[center] [color=0054a6]THE OUTPOST[/color] [/center]
Reidun could see Aksel speaking to one of the other leaders and locked arms and clapped each other on the back as was a common greeting among friends. Grinning she took in the sites around her. They had past the ruins of the monastery that Ragnar Lothbrok and his men had destroyed so many years ago. Her excitement was dimmed only by the sun’s determination to go down in the next hour or so. It had been a day full of anticipation. They had been a bit further away than they had assumed. It had taken them more time than they had expected to get to the shoreline. Since the boats were going to be beached for a while they had emptied them of their supplies and had put up makeshift coverings for the night. 

Overhearing something about the defenseless village of Oakshire being just through the trees and then Watford being so close from there left her grinning. 

Conall had helped the rest of the men unload the ships’ cargo into their makeshift base for the upcoming raids.  Conall having placed the last of the boxes down he began to wander into the surrounding forest to clear his mind and prepare for the battle.  Conall made sure not to get carried away in his daydreaming and kept close to the outpost, but for the time he enjoyed this peace and quiet.  Many were fearful during this period that the often called “The calm before the storm” but Conall loved it.  He also liked the fact that he could do his pre battle rituals in private.   

Reidun looked around for Conall and didn’t see him right away. Deciding to walk towards this Oakshire beyond the trees she stepped outside of the outpost and headed for the woods. A figure emerged in the distance and she smiled recognizing Conall. As she approached him she could see that he was focussed on what he was doing. Not wanting to startle him she hung back a little. [color=f49ac2]“Conall?”[/color]

Conall’s head shot up at the sound of Reiduns voice.  He hadn’t noticed her following him into the woods.  [color=39b54a]“Ay its me.  I'm sorry I didn't notice you had followed me.”[/color]  Conall had begun to stand from his kneeling position.  Once he had turned around to face her he showed that he had been in the middle of getting his face paint ready.  He smiled at her saying “Did you need something Reidun?”    

Reidun smiled at him and walked over to him. [color=f49ac2]“Actually I was going to go check out the village of Oakshire. Finding you out here is just a surprise I didn’t expect. Getting ready for the battle I see. I think I’ll wait for my paint til tomorrow. Since you are here, would you like to take a peak with me? I imagine that these Englishmen are quite different from us.”[/color]

Conall smiled at her.  [color=39b54a]“Well sure I’d love to go with you.”[/color]  he said while putting the paint down [color=39b54a]“I can put on my paint later.”[/color]  Conall waited for her to lead him to the town called Oakshire. [color=39b54a]“It will be a bit difficult to stay hidden considering we don't blend in with our red hair and my extreme size.”[/color]  Conall said not sure how going to this small town would go but he was willing to do it if it meant spending some time with Reidun before the battle.

Reidun was certain that these people had seen enough of the vikings over the last years to be used to them for the most part. Her smile came easy at his description of them. [color=f49ac2]“Yes, we are pretty recognizable. I think it will be fine, and if not...I have my axe and you can definitely fight them off with your weapons or your fists. I have no worry about Oakshire.”[/color]  

Reidun walked next to him through the trees until they opened into a clearing and ahead was the small village. Reidun kept her pace the same as they walked towards the village. There were people working the land. The harvest was being planted and it made her smile. Were they really so different? Apparently they were not so different in all things. 

Conall kept close to Reidun in the event that a fight started he could quickly get both of them out of harm's way.  Though to be fair Conalls size usually did a good job at scaring off would be opponents.  He knew that most of the villages here would be different then what Reidun had been used to with much more sturdy homes and a bigger focus on surviving than on fighting and raiding.  He also wasn't so sure how she would like the fact that women in this culture were not kept in such high regard as in that of her and his cultures.  He turned to her to see how she would react to seeing this small town.  [color=39b54a]“Is it everything you hoped it would be”[/color]  Conall said with a smirk as they got closer to the village.      

Reidun smiled at Conall and glanced back at the people in front of her. There had been rains recently and much of the ground was saturated. The people didn’t appear to be as clean as she had thought they might be. She also saw the father figure strike the young woman for something and her hand automatically went to her axe. The man yelled at the woman and she nodded and picked up an about all barrel and walked away. This bothered Reidun and her brow furrowed as she thought on it. 

[color=f49ac2]“Their family unit differs from ours. I think I’ll be quite able to enjoy slaughtering some of these men who will undeniably deserve it.”[/color]

[color=39b54a]“Ay it does.”[/color]  Conall said with a hint of disappointment in his voice. [color=39b54a] “There are some good ones out there but they are far and few between.”[/color]  Out of the corner of his eye Conall could see Reidun ready to chop off the poor fools head.  Placing a hand on her shoulder he whispered [color=39b54a]“I want that fool to pay just as much as you but let's try not to start unless we have to.” [/color] Conall could see how angry the man's action made her.  Letting out a sigh and shaking his head a little he said [color=39b54a]“If ye must do it I'll help you.” [/color]

Reidun looked up as the sun was setting and she glanced once more at the man and she decided that she would rather enjoy one last night with the vikings celebrating now that they are here, in England. [color=f49ac2]“I’m sure he’ll get his. I want some ale. Let’s go back. It might be a long time before we get a night without fighting again.” [/color] Squeezing his hand she turned and headed back towards the outpost. 

Keeping a hold of her hand Conall followed her back towards the forest. [color=39b54a] “I'm sure he will get what he deserves if he doesn't run like the coward he is.”[/color]  Conall pulled her close to him as they continued their walk towards the camp.  [color=39b54a]“Besides I would much rather spend the night celebrating with you and Harek then getting into some meaningless fight.”[/color]  

As they broke through the tree line Conall could see the rest of the raiders had begun to set up fires and had already gotten the ale ready for a night of celebration.  Conall made his way over to where a fire had just began.  He motioned for Reidun to sit next to him as he looked into the fresh flames.   

Harek had been resting by one of the fires when he heard the voices of two young people on the other side of the flames.  Harek immediately recognized the two redheads who sat down on the other side of him.  Harek grinned and moved around the fire to sit next to Conall.  [color=ed1c24]“I remember the last time we were in these isles.  I seem to have memories of an unnaturally tall man almost being captured a fair bit south of here.  Of course my memory may just be failing me, but I don’t think so.”[/color]

Conall couldn’t help but let a slight laugh out at Hareks antics.  [color=39b54a]“Well if I remember correctly it was because some old man couldn't keep up with me.” [/color] Conall held a smirk, he loved so much to poke fun at Harek.  [color=39b54a]“Hopefully I won't have to risk my neck to save your sorry arse this time.”[/color] 

[color=ed1c24]“Hey! How is anyone supposed to keep up with those stupid long legs of yours.” [/color] Harek looked over at Reidun and nodded his head,[color=ed1c24] “Reidun, you look as beautiful as ever.  I see you have been tasked with babysitting this oversized child.”[/color]

Reidun laughed as the pair teased each other. It had been a long time since she had seen Harek in a playful mood.  [color=f49ac2]“More likely he is babysitting me.”[/color] She tossed back as she took a long gulp of her ale. [color=f49ac2]“I wanted to kill a man for hitting his girl earlier. These people do not respect women.” [/color]

[color=ed1c24]“They don’t respect anything.  They beat their women and children.  They live short and pathetic lives, toiling under some lord for no reason.  Never doing what they want, because it is against one of their thousand laws.  They live free lives, so they never live at all.”[/color]  Harek was immediately put in a sour mood from thinking of the people that they were here to raid.

Conall took a drink of his ale before looking over at Harek.  [color=39b54a]“I don't think I have ever seen you get like this while talking.”[/color]  Conall said very matter of factly.  Conall wanting to lighten the mood on this time of celebration wrapped an arm around Harek saying  [color=39b54a]“Could it be that you are capable of doing something other than swing a sword around like a chicken with no head.”[/color]  Conall was trying desperately to maintain a straight face through all of this.  

[color=ed1c24]“You wanna see a chicken with no head???[/color]  I’ll show you one when I cut yours off and show your own head how stupid you look.”  Once again Harek’s smile had returned.  [color=ed1c24]“You’d probably die with a stupid look on your face.”
[/color]
Conall couldn't help it any more and was dying of laughter.  [color=39b54a]“I would like to see you try.  That is if you think you'll do better than the last time we fought.”[/color]  Conall knew he was tempting fate but was to caught up in the moment to care much of the consequences.   

Instead of throwing a punch at him Harek tossed him a drink and laughed with him.  [color=ed1c24]“Let us save our strength for the enemy rather than fight amongst ourselves.”[/color]

Reidun raised her mug to that. “SKOL!” She drank and shouted, “May we all fare well and gain wealth and fame!” Shouts agreeing were heard all around.

 Conall smiled as he began drinking from the fresh bottle that had been tossed to him.  [color=39b54a]“It's probably for the best wouldn't want you going into battle with a limp anyway.”[/color]  He said towards Harek as a last jab before they were swept apart into the celebrations which had exploded into dancing and singing all around them.  Grabbing Reidun’s hand Conall stood up and began moving towards where the others had begun dancing speaking [color=39b54a]“May I have this dance?”[/color]  He added a small bow acting as if he was some king.  

Reidun smiled and bowed in a low curtsy and then she took his hand and let him lead her in a dance. [color=f49ac2]‘Harek you old fool grab a girl and dance!” [/color] Reidun smiled and let the music and the ale take her.

colab with  @wick  @pandapolio