Sigmund took the note and quickly informed the others tasked with defending the village of the

impending attack. When he reached his home his wife, Anailyse, the love of his life, knew there was something wrong simply by looking at her new husband's face. He looked into her eyes so deeply she became afraid, but said nothing. They ate their meal silently and retired to bed. That night their passion was truly unbridled as they both knew what was awaiting him in the morning.

In the morning, Sigmund awoke first before sunrise and kissed his wife goodbye as he prepared for

battle. She was awake but kept her eyes closed and whispered him goodbye so low he could not hear.

When he was dressed, he took a long glance at his wife and left closing the door behind him. He took a

last look at the village he had always called home and remembered.

The battle that day was the stuff of legend. Hours upon hours of combat and death rained down

on the defenders of the village. The man fought valiantly defending his land and his love until, during

a short break as his adversaries regrouped for yet another assault, his mind flashed upon the image of

his beloved. The man prepared himself as the enemy attacked and he fought like a man possessed,

fighting for his love. The man, with the help of the few remaining defenders, drove back wave after

wave of invaders. As the last few remaining defenders stood among the bodies of hundreds of

invaders, caked in mud and blood, some of which their own, they prepared for the final assault.

As the enemy swarmed, the man assumed command armed with his sword and the image of his

beloved. Invaders bodies scattered as his mighty sword slashed through the air time and time again

. The few remaining defenders began to fall. Sigmund stood alone facing his destiny.

With a roar, the invaders mounted a final desperate attack. Sigmund picked up the sword of

his fallen friend and readied himself. The final battle had begun. The man's two swords whirred about

, savagely attacking the invaders as death claimed many. He could see the end approaching as the

invaders numbers dwindled. Suddenly he felt a burning pain in his thigh and as he looked down, he

saw an arrow protruding from his leg. Sigmund stood among  the last of the Invaders as the battle

calmed.  Sigmund's breathing was labored as he surveyed the battlefield where so many of his

friends had fallen and hundreds of dead invaders lay. He did not see a lone archer readying his bow in

the distance.

Later that day, when no defenders had returned and yet the village still stood, his wife set

out to find him. She climbed aboard her stallion and rode off towards the battle. She came upon the highground  littered with hundreds of invaders and suddenly saw the shield her

husband carried. She gasped audibly as she saw the damage it had endured. She continued on , slowly walking amidst the dead, in hopes of finding him. Eventually, she found him lying on his back, pierced by an arrow shot by the retreating invaders. She quickly dismounted and climbed over bodies to get to his side. She lifted his face shield and saw the green eyes that she had loved so dearly, lifelessly staring back at her. She removed his helmet and softly cradled his head and wept

.

Sigmund stood at the entrance to Valhalla. In the distance he saw the Bifrost and a giant hall that must be Odin's. As he approached Sigmund saw many men standing , lining the corridor into the great Hall. He felt a sense of homecoming and friendship he had never felt before. The men met his gaze with a welcoming nod and the great doors opened revealing the throne. Sigmund approached cautiously and saw a older man with a long beard rise and tap his spear twice. The men who had accompanied  Sigmund hushed  as the man turned and descended the stairs. Sigmund looked carefully at the man. He looked incredibly old yet familiar. When the man lifted his helmet Sigmund saw he had only one eye. A shiver went through him. "Odin?"

"yes my son, I am the All Father"

Sigmund bent to kneel and Odin began to speak like a proud father.

Odin told the man that he had died valiantly defending

his land and his love. In all of time, the mighty king of all knowing had never seen such bravery on

the field of battle. Odin was impressed beyond words and asked the man if there were one thing he wanted before

entering Valhalla. The man thought for a moment and asked to say goodbye to his love. Odin looked at

the man and saw the purity of his love for the woman in his heart and said “ there are two things that I will tell you. Your wife carries your son. In time he will both avenge you and he will be king. The other....your wish is granted.”

As the woman held her husband's head in her lap weeping, he suddenly coughed and blinked his

eyes. “ By Odin's word,” the man whispered and coughed again. He again looked deeply into the

beautiful Ice blue eyes of his beloved, red from tears, and said,

“I only have a moment to say goodbye.”

"Odin has given me this chance to see you again. The village is safe?”

“Yes,” she responded, “we are safe, you did it, you saved us all.”

“ Then our death's were not in vain, ” the man replied. She began crying again.

“Don't cry beloved, we will be together forever, I will be waiting for you, my love.”

With a final cough, he closed the eyes she so deeply loved and slumped back in her arms

.

The next day his body was carried back to the village and a huge pyre was prepared on his boat for

the Viking funeral he so rightly deserved. When the boat was ready , it was towed out to sea and his

wife , taking the bow and arrow from the archer, fired a single flaming arrow across the sky to ignite

the pyre. That night the sky was full of stars.

.

His wife stood on the shore watching the fire consume the body of her husband and his boat. She

saw the smoke drifting into the sky and fighting through her tears, imagined his spirit floating up to

Valhalla where one day they would be reunited forever and smiled. Lower and lower the boat sank

until her husband and the boat were gone. She turned away from the water and subconsciously touched

her stomach. A new age destined for greatness had begun.

                                                                              Epilogue..

The battle exploits rose to legend as tales were told and retold of the day of single warrior and his friends fought off

an entire army to save their land. The village prospered and grew and was safe forever. Generations

upon generations knew of Sigmund and his heroics. And his wife Anailyse? Nine months to the minute he

reappeared to her on the battlefield, she gave birth to a future king. Many years later, the lovers would indeed be

reunited forever.

                                                                    Prologue

The battle was over. The survivors were few. After the bittersweet celebration that lasted for

days honoring the fallen, life was returning to a semblance of normalcy. The people of the village

aided those whom had lost someone and the village continued.

                                                                         Prologue

The battle was over. The survivors were few. After the bittersweet celebration that lasted for

days honoring the fallen, life was returning to a semblance of normalcy. The people came together and

aided those whom needed assistance and the village continued and thrived.

Anailyse assumed the role of traditional grieving widow. She wore the appropriate dress. A

few weeks later she began the difficult task of cleaning out their home. Everything she came across held

memories for her. She came across his shield and his sword with which he had fought so valiantly.

They were still caked in mud and blood including her husbands. She wrapped them in her finest silk

and put them in a chest in the bedroom and locked the lock , putting the key away for safekeeping.

A few months went by. Anailyse felt something was different inside her..something joyous.

Soon she realized she was indeed pregnant. Something of her love for Sigmund had survived. The entire village

was ecstatic at the news and helped Anailyse through the remaining months of her pregnancy. One day

while sewing a baby blanket the first pains hit. She touched her stomach and said “its about time”

smiling. She called upon the midwife and the birthing process began. She lay back on the bed as the

pains came and went..coming closer together while the towns people gathered outside for news.

Anailyse was strong...she bore the pain stoically..as if she knew the child's destiny. As the baby

crowned she saw the shimmering figure of her beloved Sigmund dressed in his finest attire and she saw him

smile at the scene before him...he touched her face gently and her pain faded as did he....and a baby

boy was born. The boy was healthy with a head full of hair like his mothers and she gasped when she

looked into his eyes and saw the green eyes of her beloved looking back at her. Then she smiled. She

named him Sigmund after her husband.

            The first few years went by in a blur for Anailyse. Before she knew it he was walking and

talking. He was a physically adept child running and jumping before some others could walk. He was

larger than the other children too. A born leader some said. Strong and fearless..characteristics of her

husband she thought to herself. Bright and inquisitive he asked countless questions about the world in

general and about his father. Anailyse was able to defer some of the questions until he was older such

as how he died. Sigmund had heard from townspeople the story of his father and asked his mother

about it. She told him they weren't true because of his age and to save his feelings. She decided she

would tell him when the time was right.

One day uncle Olaf arrived in the village. Anailyse and Sigmund were overjoyed to see him

after such a long time and Olaf was stunned to see what was turning out to be a strapping young man

in his nephew. A few days later after Sigmund had gone to sleep Olaf and Anailyse started talking.

“he's the right age...he needs to know the truth” “NO...he's still too young” “Anailyse...he deserves to

know the truth” She knew this was true and she couldn't delay any longer.

The next afternoon after Sigmund returned home Anailyse called to him and he entered his

room. “Sigmund...I have something to tell you..please sit and don't say a thing until I'm finished.” Her

mind drifted back to that fateful day 13 years ago. 

Anailyse started "the stories you have heard about your father were right. 13 years ago we were attacked a few miles from here. 

"who would do such a thing"

"it doesnt matter now. Your father took a group of men, fisherman and farmers, taught them how to fight and together they defended our village against hundreds of men. 

"they were outnumbered?"

"yes..perhaps 10 to one"

Anailyse felt the same pride she felt that day 13 years ago. Sigmund sat wide eyed listening to every word. 

"how did he die?"

Anailyse' eyes swelled with tears. "Im not sure, he had suffered a arrow to the thigh then one in the chest. I think he was shot in the retreat..."

"retreat?"

"yes. there was a sole survivor of the battle. Do you remember Bjorn?"

"no"

"he died about 5 years ago. He told me he was lying there on the ground when the king retreated and he saw Sigmund standing over the dead...alone" 

"he survived the battle?"

" Bjorn said the Archer turned on his horse and shot the arrow that felled him'"

Sigmund's anger rose. The cowards way out. There was no honor. 

 Sigmund asked “why didn't you tell me before now?”

“to spare your feelings and preserve your innocence, but when I look at you I see him more and more every

day.” they embraced as uncle Olaf entered the room.

“I see you told him”

“yes”

“good now the rest”

Anailyse looked at Olaf for a moment, her eyes red with tears and said “alright”. She went to the chest she had locked so many years ago, retrieved the key and unlocked the chest. She lifted the lid and she was transported back for a few

seconds by the scent of the contents. She lifted the silk wrapped bundle from the chest and placed it on

the table.

“whats this” Sigmund asked.

“They belonged to your father” said Olaf.

His mother began unwrapping the bundle with care as if it contained a prized relic. When she lifted the last of the silk

there sat Sigmund's mud and blood encrusted shield and his sword also caked in mud and blood. “

These were the weapons he used when he met his destiny” Anailyse said. “I know he would have

wanted you to have them” Sigmund was speechless. His knowledge of his father had been completely

revealed to him in the last few hours. He HAD died a hero..what the townspeople had told him was

true. As Sigmund's mind began to comprehend the ultimate sacrifice his father had made he stood

taller, walked prouder and knew from where he came. He was one step closer to being a man.

Weeks went by.Sigmund continued his training under the watchful eye of his uncle. At night he studied

battle strategies by the light of the fire, asking questions and requesting explanations from his uncle

. He soaked up history like a sponge in water. When he slept however it was a troubled sleep, his

dreams drifted off to thoughts of the mysterious Nisaa. Night after night he chased her, never to catch

her or even glimpse her face. He spoke of her to his mother and his uncle. He needed to know more.

One day he set out to go see the woman who told him of her. When he arrived at where her tent was,

she was gone. Asking the locals about her..he was told she had been robbed for her gold pieces and she

had been killed. Sigmund asked who had done this but no one knew. The murderer had never been

caught. Sigmund felt guilty since he had given her the gold in payment weeks ago. He also realized he

would have to find the girl himself.

In the remote kingdom of ________ the King received word that the woman who indeed

had spoken with Sigmund and divulged parts of his destiny to him had been eliminated forever. He

barely changed expressions as her was told of her death. The gold coins that Sigmund had given the

woman were handed to the king as proof. As he examined them briefly, he spoke callously and coldly

about her as if she didn't matter and was better off dead. He placed the coins in a leather pouch and

placed them on his immense table. His trusted archer approached him and whispered “all is well

Sire..he will never figure out the mystery” “perhaps ______ but the road We have traveled together is

full of twists and turns. You can never be sure of what lies around the bend.” “ agreed Sire” “ without

your expert aim my friend we would be facing his father's need for revenge. The attack on his village

was a mistake in arrogance and vanity but once the battle began we could not stop and 18 years later

we are still fighting it” . “agreed Sire “ stated the archer his voice lowering in agreement. “ we will

face him again” “yes” “it is our destiny”. The archer nodded in agreement”then we must be

prepared...go raise our army and practice my friend..perhaps your talents will be called on again.” said

the king patting his old friend on the back and escorting him out of the dining room.

Sigmund decided he must go and try to find Nisaa. He consulted the wisest minds in the

village and it was decided to head north to ________ from where stories originated of mysterious

women who simple gaze could capture the heart of a ordinary man forever. For company his Uncle

Olaf and Sven would accompany him. They packed their horses and planned to set off to the north at

daybreak. During his fitful sleep, as was the norm Nisaa came to him. Tonight was different..he saw

images of towns and people, from town to town he traveled as if following a map in his mind...always

a day behind her as they went. Then he awoke and they departed. As they approached a neighboring

town he again saw the images from his dream in the panorama before him. He followed the path of his

dream and continued on. At night the dreams would return giving Sigmund the next piece of the map.

When the dream ended is where Sigmund, Olaf and Sven would rest. Days went on and stretched into

weeks with no sign of success.

Back in the remote kingdom the King was readying to attack. He received word of

Sigmund absence and decided to set a trap for him. He told his generals to plan an attack for the

following week upon the village. With Sigmund gone as well as Sven and Olaf the village had no real

leaders to head the resistance. It was time for battle