Time Traveller Journals: The Great Viking Army

Chapter 19

Shouting and screaming, woke me and Halfdan up the next day. Halfdan groaned, "Why do they have to start shouting this early? I was having a good dream."

"Oh, yeah. What was the dream about," I asked.

"You and I, years from now with two sons and a third child on the way."

"Aww, that sounds perfect. If that is my future, I would love that. I have always wanted kids."

"Maybe we will have one of our own, one day. But, for now we should go see what the commotion is all about," Halfdan smiled.

We both got up out of bed. I grabbed the book, and we made our way to the throne room, where all the noise was coming from. Halfdan was holding my hand, pulling me along behind him. When I saw what was inside, I couldn't believe my eyes. The Saxon man, who I figured out, was the father of that girl, was half beaten, tied to a chair, while his daughter was tied to a table and Viking men took their turns with her. The sight made me sick to the stomach.

I pulled my hand from Halfdan's grip, shaking my head. As he turned to look at me, I backed away from him, before turning and running up the nearest stairs. I burst through the doors of the balcony, before climbing on to the railings and then climbing on to the roof, just as Halfdan came running through the door.

Once, I was up there, I sat on the roof bringing my knees up to my chest. Why? Why was I sent here? Why me? Why did I have to do and see these horrific thing? This wasn't me, or was that creepy monk right? Was this all to do with my family? Were these horrific things apart of what I was sent here for? I wish I had all the answers. I need to see if I can read this book, which I had only just noticed was in my hand.

"Daphne, will you come down from the roof," Halfdan asked.

"No, I needed air, I needed to think. Just leave me alone," I shouted back.

"Fine, well I am coming up there," Halfdan shouted back.

I groaned, as I opened the booked. Reading this book was going to be harder than I thought, it was in some ancient dialect, which I have never seen. Great, how am I going to get answers now. I placed my hands on the roof, and something jagged cut me. I clenched my hand shut, but three drops of blood fell on to the cover of the book. Then the blood disappeared.

Now, that is weird, I examined the book again, opening it. It was in English, this time around. Was that some kind of blood magic? This is strange.

I read the title page, "The bloodline of the Time God sworn to protect time."

Okay that makes no sense, I think I would be pretty certain is there was such a thing as a Time God in my bloodline. But, then my great great grandfather never knew his real father, couls this be why?

I turned the page to the next page, and began to read it in my head, "Once millions of years ago, there were once thousands of gods, all in control of a segement of creation. The oldest and most power was the God of Time. He was feared by the gods because he was incharge of when the other gods power would die. He ultimately controlled there creations too, only allowing them in only when he saw fit. But a time came, when the gods, whose powers had diminished, decided to for the rest of their immortal lives would mate with humans, creating some of the most evil and destruction humans that will ever be known. The Time God grew angry and the only way he could see to prevent history from going wrong was to mix his blood with that of humans. So, he met a woman and together they bore a son, whom he blessed and gifted him with a wardrobe, that after his eighteenth birthday he could be called upon to make sure history goes as planned. Whether, that be to watch history unfold, join the wars to protect important people or to make sure a certain battle is one or to make sure specific people die. Each generation, the first born child will be summoned to the call, and will be taken through history to endure it. Though it would be deemed a curse, knowing you could never change history, one person could leave with them back to their time. One of whom they love with all their heart, body, and soul. One who does not have an important roll in history. A burden to high to bear, for most. But the children of the Time God, must bear the burden to keep the future safe, for all."

As I read all that, I had turned several pages, and Halfdan had just gotten on to the roof. He came over to me and sat at myside. He just looked at me, as I closed the book and pulled it tight to my chest. I kept my eyes focused on the view, even though I was paying no attention to it. I hadn't even finished reading the book and it made sense, my life was making sense. But, I still had a heavy burden to bear.

I had to watch the barbaric nature of different historical cultures, witness the worst of history, and I could do nothing to change it. I would have to deal with more of war, and of the torture and rape I just witnessed. It some cases, I would have to fight and kills people, like I have already done. Once to save my life and the other to save Halfdan's life.

Halfdan took my hand and asked, "Talk to me. What is wrong?"

"I couldn't watch what they were doing to that girl. If I didn't know how to fight, that would of been me. Those men I slaughtered, when I was out with Liv, they were going to rape me," I mumbled.

"I am sorry, you had to witness that, it was wrong for them to do that in such a open area. But, it is okay no one will hurt you, as long as you stay by my side," Halfdan said, trying to apologise and reassure me both at the same time.

"I can't be in there until it is over. I want to stay here," I muttered, still not looking at Halfdan.

"Why did you come to the roof to get away? Why won't you look at me," he inquired.

"I told you I wanted to be alone. I came to the roof, because it is the only place I can escape everything that is going on. Getting high up, I get to see beautiful views and have some peace and quiet," I snapped back.

I had to much going on to be dealing with his clingy nature. Sure, I like Halfdan but I don't love him. So, he will never be coming back with me, if what is written in this book are true. Not only do I have this to deal with, but I have to deal with the fact that I will have to watch as very barbaric and vile things occur, and I don't have the power to change it. Why me? Why me?

"I understand you are upset, but please calm down, and come with me down from here. I will take you anywhere you want," Halfdan pleaded with me.

"I just want to read this book up here for alittle bit," I whispered.

He nodded, and laid back on the roof, like he was sun bathing. While I opened the book, to the last page I had read. I turned to the next page, and there was an image of the back of an adult neck, with a lightning bolt birth mark on the neck.

The next page read, "Each first born child of the bloodline, would bear the lightning bolt birth mark. This mark shows the power of the god within his children. No magic nor curse can harm them. They will heal fast, never be sick. Their hearts are pure and strong. Their strength know no bound and their speed, is inhuman in nature. Their skill will be unlike any other. They will be born leaders and charisma that will win the hearts of all those around them. They will be the most intelligent people of their generations. Their godly heritage showing in that way."

How could that be possible? I don't have inhuman strength and speed. But, could I with training? I need to have a serious talk with my father when I get home. Will I be able to take this book home with me? So many questions, I needed time to process this. I needed to do something to distract myself.

"Halfdan, can we train? Or, can we go hunt," I asked, closing the book and turning to face Halfdan.

"Of course, we can. We can hunt first. Then do some training. Shall we leave now," he smiled to me.

I stood up, offering my hand, and nodded, "Yes, but this book needs to stay with me. I need a bag or something to keep it in."

"I will get you a satchel," Halfdan smiled, as he took my hand and stood up.

"Let's get down from here," I smiled

Halfdan climbed down first, and then me, he gripped onto my legs wrapping them around his body, before gripping my back, and helping me safely on to the balcony below.

Ubbe came up to us, while Halfdan was still holding me with my legs wrapped around him, and Ubbe smirked, "Well, well, what a position to catch you two in."

"We were on the roof, Halfdan was helping me down. Being a gentleman," I retorted, forcing Halfdan to put me down.

"Do you need us," Halfdan asked.

"Well, we were just wondering were you had gone. We saw Daphne run off. Ivar thinks you couldn't handle what was going on down there, because your a woman," Ubbe explained.

"I couldn't but not the reasons he thinks. Remember when me and Liv were attacked, and I killed those men, before you could rescue me. If I didn't know how to fight, what was happening to that girl, her being raped, would have happened to me," I glared at him.

"Now, you have your explanation. We are going to go hunting, so if you will excuse us," Halfdan said, as he grabbed my hand and led me down stairs.

He led me to the armoury. We found a couple satchels in there, I took two, one for my book and the other for food from hunting. Halfdan took three satchels, one which he put a couple of canteens of water in, and the other two he left empty. He handed me a quiver, which I quickly put on, while he put on one himself. We both took a bow, before leaving the armoury.

We strode through the streets of York, till we exited the gates. We walked off to the woods quietly, until Halfdan asked, "Did you learn anything about your family from that book?"

"I am having a hard time deciphering it. It seems to be in a language, I have never seen," I lied, my blood revealed to me exactly what it said, but I couldn't tell him that, because he wouldn't understand English, which is what my blood changed the archaic language into.

"Hopefully, given time you will be able to figure some of it out," he smiled, as we reached the woods.

"I hope so it would be nice to know where I came from," I smiled back.

We hunted for awhile, managing to get ourselves a few rabbits, a wild turkey, and a couple geese. We eventually found a bush of berries, it was black berries. I picked as many as I could to fit in the satchel. Once we had finished, we returned to York.

We entered the throne room, just as the rain opened up. We were met with Halfdan's brothers and Liv.

"Ah, you have returned," Bjorn smiled.

"Yes, and with a good haul," Sigurd said.

"Can we get back to the plan at hand," Ivar snapped.

"We will send half our troops by land, the rest by sea to East Anglia, and we will attack everything as we go, but this city we will hit two days from now," Bjorn spoke, as he pointed at the map.

I followed his planning on the map, so did Halfdan. Halfdan commented, "Looks good, what do you think?"

Halfdan turned to me, which caused Ivar to lose it.

"Why do we have to ask her," Ivar barked.

"That is because I may see something you don't, you used my knowledge from last night to your advantage today, didn't you?"

I smirked at him, I turned back to the map to point at the river on land he was expecting us to cross. But before I could point at it, Ivar raged and threw a knife at me, which I saw coming. I caught the blade of the knife between my hands. Everyone was shooked, I turned to Ivar and sighed, "If you have a problem with me, Ivar, then you should no something about me, you either talk to me about the problem or make a mistake, like you just did, and make an enemy of me."

I gripped the handle of the knife with one hand and the blade with the other, while staring at him, and snapped the blade from the handle. I cut in to my fingers but I didn't flinch. I used the blood, pouring from my open wounded, to highlight a river.

"There isn't any bridge, so unless your land army can swim, I suggest you change where your marching or your men will drown. Now, I am going to leave, I suggest, Ivar, that you tell me what your problem is with me before I walk away, because I won't destroy your knife next time, I will use it," I raged.

"I wanted you but you choose my brother," Ivar grumbled.

"So, you choose kill me because I choose to f**k Halfdan instead of you. Ivar, there is someone out there for everyone, you just got to find them. But, trust me I am not the one for you," I spoke, before grabbing my satchel, which contained my book.

I stormed off to the room, me and Halfdan had been staying in. I sat down on the bed, slamming the door behind me. I looked at the cuts on my hands, and as I stared at them, blood dripped on to the floor. Before my eyes, the wounds began to knit together, and within seconds the wounds were healed.

Is this a power that I could unlock, because of my blood line? I don't believe this. But, it is cool.

Halfdan walked in, and came to clean my wounds. As he examined my hands, he gasped, "They have healed, how has that happened?"

"I don't know, I was just examining how deep the cuts were and they healed," I uttered.

"Well, probably something to do with that mark on the back of your neck. We best go get food and then rest, we are marching south tomorrow," Halfdan shrugged.

I nodded, we both got some food, before retiring for the night.