Iskjerne Hrafnfylking's Story

Very slowly, snow began to fall.

Uhtred watched from a safe distance, boredom evident on his face, a face that did not belong to the man he once was. "Oh, Sigurd..." Some lessons had to be learned with blood and tears it seemed. A shame for his people.

"Oh, Sigurd..."

A light breeze whirled faintly, ever so slightly, waving through the hair of the one who spoke out loud the name of the forgotten one. The acknowledgement from mortals would not go unnoticed by the gods, or the ancient ones. Sigurd, the ancestor of the Vikings of Iskjerne Bay, was all but a distant memory and myth to the people who were still living. Yet even now, the very mention of his name out loud was suffice enough to summon a very faint response. It wasn't much, as a single dry and dead leaf fluttered in the wind, twirling through the air past Uhtred the Godless, going randomly in no particular direction. This alone was suffice enough. As the battle for Iskjerne Bay seemed neverending, still there was no answer, no magical help from the other side of Hel.

If ever there was any hope for the Vikings, then a new leader would need to take responsibility and support the efforts made by those of the distant past. Livia and Ragnar seemed unstoppable, even despite the betrayal/loyalty of some of the ulfhednar who appeared to be fighting amongst themselves. Blood and tears, a very hard and strategic uphill effort by the Iskjerne Vikings who were statistically out-numbered, lacking the technology or advantages of such a powerful political army. But what could be said of it? The Vikings themselves had started their campaign, outnumbered and against all odds. Yet they put up a huge and epic fight for survival, battle after battle against superior forces time and time again. There was never any shame in that, for they were always doomed, predestined by the Norns, ever since a few generations ago when Ulfric Ellrulfsson paved their destiny. They should have never even lasted this long, and yet they gave everything. They gave their all, for a future that some already knew was unattainable.

Uhtred himself obviously watched from a safe distance away, having a lot of thoughts and much to say probably that he kept to himself. But it's much easier to watch from far away and judge than it is to be the people involved in the fighting itself. At that moment of realization, Uhtred the Godless must have wondered to himself if he was even worthy enough to utter Sigurd's name, as Livia and Ragnar pressed forward against King Finehair and his remnant army, slaughtering and conquering everyone in their path, including those who betrayed them. Ragnar himself was the son of Sigurd Hring, and this too would not go unnoticed by the titans who judged everyone equally according to their deeds, and not by their own thoughts or what was said. Opportunity was everywhere, as King Harald himself had still not given up hope, and adjusted his armor, preparing to meet his adversaries face to face. Uhtred the Godless must have wondered in the back of his own mind how he could compare to such bravery, or make a name for himself during the midst of all this chaos.

Was he completely Romanized? Or was he still a Dane? That was something Uhtred the Godless would have to decide for himself, without Sigurd's interaction. As he stood there, watching from a safe distance away, Uhtred had his own small army no less, standing behind him and awaiting his orders. Among them were some familiar names and faces, but who were they? Were they Heathen vikings on the side of King Harald, or Christian vikings on the side of the Argosians? Perhaps that was the irony and fate predestined by Sigurd long ago, from someone so ahead of his time that he had actually already planned it all out before vanishing into oblivion, only to breathe slightly once again as his name was whispered into the fading wind. Uhtred the Godless had been acknowledged by the gods, in total irony despite his seemingly calm demeanor. But now he would have to stop being neutral and start making a name for himself if he wanted to keep his favor amongst them. Uhtred the Godless was faced with a difficult choice.

Destiny is all...