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97a On the stone block .. johnb (Admin) |
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Rav'n sits on the stone block, with Uddhugg on his shoulder. Everything appears quiet apart from a few seagulls circling over head and the curragh waiting off shore. |
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Seeking conversation |
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Elsbeth walks over to Ravn, sitting alone on his stone. "You'll be getting used to that," she tells him, keeping her voice down. "Rolf's a good lad, but he's not understanding holy things and places. To be sure, I'm not either, though the old ones prefer glades and such, not drawn to paintings and things." She crouches down before him, on her heels. "We've not been gettin' along well, have we? I must be most strange to ye, even as ye are to me." |
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New kids on the block |
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Ravn looks curiosly at Elsbeth as she turns from the rest of the party and comes to join him in the courtyard. I wonder what she wills of me now - another debacle on women's role? Or has she come to hear the Fenris tale as I promised? The druidess' sligthly blurry indication that he is not alone in finding his godly preferences and duties occasionally hampered by Rolf's manner does wonders for his mood and so, too, her peace offer to start afresh. Smiling, he invites her with a wave of his hand and an offer of the mead horn to join him on the block. "It is true that we have not understood each other well, and I am glad that you would change that - for so would I. Indeed, I find your people's ways if not yours are unfamiliar and surprising, but not as much maybe as you think, for you are a stranger by appearance, too, and not one whose breed led me to mistake him for a kindred spirit." He looks thoughtfully at the building, listening to but not really hearing their companions bustling within, then returns his fullest attention to his present company. "So tell me of yourself, will you? I know that you are the daughter of a native lord of these lands and that you traveled a ways with our good Constable. Also, I sense that you have or had a deeper interest in our warrior leaders and their stirred emotions. More than that I do not know of you." |
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Me? |
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Somewhat bemused that she is in conversation rather than assisting Rolf, Elsbeth smiles. "What would you be knowing of girl such as meself? I am the niece of a noble, a grand niece rather. I had four older brothers, all who chased after their foolish sister who was forever in a glade or meadow alone. I've grown among flowers and fields and was drawn to the old gods by nature herself. Laddie comes not by accident to me, I'm most sure!" She sighs. "For the rest, I come and help as I might. I've assisted some in battle and hindered in social. Rolf's a lovely lad and Madelyn..." Her voice falters. "And Madelyn has proven a loyal companion. All good lads and lassies, the lot. And Callum, a most grand lad, more of the old ones than I. He reminds me of where we've been, where I should tread." |
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Me and you both |
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Ravn listens with interest to Elsbeth’s words, recognizing his own recent experience in her summary - especially the part about being a social hindrance - and he nods his approving agreement with her views on Callum and the significance he holds to her. "Yes, it is far too easy to forget the old ways and those to whom we owe our existence when one is not reminded." Now what to tell of me? "I am the son of a Northern chieftain and that is why I bear the mark of Odin, for the Allfather is not a commoner’s god - he is the patron of lords and kings, the King of Gods and God of Kings we say in the North, whereas Thor is the common man’s protector and Frey is the provider of rich harvests." "My father was killed in a raid and his entire household with him or taken to thralldom. I was but a babe when a loyal thrall bore me to my mentor, he who taught me the ways of the runes and their meaning. One day, Odin and the Norns willing, I will tread in my father’s footsteps and become gothi, or chieftain, of a household of my own, but that is still concealed in the mists of örlog, my fate." "As for my present, I was summoned here by the Aesir, our gods, to fulfill some obscure task as told by the runes. Like the Wanderer himself, my patron, I must walk the branches of the Yggdrasil, the world tree, and learn its many ways, making many sacrifices to gain insight and wisdom. 'Better burden bears no man than much wisdom', it is said, and that is what I seek that I may become a wise and worthy gothi." He looks questioningly at Elsbeth. "But tell me - why have you embarked on this mission? Surely, your peoples’ ways will change as much as those of mine with this alliance of our bloodlines, and as one who cares for the old ways you must have thoughts on this and the consequences of reclaiming this lost kingdom?" |
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