Okay, here we gooooooo! I left out us actually arriving at Logres, but I can easily add that in later. And, of course, the back-story will still going to be open to suggestions/changes/corrections/tweaks in case I missed something, got something wrong, or over/under-embellished our characters.
And, hell, am I ever going to be proofreading it and fixing the syntax and structure of it even after it's up there!
**************************************
This is the story of Arne Torvaldson and Valka Ingersdotter, two Nords whose early adventures brought them to the shores of England. The setting starts in Thelemark, Ostland, the home to both Arne and Valka.
Arne's storyArne Torvaldson was the third child and third son of a chieftain, Torvald. A proud, young warrior, Arne was a devout follower of the Asgardian gods - in particular, Freya. Over the past two years, he had been somewhat troubled that some Nords were abandoning the Asgardians to convert to a new religion - Christianity, it was called - but at the time he merely shrugged it off. Let men worship what gods they may, he had said, as long as they didn't try to ram their own god or gods down his throat.
Then came word that King Wald had been entertaining and hosting Christian missionaries at his great hall, and they had fervently told him the wonders of this "God" and "Jesus Christ". The king - their king! - had then turned his back on the old gods and had renounced them for this - this - Christianity! Their king, who willingly chose to follow the teachings and example of a man - this "messiah", they called him - that meekly went to his own death without a fight, and had let his enemies crucify him! And, to make matters worse, their king had ordered all of his vassal chieftains and their families to forsake the old gods for this Christianity! The Asgardians, the very gods and goddesses that had breathed life into the Nords and had given them the will to live and fight for their lives!
This was too much for Arne. Shortly after their king's decree had reached his father by messenger, Arne had vehemently voiced those same thoughts in his family's shield-hall while his family and the warriors were having supper. To Arne's shock, his father had loudly and harshly rebuffed Arne's protests, saying that their King's word was the law. More so, Arne's father had commanded it to be so. Arne would either obey and embrace Christianity, or he would no longer be welcome in his family, or his tribe's lands. When Arne had coldly retorted if he was truly being commanded to forsake Freya for a meek lamb that forgave his own betrayers, his father smashed his fist down upon the table, damned Arne for an insolent pup, and demanded that he make his choice. Arne stood up defiantly and refused, saying that any Norsemen that became Christians would regret turning their backs on the gods that had made them such a strong people. Torvald bolted to his feet, cursed Arne, and loudly cast him out of the family and tribe on the spot. As Arne left his family's shield-hall, he ground his teeth when he noticed his family and his father's warriors turn their backs to him. Disgusted, he gathered his belongings, mounted his horse and regrettably rode away from his family's holdings. Where would he go to now? He couldn't take up with another Nord tribe. When word got around that he'd been exiled for refusing to obey his father's orders - and their king's orders - he'd likely be drummed out of the country altogether, if not killed. Where, then, to go? He needed time to think. Then a thought came to his head, and he smiled. The annual festival in honor of Freya was being held in Uppmanland in a few weeks. Arne could make it there in time. He'd pay homage to Freya, and offer a sacrifice in the hopes that She would send him a vision for guidance.
A week into his pilgrimage, Arne chanced upon a group of foreign warriors on horseback. Initially suspicious, he was surprised to see one of them wave to him and come riding over, alone, and hands clear of his weapons. The man had told Arne that he was the captain of a Saxon mercenary company, and had been given permission to travel through Thule to try and recruit non-pledged Norse warriors. There was war brewing in England, and there was plenty of wealth and glory to be made there for someone that was quick with his wits and his weapons. Arne listened, intrigued, and expressed his interest in thr Saxon's offer. When he had told the captain that he must first attend the festival of Freya, the captain had generously offered to detach five of his soldiers as an escort for Arne, as was only proper for a chieftain's son. Arne and the others could meet up with the captain's company near the west coast after the festival, he was told. Arne, pleased at this generous offer of both employment and hospitality, had agreed. Bidding the Saxon captain and his men good fortune, Arne and the five Saxons had ridden onward.
Arne, however, never made it to the festival. Two nights afterwards, as Arne was sleeping, his new comrades turned on him. The rasp of steel against leather had awakened Arne, and his dagger was free even before he rose. One of the Saxons had been standing over him, club raised, when Arne had stabbed the man in the leg. As Arne rose, the others had rushed him. Arne had managed to slash another in the arm and kick a third in the groin before he was struck down from behind.
The following few weeks were a living hell for Arne. Betrayed and taken captive, the five Saxons had joined up with their company, who had in turn taken a number of Nord captives. Cruelly cramped together in covered wagons, the Nords were taken by the Saxons to the coast. Arne was separated from the others; the Saxon leader feared that the chieftain's son might be able to incite the others to fight. And Arne had fought his captors for awhile - only to find out that all it earned him were vicious beatings and an empty belly. Still seething from the betrayal, Arne managed to rein in his desire for bloody vengeance and instead exercised patience. Surely Freya would give him an opportunity to escape - or at least die with his teeth buried in a Saxon's throat. But the Saxons guarded their captives closely, and once they had reached the coast, had loaded the Nords into a waiting ship. The sea voyage had been even worse, for Arne had again been isolated from the others, and had endure the gloom, reek, and the bold rats that had fought him for his meager, stinking rations.
After what had seemed an eternity, the ship had finally docked one late morning at a pier on a coastline unfamiliar to Arne. However, only Arne had been taken off the ship. As soon as he was taken ashore, he was turned over to the camp's slavers. The ship had already set sail, and was headed off down the coast. He was led into a clearing in the woods, wherein a small camp lay. As the slavers brought him towards a series of squat, barred cells, Arne overheard one of his captors laugh and mutter something about slaves. Arne's temper flared, and he managed to snatch a dagger from an unsuspecting Saxon's belt. Before Arne could run away or attack his oppressors, he was again clubbed over the head from behind and knocked to the ground. Cruel blows of booted feet pummeled him into unconsciousness.
Valka's storyValka, like Arne, was also from Thelemarck, perhaps a week's travel from Arne's family holdings. The youngest of six children, she had been born a commoner. Her father, Ingars, was a talented scop that frequented his chieftain's lodge to entertain. She had learned much of her father's considerable skills, but she also greatly envied the Norse shield-maidens, and had reveled in their stories and legends. Her father and most of her siblings did not approve of the notion of Valka becoming a warrior, but her oldest sister had a soft spot for Valka, and had doted on her. Covertly, her husband, a warrior, had shown Valka how to use weapons, and was surprised and pleased to see how strong she was, and how quickly she learned how to fight with a spear. He would have likely been able to train her well in the other Norse weapons, but Valka's family became suspicious, and regrettably he called an end to their training.
Valka was a devoted follower of Freya, as were most of the commoners in her village. When the word was sprerad that King Wald had converted to Christianity and had further ordered his vassal chieftains and their families to likewise convert, Valka was both outraged and relived. Outrage that their king would so foolishly abandon Freya and the other Asgardians, and relieved that this conversion decree was not extended to commoners. She, however, hadn't expected her own father to be caught up in the blasphemy. Ingars, too, had listened with great interest to the Christian missionaries that had spoken to their chieftain, and had found the new religion much to his liking. Ingars also sought to return his chieftain's hospitality and patronage by ordering his own family to convert as well - much to Valka's horror. She was shocked and outraged by her father's decision, and vehemently told him so. Studying this - Christianity - for interest's sake was one thing, for she was an educated woman and eagerly sought to learn new things - but to throw away her faith in Freya altogether? A god that the Nords had worshipped since time began? That was sacrilege and foolishness! Why insult the gods that had watched over her people for countless years? The argument escalated, and soon Valka and her father were shouting at each other. Her unmarried brother and sister had joined the argument, sternly trying to coax Valka into obeying her father's command.
Valka, seeing that she was getting nowhere with her argument, stormed out of her parents' house despite her father's angry shouts for her to return. Her family's argument had been loud enough to draw the attention of many of the other villagers, and they stood in their doorways and stared mutely at Valka as she stalked down the path towards the lake - to a place where she could be left alone.
Valka returned the next morning, and was greeted by the disapproving looks of the fellow villagers. Word had gotten around that Valka had started the loud argument, and had actually shouted at her own father because she had refused to obey his orders! This was unthinkable to the other villagers! Valka's mother and siblings had met her in the street before she could enter her home, and had tried to persuade her to be the dutiful daughter and obey her father's wishes. Her brother, though, was even less diplomatic. He strutted forward with an air of condescending superiority - Freya take him, but Valka hated it when he acted like that! - and loudly berated her for a foolish, disrespectful girl. He told her that if she continued to behave so brazenly, she would become a husband-less spinster if she continued to try and convince everyone that she was a man. Some of the villagers heard that, and laughed long and hard. Even the young man that she often flirted with had joined in the laughter! Her brother also laughed, appreciating his audience's approval of his cruel barb. The ridicule from the other villagers and the young man she liked so much had hurt and angered her, but to hear it from her own brother was too much. With a vicious jab to his face, she laid her brother out flat on his back. Leaving her family standing there speechless and horrified, and ignoring the hisses and catcalls of disapproval from the villagers, she had stormed into her family's house, swept up her belongings, and had left. Perhaps one day she would return to them, but she needed to be away from the ignorant people of her village that behaved like clucking, squabbling chickens. And away from her own father and brothers and sisters that showed no respect or care for her own desires. Far away, where no one would try and force her to forsake her beliefs and would respect her for who she was. She was of the mind to take her scop's talents to the hall of another thane or chieftain. The nearest one was a few days' ride away, and although she felt somewhat nervous about riding alone, she knew that bandits were scarce betwwen her chieftains' holdings and those of the nearby thane's. And she also had her weapons. Barely a day later, Valka had met up with a pilgrimage bound for the festival of Freya in Uppmanland. Valka smiled. If there was ever a sign from her goddess, then surely this was it. She would go to the festival, make a sacrifice and seek guidance from Freya, and perhaps perform there. She could receive a vision from Freya, and gain a likely patron or two at the same time! She eagerly joined the pilgrimage, and they were happy to have her travel with them. Her singing and music buoyed their spirits, and kept them lively along the long road.
The pilgrimage attracted other attention, though. A few days later, as they were bedding down for the evening, a band of foreign soldiers rode slowly into camp, waving cheerfully. When asked their business in Thule, the leader had told the Nords that they were a Saxon free-company, riding through the land - with permission of the King, of course! - to offer all non-pledged warriors the opportunity of becoming mercenaries. There was much fighting in the land of Britain, and a warrior could easily coat himself in glory and riches there. Valka told the leader that they would be going to the festival of Freya, and that she would have to take time to think over his offer. The Saxon accepted her explanation, and asked permission for his free-company to at least share the camp - and their food and wine - with them for the night. It seemed a harmless enough request to the pilgrimage - these Saxons were polite, and were generously offering to share their food and wine with them. Hospitality was something the Nords could understand and respect. Suspicions allayed for the most part, the pilgrimage bedded down for the night, while Valka stayed up to swap stories with a few of the Saxons. They seemed highly impressed that she was a scop with a warrior's training.
There was no warning of what happened next. The Saxon leader yawned, shook his head as if drowsy, and snapped his fingers. Suddenly the Saxons were among the Nords with drawn weapons, kicking them awake and harshly barking out orders and threats. Valka bolted to her feet in outrage, only to have her arms roughly grabbed from behind. Acting instinctively, she kicked backwards and was rewarded with a howl of pain and the freeing of her arms. Grabbing her spear, she lunged and took one of the Saxons in his leg. Ripping it free, she turned to face the Saxon leader - only to have another Saxon clout her on the back of her head with the pommel of a dagger. Valka fell, unconscious.
As with Arne, the next few weeks were not pleasant for Valka. She had heard the Saxons brag about this foray being a very rich run for them, and that the slaves they took here would fetch a good price. She was unceremoniously shoved into a covered wagon with some of the other pilgrims, and they were only let out at night - blindfolded - for just enough time to relieve themselves. Valka used her talents to keep the other Nords' spirits up, but their captors, perhaps fearing that she could just as easily incite the other Nords to defiance and violence, quickly removed her and isolated her in another wagon. Once the Saxons reached the coast, they herded the Norse slaves into a waiting ship, and set sail. Again, Valka was secluded from the others. In the dingy, dark hold of the ship, she had no idea where they were bound. At least she was receiving preferential treatment. Her captors told her that if she behaved herself, she'd be left unmolested, fed well, and would even be allowed to wash herself. Valka complied with their demands, although it took all of her will from trying to ram her thumbs in their eyes. Trying to escape the ship was fruitless. Even if she could make it to the deck, the seas were icy-cold, and she doubted that he'd have the strength to swim to shore. No, she'd have to wait until they reached land - wherever in Hel's name that was. The voyage gave her a lot of time to think. All of the pilgrims taken were Ostlanders, and all of them - every man, woman and child - were worshippers of Freya.
Eventually the ship made landfall, and Valka found herself being led off the ship along with six very furious - and chained - Nord warriors. One of the Saxons had walked up to the warriors and had sarcastically welcomed them to Britain. He'd then told them that their families would be taken to a larger camp a day's sail west, and that the well-being of their wives and children would depend on how they behaved. As Valka and the six warriors were marched into a nearby camp, they saw the ship set sail down the coast.
