Northmen Camp

[GM Craig]

Arne pushes the horses as if the devil himself were hot on his heels. Not wanting to risk crossing the river in spring, Arne heads north-west for Ford Manor and the bridge there. It is hard going over open country, and by the time he reaches the bridge, his horse is favouring his left foreleg. Cursing in frustration, Arne abandons the animal for his other horse, and drives it to the gates of Sarum.

The Nordheim of Falt have been frequent visitors so the guards do not stop Arne as he races through - not that common soldiers would stop an armed person on a mount in the first place. Racing towards the castle, Arne accidentally crashes into a group of merchants, which sends them sprawling and the horse careening into a merchant stall. The stall, the horse, and a hundred cabbages are dumped in the street. The horse gets up, but is too wild to ride, and it would take too long to calm it, so Arne takes off at a run. He reaches the gates, and gets stopped by the guards. "Oi, now, what's yer business?"

Fortunately, Arne is not forces\d to throttle the guards - the captain is a household knight of the Earl, and recognizes Arne.

"Arne, Christ's Blood man, what is the trouble?"

You explain, "Valks is dying! I need Merlin!"

The knight, a Sir Mercher, takes a moment then nods. "Last I saw him, he was in the garden. Come with me!"

Sir Mercher guides you through the castle grounds to a tall gate. "He'll be in there, Arne. I do trust that wizard, but if anyone can save her, it is he. I do not follow your ways, Arbe, but I will pray she recovers."

Inside, you find Merlin examining a book. You run up to him, but he does not even look up.

[Valka]

Her words put Valka at some ease and she relaxed into the pillow, saving her strength for the inevitable next wave.

[Arne]

Arne was shaking by the time he reached Merlin.  It was not fear for his life that filled his gut with sour bile, but terror that Merlin wouldn't be able to help Valka.

Or, worse, would refuse to.  Gods, what would Arne do then?

Dropping to one knee, Arne bowed his head and in a tremor-filled voice blurted, "Merlin!  Please, I ask forgiveness for disturbing you, but I . . . my  . . . there has been a problem with Valka's pregnancy, and they tell me that our people . . . I  . . . might lose her!  Our child, too!  Holmg?r?r told me that if anyone could save her and our child, it would be you!"  Arne angrily wiped at the tears that started to course down his face, and violently fought to regain a semblance of control.  With a low voice that dripped humility, he whispered, "Please, sir.  I know I've no right to ask you to help me with anything, or Valka or our child, but I beg of you . . . please save them.  If my death would give them life, I would do it with no hesitation."

[GM Craig]

Merlin reads a few seconds more then closes the book with an angry snap.

"You are right. You have no right to ask this of me. And that meddling witch Holmg?r?r had no business giving you false hope! She knows I would not do such a thing. Of all the irresponsible..."

He stands and rounds on you, eyebrows bristling. "Always this happens! I meet some poor fool and when something bad happens to them, they come to me begging for help. A hundred women died in childbirth this spring, and just as many children! Do you not think their families would make me the same offer you did? I cannot save them all - even I am not that powerful - so how do I choose? Why should I save Valka, above all the others? What makes Valka so special?"

[Arne]

Arne's head slowly came up, and he replied in a quiet, eerily calm voice, "She is special because the two of us started as under-fed, beaten, near-naked slaves and managed to free one hundred and fifty of our people from our Saxon captors.  But even Holmg?r?r told us that we could not have done that unless Freya herself favored us, and thought we were meant to do great things.  She is special because our people look to her as a true natural leader, and she is loved and respected by all of them.  She has a strength of bravery, honor, wisdom, spirit and resolve that I've not seen in many Nord thanes and kings!  She does not shrink from battle, and she has always put herself before the welfare of others.  She would never ask someone to do something that she herself would not be willing to do.  And kill me if you will for me daring to speak of this, but she has also risked her own life without a second thought or word of complaint to aid a man to fulfill a dangerous quest . . . a man that was not her kin, or even a fellow countryman.  And she asked for nothing in return."

Arne hesitated, then added, "Merlin, there was also something that you told us, back at the lake.  You said, 'There is a pattern to the worlds, my young companions. Twice now Rodric and Cedwyn have been where and when I needed them. And you, Arne and Valka, have also appeared exactly where and when you were needed, having travelled a long way to reach this exact spot at this exact time.'"  Arne shook his head in confusion.  "Does that not mean that Valka has an important part to play?  She was drawn all the way from Thule to here, survived great odds and flourished.  What would make her so important to this land?  Why not someone from this land instead of her?  Does that not make her special?"

[GM Craig]

Merlin looks like he is about to rip into you again until you use the words "... this land ..." You were convinced he was going to refuse you. For some reason, those two words take much of the wind from the sails of his anger. His eyebrows bristle a little less by the time you finish.

He looks at you for several seconds after you finish, working his jaw as if he were chewing something. Finally he says, "You have some cheek, Arne Torvaldson, to throw my own words back in my face." He raises a hand to forestall any complaint and adds, "You are right, of course." He continues to think, and starts pacing.

After three or four back-and-forths he suddenly whirls on you. His eyes stare through you somehow.

"Such things carry a price, Arne Torvaldson. I will do as you ask. But I will extract your oath - to be held above all bonds of fealty, kingship, family, and even faith. It will bind your line in bonds of iron down through the generations from father to child. You will teach your children to hold this oath above even your faith in Freya.  You will pledge yourself and all your line to this.I do not know when I may call - perhaps never. But if I do, and invoke your oath, you or your children must do as I say, without reservation, and without question. When this task is done, your line shall be free of the oath."

"Swear to this with blood, and I shall do as you ask."

[Arne]

Arne stared intently at Merlin, trying to judge the man's character.  Swear an oath over his own people?  Thule?  Even Freya?  What if this wizard asked him to turn on his own people?  To renounce Freya?  A whole host of other horrid possibilities flashed through his mind, but again he found himself being brought back to what Merlin had said to all of them back at the lake.

Despite this man's mercurial mood swings, he always seemed to do things that were best for the land.  And Holmg?r?r knew him.  Would she have suggested going to seek Merlin's help if she didn't trust him?

Arne took his dagger from it's sheath, and in a deft motion sliced it across his left palm.  Arne ignored the brittle sting of the blade's kiss, and looked full into Merlin's eyes as his blood started to drip down onto the ground.  "Done!  I, Arne Torvadson, so swear by my own blood to honor the oath you have tasked me with, Merlin." 

[GM Craig]

Merlin's face has an expression that is hard to read - you're not sure if he is pleased or disappointed.

He makes you take out a coin, grip it in your bleeding hand, then hand it to him. The coin vanishes into his robes and he turns and walks away without another word.

He reaches a door of the castle and throws the door open. Exasperated, you looks back at you. "Well, come on!"

You step through the door, and it slams behind you, throwing you into darkness. A moment later another door opens. You step out...


... into the grass before one of the longhouses in Falt.

It takes a moment for your brain to process what you are seeing, and when you look around, Merlin is already striding to the hut where Valka is.

Merlin throws open the door and strides into the room as if he owns the place. The three women with Holmg?r?r caring to Valka who is now white as a sheet and barely breathing. There is another person in the hut - Lady Habren of Falt.

Merlin scowls at everyone. "All of you, leave at once."

The other women scurry out of the hut, nearly running in to Arne as he runs up. Holmg?r?r hesitates, but Merlin glares at her, and she quickly leaves. Merlin grabs her arm and hisses at her, "Hot water, lambs blood, mint, and mandrake. Now." Holmg?r?r nods and runs out.

Lady Habren stands there. "Merlin. These lands and the people living on them are my responsibility. Do what you came to do, but I will not be leaving."

Merlin glares, but ignores her. He throws back the blankets, and places a hand on Valka's enormous belly. He closes his eyes a moment, then lowers his hand. He leans in over Valka. He lightly touches her head, and her eyes fly open.

"Listen to me, girl. It is too late to save your child, and you are dying. But you have deeds left undone, and more children to raise. I can save you, but I need your help. Will you fight for life?"

[Arne]

Arne went as gray as ash and clenched his fists so hard that his tendons creaked.  They were going to lose their child!  There was time enough for grieving later; there was still a life that needed to be saved.  He opened his mouth to speak, but just as quickly clamped it down again.  Merlin had spoken to Valka, not him.  Arne moved slightly so that Valka could see him, and nodded vigorously, a silent plea in his eyes.

[Valka]

Valka's glassy eyes slowly moved from Merlin to Arne. Her hand clutched at the wooden idol of freya Arne had whittled for her. She was too exhausted to shed tears at having lost the baby, but the despondence was evident in her ashen expression. It tore at her heart that it was too late to sacrifice herself to Freya for the child's life. Arne deserved an heir before the battles begun, and their people deserved hope and celebration after a rough winter. She sank farther into the pillow, overcome with the flood of emotions.

The young girl closed her eyes, shallowly breathing for a long moment. It had been a very slim chance that the wizard would be mettle in the affairs of ordinary men. But the fact that he came.. Merlin's last words gave her hope of purpose - Deeds undone. Generations to be born. To fight the good fight.

"I will fight," Valka whispered. "I will fight here, and the battlefield, home and far away. Against enemies of ours and yours, from within and without." Her sapphire orbs flicked opened and stared at the wizard. Just speaking the poetic words set her alight, renewing her strength. "And I will give life to and raise warriors to do the same, for generations to come."

[GM Craig]

Merlin looks to Lady Habren, and Arne, ensuring they are listening.

"This will be difficult. There will be great pain. But you must fight though it." He looks at Habren and Arne. "You must hold her still, and by whatever gods you hold dear, do not interfere."

He looks down at Valka again. "Ready?"

Before she can answer he lays his hands on her belly, and Valka gasps in agony. She begins to struggle, and Arne and Habren step forward to restrain her. In moments, she is thrashing on the bed while Habren and Arne struggle to hold her still.

It goes on for what seems to be a long time. At times Merlin was touching Valka, at other times he had left the hut. But whether Merlin was present or not, the screams and struggle continued.

At one point, Holmg?r?r and another midwife are called in to hold up a blanket, shielding what Merlin is doing from Arne's view.

Finally, it is over, and Valka collapses, sweat drenching her hair as she sucks in huge shuddering breaths.

Merlin comes forward with blood up to his elbows, holding a mug of some foul-looking liquid. He helps Valka drink. She wretches, but Merlin is insistent, and she gets is all down.

Merlin stands, and turns to Holmg?r?r who is holding a bowl. Merlin washes his hands and arms clean. "Dispose of that in fire, Holmg?r?r. And Holmg?r?r? Never put me in such a position again. Understand?"

The wizard's voice is ice. Holmg?r?r pales and nods before she bows and withdraws from the hut.

Merlin turns to Arne and Valka, and sites on the edge of the cot. He places the palm of his hand against her head and sighs. "Valka, you will live. You have been given a gift - be worthy of it." Merlin rises, and turns to Arne. "She has drunk a healing potion. She should stay in bed for three days. If she does, when she rises on the third day, she will be hale. Leave the bed early, and she may be weeks recovering." He stops, and stern eyes stab Arne like spears and seem to carry unspoken words:

Do not let your oath be forgotten.

Without another word, Merlin steps through the door. Arne, loath to leave Valka's side, steps out to thank Merlin, but when he steps out a heartbeat after the wizard, there is no sign of him.

[Arne]

Arne caught Merlin's intent stare, and knew well the silent message that was conveyed.  He placed his right fist over his heart and gave the wizard a resolute nod, as if to say I have not forgotten, nor will I break it.  He turned to Valka, but then realized that he had not thanked Merlin for what he had done.  Walking to the door, he stepped outside . . . but Merlin was gone.  Now why did that not surprise me?

Stepping back inside the room, he gave Lady Habren a weak smile of gratitude for her help and concern, and went over to where Valka lay.  Taking a damp cloth, he gently wiped at her forehead and whispered, "Sleep now, Valka . . . you have just had the greatest battle of your life, and you need your rest."  Arne wanted to say more, but he was at a loss of words.  How could he possibly know how she felt?


OOC:  Arne's wanting to speak to the other NPCs after/if Valka wants to speak with Arne or anyone else.

[GM Craig]

Holmg?r?r enters the hut quietly, holding a small bundle. Arne's heart is in his throat, thinking it was the dead child. But then he hears a small cooing sound.

The priestess steps forward. "Arne, in all the concern for Valka, I forgot to mention. She managed to deliver one of the babies before she ran into trouble. That's why she was so big - she was carrying twins." She hands the swaddled bundle to Arne.

"A girl. Strong, and healthy."

The bundle squirms a little, and he can see the faintest wisps of red hair on the tiny head.

[Arne]

Arne blinked, momentarily unable to process what Holmg?r?r had just said as he took the small bundle in his arms.  He cocked his head to look at the baby girl, and then back at Holmg?r?r.  When his voice finally found him, it was full of wonderment.  "I . . . had feared the worst when I came back with Merlin.  I . . . twins?"  He looked down at the girl, and a broad grin erupted on his face.  "Well, thank Freya she took after her mother's looks!  Has . . . has Valka seen her yet?  Had a chance to hold her?  Or would she be strong enough for that yet?"

[Valka]

Valka laid still, the last of her strength spent. She was moments away from deep sleep when the cooing snapped her sapphire eyes open and she drew in a sharp breath. The young northwoman looked to Arne and the bundle, her chest rising and falling faster at the realization that one had survived.

"Let me look upon her," she quietly commanded. Her arms made no effort to rise, but her fingers stretched out towards Arne. It was clear from her expression that she was just as surprised as he was.