Vikings and Nobleman's Daughter

Einar smiled broadly as he reached to each of her maidens and placed them infront of himself. "Then we will train you, and stand by your side as you fell your enemies with strength and compassion." Smile given as he reached forward and poked Amalie above her heart. "True strength is not having the ability to kill, but the ability for mercy."

Einar smiled and he pointed to the weapon rack. "I want you to find the heaviest sword that you can find, and still wield in one hand. Please bring it to me." Einar stood there with his arms crossed over his chest, obviously the Jarl saw something in her, as well as the maidens around him.

Einar smiled at this and winked at Amalie. "Now, I want you to perform the three strikes that I showed you earlier. Imagine your opponent again, without a weapon and arms. Get used to imagining your weapon going through your opponent. We will correct your mistakes as you make them." Einar watched Amalie, wondering if she'd obey or if she'd throw a fit.

Einar nods as he looks at her. "Yes, but I haven't taught you any defense from even a bare-handed opponent. Only the strike. If it comes to a situation where you must defend yourself with a weapon, it is better to strike with practiced accuracy than flail around and flee like a coward." Einar looked into her eyes. "You don't have to be a weapon of killing, murder, and gore, you can go through life practicing and only having to use your weapon once. It is better to know how to use something, and understand it, than feign ignorance."

Einar nodded, making the usual corrections. Even with a heavy sword she has to square her shoulders, flick her wrist, lower her center of gravity, not lean, and reminding her to watch the body. "We attack the shoulders, chest, and abs because that is where the body stores it's organs, arteries, and all that important stuff. It is more dangerous to strike the body, than the head. Sure, you can get a one hit kill in the head, but it's so damned hard to hit. Take it from me, these calloused hands are stained with blood....hopefully blood you'll never have to see."

Einar smiled, looking up and judging they had been out here long enough. "Alright then, I think it's lunch time. What do you say Amalie? Want to train more or eat some lunch?" Einar asked, smirking as he figured he already knew the answer.

Einar laughs and nods to her. walking over to kneel and then lay by her. Hands behind his head as he looked up into the clearish blue sky. Clouds blowing by in the breeze, the sound of trees rustling and animals going about their lives. People could be heard as the soft sounds of chores and bustling trade is carried upon the wind.

Einar's eyes widened and his face seemed to freeze for a moment before he nodded his head and breathed in deeply. "All the time...I hear....all the time." Words spoken quietly as he looks over at Amalie and looks her in the eyes. "I hear the voices of the departed, I hear their anguish and see their faces. Sometimes I even see them follow me around." Looking her still in the eyes. "Killing is more than a word or an act....it wears away at a man."

Einar breathed in and sighed at her silence. "I have been raiding and warring since I was young, around fourteen or fifteen. I have always been a large child, I was actually training at the age of six because I was as large and smart as an eight year old." Chuckle given as he raised a large right hand to the sky, grabbing at the clouds. "I was smart, so book studies came naturally, and my size made me a force to be reckoned with. Metal armor, large swords, spears, pole arms, axes, maces, and shields didn't hinder me at all." Looking over at Amalie. "I have known violence, and I have known peace, I have known strife and I have known prosperity." Smile given as I leaned over and kisses Amalie's nose. "I want you to defend yourself, not be like me.....I will slay all your problems for you that you may only know comfort and peace." Smile given to her.

"Yeah, I could eat."

Einar smiled as he looked at her. "I may, or I may not. This world is ripe with strife and violence, I will not say I will give up the blade and live a normal life. I'm a viking, I can't be normal." Looking over at her. "You will be safe though, even safer than within the mightiest of fortresses." Einar rose with Amalie, reaching over with his arms to scoop her up, setting her atop his broad shoulders as he headed for the long house.

Einar laughed softly as he felt her braiding her hair. "In Viking culture we braid our hair and our beards." Chuckle given as he looked up at her. "So by all means, feel free to braid my hair." Long strides bringing them every closer to the long house, her maidens following dutifully behind them.

Einar laughs and shook his head, loosening all the braids she just made. "We use iron clasps, some are etched with family and protection runes." Reaching up Einar would pick her up off his shoulders and held her. When he made it to his chair he would set her on his lap. Smiling up at her as they were given a table. The table was set as it usual was, various meats, vegetables, and this time there were glasses of varying meads of varying strengths.

Einar smiled as he wrapped his arms around her. As always he ate voraciously, though managing not to spill anything on her. Sipping and scooping soups and stews, cutting and devouring meats, as well as eating the cooked vegetables served with it. Looking up at her as she drank her mead he smiled at this, glad that she was becoming accustomed to this life. It saddened him how he had to go about it, but in the end he believed it was better. If not....his neck was on the line. Wiping his mouth he smiled at her and leaned up to kiss Amalie again. Of course he tasted of his food, but also of the sweet and spiced mead that was his favorite.