Blog Archives

Poem 422 : Dragon Lord

4/30/2017

422. Dragon Lord

Rackham, Arthur (illus) [1911] Siegfried & The Twilight of the Gods.

Last of the great dragons, guardian of the king's gold,
Deepest cavern dweller, a burning furnace in the cold,
Massive winged beast, claws clenched on solid ground,
In total darkness it waits, alert to any suspicious sound.

Born out of sheer convenience, into a life most hard,
Shackled securely in chains, a weapon used to guard,
No loving mate, or companion, a life slated to be alone,
Lacking any community, buried deep within solid stone.

Ravenous hunger and thirst, with no chance of relief,
A life of endless waiting, a destiny filled with only grief,
Alive but never knowing life, existing in a world of death,
Lacking kindness, hatred spewing forth with each breath.

Warriors look for riches, search within the caverns of mold,
Human bones litter the floor, man's insidious need for gold,
Proud mortals seeking glory, home from a successful raid,
Greed clouds the judgement, strength comes from the blade.

One by one they enter, no human is ever destined to leave,
Their names are now forgotten, no one left behind to grieve,
Men of power feel immortal, believe they hold their own fate,
Above the brave men gather, unaware what below lies in wait.

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2017.

' Mirror Image ' : Chapter 11 : Murder / Overwhelming Evidence

4/28/2017

Mirror Image

Chapter 11

Murder / Overwheming Evidence

King Guthrum was so impressed by King Arnulf and his Jutlanders that he allowed the king of Viborg the honor of conquering the rest of Mercia, while he, Halfdan, and to a much lesser extent King Eymundr began to make plans to head south against Wessex. After Guthrum had placed the puppet leader Ceowulf II upon the throne in Mercia, and with the capture of the fortress towns of Wareham and Exeter, the king of the Danelaw decided to rest his army, and make peace with King Alfred.

King Arnulf grew weary of the monotony of daily camp life, and began to long for his homeland. He had promised to come and help King Guthrum subdue the Mercian kingdom, and with that accomplished, he decided that it was time to leave. This decision was made easier when King Eymundr of Vestfold also announced that he was returning to Norway. With the arrival of reinforcements in the form of what was called ' The Summer Army ' led by Bagsecg, Arnulf decided that the very next morning he would inform King Guthrum of his departure.

King Arnulf awoke to the sounds of drizzle hitting the roof of the hut he used as his headquarters. As he lay contemplating the words he would use to tell King Guthrum, a man he both admired, and saw as a father figure, he suddenly became aware of a commotion on the other side of the camp.

Arnulf quickly dressed, strapped on his sword, and ran out to the courtyard. In the distance, near the longhouse in which King Guthrum held court, there were many warriors gathered around in a circle. And they all seemed to be looking at something, or someone, who was lying on the ground.

King Arnulf arrived just as King Guthrum emerged from his longhouse. Both kings quickly and forcefully pushed their way into the center of the circle to see what all the fuss was about. When they reached the open area at the center both men stopped for a moment and stared down at the ground in stunned silence. Neither could believe their eyes ! Lying on the ground was the bloodied and lifeless body of Ofaeti, the commander of the Berserkers.

King Guthrum fell to his knees and placed his hand over the Berserker's heart hoping, beyond hope, that there still might be a spark of life left in his commander. There was, of course, none. Guthrum's eyes lit up like a torch as he pointed at those gathered around in the circle.

" Did anyone see how this happened ! " he shouted.

When no one answered, the king jumped up and pointed slowly to each and every one of them in turn.

" Surely one of you saw who killed my commander ! ? " he screamed angrily.

After a moment of dead silence a man weaved his way through the crowd and stood before the king of the Danelaw.

" I saw what happened my Lord ! But you must promise to protect me once I tell you the truth ! " he told the king.

King Guthrum grabbed the man around the collar and lifted him off of the ground.

" I will kill you myself if you do not tell me ! " Guthrum shouted in the man's face before dropping him back on the ground .

Terrified, the man stepped back and pointed at Arnulf.

" Just before dawn I had to pee. As I came around the corner I saw King Arnulf stabbing Ofaeti over and over again ! " he told Guthrum timidly.

King Guthrum drew his knife and placed it up against the warrior's throat.

" Before I kill you for lying tell me your name ? " the king demanded.

The warrior gulped and took a long breath before answering.

" My name is Romundr, my Lord ! And I swear,... by Odin's beard I swear, ... it was King Arnulf who I saw killing Ofaeti ! " he replied.

Sigbjorn, one of King Guthrum's guards who had just entered the circle, heard the charge levied against the King of Viborg, and quickly grabbed hold of him. Guthrum removed his knife from Romundr's throat, and slowly walked over to King Arnulf.

" Why would the man who has fought beside me for two years,... and who saved my life at Hertford, now turn on me and kill my commander ? ! " he asked as much to the accused as to the accuser.

Stunned by the allegation, Arnulf stopped struggling with Sigbjorn for a moment, and answered Guthrum's question.

" I swear to you King Guthrum that I had nothing to do with his murder ! I had no reason to kill Ofaeti, nor would I ever do anything to offend you ! " he assured the Danelaw king.

King Guthrum placed his knife back into his belt and nodded to Sigbjorn.

" Bring him into my hall. We will sort this all out at my court ! " he commanded of his guard.

Romundr tried to scamper away, but King Guthrum grabbed him by the collar, and threw him up against the door to the great hall.

" And if you are lying I will cut out your tongue before I perform the blood - eagle upon you ! " he told the terrified warrior angrily.

- End Chapter 11

- Next : Chapter 12 : Mirror Image

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2017.

' Mirror Image ' : Chapter 10 : The Defeat Of Mercia

4/27/2017

Mirror Image

Chapter 10

The Defeat Of Mercia

After a long march the Great Heathen Army stopped just outside of Hertford, which was inside of Mercian territory. King Guthrum sent scouts ahead to find the positions of their enemy. Before they left, King Arnulf, who had become close to Guthrum on the march to Hertford, also asked the scouts to find out exactly where the left and right flanks of the Mercians ended, and if there was room to move an army around them without being seen. Perplexed, Halfdan asked why this was something that the king of Viborg needed to know. Arnulf responded by telling the son of Ragnar Lodbrok that if they could outflank their enemy then there would be less casualties suffered by their forces, and it might prevent the Mercians from escaping, thereby forcing them to surrender.

Halfdan was unimpressed.

" Our shield wall will crash into their ranks and crush their army ! We do not need to tip toe around their flanks to destroy them ! " he told the newcomer in no uncertain terms.

King Arnulf, though much younger than the other leaders, shook his head in disagreement.

" I understand that you wish to attack Wessex next. To do so you will need as many warriors as you can place on a field of battle to defeat them. King Alfred will not be as easy to defeat as this leader of Mercia named Burgred. " he explained.

The argument went on for some time, but in the end King Guthrum agreed with Arnulf and ordered the scouts to find where each of the Mercian flanks rested. King Guthrum's decision was based on the fact that Halfdan had for some time talked of taking his half of the army north to fight the Picts and Britons of Strathclyde.

The morning of the battle dawned gray and misty, as most mornings seemed to begin here in this rainy cold Christian land, which many of the Heathens had begun to call Niflheim. Before lining up for battle King Guthrum thought long and hard on all the advice he had received from Arnulf, Halfdan, Ofaeti, and even his weakest ally King Eymundr, and he made a fateful decision. Based on what his scouts had told him in great detail about the almost undefended flanks of the enemy's line, the king explained his reasoning for his battle plan at the morning war council.

" I have decided to heed the advice of King Arnulf and split our army into three arms. Halfdan and Ofaeti will attack from the front,.... along with King Eymundr. King Arnulf you will work your army around the right of the enemy, and hit them from the rear, while I take the rest of the army around their left and also attack them from the behind. " he told them.

Then Guthrum turned to Ofaeti and explained :

" I need you to make as much noise as you can when you attack. I want,... no,... we need the Mercians eyes to be looking straight ahead at the main part of our army, and not to the left or right. King Arnulf and I will send you word when, and if, we get into position without being discovered. Only then will you attack ! " he ordered his second in command.

Then he looked over at Halfdan and smiled.

" Halfdan, old friend, make your army seem bigger than it is. Spread out the distance between your ranks to make it seem as though you have more warriors than you actually have. Use the Norwegians to fill in the gaps if you must, but we have to make the Mercians believe we are once again attacking them head on ! " he explained with a nod.

" King Arnulf ! You have convinced me that this is a good plan. Now let us take your theory and put into practical use. " he told the Viborg king before dismissing his commanders.

King Guthrum and King Arnulf easily made their away around the flanks of King Burgred's army. With the Great Heathen Army marching directly toward them across an open valley the king of Mercia had no reason to suspect anything other than the usual frontal assault. And when the Berserkers led the way screaming and drooling like crazy monsters towards their line nothing appeared out of the ordinary to King Burgred.

The Mercian leader sat proudly on his great white mount and waited for the Heathens to come halfway up the hill before sending his army down after them. Burgred smiled ! For just this once it appeared that his army was of equal size to the one put on the field of battle by these foreign invaders.

King Guthrum and Arnulf had agreed to wait until they heard the clash of swords before letting their presence be known.

" Once fully engaged, " Arnulf had told Guthrum, " the shock of our army in their rear will be much greater ! "

When the first clang and thud of swords and shields striking each other was heard a great roar bellowed up from behind the Mercian line. King Burgred had been very pleased that his initial assault had driven deep into the Viking's line, but the roar from his rear wiped the smile off of his face, and made him ride back to the top of the hill to see what all the commotion was about. As he looked down the backside of the hill his jaw hung open, and he nearly wet his pants at what he saw ! For not one, but two armies were attacking him from behind !

Burgred recovered quickly and began to draw away warriors from their frontal assault. As fast as he could the Mercian king turned them around, and formed them up to meet the new enemy coming up from their rear. It soon became apparent, however, that he could not defend against both forces racing towards him at once. In a blink of an eye The king of Mercia made a momentous decision. He would send all of his warriors against the force coming up on his left, and God willing, make a hole through which to escape. The Mercian Leader threw every man he could gather against King Guthrum's force hoping to overwhelm them.

King Arnulf watched in horror as the Mercians concentrated all their resources against one section in the Heathen Army's line. At that point, in the middle of the mayhem and slaughter, stood King Guthrum fighting for his life ! Without hesitation Arnulf spurred his horse around and ordered half of his army to rush to Guthrum's aide, while telling Lofarr to attack the rear of the Mercian army that was engaged with Halfdan's forces.

The battle that took place was both fierce and desperate. While Arnulf was fighting his way through the Mercians to help King Guthrum, the king of the Danelaw was knocked off of his horse. Then, after regaining his footing, he lost his shield while battling multiple fighters at once. Arnulf had almost reached Guthrum, when to his horror, he saw a Mercian knock the sword out of the king's hand. As another Mercian raised his sword to strike the king down, Arnulf threw Guthum his shield, and jumped in the air with his blade ready to kill. Guthrum caught the shield just in time to deflect the blow. A moment later Arnulf took off the man's head with a quick stroke of his sword.

For most of the rest of the battle Guthrum and Arnulf fought  with their backs to each other killing enemy warriors one by one until there was no one left to strike down. As the battle wound down the two kings looked up at the top of the hill where they saw Halfdan, Ofaeti, and King Eymund staring back down at them. Arnulf was the first to thrust his sword into the air triumphantly. A moment later thousands of other warriors from the victorious Great Heathen Army did the same !

King Burgred rode south towards the Kingdom of Wessex as fast as his horse would gallop. Burgred, followed by what remained of his army, knew when they heard the roar from the Vikings behind them that not only was the battle lost, but so too was their kingdom. At this moment, however, the survivors, dirty and bloodied by the fierce battle, were just glad to be alive !

- End Chapter 10

- Next : Chapter 11 : Murder / Overwhelming Evidence

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2017.

' Mirror Image ' : Chapter 9 : Arnulf Joins The Heathen Army

4/24/2017

Mirror Image

Chapter 9

Arnulf Joins The Heathen Army

The hardest part of leaving for Britain was not the gathering of men, ships, horses, or provisions. It was telling his invalid mother that once again he would be going off to war. This time, however, he was able to assure his mother that Viborg would be better prepared if it were attacked again. Arnulf made certain he had enough warriors in place, led by Jafnharr of course, to defend his kingdom. He had also set up a ring of sentries around his kingdom to warn the main army against any and all intruders to their shores. Finally, the king had made an alliance with the king of Alborg. Each would come to the defense of the other if they were attacked.

Hildibrunnr, however, did not care about her own safety. Nor did she show much concern for the borders of their kingdom. What Hildibrunnr feared most was her only son being killed in a far off land. If her son did not return she knew that she would not be able to bear the grief, and she was not afraid to tell Arnulf how she felt either.

" If you do not return I will kill myself ! " she told her son bluntly.

Arnulf of course did not take her seriously, and explained his many reasons for leaving to fight in Britain.

" ..... and when I come home I promise to bring with me the best gift you have ever seen ! " he told her, referring to how happy she would be with all the wealth he would return with.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The seas were rough, but the winds were favorable, as the Viborg army sailed to Britain, led by Sialfi. King Arnulf felt it was as if the Gods themselves had watched over his longships when he sighted land off in the distance without the loss of even one sailing vessel. After beaching their ships Sialfi led the Jutlanders the forty miles to Witham, where the armies of King Guthrum were camped. They arrived on a misty mid - morning to find the king of the Danelaw seated around a blazing fire holding a council of war with two other warriors.

Sialfi bowed.

" King Guthrum ! I have returned with King Arnulf, and his army, my Lord ! " he informed the king of the Danelaw.

Guthrum did not rise up to greet the newest addition to, what his enemies in Britain referred to as ' The Great Heathen Army ', but instead leaned back in his seat eyeing the huge warrior king who had just been introduced to him. The king took a drink of his ale and nodded before speaking.

" You look like a fine warrior King Arnulf, which is what I expected after hearing of your great accomplishments against the Norwegians and the Swedes. " Guthrum told the newcomer.

Before replying Arnulf looked over at the man seated next to Guthrum. The King of Viborg could not help but notice that this warrior was looking him over very suspiciously.

" I am very honored that you have invited me to join your army in it's fight against these, ... Mercians,.... I believe Sialfi called them. " he told Guthrum trying to sound humble.

The man who had been eyeing him then spoke up.

" Yes ! These ' Mercians ', under their leader Burgred have been giving us quite a bit of trouble. " he told Arnulf.

The man's tone and demeanor gave Arnulf the impression that this man was of equal status to King Guthrum, but Arnulf was not quite sure who the warrior was. Seeing Arnulf's confusion King Guthrum introduced the two men who were seated around the fire with him.

" The angry one seated to my left is Halfdan Ragnarrson, and to my right, .... this is Ofaeti the leader of the Beserkers. " he told Arnulf, and then waited for the reaction he was sure would come.

Arnulf's eyebrows popped up onto his forehead, and he could not hide his admiration for the man seated next to King Guthrum.

" Halfdan Ragnarrsson ? The son of Ragnar Lodbrok ! ? " he asked in an unbelieving tone.

Halfdan rolled his eyes.

" I suppose you have heard of my father. " he said more than asked.

Arnulf rushed up to the warrior and reached out and grabbed his wrist. Halfdan, surprised, but not shocked, grabbed Arnulf's wrist in a strong lock as well, and both slapped each other on the shoulders.

" Your father is a legend ! His attack on Paris was one of my favorite stories when I was growing up ! " Arnulf exclaimed.

Halfdan could not help but grin.

" Yes ! My father was quite the warrior ! " he shot back.

King Guthrum cleared his throat to interrupt the two men.

" King Arnulf you can place your men next to mine over by the forest road. Then we will fill you in on our plans,... for you see, my new friend, we are leaving tomorrow and heading west to attack Hertford in Mercia. " he explained.

Arnulf's smile disappeared. He released Halfdan's arm and spun around shouting to his second in command as he did.

" Lofarr ! "

Lofarr quickly strode forward.

" Yes, my Lord ! " he shouted obediently.

" Take my warriors and camp them by the road that leads through the forest. Inform them to eat heartily, for tomorrow we will be leaving at first light ! " he commanded.

King Guthrum raised his eyebrows as his eyes met Halfdan's eyes. As they watched Lofarr lead the Viborg army into camp both hardened veterans of war were impressed with the military discipline of this new addition to their army. Neither man, however, was willing to compliment King Arnulf. They would wait to see how these Jutlanders held up in battle before passing judgement.

Arnulf sat down with the warriors of the war council, and as they began to talk of their plans, they were joined by a Norwegian King named Eymundr of Vestfold, who sat down beside Arnulf . When Eymundr heard who the young king sitting next to him was he got up and threatened to leave. Halfdan quickly grabbed hold of the Norwegian and forcibly sat him back down.

" What has happened before this day shall not influence what takes place tomorrow ! " Halfdan told the king of Vestfold sternly.

Eymundr looked hard and deep into the eyes of Ragnar Lodbrok's son .

" I do not think that you understand what this,... Danish pig,... has done to my people, and my lands ! " he shot back.

Arnulf grinned.

" If you were a stronger king, with a better army, you would not have been,... disturbed by my army. " Arnulf told the Norwegian with a laugh.

King Eymundr tried to get up again, but Halfdan, this time with the help of Ofaeti, restrained him.

" Enough !! " King Guthrum shouted.

" King Eymundr you will stay and honor your oath to fight with us, ..... and King Arnulf,... I would very much appreciate it if you would not gloat over your past successes ! " he advised.

Eymundr remained silent, while Arnulf respectfully bowed to Guthrum.

" As you wish commander ! " Arnulf replied with a smile.

King Guthrum stared back at Arnulf with a little grin upon his face.

" Beginning tomorrow the Viborg army will sit on my right flank, while Halfdan, you will sit on my left as always. King Eymundr, you and your Norwegians are relegated to guard my rear ! " he informed the stunned king of Vestfold.

- End Chapter 9

- Next : Chapter 10 : The Defeat Of Mercia

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2017.

' Mirror Image ' : Chapter 8 : Arnulf Agrees To Help King Guthrum

4/21/2017

Mirror Image

Chapter 8

Arnulf Agrees To Help King Guthrum

Sialfi had come this way before, but this time the thick fog that enveloped his ship limited his ability to distinguish landmarks as he entered Jutland through Thyboron. Using his instincts, more than his eyes, Sialfi sailed southeast heading for Struer before turning north to Nykobing. Still unable to see much ahead in the way of visible landmarks, he took down his sail, and had his men row along the shoreline until it headed south again. It was then that the winds kicked up, blowing away the fog, and allowing him to hoist his sail once again and rest his tired men.

Soon they reached Hvalpsund which was the gateway to Skive, which in turn was on the outskirts of the Viborg kingdom. It was here in Skive that Sialfi beached his ship. After leaving a small guard behind to watch his ship, the rest of his warriors followed Sialfi on foot to the town of Viborg.

King Arnulf was sitting on his high - seat deciding tedious disputes between his folk when he noticed Lofarr coming into the hall. Judging by how quickly his subordinate walked up to him, the king deduced that what he had to say was important. After the usual short bow of respect Lofarr repeated the message he had been given by Jafnharr.

" My Lord ! Commander Jafnharr has sent me to inform you that a man named Sialfi will shortly arrive at your great hall with thirty warriors ! " he told his king before bowing again.

King Arnulf scratched his chin in deep thought.

" I only know one warrior named Sialfi, and he is off fighting with the Great Heathen Army in Britain ! " he said as much to himself as to Lofarr.

Lofarr bowed again, which annoyed Arnulf.

" You and I have known each other since we were children,... and you were one of the first to join my little band of warriors ! One bow is more than sufficient ! Say what it is that you wish say freely my old friend ! " he told Lofarr with a hint of impatience.

Out of habit Lofarr bowed again causing Arnulf to shake his head in disgust.

" Yes, my Lord ! Jafnharr said that this man was sent by King Guthrum himself to see you ! " he replied.

King Arnulf rose up from his high - seat as though someone had placed a red hot coal upon it.

" Go and tell the serving maidens to prepare a small feast for fifty warriors,... and tell them to make sure that there is plenty to drink as well ! " he commanded.

Lofarr bowed one last time before leaving the great hall and heading over to the servant's quarters to inform them of the king's wishes. King Arnulf, however, calmly sat back down and called forward the next case as if nothing had happened. If an envoy had been sent to Viborg by King Guthrum, then Arnulf wanted the Danelaw king's messenger to see him fully immersed in his role as King of Viborg.

As evening began to descend upon Viborg Jafnharr entered the great hall, followed by a stranger, and approached the high - seat. Because the king was speaking he held back a few steps and waited for an opening to introduce the visitor.

" Now,... Uffi, .... Valtar has two witnesses who saw you moving the rock cairn that marks where your property ends and where Valtar's begins. I am afraid that with such strong testimony to back up his claim I have to decide in favor of Valtar. Tomorrow I will send out two warriors to re-access your land rights,.. and as a penalty for your misdeed I award Valtar fifty yards of your property ! " the king told the man in a scolding tone.

Uffi lowered his head in shame and replied meekly :

" Yes, my Lord. I am sorry, my Lord ! "

Valtar by comparison was ecstatic by the king's ruling. He bowed repeatedly before speaking :

" Thank you, my Lord ! You are very wise and most generous ! " he told the king .

As they turned and left Arnulf looked over at Jafnharr as though he had not seen him enter, which he of course most certainly had.

" Ah Jafnharr,... who is this that you have brought before my court ? " the king asked in a regal tone.

Jafnharr tried not to smile at Arnulf's act, but he could not completely help himself.

" My Lord, " he started with a gracious bow, " This warrior,... Sialfi is his name,... has been sent by the court of King Guthrum to seek and audience with you on a matter of great importance. " he informed his king.

King Arnulf looked over Sialfi from head to toe as though he were inspecting one of his warriors before an impending battle.

" Sialfi, you look as though you have traveled far to reach my kingdom. I am sure that you are tired, hungry and thirsty. Allow me to dismiss my court and we will head over to my feasting hall. We can discuss what brings you to Viborg over a delicious meal and tall horns of ale ! " he told the envoy.

Sialfi's mouthed watered, and he licked his lips, over the prospect of fresh food and cold ale.

" That would be most hospitable of you King Arnulf ! " Sialfi told the monarch with a bow and a broad smile.

The room was alive with activity as they entered the feasting hall. Lofarr had already seated Sialfi's men in the hall, and the serving maidens were just about to begin serving the stew, and fresh baked bread. By the look on Sialfi's face King Arnulf could see that he had achieved his goal of impressing the envoy from The Danelaw.

They had barely sat down when several serving maidens began filling their plates with stew, fish, venison, and slices of bread with honey spread on them. Sialfi had important things to discuss with King Arnulf, but he decided that they could wait until his stomach was full and his thirst had been quenched. The hungry envoy quickly cleaned off several plates of delicious food, and drained a half dozen horns of ale, before leaning back in his chair satisfied with the meal he had eaten.

As Sialfi rubbed his bulging belly he looked over at the king and nodded.

" I will make sure that I tell King Guthrum of your wonderful hospitality King Arnulf. But possibly you can tell him yourself, for I am hoping that when I return to Britain you will be accompany me . " he told Arnulf before inadvertently belching.

King Arnulf's eyebrows rose high onto his forehead.

" And why would I be going to Britain ? " the king asked.

Sialfi grinned a little and moved forward to speak to the king in a more private tone.

" Because Ivar the Boneless is dead, and now KIng Guthrum commands the Danish forces in Britain. The Danes have lost many men in conquering these Britains, and now he is calling for more to come to his aid. He has heard of your wonderful, and skillful, exploits against the Swedes, and he has sent me here to Viborg to ask for your help in conquering Mercia. " he informed the king.

Arnulf took a long drink of his ale, and thought for a moment before answering.

" And what will be my incentive for helping King Guthrum ? " he asked, not knowing the answer, but hoping for the best.

Sialfi grinned.

" Glory enough to see you into Valhalla of course,... and many chests filled with British gold and silver to bring back to enrich your kingdom ! " he explained to the king of Viborg.

Arnulf had not planned to go off to war so soon, but the Swedes had ravaged his kingdom, and plundered much of his wealth. If this expedition went well he could make his kingdom rich and powerful once again. The choice was a simple one.

" When do we leave ? " the king asked.

Having fulfilled his mission Sialfi smiled.

" At once ! " the envoy quickly replied.

- End Chapter 8

- Next : Chapter 9 : Arnulf Meets King Guthrum

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2017.

' Mirror Image ' : Chapter 7 : King Guthrum Sends For Help

4/21/2017

Mirror Image

Chapter 7

King Guthrum Sends For Help

Immediately upon reaching the besieged town King Arnulf gave Jafnharr command of half of his army and allowed the embattled and embittered commander of Viborg the honor of tracking down and destroying, if possible, the remainder of the Swedish army. Before he left, however, Jafnharr gave his jubilant king news that shocked and dismayed him.

" Your mother was injured in the initial attack by the Swedes. She has been asking for you every day since. " he told a horrified King Arnulf.

The two warriors guarding the small hut, where his mother had stayed during the seige, bowed as King Arnulf approached. On the way through the valley he had seen his mother's fields burned, and the longhouse he had grown up in reduced to ruins, but at the time he had assumed that his mother had escaped before the Swedes had time to do her any harm. Now, as he lifted the latch to enter this small rundown structure, he did not know what to expect. He had not asked Jafnharr the extent of his mother's injuries in part because he had hurried off to see her, but also he was not sure he wanted to know how badly she was hurt. In the back of his mind he knew that if he had stayed here in Viborg, instead of going off to raid in Norway, this would not have been the fate of his mother, and it weighed heavily upon him .

After Arnulf opened the door it took a moment for his eyes to become accustomed to the dim light inside. The king of Viborg breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his mother sitting up in bed looking tired, but not seriously ill.

" Mother ! They told me you were seriously injured ! How are you mother ! " he asked as he hurried to her bed side.

Hildigunnr's eyes welled up with tears when she saw her son's face.

" I am much better now that you have come home ! " she blurted out as she reached out her arms for a hug.

There are times when being a loving son is more important than appearing to be a stoic royal figure. And this was one of those moments. Despite the guards watching in the doorway Arnulf sat on the edge of the bed, reached over to his mother, and wrapped his arms tightly around her.

" When they told me you were injured I was so worried ! How did those Swedish pigs harm you mother ? ! " he asked after he kissed her on the cheek.

Hildigunnr held on to her son with all her might as she whispered in his ear.

" I was struck in the back by an arrow as I fled our home. I am told that one of the slaves carried me into Viborg where they cut out the arrowhead. " she explained before pausing.

" They were able to save my life Arnulf,.... but I have lost the use of my legs. " she managed to tell her son before breaking down in tears.

Arnulf gently grabbed his mother by the shoulders, and pushed her away so he could look her in the eyes.

" They will pay for this mother ! If I have to sail to Sweden to hunt down each and every last one of them,.... they will pay ! "
he assured her.

Then as he hugged his mother tightly again Arnulf added :

" The slave who saved your life will be freed for his bravery ! "

And pay they did ! As an injured Prince Bjorn boarded a stolen ship to sail back home to Sweden he regretted ever coming to the Danish land of the Jutlanders. He had invaded with nearly three thousand warriors, and now he barely had enough men to man the oars of the mid - sized longship he had taken from a local chieftain. Jafnharr, with less than half the Viborg army had exacted a fierce revenge upon the Swedes as they tried to escape the Jutland Peninsula.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

King Arnulf immediately set about rebuilding his kingdom and replanting the countryside. With a lot of hard work, and a little help from the weather, he was sure that they could still have a decent late harvest and stave off famine that winter. Despite their best efforts, however, it was a long cold winter in which everyone had something to eat, but not quite as much as they would have liked.

Despite their hardships no one in Viborg blamed their new king. How could they ? He had saved them from annihilation at the hands of the Swedes, stood shoulder to shoulder with them in the fields planting and harvesting, and shared his own food with all he could. During the darkest days of snow and ice King Arnulf sent out the army, not as raiders, but as a hunting party to kill as many deer, elk, bear and rabbits that they could find. The meat was then shared among all the people of Viborg.

Just as they had endured the siege on Viborg, the Jutlanders held off the dark grip of winter, and emerged into the bright sunlight of a more prosperous and hopeful spring. That year every inch of available land was planted and by the end of September Viborg was once again secure against both famine and invasion. King Arnulf had saved his people, not once, but twice, and word quickly spread of his prowess on the battlefield, as well as the never ending compassion he showed towards his people.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

As King Guthrum sat in his improvised headquarters in Witham, Britain, which was no more than a hut he had taken from a local chieftain he had killed, he contemplated how hard the campaign against these Britains had been this far. The leader, of what the Britains called ' The Great Heathen Army', Ivar the Boneless, had been killed in the brutal battles against King Burgred of Mercia, and now it was Guthrum who led the Heathens. After many years of fighting the Danelaw had greatly expanded it's territory, and now only Mercia, and King Alfred of Wessex stood in the way of the combined Heathen forces.

King Guthrum's army, however, had been depleted by years of fighting, and needed to be replenished with fresh warriors from their homelands. Guthrum had already sent out messengers to both Norway and the lands of the Danes, but when he heard of the great exploits of King Arnulf of Viborg he decided to send a special envoy to ask him to come and join the Great Heathen Army as well.

Guthrum ordered his top commander Ofaeti to send a ship to Viborg at once. Ofaeti, in turn, chose the most experienced sea captain he knew to lead the mission. Sialfi, who had successfully navigated Ivar's army across the sea years earlier, was ordered to leave at once for Jutland !

-  End Chapter 7

- Next : Chapter 8 : Arnulf agrees to help King Guthrum

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2017.

' Mirror Image ' : Chapter 6 : An Angry King

4/16/2017

Mirror Image

Chapter 6

An Angry King

King Arnulf wasted no time in disengaging his forces from their siege of Ordost, and within less than a month the new king of Viborg was sailing along Jutland's coast looking for where the Swedes had landed their ships. Lofarr questioned his commander as to why he did not simply sail directly to Viborg and destroy the enemy there.

Arnulf's eyes narrowed angrily as he replied :

" They might not want to fight if they think they can escape back to the safety of their homeland. But if we destroy their ships,... well,... then these Swedes will have no choice but to make a stand ! " he explained to his old friend.

Lofarr laughed !

" That is a good plan, my Lord ! For I doubt that the Swedes can swim all the way home ! " he bellowed with a chuckle.

Arnulf frowned at what Lofarr had said.

" My Lord ? " he asked.

Lofarr slapped Arnulf on the shoulder with some force and grinned.

" Well,... you are my king now ! " he replied.

The Jutlanders did not find the Swede ships on the coast, but by following the waterway inland they spotted their camp fires that night near Struer. Knowing well the lay of the land here, Arnulf split his forces between himself and Lofarr and they carefully and quietly surrounded those who guarded the ships. Like a fist crumpling a leaf they quickly crushed the small contingent of men that Prince Bjorn had left behind, making sure that none escaped to warn their fellow Swedes. Then, in an even bolder move, instead of sailing around to Skive, and joining forces with Jafnharr, Arnulf and Lofarr proceeded along the same route to Viborg that the Swedes had followed.

" We will trap them between us and the fortified town, and then crush them as if they were a piece of steel hammered against an anvil ! " he told Lofarr.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Prince Bjorn awoke to another chilly Jutland morning. As he left his hut he saw that the raven flag still flew over the defiant town of Viborg, but the prince still had no intentions of attacking it. Actually he had grown rather comfortable here in the land of the Danes. While his Swedes were enjoying the great bounty of food, drink, and wealth taken from the countryside, the Danes were suffering from hunger and thirst behind their walls. While the confident Prince Bjorn watched the raven flag fluttering in the distance he sat back in his chair and relaxed.

" I will stay her another month enjoying the hospitality of these people, and then I will head back to Sweden. " he whispered to himself before taking a long drink of mead.

The prince was about to put down his empty horn when a messenger came running up to him completely out of breath.

" My Lord ! My Lord !! On the hill behind us ! There is a small band of warriors flying the raven flag in our rear, my Lord. " he blurted out, and then doubled over.

Prince Bjorn jumped up out of his chair, knocking it to the ground, and peered off into the distance. As he squinted his eyes to block the glare of the rising sun the prince spotted on the hill behind his position a small army led by a warrior on horseback carrying a blood red flag with a black raven on it.

" How did these Jutlanders raise a second army so quickly ? " the prince asked to no one in particular.

Without ever considering the possibility that this might be King Arnulf having returned from Norway with his army, Prince Bjorn quickly gathered his forces into battle formation, and moved them down into the valley to attack what he saw as a small insignificant army.

" Forward men ! We will rout these Jutland farmers, and merchants, and make them pay for opposing a real army ! " the prince boldly shouted to his warriors as they marched.

A confident roar echoed from the Swedes as they reached the center of the valley. With axes and swords held high the prince's army began to run across the valley floor. Long before they reached the base of the hill on the other side their shouts of joy faded, and many stopped dead in their tracks. For what they saw coming down upon them was not a hastily put together force of local folk, but a professional army with many horsemen, led by a king ! And they had what appeared to be twice as many warriors as they did !!

King Arnulf could not believe how bold, and how foolish Prince Bjorn was. To attack an unknown force head on was sheer folly ! The Swedish prince had not even sent out scouts to see what was on his right and left flanks. If he had he would surely not have attacked straight on with his entire force, because he would have seen that part of the Viborg army, led by Lofarr was almost in his rear !

Jafnharr watched from one of the fortress town's towers as the battle played out below him. He marveled at the brilliance of King Arnulf's plan. By keeping most of his forces on the far slopes, where the Swedes could not see them, his king had fooled the prince into thinking that the force he faced was much smaller than it actually was. It was only when the Swedes had committed themselves to battle that King Arnulf allowed the rest of his warriors to come over the crest of the hill.

Prince Bjorn's mind raced from thoughts of confident victory to confusion and paralyzing fear in a matter of moments. The prince's orders became more and more disjointed as the Jutlanders came down upon them and began to overwhelm his Swedes. And then Bjorn lost all reason when word reached him that the enemy was attacking not only from the west, but the north and south as well !

Seeing that their leader could no longer deal with the situation before him Sweyn, the second in command, quickly decided that the only way to save Prince Bjorn was to retreat back to the town of Viborg, and then head north east to the fjord at Hobro, to try and escape back to Sweden. This of course meant that they would have to pass perilously close to the town, and the angry inhabitants who they had laid siege to for the past month.

King Arnulf was at first surprised to see the main part of the Swedish army form into a shield circle as he raced down the hill to meet the enemy, but when he saw a smaller contingent racing off toward Viborg he knew at once what was happening. The great Prince Bjorn of Sweden was sacrificing most of his army so that he, along with the other high ranking Swedes, could make good their escape. The king of Viborg was more than happy to let them go and destroy most of the Swedish army today, for he knew that he could hunt down the rest as they made their way north through the unfamiliar and hostile territory of Jutland.

King Arnulf was an angry king ! As the shield circle became smaller and smaller before his unrelenting attacks many of the Swedes tried to surrender. Arnulf, however, would have none of it ! One by one the Swedes were struck down, many by arrows, as the king did not wish to sacrifice any more of his own men. If King Arnulf had known the horrors that awaited him in Viborg he would have captured and tortured many of the Swedes instead of killing them to the last man.

Jafnharr smiled broadly from ear to ear as he, along with his many archers, loaded their bows time and time again, and let loose a hail of arrows that rained down upon the hastily retreating Swedes. And although he could not be absolutely sure, the defender of Viborg imagined that it was his arrow that struck the Prince of Sweden in the shoulder before they managed to get out of their range.

- End Chapter 6

- Next : King Guthrum Sends For Help

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2017.

Poem 421 : Mótsognir

4/16/2017

Poem 421 : Mótsognir

Deep within the earth where the stalagmites rise,
You will find the Dwarf called Mótsognir the Wise,
His home, a rock opening, is not very large in size,
It is quite hard to detect, even with wide open eyes.

In a place devoid of any spark, or ray of the sun's light,
Lives this little Dwarf in a black realm of perpetual night,
His eyes no longer see, they have turned to pure white,
For in the darkness Mótsognir has no use for his sight.

He stands before an Altar the Gods made from Ymir's bone,
A sacred monument to the great Jotun, now turned to stone,
Once called 'Battle Roarer' his wisdom is little, if at all known,
Older and much wiser he sits in deep contemplation all alone.

A few venture to his cave, which is cold, but too warm to form ice,
For they need answers to their questions, seek out his advice,
If you are willing to endure the journey, it is well worth the price,
Mótsognir is the cleverest Dwarf, his words are both wise and concise.

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2017.

' Mirror Image ' : Chapter 5 : From Warrior To King

4/12/2017

Mirror Image

Chapter 5

From Warrior To King

Arnulf was proud and very honored to be held in such high regard by King Horik II. He was often seen by his peers walking and talking with the king as they discussed strategy, and tactics. Using Arnulf's new way to fight battles the Danes would no longer line up in a shield wall formation and crash head long into their enemies. Now they feinted one way with a part of the army while they outflanked their opponents with the another. With each new victory, and the plunder that often followed, the warriors trusted their new commander more and more. For in Arnulf they had a leader who could bring them riches, while at the same time minimizing their losses.

As time went by King Horik II allowed Arnulf to exert greater and greater control over the army. Many times the king ordered his young commander to lead his warriors into battles that he normally would not have wished to fight because he knew that under Arnulf's direction his army had a very good chance to achieve complete victory, despite difficult circumstances, or long odds. And every time he threw Arnulf into battle, the king emerged victorious, where others surely would have failed.

Those closest to King Horik II became worried over Arnulf's stature in the army and began to warn him that his commander was becoming too powerful, and had too much influence and control over the army.

" My Lord, with such power Arnulf could turn the army against you, usurp your power, and steal the throne from you ! " they often whispered discreetly in his ear.

King Horik II, who was quickly becoming an old man, without a wife or heir to replace him on the high- seat of Viborg, adamantly disagreed with these ambitious warriors who wished to advise him. The king of Viborg refused to see Arnulf as a threat. Instead, he slowly began to see his commander as the next king of Viborg.

" The future of Viborg and Arnulf are inexorably joined, and no one, not even myself, can change the destiny that the Norns have weaved ! " he told those who warned him.

Those who continued to speak out against Arnulf were removed by the king from his court, and in some cases they were also thrown out of the army. In time all opposition disappeared and Arnulf was accepted, albeit reluctantly by some, for what he truly was. Because for all intent and purposes he was Viborg's prince.

To keep Arnulf tied to the king's hall, Arnulf's mother Hildigunnr was offered a yearly stipend to help her with her expenses, and to compensate her for the loss of her husband. Arnulf himself was made to stand next to the king's high seat when he held court over his people so that all could see the importance of his status in the kingdom. Eventually King Horik II had a second high - seat made, which was only slightly lower than his own, to press home the point that Arnulf was his successor.

Arnulf, was a kind and wise man, and not the ruthless killer that his mother thought him to be by the look in his eyes. He did not seek out war, nor did he revel in the glory of battle. To Arnulf war was a necessary evil, whether they were the aggressors, or the defenders. Gold and silver were the fuel that helped to keep the kingdom safe and it's people wealthy, and happy. Through trade they could achieve some of these noble goals, but only by raiding their neighbors in the Frankish, Norwegian, and English Kingdoms, would they ever be able to span the gap that existed between a strong rich kingdom, and a realm that was poor and weak.

When the treasury was low Arnulf assembled the army, launched Viborg's longships, and went seeking plunder on foreign shores. King Horik II, who now considered himself too old for such far reaching endeavors, gave Arnulf his blessing, and allowed his subordinate to take as many men and ships as he felt was necessary to achieve his goals.

Arnulf soon became quite the scourge throughout Southern Norway, as he moved over it's countryside ravaging it like a plague. Everywhere he went the towns and villages, fearing total destruction, began to pay him tribute instead of risking annihilation by opposing the infamous Dane. Arnulf, for his part, was more than happy to take geld from the Norwegians, rather than risk his army in pitched battles. As he swiftly moved from west to east across the tip of Norway he sent back to Viborg many ships heavily weighed down with silver and gold.

The closer Arnulf and his army came to the Swedish lands, however, the more nervous the Swedes became. King Eirik Anundsson, who was watching the situation closely, finally decided that something had to be done about these Danish intruders from Jutland. The Swedish king wanted to send his forces against Arnulf, and expel him from Norway, but his son Prince Bjorn had a better idea.

" Father ! Allow me to take a portion of our army to Jutland. With the greater part of their army raiding in Norway, it will be a simple matter for me to defeat these Danes in Viborg, and teach them a lesson that they shall not soon forget. And once this ' Arnulf ' hears of what we have done he will have to leave Norway and stay at home to protect Viborg from the threat of further attacks. " he told his father with a wicked grin.

King Eirik liked the idea of attacking a weakened enemy whose warriors were away fighting in a foreign land. He also had heard many stories about Arnulf, and his strange ways of attacking in battle, and wanted nothing to do with facing him head on in a long war.

" Yes ! That is a splendid idea ! Destroy their kingdom, steal their wealth, and make them go home to defend their lands ! When they see the devastation that our army has caused upon their kingdom they will think twice about leaving to attack other lands in the future ! " he told his son.

Two months later, while Arnulf was laying siege to the town of Ordost in Ranrike, Prince Bjorn landed fifty ships, and almost two thousand Swedish warriors onto the shores of Jutland. After leaving a contingent of men to guard his ships, the prince marched his men toward Viborg destroying everything in their path.

King Horik II was caught completely off guard. As quickly as he could the king pulled together what remained of his army and marched out to meet the Swedish invaders. The two armies met just five miles outside of Viborg on a level meadow. If Arnulf had been there to advise the king he would have told him to move his smaller army back to more favorable and defensible ground. But the commander of the army was many miles away, and the king, lacking such advice, reverted back to his old form decided to line up and attack the Swedes head on.

The outcome of the battle was never in doubt. King Horik II could not rally his warriors after several initial setbacks, and while trying to retreat to regroup his scattered warriors, he was shot in the neck by an arrow. While slowly drowning in his own blood he gave his final orders to Jafnharr his second in command.

" Retreat ! Save the army ! Then send for Arnulf. He is now your king ! " King Horik II told him before he gasped his last breath.

Jafnharr honored his king's last wishes and pulled back the army into the fortress town of Viborg. He then sent three small bands of his best seamen to sail to Norway to find Arnulf and tell him what had happened to their king, and that he, by the order of King Horik II, was now the ruler of Viborg. He also warned Arnulf that if he did not hurry back his new king would have no kingdom to come back to.

Prince Bjorn had not considered the possibility of a long siege when he planned his attack on Viborg. His plan, from the beginning, was merely to force these Danes out of Eastern Norway, and back to Jutland to defend their homeland. Bjorn reluctantly surrounded the heavily defended city, but he had no desire to waste his valuable warriors in a lost cause. Even if they could force the Danes to surrender the Swedes had no plans to stay and occupy this territory. After long deliberation Bjorn decided that he would lay siege to the town for three months. Should they surrender he would take their gold and silver, and if they held out he would simply take his army back home with what plunder his warriors could obtain from the countryside. The prince felt secure in the knowledge that the Jutlanders could not possibly return in ninety days. Prince Bjorn, however, as with many before him, had underestimated the skill and sheer determination of his opponent King Arnulf.

- End Chapter 5

- Next : Chapter 6 : An Angry King

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2017.

' Mirror Image ' : Chapter 4 : The Boy Grows To Be A Man

4/9/2017

Mirror Image

Chapter 4

The Boy Grows To Be A Man

Oddbjorn returned home to find his house untidy, his farmland only half harvested, and his wife alone and a nervous wreck. He was both overjoyed when he saw his infant son, and deeply saddened by the loss of another, but he had no time to express such emotions. Winter was fast approaching and there were many things that needed tending to. Despite being tired from a long season of raiding, and a rough voyage home, he immediately went to work fixing what needed to be repaired, and finished as much of the harvesting as time allowed.

Luckily the raids into Graenafylki, Norway, had gone extremely well. The king graciously granted him ten more acres of land, and three slave workers to help him tend to his new fields. King Horik also gave, to his new commander of the army, another serving maiden, named Kolla, to help Hildigunnr tend to their child, and to do the multitude of chores around the house that needed to be done. Best of all Oddbjorn's pockets were filled with gold and silver that he and his warriors had plundered from throughout the Norwegian lands.

The return of her husband, and the assistance of the young maiden Kolla, allowed Hildigunnr to slowly regain her self - confidence, and put the death of the child she had named Vargr to rest. Despite tending often to Vargr's grave, she began to show more and more attention to her living son Arnulf. While Hildigunnr allowed Kolla to do all manner of chores in the house, and out in the garden, she did not want her to care for Arnulf at all. The old midwife Kolfinna had told her that she would never be able to bear children again, and she now protected Arnulf as though he were a fragile piece of pottery.

Oddbjorn allowed his wife to smother their child until he was old enough to walk. Then the warrior, and commander of the king's army, stepped in and began to give his son training in the use of various weapons. The child saw it as playtime, but Oddbjorn knew that when he was older these playful moves might save his life. He also, to the dismay of his wife, made Arnulf carry a sack of rocks on his back, and made him lift heavy objects to build up his strength.

Hildigunnr objected strenuously, but there was little she could do. The Danes, and Jutlanders in particular, had always been a warrior society with a long history of producing some of the northern lands most powerful fighters.

However, in a half joking tone, she warned her husband :

" If you injure my only son I will never forgive you. And if you get him killed, .... well,.... then I will kill you ! "

By the time Arnulf was five he was much bigger and stronger than the other boys his own age. Thanks to his father's training his skills with weapons was unprecedented for a child his age. Strangely, unlike other boys who were more powerful than their counterparts, Arnulf did not bully or pick fights with the other boys in the area. Instead, he trained these boys from the surrounding farms in the use of various weapons, as he had been schooled by his father. One of the first boys he chose to join his little band of warriors was Lofarr, who would stay with him and always fight faithfully by his side.

King Horik II was so impressed by what he called the " Boy Army " that he gave them an honorary place in his regular army, and had each of the boys tattooed on the arm with a raven, which was the symbol that the king carried into battle. Over the years Arnulf's little corp continued to grow until his " Boy Army " was the size of a small shield wall .

When the boys came of age King Horik officially incorporated them into the main army. Right from the start it was apparent that these boys had great fighting skills, and they quickly became an integral part of the king's battle formation. As time went on King Horik moved them closer and closer to the center of his army to better protect him. Some in the army became jealous of this " Boy Commander " as they called him, but none disputed his, or his army's, fighting skills.

Oddbjorn could not have been prouder of his son, who had grown to be a full head taller than his father. Not only had Arnulf's skills taken him far in the king's army in a very short time, but his prowess and honor had shone a favorable light down on him as a father, and a teacher of warriors. Before his son had reached such great heights in the army, some had tried to take from him the title of commander of the army. Several times he was forced to kill a warrior who felt that he deserved the title more. After Arnulf became one of the king's favorites, however, no one dared to challenge for fear of his son's wrath !

Hildigunnr did not share her husband's view of her son's future. The fate of her father and uncle haunted her every time she saw her only son practicing with the army. She had already lost two people she loved very much to war, and did not want to lose her son as well. The prospect of her only son dying in a far off land hung over her like a dark storm cloud that could rain down misery upon her at any moment.

Then one day Hildigunnr's biggest fear went from a haunting nightmare into the stark reality of day. Arnulf came home with his father and proudly told her that the army would be sailing to Arhus, where a minor chieftain named Hallormer had led an uprising against King Horik II in that region. Like most mother's, when their sons go away to war, her heart sank into the pit of her stomach and she cried without shame.

Hildigunnr need not have worried herself however. The forces under Hallormer were quickly destroyed. Arnulf, who had suggested taking his army through a mountain pass to get behind the rebel forces, was given full credit by King Horik for destroying the enemy with few casualties. The king even allowed Arnulf the great honor of performing the blood - eagle on the rebellious chieftain, who in a final act of cowardice had tried to flee the battlefield screaming like a little girl.

Oddbjorn was at first very proud of his son, but it did not take long for the father to see that that Arnulf had not only surpassed him in battle, but also that he was beginning to usurp his position as commander of the army. To keep his prominence in the army Oddbjorn began to become reckless, taking many chances in battle to impress his king.

That false pride caused him to become careless in battle. While raiding in Norway two years later Oddbjorn became separated from the main army, and against a superior force of Norwegians, under a local chieftain named Ljufvini, he led a smaller band of warriors into a disaster in which almost all of his force was destroyed.

The next day Arnulf found his father's body littered among the other Jutlanders, and buried him. With a fire in his eyes that worried even King Horik, Arnulf demanded to take his army and go after those who had killed his father. King Horik wanted to say no, but he felt he could not deny Arnulf the right to avenge the death of his father. A week later Arnulf caught up with Chieftain Ljufvini and his Norwegians. Arnulf split his army, and with Lofarr's help, surrounded the hapless Norwegians who then tried to surrender. Arnulf would not hear of such nonsense, and would not accept the chieftain's sword. He killed the Norwegians to the last man, and then hung their mutilated bodies in the trees as a warning to all those who would oppose the Danes.

On the way back to the main army Arnulf stopped at the grave where he had buried his father and raised a rune stone in his honor. He took his father's sword, which he had left to mark the grave, back with him so he could present it to his mother when he returned home.

On the return voyage to Jutland King Horik told Arnulf that he was now the commander of the army. Arnulf in turn respectfully asked that Lofarr be made his second in command. King Horik was more than happy to give the talented warrior what he wanted. As word spread from ship to ship a roar of approval rose up and echoed across the waves. It was apparent to all that the child who had once raised a " Boys Army " had grown to be a man !

Arnulf's heart grew heavy as the ships landed one by one and were dragged on shore. He was not certain exactly what he was going to say to his mother when he saw her, but he knew that his words would not be enough to mend her broken heart. As he mounted his horse he almost wished that he had been the one who had been killed, but he knew that the fates of men were weaved by the Norns and cannot be altered. What happened had been ordained long ago, and the path of destiny is always in front of you, no matter how many times you look back.

Hildigunnr knew the moment she spotted her son trotting up the lane to their house alone that her husband of twenty two years would never return home again. She trembled uncontrollably as Arnulf knelt before her and presented her with Oddbjorn's sword. Through her tears of grief she saw something in her son's eyes that saddened her as much as her husband's death. She saw that same look of pride and determination that her husband had always projected,.... and it terrified her because it meant that Arnulf was no longer her precious little boy. He had become his father. A powerful warrior and a skilled killer.

- End Chapter 4

Next : Chapter 5 : From Warrior To King

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2017.

<<Previous

422. Dragon Lord​

Mirror Image​Chapter 11Murder / Overwheming Evidence

Mirror Image​Chapter 10The Defeat Of Mercia

Mirror Image​Chapter 9Arnulf Joins The Heathen Army

Mirror Image ​Chapter 8Arnulf Agrees To Help King Guthrum

Mirror ImageChapter 7King Guthrum Sends For Help​

Mirror ImageChapter 6An Angry King​

Poem 421 : Mótsognir

Mirror ImageChapter 5From Warrior To King

Mirror Image​Chapter 4The Boy Grows To Be A Man

Categories

Archives

422. Dragon Lord

Mirror Image

Chapter 11

Murder / Overwheming Evidence

Mirror Image

Chapter 10

The Defeat Of Mercia

Mirror Image

Chapter 9

Arnulf Joins The Heathen Army

Mirror Image

Chapter 8

Arnulf Agrees To Help King Guthrum

Mirror Image

Chapter 7

King Guthrum Sends For Help

Mirror Image

Chapter 6

An Angry King

Mirror Image

Chapter 5

From Warrior To King

Mirror Image

Chapter 4

The Boy Grows To Be A Man