the forgotten prince

[erikvtheforgotten]

ofmortem​:

“He is going to know about you the second he founds out how I managed to get out right under his nose! Mother and I have been at his complete mercy all these years. We’ve all believed that you were dead and better off dead in this cruel world.” Ingrid told him, ripping her arm out from his grasp. She couldn’t just up and leave. What about Rune and Aesir? Their mother even? None of them would know. And her heart can’t take the thought of them thinking she just… Left them. Without a word. As if she cared nothing for them. 

“Where are we goin—” Before she could even finish her sentence, she was quickly thrown behind a tree. Her voice hitched, trying not to breathe loud. Were they looking for her? Or just patrolling the forest? She watched as the troches faded away in the darkness, and her heart sank to her stomach. “Did you check the village? Are there any survivors?” 

.

“he will not know i am here ingrid. you could have escaped from your home a million different ways. please stop. i am just taking you somewhere safe! when it is safe you can return home, ragnar will never know. please let me help you.” his frustration was growing and growing with every word his siter threw his way. did she not understand he was trying to help her? to save her from the attack that was happening? how many times had he failed to be there for her and their mother. he would not let that happen again. “is that what you really wish? for me to be dead ingrid?”

there was a moment of complete silence as erik watched the man on horseback carefully. silently he pulled a dagger from his pocket and held it out to ingrid to take. if this were to sour he wanted to be sure she could protect herself. after what felt like ages the man finally road off after hearing the call of his men. at least now they could breathe for a second. “yes there are survivors. people are finding safety and fighting. which is exactly what i am trying to do now if you stop fighting me like a child.”

[erikvtheforgotten]

ofmortem​:​

-

With busting through the doors, for a split moment there she had thought it was the guards sent from the King. And that tonight was finally her judgment day. Her heart finally relaxed when it was just her brother, but the facial expressions he held and his utterly urgency proved that they were perhaps just behind him. “Where are we going?!” Ingrid called out, following him from behind. “There is nowhere else to hide! Ragnar knows everything! He has the most absolute power!”

.

erik felt like a child again, aruging with his sister when he was just trying to do something good for her. “he does not know everything, you give the man too much credit.” he said, reaching back to take his sister’s arm and pull her along with him. there was too much danger for her to even be slightly out of his reach. gods help anyone that may decide to get in their way tonight. “he does not know everything ingrid. he does not know about me and he certainly does not know everything about you.” he corrected her. 

the mercenary’s pace slowed for a moment, watching a man race by on horse back. he pulled the two of them closer to the tree to hide themselves from the man’s sight. “it isn’t ragnar i am worried about tonight sister. raiders are on our shore tonight, the entire village is in panic. i need to get you all somewhere safe.”

[erikvtheforgotten]

location: the docks, hedeby village

open starter

there were many times erik’s lifestyle lead to an unusual amount of being alone. if he was taking a job and out on the road more often than not he was by himself. or if he was staying in a town, he found it best to keep to himself. often times his strange hair and golden eyes kept people away, most believing he may be a monster himself. or touched by something evil.

the rare times he could actually enjoy himself around others was not something he could pass up. 

sitting by the docks, various groups of men had spread out. all of them enjoying their fill of mead and other liquors. some exchanging stories, some playing games with dice. erik was happy to just sit in the company of others, laughing for a bit. his attention was drawn as someone new approached the group. “come to join us?” erik asked the newcomer who had wandered over towards his group. “or are you here to hire for a job?” the winter mercenary asked.

[erikvtheforgotten]

beerserker​:​

Originally posted by godzillawillsaveus

“Just for once, I would like to share a drink with you. Tell tales, sing a tune. Not jumping head first into danger. Just once. If this is how the Gods wants us to meet, I can’t do much.” He shrugged but smiled, chuckling.

.

“once this is done i will buy you a drink my friend.” he smiled. amongst the chaos happening around them it truly was nice to see a familar face once more. and not one of someone he was trying desperately to avoid. “until that drink though i believe we have a job to be done. as the gods would want.” he smiled, sword in hand.

[erikvtheforgotten]

annacadogan​:

.

For a moment she rested against the roughened bark of a nearby tree.  It offered her a brief pause from the weighted pain of her legs, but although her injuries were bad, they were far from the worst she’d experienced over the years.  She dreaded to think how beastly the outcome could have been had Erik not appeared, and wondered if he’d ever realise how grateful she was for the intrusion.

“I can walk.”  She replied with an air of stubborn determination.  “I ought to make my way back to the village, and you ought to keep out of sight.”  She breathed out what faintly resembled a small laugh and sauntered passed Erik to stand above her attacker, still laying motionless upon the ground.  She didn’t quite know what possessed her, but she gave the body a brief rock with her boot.  The furs upon his neck eased off to the side, and in doing so revealed a silver cross.  “A Saxon?”  She seethed, turning to face Erik with a look of pure unease.  “That’s Saxon made.”

.

"saxon made?" erik mused, as he wandered over towards the body of the man. crouching down next to him he got a good look at what anna meant. gloved hands reached out to pull the silver cross closer to him. this was saxon made for sure. and not something old or uncared for. this was new. polished and well taken care of.  not something a man could have simply taken off a corpse of a fallen saxon and just kept. no. this was something else.

"fuck." he said standing up. just as he was about to say something else the first screams and cries were emanating out from the village. "it's an attack." he'd seen enough of these to know what this meant. pulling out his sword, there was no hesitation as he plunged it into the heart of the man who had just been attacking them. "we need to move."

[erikvtheforgotten]

bursting in through the door, the tall frame of erik came into the small home. “come on ingrid. we need to get moving.” he said as he moved over towards his sister. there was no time for questions. no time to explain right this moment. all he knew was that he needed to keep his sister safe. and sitting in this small cottage in the middle of the woods was not going to work.

@ofmortem​

[erikvtheforgotten]

“come on.” the rather large man grumbled as he pulled the other up from the ground. he hadnt meant to knock the other over amongst the fight. but once the others were slain he noticed the poor baker on the ground. “are you alright?”

@newlylit​

[erikvtheforgotten]

“fucking hell.” erik chuckled spotting the other mercenary standing there. after a few years of not seeing him it was only a matter of time before he ran into him once again. although he did not expect it to be here in his old home village, and during a saxon attack. “i might think it’s bad luck to see you. seems like everytime i do there is some fight i need to get involved in.”

@beerserker​

[erikvtheforgotten]

erik’s plan was to stay hidden not to be so out in the open like this. part of him wanted to just keep going. save his mother and sister and let the rest burn. fuck the king. he was nothing to him. 

but then he spotted her. liv. his friend before his life had changed and he had “died”. and here she was talking on some of these saxons alone.

fuck.

stalking over towards where she was there was no hesitation to drive his sword through the man’s chest. 

@livketilsdottir​

[erikvtheforgotten]

annacadogan​:

Frustration and a sudden pang of sadness washed over her. Servants weren’t permitted to carry weapons, of any kind. It was a stark reminder of her new station. She’d never be seen without one in her old life. Her Father had ensured she was well schooled in the art of wielding a sword, but that was all but a distant memory now.

She lifted herself to her feet. Her movements were rickety and she winced with each one. She’d be bruised by the morning. Great purple welts that would only deepen against her ghostly pale skin.

“It’s not my coin to give.” She replied having finally steadied herself. She studied him for a moment. Taking in as much detail as she could, even down to his bloodied hands. “My leg will be fine. Your fists on the other hand?”

.

surprised eirk barely gave a look to his fists before giving a small shrug of his shoulders. "nothing i am not used to." truth of it all, it was no uncommon for his fists to be cut and scabbed over after so much fighting. bruises and tough like the rest of him

seeing how much she struggled getting up, the mercenary was worried that she was going to struggle getting out of the woods alone. "can you walk?" he asked her. "if one thief is around there are chances of others lurking in the area." he said, his golden eyes scanning the treeline before looking back down at her. "i will walk you to wherever you need to go." he told her.

[erikvtheforgotten]

xbeyla​:

.

The morning had been a good one.  Frozen wind had danced around Beyla’s skirts as she left her master’s camp in the first rays of a cold winter sun, ice and snow crunching underfoot as she allowed the unfamiliar path to lead her along.  She had ended up in the shadowed forests that surrounded Hedeby, regarding the trees and brush and snow with a detached curiosity.  There was no real point to her wanderings today, no task she must accomplish, nothing to fetch for the household; she only wished to know more of the land her master would call home for the coming months, for it would become the center of her world when spring returned.

It was luck that had her finding a forgotten bounty of rose hips, snow clinging to the bright red of them but not entirely hiding their brilliant hue.  A little smile curved her lips as she brushed away the snow and tugged her coat this way and that to make a basket, filling it with the sweet bounty that would be such a treat for the children of the household as the winter months continued.  She couldn’t resist popping one into her mouth, relishing the bite of cold and rush of sweetness on her tongue as she went about her work.  This find had made her wanderings quite worth the effort, and she set out to return in just as meandering a way as she had come.

After an hour’s walk deeper and deeper still into the trees, the outermost layers of her clothing were frozen stiff.  Beyla did not feel the cold overmuch, and she did not hear the gods yet whispering in her ears that she must lay down and take that final rest, as so many had done in times of true cold.  She kept walking, and watching, and humming an ancient song under her breath as she wandered…until another shock of red stopped her steps, and a dart of cold shot through her heart.

One hand reached to slowly draw down the cloth from her face, revealing sharp, solemn eyes and cheeks ruddy with cold.  Beyla looked the man up and down, the red on his hands and in the snow so much redder than the rose hips she carried, but her expression did not give anything away.  Bloodshed was common enough, and it was not the blood that caused her panic, but the man’s eyes as he told her she had stumbled upon something best left unseen.  A moment or two passed before she could speak, and even then, it was barely audible even to herself.  “No.  I should not.”  Her eyes looked between the man and the broken, bloodied shape at his feet, and she wondered if she should be afraid.  If the gods saw fit for this to be her death, then she had no power to fight against fate…but still, she was afraid to think that this had been the last morning, and these the last words she might speak.  “Is it enough to say that I will not speak of this to anyone?  Or must I expect the same fate at your hands?”

.

confusing washed across his golden eyes at what the woman had said. but after a moment she understood what she probably meant. "i have no intention on harming you." he told her. gesturing down to the man in the snow he continued, "the man is a thief and was trying to take my things and i have defended myself. i did not seek him out to hurt him. i meant to warn you that you should not be out here alone when men like this are roaming around."

 there was no offence taken that she had assumed he might have harmed her. with his looks alone it might give that impression to others and with the bloody man at his feet there was no offense in the idea.

wiping his hands against his pants, he did his best to clear away some of the blood that was there. but parts of it had already dried and staining his skin a soft red color. the mercenary looked back over towards the other woman. she was not someone he recognized, so assuming she must have gotten to the village after he had left all those years ago. "the man is not dead. but i will leave him to his fate." he said stepping over him to move closer to the woman. "what is your name?"

[erikvtheforgotten]

ofmortem​:

“Ragnar has taken everything from me, murdered those who I loved. The only reason I have made it this far is his undying fear of me,” The woman told the other as she slowly inches further to the stranger. Her crystal blue eyes glowed in the midnight winter, like two stars in a sky of nothing but darkness. The winds around them only got stronger, picking up snow and dirt. “The same fear that you shall have for challenging me. Hedeby will be engulfed in flames and corpses of those that supports him. You all should’ve killed me when you had the chance…As a child.” As Ingrid steps forward, she lifted her hand wanting to so badly crush his skull by the pressure. And as her eyes glowed more, it created a light cast over the white-haired man. 

He wasn’t an old man, nor was he rather young. But a face that held some familiarity. Those eyes they shared, much like their father’s. And glancing at him from his side profile, there was something odd about it all. A memory she thought she had long forgotten and somehow, it all came back to her. How serious his face was when he slept so soundly. Brows furrowed, lips puckered. His cheeks flushed as she remembered, he was always a hot sleeper. Always overheating. His face was younger then. Softer and innocent. He was only just a boy. A boy who died…Murdered. The only son of the true king–the greatest threat to Ragnar. It made sense to have him killed too…

“By the Gods,” Ingrid mummers, lowing her hand back down to relax as it dangles beside her hip. The winds lesson until the snow finally settled and it was quiet again. Could it be true? Could it actually be her older brother? Did mother lie about his death in order to protect them? Did her mother truly allowed them to live as servants to Ragnar when they could have together found happiness in a new land and settle elsewhere? She had to point fingers somewhere. A horrid thought had now hit her. Ragnar…The Throne…Hedeby…Lothor…Aesir. Her own ambition. She desired to be Queen, and Ingrid could almost taste the victory. She could distantly hear the chanting of the Gods in Valhalla celebrating her triumph. Ingrid was able to see herself standing in the great hall, sitting on the throne that her forefathers sat on and ruled. Was it all to be taken from her with him being here?

“You should’ve stayed dead longer, brother. You’ve come at the most impossible time,” Ingrid told him as she diverted her eyes to the ground, finding it difficult to look at his face. A face that seemed so familiar and yet so foreign. Should she had been more welcoming? That in this very moment, she should be exultation. Ingrid didn’t know how to feel or what to say. To turn around and act like none of this had happened–with her powers and meeting Erik for the first time since…. Well, mother would not be pleased if she had told him to leave and never return. “Come now,”

.

the power within had grown so much more since he had seen her last. before it was a small sparkling of magic that fluttered around her. a power deep inside that he knew was there, that she was destined to have. and never him. it had bothered him in his youth that his sisters would know great magical power while he would get known. but he had grown to accept that the older he got. and seeing the toll magic took on his family it seemed somehow he might actually be blessed not to have such things with him.

if he were to be killed now by ingrid in this moment, he would be ready to accept that fate. he had done all he could the past fifteen years to keep her safe and now he had returned. if this was his punishment then maybe he deserved it. but a look of realization flashed across her face when his own face was revealed to her.

no going back now.

"i was trying to stay dead to you but you wouldn't let me leave." he frowned. his efforts all these years crashing at his feet. the look of disappointment in his sisters face seeing him. how he had dreamed of their reunion once it was safe. how much he wanted to hug his mother and sister knowing that they were alive and well. a beautiful dream to have.

"best to get inside quickly before i am seen." he agreed and began to follow her towards her home. keeping his pace to stay back away from her if that was what she wished.

[erikvtheforgotten]

annacadogan​:

Anna couldn’t recall how long it went on for, only the first and the very last blow. The relentless assail in between was nothing but a fog as her focus diminished. She could barely move. Her muscles had seized, but she mustered what little strength she had and edged forward. Her darkened gaze lifted to the motionless body of her attacker, and then to the familiar golden eyed giant above him.

“Neither should you.” She spluttered, returning the somewhat shredded shoulder of her dress to its rightful place. “But thank you nonetheless.”

.

when first arriving back in his home town, erik had set rules down with himself to try and keep a low profile. while he did look a lot different than the first time he did not want to risk anything while he was here. he knew he could have kept walking when he saw the redhead being accosted by some amateur thief. follow his own rules and keep his head down low. but that itching voice in the back of his head would never let him live it down. so he had to step in. and now he had an unconscious man at his feet and a somewhat bruised woman near him.

"near the woods? i'm always near the woods." he said stepping closer over towards her. "you're welcome. but next time if you don't have a weapon just let the man take your coins. it isn't worth your life." he sighed. "how is your leg?" the mercenary asked.

[erikvtheforgotten]

ofmortem​:

The problem here was that the poor woman was already on edge, paranoid that Ragnar had hired someone to kill her, or take her back as a prisoner. He did not take her departure of her position lightly. Claiming her to be his slave when she has been merely a servant all this time for some silver and gold to get by throughout the years. It wouldn’t surprise her that he would have hired someone, someone that can track her or follow her. Unbeknownst to them, it was like Ingrid had eyes behind her head, and hearing so sharp she can hear miles away. 

She felt a cold rush that consumed her. Hands twitched as a familiar feeling came about. It was a rush, like something inside of her was begging to escape but of course, she kept it in. 

Unlike this time. 

Ingrid inhaled as deeply as she can, eyes closing softly before finally exhaling. A huge force of wind rushed to the hooded figure. Creating strong winds and snow to circle around them, unable to allow the stranger to escape her. This was all very new, and it seemed like her body…Her instincts took control. “If you’re to lie, lie better. I will not allow Ragnar have me killed tonight,”

in that moment erik was ready to leave. happy to see his sister once more and ready to head back into the shadows. but he should know known better. it had been some years since he had seen his sister and her powers had not gotten anywhere near like this. but now she could manipulate the wind around the both of them. if this wasn't such terribly timing for this he might be a little impressed. all he could do was to place his hand on his hood in an attempt to keep his identity a secret.

his anger burned under his skin at the thought of ragnar sending someone to come kill his sister. he had left he had stayed "dead" all these years to keep things like this from happening. and yet here ingrid was claiming this to be a possibility. "i do not work for ragnar.has he tried to kill you before?" his voice sharp with every word he spoke. was there any point in lying now? she had him trapped and his sister was no fool. "please let me leave. it is safer for the both of us if i just leave now." he said, hoping in one last effort he could keep the secret up for a little longer.

[erikvtheforgotten]

ofmortem​:

The world seemed all different now. Change to this ever growing town was soon going to turn into ruins until it turns into something far from what anyone has ever imagined. However, the only thing that never changes are these very woods. How the trees bring protection, and their leaves whispers to each other as the wind passes by. She took comfort in these woods, knowing that all of them has been the same. The same ground, same trees. The only thing that changes are the people. Hedeby, a trading village, it wasn’t uncommon to meet new people. But for them to follow her into the woods and call her out by her name? It made the small hairs on her body to raise. 

“How do you know my name?” Ingrid asked, feeling the uneasiness of their conversation. 

.

shit. he was not good at this sort of stuff anymore. long time ago he could talk to almost anyone. he could rally a crowd to his side in a matter of moments with a few careful words and a charming smile. people radiated towards him. ultimately that was exactly part of why he had "died". he was too charismatic, too charming. and too much of a threat.

but that was a long time ago and a different man. now he barely talked with people since most seemed to run away from him because of his looks or his job. he hunted those who needed hunting. there was no need for charming words anymore. he paused for a moment, staring at his sister. her eyes boring holes into him. the truth wanting to spill out. but no. this was for her safety. "i....uh. i heard it back in town. someone called your name. really i...i should go. leave you to your walk." just drop it ingrid. leave the idea alone and walk back to your house. away from him and away from a secret that was ready to come tumbling down around them both. but it needed to stay up, that wall between them had to stay.

[erikvtheforgotten]

ofmortem​:

It was common to hear such things, a person aiding her… A stranger. Why would a complete stranger be the one to aid her and kept her out from harms way? If anything, she’ll be the one to keep him away from these dreadful beasts that worries the city. “I can handle myself,” The woman told him, shifting a little in the snow. The hood he wore over his head made it hard for the woman to see him, but very distantly, she could see his white hair. He didn’t stood like an elderly, nor did he spoke as one. 

“The people of Hedeby does not trust strangers,” Ingrid went on, trying to continue with the conversation. She had to admit, she was rather curious. “And I certainly do not like to be followed,”

She wondered how long he followed, how quietly he lingered. She mimicked her steps as if his steps were hers, and that brought an uneasy feeling.

.

"i do not doubt you can protect yourself. but one cant be too careful." he said, a hint of a smile turning on his face as she thought back to memories from childhood. moments of peace and laughter as children. erik showing ingrid how to use the small dagger he had gotten her. but if she was anything like their mother he doubted she would even need that dagger to protect herself. but even after all these years, he couldn't shake off the feeling of wanting to protect his family.

since he was a child there was always a weight placed on his shoulder in protecting his family. their father failed at that over and over again. after he was gone it fell to him. he had done his best to protect his mother and sister but the chance to prove himself was taken from him the moment ragnar viewed him as a threat. there was only so much he could do from afar to protect them.

the wind picked up around them, dancing across the snow and swirling it twisting patterns. the hood placed so carefully over his head pushed back in the wind further revealing his face before he could scramble to pull it back. "if you are safe i could leave you to your walk. i don't wish to disturb you anymore ingrid." he said, her name falling from his lips before he could stop himself.

[erikvtheforgotten]

ofavengedcurses​:

WHENEVER YLVA WAS ANGRY, instead of showing it on her face, a crooked smile aligned her lips as she reminded herself of revenge. Nobody would know of how she felt and a lot of shunning over the years had stealed her heart. Her only bright light was her daughter and she was willing to do anything to give her anything. Ingrid deserved it, after all. Bad mood or not, the blonde still had work to do and that involved carrying stuff about for the day. Seeing Ragnor’s face or family wasn’t going to stop her from plotting or blending in to do so. These things took time, after all.

"hello mother." his voice was rough as if these were the first words he might have spoken all day. although there was a clear tone of nervous strung as he spoke. he loved his family, there was no denying that. there never could be. but being here, back in this town where he knew he should not be. so close to ragnar and close to being seen again. but it couldn't be stopped, the wheel was already turning. "it has been too long since i have gotten to see you." he said, keeping his hood up.