Pagan Times
With only her, her mother and the children at home, Vesper was a dangerous time. So Donella had shut the entrance. Yet the Viking attack on the Broch was furious. Their fire had damaged the stout timber entrance, now their axes rained down upon it. So Donella and the children constructed a defensive barrier against the hatch.
She was also worried for her men. They had gone to the hills hunting. If they returned, their anger would boil over. But three against eighteen was bad.
She, her mother, the children, would sooner kill themselves rather than becoming chattels for pagans.
Footnote: The object with chains in the picture, reminded me of slavery and death. Whilst today I have walked in the footsteps of Vikings and Christians around Burnsall.
This Post Has 29 Comments
Those Vikngs get such a bad press. I liked the detall, especially the description of the broch
Such a terrible plight.
Very well written.
It seems that in many lifes terror will find a way to be an intruder. So pleased to receive your comments, thank you.
It’s looking kind of hopeless, I think.
Their Broch is very well constructed. So I have hope that the hunting party will return in time with another hunting party they came across whilst hunting. Then the single Viking boat crew will leave, although Vikings often returned in greater numbers
Another great historical piece. Well done.
Thank you athling, I do enjoy considering historical times when writing
This was such an interesting take on the photo prompt – I really enjoyed reading it.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thank you so much Susan, I was so pleased to read your comment
Well done MH.
Thank you so much yarnspinnerr,
They didn’t hold back in those days, I hope she manages to hold out.
The hunting party is returning with some companions, she and they will see the Vikings off this time!
Desperate times, for sure. The tension is very real.
Thank you granonine, I enjoy using history and architecture in fiction.
You give us a graphic description of the peril the women are in. I hope they manage to fight off the Vikings.
Thank you Penny, this time the Vikings will fail, as the hunting party returns with company. But the future my be bleak, as the Vikings often returned.
An excellent piece filled with history.
Thank you Lisarey, I do enjoy using history when writing flash fiction.
Those Vikings were a fiercesome mob. Great detail.
Thank you Irene. History certainly gives them a fierce image, yet they also had a lot of culture and art
Great description and atmosphere taking us back to those times, nice one Michael
Good to hear from you Michael. I must balance the Vikings image at some piont, for they also had a well defined culture and art.
Tough times, those. You portrayed fear and defiance in your tale. Well done.
It was pleased to read your feedback, thank you, Alicia.
You’ve led us down a really interesting path with your story. Sometimes, reading history, I wonder how people ever bore the life of suffering, captured by a war party and later living as captives in a foreign land.
The human will to survive can be strong. I think that there must have been two sides to the Vikings, for they also had culture and art.
A vivid picture into what what it is to be attacked in your own home. The determination to survive under their own terms comes across well.
Thank you Sarah, history and the present day is sadly littered with such events.