Born with Sunrise

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

With the majority of the males dead or dying at his feet and around the tribal paths, the rest subdued and sitting under guard at the centre of the inner circle awaiting his judgement. His withdrew his helmet with one hand as he plunged the tip of his broadsword into the hard packed earth before him, shaking out his sweat soaked hair even as he knew it would do no good, in fact all that it did was irritate him more as the free strands clung to his bare flesh. Instead he thrust his hand through the chestnut waves and scraped the strands from his face and neck, using a well-worn leather thong to tie pack the unruly shoulder length locks. Turning to take in the scene of the blood soaked earth and his men moving the dead out of the vicinity, he turned to find Rangvald heading in his direction. Raising his hand in greeting, they clasped hands as his oldest friend reached him and slapped each other upon the back as they pulled each other into a brotherly embrace.

"Glad is the gods that you survived the fight Hagen." A harsh slap on his back before Rangvald stepped back once more, his helmet already removed his short sword and battle axe already stowed in his back sheaths. "This mission is so fruitful because of your strength." The playful gleam in his eye almost made Hagen lash out and teach his friend a lesson. "You know how much I hate your words Rangvald, I am one of these men as much as you. Just because my word gives the order does not mean that I wish to be picked by the gods." The gods knew just how much they had mocked him so far in his life. But he could not mock them, for he knew the power the gods wielded, all he could do was hope that if they did take notice of him, it was only to praise him in some way. But the god's were too fickle to ever know their true intent behind an action. Aye, it seemed his mission had been blessed so far, but all it took was one action in the next battle to change their entire fate.

Rangvald slapped the side of his shoulder in jest. "Aye, I know how much you hate it, why do you think I carry on?" His lips tugging up roguishly on one side, and Hagen could only shake his head at his friend as he took in a little scuffle with the capture men, one which was quickly subdued with blade and blood. Whilst the others which were captured paled severely and shrank closer together. "I sometimes wonder why I keep you around Rangvald. In fact I am sure you would make a wonderful sacrifice to the gods for such a good battle." Rangvald staggered back as if wounded, hands cupped over his heart, "You would not do such to you beloved friend. Plus you need me to watch your back." He straightened and shot Hagen an arrogant look.

Shaking his head once more Hagen kept an eye on the now still males at the centre of the circle. "Where is the lass that I saw you struggling with during the battle? I know I signalled to take her to the women, but I would have expected you to seek her out again, especially with the wound she caused." He could not stop the full bodied laugh which escaped him at the dark thunderous look he received in return. "I do not know what you talk of! But if you mean the woman I found within the protective circle of men, I took her over to where you had told us the women were to be taken. What do you take me for?"

Hagen looked upon his friend curiously, "I saw the fight she put up, would know of any of my warriors you would appreciate the bravery she was showing, especially after the pathetic show we have had of the women so far. So why is it you so forcefully deny it to me know?" He saw the flicker of emotion pass over his friend's face, the blank emotionless mask that replaced it. Shifting to face Rangvlad fully, he looked him over carefully, taking in the only injury was the bite mark on his arm, inflicted by the little bit of a woman he had taken captive. "What is it you keep from me, Rangvlad?" The warrior before him could not stand still, and for a male who could stand on watch as if part of the forest around him, that within itself was odd to witness.

Knowing he was giving his friend no choice over the matter he awaited the end to his conundrum, and whilst he received an answer only a few seconds later. That did not relieve the conundrum. "Hagen, I admit only to you, that the only wound I have received is because of that wildcat of a girl." Hagen waited, until he could take the silence no more, "I feel like there is more to that sentence my friend, and I know that you are definitely not one to leave me in the dark as you are now." Rangvald took a step backwards rubbing his hands over his face at the same time. "I have no words to say what I need to fully. I have no knowledge of the woman and yet she has my protection." He stared dumbfounded, Rangvald was not a sentimental male. Aye he was one to protect any in need, but to even say that a woman he did not know had his individual protection was not like him at all.

"By your protection, are you meaning in the general if someone attacks the women you will defend them, or in such a case, you would specifically defend her above the others?" It was a particularly strange situation, Rangvald had spent minutes with the woman and she had probably spoken less words to the man. Hagen would have said the man had met his mate, but he also did not hold the serenity of expression or seem to have the need to seek her out once more now the battle was over. He could feel the furrow in his brow, unsure of where this was going. Blowing out a gust of breath, Rangvald seemed to look up to the gods for an answer before he finally looked upon Hagen once more. "The latter. If there was a sudden attack upon the women, I would not just protect the women as a whole but that one specific woman. I cannot tell you why Hagen, and I can tell you how much that is eating away at me. All I can say is that there was something in her eyes which showed a strength none of the women in this land have shown so far in our travels through it. It actually would make her more able to protect herself, but it is also the reason I wish to protect her." Hagen could feel the frustration emanating from his friend.

"I really do not know what to tell you, it is almost as if I know her and that connection causes me to need to protect her. But at the same time, she is not the woman I am meant to have as my own. She is not my mate, yet, I feel the need to protect her like she is a member of my family." Hagen knew what it was like to want to protect his family, he at one point had also know what it was like to want to protect a mate. Rangvald may not have knew the latter yet, but knowing it was like the former told him a lot, and very little all at the same time. This was becoming very peculiar. One of the men still sat in the inner circle started to make noise about their treatment. Some men really did not have the intelligence to work out when they were beaten. Knowing they needed to be shown once and for all, he pulled up his sword using a strength which caused some sat watching him to pale further. Turning from his friend with an eye roll, he went to prove to those who now held no power just who held their fates in his hands. And it was not the gods whom some turned their eyes too as he continued to stalk in their direction.

Siri groaned, her head thumping and screaming at her in agony. Turning suddenly onto her side caused the back of her head to feel as if it split in two, but it was a necessity for the contents of her stomach were most definitely not staying where they should. And the only way they were coming out was if she moved. As she wretched, pathetically, over the crushed grass beside her, only just managing to make it shakily to her elbows in time. That last this she wanted in this state would be to have the stench and stain of her own vomit upon her clothing. Her eyes slits of burning pain as she tried to focus her vision, but everything only blurred together as her ears rang. Her memory not working in a linear pattern, instead showing her little snippets that made no sense. Really she did not particularly care for the memories which only made her dizzier, what she cared for was her ability to stay steady on her elbows as she continued to wretch.

Just as her arms gave way, strong sure hands steadied her shoulders pulling her away from the liquid pool of her own making in and instead her head and shoulders landed none too gently upon a pair of thighs. Her head screaming in agony as she gritted her teeth against sounding that pain. A soft hand caressed her hair, pushing a few tendrils from her face as her sweat damp skin clung to the hair surrounding it. A tiny moan escaped as she tried to open her eyes fully to see who it was the hands belonged too, but the pain and blurriness made it impossible. Though she was sure she recognised the touch, it was the softly whispered words that confirmed it was her mother. She sent a small prayer to the gods that her mother survived. Though what it was she survived Siri was unsure of, she only had an overwhelming feeling of relief that her mother was alive and with her now. "Oh Siri, oh darling, what happened to you?" The tears were evident in her mother's voice. But as much as they gave comfort in the knowledge her mother lived, she wished that she would not talk in this moment as it only made the throbbing worse.

Siri waved her hand a little, hoping it looked like a shushing motion, but really she had no idea what it looked like. Instead her mother kept up what she would have thought of as soothing noises, and took a hold of her hand, giving it a firm squeeze of reassurance. Whatever had happened and whatever was about to happen, at least her mother was here with her. Everything else, well that would just have to wait.