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Commander Birgr Heartman and Warlord Fiolla Heartman (aka Talon)
Commander Birgr Heartman and Warlord Fiolla Heartman (aka Talon)
Originally Posted: December 14 - 22, 2011
War, Love and Warriors
Frozen Forests of Darven Proviance
Socialist People's Republic of Fra
Mid Rim World of Fra
September 24th, 1936
OOC: Set Up
It was clear that Talon had more on her mind than just the days events. She walked through the encampment taken in what she saw in everyone's eyes. Though it was clear her mind was else where. There were more than a few times where she was stopped and complimented by her fellow warriors regarding the battle. She smiled and nodded her head as she thanked the compliment. However the battle had set heavily on her heart. Once more she and Birger had crossed blows and once more she had nearly killed him. The first time was a battle of leadership over their people. She didn't want to have the battle. However once Visst revealed her true identity she had no choice. It was their way, only the best of them shall lead. During that first battle, she knew in her heart that she would win or was willing to die in the attempt. She also knew that Birger felt the same. However, this resent battle was different. She didn't have the same level of passion for this battle.
Talon felt completely different going in to the battle. When she faced Birger the first time, she knew in her heart that she had to beat him. That there was no other option to which she would have accepted. However, part of her today hoped that he would have beaten her. There were times when she even attempted to give him advantages or didn't try as hard as she could have. She wondered if anyone had taken notice of her attempts to throw the battle. It wasn't if he was weaker or slower than her. She knew better his skill and his abilities. She respected him for what he could active on the battlefield. However even in this battle him mind didn't seem to be focused as much as it should have been. She knew why, and that was going to be resolved soon enough. However, her reasons to challenge the Law was simple. For her, it came down to a few simple questions. These questions haunted her during the combat. Was the pregnancy illegal, yes. Would it cost Senni her life, yes. Could they afford to loss such a skilled warrior like Senni, no. Was it Talon's place to make this choice for Senni, no.
Birger held the moral high ground during the battle. Talon felt in her heart that he was right. She heard it in his voice when she asked him, “would you die for this child?” In that moment she had ever intention of killing him during this battle. Her mind was focused on the Law. Their Law! Then came his answer, “If I must! For Ariq, for Senni....and for me.” In that moment she heard it in his voice. That tone which matched what her heart had been feeling. Just moments later as she rolled forward to deliver the final blow during this duel, she twisted her wrist. In that simple action, she turned a fatal blow in to a near mortal. It was a move she had mastered and used so many times that it came naturally to her. From Baklid VI to Wormwood, many foes met their end to her signature move. Today, she didn't have the heart to make Birger die for his cause. She thought about the warrior she battled today and realized how noble of a man he truly was. A smile slowly crossed her face as she continued to walk around the camp.
She spotted a group of warriors near the shuttle and figured what she had been looking for had to be over there. She carefully walked up slowing her steps just slightly and controlling her breathing as she wished to limit the presence of her approach. She saw Birger in the middle of the group as they laughed about the battle and Birger showed off his ax. He had their respect, their love, their loyalty. Talon brought her motion to a slow stop as she listened to the jokes and comments. She closed her eyes as she remembered how it felt to be encircled by those that loved her. Her mind flashed to her own Immortals and their own moments of laughter and jokes. Their faces and voiced fleshed across her memory as she continued to recall the missions and training that they shared. She recalled the young warrior who gave up his right hand to save his fellow warriors on Wormwood. Or the lives that they touched on Baklid VI. There were so many memories that they all shared. So much happiness, then there was also pain. So much pain.
Talon's heart sank as she remembered 'HER'. These deep powerful emotions that came so suddenly brought forth with them so much joy and so much pain. There were reasons why Azgardian Warriors don't fall in love. Her heart begged for Talon to stop betraying what it feels and to just admit that her taboo love was real. Today she had challenged one part of Azgardian Law because she knew it was for the best. Talon knew there was no challenging this. What she felt was forbidden and taboo. It was something that would bring her to ruin. If 'SHE' was still alive, Talon would have easily made this choice. Talon would have followed her heart in a second. However, now she feels like she had betrayed her own heart. Talon choose to hide this secret from everyone. She had no choice now. For now, others were looking up to her. She didn't have to luxury for that anymore. She could never share her secret or experiences if she planned on becoming Warlord of Azgard. It was a choice that has caused her great turmoil inside. 'I miss you so much' she thought of the memory she tried to bury deep in her heart. Carefully, she whip away the water which was building in her eyes.
“Something wrong Warlord” asked one the younger warrior who had noticed Talon behind them.
Talon once more buried the emotions and feeling deep inside her heart as she spoke “yes, so will one of our greatest warriors survive his mere flesh wound?” She ensured that the humor in her voice was clear to be heard. It hid the deeper, darker pain that surged in her heart. She hoped that the more she ignored these pains, the less it would hurt and haunt her.
Everyone laughed at the joke. Azgards were well known for their twisted sense of humor. The medic standing next to Birger nodded as he explained, “the blade missed all major organs.” Than he added out of respect, “it was a well placed strike, Warlord.” Everyone turned their eyes to Birger.
Commander Birgr
"It still hurt," Birgr jokingly replied. Birgr kept his eyes fixed on Talon as he laughed along with the other Asgards. He could sense that Talon had more to say, especially since there was something off about that last blow. He should be dead, there was no question about that in his mind. He had seen that move executed many times and not one of its victims were alive for much longer than a few seconds afterwards. He decided to wait and see what she may have to say.
Warlord Fiolla
Talon smiled as she motioned towards his ax, "Like I said, its a fine weapon. But some of it needs improvements. More so, if you plan to us it to disarm someone again." She paused a moment then continued, "Hey, I need to speak with Birger alone. Give us a few minutes, then you may have your leader back."
Talon waited till they were alone to continue once more, "I think both of us knows that each of our hearts were not in that battle. My for obvious reasons. I think yours has more to do with your feelings for my sister." she nodded as his eyes got big, "Look, its not hard to tell. Do you mind talking about it?"
Commander Birgr
Birgr was stunned. He had thought that he was keeping that well concealed. He paused before he responded, once he regained his thoughts. "You are wrong. My heart was fully in it. Any feeling I may have for Angel held absolutely no baring on that decision." He started to get more passionate about what he was saying. "I did what I felt Ariq would have done, had he been given the chance. No more, and no less." He paused to take a sip of the water the medic had given him. "Ariq never even knew that she was with child."
Warlord Fiolla
She sighed deeply, "you miss understand me and are quick to judge me wrong. I didn't say your reasons for being in the fight was not where your heart was. I truly believe that you did the right thing. I said that while in the fight, your heart was not there. It was distracted by the feelings it is enduring for my sister." She sighed deeply as she turned and took a sit on one of the landing struts for the shuttle.
She looked up at Birger, "birthers like my sister understand love much differently than we do. They love exclusively and wholly. She will offer you her heart and soul. However she will expect the same in return from you. We were never conditioned to love like this. This doesn't mean we can't. It will be hard for you. Maybe even one of your most difficult challenges yet." She turned her eyes back toward the frozen ground. As if to consider a thought, still she remains silent for the moment.
Commander Birgr
"It is slightly true," Birgr admitted defeatedly. "I was worried about the devastation that she would feel seeing me die. I may have fought better without her watching. But then again, that is something I am going to have to overcome." He shuffled his feet a little. "Part of the problem is that I was tired. I hadn't slept the night before." He swallowed hard, thinking of how to word it. "I had a lot on my mind the night before."
Warlord Fiolla
Talon nodded as she listened. She wasn't sure if he was being completely forthcoming with her or with himself. “Look, have a seat” she said as she moved over to give him room on the landing strut. She watched from the corner of her eye while he set next to her.
“Listen, I am not going to tell you what you should or shouldn't do in this situation. There are no Laws against what you are experimenting with” she explained as she continued to look down at the frozen ground. “I will tell you what is at stake for you. On one hand, you will experience a sense of happiness and passion that few True Borns would ever know. The depth of your heart and soul will be explored. And what you find there may make you a better warrior, or make you a better man, or may only cause you pain and sadness.” She paused to gather her thoughts as she focused her thoughts. Everything about 'HER' brought Talon happiness and passion back then. Now thoughts of 'HER' bring her nothing but a feeling of a gapping hole in her heart.
“On the other hand, you are a bright warrior with a sound future ahead of you. If you fallow your heart, you would still have a strong and bright future. But that future would be capped. Law prohibits Warlords of any rank to be in such relationships. This Law is something that can not be challenged or changed. One day you may have to decide between your career as a Warrior or your love for my sister. Both have rich rewards and perils for you.” Talon thought of what she could say more to help him better understand the waters ahead of him. She decided to let him ask what questions were on his mind.
Commander Birgr
Birgr heaved a deep sigh. "I know." He took another sip of water. "I understand that I have a choice to make and that it cannot be a quick and easy one to make." Another sip washed down his throat. "What would you do?"
Warlord Fiolla
She shook her head, "No one can tell you this. Nor should they. It is something that a warrior must do on their own." she looked up from the ground and turned her head to look in to his eyes.
"I can say this. If you follow your heart and do so with honor. Nothing you do will be wrong" she said as she smiled a bit. There was no showing the pain in her heart. She wanted to warn him of what could come. That horrible pain of loss that can never be filled. She wanted to tell him to run, run far from this thing the Birthers have. However, nothing in her smile or her voice betrayed her deeper feelings. "Speaking as the our leader. I give you permission should you desire to do so, to pursue this relationship. Should it turn more serous, we will discuss the change of status. For now, follow your heart my brother" she added as she patted him on the back.
Commander Birgr
Birgr soaked in the statement. "Thank you. Are you going to talk to her as well, or do you want me to?"
Warlord Fiolla
Talon shook her head, "No this conversation is only meant for you. There is no need to talk to her about this other than to let her know you are cleared by Council to pursue this."
Talon couldn't help but remember the time she was given this talk. While she attempted foolishly to hide the object of her love, at least he was open enough to admit it. 'He is stronger than I was' she thought. "Listen, this conversation happens allot. You are not the first True Born to desire to test these waters and temper your blade. There is nothing wrong with following your heart. Test these waters and see where they take you." she turned to face him more directly, "Birthers have a ritual where they pledge their hearts to their mates. It works for them and help build them in to tighter family units. It is not the way of a True Born. Because it is not our way doesn't make it wrong. Just different. The Law allows a True Born the right to decide if they wish to live like a Birther. IF you wish to join my Sister in this ritual, I would be happy for you. But once you do, you can never go back. You have to make sure that this is what you truly wish."
Shifting on the strut, "Do you have any other questions about this?"
Commander Birgr
"How...How did you know what I feel for her?" Birgr asked, still slightly confident that he was keeping in concealed very well.
Warlord Fiolla
She smiled as he asked his question, "Do you think you are the first True Born to fall for a Birther?" she moved to stand in front of him, "I have seen the signs before. In you, and in others under my command. IF you are to become the great leader I know you will be, you must learn to watched your warriors. Look for warning signs that could signal that they are in some way of trouble."
She stepped back a bit to give him room to stand, "You should have trusted me. You should have told me. First mistakes are made through the first warning signs of bad judgment. These are when we don't trust each other. On both accounts"
Commander Birgr
"In all honesty, I was going to tell you. It was a decision I made before the Reich captured me: I was going to talk to Senni to be sure what was going on, talk to you about Senni, and then talk to you about Angel. The problem is, you came to me first."
Warlord Fiolla
"I am sure that you were going to tell me" she said with confidence. "I do believe you. I came to you because I felt that something was wrong in our duel. I wanted to get to the bottom of it and to help you."
She took a moment to think, "let us move on to another subject" she said drawing out her long sword. Unlike his heavy ax, this was a weapon of speed and agility. She smiled as she looked at it. Carefully she turned it around and offer him the hilt. "I want to show you something important. Trade your ax for my sword" she said with a nod.
Commander Birgr
Birgr took the sword and hands her the axe. He had a very confused look on his face, but he trusted every move she made.
Warlord Fiolla
She swung the ax a few times, "If you believe that every warrior can and should improve on themselves, then you believe the same goes for weapons. For every warrior is just that, a weapon of war." she said as she weighted the weapon and got used to it. She pointed, "Here these pieces on the tip of the ax blade. If they were moved up towards the end, they would serve better in disarming opponents." She explained while pointing out what she was talking about.
She took a few steps back, "Come at me like you mean to kill me." She readied her stance in a basic defensive stance. One that Birger knew well.
Commander Birgr
Birgr took a moment to process what she was requesting, then took a stab at her gut.
Warlord Fiolla
Her defense was basic and the way she held the ax showed she lacked the same proficiency that he did with the heavy weapon. He moved with her faster weapon and she moved to disarm him. Birger wasn't surprised when she deflected the attack. Nor was he surprised that she failed in the disarm. What did surprise him was her speed and agility in the act. He was pushed backwards enough to leave him slightly off balance. While her attempt to disarm him failed, he was not left with an opportunity to counter her move. He was surprised by the move. She smiled at him, "did you see what happened?"
Commander Birgr
"No, I didn't. Can we do that again but slower?"
Warlord Fiolla
Smiling as she nods, "Listen, every warrior learns to disarm their opponents. This is something that is considered basic."She explained as she took a few steps back and reset herself, "In our duel you attempted to disarm me. However the method you used as basic. This is a more advanced form."
She motioned for him to repeat his attack, "Come at me more slowly now." As they moved closer in slow motion. "This form requires more skill in tactics, faster speed with your blade and more agility with your eye hand coordination." The two started to slowly close their weapons.
As she walked him through the maneuver, "see to make this form work, you have to think on the fly. Watch their attack as it unfolds and shift your defenses." Slowly she walked him through the steps of the advanced form. "There is no single way to conduct this form, you have to feel your way through it as the weapons join."
As they moved through the final steps of the form, she continued to explain the secrets of it, "Here is the most important part of it. You have to carry out a partial attack at the same time as you make your attempt. Make no mistake, it will not yield any damage. It will only distract and force your opponent off balance. Which will rob the momentum from them."
With the slow motion step by step demonstration over, what Birgir was was something surprising. The form played to grace and smooth of movement over raw strength. He could see easily what she was showing. It would be hard for him to pick it up, but he knew he could master this advance form of disarming his enemies if he practice it.
As they parted once more, she nodded, "So what do you think?"
Commander Birgr
"I think I need to try it." Birgr offered her sword back to her.
Warlord Fiolla
She slowly nodded, "if you keep training with this advanced form it shouldn't take you long to pick it up." She carefully looked at the weapon once more, "I would suggest doing a bit of fine tuning to the design also." Half turning and motioning for the shuttle, "luckly for you, we have a trained smith with us. Talk to her about what can be done with your axe to improve it."
Turning back to him, she covered the distance in two graceful steps, "just remember what I told you. Pratice the form. Think tactfully as you move in combat. Move with fuild and grace from one stance to the other. And be mindful of the change in combat so you can react to it fast enough. It won't be long till you master this form."
OOC: (Narrator's note: three checks made four times. Each time a roll against Tactics, Dex, and reflex will be made. First set DC is 20, followed by DC 15, then DC 10, then DC 5. If all three disarm checks are successful than treat the disarm as with the feat Improved Disarm. If any check fails, treat the disarm normally. After the final check of DC 5 is made in combat the feat Improved Disarm is awarded.)
She holds out the axe for him to take, "we all have a long road ahead of us. I couldn't have picked a better brother to travel it with." She said with a smile.
Commander Birgr
Feeling honored but taking the opportunity to ask the question that has been on his mind, he responded with, "Is that why you pulled the final blow?"
Warlord Fiolla
She spun her sword rapidly just before she returned it to its place on her back. She tilted her head to the question, "have you ever knew someone that understood you." She paused just long enough to gather her thought as she turned around, "sometimes I feel like you are one of few who really understands me. Regardless of reasons why we cross blows, you are my friend" she said softly then started to walk away.
"Also, I feel your place here has yet to be set" she added citing a line from their most holy of books. She walked away without explaining her meaning.
Commander Birgr
Birgr watched her walk away, allowing her words to once again sink in, while fondling the scar where the blade had run him through. His respect for Talon continues to grow. She really has all the necessary qualities to rule their people and if that is the end she goes for, he will fight by her side the whole way.
In the meantime, there is certain female to chat with; and that can wait for tomorrow.
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Commander Birgr Heartman and Warlord Fiolla Heartman (aka Talon)
