Springtime (open)

RELAX

Rhona walked barefoot along the edge of the water. The sun was going down and she knew she should get home, but she wanted to feel the cool water on her sore feet just a little longer. Usually content being alone, the quiet of the settling day was a perfect tonic for her, calming her from the energetic training she received daily. She continued to walk along the water, knowing she wasn't alone, but happy to let the human she sensed either walk away, or make themselves known. She had kept her axes in her belt, resting her hands on the heads. She listened for the shuffle of footsteps, and to the breathing she could hear. She felt safe enough on the shore, so she pretended to be lost in thought. What was fate bringing her this night?
   

RELAX

Rhona continued to sweep her feet, one at a time, through the cool water while waiting for the person on shore to make a decision. She heard no sound to indicate movement, so she knew the person was just standing there. Rhona made the decision she usually wouldn't, and turned around. She saw a tall slim girl with long brown hair, staring at her. The girl looked familiar, but Rhona couldn't figure out why. "Hello," Rhona said. She walked out of the water, keeping her hands on her axes still. "Do we know each other? You look familiar but I cannot quite place where I know you from." Rhona sat down to put her boots back on, making sure to keep an eye on the quiet brunette. Rhona normally would have just walked on, leaving the girl with her own thoughts, but something about her quiet countenance had made Rhona curious.
   

RELAX

Rhona heard the younger woman begin to speak and had to strain to hear her. She quietly answered, "I don't think so... Although, you might have known my mother.." When Rhona heard her say that her mother had been a shield maiden as well, it clicked. Gunhild. Then she heard the woman introduce herself. "You're Gunhild's daughter, the seamstress." Rhona missed Gunhild, having fought with her in many battles. She had always admired the older shield-maiden, but Gunhild never really talked about her family. "I'm Rhona. I fought with your mother in quite a few battles" she said. She was curious about the girl who had had such a fierce mother, and found herself wondering why the girl didn't follow the same path. Rhona assessed the woman's figure. She was tall enough to be a good fighter, although she was rather slim. "What brings you to the lake this evening?" Rhona queried. She shifted her weight as she waited for a response.
 

RELAX

Rhona could plainly see that Eydis did not want to speak about her mother.
"I had quite a busy day. I needed to get my mind off things", she said, in answer to Rhona's question. Rhona nodded and watched as she turned her head towards the sunset. She looked at the fading orange rays as well, agreeing with Eydis when she said, "It's truly a beautiful sight, isn't it?"

"It is beautiful, indeed." They stood together in the silence, watching the light gleam softly off the lake, until they were near surrounded by darkness. Rhona shifted again, stretching, and prepared to head to her home. She never knew how to end conversations in what was considered a polite fashion; she figured if neither person had anything to say, then leaving was the best option. But she felt at ease with Eydis, and asked, " Something on your mind? I can just listen, if you want. You can talk while we walk back to the village." If Eydis did not want to talk, it would not offend Rhona. Some people liked to figure things out for themselves, while others liked to talk just to rid themselves of the emotions they were feeling. So Rhona waited.

RELAX

Rhona listened to Eydis as she told her how Gunhild's death affected their family. The woman ended her story, tears falling down her face, saying, "I just don't know what to do." and Rhona froze, not knowing how to handle the tears. She ruminated on the situation for a moment, and found that she was feeling something herself.

She was upset for Eydis. She felt almost sisterly offense at Eydis' situation, even though they had only met that night. Maybe it was how shy she seemed, or how she had easily confided in Rhona, and that is when Rhona did something she would deny until the day she died. She embraced Eydis as a sister would, then grabbed her shoulders and said, "If there is anything you need me to do, all you need to do is come by my house. If you need a break, or need me to break something, just come find me. I'm especially good at breaking arms." Rhona was trying to lighten the mood, and get her to stop crying. She hoped that her threat of violence didn't scare away the younger woman; she decided she wanted to be Eydis' friend, because it sounded like she needed one.
   

RELAX

Rhona let Eydis go after she heard her soft chuckle, and gave the smaller woman a big grin. Eydis had said no one ever asks her what's on her mind, and it is then that Rhona decides on a course of action. "Tomorrow, I will stop by your shop and we will lunch together. Then we can have a chat while we eat. It will give you a chance to talk about whatever you like, and it will give me a conversation that does not include the talk of whatever thrall is the best under the furs." Rhona made a disgusted face and grunted, hoping to elicit another laugh from her newfound friend.
While she was waiting for a response, Rhona looked around and noticed how dark it had gotten. She pulled her axes from her belt, and looked around, knowing that some predators came out at night. She motioned to Eydis that they should begin walking back, and waited for her to begin following.
   

RELAX

Rhona pulled her axes from her belt, half listening to Eydís as she scanned the forest for anything that might pose a threat to their safety. She heard her ask, "They talk about that kind of stuff?' sounding horrified and disgusted. Rhona chuckled as they began walking forward and replied,"Yes, the males do. Some shield-maidens as well. I have before, but with most of our vikings, it seems that is all they prefer to discuss."
They made their way in to the forest, back towards Kattegat, Rhona relaxed but observant. She heard Eydís ask how she liked being a shield-maiden, and Rhona smiled. She turned her head towards Eydís and answered,"I was born for it. There is nothing quite like testing yourself against the strength and wit of others, but it also helps me to deal with any feelings I do not like to display. When I am in the midst of a fight, whether it be training or battle, I can use my emotions to fuel my strength." Rhona sidestepped a log that was laying in their path as she continued,"Fighting, for me, is a show of my strength, and how I am the same as any man, and better than the ones I defeat." They were almost back at Kattegat, as Rhona decided to ask Eydís a question.
"Eydís, how would you feel about learning archery? You would be able to practice it just as something to get your mind off of your troubles, shooting targets instead of animals or people if you'd like." Rhona waited for a response as they got closer to town.
   

RELAX

As they arrived back at Kattegat, Rhona had asked Eydis if she would consider practicing archery. She waited for her to think on it and give her answer. Rhona watched as every emotion Eydis felt flitted across her face. She finally answered Rhona, saying,"I might want to, but I would probably be terrible at it anyway. Could you teach me?"

Rhona smiled and quickly agreed to teach Eydis. "let me know when you are ready to begin, and we can meet at the training fields. If you are terrible, we will practice as often as you are able, until you can shoot a target in my hand." Rhona had guessed that Eydis would be fair at archery in the beginning, and would help her as best as she could. Rhona was not the best archer they had, so when Eydis could learn no more from Rhona, she would ask another shield maiden to teach them both. "When will you be able to begin?" Rhona asked Eydis.
   

RELAX

"I could come see you tomorrow evening, after working at the dressmakers, if you have time?" Eydìs said. Rhona agreed, and after making sure she did not need Rhona to walk home with her, they went their separate ways. Rhona was pleased with their interaction; it was not often that Rhona made friends. She had her shield brothers and sisters, but they only spoke concerning matters of battle, or during training. It would be nice to hear about other's lives and their days, and talk about her own. She watched Eydìs until she was out of sight, and then turned towards her own house. It was dark outside, and Rhona could not wait to get home and eat her food. She would meet Eydìs tomorrow at the training grounds. Rhona decided to spend the day practicing her archery, so she would be more in position to help teach Eydìs. It had been some time since she had used any weapons besides her axes, so she needed the archery practice.

The next day, Rhona spent most of the morning finding a bow that she could pull, and a smaller one for Eydìs to use. She found suitable targets, further away from most of the others, so that they could hear one another talk. She then spent her time thinking of what the seamstress would need to know first, and tried to pay attention to every aspect of archery, so she would know what to talk about. As the sun passed it's zenith in the sky, Rhona walked to the fence that bordered the training fields, and kept an eye out for Eydìs' arrival.

RELAX

Rhona saw Eydìs as she practically skipped to the training area. After greeting one another, Rhona could tell that this was what her new friend needed. Rhona motioned for Eydìs to duck under the fence, and when she had, handed her the smaller bow. Rhona looked around, noticing that they were a good way away from the other vikings and shield maidens, and smiled contentedly. She was glad to have a friend that she could help, and the best part was that Rhona would be learning soon as well. She walked over to the area closer to the targets, and instructed her to pull the bowstring back with her hands to she if she needed a different bow or not. As she watched, Rhona grabbed an arrow and nocked it in her bow. She pulled the bowstring back and sighted down the arrow to the middle of the target. She listened to her own breathing; inhale, pause, exhale, pause. On the pause after her exhale, she loosed the arrow, and it almost hit the middle of her target. Lowering the bow, Rhona knew it was a fair shot. She looked at Eydìs and said,"My knowledge of archery is limited to hunting, and shooting at targets. I know it is different in battle, and after you surpass my skill, if you are interested in learning more, I will ask one of my sisters to teach us both." Rhona held an arrow out to the seamstress, and continued,"If you feel comfortable pulling the bow back, then I will show you how to nock this arrow and fire it at your target." Rhona was having a good time, surprisingly, as she had never really had an interest in teaching before. But it was all the same with most thegns; they wanted glory and battle. It was different teaching someone whose life would not necessarily rely on what they were doing. Rhona found it easier to teach in that situation, and knew that she would not get frustrated with Eydìs like she would with other people she taught. The woman was an eager learner, never trying thinking that she knew more than her teacher, which was a wonderful quality. She listened wholeheartedly to what Rhona was telling her, and she was extremely observant. But did she possess any natural skill? They would soon find out.

   

RELAX

Rhona loosed the arrow from her bow, watching it fly towards the target, hitting near the center with a thud. She turned and looked to see Eydìs smiling, and knew that she had picked the right hobby when she heard Eydìs almost shout that she couldn't wait. There was less violence in target shooting than in the other forms of combat Rhona trained in, and knew that Eydìs would be able to use it to defend herself and her siblings if she absolutely needed to. Otherwise, it could be a distraction from what seemed to be troubling her newfound friend. She explained how to stand the proper way while firing after hearing her companion's request, and stood back as she stepped in line with her target. The sun was setting slowly, but Rhona knew that Eydis needed this after seeing the joy suffusing her when she picked up the bow and practiced pulling the taut tendon back, testing the strength she would need to fire it far enough. Rhona instructed Eydis to fire in the pause between exhaling and inhaling. She watched as the younger woman lifted the bow, sighted the arrow, and squared her shoulders, pulling the bow taut, and releasing it. The arrow sailed toward the target, hitting just outside of where Rhona's own arrow had landed.
   

RELAX

Rhona stepped back as she watched Eydìs look down before lifting the bow up, and lining up her shot. Twang, THUNK. The arrow that she fired sailed towards her intended target, and landed almost directly to the right of Rhona's own arrow. She looked back at Eydìs and let out a loud whoop, while running down to see how deep the arrow had gone. Pulling it from the target, Rhona looked to the back of the piece of thin wood and saw that it had gone deeper that hers. She looked back at Eydìs, amazed, and ran back to her side.

"It seems we have found your hobby, seamstress. This went deeper in to the target than mine did." Rhona said proudly. "Your mother's fierceness has been in you all along; it takes strength and focus to fire an arrow that deep, Eydìs."

Still shocked, she replied,'I don't think I can do that again,' Rhona looked down, thinking to herself for a moment, before saying,"You did it once. Even if you cannot do it again with the next shot, we know that you can do it. And if we need to, we will practice as often as you are able, until you CAN do that every time. What do you say?"

Rhona did not want to pressure her, she only wanted to help. Eydìs had a natural skill with the bow, and with her next shot, they would see how much that skill needed honing.
   

RELAX

'You really have a way of hyping me up for these things' Rhona heard before Eydìs sent another arrow flying down the field, sinking it in to the target in almost the exact spot that her previous arrow hit. Incredulous, she turned her head to her pupil, as a smile began to form on both of their faces. Looking at the girl she said,"I would be willing to bet my axes that that arrow is deeper than your first shot." She jumped forward and ran to the target again, seeing that she was right. Yanking the arrow out, she sprinted back to Eydìs and said,"You definitely have a calling for this. Your form seems to work for you, but we will need to build your strength before we work on your speed." Rhona was excited for her friend. She had not known Eydìs for that long, but knew that she needed something of her own, something she could do when she needed to be reminded that life was about more than the troubles plaguing you. But more importantly, Rhona now knew that Eydìs would be able to adequately defend herself and her siblings if they were attacked.

Rhona looked at the setting sun, and knew that their practice was over for the day. She hoped that Eydìs would be able to leave earlier for her next practice, and then had an idea. Turning to the girl, she said,"I know that you work quite a lot, but perhaps your mentor would be willing to let you leave the shop early one or two days a week, if I spoke with her?" Rhona looked at her, waiting for a response, as visions of training whipped through her head. Eydìs would be sore, but she would get even better than her already natural talent.