Taken for Granted was a virtual representation of one of Eivor Varinsdottir's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan in 2020 through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description[]
Eivor met with a bored Randvi at Ravensthorpe.
Dialogue[]
Eivor talked with Randvi at their main hall.
- Eivor: Randvi, are you well? You seem distant.
- Randvi: I am fine. Only a little tired, but well enough. Shall we look at the map?
- Eivor: Not until you tell what is wrong.
- Randvi: O, I think I have... I feel somewhat trapped. In this room, in this settlement, in this life.
- Eivor: I cannot help you with your life, just now. But I can get you out of this room. What do you say?
- Randvi: I don't know. There is much work to be done.
- Eivor: Stop. Forget about alliances and responsibility for just a few hours. We could take a ride. To Grantebridge, or somewhere nearby. For a change of pace.
- Randvi: That sounds lovely. And too far to consider just now. But thank you, Eivor. Maybe another time. Now, what was it you needed?
Eivor invites Randvi for a trip
Eivor went to convince Randvi one more time.
- Eivor: Take a break, Randvi. Let's make for Grantebridgescire and get you out of this musty room.
- Randvi: Do you mean now? Right now?
- Eivor: Of course. You said you were tired of all this, so why not? Stretch your legs and fill your lungs.
- Randvi: I did ask, didn't I? You're right. Lead the way, Eivor.
- Eivor: Follow me.
Eivor and Randvi left the main hall.
- Eivor: We won't take the longship today. This trip is for us, just you and me. Is that a problem?
- Randvi: Not at all. So long as I get some air and sun, I will be fine. I spend too much of my day in the longhouse.
- Eivor: We'll need to cross the river at some point if we want to enter Grantebridgescire. If you know a better way, I would love to hear it.
- Randvi: Is swimming not an option?
- Eivor: Swimming? I don't know... Are you joking?
- Randvi: A boat or a horse would always do, but I am not opposed to the more traditional methods.
Eivor and Randvi travel together towards Grantebridgescire.
- Randvi: It really is lovely here. I have not been this far east of the settlement. Isn't that awful?
- Eivor: You think safety "awful"?
- Randvi: To live one's life in so small a pen. And hear stories from you and the scouts without ever venturing further. Gods, do you smell that? The earth and the air. It is good to be out here.
Eivor and Randvi came and passed by Duroliponte.
- Randvi: Eivor, there. What is that?
- Eivor: This is where the Summer Army retreated when Grantebridge was lost. They seem to have resettled the city in full now.
- Randvi: Right, right. I know this land so well by its map. But to see it in person brings it to stunning life. A Roman marvel. I will not soon forget this site.
Eivor and Randvi arrived at Grantebridge.
- Eivor: And here we are. Welcome to Grantebridge. We should make our way to the longhouse.
- Randvi: Ah, it's bigger than I imagined. Rustic, woody, beautiful. And everything seems quite new.
- Eivor: Under Soma's guidance, the Summer Army built this town up from a small village. They wanted a hub for trade near Lunden, and a launching point for incursions into Wessex.
- Eivor: Well, it is impressive. Some interesting architectural ideas here too.
Eivor and Randvi meet Magni
Eivor entered the longhouse.
- Magni: Well, well, well! Is that Eivor I see?
Eivor spoke with Magni. Randvi entered soon afterwards.
- Magni: It's been quite a while since I've seen your face around here!
- Eivor: I know you, I think. One of Soma's loyal men. Magni is it?
- Magni: Ja, good memory.
- Eivor: Good to see you, again. This is Randvi, a dear friend and sturdy fighter.
- Magni: Well met, Randvi. Eivor seems to have a preference for befriending lovely women.
- Randvi: You know, I noticed the same thing.
- Eivor: I expected more people about, Magni... has something happened?
- Magni: Soma rounded up some warriors and took them west. She's hoping to open a new trade route with Oxeneforda. Only now, in times of trouble, I have discovered I am not the surrogate leader I should hope to be.
- Randvi: What sort of trouble?
- Magni: O, a pack of surly bandits have encamped nearby. To the east, at the water's edge. They attack all merchants who travel here by river or road. And word is spreading quickly. It's keeping traders at bay.
- Eivor: That could cripple your town if it carries on too long.
- Magni: It has crippled me already. The bastards stole my horse yestermorning.
(Continue – "Happy to help")
- Eivor: So what will you−
Randvi agrees to help Magni with the bandit problem
Randvi slightly stepped forward.
- Randvi: We can take care of them, Magni. And if we do not find your horse, we will steal you a new one.
- Magni: O, that would ease my mind. I have nothing to offer you for this deed, but the bandits surely would. Take from them what you like.
- Randvi: Good. Consider the matter handled. Eivor, come. We have a camp to raid.
Eivor and Randvi left the longhouse.
- Randvi: The bandits are camped on the river, he said. East of the water's edge.
- Eivor: You volunteered us for a fight, Randvi. Is that your idea of a pleasant ride through the country?
- Randvi: It must be. I surprised even myself.
- Eivor: Away from the table for a day, and already you are lusting for blood.
- Randvi: A feeling you must know well, no? I have always wanted to experience the world as you do, and now I will... unless you have a more interesting day planned for us.
- Eivor: We will help Magni and clear these bandits. But do not be rash when we find them. The Raven Clan needs your steady hand.
- Randvi: Yes, indeed, my lord. I shall follow your order to the letter.
- Eivor: If I did not know any better, I would say you're teasing me...
- Randvi: O certainly not, Eivor Wolf-Kissed, iron-fisted drengr. I would never tease one with such commanding authority.
Eivor and Randvi traveled and saw the bandits' camp in the distance.
- Randvi: There. The bandit camp.
- Eivor: All right. Stay close. And do as I do.
- Randvi: Brood and look sternly at the horizon?
- Eivor: By all means.
Eivor and Randvi arrived at the bandit camp.
- Eivor may have started to kill the bandits stealthily.
- Randvi: Nicely done!
- Eivor: Shhh...
Eivor and Randvi started to fight and then killed the bandits.
- Randvi: There. That's done. Now to deliver Magni his horse.
Eivor and Randvi found Magni's horse and started to travel back to Grantebridge.
- Randvi: That was a thrill, Eivor. We are champions of Grantebridge! Do you know of any other towns that need liberating?
- Eivor: You don't think we have had enough drama for one day? We should return to the settlement.
- Randvi: Or we could have a drink. To celebrate our victory.
- Eivor: At home. Tekla has all the mead and ale we could want.
- Randvi: Eivor, our outing has hardly begun. Find us an ale house and let us make ourselves at home.
- Eivor: Let's us return the horse, and if your thirst remains, we'll look around.
The two women arrived in Grantebridge and headed inside the longhouse. Eivor soon spoke with Magni.
- Eivor: Magni. We solved your bandit problems.
- Magni: Did you? Well done! And did you find my sweet mare?
- Eivor: Your horse is outside, waiting for you.
- Magni: Thank the gods she is safe. And thank you, Eivor... and your friend, Randvi, wherever she is.
- Eivor: She's here somewhere...
Randvi called out to Eivor.
- Randvi: Eivor! Over here! Look at this.
- Magni: O ho! Someone is thirsty.
- Eivor: Are you determined to get drunk?
- Randvi: I am determined to get you drunk. Come on! Scared I will outpace you?
- Eivor: To be honest... a little.
Eivor spoke with Randvi.
- Eivor: What are you playing at?
- Randvi: A drinking contest. You versus me. Wolf-Kissed versus Table-Maiden.
- Eivor: Randvi, we can do better than Table-Maiden.
- Randvi: Mead-Queen, then.
(Agree – "Very well. Let us proceed.")
- Eivor: All right. Let us drink.
- Randvi: Beautiful.
Eivor and Randvi drank against each other.
- Magni: Randvi! Don't let her win. Randvi! Focus!
The drinking contest soon ended.
- Eivor: Ah! There, you see. Should have not tried to outdrink me, Randvi! It cannot be done.
- Randvi: Hm, strange. I see your lips moving so rapidly, yet all I hear is "Thank you, Randvi."
Randvi and Eivor started to leave.
- Magni: Leaving already? Well, I do hope to see you again... Randvi. Return any time.
- Randvi: I might have to, Randvi. Thank you for everything.
- Magni: No, no. Thank you. Safe travels.
Eivor and Randvi left Grantebridge.
- Eivor: I think you may have punctured poor Magni's heart back there.
- Randvi: What can I say? Not the first, and it will not be the last.
- Eivor: I name you Randvi... Slayer of Bandits, Breaker of Hearts.
- Randvi: I will sound it with pride. Sunniva described this tower for me. A desolate, yet peaceful place. I am eager to see it.
- Eivor: After a full day of action, finally you wish to calm down.
- Randvi: I have had my fill of adventure. Time for a little rest.
Eivor and Randvi traveled north of Grantebridgescire.
- Randvi: I was wondering something. You and Soma... was there something more to your bond? You spoke of her with a particular shine in your eyes.
- Eivor: We grew very close, very quickly. Is that what you mean?
- Randvi: No, I mean... did something happen between you two?
- Eivor: What sort of question is that?
- Randvi: An innocent one. Innocent as a newborn babe.
- Eivor: Nothing happened between us. That is my answer.
- Randvi: Hm. I find that... disappointing. If I were you, I might have tested the waters. Eivor, entangled by a hardy jarlskona as she leads her army to victory and prosperity. A rather appealing match.
- Eivor: I'm going to pretend your last words were taken by the wind, Randvi.
- Randvi: If you must.
Eivor and Randvi arrived at Besuncen Tor.
- Randvi: Look there, that must be the tower! Take the bridge!
Eivor and Randvi stopped at a stone bridge to the tower.
- Randvi: Just as beautiful as Sunniva's stories tell. Can you imagine how it looked when it was first built, hundreds of winters ago? Sometimes when looking at a map, I imagine little people in their little armies, traversing the land. And now, staring at these ruins, I imagine people of old, how they lived, never knowing what would become of their monuments.
- Eivor: You have a fertile imagination.
- Randvi: I want a view from the top. Shall we?
- Eivor: Lead on.
Eivor and Randvi dived into the waters near the tower. Soon, both warriors started to climb the tower.
- Randvi: Keep up!
- Eivor: Mind where you put your fingers. These stones are old and weathered.
Eivor and Randvi neared closer to the top.
- Eivor: You climb well for one who folds maps.
- Randvi: You jest, but I have raised the frames of longhouses and hammered the ribs of longships. My hands are calloused from hard work.
Eivor and Randvi arrive at the tower
Eivor and Randvi climbed to the top.
- Eivor: Well, well... look at this!
Eivor saw the view alongside Randvi.
- Randvi: A stunning view. It reminds me of my early years in Norway. How I used to climb the hills beyond the wood.
- Eivor: You have an adventurer's heart. I hardly see it behind the table, but now I've watched you scale a tower in furs, soaking wet.
- Randvi: I was rowdy in my youth. Hunting, sailing. I was a wildling of the open air, before I became this staunch and stoic woman. Married off in service of peace between two clans. A noble and worthy role, but not one I had ever imagined for myself.
- Eivor: You would have made a fine, wandering warrior. A jomsviking, free to come and go as she pleased.
- Randvi: I think so too. It may be we would have sailed together, over the open seas. Raiding or... traveling.
- Eivor: Or faced each other on the field of battle. Without your marriage to Sigurd to secure peace, our clans might still be at war.
- Randvi: True. Very true.
Eivor and Randvi looked at the view once more.
- Randvi: Thank you for today. Every bit of it has been a dream and... and I am not keen to wake.
- Eivor: Then don't. We can stay here, as long as you like.
- Randvi: Yes...
Randvi leaned in and gave Eivor a kiss.
- Eivor: What was that...?
- Randvi: O no, I am... I am sorry. I shouldn't have. I got away from myself.
- Eivor: No need to apologize.
- Randvi: Sigurd is your brother and I... I have put you in a very different position. The heart does not do politics like the head.
- Eivor: It may be the mead, it may be the air. But there is no need to apologize.
- Randvi: I am sober enough. But the truth of it is... I have felt this way for some time now. I care for you, Eivor.
- Eivor: Randvi... I do wish I could indulge this feeling further. But that is not possible.
- Randvi: Of course, yes. I was foolish to—Let this be a dream, then. A moment that never happened but in our minds. I would not wish you to see me so weak as that.
Eivor started to sit down.
- Eivor: You need feel no shame. This stays between us. And at worst, we have had a beautiful day. As friends and kindred spirits.
Randvi sat down besides Eivor.
- Randvi: More than enough for me. I would like to stay here, if it is all the same to you.
- Eivor: I would like that.
Randvi gives Eivor a surprise kiss
- Eivor: That is... comforting to hear. I have long felt the same way. But I banished the thought that this would ever happen.
- Randvi: Many times I wished to tell you. Wished to say what was in my heart and what I desired, but duty kept me from it.
- Eivor: Say all you like.
- Randvi: Today has meant so much. We rode, we fought, we drank, we laughed. You showed me your world. Not in words but deeds.
- Eivor: Deeds are more direct than words...
- Eivor: I am honored by your feelings, Randvi. But I value you as a friend. I hope that does not disappoint... it is my highest praise.
- Randvi: Of course, thank you. I do apologize.
Eivor started to sit down.
- Eivor: You need feel no shame. This stays between us. And at worst, we have had a beautiful day. As friends and kindred spirits.
Randvi sat down besides Eivor.
- Randvi: More than enough for me. I would like to stay here, if it is all the same to you.
- Eivor: I would like that.
Time passed as Eivor woke up alone at the top of the tower.
- Eivor: Randvi?
Eivor stood back up.
- Eivor: Hm. Must have returned back to the settlement.
As Eivor awoke, Eivor left the tower soon afterwards.
Outcome[]
Eivor and Randvi raided a bandit camp, returned a stolen horse, had a drinking contest, and climbed Besuncen Tor.
Behind the scenes[]
If Eivor chooses to express her love to Randvi, it can have major consequences on Sigurd's final decision in the final memory "A Brother's Keeper". Choosing "Now is not the right time" or rejecting her are the safe choices.
Gallery[]
Eivor riding to Grantebridge with Randvi
Magni worried about the camp of bandits nearby
Randvi and Eivor taking a look at the surrounding
Randvi confiding in Eivor on her woes