May our pray be heard. [OPEN]

Dark clouds filled the sky, making the dark night even darker. But the darkness did not bother him, in fact he felt safe in it, safe hidden in the shadows. Though he wasn’t really in the shadows, on the open field he had once found he had placed torches in a circle. They were burning fierce giving not only light but warmth as well. What was hardly needed in colds night like these. Though winter was still away, soon though. Soon the land would be covered in ice and snow. Maybe some ice giants would come and walk around. Wouldn’t that be a sight? Though this day he was not looking for giants or fairies. No he knew well enough he would not see them if the gods did not want him too. He was here tonight to pray to the gods though. Sitting kneeled down in front of a wooden statue of odin the all father that he had carved himself many years before.

A bowl filled with fresh blood stood in front of him as he had just offered up a goat. An offering to the gods as he prayed. He had many things to pray for. Many things he had to do. Many things he wanted to happen. But this one offering was for only one thing. He prayed to the all father that when spring would come he would be able to finish the boats and that they would work. So that they could go raiding and that they would be blessed on that voyage as well. He prayed for an answer on his questions, hoping the gods would show them what would happen. What he had to do, to make sure this went well. Of course they pray wasn’t just for him, but for everyone who would come. And especially for Ivar, Ivar the boneless. And he knew that the gods would listen and bless them.

He knew that Ivar didn’t actually need him, the boy was already blessed by the gods, destined to do great things, for glory. He dipped his fingertips in the blood before he slid them over his face. Shaking a bit as he did it excited, feeling as if the gods were with him in that moment. Finishing his pray he stood up, taking the bowl of blood and holding it over the statue. Letting the blood slowly flow over it as his head fell to the side. Watching how it flowed over the wood perfectly, slowly starting to drop on the ground. A satisfied grin coming over his face as he thanked the all father, and then threw the bowl away. Turning on his heels and going to walk away, before he stopped mid step. His hands moving up as his fingers moved slowly. His grey eyes going over the dark trees. Before he let out a light laugh. Placing his food down as he stood straight.

”I know you’re there.”

His offerings, his prayers towards the gods he always did in solitude. It was not often other people were there with him. Not even his dear wife Helga. He believed that the bond between a person and the gods was sacred. Something between them and them only. Others did not need to be involved with that. That was why he had his own sacred place in the forest. Not to close from his home nor too far. There were very few people wandered too. Especially at this hour of the night. But even so it seemed someone at the very least had been wandering around and the little thing also had been watching him. He knew well enough someone was hiding in the shadows. He could feel their eyes on him. Just like a little shiver on the back of his spine. But it did not stop him from preforming his prayer. He waited till after to call them out. His eyes moving over the trees as he waited for a reaction. He wondered if he would get one. Or if whoever was watching would turn and run away. Back from where they came. If it was like that he would surely laugh. But if they came out it at the very least would show some bravery. After all he was the crazy old fool and he knew though a lot of people respected him. He knew how they thought of him and he also knew they would sometimes avoid him. Or even fear him as he was unpredictable in his actions and they also did not understand him well. Fools in his eyes, some of them. Especially those who did not have any trust in the gods anymore. Only when it fitted them right. When they needed something.

To his surprise it was a young woman, no a girl coming out from out the shadows as she approached him. He knew her, but only from seeing and he knew well enough what family she belonged too. She gave him a smile as his eyes got a bit mischievous. "Forgive me, I didn't me to interrupt you." She said as he slowly walked up a bit closer to her. A very light chuckle leaving his lips. ”I’m sure you didn’t.” He said with a slight low voice. He was sure she just happened to stumble upon him and that maybe she was fascinated by his actions. But even so it did not matter now anymore. After all he had finished his prayer and would now go back to his house. Where Helga surely would be waiting for him. She was always so worried about him. Poor Helga, how he made her suffer. He put his thumbs between his belt as his fingertips tapped his thighs slightly, watching her for a for moment. ”Now, shouldn’t a pretty girl like… be at home at night?” He said while he looked at her a bit judging. His eyes going to the basket she was holding looking over it and then stepping closer and without asking picking up one of the roots and looking over it. Knowing now why she was here but still, couldn’t she find this in the day? He played with the root between his fingers as he looked back at her. Letting out a chuckle as his eyes connected with her. ”Be sure you find your way back.” He said, knowing well enough that these woods could be tricky at times.

To his question if a pretty girl like her shouldn’t be home at night she answered simply. But thoughtfully and he couldn’t say that he didn’t like the answer. As he did love the gods and respected anyone who had as much admiration towards them as him. He could see in her eyes too that she was speaking the truth. So he would believe that she was close to the gods as he was. After all he had known her father and her brother. Her brother had sacrificed himself to the gods. A thing that was a great honour and that he would have done himself if his lovely wife Helga had not stopped him. He could see now that she was right to stop him and that it not jet had been his time to join the gods. He still looked over the root as she asked if he knew what it was. He nodded slowly letting a light laugh. Of course he knew what it was. He had been around far longer than her and did like to know what the gods had provided him with in the forest he lived in. But he stayed silent. As he expected her to ask something else entirely. He light smirking smile soon followed as his eyes got a bit mischievous as he listened to the question that followed..

Seemed the girl wanted to know about her brother and her father. "You were there. weren't you?... W-when my brother offered himself up as a sacrifice to the gods for King Ragnar. I wish I know my brother and Father, from what mother tells me, he and Leif were great men...” He let out a light hum and did not say anything. Staying silent as she said she would return and he watched her turn around and starting to walk away. He stared her down and just before she could disappear in the shadows he spoke again. ”Yes I was there when your brother sacrificed himself to the gods.” He said calmly. ”All because of that stupid Christian priest.” When he said Christian priest he almost spit the words out. He could still feel a lot of frustration and anger towards it. All of it, if only Ragnar had seen that he shouldn’t have kept a Christian priest in there mists. He should have kept him like a slave and slave alone. But he could not blame Ragnar for being that ambitious and he had to admit that the priest did come in handy once in a while.

He took a slow breath and let out a small laugh as he thought back to the girl who seemed to be really curious. ”Both your father and brother were indeed great men.” He spoke again. He still missed them some days. ”They were good friends.” Good and loyal friends at that. Ones that had been taken from them maybe a bit too fast. After all who was left from the group they had started with? Some days he believed only he was still around. What made him wonder when the gods would allow him to join them and his friends. He looked up at the sky as he spoke once more. ”They are happy were they are now. Feasting, eating, drinking and fighting with the gods.” He looked back at the girl his eyes meeting hers. ”You should be happy for them too.” He could understand she wanted to know them, know more about them. Wanted to build that bond. But then she should not feel sad about their loss. For what could a man ask more for, then the chance to be un Valhalla with the gods? That was the greatest gift off all.

The girl was not happy with what he had told. Or at least she had not known the truth. But then again maybe the story she did know had been a better one. He did not know what her mother told her about her father and brother. At least not about how they died. She didn’t seem happy that her brother took the place of an Christian priest and he had not been happy at the time either. But the gods would have not been satisfied with the priest at the time. What was a waste for her brother had been a great man and he did wish that he could have been with them all some longer. But what was done was done and her brother still had done a honourable thing. Pleased the gods there was no greater honour in live then that. So the girl should be very proud on her brother. Her father had been a great man as well and unfortunately had died to soon because of stupid men. But once again he did believe it was the gods who wanted it so. Life didn’t always go as they had planned for themselves and only would go as the gods saw it fit. He also would not question what had happened, for he believed it had happened for a reason. He gave her a smile when she said she was happy for them. It was good that she realised that it was no shame to be dead. Especially not in the way they died and well who didn’t want to feast and fight besides the gods?

He let out a light chuckle as she kept talking, about how she should not dwell on her selfish thoughts. It was true that a lot of children didn’t have parents, but even more parents didn’t have any children left. Young ones were foolish, easily to manipulate and even easier to kill. A young child unattended and fate would come them. It was harder to kill an old person. For they had seen the ways of the world and lived through it. They wouldn’t be so easily fooled. His eyes moved towards hers as her words did tickle his attention. His hand moved up and he pointed at her moving his hands forwards as it hovered before her face as if he was seeing, almost feeling something she did not see. Before he pulled his hand away and moved his head a bit to the side looking at her before speaking. ”I’m sure you will find a way to repay your mother, or it will find you. If that is what you wish for.” He smirk smiled. ”There’s always a way, little one.” he called her little one, not because she really was that little. But because she was still young and new to the ways of the gods. He did believe and see she was a firm believer, and he was sure she would grow up to be blessed by them and follow their ways further. But for now she was still little and green behind the ears. He smiled before he looked away. ”Now let’s go, before the wolves eat us.” It was after all very late in the night, dark and quite cold. And the smell of blood would have filled the beasts noses already. Blood that still was sticking on his hands, but that he would not wash off till he returned home to his precious Helga.