Aeodred, son of Aeogar

 

Part 1

 

"Hold the stones straight!" the tutor barked. "Or you'll be raising them again and again 'til dawn!" This morning task was to hold a fist-sized stone in front of them with arms stretched. For the first couple of times it even felt easy.

 

Both boys were sweating under the sun. Their fathers had trusted them to a tutor to train them in combat 'til age 16. "You will welcome the pain. DO NOT...let it fall. Welcome the pain." the man chanted.

 

Aeodred's shoulders were in flames and yet he shaked like it was cold. Cenulf was biting his lip so hard it was white.

 

"Cease."- said the tutor, his eyes watching as they lowered the stones, making sure it was a controlled descent. He had his beating stick ready.

 

"This is madness!" thought Aeodred. Both arms felt loose. How many times would they be doing this? When his father told him he was hiring a trainer, he could barely stand the anticipation, but now he felt a pinch of regret. At least the neighbour's son Cenulf turned out to be a good friend. 

 

"There will be a time when both you and your steeds will rely on this kind of strength." growled the tutor, turning his look to Aeodred. "Are you tired, boy? I know your father makes shields. Some of them of your weight, and some weigh even more. You can't even hold a damn stone without shaking like a fish in a line! Do you think you will ever be able to wield one? Imagine raising it against orc arrows again and again while guiding your horse in the middle of a carnage. Our riders' bread and butter that is." 

 

Aeodred's thoughts wandered away from massaging his tense arms to his father foundry in Edoras. His father Aeogar ran a small partnership with Cenulf's father, a weaponsmith. They both made pure art in his eyes. From the wood selection to the wielding of a shield dressing, the syncopated beat of hammers were music to the boys ears. Would he ever be worthy of even holding one of those weapons?

 

Suddenly, he felt a stripe of pain in his legs as the tutor struck his stick."WAKE UP! Useless bastards!" he shouted. "In my life I have trained dozens, if not more worthless sons of whores like you, and I'll be damned if you won't walk out as men six years from now...Now, RAISE!" And the stones were raised once again, not for the last time that day.

 

He woke up in the middle of the night, his shoulders completely sore. The scent of horses mixed in the breeze filled the stables. He took a glance at Cenulf. He slept, arms filled with stick marks. They were getting used to collapsing with exhaustion in the hay mounds in the stables, and the smell and the occasional sound of hooves meant relief now. 

 

"I will be worthy...I promise, dad." he thought to himself, as he fell asleep as suddenly as he had awaken.

 

Part 2

 

Aeodred woke up again, and at first didn't recognize the place. It was a small farmer's shed with only an improvised bed he was sleeping in. The pain in his left shoulder came in pulsating waves.

 

"Having nightmares again?" said the old man. Aeodred shaked the slumber out of his mind and tried to organize his thoughts the best he could. 

"No...just...memories from my youth." he replied. "Checking my shoulder again, Harald? I already told you, I can move it...it just still hurts as hell. Your mistress did a splendid work with the arrow and I couldn't ask for more."

 

The old man grinned. "Oh yes, my dear Aldrith always had hands for treating the wounded...she can't perform miracles though... and it will be like that for another month if you keep forcing yourself to do all this heavy work you've been doing for us."

 

He had been working in the small farm since the fever left him. He had to pay the old couple somehow, but what payment is enough when your life is in debt? 

 

"I must leave tomorrow"- he stated.

 

"I've heard that before!"- Harald mocked.

 

"I admit I was a bit weak last time, but I'm better now." Aeodred's pride had suffered a stronger blow than his body. He hated feeling weak. Every morning he made his usual exercising and sword practice, but his left arm felt weak from the orc poison, and he couldn't even raise the shield over his head without giving in to the excruciating pain. And THAT was the worst of it all.

 

"A BIT weak? Lad, you fell of your horse like a sack of potatoes....Hild is a good mare, but she also can't perform miracles." 

 

"No need to remind me of that. I should have tied myself to the saddle and-"

 

"You should have stayed in bed, as we told you countless times..." cut the old man, with his face in his palms.

 

"My eored needs me." he insisted. "You told me you saw riders heading north...I will be always in your debt, but my life belongs to my commander, and my heart lies with my brothers in arms."- He said fiercely, a fire gleaming in his eyes. "I will argue no more."

 

"Alright, alright, lad. Aldrith worries about you, that is all. And we got used to your presence here...it reminds us of our boy..."- said the farmer, looking away from the man.

 

"I will slay many orcs in his honor, if that can bring our debt to an agreement"- said Aeodred, hand touching the old man's shoulder.

 

"Aye...that will do lad...that will do..."