HARVEST MOON
A full moon hung somewhere in the quiet night illumining the fog with its soft
glow as it hovered over the forest path. Hidden among the shadowy trees at
the edge of Nature's white veil, they waited by the narrow trail for the men they
knew would soon come.
"Why do you always get to do it?" Bahram complained.
"Because I'm the most experienced," she informed them.
"That's because you always get to do it!" Fank whined, giving her a
good-natured nudge.
"Let somebody else have some fun for a change," begged Bahram.
Ignoring their badgering, she peered up the dirt footpath. "Sshhh!" she
whispered, "I hear them!"
Faint clanking and the subtle clinks of chainmail announced the distant
approach of armored men. "I love this part," she smiled, slipping silently into
place as Bahram and Fank mewled that it should be their turn.
Emerging into the clearing, the men were startled by the figure that stood
before them, blocking the way. Silhouetted by the moon's silvery backdrop, the
dark shape announced, "I am here for the Jarl called Eric."
From the small bondi, a large burly warrior stepped toward the figure,
declaring, "I am Eric."
"And I am his son, Leaf," spoke a second Viking with the same fierce likeness
as the first. "What do you want of us?"
"Your lives," the mysterious figure calmly but confidently proclaimed.
Eric slowly drew his sword letting the sound of its scraping metal permeate the
night air. Leaf and the others followed suit, unslinging their weapons and
shields, readying themselves for imminent battle.
The lone silhouette stood motionless and spoke in all seriousness, "I will take
those of you with the courage to follow them."
Eric took yet another cautious step toward the lone challenger. Clawing
through his thick red beard, he inquired of the female voice, "And just where
are we going?"
"To Valhal," was her swift reply.
Leaf led his fellow clansmen in a roaring belly laugh, bellowing, "The only
woman taking us to Valhal is Valkyrja!"
A sharp crackle rumbled from her broadsword as red laser light lit up its blade,
hissing away the moisture in the damp ground where its tip rested. Poised with
folded gauntlets atop her sword hilt, Valkyrja softly spoke, "Then I come for
you all."
Her pearl grey armor illuminating with pale blue trim glimmering in the mist, left
the warriors speechless by its Apostolic glow. Breathless and trembling, the
Vikings knelt at once in her presence.
Bowing their heads, a shaken Eric attempted to apologize. "Please forgive us
my dear Lady! We meant no blaspheme. We didn't know."
"Know this!" Valkyrja interrupted, satisfied long ago with their hearts and valor,
"The way to Valhal is down this path through me. You may turn back and live
out your lives as mortal men, or you can die this hour and fight along side your
bondi clansmen in war forever."
In spite of the grim moment, Leaf could not help from mischievously asking,
"Can we use such resplendent weapons as yours?"
Valkyrja's smiling face told them they could.
A full moon hung somewhere in the quiet night illumining the fog with its soft
glow as it hovered over the forest path. Hidden among the shadowy trees at
the edge of Nature's white veil, they waited by the narrow trail for the men they
knew would soon come.
"Why do you always get to do it?" Bahram complained.
"Because I'm the most experienced," she informed them.
"That's because you always get to do it!" Fank whined, giving her a
good-natured nudge.
"Let somebody else have some fun for a change," begged Bahram.
Ignoring their badgering, she peered up the dirt footpath. "Sshhh!" she
whispered, "I hear them!"
Faint clanking and the subtle clinks of chainmail announced the distant
approach of armored men. "I love this part," she smiled, slipping silently into
place as Bahram and Fank mewled that it should be their turn.
Emerging into the clearing, the men were startled by the figure that stood
before them, blocking the way. Silhouetted by the moon's silvery backdrop, the
dark shape announced, "I am here for the Jarl called Eric."
From the small bondi, a large burly warrior stepped toward the figure,
declaring, "I am Eric."
"And I am his son, Leaf," spoke a second Viking with the same fierce likeness
as the first. "What do you want of us?"
"Your lives," the mysterious figure calmly but confidently proclaimed.
Eric slowly drew his sword letting the sound of its scraping metal permeate the
night air. Leaf and the others followed suit, unslinging their weapons and
shields, readying themselves for imminent battle.
The lone silhouette stood motionless and spoke in all seriousness, "I will take
those of you with the courage to follow them."
Eric took yet another cautious step toward the lone challenger. Clawing
through his thick red beard, he inquired of the female voice, "And just where
are we going?"
"To Valhal," was her swift reply.
Leaf led his fellow clansmen in a roaring belly laugh, bellowing, "The only
woman taking us to Valhal is Valkyrja!"
A sharp crackle rumbled from her broadsword as red laser light lit up its blade,
hissing away the moisture in the damp ground where its tip rested. Poised with
folded gauntlets atop her sword hilt, Valkyrja softly spoke, "Then I come for
you all."
Her pearl grey armor illuminating with pale blue trim glimmering in the mist, left
the warriors speechless by its Apostolic glow. Breathless and trembling, the
Vikings knelt at once in her presence.
Bowing their heads, a shaken Eric attempted to apologize. "Please forgive us
my dear Lady! We meant no blaspheme. We didn't know."
"Know this!" Valkyrja interrupted, satisfied long ago with their hearts and valor,
"The way to Valhal is down this path through me. You may turn back and live
out your lives as mortal men, or you can die this hour and fight along side your
bondi clansmen in war forever."
In spite of the grim moment, Leaf could not help from mischievously asking,
"Can we use such resplendent weapons as yours?"
Valkyrja's smiling face told them they could.
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