Year 1012

A village in Gwynedd

"John, food is ready get inside!"

"Alright guys I have to go Miss Isabella is calling me." John, a 15 year old boy who's slightly taller than his friends, with dusky eyes, and bright yellow hair in a man bun said.

"Wait…John, is today your celebration?" One of the many blonde friends asked. "It is. I turned 15 today. Miss Isabella said she had a surprise for me? I don't think that's very normal though right?"

One kid shrugged and all the others followed, "I think it's normal? I'm not too sure but I've heard that the nobility call it a…birthday?

"Serious?"

"Yup. So have a fun birthday John!"

John smiled, "thank you."

John said goodbye to his friends and went into what he calls home. A small home made out of mud, wood from the local forest, and hay as a roof. The house only has two rooms but that is more than enough for John. He lives the life of a peasant and actually gets to occasionally practice with a sword due to the English army going through Gwynedd for the shore.

He actually makes quite a good amount of progress and one of his buddies, Godfrey, would give him a new task to complete when he arrives again. This gives John a lot of time as Godfrey usually wouldn't be back for at least six to twelve months.

John's current task it to cut through a hay dummy, a wooden dummy with hay covering it(should be obvious but oh well).

John's progress is decent considering the fact that he can cut roughly half way through the dummy. Being a peasant may not result in luxurious food but it does result in a lot of free time for working on your own body. John is above average in size but is held back from lack of food. He spends so much energy farming for himself and Miss Isabella that when they eat he doesn't really gain much energy. It's a win-loss situation.

Although, he doesn't mind it because Miss Isabella gets to eat. She is basically his mother who raised him since he was an infant.

Once John walked into his house, he looked to his left and saw Isabella peeling corn husks. "May I help?" He asked. "Oh no…you spend so much time making these so it's only right I peel them." She responded in a groggy voice.

"Alright then what did you call me in for?"

"Look at the table…"

He walked around the corner and his face glewed at the sight of chicken, ham, and liquor. "No way!" He shouted. "How'd you manage all this?! I know we don't have the shillings for this!"

"I had an old favor from a friend who also happens to have an old favor for another person. I know what's on your mind. The liquor!"

John slightly smiled while scratching his face, "haha…may I try it~~~?"

"Dive in." She retorted.

"Ugh which to choose from!" John laughed as he picked the cup filled with wine. The drink left a sting in his mouth as he immediately ran outside and spat it out. "This taste like rubbish!"

"Jeez…you can't even handle wine at your age boy? I'll show you how your supposed to do it." She picked another wine-filled cup and let loose. She downed the entire cup within 3 seconds and John, whose on his knees recovering from throwing up, was left amazed at the sight. Who would have thought his sweet mother would be able to do that.

"Wh-what the hell?"

"Language."

"Ah sorry Miss…"

"Now hurry up and drink up. Like a man. You know your brother can drink a whole barrel of ale."

"Yeah well Adam has been in the army for my entire life. Plus, everyone knows him as a drunktard. You want me to become a drunktard?"

Isabella smirked, "I'll be right back." John had a bad feeling and his intuition was correct. She came out with a sandal and readied herself to hit John with it. "Do not talk bad about your brother!"

The next few minutes was Isabella chasing John as the two laughed and John couldn't help but eventually fall due to laughter. He looked up and saw Isabella who had a smile on her face yet he felt like something was wrong. 'Not good…'

**********

5 minutes later

"You won't talk bad on your brother now will you."

"No ma'am…I pwomish not poo."

"Good. Now go clean up your face it's a mess."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

John sighed and left his tiny home that was more than enough for him and headed for the nearby lake. He knew a few shortcuts that weren't on the trails because him and his friends would constantly venture the woods.

After a little adventure, he found himself in front on the river, his reflection showing. He got on his knees and cupped his hands together, picking up some water and rubbing it on his face.

John isn't much of a fighter and never really has been. That's why he is currently cleaning his own clothes which may be looked down upon. At the same time, he is a peasant so the only people who would care are the nobility.

He washed his clothes off and laid back, letting his restless eyes close to the loud yet calming water of the river, succumbing to a slumber.

He opened his eyes again and found himself in a dream. 'What the hell?' He thought. He pushed off from the ground and looked at his surroundings. The area was the same but instead shrouded with darkness and the loud calming river now became irritating as he tried to consentrate on what was happening.

'Is this a dream.'

SLAP

'Owwww…guess not.' He uttered, rubbing his stung face.

His short laugh ended quickly upon hearing voices above the irritating river. He jumped into the river, took one last breath, and submerged into the water.

The voices all belonged to men and though it was hard he could see that all of them were clearly not from England. 'Not even nobility would dress so vulgarly.'

They wore metal helmets with horns and all had some sort of husk clothes. They also all carried weapons so they clearly were not here to play. There's only one person at this moment in time who'd be here. The Danes.

He blinked for a moment and the second he opened his eyes he saw a man peaking directly at him from above. "Peek-a-boo."

STAB

"AHHHHH!" John yelped, touching everywhere on his body in hopes of finding out it was a dream.

It was.

He gracefully sighed, "stupid dream." And got up from the ground. He merely fell asleep and had a bad nightmare. "I need to go pray." He walked to one of the rocks nearby and put on his now dried clothes which were some sandals, brown pants, and a maroon colored button up shirt.

He didn't notice it but he no longer heard the river. It was like it blanked out from his hearing. He walked up the hill and left the forest. The moment he no longer saw trees in sight, he saw something that could not be described in words but if there had to be one word…chaos.

Everything from the mills, wheat fields, the common, the village green, and even the black smith had a raging fire spreading everywhere. He then looked behind him and saw smoke rising from deeper in the forest.

'Mother!' He scarily thought, rushing back to his house. The only thing he heard was his lifelong friends being slaughtered like animals.

He was now a few corners away from his house before he heard a boy scream "John!!"

He quickly turned his head towards the voice and saw one of his friends, Matthew calling for help. He was being held upside down by his leg, a Viking being the one holding him.

The Viking was chuckling in amusement, drool falling from his mouth onto his beard. He took off his helmet, still holding it in his hand. "John! Help me please John! John!"

John clenched his teeth and was getting ready to help his friend in need but heard the yelling of his beloved mother, Isabella. He faced away from his sorry sight of a friend and ran towards his house.

"JOHN!!!! NO!"

The Viking began laughing even more and stabbed Matthew in the chest with the horns on his helmet.

John finally turned the last corner and saw his house enwrapped in an undying fire. He got to the front door, kicking it open. "Mother! Where are you!"

There was no response but instead the sound of things falling over in her room. He got to the door and heard her light screams and grunts with a Viking cursing her out. He slammed the door open with his shoulder due to the fact he hurt his legs opening the other door.

Once inside, he saw the man trying to steal food and Isabella attempting to stop him. John jumped on his back and began elbowing him in the shoulder. The Viking cried out in pain, grabbing John from over his head and throwing him to the ground.

John landed on his back and let out a painful groan and before he could react he was met with another blow to the face, sending him into the wooden bed. He rubbed the back of his head and felt a liquid. 'Blood.' He thought.

It hurt like hell but he got back up and when he did he saw Isabella with a stolen axe in her hand. "May God forgive me."

She got ready to swing, the Viking being in the middle of the door between her and John.

John had a feeling she would miss so he quickly shoulder pushed into the Viking, forcing him to lose balance and giving Isabella a chance. She didn't take it for granted.

SLISH

The axe took its place in the vikings stomach. Isabella isn't very strong due to her age so she could only utilize so much strength. Fortunately, it was deep enough to disable the viking from doing anything else.

The two looked at each other as the viking gurgled blood from his throat and smiled. They managed to beat a Viking. It wasn't over just yet though. Isabella could hear other Vikings outside of the house, waiting for them. She turned around and hugged John. "You have to leave through the back my child."

"W-what are you talking about mother!? We have to leave now there's no time!"

SLAP

"Listen to me! They are waiting for us outside!…leave now and I'll buy some time. You must find Adam."

John bit his lip in anger but he always defied his mother as he grew up. The last thing he could do was at least listen to her. "Okay." He answered, tears forming in his eyes.

"I love you son. Now go…"

John grabbed a scorching box and put it under the window so he could step up. The moment he put his foot on the box, he let out out a yelp of pain. The box burned his barefoot. "Dammit!" He cried out.

"Here son…" Isabella said, taking her sandals off for John, her feet now being burned yet she showed no sign of pain. "Go now!"

John put them on and jumped out of the window. "Love you too mother…" He uttered, running into the very trees he just came from.

Isabella walked out the front of the house as the house crumbled behind her, the Vikings hitting the ground with their weapons in rhythmic unison. Isabella noticed a head behind the circling Vikings coming towards everyone. He pushed past two Vikings and stood in front of Isabella.

'Danes!' She thought. "Who are you?!" She demanded.

The Viking took his helmet off, his uncontrollable hair throwing sweat everywhere, "Toke…my name is Toke."

She began searching into the back of her dress for her small knife. "Take it away from her." Toke ordered.

Two Vikings walked up to her, one punching her directly in the stomach, and the other grabbing the knife from her dress. "I would say good try, but well…it wasn't." Toke shrugged.

"Now then…where is the boy you call John?"

'What does he want with John?' she thought as saliva dropped down her lip. 'Damn it…that woman from 15 years ago…'

"I don't know what your talking about. Who's John?"

"Hit her until she gives him up."

The Vikings all nodded and began beating Isabella, telling her they'd stop if she said where he was. She never gave up his location. Unfortunately, she gave something else up.

**********

BRUSH BRUSH

John, currently running through the forest, is headed for Lunden, the heart of England where his brother is stationed. 'Adam please still be there!'