Champion of The Frejlord

It was night, the stars were dim, and the moon was shrouded by clouds. A man entered a Tavern; it was a clunky old Tavern, but it still got a lot of customers. He was wearing a brown overcoat, and half of his face was hidden with a scarf. The bartender shot him a nasty look indicating that he didn't want any trouble. As he took a seat in a dark corner of the tavern a barmaid approached him. "What will you have?" she asked rolling her eyes. She was a type of woman that thought she was meant for greatness but life had dealt with her poorly. "Mead," he replied pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping his mouth with it. "Will you be able to pay for that?" she questioned looking at his roughly patched clothes. He did not reply to her but simply kept looking at the table. She sighed and went to the bar table to fetch him a bottle of mead. When she brought it to him, she said skeptically "You can have the mead if you show me one silver coin." "I am sorry but I cannot show any coin because I have none", he replied humbly. "Well, I have to ask you to leave", she said pointing her finger to the door. "How about I tell you a story instead?" He queried. "I do not have time for stories", she spoke with impatience in her voice. "But, I think you quite will be interested! It is about Braum's untold story." Her interest was peaked! "I'm listening" she said curiously. She sat down and kept the bottle of mead right next to her. The man smiled, "It is a short story, so do not worry about it consuming too much of your time." She nodded. She placed her hand against her cheek and narrowed her eyes. He continued, "He wasn't always the nice man whom everyone knows today. In his adolescence he was a brash boy, always getting himself into fights and trouble." It was morning in the Freljord. It was peaceful and serene as one would expect. A woman started screaming at the top of her voice "You vandal I will see you in prison. Angus!". A young boy was running away from what seemed like burning feces of sheep. The boy turned around and sneered at the old lady. Two men dressed in black clothing knocked on Braum's door. A middle-aged woman answered the door. "Hello, what can I do for you two?" She queried. "There has been a complaint by Mrs. Abel about your son Angus?" They replied. "What did he do this time?" She sighed. "He threw burning sheep feces at Mrs. Abel's doorstep." They replied. "I apologize on his behalf and I will make sure that he won't do it again." She said reassuringly. "Please do. Good day." "Good day, gentleman." She said closing the door. She went upstairs to check on Braum. When she opened the door, she saw him sitting in bed. "Angus, why do you do these things?" She spoke softly. "She spoke ill of my father," he said. "It was still not right of you to react that way. It hurts me to see people speak ill of you, Angus. Promise me, you will never do anything like this ever again." She said staring into his eyes. "But mother..." He protested. "Look at me Angus, and promise me." He promised her, but he was also surprised because his mother had always defended him against these charges. Braum was a vandal but he never ever broke his promises! She got up, "Now, you take care of the farm while I go to the market." "Yes, mother." "Good boy." She kissed him on the forehead and left. When she got into town, instead of going to the market she visited the local doctor. He was an old man but humble about his profession, honest about his limitations and reasonable with his prices. "Have you been taking the medicines that I have given you?" "Yes." "I still do not understand why you asked me to prescribe you medicines. They do not help your condition, for your condition has no cure." "I do not fear death, doctor. I just wanted a bit more time." "Time is something you do not have." "Why do you say that?" "I am out of supplies and cannot make more medicine. I am sorry, Maja." She took a deep breath and prepared herself for what was to come. "How much longer do I have, Doctor?" "A few days. If you're lucky." Silently shedding tears, she walked out of the doctor's clinic. She wasn't ready to say farewell to her son. When she returned to her house, she called out to Braum, but he did not reply. Fearing that Mrs. Abel might finally get her chance to send her son to the local jail, she jumped on her horse and rushed to town. Her pulse raced, she started to sweat, her breathing became heavy. The corners of her sight began to grow dark, until her body gave up on her and she fainted.

Meanwhile, Braum was not getting himself into trouble but rather attending the weekly announcements, where the Jarl would get up on stage and announce new policies, beheadings and charge criminals, etc. During the announcements, just as Jarl Adalstein was finishing his speech, a smudge of sheep feces fell on his face. When he looked up a whole heap of feces fell on top of him. Without any evidence, "Guards! Arrest Angus Braum," Jarl Adalstein ordered. Two guards came rushing towards Braum, before he could react they had apprehended him. "Let me go! I did not do it! I swear!" He protested. "There is no use of lying, we know it was you Agnus" Jarl Adelsterin said wiping dung off his face. They threw him in the local jail and shut the bars behind him. He screamed and begged to be released, but nobody responded to his pleas. Maja opened her eyes slowly. "What happened?" she inquired weakly. Looking around herself she was in the doctor's clinic on the examination table. "Your horse is smart. You're lucky that he stopped near my clinic or you would have died. I stabilized your condition as best I could. But your time has shortened to a matter of hours." She rubbed her hand against her face. Suddenly, her eyes popped wide open and she exclaimed, "Angus!" She jolted up, but was stopped by the doctor. "He is in jail, Maja. He pulled another one of his shenanigans, but on Jarl Adalstein this time..." "No, that wasn't him! He promised me! I must go and beg his case with the Jarl." Calming her down, "Maja, you're in no condition to walk. You'll only shorten your own lifespan. And besides, the Jarl will release him after an hour or two." "What do you suggest I do instead then?" He spoke objectively now, "You will be dead by the time he gets out of jail so you cannot speak to him before you die but, instead I recommend writing him a letter. I will personally give it to him." She calmed her breathing and assessed the situation. She nodded in agreement. The doctor brought her a pen and paper and she began to write her last words to her son. The sun was about to set, Braum watched children play outside from the jail. The prison door unlocked behind him. He turned his head to see the Jarl. "You're free to go." As he walked by the Jarl. The Jarl took a deep breath for what he was about to say to Braum, "Angus." Braum turned his head, "I have grave news for you. It concerns your mother." "My mother, why? Where is she?" "Not is Annus...Was" The moment the Jarl uttered the word "was" his whole world broke down around him. "No...No...NO!" He screamed, running out of the jail. Tears streamed down his face as he made his way to the Doctor's clinic. He banged on the door. Screaming at the doctor to open the door. As the door opened he ran inside without any hesitation. He looked around frantically. When he saw his mother's lifeless body on the examination table. His screams turned into silent breaths. The world around him faded into darkness. He slowly walked towards her. He looked upon her, softly touching her face and looking into her cold, dead eyes.
"Mother..." He buried his head in her chest and cried his heart out. The doctor came up behind him, patting him on the back. He lifted his head and turned towards him. He was holding a piece of paper. "She did not have much time. So she wrote all that she wanted to say to you in this." Braum took the paper from his hand and stuffed it in his pocket. The next evening a large crowd was gathered beside the shore. Braum was standing in front of the crowd along with Jarl Adalstein. They were all gazing towards a small boat, where Maja lay on top of a pyre. A guard pushed the ship out towards the sea. A priest spoke in an ancient language. Jarl Adalstein gave Braum a bow and an arrow, dipped in oil. Braum raised it up high and pulled back on the string. The Jarl set the tip of the arrow ablaze. Braum held his breath and let go of the string. As it touched the pyre, a gradual fire started to burn enveloping the pyre. Braum looked towards his mother one final time before he left for his farm. Nightfall, Braum sat on a tree stump and looked at the stars. He pulled out the letter from his pocket, left to him by his mother. And began to read.

_Angus, My son you're turning into a very strong man. Soon you will be married and have a life of your own. Unfortunately, I will not be there. For I have not very long to live. Angus, even though people call you a vandal and a delinquent I know you have a kind and caring soul. People may think that kindness is a weakness but make it your greatest strength. Protect the weak for I know that you're meant for great things. Be strong like your father. Even though sometimes the world will seem like a dark and scary place know that there is more good in it than bad. So, never lose hope and never give up even when everything seems grim. Even when you're feeling alone know that I always be there right beside you. _

Farewell, Angus

A smile formed on his lips as he finished reading the letter. The man in the trench coat took one last sip from his mug. The entire bar looked at him with focused eyes. He smiled and left the tavern. The barmaid went after him to ask who he was but he had disappeared into the night. Braum was sitting on the exact same tree stump as he was when he read that letter. He looked up at the stars. A gentle breeze brushed against his face. He closed his eyes and whispered "Mother."

**THE END **