I despise these horrendous creatures... 
This would be the second time I've spotted an undead draugr down here, inside the woods; how did they get over here? Are there more I don't know about? Are there more coming this way?

I questioned if this place was going to continue being safe, or if I'd be seeing more of these draugr in the near future, making survival in the cold, alone, twice as challenging, and who knows if there will be any other unusual creatures that will be drawn to the safety of my property.

I could fight this draugr, its an old decaying body with an angry host, right? I should be capable of overpowering it! Unless, its stronger than it looks... I didn't get much of a chance to fight the last one that nearly killed me, so I had not a clue if draugr were weak, and will crumble with ease.

Peeking my head out from behind the tree, I see the draugr pacing back and forth in the thick snow, almost limping with its heavily damaged blade dragging besides it. The creature was groaning hoarsely, the exact sound that caught my attention.

I was armed with a blade, so if I make a move at the right time, I can take it down in a matter of seconds! I just have to wait til its turned its back to me...

My hand hovered over the swords leather pomel, watching the deteriorating draugr with a close eye, whilst keeping a low profile, to avoid drawing its attention over to me, and having my whole plan crumble.

Can I do it?

I felt doubt, that I could not take this thing on, and by making a move I'd simply die, or walk away with possibly fatal injuries- either way would lead to death, wouldn't it?
I get the idea that if I needed him most, baldur wouldn't be there to get me outta this...

I think I've got this...

I went right back to convincing myself that this is just an old body, likely older than I've been on this realm, so it wouldn't stand a chance, and if I charge at the right time with no mistakes, it'd be as easy as ever...

My palms were sweaty as I knew the time to make some move was getting closer, and my heart thumped loudly in my chest. I tried to control my breath, despite the fact I felt like i was on the verge of passing out if I didn't start breathing heavily right away.

I've got this...

Look at that creature, and its disfigured body, and rotting face... Its been dead for Odin knows how long, and I'm young, ambitious, strong- its got nothing against me!
I was confident. I had given myself the idea that I was stronger than this, and my plan of attack would go smoothly...

The draugr had turned its back to me, and was just where I wanted it to be... I felt like a hungry wolf, targeting an unsuspecting deer, anticipating its attack.

Now was it, I had no more time to waste!
I hurry and gripped the swords pomel, revealing myself from behind the tree, charging at the draugr as quickly as I can, drawing out the sword, the hard metals shone brightly in the streams of sunlight through the trees.

It was right there, I had it!

The draugr hissed loudly, swiftly turning its back around, as it had heard my swift approach, and spotted me before I could even raise the blade to strike it down.

Its eyes locked onto mine; they looked so dead, yet was filled with bloodlust, and an urge to seek some sort of vengeance.

I haulted with a terrified gasp, frozen in complete fear, my confidence melting away like snow as I saw my life flash before my eyes.
It raised its own blade into the air, opening its jaws and howling out a screeching battle cry that would strike fear into the strongest and bravest of warriors.

What in Odin's name have I done?? What made me think I could handle this undead freak??
I was so sure I could handle this, but that all backfired!

Should I run? Could I outrun it?

Should I fight for myself? Could this thing kill me? If I'm not careful enough, yes! This point, it looks like I've lost my chance at ever continuing to go on with life, peacefully, as I would have wished.

Could I still do this?
Something my father used to say to me, was; 'I'd rather go out in a fight' he was never afraid of death, and was sure that jeddie victoriously in battle, and in the end a Valkyrie would escort him to Valhalla, and his name would live on for many generations to come.

His soul moved on after he'd caught a terrible sickness, so he didn't die in a glorious battle as he would have wished, but in honour of his name, I'll do whatever I can to fight for myself, so if I die to this beast, so I'd die fighting, and not in vain.

I want to make him proud of me.

The draugr lowered its blade, proceeded to lunge towards me, giving me little to no time to react to such a sudden move.
Although I had almost no chance of reacting in time, I had dodged to the right as it swung its old and damaged sword downwards, missing me by only a few inches.

I let out a quick anxious, yet proud laugh, that I dodged right in time from the draugrs blade, but I had celebrated too early, as the draugr didn't wait to try and jab me on the side with the tip of the rusted blade.

This time, I had more time to act quickly. The first thing I did, with no thought, was swing my blade from bellow, and struck the bottom of it'd blade, resulting in it to nearly slip out from its boney hands, after impact.

While It had to recover as quick as possible, I didn't waste a second to raise my sharp sword, and swung the heavy blade I had struggled to hold, and I successfully struck it on the side, slicing through its paper thin, dried out flesh, its dead guts nearly spilt out onto the white snow.

The draugr shrieked in agony, staggering to the side as soon as I had hit it, catching itself before falling into the puffy snow, but wasn't going to let that one injury take it down so easily.
If the draugr was going to be stubborn, then I shall be equally as stubborn.

I almost couldn't believe what I did there, though I shouldn't just stand there and try to process what I have just done; the legendary beast was preparing itself to continue this fight.

I held the sword to my side, the blade pointing up to the blue skies, waiting for the perfect moment to strike, or use the sword to halt any of its strategies.
"Come at me, you foul beast!" I screamed, displaying bravery that I didn't have; I was terrified. Who knows, I may not get to see tomorrow's daylight, but I won't give up easily- especially not to something that should have been deceased long ago.

The draugr howled in response to my challenge, darting at me- it was abnormally quick, for something so ancient; it was made obvious that this thing was not as weak as I had hoped.

It raised its lightweight blade as it, targeting my side again, aggressively swinging it, to which I stepped back before it lowered it too far, and swung my own blade, the two swords colliding.
My sword made of new metals, and was rarely ever used, impacting the draugrs breaking sword shattered the ancient sword into multiple pieces, the rusted metal flew in all directions.

It was more vulnerable! What's a warrior in battle without their weaponry?
I had a perfect opening, and no way in hel was I going to just stand there and let it get away, or continue to take me on.

In one swift action, I kicked the draugr from underneath its feet, resulting it to fall to the ice cold ground, what was left of its once beautiful sword long ago, slipped right from its old hands.

It looked so weak, giving me a feeling of power, that there was nothing that could take me down!

I positioned my blade, to where the tip was pointing to the ground, pressing my foot onto the draugrs ribs to keep it down, that felt like if I added any more weight, my foot would fall inside its chest.

Raising my blade, the warm light of the bright sun shining over my cheek, lighting my silhouette and blade, looking down upon the helpless creature as it struggled underneath my feet, desperately reaching for the pomel of the sword I shattered.

"I'll see you in hel, you filthy son of a b*tch"
I made one last insult for the draugr, belting a thunderous battle cry, stabbing my opponent in directly on its fragile skull, piercing the ground underneath it as well.
It cried in agonizing pain and terror, squirming and shaking as it had just received a well crafted blade into its rotten brains.

Stubborn thing was fighting to stay alive for as long as possible- not on my watch...

I twisted my sword, further opening its skull, and its cries had silenced, the woods quite once more.

The draugr was slain... I killed it... I killed it!
I drew my sword out from its head, old blood dripped down the sharpened spear, turning the once beautiful white snow, staining into a bloody gore scene.

I breathed shakily, staring down upon its now dead body, skull split into two, and remains of its sword scattered everywhere.

I did it... I thought that if I did kill it, I'd feel victorious, prideful, confident, strong, but I don't even know how I feel...
I think its about time I turned back, and get some rest...

~

Weeee- I'm terrible at writing fight scenes!!
so some of you probably noticed the lack of baldur; yeah I known... This book is literally a baldur x reader lol.
Buuuuuut I also kinda wanted to focus on other stuff, that doesn't really focus on baldur, but very soon I want to include baldur way more.
Thank you~
-tootsieroots