The daughter of Fraya

Part 1

Once there was a Queen named Freya. The black haired beauty, fair and strong was the only child of King Barton and Queen Rhea. With her fathers strict instructions she started training with the guard as soon as her first babes tooth fell. She at a mere 5 years of age could ride a horse better than the nomads that traveled the plains and at age 10 began training her very own.

She could outrun even the thieves that stole from the market. Loved by all for she was kind but the softness that was born with a women soon left when her training began. Her training started early and finished late. She would run out the door of the Lords keep to the stables and find her trainer waiting. She was pinned against boys of her age and older, taught to wrestle. When she looked back at those memories the mornings always started with a sparing session. Soon she was given her first weapon, a staff longer then she was tall and heavy, her little arms straining to pick it off the floor.

Every time she failed she was beaten, every mistake was correct and exercised till she was exhausted and the sun had set. After the staff came the sword and with it the bow.

She grew up strong and fears, no man in the land that knew her would stand up to challenge this warrior. She was driven to be the best and when asked why the words flowed form her mouth like wind through the trees, natural and sweet. Her voice matched her stature perfectly, Clear and beautiful.

She said she had to be the best warrior because she had to protect her people from those who would do them harm. She would have to be the best hunter so that she could provide for her kingdom. She would have to be the wisest for her enemies were many. She would have to be cunning for the deception of the men in the neighboring kingdoms were more questionable then that of a pirate.

There was talk of marriage at her 24 th Birthday but it was not to be for a new enemy had invaded their Land and all her training was put to the test. Every battle she led was followed by a victory. The enemy's great numbers were reduced and left their ruler angry.

She destroyed his warriors like something out of hell. He wanted to concur her land for it held the keys to the best trade route, it was the shortest and safest route for ships to travel. Without this route many of his ships had been lost to the dangerous waters around the coast. He thought it would be an easy win for they were ruled by a unmarried queen.

He was certain it would only take a few men to get what he wanted. But company after company his men died at the hands of that mutt. He would have her head on a spike. His solution was to send in the rest of his army and his own personal guard to deal with the women.

On the battlefield they stood in lines as far as the eye could see. Rows of men willing to stand and die for their country. Their Queen as always sitting on her horse in front ready to charge her enemy. An enemy now standing opposite her, some shaking from the stories they have heard of the ruthless queen that fights and bleeds with her men. As she scanned the rows of men in front of her, she  locked eyes with a group of horse riders in front of the horde. They looked different from the rest, red armor instead of silver with a engraved dragon on their chest. One stood out, his horse and amour a matching pitch black.

She let out a cry and rode for the horde. The men followed and ran with their queen. Where Men and horses clashed blood flood and bodies piled. Everyone that faced the young Queen met death that day. Soon she was face to face with the black rider. They stood with swords in hand taunting to see who would charge first.

A smirk from the rider now on his feet was all that was needed to send Freya charging. All around them the fighting stopped as those in view of this clash, stood watching in awe.

Blow after blow they fought, swing after swing they dodged. A dance of steel and sweat. She light and determined, he powerful and clever.

Not one soldier fought for the only fight that mattered was between the Queen and the Invader Kings personal guard, trained in the streets form before he could walk. He fought many for his right to survive and found by the king to be further train in the art of weapons and war.

They fought for a hour, first with swords until they broke, then with staff's till it shattered. So they removed their armor and fought with fists. With week legs and arms that couldn't even be lifted they stood breathing heavily. For the first time since they met nearly an two hours ago she looks up and sees the warrior in front of her. She slowly turns around to see the circle of men watching who would win this contest. Blood and mud covered the faces of so many.

"Do you know why you fight?" She bellowed to them and gestured to her men and herself "We fight to protect those we love. We fight to protect our land. We fight because we won't let someone take away that which we have bled trying to build." She said turning around as to talk to everyone.

She stopped, facing the black rider once more. "Why do you fight?"

The rider looks to his people, standing side by side next to the enemy. The winner of this contest between him and the women was to determine all their fates. Why?

Why do they stop? Why not kill the enemy? He looks to the women and a sudden confusion runs through his mind. His orders are to kill her, but why? She posed no threat to the kingdom, they were at peace.

As he looks to the ground he knew, all this slaughter and bloodshed was for greed and the warriors he lead knew this. They didn't have to fight because it wasn't their battle. He drops his hands and falls to his knees. The men dropping their swords to follow his lead.

All those that wanted to return to their Country were granted permission to do so. As for the black rider he never saw the country of his birth again for he fell is love with the only person he could not beat in a fight, not even after years of trying....