Chapter 4: Gorm the Boat Builder and Asmund's past with Ase

Ok Asmund are you with me on this ? ' Of course I am brother, though we will need a crew for this operation and I doubt anyone but a handful of people would go against the Earl's wishes ' said Asmund. We only need a handful of people, just make sure they are trustworthy. Nothing can go wrong if we want to pull this off. While Asmund and Balder were talking, Rollo woke up holding his head. 'Father my head hurts, can we go now?' Yes my son we'll be leaving soon. Asmund, make sure you remember what we discussed and be ready when the time comes. we're leaving for Gorm's place to check the progress on our ship. Gorm the crazy boat builder, are you crazy Balder, I know you have been friends with that man since childhood but he is a crazy man. his skills as a boat builder are unquestioned and unrivaled, I have seen his work Asmund he would surprise you. 'unquestioned that would be ok to use if he didn't question his own creation' Said Asmund as Balder got up ' I will take care of the boat brother you take care of the men I will meet you at my farm after we check on gorm' said balder as he got up and left the bar. Rollo and Balder left for gorm's place. ' where are we going father' said Rollo. we are going to meet someone very special, his name is Gorm the crazy boat builder. why didn't Gorm come to the arm ring ceremony? because....let's just say he's shy. they traveresed across the terrain of the mountains of Norway, As they get closer to Gorm's place they set up camp for a day and make their way to gorm's place. how much farther father ? not far we are pretty much here you see the hut in the tree, that is gorm's house. it is like a house the dwarves used to live in the stories mother used to tell. 'yes, some say he has the building skills of the dwarves' said Balder as they knocked on gorm's hut. (door opens) Hi, Gorm this is my son, Rollo. Hello. How are you? 'well thank you sir' said Rollo in a shy manner. let me see (grabs Rollo's face and looks into his eyes) ahh you have your father's eyes unfortunately. ' why unfortunately' said Balder. it means he will be like you, and therefore he will want to do better than you, and you will hate him for it. (Balder and gourm laugh while Rollo look's confused) how can you tell that by just looking at my face? it's the same with trees, i can tell which trees will make the best planks by just looking at them. gorm whispers ' I can look inside the trees Rollo ' Gourm is a boat builder Rollo, among other things said Balder as they glare at each other and laugh. (gourm reaches to Rollo's ear) I joke about many things, son of Balder, but never about ship building. do you look at ships as dead things ? 'so what about our boat gourm' said Balder as they start walking down to the beach (Rollo whispers to Balder) father he scares me. Balder chuckles and as they reach down the shore gourm get's more and more excited. come Balder come this is my master piece, i am still working on it, it will be lighter and carry a bigger sail. the construction is different. it's built with a strong central plank. the two strakes above it are nailed. directly onto the knees of the frame. but the ones below... look! are cleated and lashed onto the frames, not nailed, so they can move in relation to each other an... Gourm stop. can it handle long sea voyages ? that's all I want to know. (Gourm chuckles) that's why i am building it. but will it be strong enough ? we won't know that until we try. when will it be ready Gourm ? as to that.... what gourm ? how long ? we are out of money, we have to pay for the sail and then the anchor. i know what those blacksmiths are like, greedy bastards. here take this money for the anchor. it's all i have left from last summer's raids. don't worry we will soon be as rich as dwarves! ok Gourm me and Rollo are going to head back to the farm, let me know when the boat is ready. let's go Rollo. a few days later they finally reach back at the farmstead, one evening Ase and Balder are in bed and start talking. ' Ase did anything happen while we were gone'. no. did you miss me Ase ? (Ase chuckles) I ached with love longing. my belly was empty of laughter. ( whispers ) is that what you want ? hmm ? you want me to make you laugh Ase ? i don't want to laugh now. I want to ride you, like a bull. a wild bull. meanwhile outside the farmstead, where Rollo is sharpening his knife and Asmund arrives and sits next to Rollo. ' hi Rollo' said Asmund where is your father and mother? they are having sex said Rollo, (Asmund chuckles uncomfortably) guess we'll just have to wait then huh? where is gyda Rollo? sister ? she is out fishing for our dinner, come on let's go in Rollo, they must be done your father doesn't last very long. ( they both laugh as they enter the house) and wait for their dinner. ' Gyda has your mom taught you how to use a shield your mother was a shield maiden a famous shield maiden' said Asmund, Ase intervenes, i was? you mean i am, Asmund. 'we fought in the same shield wall against the eastlanders she fought like a valkyrie' said Asmund as Ase glares at him. come on children to bed, let's leave the men. 'but I am a man i have a ring' said Rollo, to bed NOW ROLLO. 'good night, my children' Balder kisses them on the forehead as they go to bed. 'tell me your news about the boat' said Asmund,it's nearly ready. do you trust Gourm. isn't he a great joker. 'he's a great boat builder I trust him to do that' said Balder. 'I won't go under your command I won't go unless we're all equal ' said Asmund, in a serious manner. we are brothers Asmund, you and I will always be equal, have you found us our crew yet Asmund ? many are unwilling and many are scared,many will even go to him and betray us. I must go take a piss figure it out Asmund, (Balder gets up and leaves). 'Where did Balder go' said Ase to Asmund. he went to take a piss, leave that, ' yesterday i was with a girl from the town Ase' said Asmund as he poured a drink for Ase. thank you Asmund. she was a good looking girl, too.( Asmund reaches to Ase's ear) when she shouted out in pleasure, I didn't see her face. I saw your's. Ase. Don't talk like that Asmund. why not? i think about you all the time. that's too bad (Ase chuckles). don't insult me, shield maiden.(Asmund grabs her hand).'I would never insult you, you are too great a warrior, but perhaps not to great of a man' said Ase as she got up and left.meanwhile Balder was taking a piss and saw and illusion, no small illusion, an illusion of the all father himself Odin. Balder ran back inside where the tensions were rising. ' I saw something a sign it made me certain we are doing the right thing' Balder looks puzzeled as to why the room was so quiet and tensions were high, he didn't think much of it ' good night brother' said Balder, the ship will be ready soon and the voyage of this century will begin sooner rather than later.