Chapter 14—WAR STARTED

Lyra Drake woke up with a fog covered mind, a headache, and blurred vision. It was enough for her to not remember what had gone on with her dreams. Wishing that she knew what her dreams was about. Once her vision had become clear; she saw that everyone else was walking up, as well. She saw that everyone else was getting their things together. While Celeste was putting out the fire, before shoving off.

Lyra had gotten upon her feet and stretched. When she had felt some of her muscles had released some tension. She opened her eyes. It was when she noticed Hahn pushing the boat upon the water, and she was pleased to see that the boat was floating. Bringing a small smile upon her lips. ‘Vikings knew what they were doing when it came to making things,’ thought Lyra.

Hahn climbed into the floating vessel, turned around. Allowing Hai tossed everyone’s belonging towards him. He was putting things in the middle and stacking them. When everything was in order; everyone climbed on board, with some help from the Viking man.

Once everyone had found their seats. The two Vikings started rowing away from shore. Working their way across the sea to a place known as Rum Island. The breeze was blowing over the water, causing a stinging sensation in everyone’s eyes. As they made their way towards the island.

Lyra was having a hard time being out at sea, finding herself getting farther away from shore. Along with the choppy water. She could not swim; she never learned how it was just something that did not go well with her. Lyra was grabbing onto the side of the boat; white knuckles, indicating how much she did not enjoy the ride. She wanted to be on land again.

Carriage had seen her uneasiness and asked, “Have you been out in the water, my lady?”

Lyra turned her face towards the Druid, who was able to see the paleness of her face. “No, Carriage.” She turned away and allowed the wind to carry her words. “I’m afraid of water.” She then glanced over the side. “The deep and mysterious depths that it holds.” Lyra pulled herself away, shaking her head and hoping to chase her mind’s image away. “Mysterious wonders belong to those who can tame it.”

The only thing that was helping her to not focus about the ordeal was thinking about what Varg Drake was doing. It was hard for her to imagine war without the idea of it being a Broadway play. It was the only way for her to cope with such knowledge.

She could only picture men and women swinging their swords, axes, and whatever else at each other along with a song and dance routine. It was enough for her to help not to have so much doom and gloom of thoughts running through her head.

She had to be strong for herself and for the people that surround her. Lyra could not think about herself anymore. She lay upon her back against the boat while the wooden vessel was making its way across the choppy waves of the sea.

Lyra glanced up towards the sky, noticing that the clouds were passing by, causing her to take a deep breath as she enjoyed the feel of the sun’s heat upon her body.

When the boat had reached about a few hundred feet from shore, Hahn directed it towards the south, following the island’s shoreline. Carriage was directing the Viking warriors to a place where the two rivers were making their way inland, and he wanted them to go for the southernmost river.

After a while, the boat seemed to have calmed down, leaving a bit of a distance away from the sea as they were moving on the river.

When the group had reached land, Lyra turned around and saw that they had reached a hidden looking cove where the land seemed to surround them. The place looked like there was no river that had brought the group there. It was almost like magic. Experiencing a magical event that no one in a lifetime has ever witnessed before. It caused Lyra to wonder if all the lochs in Scotland and Ireland to have river channels. That would have brought fish, creatures, and humans into the islands of old.

‘It was something to think about and explore further,’ thought Lyra. ‘I guess the student in me never dies. I just have to find all the answers too many of my questions.’ She felt a presence behind her and turned around. Seeing that Celeste was watching her with a hint of worry upon her almond tanned face, Lyra gave her a small smile. “What is it, Celeste?”

The most beautiful woman that Lyra had ever seen in person gave a leering look. “What troubles you, milady?” The long black-haired woman walked closer to the time traveler and spoke with a mystical voice. “You look like you want to search for all the secrets within the lands.”

Lyra sighed and glanced over towards the water before her. “I'm just finding myself with many questions and not enough answers to feed those questions.” She closed her eyes for a moment before looking at the wonderful landscape before her. “I cannot believe that the world could look so wonderful.” She was trying to find the right words to tell the other woman. “So clean. So pure, in all its wonder. It’s hard to imagine that none has ever seen such a sight…”

She noticed that the two Vikings went off to find some trees, stone, or rocks while Carriage, Celeste, and Lyra found the right area where they should start drawing out the outlines of where the buildings. Lyra made sure that they were far enough away from the water and on flat enough ground for the foundation.

Once the materials were within reach, Lyra started placing the rocks to see what fit. She felt like she was putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Celeste followed Lyra with mud to help keep the building intact in the heat. Carriage was walking around the area, blessing it. It was his belief that the ritual needed to be done to protect the group.

Lyra could hear the Druid mumbled from where she was working with the aid of the wind. “I ask for the blessings from the north, south, east and the west. As well as from the air, fire, water, and the earth below. I ask for the protection that I’m seeking!”

His arms were raised towards the sky, his hands stretched out, his fingers curved from age. “Protect us from anything that is evil.” His voice became raspy, but it did not discourage him from going further. “And guide us as we wait for those of our kinsmen…” The Druid’s voice was lost to the wind.

Lyra stopped working for a second. She heard footsteps coming towards her and looked up. It was Hai and Hahn. They had come back with an armload each with materials. Started helping with Lyra and Celeste with the remainder of the build. A couple of hours had passed for the four of them. When they realized it was time to start thinking about cooking an early dinner. Hai stepped away from the building and started a small fire.

When she felt like a bit of time had passed since she had last seen the Druid. Lyra glanced around and noticed Carriage by the water. Where she could see that he was doing something that looked a lot like fishing. After a while, Lyra, Celeste, and Hahn were finished with their first hut. It will be a hut for Lyra, Carriage, and Celeste to sleep in. It would also be used for everyone to use for everyone’s meals and other things.

After the first hut, the plan is to build a small one for their food storage. Where everyone gathers what can be stored. Another hut would be built shortly after the smaller one. It would be used for Hai and Hahn; the married couple, who needed a place of their own.

The first building had just finished, when Hai had gone off towards Carriage. Where she had helped brought back the fish that he had caught and put them upon the fire. The Druid walked back with a bit of wobbliness of his legs and sat down, next to the fire to warm up his tired bones.

With a big sigh. Carriage spoke in his aged voice, “I wish this war business wasn’t happening and that we were at home.” He glanced around. “Where everyone was safe in their huts and beds.”

He coughed for a moment before going on to say, “Where everyone was happy with the simple things that we had in life.” He closed his eyes, trying to drive away the pain that he seemed to imagine the people going through. “I hope the war to be over soon that we can be home soon.”

Hahn laughed. He looked like he was a man who was tired from all the physical endurance that day but happy to be needed. “Don’t worry, Carriage.” His chapped lips formed a small smile. “Our Lord Varg will triumph, and he will be VICTORIOUS. And besides that, he has THOR at his side; everything will be alright.”

Lyra could not help it, for a small smile made its way upon her own lips. One of the reasons that she is happy is that Thor was staying next to Varg. Even though the Thunder God had planned on going back to his home, right after the wedding. She closed her eyes and prayed that there was no war. It would have been nice, living life and having her husband next to her.

She could almost see his eyes; as if they were a mere ghost before her, as she glanced within the fire. Lyra knew that Varg was alright. She knew that Thor would have found a way to get a message to her if something terrible happened. Her eyes began to droop. Her breathing slowed. As she had started to phase out from the world. The other four had noticed that Lyra was quiet and glanced towards her and knew that she was within a world of her own.

***

During the time that Lyra Drake was helping her group to build the hut, in her group’s hidden cove area. Varg was marching through the hills, grasslands, and moors. Hardly anyone wanted to talk to one another, for the war might have been much closer to where they were. For every step that they made, brought them another step closer to the war that was before them.

Varg kept his axe upon his back, along with a sword at his side and a dagger attached to his thigh. He was more than ready for the war and for the first time in all his life, he wanted it over and done with. He knew then, how married men and women felt about the wars; once they had gotten married that is. Long years gone; he thought that they were being a lesser Viking, from the way that they had acted. Now that he was married, he knew what they had felt about wars since their marriage.

He wanted to be home. Spend the rest of what they called life, with his new wife. She was the reason why he wanted to turn around and go after her. Lyra was a reason for wanting to live; he wanted her to be in his life for many years to come.

Once they had gotten to the area of war, Varg planned on turning into his Wolf-Dragon form. He was going to end the war much sooner than the amount of time that it usually takes for a war to last. He could picture it; he was going to fly to Rum Island, where he would be united with his new wife. Varg was going to kiss her.

Once everyone had reached their loch, home. He was going to move the clan north, to the highlands. A place that he knew that many would not dare to follow him there. Varg wanted to build a bigger and stronger place for his family, along with his people.

Varg brought himself out of his inner thinking and took a slight glance towards his people. He saw that many were weathered from past battles and struggled winters. He knew then that he had to make his vision into a goal. He will move his people before they saw another winter. Or he would have to be forced to wait for another spring thaw before the move.

‘At least. I have a goal to live for,’ thought the Celtic/Viking leader; ‘now that I’m married.’ The day that Lyra had dropped into his life; he really had not believed that he would have found himself married. Now that he was, he could not imagine his life without her; he could not see himself going back to his days of old. She really had changed things for him.

***

Time had passed as the army marched on. Most of the group had wanted to move on. It would have taken them from the moment that they had left home to the battlefield. A total of seventeen days. The whole group was tired, from being on their feet too long, but they wanted to war to be over. They had walked hours, upon hours. The day turned into night and night turning into day.

Varg and his people had stopped about a few hundred yards north of the stone circle. Where they were overlooking the Wessex military force. He moved his head around and saw other Viking warriors from other clans. Making their way from the east, standing there. When the group saw Varg and his army, the leader of the standing army started walking towards Varg. Making the group of men and women followed him.

Varg noticed the leader as he was making his way towards him. He looked to be about forty years of age with salt and pepper hair. The man’s eyes were full of dark brown fire. It made Varg believe that this man was someone that demands respect and nothing short from it. Once the man was close enough; he stopped walking, causing his own army to do likewise.

The man yelled out, “Which one of you is Varg Drake, the Wolf-Dragon Lord?”

Varg stepped away from his group and made sure that his whole body faced the man. “I am he.”

Rajmund walked out of the group of people behind Varg, making his way closer to the forty-year-old man. “Lord Kadir.” The said lord rolled his eyes before Rajmund went on to say, “It’s good to see you again.”

The older man glared at the loud man. “I didn’t call for you, Rajmund.” The ruler glanced towards the man that he had asked for. “I wanted to talk to you, Varg. ALONE!”

The man who had brought the Wolf-Dragon whimpered. “But I have brought news.” The older ruler raised his eyebrow, causing the whimpering man to continue, “Varg’s wife’s father is Thor. The God of Thunder, my Lord.”

Lord Kadir gave a mighty laugh, causing the sound to roll out the land, and the man nearly fell to his knees from his loud laugh, “LIES!” Once he was calm enough to talk again, he continued, “Lies don’t become you, Rajmund.” Kadir was not an incredibly happy person from the look from his eyes, even though he laughed hard at the man before him. “Who in their right mind would ever marry Varg? It is above me and of all people to have Thor, THE Thor, as a father-in-law.” The man laughed some more before asking, “Why should I believe you?”

Thor stepped forward and stood next to Varg with a glare of his own upon his face. If he were able to kill with his looks, neither Rajmund nor Kadir would have survived. “I’M THOR.” Lord Kadir stopped laughing as he was looking at Thor and knew that he was a man who needed more respect than him. Thor went on to say, “I must let Lord Kadir know that Rajmund has been talking about my daughter very badly.” He growled out the last bit, showing that he was unpleased with the man before him.

Kadir gave a questioning look towards the God. Then, he gave a heated look towards the man that he had sent to Varg for help. “What has HE said?”

Thor growled out: loud enough to cause the world to shake from where the armies were standing. “He called my daughter a WITCH. Then he started STATING that he would FIND his WAY back to VARG’S HOME. He will make her FORGET that she had even had a HUSBAND. I must ask LORD KADIR, what kind of people do you have part of YOUR encampment?”

Kadir hissed at the man that Thor was talking about, “How DARE you? I told you to GIVE my ORDERS to Varg and what DID you DO?” He took a deep breath before going on. “You DISRESPECT the one PERSON that I KNEW that would WIN the WAR for Wiglof. Our KING, who needs to rule over the Vikings of this here land.” Kadir circled around the man who found himself upon his knees, trying to whimper for forgiveness. “You might as well COST US the battle, and if Varg takes his people and himself away, then I will KILL you myself.”

Varg sighed loudly, causing the ruler to stop in his tracks. “If I win this here war…” Varg paused for effect, and he got what he wanted. He had gotten Kadir’s attention. “Will all Viking nations leave my people alone?” He saw the understanding and a flash of anger within the other ruler’s eyes. Varg went on to say, “I mean for you all to not call upon us for another fight.”

Kadir sighed. He closed his eyes for a moment and seemed to be thinking about what Varg had asked of him. Varg could not see what was going on within Kadir’s mine, but the man answered, “I will make sure that none will find and come towards you or your kin.” Varg saw that the words did not settle with the man well but knew that he would honor his word.

Thor spoke with his roaring voice, his eyes turned red from the built-up anger that he was holding. “Does that mean that YOU WILL leave my family ALONE, as well?” He really did not need to take a breath, but he needed to get his point across. No matter how he had to do it. “Lyra, Varg, their children, their children’s children as well as the people that they live with. I also don’t want you to CALL UPON me, just because you could not or will not be able to use these people to HELP you.”

All throughout the area, everyone could hear everything that Thor had said. Even the Wessex people could hear him. No one wanted to see the God angry.

Kadir took a quick breath of air and gulped. “We hear you, Thor, God of Thunder. If someone—” He looked towards the other clans of Vikings, even the lowly man upon the ground, before looking back at the God. “If someone does try to hurt these people that you have requested to stay out of our fights—” He gulped again. He looked frightened for his life. “—then what would happen to that person?”

Thor, with a hungry look upon his face, swung his hammer that he had been carrying and slammed it upon the ground, causing the area to shake and people to fall onto the earth. “Then I would be going to be hunting that person DOWN,” he stated very loudly. “If anyone prevents ME from finding this PERSON, then I WILL be KILLING THEM TOO.”

All throughout the land heard what Thor had said. It stated for all that heard, ‘Death to those who go after his family. He will not be asking questions if someone was stupid enough to do such a thing.’

Kadir growled out—not towards the God who made his threat but for everyone to hear, “Let’s get ready for war.” He raised his hand towards the sky, signaling for his troop to get ready for the war to begin.

All the warriors had lined up upon Larkhill, a place known for many wars, no matter the culture. The Wessex soldiers were just a couple of hundred feet off to the side from the stone circle. A place that few has known that a King Arthur; a well-known ruler of the land, to gather council from.

Horns from both sides had sounded; a signal that war was about to begin. Once the horns had ended their tune. Both sides charged to meet at the middle while Varg stayed upon the top of the hill with Thor and Kadir. Along with a man that Varg could only guess as Wiglof. Watching the war from where they were standing. Thor had seen a set of people, standing near the stone circle. Staying far enough away from the war as possible. The Thunder God pointed towards those people to Varg.

The Wolf-Dragon had seen these people; he then glanced towards Kadir and asked, “What shall I do?”

While Kadir was thinking of an answer. Varg noticed a man, who he had seen a handful of times before. A man, who was chubby from his belly, arms, hands, and legs; had a limp to his right leg. The man had light colored hair and beard. A man well known for his many years of war, aged well into his fatherhood years, but not known to be anyone’s father. The light color haired man battled on with his limp and all, stabbing the Wessex with his mighty sword.

Varg stood helplessly as he saw a non-Viking before the man stabbing him in the stomach. While another ran behind him. Swinging an axe and chopping the Viking’s head from his shoulders. The Wolf-Dragon closed his eyes as he could smell the blood from where he was forced to wait. Nearly three hundred yards from the man laid. The smell of copper and lead came into his nose, enough for him to become itchy for his own war hungry ways.

A flash of thought of his sweet wife. Lyra, who would not enjoy such a sight which caused him to do something stupid. By wanted to stop it before more had to die.

Kadir glanced towards the people. While a man known, as Wiglof at their side. Seeing much more of their numbers were starting to go down with every minute that passed. They have not tried to end it.

Varg glanced towards Wiglof, who gave a nod which told Varg that it was time for him to change to his form. He then glanced towards his father-in-law, who also gave a nod for Varg to go ahead without him.

Varg turned and walked away from the group of men and dropped to his hands and knees. A moment later, his hands became paws with claws. His claws were growing to those that could rip flesh apart; his skin became fur and leather. Wings grew from where the shoulder blades were placed upon his back; even the horns grew in front of his ears.

Varg’s size grew from what it was, he became bigger and stronger than what he was. Then he stood upon his back feet. All the people that were fighting had stopped when he gave out a great big roar. The beast that was known by all, had stretched out his wings and took to the sky.

The Wolf-Dragon creature roared again and flew towards a couple of men. Standing near the circle of stones. Varg landed in front of them. One of the men stood in front of the other; this told him that the other was the one who could stop the war. Varg was about to swing his right claw towards the man standing between him and the one that could stop it all.

When the said man waved his arms into the air and called out, “NO!”, Varg stopped moving; the voice of the man went on to say, “Please don’t!” The unusual form of the dragon lay down his paw and looked at the leader, who went on to say, “Wolf-Dragon, just please stop.” He glanced towards the ground. “I will end the war. I will do anything as long as you don’t swing your natural spears towards my son.”

The younger man turned towards the man who yelled for the dragon to stop. “Father, what are you doing?” He seemed confused.

“Preventing your murder,” stated the Wessex leader. “Do you really think that you would survive an attack from him?” The man became heated as he kept talking to the younger man, “I don’t think so. Son, put down your weapons and raise your hands to the air. Show that we will not attack him, and he will not harm us.” The man was determined to get his son to listen to him.

“No,” growled out the young man. He turned towards his father with fire within his brown-green eyes. “You wanted a war, FATHER,. Why are YOU giving up to these BARBARIANS that wanted to take over our LANDS?”

The older man sighed; he sounded so old for battling his own son. He glanced towards the ground. “We have taken these lands without knowing that it had been someone else’s lands.” He then looked up towards his son. “We are no different. It is time for the end of the war and talk to the other side’s leaders and see if we can come to an agreement.”

Varg growled deeply, which sounded to the humans like the words, “Stop your people.”

The older man yelled out for all to hear with his hand raised high, “STOP!”

After a moment of delayed reactions from the battlefield, Varg then heard on his own side the man known as Wiglof calling for all the Viking to stop. He then turned towards the two men before him and heard the younger man grumble, but none took notice. Varg directed with his head, showing the two men that they needed to head for Larkhill.

The two Wessex leaders followed the Wolf-Dragon up the hillside, where the two main leaders, exchanged their agreements for the end of the war. This brought the ruling of King Wiglof of Mercia and Egbert to be a king to his own people in Wessex. Drawing the island upon the ground. Vikings were to live in the northern areas of the island while the Wessex took the south.

The two rulers also agreed that if they needed to meet up again. The stone circles would be the place to be, after sending a messenger that they were to meet there.

Varg Drake turned back to his human form, which was not as frightening as his dragon form. But enough for the Wessex leaders to listen to him. “Will there be any more wars?”

Egbert groaned, seeing that the Wolf-Dragon knew man’s speech, “Not with me.” The man looked tired from the amount of time that it had taken for him to travel there. He seemed weak in the ways of Vikings. “I am done with these wars.”

The younger man, known as Egbert’s son, said, “I can’t guarantee anything.” Many glanced at him.

Wiglof spoke in a gruff voice, “You will have no wars with me.” He then gave the younger man a bit of warning within his eyes. “Unless you take my lands from me again.”

The son complained, “They were not your lands.” He looked around and asked, “Where does it say that these lands belong to you?”

Varg sighed. He really wanted to go home; he wanted to see his wife again, not to stand around and yell at younger men who believed that they were better than any man living upon the land. He closed his eyes, trying to fight back the urge to take a swing at the younger man or boy.

Wiglof gave the younger man a look of true heat, the kind that would kill. “North from here is known as Andover.” He took a deep breath, showing that he was trying to keep his temper. “There is a stone marker with our writing upon it, stating that it is my land.” He pointed his finger towards the direction. “Further north belongs to the Celtics. People of the Earth, they will do anything to protect their lands, even from my own people.” He turned his head towards Varg. “Varg happens to be half-and-half. He is the Wolf-Dragon that you fear.” Wiglof moved his head to where he was looking towards the young man again. “He is a hell more than a legend that your people have talked about.”

The man quivered after hearing such things from the Viking King, but the heat within his eyes had not lessened. Egbert glared at his own son. “You SHALL go across the water and BACK to OUR homeland and YOU shall learn the WAYS of a TRUE leader.” His words caused the younger man to glare even more. Then, Egbert shook Wiglof’s hand for peace, and the two sides moved away from the area.

Varg gave Wiglof a look, telling the king that he was on his own from that moment on. “Go home, Varg.” The old Viking sighed. He seemed to know when he was defeated. “I shall trouble you and your people no more.” He even looked towards the other leaders of his people and growled out, “None shall ask for your aid again.”

Varg turned towards Thor. Thor wrapped his arm around his son-in-law and walked away from other people. “I will tell your people to head for home. I know that you want to see Lyra again, and I don’t blame you.” The Thunder God sighed. “I may never see her or you again after today, knowing how angry Odin will be with me.”

The Viking leader glanced towards the God that his father had told stories about. They may never add up to the one that he had known as a child, but he liked the one that he got to know as an adult. He was a better man that he ever dreamed about. “What shall I say to Lyra for you?”

Thor said with a sad look upon his face, “That I wish you two well.” Meaning, ‘Goodbye; tell her that I love her and stay safe.’

“You’ll send my people home?”

“You know that I will, Varg,” stated the Thunder God. “Now go and make sure that there will be a grandchild for me to worry about in a few years.”

Varg chuckled. He knew that Thor was, as Vikings did, covering up his true fears with humor. He was afraid that he may never see his father-in-law again, but he knew that the God wants him to continue life like he was met to do. Varg walked away from everyone and turned back into his Wolf-Dragon form and flew towards Rum Island, a place that had been calling him ever since the moment that he had sent Lyra there.