The boatbuilder & the child. [Sofie]

A very light coat of snow covered the lands and even the water started to freeze over. Every breath came back out as smoke. The air felt like tiny knifes cutting against one’s skin when walking. It made everyone shiver to the bone. At least everyone that was no used to it. After all most people here had seen many cold winters such as dese and it did not bother them. Neither did it bother the old boat builder as he was cutting through the would he had laid ready. Normally he would not work on the boats during winter. But he wanted them to be ready, the gods wanted them to be ready, so that he could give them to Björn once he returned from his journey. Of course that was to see if he would return after Floki himself came back from the raid. Personally he had not much interest in the raid. After all it wasn’t t far and well he wanted to go back to those lands full of wonder and promise. But after all a raid was a raid and he did want to honour the gods, and honour his promise to pretty little Ivar. Who had asked him so ‘nicely’ to come. He would go for him. Also he did want to see how Ivar would cope with his new legs that he himself had built for the boy. With it he wouldn’t only be able to move forward like a fox, but fly like an eagle as well. The thought of it alone did make him kind of exciting for he had a feeling it would be glorious.

But for now it was not the time to think of such things. No for now he would built his boats as he loved to do. Even in the freezing cold. After all he was just the crazy old boat builder. But the energy he put in cutting the wood and the fires he had made around himself kept him warm, he did not feel much of the cold in this state so he would not complain. With absolute concentration he broke a tree perfectly in two. From the would he would be able to make two beautiful curved planks for the of the boat. He let out a high pitched laugh as he let his fingers move over the wood. Before he took his axe and carefully almost with outmost perfection, he started to cut away the would he did not need. Slicing off piece by piece and throwing that what he would not use into the fire without a second thought. He was highly into his work as he spotted movement from the corner of his eyes.

But he did not look up nor did he have the need for it. Cutting off another piece of wood and throwing it in the fire he stood. Twirling the axe in his hand as he looked over the rough plank he was making. His head falling to the side and then moving to the other side like that of a snake. Before he slowly spoke. ”Are you lost?” With those words his head snapped to the child that seemed to stand there. He did not know her therefore he knew she was not from Kattegat. A traveller maybe, but it did not matter to him. After all he just wanted to build his boats. He let out a hum as a mischievous smile came to his lips, his eyes narrowing a bit as he observed her. Before he turned on his heal and started to walk to her slowly. His hand moving up as his fingers seemed to move slowly, like the arms of an octopus. He stopped closely by her and looked down at her. Soon pointing with his axe towards the way that would lead to the village. ”The village is that way.” He said to her, supposing he could at least help the child that much.

She was a beautiful young girl, but clearly not from around here. So he had been so friendly to show her the way back to the village. After all in his head no one would be crazy enough to come all the way out here. Not even many people from Kattegat did it. Unless it was one of the princes they did visit him sometimes. But even those visits had become slim. Not that it mattered to him. To him it was clear the girl was lost. She nodded as if she was agreeing but then… she said something he did not expect her to say. It was clear on his face. Or at least he was now looking at her as if she spoke another language and he could not understand what she had just said. "I know which way it is, I walked all the way out here from the village" He let his arm with his axe fall back to his side as he stared at her. Frowning lightly as he observed her. She walked all the way from the village to here? ‘Why would she do that?’ He thought in himself not saying anything out loud. Was she curious about the view? But then the girl started to speak again giving him a very warm and sweet smile. His eyes grew more serious at her words thought. "I came out here to speak to you, and watch you work if thats okay." She came all the way out here to watch him work? He looked over her again and moved back a bit. Still slightly confused on why in the world she would want something like that.

But it soon enough became clear. "I am from Skagen, and some people in my family makes boats. So I guess I wanted to see how you built boats here, if you don't mind." He stared at her with a dead serious look that even grew a bit dark at the thought that someone would take his creations and make them their own. He wasn’t totally sure if he liked the thought of another boat builder building boats the way he did. "My name is Sofie Stafnsdóttir, what’s your name?" She tells him next. He stared at her still for a bit. Before he let out one of his high pitched laughs. ”Thihi~” He took a step back. Moving his hand up and hovering it slightly towards her face as if he was examinating her. Before he pointed at her. ”You are a strange one, aren’t you.” But he couldn’t say he did not like it.

He gave her a light smile before looking at her a bit judging. ”Coming all this way to spy on me and steal my work.” he said serious but then still a bit jokingly. He was joking indeed. Though still not sure how he felt about it. He turned back to his work, looking over the wood. Well he guessed it didn’t matter. The boat builder she was speaking off was not here and could not see, so there was little to worry about if he even was worried about anything. He looked back at sofie. ”I am Floki.” He said placing a hand on his work. Before he turned to it again and started to chip off little pieces again. ”Floki the boatbuilder.” He said letting out a very light chuckle. As if that hadn’t been clear to her. ”And you may watch.” He didn’t mind, she was interesting and had spoken the truth so she meant no harm, she was an innocent little bee.

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How foolish this child seemed to be. Telling him she was not here to steal just watch. But it could be counted as the same thing if it was given away to someone else without permission. Maybe a better word for her was a spy? Oh not many people would be happy to have a spy in their presents. Especially not here and not in these times. He would worn her to be careful with her words. But then again it was not his problem. He had nothing to do with this child and so it would stay. If she one day said something to the wrong person then she would notice to make sure to weigh her words before speaking. If she lived to tell the tale and he could know. Because just like her he didn’t always think before saying something and jet he did. Just like her he was ‘always’ honest and it was strange and amusing that she did not understand that being honest was a weird thing. No one was. Not in this world. The only once that were honest in this world were the gods. They would never tell a lie and would always show what they meant truly. But how could he expect an innocent little girl like her to understand. She had maybe many years to come and that way she might one day learn. Maybe one day she would think back to this moment and see what he meant when he had called her weird.

Now he was already back concentrated on his work, though of course he did not forget about the girl. He could see her movements in the corner of his eyes. Well aware of what she did and also about the words she spoke out. "Thank you for allowing me to watch you Floki, it is also very nice to meet you." He only nodded his head lightly, it also slightly seeming like a bow just a swift movement that also could be taken as him just looking towards another space on the wood. His eyes however soon going back to the spot he was working on as her words came back to him. "I've heard little things about you here and there, but mostly that you make amazing boats, and are close to the Gods.” Seemed his name really did travel far after his adventures with Ragnar, though he never cared much for the fame. He couldn’t say he was not glad that they also knew him far and wide for his connection with the gods. That did please him. “Is it true, are you closer to the gods?” That question made his movements stop for a second. He placed his hands down on the wood as he leaned on it lightly with his arms, before he snapped his head to her and looked into her eyes. Looking over her as if he was judging her again. Before his gaze moved to the ground and he shrugged lightly. ”I could not say.” He would not say from himself that he was closer to the gods then others. It was how you looked at it? He did like to believe he was very close to the gods. But some might see it different and he would not have a say in it. He watched her as she seemed to get closer and closer. He soon stood up straight as she spoke again. He mouth didn’t seem to stand still. "I was just not sure if you were Floki or someone else, that is why I asked your name" Was it not common sense to ask someone’s name when you meet them? But she soon continued and as she did so he started to work again. "My father was a great boat builder before he died, I can see you are very good as well." She said and he let out a light hum. He didn’t care much for hr words and what he said next slipped soon of his lips. ”Still not good enough to be heard off.” He said and looked back at her. He didn’t show any emotion as he said it. He hadn’t heard of a Stafn. He hadn’t heard of a boat builder with that name. He gave a light giggle and then started to work again. ”And you?” He suddenly asked. ”Are you planning on building boats?” Maybe she would want to honour her father and would be a boat builder herself one day?

The girl her mouth didn’t seem to close as he was working. Her sweet voice seemed to come and come. Without a moment of hesitation. Asking him if he was close to the gods. Who would say. He sure wanted to believe so. But who could truly say but the gods themselves? Though she spoke of how lucky he was if he was close to the gods. His eyes narrowed at the words. As he wasn’t sure if he should call himself lucky. After all it was a blessing to be close to them, but could also be a curse. As sometimes he had to do things that made him suffer more then he would ever have imagined. All for those loving and sweet gods they all adored. The once he loved and adored as well. He was lucky indeed but had also suffered a lot. But looking back at it he now understood why the gods wanted him to do the things he had done. For them and somewhere also for himself. He could see it now. And even though he had suffered he had found it in himself to forgive them as well. As the girl said. They were in control. Control of all living things. The earth, the sky and the humans were just their little puppets. For them to play with and do as they pleased. Life was one big play, laid out before them and the gods made sure to direct them in the right way and even if you lost sight of your own role in life. They would make sure you would see the light again. Redirect too once destiny.

His eyes moved to her as she spoke of how she made sure to pray to them a few times a day. He had to say he was impressed with the saying. If she really did so. He wondered somewhere if in her prayers her mouth wouldn’t stop either. If she would keep talking and talking till she tired herself out. But it was none of his business. After all it was not to him to say how she should be in contact with the gods. But he was glad to know that a young one such as herself still had such dedication towards their gods. It also seemed he had hit a nerve when he had spoken of her father. "He was well known in our area, and that is enough for me. I am proud to be his daughter, and have no wishes to be anyone else daughter." He let out a hum and a chuckle after those words. He was sure she was, and jet she reacted so strongly to his former words. Seemed he might have insulted her or her father. But what would she do? Didn’t seem like she would do anything about it. So maybe it still wasn’t important enough to her. And even after that her mouth didn’t stand still. Talking about how her sister and her lover were both boat builders. That their family didn’t need another one. He had only asked if she wanted to go build boats. He had no need to know whole her life story. But she continued to speak about herself. "I am a thegn, and so I want to raid and battle. I would like to keep moving up, to become a shield maiden someday as well. It all depends on what the gods have in store with me, and what Halfdan has planned as well." Halfdan, his name did strike his attention and he stopped his work for a sec again as he took the axe in his hand and turned to look at her. Crossing one leg over the other as he leaned against the wood he was carving out with his elbow. His eyes moving over her. So she had come here with Halfdan then?

“You are a good carver, my sister took over for our father when he died, but it is clear you are better when you look at your work. I feel however that you have been doing this for far longer, and with time she will get better as well." She continued and it made him laugh. A more proud look falling over his eyes. ”Of course I am.” Of course he was a good boat builder. No he was even better he was the best boat builder and he knew that of himself. He was happy to know that this child at least could see that as well. "What made you decide to make boats, if it isn't rude of me to ask?" He let out a chuckle as he stood straight again. ”Why did I decide to build boats?” He asked, repeating her question as his gaze slid to the side. Looking over the trees that stood up high. Soon he placed his axe on his side as he crossed his arms and turned around. Leaning against the long plank he had been carving. His gaze moving to the water and his expression turning serious. Why had he ever decided to build boats. He narrowed his eyes a bit. ”I am not sure if I remember.” So much time had passed since then. Was it because he liked carving out the trees and create something. ”Maybe because it was the gods their will.” After all there was nothing more next to raiding and fighting and his lovely wife Helga that he loved more. He liked is almost as much as the gods. Maybe because he was just good in it. ”I have always been able to see which trees will make the best planks. Just by looking at them.” His gaze turned back to look at her as he smiled. ”Just like I can see, inside people.” Or at least so he made everyone believe.

This innocent child really did seem to believe anything he said. Or at least she seemed like one who would believe anything he did say. And well there was a lot he could tell her. Stories that were true or not true and he was sure she would listen as she looked like a curious child. Though she spoke a lot too, had many things to say of her own. Or well at least it seemed she had many many questions to ask him. It had been a long time since anyone had spoken to him so much. Even Ivar did not say this much words. But it was not needed as the boy and him understood each other even without words.  It was quite funny though that this strange girl from a strange village would come all the way out here just to speak with him. To see how he built his ship so she could tell her someone in her family. Even though she had not been sure that he was Floki the boat builder. She was honest though so much was true and it was not a bad thing to be curious. In fact he could not say much about that. He was a curious soul as well, in his own funny way. He always did wonder about the far off lands and of course people minds. How he loved to guess what people were thinking, what they would do. How he loved to see their faces every time he said something that some of them did not seem to quite understand. Not that he worried to much about things. He had a lot of thoughts but at least people and what they thought of him was not one of them. As he did believe that the gods would guide them and him as well. So he always knew the right thing to do, like a gift.

Just as the gift he had given to see what planks he could make out of the trees. A perfect tree meant a perfect plank or even two of them. With a nice curve, oh how he loved those. And people were a lot like trees, hiding their true selves behind the skin. Or hiding their true emotions behind a mask we called a face. But he could see through that all, for he had many years of experience with all kinds of people. To him the child in front of him was no different, but it seemed she had her doubts about his words. Telling him it was interesting, almost making him say ‘do you not believe me?’ but he swallowed the words as this was not the right time to play with a child. She could think what she liked to think. After all he was sure she would soon return back to her village and then he would not have to see her again. Only if fate and the gods had it so he might one day. "If you can see inside people, what can you see in me?" Her question caught his attention once more and he crossed his arms looking at her. "Hopefully something good, but I guess I'll have to wait to see what you say."s A light smirk formed on his lips as his eyes caught hers. Almost seeming like he was really looking into her soul.

”Do you really want to know?” He asked silently. Thinking that she might not like what he had to say. But even so he moved closer to her and leaned down to be on the same height as her. Moving up his hand and letting it hover in front of her face. Almost touching her and jet not doing so. Seeming as if his fingers were reaching for her eyes. But then he pulled back a bit, before his hand moved in a face closer as if he was pointing at her. He then chuckled. ”You are a curious child, yes.” He knew that from talking to her, but it was also clear in her eyes. They looked in the world with some kind of wonder, searching for something they had not seen yet. Or at least it looked like that in his eyes. He slowly stood back up straight as he watched her hair wave in the light breeze. ”A gentle but strong heart.” She had spirit so much was sure. ”And someone who can cause quite a bit of trouble.” he said with a higher chuckle. But his eyes soon darkened a bit and the light vibe in his voice seemed to change as well. ”Trouble that might one day, cost you your life.”Saying it as some kind of warning. As if he already could see her end.
But then in less than a second he turned back to his work, looking over it, before turning his head back to her and shrugging his shoulders as he smirk smiled. ”I’m only joking.”