Augun led me out of the stables and down the city roads. "I can walk by myself.", I retorted as I pulled myself away from him. "You seem quite cross considering I just purchased a fine steed for you.", he replied. "Yes, that is true, but you also kissed me....many.....many times.", I said in such a manner as to make him step back.

"And that is true but...but,", he trailed off. "But what?", I snickered. And with that, I ran off to our home.

Daylight began to peak through the clouds in small rays, but by that time, I was already prepared for my training. Augun had not come back by the time that I had arrived to the courtyard. All was silent. Nobody arrived at the yard. The sky was cloudy as water fell from the gray puffs above me.

I trudged back to the house, slamming the door shut behind me as I entered. It was completely empty. Curiosity got the better of me as I bolted to the front door and to the roads.

It was only a matter of time before I had made my way to the stables. The horses neighed slightly, but Duke stood calm and strong, as always. "Good boy!", I whispered as I patted his muzzle. I pulled his saddle pads from a shelf and and picked his saddle from upon a stick on the wall. In a whirlwind of moments, I had managed to tack Duke up completely and pull him from his stall.

I led him from the stable and onto the roads. "Do not worry boy. It is ok.", I said as I guided him off of the street. The city's pathways were empty; only a single twig cracked at my footstep.

A long field stretched beyond. It was surrounded by pine trees and small streams. The only movement was the swaying of the trees and the snow, and the movement of the flowing trickles of water. "Let us go.", I patted his neck and hopped upon him. I gave him a stiff kick on the side. He galloped through the feilds, snow flying up from under his hooves.

It was a long ride until we had reached the end of the feild. Duke slowed his gait to a walk, huffing what seemed like steam compared to the bitter winter air. I patted his neck, loosening the reins as his reward.

At the end of the feild sat a log. It seemed as if something was moving upon the cylinder of wood and out of curiosity I trudged over to the log, pulling my horse behind me. Once I had grown closer, I could see a man sitting and almost pondering. He had brown hair that waved in the wind, but his body did not move. He seemed to be lost in his thoughts, but I broke them by putting my sword to his neck and asking, "Who are you?"

He turned his head and looked back at me. "Oh! Dargess!", I exclaimed as I removed my sword from his neck. "What might a fine lass be doing around here in this forest? The outdoors is no place for a lady.", his accent seemed nothing of the Norse kind. If anything, his accent was Scottish.

"You..your Scottish!", I marveled as I sat by him, still holding the reins firmly in my hand. "It would be foolish of you to think otherwise.", he whispered. My facial expression changed from confused to angry in a flash. "That is, if you had ever heard me speak.", he corrected nervously.

"Oh, and by the way, I am no 'fine' lady.", I said seriously as I wrapped my hand around my knees. "As you say.", he whispered in return. I chuckled a bit before asking him another question. "Why did you surrender that time in the fight. I thought that Vikings never surrendered.", I said in an all-knowing sort of tone.

"I am not a Viking. Well, intricately speaking I am not.", he replied. "Intricately speaking?", I questioned as I rocked back and forth. "Yes. It is much like looking at the details with such carefulness to acknowledge every little slip that might turn my identity around."

"Oh! Intelligent Viking! I mean 'Oh! Intelligent non-Viking'?", I seriously questioned my change in his status but did not ask tedious questions furthermore.

"I thought that the Jarl told you never to sleak to me, or men in general.", said Dargess in an almost accusing tone. "You heard that?", I turned myself from him and blushed with embarrassment as I silently scolded myself. "Every bit.", he replied.

"Oh. Well, I talk to you because that is what he does not want me to do, and that I what I want to do so I do.", as I said this, Dargess' expression morphed from confused to happy. "And why would you want to talk to me?", he asked while trying to hide a smile. "Because you are kind, unlike everybody else. You show mercy to those who need it.", in a moment of silence between the stream and the snow, Augun came riding in on his horse, a sword in his hand.

A/N: Don't forget to vote and comment!