Vidar the God of the Seas ~ Vikings

Warrior's Fate

Hakon

He ran ahead to the long house before Helga and the bad man. There he saw Siggy and Aslaug playing with Erik and Ragnar's children. "Erik, come here now." Hakon orders. He is thankful his little brother listened.

"What is going on?" Siggy asks.

"The bad man's here?" Erik asks. Hakon turns to his brother and nods right as Helga and the bad man walk inside. Hakon pulls Erik behind him and walks towards the back wall near an exist. He looks at the Siggy and Aslaug who look at the man in shock.

"This... stranger approached me and Hakon in the marketplace." Helga tells them. "He's cut his hand badly and has asked for our help."

"Is there no one else in the village who can help him?" Hakon asks while glaring at the man.

He goes ignored by everyone. "Of course, we will help." Aslaug says. "Siggy, go and fetch some hot water."

Hakon let out a growl. "Ubbe, Hvitserk, grab Sigurd and let's go." Ubbe grabs his little brother's hand and leads them over to Hakon. Hakon then leads them to Aslaug's room and opens the large window. He closes his eyes while facing the forest and a few moments later, a pure black wolf with deep blue eyes runs over and jumps inside the room. 

"Whoa." Ubbe says. 

"He will stay here and protect you." Hakon says while Erik runs over to give the wolf a hug. "All of you stay here. Ubbe, you're in charge of Sigurd, Hvitserk you're in charge of Erik." The two boys nod and jump onto the bed while the wolf waits by the foot of the bed.

"Can I name him?" Erik asks.

Hakon smiles softly. "Sure buddy."

He then sneaks out of the room and stays in the shadows like father taught him. He makes it to the great hall and hides in a corner behind a table and some chairs. "How did you do this?" Aslaug asks the man while inspecting his hand.

The man sighs. "I don't know. I was sleeping rough, and... might have caught it on a scythe or a plowshare."

Aslaug smiles kindly at the man and Hakon's blood boils. "What is your name?"

The man pauses for a second. "Um, my name is Habard." Hakon grit his teeth.

"You said you were sleeping rough." Siggy says. "Why is that?"

"I will sleep wherever I can lay my head." Habard answers. "I am a wanderer, and sometimes people offer me hospitality and I sleep on a stray bed, and sometimes I... sleep rough with the cattle for warmth. It is all one to me." He laughs softly.

"Is that true?" Siggy asks.

"No." Habard says with a chuckle. "No, I prefer the straw." He jokes. The women around Habard chuckle and Hakon gets angrier. "But do not think that I offer nothing in return, hmm? I tell stories. Stories of my own travels. Stories about the gods. Or both."

Hakon lets out a low growl when he mentioned the Gods. Hakon's family and friends of his father.

"As they say, I... I sing for my supper." Habard continues.

"Will you sub with us?" Aslaug asks. Siggy looks uncomfortable.

"If that is acceptable with everyone." Habard replies.

"It is not." Hakon says making his presence known. He walks out of the corner and into the light.

"Hakon!" Siggy admonishes. "It is not nice to listen to other people's conversations."

Hakon just scoffs and closes his eyes. Moments later the black wolf walks into the hall with Erik on its back. "Since you prefer to allow strangers int this hall, Erik and I will eat somewhere else."