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mass-effect-galaxy · 9 months

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Assassin’s Creed Valhalla - Arcane Style 24/25

#assassin's creed valhalla #eivor varinsdottir #guthrum #alfred the great

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maypoleman1 · 6 months

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26th October

Alfred the Great

Source: Historic U.K. website

On this day in 899 AD, Alfred the Great died. Rarely has the epithet “The Great” been more deserved. This extraordinary early medieval King of Wessex was unseated from his throne by a Viking invasion and forced to hide out in the boggy fens of the island of Athelney. But from here, Alfred launched a guerrilla war against Guthrum, the Danish usurper, and emerged eventually to defeat decisively the Danes at the battle of Edington. After requiring Guthrum to convert to Christianity and packing him and his men off to rule East Anglia, Alfred got to work. He developed a system of strategically placed forts called burghs to thwart future Viking attacks; he developed a navy; he promoted literacy in his court; he commissioned the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle; he supported the Church and he revised the mess that were the existing Germanic legal traditions into something resembling an English legal code.

It is extraordinary then that today Alfred is chiefly remembered for letting a set of cakes burn. Allegedly, while still hiding out from the Danes in Athelney, the despondent king was staying in a peasant’s home and promised the lady of the house he would watch her baking cakes while she completed an errrand. Lost in thought, he forgot about the cakes and the horrified woman returned to fund them burned to a cinder. Despite royal apologies, the enraged housewife supposedly scolded and beat Alfred for ruining their supper, king or no king. Quite what this almost certainly invented tale is supposed to represent is anyone’s guess, unless it be the general uselessness of men in the home.

#alfred the great #Athelney #Alfred burns the cakes #battle of edington #Guthrum #Viking invasions #wessex #Anglo Saxon chronicle

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ashandquiet · 2 years

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My Most Unswerving Devotion

Chapter 2. Musings of a Duke

Regency! Soma Jarlskona x F!Reader

Summary: Since coming to Norfolk to stay with your family, the conversations have all revolved around matrimony. Just when your aunt has found a match for you much to your chagrin, quite by accident you fall for the wealthy Duke of Cambridgeshire; Soma Guthrumsdóttir. Can circumstance truly keep you apart?

A/N: This chapter is from the perspective of Soma, I hope you enjoy the bits of story building and I apologize for the long wait on chapter 2.

Read it on AO3

Soma had always been level-headed and sane.

Or at least she was sure she had been, a few bouts of rage, but that was due to anyone under duress, it wasn’t until this afternoon she found herself acting a fool.

Soma always followed a schedule, a strictly tailored schedule at that. She would rise just before dawn, dress, and take her breakfast in her study. It was there that her housekeeper and butler would relay the affairs of the servants of the manor, the places in need of address, and she would delegate resources as necessary. Then after having read the household ledger, Soma would take a short walk in the manor gardens to take in the fresh morning air. By the time she arrived back inside, Birna would finally be awake and sitting down for breakfast in the breakfast dining room, so Soma would sit with her and tea while Birna regaled her with the affairs of the servants, but with more sordid details as always. After breakfast, Birna would ride out to town to cover any affairs of Soma’s that did not require the Duke’s immediate attention and Soma would go check on land tenants.

After the morning's chores had been carried out, it was then that at her leisure Soma would take her gelding Alvis out to run the lengths of the land. It was here in the fields that she truly felt the strains and pressure of her inherited title lift from her shoulders. All the judgment and strain put on her by society could wash away, but in the end, it was just a wash. She did just as Guthrum had taught her, put on airs, and be intelligent and cunning. Never let them see how they affect you.

He had taken her in when she was just an unkempt street child scurrying about Stockholm with a small gaggle of other orphans, stealing and scraping to stay alive. It was after the death of her poor mother and father had left her alone and abandoned, and she had been running about the port struggling to keep up with the much older children who ran the gang like wolves. The tall bearded man dressed in finery had stepped in her way causing her to fall and his outstretched hand had effectively changed the course of her life forever.

Before leaving Sweden he had put her to work, mostly as a little spy because she could fit into places, and hear and see things that the others of his entourage couldn’t. Guthrum then grew fond of Soma quickly and wasted no time inviting her back to England with him, and Soma saw no need to protest, she was fed, warmly clothed, and most of all happy.

Soma was given the best possible education available, learning to read and write quickly, and excelling at arithmetic and humanitarian studies. She learned to be a great leader, as well as a listener under Guthrum’s influence and tutelage. It was there she was introduced to the younger Ragnarsson brothers Ivarr and Ubba, and she learned how to fight, shoot, hunt, and the art of swordplay, seeing the two brothers as adopted older brothers of her own. As she grew and became accustomed to her life in England it became plain to Soma that Guthrum never once attempted to raise Soma as a lady, knowing that he would never have a male heir; Soma was raised as a son, and eventual heir to Guthrum’s, land, title, and holdings.

Much to society's chagrin, Soma was never offered as a marriage prospect, even though she was named as Guthrum’s only heir and beneficiary. While in her teen years there were rumors that she would eventually marry Ubba Ragnarsson, while others argued that she was particularly monstrous and no man would be able to tame her feral nature. Many made little attempt to woo her, but she snubbed them in favor of horses, books, and swordplay.

The study of law had entranced her, so at the behest of Guthrum, a law education was arranged. Under the guise of a man, she attended university and rose to be a scholar in her own right. It was there at university with its dances, shops, and libraries, that she befriended Birna, her most stout-hearted and amorous companion, a daughter of merchants who similarly to Guthrum’s circle had come to England from Scandinavia and gained such prosperous wealth that they stayed to provide a life for their daughter.

Birna threw Soma into a life she had never before experienced outside the scholarly and dutiful confines of her being. The joys of drink, dancing, and social calls, as well as indulging in the finer luxuries that she had denied herself. She purchased her first townhouse and it was there that Soma and Birna threw small soirees, and Birna mocked Soma for her obsession and love of rugs and interior finery.

She met and entertained women, and had a few brief affairs, most ending with the other party marrying or being sent away by family. However letters were always exchanged but as letters stopped arriving Soma would burn the lavender and locks of hair and resume her solitary lifestyle, caring for her friends and the makeshift family she had found in the city.

As her life beyond Cambridgeshire stretched in an expanse before her, opportunities of employment and adventure beckoning, in the country, Guthrum grew sick. Knowing he was not long for this world the Duke summoned his adopted child back to his side. Dutifully Soma came and remained with him until the day he died. She knew her days of freedom were over, obligation was her constant companion as she assumed the responsibilities of Dukedom. At the recommendation of Birna, she hired an old acquaintance of theirs, Lif as a secretary and brought Birna on as an equerry to the estate.

Together the three of them formed an insurmountable team in making the land of Cambridgeshire prosperous and one of great renown throughout England.

However, the rumor mill never stopped churning, but what was there for petty country folk to talk about more than the affairs of Soma Guthrumsdóttir?

On these particular days after a morning full of settling disputes and arranging for gifts and aid to be sent to families within her territory, Soma found herself in most need of a ride. While her head swam with thoughts of land rights, tenant arrangements, and the lending of estates, Soma rode well off into the fields of Norfolk just for a moment's reprise from it all.

It was there, near a blooming horse-chestnut tree that she had nearly collided with what she could only describe as an angel came to earth, the sound of her voice still shook Soma to her bones as she urged Alvis homeward.

She had removed her gloves to feel the bones and muscles in the woman’s wrist and at the light skin contact, she felt as though she were on fire. The way that she could feel the woman’s eyes burn as she watched her, the soft gasp she made when Soma had twisted her wrist in a painful direction, it all made Soma’s skin prickle at the thought of her. Soma couldn’t help herself; she had crooned and given her a pet name of all things. One meeting and all she could think about was how it would feel to touch skin to skin. To talk to her as if they had always known each other.

Soma let out a frustrated noise as she neared the manor, she knew Birna would never let her hear the end of it if she came in looking like a lovestruck, amorous fool. The romantic sensibilities of her joyful friend would run away with her. How would she ever tell Birna she never even got the woman’s name? She was a damned fool, and all she could do was hope that Birna was off making some poor girl, or boy flush with compliments.

But Soma wasn’t lucky, and Birna was there sitting outside the stable on a bench pretending to read a book while watching the stable boy work with the horse.

“There you are Soma, you great wandering lordy you,” Birna called in her usual chipper tone as Soma rode up to the stable and dismounted. Soma flashed her a weary look and led Alvis into the stable, politely declining the offer from the stableboy to take the horse from her.

Birna got serious, “What happened.”

Soma shook her head with a sigh, finding herself rushing to get the cinches undone from Alvis, Birna would begin her further questioning soon and Soma could not bring herself to say what a fool she had been.

“Was there an incident at one of the farms? Did a cow give birth and it was partially gruesome to have seen with your lordly eyes? Was someone's child struck by a goat and you were given the child to hold while the goat was put to death? Are we having mutton?”

“No, no incidents of mention,” Soma grunted, struggling with one particular loop, her friend’s well-intentioned questions making her more irritable by the minute.

“Let me help, you’re gumming it up,” Birna stepped between Soma and Alvis taking over the chore of tacking down Soma’s bay horse. She treaded slightly out of Birna’s way to watch her undo the cinch, yet she found herself gazing at her hands, again.

“You look as though you’ve seen a ghost, Soma.”

“I’m alright I just need some time to myself, thank you Birna,” Soma felt grave as she nodded to her friend to take her to leave.

Stepping out from under the stable cover Soma ran her hands over her face, she was suffocating. Her throat was tight and she felt as though she would begin perspiring through her waistcoat, her hands clammy within the confines of the gloves, Soma stripped them off and tossed them to the ground.

Somehow she had let herself act such a fool that she had forgotten to ask for the lady’s name, or an address, calling card, anything. She had even neglected to tell the lady her name, of course, Soma had wrapped her wrist with a handkerchief from her pocket that was embroidered with “SG”, her initials, but how on earth would it even find its way back to her? The most mortifying and frustrating realization of all hit like a boulder being thrown into water; How would she ever know if the beautiful creature she had met this day, also preferred the company of women .

Feeling helpless, which she hated the most, she started walking towards the manor to lock herself in the safety of her private rooms, where she could brood and mourn this terrible turn in private. It wasn’t the first time she had experienced such heartbreak and she felt as though it wouldn’t be the last. She knew herself and her heart, yet she always seemed to fall into the trap of self-imposed distress regarding affairs of the heart.

Taking care of the tie in her cravat she tossed it to the ground and made her way into the manor, taking long quick strides to her study not caring for the muddy footprints that she left in her wake.

She has always desired women, both emotionally and carnally. The gentlest touch of another woman filled her with heavenly joy, in the passion-filled faucet of her heart she held the most sublime desires imaginable. It was her every aim in life to give a woman, whom she loved so deeply it cut like a knife, every possible thing and more. Soma had fallen like this before, and she knew that if she did not stop her heart from getting away with her she could end up broken, her heart exposed to the empty expanse of the world in the end just as before.

Soma let out an enraged noise throwing her hands in the air, she could feel the boiling rage rising within her at the thought of losing composure yet again. She was being choked, by manners and the very opposing forces within herself. Almost flailing to pull herself from it, she tore off her waistcoat throwing it across the empty room, not even having made it to her study yet. She panted staring at the offending garment. It wasn’t enough she still felt as though her clothes were constricting themselves around her. Soma then fumbled with the buttons on her vest and flung it in another direction, then the cufflinks, she yanked off her boots and collapsed onto her rear. Her eyes began to burn with emotion and she could feel her throat tighten. Soma undid the first few buttons of her collar and then drooped backward onto her back to stare upwards. Soma covered her face with her hands and suffered a strained sigh.

There was a shuffle of feet that came to an abrupt stop in the doorway, Soma turned her head to glance at the doorway where Birna stood looking a bit befuddled. Soma’s friend held the discarded cravat and suede gloves.

“Well aren’t you pitiful,” Birna chided as a maid rushed to take the items from her.

Soma sighed feeling quite pitiful indeed.

#soma x reader #soma jarlskona x reader #soma jarlskona #birna ac valhalla #ac valhalla #regency au #soma ac valhalla #lif ac valhalla #guthrum ac valhalla #soma my love #regency inspired #austen inspired #the world needs more wlw regency fiction

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kassandras-one-braincell · 2 years

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My love for Soma continues to grow beyond what’s reasonable for a cluster of pixels, and it’s always Birna’s tales that catalyse it:

❝ Soma of Grantebridge. For a time, all the ealdormen of England wanted her dead. A bounty on her head the size of Yggdrasil.

She met with the leader of the South Gyrwans and told their King Roffe, “Say that you killed me. Proclaim it to all the lands.”

Roffe answered, “No one will believe me.” And Soma shook her head.

“Invite them. Here. You will burn me on a pyre for all to see.”

So they came, the nobles of East Anglia, north and south, of Mercia, of Wessex. They wished to see Guthrum’s Valkyrie die. Before all, King Roffe pronounced her guilty of murder and sentenced her to death. Then they put her on a boat and sit it afire.

Yet Soma had constructed a trap beneath the pyre. She released herself into the murky waters and swam to a bramble. Muddied and wet, she waited in the thorns for night to fall. She then returned to Cambridge as a shadow-walker.

She entered the city and stole into the king’s chamber, and took the head of Roffe, shouting, “Traitors of Soma wear no heads!”

The Saxons thought Soma a ghost! A spirit who kills! A curse invincible to fire and death! What a leader, my Soma. ❞

Like holy shit she’s so intelligent and can be downright feral. People literally thought she was inhuman for a time?? She was known as Guthrum’s Valkyrie - a literal harbinger of death - before that? And Wigmund really thought it was a smart idea to try and conquer that??? I love her.

Here’s a shitty splice of the story in-game. Under the cut to hide its ugliness.

#the things i would let that woman do to me #guthrum's fucking valkyrie #soma jarlskona #lord of grantebridge

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barbucomedie · 2 months

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Silver Coin from Winchester, England dated between 875 - 885 on display at Winchester Catherdral, England

This coin was excavated in the Cathedral Close and bears the head of Alfred the Great with the inscription +ÆLFREDREXSA+ which translates to Alfred, King of the Saxons. From 871 to 886 Alfred was King of the West Saxons, the Kingdom of Wessex. During this time of Alfred's reign the Vikings under Guthrum, later King of East Anglia (879 - 890?), Ivar the Boneless, Halfdan Ragnarson, Ubba and Bagsecg formed the Great Heathen Army and invaded much of England.

Photographs taken by myself 2023

#art #archaeology #history #england #english #medieval #9th century #winchester cathedral #museum #winchester #barbucomedie

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kingslionheart · 5 months

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When Winchester fell to Guthrum, your father hid himself away in the marshes, for months. He hid in fear for his life and of failure, but he overcame that fear.

#best thing to do when you feel miserable: rewatch 1x07 #my gifs #the last kingdom #alfred x uhtred #tlk alfred #uhtred #david dawson #alexander dreymon

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reiverreturns · 1 year

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so you’re telling me eivor “you could have wisdom! glory! power! what more do you need?” “everything else” varinsdottir really decided to leave england on a whim but went out of her way to say goodbye to:

aelfred (rat bastard)

guthrum (yawn)

harald (great hair less than 30 seconds screentime in the original game)

and she wouldn’t travel to say goodbye to:

valdis, oswald, and broder who lost a brother fighting to rescue sigurd from fulke

ljufvina, who has always been a firm friend and sacrificed so much fighting under eivor’s banner

stowe and erke, a perpetual reminder to her that what is good and what is right don’t always align

vili, the man who knows her heart as she knows his, her longest and often-closest friend

ceolbert, a man who left this world too soon but left such a mark on eivor that she would visit his grave and mourn him long after he was gone

are you really telling me that ubi. with a straight face. in this economy.

#yes im still annoyed by it #eivor deserved BETTER you hounds #thank god for fanfic writers who will no doubt cure all my ac-induced ills with their magic #i know i'm being facetious because i did like the hytham and sigurd parts but the general point is a valid one #and yes there should have also been more in ravensthorpe #i don't need a randvi goodbye #but i DO need one with gunnar #and some dialogue at dag svend and hunwald's graves #AND WHO'S GOING TO LOOK AFTER ALL HER ANIMALS?!?!#ac valhalla #acv spoilers

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sammyjadedavis · 2 years

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TORVI: What The Hell!

BJORN: What happened?

TORVI: Dad, Mum and Floki are all planing a trip which means that I have to get all of our kids ready and you too which is not going to be fun. And knowing this it probably means that your family will end up being invited to which means Hvitserk will bring his knew girl friend who no one’s really set on yet and then Ivar will want to come in our car same with Hvitty who will both blast some random song that will set the kids off.

BJORN: Well where are we going? I hope that there’s lots and lots of sun!

TORVI: Not the point of this all Bjorn it’s the point that we all have to get our shit together so we can meet with my family at the airport tomorrow morning, which is like hella short notice for all of us. Now go and all you need is to pack yourself a bag, I’ll pack mine, Siggy’s, Asa’s, Ragnar’s, Hali’s, Refil’s and Guthrum’s while all you have to do is your own, Erik’s, Finan’s, Osferth’s and Uhtred’s then who ever’s done first will go and pick up the kids and who ever’s last will make dinner.

BJORN: FINE!

#bjorn x torvi #torvi x bjorn #torvi #vikings #bjorn #bjorn ironside #bjorn ragnarsson #bjorvi #hali #erik #guthrum #refil #asa

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myrddin-wylt · 11 months

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how does Guthrum keep appearing in all of my memes

#hetalia memes #hetalia shitpost #I'll make better ones I swear

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magstorrn · 3 months

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having just finished the prophecy arc in valhalla the decision NOT to make eivor a hidden one is more baffling to me than ever - were they worried that they were retreading ac4's plot or something? because the groundwork is there!! it's all there!! her entire story is about how the search for glory to the exclusion of all else is ultimately meaningless and it's more important to love (and be loved by) the people she cares about! and all of that is encapsulated in the prophecy arc right at the end of the game: eivor turns away from odin and rejects his desire for her to become just like him, craving glory, to be the last one standing. she stabs him with her hidden blade (!!) that was given to her by basim and hytham (the former still being her friend for all intents and purposes here!) and turns to her friends and family, including hytham front and centre. she embraces her father and shares a tender moment with him after spending her entire life abhorring his legacy and thinking that making it right was all that mattered! even when the hamtunscire arc begins she says she's going to join guthrum because she owes it to her clan and her people - not just because she wants the glory. this would evolve so naturally into her seeing the hidden ones as a better cause, acting in the shadows without credit for the betterment of others (including her clan), which are qualities she snubs at first but clearly still values and appreciates when you consider her conversation with hytham in the last chapter. it makes sense! it's all there! WHY

#ac valhalla #missives #sorry im just losing my mind a little bit.#this game is just so frustrating to me bc of the missed potential and i know thats a huge cliche #but there are so many great things here #the overarching story of basim/sigurd/eivor is fantastic but it gets swallowed up by the deluge of other content #so by the time the prophecy arc happens its like oh. i havent heard anything from basim or sigurd in like 30 hours. is it the end now??#but the way it entwines norse mythology and ragnarok with the preexisting concepts of sages and the first catastrophe is so!!!#the jotunheim arc was genuinely so so good it's so clever how they managed to build on what they already had with the methods of salvation

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