WOMAN’S SAGA
WOMAN’S SAGA
By Kimberly Ann Adams
Word count: 1180
Chapter 1 – Old Witch
There was a woman by the name of Witch. She lived secluded from folk in her old Hudstede, close to the sea in Iceland. She had ill luck with men, multiple times over a widow. She had no children of her own, but fostered two siblings stolen from a King. Both children, Boy and Girl, were happy as can be; three taps on their cheeks from Witches magic distaff had their memories erased.
Chapter 2 – All Grown Up
Man, oldest of the siblings, received favoured treatment from Witch. She moulded him to be perfect; a creation of the ideal man she could never have. Such spoil and control made Man ill-tempered, flying at everything if it was not done as he wished. Witch spent much of her time with Man, teaching him tricks of the halberd, a spell bound weapon that sings before a kill.
Chapter 3 – The Ride to Town
Winter drew near, and stocks were getting low. With that, Witch sent Man to town to handle with some trades. At the market, a Viking took a look at Man’s offerings and recognized some of the merchandise, booty once taken from his land. The Viking accused Man of stealing, and this set off Man’s temper. Viking drew his sword, and the halberd started to sing. Viking struck fast, but Man swung under him; straight to his chord sent Viking his deathblow. A kinsman to the Viking caught sight of the magic halberd, and followed Man back to Hudstede.
Chapter 4 – Bump in the Night
Man knew he was in trouble from the events in town, but how could he tell Witch, he just had killed a man. Hiding the halberd, he decided to speak nothing of the matter, takes to him bed, and goes to sleep. During the evening a commotion was heard, it was Kinsman. Man dashed after him, but with no weapon at hand, Kinsman struck him with his axe, and gave him his deathblow. Witch reached for her magic goatskin, to make her invisible, but was too slow at the grab; Kinsman, with a sweep of his axe, took off her head.
Chapter 5 – One and Two
Two brothers are now brought into the saga.
That same evening, a ship came in. Two brothers, One and Two, had many gifts when they returned in the harbour. Two, the youngest, was married to Wife and they had 3 children together. One was unmarried, yet he was clever and skilled, when it came to battle. Two collected his supplies and rode off to see his family in Twostede. One parted in the opposite direction, back to his home in Onestede.
Chapter 6 – Familiar Grounds
One saw a light, shining in the distance at Hudstede. A horse, still saddled, was standing outside the hut. He knew this area very well, and had an ill-feeling something was not right. He made his way over and as he got closer, he recognized it was Kinsman the Outlaw, from Norway. One kicks at his horse, and took off for his brother.
Chapter 7 – Twostede
Not long after Two arrived home, he was about to settle into bed when Wife woke from a dream. She told him of a bear entering a home; lying on the floor, was a vision of two more. After that they heard a bang on the door. Two saw it was One and knew something was wrong. Quickly they made their way back to Hudstede for Kinsman.
Chapter 8 – Rock Burial
Now the story returns back to Kinsman.
Bloodied and enraged, Kinsman dropped his axe. He searched inside for the halberd, but ill-favoured was his luck. Kinsman heard horses on the move outside. He looked out the window, and saw it was the brothers. He ran out the back, and took to the hills. The brothers didn’t see this, and made their way into the house. Two, with his feeling, knew to look at the ground. Sure enough, they were too late. There laid the bodies of beheaded Witch and Man. The brothers buried the bodies, and put rocks over top.
Chapter 9 – Trail on Error
Dawn was in the horizon, and the cattle were awake.
A farmer saw One leaving Hudstede with the blood on him. Farmer rode over, and knew they were dead. Farmer summoned One, for the slayings of Witch and Man. At the Althing, One received no counsel, and had no witnesses to take the stand. He was called from the Lawspeaker, guilty to the charges of both murders.
Chapter 10 – Woman
Now the story returns to the other sibling.
Woman, Man’s sister, lived in the shed. She tended to housekeeping, pastoral duties with the sheep and horses. She was a beautiful woman with long golden hair, but rarely spoke a word. She was a witness to that night’s event, and heard Farmer wrongfully accuse One for their murders. She wanted to repay One, for his kindness in covering the bodies. She took Kinsman’s axe, she found on the ground, and set off for the Althing.
Chapter 11 – The Pardon
Woman approached the Althing, and stood as a witness on the Law Rock. She spoke of the incident and asked One’s name to be cleared. As it was so, with the proof of Kinsman’s axe, One’s name was once again in the clear.
Chapter 12 – Fallen Magic
Woman was all alone, and had no money for the upkeep. There was no more fodder for the livestock, and was too weak to do it all on her own. She tore at the shed, and collected wood for a fire. All of a sudden, she heard a heavy crash; it was her brother’s halberd. She knew this must of had value, and went to town to trade it in.
Chapter 13 – Number One
Woman took to the market and looked for the best trade. She wanted to get a good price for it, and make sure it would last her the winter. Kinsman was there as well, and saw the halberd at her side. He went to take it, but had a feeling something was up.
One had his eye on Woman, and would check in with her from time to time.
Both One and Two knew Kinsman would be at the market; they grabbed their weapons and stood there ready. Kinsman rushed at Woman, but Two cut him off. One pulled Woman out of the way, and grabbed the halberd from her side. Kinsman raised his arms and swung his sword at Two. All of a sudden, singing could be heard. One, with the halberd in his hands, drew a mighty swing at Kinsman and sent him his deathblow.
Chapter 14 – The Move to Onestede
That year at the Althing, no action was taken for the death of Kinsman the Outlaw.
One took Woman to be his wife. She gave One the halberd, as a gift towards the dowry. She never returned to Hudstede, and together they lived happily ever after.