Age of the Viking: A Twist in Time

The beautiful crisp clean air filled my lungs as I took in the site outside of my hotel window. I needed this, I had felt nothing but over worked, working the normal 9 to 5 desk job, Monday thru Friday, answering call after call. I took a sip from my coffee as I decided I would take a stroll through town and enjoy all the shops and sights. Setting my coffee down I went and got ready. After I got ready I was walking through the small town of Stavanger. It absolutely beautiful, it seemed like a music festival was going on. The beautiful brightly colored decorations. Everyone seemed to be so happy as the danced around. Vendors lined the path selling their goods to those who find themselves passing by. As I made my way through I found myself standing in front of a tent with what looked to be sigils written on the wood around the door. All of it looked magical, what I could make out was a small sign that said ‘All are Welcomed’. Curiosity but at me as I walked inside. A soft smell of sandalwood with a hint of citrus, as rows upon rows or crystals sat on a few shelves. I made my way through as a small Raven figure caught my eye. I gently picked the figure up taking in all it’s beauty. It seemed so much older then it is. I was lost in thought staring at the little Raven when a thick accent of a women’s voice could be heard from behind me. “It seems the Raven of Odin has called to you.” I turned around quickly to see where the voice was coming from as a women stood there in the back entry way. She was absolutely beautiful and took my breath away. She was dressed in a really old garment with beads and bones being used as accessories. A moment had passed before I snapped out of it and spoke up. “I do apologize, it is a very beautiful piece, but you said something about Odin?” She smiled at me “Yes child, Odin the all-father.” She walked closer “Forgive me, my name is Valka, I am what you would call a seer.” I smile at her “A seer? I’ve heard a bit about seers, but it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Alice.” I could tell she was taking in what I said and smiled. “It seems you are from America, am I correct?” I nodded at her question. “I am, right now I am just visiting and taking a vacation from the mess that is happening there now.” Valka nodded as if she knew what I was talking about. She gestured to the table. “Come, let me read your fortune child.” I made my way over to the small table where she sat with a bowl in front of her. I sat down across from her. “Let me see your hand Alice” I did as I was told and gave her my hand. Her hand gently took mine as her fingers ran over my palm. “Mhmm, interesting.” Was all she said as she took the bowl that I could now see had bones inside. She shook the bowl and flipped it over shaking it a bit before moving the bowl. She looked over the bones and how they laid out and smiled up at me. “It seems Alice you have an adventure in front of you. You’ll meet a man and you’ll have to make a huge decision.” I looked at her confused a bit as I swore off being in a relationship since my last one ended badly. She smiled at me “Don’t be afraid and allow your heart to guide you. This will be something you will need more then ever.” Before I could speak she spoke again. “Keep the little Raven, think of it as a gift.” I smiled softly “Thank you Valka, it means so much and I will cherish the gift.” After saying our goodbyes, I continued to walk through the festival. The music was absolutely beautiful and filled my ears with beauty. As I continued my stroll, I came up to another tent reading tutors. I stopped at it and picked up a pamphlet searching through it. I saw a hiking path I could take at my own pace with a beautiful view. It was called Pulpit rock. It was said to hold a beautiful mystery. After I spoke to one of the guides there about when the next bus would head out that way to pulpit rock. I decided to take the first one in the morning. I spent the rest of the festival enjoying the food they had there and listening to the music. When night fell the festival lit up in it’s beautiful colorful lights. It was definitely a beautiful sight to behold. Once the festival was over I made my way back to my hotel to get ready for tomorrow. I curled up in bed after my shower. I felt myself drift off to sleep. “Don’t be afraid.” Those words floated around me as I stared out into the woods in front of me. Things felt different. I felt the soft dirt beneath my feet as I made my way through the woods. I kept hearing Valka telling me to not be afraid. To follow my heart. A Raven flew high above my head as I walked along the path. I stopped at the edge of the woods and looked out. It looked as if I was in a different time line. It looked like it was older. Viking ships lined the shore line. I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me as if lovingly. The beautiful song of a Raven could be heard from above. All of it was so much and I could feel my heart racing at everything happening. This dream feels so real. Before I could turn around I was ripped from my dream. I sat up looking around. I could see just my hotel room and I felt my heart rate slow down. I started to feel better. I looked at the clock and saw it was about 3 in the morning. I laid back down and stretched myself out. I let myself drift back off to sleep to allow myself to be awaken by the alarm waiting to go off. After a few more hours of sleep my alarm went off at about 7 in the morning and I pushed myself up and out of bed. I started the coffee maker in my hotel room and went to go get my hiking gear on to get ready for the adventure that lays out in front of me. It was definitely going to be a day. At the back of mind sat the dream that woke me up in the middle of the night. All of it was very interesting and a feeling sat in the pit of my stomach. After my morning coffee I made my way to the station where the bus is to pick up those who wish to hike the pulpit rock. I sat at the station waiting as I gently held the small Raven in my hands looking at it. “Don’t be afraid” I spoke to myself out loud but quiet enough for just myself to hear. On the over head speaker the station attended called out for those who are heading pulpit rock. As I stood up I looked over my shoulder and saw an older man with a can and an eyepatch covering his left eye. A group of people walked in front of my eye sight and within a blink the older man was gone. I was left with a bit of confusion but made my way to my bus. I was always told that Norway was a magical place but it seems to be more then magical. It took about an hour to get to the bottom of Pulpit rock. Once the bus came to a stop I started to make my way off the bus and up the pass. The air felt so clean and beautiful, the trees flowed nice in the bit of wind that came through. Everything about this area was so peaceful, taking in a deep breath I began to make my way up the path. As I walked along the wooded path I took in the scenery around me. Everything about this place felt magical, I felt as if it could whisk me away to a world unknown. After what seemed like a beautiful eternity of walking, I made it to the edge of pulpit rock. I over looked the scenery in front of me. It is such a breath taking view. Over head a Raven called out as my eyes immediately found it. Something felt off. The air grew thicker as I watched dark cloud roll in. I knew at that moment I needed to head back down the path. As I turned to make my way back to the bus at the bottom, the old man from the station appeared in front of me. I stopped in my tracks as my eyes locked on to him, the wind whipping around my body. A power emitted from his presences that would make anyone shake and fall to their knees. He was saying something that I couldn’t hear and before I knew he slammed the staff in his hand to the ground. The power of the shock sent me flying over the edge of the cliff. It felt as if I was falling in slow motion. The feeling of knowing your death is about to come, you watch as your life flashes before your eyes and it makes you thing if you actually really lived. I watched as the edge of the cliff moved further as I fell deeper. The Raven over head cried out to me as if saying that I’ll be fine. Valka’s words came to me within a instant ‘Don’t be afraid.’ I closed my eyes as my body hit the water below. My head shot from the water as I sucked in air, a wave came crashing down sucking me back down. The power of these waves were insane. As my head breeched the water again a ship haul came from behind me, I didn’t even get a chance to breathe as the haul hit me and I felt my consciousness leave my body. As the black set in I felt a strong pair of arms shoot into the water and pull me aboard as the blackness surround me. ‘Don’t be afraid my child, for your adventure as just begun.’ I shot up fast as I looked at everything around me and looked down at myself. The clothing on me was something that looked from a long time ago. The bed was laid out with furs upon furs. My head throbbed slightly as I held onto it. The door opened as a deep voice called out “I’m glad you are awake. It seems my ship has found it’s way into you.” When I looked up I honestly couldn’t believe who was standing in front of me. The man before me was rugged and ripped. His muscles flexed as he moved and the thick beard on his face made made him look more rough. His eyes were a beautiful sea blue that compliment his sandy blonde hair. My breath was taken away as if I was sinking back under the waves. He seemed satisfied with me staring at him as his smile grew across his face. “By the gods, don’t tell me my ship knocked the voice out of you.” As quickly as I could I spoke up “I’m sorry all of this just seems so foreign to me.” He closed the distance between us “You definitely are different to me. Your accent, where do you hail from?” Something about all of this was off as I tilted my head at him. I knew I had to choose my words wisely. Something tells me I wasn’t in my timeline anymore. “I’m sorry, would you be able to tell me where I am? All of this just seems so different.” He nodded his head “let us take it bit by bit. I know you just went through some that a lot would die from.” He sat down in the chair next to the bed then it hit me “this is your room, isn’t?” My eyes widen, which cause him to laugh. “Yes it is my room.” Panic set in a bit. “Please if you must, I can go to another-“ I was cut off before I could finish “A Viking would never pass up a beautiful women is his bed, before I forget. I am Sigurd. Jarl of the Black Ravens.” Jarl? Does he mean he’s the king? I knew he saw the puzzle look on my face and he laughed a bit. “You are definitely not from this area but you are a feast to the eyes.” My face heated up at his words, I have never heard someone tell someone they are beautiful like that. Especially from a large burley man. He smiled more and moved closer. He slowly lifted my chin up to look at him. “How another hasn’t taken you is beyond me.” My cheeks flushed a deep pink as I stared up at him with a lost of words. When I was able to pull away I cleared my throat. “I really appreciate the flattering, but I’m not from here. I guess you could say I’m from the future.” He kneeled in front of me. “The future? By the gods that would explain your clothing we found you wearing when we pulled you from the waters.” His eyes on me kept the blush on my face in place. “Y..yea, um all I know is that I fell off the cliff and by time I hit the water I was in a different time.” He stood up and somehow grabbed my hand at some point. “How about this? Go ahead and get some rest and when you wake we will go see the seer of my clan.” I smiled up at him happily. “That sounds good to me. Thank you for everything.” He smiled more and kissed my hand. “Use my bed, I’ll sleep in the chair.” I nodded and curled back up in his large bed not wanting to argue with him. I’m hoping that the seer will let me know on how I can return to my home. I drifted off to sleep in some hope that tomorrow will be a better day to my vacation that went wrong.