#finn.event01

[weorold]

closed started for @valkyrics — finn & naga.

finn had heard of silvershore's high priestess, of course. had seen her before too, in all of her radiance that he knew he shouldn't trust. as an ironblood he had it drilled into him that the silvershore clan should be dealt with as little as possible at all, and yet there he was; glancing at her silhouette in the flames of the pyre, each footstep taking him closer. finn was privy to many things, desire and battle amongst them, but if there was one thing he was always drawn to it would be a seer. how could a child of prophecy be expected to avoid the pull to potential answers?

"high priestess." he greeted with a respectful nod as he approached her side. he glanced between the pyre and her indomitable eyes. "do the flames speak to you?" he pried curiously, the corners of his lips pulling up into half a smile. "i hope they talk fondly of me."

[weorold]

finn would not complain that axsel wanted more to drink since it had been a pastime of theirs for many years, but he did watch axsel more closely since sylvi's untimely death. his hersir had found comfort in the bottom of a barrel and fistfights, the latter of which had thankfully started to ease off, but finn always kept his guard up. just in case axsel needed him. finn knew that the loyalty expressed between them was not just words; there was a bond that neither of them could break, fates intertwined.

his eyes softened as he mentioned her, and he did not need to say her name for finn to know immediately that he spoke of sylvi. his smile eased slightly too, but the warmth on his face grew. it was strange to talk about her as if she was not there, but then he had to remind himself of the truth of the matter. he missed her dearly, he could only imagine how axsel felt.

"she would." he agreed, taking a long swig before filling his cup again. "i imagine she would have stood upon this table to announce to everyone in his hall just how unfit you would be as high jarl." he chuckled at the thought of it. a heavy moment passed between them. "i am sorry she is not here, axsel. not a moment has passed where i haven't wished she was." he sighed softly. "what do you suppose she would make of it all? she was always far wiser than you and i."

axsel chuckled. "good, let it be forgotten then so this fool can continue drinking his ale." he wasn't going to feed this rumor more than it should and if it reached the wrong ears, he will shut what it down. he wasn't the man to be the next high jarl and there are enough people who truly knew it. "even freydis asked me of it, i do not understand how it started. surely the people would know better."

finn's words took hold in axsel's heart and squeezed it. fondness couldn't even begin to describe what he felt to hear it, despite already knowing it with his whole being. "and you mine." he smiled, if only they were in the comfort of their clan's halls rather than here. "but we will not be exiled, we have yet to drink enough for that." axsel grinned and emptied the rest of his cup before filling some more.

as he looked at his cup, axsel couldn't help but sigh. "she would've laughed at the idea, laugh so hard she would be hard of breath." he chuckled at the image of slyvi laughing.

[weorold]

finn couldn't help but laugh at her concern, whether it was real or not it still entertained him. "worried?" he grinned, a cocky smile that often appeared, and raised an eyebrow. "worried for an ironblood warrior. what do they tell you of us in the silvershore clan? that our blades are wooden and our shields are crafted by children?" he shook his head as he chuckled. "worry for a warrior is wasted, leila."

as she continued and explained to him why she had asked to meet, his hands met his hips as he tilted his head back slightly to asses her further, his brow furrowed. "huh." he exhaled, mulling it over. "a ring?" he truly did not care for her materialistic mishap, so he toyed with her for his own amusement. "not from a lover, i hope?" shameless flirting. it wasn't like he wasn't well known for it.

"it is already forgiven, i apologize in return for assuming such a thing, i'm so used to people knowing who i am due to my title." she smiled softly and bowed her head, almost appearing shameful when in fact she was already thinking that this might have helped to melt whatever ice could've been between them, a banter she didn't anticipate.

there was a knife hidden within her dress but she wouldn't be foolish enough to try anything, she knew that between them finn would win and being dead would give her nothing but disadvantage. "i'm not here to kill you, i was just worried about your wellbeing. in my line of work, there are shadows." she took a deep breath, playing it as if she was nervous to ask for his help, looking around as if someone could've followed her to this meeting.

"i do not expect you to say yes, as i said i thought you knew who i was. last time i was within the walls of ironblood, a ring has been taken for me and i would like it back." she cleared her throat. "it is dear to me and i'm willing to pay anything to get it back. name your price and you shall have it."

[weorold]

axsel's grin as he discussed battle drew finn's gaze and it warmed his heart. finn observed that his hersir was at ease in the company of others with a drink in hand, and certainly alone with him, but finn had never met another warrior who took to battle so much like a child to its mother's breast. battle seemed to nurture axsel, and finn knew he was right. if it came to the clashing of swords, axsel would emerge the victor.

he leaned into the touch of axsel's head upon his shoulder, the edge of his lips just catching his forehead in a quick kiss before he knocked back a significant amount of mead from his cup. "i did not say that i have suggested your name, if anything i have dissuaded anyone from considering it. i have assured them you are a pig-headed fool and even the title of jarl is too high for you." he teased, laughing as he winked at axsel.

his eyes softened even as his smile remained. "but no matter the outcome, you know i will be with you. high jarl, hersir, exiled for all i care, you will always have my axe." as well as his heart, but with prying eyes and ears around them finn did not want to reveal any of their weaknesses, especially if axsel had attention on him.

"or they'll send us to kill for them," axsel pointed out and took another gulp of his drink. he was not afraid of war not death, but he would rather raid than go to war over politics, alas that is the way of their lives and gods help him, axsel loves it. "and we will win." he grinned from ear to ear.

his name being thrown as high jarl has to be a joke by someone. he sighed and rested his head on finn's shoulder for a moment before looking at him "yes, because i will make a terrible high jarl, finn. we both know that." axsel shook his head, though he couldn't help but smile just because his companion was. "my name will stay as hersir, i do not wish to be anything else."

axsel looked around at the longhall, warriors, shieldmaidens and other clan members alike were drinking the night away, in anticipation to hear who will be crowned their high jarl. while all he wanted to do was drink and get to a warm bed. "you're not looking to get rid of your hersir, are you?" he smirked at finn. "i will not be so easily defeated." the smile never wavered from his face.

[weorold]

there they were, those decorated words that seers often spoke that confused finn. though he should not expect that the gods would speak in anything other than a convoluted tongue, reserved only for ears that possessed the power to understand it, but it still never quite sat right with him. he was from a background of simple speak, few lied to one another since their bonds were formed on trust on the battlefield and off of it, so the nature of the gods had always eluded him. so perhaps she was right, perhaps no ironblood man would believe anything she said. but how could he discern the lie from the truth when the words melted in his ears like warm honey and filled his head?

the step between them did not go unnoticed, but finn's nerve would not be so easily broken. what do you want, finn frodrsson? the question itself had appeared to him so many times, but he could not admit that he was not sure of the answer. "i would argue with you that no silvershore woman, mystic or otherwise, would do anything with my desire other than use it for their own gain." a pause, a tilt of his head. "and yet we stand before each other, and neither of us is dead or bleeding. where do you suppose that leaves us?"

"  the  gods  are  mischievous  in  their  might  and  often  speak  in  twisted  tongues.  "  silken  words,  wrapped  in  a  cloth  which  would  be  given  to  warrior  before  her,  to  shelter  from  the  storm,  to  cloak  the  actions  of  the  greedy  serpentine.  would  he  accept  her  song  if  she  gave  it  ?  would  he  like  a  drunken  sailor  fall  into  her  embrace,  let  her  coil  around  his  waist,  and  then  wait  to  be  blissfully  suffocated  ?  his  words  danced  along  the  flames  and  there  is  no  denying  the  ironblood  man  is  tempting.  when  was  the  last  time  one  of  the  men  unwilling  to  listen  to  her  words  approached  her  freely  ?  what  world  did  the  man  before  her  live  in  that  made  him  approach  someone  who  would  swallow  him  whole  if  offered  the  chance  ?  head  tilts  to  the  side,  snake-slit  eyes  slither  across  the  man  before  her  inspecting  and  finding  herself  intrigued  by  the  bravery  displayed  so  openly.

a  small  step  is  taken,  distance  between  fighting  clans  closing  before  eyes  once  more  meet,  locked  upon  one  another.  "  what  is  it  you  want  finn  frodrsson  ?  "  saccharine  lips  curl  into  a  smile,  filled  with  secrets,  schemes  and  untold  desires.  "  what  is  it  that  makes  you  curious  about  me  ?  for  if  i  am  not  mistaken,  no  ironblood  man  would  believe  any  words  which  leave  my  lips  ⸻  i  am  a  witch,  in  your  eyes,  perhaps  even  something  worse  ?  "  curiosity  is  a  fickle  thing  and  so  is  the  desire  to  ensnare  those  who  are  said  to  be  more  powerful,  for  strength  alone  does  not  define  what  power  is.

[weorold]

finn watched as she floundered for words, offering her a lopsided, cocky grin. "well, leila, it is my jarl and hersir's business to remember those who they have dealings with, and it is mine to remember who to kill. forgive me for my ignorance."

finn laughed, bemused by what seemed to be her silvershore customs. in the ironblood clan, warriors didn't lie to each other over something like this. they were direct with their feelings, pointed with their accusations and dislikes. it seemed the silvershore diplomat had some sort of issue with trust that she extended to him if she was worried that he hadn't considered betrayal from her. he glanced around to check the tree line, turning back to her with raised brows and a grin. "try to kill me if you wish, leila. i will take my chances against a small silvershore diplomat." he meant no offence, though he was hardly trained in etiquette. "now, what is it you need my help with?"

leila was at a lost of words and opened her mouth a few times to speak, but she would rather not admin it took her awhile to do so. "you do not? then why—" a fool, that had to be the explanation. she sighed deeply. "i am called leila," she took a step closer to him. "i'm a diplomat for clan silvershore, i've been to your clan many a times; have met and spoken to plenty of your people like your jarl, hersir and warriors alike."

she couldn't help but chuckle. "i should be offended at your memory, instead i find myself worried, why did you come here if you didn't know who i was? it could've been a trap, a ploy. surely you've told someone you're here with me, right?" that would complicate things but not too much, she thought. leila couldn't understand these ironblood, do they never think with their heads? if she was an assailant, this fool of a man would've had to fight for his life.

[weorold]

talking of sylvi had become easier as time had gone on, but the hole that her passing had left was still evident between them. her memory was very fond to finn, a sister in her own right, but his thoughts and concern were always with axsel on the matter. but still he grinned at how she used to chastise them with nothing but affection, how they could annoy her to no end and she would still love them effortlessly.

as axsel's forehead met finn's, his smile widened further and his hand found the back of axsel's head to press them all the more against each other. "if you drink enough you'll get to see three of me." he jested, laughing heartily as they ambled to the longhall. he took his seat beside axsel, holding his cup up to him as he toasted. "i will surely drink to that."

his gaze darted around the room as axsel muttered in his ear, falling upon all of the faces in the hall. how many of them had come to claim the place of the high jarl? how many of them would die for it? it was the ironblood way, to fight and die for what someone believed was owed. not finn's way, though. he hummed and leaned slightly closer to axsel, his gaze still wandering. "depends how you see it." he mused. "if everyone kills each other for it then it'll be less for us to handle." he cast his eyes to axsel, a smirk on his lips. "some people are even throwing your name around for it. high jarl axsel." he snorted. "we are all doomed."

axsel laughed, if they weren't in the company of others surrounding this pyre it would've been a loud belly of a laugh but he restrained himself out of respect, if anything. "if i recall correctly, it was the two of us who never gave her peace. come." he turned so they could both walk towards the longhall and drink the mead he so wanted.

there was no point in arguing, axsel liked to drink and heavily at that. what was the point of letting ale waste away when it can be enjoyed? as finn spoke of blindness, axsel paused and grinned, pulling their foreheads together. "as long as i'm still able to see you." and continued walking.

once they reach the longhall, the joy of their people gave axsel a reason to grin and he went to the first available seat both he and finn could enjoy their mead and axsel didn't waste time pouring them their first cup of many. "to thingstead, may we celebrate until our bellies are full." he took a long drink and then spoke quietly, only for finn's ears. "i fear this business with the next high jarl will not end well."

[weorold]

her tone was light, yet there was a heaviness to it. a darkness that simmered underneath, one that suggested a depth as vast as the ocean. but finn was no sailor, he did not know how to navigate high tide or stormy waters, and he only found himself sucked in all the more. entrapped by the siren's song.

"i've not met a warrior who could speak to the flames." he remarked, wondering if she was insulting him by his lack of ability to truly see. "we converse with our blades. usually, the discussions are very short." he joked lightly with a toying smile, shooting her a look to gauge her reaction.

he listened as she spoke, shaking his head at her question and holding his hands up. "i have not come to squeeze you for my fate." from all he knew about the silvershore clan, she would wring out his entire coin purse for just a taste of her powers. "i am simply curious." it would surely be his downfall. he spent a few moments pondering her words, then looked at her, puzzled. "surely they will only speak of what is destined, regardless of what i, or any other man, want?"

fear  should  be  the  first  reaction  from  a  high  priestess  of  the  silver  temple  when  faced  with  a  warrior  of  the  ironblood  clan.  for  they  were  beasts  pretending  to  be  men,  creatures  covered  in  the  blood  of  their  enemies  and  unwilling  to  submit  to  those  with  power,  influence  and  coin.  the  hairs  on  her  neck  rose  as  she  could  feel  a  hunter's  gaze  upon  her,  a  known  sensation  as  she  had  felt  it  before  ⸻  the  gaze  of  a  warrior  she  knew  by  name.  as  if  she  was  a  deer  being  hunted  by  a  wolf  she  stood  there,  unmoving  as  he  approached.  for  underneath  the  skin  of  a  deer,  a  serpentine  lay  waiting  and  when  needed  her  fangs  would  sink  into  warrior  and  bring  him  to  his  knees.

greeting  was  respectful  and  surprise  came  to  the  priestess.  so  he  could  be  gallant,  if  only  for  a  moment.  "  do  they  not  speak  to  you  finn  frodrsson  ?  are  the  flames  quiet  in  your  company  ?  "  plump  and  seductive  lips  turned  ever  so  upward  at  words  of  fondness.  would  he  like  to  be  strangled  in  his  sleep  or  poisoned  by  a  loved  one  ?  the  warrior  before  her  was  clueless  to  which  trap  he  was  setting  himself  up  in.  "  the  flames  speak  of  destiny  of  conquest  and  blood,  axes  and  swords  ⸻  what  do  you  want  them  to  say,  finn  frodrsson  of  the  ironblood  clan  ?  "  frame  is  turned  fully,  petite  figure  looks  up  to  bigger  and  she  wonders,  how  can  she  fell  such  an  enemy  ?  will  curiosity  slay  this  beast  or  will  he  kneel  to  the  might  of  the  silver  temple  ?

[weorold]

finn had to admit that receiving an informal summons, from a member of the silvershore clan no less, had piqued his curiosity. he wondered why axsel hadn't been called upon seeing as finn was no different to any other ironblood warrior, but he could only assume that his hersir was not interested. finn should have taken that as a warning, but his nature was too hard to ignore.

he met the gaze of the smaller woman, cautious footing about him in case this was an ambush. it would be foolish if it was, but he had to keep his wits about him. he pulled a face that was a mixture of confusion and an attempt to remain polite, since he was truly at a loss for who this woman was or how she knew his name. "afraid not." he answered frankly. "should i?" he eyed her curiously, suspicions high even if he had answered her call. she had asked for help, and finn had always found that difficult to ignore.

at the outskirts w/ finn @weorold

the outskirts were not the best place to be given the celebrations and traditions but they did their jobs, and right now leila wasn't meddling in traditions, she had work to do. work that couldn't stop and the gods will be with her today to see it'll get done. sending for the ironblood wasn't hard.

"finn frodrsson, thank you for agreeing to meet me here. do you remember who i am?" she sure hope he didn't, then she would've failed her job as a diplomat, but the question came out of politeness if anything. but if the man agreed to meet with someone he did not know, maybe he's a fool, just like his hersir.

[weorold]

finn knew, without true consciousness, where axsel would be. he followed the ever-present tug on the tether that bound them together, discerning the shape of axsel before the great pyre. something stirred within him, a volley of emotions — rage, sadness, emptiness; for the reason axsel mourned before its flames.

footsteps that had never quite been able to master stealth stepped up behind his hersir, and of course axsel knew he was there before he was able to announce it. finn chuckled at axsel's words, his gaze turning to the fire. "and no doubt she'd chide me for never giving you two a moment's peace, as always." he retorted, a smile on his lips as warm as the flames.

the hand on his shoulder brought his attention to his hersir's face, and immediately he clapped his own arm around axsel's shoulders. "a seer?" he barked out a laugh. "i wouldn't put my coin on it. my friend, you will barely be able to see past the end of your nose before the night is young." he grinned mischievously, patting his other hand affectionately on axsel's chest. "she has my respects, always. you and i, however, have yet to empty our cups."

at the great pyre w/ finn @weorold

the fire was blazing, the great pyre's heat was comforting. axsel stood before the pyre, thinking whatever or not he had enough strength to stand before it to mourn his sister again. maybe he should drink first— no, he knew that was wrong and walked closer to the pyre.

hearing familiar footsteps appearing next to him, axsel chuckled "she would've scolded me if i drank first before coming to honor her." knowing that only finn could hear and then raised his head to look at the sky, to fight the burning in his eyes. he will not cry in front of all these people who have their own mourning and celebrations to do.

just like when they set her body on the boat and let her sail to her journey to valhalla, axsel smiled sadly. "i will see you again, sister. not before i sent whoever did this to you so you could make them pay." he mumbled quietly, taking a deep breath before turning to finn, putting a hand on his shoulder. "do you wish to make an offering before we head inside? i see ale in our future, maybe i'm to finally become a seer." he joked, trying to make light in front of a place where memories were bubbling.