Brand New

&Ylva

Ylva had gotten up and went about her day like she normally did. Having one of the two slaves her father had getting her dressed and getting her ready for the day.Her father use to be a Radningar for the old earl, so he had used his power to get slaves to take care of his blind daughter. Now he was just a regular viking, he didn't go raiding though. Not wanting to work for the new earl Halfdan, but also didn’t want to be on his bad side and get killed. Or something bad could happen to Ylva to punish him, and even though he could be cruel to her, he still loved his child despite her eyes. She had just finished her morning meal with her father before she grabbed the rope that was at her feet and attached Hálogi. "I'm going out to the shoreline again today, I'll be back in time for dinner" she told her father before she started toward the door. "Do be more careful this time" she heard her father say before she walked out of the hut. Her father was still mad that she had come home soaked to the boat last time, and she was surprised he hadn't tired to stop her from leaving all together. She never told him what had happened, and he was very angry about it.

After she had taken her normal path down to the ocean Ylva spent a great deal of time simply walking in the water. Enjoying the feel of the waves, sometimes reaching down into the sand to feel for shells or anything else she could find. The shoreline was her happy place in many ways. She was always able to hear new things, feel new things, and sometimes smell new things. People mostly left her alone as well, having gotten use to her need to be near the water. When she had started doing this as a little girl, many people in the village would try to keep her back, or tell her father it was simply to dangerous for her to be so close. However Ylva made sure to pay them no mind. Like her new friend Hakon had told her, people will always try to underestimate her because of her eyes.They would always tell her what she couldn't do, and she would just need to tell herself what she could.

As she walked along the beach she started to hear a loud sound, She had heard this sound before, but from so far away she wasn't quite sure what it was. Making her way closer and closer to the sound Ylva started to realize someone was chopping wood. Who would be chopping wood down by the water she started to wonder as she made her way closer and closer to the sound. Maybe it was the shipbuilder? It made sense that he would chop up wood closer to the water, that way he wouldn't have move everything so far. Ylva had kept walking until the sound was so load, and she could hear whoever was cutting it down breathing. From the sounds of it the person was getting tired. She was sure it was hard work to try and cut up a tree. It certainly was something she would never be able to do. Then all of a sudden the sound stopped, her heard what sounded like a person move around quickly, but she wasn't sure. The wind was very loud, and sometimes it interfered with her listening skills.

Fearing that she may have scared, or angered the person that was cutting the wood Ylva figured it would be best to say something. " Hello?" she said at first " I'm sorry if I shouldn't be here...I heard a loud sound and got curious as to what it was and followed it" she said next as she took a step toward where she thought the person was. She was fairly certain she was right, for Hálogi, her dog, was moving toward that direction. Like he wanted to get closer, or maybe he was trying to get her away? she wasn't sure." Maybe not the smartest idea.." she said more to herself, but still out loud. " So...um what are you doing?" she asked even though she was pretty sure she already knew.She was curious none the less and hoped they would answer her.

Ylva was still standing there waiting for the person in front of her to speak when she finally heard them, well him to be exact. ‘A daughter of Halvor shouldn’t be sorry for being curious.’ the man in front of her said. Ylva felt a small smile creep onto her face when he said that. For the people who weren't Halfdan's men, they knew who her father was and he had earned a lot of peoples respect over the years. He had been a very strong and accomplished viking for the old earl, Skaering. However she was sure her father wouldn't agree with the man in front of her. Her father didn't stop her from leaving and exploring everyday, but he thought it was stupid. That she should stay home and practice trying to be the best wife she could for her future husband. He had wanted the Thralls to teach her to cook and clean. Every time they had tried, had ended badly. With her getting burned or something getting broken. So he had finally given up for a while. Leaving his burden of a daughter to her exploring. ‘Being smart wouldn’t have brought our people this far, am I right?’ Ylva let a small laugh out at that. "I suppose that is true, you have to do stupid things to learn." she said to him as she moved forward a bit more with Hálogi. Her dog was very curious about the man, which made Ylva feel a bit more at ease. It meant that he didn't see him as a threat to her at all.

She could hear the man in front of her moving, she wondered what he was doing for a moment until she felt her dog move forward again. He must have been trying to pet Hálogi then. Which was then confirmed by the man speaking again. ‘Tough crowd to please.’ he had said. Ylva smiled at him. " He was trained to be wary of people, so he can protect me if he needs to" she said and paused before adding "If he is letting you touch him, he views you as a friend not a threat." she said smiling wider at him. She was glad that Hálogi liked him, maybe she could make a new friend out of this man. That would be nice, plus if she was right about what the man was doing, then she also knew who this was. Unless of course this was one of Halfdan's men, and one of his boat builders. ‘I’ve started building a new boat, but I think you already know that don’t you? the man spoke to her again. So she had been correct that the man had been cutting down wood for a new boat. It was the only reasonable reason for them to be cutting all the way down by the shoreline. She wondered what the boat was going to look like. Was it going to be very big and used for raids? or would it be a small boat used for groups of people traveling from place to place.

before she could speak again he finally told her his name. ‘My name is Sithric.’ So it was the man she had thought it had been.That was good, she preferred it to be someone from her village to one of Halfdan's men. She of course had never met this man before, she had only heard of him. From people in the village and her father. They all said he was a wonderful boat builder. That he was a hard worker, and it showed in his work. " It's nice to meet you Sithric, I am Ylva, if you didn't know my name." she said first before moving forward a little bit more. "You are correct though, I was pretty sure you were building a boat. I just didn't want to assume" she said next before letting the rope go and letting Hálogi lay down. " I remember the sounds from being down here while you were building before...you haven't been down here for a while though, I wondered if they had requested no more boats to be built." Ylva said to him. " Is Halfdan requesting new boats of you then?" she asked him. She was sure he would hear the distain in her voice. She had never met the new earl, but she didn't like most of his men. Besides a select few she had met, most of them were rude or completely ignored her. She hadn't minded them at first, but lately she wasn't having good experiences.

Ylva gave a small laugh when she heard him say Trust me, I have done more stupid things in my life then smart things. I turned out pretty okay if I say so myself.’ She was sure he turned out okay, as he had worded it to her. He was a nice man, and her dog trusted him. It was just funny to hear a man openly admit he had done something wrong. It certainly wasn't something she had ever heard her father say before.No, the great Halvor never admitted to being wrong. Or if he did something wrong. He never said sorry for anything horrible he did to her, that was for sure. ‘Halvor knows you’re out here right? I don’t want to bring you in trouble with the old man.’ asked her next. Ylva forced a smile onto her face before saying " I told father I was coming to the shoreline yes, but I promise you he doesn't care." she said before signing. " Father lets me do whatever I want so I am not in his hair" Ylva said next before shrugging her shoulders. She didn't want people to get a bad idea of her father, for he would punish her if it got back to him, but she wasn't going to lie and act like he cared more than he did. There was absolutely no reason.

Ylva felt herself frown when he said ‘But maybe you should ask your father to teach you some fighting. The dog isn’t always going to be around, and I believe it is not impossible for you to learn fighting.’ Maybe he was right, but her father always told her she would marry someone who wouldn't want her to fight, and that she would be useless at it anyways. When she was younger she had been interested in learning, and anytime she had asked that was always his answer. She had wanted to be strong like him, but now as she had gotten older she wasn't sure she wanted to be anything like him at all. "I have asked before...he isn't interested in me knowing how to." she said suddenly feeling a little awkward. " I think he hopes I'm married before Hálogi dies.. and then its not his problem" she said next before shrugging her shoulders. She hoped he didn't think he answer was rude, but it had been truthful. Ylva often worried about what would happen when Hálogi died, he helped her get around everywhere and she knew he was getting older. Her father hadn't been training any other dogs as well, so she would have to figure something out on her own if something bad did happen to her beloved dog." I would like to learn how someday though." she said more quietly.

She smiled when he spoke again ‘Nice to meet you to Ylva. And you were right yourself, your name slipped my mind I’m sorry.’ It didn't bother her. Most people just referred to her as the blind daughter of Halvor. So she was use to people not knowing her name. Besides that she was just a simple villager too. She had no real Ranking that would give people a reason to know her name."It's okay!" she said simply before Sithric spoke again   ‘I’m glad I’m having some company again while splitting the trees. Not that I don’t like being alone but it’s always more fun when you have good people to accompany you.’ This made her smile. Ylva was happy he thought she was good company,most people wouldn't say the same thing to her. Well most people just ignored her anyways."I'm glad you think so Sithric, I'll be certain to try and be good company!' she said with a larger smile on her face.

She listened quietly as he spoke again.‘It’s true, I went away for a little while to the forest to clear out my mind, and train a little on my own.’ That made sense. It was a lot to take in for everyone when the new Earl took over. Plus from what she understood he was close to the old earls family. They had been very good people Ylva knew. She smily nodded her head in understanding to him. She was unsure what to say. It had to be hard to have to work for a new earl when you were so involved with the old one. ‘He did ask me yes. Well, he asked me and some of his own boat builders. I had to take it to stay busy to be fair. I assume they are going either raiding soon or they are going to raid in one of the villages further ahead. Cause the boats needed to be firm enough to withstand an attack.’ he said next answering her about the boats. She wanted to tell him to build them weak so the men would lose, but at the same time she hadn't met the new Earl. He could be an okay person and his people just sucked. However she was smarter than that. Halfdan most likely was a horrible man. " Well hopefully they are gone for a long time when they do leave" she said instead.

She wasn't sure if he had changed his side on the matter and was now woking with he new Earl. " Sorry...I just don't like his men...I have't had great experiences" she said as she lifted her dress to show him the long cut on her leg. The one she had gotten a day or so ago from one of his men when he decided to throw her on the ground when he found out she was the blind girl. Lucky for her she met Hakon and made a friend in him. He had helped her when no-one else had. When she was sure he had enough time to see her injury she let her dress fall back down. Not sure what he would say or do. She had been a little indecent in just showing him that much of her leg, but she also wanted to give a reason as to why she didn't like Halfdans men.

Ylva bit her lip to keep from laughing when she heard him say ‘Then I don’t think your father is a very smart man.’ to her. She wanted to agree with him so very much, but knew that she should be respectful about things like that. She couldn't go around talking shit about her father or it would get back to him and he would hurt her more than he already does now.Ylva was pretty sure she couldn't take more hurting from him at the rate. The once a day was more then enough, but if he did more she was not sure she would last much longer mentally. ‘But, in all seriousness he should be looking after you. Especially with all the young lads around.’ he said next and Ylva laughed."Boys would have to express interest for that to be a problem, but he feeds me and gives me a home..." Ylva said trailing off at the end. Not quite she what to say about the whole situation honestly. Her father was her father, she had grown up with him like this, and really wasn't sure how else he was suppose to act with her. Sure she was aware he shouldn't hurt her as much, but she can't see. She doesn't see how other families are like.

When Sithric spoke again about marriage Ylva started to think at his words . ‘Being married is something you should do for keeping yourself save. I literally can’t understand how people think like that? Are theh that close minded to think girls can’t defend themselves? Cause I got news, once on a raid I got beaten by a fierce shield-maiden. Not very pleasant.’ He thought a lot differently than her father did that was for sure. She was so use to how her father acted that this was very new and was getting her mind running. ‘If you want to. I can teach you, that is off course if you really want it and when I’m not building boats.’ he said next and Ylva's whole face lite up with excitement."Would you really? We could start as soon as I get back from the feast!" she said to him almost jumping up and down. "Oh are you sure, I don't want to add so much work on you, but I would love to learn!" she said next to him with a big smile on her face.

‘In my opinion it really isn’t. When I was your age, or maybe younger I’m not sure, I’d do anything for people to know my name.’ He then said about how he forgot her name, Ylva simply shrugged. People didn't know who she was. That was normal for her, and if they did it was that she was the village blind girl. Her father wasn't as big in the village now that he was just a normal viking, one that almost refused to work with Halfdan anyways. He stayed inside most days, avoiding people and the looks he feels like he gets. Plus her father is always worried that Halfdan is going to just kill him for not wanting to work with him well and for fighting against him the way he does."I'm use to it I guess." was all Ylva said with a smile.

Then the situation changed a little after she said she hoped Halfdan's men never came back. ‘Be careful who you speak those words too. But I hope for the same thing.’ he said and that made her smile. He felt the same way as her. His reaction to her leg surprised her more then ever.‘Did they do anything else to you?’ he asked and she could hear the anger in his voice. He was mad, more mad then anyone else that knew about what happened. "I believe that if he hadn't realized I was blind he would have done more, but I made him disgusted and he didn't want to touch me after he found out so he threw me onto the ground." Ylva said as she played with the sides of her dress.Let’s head for the treeline.’ Sithric said next as the oceans water started to spray on them. Nodding her head she grabbed her dogs lead again and followed the sounds of his foot steps into the woods.

Once they were in the safety of the woods Ylva spoke again. "But I mean I'm sure all of Halfdan's men aren't bad. Father just doesn't like him and stuff...your a great man,and you kind of work for him..so they can't all be bad." she said in a smaller voice. She didn't want to offend him. He was one of Halfdan's men after all.

Ylva felt a small bush heat up her face when she heard him say ‘The boys don’t know what they are missing out on.’ to her after she said none had liked her yet. She was very complimented by his words, and they made her feel really good.‘I am more than sure Ylva, trust me I see a grand fighter in you, maybe one they you will gain as much fame as Lagertha or any other shield-maiden. Come see me the day after you arrive back from the feast, then we will start!’ Sithric said next and that made her smile even bigger. He was going to actually train her and he seemed like he really wanted to do it too. This could help her get stronger and less easy to push around by her father.She would  be able to protect herself against Halfdan and his men too. The idea putting a smiling bigger then all smiles on her face."I will look forward to it while I am gone. I can't thank you enough for wanting to do this for me." she told him finally. She was just so happy about the idea and that he really wanted to help her out. When her own father wouldn't let her train."And I want to be a healer, but I would love to be as strong as a shield maiden too." Ylva makes sure to add on next.

They talk a lot more about other things but then Ylva says that she knows not all Halfdan's men are bad and Sithric speaks again ‘I maybe work for him. But I am not with him let’s make that clear.’ he says and she nodes her head. She knows that, she thought it before he even said it. He was kind and sure so was Haskell, but not all the Viking men were that wonderful. ‘Just look out for yourself Ylva, don’t cross those men if you don’t need too. Soon you will be able to defend yourself against them if needed, but for now please lay low until you leave for the feast.’ he said to her next and she nodded her head."Ill make sure to do my best, but if something happens again I'll tell you or Hankon. I won't just let them get away with it. I promise." she says to him with a small smile."I will do my best to be careful, its just hard I'm blind. I can't see where I am going. I don't know who is around kind of thing. But I'll do my best!" she adds with a smile.