#Villa Odin

[manuelamordhorst]

Sellin - Historisches Flair auf Rügen

[wint3r-h3art]

More Than You Bargain For | Sinfully Yours Au

Summary: Sugar Daddy! Strange is back. It's been five months since the events of The Beginning. Nothing was more blissful than spending your first summer at Lake Como by your doctor's side, but of course, there was always something or someone that may have ruined just that.

W/C: over 2K

Warnings: smut: cunnilingus & angst. Plot heavy that lead to the next part. Mentioned of Odin, as well as an appearance of Loki & Thor 😈 18+ ONLY. Minors DNI.

A/N: My writing for Strange is a little rusty, but this idea has been floating for some time. I just think that their arrangement is a bit messy, especially when feelings do evolve. 🥲 As usual, no beta. If I missed anything, I do apologize. If you enjoyed this, please comment & reblog for support. I love hearing about your thought on this little Drabble.

*** Do not copy, repost, or translate my works anywhere else!!

Sweat trickled down your neck as you felt his lips skim along your collarbones. Your back ached as his body pinned you against the wall of the villa. Rough fingertips dug into the soft skin of your hips, imprinting his touches straight to your bones.

The cool breeze from the lake did nothing to cool down the fire he set upon your senses as he slid his tongue along the slippery seam. Every part of you buzzed and hummed with anticipation of being discovered. What would they say about the well-respected Doctor Strange, down on his knees with his face buried between some woman’s legs? 

The age gap between the two of you has never been an issue–or at least that’s what you assume. The arrangement that you came to be was purely out of desperation between needing financial support from him, and him needing companionship from you. You made a deal with him some five months ago, and looked how far you have come now with your sundress hiked up to your waist, and the good doctor’s face buried right between the legs.

The sex had always been easy because you had always had a crush on him since your day as the barista from a small coffee shop he frequented. He was also quite understanding about this whole arrangement as well, which begged the question as to why he was single in the first place. But you kept that to yourself because your job was to be his sugar baby–to be his arm candy, and to make him look good. It wasn’t your job to ask him questions that he doesn’t want to answer.

And quite frankly, you were too attached to him to want to know why he wanted to stay single.

A muffled, tortuous moan slipped past your lips when you felt him parting your folds with his tongue as he settled into a feast. Your legs trembled. Your hand in his hair, bunching and pulling at the soft strands until he let out a low, rumbling groan that reverberated straight into your pussy, pulling you closer to the edge. 

He was spreading you open with his hands as if he was trying to plunge his tongue deeper inside you, and you couldn’t help but ground your hips to meet your mouth.

“Stephen…” you sobbed softly, trying to not make any loud noises because there were people up front.

Thor Odinson had invited Doctor Strange to his summer home here at Lake Como since the doctor was a good friend of his father, Odin Borson. 

With the state that the two of you were in though, you weren't quite sure if Thor would ever invite you to his home ever again if he walked in on the two of you fucking like a bunch of horny teenagers behind his villa.

Stephen Strange didn’t reply to you as he thrust his tongue into your drenching pussy. Your hips churned as your pulse pounded to your clit. Each shallow penetration continued to push you further and closer to your release. 

He was your heaven and hell wrapped into a six-foot-something, forty-year-old man. And when he started to suck on your clit, your brain turned into a puddle.

You came with a strangled moan as your body clenched and trembled. Your thighs clenched tightly around his head, but that didn’t seem to bother him much as he continued to drink all of your releases. 

It felt like an eternity though as you stood there waiting on Strange to finish what he was doing. Your body felt warm from the Italian summer air and well from what your doctor was doing to you. Your legs felt almost boneless and you had to brace yourself against the wall of the villa.

You looked up, and Strange wasn’t in a better state than you as his hair was messy, standing up in various directions. His face was flushed. Lips gleam from the remnant of your little act. You helped straighten his clothes of course, because everyone would be suspicious if he returned looking so disheveled and so…relax now.

He smiled and looked at you as you helped him fold the sleeves of his linen shirt, revealing the many tattoos he adorned.

“They're gonna know,” you mumbled.

“Nobody’s going to know. They probably think we’re exploring the house or something.”

He failed at trying to reassure you, especially when he looked so…smugged.

“Besides, Thor is a friend–everyone here are friends. Nobody cares.”

Yes. Your friends. Not mine.

“Even his brother?” 

Loki Odinson. Thor’s younger brother had never gotten along with the doctor. Even when you and Strange first showed up here, you didn’t feel the welcoming air around him like the rest of the family. The two men could not stand each other. Something about Strange humiliated the younger Odinson during his Ph.D. days.

Again, their history had always been vague, and you weren’t close enough to ask questions. 

“Loki is…Loki. Acknowledging him will not do you good. It is best if you’re not acquainted with him.”

“That bad?”

Strange chuckled. “Depends on your definition of ‘bad’. I think of it as a friendly banter between old acquaintances”

You stared at him with the expression of ‘Are you kidding me?’. Strange just chuckled again.

“Don’t worry, ok?” His large hands clasped over your shoulders.

You chewed on your lips briefly before you nodded. Stephen placed a kiss on your forehead before heading back to the party first, leaving you here to your worried thoughts.

As Stephen Strange disappeared out of your line of sight, you heard another footstep approaching, and of course, who else would that be beside the one person you dreaded to be alone with the most?

Loki noticed your expression and he stopped and leaned against the stone railing that overlooked the lake. A mischievous smirk quirked at the corner of his lips as he observed you for a long moment.

“The doctor is a bit too old for you, don’t you think?”

“I’m a full-grown adult…my decision is my own.”

Loki chuckled as he raked his long slender fingers through his hair. Oh, you definitely exceeded his expectation alright. Perhaps this was why Strange picked you. He was never the type to go for someone with no backbone.

“Of course. I just thought it’s funny that you would be with someone twice your age…especially when you can do so much better.”

You could feel the heat flooding your face. You couldn’t tell what his intention was. 

“I did a little research–,” he continued. “Y’know as one would when an outsider suddenly got invited to a private gathering. I’m not here to judge, but I do applaud you for the sort of scheme you’re playing. Never thought that Strange would be into the whole sugar daddy thing, but hey, when your ex of over five years dumped you and married some guys she met just a little under a year, I would do something out of the ordinary too.”

His words sting you deeply, and you were trying very hard to now show him any sort of emotion to satisfy his little jab.

“What is your point then, Mr. Odinson?”

Loki chuckled as if he found this whole situation funny.

“Nothing at all. Just curious about what the two of you are going to be…Strange is not the type to settle that easily, and I don’t think he would settle for someone…well…”

“Someone like me?”

Loki smirked. “Oh darling, I think you can do so much better than the doctor. I would hate to see your heart get broken. That’s all.”

“What makes you think that I’m going to get my heart broken when you already know that this is just an arrangement.”

“Sweetheart, I can see the way you were looking at him…It is more than what you bargained for, and to be quite frank with you, I don’t think he’s worth it.”

Loki took a few steps toward you until he was in front of you. His designer cologne permeated the air around you, filling you with nothing but his scent.  

“There’s plenty of fish in the sea. Why settle for one rich guy, when you’re surrounded by plenty here?”

You couldn’t miss the gleam in his eyes as he stared at you with a newfound interest.

“If money is what you want, it shouldn’t be a problem, and of course, it doesn’t hurt that I am much closer to your age than he ever is.” 

Anger that was simmered beneath your skin was finally boiling over. It was never about his interest in you. It had always been about looking at you like you were some sort of a whore, wanting nothing more than money. What you had with Strange was more than an exchange of money and sex–it was about seeking solace in each other–About filling the void of the loneliness that only the two of you understand. He warned you of the way others would perceive this sort of arrangement, but you just didn’t imagine it was going to be this way. Perhaps you were naive after all.

 You were about to open your mouth to say something, but a voice interrupted.

“Is this how you are trying to flirt, Loki?” came Strange’s voice, making the other man’s head whip back. You could see Loki’s expression change as he straightened up to his full height. Anger? Annoyance? You couldn’t distinguish between the two, but you could see the way his thin lips pulled into a straight line. His deep green eyes darkened with stormy clouds. 

“Couldn’t keep your clammy little hands to yourself, huh?” Strange was now standing right beside you, with his arm around your waist as he offered the other man a friendly, yet cold smile.

“Oh, you know. Couldn’t help but entertain your little friend here…”

“Girlfriend,” Strange corrected, and you could feel heat spread out onto your face and straight to the tip of your ears.

Being called his girlfriend was definitely, and definitely welcoming. The thought just never occurred to you that he was going to say it out loud so casually.

Unless he really didn’t mean it like that.

Loki noticed the unhinged expression on Strange's face, and he knew when the battle was lost. As much as he hated it, Loki conceded with a smirk. 

“Of course. How could I ever be mistaken? Perhaps another time, Ms. Y/L/N.”

You watched as the dark-haired man walked back into the house without so much as turning back. His slender form disappeared behind the white door, and for the first time, you found yourself breathing again.

Strange now rubbed your back in a slow, soothing motion.

“Well having him hitting on you was definitely not on my bingo card, but I supposed, it means that I am lucky enough to find someone as enticing enough to pique his interest.”

“I think he just wants to hurt you by trying to get on with me,” you said as you crossed your arms over your chest.

“I can’t blame him for trying…”

You turned and looked up at him, clearly confused by his words. Strange didn’t say anything more, other than pulling you back to join him with the rest of the party.

More questions have arisen. Were you two officially dating now, or was the doctor simply trying to get Loki off of both of your asses. You would never know because, by the time you could even form a coherent thought, you were greeted by the people at the party again.

If only you knew the truth…

.

.

.

.

.

“Am I really your girlfriend?” You asked after sometimes later, when the people started to settle down and mingle in smaller groups. You could still sense Loki’s gaze across the garden as he eyed the two of you.

The question somewhat surprised him. He thought he was being more than obvious and clear when he declared you just as that. Strange was oblivious to the conflict you were battling inside your head.

“I thought that I was being clear earlier.”

His tone was neutral, which made you perceived it as if he was being nonchalant about the whole ordeal. Perhaps it was the wine or perhaps it was Loki who made you question everything that has to do with Strange. Whatever it was, slowly consumed your thought, and you found yourself not wanting to be here anymore.

“Well, under the circumstances that those words were said out loud, I cannot be sure.”

Strange turned and looked at you. Clearly confused.

“If I said yes, does that make you feel better?”

Something about his tone that ticked you off. It was like something in your head snapped.

“It’s not about how I feel, Stephen…I just want to know what’s going on. For all I know, you only said that I’m your girlfriend just to get Loki off our asses…”

“Is that how you think of me?”

He was offended at the fact that you would think of him like this—like some sort of an asshole. I mean, he was like that once upon a time, but he was different now.

“I—I don’t know. It just sounded like that when you came out of nowhere and declare me as your girlfriend. We have never discussed it before. I just—“

“What? Repulse by that idea?”

You opened your mouth then close. Every words that you try to say suddenly get twisted. You weren’t a fan of that at all.

“Do not put words into my mouth,” hurt laced every words of that statement. Even Strange could see the way your eyes were suddenly watered, and the way your jaws were clenched tightly as you stared ahead. “I am trying to understand you, but all you do is avoid answering my questions.”

“Y/N…please just don’t…” he raked his fingers through his hair in a frustration matter.

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to humiliate you in front of your friends today…I’ll be here and be pretty like what you paid me to do.”

Strange now really turned and looked at you with exasperated look, yet his mouth wouldn’t open to say anything more. Had he screwed up for not admitting the truth? Was he even good enough to even call you his girlfriend? That, he was really unsure about.

As much as he wanted to blame Loki for this, he knew better that it was him who was the coward in admitting his own feelings.

This was definitely more than he bargained for, alright.

.

.

.

"Brother...You're awfully quiet this evening. Would you mind indulging me in what you are scheming at the moment?"

Loki turned to Thor, who was quite perceptive today. He was more observant than usual, which made him a bit more annoying than anything.

"Something is off between those two, and I am trying to figure it out..."

Thor followed the path of his brother's stare and found that you and Strange barely looked or talk at each other. You had your arms crossed over your chest, barely acknowledging the doctor beside you.

"Careful now. It's not your business," Thro said softly. His voice had always been so deep and rumbly, even if he wasn't trying to sound serious.

"Did he say that she's his girlfriend?"

"Why do you want to know?"

Loki didn't answer.

"Loki...Do not--and I repeat, do not insert yourself in their affair."

The dark hair man smirked in triumph. "I don't know, brother. I just got the best idea around."

Thor raised an eyebrow and waited for Loki to continue.

"How do you feel about roping Doctor Strange to become your CMO for your company?"

Thor had considered the possibility many times before, but Strange had always wanted to work in New York. Moving him all the way to Norway to become the CMO of Odis Therapeutic not only cost them a lot of money but also required a lot of convincing as well. the man just wanted to teach more than anything. Putting him in the C-suite could be the best decision he ever made or the stupidest one..Mainly the man demanded a lot, and he just didn't know if that was worth it or not.

"Why the sudden recommendation?" Thor asked

"I just think we need a brain like him in our company. That's all." He smirked even though he had another plan in mind that involve you in it. "So...What say you?"

Thor chewed on his lips momentarily before chugging the last remnant of his drink.

"It wouldn't hurt to ask him again..."

"Excellent."

A/N: CMO: chief medical officer.

I just thought it would be neat to have Thor as the CEO of a biotech company. Anyway, what do you guys think Loki is scheming? Is he not ready to give up on our reader just yet? Let me know.

[thedawner]

My plushies from @shlurmp have arrived and I adore them.

From left to right: Loki and Heimdall from Too Human and then there's Villas and Retho, which are my own OC's! Villas was designed by Shlurmp too.

Loki comes with a removable ponytail so one can play "pin the tail on the donkey" as ODIN intended.

If you'd like to commission Shlurmp, then he can be contacted here(naked custom plushes cost around $180 and an outfit might be about $150):

https://x.com/shlurmpp

Bonus: Villas getting swept away by my ugly Hopper plush:

[mellonmallon]

Lady Maria LoSpettro - Lady of the Roses - Descendant of The First Knight - Rightful Heir of the Forever Knights

It’s literally been since 2013 since I’ve made a post on Tumblr, even on this account I think lol. Here is my Ben 10 OC from my AU called [Ben 10: A Rose Amongst Knights]

Backstory: Lady Maria of The Knights of the Roses is the last living descendent of old George, a.k.a. Saint George. Although her Pedigree stems from him, she lived as a normal civilian until she was 16, where she then was taken to her grandfathers villa in Italy and trained in Forever Knight mannerisms. She gets along well with the other knights, and has a secret relationship with Sir Cyrus, but she absolutely despises her ancestor and anything that has to do with him. She has retained powers similar to his, but she attempts to keep them hidden and manages them with a magic stone that keeps her magic suppressed.

Her magic abilities are somewhat different from her ancestors, but they are magical abilities nonetheless. She did not inherit his immortality, however, she does age at a much slower rate. She is able to manipulate the elements as well as super speed and telepathy. She can also communicate with any animal on the planet with birds being her main choice of minion, she uses Ravens to spy on people. The stone that she uses to suppress, her magic is an ancient relic of an ancient civilization, and allows her to use her magic, when absolutely necessary even with some or most of her magic suppressed, she is very strong, and very dangerous, as she is prone to mood, swings and fits of rage towards her enemies.

Although she technically does not have any issues with any of the Forever Knights, she does not particularly get along with Driscoll, as his pride and cocky behavior tends to irritate her. She also does not get along, particularly with Urien or Enoch, as they try to take the throne for themselves when they are not worthy or fit to rule the forever knights, only seeking power and alien technology. She does, however get along with Patrick, and the two of them have somewhat of a close relationship much like an uncle has with their niece. In secret, she is being courted by Sir Cyrus, as he wishes to keep their relationship secret for her safety however, his Squire, Winston, and two other Knights are aware of their relationship, those 2 being Sir Dagonet & Sir Morton. Maria is very close friends with Winston, Dagonet & Morton, and they can often be found, causing trouble and stirring up mayhem for entertainment, especially if the Tennysons are involved. When all of the other Knights broke off into their own faction, she did the same but tried to take her position as rightful heir to the throne. She is very good at recruiting knights as she is kind and generous to all those who follow her, she even allows women to join her ranks as long as they pass a physical test.

Naturally, as a descendent of old George, she has a fiery hatred for Esoterica and the Dagon, she absolutely refuses to spare any of their members and is adamant that earth stay free of aliens for human protection. She is terrified of the Dagon, knowing the true nature of it’s abilities, and would literally throw down her life to protect her friends from becoming a slave to it. She, however, absolutely despises Azmuth, and blames him for the rise of Esoterica by allowing George to keep Ascalon after cutting out the heart of the Dagon and sealing it away. However, she too wieldwields a weapon created by him, a Lance called “Gugnir” which is also “Odin’s lance of Judgement” making her something of a hypocrite. She, however, would defend herself by saying that, in order to properly slay the dragon, she would need a weapon that would be on par with Ascalon, which the spear is indeed of similar power.

Maria is not from the prime timeline as the Forever Knights survive in this timeline after the coming of the Esoterica and the Dagon. Majority of the Knights do survive the war, but there are some that are lost, including Winston, which breaks Maria’s heart since the 2 were close. Although she does despise old George, she does feel a bit of sadness when hearing of his death from Ben Tennyson.

Majority of the Knights, including Driscoll follow Maria after George’s death.

Maria’s relationship with the Tennysons is strained at best, she does not like them, but she does not harbor the same hatred for them as she does with other aliens. The Tennysons are actually able to reason with Maria, especially when there is the safety of the knights and civilians at stake. Unlike Cyrus or the other Forever Knights, Maria tends to properly form alliances with the Tennysons, when absolutely necessary rather than argue and fight with them. Even though Maria agrees to work with the Tennysons on occasion, that does not mean that she likes them. She sees Max as a Traitor to humans since in her words, “he continues to allow dangerous criminal aliens, to seek refuge on earth”

Maria loves the arts as she herself is an artist at heart. Her carefree and charismatic personality, makes for a great leader, as all the people that work with her, have nothing negative to say about her per se. Some Knights have some complaints about her carefree personality, for example, Cyrus, from time to time, scolds her for neglecting her duties as a princess/queen in favor of participating in artistic events, such as theater, or art classes, as well as her sticky fingers for getting into the Knight’s wine & cheese cabinet and sharing the priceless wine and fine cheese with the other grunts, including Sir Dagonet and Sir Morton, which creates drunken issues from time to time. She is in charge of hosting the Forever Knight galas for the Knight’s rich benefactors, and other members of powerful political parties throughout the world, and it is thanks to these events that the forever knights are able to receive funding for the castles and other important equipment that they need.

[dorokora]

Done with the side quests for now. Back to the story.

The final arc of this chapter is Fafnir’s arc and his daddy issues

Fafnir is gathering all the dragons of the world for a special conference meeting. But only Nidhogg and Jormungandr, Fafnir and his dad showed up for it. Fafnir purposed that the dragons help the human due to the numbers of demon lord that have been resurrected. Nidhogg and Jormungandr agree with Fafnir’s plan. Hreidmar, Fafnir’s father, rejects the idea of helping humans saying that they should just burn the humans and be done with it. Fafnir and his dad are about to fight in their dragon forms and Nidhogg tells them to take their father and son spat outside. They have their father-son quarrel offscreen where Fafnir lost.

Sometime later, Bacchus finally reunites with Nidhogg while he was bathing. Yuuji and Fafnir bump into each other. Everyone gathers at the villa.

Yuuji explains what’s been going on lately. Nidhogg and Bacchus have their long awaited talk. And then they fcked that night.

The next morning the group discuss their dragon plan and the history of dragons. Life all started with a white meteor and ragnarok came when the black meteor arrived creating the giants. Odin was chosen as the Hero and his companions Thor, Freyr, and Loki by his side. Ymir was created from thousands of human corpses, Tiamat was born from the corpses of two dragons. Tiamat's body was split in two. Filling the sky and the earth, and that’s how present world was created. End of Ragnorok, friendly fire broke out, and many of Odin comrades-in-arms fell by his hands. According to one theory, it is a sect of "gods" who planned it. It is said that it was a secret maneuver by Loki. At the end of Ragnorok, Odin sealed all of the Giants so that they could never be revived and then disappeared himself. So all giants were sealed away and all the gods have died off. It will seem that history is currently repeating itself. Will the humans perish? Will the Demon Kings perish? Or will they both perish? We then head to the mansion to confront Fafnir’s dad. Meteo shows up to cause more problems. He summons black meteors to rain down from the sky. He also activates the curse on Hreidmar’s ring. Turns out that ring was Andvari’s ring, the one he put a curse on before Loki took it and his gold from him. Everyone tries to run but Yuuji is frozen in fear. Yuuji remembers that it was a black meteor that crashed down in Tokyo and killed his parents. Hreidmar tells Fafnir he’ll stay behind and gives his dragon necklace to his son. Hreidmar turns into his dragon form to stop the meteor shower.

Nighogg tells Fafnir to take Bacchus and Yuuji far away. He gives Fafnir his grimoire. He’s going to hold them off as long as he can. Nighogg tells Bacchus to live a long life and that he loves him. He turns into a dragon files to the meteor shower. With both his dad and Nighogg powers, Fafnir gets a power upgrade along with a new weapon, armor, a golden dragon form. He is now the new dragon king. Up in the sky, Hreidmar’s and Nighogg’s dead bodies have fused together to resurrect Tiamat. Metro’s plan is a success as all five demon lords have been revived. Yuuji is still frozen in fear. The area below started to get covered in darkness due to the black meteors and the people down there have been turned to stone. At this rate, the whole world will be covered in darkness. Bacchus tells Fafnir that they need to go to where Orgus is.

And that’s where it ends

To be Continued

[annachum]

Loki x Sigyn HCs ( my MCU fanfics )

. So, we all know that Loki and Sigyn are friends since childhood

. Loki started to gradually develop a crush on Sigyn as they both went into their teen years, when Sigyn is growing from a pretty and curious little girl to a blossoming and courageous teenager

. Their relationship kinda reminds me of Beauty and the Beast and Hiccistrid in some ways btw

. Sigyn doesn't give a flying fuck about Loki's Jotun heritage. However, she found herself having to learn to get over the internalised stigma she learned against other Frost Giants ( rhe Asgardians, Light Elves, Vanaheimrs and Dwarves distrust Frost Giants )

. It was partially thanks to Sigyn that Loki gradually accepts his Jotun heritage and recovers from his period of self loathing ever since he found out his Jotun heritage

. Like other Valkyries and valkyrior veterans, Sigyn regularly wore her hair in braided hairstyles. Braids are signs of power and victory in Ancient Nordic Socieities

. While Loki has got raven hair, ivory skin and ice blue eyes, Sigyn got warm skin, curly auburn nut brown hair, turquoise eyes and an athletic and curvy body

. Sigyn likes baking and she sometimes has baking hangouts with her Nine Realms friends

. She is good friends with Hnossa, Gersemi, Hildegund ( Volstagg's wife ), Anneli/Grace ( Heimdall's wife ) and Sif

. Even after all Loki has done in thor 1 and Avengers 1, Sigyn can't help but still love him and is tremendously relieved when Odin and Frigga can't bear to kill him.

. She isn't above calling out his crap tho, but she tries her best to help him get back on a right track as they mend the seams of their relationship

. Sigyn is an anchor of constancy to Loki's unpredictability and chaos

. After the Massacre of Valkyrie, Sigyn began to wear aurora borealis inspired hair highlights at times to commemorate her mother and those who died in the Massacre of Valkyrie

. Sigyn is more like her mother personality wise btw.

. Her dad is a tall blonde pureblood elf with turquoise eyes ( think kinda like Legolas ) while her mother got dark auburn hair, warm skin and bright brown eyes.

. When she was a kid, Sigyn is kinda insecure of her pointy ears. Loki is one of those who helped her get through her insecurities over her ears

. Loki likes to visit Sigyn's villa in Asgard when he was Loki/Odin. It is a place of solace for both of them when they wanted a break from court dramas and political melodramas and such

. Sigyn loves Yuletide. She loves to help around with the decorating and baking. Loki is alright with Yuletide but tends to enjoy them more whenever Sigyn is around. Bless.

. Loki is great at skating and likes to skate with his Nine Realms cohorts in winter

[stevepaulmyers]

#avengersassemble #avengersassemblealpha #avengersforever #avengers #thor #ironman #captainmarvel #captainamerica #hulk #shehulk #blade #marvel #comics #marvelcomics #books #comicbooks #bathtimebooks #firstissue #issue1 #1st #1 #Odin #phoenix #starbrand #deathlok #Sorcerersupreme #blackpanther #ghostrider #ironfist #agamotto (at Banana Cherry Villas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmPVmNio8nE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[teddyniffler]

Mercy in Defeat

Chapter 6

Hvitserk lay on the bed, he was hugging a pillow to his chest, but this time it was to ease a different sort of pain.

He was going to die.

This time, Ubbe wouldn’t be there with his axe to cut him free from the binds that held him in place, there wouldn’t be a last second reprieve given to him by Bjorn that would allow him to at least have a fighting chance to live another day. This time, he would die for real, at the hands of Alfred.

It brought Hvitserk comfort to imagine what it would be like when the Valkyrie came from him, having once expected them to come down for him not that long ago, they would fly down and take his hand and bring him home. His mother would be there, he would hug her first, he wouldn’t want her to let go of him. Then he would hug his father. It would be nice to see Ragnar again, Hvitserk regretted the little time he spent with his father before he sailed away with Bjorn.

Bjorn… Maybe it would be awkward to see Bjorn again, but he would say sorry to him and hope for kind words back, it had been more than a year since Bjorn had passed into Odin’s hall, he should have calmed down by now, he would know his little brother was sorry and Lagatha would have told him what really happened, how it was an accident, they would both be there, he would say sorry to them both and hope for forgiveness. He knew he would be welcomed from Sigurd and Ivar, he could almost feel Sigurd’s arm hitting his back in welcome, see Ivar’s smile. Would Ubbe be there or would he be in the Christian’s Heaven?

Hvitserk didn’t know for sure his older brother’s fate, but if he was there too then Hvitserk would say sorry for everything that had happened within the last few years, he wanted to go back to being brothers. The way they had been before.

The pillow absorbed his tears as they fell from his eyes. He didn’t know if they ran from sadness or fear. His time was limited and running shorter with each hour, but he didn’t leave this bed, he just wanted to be left alone. He had considered running, hiding somewhere and fleeing from the Villa, he could now his wounds had healed enough, but he had guards outside his door day and night, the only way out was through the window and it was too narrow for him to leave that way, with a considerable drop. Jumping from here would only reunite him with his family sooner when the guards eventually found him and with a broken leg or two, he wasn’t ready yet to die. His thoughts often went to the question he didn’t want to know, just how would they kill him?

He had first hand experience of being burned alive and didn’t ever want to go through that again. He had seen people as they slowly got strangled to death by hanging, the way their feet kicked and their bodies twitched. He didn’t want that but it seemed it was a favourite method of the Saxons, he had seen the structure they used out in the main courtyard, it scared him the same as being burnt alive, at least with burning alive the pain was only for a short time, he remembered the way the smoke burned his lungs, making him gasp, which only made it hurt more, only after a few seconds of that he had fainted, somehow he knew being hung would take longer, he had seen it plenty of times in Kattegat under Ivar’s rule. He thought of Alfred’s sword, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad if King Alfred really was as strong as he looked.

Hvitserk might have been in a state of despair, but elsewhere in the Royal Villa, celebrations were in full swing for Christmas, decorations had been fully placed and lit. The day before Christmas the food started to be made for the royal family and guest, the snow was still falling but it was much less colder now, the wind had died down and there was a sense of joy as midnight mass drew closer. Alfred did last minute checks on the plans for the festivities and somehow found himself lured under the mistletoe as Elsewith snuck in a kiss. Christmas was always a happy time in Wessex, Alfred had loved the holiday the most as a child, the food and gifts were always the best, but there was something beautiful about a day celebrating light over darkness.

Not everything in his mind was at peace, there was something eating away at him, Hvitserk had not left his room for three days now, not even to eat. The servants had informed Alfred that Hvitserk was off his food and he had not joined him and Elsewith for breakfast since Alfred had told Hvitserk his fate. Alfred had sent people to check up on him, but he just wanted to be left alone, often they told the king that the other young man was just laying on his bed. Alfred hoped Hvitserk would do the right thing and save himself. He had decided not to try to influence Hvitserk’s choice, but he also wanted to go up to Hvitserk’s room and talk him around and to make him see reason, if he was being truthful with himself, he didn’t want to kill Hvitserk at all, Alfred had even found himself thinking of alternative choices, was it possible to have Hvitserk taken away, maybe to Francia and placed in the care of his uncle? He knew the brother of Ragnar Lothbrok was now a Christian, was it possible to place Hvitserk there? Perhaps limited to his uncle’s castle but alive none the less. Alfred had unrolled some parchment and was almost about to write to Duke Rollo when he started hesitating. He had firmly set out his idea, he would get Hvitserk to convert, demonstrate he can change and be a good person, that they could be peace between both people, and then give him East Anglia to rule to help strengthen the peace between their peoples, if this couldn’t be achieved Hvitserk was to be put to death. That is what he and Elsewith both agreed would happen. Hvitserk was already on borrowed time, by rights Hvitserk should have been killed when Ivar died. He had only been kept alive to bring peace and maybe to punish the Vikings for coming here by taking a son of Ragnar and keeping him, and yet…

He rubbed his eyes, it was never his intention to start caring for Hvitserk in this way, Hvitserk was meant to be used as a way of peace, but he had grown on Alfred. He was nothing at all to what Alfred had been expecting, he had been expecting somebody as stubborn as Bjorn, as cruel as Ivar. He had never considered Hvitserk would be sensitive, never thought he would make Alfred smile, or even laugh. Alfred knew Hvitserk was only slightly older than him by a few years, but sometimes he was so inexperienced about the world that it was endearing to Alfred, like the time he had to stop Hvitserk quickly and show him how to peel an orange as he began to eat it with the skin still on, or his confusion from seeing a banana for the first time. Every single time they had a miscommunication or language difficulty and they both had to guess what the other was meaning, often with weird hand gestures and pointing. The feelings stirring inside Alfred when he was near Hvitserk were ones Alfred knew well, although he hadn’t felt them in some time, they were the same feelings he had when he was laughing with Athelred. He had come to see Hvitserk like a brother and he had never planned for it to go this way.

He placed his head down on the cool wood of his table and wrapped his arms over his face, his mother had told him off many times in the past for this, as it was unbecoming for a king, but for Alfred it comforted him when he was upset, and he was, because in a way he was the reason his mother had killed Athelred and now he was facing the very realistic possibility that he would have to kill Hvitserk too.

He got up and went to the one place he could talk to somebody for guidance, the royal chapel.

It was empty in here, as it always was, not even the guards came in here as it was off limits, even with a member of the royal family inside, so Alfred was guaranteed privacy to be truly himself, for whenever he was around the villa, he always had to act like a king, but here, he could be just himself.

“Grandfather, I am sorry yet again to disturb your sleep, especially on this most holy night, but I really do need to talk about matters you understand so well” He kneeled down before the namestone to King Ecbert.

“I am faced with a choice that weights heavy on me, I have one of the sons of Ragnar here in my custardy, he has become dear to me, but I may have to sentence him to die and I don’t want to do that. I’ve given him the choice to convert to our faith and have rulership over the lands I granted his brothers, or be put to death, I am torn between my head and my heart. My head says he cannot be allowed to leave here still as a pagan, as he will find his way back to his people eventually, but my heart cannot stand losing somebody I’ve come to care for, I have lost so many already and my soul is heavy from their loss. I do not know what to do Grandfather”.

He kneeled there, holding his hand to his grandfather’s name. He missed him so much and prayed for his guidance to light a way for Alfred.

“They must be a way to make the son of Ragnar see that this life is better, his own people have been lied to so much about us, about the world. They only know pain and suffering and think it’s something good. How can I show him that our God is a God of love and peace and that his gods have been cruel to him, how can I show him that he can have a better life here with people who care about him and wish to save him, I-“

Alfred broke off, a candle holder fell over with a loud bang, a cold draft crawled through Alfred’s hair, lifting it. All the candles in the room flicked, temporary throwing the room into darkness before the light returned. He froze, his ears listening for more sounds.

“Who is there?” He asked, yet again adopting the tone he used as king. He was totally unnerved, there wasn’t any windows open and he had closed the door, he didn’t understand where the cold had come from or how the candlestick had fallen.

He was jumpy because he was caught off guard, there was nobody there with him, but at the same time he got to his feet and said a silent goodbye to his grandfather, before turning around and almost crying out in alarm. It felt like his heart had flew from his chest. Before him, standing against one of the pillars of the chapel was Athelstan. Alfred’s mouth flew open, he tried to speak, to ask for help saving Hvitserk, to say hello, to say I miss you, to say a million things he could never say to his father in this world, but when Alfred blinked, Athelstan disappeared.

“What does it mean?” Alfred spoke to the space his father had been standing a moment before “You keep coming to me father and I don’t know what you are trying to tell me”.

There was no answer.

Hvitserk had fallen asleep as the night wore on, he was dreaming about Ivar, as he did most nights. Ivar wanted to leave Kattegat but Hvitserk kept hiding his sticks so Ivar couldn’t leave, however no matter where he hid them, Ivar would follow his brother and come close to finding them. Hvitserk had just thrown them into the harbor, when he turned to see Idun smiling at him. Hvitserk wanted to leave the area fast, as if Ivar found him there, he would know where his sticks where. No matter how hard Hvitserk tried to push past her, she would keep him there by the water.

“Nooo!” Hvitserk shouted as Ivar’s head went swimming past. He was down in the water, he had found Hvitserk and knew his sticks were close. He had crawled in and was using his arms to swim. As Hvitserk watched, Ivar found his sticks

“Why!” Hvitserk demanded of Idun, but she just smiled as Ivar held up the sticks in triumph, for now he could go raid in England, but Hvitserk knew he would die there.

Alfred had opened Hvitserk’s door after knocking, but Hvitserk was sleeping, Alfred paused, unsure what he should do.

“Hvitserk?” He asked quietly, hoping Hvitserk only had his eyes closed, but he appeared to be sleeping deeply, should Alfred wake him? He carefully reached out and rubbed Hvitserk’s arm, it was resting on top of the furs. Hvitserk’s eyes flew opened with an intake of air, he was startled until he noticed Alfred standing by his bed. He leaned up on his arms

“Hi” Hvitserk mumbled still half asleep.

“May I sit?” Alfred asked and Hvitserk nodded. He wondered why the king was here, it was late, long after a normal time to still be awake. He rubbed his eyes, it was hard to see Alfred, only the main fire was lit so most of Alfred was in darkness.

“Sorry to wake you, but I wanted to ask you if you would consider coming to midnight mass with me, it’s a service at the church, we are celebrating my Lord’s birth on earth, it would be beneficial for you to attend, so you know what to expect if you chose to join my faith”

Hvitserk paused, the last thing he wanted to do was ruin what was clearly a time for celebration for Alfred.

“I was hoping I could sleep” Hvitserk said “I am tired”

He tried to smile at Alfred, he knew it was a very weak attempt but he was drained after coming to terms with how his life would end, he would tell Alfred in the new year as Alfred wanted him too, then he would face his death as well as he could, he had already done it once before, he knew he could do it again.

“Go be with your family” Hvitserk told him. After all, Hvitserk would be back with his soon enough.

Alfred’s blue eyes looked at him, he held his gaze but this wasn’t like the cold determined look on his face the first time they had spoken, this was a look Hvitserk knew well, it was the exact look Ubbe had given him when he had jumped ship.

‘Please don’t look at me like that’ Hvitserk though. He tried to smile again as he laid back down

“Are you sure you don’t wish to come?” Alfred asked carefully.

Hvitserk just arranged his furs back around him.

“I’m really tired”

Alfred nodded

“Then sleep well, I am sorry I woke you. If you do wish to come though, just ask the guards to bring you to the church, it starts at midnight if you change your mind, you’ll be very welcome”

Alfred left the room, he also just wanted to go to his bed now too, to him, that was confirmation what Hvitserk was going to do, it wasn’t totally unexpected. He didn’t want to betray his gods, no matter how much they had hurt him. He didn’t even see it himself.

All around him were happy people, good cheer was in the air. Christmas was a time for joy and entertainment, the villa was extra lively even at this late hour, nobody was in bed as everybody was waiting to attend mass.

“Hello” Elsewith smiled at him back in their chamber, Edward would not be coming to mass with them, he never did as he would cry through service, she was wearing her best dress, her hair was beautiful tonight but Alfred found no joy in his heart as he leaned in to hug her.

“Alfred, what is wrong?” She asked, she stroked his hair before he let go. Alfred moved to the fire and sat looking at it

“I don’t think Hvitserk is going to convert” He said it out loud, his stomach weighting him down with both emotion and the start of another stomach ache. “I don’t want to kill him either my love, I can’t have him killed”

Elsewith stood there in shock, she came over and held Alfred’s hand.

“Allow me to speak with him” She spoke firmly.

Alfred took a breath

“It ought to be his own choice, we learned with Ubbe it shouldn’t be forced upon them, they just go back to being Pagan”

Elsewith give him that look only Elsewith could get away with giving him.

“You and him are friends now, even I can see that, do you want a dead friend or a friend who is alive?”

“Elsewith, I-“

“Alfred, let me speak to him. You know I can get through to people. How many times have I gotten through to you when you’ve been set in your ways”

Alfred sighed, he knew she wouldn’t let this go, and yet he loved her for it. He never expected a wife quite like her, sometimes he often wondered if she should just rule Wessex and Mercia in his place, she was more suited for rulership than he was.

“It should be his choice”

“How will it feel when your sword removes his head?” She asked.

Alfred winched.

“You will need all your focus when you wield your sword, if you don’t concentrate you will hit his shoulders or his head, you also need to hit him hard enough for it to be true. Can you do that for him at least? Otherwise it’s going to be agony for him. Is your arm fully back to strength now? It wasn’t the other day, or should we opt for the rope?”

Alfred’s mouth dropped in horror, Elsewith was really going for this.

“Do you think you can watch it if you hang him, when he’s gasping for air, with his feet kicking? When you arrested the traitors, you vomited and the guards thought it was just your sickness. How will you react when its somebody you care for? As king you need to be there, do you think he will look to you? You are the only friendly face he knows.”

There was no mistaken it, Alfred felt sick to his stomach. His eyes blurred over with water, he blinked it away, he pushed down on his lips and covered his face.

“See?” Elsewith said “You don’t want him dead so fight harder for him to stay alive. Let me speak to him”

Alfred nodded.

“If you think it will help”.

Half an hour later, they walked into mass. Alfred was in front of her as normal, he knew she was right behind him, that brought him comfort as cramps spread down into his abdomen, but they had to separate once they both reached the front, she took the row to the right while he stayed left, he went to stand at his normal place, glancing over at Elsewith for strength when wave after wave cut into him. He breathed deeply and slowly. He wished he had some water.

He bowed his head as the Bishop began reciting the Lord’s Prayer, yet again in Latin which would normally drive Alfred crazy in normal times, he had asked them many times to do services in English, it was slow work but English was slowly creeping into services, but the prayers were still in Latin. Tonight, however he had other things on his mind.

‘Please Lord, how do I save the Pagan son of Ragnar? You brought him here to me so that our people could know peace, but he remains firmly under their influence. I know he can be saved; I know he is a good man who has been led by evil forces, but how do I save him? How? Please show me. Please.’

All around him, people muttered “Amen” as the prayer ended.

“Amen” Alfred echoed, then he fell forward and hit his head on the barrier. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.

Alfred opened his eyes to a low sunrise, as it was winter the sun came up much later, almost at breakfast time. It took him a moment to remember what had happened to him and why he was lying in bed. He was attending church, and then he was somewhere else entirely, in a dream of sorts, but he hadn’t been alone. He had asked for help and somebody had answered him.

“Alfred?”

He turned to see Elsewith moving towards him, Alfred sat up slowly, he felt different this time. He didn’t feel sick nor did he have the pain and discomfort in his gut that normally accompanied his illness, his mind was clear and he seemed to know now what he needed to do in order to save Hvitserk, while still allowing him the choice to convert by his own means.

“Are you ok?” Elsewith asked “You hit your head when you feel, you were only asleep for a few hours, but- Alfred? No get back into bed”

Alfred was getting up and reaching for his clothes

“I need to go speak with Hvitserk”

Elsewith looked at him in total surprise

“What for? You just woke up”

Alfred finished dressing.

“I just need to speak to him”

He kissed Elsewith on the cheek as he hurried over to the side of the room, there was something laying there, he picked it up. Then he left the room, surprising the guards stationed outside his room at his sudden appearance.

As he walked down the halls, he thought about his dream. It was still early enough that the servants were not walking around yet, and on Christmas day, they were often extra busy. Alfred had a lot to think about from this dream, he had been sitting on the floor back in the royal chapel, and in front of him sat his father. His hair was mostly tied back, but a few lose curls fell free around his face, it was the first time ever that Alfred could see his face clearly, all other times he wore a monk’s cloak and unlike any past vision of his father, this time he didn’t disappear the moment Alfred looked at him. They looked alike so much, he could see the features he had inherited from Athelstan, same eyes, same face shape, similar eyebrows. The light from the candles kept casting shadows over his face as Alfred waited for him to speak.

“What kept me alive, when so many of my brothers died, was the simple fact Ragnar came to see me as his family, not as his prisoner” Athelstan told him.

His voice was familiar to Alfred, he had heard him speaking before but nothing could have prepared Alfred for the joy he felt at finally hearing his father’s voice.

“When I opened up to Ragnar about where I came from, that’s when he really opened up to me, he told me about his hopes and his fears, in time we grew closer. Friendship between our people is possible, we just need to put our weapons down and talk. Over there I seen great things, the amount of love the Pagans have for each other, I looked after some of them when a great sickness descended, and they cared for me when I too fell sick. I have also witnessed terrible things committed by Christians”

He held out his hands and showed Alfred the marks of the stigmata upon them. “You know too Alfred, we’re not all just good or bad, you said it yourself once, you’ve seen much suffering too at the hands of people closest to you and they were meant to be holy people, saved by our Lord’s salvation. If you want to save the son of Ragnar, you already know how, you don’t need to ask for help, the means to saving him are already in your hands. He hides from you because you hide from him, but if you were to be honest with him, he will be honest back, that is how me and his father became family”

Alfred nodded, he fully understood.

“There’s something else, can I-” Alfred said, he looked at his father, at his smile and his kind face, where they was a look of pride on his face as he looked at his son, and suddenly Alfred felt like that young boy again, who was always asking his grandfather and mother questions about his real father. He found the words hard to say, he had said them before to another man, but this felt so much harder, his words totally failed him, but somehow Athelstan knew, he reached out to his son as if to pull him into a hug, but as his hands tried to touch Alfred, he disappeared as Alfred woke with a shudder.

Alfred knocked gently on Hvitserk’s door and opened it, he expected Hvitserk to still be asleep, but found the slightly older man standing at the window looking out of it. Hvitserk turned fast as Alfred walked in, he looked slightly unnerved to see Alfred, almost alarmed. It took Alfred back for a second before he composed himself again, he didn’t know why Hvitserk would look at him like that.

“Good morning” Alfred said “Sorry for coming to see you so early, I had a bit of a restless night. I was wondering if you would like to spent today with me and my family. It doesn’t have to mean anything, just think of it like a party, there will be food, good cheer. I know you’ve been staying in here a lot lately; it’s never too good to be alone Hvitserk and it’s Christmas, you may enjoy the festivities, it’s always fun”

Alfred moved closer to the window, Hvitserk looked away from the window to look at the king. As Alfred moved closer into the room, the cause of the look of alarm on Hvitserk’s face became clear. Alfred was bemused to find the crucifix was covered up with a top. Hvitserk was looking between Alfred and the cross, fully expecting to be in trouble, but Alfred didn’t heed any attention to it, that wasn’t important.

“Christmas” Hvitserk said “Ivar celebrated Christmas with the Rus last year, it’s your god’s birthday, right? That’s all I know about it really”

“Sort of like that” Alfred nodded “But it’s also a time for family and good tidings. New beginnings” Alfred paused “There’s also gifts, I’ve got something for you”

Alfred held out a small parcel and handed it to Hvitserk, he took it from the king, it was wrapped in some thin fabric but whatever it was felt slippy to the touch from outside.

Hvitserk had not been expecting that at all, he felt awkward for a second, he didn’t have Alfred anything, was the king expecting something in return? Then he felt regret, because he knew he’d be telling Alfred any day now that he wouldn’t be joining his religion, but going home to his family in Valhalla.

“Are you sure?” Hvitserk asked him “I mean, after everything?” He didn’t meet Alfred’s eyes.

“Of course,” Alfred said “I wasn’t lying about wanting to be friends”

“Ok” Hvitserk said “Maybe it will be interesting to see one of your celebrations. Your religion can’t be any more complicated than Buddhism”

Alfred was caught completely off guard.

“You know other religions?” He asked carefully.

Hvitserk nodded.

“It’s a long story, a long time ago, I met a traveler who had a Buddha, I listened to him a few times and tried to be enlightened by what he told me to do, but it only led to bad things. I give it up.”

Suddenly things were looking more hopeful for Alfred.

“You turned from your gods?” He asked Hvitserk.

Hvitserk shrugged. “It’s a long story”

Alfred wanted to ask more, but he knew he couldn’t push, not yet.

“There’s no breakfast today, but there is a great feast in the court at lunch time, then a party all day and well into the night. Just come to the throne room whenever you want to, there’s celebrations all day”

Alfred went to the door.

“I must go, I have things to do before lunch starts, I will see you later”

Alfred left, leaving Hvitserk still by the window, now holding a gift.

Hvitserk turned back to the window, down below a guard walked past, wishing a stationary guard ‘Merry Christmas’ to which the other guard replied.

The tree below was still covered in snow and the sky above was glowing red as the sun slowly rose higher, in his arms he held the gift from Alfred, it was something lightweight, he grew curious as to what the king had given him.

He went to his bed and sat on it, tucking the fur into his legs as he worked open the tie holding the fabric together, it opened.

It was a pale golden garment in a material Hvitserk had never felt before, this wasn’t wool or cotton, he had never seen it before in his life, but he knew he was looking at silk. It had little shinny gems and stones in the neckline. Compared to the other clothes Alfred had given him, this one was the most beautiful yet, which made him feel even more terrible.

The villa at Christmas was a time for slightly later risings, midnight mass meant most had been up late into the early hours of the morning, but once more people were assembling, a feeling of great cheer spread, not only in the villa, but throughout the town, people visited each other and wished one another a merry Christmas. Young children were playing in the streets together, throwing snow. In the Villa, Alfred held Edward who was still dressed in his sleeping clothing, if they were to dress him now, he wouldn’t stay clean for too long, the trick was to bring him out later in the day, dressed in his best clothing so he didn’t ruin them too soon. This Christmas, Alfred wanted to make sure Edward was with his mother and father in the morning, it was so rare he got to be with his son when he first woke up, as the nurse took care of him as Alfred was always so busy. Edward was trying to eat his new wooden toys as Elsewith walked in, looking extremely beautiful in a new dress.

“Are you sure you are feeling well?” She asked Alfred. He nodded, playing with Edward on the floor.

“I am feeling ok” He answered, moving a wooden horse to stand next to a wooden cow. Edward threw down the wooden sheep to pick up the horse, making a loud yell of excitement, then he spoke to his son “Tell your mother to stop worrying about me”.

As the morning grew on, people started gathering in the throne room, there was a young girl acting as the virgin Mary, she was holding a new born in her arms, dressed all in blue. Hvitserk watched her, he remembered Bishop Heahmund once telling him and Ivar about her, he remembered Ivar’s face as he expressed doubt that she was ever a virgin while Heahmund remained totally oblivious to Ivar’s mocks, they had laughed about it after, how clearly the girl was obviously not a virgin if she was a mother. They all seemed to believe it, the Saxons gathered here watched as the girl held her baby close, didn’t any of them know how babies were made?

“That is Mary, the mother of Jesus, our Lord” Came Alfred’s voice behind Hvitserk.

“I know, the virgin” He tried not to smirk, Ivar would be laughing from Valhalla.

Yet again, for the second time that day, Alfred was surprised Hvitserk knew something else.

“Yes, God visited her and bestowed a child on her” Alfred explained. “The baby then grew into a man who offered salvation to us all, by giving up his life and dying, he then went to join God in Heaven”

Hvitserk looked at the baby, this was the person who had just defeated Odin and all the other gods?

“So that’s your god?” He asked looking at the baby “But that is the Christ god? But he's not your main god?”

“It’s complicated. He’s the Son, but he’s not the same as the Father” Alfred said.

Hvitserk was completely lost.

“The baby and the Christian god are different people?”

Alfred nodded.

“In a way, yes”

“So, if he’s not your god, then who’s your god? Does he have a name?”

Alfred paused

“God is the Father, the Father of Christ and the Father of all of us, there’s names for him too, many in fact, but for Christians his son died for us, but Christ was God in the form of man and he was resurrected and joined his father in heaven”

To Hvitserk, that was even more confusing. Was it not the man on the cross who was sending him nightmares each night, but his father? Did Hvitserk have to worry about both of them?

“So it’s sort of like Odin with Thor? Thor is Odin’s son”

Alfred smiled a little uneasy “Not quite Hvitserk, but I guess it can be similar”

Alfred was saved the difficult task of trying to make one of his religion’s most complicated matters make sense to Hvitserk by the arrival of lunch.

“Let’s get some food” Alfred said, he placed his hand on Hvitserk’s arm and lead Hvitserk to the top table.

Even Hvitserk couldn’t deny it, the Saxons could cook up a feast much better than anything he had ever had at home. Before him was food he had never seen in his life, all the different vegetables before him were testament to the almost baron fields of Scandinavia, he tried everything, he had no idea what he was eating but it all tasted amazing and before him sat a pig’s head and it was on fire.

He watched the flames run up and down the pig’s head, mesmerized. Next to him sat one of Alfred’s nobles, he was feeling uneasy sitting next to a Pagan, but mostly he didn’t have to speak to Hvitserk as Alfred spent a lot of him talking to him. For Hvitserk he focused on the food as Alfred explained to him that having it on fire increased the flavour only slightly, most of all it was for decoration.

After food, the Saxons did something Hvitserk was familiar with, they played music and the wine poured freely. Hvitserk avoided it, he wasn’t going to start drinking again now. He just moved around, a little unsure of what he was meant to do. He didn’t know anybody to talk too, he didn’t even have his normal guards, they were plenty around the room anyway. Some people looked at him curiously, some even said hello to him and he exchanged an awkward ‘Merry Christmas’ with them, unsure if that was the correct greeting, he did notice one thing though, nobody was looking coldly at him anymore, it seemed they had gotten used to him being there. He rubbed his bare forearms, the silk garment was surprisingly keeping him warm, but his lower arms were uncovered to the slight chill from the open doors. He found a place to sit, and just listened to the music, Saxon music was different also, the singing was male voices only and the instruments were different also, he missed the warm tones of Sigurd’s music.

Alfred was watching Hvitserk, he was thinking on the things he should tell the other man to make him open up, there was a small commotion as the people nearby all expressed their joy as Queen Elsewith entered the room from the royal family’s private entrance, in her arms she held Prince Edward, dressed in his new clothing, the young prince was always a source of joy for the people gathered here, for he was Wessex’s future and if he was anything like his father, then he would be a great future ruler. Elsewith came to Alfred and noticed him watching Hvitserk.

“I will speak to him if you will want me too?” Elsewith asked him.

Alfred laughed “I know you will talk to him anyway”

Elsewith smiled.

“Sometimes, a woman is wiser than her king”

Alfred continued to smile

“There is no doubt in my mind on that. Do you want me to hold Edward while you talk to him?”

Elsewith smiled back

“Oh no, he is coming to talk to Hvitserk too”

Hvitserk had gotten himself some fruit juice, he was sipping it while watching the Christians becoming less like Christians and more like Vikings by the wine glass, it was interesting to him how both cultures mirrored each other, for some of the women were gossiped with the men and one pair had already left the party together to kiss outside the doors. Maybe Christians weren’t so different from Pagans after all.

“Merry Christmas Hvitserk” Came a voice he knew.

He turned to see Queen Elsewith beside him.

“Hello Queen Elsewith” He said, it was always a little harder for him to talk to her than it was to Alfred, but the awkwardness between them was growing less and less.

“Merry Christmas to you” He finished, totally unsure if that was even correct.

Elsewith smiled “It’s came to my attention that you haven’t been introduced properly to my son. This is Prince Edward, the heir to Wessex and Mercia, firstborn son of King Alfred”

“Hello” Hvitserk said to the young child in Elsewith’s arms.

Edward looked at Hvitserk, and made a noise like he was trying to talk.

“He says hello back” Elsewith said.

Then Elsewith did something Hvitserk would never have expected her to do.

She lifted Edward and placed him on Hvitserk’s chest.

“Have a little hold of him, he likes meeting new people” She said, arranging Edward better on Hvitserk’s chest, not giving him a choice in the matter.

“Just under his leg here and he won’t feel so heavy” Hvitserk’s arms automatically came up to hold the child.

“And the other hand on his back as he wiggles a lot”

“Um” Hvitserk stuttered, as the young child looked at him. “Elsewith- I-?”

Elsewith sat on the side next to him and took a cup of wine.

Hvitserk was frozen on the spot, he had not been expecting this at all.

What was happening? He was holding the heir to Wessex and Mercia in his arms. The future ruler of most of England was currently running his little hand up Hvitserk’s silk sleeve, his big brown eyes looking curiously at the unknown person holding him. He reached out and took hold of the corded pendent around Hvitserk’s neck and held it in his little chubby fingers, he tried to pull it to his mouth but the cord was too short. He dropped the pendent and started biting his own hand. Hvitserk’s mind raced, he had hold of King Alfred’s son…

One time, getting hold of this child would have been the best possible outcome for Ivar and Hvitserk, if they had known at the time that such a child existed, they would have taken him for sure, they would have ordered for Elsewith to be killed and for the child to be captured alive, to control Alfred, to control Wessex. This child would have been the perfect bargaining chip, they could have forced Alfred to do anything they wanted if they had only known about this child, so carefully and expertly concealed from the Vikings, yet so close to the battlefield.

However, that was then.

Now Hvitserk wasn’t so sure he even was that same person any more. He had been through a lot since he was captured, he had seen first hand what his own people had done to the Saxons and countless other people. He didn’t want to be that person he used to be anymore, the realisation hit him in that moment. The old Hvitserk would have hurt this child if Ivar had asked him too, but now, having this child placed in his arms, Hvitserk’s first thought had been to support his small body so he wouldn’t fall. He had placed both arms around Edward, holding him securely, he was heavier than what he looked and he moved a lot, reaching and tugging at Hvitserk’s clothing, he tried again to make speech.

“Hello” Hvitserk said to him after a little babble ended, with a slight smile on his face “It’s nice to meet you, your Highness?”

He struggled with remembering which Saxon title applied to the prince, they were different from the Norse he was so familiar with.

He watched as his pendent was tugged again as Edward tried to put it once again into his mouth. He wasn’t sure what he should do about that, so he watched carefully, but then Elsewith reached over and gently took the pendent out of her son’s hand.

“He’s still growing his teeth, the physicians say most are coming through now, but he has a few that are taking their time, so everything is going into his mouth right now”

Hvitserk give a small noise, almost like a laugh but not quite, he had never thought he would ever hold a child in his arms. He was never allowed to hold his brother’s children; Bjorn didn’t allow it. Edward felt so warm and his little nails moved across Hvitserk’s arm, he kept making noises as if trying to form words. This was his first time holding somebody so small, but why was Elsewith letting him hold her son? He was their enemy; didn’t she worry he would resort back to his Viking ways and harm her child. Did she not see him as a threat that needed day and night guarding to keep everybody safe from him?

And yet, here he was, holding her child in his arms.

“He’s so sweet” Hvitserk said, and he meant it. He suddenly was overcome with a feeling in his stomach. If things had turned out differently with Thora, then maybe he would have one or two of these little ones running around by now.

“Have you ever wanted children of your own?” Elsewith asked him suddenly.

Hvitserk hesitated, taken back by the question, there was no way she could have known what he had just been thinking, it was just coincidence but it still felt like a punch to the gut.

“Yeah” He confirmed “Once I did. There was a woman back in Kattegat that I loved, we had talked about getting married and starting a family”

Elsewith listened, she suddenly felt regretful for him. She hadn’t thought he had anybody waiting for him to come home, as he rarely spoke about himself.

“Is she still in Kattegat? Does she wait for you?”

Hvitserk smiled sadly.

“No, she died a little while ago. Her name was Thora, she was my best friend. We weren’t together too long, maybe a year, but I loved her a lot. She was killed, my brothers punished her killers, but they let them go free”

“I’m so sorry for your loss” Elsewith said, and she sounded it, she sounded so sincere that Hvitserk believed she meant it.

Edward made a noise and started kicking his legs, he was bouncing up and down in Hvitserk’s arms.

“Why is he doing that?” Hvitserk asked, a little unnerved by the sudden movement

“He’s seen the food. He likes mashed carrot and sweed mixed together”

Hvitserk smiled

“He’s a good eater then?”

“He will eat Wessex dry”

Edward made some more noise and they didn’t sound happy to Hvitserk. He was starting to get irritated. Elsewith noticed and reached over and took him from Hvitserk’s arms.

“He’s going to start screaming soon, you may not want to hold him when he’s like that, he can throw quite the tantrum when he gets going, but he makes the nobles clear out”

There was a sort of mischievous note in her voice that made Hvitserk grin, so maybe Elsewith liked the nobles just as much as he did, which was not a lot at all. Elsewith waved her hand and as Hvitserk watched, a young woman came forward and took Edward out of her hands.

“Move him around the nobles” she instructed quietly “They wish to see him, or so they think”

They both shared the sort of laugh that left Hvitserk with no doubt that these two were friends. Elsewith waited until she had gone to speak again.

“Hvitserk, I wish to talk to you” She sat down beside him, much closer than before and looked him directly in the eyes. He had mostly avoided looking at her in the past as he was ashamed of how he had behaved in the past.

“I know in your heart you’ve already made your decision about what you wish to do, and Alfred doesn’t wish to try and change your mind, he wants it to be your choice, but I still wish to talk to you” she paused “Do you know how I came to be wed to Alfred? Queen Judith was my aunt, my father was her cousin. My mother died not long after I was born, my mother and father had no other children, it was just me. My father was killed in battle against the Northmen in York, leaving me orphaned and alone. I was in the care of one of my father’s closest friends, I don’t have any immediate family left and the other part of my family are the ruling class of Northumbria, I was only an extra burden for them, my life was looking rather bleak when my aunt wrote to me and asked if I would consider marrying her son, King Alfred. When I came here, Alfred was so busy just trying to stay alive, his position as king was very weak, very dangerous. He came to me and apologized for not getting to know me at all because he had been so busy. He had wished to call off the wedding for he feared for my life, as there was a chance he would be assassinated any day. If I were to marry him, I too would be in danger of being killed”

She paused again and got another drink from a servant walking past, as she drank Hvitserk yet again felt guilt in his stomach, he had been there when her father died, he had seen it happen and he had cheered in joy at his death, he would never tell Elsewith that.

“And I told Alfred I would marry him. I had nothing to go back to, no matter how unknown and how scary the thought was that I would be wed to a king who could be killed at any moment. Alfred became everything to me, my husband, my king, my friend, he became my family when I thought I had none left. When I first came here, it was in one of the darkest moments of my life, I was not ready to be married, nor was he, we were both brought together as a means of the other’s survival. Now looking back, I would never change a thing, I am happy and I have a husband I love and a child we both adore, I was terrified of something entirely new and unknown being forced upon me, for if I had backed out, I would have probably been sent to the nunnery at Northumbria, I would not have a life worth living, so the only option was marriage to a young man who I didn’t know at all, it seemed he was forever in war meetings, I was here days before I even met my betrothed. I just want you to know something, Alfred was being honest when he said he wants to be your friend, he doesn’t want to see you hurt, he wants to help you, he doesn’t want to see you dead, and I know first hand from my own experiences that new situations can be scary, having something unknown forced upon you can seem very daunting, but if you want to change your mind then we’ll be your family. If you wish to die a Pagan, then that is okay too, in my faith they have been people who have died rather than give up on their God. However, if you wish to live, you can as a Christian. You’ll be a prince and maybe in a few years time, you’ll be happy, you too can have a family, a child, a wife. Alfred will always look out for you should you wish to stay with us.”

She stood up, yet still kept looking at him in a kind way.

“Just think on it Hvitserk. You have so much to live for, even if you don’t know it right now”

Hvitserk looked at her, he never knew any of this about her or about Alfred, she seemed to be trying to relate to him and how he was feeling, it was true that everything the Saxons stood for and did felt alien to him, even their language kept catching him out, so similar to his yet so different also, and nothing felt more different to him than the Christ god and his father.

“Can I ask you something?” Hvitserk quicky asked, he wasn’t sure how to even ask this, he didn’t want to ask Alfred, he wanted an answer from somebody else, somebody more neutral. He knew this would likely get back to the king anyway, but he didn’t mind.

“What would you like to ask?” She said.

“Is your god a good god? Alfred told my brother he was the god of love and peace, is he really?”

Elsewith smiled at him.

“He is Hvitserk. He is merciful and loving, even to Pagans such as yourself”

She turned and went, leaving him with even more to think about. He leaned back into the wall and drank more of his drink, his eyes on the tapestry of the Roman gods on the other wall, but not really looking at them at all. He had felt so sure of what he wanted to do, but after speaking with Elsewith he wasn’t so sure now.

There was a hitch pitched cry and as Hvitserk looked up, he noticed a few nobles leaving the immediate area around Edward’s nurse. He tried not to laugh, this was almost something his own people would do, as he watched more, Edward started crying and more nobles seemed to excuse themselves from the throne room.

He got up from his corner and hesitated, it wasn’t too late in the evening but between the music and eating food that was more richer than what he was used to, he wanted to go have a lie down, he glanced around unsure, he didn’t know if he should go inform Alfred that he was leaving, but Alfred was nowhere in sight and Elsewith was now talking to her ladies as Edward god taken to bed. He made his way to the door, he was now so used to the layout of the villa his feet seemed to move automatically, nobody called him back and outside he found his normal guard escort waiting for him. They walked behind him as he made his way back to his room, he went inside and closed the doors, the fire and all the candles had been lite, making him feel warm. He kicked his shoes off and collapsed on his bed, throwing the furs over him, the silky material of his top made him slide on the sheets as he closed his eyes for a moment. He would just lie here for a little while. He started to feel heat coming from the furs and his breathing went more even as his eyes grew heavy. The logs in the fire were all he could hear and they were soon fading into the background as the beginnings of sleep started taking him.

The snow was slowly falling again, his fingers relaxed around the fur, maybe he shouldn’t have eaten so much food, he found it hard to stay awake, and before he knew it, he had drifted off to sleep.

A log clicking loudly made him jump awake, he looked up at the foot of his bed to see what had made the noise, once he had identified the noise he relaxed, he was really warm, his back had started sweating and he wondered suddenly how long he had been asleep. He sat up a little dazed, he wasn’t sure if it was still early or much later, in the winter everything was so dark, but back at home he could always tell if it were late or not by everybody being around him. A full hall and it was early, a mostly empty hall and it was time for bed, here in the villa he was mostly in his room or with Alfred. He wondered what Wessex was like in summer, with the longer days, the royal courtyard, he wouldn’t see another summer, or would he?

He glanced up at the cross above the headboard.

If it were true that the Christian god entered people and changed them, would it be so bad? Would he not be happier being somebody else, he already knew he couldn’t go back to hurting people, for he could see now raiding just meant other people suffered for his enjoyment. Never in his life was he told the other people whose lives he had ruined had feelings, he was never learned to view them as other human beings who had lives and families. He was always encouraged to be as violent as possible, kill as many enemies as possible because that was what brought honour to a person and opened the doors to Valhalla. If he refused to join the Christians, then Alfred would kill him and he would go back to his family, but he would also be placed back into an environment where he would be killing people again. They would rise again at the end of the day but the killing would go on until Ragnarok. They would be drinking, and he never wanted to go back to being a drunk. Why was he so determined to go to Valhalla? He was raised to believe Valhalla was the ultimate place, but he was also raised to be a killer and he had since changed his mind on that, what if he got to Valhalla and he hated it? ��� What if he wanted to live after all?

His brother’s faces swam into his mind, as did Thora and Amma. His mother and father. They were all waiting for him to join them, but who was the person coming back to them? He was different already. He wasn’t the same person they had all known.

Hvitserk looked over at the man on the cross, had this god already began to change him? He had laid underneath this god each time he had slept, what in Odin’s name did the Christ god do to him while he was asleep? He had tried to hide from him under the furs, but that didn’t stop the Christ God from finding him. He had been here maybe half a year now, how much of Hvitserk was truly himself still?

“Odin, are you here? Allfather, can you hear me?” Hvitserk whispered “Who am I? Am I still myself or have I been changed? Is this my destiny after all? Am I meant to die or join the Christians, because I don’t know what you want me to do. Please give me a sign, what am I to do?”

There was a knock on the door, it was faint and quiet, as if to catch his attention if he was awake but not loud enough to wake him should he be asleep.

“Allfather?” Hvitserk whispered.

He was sure Odin was here at last to give answers, he turned from the cross and looked at the door.

It slowly opened very quietly.

Hvitserk waited for the person on the other side to come in

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EL PLANETA DE LOS VIKINGOS – El Éxodo

Bueno, si me preguntan como contar esta historia, hagamos un esfuerzo,….nuestra gran civilización procede de otra más antigua, más lejana, se desarrollo normalmente, logro colonizar zonas del espacio donde las estrellas se perdían, influencio positivamente otras culturas con tecnologías que mejoraron sus vidas, pero el tiempo, el desarrollo y el crecimiento hace que las personas sean más complicadas, más difíciles de entender, un pensamiento así crea grandes vacíos en el corazón de los hombres y profundas necesidades, pero nuestras deidades ancestrales (muy similar a los dioses nórdicos) detestan los vacíos y pusieron en el corazón y la mente del viejo sabio Ga-Sou, una filosofía neotranscendentalista, el ofrecer a nuestros ciudadanos la búsqueda de un modo de vida más sencillo, muy similar a nuestros antepasados (los vikingos) que en el pasado lejano cazaban, cultivaban, comerciaban y luchaban, cuando esto ultimo era realmente necesario, mi novia, Sha-Reff pasaba tiempo convenciéndome para que asistiera con ella a los encuentros que el viejo Ga-Sou convocaba para compartir esta filosofía, yo, Maeo-Ram solía ser mas cerrado a estas filosofía, mi gran creencia era la ciencia, las experimentación empírica, nada existía sino se probaba con ciencia, Sha-Reff me tenia harto, accedí a ir a uno de esos meetings con el viejo Ga-Sou, y lo escuche, las palabras tomaron sentido lo que decía, nos hemos cerrado en un mundo moderno que no aprecia la sencillez de las cosas, la conexión con nuestras divinidades ancestrales (Odin, Thor y Loki), el contacto con la naturaleza….Después de escuchar las palabras del viejo Ga-Sou me seguían atormentando en el trabajo, no podía concentrarme, finalmente renuncie, me uní al movimiento neotrascendentalista y me case con Sha-Reff, a falta de una autoridad religiosa competente en esos momentos, Ga-Sou acepto oficiar nuestra boda, la familia de Sha-Reff no lo tomo con buenos ojos, el padre de Sha-Reff enojado dijo: “¡¡haz engatusado a mi hija, cretino, como te atreviste a llevarla a esta secta, ella tenia un futuro prometedor como una científica y tu lo haz echado a perder todo, largo de mi casa, los dos!!”, sus palabras fueron lapidarias, no nos quedo otra que vivir en la villa comunitaria en el campo, la vida fue agradable, vivir una vida sencilla, un día el padre de Sha-Reff fue a visitar a su hija, pero también nos contó que las cosas no estaban marchando bien fuera de la villa, había división, facciones políticas en conflicto que amenazaban con escalar en una guerra civil que cubriría de sangre y fuego todo nuestro mundo, increíblemente esta civilización en la que nos empezamos a distanciar empezó a ser menos tolerante.

Un día, lleve estas inquietudes al viejo Ga-Sou, mi sorpresa es que estaba reunido con un grupo de científicos que veía que se venía y tenía un plan llamado “El Éxodo”, el plan consistía en construir arcas espaciales con el fin de fundar una colonia en un cercano al interior de la galaxia que sustentara la vida, Gas-Sou me invito a formar parte, yo Maeo-Ram no le iba a decir que no…..Y así, me vi involucrado, el mayor proyecto de mi vida, refundar un pueblo en las estrellas, trabaje junto con los científicos que construían el arca espacial, mientras nos íbamos enterando de que nuestro mundo iba más y más acercándose a la guerra civil. De pronto, pasado unos corto 5 años, llego el día, teníamos grandes contenedores donde transportar nuestra villa comunitaria e insertar las granjas de animales para fundar la nueva colonia, pero escuchamos un mensaje que una de estas facciones se había hecho de cabezas nucleares y estaban dispuestas a lanzarlas contra sus enemigos, los dados del destino estaban tirados era quedarse a morir o vivir lejos en las estrellas, la facción que se apodero de las cabezas nucleares perdió el control y decidió lanzar las cabezas nucleares, el Ga-Sou ordeno que todos subiéramos a los contenedores del arca espacial, subimos apresuradamente toda pertenencias y animales, y a penas exploto una cabeza nuclear en una ciudad cercana, cerramos el contenedor, el viejos Ga-Sou y los científicos encendieron con dificultad los motores, todos pensamos que el arca se vio afectada por el pulso PEM (Pulso Electromagnético), al parecer no fue tan así, los científicos previnieron esta contingencia y construyeron los mecanismos de la nave a prueba de estos fenómenos, incluso el contenedor protegió al pueblo de la radiación, el arca se levantó lentamente del suelo y de apoco emprendió un apresurado vuelo hacia el espacio, dentro de los contenedores todos estábamos asustados, incluyendo mi bella esposa, Sha-Reff, el contenedor temblaba producto de los roces en el exterior con las armas nucleares y sus explosiones, y también con la estructura muy nueva, al final el arca acelero y se alejó de mundo que dejamos atrás, con ciudades que estaban siendo pulverizadas por las explosiones atómicas, dejamos atrás un mundo de muerte.

Cuando el arca ya estaba atravesando el espacio profundo rumbo a nuestro nuevo hogar, el viejo Ga-Sou, se acercó a nosotros para tranquilizarnos, avisarnos que ya estamos en curso a ese mundo ubicado en el interior de la galaxia, lleno de vida, donde según el autor de un gran libro fluye la leche y la miel. Pasaron meses y aún no había noticias de lo que dejamos atrás, ni de lo que tenía por delante, pero en algunos ya empezó a reinar la impaciencia, muchos meses encerrados en un contenedor en el espacio iba a crear ciertos problemas psicológicos que muchos no estaban preparados para lidiar, con el tiempo se creó una nueva facción dentro de nuestra comunidad, liderada por Erik, un joven impulsivo, alguien que creía que se debía radicalizar el movimiento y ahora debíamos llegar pronto a nuevo mundo, con este granuja siempre me lo topaba y terminaba discutiendo, el viejo Ga-Sou siempre hacia de padre de nosotros para reconciliarnos, pero difícilmente lo conseguía, un día, después de trabajar en nuestra granja hidropónica, Erik se acerca a mí, y me propone formar parte de un motín para tomar el arca y poner curso al primer mundo habitable, como siempre nos pusimos a discutir, yo le dije: “no se puede, yo trabaje con los científicos que construyeron el arca, y me dijeron que nos desviamos podríamos caer un mundo ya habitado o en uno donde la vida fuese dañina para nosotros, que debía tener fe”, pero Erik me respondía: “¡¡tú qué sabes de fe, Maeo-Ram, se supone que ya debimos haber llegado a ese mundo, el viejo Ga-Sou nos tiene bailando a su ritmo!!”, se retiró un tanto irritado, llega a la cabina donde estábamos con mi esposa, ella tenía unos 6 meses de embarazo, esperábamos a nuestro primer hijo, le conté lo que me había pasado con Erik, Sha-Reff me decía, ese muchacho le falta mucho por madurar.

En un momento, el centro de mando donde estaban los científicos y el viejo Ga-Sou guía la nave, es asaltado por unos jóvenes armados rifles, entre ellos estaba a Erik, amedrentando a los científicos y al viejo Ga-Sou, el sabio trato de persuadir a Erik de que desistiera, pero Erik impaciente y harto de esperar increpo al anciano, en un momento de alteración, Erik toma un rifle y le dispara al anciano, provocándole la muerte, en ese momento los jóvenes a discreción disparan contra los científicos, dejando la nave sin nadie que tome decisiones, salvo ellos mismos….el resto de la tripulación nos percatamos del motín y fuimos al centro de mando cuya puerta estaba trabada por estos jóvenes, mientras en el centro de mando ellos revisan las cartas astronómicas y los mapas de las estrellas y ven cientos de planetas en el curso que tomo el arca, donde se puede sustentar la vida humana, solo faltaba sacar un dado y elegir que planeta aterrizar, detrás de la puerta grite para exigirles a estos malandros que abrieran y desistieran de sus acciones, en el mismo momento, Erik buscaba con desesperación algún mundo cercano al curso que estaban actualmente, ¿¿sería Alfa Centauriano o Vane-1138 o Sagitarius-38911??, Erik reviso varias opciones a toda prisa por la presión del grupo, de pronto eligió uno al alzar y trazo las coordenadas en la computadora del arca, con ello el arca giro lentamente hacia su nuevo curso, en ese momento confusión, solo los dioses sabían que había elegido ese irresponsable. En unos minutos, unos de los tripulantes tomo una sierra laser de las que usamos para construir el arca para destrozar la puerta, al poco tiempo abrimos la puerta y logramos reducir al grupo de insurgentes, pero ya era tarde para cambiar el arca a su curso original, nos habíamos demorado mucho echar abajo la puerta del centro de mando y reducir a los amotinados, en ese momento, el arca entro a un pozo de gravedad, avisamos a todos que se sujetaran de lo que pudiera, el viaje iba a ser turbulento, el pozo de gravedad era la entrada a una nebulosa con tormentas eléctricas, la gravedad atrayente era poderosa, por más que forzáramos el timón no podríamos cambiar la trayectoria, la nebulosa solo era la antesala de un agujero de gusano, el arca al pasar a ella provocaba en su interior que la gravedad se alterara en cada pasillo y escotilla, el tiempo se ralentizaba poco a poco y al salir del agujero de gusano, llegamos a un sistema solar de 9 planetas, el arca empezó tener graves daños en el exterior a medida que se adentraba en ese sistema, detrás de una luna estaba un hermoso planeta azul con verde, lo teníamos al frente, sin duda íbamos directamente a ese mundo, la entrada fue violenta, el arca despedía capas de metal mientras el casco del arca se recalentaba a medida a la entrada al planeta, en ese zangoloteo, yo atine en revisar la computadora y note que el descenso iba bien, solo faltaba girar la palanca para entender las patas del arca para tener un aterrizaje suave, eso hice, el arca extendió sus patas y aterrizo suavemente dejando sus huellas en la superficie de una pradera verde, en ese momento nos sentimos aliviados, solo nos faltaba ver si el aire era respirable, me puse en la escotilla principal y abrí la compuerta con mucho miedo, entro mucha luz y mucho aire fresco, tome una bocanada y me sentí bien, el aire era bueno, salimos todos del arca y sentimos un clima agradable, el sol calentaba nuestra piel, el paisaje era hermoso, habíamos llegado a un nuevo hogar.

Al descender, todos habíamos bajado del arca, Erik alegaba: “¡¡miren, yo tenía toda la razón, el viejo nos tenía dando vueltas por el cosmos, y estábamos cerca de un mundo habitable, síganme, yo los lleve a este mundo!!”, le he respondido: “¡¡no es la manera, logramos llegar a este mundo, pero aún no sabemos nada de él, arriesgaste la vida de todos!!”, y eso era verdad, hacer un motín y elegir un mundo al alzar, era jugarse la vida irresponsablemente en el espacio, Erik decidió que si no tenía lugar con ellos, era mejor marcharse, y así fue, Erik y quienes se habían unido con el en la insurrección se marcharon, buscando un lugar donde asentar una colonia aparte, con el tiempo enfrentaron dificultades y muchos volvieron que reunirse con nosotros para colonizar este nuevo mundo. Para empezar esa tarea, había que enterrar al viejo Ga-Sou y a los científicos muertos en el motín, erigimos una placa homenajeando a su valor al construir el arca y sacarnos de nuestro mundo de origen sanos y salvos, de ahí empezamos a cumplir el compromiso que hicimos con la filosofía neotrascendentalista que el viejo Ga-Sou nos enseñó; dejar la tecnología atrás, vivir una vida sencilla en conexión con la naturaleza y nuestros dioses, a los pocos meses que estuvimos organizándonos, Sha-Reff tuvo a mi bebita, la llamamos Sif, como a uno de nuestros dioses, en poco tiempo dividimos la colonia en varias partidas, nos repartimos en varias colonias que fundaron villas a medida que explorábamos este nuevo mundo, con el tiempo vimos que este mundo no tenía habitantes, solo vida vegetal y animal, muy similar a los tiempo en los comienzos de la vida. Felizmente elegí una tierras para cultivar trigo en un lugar cálido y hermoso, después de tanto vivido, me sentía feliz y pleno, envejecía, ya me parecía al viejo Ga-Sou, con cabello largo y barba larga, mi esposa con la edad se veía también hermosa, porque la llenaba la dicha de vivir una vida sencilla, pero nuestro mayor orgullo era ver a la pequeña Sif creciendo en el nuevo mundo que empezamos a llamar Astragar, viví muchos años, logre ver como nuestro movimiento neotrascendetalista se convirtió en una civilización que emulaba a nuestros antepasados, le pedí a mi hija que escribiera cada palabra que he escrito hasta ahora, para que en el futuro recordáramos con orgullo de dónde venimos. Al morir, mi esposa Sha-Reff lleno lo que le faltaba a esta memoria; los habitantes se reunieron en un consejo y decidieron que al ser muchos, necesitábamos tener un gobernante, en este consejo, Sif fue elegida como la primera reina de Astragar, con el tiempo mi historia se convirtió en la historia de los reyes de Astragar, pasaron muchas generaciones hasta que una reina descendiente de Sif, llamada Freiya tuvo esta memoria en sus manos y la leyó atentamente, poco antes de dar audiencia a un extraño que se llamaba Diego Rodríguez que decía ser un astronauta venido de un país llamado Chile y de un mundo más lejano al nuestro llamado Tierra junto con su acompañante Jolnir…..cuando apenas termina de leer mi memoria, la Reina Freiya es avisada por un guerrero de palacio que Jolnir y Diego llegaron al palacio, tranquilamente la Reina Freiya deja mi memoria a un lado y camina para encontrarse con la continuidad de su propia historia.

[3gnoticias]

Arrancones 1/4 de milla VIP este domingo

Será el tercer evento del año en el autódromo Francisco Villa Chihuahua, Chih. La emoción de la velocidad  y el olor a llanta quemada regresan este fin de semana a las instalaciones del Autódromo Francisco Villa, con el evento de arrancones1/4 de milla VIP, en la cual los autos más poderosos buscara de nueva cuenta, imponer sus mejores tiempos en 402 metros.   Este será el tercer evento de prácticas de los arrancones ¼ de milla del año en las instalaciones del Autódromo donde este evento congregará a los mejores exponentes de este deporte, buscando ser los más veloces en los 402 metros que tiene la recta principal del Francisco Villa. Pilotos de diferentes municipios llegarán al Autódromo Francisco Villa con ganas de bajar su tiempo e imponer nuevo récord de pista, en la cual el rugir de los motores y la velocidad harán vibrar a la afición a este deporte. Tras la primera fecha celebrada en enero, el piloto Abe Neufeld, a bordo de un Shelby GT350, preparado por Mendoza Race Engineering de Cd Jiménez, rompió su propio récord de pista   impuesto  en el 2022 al pasar la meta en 7.61 segundos, ya que él mismo, pero a bordo de su camioneta "White Shadow", una Colorado Twin Turbo,   puso la segunda mejor marca con 8.08 segundos, siendo hasta el momento el más rápido en el Francisco Villa. En la tabla de los mejores tiempos destaca Odin Hernández, quien con su Chevrolet C10 modelo 83, paró el crono en 9.45, seguido por Saúl Miranda con 9.69 segundos en su Mustang Coyote 5.0 supercargado, y por último, Isaak Janzen en su Silverado Turbo '96 con un tiempo de 9:86, siendo los únicos pilotos quienes bajaron la barrera de los 10 segundos, completando así la tabla de los 5 más rápidos. Cabe mencionar que en esta sección de prácticas los autos podrán rodar las veces que ellos quieran y competir en la modalidad de todos contra todos, sin importar caballaje  y cilindrada, contando con todas las medidas de seguridad, así como un gran ambiente familiar. El costo de entrada para este segundo evento del año será de 300 pesos a gradas en su ya tradicional auto sardina y en zona de pits es de 1,200 pesos para correr e incluye piloto y dos   acompañante.

[hablemosdeequinos]

39 EXPO NACIONAL EQUINA CAMPEONATO JOVEN MACHOS Trocha y Galope CJ PREPOTENTE DE PIRÁMIDES DEL POTRILLO (Renegado de las Leyendas X Mágica de Pirámides del Potrillo Am Tayrona del Paso) Montador: LUIS FERNANDO TABORDA MOLINA Propietario: CRIADERO VILLA CRISTINA 1 AQUILES DE 3A (Aarón X Esparta de 3A Am Desafio de Lomitas) Montador: DIEGO FERNANDO CHARA Propietario: CRIADERO 3A 2 ABREL DE SAN JUAN (Kain de Mi Capricho X Mantra Explosiva de San Juan Am Onix) Montador: CARLOS JULIO ESPITIA Propietario: CRIADERO SAN JUAN 3 AMOR BRAVÍO DE LA ALMERÍA (Kain de Mi Capricho X Dinamita de la Almería Am Prodigio De María Rosa) Montador: JHON JAIRO CEBALLOS Propietario: CRIADERO LA ALMERÍA 4 ODIN DE DOS PASOS (Manzur Fantasia X Marsellesa de dos Pasos Am Renegado de las Leyendas) Montador: DIEGO ARMANDO NIETO Propietario: CRIADERO SAN GABINO 5 UNGIDO DE LOS ANDES (Aarón X Serenata de Novia de Los Andes Am Marco Antonio) Montador: PEDRO FERNANDO PÉREZ Propietario: JOSE MELO LONDOÑO . . . #Fedequinas #39ExpoNacionalEquina3023 #TrochaYGalope #P2 #CCC #CaballoCriolloColomabiano #mundoequinocomco https://www.instagram.com/p/Cod0Wy8OY2P/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[gustavomundoequino]

39 EXPO NACIONAL EQUINA CAMPEONATO JOVEN MACHOS Trocha y Galope CJ PREPOTENTE DE PIRÁMIDES DEL POTRILLO (Renegado de las Leyendas X Mágica de Pirámides del Potrillo Am Tayrona del Paso) Montador: LUIS FERNANDO TABORDA MOLINA Propietario: CRIADERO VILLA CRISTINA 1 AQUILES DE 3A (Aarón X Esparta de 3A Am Desafio de Lomitas) Montador: DIEGO FERNANDO CHARA Propietario: CRIADERO 3A 2 ABREL DE SAN JUAN (Kain de Mi Capricho X Mantra Explosiva de San Juan Am Onix) Montador: CARLOS JULIO ESPITIA Propietario: CRIADERO SAN JUAN 3 AMOR BRAVÍO DE LA ALMERÍA (Kain de Mi Capricho X Dinamita de la Almería Am Prodigio De María Rosa) Montador: JHON JAIRO CEBALLOS Propietario: CRIADERO LA ALMERÍA 4 ODIN DE DOS PASOS (Manzur Fantasia X Marsellesa de dos Pasos Am Renegado de las Leyendas) Montador: DIEGO ARMANDO NIETO Propietario: CRIADERO SAN GABINO 5 UNGIDO DE LOS ANDES (Aarón X Serenata de Novia de Los Andes Am Marco Antonio) Montador: PEDRO FERNANDO PÉREZ Propietario: JOSE MELO LONDOÑO . . . #Fedequinas #39ExpoNacionalEquina3023 #TrochaYGalope #P2 #CCC #CaballoCriolloColomabiano #mundoequinocomco https://www.instagram.com/p/CodzoD3u7be/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mundoequinocomco]

39 EXPO NACIONAL EQUINA CAMPEONATO JOVEN MACHOS Trocha y Galope CJ PREPOTENTE DE PIRÁMIDES DEL POTRILLO (Renegado de las Leyendas X Mágica de Pirámides del Potrillo Am Tayrona del Paso) Montador: LUIS FERNANDO TABORDA MOLINA Propietario: CRIADERO VILLA CRISTINA 1 AQUILES DE 3A (Aarón X Esparta de 3A Am Desafio de Lomitas) Montador: DIEGO FERNANDO CHARA Propietario: CRIADERO 3A 2 ABREL DE SAN JUAN (Kain de Mi Capricho X Mantra Explosiva de San Juan Am Onix) Montador: CARLOS JULIO ESPITIA Propietario: CRIADERO SAN JUAN 3 AMOR BRAVÍO DE LA ALMERÍA (Kain de Mi Capricho X Dinamita de la Almería Am Prodigio De María Rosa) Montador: JHON JAIRO CEBALLOS Propietario: CRIADERO LA ALMERÍA 4 ODIN DE DOS PASOS (Manzur Fantasia X Marsellesa de dos Pasos Am Renegado de las Leyendas) Montador: DIEGO ARMANDO NIETO Propietario: CRIADERO SAN GABINO 5 UNGIDO DE LOS ANDES (Aarón X Serenata de Novia de Los Andes Am Marco Antonio) Montador: PEDRO FERNANDO PÉREZ Propietario: JOSE MELO LONDOÑO . . . #Fedequinas #39ExpoNacionalEquina3023 #TrochaYGalope #P2 #CCC #CaballoCriolloColomabiano #mundoequinocomco https://www.instagram.com/p/CodzBJZsr22/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[444names]

roman place names + constellations + natural satellites + ghanaian names

Abancum Abanso Abede Ablagae Abrium Abroh Accall Acerdae Addri Adinum Adjeto Adjoah Adolir Adoricum Adrama Adumi Adune Aepio Aeprom Afeleong Affosi Afraq Afratum Agabea Agalthe Agers Agliaq Agnimah Agong Agyeia Agyeku Ahinoe Aiana Akatria Akromah Akrum Akrutur Akuba Akweku Akwet Akyeboa Akyee Akyene Akyie Alautim Albio Alicos Allifan Althi Alyke Amaku Amfuo Amnoed Amododo Amonis Amponet Amucke Anaenti Anculum Andebrie Anium Ansae Apomi Arbantis Ardio Arefars Argentur Arqeq Artey Aryene Asiella Assegah Astona Astotey Atawuno Atenymr Aterrang Atiso Ausini Awiapuck Awodwoi Ayempong Ayepio Babedo Badotey Bafri Baitaku Bancisto Bankson Banung Bautium Beboata Bedensah Biamodi Birana Blalif Blarse Blatepi Bobra Bodartoe Bospel Bovarin Boysno Brete Buorba Buori Caenta Cagbens Calin Callise Camfuoru Camirea Canya Catansu Catris Cattetur Cesurna Chaus Cobercur Corba Coriyi Cornoe Cosarna Crafrah Daddys Daethea Dakos Damani Danavium Dapone Daria Delipon Desdema Dessaoe Dillemah Ditey Doffor Dojoe Dokkin Domim Domip Dompor Dontum Doome Dorum Doune Duntina Duracasi Duricium Durna Durnopon Durtel Durye Duscium Eamirio Earoto Emaminia Emidesi Engilla Engis Eramna Erocala Eshio Esolasa Esowa Esulum Etsuto Eukum Eurnami Eurosa Faferre Fallunte Fanta Fedina Felenus Feranum Foranum Frahae Friso Gabai Gboah Gemedu Gutua Gyagela Gyana Gyanum Gyebo Gyerwa Haente Hathelia Hatia Haumfiae Heasi Helei Hercupia Hersetey Hiedoo Hieroh Holis Horia Ibranoe Idebhio Iolithe Ionkrah Ionna Iscia Ispet Istrus Ivreh Jaryx Kaalsin Kahio Kakwa Kalia Kanko Kobee Kodor Kodwoa Koffo Kofiah Kohea Kokkong Kokoo Kokuffos Kokyekum Kolinii Kolorbah Konti Korde Koreia Kotare Kpaperyx Kpindoon Kpondebo Kporton Kubrin Kuffereh Kufui Kukped Kusuah Kwabri Kwakpion Kwakua Kwaso Kwayi Kwekyie Kwofo Lagya Laldeus Lamide Lamusu Lanum Laora Larteh Laryx Lassi Laste Lateriae Latru Lianqua Litey Lodwi Logenrie Lomla Lotchata Luellis Luntario Lunum Lunyamah Lydoh Lykey Lysifa Mabduba Magyee Makum Mampokki Mantium Mardine Mareh Marpong Martei Masaria Mawia Mawir Mawum Mbromon Mense Messata Minke Miphonti Missamoa Miumanis Mnaveria Mnoven Mornsa Mulitode Mulles Mytia Mytiaka Mytiuma Naeoni Nafuo Namanna Nanko Nepria Neusi Nkorte Nkrulan Nksoluti Nsanium Nsuke Nunyaah Nusah Nynum Odeni Odilfa Odine Odomanna Odorre Ofenta Ofine Ofododan Oforba Ofortun Ohauitum Oheate Okakorbi Okantis Okukpon Okunynus Omabu Omario Opaaduke Opalessa Opona Oponiuq Orrokki Owakyim Paaris Padohe Pafui Pakweku Palica Pallesto Palli Panuan Papia Penoo Phankrum Phauttu Pitao Plung Pomabia Porane Poritur Praesde Prand Praxa Prinare Prirraq Privre Proceres Pusfen Quattium Regis Remoa Remoaffo Rheato Rherio Ritumah Romorand Rusentu Sabra Sacqui Saegul Samah Sampone Sancamfi Sarte Sarvosu Segis Semperi Sentis Setium Siful Sitelis Skalhaum Skans Sollata Sollo Spethere Speti Spollia Stemben Stoni Tabrah Tagnia Takum Takwa Tamesu Tasie Tawodzo Tayeekum Teama Tenette Tharia Thentis Therrami Therran Titaompo Torah Tricong Truma Tuarthie Tuffena Tuntwir Tunuaid Tupiacto Turonn Umamon Valhaete Valluto Vectia Vectin Vectong Velmis Vencium Venori Ventur Vigulir Villa Vinisu Vinoe Xetina Xetoo Yakua Yakum Yakweid Yakyea Yammane Yaotey Yawum Ymetufu Yusia

[annachum]

Some Valhalla comics! Sigyn HCs ( now that I've seen her appearance in the Valhalla comics )

. Unlike in my MCU fics, Sigyn isn't a childhood friend of Thor, Sif and Sigyn in Valhalla comics

. She starts off as a valkyrie and volva before marrying Loki. She still continues her volva Streak even after she and Loki got married

. Sweet, sassy, elegant and brave

. Basically at times works with Loki on his schemes and often helps keep Loki in check

. A number of deities often run to call Sigyn if Loki is behaving TOO dastardly

. Sigyn has a perceptive observation skills and often can sense bullshit from a mile away

. She actually is at first amongst the valkyries that appears in the Odin's Wager book

. Loki and Sigyn eventually got to know one another in a mead hall party and Thor introduces Loki to Sigyn

. In the Valhalla comics, while Sif has golden hair, Nanna has honey brown hair, Sigyn has raven hair

. Likes to at times wear flowers and intricate headdresses on her raven hair

. In rhe Valhalla comics, turns out Loki becomes a blood brother of Odin after Loki first formed an alliance with Thor as a plan to turn against Angrboda ( who dumped him then ) in a scheme

. Becomes a good friend of Nanna and Sif 🤩🤩🤩🥺🥺🥺

. Similarly with Loki, Sigyn is not of Asgard, yet an Aesir - Light Elven from Alfheim. So Loki and Sigyn came to share a similar sense of ' otherness ' in Asgard

. Of fucking course Loki and Sigyn have a villa of their own after they got married

. Sigyn becomes a ' cool aunt ' figure to Thor and Sif's children

. Valhalla comics! Sigyn is born of Alfheimr nobility btw

🤩🤩🤩🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺