410 I.E
“Father, you wanted to see me?” The young Seltic Corgee says as she enters her family dwelling. “Young Elsa, Merrik spoke of strange people from a land call Valkaria. If what your brother says is true than our destiny will soon be upon us.”
“Father don’t speak of such things, we can fight them father, like our ancestors.”
“To what end Elsa, The Norns had already foretold this battle and our destiny. I will die by the blade of the enemy, I’ll reunite with your mother in Valhöll at the final moment of the battle Elsa. You’ll take by Blade when the fighting is done.”
Her father spoke with sadness to his voice as Elsa eyes filled with tears. She was only fifteen years of age and wasn’t as experience in the art of combat. Her only experience to this point was rescuing and hunting.
She hasn’t fought another soul, the sadness ran though her veins. She didn’t want to lose her father or brother. “Gnaar!” Out an fellow Corgee as he rushed in only to take a Axe to his back. Blood splatter the entrance as he lifeless body of her kin falls onto his stomach follow by howling and screaming of the other tribal members of her tribe.
Elsa and her father exit their home to see strange warriors slaughter their members. Some of them wore leather pants and their skin as white as snow. They held axes and snarl like untame beast. They shouted and chant in language like their own.
Than standing as tall as the trees were warriors Clad in heavy black armor with golden trims. Their helmets bare large horns taken from goats and triceratops. Some even rode on giant bears cover in armor. Blood tainted the soil and homes lit ablaze. These warriors show no mercy to the innocent.
Elsa and her father Gnaar look on with horror as they witness the destruction of their community. One warrior look different from the rest. He stood as tall as a Giant. A god amongst mortals. Gnaar didn’t hesitate and engage the warrior. Their swords clash and Gnaar seems to have the upper hand against the giant warrior.
Elsa went to find her brother, she avoided these warriors at all cost until one of them caught up to her.
His skin is fair, his hair and beard were as black as the midnight sky. His body cover with tattoos that gave off an queer feeling.
He held two axe and base on the metal of the axe heads she knew they’re made from Valkite. He shout in a alien Tongue before charging at her. She pulled out a knife and evade his swings. He roar and shout as he swung his weapons uncontrollably, allow her to get the chance to run until the Marauder threw his axe from his left hand. She caught the weapon and out from desperation she swung the weapon and hit him in his chest.
The warrior fell onto his back follow by a loud thud and coughing up blood from his mouth. Blood pour from the wound where the blade struck.
She shook and tremble with horror. She panted heavily and her hands shake uncontrollably but she needed to find Merrik. She leaves the alley to find the central litter with the corpse of Cynoea Corgee and these strangers laying in their own pools of blood and guts.
Blood splatter across the adobes, and even the beast belonging to Elsa’s tribe had perish in the battle. She had no choice but to continue on when she sees one of these warriors accompanied by one of the unarmored individual whose face had red tattoos. From the robes he wore, he must be a Sage, she thought to herself. The stranger held her brother as hostage along with other members of her tribe.
She watch on helpless as they’re force in cages made from valkite. “Lothar Þessir hundar skulu vera verðug blót til skríðandi óreiðu.”
“No” Elsa silently mouth to herself. “jā vér bíðum dróttins Ázyron áðr hann ferr ór þessu þorpi ok snýr aptr til Urath’gul.”
“Azyron?” Elsa murmurs, she hides away from their sight, The giant walks towards them, he carried both the head of Gnaar and the Gnaar’s sword.
Elsa felt tears streaming down from her eyes as her vision burls. Her heart sinks and her breaths shrivels. “Azyron king, skulum vér stefna heim Urath-gul?” Lothar ask when the giant male replies in a cold deep voice “Lothar, vér komum varla hingat til Seltlands eyja, auk þess eru aðrar þjóðir, bæði Menn ok Cynoea aðrir líkir; látum oss eigi vera of bráðr at snúa heim.”
Elsa knew their Language as it’s the same language that cynoeas knew. These people call themselves men. The giant name is Ayzron king. She hid with the corpse until these warriors left but not before Azyron drop Gnaar’s sword. He soon vanish into the night with his warband. Allowing for Elsa to leave her hiding spot and retrieving her father’s sword. She soon vow to avenge her people and rescue her brother from these humans savages.
———
She founded the coast where these warriors had built their camps. She sneaks pass the guards that patrol the camps.
She locates the tent where the captives are held, she enters the tent to see her kin all but alive. Their corpse litter the ground in their pool of blood, even the pups weren’t safe. But all wasn’t lost. Her brother Merrik lives but barely.
She unbinds him as he opens his eyes and looks at her in her eyes and says “E.el.Elsa what are you going here? I though you be with our parents in Valhöll.”
“But I’m here now Merrik, We must leave her before they catch us.”
“No *coughs* Elsa, you must *Gasp* leave me, my Time is at its end.”
Elsa tears up and says “No, no, no I don’t want to lose you brother.”
“My time is at its twilight, I’ll *gasps and coughs*…”
Merrik dies, life fades from his brown eyes. Elsa sobs uncontrollably but she knew his time would come. She lifts his body onto her shoulder and carried him out from the tent and went back to her home to bury him along with her father. She pray to Woden as she leaves. She vows to get vengeance before her demise. She gathers her belongings and head towards the coast. Placing her items in a small boat and began to push the wooden boat to the water. Sailing away to the west in detach of a new life.
————
Three years later
Elsa arrive to a nameless village at a forest in Laurasia. Birds squawk and Saurpods bellows. Giant arthropods stalk the forest but Elsa remains unfazed and continue and stop at a spot where large stones piece the sky with their tips.
Runes were carved into the gray stone. Elsa stare when her ears perk at the sound of “Outlander, huh.”
She turns to see a poodle standing there. She cross her arms and smirk at her and ask “Far from home aren’t you?”
“Well, yes but it has been ravage by barbarians and well I had to move on.”
The poodle began to feel sympathy for her and says “My condolences to you Stranger. If you need a place to stay, our innkeeper Diablo is sure to rent you a room. I’m Honey by the way.”
“Well I’m Elsa Gnaardottir, how marvelous I mean these stones, were they created by your clansmen?”
“It’s nice to learn about you Elsa and those Menhirs are said to point to Elder Stars beyond our reach. They’ve been here before this village was founded by my husband’s great great grandfather. Some says that they’re created by Jotunns. You should come, you look hungry from all that travel from distant shores.”
Elsa follows Honey to the village Hall for a warm meal. For now she’ll stay here until her time of vengeance dawns near.
