Lady in Green

THE

LADY

IN

GREEN

Acknowledgements

I would like to take the time to thank the people that helped me get over the hump with this project. Some people were giving me great ideas and tips that I have been able to use throughout the book, and without them this wouldn’t be where it is. I would like to thank Deb Rose. She has been someone who has helped me grow holistically, and she was able to take a lot of my negative energy out and bring positive vibes in. I would like to thank Connor David. He helped me navigate social media. He was able to help me find a way to reach people in other parts of the world. I would like to thank Cristin Cummins, for her ideas and helping me to get comfortable with being in front of the camera and posting on social media. I would like to thank Cathy and John McCarthy for allowing me to use their house to make this project, and letting me cover the floors with my poems. I will always be Rock House proud. I would also like to thank Melody McCarthy, for helping me jumpstart this project and taking her personal time to help me edit, type, and give me ideas. Without her this project wouldn’t get off the ground, and I would just have a pile of thoughts. I would like to thank my family for giving me the inspiration to keep going and to give this my all. I would like to dedicate this book to my brother, John, who passed away a short time ago. For now, I’m on a journey to be my best self and to reach my personal legend, and to win each day. Carpe Diem.

PART ONE:

THE PAST

Preparation for the Attack

The attack was planned and ready to go. By Christmas Eve, the mission was to let no human survive. It was a sad day for the Christians because they had little defense. It was a small village, basically out on the outer rim of their territory, pretty much alone in this big wide-open world. The plan was to attack when the Christians went to church. It was the plan of Earl Eric Moynihan to take these lands and all of the people’s valuables. The men were fired up and ready to charge, though one man was not happy at all. I don’t care about their God. I’m not sure why I am supposed to kill the innocent, especially on their special day. The day their God’s son was born, Zacharias thought. I have no issue with him, plus he’s dead so what’s the point? During the preparation he was last to paint his face. It was a Moynihan tradition for all the men to wear war paint. He had a long face and a terrible relationship with his brother, who was a giant at 6’7, and 270 pounds of muscle. His brother was the heir to the earldom, groomed by his dad to be the next superstar Viking warrior who the poets would sing songs to honor. Zacharias, a much smaller man at 5’9, had a reputation too. He was a great fighter as well, though seldom given any credit, despite the fact that he saved his dad in battle six times. All of the songs were about Halfdan, the older brother. Zacharias was a poet, a romantic, and most of all an unconditional friend. People gravitated to him much more than his older brother. The more Halfdan tried to antagonize Zacharias, the more he failed. The constant favoritism by their father Eric was hard for Zacharias. He had his feelings hurt many times by so-called friends. It seemed he had no place here; he was searching for more. On this morning, Zacharias makes it known that he is against this attack, however to no avail. It is time for the attack. You can hear the drums and the sound of screams. This will be the site of such horrible things.

Zacharias’s Crossroads

Zacharias’s mother and father were named Noora and Eric. They were the leaders of the lands. Eric was a great warrior, and highly respected. The poets did him justice, for he never was in fear. He fought the Viking way. Noora was a shield mate who fought beside Eric. This is what they did for years. They had two sons. Halfdan was big and fierce like his father. They had a special bond and he even took Halfdan on raiding trips when he was just a boy. Zacharias was always left behind, though he trained every day with his mother. Halfdan used to try and embarrass Zacharias in front of the family. He was always the punchline. Many tried to take advantage of Zacharias, but they learned the hard way that he was a very elusive and athletic striker. Eric was always introducing his eldest son as his boy and said the poets will write of him. His progress has excelled. Zacharias would always be close by at dinners in the great hall. He had to listen to the constant chatter of his brother. He was not jealous of Halfdan. He just wanted to find his own place in this community. Noora was very protective of her youngest boy. She would attack Eric or even Halfdan and say leave him alone, he is a good boy. He will fight when he is ready, go away and be gone! The more Noora trained her son, the better he got. He fully blossomed when he was a late teenager. He was handsome and kind, and fierce with his sword. Halfdan was often challenged and always victorious. Many of the girls and young women fell hard for Zacharias, the son of an earl who does not have to be waited on by slaves and servants. He hunted what he ate and helped to grow crops. He helped many slaves get their freedom. Some were old, and others were so lost from being taken from their homes. One day, Zacharias helped a slave escape and helped her get home. She was forever grateful. He never took advantage of any woman. It’s why they always came to him. He was romantic and knew how to make love. Halfdan had none of these qualities. He was not as handsome, either. Eric did not show the same love to Zacharias, though Zacharias was more loyal to his father His father never showed gratitude. It was always about Halfdan. Others took notice. The people loved Zacharias. Halfdan was an arrogant bully. Noora even told Eric that Zacharias was more of a leader. People followed Zacharias out of duty, but they followed Halfdan out of fear. There was no way Eric would ever make Zacharias earl, being the younger and less loved son. Noora was quite the warrior herself, though just like Zacharias she never fought for plunder. Her sword was swung like a hammer, but only in defense of the people. She never attacked innocent people. Noora was a fair and gentle leader. Eric was harsh. He had a damaging effect on Halfdan. This is how Zacharias grew up. He had a hard life, but he never gave up. Deep down, it was obvious to everyone that Halfdan was jealous, and many felt sympathy for Zacharias.

The Battle of Christmas Eve

It was quite evident in Zacharias’s body language that he was not excited and was seriously beginning to question his place in the clan. The men went in charging, shield mates by their sides, running into the fray to kill the innocent men, women, and children. This was the Viking way. All this was happening on the day the Christians celebrated God’s son, Jesus’s birthday. Zacharias was lagging in the back, his sword over his shoulder, walking in slow motion. They knew the sounds of screaming would haunt him for the rest of his life. He was listening to the devilish screams, and watching the men plunge sharp weapons into the bodies of the innocent. Zacharias was not fighting; he was not following orders. At first his brother, Halfdan, threatened his younger brother with words, and then with violence. Zacharias’s whole face was bloody as he let Halfdan strike him. This set off events that no one could have predicted. Zacharias began helping the Christians escape, killing some lifelong friends along the way. First, he stabbed a man that he knew well because he was raping a woman in front of her children. Then, he was holding watch as he let scores of Christians escape. They must’ve thought, This man came to save us, while the rest came to attack and kill us. Nobody other than the Christians realized Zacharias was doing this. He was just seconds away from saving his dad Eric, who had been shot in the chest. Even after that, Zacharias refused to take arms against the innocent. Eric’s last words were, Where is your brother? I want to say farewell. He saved his dad six times and was holding him while he took his last breath, and he still asked for Halfdan. Zacharias ‘mother Noora had recently fallen ill and died, so this was another blow for the Moynihan brothers. Halfdan would now lead the kingdom. The clan killed many innocent Christians on their special day that they hold dear. Zacharias and Halfdan barely spoke during the funeral ritual of their father. Halfdan was getting all the attention and Zacharias was feeling the loss of his mother. She could always read his body language. Right now, his shoulders were slumped and now he had to endure the fact that everyone was jostling for positions with the new and very egotistical leader. Zacharias thought that his brother was just caught up in the fame. He forgot to mourn his dad, a great warrior and leader. Life was not easy for Zacharias living in the shadows of his father and brother. He definitely was not treated the same, even though time after time Zacharias was there and ready to go to battle for his father and his vision. This time, however, Zacharias did not feel the same way. He was setting his own rules. Maybe I just don’t belong here," he thought. The funeral was a true Viking celebration of life, and the party lasted for days. Zacharias snuck away to be alone, soon to have his one on one with his brother. Halfdan partied heartily into the night, loving his newfound fame. After the smoke cleared, they would meet up to discuss the future.

Left Out

Three days later Zacharias was summoned to the great hall to discuss the future. Zacharias was having a hard time accepting his fate. He blamed himself for not being there for his father in the battle. He was struggling with the fact that his father loved him far less than Halfdan, who was always known to take advantage of everything while Zacharias gave of himself. He missed his mom and his dad. He was stuck in the past, tears streaming down his face, looking up to Odin and asking him why this was happening. Zacharias had escaped the public eye his father’s elaborate sendoff. Zacharias snuck off to his favorite place; a place where he pondered many things. Now with no mother or father to protect, he didn’t know what his place was in this new world set by his brother. Zacharias was led to the hall, and he was not pressured or worried. He spoke to the men as he walked by and accepted condolences for his father for which he was thankful. Upon entering the hall, Zacharias saw so many changes to the setup under Halfdan. Zacharias thought to himself, My brother has not mourned at all! He’s been too busy setting up his new place. Halfdan was dressed like a king and halfheartedly welcomed his brother. Halfdan started to explain his new rule when he was stopped abruptly and Zacharias said, What do you want from me? Let’s speak frankly, you never loved your family, only yourself. Now you’re the ruler. You have made all of your new arrangements. Where do I stand in this new rule? Halfdan laid out his vision, never mentioning any responsibility for Zacharias. Halfdan was always jealous of Zacharias’s generosity and unconditional manner. He stood side by side with his kin and fought like a man for six years. Now at 22, there was no plan for him. Halfdan explained that he did not think Zacharias had the will to raid and pillage and to collect slaves along the way. He knew what Zacharias had done on the day of the attack. Halfdan brought up the raid on Christmas day and said, Your heart is not in this way of life. Zacharias responded quickly and said, I have as much experience as you. I just don’t revel in the joy of hurting the innocent. Does Odin approve of an unfair fight? Halfdan raised his voice, saying, I am in charge now! You will fight as a soldier if you wish or stay home with the women. Zacharias challenged his brother and said "I saved our dad six times in battle. Where were you? You were running around and killing in cold blood. You usually had the most kills but never followed the plan. Was it all for your fame, Halfdan? Now the poets can sing you as many songs as you want, as you leave your post unguarded to rack up bodies. You were never a good soldier, just a one-man army, not listening to any other ideas. It’s amazing that you even set up a council, and left you own kin out. Why, because I am not as blood thirsty as you? I don’t care for raiding. Keep me back to set up the defense of our community. I want to be married, raise crops, and live out a peaceful existence. I do not want to quarrel with you, Halfdan. We are all that’s left until we marry and