A little panic-Vern

It was still dark outside when he woke and was ready to start the day. Though the sun was coming up in the east, giving the sky a golden red look to it. It was still hard to see much around you. Or at least so he thought as even as he was ready and up to start working… He was still slightly sleeping and didn’t bother much to even open his eyes anymore as he left the warmth of his home to walk in the cold open wide world that was made of his farm. He knew the way he walked everyday out of his head and didn’t need to see much. Making his way over to where he kept his dogs. He took the bucket he had left outside. He had filled it with some pig bones, sheep bones. With the rest of meat still packed on in. It was cold enough for it to stay outside without it getting to rotten. Though he could call himself lucky that no other animals had eaten it. He had forgotten to place it higher up where it was safe… Well mistakes happened. Now starting to become more awake he opened up the door of the stables where he kept his dogs in autumn and winter. It was warmer and well he did believe the animals deserved to stay warm too. Still not having his eyes open he started the empty the bucket knowing that the dogs would come and grab them. The silence though when there should be barking did not creep in his head. Slightly humming a slight song. Before his movements stopped at the sound of a sheep. He frowned. ‘Sheep?’ Now it slightly started to down on him and as he opened his eyes he could see that the place was filled with sheep. His eyes widened and he let go of the bucket it falling to the ground before rolling away. He stood there in shock and even went to whip his eyes out. Before he looked around. ‘These aren’t dogs…’

As that thought passed he started to walk backwards, carefully as if he was careful to awaken a monster. As soon as he was outside he closed the door. Holding his hand on the handle as he thought about it. He hadn’t put the sheep here last night did he? He slapped himself on the cheek to make sure he wasn’t sleeping. Before he opened the door again, just to slam it closed immediately after. ‘Nope still sheep.’ With a slight panic he started to run to where he kept the sheep. Only to find the dogs there. Them barking as they used too. Still waiting for their food. ‘Wait’ if the dogs where were the sheep used to be and the other way around then… he gulped and made his way to the horse stables. Praying to the gods that this wasn’t one of his drunk mistakes. He hadn’t even drank so much last night! He was sure he would have remembered that!

The Bunny stables were filled with pigs, where he kept the pigs were now the horses and… it was giving him a headache as he could not understand what had happened. Also… he was sure those poor animals were as confused as him. But then it dawned to him that he lost his bunnies… With a jog he made his way over to the horse stables. Opening the door and almost spurting in. His head looking around for his fluffy friends. Jogging from quarter to quarter in a slight panic. He stopped as his eyes fell on a young lady. Sitting with one of HIS bunnies on her lap. His eyes widened a bit as he stared at the person. It only slowly dawning to him that he knew the young lady. ”S…Sofie?” he said with a light stutter. Before he leaned over a bit and looked away slightly whispering as if someone else could hear it too. Someone who he didn’t want it to hear. He said it that way because he wasn’t sure if he was actually awake or not. Or if he was drunk or not. ”Did you do this?”

He stared at the girl trying to process it all. But it was coming really slow, just a light vice in the back of his head that said it had to do something with her. Why else would she be sitting in the horse stables with a BUNNY on her lap? But then he was still somewhere thinking he might be dreaming or even was just drunk and was hallucinating or something. Then tomorrow he would wake up and have a laugh about it. After of course he would run to all the stables checking the animals and making sure they were in the right place! His attention got pulled back to Sofie as she said she did do it. He blinked a few times trying to process it.

She…. She…. SHE had moved all his animals!? Alone!? Somewhere he was now more surprised about that fact than anything else. But a clear burden seemed to have fallen off his shoulders as he realised he hadn’t been drunk! He hadn’t made a mistake! Haskell would not be able to lau- No Haskell would still be able to laugh. Probably taunting him about the fact that a young girl was able to move all his animals without him noticing… And really that fact did hit him. He wasn’t as sharp as he used to be was he… He was getting sloppy and that… Did eat at him a little bit. He still stared at her slightly unbelievable as she stood. "I"ll help put them all back." She said before adding. ”I made sure they were all safe. So nothing would happen to them." Well he had seen nothing had happened to them and he was very grateful for that. But it was still very confusing and a bit chaotic. Also they weren’t really in their normal environment… What either didn’t matter, was exciting to them or was stressing them.

"It was a prank if you couldn't tell..." She seemed to say it so carefully and his brow went up in a slight questioning way. Before he just busted out in laughing. Relieved that it wasn’t actually him but someone else who did it was already making him happy. But then thinking about how stupid he must have looked in her eyes and how it actually was a great prank… even some tears from laughter filled his eyes as he warped an arm around his stomach feeling as if he was laughing to hard and couldn’t breathe. But as soon as the burst had come it was dying down slowly and he took a few breaths whipping the tears away. And letting out still some slight chuckles. A smile now on his lips and fully awake, even feeling refreshed. He took and other breath and smiled at her.

Who would have thought that sweet little Sofie was up to something like this? ”You really put a lot of work in it didn’t you?” Having to move all those animals. He smiled and waved a hand. ”Don’t worry about it, I will put them back later.” He wouldn’t let her go through that again. He hoped he could do it… He didn’t want to go chasing after sheep again. He still had nightmares about that. But for now like she said they were safe and that was good enough.

He looked over her and then frowned a bit. Wait she must have stood up real early to come here and do that. ”Have you eaten something?” Maybe he should offer her a nice breakfast? As reward for this magnificent prank?

He nodded when she said it took a few hours and a lot of preparing. Well he could believe that! He could not have done it better himself! And that for a girl! Not that he meant that girls were weak and couldn’t do anything. No he knew well enough how strong a girl could be. Strong and scary just like his sister. But Sofie here was sweet and cute and well… he was very impressed. He also had not expected her to prank HIM! HIM! But how could he have known. He knew Haskell would do something like that but then the man knew how traumatised he was about the animals escaping and probably would not do something big like this. So he was very impressed and he could say now that he calmed down and knew that it was a silly funny prank. He realised well how good of a prank it actually was. He laughed again slightly just thinking about what a stupid face he probably had made… Well he hoped that Sofie has enjoyed it as well. But she did look like she was content with it. Though… also slightly confused? But maybe his brain was still slightly playing tricks on him. Still being surprised about it in some ways.

At his question if she had eaten she said no. of course she hadn’t when would she have had the time. Especially knowing how long… She had to have started doing this somewhere in the middle of the night to pull this off! And how did she even get the dogs to stay quiet? She should become a farmer. He was sure she would be great at it! Especially seeing how much care she took of the animals. The bunnies looked happy. Especially the one she had been holding. "If you are going to offer me food, I insist to help cook it." he smiled at her as his eyes locked with hers. Soon seeing the shy smile she gave him. It was cute on her he had to tell and… He did hope his cheeks weren’t colouring pink at the slight embarrassment he felt now. Especially thinking about how cu- He stopped his own trail of thoughts as he soft voice came to him again. "And after, I am going to help you get those animals into their rightful homes. It's only fair...and we can talk while we do it." He frowned just for a second. He didn’t exactly went her to help as she had already done so much and he could do it. He needed the work out if he was fair. But those thoughts also disappeared as he watched her scratch her head before she looked at him and spoke. "Because I would like to be friends…if you’re interested.." At that slightly awkward moment he looked at her as if she had just spoken in a strange language that he could not understand. Probably making it even more awkward for her without realising it.

But soon he smiled and leaned in a bit closer to her as he whispered to her. ”Aren’t we friends already?” He smiled at her and gave her a wink. Before pulling back. He did see her as a friend. Even if they hadn’t exactly spoken before. She was his friend. And now she knew. He smiled again before he took her hand and started to pull her with him. ”And that’s a deal!” He did not mind doing that if that was what she wanted. Could be fun. But first Breakfast! The animals could wait for a while. He took her outside making sutr to close the door well. Before letting her hand slip from his as he started to walk back to his home. ”So what did you want? What do you like? I have a bit of everything.” He started to go off. Wondering what they could make and eat. He did have a bit of everything and was sure that there had to be something that she liked to eat as well… After all he had no… experience with girls…

The girl didn’t seem too sure about the fact that he thought they were already friends. But not that it mattered anymore either. If she hadn’t known well then now she knew. But the thought of it even if it had just been briefly brought up did make him more excited. For he had been here in Skagen a while… Two years and he had been hidden away at his farm. Barely coming out more than when it was needed. What was a waist as he did want to make contact with the people and as Haskell had told him to do, slow but sure he had been coming out more. Meet some people here and there and it actually felt better. He felt… free and did what he had wanting to do. Get to know another place, live another life. What he was grateful for that the gods would grant him something like this. Even though he had to do something terrible for it… But this was not the moment to think of that! NO!

Now it was time to feed his FRIEND something good and he did hope he still had enough things in his house- though it was a farm there would always be food on a farm and especially in his house. He… was a big fan of food. More exactly good food if he could be so bold to say he was… or at least had become a pretty good cook. With the thanks to some people as… Haskell and his parents. Now he could call himself a man, as he could cook and take care of himself. And of others he cared about. Like the sweet little Sofie.

”I honestly like just about anything." He smiled hearing that and looked back at her. Smiling. ”Ahg you’re a woman to my heart!” Anyone who liked almost everything was someone to his heart. Then she went on explaining what they could get. "We could have some eggs and meat, or fruit and meat...” The thought of those brought water to his mouth as it literally made him hungry just thinking about them. They all sounded so good… To good even. He should have eaten already, but then even if he had eaten. He would still be hungry hearing this. "What are you in the mood for? I'm a pretty decent cook, and can make you whatever you want." He smiled at those words. He believed she was. She had… the look of it. Or maybe it was just because she looked so sweet that he believed her food would be sweet as well? It was something at the very least.

As he opened the door of his humble home he held the door open for her. Stepping in and closing the door behind her. He then turned back towards her as she spoke again. "I really am okay with whatever. So you tell me..." She seemed so shy I a way. Not that it mattered to him. He smiled and started to walk to one of the crates in the house. Where he stared his food. ”Let’s get meat and eggs, and fruit!” It was her fault he wanted to have everything now. She had brought it up. He looked back at her and smiled. They could make quite a meal for the both of them with everything. ”Let’s make a festive meal, to celebrate a perfect prank.” He thought about that for a bit. ”And on friendship.” he smiled again as he took out a bit of everything and ‘threw’ it on the table. Before turning to her and smiling. He was actually happy to do this.

He did like being pranked time to time if it were good pranks. He could appreciate it. But being pranked all the time he did not know how he would react to that. If it was from time from time it was okay. All the time might be a bit too much and after all he rather made the prank himself then being pranked. So maybe Sofie had something coming to her. He wondered how she would react to a good prank. But then a really good one… There was always the chance she did not like it, of course then as the good man he was he would apologies. But if she liked it well then maybe he had found a prank sister instead of a prank brother that he had in Haskell. What would be a chance of pace and well a new open mind was always welcome in his solitude of a life. He was starting to break free it seemed and it was for him at the very least a very nice feeling. Though he hardly believed he would be able to tell anyone after all. After all they did not know what lay behind it. Maybe they would think it was because he had been ‘hiding’ on his farm for so long. It did not matter anyway, but for him it seemed like turning a new page of his book.

When asked if he wanted all of this he just nodded with a smile. F course he wanted all of that! He may not look it all the time but he was a big eater and well he did think he sometimes needed to slow down on the booze and the food. Especially the meat but then he was all alone no one to worry about and it was not like anyone would stop him either. He could do what he want and well he wanted to eat and drink a lot most of the times so… Mostly because there wasn’t much else he could do. He actually wanted to fight again most off all. He missed the feeling of having a sword in his hand, to use a bow and to go full out. But here… He had made it seen as if he couldn’t fight and he had to keep that up. He also feared that if he pretended to be learning that he would show his skill to early. So he kept it to himself, sometimes only sneaking off at night to practice a little bit.

He got pulled out of his thoughts by the sweet voice of sofie. "Give me some plates so we can cut everything up, please." He looked at her for a second before he nodded. ”Yes sir.” He said teasingly before getting some plates and a knife of his own. Bringing it back to her and then standing next to her as he started to cut up some vegetables as well. Watching the knife she had taken out. Well seemed she could be dangerous if she needed to be. "So...I know very little about you, my new friend...why don't we get to know one another....let’s start with where you lived before here? I bet it was pretty boring place if you moved here like you did." His eyes moved back to the vegetables is he let out a light chuckle when she called him a new friend. ”There isn’t really much to say about my past.” He said thinking. Thinking back of the little story he had made up. ”I was just a wanderer before I came here.” He sliced a few bits in smaller pieces before he stopped and looked at here. ”So I have come from many different places.” He said as he took another vegetable and then started to cut it as well. ”I could tell you some stories if you’d like.”

He had to say he loved how excited Sofie seemed to get over his words. She seemed almost as excited as he was most of the times and he wondered how it came that they never had spoken like this before. For he found that he just had found a good friend and it had been long since he actually felt remotely this happy to meet someone new. Though she was not new, he just now got to know the girl. She seemed to have so much soul in her and he loved people like that. People with live in them, with dreams of their own a goal they could follow. He had long ago forgotten his goal and now he wasn’t even sure if he had one. But those thought did not change the excited feeling he got just hearing her speak. He voice itself was just so full of life and it seemed to breath air in him. When he had felt tired, gotten stuck in a routine. She just seemed to have broken that Routine of and he could say he enjoyed the feeling of it. So much, almost so much he could be thanking her for it. Not that he would. No that would be to weird, maybe later as she left he could thank her for being his friend. Maybe she herself would like that as well. "I would love that!" She said as he had said he could tell her some stories. He let out a light laugh and listened to her talking about what she wanted to do. How she saw her future it seemed. "And that’s so amazing, to be able to have seen so many places. That’s one of the reasons I'm excited for when I can raid. I'll be able to see all the places that Halfdan sends us."

Agh yes raiding was a wonderful thing. Made the blood run through the body faster and not knowing what would come, who you would fight, what you would find. Made it even better, it was almost as good as wandering. Though your life was in greater danger in a raid then when you wandered around. Not that he would tell the pretty lady. She had the right to dream high. And he hoped she would become the shield maiden she wanted to be. He could at least see she would make a great warrior. "I want to see so many places, and from what you say you have seen a lot." He let out a hum and then nodded. He had seen a lot, but a lot of stories he could tell were also made up. He would not lie about it. But at least they were fun. "Do you have any salt that you use to dry out the meat, if you add some to the veggies while they are cooking it makes them better.” He let out another agreeing hum and then walked to a cabin taking out a bucket with sold as he then walked back to her and sat it down. ”Sounds good!” But then again everything she spoke of sounded good.

He started to cut up some other vegetables, and then looked back at her when he heard her speak once more. A smile coming to his lips. "So what was the best place you went to? The most favourite?" He got an excited spark in his eyes. Seems now it was finally his time to speak! Well he looked up as if thinking. ”I have lived some days on a mountain.”
He said as his eyes clouded over by the memories of it. ”There was a lot of snow, and the wind seemed to be howling like the wind.” It had not been easy getting through that and he had often thought he would have died there. And that he then would have been eaten by wolves or even by a bear and his body would never have been found. So he would then truly have been the lost prince. ”Even so I really loved it there.” He said as he looked at her and got a bit closer. Slowly whispering in her ear. ”I even have seen a giant there.” He whispered it as if it was a secret but anyone could know. He pulled back smiling and then chuckled. ”And I swear, I was not drunk that day!” Though maybe he had eaten some mushrooms he shouldn’t have. Or was too tired and broken to see the world as it truly was. Even so he could swear he had seen a giant and even if it had just been in his mind, it had been there and he somewhere thought it had been a sign and that had been what had pulled him through those hard days. Made him stand here next to Sofie today.

Her laugh seemed to fill up his home. Made it feel warmer and more alive. Especially because he was alone most of the time. But he was glad she enjoyed his little joke. After all it was meant to be laughed at. Though he really did mean that he hadn’t been drunk that day. All he had with him was frozen water. All the ale he had taken with him had already been down up in his belly day’s before. Also he had believed it was best at the time not to drink. For he did want to survive that winter. Survive to live all in all actually. His smile got sweet as he watched her, he smile diming down as he waited for her words. Hey at the very least she had enjoyed his silly story and would come back to hear some others some time. He could tell a lot of them. Made up and real. Mostly a mix as he did love to make them a bit more interesting than they actually were. Because just telling her how he wandered around in ice for a few day’s was… well it sounded cool but then it was quite boring if nothing really happened in it. And telling her all the details about it would take hours. Though they did have some time together and probably whole the day as it would be a lot of work to put all the animals back to where they belonged. He wasn’t going to waist all that time to just talking about him. As he was quite curious to what Sofie could tell him all.

"A giant, I got all excited that you had really seen one!" He laughed a bit, he wished he did. Well he knew it probably was just a trick of the mind. He had, but he couldn’t say if it was real of not. To him yes, but then if someone else had been there at that moment it could have turned out really different. He looked in her eyes and smiled as she continued. " But that sounds so amazing, to be able to travel and see the world like that. I would love to see more places someday, and not just raiding. Really visit places and learn about them and the thing that happen there." He smiled as it seemed he had once more seemed to put a flame in someone’s soul and he did really like the sight of that. To see how people seemed to get motivated when he told them stories like that. He did hope for Sofie she would be able to see it all. See amazing places some people could only dream off. ”I’m sure you will sofie.” He smiled more and then noticed he hadn’t been doing any work at all of the food. But cutting some vegetables and some of the dried meat. Sofie really was doing all the work and he kind of felt a bit bed at it. As she was supposed to be the guest in his home. He thought about it and turned around, walking to another barrel and getting two cups. Before filling them with some ail.

"I'm glad you ended up here and we are now friend however. " He laughed at her words and walked back at her, holding out the cup to her. ”Me too!” He smiled again and took a sip from the ail. The fresh cold drink really being refreshing as he leaned against the table a bit. Crossing his arms. ”Skagen is an amazing wonderful place.” It had something else if he could say so. It was just something special. The same as everywhere else but then still having its own charm and the people here were really connected with each other. What had surprised him the most coming from Uddevalla where well people were more to themselves in his eyes. Still close but in a different way. He smiled again and held out his cup. ”Let’s hope we stay friends for many years.” He did not know what the future would bring for him. But he did hope he could maintain the friendships he had made here. Also so that he could prank her more. He looked in her eyes before at the food. ”So is that almost ready?” He asked as he got an innocent look on his face, leaning in a pit to take some meat and take a small bite from it as he chuckled. Yes he was hungry and well this looked so good that he hardly could wait.

The food was ready! And as soon as she put it on plates and on the table he sat down and started to dig in. Not minding his manners at all. After all it smelled so good! And he was quite hungry as well and well he was just always ready to take a bite. A food man you could say as he liked it a lot. He was sure that if he didn’t move around as much as he did he would be a fat Vern. Lucky his job and life gave compensation to all the food he ate. And of course the secret trainings he was still doing by himself. He did like to keep fit as he did try to stay… well on his toes. You never knew who might one day come knocking on the door and who might try to harm you. So he was rather prepared then sorry. And as a fat man… well he was sure as a fat man he would still be able to strike a good punch so maybe he should consider? Then they probably wouldn’t recognise him either. His moth was already stuffed as her words reached his ears. To tell her when he didn’t like anything so she could improve. He turned his head to look at her, his cheeks quite stuffed. Looking much like a little squirrel before he smiled and swallowed quickly. Drinking something to wash it all away. Letting out a deep satisfied breath after he had swallowed the drink. Before he looked back at her.

”Anything bad? You won’t hear such a thing from me!” He said quite excited as he really did like what she had made. He sat back a bit and waited for her to join him this time. Before he would eat all of it on his own. After all she was the quest so he should treat her like one. ”This all is really good, you’re an amazing cook.” And he really meant it. He wouldn’t say he was a bad cook, but sometimes even he got tired of his own cooking and well it was nice to have someone else’s for a change. He did eat with Haskell’s parents from time to time, such nice people and they did treat him as if he was a son of their own. He even got to see them as his own parents as well and of course with that came an amazing older brother, which he was really happy to have. He wouldn’t believe he would have survived here if it had not been for that man. But those things aside he had now a lovely lady at his table who had cooked up an amazing meal and he should pay attention to her. ”You’re future husband may call himself a lucky man.” At least for ass far as he knew she was not married jet. But she was young and probably still had many years ahead of her so, there was no rush in anything right.

He started eating again once she had started too. Enjoying the meal mostly in silent as he did not want to miss any moment of the sweet taste and as his belly filled up so did his mind. With things to say and ask, to talk about. He was not a shy person, of course not. But sometimes even he did not know what exactly to say and it was not like he knew her so well that he could speak for hours about things they liked, or happened. He did know she liked pranks so. ”We should do some pranks together some time.” He let out, actually liking the idea. He had his brother in arms for pranks. But he would be happy to have a sister as well. Hi eyes travelled to her as he smiled. ”I would be happy to help you with any prank you want to pull on someone.” He could enjoy quite the good joke and thinking of that. He let out a sigh and crossed his arms sitting back a bit, looking at her and smiling. ”Of course only after I have repaid you for the one you played on me today.” And he did know he would one day pay her back for it. He already had some idea’s, but the perfect one hadn’t shown itself to him jet.