The time it took to travel home was far too long for Jon and Raska Berskaggr to bear. Every day seemed to drag on and on, while the deep blue ocean stretched as far as you could see in every direction. The route the Jarls and their captains charted and took back to the North should take a month if nothing goes wrong. Luckily nothing went wrong and the men eventually saw land on the horizon.
Jon and Raska were so joyous that they began to shake one another by their shoulders and laugh uncontrollably. They would see their loved ones soon after so long. The massive fleet of ships began to break apart and sail towards their own respected towns and cities. The fleet going to Brokwood was only about five ships strong, only a fraction of the ships that were brought.
Finally after a month of cramped travel, the ships were about to dock up, and the survivors of the raid would meet their families. Brokwood had been fortunate to only lose about twenty or so men in the raids, while some towns lost a majority of their warriors. As the ships began to hit the docks, tremendously loud cheers began to reach their ears. Whole families crying out loud for the excitement of seeing their fathers disembark from the ships, while other cries were of mourning, losses and confusion.
Jon and Raska walked off of the ship side by side and immediately they spotted Lagertha and the two girls, who had grown almost a foot taller between themselves.
"Oh my Gods, my men are home! No new scars to show for it too I see. Come, I will prepare a feast like you have never seen before!" Lagertha cried as tears of happiness fell upon her pale cheeks. The family embraced one another after such a long time apart. The Berskaggrs were about to start towards their home when the all too familiar voice of Jarl Svygard pierced the air, saying, "Berskaggr clan, please, wait! I need to talk with you all." Jarl Svygard began jogging over and stopped in front of Lagertha.
"Lagertha, Raska, please take the night and be with your son, for tomorrow we must leave and go to my city. Your son, Jon, is now my squire and I require him nearby to make sure he is training properly. I would like to make him a Knight in my army." Jarl Svygard explained.
Upon hearing these words, Lagertha began to cry. "What?! My son is just now a man from his first raid and you want to take him from me for the little time I actually have to spend with him before he leaves to risk his life to fill your coffers?! How could you do this?!" Lagertha was beginning to become a little hysterical.
"Mother, I am going to be fine. I will come visit you often, as I have a horse now. Jarl Svygard's holding is only three days travel by foot and only a single day by horse. We are still so close together. I want to do this mother, please do not cry for me." Jon calmly talked to Lagertha, trying to soothe her sadness. However, this did not work. Lagertha only said "okay" and turned and began walking to their home. Raska gave Jon a look and tilted his head slightly, then began walking off to follow his wife and children, leaving Jon and Jarl Svygard alone.
"Jon, I wish to see you in this exact spot first thing tomorrow morning. I am sorry to rip you from your family so soon after arrival, however your training must continue if you are truly to become a Knight. The road will be filled with hardships and trials. Be ready." Jarl Svygard turned and walked away in the direction he had come from. Jon was now all alone on the beach as families around him had mostly left to go celebrate the return of their loved ones.
Once Jon reached his childhood home, he smelled a wonderful smell of cooking meat and vegetables. The scent stuck in his nose, picturing what delicacies he would feast on tonight. As he entered the home, he saw his family sitting around the table laughing with one another. Jon came to sit, but as soon as he sat his father asked him to fetch a pitcher of ale for himself and Lagertha.
Jon got up, went outside and into a room set mostly into the ground. The room was cold, almost cold enough to keep ice from melting. He grabbed a pitcher and began to fill it from a large wooden cask of ale. As he came back in, his parents were no longer at the table. Jon sat the pitcher down and moved to the fire to see what his dinner would be. Another brown stew with meat and root vegetables. Even though he ate this often, it was a welcomed sight from game roasted on an open fire with no spices. Jon dished himself some food and began to consume it quickly as it burnt his mouth. It was so deliciously salty and rich that he drank every last drop. He would make sure to compliment the chef once she returned to the family room.
Jon sat there for hours waiting alone, he had no idea where his family had gone. He felt sad although he did not go looking for them. Just as Jon was about to go into his room and sleep, Lagertha and Raska walked into the room. The "discussion" they had went on for hours and as soon as they came into the room their faces were beet red.
The family spent the rest of their time together at the table drinking and laughing. Jon felt sad that this was his last day with his family before he had to leave to go to the city. Raska and Lagertha had drank a little too much and were both expressing their sadness for Jon's departure. Tears of sadness began rolling down both of their faces. Jon had also imbibed just a little too much and this display of emotion also led him to shed a tear or two.
As the night ended, Jon went into his room and lay down on his bed. He put his head down on the straw pillow he was so used to and slowly drifted to sleep.
As Jon opened his eyes, he discovered he was in Woden's hall once again. Standing from his bed, Jon searched the halls for the great God. Once Jon reached the throne room, he saw the face of Woden, God of the Gods beaming back at him.