Hellblade - Blog Posts

The Unspoken Journey of The Northman and The Mad Woman: Chapter 2

What is he doing here?

Do not trust him.

You must be cautious, Senua.

You must!

Senua’s eyes grew wide as she peered up at the Northman, confused at his presence. She hesitantly lowered the iron she was using to stoke the fire she had built, but she did not drop it completely. “Thórgestr…” she trailed off, not quite knowing what to say.

He noticed her shock instantly, and felt guilty at the fright he had given her. Was he truly so terrifying that the mere sight of him was enough to take away her comfort? He took a step back.

“Fargrimr told me I was to stay here, so we may discuss what is to come. Did he not discuss that with you?” His voice too trailed off.

He is lying!

Do not trust him.

But what if he isn’t?

Why would he lie?

“I am sorry. I shall go.” Thórgestr turned to leave, not wishing to cause her any more discomfort and wishing greatly to show Fargrimr what his fist tasted like. However, the injury on his leg betrayed him and instead of outside, he found himself collapsed onto the floor of the hut. No words could escape his mouth, only a series of pained breaths.

There was a loud clang when the iron fell from Senua’s grasp. She had moved to him with an urgency she did not know she possessed. Her hand reached to cover his. She squeezed them before prying them away from his wound. “Let me see.” She spoke softly, though it was clear her words were a demand. Thórgestr hesitated before letting his arms relax and his palms rest onto the cool ground.

He winced as her nimble fingers traced over the wound. Though it was in a much better state than the day he first got it, it was not fully healed. The gash in his flesh was large and partially scabbed over. Some areas were bleeding again, having been ripped open in his most recent battle. Despite the blood, there was no sign of infection, which was a surprise to both Thórgestr and Senua alike.

“Stay here,” once again, a demand. Senua stood and quickly walked to the edge of the hut. Ástríor had made sure there were fresh linen underclothes and a few spare tunics were left in the hut for her, in addition to a salve from the town’s healer. She grabbed a tunic and cut it into strips before bringing them and the salve back to were Thórgestr was resting on the floor.

He watched her silently as she applied the medicine to his leg, a deep unhappiness taking ahold of her face.

This is all your fault.

You hurt him, Senua.

Why do you always hurt the men you care for?

Are you going to hurt him like you hurt Dillion?

Senua fought the tears that were welling up in her eyes. She began to wrap his leg, as gently as she could manage, taking note of how he tensed as she went. She ran her thumb across the improvised bandage one last time before she retracted her hands. She could not bear to meet his eyes. “Why did you not ask to see a healer.”

He was quiet for a moment. “Do you believe these people would heal me?”

No, she did not.

“I am strong,” he continued. The corner of her lip turned upwards at the harshness of his accent. So different from the melodic cadence of Dillion’s voice, but endearing in its own right. “The pain is only temporary.”

He hoped she could not see the heat he could feel radiating from his cheeks. Every touch left him with tingles running along his nerves. It had been a long while since a woman had touched him so gently. Even longer since he was cared for by a woman. Sure, he had lovers, but they all seemed much more interested in who his father was than who he was. He could feel their lack of sincerity, so they never earned a permanent position in his life. There was one who he thought was different, but she passed on long ago.

He had came back from a hunt, hoping to surprise her with some brightly colored wild flowers he had found growing in the forest. It was he who was surprised when he found her motionless in his bed, surrounded by blood, and what looked to be the beginnings of a baby. His baby. One he had not even known was growing. He cupped it in his hands and cried harder than he ever had looking at the features that were starting to become distinct. He cried harder than he did when he was a boy and The Tyrant took his mother. To him, he saw his whole future lying dead and cold in front of him.

That is how his father found him. He was beaten black and blue for showing such weakness, though, after much protest, Thórgestr was allowed to send off his beloved and their little one in a burning boat rather than a pyre. He had been with no women since. His lamenting was interrupted when Senua offered him her hand. He accepted, and she helped him to his feet. She wrapped one arm around his waist and slung his over her shoulders. She walked him over to the bed and helped him lie down slowly. The exhaustion he had long since been fighting crashed over him like rough waters on a boat.

His eyes scanned the hut once more and he realized there was no second bed. He attempted to sit back up, but was swiftly pushed back down by two small, but strong, hands on his chest.

“You must rest . You said yourself our journey is long.” She stared down him, her bright blue eyes mesmerizing him. He took note of her hair; it was different. Her head piece was removed, as was the tie that held all of the dreads of her hair together. The locks of her hair had made their way to rest at the front of her shoulders. To Thórgestr, they looked like vines creating a frame around her face.

She looked beautiful.

His heart is beating so fast.

Look what you’ve done to him.

Your hands, Senua, why haven’t you removed them?

She knows why.

She became acutely aware that The Furies were right, she had not removed her hands from his chest, when he brought one of his hands up to cover hers. It was her turn to blush, though she could blame the glow of the fire should he bring it up.

“Senua” His voice was but a low whisper, and her fingers flexed into his chest at the vibrations she felt when he spoke her name. “It is you that should have the bed. You need to be strong.”

“You are injured.” She protested.

He began to argue back, but the words died in his throat when her free hand came up to his face. Her fingers cupped his cheeks and her thumb traced over his lips. Senua could not explain why she had done that. She hadn’t even realized what she had done until the Furies were screaming at her once again.

What are you doing?

His lips…

They are soft.

Softer than Dillion’s.

Flesh is softer than bone.

Senua did her best to ignore them, but she did not immediately move her hands.

“If you are so concerned, you take one side and I shall take the other.” She whispered . She could not believe what she was saying, but she knew from their time together that they both were equally as stubborn and she did not wish to argue any farther. She wasn’t sure she could muster up the words.

“You shouldn’t sleep in your leather.” She finally spoke, changing the subject and withdrawing her hands into her lap. She stood suddenly, meekly walking over to the spare garments once again. She grabbed a larger one for Thórgestr and handed it to him. She wordlessly retreated to the fire once more, her back facing him to give him privacy. Thoughts of what he must look like clouded her mind, though she did not dare to look behind her. She wondered if his markings adorned his chest as well. She heard the thud and clang of his clothing hit the ground by the bed.

It was a few moments more before he cleared his throat. “Are you…. Shall I turn away for you.” She blinked once. Twice. She was a fool. She couldn’t chastise him for sleeping in leather and then sleep in her own.

“Yes.” She breathed. She kept her back to him as she undid the ties of her clothing and swapped them for the remaining under clothes and tunic. When she finally turned around, his head was firmly facing the opposite direction, and for that, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Her feet were cold as she wandered back to the bed. When she slipped under the woolen bedding, she did not leave as much space between them as she could have.

Thórgestr did not complain.

Sleep came for them both not long after, but, the sleep was not peaceful. Thórgestr was roused from his slumber by the thrashing and whimpering of the woman next to him. The fire had gone out by then, so he was unable to clearly see her face, but her distress was evident. Most nights Senua was plagued by terrible nightmares. Her father, Dillion, the blood eagle, the darkness consuming her. Most nights she was alone.

Thórgestr wished he could take his sword and slay whatever monsters corrupted her sleep, but he knew that was impossible. Instead, he moved closer to her and tenderly shook one of her shoulders. She shot up as quickly as lightning shot down from the sky. She was gasping for air like she had been drowning.

“Senua!” He spoke, grabbing her by both her arms when she began to struggle, confused by her surroundings. “Senua, it is alright. You are safe.” Recognition set in, and she gazed into his eyes. They were just barely glinting in the moonlight that shown through the gaps in the ceiling. She fell sobbing into his chest, her fingers digging into his taught skin through the thin fabric he wore. He slowly laid back down on the bed, pulling her so she rested comfortably upon him.

He gently stroked her hair and down the length of her back, thinking of anything to distract himself from how vividly he felt every curve of her body. He consoled her softly and promised her once again that she was safe with him.

Weeks ago he tried to kill you.

He tried to kill us.

But now he is holding you.

He is protecting you.

He keeps protecting you, not unlike Dillion.

Eventually, they found sleep once again. Senua did not wake again until she heard the hut door close quietly, and Fargrimr’s voice murmuring something about her still being asleep. As she blinked the sleep from her eyes, she realized she was still entangled with Thórgestr in the manner she fell back asleep in. She was laying partially on top of him. She smiled at the way the scattered rays of sunlight illuminated his angular features.

She moved to sit up, her leg sliding over his lap. She froze when she felt it, and her face burned hotter than the fire the draugrs spit when a soft groan slipped past his lips. Her gaze lowered slowly to confirm she truly was feeling what she thought she was. She’d felt only Dillion in this way, and it hadn’t been more than a handful of times.

What did you expect?

Do you desire him?

He desires you.

Of course she does.

She isn’t moving.

She was frozen in place, but her blood ran hot. She felt a familiar heat. A tightness in her belly. As if he could feel her gaze, Thórgestr slowly began to wake. His initial reaction was to smile when he saw her soft face above is. However, he noticed her flushed complexion and followed her line of sight.

He quickly sat up, pulling away from her and the bedding into his lap. He didn’t know what emotion he felt more strongly. Shame or embarrassment. There was a prolonged silence and neither could look the other in the eye. When he felt like he could not take it anymore, he began to mumble. “I am sorry. It is morning. These things,” he paused, closing his eyes tightly. “these things happen in the morning.” Senua simply nodded. She remained silent for another stretch.

“We should get ready to leave. The daylight is upon us and we still need to eat.” Senua nodded again and stepped slowly to her leather. Steeling herself for what would happen once she walked out the door.

don't try to fight the storm, you'll tumble overboard

T I D E S will bring me back to you.

where you are laid to rest

a skeleton that was blessed...

we found only

D E A T H

we're s l e e p w a l k i n g. . .

b a c k w a r d s to where it all began. . .

dawg i just finished hellblade2........... WHAT. WHAT..... 😨

i wasnt expecting that ending.. and i COMPLETELY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO FIGHT MORE BEFORE THE END CREDITS CAME ON?? I WAS SO . CONDUSED??? I WAS GENUINELY EXPECTING MORE ...... it took me a full second to realize ... these r fhe end credits im seeing, im done with the game⁉️⁉️⁉️

theres sso much to unpack but im too high for this right now man ... fhus is fucking crazy

i just finished hellblade im going to killmyself

IT WAS REALLY GOOD THOUGH, i was NOT expecting such an emotional ending like that...

time to continue playing hellblade 2 🙌🗣️🗣️ i actually first started out playing hb2 for a few hours until i started to think.... does this have a first game.?? yes it does🤞 abywags im high rn so sorry if this doesnt make sense BUT IM JS SO HAPPY I FINISHED IT AAUFGH time to go play hb2🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥