Eivor went to search for Hunwald who ran off in tears after hearing his father died.
Dialogue
Eivor went to search for Abbess Acha, who followed a crying Hunwald. Eivor saw the abbess at an entrance of Lincoln.
Eivor:Acha. Where is Hunwald?
Acha:I tried to console him, but he pushed me away. I love the boy, I do. But I fear what would happen if he took his father's title. He's fragile and scattered. I saw him ride north, following the paved Roman road. To the old tall tree where he often passed time with his father, I imagine.
Eivor:Hunwald loved you like family. And you lied to his face.
Acha:In my way I was trying to protect him. O Saint Cuthbert, give me strength.
Eivor:Oaths and ale work better than your prayers and saints.
Eivor:What devil put you up to all this deception?
Acha:I wasn't put up, Eivor. I felt compelled to carry on for the good of the shire. Until I knew the truth.
Eivor:A pretty answer for an ugly lie.
Eivor:I have better people to speak to. Wallow in your self-made grief, abbess.
Acha:Go then. Why linger here?
Eivor spoke to Acha once more, before departing.
Acha:I must beg forgiveness from my God. The Lord lifts up the meek... we must praise Him.
Eivor:That must be the tree Acha mentioned. Hunwald may be nearby.
Eivor neared the grand red tree, where she heard a drunk Hunwald.
Hunwald:These woods, Father. O, these woods... I remember the days we spent here together. Here upon this spot. Ducking and hiding through the rushes. With bow and arrow. Chasing rabbits and squirrels. A thousand arrows I fired, and a hundred trees I bled, but not a single animal I could catch. All of them, fled.
Eivor drew near to Hunwald, who barely recognized her in his drunken stupor.
Hunwald:Eivor, what a pleasant surprise! Would you drink with me?
Eivor:Hunwald...
Hunwald:Come! Sit, sit. Stay with me a while and comcemplate... conmemtate... contemplate the view.
Eivor:Be easy with your grief, Hunwald. If you're not careful, it's a poison you'll bear in your blood for the rest of your life.
Hunwald:No need to worry! For I have found the antidote for it!
Hunwald drank a cup. Eivor grabbed a cup herself before continuing to console him.
Eivor:Collect yourself, Hunwald. There's many a man in Lincolnscire who'd pay to see your head on a pike.
Hunwald:Well they can wait a moment!
Eivor grabbed a cup while Hunwald drank.
Eivor:Let's have a drink. To the memory of your father.
Eivor grabbed a cup and drank with Hunwald.
Hunwald:Here we go a wassailing, among the leaves so green!
Eivor:Do not gorge on grief, nor give in to sadness, but let your aching love light the mead of your eyes and lead you to triumph.
Hunwald:That is... quite lovely. My father would have liked you. He liked all those who could swing a sword and speak a verse with ease.
Eivor:He had a large heart and a love for his people. I think I would have liked him, too.
Eivor:An outsider whose people ravaged his shire? I think he would have hated me.
They both drank some more.
Hunwald stared out at the fields the hill overlooked.
Hunwald:He and I used to wander up this way all the time. He would take me hunting. And I would catch the most wretched little things, if I caught anything at all. I was a rubbish hunter. But he always said he was proud. Each and every time.
Eivor:A toast...
Eivor:...to your father, Lord Hundbeorth of Lincolnscire. He may have dwindled from this world in death, but in life, he was as stalwart as this tree.
Hunwald:A wise oak tree, yes!
Eivor:Skal.
Eivor:To you, Hunwald. You have love in your heart and hope in your eyes. That's more than many can say.
Hunwald was overcome by Eivor's words of praise.
Hunwald:Eivor, I... can't begin to...
Eivor:All right, lord. You're all right. Skal.
Eivor:To this great land that bore you. It was here long before your father, and it'll be here long after he's gone. Skal.
Hunwald:Skal!
Eivor drinking with Hunwald while listening to his stories
They drank even more as time passed on top of the hill.
Hunwald:And then ... and then my father says, "It's the right goat, but it's the wrong end!"
Eivor and Hunwald laughed.
Hunwald:Ah, my Swanburrow loves that one. She has a great sense of humor, my lady-love. Father would have liked her.
Eivor:Right, your Dane ladylove. She sounds lovely. Too lovely to be real.
Hunwald:You know what? We should visit her! We should go to Brimsgy! Er, Grimsby! Yes, yes, there's no time to lose.
Eivor:After you.
Eivor and Hunwald departed to meet with Swanburrow.
Hunwald:Nothing like drinking and riding to jostle your problems away.
Eivor:And the contents of your gut.
Eivor following Hunwald on horses
Both drunk, Eivor and Hunwald started to ride on their horses.
Eivor:Before I let it pass, Hunwald. I spoke with Aelfgar before this. He gifted me a weapon of your father's. Should I find that odd?
Hunwald:Hmm. I'm not sure. They often went hunting together, so it's not strange that he should have something of my father's.
Eivor:You don't want it yourself? As a memento mori?
Hunwald:No, no. You're better suited to such gifts. I'm a talker, not a fighter.
Hunwald:Now come... and enjoy the splendor of my shire.
Eivor:You Saxons and your tiny splendor. You have never seen mountains, have you? Or deep fjords like a giant's axe wound. Or towering falls that steam in the dead of winter. Snow sparkling like a blanket of jewels. That is splendor.
Hunwald:Well if your homeland is so splendor-ful, why come to England at all?
Eivor:You cannot grow crops on a blankets of jewels.
Hunwald:Ha! Very true.
Eivor:I'll admit, your countryside does take the breath away.
Eivor and Hunwald entering the Spitalgate
Hunwald:Quite so, quite so. I love this land. And should I follow my father's footsteps, I shall do my solemn duty to protect her. I know many think me foolish, inexperienced ... but I would ask that they judge me by my future hopes, not my past reputation. If I am given sway over this land and show myself to be a poor leader, shame me, punish me, of course. But give me that chance. By God, I just want to have that chance.
Eivor heard a noise.
Eivor:What was that?
Hunwald:Birds, Eivor! Has no one told them today is a day of grief—
Eivor:Hsst! Quiet...
Eivor and Hunwald stopped.
Eivor discovering the hidden attackers
Eivor:Stop here. Something isn't right. I'll find the trouble before it finds us.
Eivor found the mysterious assailants.
Eivor:Hide or fight, Hunwald! Now!
Hunwald:Father, give me strength to survive this!
Eivor started to fight the ambushers.
Hunwald:Ah! Eivor! Help!
Eivor went to aid and kill the ambushers.
Hunwald:Devils! Who sent you? Speak or be damned!
Eivor killed all the assailants.
Hunwald:Well struck, Eivor!
Eivor:That's twice they tried to kill you, Hunwald.
Hunwald:And twice failed!
Eivor:We had luck. But if you're not more careful, they will succeed. Someone in Mercia wants you dead. And they'll kill anyone in the way to see it done.
Hunwald:Yes! Including my dear Swanburrow. My ladylove! Come, let us hurry away!
Eivor:I'm serious Hunwald. Are you hearing me?
Hunwald:Plain and clear! Follow me!
Hunwald led the way to Swanburrow.
Eivor:Hunwald, are you sure this place is safe?
Hunwald:The safest spot in the shire, yes! Here I am, with a chance to be ealdorman, but I have yet to prove myself worthy. To you. To the shire. To her! I can do nothing without my darling lady. You've made me realize how much I neglected her through this fatal stupor of mine!
Eivor:This I must see for myself.
Eivor and Hunwald traveled to Grimsby, where they arrived at Swanburrow's abode.
Hunwald:O, thank the heavens, there she is!
Hunwald and Swanburrow kiss each other after a long absence
Eivor and Hunwald go to Swanburrow, who was paying tribute to one of her gods, Odin. Swanburrow, worried, looked up to see Hunwald.
Swanburrow:Hunwald! I thought for sure you'd be dead. Why didn't you send word?
Hunwald:It has been far too long, my little jewel. I'm so very sorry for that.
Swanburrow and Hunwald kissed.
Swanburrow:I am fine, my love. I wilted without you, but still I grow. And who is this?
Eivor:Ah, yes, I am proud to present, Eivor of the Raven Clan.
Swanburrow:Hello, Eivor. A pleasure to meet you.
Eivor:And you, Swanburrow. I wasn't sure what to make of Hunwald's stories, yet here you are.
Swanburrow:Surprised to find a Dane by his side?
Eivor:Not quite. I'm surprised to find a Saxon at yours. Hunwald seems to endear himself to all sorts.
Hunwald:Eivor agreed to help me find my father. But I'm afraid it hasn't gone well as I'd hoped.
Eivor:Getting to know one another will have to wait. Hunwald's in danger and so are you.
Eivor:You really have been courting a Dane. It's a side of you I didn't expect.
Swanburrow:People say we're an odd couple. I do not care much what people say.
Hunwald:As every boat needs an anchor, every man needs his Swanburrow. The light of my life. Eivor has been my champion as I stake my claim in Lincolnscire. But I'm afraid it hasn't gone well as I'd hoped.
Swanburrow:What's happened?
Hunwald:My father is dead. Died of a cruel disease, apparently. Then shunted off to a cellar for burial.
Swanburrow:O, my love, I'm sorry.
Eivor:And someone in your shire wants to make sure Hunwald follows his father to the grave.
Swanburrow:Let them try. I'll cut their throats.
Eivor:A Shiremoot will soon be held. Hunwald should stay here, out of sight, until he can attend.
Hunwald:What if I left it all behind, my love? Forget my father's seat. What if I stayed here with you? Just the two of us.
Swanburrow:Hunwald, no. This shire must be led with courage and heart. Follow in your father's footsteps and lead this shire as he did.
Eivor:Whatever strength you lack, you have in Swanburrow. Heed her advice.
Hunwald:Yes ... If anyone can lift my spirits in time for the Shiremoot, it's you, my dear.
Swanburrow:Come inside and rest your bumbling bones, love. Be well, Eivor. And thank you.
Eivor:We had a deal, Hunwald, my aid for an oath. If you won't stake your claim here, then I have no reason to lend you my sword.
Hunwald:I'm sorry. My will falters from time to time. After some rest, my senses will return.
Swanburrow:Lie down, love. You'll be fine.
Eivor:Rest, Hunwald. By sunrise, you'll have shed all your tears and pissed out the last of the ale.
Swanburrow:Eivor is right, Hunwald. Tomorrow is a new day.
Hunwald:Yes ... yes, resting next to my angel will heal all that is broken within me.
Swanburrow:Be well, Eivor. And thank you.
Eivor urging Hunwald to stay safe
Eivor stopped Swanburrow.
Eivor:Keep watch over that one. Men have come for him, more than once.
Swanburrow:My blade will keep him safe.
Eivor:I do not doubt it.
Hunwald went to rest and Eivor found a letter within Swanburrow's home.
Letter from Hunwald: My lady-love,
I have gone through much trouble to ensure this letter finds you, but I needed you to know that I am all right. That I did not leave you on the wings of some change of heart.
The truth is that I have been exiled for reasons I do not understand. Every inquiry I have made has fallen on deaf ears. They simply will not let me back into the city. Now I fear my father is in grave danger. Without me there, something could happen to him.
I must find a way back. There is a Dane camp that has newly settled. I will be riding out in the morning to speak with their leader. My hope is that we may strike a deal. For now, I ask that you please stay out of sight. When the time is right, I will find you.
We will lay together on the apple carts once again, feeding each other on the sun-kissed fields of Lincoln just long enough so that my pasty skin does not redden.
Have faith in me,
Hunwald
Outcome
Eivor found a drunken Hunwald and consoled him. They survived an ambush on their way to Grimsby, where they met with Swanburrow.