Grimstorm

The Three made their walk through the woods, where the Afternoon died slowly into the early evening

"That training really ate the day away."

Crow was a shadow at his back, her deft feet making no sound even on the dead leaves, damp twigs and crunchy snow.

Kara stuck close to his side, though her hand made a point of avoiding his the whole walk... something was definitely wrong, what was it? He could feel something off, like this rush of...

He didn't know, but they were already there before He could think of it any further.

They moved into the lodge, it was cold "Lee's gone to the village." He thought allowed, Crow nodded in agreement

"How do you know?" Kara asked as Aetri set her things down on the chair, He pointed to the fireplace

"The Hearth is never cold when she's in... when does she ever not sit down for a drink when the sunsets without me to snatch it off her?" He asked curiously

"Never." Crow said coldly "We should go and find her."

The Young man scoffed "Won't be hard to find, Bloody Saints, she could have at least waited for me before going to Valhal." the thought made him grump a little, but He was one for moving, not for brooding, and so they set off into town, walking through the snow to the Uld Great gate.

Twin blue eyes caught the trio "Hey who goes there?" said one pair "Speak, Snow-strangers, or I'll loose and Arrow in you!" another pair called, the only thing Aetri did with his eyes was roll them

"Idiots."

"By One-Eye, you'll only have an eye of your own before the day is done!" Jalk yelled

"Right between your fucking eyes, bitches!" Rod screamed.

"How about you open yours, you fucking morons!?" Aetri roared to the twin watchers. Jalk and Rod, peaked over their bowstrings

"Ah Aetri, Miss Crow! hehe sorry about that, un-notch your arrow, you idiot." Jalk cried to his brother

"What!?" Rod was always a little deaf although both were a little blind

"I said un-notch your--oh never fucking mind, OPEN THE GATE! it's Aetri's 20th, say happy birthday!"

Rod grinned evilly as He, whistled to the boys below to crack the gate open "Just kidding, I heard you prick. Happy birthday Aetri, may you gulp many drinks and fuck many whores haha!"

Aetri smiled nervously at Kara, quickly rushing through the doors before that duo of dickheads could let out another peep.

Storied Uld, usually bustling with mirth and cheery tones was dead silent, near-empty for the few young folks that hurried to do their work, scowling especially deeply at him and Kara they rushed into the short alleys out of sight.

His eyes caught on Markin's forge: not blazing and ready for his infamous shitty metalwork, but cold and grey, Aetri's eyebrow crept up, this was highly peculiar

"Where is everybody?" Kara asked

He shrugged... his finger's tightening around the leather-wrapped handle of his sword as it slept in his sheath, ready to be awakened in less than a second.

Even more grew his suspicion, empty was the market, the stables and their horses sat in silence with no man to care for them, even the Barracks where the Uld-Raiders trained and roared in the delight of battle were nowhere to be found. His grip tightened, and his breath constricted in the Listening technique.

The Air rippled around him, and the sound of the flakes of snow cracking as they hit the ground flooded into his ears, Aetri looked and listened well, but his senses found no audible queue for danger, still, his suspicions flared as He saw that no guards stood vigilant outside of Jarl Frigg's Longhouse.

Something was up... He could feel it in his goose pimples, the hairs on his forearms pricking up in anticipation, and his guts churned as He turned to Valhal, who's chimneys were smokeless, and who's doors did not exude the light of the blazing hearths lit for the afternoon feast, it's Body dark, cold, and silent, sure it was a Thursday, he expected no roaring or singing to be heard, but ne'er was the hall ever as dead as this.

"Get behind me." Aetri whispered, guiding the Redhead beside him

"What? What's wrong?" Kara muttered, cowering behind his tall form, but the man remained silent, focusing on the doors as He nodded to Black-Crow.

The Spymaster understood her command, drawing her curved slender blade and pulling up her dark shawl. The Two stalked towards the dark doors of Valhal, ready for battle, ready for a fight. Crow suddenly slipped away like a shadow, darting and weaving through the doors as she closed them in silence.

Aetri Grimaced "Crow!? god, damn it." He roared in irritation, his boot smashing into those double doors and his Blade roaring out of its sheath, ready to fight whatever foe came forth.

"Now!" Fire's flourished to life in the hearths and many bodies stood, screaming out in their loudest and merriest voices

SUPRISE!

Aetri froze, wide-eyed as He looked upon almost everyone from the village, standing with mugs, blades and fists held high, most smiling, some reluctantly, but they were, laughing and grouping around him, as Aetri stood, blade drawn like an idiot.

Faces rushed up to him: Lee's red and slightly dozy as ever, Markin, his dark beard fluttering as He fixed Aetri with an Iron scowl, Frigga smiled quietly, touching his arm briefly before turning a judgmental gaze to Kara, and Lok who---

"COME'RE YOU LITTLE FUCKER!" Aetri huffed in exasperation as powerful arms lifted and held him in a crushing hug "Happy 20th birthday, Shithead haha!" He roared as Aetri begun to turn blue

"L-Lok... L-Lok... Can't... breathe." Lok noticed the wheezing and set the Boy down, watching as He gasped for breath

"Oh sorry there, buddy."

"N-No problem." He muttered, looking around in disbelief of all of these people...

They were gathered for him? but why? he was just an outsider... the Old generation he expected, but even The New Gen, even Tyrg and his boys, who brooded quietly in the corner. "What are you guy's... why are you here?" He looked to Frigg, his face twisted with this alien feeling inside.

Frigga flicked her silver-blonde hair, tucking it back under her Crown of Ice-birch as she elbowed Lee (who rocked like she might fall over) "Aunt Lee came to me this morning and informed Me of your attempt to steal the Skjal-Horn and the Incuring battle, how those barbarian dogs were devoured by wolves and their Jarl's son near strangled dead on a hangman's tree, a feat unspoken by you but worth great glory!" The Uld raised their fists with their Jarl and roared their praise... Aetri was slightly overwhelmed, though he didn't show it.

"No Uld with any honour will miss your 20th Year, Lad... Not after you nearly died dishonouring our enemies, not after years of allowing us to prosper with your gifts of Ice-Birch and White-reed which has kept this Village strong." Lok growled proudly.

Frigg nodded in agreement "Today, Valhal is yours."

Lok raised his muscled arms and cried like a madman, everyone else following suit "VALHAL, VALHAL, VALHAL, AETRI DINES IN VALHAL, WHERE BASTARDS CAN BE KINGS!"

Yelping, Aetri was picked up by his arms and legs, his Sword dropping as the Old Generation dragged him for a drink by the hearth.

"Hey now - boys, this is hardly necessary... oof." Aetri was dropped into a tall chair and handed a great big flagon of ale as Lok's friends tried to get a couple of serving girls to "Render service" refused of course... just about.

What was this feeling? it was old, and untempered, it made his chest hurt and his breaths shallow "Not used to a good reception, eh' lad?" Aetri grinned a little, turning to see Markin, a wrapped parcel slung over his broad shoulders

"Is that what this is? I'd forgotten what a good reception was." The Two shared a chuckle as Markin marched over, his brow suddenly diving down his dark eyes as his fist painfully cracked around the young man's arm "Ow! what was that for!?"

Markin seethed with rage "Well then, let us have a little think... One: You still haven't given me flask back, and Two: You lost My bloody sword didn't ye?"

Aetri opened his mouth to speak, and laughed nervously "Oh right... yeah, the sword, and the flask, well... I like the flask, it could be an excellent birthday present you know-"

"Shut up, cheeky little bastard. Right, how about a good ole trade then? You give me my flask..." Markin grinned, pulling free the wrapped package on his back, and placing it on the long table, where it landed with a loud thunk. "...And I'll give you this, for a birthday present?"

The Table by the Hearth, filled with Lok's singing and chatting men, went dead silent, looking at the package which Aetri looked upon curiously.

Aetri looked to Markin with hesitation, the short stocky man grumbled: "Well don't just stare, open it up."

With his unsure fingers, the Young man loosened the string that held the cloth wrap together and uncurled the dark material slowly, his eyes opening wider and wider as He saw the beauty before him.

Gleaming in the low-light, was a beautifully crafted handle, of pitch-black carved wood that swirled into spirals, the crossguard shone onyx, the diagonal ridges giving the metal surface the appearance of black feathers. The Pommel was wide for balance and slithered into the Hilt beautifully "By the Raven-god..." Lok muttered, the others watching in awe as Aetri gripped the handle and brandished the Longsword.

Voices shimmered at the appearance of the Shiny ivory blade, at its razor edge and the body of the metal that waved in an outwards like waters brushing the sword, the rippling patterns shining in the firelight.

"Markin..." Aetri whispered, mesmerised by the blade's perfect length, weight and superior craftsmanship.

"Look there, at the foot of the metal," Markin said with a deep smile, pointing at the two Northern runes branded at the base of the sword.

Aetri read them aloud and smiled "The Runes: Fehu... and Hagalaz." The Two runes stared back at him.

"Luck and Storm," Lok said, his grin flashing under his great black beard.

"This one is as pretty as a winter maiden, You got a name for her lad?" Markin tempted. Aetri felt his lips move on their own, the certainty of which were resolved in iron.

"Grimstorm." He whispered, holding the weight of the long-blade in adoration.

"A name your enemies will tremble for. Now don't lose this one, I slaved for months on that girl, and the materials weren't cheap -- I'll take that." the Shitsmith snatched the flask from Aetri's front, clapped his shoulder and went on his way, leaving him with a single "Happy birthday, Lad."

---

Lee sat where she always did, in the corner where the drinks were close by and the company was lacking, but, instead of taking her place at her high chair at the head of feasting hall, Frigg sat with Lee, staring at a clearly very unnerved Kara as she necked down a flagon of mead.

"Damn, the girl can drink that's for certain." The Eastern warrior thought, contemplating the silver-haired Jarl as she drank and stared in silence.

Aetri had been dragged off by the Uld, towards one of the great Hearths, drinking and swinging around that new sword that Markin had been sweating over for the past Six Months. She watched too as the Stonelander smith took his leave, sticking around and drinking with the Uld wasn't his style, he'd always liked to sit in the quiet with his flask... Lee could thoroughly relate.

"The Briton Smith is a good man to make that sword for him," Kara muttered, smiling slightly as she watched Aetri laugh with the Blade in his hand.

"The Steel was easy enough..." Lee raised an eyebrow as Frigga spoke to Kara, the Redhead herself seeming just as surprised to be interacted with by the Jarl "...But the Archwood for the handle and the Moonstone for the blade was no easy feat to obtain."

Kara hesitated to speak, but eventually managed to mumble "Why now? why welcome him now of all times... I've not seen him this happy before."

Frigga's Saphire eyes considered Lee momentarily before settling again "Because He will be leaving us soon, and for once I thought that He might get the recognition he deserves."

The words seemed to strike into Kara like a Warhammer "W-What? He's leaving... H-He never told me --"

"It was a recent decision, Cave-Girl." Lee finally spoke, sipping the bitter ale that warmed her cold belly "His Training is complete and soon He will return to his home."

The Huntress begun to grimace "Why didn't He tell me?"

"Stop acting like a sensitive Idiot, Outcast." Frigg spat, her eyes narrowed and nostrils flaring "You know on Tyr's word that He will take you with him, a luxury I cannot afford. Now I intend to honour him, make him Blood of my blood."

"Induction into the Uld?" Kara whispered.

"That's right, and after he officially becomes one of us, any... Lovers, of his will be protected by Kinship, that means bonds, such as Outcasted parties will be vindicated." The Jarl growled, her Ivory skins pulsing as Her breaths quickened.

The Huntress seemed astounded, lost, happy and confused all at the same time, but Frigg's deepening scowl made her go pale, Lee wasn't surprised, she wasn't the biggest fan of the Uld clan but damn did this girl have more spirit than Her father and grandfather combined "You listen to me, I love that man, I've always loved that man, even when I wasn't supposed to, even when My father used to beat me for even talking to an outsider, I still loved that man. And while I am Jarl, and I respect the old ways, If I see you return here after the two of you leave, I will rip your prissy little tongue out of your head, am I understood?"

Lee hid her smile, she was starting to like the Jarl.

Kara frowned, but nodded "Fine."

"No, not fine, Yes Jarl Frigga."

"Yes... Jarl Frigga." Kara whispered. Frigg's anger gave way to a very bored expression and gave Lee a quiet nod before swiftly moving over to Her little brother's table, Young Uld going snow-white with fear as his sister marched towards him,

"I like her." Lee chuckled, sipping her ale.

"S-She never used to be that scary?" Kara admitted

"More spine than her, father ever had or her grandfather, Men are easy." Lee took another long sip, as the Redhead lent in curiously

"Just how old are you?" She asked.

Emerald orbs filled with Venom settled on Kara, she could see the pressing curiosity seeping out of her pretty little pores "Crow is right, she asks too many questions. Ugh, how am I supposed to trust this girl when she makes my ears itch, Boy, eh?"

"I'm old enough to have known your father, Tor-Ragnarr."

The Oucasted Huntress' eyes flashed for a moment, trembling spite growing just for a pinch before going away again.

Lee smiled "I have to say, I've never been one for espionage, that's Crow's speciality, I have a degree of self-control, but I am a terrible liar. So though I thoroughly dislike you and distrust you, I have decided to use my teaching abilities to enlighten you."

The Girl looked up at her, watching as Lee stood wobbly, her raven-black hair swaying as she shuffled, grunting and humming groggily as she sat in the chair next to a very clearly discomforted Kara. Lee reached out, making the girl flinch "Hey, easy, I'm not gonna hurt you, just look here."

Lee put her arm around Kara and leant in, their heads side by side as they looked on at Aetri, who was still enjoying his drinks and his sword.

"Look at him, Tell me what you see?" Lee whispered, their black and red hair respectively blending together as they looked at him.

"I..."

"Go on, What do you see, I mean really see? look deep." She urged, and Kara went quiet, blocking out the white noise of the men around them, focusing in on the Honey-brown haired, handsome man in dark skins with his sword held high, looking into his bright eyes and pausing at the clarity.

"I see joy... and Happiness. I see Care for others, unrivalled devotion, 100 Oceans of Love... he's a Great man, restrained by this place." Kara whispered. Lee's head was starting to rattle, but she nodded

"That's right, Now look deeper, even deeper than that, what do you see?" The sight went even further, pushed past the boundaries, swept through the hall and exposed the heart of Aetri.

Lee felt Kara tense, a terror flushing through her as the sight gave an even deeper and much darker Clarity "W-What..."

"You see it, snarling from that whole inside of him? That's what I see every time I look behind the blackness of his pupils, that mass, that infinite void of darkness, the monster inside, that is what I see, lurking at the deepest recesses of his soul. every day I trained him, pushed him to control that Thing inside, you think what I did was evil? that He needed to be protected from me? it is you that needs to be protected from him, because underneath the righteousness and beauty of him, is a monster, just like his father, and even more so like his Grandfather." Lee whispered insidiously, as the two of them looked into the monster, under his skin.

Lee relaxed and fell back into her chair, breathing heavily as she took a long and full drink of her Ale, trying to resettle the buzzing in her temples.

"What was that? How did you do that? it was like... I could see parts of him that I never knew, a-are you a witch?" The Girl was clearly shaken, Lee understood why, using that power wreaked havoc on any who used it, and seeing the truth in the man that she loved was always going to be frightening for a simple Huntress like her.

"No... No, I'm not a Witch, Cave-girl." Lee mumbled in exasperation and rubbing her throbbing eyes.

"B-But that was magic, it had to be, wasn't it?"

"No, not magic either. Back in my homeland, people call it a gift, I call it a curse. pft there is nothing good about having more sight than other's, Cave-Girl, especially when your body decay's far too slowly, and everyone else's too quickly." She pushed the black hairs away from her green eyes and steadied herself "It's doomed me, forced me to watch everyone I ever cared about die, and even if I don't, I usually foresee their death anyway. At least Crow is stuck in this mess with me, not even the Vatan mark can drain the waterfall of Vitality that our blood sustains, that's probably why she isn't dead even though she's had 3 tethers... Ugh."

"Seeing what you see, in Aetri, how do you... carry on, knowing that's inside of him?" She asked earnestly.

Lee chuckled "Well, the way I see it, He's kept whatever that thing is in check this long, so... hope. And that smile, that smile of his could melt Norne."

The Redhead nodded, and Lee sighed "I need someone to take care of him, keep him on the right path, can you do that, Kara?"

That might have been the first time that she'd used her actual name, and Kara knew it "Yes... I can."

"Good, now if my gut is right, and you are a slag, and you hurt him, then... well, Jarl Frigga will have a partner in dismantling you." Lee emptied her flagon as Kara gulped, the Easterling grinning "Alright then, I think that's enough girl talk for today, Let's go check on the birthday boy before His head gets too big for the room,"

And that is just what they did.

---

Crow lingered out of sight, she had been listening keenly to Lee-fu and Kara, it was a strange experience, hearing Lee-fu talk instead of just drown her sorrows... and her use of the Sight

"Curious."

But Crow saw a greater opportunity in the arguing Uld Children, the Jarl and the Younger brother, and so calculating her steps and the number of people that she could use to obscure herself, the shadowed woman weaved silently through the crowds, calm and cold as still-water until she could sweep across over in a dark corner, standing unseen as she inhaled in the Listening Breath.

Life flooded into Crow's ears, the deafening speech of those around disorienting her slightly for a moment, before she focused the audible line into a single point, that of the Jarl, her brother and the men sat with them.

"Are you out of your mind!?" Tyrg growled, his compatriots nodding in agreement

"Talk to your Jarl like that again, Tiggy and someone will be out of there mind." Frigga cawed harshly, making everyone at the table silence.

"He doesn't deserve to join us, he's a manipulative cunt who tried to mess with our affairs-" Frigga laughed at Tyrg

"Our affairs?"

"Yes. Our affairs, Father set up the marriage with Isigur but you had to go and-" He didn't get to finish his sentence, mainly because His Older sister's cold wrath ensued, everyone, including Isigur who had gone bright red as the Silver-haired jarl drew a stool at there table.

"Our Father was a fool-"

"What?" Tyrg grimaced

"Oh shut up, He was a great warrior, but a damn fool. Now I have my qualms with the old ways, just like you boys, but there are parts that are to be upheld, and parts to be dismissed." She said rather calmly

One of Tyrg's men spoke up "It sounds like you only pick the parts that suit you?"

Frigg scoffed "Shut up, Gorg, you get to have an opinion when you spend more than a day out of the fucking mead barrel." Gorg promptly shut up.

"I... I think the Jarl is right." Frigg raised an eyebrow, looking at Isigur as He refused to make eye-contact with her.

"Sig, what the hel is wrong with you? That fucking Outsider stole your rightful beloved's affection and beat the tar out of you!?"

Isigur rubbed his bruised face and winced "Actually, Gorg hit me. who said that I even wanted to Marry, Jarl Frigga... No offence."

Frigga shrugged "None taken."

Sig continued "The Outsider... no, Aetri was attacked by the Skjal because they thought he was one of us, and He beat them, like one of us.

He and Aunt Ector have proved their worth with Birch of frost and crops of white reed, there are parts of our tradition that doesn't work, On Hel's halls, we couldn't even defend our village without them, and that's a fact, our blood-feud with the Skjal may be calm now, but with Aetri's attack and the ending winter making the traversal of the forest easy, some of the old laws may have to be ignored. Isn't that what You've been preaching all this time, Tyrg?"

Young-Uld Tyrg frowned, finally nodding "Perhaps..." He muttered

Frigga grinned slothfully "Alright, then it's settled. We will revise the Laws, and agree that some of the Old traditions don't work, we will start by welcoming Aetri before He leaves and He will be sorely missed, right Tiggy?"

"...Yes, Jarl." He reluctantly agreed.

Crow blinked, exhaling as she allowed her senses to roll back into a normal. "These revisions should have been made earlier." Crow recounted as her eyes flickered over to Aetri

"This acceptance comes later than He deserves-"

The Dark woman felt her stomach burst in pain, as she wretched and coughed, feeling the spurt of red fly in between her gloved fingers as she grasped at her mouth.

She looked at the blood in her palm and felt the biting pain of her mark eating at her stomach "What is happening to me... I should not feel this pain?"

Removing a handkerchief from her sleeve, Crow wiped herself clean and stood straight, taking a deep breath "I must not fall before my Master, He still needs this one." And so she traced towards, her master, subtly gripping at the rippling pain in her abdomen as she moved to return to his side.

---

"VALHAAAAAL!!!!" Aetri cried, lifting his 5th Flagon of mead with a drunken joy, the Uld joining in his merriment. Never before had he been able to celebrate in this hall like this, to fully immerse himself in the warmth and adoration of the people, it was intoxicating, made his breaths stronger, his smile wider.

He felt a gentle hand touch his arm and looked to see Kara's sweet smile

"Easy there, Sir Knight, You'll drop your sword." She muttered. Aetri realised He was still holding Grimstorm flailing like a madman, He chuckled nervously, a hiccup invading the back of his throat suddenly

"Kara, hey... I should probably put this away." The Beautiful blade trilled as He slid it back into its black scabbard, Lok's men booed angrily as He did so "Oh shut up, before I give you a reason to hate it!" He cried as they laughed and toasted him again.

"You look happy." Kara was clearly a little sheepish, being around all of these people "It's so good to see you accepted, after all of this time."

"You look uncomfortable, are you okay?" She had this odd look about her when she looked into his eyes, Kara nodded.

"Just... a lot of people, and Frigg... You know."

He frowned, putting his arm around her and holding his lover close "Come're, I'll keep you safe." The Girl's head rested on his shoulder and He closed his eyes, taking in the moment... He couldn't recall a time as good as this one, not for a long time.

"Get a Room, shit heads!" Aetri and Kara jolted as a powerful hand ruffled their head's roughly. Blowing his hair out of his face, He watched as Lee smashed herself into a chair, setting down an entire barrel of Ale down which met the table with a booming thump "Alright you, Uld Knaves, How about I show you how real Warrior's get shit-faced!!!!" The Hall went silent.

Aetri eyed the cask, his lips curling as He recognized the Barrel-tag "No... No way..."

"What is it?" Lok asked, pulling his head out of a serving girl's full chest to peer at the cask.

"That is White Reed Whisky, we use it to strip the rot off of the barn-" Lee clapped a hand over her student's Mouth.

"This, is my finest vintage of Reed Whisky, distilled for 50 days and 50 nights in this Oaken-Barrel, that I took from his Majesty, King Henry himself back in the day, this stuff is only for the strong, it'll put hair on your feeble chests!" She cried, clearly catching the Uld's interest

"King Henry? the old Briton King... well what is it called?" Frigg asked, poking her head out from the crowd, her eyes avoiding Aetri and Kara as Lee jumped upon the table, grinning like a crocodile

"Back In the Marshlands, they call it Moonshine, but they make it out of corn there. Now, who dares to drink the drink of Kings!?" The Challange was forthwith, he gave her that, but 'shine was no game, and giving it to a hall full of Nornes could be a spell for disaster...

Lok stepped forth, brandishing an empty mug with a daring glare "Filler'up."

"I hope you're ready for that, Lok... People go blind drinking that stuff." Aetri warned, but Lok's eyes burned with life as He bellowed with laughter

"Ready!? Ready!? Aetri My boy, I am the Master of legendary VALHAL!"

"VALHAAAAAL!" The Uld chanted after Lok

"...like my father and my father's father before him, Red-knot Lok's belly is made of iron and my balls of steel, come on Lee-fu, I won't waste a drop!" He cried, Lee, grinning darkly as she ripped free the lid of the barrel with her fingers, and dipped his flagon inside.

Aetri sighed, rubbing his eyes "Do not say I didn't warn you."