Chapter Text
Norway, Fordun.
The sun rises over the shear snow tipped mountains, shedding light on the boy who was determined to climb them. The old climbing gear he had barely held the boy’s weight but was in use anyways.
As the sun rose higher so did the boy reaching small shelves of land he could rest on. By the time the sun had cleared the mountain tops the boy had reached the summit with his small bag of equipment and food.
Finally at the top he could feel how hungry the climb got him. Tom ate the tuna sandwich he made earlier, enjoying the solitude and the view of his little village. He felt free up here, the harsh winds made his eyes water and lips chap but he could never get enough of it. The cold had always soothed the boy in a way his mother never quite understood.
His peace was shattered with a sharp ringing sound from his phone. It caused him to spook but he was quick to answer.
“Do you have any idea what time it is?” The voice of his mother rang through his phone. Her disappointed tone was easy to hear over the winds.
“Get down here, safely. Do it slowly if you have to but get back home. Before sunset if you can. You have to finish packing, we’re not gonna be back for quite awhile if this site is what they’re saying it is.”
“Sure thing mum, I’ll be back down soon.” He heard the click of the call ending. Disappointed, Tom checked the time. It was nearly twelve o’clock. He thought he would have had more time since his little adventure started before sunrise. No wonder his mother was upset with him.
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By the time he got back to the edge of town the sun was starting to set. He was ready to call it a day and jump into bed but his mother’s words had been repeating in his head since the call. He knew his mother worked on archaeological sites and that she specialized with Norse sites because she had always been interested in Vikings. An interest she passed down to her son with stories about fierce Viking warriors and their tales of dragons.
She had started taking him with her after his farther passed from the accident, leaving them both alone with a rift that slowly grew each time they tried to talk. So, he stopped talking and started climbing the mountains and cliffs that surrounded his home like his father used to do. It helped to feel close to him again. Although his father was gone, Tom liked to believe his farther had left an imprint, his shadow, on the mountains surrounding the village. It made him feel less alone.
Tom continued his trek home where his mother was most definitely going to give him a lecture. So he pushed it to the back of his mind and focused on the houses, the lights and the small stores that he often visited after school. Following the same path he always took, Tom found himself walking slower and slower the closer he got to home. His mind was swimming with memories of his father and all the happy moments he had with him. The gear that once belonged to him now sat heavy in Toms bag.
Once Tom reached his house he went in through the garage, stashing the gear under some of the bags his mother had already packed in the car. He knew she wouldn’t approve. As he entered the house, he realized that his mother already knew he was coming in. She stood just inside of the door with a look that said he was right about that lecture.
Olivia gestured to the lounge and, sighing in defeat, Tom made his way towards the two-seater sofa while his mother sat in the recliner. She was staring at him with this disappointed scowl.
“I told you to be back before sunset. The plane leaves at seven, did you even think before going out this morning? Or did you just think everything would be ‘fine’ like the last time?”
Tom could see Olivia reaching her boiling point. The last time he did something like this, they had missed their plane to a dig site in Egypt. They got there the very next day and the rest of the crew had shrugged it off but his mother was furious. She had confined him to their quarters for the whole trip, not even letting him into the city.
“You said ‘get down, safely’ and I did–” Tom tried to explain. His mother cut him off, waving away his explanation.
“I said be back before sundown. I said you need to finish packing.” Olivia was fuming. She hated this kind of discussion because Tom never listened. She believed all he wanted to do was throw himself into unnecessary danger to show off and boast about it. “Nothing I say ever gets through to you. You never think about what I need.”
Tom hesitated. It seemed to be a damned if you do, damned if you don’t kind of situation. He didn’t know how to reply, but it seemed as if she didn’t want one anyway.
“Go pack. You need to be ready in 15 minutes.” Tom’s mother rubbed her temples to ease the tension. Olivia left the room, leaving her son with no chance to comment.
“Okay.” Tom stared after his mother, leaving Tom alone. That wasn’t the kind of he anticipated, but it was shorter than he expected it to be.
His room wasn’t the mess it usually was, as most of his stuff was already packed. It left the room mostly empty, with only the posters and small trinkets he found were left. After all was packed Tom sat on his bed just waiting. He had no need for goodbyes.
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It was finally time to leave. With everything packed and loaded into the car they set off for the plane that would take them to this dig site. Tom knew next to nothing about it. He figured now would be the best time to ask about the place.
“It’s an island that seems to have a connection to another dig site they found 2 years ago.” Olivia seamed to calm down talking about her new job. “They found the same stone carving of a Viking that has a small helmet with long horns on. It’s holding an axe in front they suspect it’s a chief.”
“So this is a Viking settlement.” Tom’s interest started to pique. He’d been to other Viking sites and almost always they’d had cool weapons and artifacts to look at.
“Yes. Now I want you on your best behaviour. There’ll be others there your age. They built facilities so you won’t be bored or get in the way.” She gave him a stern look as their car approached the small airstrip the plane was at.
“Yes ma’am.” Tom rolled his eyes. He took his stuff and approached the small passenger plane, greeting the staff as they loaded his bags. He made sure his climbing gear was hidden underneath his own luggage to remain undetected.