Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - Bømlo

Posted by Civilian Karina Enger (Director of Education) in Earth - Bømlo

Posted by Civilian Kenzo B’tren-Hyrushi (Governor) in Earth - Bømlo
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻
(snip)
“As for how you can help? First, I’d like your blessing and permission to go get her. Second, I’d like you help her process wha’ happened. I know she needs some time. So she has four more days, that’ll make a week.” and he nodded slightly at Cuyler. “And last… as a personal favor… could ye make certain she’s nae got anything sharp or pointy at hand when I come? I’d hate to start our marriage off with a mortal wound.” and he grinned as he took a drink.

Seamus McKenzie, Foresight Is Key

Now Cuyler really laughed, slapped his knee and after a moment took a deep breath. “Sorry, sorry. First of all this is Viking territory, you don’t need my blessing but if you want it, you have it, Seamus. We’ll get her settled and put to rights, though I can’t say that will help you. Ragna…well she’s all fire.” He chuckled again, “Aye I’ll make sure she’s got nothing sharp and pointy, nothing blunt either. Now part of this will be up to your timing, she practices every day, so you’d best not show up while she’s doing that. There’s a hunters blind southwest in the village. No one knows it’s there but me an my wife. When you’re chief you gotta get creative about being left alone sometimes. I suggest you keep an eye out there. I don’t suppose she’ll have time to pack,” and he laughed again, “My brother or I will drop her things off to your boat that morning. She’ll be after getting a new blade so I’ll make sure my brother takes his time on that one. There’s a fisherman’s hut just around the bend there,” Cuyler pointed. “You’re welcome to it, or you’re welcome to stay in the village but....that’s ruin the surprise. She’s due back tomorrow night.”
Cuyler, I’m getting a front row seat

“I’ll stay in the forest. Less chance anyone finds me and asks questions. The last night I’ll go to the blind. Mid-morning I will come for her. Should I come to your home?”

Seamus McKenzie, Planning For The Future

“Lad you come for her where and when you want, my home, the village center, sneak in her bedroom window for all I care. Mid-morning though, she’ll probably headed to the meadery.”

---

4 Days Later

Ragna was miserable, there was a gaping hole where Seamus should have been, and he wasn’t. The first day she’d spent in the archives double checking things she’d learned. The other half the day she trained, whacking away at training dummies and anyone dumb enough to agree. The second day she’d bugged her Uncle about a new sword, helped in the forge got in the way, annoyed him, the man wouldn’t move faster. Her aunt sat with her, tried to talk to her, gave her tea to help with her head. Though they all knew it wasn’t the migraine or it’s after affects bothering her now. That night she called Revna, apologizing. She hadn’t been able to get the papers and her letter delivered. Revna, as always, was caring compassionate and dug until Ragna told her what was going on. When Ragna told her she couldn’t breath anymore, it broke Revna. She knew what that was like. She called her Da insistent to know what was going on. He told Revna, Revna told Mike, she made her Da promise to get a vid. The third day, Cuyler worked with her till she couldn’t pick the blade up anymore, which meant almost all day. Then Helka took her and they had a long talk. She called Revna again, this time begging her to call the marriage void. Revna refused, telling her she had to wait: a year and a day. That was the law. She cried, sobbed, every night.

The fourth morning she was up early, before everyone else, unable to sleep, she called Runa this time, and Runa offered to come home. She cajoled Ragna into eating something while she watched, threatening to call their mom if she didn’t. Once the comm went black Runa swore in Norwegian and seriously considered getting someone in the village to tell Seamus to get a move on. Really what was it with McKenzie boys and waiting to get their women? AND MAKING THEM CRY! Mike’s bar and a few dents in the wall that day.

Ragna loved her clan, but she didn’t feel much like watching them be happy. She crossed the village center heading straight for the meadery. Cuyler was already out as always, working at the fence. “Ragna! Toss me your knife. Mine just broke. I’ve got to get this fence fixed before that bull decides he needs more children this season.” Ragna stopped, pulled the knife from her side and handed it to him. If she’d been wearing boots she’d have offered him those too. Da was always breaking knives. “There ya go, only one I’ve got today.” She headed off without a word.

Cuyler chuckled, watched her leave and then turned and walked away, grabbing his wife, his brother and his sister-in-law while he was at it. He whispered in his wife’s ear, making her blush and glance back over his shoulder before ducking out of the way with him.

Ragna Edman, Existing isn’t Living

“Ragna Idun Edman!” boomed a familiar brogue. “I am here for you! I have chased through wind, through rain, through storm and sea! I have come to take you home… Ragna.” Seamus walked from the other side of the the square in the center of the village. He was dressed in the McKenzie tartan, in kilt and over his shoulder. His claymore across his back. And in his hand… her sword.

Ragna stopped, cold, frozen in place. The yawning relentless darkness opened clawing at her heart. Why? Why was he there? The sound of the her name on his lips nearly broke her. Her chest felt shredded and her throat closed, she couldn’t breathe. He should have been home, but he rejected her. There were whispers from the clan as they responded to the booming voice, most curious, but some armed. Then stares and pointing at her sword in his hands. Others, whispered “McKenzie” and chuckled and found a place to watch. She shook her head, no, it wasn’t her sword anymore, she’d thrown it away. Oddver said he .... meddlesome uncle. She looked around but the village center was strangly empty of her family, including her father who claimed to be fixing a fence.

“Home.... Ragna. Where you gave me your sword and I hung it by OUR hearth! Our home… Ragna. Where I fed you, shared my fire with you, and sheltered you from nature’s fury. Where you wore my family’s tartan and refused to lay it on the ground, even in your fury. Our home… Ragna. Where my heart stopped beating the moment your foot left the shore. I am here for you. And I’ll nae leave without you.” He walked straight up to her and said “Come home… Ragna. Because it is yours. In its entirity… as am I. And always will be.”

Seamus McKenzie, If I Say It Loud Enough She’ll Believe It

He kept saying her name like it belonged to him, like he knew every time he said it he was creating another tie from her heart to him. It HURT. Why? Why was he there, wasn’t once enough?! She stood on that shore for hours, he could have come then. If what he said was true he could have come THEN. He didn’t. Two days sail from McKenzie lands to here, transporters make it instantaneous. He could have come sooner, but he didn’t. She needed to go home. She opened her mouth not even sure what she would say.

“NO!” Ragna blinked and her gaze focused behind him and she groaned....Sivert Oyen, with a sword he couldn’t wield, baring down on them. Screaming obscenities and threatening blood oaths. And then Oddver and Devlin came out of no where, scooped him up by either arm and drug him away. Devlin clamping a hand over his mouth before Sivert said something really stupid. Oddver glanced back and nodded once to Seamus, “Sorry about that, carry on.” He looked pointedly at Ragna, “Go on answer him girl!”

Ragna stared at him, the pain raw and endless. Her voice for once wasn’t raised but whispered, “You rejected me Seamus. Why are you here?” She wouldn’t cry, not here…

Ragna Edman, If it’s true why did he wait?

“Rejected you? Love… I never did.” and he looked down at her and smiled a warm, gentle, caring smile. “Wife… Ragna… think a bit, love. You say I returned your blade, there was it? Where did I put it? Left of the hearth. And where is your mother’s right now? Left of the hearth. Because the lady of the house keeps her blade there. I didn’t reject it… Ragna. I put it where it belongs. Where it still belongs. And when you sailed away? I picked it up, cleaned it, oiled it…” and he held it flat out to her, “… and I brought it with me so you can see that I still have it. That…” and he reached up to his shirt and pulled out a fine steel chain, on which hung…

She wanted to believe him, she needed to believe him. But she couldn’t. Even if it was true…she’d admit only to herself, she was too afraid of loosing him. The last days almost killed her, if that gods should take him she’d never survive it.

The rune she threw at him.

Inguz–Faolan McKenzie’s standard, etched into the claymore crosspiece.

”… and this.” He dropped it flat against his chest and said “You love me. I know you do.” and he took a few steps back and said very loudly “But if this isn’t real… if what we shared isn’t what I say… then call me a liar. Tell me here… in front of your kin, clan, family and the gods themselves that you don’t love me. Tell me that and I will get on my boat and go. Look me in da eye and say ‘Seamus McKenzie I do not love you.’ and I will leave and you never have to see me again. Say it… If you can.”

And he looked her right in the eye and said “I’ll bet you you can’t.” and he winked at her.

Seamus McKenzie, When All Else Fails, Go To The Replay

Seamus McKenzie

Her eyes flashed, she saw it all, like a waking dream, but not in her minds eye, but with her physical eyes. They were no longer in the village, but on the rocky shore of the McKenzie lands. And he stood legs spread, arms crossed, claymore strapped to his back, her bearded ax flung through his belt. “But if this isn’t real… if what we shared isn’t what I say… then call me a liar. Tell me here… in front of your kin, clan, family and the gods themselves that you don’t love me. Tell me that and I will let you get on your boat without me and go. Look me in da eye and say ‘Faolan McKenzie I do not love you.’ and I will let you leave and you never have to see me again. Say it… If you can.” And she couldn’t say it then....

She blinked her, her vision returning to normal. “I’m NOT Amalie Edman and you are NOT Faolan McKenzie!”

There were gasps from the older villagers, and a subtle snap of fingers from Cuyler and Oddver took off elsewhere
Ragna Edman, The Gods love Sequels

Seamus looked at her, confusion evident, and he said “Who… Ragna? I don’t know those names, but I know this… you do love me. Because you couldn’t say it.” He took the steps needed to cover the gap between them and said “Ragna Idun Edman, I love you and by the gods and every part of my soul you are my wife.” And with those words, he reached out and lifted her off the ground like he had when he kissed her in the hilltop. But this time, he kissed her like a husband… and then threw her over his shoulder and began to walk away without a word.

Seamus McKenzie, Please Don’t Let Me Trip

Destiny.

It was telling, and the whole village was commenting, that she could have taken the blade from him when he showed it to her, but she left it IN. HIS. HANDS. An amused masculine murmur went through the crowd when he slid her sword through his belt and began to advance on her. “KISS HER MCKENZIE!” “She won’t argue!” “Haul her off already!”

She took a step back as he advanced, and another. “Let him kiss you, Ragna!” “It will fix EVERYTHING!” And knowing laughter rippled around the village. Fire lit in her eyes, she was sure he was having a blast drawing attention like this. And then she was being hauled into his arms, lifted off the ground and kissed. Ragna melted and the ache in her chest was gone, just like the migraine, and the whole inside herself was filled with him. It was an eternity and over too soon.

She was staring at his backside....his arm wrapped around her thighs holding her still and keeping her from slipping away. “SEAMUS PUT ME DOWN!”

Ragna Edman....wait…McKenzie? I have no idea

“No! You refuse me as a your husband, you refuse to say you love me, and you refuse to just come home on your own… hvis dette er hvordan jeg fikser dette og viser deg at jeg er seriøs, så vær det!” (if this is how I fix this and show you Im serious, so be it!).

“FINT! Sett meg ned! (FINE! Put me down!).”

He carried her past her mother, father, and uncle. “She’ll be fine at our house in three days.” he said as he marched her past. “Four days past that, come and we’ll figure out how to help Revna and Michael. And don’t worry about… Ragna.” and he patted her airborne derriere. “She’ll be loved so much she’ll punch me in the face.” and he kept on walking.

Seamus McKenzie, Hope They Packed The Boat Or This Will Be Awkward

He did NOT just smack her rear, but punching him in the face sure sounded like a good idea. Right as they got to the very edge of the village she hauled her self up right with all intents to punch him in the nose, but she didn’t. Instead there was that same twist of a waking dream and she saw more than what was or had been. “Seamus, jeg elsker deg, legg meg ned, så jeg kan komme hjem med deg som din kone.(Seamus, I love you, put me down, so I can come home with you as your wife.).”

Ragna McKenzie, yeah I surrendered