Hushed Silences

° ° ° A S T I M E P A S S E S O U R

L I V E S F L Y B Y W I T H O U T

H O P E ° ° °

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Shadows shrouded in mystery always seemed to lurk in the darkest corners.

One of these such shadows used to be so very, very powerful. She used to own the world, with all her mighty glory, and people used to call her name in victory chants. She was the warrior to her people.

Now, she was nothing more than a fairytale.

And it was for this very reason that she lurked in the darkness on this very day. Her body slowly pulled itself from the sticky abyss, and her shining eyes trained themselves on the customers in the pub. Inside, it smelled like alcohol, sweat, and cheap soaps. Men and women, all Norse alike, wearing animal furs, with long hair and some men with beards that coasted the front of their metal plates. She looked very unimpressed, and slid out of the dimness of the corner, and took a seat in the semi crowded bar.

"Good eve, lass, what do ye wish to drink?"

The woman's gaze flashed, eyes trained on the bartender. He held a cup of some unknown liquids.

"I know not what you have, sir," the woman said painstakingly, taking time to pronounce every word in her thick accent. "But, I will take the finest cup of alcohol you have."

The bartender grinned and sputtered out a boisterous laugh that shook the entire room.

"Aye, aye!" He called out. "No problem lass."

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The woman's name was long forgotten by her people, and as she drank among the ones who once praised her, it made the once powerful woman lonely.

"Is there something ye miss, lassie?" The bartender asked the woman.

She glanced over the large man, and decided he was worth her words. He was as tall as viking men could, with a long fiery beard, strong eyes, and a kind heart. He wore ordinary clothes on his back, but it seemed he carried courage on his sleeve. He treated women well - a trait almost desirable on its own. Setting down her ale, the woman held out a hand to the fierce carrier behind the pub.

"I am, Audun, who might you be, brave one?"

The bartender wiped off his hands on his apron, shaking the woman's hand fiercely.

"Aye, the names Taleb. Pleasure to meet ye, Audun."

As they exchanged pleasantries, Taleb gazed around his pub. Only the two newly acquainted were present; all other signs of life had disappeared with dawn. Yawning, Taleb glanced at Audun. She seemed exhausted, if not more than he.

"Do ye have a place to stay, lass?" He asked unexpectedly.

Audun shook her head.

"Would you like to stay a fortnight in my lodge?"

Audun was struck with awe. A man was willing to give up his home for a woman? She had felt the times had changed very much since last she ruled. Before Oden, and Thor, Audun was the battle cry screamed throughout the Nordics. Now it was only an occasional whisper that she became.

After spending the night at Taleb's, the mysterious woman Audun disappeared - but in her place was sheepskin and fine ale.

A note came with it.

Taleb,

Thank you for sharing your home and drink. If you pray to me, Audun, every night, I shall bring prosperity to your pub.

- Audun, Goddess of Sun

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Weird little story.

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