Sudden Realization 

"You... you..." I stuttered as I pointed my shaky finger toward one of the two hulking, tattooed warriors who were guarding the village. He was holding a bloody pelt; my eyes frantically darted between the carcass and him.

As I looked deep into his eyes, my initial shock gradually turned into a wave of seething anger. I dropped all my gear and lunged towards him with my hands stretched wide. The warrior in question looked puzzled; I could see the confusion etched in his eyes. He was questioning why I was so livid.

He did nothing wrong... It's just that he hunted something that made me absolutely terrified. Tumbling into the mud, I punched him in the face while cursing "You hunt a bear?! You hunt a bear?! Do I look like I can kill a zombie bear?!?"

As my fist made satisfying contact with his face for the second time, I sent a spray of blood across the mud. His eyes were still shocked, yet I didn't care. I needed to let my anger out on him, but with each hit, I felt a burst of energy escape me. While other warriors were shocked by the scene playing out before them, they cheered for either me or the warrior I was fighting. Alas, when I heard the upcoming cheers, I wanted to fight them too, while thinking "Weren't those my lines ?"

"Get up! Get up, you lazy slob!"

"Break his nose, Herald?!"

"Get up!! I bet a whole jar of honey on you!!"

"I swear I'll share my prize with you, Herald! You're my lucky charm!"

"Aren't you ashamed that a little kid, who is probably half your size, beat you up so badly that you needed a healer?"

"Who pushed me?!" Cried out a random, nameless warrior; yet when he looked back his eyes widened in disbelief.

"My sheep!"

"You go ahead, Harald!" Sweating profusely, the warrior saw the towering giant who had pushed him walk in front of him as he thought "I saw Valhalla !!"

My eyes turned a deafening red as my ears were ringing from all the anger I felt. I punched his face until he was unrecognizable. It was then that other men and women came to restrain me, as they felt I was truly trying to kill him. They were pulling me back, as my hand was shaking with the overwhelming urge to kill him. I felt my heart racing as the anger took over my body and mind.

Yet, I wasn't done yet. I felt strong hands holding me tight as I tried to wiggle out of them, like in those football fights where a group of players surround the referee. I was encircled, and it was at that moment, even though I was angry and slightly depressed, that my calculation turned wrong again when I looked around I only saw concerned looks, be it from the giant Harald, the emotionless Ivar, the smiling man Alfverin, even the warrior who was disfigured with a bloody face, was looking at me with those same eyes, slightly concerned yet angry at himself from doing something wrong.

I was absolutely stunned, so much so that I had to do a double-take and rub my eyes to make sure I wasn't seeing things. I questioned myself if I had done something wrong. I felt a lump form in my throat as I realized that. Of course, I never considered myself a part of this savage settlement; it seems that I forgot that I'm no longer Luke, but Herald, "I need to get off my high horse" I mused inwardly.

Loyalty? I don't need that. That warrior whom I fought just now, wasn't he the one who saved my life when we were in the north? Orvar! Yes, his name is Orvar. He is the one who killed that wolf who was chasing me with an arrow straight to the eye...

Harald!! Did I call him a simpleton? Didn't I play with him when I was a child? Didn't I ride on his shoulder? He still calls me brother ....

Ivar!! Alfverin!! Hans!!! Bo!! and everyone else .....

My anger turned into a sudden, shocking realization. I stood there, completely silent, and thoughtful, as my mind swirled with many thoughts. I felt the anger drain out of me, replaced by a cold, hard clarity.

Suddenly, "AHAHAH!" I roared in uncontrollable laughter as I realized my costly mistakes. Feeling the weight of responsibility and stress disappear from my shoulders, I thought to myself, "If I die, I die. Why all the drama?" I shouted again, "Today, we feast on bear meat! And if it's not enough, we slaughter one of my livestock."

"If you don't come with me, I'll fight you to the death!" I roared as I pointed to the bustling villagers.

"MY SHEEP" a deep, guttural voice came from behind as I still felt those icy, steel-like hands holding me tight. It felt like the breath was being squeezed slowly out of me.

I chuckled to myself as I hurriedly taped the steel hands. I could feel the shortness of my breath, and I instantly knew it was Harald. "Let me go" I said quickly. "You will kill me, Harald. Yes, we will slaughter one of my sheep just for you."

As I felt his grip loosen, I turned around and tapped his shoulder while my mouth curved in a relaxed smile. I then said, "You'd better get to the hall, Harald, or there won't be any place for you!"

"Brother, no fighting, okay?" He said in his deep, concerned voice.

"That's a wrap for today. Go take your place, I'll be there shortly!" I said as I shook my head with a slight smile, feeling grateful that today went so well.

Exhausted and worn out, drenched in mud and blood, I walked slowly from the encirclement towards Orvar. I heard the news of the feast with roars of laughter and weapons being smashed against shields, in the background. I extended my arm to him as I said, "You throw punches like your wife!" in a friendly voice.

He replied with a gory, toothy grin." Bjorn thought you well, lad !!" spitting a stream of blood and saliva while slowly getting up, thanks to my outstretched hand. With a chuckle, he added, "Next time, I'll not go easy on you, lad!"

"No!! Next time you won't live to tell your wife!! let's go wash up in the river" I said slowly, while hugging him with my right hand.

"Then I better say goodbye to her now while I still can!!" He added jokingly as he limped towards the river to wash up while putting his weight on me .

"Hahah! Orvar! You won't be able to see the gates of Valhalla until you shoot thousands of arrows! I won't permit your death until then! You're going to have to pierce the hearts of a thousand men before you see Odin !"

"then I better go make kids so that they can see me Shoot those arrows !!"

"Do you need help" I added mockingly, arching my eyebrows slightly.

"F*ck off !!" He cursed, rolling his eyes.

"HAHAH , You better hurry !! I heard your wife is a lovely woman !!"

"I dare you to fight me, Herald!" He said, pushing me away in annoyance and readying himself for a fight.

"Come on, old man. I'll fight you until the end of the world." I said fiercely as I shouted. "You better come see this man who punches like his wife does!"

"Then I'll fight you, Herald!" Said a gracious and charming voice from behind.

Without turning around, I shuddered as I hurriedly hugged Orvar. "We were just joking, Frida!" I swear! Tell her, Orvar." I whispered pleadingly in his ear, "five jars of honey!"

"Make it an even ten," he whispered back to me while I saw him winking playfully and repeatedly at his incoming wife.