Twists and Turns was a virtual representation of one of Eivor Varinsdottir's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description[]
Eivor met with Birstan to secure the alliance between the Raven Clan and Essex.
Dialogue[]
Eivor traveled to the Hunter's Meet to find Birstan, talking with his dog, Percy.
- Birstan: No trouble bestirs your heart, do they, Percy? All you think of is what next to eat. How I envy you. There, there, old hound. Hold faith, for soon we'll be hunting.
Eivor spoke with the ealdorman.
- Eivor: Birstan. Estrid said you'd be here.
- Birstan: Eivor, dearheart! You who drew back the bow of Eros and reunited me with my one true love.
- Eivor: Have your thegns asked why you do not look for Estrid?
- Birstan: Pish! They have asked, yes. I said it was hopeless. Then I lay upon my couch sobbing and wailing. A pretty show.
- Eivor: That may not be enough.
- Birstan: Tut tut! The winds are soft upon our faces, and I am far from the whispering doors of Colcestre. Come, let's hunt!
Eivor following Birstan
Eivor followed Birstan to hunt.
- Eivor: What are we hunting now?
- Birstan: Boar! A majestic animal, don't you think? Driven by a fierce fire, blazing eyes, and sword-tusks.
- Eivor: I once knew a strong-armed shieldmaiden who rode a boar into battle! She named it Bristle-bold.
- Birstan: How wondrously strange! Your tales are worthy of the hearing. We'll not ride our boars but eat them! A feast in Alfida's honor.
- Eivor: A feast for your mistress? Birstan, if this ruse falls apart, King Aelfred will strip you of your title. Our alliance would be worthless.
- Birstan: Have no fear! I shall be discreet! We will eat and sup at my hall with a few friends and family. It is there our friendship will be sealed.
- Eivor: So soon after Lammas. Will people there not recognize me?
- Birstan: No, you are just one more Dane! And in that chaos, who remembers anything but the screams of dear Estrid?
- Eivor: These are your lands. I trust in your judgment. And how is Alfida?
- Birstan: She is a firebrand! We have rekindled our love as if we were teenagers. Even Eluric is a welcome addition. A younger brother to me, yet more alike to a son. The things I should like to teach him. Ah, this is the spot, the best boar here!
Eivor and Birstan hunt the boars.
- Birstan: Look at that fat hog! He'll make a delicious roast. They are fearsome beasts. But tasty! Come on, the feast table won't fill itself! I shall suck the scrumptious marrow from your bones, you porcine devil! You will serve my love well, hog. A haunch worthy of her arrival.
Eivor and Birstan killed enough boars.
- Birstan: My bow-arm aches! We did well, Eivor.
After hunting, Eivor and Birstan discuss their plans going well
Eivor spoke with Birstan.
- Eivor: A good hunt, Birstan.
- Birstan: And enough for one day I think. Even my thegns will not go hungry with this catch, and they are as voracious as wolves snatching at my carcass!
- Eivor: They may give you grief, but I've been nothing but amused. They're a welcome change to warring jarls and piss-sodden politics.
- Birstan: You have brought us all true happiness, Eivor. I thank you, from the bottom of a heart full up from joy.
- Eivor: Birstan, the heart-hound who sought his true love by searching the sad haven of his memory and finding her there.
- Birstan: Beautifully said, my friend! Beautifully said. Come Percy, you hapless hound! Barely a boar worried, I do not know why I keep you in my employ.
Eivor and Birstan leave the hunt.
- Anglo-Saxon Man 1: Our lord is back! Gather up, men! Let's go collect the fruits of the master's hunt.
- Eivor may have stayed with Birstan instead of leaving to meet Alfida and him later.
- Eivor: What are your plans for Essexe and your family?
- Birstan: There is much that is new in this old fling. Alfida is changed ... the girl I fell in love with lies behind years of hardship.
- Eivor: And Eluric?
- Birstan: A soft lad, but with a heart as stout as his sister's. Their closeness does them both credit. The way he looks at me is often strange. His eyes furtive and downcast, like a hound waiting for his master's crop. It worries me, to be honest. Can I be both a brother to him and love to his sister?
- Eivor: Give him time, Birstan. He had his sister to himself all his life.
- Birstan: Yes, yes. But tell me, Eivor. Did you succumb to my flighted bird's charms? She can turn one atremble with her eyes.
- Eivor: You're talking of Estrid?
- Birstan: Do not be coy. It does not suit you.
- Eivor: It's not coyness that keeps me quiet, Birstan. We grew close. I won't say more.
- Birstan: Fair enough. I should not pry. All that to say, I am only glad she has found a chance at happiness again. Lord knows I could not give her that. But these are grim thoughts, and I will not let them lay their cold grip upon me. Tonight we feast and celebrate!
Eivor and Birstan arrived at the Ealdorman's House in Colcestre.
- Birstan: Home and hearth never used to stir the soul as the hunt did. But now my Alfida is here, all is changed.
They entered the upper left room, where Alfida awaited worriedly.
- Alfida: Birstan! You promised we would never be apart, not for one waking or sleeping moment! And already you're sneaking out to hunt!
- Birstan: For the feast, sweetling. We owe our mutual friend a great debt. One that I promised to repay over suckling pig and ale.
Eluric intruding on the gathering between her mother, Birstan and Eivor
Eluric entered the room.
- Eluric: Sister, have you forgotten where you are?
- Alfida: I have a right to happiness, Eluric! Or am I to play nursemaid forever, you ungrateful pup?
- Eluric: Happiness, yes. But you embarrass yourself nightly, heaving and sweating with this ham hock!
- Alfida: Hold your tongue, boy! Lest we both speak our truths!
- Eluric: What truth have you to speak? That you've returned to this fickle man who abandoned you years ago for a a Frankish pet? A woman he paid this Dane to abduct in that Lammas shadow play?
- Eivor: Mind yourself, boy.
- Eluric: Or that you let him sniff and paw you and take him to your bed on a promise of nothing? The whole of Essexe whispers now! He's married still, his wife freshly stolen, and you are no more than ... than his...
- Alfida: I am the mother of his child, you whelp!
- Birstan: Child? Alfida...?
Eluric figured out that Alfida and Birstan are his real parents and became angry.
- Alfida: Please, my boy, I ...
- Eluric: I will never forgive you for this. Never!
Alfida fell to her knees, sobbing, as Birstan comforted her. One of Birstan's man came in as Eluric left.
- Anglo-Saxon Man 2: My lord! Joyous news! God smiles upon us this very day! Estrid has been found by Aelfred's men. They ride to her rescue as we speak!
Eluric learns the truth of his parentage
The man left as tensions arose.
- Eivor: I will not let this plan be undone.
- Birstan: Nothing is safe until they are away to Francia.
- Eivor: I will fix this, and one day, I will call on you, and you will come.
- Birstan: You can count on it, my friend.
Eivor left the room.
Birstan comforting Alfilda as she broke down
- Alfida: I wanted to tell you so many times.
- Birstan: Hush, angel. Do not fret so.
- Alfida: He hates me. What have I done? We must go after him.
- Birstan: He will not stray far, lamb. Much has been said this day. But if ... if he is my son ... our son ... we must believe he will return to us.
Eivor left to aid Estrid and Rollo.
- Eivor: Estrid is so close to freedom. I hope I am not too late.
Eivor found and shouted to Rollo at Wulfaswic.
- Eivor: Rollo! Aelfred's men have found you!
Lork shot down by arrows
- Rollo: What? How can this be?
- Eivor: Lork, stand by Estrid, guard her with your life. If she is taken, all is lost for us and Birstan.
- Lork: Come, lady. It would not do for them to take you back. Watch out!
Arrows flew and Lork sacrificed himself for Estrid.
- Rollo: Lork! Odin, no!
Arrows flew and missed Rollo and Eivor.
- Eivor: They will skewer us like suckling pigs!
- Gerhild: Saxons! We have your whore-queen! Come take her.
- Rollo: Gerhild ... you fetid blood-blister! Was it you?
Gerhild held Estrid hostage and arrows flew as one hit Estrid's side.
- Rollo: Treacherous she-wolf! Damn you!
Eivor and Rollo fighting against the soldiers
- Anglo-Saxon Soldier 1: Release the woman, Danes! If she's unharmed, we may let some of you live.
- Rollo: Here come the bastards! Protect Estrid, prepare the ship!
- Anglo-Saxon Soldier 2: Kill Rollo the Imprudent!
- Anglo-Saxon Soldier 3: Stop that ship from sailing!
- Norse Warrior 1: Look to the north! More Saxons!
After the Saxons were defeated, Eivor spoke with Estrid.
- Estrid: Eivor!
- Eivor: Estrid. I promised I would free you of your life in Wessex. Francia awaits your return. Go now, with Aegir's blessing.
- Estrid: I will miss you, Eivor.
- Eivor: When winter is past, summer will come and wind you in a flowered skirt. For you are beauty and shall not wither.
- Rollo: Goddess Freyja, give me more of that!
- Eivor: Come. Take care of her, Rollo Stoutheart. And if you find yourself on England's shores again, I will expect you in my hall.
Estrid and Rollo leave by ship for Francia.
- Eivor: Good. They are safe. Birstan got his end of the bargain, and Estrid is to Francia. I should return to Randvi.
Outcome[]
Eivor helped Rollo to fend off soldiers sent by King Alfred, allowing him to secure Estrid back to Francia.
Gallery[]
Eivor finding Birstan at the Hunting Camp
Eivor and Birstan hunting boars
Eivor alerting Rollo of the soldiers arrival
Lork shifting to protect Estrid
Eivor counting on Rollo to safeguard Estrid