Eivor:Some questions were answered. Others I must answer myself.
Sunniva nodded as both headed atop Hemming's pyre.
Eivor talks with Sunniva about Hemmming's successor
Eivor:Do you think there is a place for Vili in our settlement? He expressed a desire to live and work with us.
Sunniva:Will he not be jarl of this shire before the day's end?
Eivor walked towards Sunniva.
Eivor:That remains to be seen. Some are more eager to see Trygve in the high seat.
Sunniva:Eivor, Trygve has no intention to lead. He feels duty bound to follow his master into death.
Nearby, Eivor and Sunniva overheard Trygve and Vili arguing.
Vili:Absolutely not! My father would never allow such foolishness!
Trygve:How else can I honor my jarl, old as I am? This is no country for me. The future is yours, Vili.
Sunniva and Eivor left the pyre as Eivor went to meet with Vili and Trygve.
Vili:The flames of this pyre will burn for my father. You must live! I forbid you to follow him into death. I will not let you sacrifice yourself!
Trygve took a moment.
Trygve:Do you forbid me as a friend, Vili? Or as our new jarl?
Vili:As a man who would see you come to your senses!
Eivor's subconscious deciding Vili or Trygve as successors to Hemming
In a moment, Eivor thought to herself as an apparition of Odin came and walked in, behind her.
Eivor:Vili. Trygve. Each man wears one of Hemming's boot, with both men unwilling to seize the other.
Odin:Does the world need such useless, dithering men? Why not stake a claim yourself? Take this shire for your own.
Eivor:It is not my place.
Odin:Your place is anywhere you lay your head, any hill you summit, any silver you take for your own. Do not limit yourself to niceties.
Eivor:Snotinghamscire deserves a leader to admire. A man the people can trust. Most love Vili, and he loves them. But he lacks the will to be a leader. He could learn... but does he wish to? And Trygve... sturdy and wise and loyal to the legacy Hemming Jarl left behind. Almost to a fault. But he is old and his thrill for living has fled him. Hardly inspiring.
Eivor came out of her thoughts and heard Vili yelling at Trygve.
Vili:You cannot! I will not allow it!
Trygve:I am not asking for your permission. Only your forgiveness.
Eivor:Gods, Eivor. Put a stop to this fool's death wish.
Eivor:This is no small decision, Trygve, and not without great cost. The shire will be diminished without you.
Trygve:But I... I have nobody left. My life's purpose lies dead upon that pyre.
Vili:That is not so. When people looked to my father for guidance, who did they see him turn to for counsel?
Trygve:Hemming Jarl was my rock. Yes, I gave him counsel, but he made the hard choices.
Eivor:If Hemming were here, would he not urge you to wield this wisdom for the betterment of all? And was your vow to serve Hemming Jarl unto death? Or to serve his legacy in life?
Trygve nodded.
Eivor:I will stay. You have wisdom, Eivor. More than I could have guessed.
Eivor held Trygve's shoulder before Trygve left Vili and Eivor. Vili left soon afterwards.
Eivor:Trygve has no jarl to serve, Vili. He's free to set his own course to the ocean's edge, to trade this world for the next. As are you, Vili. Our lives belong to us.
Trygve:Thank you... thank you, Eivor. Vili, do not misplace your anger on friends who speak what they believe is truth.
Vili:Do as you must, Trygve. I... I will miss you, old friend.
Trygve and Vili embraced each other.
Trygve:And I you, my boy.
Trygve and Vili let go of each other.
Trygve:I must prepare myself for the flames. Body and spirit.
Trygve leaves Vili and Eivor. Vili followed suit afterwards.
Time passed as the ceremony was nearing close. Eivor was meditating until Sunniva called for her.
Sunniva:Eivor.
Sunniva alerting Eivor of incoming Picts
Eivor woke up.
Eivor:Hm? Sunniva?
Sunniva:Picts were spotted moments ago, lurking in the thicket. Vili gave chase.
Eivor:Arse-Stick, he should have roused me first. Show me where he went.
Sunniva:Let us wake the others. The dark is lousing with Picts.
Eivor:I can take them on myself. Tell me where.
Sunniva:They're not far. I'll show you.
Eivor:Tell no one of this. The last thing we need is a dozen more bodies for Hemming's pyre. This will be a fine tale to tell after the Althing. But until then, we stay quiet.
Eivor:The nobles are too drunk to join this fight. It would be a slaughter on both sides.
Sunniva:You know best, drengr. Just... take care, will you?
Eivor following Sunniva to track down Vili's whereabouts
Eivor started to follow Sunniva.
Sunniva:His rage has consumed him, Eivor. All this anger, this sadness, it has truly taken form.
Eivor:Arse-Stick was never one to temper his emotions. This was bound to happen. I should have been more vigilant.
Sunniva:Do not blame yourself, drengr.
Eivor:He always had me to watch his back. As children, and again now. If this rampage is what he needs to rid himself of the sick that binds him, I will at least make sure he does not hurt himself.
Sunniva laughed.
Sunniva:Thank Odin, he has the mighty Wolf-Kissed as his shadow.
Eivor:There are things we do for family, Sunniva. No questions asked. For you, I would have done the same. For any of Raven Clan.
Sunniva:We know, drengr. That is why we are sworn to you.
Sunniva and Eivor came to a empty campfire with a dead scout.
Sunniva:Here, Eivor. This was where Vili saw the scout killed and then charged after the enemy ahead. I will head back to Hemthorpe and make sure our ravens stand vigilant. Return to us safely, drengr.
Sunniva left Eivor, who followed the path into Odin Mine Hideout. Eivor searched for Vili as she passed through the mines and killed any Pict guards in her way. Eivor soon found Vili fighting against the Picts.
Vili:Eivor? Perfect. I could use your edge right now.
Eivor fighting alongside Vili against the Picts
Eivor and Vili fought and killed the Picts within the mine while Vili yelled.
Vili:You dare disturb these days of mourning!
Eivor:Stop, Vili. They're gone. It's done.
Vili:Bah, I've seen roosters fight with more spirit.
Eivor:Oddly enough, so have I.
Vili:That sound. Is it thunder?
Eivor:Footsteps.
Vili:We need to fall back. Follow me. Quickly!
More Picts entered from the entrance Eivor used. She and Vili pushed deeper into the mines, fighting more Picts to make their escape out the other end.
Vili:Thrilling, was it not? Just like when we were children, getting into trouble and getting away.
Eivor:Save your honey-words for when we get out of here alive, Arse-stick.
Eivor and Vili escaped and made their way at Odin's Hovel.
Eivor:Great lumbering fools, foaming at the mouth. We taunted them from the tree tops.
Vili:And the drunk one, remember! Naked at the morning! Froze his cock off trying to find us!
Eivor:Then fell to humping a snowdrift.
Vili: (laugh)
Eivor: (laugh)
The two fell silent, then Vili spoke up.
Vili:Were you glad to hear from me?
Eivor:I did wonder what trouble you had been up to. But I smiled at hearing your name. And I wondered if you had taken after your father. If you were now leading your clan.
Vili:Well, you have your answer. I'd sooner take after a troll and leave this clan in your hands.
Eivor:That I will not do.
Vili stood up and walked a bit forward.
Vili:When my father was named jarl, he had no one to help him and still he triumphed. But I am not my father. I... I simply want to roam. Do you think Sleipnir would be content bound to a stable, no matter how glorious it may be?
Eivor slapped Vili suddenly.
Vili:Hey! What is that for?
Eivor:You have friends, Vili. And what about Trygve? And me? And your clan?
Vili:Of course, I know that.
Eivor remining Vili of his duties to the clan
Eivor:You can't roam forever. Keep that in mind. You are surrounded by those who love you. And that will not change unless you push it all away.
Vili started to tear up slightly.
Vili:You... you speak a truth I understand.
Eivor smirked.
Eivor:Troll-faced, arse-stick.
Eivor pushed Vili playfully.
Vili:A chicken draugr? Is such a thing possible? For that does not seem possible!
Eivor:Voda too! A water infused with fire. I do not lie.
Vili: (chuckle)
Eivor and Vili sat back down together.
Eivor:Your father's death aside, Vili. This has been... good. Fun, even.
Vili:Do you ever wonder what might have happened if we had not been separated by the North Sea so early in our lives? What adventures we would have had. The raids, the battle, the glory. I even think about what we might have been to each other.
Eivor:I have, fondly. And often enough that it sometimes seemed you never left. Maybe you never did.
Vili:I... I want you, Eivor. Your warmth. Your touch.
Eivor:Like this?
Vili:I cannot say how I feel tommorow, Eivor...
Eivor:Shut up, Vili.
Both warriors started to kiss each other and went even further. Time passed as both recollected themselves.
Eivor:Vili. You know that... that this was a momentary heat. Just a flickering flame.
Vili:Yes. We let our passions set sail, just this once. I should get back. Rest. The funeral will still be there when you wake up fully.
Eivor and Vili smiled at each other as Vili took his leave. Eivor laid back down and rested. After some time, Eivor awoke and stood up.
Eivor:Vili... no. That will not happen. I'm sorry.
Vili turned away after Eivor dismissed his advances.
Eivor:Get some rest, hey?
Eivor rested as Vili sat by. Time passed as Eivor awoke and walked to Vili.
Eivor:Are you going?
Vili:O, with so much on my mind, I haven't slept a wink. The funeral. The thegns. I should get back.
Eivor:I understand. I'll see you there.
Vili left Eivor, who stood and crossed her arms.
Eivor:No. I never dwell on our past that way. I find it slows me down to a crawl. And I'm not made for crawling.
A moment of pause occurred.
Eivor:I'll think I'll turn in. Long day ahead.
Eivor rested as Vili sat by. Time passed as Eivor awoke and walked to Vili.
Eivor:Are you going?
Vili:O, with so much on my mind, I haven't slept a wink. The funeral. The thegns. I should get back.
Eivor:I understand. I'll see you there.
Vili left Eivor, who stood and crossed her arms.
Eivor:Vili... gone already. To prepare for the funeral I imagine.
