Chapter 1
Valla was a picturesque and prosperous town. The people were humble and happy. Rolling hills of lush green met the vast moats of the town of Valla that protected the passage to its rich community from intruders. But Valla had not been visited by such demons for so long that the gates of the town remained open and the waters of the moats were still. The town’s prosperity did not come from the King’s uninterrupted reign, but from the people’s willingness to see their town grow into its greatness.
The pride of the people is what kept the growth fruitful. And the people were by far the luckiest to have a kind King and Queen who cared about their people and saw to it that, big or small, poor or rich, everyone felt honored. They made sure everyone had a part of Valla to love and care for.
They had instilled this morality in themselves and when the King and Queen gave birth to a daughter, they had installed this morality in her.
The daughter of the King was the most loved by everyone. It was rumored that the Princess had never been exposed to the harsh truths of the world and the evil of men. Her soul remained as pure as a drop from heaven. Being born and raised behind the thick, high walls of Valla had been a virtue for the beloved Princess.
The Princess rarely frequented the city adorned in bells and whistles. She did as the commoners did, wanting to be part of her people just as they were part of the royal family. The people of Valla called her the Angel of Valla. She loved her people as they loved her, often giving and helping as much as she could.
Her skin was slightly bronzed by the sun that shone through the walls of Valla. Her eyes were like the color of honey. Her hair was long down her back, a cascade of jet black hair as dark as the night. Her cheeks had a permanent blushing tint, as did her lips.
Many of the townspeople would be stricken by her bold beauty and would try to give her gifts as a sign of respect, but she would only accept fresh flowers from community gardens. Young, suitors and worshipers swooned over her beauty wanting to simply be noticed by the beautiful Princess. A wishful aspiration, as the Princess would be betrothed to a worthy warrior, fit to be a King or a royal of a different lineage. Her life was planned for her before she had taken her first breath, as were many of the royal’s lives, and it was this truth that made people wonder if the Princess was conformed with it all.
To the dismay of many, the Queen had become very ill one summer and the moment the righteous Queen’s soul had to move on, the fate of the Princess had been sealed. The King’s broken heart made him weak and he had become bedridden with heart pains very soon after the Queen’s passing.
Although the news of the weakness of Valla’s royalty was to be kept secret, the news spread like a virus throughout the city and beyond the walls of Valla. Condolences flooded the castle. Many came with warnings. Realizing that the young Princess would be next in line for the throne and having no proper suitor in mind, those who wished to be King would flood into the tall walls of Valla as if the crown beckoned their presence.
The king had suggested ceremonies and parties for his daughter to meet her potential suitors, but, without a large and strong army to protect all of Valla, that option would have left Valla’s safety in danger. It led the King to finally come to the decision to close the gates to Valla for the first time in decades.
The King held out hope that his daughter would fall in love naturally as he had with his wife. He demanded that love letters be sent from the suitors and he made the Princess read them all to him, but the letters never pleased him or her.
“Father, I have read many books and poems by virtuous writers only to be persuaded by insipid letters professing love for a person the writer has never met.” - she sighed.
The king agreed knowing that his daughter was too sharp to fall in love with words on a canvas. However, they enjoyed the letters and read each one for entertainment.
As the day went by, the letters became fewer and fewer. The Princess’s charms and looks were not fading and she had begun to approach the appropriate age to reign, so there was no reason why the letters had begun to dwindle. They wondered if the suitors had grown tired waiting for reply.
And then the night came when a letter, not professing love or admiration had arrived stained with blood. The King’s eyes had said it all when he read the letter, once... twice... three times.
He called his champion warrior who was a tall, strong and brave knight. He ordered him to gather and prepare a suitable army.
“Noah, I fear that a war is coming. We are not prepared. Our people are in danger.” clinging to the canvas in his hands.
“What is the threat we face? Valla bears no ill will toward any other capital.” he nodded.
“It’s them.” taking a deep, strong breath. “The Vikings from the north may be heading our way.” the King confessed.
Noah, realizing the severity, gave the King some words of comfort: “I will gather brave and strong men. Men who would die for this crown as I would for his majesty. I will train them just as I did and I will bring you a strong army, worthy of the Valla emblem.“, putting his heart on his chest and bowing with respect.
“Thank you, brave knight. I will owe you my life, the life of my people and... the life of my daughter.”
And with that Noah had done his due diligence in creating an army for the King. He collected as many men as were willing to die by the blade for their beloved crest, but there simply weren’t enough. He determined that he should venture out beyond the walls of Valla to join forces with neighboring towns. His last words were promises that he would gather all the stateless men who wanted glory, but as the days passed and there was no sign of the brave knight, the King began to worry.
The King lay in bed while his beautiful daughter, the Princess, read him more letters. The two shared laughter and criticism over the inked words. It was their favorite pastime. The King placed his hand on the Princess’s hand, prompting her to stop her joyful giggles.
“I can’t seem to grow tired of these presumptuous letters, Father.” She looked into his eyes and realized that he was no longer laughing next to her. “Are you feeling tired again? I’ve been reading for a long time again, haven’t I?” worried about his appearance.
“No, my love. I’m afraid there is something more alarming to be worried about.”
“What is it, Father? I see that Noah hasn’t returned from his voyage. Is that what’s worrying you? What have you sent him to do?”
“It’s not what I sent him to do, in fact, he was the one who proposed this endeavor to me.” He leaned his body lightly on the bed. “The army is trainingbecause…there are rumors in the city…”
She was silent for a moment, looking at his face, still confused and pure. He caressed her cheek lightly before sighing and continuing.
“I have protected you from the world. I promised you that the sadness that came over you when your mother passed away would never happen again. I am afraid I have failed you.” He swallowed before looking into her eyes. “Valla is in grave danger.”
“Valla has never been in danger...we haven’t hurt anyone.”
“These people... this plague that is approaching us, they are not looking for revenge or to settle a score. They are looking for blood.”
The Princess’s face was drained of color. Now she understood why her father had taken such measures.
“The Vikings from the north are closing in on us. There was a letter from Braker’s Village that arrived weeks ago detailing the savagery they have wreaked on the people there. They have dismantled the law and the kingdom. They have burned and destroyed... They have killed. ..families...children.” As if in a trance, the king’s eyes went far away. “The letter was not signed and …it had arrived on horseback without a rider.”
“Braker’s?” thought the Princess. “Braker’s is... two towns away.”
“Yes. That’s why Noah is off to warn and gather the people who want to join us and prepare for a war.”
“What if... there are no people? It’s been weeks father.”
“It worries me, my sweet daughter.” with slight tears in his eyes. “The Vikings of the north take whatever they want. They suck the land, sea and sky of its joy and when they tire of their own villainy, they move on to the next patch of land, ready to do the same.”
The Princess was lost in thought for a second, looking at the letters that were left lying on her father’s bed. He had received lots of them and she had not been interested in any phrase or poem. “Is that why we continue the cards? Is that why we need to find suitors? To join forces and reigns?”
“Partly, yes.”
“Why haven’t you enlightened me before? I would have read the letters with less disdain and sarcasm. I would have done my part!”
Her words hurt him. He had protected the sweet Princess from knowing how desperate he was that she might find interest in any of the suitors. He wanted her to have the opportunity to make a decision.
“It’s my fault. I wanted you to be worry-free and I hoped you had found love just like I did. I didn’t want you to make a decision that would tie you down for the rest of your life if it wasn’t a decision you had made with your heart. My body is weak and my own heart is weak. I won’t be here for long. I won’t be here to make sure you have a happy life. I thought that if I at least gave you the opportunity to choose who to spend the rest of your life with...you’d be well accompanied after I’m gone. ”
The princess’s face hardened and the worry disappeared from her face.
“You still think of me as your little girl. But I have learned a lot from a kind and gracious Queen. I have learned a lot from a strong and supportive King. I have my free will and I have never felt differently about that. No matter the customs we should endure. I know all my life that you have sheltered me from reality but I am willing to be a worthy heir. I could have handled this news, Father. I could have saved Valla!”
“Danielle...” as he took her hand. “You are stronger than I could ever imagine. Please do not mistake my silence as an expectation of weakness. I only wanted... what was best for you.”
“I will be at Valla’s side, Father. And I will be at your side. Always.”
They hugged for a second. Feeling the weight of the world between them, they worried that everything wasn’t going to be okay but they were together and that was enough.
The Princess did not know the magnitude of the danger that threatened Valla but she promised to arm herself with knowledge and strategy. If the northern Vikings were as volatile in bringing down capitals as her Father warned, the first to be attacked would be the King and his court.
“It’s time for you to rest, Father.”
She picked up the candles next to her father’s bed and blew them out. Keeping one for herself to light her path.
“I love you. Forever. No matter what.”
Her smile lit up the room and calmed something inside the king. “I love you more”.
The night was long and her father’s words did not let the Princess sleep.
She looked out onto the opened gates of Valla, as far as the light from the moon could allow. The world seemed immense compared to her little village. A village that now seemed tucked away on the far side of the planet. A village unprepared and unequipped to deal with savages. The thought kept her eyes wide and her mind wondering.
Suddenly, a quiet shadow on a horse approached. Only the clacking of his stead could be heard throughout the streets of Valla. From her window she could see him, Noah, returning from his voyage. She gathered her night gown from around her and grasped the barely lit candle that accompanied her. Her bare feet rushed through the mortar halls of the mansion, her speed threatening to blow out the candle in her hand but she did not slow her pace. She needed to hear the news herself.
“Noah!” catching up to the warrior on his horse.
Noah’s head turned as he halted the horse.
“Princess! It is dark...and you are indisposed.” he scolded.
“I need to hear it first. I need you to tell me first.” The worry in her eyes sparkled with the moonlight.
Noah did not speak. He swallowed a lump in his throat and for the first time, the prized and undefeated warrior had the look of fear in his face. He hesitated but dismounted his stead.
“Princess, I must speak with King Fernando first.” He spoke with rigidity but with pain.
“You know as well as I that my father is weak of heart. If this should be bad news…I shall hear it first.” Noah averted his eyes unsure if he would disobey the royal families next heiress. “I command it.”
With hesitancy he turned to her, staring into her eyes for just one moment before continuing, “We will not survive this attack Princess. The kingdom will fall at the hands of these brutes.” He swallowed with pain. “Blood will shed so that it will run down the streets of Valla. It will be like enduring Hell fire.”
His words burned in her. Whatever he had seen had frightened him so that he spoke of his vision as truth. It rattled her inside knowing that this would be the reality of her precious kingdom. In her state of heartbreak she thought of only one solution.
“Take me to their leader.”
“Are you mad Princess?!” He snapped. “You ask me to take you to your deathbed?”
“No. What I am giving you is an order.” She responded sternly.
No other words were spoken between them. The order had been made. Noah wanted so much to disobey knowing what the brutes would do with her. Before he could think of a way to change the Princess’ mind she had reverted back into the castle of stone and gotten dressed in her Royal, golden gown. She demanded to be taken to them.
He had tracked the Vikings miles away and had witnessed for days, the gluttonous manner in which they raptured the village of Brakers. It was only until he was sure that they were making their way to Valla that he returned at post haste, not sure how he would prepare the King with the news.
It would take at least a day before they reached the Vikings camp out. Enough time, he thought, to change the Princess’ mind and be back to warn the kingdom but the Princess did not speak to him at any point. Not even to ask for a pause in their journey. She did not eat and she barely drank from her canteen. Truthfully, she could not stomach anything. A few miles from the Viking camp, they stopped. The Princess demanded to be alone for a moment, knowing Noah would use this time to try and coerce her into giving up on this idiotic mission. She composed herself and recollected her thoughts. She had a speech prepared. A deal for the Norse King. She ran through it in her mind. Each time seeming more and more unsure of her seemingly naïve proposal. The Norse King would not kill her. Not in this manner she hoped, but he could become offended, she thought. Still she tidied herself as best she could and swallowed down the fear that tore inside her.
If this mission fails miserably, she could die at the hands of the brutes. Her father, the king, would still be out looking for her, not knowing her fate.
“Princess…” Noah started a speech with no avail. There were no more words to say to the determined young woman that stood in front of him, sternly looking beyond the fields to their destination.
“It’s time.” She whispered.
She mounted her white, royally adorned horse and demanded Noah do the same.
The rest of the journey was slow and early silent.
As they approached the camp, they could see from a far that a few of them began to become aware of their presence. She could feel the energy of them. A cocktail of testosterone filled anxiety. She felt them salivating at their presence. They were charged, fat with meat and gleeful on spirits. Some drew weapons at their approach and others climbed their irritated horses, eager to charge at them from far away.
Then the fear came upon her. If they did not wait to receive them they would die there and then.
The adornments and the emblem of their kingdom became clearer to the brutes. They stopped a few hundred feet from them.
The Princess took in a deep breath and yelled, “I request counsel with your leader!”
Noah raised an astonishing white flag over head representing that their presence was not a threat.
She could see how these brutes looked at each other and laughed at their pathetic attempt. The laughter began to grow as they ignored her commanding stance.
For a few moments this went on until a large brute, adorned with animalistic pelts and leather broke through the roaring crowd shutting up their laughter as he approached them on horseback. His black stallions speed alarming her’s and Noah’s stead. She braced for an attack but one did not come. The brute stopped right in front of them. His face was dirtied with white paint. There was a large scar over the left of his eye. His hair was long to his muscular shoulders and it was dirty with ash. An animal, she thought.
“You request counsel with our jarl?”
She kept her proud stance and did her best to regulate her fear stricken, shortened breath.
“I do command court with whoever calls themselves your leader.”
“Aye.” A stretched and deep acceptance to her command.
He said nothing else and turned as if beckoning them to follow him.
They trotted slowly behind him. The gnarls and grunts of the brutes at their side as they made their way through this animalistic crowd of feral beings. Their camp was trashed, and as far as the eye could see, her fathers descriptions of them were right. They seemed to have sucked the life of the grounds around them. Not a single blade of grass had survived and the smog that surrounded the grounds was thick and heavy. There were few women in their camp. Mostly dressed in tattered clothing and shy to make eye contact with the two, freshly adorned royals that made way through them. Captured woman from other villages she thought. Who knew the pain they had been suffering at the hands of these unassimilated beasts.
They came to a stop, at the head of the camp. A large canopy of cowhide in front of them. Inside were dozens of more men, exactly as dirty and brute like. At the head of the tent, was a royal seat on a pedestal. A stolen artifact from some other kingdom and on it sat what can only be described as the so-called jarl.
“Princess, I’ll assist you.”
She looked down at Noah who held his hand out for her. The worry in his eyes was palatable but she needed to remain strong or at least seem strong. She dismounted her horse and the two made their way through the rowdiness of the crowd that separated like Moses to the sea as she and Noah approached the jarl.
She tried not to make eye contact with the knarling crowd that yelled and growled at them. She noted their smell of fire and body odor. Did they have no decency or in the least showers? Some were missing teeth and their skin was adorned in scars. Their hair was long such as their beards and some wore long braids.
The jarl stood out in the crowd. As she came upon him she could see the difference. He was massive. His limbs were strong and muscular. His chest was bare and rugged. He wore fine furs of white wolf. His golden hair was long down his back and clean. His beard was shorter than the others but it was well kept and brushed. It did not hide his strong jaw line that clenched at the sight of the Princess. He did not wear a hat of horns but brandished a long braid with golden yarn weft into it in the midst of his golden mane. On his arms he wore leather straps that tightened around his biceps and wrists. His pants tightened around his strong calves. She could see from where she stood that his eyes were a piercing gray and he had them locked on her like daggers. A slight half smile on his rugged face appeared as she stood in front of him as the Princess that she was. He looked upon her like a wolf would look upon a cornered rabbit. He devoured every inch of her with his eyes.
He only took his attention off her to look upon Noah. His smile went away and the jarl looked at the warrior as if he wanted his head on a plate.
He grumbled from his throat as he slowly laid back into his seat and made himself comfortable.
She gathered her strength, took a deep breath and announced herself, “I am Danielle Marie of Valla. Daughter of Lord Fernando of Valla. I request a private counsel with the jarl of this clan.” The room went silent.
The jarl said nothing and simply brought one finger to his temple and scratched slightly. He dropped his hand once more on his regal arm rest and motioned with his head at the brute that had guided them there. Before she knew it, the giants had grabbed onto Noah who made one quick demand to release him.
“This is my guide! A loyal subject to our kingdom! Unhand him.” yelled the Princess as she tugged onto Noah’s armor. “I demand that you release him now!” The Princess turned to the jarl who watched the event unimpressed. “Did you not hear me, you wretched jarl?!”
A small gasp followed by whispers rolled through the crowd. Her words had gotten the jarls attention and he pinned his sights on her once more. He sucked at his teeth, hiding a snarl. Slowly he arose from his stolen throne. His stature was startling. His shadow loomed over her and the crowd all at once. He stepped down from his pedestal and approached her. In her mind, he moved in slow motion. His gigantic presence slowly barrelling towards her. He measured a foot and a half more than her but he might as well have been a mountain. He only stopped a few steps from her, pausing and staring at her under his nose.
“I grant you private counsel.” His voice was low, deep but melodic. The vibrations of his voice rumbled through her body. “But this rat you call a loyal subject, will be sacrificed.”
A cheer arose from the crowd. She looked at Noah and panic slowly rose in her. “What could justify such punishment when we’ve come in peace?” She combated , holding her ground.
“For days we’ve known your accompaniment to have hidden in the brush like some rodent. He was a witness to our actions for days and did nothing but calculate and plot. One can only assume that it was by order of your crown…Princess.” His warm breath upon her face. “Does that not justify the rats’ punishment?”
She swallowed. They had known of Noah’s presence this entire time. They had known he had spied on them to warn the kingdoms that lay ahead.
“I requested private counsel, jarl. My offering will spare my kingdom and my subjects life.”
One of the brutes’ eyebrows curved in intrigued as he looked upon her face. She noticed a small scar parted his arched brow, as if he had been struck in the face a long time ago. She imagined how brutal the punishment of the unlucky deliverer of that blow was. A muscle twitched in his jaw as they just stood there staring into each other’s eyes, defiant and entranced by one another. He finally broke silence.
“Galti. Tannr. Please see to it that the Princesses pet is kept comfortable while we converse.” He smiled at her.
“To the stiga!” Yelled one of the brutes that held the tussling Noah. The crowd once more burst into cheer and laughter.
Two other men came up behind the Princess, firmly held her arms and lifted her off her feet. The jarl turned and they proceeded to carry the Princess behind him as she tugged and pulled at them. She fought them as much as she could but it proved pointless. The jarl entered his tent and so did she and the other two men who only unhanded her once she was under the confines of the tent with the rugged jarl. The two men exited the tent and stood idly by the entrance in the rare situation that the jarl needed them.
“Your men are animals!” She accused as she wiped dirt off of her sleeves. Her breath was short from her struggle but she did all she could to compose herself.
The jarl poured a liquid into his horn and took a large swig of the mead from it.
“I’m sure you have not landed yourself and your rat in this position to insult my people, Princess.” He scoffed.
“No, but I fear it is my duty to make you well aware of what you may already know.” she poked at him once more.
“My people are Vikings.” Taking the last swig of his mead and dropping his horn. “Nordic warriors who pillage and take all that they are owed. They know of your traditions, Princess. Those that deal in niceties and fairness. They do not care.” He approached her slowly. “What gloved hands can’t do, we do for sport.” This last part, a rumble in his throat.
Her laced gloved hands impulsively made a fist. She began to doubt herself and what she had come to do. The vision of the Vikings was more gruesome than she had imagined. She grew weary that her offer would be shot down and Noah would be lost alongside her precious kingdom.
“I grow more intrigued, Princess.” He waited.
She swallowed hard and puffed her chest out in hopes it would make her look braver, “I’ve come to offer you a treaty.”
Once again his eyebrow raised but he did not speak or take his stare from her alabaster face.
“A treaty?” He scoffed.
“Yes.”
“And what makes you think this would interest me?”
“The treaty would still grant you power over my kingdom.” she continued. “Without the bloodshed.”
His head tilted to the side and his brow furrowed, “The bloodshed is the exciting part.”
Her face turned red with anger.
“Besides, no King would give his crown away that easily. No respectable King would negate drawing his sword for his people.”
“He wouldn’t have to, …if he were to hand his crown down to the next heir.” She finished, ashamed of her words.
His lips separated as if he were to say something but he did not. He simply looked upon her with intrigue.
“I offer you my hand in marriage…as I am to be crowned Queen.” she stammered. “Myself, for the protection of my kingdom.” staring into his eyes with defiance even though the pain rushed through her with every word.
She expected the jarl to break into laughter. To scoff at her but he did not. He only stared into her eyes as if looking into her soul. He did not speak, just investigated her features with his jarring gray eyes. Those same gray eyes that began to travel, inspecting her body underneath her golden gown. The jarl became aware of her shortness of breath as her breast rose and fell in a rhythmic motion.
“What have you to offer me as a wife?” He salivated at her.
“It is not an offer of vulgarity.” She strongly exclaimed.
“Vulgarity?”
“I would be your wife. You would be King. That is all I offer.” She stood her ground.
The jarl burst into laughter as she expected. He turned and reached for his horn once more. He filled it with mead and drank from it as if to flood a barrage of choice words.
“I understand that…I may not be part of your clan. I know not of your traditions. I do not share the same ideals, but I am pure and fruitful.”
“Heirs?” He exclaimed, turning to her once more. “You wish to bear me heirs?” Intrigued.
“Is it not a wife’s duty?”
“I may bear heirs with whom I wish. Any lass is to my taking. Why should I be persuaded by you…Princess?”
His words cut into her like daggers. She could not combat his argument. The jarl was strong. A warrior. She imagined the women who willingly fell at his feet. And though she stood there in her royal gown and all the courage she could muster, she was small and insignificant to him. She felt the tears begin to well in her eyes as the errors in her plans began to crack through. She imagined her people, her court and her Father. They would all be killed. How could she have thought this brute to be fair?
“I…would..be devoted to you.” She stammered, her lips quivering with defeat.
His face softened towards her and although he did not let his guard down, he pictured the soft spoken, impeccable Princess, his. The opportunity to stain her clothes with his hands. To turn this rare, pure beauty into a Viking bride. The mere thought excited him.
“You shiver at my presence and you wish to bed with me still?” A low and almost menacing question.
She broke his stare to hide her pain. It was all she had to offer and he knew it.
His strong hand reached for her face and with one finger lifted her chin. Their eyes met once more and as he looked upon her, he lusted for her. Her lips were full and soft. Her cheeks were blushed with embarrassment. Her nose was perfectly shaped. Her giant almond eyes were wet with tears.
“Is this a rue to try and save your kingdom Princess? Or is it your desire to bed with a hardened warrior?”
“I would do anything for my people.” Her voice was shaken as she tried to hold back the tears.
The jarl smiled and he leaned in slowly, expecting the Princess to squeal away from him but she did not. His breath was hot against her lips and smelled of mead. “Anything?”
She closed her eyes waiting for him to taste her but before she knew it the jarl had let go of her and walked past her, picking up his ax and shield. The Princess clutched her chest as she watched him prepare, swallowing the contents of her mouth harshly. Her throat was dry and she quivered with curiosity. As the jarl turned to her, in helmet he said, “You will migrate with us north and you will not know any other family other than ours.”
“…Are…are you accepting my treaty?”
“Aye.” He said inching towards her once more. “I will spare your kingdom, your Fathers honor.”
She hesitated, confused by his quick acceptance, until the jarl spoke once more. “We will tie a slave to your horses and have them deliver the news to your precious Father. As for your rat, I will give him one opportunity to fight for his life.”
“That’s not a condition of our treaty !” She blurted. His words were a spear through her heart. “And if he wins?” she sniffled.
The jarl burst into laughter for a while. Her question was admirable but idiotic to him. “Princess,…if that pet of yours is to win me in battle, you may have all my clans, my livestock, my pillaged treasures and ride off into the sunset with your knight!” He joked. “Dane! Ebbe!” He called for the two men that stood idly by and they rushed into the tent at his beckoning, “Prepare the rat for battle. Let him fight for his freedom.”
The two men looked at each other with a smile. “This will be fun.” One said and with that the three men exited the tent to a loud cheer from the crowd that had in the meantime played with Noah who sat in a rusted cage swatting away the fingers and spears that teased him.
The Princess ran out unable to work her way through the crowd that gathered around him. The rusted cage he crouched in was opened and out came Noah, disoriented and scared. One man picked him up by his collar and aided him to his feet in brute fashion. The Princess frantically elbowed her way into the circle of riled up men.
“Arm yourself!” Yelled the jarl as he swung his large ax around him, warming up his arm.
Noah looked into the crowd for the Princess who stood by trying to stop the fight but large men held onto her. She fought them as she yelled, “Stop this at once!”
“Your Princess has spared her kingdom! But I will not be easy on you! You rodent!” The jarl yelled. “Now fight for your freedom!”
Noah drank the jarls’ words and it fueled his anger. He drew his sword from his side and warmed up his hand for battle.
“Noah, please!” Yelled the Princess but it was in vain.
The battle was on. The two men’s weapons clashed in rhythm over and over again, the crowd grew more excited as they shouted obscenities at Noah. The jarl seemed to almost be smiling as he dodged and swung at the skilled fencer. The Princess could see that the jarl seemed to think of this as a game, while Noah fought for his life.
Noah swung his sword and it clashed against the jarls’ shield again. He tried once more and the metal struck the jarl’s ax. “Enough entertainment jarl! End him!” Shouted one in the crowd.
And with that the jarl bested Noah, whose sword flew from his hand leaving him defenseless. The jarl took a large quick swing and his ax came crashing down on Noah’s skull. The crowd burst into cheers and drowned out the Princess’ screams and cries. Her fate was sealed, as was Noah’s. His body dropping to the ground. The jarls ax was still embedded between his eyes. The jarl raised his shield and flashed the clans emblem in victory. He stepped on Noah’s body as his hand reached for the handle of his weapon and with one pull released it from the skull of her adorned warrior. The Princess crawled to him and buried her face into the lifeless body’s chest. She cried with passion and pain. She cried for her champion and for her kingdom. Noah’s blood was on her hands. The crowd around them rallied in cheers. Rejoicing in their jarls’ easy victory. Her wailing was swallowed by their celebration.
The Princess felt a strong hand on her arm as it ripped her from Noah’s body.
“With this victory I seal our journey! We will take the Princess as a parting gift!” The jarl joked as he held her like a doll. “And she will be my bride!” The crowd roared in cheer as the jarl hoisted his shield in the air once more. “Prepare for our victorious return to Dorestad!”
The Princess wept in pain. She could do nothing but cry. The jarl had commanded her to be thrown in the cage while they prepared for their departure. She lay lifeless and scared at the bottom of her confines, lamenting and mourning. Her gloves were black with dirt and blood, her face red and wet. Her golden dress was mucked and in places ripped by the brutality of the men that handled her. Her hair lay wildly around her face.
She observed as they redied a horse with a poor slave girl. The jarl handed her a note, an account of what had happened here on this day. The note was meant for her Father. The Princess thought of how the news would surely kill him. His heart was already so weak. As her white horse galloped away with Noah’s empty stead and the poor slave girl, she prayed.
