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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 8, 2010 20:27:48 GMT -5
It wasn’t long, only minutes in fact, before the handsome ranger lying on his back in the bed began to stir. At the first movement of his head she dropped her foot from the bed and leaned forward to watch him. She didn’t want him to thrash around too much or he might aggravate his back injury so she was ready to hold him down if she needed to. At least that was the excuse she gave herself as she studied his features and found herself admiring his high bridged nose, high cheekbones and the strong curve of his jaw line and chin covered by the brown, nearly reddish beard. His mustache was very impressive with the long braids and was neatly trimmed around his upper lip. She found him very attractive and found that she was looking forward to getting to know him better.
He murmured something about “must see” but she couldn’t make it out. His words were not clear and she had a hard time understanding them but thought he said something about shieldmaidens and Fin looked at him worriedly. The doctor had said he was going to pull through, but if he could see the shieldmaidens, then perhaps he was actually dying. She leaned forward, very close to his face so she could hear what he was saying.
..."Valkyrie!!!" he cried and opened his eyes. Finn looked at his bright blue eyes and her heart did a cartwheel in her chest and then stopped beating, her breath caught in her throat and before she could figure out why, the ranger she had never met before had wrapped his arms around her and with surprising strength pulled her in closer.
Their lips met and Fin was so surprised at the sudden rapid thumping of her heart and the ranger’s unexpected action that she froze instead of pulling back and slapping him in the face or slugging him in the stomach as was her usual reaction to any man that tried to force himself on her.
She was even more surprised to realize that she was returning the kiss and enjoying it immensely. Her heart resumed its beating as suddenly as it had stopped and was now thumping so hard it seemed it was going to jump for joy right out of her chest. She closed her eyes and let him direct the kiss that lasted for many long moments.
Finally he released the hold on the back of her neck and they came up for air. She opened her eyes, their noses not more than an inch apart and slowly the look of surprise on her face changed into a radiant smile. “Velcome back, Ranger Ringulf, ta da landt of de living. Ma name is Glorfindel Theronsdottr, but ya can call me Fin.”
Gently she laid her hand on his forehead again to see if he was feverish, but he seemed fairly cool, only slightly warmer than she was. She slid her hand down to his cheek, telling herself that maybe it would tell her that he was feverish, but it was cool to the touch. She smoothed his beard on that side and then dropped her hand gently to his chest in warning as he looked like he was going to move again.
“Do nah try ta get up, Ringulf, ya should lie still now de Doctor says.” She looked at him with concern now. “Do ya remember vwat happenedt ta ya?”
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 8, 2010 21:28:08 GMT -5
“Velcome back, Ranger Ringulf, ta da landt of de living. Ma name is Glorfindel Theronsdottr, but ya can call me Fin.”
Ringulf was transfixed, this beautiful Valkyrie had kissed him in a way he had never been kissed before, surely it was the kiss of death surely, the kiss that would lift him from the battlefield to wake in the Allfather's hall with her at his side, holding a drinking horn to toast his arrival! But she had spoken, she welcomed him not to Valhalla but back to the land of the living. confusion spread through his mind but he just stared wide eyed at the woman that was so close to him he could smell her hair and feel her warmth. "She could not be real, she must be a Sheildmaiden!" he thought to himself.
Gently she laid her hand on his forehead again to see if he was feverish, but he seemed fairly cool, only slightly warmer than she was. She slid her hand down to his cheek, telling herself that maybe it would tell her that he was feverish, but it was cool to the touch. She smoothed his beard on that side and then dropped her hand gently to his chest in warning as he looked like he was going to move again.
This was too much to bear she was real but never had he seen or been touched by such a remarkable Nordic beauty. He started to try to rise.
“Do nah try ta get up, Ringulf, ya should lie still now de Doctor says.” She looked at him with concern now. “Do ya remember vwat happenedt ta ya?”
"Doctor? Ringulf?...I...your not a...where am I? I was dying on a frozen battlefield, the Valkyries were coming! How did I get here? but you must be one you are too...we are on a ship? I can feel the movement and smell the sea."
"I'm sorry....Finn? Finn you said, I didn't get the full name, and you called me Ringulf? I am sorry I...I am confused..I did not expect to be alive but it seems that I am. Are you my...I mean do you know me?...I am afraid I don't remember...I am sorry, I must have been seriously injured if I can't remember you!" Ringulf said with visual distress.
His jaw clamped shut as a wave of pain surged through his body
When he could breath again he spoke very softly but with manly control.
"Yes it seems as though I am very much alive. As life is pain...please forgive me Glorfindel Theronsdottr and thank you for reviving me and tending my wounds, please forgive me for...forgive me." he closed his eyes to keep the sadness from them but before he could a single tear spilled out of the outer corner of his left eye and disappeared immediately into his beard.
He did not realize what he was doing when he was revived, but even if he had he would not have wanted anything to have occurred differently.
"I am sure she was just humoring her patient so I would not injure myself further."
"What is wrong with me? when can I leave?"
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 8, 2010 22:01:10 GMT -5
"He stands there a little while, then looks at me, smiles, and starts talkin'. We hits it off, and next thing I knows, he's offered me an apprenticeship. An' I said 'Sure! Anythin' will beat this!' So I became his apprentice."
"So a big snuggly bear huh? I vass tinkin more like a big growly bear de vay he vas fightin, I saw him from my ship jump over de side vit two axes and take out two boats wit almost a dosen men in dem, I don't know vat he did after dey al vent under but I can tell you dis none off dem came back up, I taught he vas gone den ve found him under de rigging wit Tory I am not sure vat happent dere, I guess ve vill have to ask Tory.
Coult you see vat vas happenning ven you vas up at de top off de mast? Ya vait a minute...vy vere you up at de top of de mast ant vere did you tink you vas gonna go vit all dat fire up dere?"
"Rangers sure fight funny I tink, but not all of dem. Ringulf fights like a Skandian, no bows for him huh? Can you be a Ranger vitout a bow?"
The Innkeeper came back to them seeing that they were done eating.
"Can I get you anything else folks?"
Ari looked at Mylia questioningly, he turned to the inkeeper and said, "No, no tank you very much vee are done now I tink but perhaps you could let us haff one more off dose loaves for de mornin!"
"Very good sir I will have it up at the bar when you settle your bill."
"Oh..ok I be dere in a moment." Ari said
Then he turned to Mylia and said "I vonder vat dis meal is supposed to cost I don''t have much experience vit de cost of ting over here yet."
He pulled out a teardrop shaped leather pouch that was coveres with soft but bristly golden fur, cinched at the top with some type of raw hide and had a small carved Ivory seal at the end. he pulled two gold peices out and asked her,
"Dis vill cover, von't it?
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 8, 2010 23:16:19 GMT -5
When Ringulf just stared at Finn for several moments she grew even more concerned that perhaps the blow to his head had addled his brains.
"Doctor? Ringulf?...I...your not a...where am I? I was dying on a frozen battlefield, the Valkyries were coming! How did I get here? But you must be one you are too...we are on a ship? I can feel the movement and smell the sea."
Fin sighed in relief. ‘Thank the Gods, at least he can talk.’ She thought. He was confused as she was expecting he would be and that was why she was here, to help him regain his bearings. She was rather taken aback though that he thought she was a Valkyrie. They were supposed to be the most beautiful maidens that escorted the dead into Valhalla. She was a stocky, average looking woman and surely no beauty like the Valkyries. ‘Perhaps the blow had addled his brain after all,’ she said mentally.
“Calm down ant I vill tell ya.” She smiled good naturedly at him. “I am nah a Valkyrie, I assure ya.” She chuckled in a low throaty manner. There was no girlish giggling in that chuckle at all but more of a conveyance that she thought his mistake was completely absurd. “I tink ya vas dreamin’ aboot dose Shieldmaidens coming for ya.”
“Ya are on de Knarr Harr Marr, a Skandian ship dat came ta de rescue of de ship ya was on when some river pirates attacked it. I guess dey vas just passing by vhen dey saw ya ship vas in trouble.” She wasn’t sure how much she should tell him versus how much she should let him remember. “Vwee are in da port of Caravay andt de Doctor has jus been ta see ya and jus finished working on de othder girl, Tory, now.” She explained, figuring that if he remembered anything he would be asking about the two girls that had apparently been in his care when their ship was attacked. At least Finn thought that was what was going on. She was just speculating though, since no one had had the chance to really explain anything to her yet.
"I'm sorry....Finn? Finn you said, I didn't get the full name, and you called me Ringulf? I am sorry I...I am confused.. I did not expect to be alive but it seems that I am. Are you my...I mean do you know me?...I am afraid I don't remember...I am sorry, I must have been seriously injured if I can't remember you!" Ringulf said with visual distress.
She looked at him with concern again, and tried to sooth him. “Der is no reason ta be sorry, Ringulf, but ya must calm down.” She shook her head, “Vwe ha’e ne’er met before, doh I vish vwe had.” She smiled reassuringly at him. “Andt do nah be sorry for dat most amazing kiss ya just planted on me!” Her eyes glittered and she grinned at him. “I truly enjoyed dat very much. I vwas surprised, of course but I must say dat it vwas de most pleasant introduction I ha’e ever gotten before in ma life!” She stroked his cheek soothingly again as she leaned in close to him so she could hear him since he was speaking very softly.
She took in his scent when she inhaled and under the scent of burnt wood and fabric that clung to him, she made out the smell of pine and the comforting smell of fresh earthy loam. The scent of him was very nice once she masked out the smell from the sails burning on top of him. “Ma name is Glorfindel Theronsdottr.” She answered his question about missing her full name.
She saw the pain in his face and had been hoping that he wouldn’t be feeling any, but apparently that wasn’t to be the case. The pain was a good sign however because that meant his back was likely not damaged beyond repair. She winced in sympathy to his pain and wished she had made up some hot tea to ease his pain.
"Yes it seems as though I am very much alive. As life is pain...please forgive me Glorfindel Theronsdottr and thank you for reviving me and tending my wounds, please forgive me for...forgive me." he closed his eyes to keep the sadness from them but before he could a single tear spilled out of the outer corner of his left eye and disappeared immediately into his beard.
Finn wiped the tear away and leaned forward and kissed his cheek gently where the tear had ran across it. “Sshhh” She whispered in his ear. “Der is noting ta forgive as I tole ya a moment ago.” She pulled back slightly and looked at him in the eye with a serious look on her face. “Believe me, if ya had offended me, I vouldt ha’e planted ma fist in ya eye, addled brains or no, vouldt nah ha’e made a difference.”
Finn wasn’t sure why his kiss had not offended her, but for the first time in her life she was drawn to this man like she had not been drawn to any other. Though they did not know each other at all, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to her to kiss him and let him hold her in his strong arms. She found herself longing to kiss him again and very nearly did so, but she wasn’t sure if that would upset him more and she really needed him to calm down.
"What is wrong with me? when can I leave?"
“Da mast fell on ya I guess andt ya back is all svwelling. As soon as da svwelling goes down, ya should be able ta move ya legs. Ya took a bad bump ta da head too, but now dat ya are awake, it seems der was no permanent damage.” She teased him. She didn’t seem to be doing a great job of keeping him calm and worried that she was doing something all wrong and causing him to become more agitated.
Thinking that she would be dying to know how badly she was hurt if she were in his spot, she sat up straight on the stool, not realizing that her right hand was resting on his chest and absent mindedly twirling the ringlets of hair in his beard as she gave him a detailed account of his injuries. It took a couple of minutes to go over everything the Doctor had said to her about his condition and how to treat it.
“So basically, vwe are vwating for da swelling in ya back ta go down and vwe had been vwaiting for ya ta wake up. So ya are already half vway on ta mending!” She said encouragingly. “I tink I heardt dat ranger, Bunt Vwats-his-name say vwe are going ta move ya and de girls ta his ranger cabin in town.”
She leaned forward a bit again and resumed stroking his cheek, only this time she used her left hand to smooth the beard on the right side of his face. “So ya see, der is nah reason for ya ta be concerned. Everyting is fine and ya got a lot of time ta sort tings out. Right now Ya needt ta rest so ya can get back on ya feet.” She looked at him apologetically. “It looks like ya are going ta be recovering for a ratder long time, doh. An I am afraidt ya are going ta ha’e ta put up wid me nursing ya at least some of da time.”
Finn wasn’t sure when she had decided that she was going to help these rangers, but at some point she had thought that she couldn’t possibly just walk away from them and not help. It would drive her nuts not to know what happened to them and the thought of not seeing Ringulf ever again wrenched her heart. She couldn’t just walk out of this man’s life. She wanted to learn everything about him and get to know him, even though it felt like they had known each other for their entire lives.
“Is der anyting else ya vouldt like ta know?” She asked, hoping he would not get upset again.
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 8, 2010 23:32:49 GMT -5
“Is der anyting else ya vouldt like ta know?” She asked, hoping he would not get upset again.
"Yes Finn, there is, you called me a Ranger..."
"What is a Ranger?"
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Post by Firehead on Oct 11, 2010 10:36:11 GMT -5
"So a big snuggly bear huh? I vass tinkin more like a big growly bear de vay he vas fightin, I saw him from my ship jump over de side vit two axes and take out two boats wit almost a dosen men in dem, I don't know vat he did after dey al vent under, but I can tell you dis-- none off dem came back up, I taught he vas gone den ve found him under de rigging wit Tory I am not sure vat happent dere, I guess ve vill have to ask Tory."
"He's more like both, actually."
"Coult you see vat vas happenning ven you vas up at de top off de mast? Ya vait a minute...vy vere you up at de top of de mast ant vere did you tink you vas gonna go vit all dat fire up dere?"
Mylia shook her head and started to speak, but stopped when he asked her what she had been doing up the mast in the first place. She paused a moment to collect her thoughts, then plunged ahead.
"When the fighting started, I nearly got my head split open by an ax, so I climbed up into the crowsnest for a better vantage...and to get out of range of thrown axes." Here she gave him a wry smile. "I'm not a big fan of those, when they're being thrown at me. Then when the fighting got to a point where it looked like we were gonna lose, and I'd just about run out of arrows, I tried a scared tactic and hoped it'd work. Even in the city, we've heard the superstition that if you're outside and you hear a banshee wail, it means you'll die before the week is over. So I climbed to the highest point I could and let loose....I'm not sure if it worked or not, though.
"Then we hit the shore, and the mast I was on broke. I had aimed on jumping off, and hopefully landing on my feet, or landing in a roll, but you kinda changed that part of my plan." She paused again, then added, "It was less painful, though....Thanks."
"Rangers sure fight funny I tink, but not all of dem. Ringulf fights like a Skandian, no bows for him huh? Can you be a Ranger vitout a bow?"
"We-ell...he has a bow, he just tends not to use it when he's that close to his opponant. I would say, from the time I've spent with him so far, that he prefers close combat to long range."
The innkeeper arrived at that point, and asked, "Can I get you anything else folks?"
Ari looked at Mylia questioningly, he turned to the inkeeper and said, "No, no tank you very much vee are done now I tink but perhaps you could let us haff one more off dose loaves for de mornin!"
"Very good sir I will have it up at the bar when you settle your bill."
"Oh..ok I be dere in a moment." Ari said
Then he turned to Mylia and said "I vonder vat dis meal is supposed to cost. I don''t have much experience vit de cost of ting over here yet."
He pulled out a teardrop shaped leather pouch that was coveres with soft but bristly golden fur, cinched at the top with some type of raw hide and had a small carved Ivory seal at the end. he pulled two gold peices out and asked her,
"Dis vill cover, von't it?
Mylia's eyes widened at the sight of the coins. He really meant it when he said he didn't have much experience in the cost of things over here. "Um....Yeah, that will definitely cover it. In fact, that much would cover...quite a few... meals." She paused and took a deep breath. "One will cover it. Trust me. Even I know this much."
She leaned forward, close enough to put her mouth to his ear, and whispered, "And if you have any more of that gold coin--even silver for that matter, try not to flash too much of it too often. It could get you killed....Or at least robbed. And I'd rather neither happen to you."
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 11, 2010 12:43:32 GMT -5
Mylia leaned forward, close enough to put her mouth to his ear, and whispered, "And if you have any more of that gold coin--even silver for that matter, try not to flash too much of it too often. It could get you killed....Or at least robbed. And I'd rather neither happen to you."
Ari leaned in a bit too. He thought she was going to kiss him, he was a mix of relief and disappointment when she moved her mouth to his ear and whispered. He was disappointed that it was not a kiss but relieved he had not tried to kiss her back since it was not her intention.
"Tanks Mylia in my country dey do not haff many inns or taverns, unless you are in de city or a large port, any place else de hospitality of de Jarl or Chieftan you are wit is what feeds ant shelters you. Hospitality is a point off honor in my country, a stingy host or leader is looked on poorly ant called "tight fisted" Ari said with a smile.
"Someday you should visit Skandia, I would luff to show you ver I grew up! vell let me go take care of dis ant ve vill go back to de ship" he said and went up to the bar.
He was not there long but did speak to the inn keeper for a moment and gave him both coins.
He came back to Mylia and with a big smile said,
"OK All done! Tank you Mylia dat vas one off de best meals I ever had! let us go back ant see how are freints are doing Ya?"
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 11, 2010 23:12:18 GMT -5
Ogmund and Smidja sat on the steering deck in the stern of the Harr Marr. They sat smoking pipes and drinking mead in tall leather tankards.
"Ven you pledged yourself to Aribjorn, I taught you vould never leave him, I can't vatch him, you know dat! If de Jarl fints out dat ve vent off and left de boy and are not looking out for him like ve promised he is gonna have our guts for garters ant you know dat!" Said Smidja scoldingly to Ogmund.
"Ya Ya I know but I had to headt him off before he officially dismissed me from his service, dis vay I take care off Ringulf... A very important matter to de Jarl too if I remember correctly, and ven he has healt a bit I go to vere Ari is and vatch over him like ve plannt." Ogmund replied trying to work through his plan out loud.
"Ya, you are tinkin dat because he is a ranger he vill make a nice qvick recovery an off you vill go to Araluen but listen to me I vas just wit Finn ant she says he is addled and don't even know who or vat he iss! Now dat might be temporary for sure since he just woke up from a visit to de Allfadder's Hall, ant from vat Finn sait, he vass plenty strong enough, but what if he don't ment? Even if he ments here in de back, vill he ever ment up here in da headt!?"
Smidja picked up the bag by his feet. "Here you keep dis ant make sure you give dis to him ven de time iss right, it might help jog his memory a little bit."
Ogmand reached in the bag and drew forth the Skandian helm with the bear head on it's brow.
He gasped at it as it shone in the lamp light. "I know dis helm, it is de helm of Ulfbjorn Ragnarson...."
"Given by my hant to the boy Ringulf ven I set he ant his mudder here on dis shore just days after Jarl Harold Ret Hant Vas slain by Haakon Hammerhant to become Jarl... Ya Ya I know de story Ogmunt I vas in it, remember!?" said Smidja heatedly.
"If you hat only known vat happened dat day Ringulf might actually haff been de Jarl, it vas Ulfbjorn, his fadder dat vas first born of Ragnar not Haakon, even dough he be de best Jarl dat ve haff ever know in our part of Skandia."
"Yes Ogmund! You know, you have an infuriating way of telling men vat dey already know! sometimes I vant to punch you in your good eye!" the captain sputtered angrily.
"It's my only eye tanks to Ret Harolt! I am sorry my freint for upsetting you it iss a Skald's duty to reminte our people of dere history, but somtimes I get carriet avay you know? ant you know I am alvays grateful to you for taking me onto de Starwalker from Red hand's Bloodvolf"
"Ya dat vas a goot ting too, dat ship and her entire crew was burnt up ven Morgarath vas defeated, dat vas a black day for us all ant I am happy dat Jarl Haakon did not allow us to be part of it." Smidja lamented.
"Put de helm avay ant start assembling de crew as soon as Ari gets back. Ve vill get six men on each stretcher and ve vill take dem up to de Ranger cottage at de edge of town." said Smidja, sounding as old and weary, right then, as he looked.
"Ya Captain is goot, I will but, why do you not give it to him, It will mean more coming from you somevone dat he knows den a nameless one eyed skald!" He shook his head not understanding Smidja but it seemed as though Smidja had his reasons for that and not revealing himself to Ringulf yet.
"I already got de men standing by ant I tink dat is Ari ant Mylia comin down de hill now." said Ogmund straining with his one good eye toward the street that lead from the town down to the quay.
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Post by Firehead on Oct 12, 2010 13:21:26 GMT -5
"Tanks Mylia in my country dey do not haff many inns or taverns, unless you are in de city or a large port, any place else de hospitality of de Jarl or Chieftan you are wit is what feeds ant shelters you. Hospitality is a point off honor in my country, a stingy host or leader is looked on poorly ant called "tight fisted" Ari said with a smile.
Mylia nodded absently, more fasinated by what he had to say about his own country, then with acknowledging the fact that he was thanking her.
"Someday you should visit Skandia, I would luff to show you ver I grew up! vell let me go take care of dis ant ve vill go back to de ship"
"Certainly!" As Mylia waited for Ari to return, she thought back over the past few days. It had been quite the adventure. Hospitality. If it hadn't been for his, she doubted that she would have Tory and Ringulf alive today. And possibly her either, come to think of it. If she had landed wrong.....
Her thoughts turned to Ari. He was.....Okay, she admitted to herself, he was handsome. Very. Handsome. Okay, it's time to think of something else, now. I really don't need to swoon over him....Even if he is-- She shook her head breifly, thinking there she went again. Before she could kick herself mentally further, however, Ari returned, a big smile on his face.
"OK All done! Tank you Mylia dat vas one off de best meals I ever had! let us go back ant see how are freints are doing Ya?"
You're defintiely having just a tad bit of the boy crazy syndrome. A few days in the woods practicing archery should do the trick in getting your head back on what it belongs. she told herself, while smiling back at him. Rising, she joined him in heading for the door. "Ya."
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 12, 2010 14:44:42 GMT -5
Bunt walked swiftly out to his cabin, having left Low Belly, his ranger horse in the meadow to graze this morning. He thought he heard Ivy in her room and so he strode up and into the main part of the rather large ranger cabin and stood just inside the door, looking over the place trying to figure out just where to put the injured rangers that would shortly be on their way here.
“Ivy! We got comp’ny comin’.” Bunt called to her and then climbed the stairs to the fairly large loft that overlooked the living and dining area of the cabin. There was one cot up here, but he figured there was enough room for two more if he lined them up with two against the outside walls, and one in between against the low wall that opened up into the living room area below.
“Should be ‘nough room fer three teenage girls I think.” He muttered. He leaned over the low wall and looked down into the living room to see if his apprentice had acknowledged him yet.
“Ivy? Ya there?” He called down again. “I am ‘fraid I got a bit-o-news fer ya.” He sure hoped she wouldn’t mind giving up her room for several weeks while Ringulf healed up.
He ducked back and began to scoot the one cot over against the sloping wall that was actually the roof of the cabin. They would have to be careful when sitting up not to bump their heads, but he could put the injured girl in the center one so she wouldn’t have to worry about that.
He stood there thinking for a moment, “now where am I going to get three extra beds from?”
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 13, 2010 12:19:19 GMT -5
Ari and Mylia walked merrily down the cobblestone street toward the quay talking and laughing like old Friends. He loved her sense of humor and her dry wit and for all that she was a competent warrior, he noticed that she was humble and in some ways self effacing.
As they neared the waterfront Ari saw the group of crew men and Ogmund and Smidja up on the wharf and saw Ogmund wave them in to get them to hurry.
"I vonder vat iss going on now!" he said to Mylia with a tinge of worry in his voice.
"De crew iss all back ant dey look like de are all about to do somting togeder"
When they walked up to Smidja and Ogmund, Smidja said,
"Vell I do hope your Lordship and Lady hat a pleasant time at de Ball?" The note of sarchasm heavy in his voice.
"Vell Captain Smidja, de all knowing, all powerful, blessed of Odin, leader off us all!...Ve did! It seemed to me after playing nurse, mucking stalls, slinging hay, fetching mudd, and playing patty-cake vit de local boys, vile de rest of de crew hat shore leave, I taught dat me and my frient deserved a little bit of dinner, tank you very much!! now vat de hell iss happening here?!" Ari said a bit heatedly.
"Easy Ari, Smidja vas just baiting you, ve got goot news, Tory iss doin goot ant resting de Doctor ant Finn put some kint of funky seaveed wrap on her vound to keep it closed like a cuttlefish on a clam! Even more surprising Ringulf voke up a little vile ago and is now able to be moved , so ve are going to take dem up to de ranger cottage! Ve haff enough to put six men to each litter ant de rest of us will bring all de odder stuff vit dem, You ant Mylia may vant to get all de veapons and tings you saved out of de burning ship ant bring dat up too." said Ogmund, navigating the conversation back into calmer waters.
"Ya ok ve vill do dat, you say Tory has stopped bleeding ant Ringulf is avake?" Ari said with surprise in his voice.
"Ya dats right," said Smidja, "...but he is a little shaken up ant not himself, so don't you two bodder him vit all kinds off qvestions and such, he needs to rest and get his bearings!"
"OK, OK I just vantet to know how dey vere, you sount like a moose dat sat on a hedgehog, geez!" Ari shook his head and headed down to the boat to get the gear.
It was just about then that Fin was heard directing the litter bearers to be careful as they made there way out of the underdeck with the big ranger on his pallet, they had tied strips of cloth around his blanket to keep him from moving during the transfer. several men were starting to do the same with Tory but she was just snugly tucked in to her cot with a blanket and not bound for it seemed she still slept and was so light that two of the men could have lifted her with ease.
Smidja, Finn and Ogmund seemed to take charge of the caravan as several men walked ahead and behind with torches to light the way and to make sure the road was level so the bearers would not stumble.
All went well and they made it up to the cottage with no real difficulty and Smidja called in to the house to let Bunt know they had arrived.
"Allo on de Ranger cottage ve are here vit de two patients ant de rest of your apprentices I tink, Bunt are you in dere?!"
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Solo
Apprentice Cook
No! Seriously?
Posts: 82
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Post by Solo on Oct 15, 2010 10:22:49 GMT -5
Ivy was in her room, trying to convince Do-Over to release a dead and mangled squirrel into her custody instead of leaving it to rot under her bed, where the cat was currently crouching. "Come on, Do-over, get out from under my bed and give me the danged squirrel! you ain't going to eat it--we both know that. Remember the last time?" She demanded, exasperated.
The gray tom let out a low rumble--not quite a growl, but not a purr either--that seemed to say, You know this is useless, trying to talk me out from under here. Sure, I got furballs the last time, but lets not get overexcited about it--I probably used the wrong eating technique. This time will be different.
"Yeah right." Ivy spoke dryly. "How many times will it take you before you realize that squirrels are just too plain furry? Come on Do-over, I don't have all day for this!"
She waited a moment, but when Do-over didn't appear out from under the bed, she gave a disgruntled huff and stuck her hand in. Her fingertips brushed Do-over's fur as he shifted away from her groping hand, and she glared murder at the small wooden nightstand beside her bed. "Do-over, I'm supposed to be practicing my archery!" she growled through gritted teeth, straining to at least touch the darned cat. Out in the main room, she heard Bunt entering. Oh, great. Just what she needed on a day like this: Bunt to return from his trip into town early and not find her practicing.
“Ivy! We got comp’ny comin’.”
Great. And just when she'd been thinking that the day couldn't go any better. Shoving her arm as far under the bed as it would go, she just missed grabbing Do-over by the scruff of his neck as he dodged quickly to one side. A slightly muffled startled growl told her that he hadn't been expecting such persistance from her. Outside the door, she heard Bunt climbing the stairs to the attic. Probably looking for her. And here she was, down here, trying to get her ragged, one-eyed, three-legged cat to give up his lastest catch of the day (for a scruffy beat-up tomcat, he was doing remarkably well as a hunter).
“Ivy? Ya there?”...... “I am ‘fraid I got a bit-o-news fer ya.”
Yup. Company, you said so already. She managed to drum up some false enthusiasm. "Yay!" She paused as another thought struck her, then she asked, "When? What?"
Upstairs, she heard Bunt moving something heavy, probably the extra bed, over against one wall. Wrinkling her forehead she wondered just what he was up to. And what having company over, had to do with it. Pulling her arm out from under the bed, she asked it, "Why do I have an uneasy feeling about this?"
From under the bed, Do-over let out another muffled growl, as if to say, I don't know. Ivy eyed the bed. "Humph. Keep the stupid squirrel, then, and get furballs. I don't care. just don't come to me complaining about gettin' some sort of disease from eatin' it." Rising, she staulked into the main room.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 15, 2010 12:47:56 GMT -5
Bunt had called out Ivy’s name and announced they had company coming and after a moment he heard a muffled, "Yay!" followed by a pause as another thought struck her, then she asked, "When? What?" and after a moment or two she stalked back into the main room, looking a bit exasperated about something.
“Glad yer here,” Bunt said and then looked a bit sheepish for a moment. “I know I promised ya yer own room, but…” he looked apologetically at her, “well… seems the rangers tha’ were comin’ ta pick up them Skandian horses ran into a bit-o-trouble on the river and was injured by pirates.” He explained, setting up the background so that hopefully she would not be too angry about the loss of her room for a few weeks.
“Well they are hurt pretty bad and are gonna have ta stay here for a few weeks ‘til they can git healed up.” He paused to let that sink in before continuing. “Umm, ‘fraid I am gonna have ta put Ringulf in yer room along with the Skandian who has volunteered ta nurse him. The mast fell on him and he is darn lucky ta be alive. He has a nasty bump on his head and they don’ know if he will be able ta walk again from where it fell on his back.” Bunt said loudly so she could hear him as he came down the stairs from the loft.
“Ringulf an’ I go way back an’ I wanna make sure he has the best care. It’ll kill him if he can never walk again.” Bunt said sadly, looking at the floor and thinking how active his old friend was and how different he would be if his legs never worked right again. “But he might recover fully. Too early to tell yet,” Bunt continued. “We gotta wait fer the swellin’ ta go down.”
He tidied up the common room as he was talking, which was already pretty much spotless, and took a glance in his own room which also seemed to be in order.
“The other injured one is a ranger apprentice that was travellin’ with him. She apparently defended the helmsman right up until they ran the ship aground and were thrown out. Least ways that’s what I heard tell from some of the crew. They saw her fightin’ three river rats and one of ‘em gave her a nasty gash all down her side. It is not deep I hear, but she can’t move ‘round much. So I am going to put her up in the loft with you and the other ranger girl who didn’t get hurt. You three girls are about the same age and so ya should git along jes fine.” Bunt said confidently.
He watched for her reaction and added, “it will only be for a few weeks an’ then ya will have yer room back ta yerself.” He glanced out the window and saw it was fully dark outside now and the waxing gibbous moon was riding every higher into the night sky. “They are prob’ly on their way here by now. Best tidy up yer room and gather yer things. We can move yer dresser up ta the loft or you girls can use my room as a dressin’ room if ya like. Jes let me get out of it before ya go in there ta change.”
Bunt felt bad about kicking her out of her room, but he didn’t know what else to do. As the ranger of Caraway, it was his duty to host any visiting rangers. He could possibly impose on young Tandar, but he was none too sure about that young man’s current state of mind or the reception the injured rangers would get. He didn’t know the lad all that well, he being a relatively new ranger, but he seemed to remember that Tandar had been a very happy fellow at the last gathering. Bunt was more than a little worried about him. He would have to keep an eye on him until he was on his way to Araluen, just to make sure he was okay.
Dismissing that idea to send Ringulf and Tory to Tandar’s father’s estate, Bunt’s only other option was to call in the Baron’s duty and have them put up in the castle. From what little he’d seen up there, he didn’t relish that idea either. No, this was the best thing for the two injured rangers. “I can give ya a hand ifn ya need one.” Bunt offered to help her clean up her room and get her personal belongings out.
About an hour later he heard a commotion outside. It sounded almost like a wedding party or a wake winding up the trail to the cabin.
"Allo on de Ranger cottage ve are here vit de two patients ant de rest of your apprentices I tink, Bunt are you in dere?!"
Bunt drew the front door open wide and gestured for them to come inside. “I’m here,” he said and gestured to the stairs to the loft. “Take the girl up there.” Then he went to Ivy’s door and knocked on it loudly. There was no response. “Must be off practicing shooting,” Bunt muttered under his breath. He turned the doorknob and it was not locked. He pushed the door open a crack and said, “Ivy?” There was still no answer, so he opened the door and looked around the room for a place to put Ringulf’s cot. He directed Smidja’s men to set the ranger down in the far side of the room under the window. “He should be able ta see ou’side from here.” Bunt pointed to the window.
Then he went back out into the living area that was now full of Skandian warriors and scratched his grizzled face in puzzlement. “We need two more beds fer the girls and I jes don’ have ‘em.” He looked at Smidja and Aribjorn, wondering if they had any suggestions. “I might be able ta git some from the castle, but don’ know fer sure,” he said.
“Maybe I can make some beds.” He muttered doubtfully to himself. It would take time to construct three decent beds and he definitely wouldn’t get them done for this night. He wasn’t exactly too sure about the Skandian’s make-shift beds that Tory and Ringulf were brought in on. They had to improvise the legs with logs from the woodpile to set the frames on. They would do for the night, but Bunt wanted to make some sturdier beds for the invalids, since they would be staying for a while. “You boys got any idears?” he asked Aribjorn and Smidja.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 15, 2010 13:00:05 GMT -5
Tory was sitting high in a tree, its branches swaying back and forth, lulling her to sleep. She could smell the forest around her and breathed deeply to get the salty smell of the sea out of her nose. Something tickled her nose and she sneezed, waking from her dream suddenly to find her kitten curled up at her chin, her tail flicking back and forth across Tory’s nose, looking at her indignantly.
She tried to move her arm to sooth the kitten but it felt as heavy as lead and then she realized that someone next to her had said a couple of words that made no sense to her. She turned her head slightly and saw the large form of a Skandian warrior above her. Then she realized, sleepily, that she was being carried on a litter through the trees. Her mouth tasted awful and her tongue seemed to be three sizes too big and stuck to the roof of her mouth. “Blegghhh!” She tried to get her tongue work right, but it wasn’t cooperating. “Whergghh dtheyyy takgging me?” She asked out loud, not realizing that her speech was so garbled no one would be able to understand her.
Tory rubbed her cheek against the kitten who had shifted slightly and was now resting more on the pillow in the crook of her neck. It yawned while stretching and then curled up in a ball against the side of her head, one paw on her shoulder possessively and the other curled up around its nose as it drifted off to sleep.
The swaying as the litter was being carried along with the last little effects of the draft of herbs Fin had given her lulled Tory back to sleep. Her last thoughts were that the Skandians had captured her and she was going to be a thrall of theirs after all. ‘Maybe I should let Tandar take me to Meric after all’ was her last semi-conscious thought before the sleep sent her back to dream of life as a Skandian slave. Throughout the dream, she kept seeing one face – a face belonging to a handsome, young warrior that had befriended her. She wished she could remember his name but the only thing that wormed its way through her sleep befuddled, cloudy mind was ‘Ari’. “Ari…” she murmured in her sleep, loud enough for the men carrying her litter to hear and understand that one word as she lifted a hand and waved it around as if searching for something. The Skandian at the foot end of the litter shook his head knowingly, a big grin on his face.
___
Fin tagged along at the end of the procession that were carrying the two injured rangers up to the ranger cabin that would be their home for the next few weeks as they recovered from their injuries. She had told the Captain of the Knarr, Smidja, that Ringulf could not remember who he was or even what a ranger was, but she had not made his condition known to anyone else. She had told Mylia that he needed his rest and she could see him later, after he was settled at the ranger cabin. She was going to have to explain to the young girl about Ringulf’s memory and knew that wasn’t going to be easy for Mylia to hear. The girl had a right to know the truth, but Fin was hoping that when Ringulf woke next his memory would be back.
She contemplated every word he had said to her and came to the same conclusion for his diagnosis – only time would tell if he remembered anything or not. She had seen people come back with full memory after a day or two, but those that did not regain their memory in the first couple of weeks, usually never would.
Fin looked thoughtfully at Ringulf’s still form on the litter and absent-mindedly ran her finger tips over her lips, remembering that remarkable kiss. He had been so embarrassed too when he found out he had kissed her before he was fully awake. She explored her feelings on the subject and still came to the same conclusion: she had enjoyed that kiss very much. It set her to thinking, however, about her lifestyle and what she might be giving up to lead the life of a travelling blacksmith/jewelry merchant. Was it worth it?
It had been a remarkable day for her. She had met two very different, yet very attractive and appealing men that she thought she had connected with. The Scottie warrior, Heath, had been very confident and self-assured. She had no doubt that he was an expert in wooing the object of his desire, but she wondered about his ability to commit to a serious relationship. Not that she was looking for one, per se, but it was a natural tendency of most women to measure a man by his potential as marriage material.
‘Heath would certainly be fun to spend some time with,’ Fin mused, ‘but Ringulf- I am drawn to him for some reason.’ The kiss had been so natural to her and that was highly unusual for Fin. Normally she initiated how far she would let a man go and any who tried to go farther than she was willing would find themselves waking up on the cold floor with a bruised eye from her fist knocking them out cold.
Her thoughts were interrupted by their arrival at the ranger cabin and Fin watched them carefully to ensure they got both patients settled in nicely and with a minimum of bumps and thumps.
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Post by Ringulf on Oct 15, 2010 19:01:05 GMT -5
“We need two more beds fer the girls and I jes don’ have ‘em.” He looked at Smidja and Aribjorn, wondering if they had any suggestions. “I might be able ta git some from the castle, but don’ know fer sure,” he said.
“Maybe I can make some beds.” He muttered doubtfully to himself. “You boys got any idears?” he asked Aribjorn and Smidja.
Smidja and Ogmund looked at him with a puzzled look then at each other. Ari just shook his head with a smile at his countrymen, wondering were they had left their common sense, then he turned to the old ranger and said
"Vell pardon me sir but if you neet extra sleeping space for a few people vy dont you do vat we do on de ship you can alvays string up a few hommocks from hooks ant rails ant such, I am sure Mylia could sleep in it just fine she has already been using vone on de Harr Marr."
Smidja slapped himself in the forehead and Ogmund just snickered into his hand.
"Vell dat usin de olt noggin for sometin besides hangin up your helmut de boy iss right!
"De boy is no longer a boy ant he iss blessed vit a goot helpin of common sense I tink!" said Ogmund
Ari blushed a bit though in the dark it was hard to see it, he was not trying to embarass his elders it just seemed kind of elementery to his line of thought.
"Vell," he said looking down at his feet, "it wass on my minte since I haff been sleepin in vone for a vile, I suppose.
"Ari," Smidja said in a fatherly voice never be bashful to have been tinkin vit a clear headt ven odders are not. It is de sign off a goot leader to tink outside of de common tought!"
"I vill run down to de ship ant grab a few off dem I saw a pile in de prow ven I vas cleaning dis moning I vill be right back!" Ari said with enthusiasm. and turned and ran off at a good pace down the hill toward the waterfront.
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They got Ringulf in the apprentice room situated first and Ogmund got his things and put them in the corner he also set his own things on Ivory's bed.
So far the only one Ringulf had actually spoken with was Fin but all these SKandians around made him begin to wonder about weather he wasn't still in Skandia and a just a Huscarl and not some kind of special "ranger" he had been told by Fin that he was one but she never really explained what one was. In his mind were axes and sheild and mail and helms, yet none of thesew things did he have so mabye it was true and the last memories of life were not the frozen battlefeild axes in his hands and the kiss of the Sheildmaiden.
On the way up he thought he had been surrounded by familiar voices but could not place any one, besides Fin of course, but there had been that one that called into the cabin...he sounded very familiar like someone he had known long ago. He noticed though, that man, the captain of the ship he assumed, seemed to stay just out of view.
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