An unexpected visitor (Sorsa, Muire)

[Arcill]

It was a cold night in the windy and rocky terrain of the Frostback Mountains, and through the thick snow and forest Arcill walked alone. Following the road up the steep hill he came upon a wide mountain plateau where the trees abruptly ended some 100 yards from an imposing stone wall. The Avvarian village which resembled a fortress belonged to the Avvar who had ordered the death of Arcill`s loved ones eight months ago, and among the Avvars the village was named Spearhold. Two massive, iron-shod wooden gates blocked what seemed to be the only way in and as Arcill stopped to look upon the great Hold which was one among the mightiest Holds in the Frostback Mountains, only the thought of revenge remained on Arcill`s mind.

The strong wind that swept across the land made Arcill`s long black hair blow toward west and in his right hand he held his mighty sword, with its tip pointing down, which he thought to use in what would happen soon. Standing there in silence with a fixed look upon the massive gates, he waited. What he wore would have shocked a common man in Ferelden, but among the Avvars who were a barbaric people it was not unusual for someone to go around with a bare chest, only wearing leather trousers, boots of straps and skin and a warm fur on the shoulders, and this was exactly what Arcill wore this day. He had come from the lowlands after having stayed with the Chasind wilders ever since he had been exiled, and he had managed to gather an army. Now he hoped he would gain the support of the other Avvars, once he soon had dealt with his current problem that stopped it from happening.

It was a risky plan Arcill had, but he knew the thane of Spearhold would have no option but to accept what soon would be proposed, as long he was not killed before he would get the chance. In secret however, Arcill kept a band of warriors close in the woods, which he had put his Kossith friend Muire to lead. If things would go bad, she would step forth and see justice done, but either way it could go horrible wrong.

Hearing a crow fly in the air, Arcill looked up and he noticed the crow landed upon a head on pike, eating its rotten flesh. Once Arcill realized who the head belonged to he was shocked and angered to see that it was his dead father, and then as his gaze ventured across the wall he noticed more of his friends and family, but once his gaze spotted his wife among them a boiling rage built up and in angry voice he shouted out for all the Avvars inside to hear. “I am Arcill Ar Kattrin O Axehold and I demand to speak with your Thane!!” He demanded and he knew as soon he told his name a dozen-archers would soon show up and aim keenly on him, but he also knew that the Thane would show up as such was the custom among the Avvars whenever a visitor arrived their gates, even though the Thane may have at the moment held a feast within his hall.

[sorsa777]

It was a pretty normal day for Sorsa. Listen to her father yell….complete her father’s demands….listen to him gripe…be a good daughter and fix things. This was a particularly annoying time for Sorsa, since the Thane of all the other Holds were here to visit. To be completely honest, she did not know why they were here, nor did she care, but her father said it was important. Usually anything her father said went in one ear and out the other, but she probably should have listened this time.

After all that Sorsa was finally getting to grinding at her sword, to make it look pretty for her latest demonstration. She liked to give combat lessons and demonstrations to the youth of her tribe, but it was rare that she got to do anything she wanted to do. Her life was not free here. She loved many people and would miss seeing them, but all she really wanted to do was wake up one day, and not be in this place. Sorsa had dreamt about this many times. Almost every night she could see herself somewhere in many adventures, having a family, or even with a normal everyday job. It was almost as if she would be happy anywhere else but her own home.

As she worked, she could hear her father yell for her again. It was not fair! She had just started getting ready to do what SHE wanted to do, and he was calling he again.
”Sorsa, I need you to….” he started in a gruff, demanding tone.
”Are you serious?! I’m about to train the kids!” she interrupted.
”Sorsa! They are not your children. Who gives a damn! Now stop all that whining and get over here!”

Just as Sorsa was about to lose it, they both heard a loud scream. Sorsa could only make out the words ”…see your Thane…” since the moment the shouting started, commotion arose all around her. Her father immediately pushed through her and began gathering archers and warriors. The Thane’s looked worried and began to follow her father. Sorsa stood dumbfounded in the middle of a crowd as people ran past her and women grabbed their children. She watched mothers ran by with little ones in their arms: the same children Sorsa was about to show how to properly care for a sword. As she held her sword, she gripped the steel so tightly in her hand, her fingers almost went numb. She would not let anyone hurt these people. Her father would not care if these children were to end up face down in the dirt, but she did. Family and honor meant something to Sorsa. Her father had neither, in her eyes.

As she thought about this, she ran to the gate. She moved swiftly through all the people, with her greatsword by her side, like a lover would be. When she got there, her father stood at the gate, with archers lined up over the walls. The other Thane’s stood with him, possibly to show allegiance, or because it seemed like the right thing to do. She ran up behind him, mixing in between the other warriors ready to defend their village. She heard mutters between people, but still had no idea what was going on.

”Arcill…what could you possibly be doing here….and what the hell is your business..” her father said in a stern, condescending tone.

Arcill …the name felt familiar to Sorsa, but she could not pin point in her mind why she had heart it before. Her father had done many awful things to people in the past, and Sorsa just assumed this was another one of his charming feats.

[Muire]

Arcill was either brave or stupid. Muire couldn't quite decide which as she crouched hidden in the trees, her men at her back, but he was one of the two. Maybe both. He was also grieved, and angrier than she'd ever seen him. Muire couldn't see his face from where she was, but the tension in his shoulders, the quality of his voice, everything in him screamed righteous rage. Perhaps that was why he chose this plan - not his war but his vengeance. The heads outside the walls must be those of his family and he wanted a matching set. Whatever his motives, however, Arcill was her leader. He was her purpose now, and she would follow where he lead wherever that may be. She only hoped that it wasn't to their deaths.

But a great many figures appeared atop the wall and Muire tightened her grip on her spear. Archers, swordsmen, spearmen, and among them the figure of their leader. Thane... the word felt strange on her tongue, but it was the one Arcill had used. A word he spat with such venom that even Muire felt chilled, and she understood his lust for the Thane's blood. Human weakness, that somehow drove him to greater power and resolve. A contradiction withing true facts that she had precious little hope of understanding, but that she would nevertheless accept.

The thane was shouting down from the walls, never leaving the safety of his men and his great wooden gate. Pathetic fool. If not for the sake of the other, stronger men in the hold she would suggest burning it all to the ground, but she did not. Surely there was someone within those walls worth the risk Arcill was taking now. In all of Spearhold there must be one, at least, strong enough to join them.

[Arcill]

"I have come to claim justice! In the name of Haakon Wintersbreath I challenge you Tralin!! Come down and let us fight like men! Let the Gods and the Thanes of Holds witness which of us is the strongest, and who they favor!" Arcill shouted out and demanded, wanting to trick Tralin to come down by appealing to his pride, all because Arcill wanted vengeance and justice for all those his rival had killed. It was time to unleash his wrath upon him, but instead of bringing an army and fighting the entire hold, it would be far easier to kill just a man and the let the gods decide who should be the victor and show who the Avvars should support.

Arcill looked upon himself as the savior of the Avvars, as well the Chasind. If he managed to kill Tralin, they would all stand by his side and they would all follow him to war against the Fereldens. Within a short moment their fate would be sealed and then there would be no point of return, either Arcill died and lost the cause, or Arcill won and gained what he long had wanted.

With a fixed glare Arcill watched Tralin standing on top of the wall and beside him he could see his daughter Sorsa, as well many other Thanes who obviously had come to Spearhold this night to celebrate. Most likely they gathered because of their victory over his tribe Axehold, or because of their new found alliance if there was any. Ever since Arcill`s childhood, Spearhold had been Axehold`s ally, but the alliance which had been trusted had been repaid in blood. Arcill had seen Sorsa as a child, and seeing her now as an adult was attracting his attention. Still as he looked upon her a moment, he quickly turned to Tralin again to see if he dared to come down and step outside the gate, such that the two of them could fight to their death.

"I swear, I will kill you Tralin." Arcill continued as he almost bite his teeth together, angered as he breathed with a heavy chest. His grip around the sword tightened and just as he had said those words, he took his sword and made a cut in the palm of his hand, swearing with his blood that he was going to kill him. He knew that Muire stood close nearby listening as well watching to what was happening, and he hoped she would not do anything reckless before he could get the chance to meet Tralin on fair ground. If she was discovered before the duel, hell would break loose. Still he trusted her and he knew she would obey his command, she was Kossith afterall and it was her tradition to obey and follow, yet since she was no longer part of her clan he believed she still could be able to do as she pleased, maybe even step in and act as a true human friend if she so need for it.

[sorsa777]

Sorsa watched the hatred in the man’s eyes. It was a hate that Sorsa regularly felt for her father, and in her opinion every person he came in contact with should feel. Sorsa was no more than a tool to Tralin, and many others shared her fate. As she watched her father, she was not sure what was going on in his head. She was not sure if he was coward enough to risk the whole village, but it would not surprise her. She knew the people were now afraid and needed someone to do something in defense of them. As she waited she saw her father’s face turn to anger. ”Foolish boy!!” [/i] he yelled from beside her, “your vengeance will mean nothing in the end!! Your pride IS nothing!! YOU will never be anything but a boy on a fool’s errand!!” [/i] Tralin yelled from next to her, growing increasingly loud and frustrated. It was obvious that her father was embarrassed and had no intention on facing his foe. Sorsa knew she had to do something. There were innocent people here that could pay for her father’s arrogance. She could see Arcill’s pain and knew that he would not stop until he got what he wanted.

Her hands shook a bit beside her. What she was about to do was either stupid, or sane, she was not sure. She had never under minded her father in public, or in such a large setting. But as her father began to insult Arcill again, Sorsa spoke over him. “Sir, may I ask you one thing? If you were to take my father, what would happen to the rest of the people behind these walls? Will you spare them and allow them to live on in return for this one life we can offer you?” She spoke loudly but in a soothing tone. She did not wish to provoke the beast more than it had already been. Sorsa may be a warrior , but she was NOT stupid.

As she spoke her father grit his teeth and glared at her. There were whispers behind her that she could not hear. She knew that many must think her cruel to offer her own father in recompense to a man who was essentially terrorizing their livelihood. That was not the case at all. In fact, Sorsa was very loving, but her love was not for her father, but for the rest of the people she lived with. She loved the children she trained to fight, she loved the mothers who thank her and cooked her favorite meals on her birthday, and she loved the warriors that she had shed blood with on the battlefield. There was no way that Sorsa would let them be harmed and she was going to prove it. She cared NOT for Thanes and rules. She cared not for politics. If anyone doubted her convictions they surely would know her intentions soon.

“To those of you who misunderstand my question,” she said turning to the people of her village, “please know that I would gladly offer any life to save a multitude of lives from danger…” she turned back to Arcill as she spoke her final words, “…I would even offer myself.” Her voice was stern and truthful, but her eyes were pleading. It was as if they were saying please, take anything but these people . Her true hopes and intentions were to lure her father into a corner where he would HAVE to comply with Arcill’s demands. It was obvious he was infuriated, but it was just as obvious that his choices were now limited.