Chapter 5 - The Viking Way

A few month's after they meet Gourm. the boat is now ready. All they need now is a crew. Asmund contacts Balder to meet him and a few other people ready to hear his plan out. Balder makes his way to the supposed place Asmund told him, He sees a straw hut. He enters the hut and there they were a handful of people ready to be convinced, scared for their lives that they even are listening to this madness. 'Hi, Balder I have brought together this bunch of perfectly good men. Each of them had sworn on their arm ring to never speak of this meeting again.' said Asmund while greeting his brother. You have done well, my brother, although I knew I could trust you. Man:1 what are we here for ? you are here, firstly, because you have nothing better to do. see, all you lot live idle and wasted lives. ( crowd starts to rile up ) 'LISTEN TO HIM ' shouts Asmund, And the crowd calms down. we have built a new boat. And with this boat for the first time we can go west, across the sea to a great place called England. Where countless riches await us. 'How would we steer across the open ocean Balder' Said a random guy in the crowd.' We have discovered a way' said Balder in a very smug manner. Asmund gets up and intervenes ' I want all of you to join on this voyage, I have Balder's word that we shall all be equal in this voyage and the spoils of our raids will be equally divided.' If there are any there is no guarantee that there are lands to the west. (Balder walks up to the man that said that) What is your name ? 'Halfdan' proclaimed the guy as Balder glared him. I promise you, Halfdan, I've heard witnesses. 'They are Just stories Balder, you know that' said Halfdan as Balder walked away from them. ' Just stories, All things begin and and as stories ,Halfdan'. ' You have to remember though the Earl Haraldson has ordered us to sail east.' Said another guy in the crowd. ' The Earl knows nothing of our new boat. He know's nothing about the new way of navigating this is why he refuses to let us go west'.' he could kill all of us for disobeying his orders' said Halfdan as he was drinking. Yes, he could. I can offer you a chance to shine in battle and to impress the gods and to bring back such plunder that you have never seen before, Now the question is have you got the balls to join us. (crowd starts murmuring) ' I will go my brother ' Said Asmund, As everyone in the crowd followed 'We will ' except Halfdan. (Balder walks up to Halfdan) Are you coming with us Halfdan ? ' Yes, I want a good story to tell to my children' Said Halfdan nervously. ' Prepare to leave in the next few week, And tell no one that doesn't need to know' Said Balder as he got up and left the hut. Meanwhile at the kingdom of the Earl, His advisor and spy Olafur finds out there was a meeting. ' My lord, there was a meeting, in a hut by Halfdan's house'. 'Was Balder Asger behind this meeting Olafur' Said the Earl Haraldson as his anger was slowly building up.' Yes, my lord it was him. should we show him the ax' said Olafur.' Nothing would please me more, but it's too soon. we need to watch and wait, only good things come from watching' Said Haraldson as he saw Olafur his trusted servant glare at his wife. ( the Earl gets up and walks to Olafur and whispers) Were you looking at my wife? have you slept with her Olafur? " No, my lord, no i swear on all the gods, I would never' said Olafur nervously and scared out of his mind. If she wants to sleep with you, then I give you my permission, Olafur after all you have been by my side forever.(Haraldson and Olafur glare at eachother and Haraldson knew his answer) It will be arranged Olafur. Meanwhile Balder eaches back to his farmstead, as soon as he arrives Ase runs out of the house ' When do we sail Balder' Said Ase as Balder unmounted his horse.' I told you Ase, I don't want you to come, I want you to stay at the farm, I need to leave the farm and the children in the hands of someone I can trust. What if the Earl finds out that we have gone without his permission? He might try and claim our home' said Balder as he entered his house, Ase followed soon after ' This was going to be the most exciting voyage of our lives, to go west !' said Ase as Balder ignored her.( she grabs a glass of water and splashes Balder on the face)" I have dreamed of this many times, and in my dreams, we are always together.' Said Ase in a very serious manner. ' What if there is no west? this is the most stupid and dangerous voyage ever. What if we bot die? hmm? who is gonna take care of your children? Asmund ?' said Balder as he walked away from Ase. 'YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY THAT!' said Ase as she walks away. ' All right Ase! all right! i will stay and take care of the children and clean the dishes. you go on the voyage' said Balder as he chuckles and starts cleaning the house. A couple minutes later,( Balder hears rattling, he walks over to the rattling armed). (Ase grabs a shield and hits Balder in the face). How dare you ! get up and defend yourself ! you have forggeten that you married a shiled maiden ! ( Balder grunts and gets up) my love ! Never mind that Balder get up and fight.( Ase trys to hit him with her but Balder grabs a nearby bag of flour and deflects it) 'AM I NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR YOU BALDER !' said Ase as Balder kicks her shield and she falls on the bed.(Balder jumps on her) Listen ! Ase ! ( Ase knees Balder in the balls, As Balder grunts in pain) You listen ! I saved your life Balder ! (Balder grabs her and slams her on the bed) How could I forget ? " you keep reminding me' said Balder as he kisses Ase. (Ase grabs a nearby frying pan and hits Balder on the head as they are kissing) I AM SO ANGRY WITH YOU BALDER ! (Balder gets off her and grabs a shield as Ase grabs a sword and attacks Baldur, Baldur grabs her sword and disarms her ) Rollo intervenes from his sleep ' Are you both mad ! you could' ve killed each other ! is that what you want?' said Rollo as he stopped their fight. ' we were just having an arguement' said Balder gasping for air. ' Well never ague like that again!' said Rollo. ' well go on! back to sleep! ' said Balder as Rollo left.' its a fine thing Ase! when the little pig teaches the old boar a lesson' said Balder as he sat on his Bed. (Ase walks up to Balder and slaps him and leaves) ' What a woman !' As Balder lays down and goes to sleep. meanwhile Haraldson has set up his servant Olafur with his wife Aslaug. As the slaves escort Olafur to Aslaug, Olafur starts to tremble with excitement. ' we are here Olafur' Said a servant as they enter the room and they see Aslaug on the bed. ' Leave us alone now !' shouted Olafur as he entered the room. ' It is so cold in here, no matter we'll be warm soon enough Aslaug' said Olafur as he started to undress and lay on the bed'. (Aslaug gets on top of Olafur ). ' are you ready Olafur' said Aslaug. 'Yes, I have been ready for 5 years'. ( Aslaug starts punching Olafur in the face ) ' How dare you think you can sleep with a woman of my status Olafur! ' said Aslaug as Guards and the Earl walked in the room. ' did you really think a worm like you could sleep with a women like me ? I am an Earl's wife ! ' Said Aslaug as the Haraldson glared at Olafur. ' Now I know who to trust, and who not to trust. Guards get rid of him'. Olafur was speechless and shivering for his life as they were dragging him to his doom.'I AM SORRY MY LORD ! FORGIVE ME ! TAKE MY LIMB ! PLEASE ANYTHING I WANT TO DIE FIGHTING MY LORD! I WANT TO ENTER VALHALLA !' Screamed Olafur but it was unheard as though everyone was deaf. Everyone watched as Haraldson kicked Olafur into a pit of snakes in front of the people of Uppakra. 'THIS IS THE PUNISHMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO CROSS ME ! WATCH THE PEOPLE OF UPPAKRA! WATCH AS HE SUFFER'S. YOU ARE NEXT BALDER ASGER'. Said Haraldson as thE people are in awe of their leader.