Build a new Property

< Previous Residence

The Valhalla Kot of Tom Dicken Haraldsson

Next Residence >

The Gleaming Tree Kot. Goldfest 2009. The Time Twins.

Men will quake with terror, Ere the seventy sea oars gain their well-earned respite, from the labors of the ocean, Norwegian arms are driving, as the iron-studded Surf Dragon, went down the storm-tossed river, like an eagle with wings a-beating. From 'King Harald's Saga', by Snorri Sturlusson. Graphics by Grimr Warbear and Viking Tale by Tom.

Original Viking Tale:~



It was a cold autumn morning as the iron-studded Viking ship called the Surf Dragon neared the coast-line of England, the strong Norwegian arms of thirty-two men rowed for all they were worth towards the undefended windswept shingle beach, sixteen relief oarsmen squatted in the open boat with swords and shields at the ready. At the stern by the snarling dragon's head stood a giant of a man called Herger on the steer board, at the prow standing as though they were two tribal champions were Froda, the tribal chieftain with his son Halfdan, with heads aloft. Froda was a six foot four man with gangly limbs and a pot-belly, he was in his late-fifties, with long grey hair and beard and cold blue eyes that had seen much blood-shed in minor skirmishes and major battles, beside him was his son, a man of smaller stature taking heavily from his mother's genes, he had blond hair, blue eyes and a close cut beard and he was in his early twenties.
As the keel board hit the shingle the sea-faring warriors fell upon the quiet beach and ran across the pebbles towards Dune Wic and the Engel Chieftain Seaxmund, a unscrupulous greedy man with no regard for his kinsfolk, he was not fit to be a leader of his people. Herger and Ulfar had drawn the short straw for Folkvangar and remained by the ship. The Norsemen of Bloodhoof now ran in rage across the firm sand with their chieftain Froda leading the way with his son by his side, who was willing to lose his life protecting his father. The warriors lifted their shields as the morning sky darkened with many arrows, their shields were now pierced with many Engel darts.


It was a dark rainy evening as the ambulance with its siren blazing drove at high speed towards Southfolk County Hospital, the date was 31st October 2020 as a paramedic called Smith fought to save the young life of Karl Anderson. His father Professor Torbin Anderson sat very vexed at the speed and his sons condition but with deep appreciation at the skills of the Smith, his sons face was now covered in bandage and a oxygen mask. The ambulance screeched to a halt outside Accidents and Emergencies, two Orderlies pulled the stretcher from the ambulance and wheeled young Karl straight to the operation theatre, the Professor followed as though in a dazed, drenched with sea water and covered in mud, Karl knew nothing of what was going on, in his coma all his thoughts were of doors pulled open and doors pushed shut.

In the autumn of 880AD Redtop and Hairy Breeks pushed the unconscious body of Halfdan into the stern of the Surf Dragon, his limp body fell upon the wooden hull unceremoniously, at the prow Herger and Ulfar took the dying body of the chieftain Froda aboard who was pierced by many arrows. The fighting men clambered aboard and took to the oar as the Engel archers took chase. Froda gripped Herger's arm and asked, 'Where is my only son, is he safe?' 'Yes, he is safe my chieftain', replied Herger not knowing if he was. The chieftains cold blue eyes looked at Herger as Froda continued. 'He is your chieftain now, serve him well'. The warrior who looked like Halfdan awoke with a start and could see his reflection in a plundered metal case, it was his reflection but he looked slightly older and with a beard, he peered around at his new surroundings and was amazed to find that he was on a replica Viking ship that looked very authentic, around his neck was an amulet made of silver of two closed doors, was it deaths door or the doors to Asgard. 'Give us a hand', shouted the young man on the steer board, with that Karl stood up and helped the red-headed lad, but blood was dripping from a head wound as he looked at the lad and asked. 'That blow on my head has taken my memory, could you tell me who I am?' The young man looked at Karl completely expressionless and replied. 'You have lost your muninn, you are Halfdan, son of Froda, son of the Frey!!!' Karl looked at him in wide-eyed astonishment and replied. 'You are a Scot!' 'No', said the lad shaking his head. ' I was born on the Isle of Skye but now I am a fighting man of Bloodhoof '. The two oarsmen closest laughed with amusement but the light-heartedness was short-lived as news came from the prow that the chieftain was dead, after a moment of reflection the lad from the Isles continued. 'They call me Redtop and that oarsman over there with the red hair, red beard and red eyes is my father Hairy Breeks, we both saved your life, always remember that now you are chieftain'. Karl sighed but kept a level head as there were many eyes upon him, as the two young men kept the steer board straight. 'What year is this ?' Asked Karl at length. Redtop reply was quick and cutting. 'The year of the Raven, the year your father died'.

Professor Anderson looked at his wrist watch, it was 10:55 pm on a stormy night as the rain lashed against the windows of the ward. He had washed and changed his clothes, he was a tall man about six foot three, with long limbs and a pot-belly. He sat reliving the sailing accident over and over as he watched his sons shallow breathing. A attractive female Doctor entered the ward, carrying a small back-pack which she laid on the floor next to the Professor's chair. The Professor looked at her striking beauty, blond hair pulled tightly back in a professional clinical way, but she had large kind brown eyes. She spoke in a soft husky dulcet tone with a trace of accent. 'I am Doctor Freyjasdatter and this was left for you at the reception. The Professor looked at the bag of clothes and replied. 'Ah! Yes that would be Muriel'. But then he looked back at his son and continued. 'It's Karl's clothes, I don't think he will be needing them for awhile.' The Doctor took a envelop out and said. 'It's most probably a clerical error but these are Karl's records, we found that there are many old injuries that are not recorded, then I looked at his dental records and they do not correspond either?' The Professor looked pensive then replied. 'The only accident I can remember is him falling off his bike and this one'. Karl began to twitch slightly in his deep coma, the Doctor could see how worried the Professor looked and said soothingly. 'Good brain activity, that is a good sign'.
Halfdan was fighting for his life in this strange alien place he regarded as Dune Wic, he thought of his father Froda and how wise and learned he was compared to him, he held the image of his fathers face before him, which made him smile, but gradually his father's face changed, his right eye disappeared leaving a gaping socket, he quickly stepped back from this image of decay and found that he was in the presence of Odin the Allfather of Omens' Wisdom and Prophecy, there was only one raven perched upon his right shoulder, it was a ghost raven, of no earthly substance but Halfdan knew it was Muninn, the Allfather was as Halfdan imagined he would be, with a flow of white hair and a long white beard, but with skin that was not wrinkled by age, he wore a white robe adorned with runes in blood red, over the robe he had a strange cloak made of black feathers. A mortal black raven passed Halfdan and perched upon Odin's left shoulder and spoke an ancient language that Halfdan recognized but did not understand. Huginn's speech was a low guttural rattle, to Halfdan's ears it just sounded like, toc, toc, toc, kraa, but Odin nodded in understanding. With this the ghostly Muninn took flight and flew passed Halfdan as close as he dare to mortal man, Odin spoke with the same low guttural tone used by the birds. 'One flees by night the other flies by day'.
With Odin's strangely whispered words Halfdan was transported on board a great long boat, the sea was as calm as a fish pond in May and he was standing at the prow with a beautiful Lady who was slightly under dressed, he recognized her as Freyja, the daughter of time and Cween of the royal house-hold of Uppsala, she had waist length golden hair and sad blue eyes, tears of gold ran down her cheeks and turned into amber as they fell into the salt water below. 'I have lost everything today, my twin brother Freyr and now my wise councillor Froda'. She said in a husky dulcet tone as she gestured with her arm revealing the length of the sleeve of her gown. Halfdan looked behind and could see Freyr laid out on the deck as though his face had been sculptured in blue clay, laying next to the dead deity was his father Froda, Halfdan gasped with sadness as the Lady spoke harshly. 'Who are you?' She hesitated then continued. 'Are you a harbinger of death sent by Muninn to feast upon my misery?'

The Articles of The Gleaming Tree Kot. Goldfest 2009. The Time Twins.:

---

Write an article for The Gleaming Tree Kot. Goldfest 2009. The Time Twins....