Author: Lostiawen

E-mail: changeling@planetx.org

Rated: NC-17

Pairing: OMC/OB, VM/OB, VM/OFC

Summary: A visit from a stranger sets up a chain of events that plunges jaded soldier Viggo into a world of adventure. 

Archive: Please ask.

Feedback: Yes, please.

Warnings: AU, some angst, and a splash of het in a future chapter. 

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, none of this really happened.  The author is not associated with or is implying anything about the sexual preferences or the lives of the people depicted within. 

Author´s Notes: Okay, this bunny lodged in my head and just wouldn't let go.  This is a somewhat different medieval fantasy world, but it intrigued me so much that I had to write about it. 

A note of warning, this series will contain more angst than my usual fics.  Adventure stories are rarely a smooth ride. 

Please bear with the small amount of het, it´s actually pretty brief, but I wanted to warn sensitive souls ahead of time. 

Salix noted that Yvanna is used in the Simarillion. ..Uvanna is no relation.  And if other names coincide...again, another coincidence. 

Many hugs and kisses to Salix and Elizabeth for listening to me blather on while sketching out this world. 

Posted Nov.  9, 2004

Viggo frowned when he saw the ring around the moon. "This is not good, the rains will come soon and we have yet to rebuild from the last Rage," he said to the young blond man standing next to him. "The creatures tend to strike after a storm." 

"Isn´t it too soon for another attack?"  Arvid asked, his wiry body tensing. 

Viggo smiled and patted his charge´s long curly hair. Arvid had just passed his majority when he became one of Hallador´s soldiers a few months ago, and he was still very naive. Out of the kindness of his heart, Viggo had taken the young man under his wing and the two of them had grown quite close. 

"Unfortunately, the beasts have been growing bolder, and the attacks have been more frequent," Viggo sighed. 

Arvid nibbled his lip and said, "Viggo, has there ever been a time without the Rage?" 

The Rage...no one knew when it started, but human beings had been living with it as long as they could remember. When it erupted, every living animal that could possibly be a threat would go mad and attack the nearest settlement, not stopping until the fit had passed. 

As a result, many villages relied on the presence of Uvanna´s priests and priestesses to stem the tide of maddened creatures. Only they could influence the beasts to turn away. And even then, some always broke through the perimeter gates. It fell to soldiers such as Viggo to dispatch the rest of the rampaging horde. 

Idly, Viggo gazed at Arvid´s smooth face, wondering how long it would take before the lines would etch into the pale skin and the fire would disappear from those blue eyes. He sighed -- he had been a young recruit once. He remembered beaming with pride when Hallador, the protector of Illossa, had chosen him for duty...but many years had passed and now he was in charge of the guardsman. Years spent fighting animals in the grip of the Rage and holding watch...

"Viggo?"  Arvid´s voice said, pulling him back to the present. "Did you hear my question?" 

"Hm? I´m sorry, Arvid. No, there has not been a time when humans and untamed animals co-existed peacefully." 

Arvid chewed his lip and added, "What about the wildlings?" 

Viggo arched an eyebrow. "What of them?" 

Arvid stammered, "Jytte mentioned that I should stay away from them, but she wouldn´t say anything more. When I pressed the others, they told me to ask you." 

Viggo snorted. "The less said about them, the better. However, since you pressed me, I shall tell you."  He drew closer and said in a low voice, "Now, I need you to listen carefully -- there have long been rumors amongst the soldiers of animals with more than one form... that cannot be brought down with arrow or spear. They provoke the Rage, goading the beasts into attacking." 

"But how? They´re still Uvanna´s children, are they not?" 

"No one knows. None of them have ever been captured or seen face to face. Because we have never actually seen a wildling, their existence is to be kept a secret lest we panic the rest of the populace. They are never to be mentioned except to another priest or those who serve him."  He straightened up and ruffled Arvid´s curls. "Enough talk. We need to start our patrol." 

***

He was eating his lunch when Jytte, his second- in-command, approached him. "Someone has come here from afar," she said. 

Viggo nodded. Travelers to Illossa were rare since they were situated so far away from civilization. Beyond their village were the vast, dark forests, leading to many rumors that any visitor would die from the hands of an enraged animal as soon as he caught sight of the settlement. Because of their ill-gained reputation, Viggo always greeted each new arrival himself, trying to make them feel at home. 

He put his meal down and walked to the gate. A man in his thirties stood there, waiting patiently. His wavy, brown hair and full beard framed a rugged face. He had the look of a warrior -- there was no mistaking the solidness of the muscles under his leather armor and the confident glint in his eye. 

Viggo approached the man and saluted him, "Greetings, stranger. I am Viggo, Commander of Illossa´s Guard." 

The man inclined his head and replied, "Greetings, my name is Galen, and I hail from Tulir." 

Viggo blinked. In order to come from Tulir, Galen would have had to travel for months -- which meant that he either had to have been extremely lucky to avoid any animals in the grip of the Rage or he had done something unsavory to insure his survival. 

"You´ve come quite far, then," Viggo said, subtly changing his stance. He hoped that Galen was not here to stir up trouble in his small village. 

Galen nodded. "I´m actually stopping by on my way to Alora. I wanted to refresh my supplies before I proceeded further." 

Viggo nodded, studying Galen´s two-handed sword out of the corner of his eye. 

Galen noticed Viggo´s appraisal. "Do you wish to examine it further?" 

Viggo tried to keep his voice neutral in order to disguise his suspicion; the man was too alert for his liking. "If it isn´t too much of an imposition." 

Smiling, Galen pulled his weapon out of its sheath and handed it to Viggo. With awe, Viggo studied the fine workmanship and balance of the large blade. This was a weapon crafted for someone of importance...

Arvid´s voice called out. Viggo looked up, and saw that his protege´s face bore an expression of pure delight. "Galen!"  Arvid shouted before he flung himself into the stranger´s arms. 

Galen hugged Arvid, laughing with joy. He held Arvid out at arm´s length. "You´ve grown since I last saw you...to think that you were but a wee lad when my neighbors moved out of Tulir." 

Viggo noticed Arvid´s momentary look of confusion before he replied, "Yes, it has been a while...are you staying long?" 

Galen shook his head. "Not really. But I do wish to visit with you before I leave." 

Arvid beamed. "That would be wonderful! I´ll be relieved from duty this afternoon and I can meet you at the inn." 

Viggo said, "I hope you enjoy your stay in Illossa, Galen."  He handed the sword back. 

Galen sheathed his blade with a nod before he walked away with long strides. Viggo watched until the imposing figure was out of sight before he said to Arvid, "How well do you know him?" 

Arvid replied, "We used to play together when I lived in Tulir and we were the best of friends. I missed him a great deal when my parents settled down here." 

"Can he be trusted? You were young when you last saw him." 

Arvid looked offended. "Viggo, I´d trust him with my life." 

"Very well," Viggo said. Something about Galen still troubled him, though, but he decided to let the matter drop for now. 

***

Galen was studying a map in his room when he heard a knock. Drawing his sword, he positioned himself carefully by the door and asked, "Who is it?" 

"It´s me," Arvid said. Galen relaxed and ushered him in. 

As soon as the door closed behind him, Arvid hissed, "Why are you going to such great lengths to disguise your identity, cousin? I didn´t enjoy lying to Viggo at all." 

"I´m sorry. But I am on a quest, and I need to maintain secrecy." 

"Quest? Svana tasked you with an important mission?"  Arvid said with excitement. 

Galen said in a hushed voice. "No, I left in the dead of night because I knew that she wouldn´t approve." 

"What? Why?" 

Galen gripped Arvid´s shoulders and looked deep into his cousin´s eyes. "I had a vision...and in it, I saw an end to the Rage. In order to do this, however, I need to find a wildling and bind it." 

Arvid´s jaw dropped open. "That´s madness! No one is even sure if they exist!" 

Galen´s eyes glittered. "They do exist. In fact, my vision communicated to me that there´s one somewhere near Alora. But I cannot do this alone...I need your help." 

Arvid´s eyes grew wide. Galen was asking him to join him on an incredibly dangerous and foolhardy mission. How could he abandon Viggo? The man was like a father to him...and yet Galen had always been right in the past. He would never embark on something of this magnitude unless he was sure that he could achieve his goal...but, still, chasing a being that had as much substance as the wind? 

As Arvid´s thoughts warred with each other, Galen said, "I will only ask you once more. You are the one person I trust. Will you join me?" 

*** Dawn´s early light was filtering through Viggo´s window when he was awakened by the sound of frantic pounding. Fearing the worst, he pulled on his breeches and flung the door to his quarters open. 

Jytte was standing there, tension radiating from every inch of her person. "Viggo," she said. "Arvid´s gone!" 

---
end part 1

Part 2
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