The Viking Warrior ... a fairy tale ... by Russel

The Viking Warrior

From a time long ago, forgotten by most modern men. In a land far away, there dwelled a Viking ruler named Erik. Erik had conquered many lands and become the benefactor of many people. All the peoples of many nations loved him. During his struggle to civilize the subdued lands, Erik raised three sons. Sven, Beorgn, and Leif. They were his only reason to continue living in his old age. The three young men had been trained in all the old ways of the Viking Warrior. Each had learned to read the stars to determine their location, and had become master sailors. It seemed the sons of Erik could do no wrong.

The three sons decided between them, to have a contest, deciding to whom their father Erik would endow leadership of all the land. Each would have to build a new ship and capture an unknown land. Sven, the youngest was impetuous and hot tempered. He wanted to be the best at everything. More importantly he wanted to be first. As quickly as one man could move Sven built a ship from the reeds, gathered by the river. He bound them together with the horsehair rope he had made with his own hands. Once Sven had his river reed ship stocked with supplies, he set sail due west.

Sven had been at sea for weeks. He had seen no land, person or any other living thing in all that time. The wind had calmed, and Sven was adrift. Suddenly, in a massive spray of water, a giant serpent sprang up from the depths of the sea.

“Well,” said the serpent. “Who is this tasty looking morsel, traveling my sea?”

“It is I,” said Sven, “son of Erik, who is conqueror of nations, ruler of all the land.”

“Answer me this young Sven,” said the serpent. “Can you think of any reason why I should not devour every ounce of your flesh, and drink every drop of your blood?”

“Because I am Sven, Erik’s son,” he answered. As soon as Sven’s words vanished in the wind, the serpent, with one whip of his tail, smashed Sven’s ship and gobbled him down.

In the meantime, Beorgn, the second son, was strong, tall and tan. He was the epitome of Viking manhood. He had built his ship from seasoned wood he had cut the year before. Dry and easy to cut and shape into his new sea vessel. His ship was stocked, and ready to sail just one week after Sven.

Beorgn was confident, because of his great strength, of overtaking his brother, thereby being first to conquer a new land. Beorgn had been at sea for weeks. He had seen no land, person or any other living thing in all that time. The wind had calmed, and Beorgn was adrift. Suddenly, in a massive spray of water, a giant serpent sprang up from the depths of the sea.

“Well,” said the serpent. “Who is this tasty looking morsel, traveling my sea?”

“It is I,” said Beorgn, “son of Erik, who is conqueror of nations, ruler of all the land.”

“Answer me this strong Beorgn,” said the serpent. “Can you think of any reason why I should not devour every ounce of your flesh, and drink every drop of your blood?”

“Because I am Beorgn, Erik’s son,” he answered. As soon as Beorgn’s words vanished in the wind, the serpent, with one whip of his tail, smashed Beorgn’s ship and gobbled him down. Lastly there was Leif.

Leif the eldest is the smartest of the three Viking sons. He was wise and able to make the best decisions in all circumstances. He built his ship from fresh hewn lumber, still moist with sap, so as not to soak up the seawater. Leif’s sails were made from the finest sailcloth. All the hardware was the best from all the lands of his father Erik. Food, water and other supplies were the cream of the crop, pure and without fault. It was months before Leif set sail. Everything had to be perfect. Leif knew from experience this would assure his victory in the contest. Finally Leif sailed after his two younger brothers. Leif had been at sea for weeks. He had seen no land, person or any other living thing in all that time. The wind had calmed, and Leif was adrift. Suddenly, in a massive spray of water, a giant serpent sprang up from the depths of the sea.

“Well,” said the serpent. “Who is this tasty looking morsel, traveling my sea?”

“It is I,” said Leif, “son of Erik, who is conqueror of nations, ruler of all the land.”

“Answer me this wise Leif,” said the serpent. “Can you think of any reason why I should not devour every ounce of your flesh, and drink every drop of your blood?” “Because I am Leif, Erik’s son,” he answered. As soon as Leif’s words vanished in the wind, the serpent, with one whip of his tail, smashed Leif’s ship and gobbled him down.

As this story of Viking competition comes to a close, the wisdom of Aesop should be brought to mind. If you do the same things others have done, you will certainly achieve the same results.

This makes one think about what they are doing. If you keep doing the same things you have always done, every thing is going to stay the same. If you want change ... "you" must change.

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