5 years later - new times

As promised every raid, every battle that took place Ernak was there, so much so that Sigurd ended up using him to help plan the event and under his advice, raiding became much more efficient. His ideas were: Never loot a place more than once a year, send scouts ashore to assess the situation; specifically the defences and rich areas before scoring. Splitting into three groups: One goes Straight to the monasteries and richer houses, one attacked the businesses and homes and the others stood lookout and looted anything on the streets before focusing on defending the others whilst the others loaded the ships. Warfare on the other hand where he would try and outthink them what scared or intimidated the enemy the most was Ernak’s willingness to charge into battle alone or in impossible odds. Meanwhile at home tension between mother and daughter **** a drift larger than households apart. Astrid wanted to be loved and where Ernak refused to give it to her she went elsewhere with a lack of care on who with, this caused both political and social problems which Alfhild refused to help with and to Alfhild’s greater annoyance when Ernak found out he didn’t care but instead ignored it until a man spoke out of line or **** his attentions on Astrid then he would defend her, this was the only time Astrid saw any care from him but the tension between mother’s orderly and politically sociable appearance which and Astrid’s carelessness to it knowing that as long as Ernak was being “heroic” she wouldn’t have to worry about her actions.

“Can you please not try and get yourself killed this time!” Sigurd argued as they gathered around the table to discuss the plan, “Does it matter as long as it works?” Ernak responded studying the map in detail, “Exactly! Especially after all the threats he has made to your person?” Erik stated siding with him only because he didn’t want Ernak around, “Yes it does matter! I know my daughter, your wife doesn’t care but Alfhild and Lagertha does and I wouldn’t want them upset because you don’t care about yourself!” “The plan Sigurd!” Erik growled “They are weak on the left with inexperienced warriors, if we can attack from the side and push them sideways across the centre section, it would cause them to push right and disrupt the stronger section which is also ours!” “That is only if your scouts are actually right this time!” snapped Ernak which caused Erik to challenge back, “I assume Ernak is going to volunteer for the suicide part?” Ernak nodded with Torvi smiling adjusted her shield straps, “I’ll go with him! I promised Lagertha that I’d look out for him and... I like to be next to him on the battlefield anyway!” “Agreed, what is your idea Ernak?” “Don’t worry about that, you worry about maintaining shape when the others flood right!” “You don’t have to do this” Ragnor spoke stopping Ernak and pushing his hand away Ernak simply spoke, “No... it’s my choice to do it. And I don’t trust Erik’s advice!” Ragnor nodded before replying sincerely, “Just stay safe, Lagertha would hate me if you didn’t come back alive.” “Just get your forces ready!” “Don’t worry about us and Torvi don’t let him do anything stupid okay?” Torvi nodded before following behind Ernak stated, “So what’s the plan?”

“Still going through with the mad schemes I see!” Torvi stated crouching next to Ernak who saw the other army forming, “Why the detour anyhow?” he pointed to the well before stating, “Mild hallucinating toxin with a few other nasty side effects. It will kick in shortly before the battle and for those who aren’t killed by their own men or killing their men, it will cause panic amongst their ranks and to our advantage!” he studied the armoured warriors as they formed in order like a well trained army and knowing Erik was wrong started to think up of another plan, “Shit!” muttered Ernak who looking at Torvi nodded in agreement, “We can’t defeat that!” he studied the area seeing the terrain before contemplating it stated, “The poison will weaken them but not kill them and the cattle will cause chaos but nothing to harm their numbers... hmmm!” “What are you thinking?” he studied the scene a bit more before thinking out loud offered, “We wait for the the poison to take effect, then unleash the cattle, it may **** a wedge between the army and **** the right to move further right and...” “Into the river, in that armour they would drown!” “Exposing the left to the bulk of Sigurd’s forces. We will then aim for the leader... take him and without leadership they will panic!” “A sound plan if you can actually get in close and kill him!” a strangers voice called crouching next to them, hood up to cover her identity, “Who are you?” “Name’s Aife and no you can’t ask why I look like this all you need to care about is me wanting to kill the same target as you. Some more good news for you, they know I am around and will be worrying about me...” “You distract them and we will kill him!” “Good... you are smart!” he nodded before looking at her queried, “What will you do?” “Provide support until they notice me, I will get close enough for him to send as many guards as he dares; you will come from behind and land the killer blow. You will need these!” she stated plainly handing a pair of bracers with a mechanism attached, “I want these back after, you aren’t entitled to own them, one flick of the wrist like so...” she demonstrated, “Simple enough?” Ernak studied it before sliding it the other way flicked his wrist downwards to show the blade and Torvi doing the same laughed at Aife who retracted her blade hiding the missing finger, “I figured out the hard way!” their attention turned to the warriors who coughing slightly didn’t take make notice of it because standing opposite them now stood the raiders who weapons drawn stared at the opposition not phased perhaps slightly crazy to face a foe who themselves saw the “ravel” and smiled knowing their order and structure should make them prevail.

When the horn blew for war Ernak rushed to the nearby cattle heard whilst Torvi began to drop the oil in a line to herd the animals towards the army; when they rushed passed the start of the large river Ernak opened the gates shooing the animals who seeing the fire panicked as they rampaged towards armoured soldiers and began to splinter the armour in two; men panicked as they were either trampled or were **** towards the water and fell in feeling their armour grow heavy and allowing the equally surprised army of the Vikings to react and open a gap for the cattle to run through, Sigurd seeing the change of plan ordered Ragnor’s men to finish off the weakened flank whilst the others concentrated on the intact left flank who were only weakened by health, they coughed and vomited which made Sigurd laugh even more now knowing of Ernak’s “surprise” and pushing forward started to use his stronger fighters to create a larger dent through the front.

*Whistle* Ernak blew summoning his mount seeing Torvi follow suit drawing her bow waited for his signal whilst Aife made her appearance painfully obvious and almost like a charm brought the attention of most of his guards towards her which now allowed the target to study the situation, “Now?” Torvi queried waiting for his signal, “Four guards left, two each... closest to the head has drinks brought for them by the loser!” “You’re on!” the horses galloped past the strays of the army before drawing nearer fired their first shots at the guards to the general before taking the next two out; during this time “The General” as he was called saw the situation grabbed his axe and imbedded it in Torvi’s mount as she ventured too close and watching her fall to the ground in a thud he immediately dismounted his horse retrieving his weapon from the dead creature. Ernak seeing this turned his horse around before rushing towards Torvi who was trying to block the “General’s” strikes with her shield his attention was soon distracted by an arrow in landing in his exposed knee. “Back away from my stepsister!” Ernak growled drawing his swords to meet the enemy in direct combat allowing Torvi time to get up to fetch her shield. Ernak swung but seeing his swords did little to penetrate the armour saw Torvi creeping closer and in seeing this Ernak waited for his chance to block the axe and trap it then with a head butt caused “The general” to fall surprised back wobbly kneed and Torvi to slam her shield over his head bringing him to his knees, “Ready?” Torvi asked flicking her wrist to bare the blade, “Ready!” Ernak confirmed slamming his blade in time with Torvi through the man’s face, “We should help in the battle!” Torvi exclaimed seeing the dead behind her, “Agreed, take his horse and draw your bow, we’ll attack though the rear!”

“So much for my fathers help!” Torvi snapped before lining up her first shot behind Ernak who choosing the sword instead rod into the group hacking away at them, “Forward!” Sigurd barked charging into the remaining army who now had to worry about the horse riders hacking away from behind. Ernak came back for another strike killing three more in swings and providing the necessary distraction to allow the Sigurd’s men to make an quick kill. Doing this caused the well trained army without an chain of command to splinter into smaller groups who were isolated from the remaining bulk and was perfect for Torvi who lining her shots up simply plucked them out one at a time and Ernak to simply dismount and attack the bulk.

Ernak grew adapt to the new blade quite quickly but if Aife saw how he was using it, she would have tried to kill him for it. A lot was a simple sword to deflect the enemies strike then blade in the throat and it was effective. Five, ten, twelve all died by his hand, it was then when it happened. “Erik we need help!” Björn snapped, “Just keep swinging. We don’t need help!” it was too late however because leaping up Ernak sank his blade into the first’s throat and grabbing his dropped axe threw it into the next before grabbing his own weapons killed the next with his axe. “Need help?” Ernak grinned, “Of all the people, why does it have to be you!” Erik snapped unaware of the arrow aimed at him, “Watch out!” Ernak snapped stepping in front of the arrow before throwing his axe at the archer staggered back to study the arrow, he closed his eyes before snapping the arrow in half through gritted teeth struggled to hold his sword with the wounded shoulder, “We need help!” Sigurd called and running one armed Ernak responded burying his other axe deep inside the nearby’s skull. Ernak struggled with his weaker hand to maintain the grip of his sword but still fighting heard Sigurd bark in anger, “Ernak you are wounded, get out of here!” “Not without dragging your ass from the battlefield alive! This isn’t how you die” “Damn it. This isn’t time for one of your “I don’t care if I die” attitudes” Ernak killed the next before seeing Sigurd was unaware of the threat looming behind him pushed Sigurd out of the way as the warrior slammed his axe into Ernak’s chest and shoulder, Ernak flicked his wrist drawing the hidden blade and impaling him on it felt another sword being entered into his side used, he coughed before pulling an arrow from his quiver **** it into the warriors exposed neck before grimacing to pick the hatchet up killed the next he continued further with blooded hatchet in hand to Torvi who trying to fight off three saw Ernak bury the hatchet through the guys neck and using the hidden blade to kill the next fell back slumping against the bodies blood trickling from his wounds with Ragnor rushing to his side, “We need medical treatment! Leif! Here now!” Leif killed the remaining opposition around him before sliding to Ernak quickly removed the remaining part of the arrow, “How bad is it?” Ragnor asked covering both Leif and Ernak with his shield, aided by Torvi and now Ivar, “What does it look like?!” he felt Ernak’s hand push him away before stating, “Leave me, this is how I said I would go, this is how I will!” Leif’s hands faltered falling to his waist before grabbing Ernak’s sword went to lower it in the persons hands but Sigurd yelling at him snapped, “Don’t you dare stop treating him. He lives or all our lives aren’t worth living!” “Sigurd please!” Ernak pleaded, “You will not die here. Not today. Never! I owe you that much! You are my son and I’m not ready to lose you, any of you! Björn ride to the village, tell them we need immediate help from everyone who can help. Leif patch him up. Ragnor load him to the wagon with Torvi, Torvi go with them and protect the healer! Now!”

The villagers looked out from their stalls or stopped in their duties when they saw the single horse return with an man yelling from it, “Help, we need help. Every healer anyone who can help we need you!” “Björn what’s wrong? How many injured?” Alfhild worried encouraging them out, “The usual but it’s Ernak...” “What’s wrong?” “Injured... pretty bad. Sigurd needs everyone they can to help him!” “What happened?” Björn smirked slightly before confessing, “Saving Erik’s life he took an arrow in his shoulder, close to his arm. Then pushing Sigurd out of the way took an axe in a shoulder and a sword in the gut. Torvi will be here soon with Leif” “When he gets here take him to the house, we need hot water and bandages. Hurry! I want no excuses, he is helped straight away now move!”

The wagon raced in and in a matter of moments Ernak was on the the table **** and his pulse weak with his armour torn off and the multiple healers working on him with only Leif not doing so, instead herding the rest out immediately slammed the door behind them after, “I’m sorry but we require silence, rest assure we will try our best to save him!” Torvi unwashed still covered in his blood and Alfhild paced around waiting for news whilst storming in through the doors and breaking free of her husbands grasp Lagertha snapped, “No! I will wait here for him!” “It’s not pretty!” “I don’t care! I’ll wait! Go and do whatever your are required to do!” “Mother I will check up on him later, let me know if there’s a change!” before rushing out organising a smaller **** to go and help finish any remaining opposition. “Torvi why don’t you wash the blood off? Nothing will change in the next few minutes?!” Alfhild spoke but shaking her head Torvi spoke defiantly, “No. It reminds me that at least I tried to help Ernak where father wanted him to die!” “He what?” Lagertha snarled, “Yes, I know of what he has done to him and I know we don’t see eye to eye over father but not even a thank you for taking an arrow in his back! Erik just left him whilst Sigurd demanded he leave the battlefield. Then when me, Björn and Ivar defended the healer and Ernak Erik went the other way ignoring his need for assistance! As far as I see it, Father should have been the one to die NOT Ernak!” “He is not dying!” Alfhild reassured them unconvinced by her words but sitting down she simply spoke, “We’ll just have to wait for the report and Ernak before deciding on a conclusion but until then we wait!”

“How is he?” Alfhild questioned Leif who wiping the blood from his hands said, “There’s life in the man. Weak but he’s still kicking. The healers were having a joke saying that you can’t keep a good man down and that his body doesn’t know how to quit. I think something is personally aiding his recovery. That bow… I don’t it was weird” “How so?” Alfhild questioned and shrugging he replied, “Couldn’t pry his hands off it and going near it or trying to pry it off him resulted in shocks to us all. Even now it’s by his side. Doesn’t matter anyway, he will recover how he will be after he wakes up we can’t predict” Aflhild nodded dismissing him and glaring over to Erik fired, “You’re mistake again! This time we almost lost him. Whether just dislike him or hate him; he was the only guy who bailed you out of your mistakes! What was it this time? Oh yes your reinforcements didn’t come, you underestimated the size number and how prepared they were” “He couldn’t have known the size or how battle hardened they were!” Ragnor defended and glaring at him Alfhild stared with daggers in her eyes when she spat, “Shut up. I don’t want to hear it off you!” she looked at Sigurd and challenged, “How many more mistakes can he make before your “stability plan” is a failure. He brought money to us and we waste it on paying people to either not turn up or fight in a war which gains us nothing!” Sigurd looked down and nodding Sigurd muttered, “I’m starting to question that myself. We lost too many people because of poor organisation!” Erik looked at Sigurd before pleading to him said, “If Ernak hadn’t pulled that stunt!” “More would have died!” Torvi defended and agreeing Ivar responded, “Fully agree. It would have been a last stand if he hadn’t. He saw the situation and reacted something your clan doesn’t. Sigurd we will discuss new terms but not with Ragnor and definitely not with Erik nearby” Sigurd nodded waving his hand to acknowledge the terms and pacing back and for Ragnor explained, “Erik has a plan!” “Oh great more **** for a few inches of dirt!” Alfhild snapped and firing shots at his mother Ragnor snapped, “Ernak gets married to a powerful clan, he is a proven warrior with a legacy. They will bite his hand off!” “No!” Alfhild, Torvi and Lagertha yelled before offering a good reason Ivar explained, “He gets married to a wealthy clan then there is no reason not to kill you all off and take it for themselves or Ernak gets a wish and the army marches straight in to kill you all” Sigurd nodded before considering his own idea said, “I have my own ideas. Marrying him to another clan isn’t. Astrid possibly, him no!” Erik looked at him and leaning in asked, “What idea?” “Don’t worry about that! Alfhild I got a lot of thinking to do. Let me know if anything changes; Torvi you and a few trusted men stand guard” “How long will we have to wait before finding out what you have planned?” Erik wearily questioned and looking over to Alfhild Sigurd replied, “You will know a hour in advance but the rest of you when Ernak wakes up and is rested” the room nodded and Ragnor looking to Lagertha hoping for her to join him she smiled before saying, “I’m going to stay next to Ernak. We will both like the familiar face when he wakes up.”

Ragnor pushed through the tavern doors and being met by the nodding respect of his position saw his sister at the counter took to the owners son. “Come on Prankit, he won’t be back for ages and you know he doesn’t care!” “He’s still your husband!” “Who doesn’t love me like he should...” she looked back to see what had caused the room to fall silent and seeing Ragnor glare at her she didn’t hide behind what she did but instead openly spoke, “Yes, so what?!” “Have you even looked out of the fucking window recently? The crowd outside? The rushing around?!” “You won the war woo hoo!” she mocked rolling her eyes, “And have you even talked to Ernak?” “Why would I? You forget we may be married but we do not speak to each other or do anything together!” “Astrid... maybe you should speak to him!” Prankit suggested but now she was met by her eyes who glared at him for that suggestion but it was Ragnor who worried for his brother-friend snapped, “You can’t... he...” “Ragnor?!” Astrid asked not used to seeing him devastated, “He’s severely wounded and father has shut himself up in his throne room “thinking” on what to do next?” “What happened?” Astrid queried standing up to wrap her arm around his slumped shoulders, “I... he saved our lives. He took an arrow to the shoulder for Erik and Axe to the shoulder saving father and then a stab wound but even then pushed himself to Torvi to save her!” he glared at Prankit before punching him snapped, “You! Like your father are cowards at least I know why you wouldn’t fight!” “Ragnor it’s not like that!” “It’s not like that!” Ragnor mocked before pointing at him spat, “You will always been known at Prankit the niðing!” “Brother wait!” Ragnor’s brushed her off before looking back stared, “Stay with this niðing, at least Torvi and Lagertha is with him; people who care for him. I’ll see you later... maybe!!!” it was three hours and 6 pints later when Astrid finally came to the door heavy footed before timidly knocking walked in to see the **** figure laying in her mother’s bed, the bandages smothering his shoulders and chest and his waist now had an massive stitch where they had sealed the wound. On the table held a bowl of water, candles and a mixture of herbs but as she stepped forward she stopped to see the three pairs of eyes glare at her, “Where were you?” Alfhild queried, “Ragnor found you three hours ago!” “I was hoping I could check up on him alone...” Astrid lied, “Bullshit I can smell the **** on her!” Torvi growled her face finally clean, “I knew this was how you were going to react so I hoped to dodge you all, clearly failed there!” “The fact still stands you didn’t even care to find out about him and then when you did find out waited three hours to see him. Look at Lagertha and Torvi. They haven’t left his side once and neither have I!” Alfhild barked which yelling back Astrid shrieked, “That’s because Lagertha loves him and always will. They should be together, I have always said this! You think he is the brave and honourable son that isn’t afraid to speak his mind that Ragnor doesn’t have and Torvi... she just fancies him, hell she would probably sleep with her sister if it meant she could lay with Ernak!” “I wouldn’t, and no I don’t... I just... respect my mentor!” “How sweet ‘my mentor’ I love this role playing!” “Shut it!” Alfhild snarled before ordering the guards in spoke, “Take her away and put her to bed. Listen to my words PUT. HER. TO. BED nothing more. Astrid I will deal with you in the morning!” Alfhild returned to watching over him regained her seat as she teased, “So Torvi this crush you have; we could arrange something if you are interested...”

Night came and yawning Torvi grabbed her sack laid it out down by the bed preparing to bed down for the night whilst Alfhild looking at Lagertha’s sleepy frame nudge her to wake her, “Lagertha. Get some rest, we’ll let you know if anything changes. Promise!” “No! I’ll be fine. I can sleep after he is awake and back with us!” “At least bed down like Torvi!” “No!” “He wouldn’t want you to be waiting for him whilst he slept, you know that!” “With all due of respect but shut up. You don’t know what he would say so stop acting like you would” “I wasn’t assuming...” “Leave us. Got to your bed with your husband whilst I’ll wait by Ernak’s!” Alfhild nodded kissing Ernak’s head as she muttered, “Please tell this stupid girl to get some sleep. She needs it!” before closing the door Torvi called up from the floor, “Let me know if anything changes sister!” “Yes, get some sleep, I’ll wait for him!”

Four hours later Ernak’s eyes shot open and in a painful grumble he felt something holding his hand tightly so daring to look over to it smiled seeing Lagertha sleepily began to doze off her head resting against their hands. Ernak groaned silently as he **** his bandaged arm to cup her cheek and her to struggle to keep her eyes open smile, “Hey Ernak!” “What are you doing awake?! You should be asleep!” “No, I wanted to, no I needed to see you were alright!” she muttered looking down at the sleeping figure of Torvi which Ernak now seeing spoke quieter to barely a whisper, “But look at you, you can barely keep your head up!” “Are you alright? I can give you something for the pain!” “I’ve felt worse but I’ll live. Will you get some sleep for me? Please!” “I will in the morning...” Ernak grimaced as he moved over before looking at her looked down at the space in the bed, “Get in!” “What?!” “You want to be near me and refuse to leave my side. Then you can sleep next to me!” “The others?!” “I’ve saved their lives, they can do this one favour for me!” she nodded as she slid under the cover cuddling down into the pillow whilst Ernak joined her, “Can I rest my head on your shoulder?” he nodded before mocking his own injuries spoke, “Of course just don’t use my crippled side!” she smiled feeling her head hit his shoulder and smiling wider cuddled in closer when she felt his hand pull her tighter to him, “Good night Ernak!” “Now sleep my love! You need it!”

Torvi sat up yawning looking for her drink that should often took to bed with her and rubbing her eyes she couldn’t help but smirk seeing that her sister had fallen asleep next to Ernak and perhaps it was her doing it or him in his sleep felt her near him and out of instinct wrapped his arm around her but eyeing the room free next to him smiled before cautiously climbing up pulled her blanket over him whilst laying close to him not wanting him to feel any discomfort if he woke up.

Morning came and the small group of men that consisted of: Ragnor, Erik, Björn, Sigurd and Ivar walked to the door with Alfhild following quickly behind. “A quick check up on Ernak’s condition and then when will talk business!” Sigurd declared pushing the door open and in a mixture of shouts, laughs, gasps and annoyed sighs which caused the both women to shriek sitting up before Lagertha looking over saw Torvi looking at her questionably before looking down at Ernak who pretended to sleep so he could listen to this argument Lagertha spoke, “I was tired, so I slept next to him in case things changed!” “Did you really have to get so close? We don’t even cuddle that close in our own bed!” Ragnor snapped, “His arm?! it’s the first time that I have noticed it” Sigurd glared at Torvi who unlike her sister didn’t care about what he said, “There was space and since Lagertha climbed under the covers why shouldn’t I? I care for him to!” “Get off!” Erik growled which Lagertha simply responded with, “No. I won’t leave his side!” “You are in another man’s bed!” Ragnor puffed “No, I’m in the right man’s bed; yours is the others and a bed I don’t want to be in. This village would have respected that years ago!” “I said get out!” Erik yelled grabbed her by her hair attempting to drag her with Björn, Ragnor, Sigurd and Ivar all trying to stop him however it was a knife aimed at his throat that stopped him, out of nowhere Ernak had grabbed it from Torvi’s pillow as he now standing up straight spoke still moving gingerly, “Back off!” “Wow calm down Ernak, lower the knife” Ernak pushed it closer so Erik could feel the knife’s point and nodding he backed away, “So how long have you been awake?” Sigurd queried stepping closer, “Early hours of this morning. I woke up to Lagertha holding my hand as she struggled to keep awake, I told her to get some sleep in her room, this was our compromise and Torvi... I actually have no clue!” “There was space so why not?” “Fair. Is it time to discuss our next actions?!” Ernak asked groggily struggling to keep to his feet, “No, rest. We have things to discuss but nothing you need to worry about. Rest! Trust me you are going to need it!” Alfhild replied looking at Sigurd who looking at the group said, “Well since you insist on getting up let’s go to the main hall. I have an announcement to make” Ragnor glared at Erik who shrugging Torvi offered, “Come Ernak let’s help you to the next room. Need anything?” “My bow!” “Ernak…” Alfhild queried remembering what Leif has said but immediately getting it for him Lagertha said, “We’ll discuss the bow later but for now let’s get this done and you back to bed” “I’ll take you up on that offer” he weakly teased with the family in tow.