[center][h2][color=00aeef][i]LEARNING TO SWIM[/i][/color][/h2][/center]

(Day before they leave Kattegat)
Reidun looked up at Aksel a little hesitant at his directions.[color=f49ac2] “And you are certain I must put my face in the water?” [/color]

[color=gray]“Yes I am quite certain your face will get wet. Get into the water kick off and keep kicking your legs and raise your arms up and dive them in like this.”[/color]  Aksel got into the water for a moment and showed her how. He swam circles around her and then forwards to the boat dock. [color=gray]“See! It’s easy.”[/color]

Reidun looked at him and grumbled a little to herself. She looked down at herself and decided that the dress was not going to work on the journey or to learn to swim in. She ran back to her lodging and put on her breeches and came back to the water. Aksel caught her eye and she saw him laugh and she gave him a laughing but obscene gesture in jest.

Aksel raised himself out of the water and headed towards the boats. He was getting them ready to go out for the journey to England. They had purposely brought many boats with only the minimum of people needed to oar. He had known that they would be gaining quite a few people when they got to Kattegat.

She felt the hair stand up on her arms and she chided herself on her fear of water. [color=f49ac2]“Come on Reidun you’re a bit old to be scared of the water.” [/color] She was so nervous that she couldn’t seem to focus on actually going in past her chest. Then she caught a break she saw Aksel wave her over to the dock.  Thinking she had been given a reprieve she walked around and went up to him.

He was giving directions and asking a question to one of the men. When she got there he turned quickly and shoved her backwards off of the dock. Reidun flew into the cold waters and she came up spluttering curses at him like mad.

[color=f49ac2]“You son of a bitch! Are you trying to kill me? I can’t swim you ass!”[/color] She screamed at him as she tread water in at least ten foot waters. At his laughter she got even madder and started to threaten him for the millionth time.

Aksel’s grin was a mile wide as he picked on his favorite target. [color=gray]“Looks like you are swimming to me. What do I know of such things? You would be dead if you weren’t swimming right now.” [/color]He put his hands on his hips in grand laughter.

Reidun realized that he was right but she would have cut her own tongue out before admitting it. Her smile was all the satisfaction he needed and she swam away awkwardly at first, splashing herself in the face. [color=f49ac2]"You're an ass Aksel!"[/color]

Aksel chuckled at her but got back to his business and kept an eye on her progress. He would look rather dimwitted if he let her drown after shoving her into the water. This thought made him grin for well over an hour.
Aksel had met many who were joining the raid to England. Many were hoping for treasures, some wanted land and all wanted glory in battle and to better themselves. Aksel wanted to win. His wants were simple. He wanted the others to achieve their goals but he was interested in the land and titles that went with it.

Realizing that there might be more men than ships he started counting the men that would fit into the boats and the amount of food and weapons that they were taking.