The invasion of Durham

{This ending is part of the Finish the Story Contest, the 17th contest so far. Click here to see the contest… @Cyemela wrote the Prompt this time around.}

The Prompt

Some years had passed since the Priest of Durham married The Lady of Berwickshire to her Scottish Prince.

The time drifted along peacefully as he’d settled back in his role with the people.

And so, as he had way back when, he rode his horse to the Durham seashore to watch the waves and pray.

Only far off upon the horizon, he could see a ship rowing toward him. As it got closer he could see the danger and rode away back to the village.

Ulfric Red Beard and his Viking army landed on the shore then moved inland.

The Priest of Durham made it back to the village in time to warn the constable. The constable alerted the local militia. The nobles were notified and scrambled knights on horseback.

When Ulfric Red Beard reached the village he met the English forces defending the town. The Vikings outnumbered them 3 to 1 because of the element of surprise.

Ulfric Red Beard stood seven feet tall, a giant in the 1490s, he walked onto the battlefield, raised his battle axe above his head, and yelled foaming at the mouth:

“I’m going to behead the first Englishman that steps within reach!”

Just then the skies opened and an alien spaceship appeared from nowhere, hovering above them.

The epilogue of these events got lost within the folds of history, due to memories being purposely erased. However, there remains the following one last account of what took place that day.

The Ending by @theironfelix

On that invasive day, the Baron rode along to Durham unaware of contesting parties at Durham after a successful game. The written account of the Baron is as followed after the events transpired. Although one interesting thing is that it had to be translated from its half-french and half 1490 English. No one is sure of why it was written as such, but the translated French is presented in Contemporary English and 1490 English untouched:

It be the sixth month of this year, and a divine intervention of God himself came today. I witnessed though from afar at what first seemed a holy intervention to stop the vikings, and maybe convert them into oure war-band, turned not that.

No this... this was beyond what I can dare to imagine! oh what cruel acts I have seen. Oh Merciful Lord, thou hast condemn'd both me folk and those heathens to unspeakable terrors!

Oh merciful Lord, forgive me of me trespasses! but there's no way I could've fought them. For whence they hath land'd, the retch'd Viking, tall and strong as he may be, hath his head pluck'd.

Pluck'd oh merciful Lord!

Those sky invaders, no ærial demons, proceed'd to take a lot of me peasantry and vikings on the scene. With ease, those ten and five foot demons swoop'd people as if it were harvesting season already! The fortress was untouch'd by them evil creatures, but I saw them retreat to their ship as soon as the trebuchets were in effect and knock'd one of them down.

The Viking war-band retreat'd of course, those plundering cowards, but not without rescuing their heathens first, but to no avail. The same was to be said for oure side, those damn'd screaming folks.

As soon as they came, as soon as they left in their demonic flying ships! But not before a flashing light flash'd across the landscape and all was gone, I had check'd meself by pinching and seeing if I was still here. And here I was to see the aftermath:

Chaos and destruction caus'd by the dæmons, and the Viking war-band scamper'd back home after I saw them, although I understood such fear brew'd up in them, while the defenses and peasantry sobb'd in great pain. And they know not their pains, or how they receiv'd such oh merciful Lord!

I then proceed'd to enter town and glanc'd side-by-side, the fields were burning or trampl'd harshly, houses cav'd in and the landscape torn asunder. Though the fortress seem'd rather in tip-top shape and the defenses were all still accountable...

Oh, how will I explain this travesty to me Lord for a slave I remain to him? Dæmons came to town! the Vikings kill'd me peasantry! God hath punish'd us for oure sins!...

...

I guess He now awaits us sinners to reveal to usselvan such truths.

The End

Cited posts:

@f3nix - ”Finish the Story: Week 17”