The Blood is Thick ...

[Théodred Heavenshield]

[SIZE=14pt]Midvinter[/SIZE]​

[SIZE=14pt]Midday[/SIZE]​

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On the steps of the Grand Hall​

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A small boy sits on the very last step leading down from the main entrance of the Grand Hall. Elbow on knee, chin resting in hand, he throws small stones down the cobbled street and sighs. Théo is without something to do and is bored, a very dangerous mix for this young man. His Grand Papa, Thrand Dawnbringer had been called away to reside over a dispute between two rival Clans that had come to Tháinbroek to resolve the issue. Mother and Father away in some part of the galaxy, little did Théo know they are off fighting a war.

With all his strength he threw the last stone, watched and listened as it clinked and bounced down the street, however, a loud shout pulled him from his dispair. Théo sat upright and turned his head toward the shout. Another one! and more, but than some odd, the sound of metal hitting metal .. laughter. This grabbed his curiosity with a grip stronger than his fathers. He stood brushing the dirt from him hands on his clothes, no Jedi robes but a cloth jerkin of little design and trousers of brown, small leather boots and his fortitude.

Théo made his way along a narrow street heading toward the side of the Grand Hall, at first most tentative are his steps and as he neared he could hear men speaking in the ancient tongue of the Valkyri. Very few words he knows of this language and so the conversation is above him. A gruff voice bellowed what would be instruction to others and as Théo reached the end of the street he remained behind the corner only to spy from his position.

His eyes as blue as sapphires widened, as they find a group of men training with sword. This sight, simply exciting and enticing for the young boy, and so Théo slipped around the corner and hid behind a large barrel position by the wall of the training compound. He watched and they begin again.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

“Get off the ground and stand before me, boy”, a large man snarled, his sword swinging in an arc as he paced around like a cat. It was the snarl of the voice Théo had heard from the street. The other, a young man, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, removing the blood that stained his lips, he grinned and Théo could see his once white teeth red.

Four other Valkyri stood around watching, standing in a half circle eager to join the fight. The younger man on the ground slowly picked himself up and stood his ground once more, his sword held with both hands strong and young and white. What appeared to Théo, as he looked him over, was the beginnings of a beard sprouted on his face, long braided blonde hair and wide shoulders. His legs long sturdy, and moved with grace as he placed each foot down deliberately, it was like he walked on air.

The eagerness of youth propelled the young man forward and swords clashed and grinded, the sound of which caused Théo to winch and yet he would not look away. Another strike, the swords singing through the air until they met once more.

The grunts issuing from both men until the elder, pivoted and rammed his shoulder into the chest of the youth. He fell on his back, only to find the point of a sword at his throat. Théo stood up from behind the wooden barrel, a gasped came from him, as he wanted to see what would happen next.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

“I yield”, said the young man on the ground. Théo eyes remained fixed on him, paying little attention to the others in the group. They however, had turned to see the intruder, some without care, another scowled at the presence of the yelp.

The Elder drew back his sword and held out a large hand for the young man to take and assist to his feet. He too looked over to Théo, eyes piercing and searching, Théo returned his gaze a hot flush swept over his body. The Elder intimidating, face worn with weathering aging but a wealth of experience filled his eyes.

Was he in trouble for this? Théo decided not to find out and turned to leave as fast as he could only to run head long into a large set of legs which unbalanced him. But before his body hit the ground, he was lifted by the scurf of the neck and dragged to the circle of men.

“Let go of me!”, Théo demanded as his legs kicked wildly. Dumped unceremoniously to the ground, Théo remain prostrate on his back for a moment looking up into the faces of the Valkyri warriors.

“You come to train with the sword, boy?”, the Elder asked in a loud booming voice. Laughter came from the others but the Elder simply raised his hand to silence them. Théo gathered himself, and slowly rose to his feet. Unsure if the Elder spoke with words of sincerity he looked deep into his eyes with a strong sense of defiance. The Elders gaze remained fixed unwavering and waiting.

“I would like to train”, he stated with the voice of a child but something stirred within Théo .. His blood. Valkyri blood. His head lifted to sit proud on his shoulders, his face determined and a sense of his nobility crossed his brow. The Elder nodded his head and waved the others away. “Pair up and begin”, he instructed them.

“Who is your father boy?”. He asked as his sword slid within his belt.

“[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]”, he stated with an air of pride. The other men stopped their training, fell to their knees and lowered their heads upon hearing the name of the Prince of Midvinter. [SIZE=12pt] [/SIZE]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

His life he spends​

To prove his worth,​

Not for gods or men ​

But to temper his soul,​

Not born to kneel​

But to stand on his own​

Against the wind ​

His path must go.​

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~Blennerhassette​

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______ ~ooOOoo~ _____​

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“Get off the ground you grovelling Curs!”, the Elder commanded, “Back to work!”.

Théo turned to see the men on their knees before him, his eyes widened at the sight, not that he had never seen this before, he had, when men come to see his grandfather and his father. But never had they knelt before him. His face flushed unsure of how to react to such a display, but the moment passed thankfully as the Elder saw to it.

His eyes met the giant of a man once more, “So you are old flabby arse's grandson are you? You have a lot to live up to boy”. The Elder a staunch and loyal follower of King Dawnbringer. “Ye, yes”, Théo stammered, so taken aback at the name calling of his Grand Papa, but still the young boy was fighting to prevent a laugh which welled up from the nerves and well as the name.

“Right”, the Elder moved to the wall and took down two wooden training swords and threw one toward Théo. “Lets see what you are made of, Heavenshield”.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Théo managed to catch the wooden training sword in both hands, it is heavy much more so than he expected, and certainly far more than his training lightsaber. As the Elder walked back to him, Théo cast a look around at the other men how had resumed training as ordered. The strokes with the blade long and cumbersome, accompanied with loud grunts, he noted their balance was uncertain on the follow through which left them open for attack. But one of them was very good, it was the youth Théo had watched before and noticed his nimble foot work. The youth is not fighting the Elder now and the other men are not of his equal.

Long blonde hair flew around his shoulders as his body moved to avoid a strike to the blade. Théo realised that the young man was dodging the strikes, not allowing his opponents blade to clash against his or if it would he would block with a flat blade, not the edge of it. His eyes shifted to the other pair, their swords clanging with each strike, the edge of their blades chipping with each contact and they are quickly running out of energy. Théo sensed as much.

"Ouch!", suddenly Théo yelled. and reached up to rub his head. The Elder smiled down into his face, after hitting over the head for his attention which he received immediately.

"In position boy", he commanded. And Théo backed off to assess the man.

Two small hands gripped the wooden training sword and raised it to his shoulders, Théo began by taking Jedi stance.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Only a keen eye would have seen the rise of the Elder’s eyebrow, as Théo took Jedi ready stance. And yet he took one step toward Heavenshield the Younger, his wooden training sword sitting loose in his large grip, and did not have to travel far to meet Théo’s prepared position. A firm snap of his wrist was enough to knock Théo to the side and off balance as sword met sword. Although the Elder knows little or anything of the Saber of Light, it was apparent to him that this boy had had some form of training before this day. However, whatever the form, it did not suit the broad sword.

With one foot stepping forward and his free hand reaching out to Théo, the Elder grabbed him by the shoulder and put him back in position. “Stand firm to the ground but ready your body to move”, he said now taking his hands in his and manipulating Théo grip on the wooden sword. “This is how you hold a broad sword, boy”.

Once happy Théo had the correct grip, the Elder took his forearms and raised them into up sword on an anger with the tip directed to the throat, “From this position you can move to counter any strike, remember avoid hitting the sword with the edge of the blade but with the flat of it, and only then when you have no other choice”.

The Elder moved to strike at Théo’s left side, with little strength but reasonable speed. Théo’s hands dropped to his hip, the blade of the wooden sword passed his body and held firm in position to guard his arm from the strike. Wood hit wood and the stock of the strike jarred his body, sending a dull pain along his arm. But Théo did not stop there, the block had opened up the Elder and in a continuous movement, Théo twisted his wrist and arced the blade upward, the wooden sword scrapping along the full length of the Elder’s before it became free to strike at his inner thigh. But it did not make contact, the Elder far too experienced and skilful to allow such a thing and so he stepped back.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Théo stumbled forward as his sword had not made contact, pushing himself forward a couple of step to turn and face the Elder once more. A gust of wind entered the training arena, upon it came a song that only Théo would heard and this stopped him in his tracks. His clothes buffeted, his hair shifted about his brow and a chill ran up his spine, it is not cold wind.

You are the shield and the sword​

The armour that covers​

the love that protects​

For a traveller seeking comfort​

The shade that soothes​

For a blind man stumbling around​

The light that guides​

You are the hearing, sight and words​

One cannot perceive the world without​

you, you are the power that guides after death​

One cannot imagine the world beyond​

You are the dream one dreams at night​

There is no daylight after Dawn.​

You are the air to breathe in​

One cannot live life without​

You are the shield and the sword​

The armour that covers​

The love that protects​

The King of kings, the Lord of lords​

The One and only one worth fighting for​

Thousands of battles have been fought in the world,​

And will be fought till the world is ruins​

The seventh heaven awaits the faithful warrior​

And yet the greatest battle rages within the soul​

Till one finds You, the one true goal.​

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~Ayman Parray​

Théo turned around as if to try and find the author of the words. There is no one...

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Now the young boy had grown, had found his identity and his connection to this place. Born of the Valkyri, he will live by it and as time marches on and he grows tired and old, he will die by it. ​

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the end.​