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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Dec 7, 2012 2:05:04 GMT -5
Naomi listened as they spoke. He has never been drowned either.
Looking at them both,"Then this is a very special day. The God below shall have two to greet today." She waded into the salty water holding her father's hand.
Naomi then turned to look at Vickon,"We shall return. We have too much work to do, especially making you into Captain Vickon."
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Post by Iron King Vickon Greyjoy on Dec 7, 2012 2:10:15 GMT -5
Vickon nodded in response but otherwise remained quiet. He had seen drownings before, but knowing that he would soon be next made him uneasy.
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Leman Harlaw
Landed Knight
"Our enemies the harvest"
Posts: 236
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Post by Leman Harlaw on Dec 7, 2012 2:23:47 GMT -5
He took her hands into his own and closed his eyes "You who stands before me, know that in this you place your life into the hands of the Drowned God. Let the sea fill you, change you, transform you into what you were meant to be." He gently folded her hands over her breast and lowered her into the water. "Lord below, bless your child, Naomi Harlaw, with strength and courage. Give her insight where she need it, and shower your blessings upon her." Underneath the waves, the woman began to struggle as bubbles erupted on the surface. Leman kept his eyes shut against the sight, knowing that if he looked down at that face he would not have the strength to continue. "Bless her with salt. Bless her with stone. Bless her with steel."
Leman held his oldest child as she died. And he carried her limp body up to the shore, placing her down on the ground. "What is dead, may never die."
"But can only rise, stronger." the men around him somberly intoned
Leman began moving her legs and arms, then began to pump his hands on her chest, rhythmically without pause. Finally, he pried open her lips and gave her the kiss of life, again and again. His heart doubted for a moment then, torn that what was most precious to him had been taken so early. Then she shuddered, and gasped for air. "Rise" he said to the dead woman "You have been drowned, and returned to us. What is dead can never die."
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Dec 7, 2012 2:27:59 GMT -5
"But rises again, harder and stronger..."Naomi spoke while she coughed the remaining water from her lungs then looked at her father. She hugged him tightly and whispered to him,"I told you. We are blessed." She stood, her hair drenched as well as her clothes and smiled at Vickon.
Naomi reached down and hugged Breia to her. "I hope you were not afraid." She moved Breia's hair behind her ear,"I will not ever leave you again."
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Leman Harlaw
Landed Knight
"Our enemies the harvest"
Posts: 236
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Post by Leman Harlaw on Dec 7, 2012 2:35:49 GMT -5
Leman smiled down at her, then looked up at Vickon. The young man looked unafraid, undaunted by what had happened. He nodded to him then slowly went back into the ocean, dunking his head in this time while he prayed. When he finished, he turned back and offered his open hand once again.
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Post by Iron King Vickon Greyjoy on Dec 7, 2012 2:40:37 GMT -5
"But rises harder, and stronger." Vickon responded with the rest of the men gathered. He was growing increasingly uneasy now. For a moment he had thought the girl dead and he had wished it so, for then he would not have to undergo the same fate she had. But the Drowned God did not answer his prayers. He sombrely began to remove his heavier clothing until he too was shirtless too. He met eyes with Harlaw and followed him into the cold sea water.
Harlaw held him then and slowly lowered him into the water. "Don't struggle and it shall go easier," he whispered before submerging Vickon completely underwater. The water was deathly quiet, all he could hear was his own heartbeat which began rushing harder and harder. Vickon felt the air begin to run out in his lungs and his body instinctively tried to pull itself up out of the water. No matter how hard he tried though he could not wrestle himself out of Leman's grip. He was going to die. His mouth opened then and water began to flow freely into his body. He felt it slowly fill him and he stopped struggling as the world gradually faded to black around him. All that could be heard was the sound of his own heartbeat, slowly fading away.
He woke with a start, coughing up water and his whole body spasming. "...What is dead may never die." He heard Harlaw say in the distance. Although he was struggling for air Vickon forced himself to respond. "But rises harder, and stronger." Slowly the world came into view and they were standing over him. All three of the Harlaw's were wearing their broad smiles and Vickon could not help but smile back. He had embraced the Drowned God and he had lived.
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Dec 7, 2012 19:34:47 GMT -5
Naomi watched Vickon's journey back from the dead with Breia's hand in hers. She nodded with a smiled. "Someday you will do this",she whispered as she knelt down beside her little sister. "You will give yourself to the Drowned God and he will return you this world, a new being."
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Leman Harlaw
Landed Knight
"Our enemies the harvest"
Posts: 236
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Post by Leman Harlaw on Dec 7, 2012 21:22:59 GMT -5
//////////////////////////////////////
The next day dawned, cloudy with faint spattering of rain coming down. Leman awakes refreshed, but as he rolls over to get up his wrapped shoulder reminds of the fight yesterday. Wincing, he staggerd outside and breaks his fast on some meat he had left roasting in the coals overnight. Crunching the charred remains, he went over to the dead bear he had left hanging from a tree, and cut it down with one thrown axe. Looking down at the fine skin, he grinned and began to work at it.
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Dec 7, 2012 21:54:34 GMT -5
When she awoke, Naomi had realized that this was the first time she had slept comfortably in years. When she stretched, a small lump was next to her. It seems that Breia had snuggled in with her sometime during the night. Naomi smiled at her sleeping face, kissed her forehead and slowly slid out from under her.
The dreary morning was not what she expected to see, but she was happy that she was finally home. Naomi then saw her father working on something with great intensity. She walked over slowly seeing that he was skinning a bear, a huge bear. She watched him, contemplating on what to say but she really did not want to disturb him. Naomi sat quietly on a nearby rock and smiled as he worked silently.
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Leman Harlaw
Landed Knight
"Our enemies the harvest"
Posts: 236
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Post by Leman Harlaw on Dec 7, 2012 22:22:35 GMT -5
He slowly ran his knife through the sinews and tendons, sawing at the muscle that clung to the skin. This was a good find out here, it was rare to see bears this big in the Vale. More up north maybe, but down here? Unlikely. He glanced up from the bears rib cage to the wooden ribs lying on the beach. They had started work on the ship and it was proceeding as well as it could. It would take time for the wood to season, but laying out basework was never a bad idea.
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Post by Iron King Vickon Greyjoy on Dec 7, 2012 23:08:16 GMT -5
Vickon descended down from a large rocky hill that outlined the edge of the bay and made his way down on to the sandy beach. He had slept little and less the previous evening, his mind wandering and what he had seen and heard whilst visiting the halls of the Drowned God. Or at least what he thought he had.
He walked along the shoreline, the waves giving out just before reaching his boots. As he drew closer to their camp he noticed that some others had begun to stir. Most noticeably was Leman Harlaw, who had begun skinning the bear he had slain yesterday. Nearby, his eldest daughter Naomi sat perched atop a rock watching her father work. He found the girl interesting and so he made his way over to her.
"Good Morning."
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Dec 7, 2012 23:11:33 GMT -5
"Good morning to you", she smiled. "Seems that my father and I are not the only ones up early." Her eyes watched as Leman carved the pelt away from the muscles of the bear. He seemed so intensely engrossed that he didn't even notice them.
Naomi slid off the rock and looked at Vickon,"Come, let us leave him to his work. Would you mind taking a walk, Pyke?"
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Post by Iron King Vickon Greyjoy on Dec 7, 2012 23:14:16 GMT -5
"Not at all Harlaw. I feel we have much and more to discuss." He raised his hand indicating that she should lead the way.
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Post by Naomi Harlaw on Dec 7, 2012 23:18:16 GMT -5
"Alright,let us go and discuss then." She nodded and started walking down the wet sand of the beach. Her eyes still looking him over, comparing him to the many of men she had seen in her travels. None of them Ironborn and none them had she been with. Strange for an Iroborn woman, but that was the Old Gods of mother that made her kept her chastity. And now she is truly Ironborn.
Since her arrival and their meeting, he had peaked her interest. Naomi felt that she needed to know more of the Pyke. But would father approve? They had been drowned together, so that is at least something between them.
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Post by Iron King Vickon Greyjoy on Dec 7, 2012 23:28:32 GMT -5
"I heard the men say the King was dead. Is it true?"
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