Fights and Summer Calling

With Spring still here, and the days seem to be the same over and over, Summer is calling to me more than ever. I love summer, its warm, and that would be enough, its warm. Spring can alternate between cold and rainy, to warm and dry, it can be disastrous for supply caravans and any caravan in general, or someone traveling. Sigehelm and I had to go gather herbs for mother, since we are running out. Didn't seem like that to me, but I didn't dare to look, mother doesn't like her herb supply touched. The land was dry, warm, and generally a good day. We picked herbs until we filled our bags, then started to head home, we talked and talked, arguing to see who would gain mother's favor due to whoever picked more than the other. "You know, father clearly likes me more, same with mother, only sister likes you Sigebyrht, because you and her are most alike, weak, kind, dumb and gullible. I'd be surprised if you could even wield a spear and throw like I, no wait, I wouldn't be surprised, because I already know what would happen if you were to be forced," He smirked, taunting and jeering me. I frowned, I disliked him so much, but he was still my brother, still a blood relative. But how he was disrespecting Burgwyn, I couldn't take it, I lashed out in anger, "ENOUGH! You always disrespect me and Burgwyn, your own relatives, blood relatives, how dare you. You always attempt to slander me and claim I lie, hit, or attack you. I've had enough, you may be older, but you certainly aren't smarter nor the most mature." He attacked me with anger, pushing me down the ground, he started to punch me in the face, I yelled out in anger and shock. His face when I kicked him in the belly was pure pain, I smiled for a moment, as that kick gave me a chance to run away, or fight. It was a case of fight or flight, and I ran. The dark forest was closer to me than our horse, knowing Sigehelm to be faster than me, I ran into the woods, hoping to escape him with the bobbing sunlight. The branches are pointy, thick and long, they could easily make someone hurt if one ran straight into one. But I didn't, I knew the woods so much from my dream and nightmares. I ran and ran, until I got to the edge of the forest, least I think. But I was wrong, I continued running, until I tripped upon a root from a tree, I cried out in pain, I believe my ankle was sprained.

Mother taught us some herb-lore to help with pain, luckily, I gathered some of the herbs that could do that while Sigehelm and I were out gathering. Damn Sigehelm, of course he would to this, he probably isn't going to try to help. Of course he wouldn't. There were some wolves lurking about, I heard them howling, growling, prowling. Worry and fear were laid upon my shoulders, I started to fear for my life, I didn't have my spear, Sigehelm most likely took it while I ran away, I dropped it in the field, and I doubt I could outrun a pack of wolves to get it, and once I get there how am I going to even defend myself. The only thing I could to is yell, yell as loud as I could. No one came, it was ten minutes, I continued yelling. Still, no one came. Thirty minutes passed, still no one came. A hour passed. I heard someone coming, it was father, I yelled and soon he had came to me. He didn't know what Sigehelm did, nor did mother. He supported me and we walked back to home. "Who did this to you, my son. I will rip them apart for hurting you like this. You have bruises and scratches and a sprained ankle, Who?" He was so angry, protective, he was like a father bear defending his cubs. "S-..Sig..Sigehelm did the bruises and scratches, while I tripped on a root running away in woods and got the sprained ankle that way. I'm sorry, I shouldn't of got angry at his jeering and taunting, he was just making fun of Burgwyn and I so much that I couldn't resist it!" I responded quickly. "Son of...by Bema, he will be punished for this, I swear to the king himself!" He said, marching off, but slow enough to support me. We managed to get to the house, I quickly went to bed, and laid down, giving my ankle rest. Burgwyn came in the room, looking confused. "Brother, what happened, why is father and mother yelling at Sigehelm?" she asked. "He attempted to beat me up, I have bruises and scratches and a sprained ankle I got from a root while I was running, just, don't listen to them. A good lesson to learn, dear sister, is to ignore somethings and not interfere, no matter your curiosity, or anger. And never, ever, taunt or jeer someone, as it'll end up with someone being yelled at or with wounds. You understand?" I answered, quickly, stern, but with kindness. "I do, I'll go back to my room, I need to prepare some things for when the girls arrive, we'll play outside." She smiled, offering me a kindness that only a sister could give, I simply nodded and closed my eyes.