Freyja

The battle of Lützen. 16 November 1632.

'Aghhh!' Bjorn cried as his stomach was cut open by the sabre of a charging cuirassier. He clutched his belly as he collapsed on the ground, with the chaos of battle surrounding him.

Bjorn had been a simple huntsman, selling animal meats and hides at the town market before he was pressed into service of the Swedish Imperial Army, when King Gustavus Adolphus launched his invasion of Germany. He fought in many battles against the armies of the Catholic league, and had survived each one. Managing to become a highly distinguished soldier in the process. But now, it seems his luck had run out.

As Bjorn tried in vain to stop the bleeding, his position was being overrun. With swarms of Austrian cavalry sweeping through the Swedish lines, massacring left right and centre. His unit had begun to retreat, and in doing so had left him behind.

After managing to keep his innards from falling out of his gaping wounds, he struggled to his feet still bleeding. Out of the corner of his eye, another cuirassier was charging towards him. Intent on killing the straggler.

Bjorn looked around for his weapon, struggling through pain as he searched through the remains of his dead comrades. In the nick of time he found his polearm, and turned to face the cuirassier. In an instant, he was pierced on Bjorn's pole arm. The **** of his charge sending him right down the shaft, killing him instantly.

With the weight of the cuirassier's lifeless body straining his grasp, Bjorn threw his polearm away. With immediate danger gone he looked around to regain his bearings. He could not see his unit, having long retreated from their positions. Instead, all he could see was the countless bodies of Swedes, Germans, and many others who had perished in the fighting that engulfed all that surrounded him.

Suddenly, Bjorn heard the bellowing of a trumpet off in the distance. It did not bode well, as it had not come from his own lines. But off where the Austrian lines lay. A rumbling soon followed, and Bjorn knew that the Austrian infantry were advancing on his position. And he had to move fast.

As he tried to flee, Bjorn was struck by a sharp pain in his abdomen. He had lost a lot of blood, and continued to bleed heavily. After a few more limp steps, Bjorn began to feel woozy. His legs tired under the strain of his body weight, and he soon collapsed on the ground.

As the world began to blur, Bjorn saw marching towards him the Austrian line. Hundreds of men lined up in an orderly fashion. Bjorn knew he did not stand a chance, and instead, he waited for the inevitable.

Suddenly, the earth exploded in front of Bjorn. Sending men flying everywhere in all directions. The Swedish artillery had opened fire on his position. Targeting the oncoming Austrian infantry, who as Bjorn witnessed attempted to retreat from the barrage.

Then, as the earth was torn up around him, Bjorns vision turned to black. His life ended in a hail of cannon fire.

Or so he thought.