Fate Rebellion

Her spear met little resistance. It pierced into her victim's soft throat, causing him to sputter with wide eyes. His death was slow, and Eilin watched it happen with a strange fascination.  

But when it was done, she suddenly snapped out of it. Her eyes widened as a strange sense of panic filled her. She started to tremble. Releasing her spear, EIlin stumbled backwards, only to end up in Rurik's arms.  

He turned her around and wrapped her in his arms for comfort. "It's alright, Eilin. Regardless of your believes or determination, your first cold-blooded kill is always a little strange."  

Slowly, Eilin wrapped her trembling arms around him as well. She didn't say a word, simply trying to find comfort in her master's arms. Taking a life she didn't know felt far different from the way she killed Jack in her previous life.   

Yet, she also felt closer to Rurik now. Like she'd severed the last links of another life. All that was left now was her service to the man she loved and worshipped.  

"Did I... do good?" she muttered softly, almost desperately looking for validation. Rurik's manipulations had caused her to fall ever deeper into his web, binding her to him until her own happiness flowed out of pleasing him.  

With her head on his shoulder, she couldn't see the victorious grin spreading on Rurik's lips. Did he feel bad about manipulation her like this? Absolutely not. He truly liked Eilin, but that didn't change the fact he needed a right-hand woman who would obey his every command without hesitation.  

Besides, it's not like he'd stop caring for, or protecting her.  

So, he slowly caressed her hair and whispered in her ear. "Yes. You're a good girl, Eilin." A small shiver went through the redhead in his arms. "You've proven you have what it takes to be my right-hand woman."  

He pushed her off slightly, causing Eilin to whimper, but then he grasped her chin and looked into her eyes with a stern, domineering gaze. "Would you like that, Eilin? To be my most trusted, after Luna? To serve me in all things, at all times?"  

Eilin looked at him with large, vulnerable, emerald coloured eyes. In them shone devotion, love, fanaticism, and worship. She'd likely be back to her old, slightly playful, firebrand self soon enough, but right now, her mind was vulnerable… making it just the right time for Rurik to ensure she'd never want to leave or disobey.  

"I'll be whatever you want me to be, Master…" she whispered softly. "I belong to you, now and always…"  

Rurik smiled and leaned forward. "Good girl," he muttered, before pressing his lips against hers to seal the deal.  

The man she'd killed was a child murderer. The parents of his victims came to Rurik for justice in exchange for their service… but in the end, Eilin never found out. She didn't ask.  

* * * 

"HROOOOOOOOOO!"  

A deep, solemn horn blast rang out across the sea, disturbing the early morning air and resonating with the very bones of anyone who heard it.  

Instantly, an entire town began to panic as they fell out of their beds. The first people who made it outside immediately noticed three longboats bearing down on them.  

Bells started ringing. People grabbed the closest weapons they could find, but they were still a disorganized mess when a horde of Vikings stormed their beach.   

Thus, Rurik and Eilin's first raid began…  

* * * 

"Haah!" Rurik roared as he stomped his foot down on the throat of a fallen combatant. The man died, struggling for breath, and Rurik felt a rush he hadn't felt in a long time.  

Not because of the killing, per se. No, it was the rush of real, life-0r-death combat. This was something he enjoyed quite a lot in his youth… perhaps too much. Those desires waned as he got older, but perhaps it was linked to a youthful body, because he felt that same rush again in this life.  

It felt good. A wide grin spread on his lips. Roaring into the sky, he announced his victory. Around his shoulder still hung the wolf cloak his mother had made, having become a symbol that defined him to the other warriors.  

He didn't dwell on this feeling for long, however. It felt good, but Rurik's willpower was strong. Around him, the echoes of intense fighting resounded. Metal clanging against metal, screams filling the air, flesh tearing. Even his roar had simply gotten lost in the total cacophony.   

Another opponent charged Rurik, sword raised high, panic, fear, and fury, burning in his eyes. Rurik remained calm. He'd faced far worse, and this man was clearly not in his right mind… which meant he was an easy target.  

Right now, he wielded his sword in just his right hand, because there was a shield strapped to his left. He didn't really care for using that shield, but it was important for protection against arrows.  

Still, since it was there, he easily used it to parry the enemy's wild blow, before slicing through the man's weak, leather armour, cutting straight through a major artery on his upper arm.  

Leaving the man to bleed out, Rurik looked around to try and find Eilin. Fortunately, she was close by, so he spotted her quickly, but he grew concerned. There was a problem: she was being targeted.  

Many of the people they were fighting were just conscripts, no better than farmers. They were given a cheap weapon, usually no armour, and then tossed into battle to be slaughtered. Many of them cared more about survival than actually winning the battle, so they tried to find weak targets and ride out the battle, praying for survival.  

Unfortunately, Eilin, as a woman, had been assumed to be a weak target, and the conscripts were starting to swarm.  

Rurik rapidly made his way there, carving through another enemy on the way, until he entered the area. Roaring, he attacked the closest combatant, slicing through the man's neck, before slamming his shield in the face of another.  

Before him, a focused, determined Eilin fought as if she were a true Valkyrie. Her spear sang, her shield was like a wall. She parried an attack, stabbed her opponent through the heart, and then kicked him off her spear before he could drag her down.  

Her long, ginger locks were done up in two braids, falling by the side of her head.  

Rurik nodded with satisfaction at her lack of hesitation. His efforts had paid off. "Nice work, Eilin!" he shouted a compliment as he engaged his next opponent.  

"It's such a rush!" she responded, eyes shining, lips curled up into a bloodthirsty grin as she engaged her next opponent. She was rapidly falling into the flow of battle and clearly enjoying herself. The firebrand inside her was coming out to play, and Rurik could only approve.  

They fought side by side as the town's meagre defenders quickly dwindled. Eventually, the raiders swarmed into the town, pillaging, burning, raping, and plundering whatever was not locked down.  

Rurik and Eilin watched it all indifferently, having decided not to participate. He had no interest in needless destruction, had no desire to physically force his way into sex, and already possessed plenty of resources.  

Rape in particular was not something he enjoyed. He preferred to manipulate powerful, wilful women into an abyss of sin, submission, and pleasure, until they willingly gave him anything he wanted—just like he'd done with Eilin.   

He wanted to care for them, have them rely on him, serve him, love him—he wanted control. Not to turn them into mindless dolls, no, he liked Eilin's fiery, independent personality—it was part of the reason he put so much work into her—and he didn't want her to lose that.

Truthfully, however, he had no idea why he possessed these desires. Was it natural, or something else? He wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be related to his ability, but since his behaviour wasn't detrimental to himself, he didn't bother fighting his urges.

Luna was the only one who didn't awaken this desire in him. She was uncontrollable, and that was just the way he liked her… because he loved her, or, perhaps, because of her own ability.

Unaware of his son's thoughts, Harald, his father, walked up beside them, covered in blood, and gave them a proud nod, before quickly directing the men to finish up and leave before reinforcements came.  

With that, their first raid came to an end, a mere hour after it started…