To get in the right mood, I recommend that you open this link and listen as you read chapter one.
Here!
Part 1
Chapter I. -All Things Must Have A Start
Denmark, Norway and Sweden were the Kingdoms, which dominated in the North, in the Middle Ages. Usually these three brother-nations were at war with each other. And if they weren’t, then they stood together facing an even larger enemy.
However in 1066 the news of William the Bastard’s success in England, were sending a shock throughout Europe. It became a time of mistrust and intrigue, where nobody dared to speak loudly. The three Kingdoms also lost their contact with each other, and instead focused on defending their lands with the help of their own citizens.
In the province of Skåne, things were going as usually in a quiet tempo. The Danish King Svend I., had recently handed the government of Skåne to a local man, called Elias.
To get an idea how Skåne is, allow me to describe it…
On the coasts, it is windy and quiet. Only a few fishermen have their cottages there, and the water is as blue as a cloud-free Summerday.
When we get further into Skåne, fields cover much of the grasslands, which lie before the mighty forests of Skåne. Those forests are dark and cold, and you rarely see people travel inside them, as there is told mysterious stories of terrible things, about them. However, those who dared to cross the border into the forests would find plenty of wild animals. People in Skåne really idolized the hunters as was they great warriors returning from war.
There is only one Town in Skåne, which is called Lund. It lies in the middle of everything. Here, merchants meet from all places and trades their goods, which consists of fish, honey, timber and furs.
The rest of the small population in Skåne, lives on farms all around the province. Many of these people are not wealthy at all. The whole family works so that they can grow some crops, feed some animals, make some products and sell them in Lund, so that they can get new shoes and things like that. It’s a hard life, and therefore the whole family stick together.
Normally, the family take the name of the farm, which they live on. And usually the families lie in open conflicts with other families. This is a large problem, which the authorities rarely interfere with. But when they do, the case is brought to “Tinge”, which is where the elders gather and talk about the problem. These law-meetings take place in small villages, which consists of 4-15 minor farms.
These farmers are very poor and therefore need to stick together with other families in a kind of community.
A ”Stormand” governs every village. They live on larger and wealthier farms and owe more lands than others. It is also the Stormænd, who have the responsibility to arm their Liege’s armies with men, weapons and money.
King Svend I. had in many years tried to spread God’s word to his people. Though there were a couple of churches in Skåne, only half of the population was Christians.
Now, lets look at Elias…
He came from Lund, and was the grandson of the first major of the Town. Therefore, he also carried the name Lund.
He had fought side-by-side King Svend I., against some rebellious islanders, some years ago. King Svend was amazed over this man’s power, intelligence and loyalty, so he had first promoted him to Stormand, and later to Count of Skåne.
Personally, Elias Lund was a bit sad about that. He had all his life, lived for the thrill in battle and the code of honour, and now had to govern Skåne behind a table, inside a defended estate.
But it was a gift, which he could not say no to. His loyalty made him swear the oath of a count, to his Liege King Svend I.
Elias Lund loved to travel around in Skåne. Just him, all alone.
He liked the nature, the animals, and the wildness. Mostly the wildness.
On a spring day, where the sun was warmer than ever, and a fresh breeze swept through the lands, Elias sneaked out of his office room, and rode northwards. He didn’t use the few primitive roads, as he rather would ride alone, than having an army of curious followers after him. He rode an hour. Calm and happy. Sunset. Then he heard a scream from a nearby hill.
It was not human… Rather… Like a pig.
He wielded his fathers rusty blade, which he had attached to the saddle. He slowly climbed down his horse. Bowed down in his knees and walked with large steps closer to the hill.
A group of people were chanting, behind it.
He was not afraid. He climbed the last few metres up and talked with his deep voice.
“What is going on here?”
Five women stood in dark ropes and slaughtered an animal, while an old woman chanted on top of a rock. Everybody turned at Elias, but did not answer him. Instead a couple of them started to mumble and pointing. Then a beautiful young girl stepped forward. Her hands were filled with blood and her eyes were stormy grey. Elias had never seen anything more beautiful… Or wilder.
“My Lord… We are celebrating the birth of the moon. Tonight it is lighter than ever, and provides every woman with fertility. Just look at it!”
She leaned her head back and laughed.
Elias just stood and stared at the girl. Then he suddenly felt it to. The Moon was lighter tonight. And that girl…
He got up and coughed. Looked around, and saw that he was sitting in his own bed. Had it been a dream? He looked down next to him, but he was all alone in the room. He got out of his bed and took some woollen trousers on.
He walked out of the room and down into the courtyard, where he started to ask the stable boys, if they could remember when he returned home. However, nobody had neither seen him come home, or any woman, or anything…
He stepped over to his horse and left the boys with their work.
It was strange. He decided to take another trip to the hill. However, this time, he would not ride alone. Together with his two house-carls Magnus and Ole, they rode all the way back to the hill.
Elias wanted that woman. He was possessed by her eyes… her lips… everything.
They only needed to ride half the way, as they found her walking northwards all alone.
Elias jumped down from his horse and took her in his arms. She did not fight back. Just stared at him, with her mysterious grey eyes.
Then they all rode home, to the estate where they would soon be celebrating marriage.
However, of different reasons…
The girl, who was called Gudrun, had poisoned Elias and rode home with him. He was so doped that he could not remember anything. On the same way Elias had sneaked out, they sneaked in. It did not take long before Elias was sleeping, and Gudrun had the time to rob him, which she also did. With her loot, she left the estate and walked home to her simple hut with it. Then, on her way to the holy hill, Elias found her.
She thought that he had discovered the theft and therefore she gave her away to him.
However, Elias was so possessed by her, that he had not discovered anything. He just thought she liked him and was as drafted to him, as he was to her.
A complicated story already, I know!
However all things must have a start…
Here!
Part 1
Chapter I. -All Things Must Have A Start
Denmark, Norway and Sweden were the Kingdoms, which dominated in the North, in the Middle Ages. Usually these three brother-nations were at war with each other. And if they weren’t, then they stood together facing an even larger enemy.
However in 1066 the news of William the Bastard’s success in England, were sending a shock throughout Europe. It became a time of mistrust and intrigue, where nobody dared to speak loudly. The three Kingdoms also lost their contact with each other, and instead focused on defending their lands with the help of their own citizens.
In the province of Skåne, things were going as usually in a quiet tempo. The Danish King Svend I., had recently handed the government of Skåne to a local man, called Elias.
To get an idea how Skåne is, allow me to describe it…
On the coasts, it is windy and quiet. Only a few fishermen have their cottages there, and the water is as blue as a cloud-free Summerday.
When we get further into Skåne, fields cover much of the grasslands, which lie before the mighty forests of Skåne. Those forests are dark and cold, and you rarely see people travel inside them, as there is told mysterious stories of terrible things, about them. However, those who dared to cross the border into the forests would find plenty of wild animals. People in Skåne really idolized the hunters as was they great warriors returning from war.
There is only one Town in Skåne, which is called Lund. It lies in the middle of everything. Here, merchants meet from all places and trades their goods, which consists of fish, honey, timber and furs.
The rest of the small population in Skåne, lives on farms all around the province. Many of these people are not wealthy at all. The whole family works so that they can grow some crops, feed some animals, make some products and sell them in Lund, so that they can get new shoes and things like that. It’s a hard life, and therefore the whole family stick together.
Normally, the family take the name of the farm, which they live on. And usually the families lie in open conflicts with other families. This is a large problem, which the authorities rarely interfere with. But when they do, the case is brought to “Tinge”, which is where the elders gather and talk about the problem. These law-meetings take place in small villages, which consists of 4-15 minor farms.
These farmers are very poor and therefore need to stick together with other families in a kind of community.
A ”Stormand” governs every village. They live on larger and wealthier farms and owe more lands than others. It is also the Stormænd, who have the responsibility to arm their Liege’s armies with men, weapons and money.
King Svend I. had in many years tried to spread God’s word to his people. Though there were a couple of churches in Skåne, only half of the population was Christians.
Now, lets look at Elias…
He came from Lund, and was the grandson of the first major of the Town. Therefore, he also carried the name Lund.
He had fought side-by-side King Svend I., against some rebellious islanders, some years ago. King Svend was amazed over this man’s power, intelligence and loyalty, so he had first promoted him to Stormand, and later to Count of Skåne.
Personally, Elias Lund was a bit sad about that. He had all his life, lived for the thrill in battle and the code of honour, and now had to govern Skåne behind a table, inside a defended estate.
But it was a gift, which he could not say no to. His loyalty made him swear the oath of a count, to his Liege King Svend I.
Elias Lund loved to travel around in Skåne. Just him, all alone.
He liked the nature, the animals, and the wildness. Mostly the wildness.
On a spring day, where the sun was warmer than ever, and a fresh breeze swept through the lands, Elias sneaked out of his office room, and rode northwards. He didn’t use the few primitive roads, as he rather would ride alone, than having an army of curious followers after him. He rode an hour. Calm and happy. Sunset. Then he heard a scream from a nearby hill.
It was not human… Rather… Like a pig.
He wielded his fathers rusty blade, which he had attached to the saddle. He slowly climbed down his horse. Bowed down in his knees and walked with large steps closer to the hill.
A group of people were chanting, behind it.
He was not afraid. He climbed the last few metres up and talked with his deep voice.
“What is going on here?”
Five women stood in dark ropes and slaughtered an animal, while an old woman chanted on top of a rock. Everybody turned at Elias, but did not answer him. Instead a couple of them started to mumble and pointing. Then a beautiful young girl stepped forward. Her hands were filled with blood and her eyes were stormy grey. Elias had never seen anything more beautiful… Or wilder.
“My Lord… We are celebrating the birth of the moon. Tonight it is lighter than ever, and provides every woman with fertility. Just look at it!”
She leaned her head back and laughed.
Elias just stood and stared at the girl. Then he suddenly felt it to. The Moon was lighter tonight. And that girl…
He got up and coughed. Looked around, and saw that he was sitting in his own bed. Had it been a dream? He looked down next to him, but he was all alone in the room. He got out of his bed and took some woollen trousers on.
He walked out of the room and down into the courtyard, where he started to ask the stable boys, if they could remember when he returned home. However, nobody had neither seen him come home, or any woman, or anything…
He stepped over to his horse and left the boys with their work.
It was strange. He decided to take another trip to the hill. However, this time, he would not ride alone. Together with his two house-carls Magnus and Ole, they rode all the way back to the hill.
Elias wanted that woman. He was possessed by her eyes… her lips… everything.
They only needed to ride half the way, as they found her walking northwards all alone.
Elias jumped down from his horse and took her in his arms. She did not fight back. Just stared at him, with her mysterious grey eyes.
Then they all rode home, to the estate where they would soon be celebrating marriage.
However, of different reasons…
The girl, who was called Gudrun, had poisoned Elias and rode home with him. He was so doped that he could not remember anything. On the same way Elias had sneaked out, they sneaked in. It did not take long before Elias was sleeping, and Gudrun had the time to rob him, which she also did. With her loot, she left the estate and walked home to her simple hut with it. Then, on her way to the holy hill, Elias found her.
She thought that he had discovered the theft and therefore she gave her away to him.
However, Elias was so possessed by her, that he had not discovered anything. He just thought she liked him and was as drafted to him, as he was to her.
A complicated story already, I know!
However all things must have a start…
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