherworld.
He had been her constant companion as she healed and prepared for the winter and by that point, the stag came almost every day to the ruins. When he'd allowed Eira to cup his muzzle and stare into his dark eyes, she was suddenly quite certain he had come with the spirits of her tribe and family. She could see her father somewhere in his eyes.
There had been a light snowfall, enough to dust the trees with snow and it was on that day that Eira was walking through, enjoying the silence with the white stag at her side. He would often walk beside her, even allowing her to lay her hand on his back.
She enjoyed the quiet of winter despite the cold. At least until it was interrupted. Irritated, thinking it was Ulfr come back despite his taunt about waiting to see if she survived the winter, she paused, seeing two figures in the distance, keeping still and peering through the trees. She blinked in surprise when she caught a glipse of green velvet and red hair. It was Ulfr but he wasn't on the hunt. He was with a woman. No servant or slave, she, not with those clothes. A noblewoman. A bride to be, perhaps?
She hoped so. Maybe if he'd found himself a proper broodmare, he could get around to making bearded babies and leave her alone.
Eira stroked the stag's back to soothe it, for it was nervous having an unfamiliar scented human nearby in the forest and moved silently away, hoping neither of them had noticed them.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 16, 2014 1:06:35 GMT -5
“What is that?” Astrid raised a gloved hand and pointed to a thin trail of smoke coming up from higher up the mountain pass.
Ulfr reigned in his horse and looked at where she pointed. Sure enough, there was smoke, and it stood out against the clear winter sky, and the trees were thinned or bare completely. He had a feeling it was coming from the ruins Eira was hovelling in. It was wise to keep the coals going during the winter, for it was hard to get a spark going when one’s fingers were numbed from the cold.
“Likely a trappers camp,” he lied easily.
“Oh I do hope their aren’t any traps around here.”
“So do I,” he replied, smirking, remembering his last venture.
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Post by KD on Jul 16, 2014 1:17:44 GMT -5
Eira had not reset any of the traps since he'd left so they were in no danger from it. She hadn't seen much of a point since most of them would end up buried underneath snow most likely and at any time. Only the pit traps remained and Ulfr knew where those were.
She headed up the mountain to her sanctuary to avoid the pair, thinking surely it would be easy because he wasn't going to bring her this high up the mountain.
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Post by Jenny on Jul 16, 2014 1:36:12 GMT -5
Astrid had glanced at him curiously at the look on his face and shook her head a little, smiling like she wanted to be let in on whatever secret he held inside him. He gave her a glance and then cleared his throat, snapped the reigns and took her on before she had any further curiosities. He decided that it would be best to skirt around the forest altogether and led her out into the open. They passed by farmhouses then. Not much was going on now that the harvest had long passed, and now people were inside beside the hearth. It was quiet, so when Astrid spoke again Ulfr jumped
“The Winter Solstice will be upon us soon,” Astid said softly, looking up at him.
“Aye,” Ulfr glanced at her. “Will you be staying the winter here?”
She looked delighted at the prospect that he might be asking for her to stay. He hadn’t really meant the sort, but it had been said.
“The fjords are freezing up, it’s likely if we don’t cross we’ll never get home. I wouldn’t mind staying. How do you celebrate the Solstice?”
Ulfr pursed his lips. “Feasting, gifting… and a lot of drinking.” His chuckle waned when he remembered that this would be the first winter without Asger.
“You look sad,” she observed.
“Aye, the manor you stay in once belonged to a good friend of mine.”
“Asger, you mean?”
Ulfr looked at her sharply. “You knew him?”
“He was cousin, by blood of course. I was just a babe, I don’t remember him.”
“He was a good man,” Ulfr smiled. “You would have liked him.”
Suddenly Astrid reigned her horse in and gasped in awe. Ulfr followed her gaze and saw that there was a great white elder, one he knew to be dead wood but still managing to stand, had been carved with beautiful designs.
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Post by KD on Jul 16, 2014 1:46:56 GMT -5
Eira had done it earlier as a healing gift to the little girl she'd led out of the forest.
It also served as a sort of guidepost, though Eira wasn't fully aware of it at the moment.
The woman who was passing through the lightly powdered earth saw it as such, however. She paused to bow a bit to Ulfr and Astrid but her face was haggard with fear and worry and dark circles stamped her eyes. She hurried on into the woods right past the elder, climbing up the hill.
This woman was a shepherd's wife and her child was ill. Very ill. If he didn't get stronger very soon, it was almost assured he would not survive the winter. Like the others, she'd heard of spirits up on the mountain. Unlike the others, she was fairly certain it was the slave everyone kept speaking of in hushed voices when the Jarl or his son couldn't hear. Word traveled and she had heard this odd witch had strange healing powers.
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