💙04 - The Ring Beneath the Tide [Runes of Wyrd]🤍

In the pic, from left to right Bruno Arvast – Helena’s half-brother Mysterious man turning into wolf Helena Arvast – Daughter of the jarl Mikal‑Finnvard from Skalvheim, half-sister of Bruno Mikell Skar - A mysterious wanderer Album : https://suno.com/playlist/d3b85d17-41e5-4f6c-bfbc-4086191ed19e 💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍 A few days had passed in Skalvheim. Helena’s departure had been prepared with almost military precision. The drakkar was ready, the crew carefully chosen, and Bruno, true to himself, had not left his sister’s side for a single moment. He helped with everything, sometimes clumsily, but always with genuine intent. He was learning. Standing a short distance away, Mikal-Finnvard watched in silence. His gaze lingered more on his son than his daughter, as if trying to grasp what he might become. He did not like the idea of letting him leave, even less of exposing him to the dangers of the sea. And yet... deep down, he knew Helena was right. Bruno was not meant to spend his life confined to fields and routine. But that, he would never admit. Instead, he approached Helena to give her final instructions. He spoke at length, insisting on caution and on the responsibility she carried for her brother. Helena nodded at every sentence, wearing that familiar expression that clearly meant she had already heard all of this a hundred times before. The journey began with a small crew of around ten men, including a few merchants taking advantage of the voyage to trade in Trondheim. The drakkar followed the coastline, avoiding the uncertainties of the open sea. The trip would take about a week, provided the winds remained favorable. On the third day, as the sun struggled through a heavy sky, a shout broke the calm. “Man overboard! Come look!” Helena and Bruno rushed forward immediately. A man drifted in the water, clinging to a wooden plank, barely conscious. His lips moved, but no clear words escaped them. Without hesitation, ropes were thrown. The man managed to secure himself, and the crew hauled him aboard. He looked to be in his thirties, solidly built despite exhaustion. An eyepatch covered his right eye, marked with the symbol of Mjolnir. His soaked, worn clothes gave him the appearance of a wanderer. Helena crouched in front of him. “You are on my ship now. I would like to know who we just pulled from the sea. Your name?” The man lifted his head slightly, a tired smile forming. “Mikell Skar... a traveler, let’s say.” Helena narrowed her eyes. “A traveler... drifting on a plank? I assume there is more to that story.” Mikell took a strained breath. “Pirates. Open sea. I managed to escape... though I am not sure luck had anything to do with it. I have been drifting for over a day.” Helena remained silent for a moment. “There are no pirates on this route.” Mikell gave a faint shrug. “Then I drifted farther than I thought. The sea has its own will these days.” She kept her gaze fixed on him. “Do you have a clan? A family?” “My mother died giving birth to me. I never knew her. My father... died in battle. Since then, I walk alone.” A brief silence followed. Helena spoke again, more direct. “And your eye?” Mikell lowered his head, then gave a faint, almost amused smile. “A mistake from my youth. Nothing worth telling.” Helena exhaled softly. “Fine. Keep your mysteries if you like. We are heading to Trondheim. We will leave you there. Stay quiet and out of trouble.” “That suits me,” he replied calmly. Night fell the next day, heavy and still. The drakkar moved steadily, rocked by the waves. Most of the crew had fallen asleep. Helena lay not far from Mikell, keeping watch. Bruno rested nearby, though his sleep was restless. Then suddenly, he jolted awake. “Helena!” She reacted instantly. “Bruno, what is it?” He was breathing fast. “I had a dream... no, a nightmare. There was a man... strange. He had green reflections, like he was not fully there. He was speaking... in a language I could not understand.” Helena frowned. “And?” “He turned toward you. Took your hand... and placed a ring in it.” Helena let out a quiet sigh. “A ring? That is what scares you now?” Bruno shook his head. “Wait, I am not done.” He swallowed. “The ring... it was dark, like ancient metal. There was a wolf’s head carved into it. Not a normal wolf... its fangs were too long, almost twisted. And its eyes... they felt alive. Like they were looking at you.” Helena said nothing. Bruno continued, his voice lower. “Then the man... he changed. Into a massive wolf. Still with that green glow. And he leapt at me.” He ran a hand over his face. “It felt... real. Too real.” A voice rose quietly from the darkness. “Dreams are never meaningless.” Mikell had sat up, watching them. “You may have crossed paths with Fenrir... or something close to it. The gods still speak. You just have to know how to listen.” Helena turned sharply toward him. “Do not start that. You are only going to scare him. It was just a nightmare, and...” She stopped mid-sentence. Her gaze had dropped to her hand. Something was there. Slowly, discreetly, she closed her fingers around it. Her heartbeat slowed... then surged. She glanced down. The ring. Exactly as Bruno had described it. Dark metal. The wolf’s head. The exaggerated fangs... and those eyes. Those impossible eyes. Her expression did not change. “Helena? You were saying?” Mikell asked calmly. She lifted her head, regaining control. “Nothing. Forget it. Go back to sleep.” Silence slowly returned. But Helena did not sleep again. Her fingers kept tightening around the ring. Where had it come from? How did Bruno know? And most of all... Mikell Skar... was he truly just a wanderer? Or something far more dangerous? 💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍💙🤍 Sær rís, skip fer Vindr kveðr í tré Maðr flýtur einn (Kaldur sær andar) Blóð þornar hægt Auga hulið dreg Nafn hans hljótt sagt Mikell gengr enn Enginn ætt né lið Faðir fallinn fyrr Móðir horfin fljótt Leikr dulinn lifr The Ring Beneath the Tide, I feel it call From silent depths where shadows crawl A whisper carved in fate and bone A truth that never stands alone The Ring Beneath the Tide, it marks my will It lingers there... so cold, so still I should... I should let go... I know I should... Nótt fellr þungt hér Draugr talar lágt Grænn logi skín (Sær andar djúpt) Tunga forn kveðr Hönd gefr hring þar Úlfshöfuð grimmt (Augu lifa enn) Bróðir hræðsla finn Dýr vex skjótt upp Beit vill taka hann Vaknar með öskri The Ring Beneath the Tide, it should not be It crossed the dark to come to me A dream... no... more than dream I swear... I felt it breathing in the air The Ring Beneath the Tide, it burns my skin Like something ancient pulling in This is... this is wrong... or is it fate? Hringr liggr í lófa Enginn sá hann fyrr Leikr goða vaknar Auga fylgir mér The Ring Beneath the Tide, it owns my breath A gift... or omen sent from death I hear them calling through the sea Whatever this is... it chose me The Ring Beneath the Tide, I can’t deny It watches through my brother’s eye If gods are gone... then what is this? The ring... the ring... I feel it still It waits... it waits... it bends my will The tide... the tide... it brought it here And now... and now... it whispers near