Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - Seek And Ye Shall Find… Whether You Want To Or Not

Posted by Civilian Ragna Idun McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - Seek And Ye Shall Find… Whether You Want To Or Not

Posted by Civilian Seamus McKenzie (Future Citizen) in Earth - Seek And Ye Shall Find… Whether You Want To Or Not

(snip)

Cappal stared at Runa as she sang, his eyes taking in every movement of her lips, every motion of her fingers on the instrument keys. He seemed enthralled… like an ancient Greek sailor in the spell of the Siren. When she finished, he just stared at her for a long time, not moving, not speaking.

Then he turned to Mike and Seamus. He put a hand on a shoulder of each man and leaned in and whispered to them. Both men’s eyes lit up and grins spread across their face. They nodded enthusiastically and then stood up and walked towards Runa. As they did, they reached back behind them in unison and drew their blades… the Blade of the Clan Marshall… and the McKenzie Blade. They stood in front of Runa and then chuckled. “You asked for it, sister.” Seamus said and then laid his blade on the ground at her feet. Mike smiled and said “Your man has some style… I gotta give him that.” and he chuckled and laid the McKenzie Blade across Seamus’s to form an equal cross on the ground in front of her.

Runa laughed at Seamus, “Bring it, brother.” But it was Mike’s gaze that she met and a wealth of question passed there. Though Runa gave Mike a lot of crap he was one of the most important people in her life, and though she’d give up everything for Capall, Mike’s blessing meant a great deal to her. She glanced down at the cross swords and then her gaze leapt to Capall’s. Electricity raced across every nerve ending in anticipation of what was coming next.

Then the pipes started.

Mike and Seamus moved away, and Capall stood behind them. As the pipes played, he began to dance… and dance well.

The Sword Dance.

As he moved around the blades, each step was sure and steady, but his eyes never left hers. Even as he spun and moved back and forth, his gaze always came back to her eyes. The music picked up in pace, and his feet moved faster and faster… but never once did they touch the blades. Moving from square to square between the metal edges, he moved with a grace that seemed almost unnatural for a man his size. As the music slowed and came to a halt, the Clan erupted in a cheer. Mike and Seamus reclaimed their swords and people clapped Capall on the back… but still his gaze stayed fixed on Runa.

Runa was enthralled as Capall’s movements were weaving a spell around her. There was a roaring in her ears that beat in time with the pipes and his movements. Her world narrowed to the man in front of her. Ignored were the cat calls, wolf whistles, and ribbing she was getting as every Edman in the crowd laughed at how truly enthralled Runa was by Capall, and so obviously in love. When his dance ended, Runa just smiled at him and then over the crowd she called, “Someone please make this man a claymore! He’s earned it!”

“I do love you, Runa.” he mouthed to her, his words as clear as if they were whispered in her ear.

The McKenzie Boys

Runa stepped in close to him and kissed him with no intention to stop until she got dragged away, again, by Revna and Ragna. “Come on Runa, if you want Lady Tara’s blessing let’s get this done.” Revna turned and met Mike’s gaze and winked at him.

Ragna moved over and leaned against the half wall, legs crossed at the ankles in front of her, and looked out over the assembled clan. Then her gaze turned far away, seeing it all unfold before her, and her voice the vessel in which to convey the tale. “In 862 BCE, Amalie Edman left Bømlo with two warships. A band of Utlagi had killed her husband, their chief, and the rest of his hunting party. She and her fittest warriors and maidens set sail to chase them across the sea and bring them to justice as only a shield maiden can do. The ships were caught at the beginning of the storm season and forced ashore. They landed in a small inlet off a tributary emptying into the North Sea from Scotland. The account says they’d lost supplies, they were injured from the storm, hungry, and let’s be honest, no one wants to see irritated Vikings coming onto their land right before the storm season hits.” There was good natured laughter rippling through the clan. On the wall of the manor a light cast the image of Amelie’s crest.

“Now, the Scottish clan they encountered knew they couldn’t afford to be raided, not with the storms upon them and no time to replenish what would be taken. And with the storm season having arrived the chief would be hard pressed to call up his fighters. So he decided that instead of fighting they’d throw a party. And we Vikings love our song and drink. It is said that Amalie stepped off the Barden onto Scottish soil following the sound of a song above the tide and exclaimed, “Truly we are blessed to hear the voice of Braggi on this foreign soil.” Ragna looked at Revna and then at Mike and grinned.

“Braggi is no Joe Strummer, but they’ll do in a pinch!” Mike yelled and the Clan chuckled.

“The voice belonged to Chief Faolan McKenzie.” The light in the wall changed showing Faolan’s crest. “His plan was more than successful. Song and story and drink flowed freely between the gathered, and Faolan prevented the raid, the loss of provisions, and most importantly lives. And for that one season the two clans lived together as one. Many on both sides staying and leaving as the sea became passable once more.” Again the light changed showing both crests side by side.

“But fate is often cruel. Amalie had sworn a blood vow to Freya to avenge her husband and the good men that were taken too soon at the hands of the Utlagi. The day before Amalie and the rest of the Edmans were to leave, the accounts say that Faolan, having decided he could not stay silent, blocked her path to the Barden. He stood, legs spread, arms crossed, claymore strapped to his back, her bearded ax flung through his belt and made her a bet.”

“‘Cause what good McKenzie lad won’t win a lass’s heart without a bet!” roared Seamus and everyone laughed.

Ragna’s eyes met Seamus’ and held his gaze. “‘You love me. I know you do.’ he 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 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.’ Now in true clan tradition, everyone was listening as Faolan issued his ultimatum, ‘I’ll bet you, you can’t.’ and he winked at her. Amalie took her axe from his belt, wrapped both his hands around it, ‘It’s not a lie Faolan, but it doesn’t change…’ and she didn’t get to finish because Faolan, in true McKenzie fashion, tossed Amalie over his shoulder and carted her off.”

Capall looked at Mike and Seamus confusedly, and the two burst out laughing. “Dunnae worry, brother-mine.” Seamus said. “You’ll get your chance soon enough!” and Mike spit mead out and then laughed so hard he coughed.

“The next morning Faolan and Amalie appeared and loud enough for both clans to hear she swore she would return to him. Written accounts by others on the boats say that Amalie wept as they sailed away and when the time came she fought harder, faster, and fiercer than 5 berserkers.”

“Or one Runa.” Capall said just loud enough that those around him went wide-eyed at his participation. The Edmans nearby just nodded and one said “Well, the man knows his woman… thats for sure.” and everyone laughed.

Runa nodded to Ragna, and glided across the stage, a deep forest green, trimmed in copper dress swirling around her, and took up the tale, “5 years later, having made good on her vow, her son now of age, Amalie gave up her life as chieftess to her son, Hallvard, took a one person skiff and sailed for Scotland. She came ashore south of where she intended, a sudden early storm having blown her off course. Now she didn’t know that during those years Faolan had built a home for her, for them on the shores of the North Sea and that there he waited for her to make good on her promise. A home that still stands to this day.” Runa raised a hand to her mouth and mock whispered to the crowd and pointed a thumb at Ragna, “She’s living in it.”

“Now, not knowing where else to begin to look for him, Amalie made the long trek to the lake where she and Faolan had spent their last night together, and she sang one of the songs he had given her clan. It is said that the gods themselves snatched her voice into the wind to deliver it to Faolan. And hearing her voice he followed it through the storm until he found her and took her home.” On the wall of the manor the two crests were merged into one.

Seamus looked at Ragna and said “I can show you the crest in the cornerstone.” He knew she hadn’t seen it yet, and that knowing it was there would do more to make the house hers than anything Argyle could have ever done to take it away.

Revna, still wearing that dress, nodded as if thinking. “So the stories go. I have something very special here.” Revna stood from her position against the opposite stair and held up a very, very old bearded axe. She walked over to Ragna. “This has sat in our archives for centuries. The axe of Amalie Edman McKenzie. It was given to Faolan by Amelie. The accounts are unclear on how it returned to Bømleo but that one day it should be returned home.” Revna handed it to Ragna, handle first. “It’s time to take it home.” Ragna took it and slid it through her belt.

“Now we’ve been told,” and Revna motioned to herself and her sisters, “by Lady Tara, that no true daughter of Scotland would be caught dead without knowing this particular song.”

“Well you two anyway. I don’t have to worry about…oh wait…yeah I do,” and Runa winked at Capall.

Revna and Ragna stared at Runa and then grinned laughing with the rest, “Well we’ve got a problem. The version of this song that we grew up knowing, that all Edman children learn, was written down by Amalie. Her written account tells us that Faolan gave her this song their last night together on the banks of a lake. You, the assembled clan, will have to decide if we know the correct song or if Lady Tara will have to give those three, disappointing news.” Revna waved toward Mike, Seamus, and Capall, but her gaze was riveted on her husband.

The Edman (McKenzie?) Girls

Tara looked at the Edman women, then the McKenzie men and shook her head and chuckled. “Lass, unless you start belting out ‘God Save The Queen’, I’m not planning on telling these boys shit. They’ll gut me sure as the moon hangs there.” and the Clan roared with laughter.

The McKenzies

Revna stepped behind the massive war drum and began a soft rolling cadence punctuated by a deep primal heart beat. Ragna in a natural linen shirt, laced at the throat and cuffs and the tartan skirt that Seamus had given her, stepped from the shadows to the center of the stage, bagpipes under her arm and over her shoulder and began to play the soft slow melody. Runa lifted a flute to her mouth and softly the harmony joined the pipes. Helka looked at her three sons, “In case you were wondering…they’ve been holding out on all three of you.”

The girls’ eyes were riveted on the men they had chosen as their own, the men’s whose keeping they had placed their swords and themselves, and gave all of their hearts to. Then Revna began to sing…

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Leven
Where me and my true love may never meet again,
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Leven

Runa picked up the chorus.
O ye’ll take the high road and I’ll take the low,
An’ I’ll be in Scotland afore ye
For me and my true love may never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Leven

Ragna:
‘Twas there that we parted in yon rocky shore,
On the steep, steep side o’ Ben Leven
Where in the purple hue the Hieland hills we view,
An’ the moon comin’ out in the gloamin’

Revna:
O ye’ll take the high road and I’ll take the low,
An’ I’ll be in Scotland afore ye
For me and my true love will always meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Leven

As Revna’s voice faded, Ragna on the pipes soared out over the crowd joined with Runa’s flute and Revna’s drum…

Revna:
The wee birdies sing and the wild flow’rs spring,
And in sunshine the waters are sleepin’
But the broken heart it kens nae second spring again,
Tho’ the waefu’ may cease frae their greetin’

Revna accompanied by the pipes and flute:
O ye’ll take the high road and I’ll take the low,
An’ I’ll be in Scotland afore ye

All three voices blended gently together,
For me and my true love will meet once again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Leven

https://youtu.be/gb8AGuD2uOI
Ragna, Runa, Revna (With Special thanks to Ella Roberts)