King of the North

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Alavara

I inhale a deep breath of crisp air into my lungs. The gold and red light of predawn emerged into the sky. I stood at the bottom of a ravine, surrounded by bushes and various types of trees. Some were short and stubby while others were so tall, they looked like they could touch the clouds. A small stream bubbled and flowed next to me, the stream embodied tranquility and beauty. I dipped my hands in the cool refreshing water, which travelled a long way from the mountains. I held my hands to my lips and let the water pour into my mouth. It tasted sweet on my tongue which brought my taste buds to life and quenched my thirst.

The overpowering scent of an elk filled my nose. I climbed onto a rocky ledge; the animal was drinking from the stream below me. I pulled my bow and arrow out, getting into position. My fingers released the tort string, the arrow whizzed through the air, hitting the elk in between its eyes. The animal fell to the ground with a loud thud, I jumped off the ledge and walked over to the dying creature. “Thank you for sacrificing your life so my people can eat.” I whispered to him before he died. I picked him up and carried the dead carcass towards the village.

This is my home, where I lived with my elven tribe. Our small village is in the Black Forest in Germania. Us forest Elves are excellent at the tactics of war and could wield any weapon with ease, so we were fearless in battle. Elves have long lifespans, so we have had years to learn how to fight. I am the best hunter and tracker in the tribe. My weapon of choice is the bow and arrow, it is a silent killer, perfect for stealth.

I dropped the elk in the food tent and walked into the clearing. “Alavara I was beginning to wonder where you disappeared to.” I heard my father’s vibrant voice say. I turn around to face him, a smile spread across my face. “Good morning to you too father.” I say in amusement. “I woke up before dawn and could not go back to sleep, so I went hunting.” He nodded his head.

I am the daughter of the leader and protector of the tribe, Allsvinn Silas. His body figure is tall and slim, long silver hair w frames his face. My mother’s name is Sheara, she is a Vanir/Seer; a prophet who is known for her talent to predict the future and heal the injured. It is said she spent three hundred years practicing healing and learning how to read messages from the gods. Her hair is curly and black in colour, eyes which are as green as emeralds, average height for an elf with a curvy body.

When I was young my mother would tell me that, all elves who lived in Midgard are the sons and daughters of the god Freyr. Freyr sent elves down to Midgard to protect the creatures who lived here from anyone who may do them harm.

I never set foot out of the forest. My father forbids it, because he said that I am next in line to be leader of the tribe so I must be protected at all costs. He also told me stories of dangerous mortals known as humans, who greed for power and wealth. My father telling me these stories only made me want to see the outside world even more. My favourite stories where the ones about Viking warriors who had the ability to shapeshift into the form of an animal.

When my parents where younger they travelled the world, they wanted to experience diverse cultures and see new places. They were especially intrigued by humans and humans were in awe of elves. Humans wanted to figure out how we have such long lives, they became greedy; wanted to expand their own lives. So, they began capturing elves and doing experiments on them, to try find out how we lived for so long. When my mother fell pregnant, they fled to the safety of the Black Forest and lived here ever since.

“The Grassland Tribe will be arriving soon. The handmaidens are waiting for you.” My father told me. “I know, you do not have to remind me.” I murmured before walking away. My father wants me to marry the son of the Grassland leader.

I felt hollow inside. I did not want to marry someone I did not know, what if I never love him? How can I be with someone I do not love? My mind whirled with so many thoughts. “I am sure he will be handsome and kind.” Livia said. “That is a rare combination to find.” Hilde replied with an amused expression on her face. I would have laughed at her remark any other time, but I was not in the mood. Livia gave Hilde a stern glance.

Hilde is my age, fifteen years old, we are still young. She has long, straight, brown hair, brown eyes, she is tall and has a slim body. She is my best friend in the tribe, we did almost everything together when we were younger. “I do not even know this person… what if I do not love him?” I asked, voicing my thoughts out loud. “I promise you will grow to love him, get married, and carry his child in your belly. The two tribes will be united.” Livia told me. The thought of that made me quiver. “Your bath is ready my lady.” Hilde told me softly. I got up and walked numbly over to the copper bathtub, the water was scented with lavender oil. Before I climbed into the steaming hot water, I took my clothes off, letting them fall to the floor.

The handmaidens washed my long white hair. When they were finished, they handed me a robe and combed my hair till it was unknotted and smooth. Hilde walked up to me holding a long Jade coloured dress. I took the piece of clothing from her and put it on, the dress hugged my body; it felt as soft as silk against my skin. The dress was long enough to fall to my feet, it was tightly fitted from my breasts to below my hips; then gradually becoming looser. “Oh my… you look beautiful!” Hilde said in awe. “I am certain this boy will fall in love when he lays eyes on you.” Livia told me with a smile on her face. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard the loud sound of trumpets and drums. “Oh, for God’s sakes they are already here! Come Alva.” Livia said briskly. I walked behind my handmaidens reluctantly.

A knot of unease grew in my stomach as I stood at the entrance with my father and mother at my side.

A dozen warriors emerged from the trees, a man sitting on a brown and white horse caught my attention. He was around my father’s age, he had long black hair which fell to his lower back, copper coloured skin and dark brown eyes, his torso, and legs were long, a broad chest and his face had a warm smile on it. “It is good to see you again Allsvinn Silas.” he said in a vibrant voice. “Good to see you Nedhudir, my old friend.” Father replied. “Please do not be him.” I whispered under my breath. “This is my son Gunnr, heir to the Grassland tribe.” I looked over at the man sitting on the horse beside the tribe leader. His ebony hair is shoulder length, his eyes the same shade as his father’s as is his skin tone. “Father… if you marry me to this man, I will have no choice but to live in the grasslands with him. I will never be able to take over your leadership.” I told him softly, trying to persuade him to change his mind. “This marriage is more important than leadership, our unification with the Grassland Tribe will make us more powerful and ensure our safety.” He replied. “Then who will take over leadership?” I asked in a flat voice. “Your mother is going to give me a son, who will be the rightful heir to lead our tribe.” He told me in a soft, but stern tone. I am left taken aback and speechless. I could not believe that my father and mother replaced me with another child, then marry me off to a stranger like I am worth nothing to them!

Gunnr jumps off his horse, he stands a head taller than me. “You are as beautiful as the goddess Freya.” He says as he takes my hand in his and kisses it. That should have made my heart flutter, but instead I wanted to pull away from his touch. “It is lovely to meet you, your grace.” I reply.

That night I went to sleep early, exhaustion dazed my senses.

I stood in the middle of the forest the sudden presence of another person, filled the air making everything buzz to life. The tall man walks up to me, a feeling of safety and comfort fills me when he enveloped me in his arms. I every fiber in my body is at peace.

I woke up to one of my handmaidens calling for me. Why did she wake me. I want to stay in that dream forever, I do not want to face my depressing reality. “I will be out in a few moments.” I answer. This is not the first time I have dreamed of him. In every dream he makes me feel the same way, safe and complete. I never could exactly make out his facial features. All I know he is tall, with dark hair.

When the sun set behind the trees, the celebration feast begun. The atmosphere is filled with music, food, drink, and laughter. Everyone is happy, except me. I should be happy; this should be the happiest day of my life. I could pretend to be happy to make my father proud, but I have never been good at pretending. I must pretend that everything is fine, that I am fine with being married to a man I do not know, that I am fine with being replaced, that I am fine with leaving my family and everything I know to live with strangers, I am fine with it all. I just need to put a smile on my face. It is not that hard Alavara… just smile!

I syt between my father and Gunnr sipping on a glass of red wine, I never enjoyed the pungent overpowering taste of wine; I much preferred ale, but my mother told me it was not lady like to drink ale, so I had to stomach the taste of wine. At least it was something to drink and right now I needed to dull my senses. “When will the wedding be?” Gunnr’s enthusiastic voice tears me away from my all-consuming thoughts. “In three days.” My father replies in a solemn tone. I nearly cough up the wine I just sipped. I try to find my voice, but I fail. “Allsvinn… is that not too soon?” My mother asked, I could hear the shock in her voice. “It would be best for everyone if it happens sooner rather than later.” He told her in a harsh, cold tone. When I look at him, I notice a pained expression on his face which he could not hide. I look down at my food, I feel like I am going to burst out in tears. There is only so much pretending I can do. “Excuse me…” I say as I stand up and walk away from the table. I walk into the forest.

Tears well in my eyes falling down my cheeks like salty rain, I never cry. A sudden thought strikes me, I can leave this place. I can go anywhere I want. The thought of leaving everything behind appeals to me very much in this very moment, there is nothing left for me here… “Alavara!” I turned around to see my father. “What are you doing? You cannot leave like that and why are you showing emotion?” “Because I could not sit there a moment longer listening to you plan my life out for me and I am not emotionless like you!” I exclaim, anger fuels my voice. He looks at me with a frosty gaze. All elves can turn off their emotions if they choose to. If they do they become calculating and only think logically, they do not feel pain nor happiness. While other elves embrace emotions and all the turmoil that comes with it. “I am not going to marry some elven lord and if you cannot accept that then I will leave.” “Your emotions will be your downfall. If you do not want to listen to me then leave and do not come back.” His face is a void where emotions go to die. I embrace the pain as it surges through me. “Fine. Goodbye.” I say before walking away.

I walked the entire night, after getting over the pain I felt happy and free, I can make my own decisions now. I froze when I hear people’s voices. It is probably my family looking for me, so I quickly hid in the branches of a nearby tree. I kept my eyes fixed below me; my breath hitched in my throat when I realised it was not my family; they are strangers. A group of men who carried shields and axes, they are human! I suddenly realize, but what are they doing here? So deep in the forest.

I was too afraid to confront the strange men, but my curiosity got the better of me. So, I followed them, to make sure they did not endanger my family.

They plodded through the forest for a few days, I wondered where they were going at such a constant pace. When the sun disappears, they would make a fire and sit around it, eating food and drinking ale. I listened to the stories they shared of their travels and the battles they fought in. What baffled me most about the humans, was that they would throw themselves into danger so much when they have such short lifespans, elves can live for hundreds of years. The eldest elf was one thousand five hundred and fifty-one years old I still enjoyed the tales they talked about, about themselves and the gods.

Thorsten

I stood on top of a large mountain ledge, below me lay Gufaross; my home. Our village was poor in terms of wealth, just like most of the other villages in Scandinavia, but what made Gufaross worth it in was that it is rich in untamed beauty, vast forests further than one’s eyes could see, giant mountain ranges which stood tall with such pride, dozens of lakes and rivers which were plentiful with wildlife. Gufaross was one of the gateways to the ocean.

I have only one brother named Halfdan who is four years older than me. I was nine years in age when my mother and three of my siblings were murdered when our village was under siege. After they died my father changed, he became earl and married another woman. He is a different person now, he is more closed-minded, stubborn, and very protective over his village.

My brother being the only living relative who cared about me, looked after me, making sure I had a roof over my head and food on the table. We made a promise to each other that we would lookout for one another, even though he moved out to Live closer to the village Gufaross, we kept our promise. When Halfdan left I had to learn how to look after myself, and in doing so; I learnt how to survive.

I lived on my parent’s farm outside the village, I feel at home here. Like a child in their parent’s arms. My father does not live on the farm anymore, once he became earl he moved to the village.

I am a warrior. A man at arms. The earl, my father orders us to raid villages around Gufaross. That is how we earn our wealth, and our fierce reputations. But now I have grown weary of battles, bloodshed, raiding the same villages and walking the same coastlines. Never seeing anything new. I am a very inquisitive person; I have always hungered for adventure. Curiosity burns within me like a fire. A deep yearning to sail west, across the open ocean, to discover new lands, possibilities, and opportunities. Vast expanses of sea and land awaited, unseen and untouched by humans. They are calling me; I feel it deep inside my bones. I will find a way to make it all possible.

“Thorsten!” A voice behind me said. I turned around to see Fenrir. “I have built it; I created the key to the west.” He told me; excitement showed on his face.

Fenrir was around Halfdan’s age, he has short curly black hair, light brown eyes, his beard, and moustache was black like his hair, and he is tall with a slim, but lean body build. A few moments later my brother Halfdan walks past Fenrir. Halfdan was nearly as tall as me, his body build is big, he is bulkier than me, his light blonde hair falls to his lower back, his face is framed by thick facial hair and his eyes are not dark brown like mine; instead, they are greenish blue. “Bullshit.” Halfdan stated.

As Fenrir explained how the sun shadow board worked, I felt increasingly excited. Halfdan had a grim look on his face. I did not understand why until a daunting thought struck me. “How will the sun shadow board work when there is no sun?” I dared to ask as my excitement plummeted. He looked through his bag of stuff, finally he turned around holding a small, flat, transparent stone in his hands; it looked like glass. He gave it to me; I shivered as the smooth stone touched my skin. “This is a sunstone; it will find the sun’s light on overcast days. He explained, excitement surged through me once again. Is it true? For the first time we can sail west… This will change everything for our people. “How will we navigate at night?” Halfdan asked, still not looking convinced. “We use the north star to chart our routes at night. We do it by measuring how high the North Star is from the horizon and comparing it to the height of the North Star when we leave home.” Fenrir told him. “And the boat?” “I finished building it yesterday.” Fenrir replies. “Brother, can I talk to you quickly?” Halfdan asks, we walk out of earshot. “What is it?” “Do not get me wrong. Fenrir is a good man, but you know as well as I do that his mind is a bit… lost. Do you really think he can build a boat strong enough to withstand sailing west?” He points out. I sigh feeling a bit insulted. Fenrir is my friend; he has been there for me through thick and thin. He is like my other brother. “I know he is a bit crazy, but that is what makes him a great boat builder. He is good at what he does. In fact, better than anyone else in Gufaross. What else to you expect me to do? Steal one of father’s crap boats huh?” I ask, feeling weary. There was dead silence for a few moments. “I will not go under your command; I will not go unless you and I are equal.” He says sternly. “You are my brother; we will always be equal.” I murmur, Halfdan looked satisfied by my response. “We must find a crew, not many people will go against our father. Many will be afraid, which will make them side with the earl.” I told them once we were standing with Fenrir again, there was so much we still needed to organise. “Do not worry I will get a crew for us.” Halfdan told me. I nod my head in response.

After Fenrir gave me the sun shadow board and sunstone and they left me alone on the cliff ledge. I blinked, trying to adjust my eyes from the absence of light. The sun was gone, a grey, overcast sky now hung above me I look up when thunder rumbled in the sky. For the first time Vikings can now travel across the open ocean to the west!

The following night I went back to Halfdan’s house, he claimed to have a crew ready. When I walked into the room, there were a few people, I noticed Fenrir sitting in the corner. Rhagar and Ashuag were here too, they are good friends with Halfdan so did I not mind that they were here. Rhagar has long golden hair, like a lion’s mane, a face covered in thick facial hair and his body is built like a bull. He is good in battle but can be stubborn at times. His brother Ashuag is the opposite. His body build is smaller than his brother’s, but you should not make the mistake of underestimating him… he is clever. He thinks before he does something. He and I were the same in that way, but there is something I have which he does not and that is restraint. “Thorsten why did you call us here?” Rhagar asks. “As you all know we could never sail west before because we had no way of navigating, now we do. We have the key to the west, for the first time we can go and plunder the lands there.” I tell them. I have no interest in raiding villages, but I know they do, and they will only join me if they know for certain that they will find riches. So, I must make them believe that I want that too. To be honest all I want to do is explore the world. “How can we believe you Thorsten? Many men have tried to sail there and never returned, why should we risk our lives for something merely based on tales?” Ashuag askes as he looks at me intently. The others murmur in agreement. “Fenrir and Thorsten have proven to me that it is possible to sail there, trust me you will not be risking your lives for nothing; it will be worth it my friends!” Halfdan shouts out. Finally, my brother has imputed something useful to the discussion. “Do not forget about the earl… if he finds out he will have our heads.” A man named Arni shouts out, he has light, frizzy brown hair which reaches to his shoulders, a big body figure, a nasty scar across his face and black eyes. “When we get back from the west with hordes of gold, silver and many more riches my father, the earl shall rain down on us with praises and admiration; as will the rest of the people in Gufaross. Songs will be sung about us, and many tales told long after we go to Valhalla. Tales of how the first Vikings sailed across the open ocean and discovered the west. I assure you that if you join Halfdan, Fenrir and I you will be richer than kings and admired by all! So, who is with us?” Rhagar walks to the front of the room and looked at me with an unwavering gaze. “I will join you Thorsten Adalwulf Sigurdsson.” He says in a firm tone, I nod my head in acceptance. Soon Arni and Ashuag agreed to join the voyage to the west. “We will meet before first light tomorrow by the docks.” Fenrir told us.

My eyes jolted open from a nightmare, my heart thumping in my chest and my breathing was rapid. In the dream our boat sunk to the bottom of the ocean. I can still feel my lungs filling with water and hear the screams of my friends as they got pulled under into the dark ibis of the ocean by unseen claws. Then I fall in the dark water, I sink like a rock. I choke on water as it fills my lungs, suddenly soft hand grabs mine, I look up to see a beautiful woman, with long hair white as snow. No, an angle. She lifts me out the water and life courses through my cold body once again. I shake my head trying to clear it of the vivid dream. I climb out of bed, putting on shirt, jacket, and trousers. The wooden floor feels cold beneath my bare feet, so I quickly found a pair of shoes and to warm my feet.

It is still dark outside, but predawn is nearly upon us. So, I pick up my belongings and walk outside into the cold, fresh air. There are no signs of life, no sounds except the occasional hooting of a great horned owl in the distance.

I made it to the quite bay, water laps hungrily against the riverbank; Fenrir’s boat stands tall and proud in front of me. As I walk closer, I make out two figures standing near the boat. I walk towards the boat with caution. Before long, the figures become clearer revealing Fenrir and my brother. “Where are the others?” I ask as I put my stuff in the boat. “Hopefully, they will arrive soon.” Halfdan murmurs in a low tone. A knot builds in my stomach, it would only take one unsure person to tell my father, and everything will be for nothing.

To my relief everyone showed up. I climbed into the large wooden boat; I must admit that Fenrir did an excellent job on building it. The hull is made up of overlapping planks from the strongest wood, which was held together by iron rivets and fixed to the main timber frame by ropes instead of nails to maintain flexibility. The boat was pointed at each end and wide in the middle, so it made it easier for us to sail in shallow waters. The large sail was square in shape and a whitewashed colour. At the right side of the boat near the back is the big paddle known as the starboard, which is tied to the hull to steer. The boat was mounted with a carved, wooden dragon head on the prow, the dragon head would frighten off any sea monsters or evil spirits. His construction is both strong and flexible.

Soon everyone joined me on the boat, and we sailed swiftly out of Gufaross into the unknown…