My body landed with a ground shaking thud as I reached the safety of the flight deck, my landing shook the tower. I dropped my right shoulder, allowing Koba and Ivarr to climb off with the help of medics. With my mind still freshly infused with rage, my shift back was painful. My bones cracked and re-lined, my skin dissolved and so did my teeth. The pain of the shift buckled me as I fell to the floor.
"Freydis!" I heard Keon's voice shout as he ran to me, leaving our brother in the hands of our doctors. He offered me a hand to stand, the pain in my chest slowly ceased.
"I'm alright, i'm alright." I said as the eyes of the flight deck fell upon me. In amongst the crowd, Vili walked through, his mother followed closely behind.
"Are you alright?" Vili asked as he cupped my face and scanned me for any wounds.
"I'm okay, built up rage." I said with a smile, placing my hand on top of his. I could see his mother in the corner of my eye, she wore a smile. I diverted my eyes from Vili and to the lost eyes that filled the flight deck, they seeked answers.
"Everyone!" I shouted as I walked towards the centre of the room, everyone formed a circle around me.
"Word would have gotten around by now, the Knights found a way through our barriers and into our home. But that's not the worst of it. Sigi, one of our own kin, has betrayed us." I said, walking around slowly, looking deep into the eyes of those who surrounded me. Small chatter and gasps filled the flight deck at my statement.
"The same liquid she used to weaken us when we had first awoken, they have laced their swords with. Weapons, that can be used to kill us, all of us." I said as I turned and faced Vili and his mother, who had witnessed this first hand. Earl Bereke's life would not be forgotten nor unspoken of.
"They don't all wield these weapons, most of their force is still standard, only the greatest of their warriors have these weapons." I said, giving my team some moments to think and process.
"Today, we say goodbye to Earl Bereke. He will ride the smoke of his funeral pire into the halls of Valhalla, tonight he will be feasting with the Gods. Tomorrow, we rebuild, we fight, we find away to rid the plague from this world and our home." I said, my warriors nodded and agreed.
"The next few weeks will be trying, but we will triumph. So long as we all work together." I said with a smile, my warriors chanted in agreement. Everyone slowly started to return to their duties, Ivarr and Koba were taken to be treated. Their minds and bodies were still weak.
"You will always give better speeches than me." Keon said as he walked towards me, Vili and Lady Astrid close behind him.
"It gets easier the more you do it, just like drinking." I said with a smile, Keon laughing in response. My eyes met the eyes of Astrid, the life than danced within them had faded, small dark circles formed under her eyes.
"Lady Astrid." I said with a smile and very slight bow, she returned with a small smile and bow.
"Freydis, its good to see your face again. The past few days have been... Hard." She said, I could instantly sense the pain in her voice.
"Earl Bereke's funeral will be taking place later today before the sun meets the lands. The ships will leave shortly for the preparation. Keon has permitted a gathering to take place on the Island tonight to celebrate his life." Astrid said, I nodded in agreement. If someone suggested to me to hold a gathering on our Island, I would laugh at them. But Earl Bereke held a special place in all of our hearts, this I was fine with. We all left the flight deck in silence, Keon and I headed towards our chambers to shower and change for tonight's events. I entered my chambers, closing and locking the door behind me. I leaned against the door and threw my head against the wooden door, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. In a matter on 45 minutes, I had absorbed so much information. A betrayal twice over, an army that was about to destroy my home, weapons that could kill me, a funeral. It was slowly becoming too difficult to withstand. I walked to my wardrobe, picking out my white and golden armour, a large white cloak to match it.
After my shower, I stood naked in front of the warmth of my fire that was started before I arrived home. I hadn't taken the time today to think about Vili and what had happened between us. I dragged my fingers up my thighs were his had been the night before, trailing closer to my inner thigh. I smiled and heated when I remembered what he had done with his tongue there. He was true to his word, he was not gentle, the beresker within him broke through, and I liked it. I ran my hand up the side of my throat and neck, still tender from where his lips once were. I smiled as I walked towards my bed, and I started getting ready. I had changed and stood in front on my mirror, I haven't worn this armour for a long time. I wore this armour when I had first fought beside Earl Bereke and his kin, I found it fitting to wear for his funeral. I braided my hair into an up do and swung my battle axes onto my back. I was thankful Vili grabbed them and returned them this morning for me.
I met Keon in the stair well as we made our way down and towards the shipping docks, we all agreed to sail with our people rather than fly.
"It's been sometime since I've been on a ship." Keon said as we walked towards the docks, our longships were docked and getting loaded for everything tonight. One longship was filled entirely with barrels of mead and ale. We headed to the largest of the longships, my longship. I gave my warriors a nod as we climbed into the ship. Before we set off, I noticed two men running towards the ships, Ivarr and Koba. I smiled as I watched them, I was thankful our bodies healed quickly.
"You wouldn't leave without us would you?" Koba asked as they both climbed into the long ship.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Keon said with a huff, I looked over at him. He was still upset with the past few days. I looked over at my companions who looked everywhere but at Keon, I felt a pang on guilt. Keon had been trying to run a kingdom and fight the darkness of feeling alone these past few days, while I hid with Vili, he fought alone. I stood up and walked towards the front of the ship by Keon's side, my body was tiny compared to his large frame.
"Thank you, Keon." I said as I placed my hand on his arm, he looked down at me quickly before looking towards the ocean once again.
"For what?" He said as he cleared his throat. I smiled, tough men and even tougher exteriors.
"You were the one who stayed home and held this kingdom together while we were all absent. I know you never liked power and authority. I'm sorry you had to cope with this, it's not an easy burden to bare. But know that you have my thanks and gratitude, brother." I said, placing my hand on his shoulder, he looked down at me through the corners of his eyes. The boat rocked softly as Koba and Ivarr stood behind me, placing their hands on Keon too. I absorbed Keon's emotions, he battled the burden harshly, but I could sense he was relieved and glad to have us here again. Keon is one of the strongest men I know, but we all have our demons. We all took our seats as the warriors in the Long ship set off and begun rowing. When we were far enough into the waves, they let the sail down and it instantly caught the wind. The spray of salt water made my skin cool and sticky, I reached out and ran my hand through the cold waves as we glided over the top of them.
After a twenty five minute sail, we reached the rough shores of the Island, our secrete grounds that we opened to everyone for this day. A small path way up the step harsh hill was light with fire torches, enough space for one person at a time. The companions and I stepped out of the ship, waiting at the bottom of the entrance for everyone to make their way up the cliff. After the last ship arrived and they had made it up, we all begun our own climb up.
"I can't remember the last time we climbed up this cliff." Keon said between gasps of air, none of us were fit enough for such a climb with so much weight and heat from the gear we wore and carried.
"Honestly, I don't think we ever have climbed this." I said as I took a moment to catch my breath again. I hunched over and placed my hands on my hips, looking up I saw that we were close. The sky was darkening and the glow of the fires on the cliff top was noticeable.
"Come on, we need to hurry." I said as I continued climbing.
After we reached the top, I was taken back by how everything was set. A clear path was made to a large wooden funeral pire at the other end of the cliff, behind it was a setting sun, it was marvelous. Tables, chairs, roasts and mead barrels had all been set out and ready. Many of the people had already begun drinking. In our tradition, the end of a life was a celebrating of the life they had lived. We drank, sung and feasted in their name as the Valkyries carried their souls home. Next to the funeral pire was Vili and his brothers Kili and Bjorn. They must have arrived home today for the funeral. My eyes lingered on Vili, he looked pained and burdened, he had the burden on becoming the next Earl on his shoulders now. Something he never wanted. He wore his full black leather amour, a long black hooded cloak with one battle axe swung on his back. His top cut had been trimmed, it sat above his eyebrows and fell to the left ever so slightly. His tattoos peaked from under his black amour, his sad blue eyes glimmered in the light of the fires.
"I will never understand why you both just... Stare. It's so strange to witness." Ivarr said as he walked towards me, offering me a full drinking horn. I smiled and nodded, taking the horn. I watched as Ivarr's eyes fell onto Fiona who stood with lady Astrid near her sons.
"The same reason why you stare at Fiona." I said as I took a sip of my mead, he smiled never taking his eyes off her.
"I can't explain it, when I'm with her I feel normal. Like I could have a normal life, a family, marriage. All of the things we were taught that are a weakness to us." Ivarr said as he continued to stare. I took a moment to absorb his words.
"It doesn't make us weak, Ivarr. What we share with them, I guess is a reminder of what we are. The idea of having a normal life empowers us to fight harder and try harder for them, to give them the possibility of a normal life. Nobody in this realm is normal Ivarr. Normal is an empowerment for us all, we all desire it." I said, I felt as Vili's eyes fell on me, as if he felt and heard my words.
"Have you told her yet?" I asked as I took another drink, Ivarr looked at me momentarily, he knew exactly what I meant.
"No, not yet. I can't burden her with that." He said as he took a large drink.
"You'll come to learn soon enough, she doesn't see it as a burden. She may feel the exact same connection." I said with a nudge, walking away afterwards to let Ivarr brew on my words. I only wanted happiness for Fiona and Ivarr. I walked towards a cooking pig on the spit, watching as it cooked slowly and enjoying the smell. I was hungry, the plain foods and berries I had been eating fixed my hunger but only temporarily.
"Roasted pork was always father's favourite." Said a voice as they stood beside me, I turned to see Vili's blue eyes burning into mine. They were full of sadness and grief. I placed my hand on his cheek.
"You father is and was a great warrior, tonight he will be feasting and drinking along side Odin and his fallen brothers. Grieve, my love but remember him with pride as well." I said, Vili tipped his head into my hand, bringing his mead empty hand to cup mine. He closed his eyes as he stroked my hand with his thumb, taking deep breaths.
"I don't want to become the Earl, Freya. It's not me. My destiny lies else where now." Vili said as he opened his blue eyes.
"My fate now lies with you and the company of the companions. I was never the right man for Jarldon, Kili always wanted the job." Vili said as he pulled me into an embrace, I took a deep breath as I become memorised by his scent.
"You fate is decided, Vili. And if you believe that is by our side, we will welcome you with open arms." I said as I looked up at him, and without thinking I reached up and placed a tender kiss on his lips, he instantly mimicked my movements. After our kiss broke and our eyes lingered, my heart skipped as I felt the heat of hundreds of eyes fall upon us. I looked out into the crowd to see everyone looking at us in shock and admiration. We haven't mentioned our connecting to anyone, my eyes met Kili's, his eyes were full of pain.