The Nøkken and the Huntress.

14.) My Darkened Heart.

Early the next day Eføy and I reached the village early in the morning and I stopped. I scanned the area and could not see a source of water anywhere nearby.
I didn't know where to go and I looked over at Eføy to see what she was doing. She was gazing at the village with her hand over her brow.

She dropped her hand and sighed looking at me. "I'll go down to the village and ask if I could maybe stay in the walls. Though, I think I should lay low. What do you think?" She tilted her head.
"I think you should lay low. Though, if questions start being asked just come up with a story and stick with it. Please be safe Eføy." She smiled and began to walk down to the village.

I watched her go inside the walls and I started to look for a stream or something to rest in. I went further into the forest but kept an eye on how close I was to the village in case something arose. I went up a hill and behind an overhang. This spot looked like a good hiding place. I just hope no hunters stop here. I sat and began fiddling with my hair. It was around midday when I heard something walking nearby. I froze and scooted more close to the stone. "Are you here?" I sighed in relief. It's Eføy. "I'm here." I stepped out and in front of her. "So, I spoke with the chief. He says I'm allowed to stay here. He's letting me pitch a tent inside of the walls. I'm not sure what you're going to do though."

"I'll be just fine Eføy. I'll just keep searching for a water source." She pulled me into a hug and our lips met. We separated and she headed back down to the village. "Watch over her," I whispered to myself. I headed deeper into the forest and finally met a creek. I waded into it and laid down. It had been a long course of events. I needed to rest.

I awoke late in the night to the faint screaming of a woman. 'Eføy?!'
I bolted upright and followed the sound of the screams. I could see torchlight in the distance and charged it. I was close but then I tripped over something. I quickly looked back at what happened and saw a man with arrows stuck in his chest. 'At least she's fighting.' I recovered and kept following the light.

I passed more arrow ridden bodies as I ran through the forest. Until I saw something I didn't want to see. I stopped dead in my tracks. Eføy's cloak torn and on the ground. Her bow and arrows a few yards away. 'No. Please, Gods no.' I picked up my speed. Rage fueling me.

I broke free from the forest and rammed into the nearest human. He went down with little resistance and a muffled screamed. I bit the throat out of this filth and turned my attention to the large men who had Eføy down on the ground. 'There is two where's the rest? It doesn't matter they're going down!' I sprinted at the man with the spear lowering at Eføy.

He heard me coming and whirled around trying to stab me. I grabbed the shaft of the spear and managed to break the wooden stick. The other man grabbed me as well as the spearman and wrestled me to the ground. I felt a sharp pain rush through my body. One of the men stabbed me in my side. I could see past them and saw Eføy regaining consciousness. She shook her head and looked at me with fear. "Eføy run!" She wasted no time in fleeing. Before she was even out of sight an arrow struck her in the back. Her scream piercing my ears. I was too shocked to speak. My heart was sinking. I struggled even harder against the men but I was nothing compared to their heavier bodies. A figure appeared above me and slammed a stone against my skull.

When I awoke I could feel a burning pain all over my body. I tried my best to open my eyes but they felt like stone. After struggling for a bit I forced opened them. I was face down and I could hear people talking around me. "What shall we do to him?" A man asked. "Isn't he the creatures brother?"
"Yes, but he is weak. He won't be able to do much. Besides he's trapped under there." Another man spoke.
"Let's get back to the Shaman. She shall be happy to hear about the end of the creature's followers." Said a woman sounding way too happy.

The end of the creature's followers? 'Eføy!' I tried to get up. When I did that I screamed as the steel seared my back. "Oh look he's getting up." The other two laughed. That was a wrong move. I pushed past the pain and ripped the net off me. I cut down the surprised Valda before they could draw their daggers. I looked down at the mess I made of them. It was satisfying to see the crimson of my enemies spilled everywhere.

She needed me. I have to save her. I turned around and could see the place where Eføy fell. She wasn't there. There was a blood trail on the tan grasses. I started to run following the trail. "Please be alive please be okay." I kept saying that mantra until I arrived. As soon as I looked up at the largest tree I dropped to my knees in horror.

There she was hanging by her throat by a rope on a tree limb. Her dress ripped open exposing her cut open stomach. My cry of grief echoed throughout the land.

Have you ever been so distraught you just feel anger and grief all at once? Like you want to scream and hit until what you lost is returned but you know you'll never get it back. Yeah. That's what I felt when the woman I love was strung up like a gutted stag. When I managed to cut her down I kept screaming and crying to the point where I just dry heaved. I sat there clutching my beautiful mortal in my arms. I rocked and rocked hoping in futile she'd be alive still.

Hours passed and it was the evening of the next day. I might as well start to bury her. I kissed her on the forehead and carried her away from the hanging tree and I walked and walked. Eventually, I came across a beautiful grove with wildflowers and the plants of her namesake: ivy. I placed her under the branches of a low hanging tree and ran off. My intention was to find her belongings and bury them with her but when I turned I saw a young landwight. He was clutching her bow and arrows as well as having a long length of fabric trailing him. It was a bittersweet moment. I gingerly picked up the items from him and he faded into nothingness.

It took hours but I finally made a hole deep enough to lay her to rest in. I place Eføy in her cloak and rested her on the faded red sheet. I wrapped her up in it and gently placed her in the hole. I placed her bow and arrows there with her. I piled stones on her body and then covered it with dirt. The flattest rock I could find served as a marker to where she now sleeps. I wept once more on my knees. Eventually, exhaustion overcame me and I fell asleep.

I don't remember much about waking up I vaguely remember walking through the forest. I found the river that feeds the lake I stayed at and I sat down on a log. I brought my knees close and lowered my head. I didn't want this to be real but it was very much a thing. Hours passed and I got the idea to call my brother. This is all his fault.

I sliced my hand on a sharp rock and let my blood drip into the water. Soon enough my sibling came. "Nev," I growled. My blinded brother stiffened while standing in the river. He knew that if I call him by his birth name he's doomed. "This is all your fault!" I rammed into him and started to strangle him. "This is your fault!" I slammed his scrawny body into the river stones. "You did this! She's dead because of you!"

My brother tried to push me off but couldn't. "I... didn't... do it." I didn't notice it but she grabbed a rock and hit me. My head spun as I staggered to my feet. Nev was coughing and sputtering. He got up and I could sense some of his lost power resurge. "I did nothing to her. What happened wasn't my doing. I didn't know my followers would be killed because of me. In case you've forgotten, I was sealed in an ice burg for thousands of years. How could I know this would be to the people who worship me!? Are you a dolt!"

I just stood there watching my brother. "I was just angry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
My twin scoffed. He melted back into the water and I was once again alone. I started to walk up the bank to wherever the river would take me.

So I hope this was satisfactory. There isn't much information on 5th century Scandinavia so I just went with 7th and 8th-century information. Like village structure and weapons and whatnot.