A/N contrary to popular belief I used a fate wheel to choose the chapter Eivor is in, but if I did have to choose he'd probably either be part of the Black Dragons, Black Templars, or even a War Lion.
Could've been so so different.
Also been sick like a dog also I've been taking a lot of time to myself.
Word count: 4.9K
There's something fundamentally interesting about the culture that Fenris has, I mean all in all Space Wolves are just Vikings in Space, as such when I say that their culture goes deeper than that - it does.
Because it isn't all just brawling, drinking, and taller tales.
Because unfortunately I am learning battle plans.
That's right.
Or at least I'm learning battle plans from a hologram from battles that have existed for longer than I have been alive and even a few here and there that were active longer than I was alive.
I mean, how can I even fully understand what a man who's been dead for nearly a thousand years did for a battle that had been over for nearly another thousand years, specifically on a ridge on a planet that was destroyed another thousand years ago…
I sighed as the Hologram dimmed and then winked out into nothingness and I immediately stood up and evacuated the room.
I caught my reflection in the mirror, and I looked less man and more massive wolf, my ginger hair was shaggy in terms of styling, reaching down my neck and my beard was braided around the mustache allowing it to go further down my neck. The teeth - or rather my canines have noticeably grown as well, my teeth looked less like a human's and more like a maw of teeth.
I sighed as I tore my eyes away from the mirror as I glanced around my room, it was spartan in nature, messy cot, a desk to properly study and a mirror to look at myself if I needed to.
I rubbed my eye as I exited out into the hall, I expected the halls of The Fang to be ice cold due to being on a cold death world - instead it was a lukewarm temperature which was more than comfortable with myself just being in a tunic and rags.
Servitors, churbs, and even serfs went back and forth past me as I stood gathering my thoughts, before I started walking, I knew where I was going, and I knew who'd be there.
Food in 40k is less food and more of a toothpaste looking thing - Space Wolves don't groove like that. We have actual food, and let me tell you, it's genuinely good food too. So when I tell you that today is special, it's special.
Holidays in 40k have been mostly rounded into only one - Feast of the Emperor's Ascension.
And today is that day.
You see the Feast of the Emperor's Ascension is a great feast by all rights, even for Space Wolves. A week long celebration where drinking, eating, fighting, and games that barely make sense and right now we've just begun the celebration.
I opened the door to the cafeteria and was immediately forced to dodge a flying Space Wolf with a broken jaw and a chuckle in his throat, by the second step I was ducking a thrown plate and by the third step a wooden mug full of Mjød forced its way into my hand.
This was all before I could recognize any faces let alone rank.
Fights left and right, drinks being slammed, arm wrestling here and there, I would think we were in a frat house if it wasn't for some of us wearing armor and being 7 feet or so tall with beards as long as some people are tall.
I ducked under a flying 'chicken' leg as I noticed an open spot on the ever long table and took my seat.
Almost immediately a plate was dropped in front of me and due to thousand and one things being thrown I was unable to prolly identify what dropped the plate in front of me.
I chalked it up to the will of the Emperor and left it at that.
What was in front of me was a plate of nothing but 'suspicious mean' leg. Don't get me wrong, it smelled amazing. I'm just confused and concerned about what the meat is.
I know Space Wolves eat their enemies to gain knowledge of battle plans and such so I can only wonder if this is the same, only cooked or is it just an animal.
Biting into the meat I was pleasantly surprised as it tasted more akin to veal than any other meat. A taste of garlic and multiple herbs forced their way into my tastebuds and I genuinely found myself enjoying the food.
"You know, I fully expected the table to be flipped by now" to my left Ivarr slotted in neatly as he barely weaved out of the way of a thrown goblet.
"Is… this normal?" I asked, studying the chaos that was being unleashed before us.
"No, usually it's far worse, by now the table would've been shattered a hundred or so times over and there'd be at least several songs being sung.
"Now that you mention it, there is a lack of music" I nodded at his words.
"Now, like you've probably heard, have you made your decision?" Ivarr asked.
"No, not yet, I'm still stuck on Bjorn's words" I shook my head.
"Makes sense, the old man seemingly shifted your entire personality in an entire conversation- it's impressive." Ivarr stroked his beard that was wet with Mjød.
"I… understand that more than most" I spoke.
"You never did tell me what you and Bjorn talked about" Ivarr mentioned offhandedly as he bit into the 'meat' leg as grease flew out on the other side of it.
"Nothing for you to be concerned about, it was mostly between him and I" I spoke as I took my own bite.
"Very well, again, if needed you can talk to me about it" Ivarr said between bites as steam flew from his mouth.
"So what's happening today?" I asked in between bites.
"Fights, feasting, and training, as much as we like to sing and tell tales, both matter little when you're unable to properly fight and understand our enemies." Ivarr scratched his temple.
"Can I confess something?" I asked as I bit into the bone of the leg.
"Anytime" Ivarr spoke.
"I find myself lost here, and I find myself the best in war, as I've told Bjorn, I wish to leave and go and fight again" I spoke.
"Aye, I find myself that way too" my eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Really?" I asked.
"It's the wolf blood in us - or rather a few of us, the want to be out there to fight, to die, to kill; but the truth is that without the pack you'd die too soon, too quickly and The Great Wolf understood that more than anyone" Ivarr spoke as he wiped his grease covered mouth.
"I think you misunderstand" I stoped him "I find myself restless, and I find my thoughts often of war and battle"
"Ah… that is… hm, what would you say is bringing you these thoughts?" Ivarr asked as he glanced at me.
"The thought I can help more people" I said as I chew through the bone.
"That'll do it, but it's best if you accept that you cannot help anyone - it'll save both your time and sanity" Ivarr spoke.
"I understand that, but… I cannot help but think that I can do more" I spoke.
"Aye, I understand, but I do fully believe that if you fall into those ideals you'd fall into chaos - the idea that you have to save every one is perfect for chaos to grab onto and mold you into their perversion of humanity" Ivarr spoke as he grabbed another 'meat' leg.
"I… see." I muttered - barely audible mind you, yet a tick of Ivarr's smile made me silently grimace.
"There will be a time and place for deployments, until then, we train, we feast, and we fight" Ivarr spoke as he delved into his meat stick once again.
I only grunted.
——————————
The battlefield in all of it's holy glory was a place where the Emperor's righteous judgement fell correctly onto the heretics, the Black Templars are no different, they fight, eat, and proudly die in the name of the Emperor.
Today, was no different.
Upon another world, on another hive, another corrupted cult was annihilated by the righteous fury of the black swords of the Emperor.
"I often find myself wondering what's wrong with them" a battle sister, no doubt early into her sisterhood stared down into a half torn cultist.
"Careful sister - your words breach the walls of heresy" a Black Templar - a temple of worship and war of the Emperor stood behind her.
"I understand that, I just wonder why would they stray from the correct path?" The sister turned towards the ancient warrior.
"It is many things, I simply believe that they do not understand the necessity of the Emperor's work, and as such they turn away - we, us, we understand fully his work, and as such we are his black swords to carry out his will" the Black Templar spoke.
"Brother" another Black Templar came beside the other one "the Inquisitor has completed her duty - we are to return"
"Then it shall be done" the Templar nodded.
The sister offered a silent prayer as they departed, as new as she was to this she will adhere to the tenants and commandment of the Emperor fully and completely.
"Tell me sister - what covenant are you from? I was unable to ask before we were sent"
"Order of the Bloody Rose, My Lord" the sister spoke as she followed after the two Black Templars.
"Ah, Order of the Bloody Rose, and since your new to your own Order I can only assume that you've just completed your rites?" One of The Black Templar asked as they ascended an elevator.
"Yes, My Lord. I've finished my oaths and rites just last Terrain month" the Sister nodded.
"Ah, very new then - what made you follow the steps of the righteous?" One of the Black Templars asked.
"It was my mother in all honesty - I'd say she's more of a believer than me, and when she saw the Soroitas she brought me into one of the Sermons as a child and since then… I just couldn't get away from it" The Battle Sister spoke as the Elevator screamed out as it lifted them up.
"I have a question for you sister" a Black Templar turned his complete attention to her "if… if a sister like yourself who is new to your own order turned out to be that of a Saint… what would you do?" The Black Templar asked.
"She would give a biased answer" the other Black Templar spoke up "she herself is new to her own order she cannot give a proper answer"
"It would not hurt to ask" the Black Templar defended himself.
"I would not lie that I would be jealous" the sister answered uncharacteristically softly "yet I cannot lie that I'd feel joy for our entire Order"
"Just as I thought too" the other Black Templar shook his head
"Don't put her down, she's an infant compared to us, do we antagonize the ignorant or the lucky brother?"
"What?"
"Do we antagonize her for being ignorant to the wider spectrum of the galaxy or do we antagonize the blessed ones for being lucky?"
"…neither" the Black Templar eventually settled on as he shook his head.
"If I may, what has caused the purpose of this question?" The sister asked as the groaning of the Elevator thundered out.
"Ah… we are… it is much of an open secret to the Astartes but… upon the Fires of Armageddon, there was a Space Wolf blessed by the Emperor himself" The Black Templar spoke hesitantly.
"A space wolf? Aren't they the Emperor's Executioners?" The Sister raised an eerily delicate eyebrow.
"Yes, I fought with a squadron of one of their Wolf Lords, it was a great honor to fight alongside those who've fought so valiantly and successfully against the forces of the heretics" one of the Black Templars spoke.
"Contray to popular belief- Space Wolves may be seen as Barbaric by more of the religious side of the Imperium but on our side - the Astartes aside from the Ultramarines I'd be hard pressed to find one of equal ferocity and sheer loyalty to the Emperor than them" The Black Templar - if she could see it - was most definitely smiling.
"We were taught that they were barbaric in terms of the faith." The Sister spoke.
"True as that is, when it comes to the vastness of warfare I'd rather them than any other one, take it from me sister - they are called the Emperor's Executioners for a good reason" The Black Templar spoke.
She was taught most of the Astartes Chapters - Space Wolves were taught extensively within her lessons. She was taught that they were shameric in terms of their worship, and despite their fierceness they teeter on the verge of chaosness in terms of warfare as there's no codex they adhere to.
From the frosted walls of Fenris and their Primarch - The Great Wolf Leman Russ - led them through the Horus Heresy and as such they along with the first generation of loyalist Astartes are held with a high regard that is yet to behold go that of the second generation.
"Still, a Blessed Space Wolf was… annoying to most of us if we are to be honest" the Black Templar spoke.
"How so my Lord?" The Sister stared up at them both.
"We are the faithful swords of the Emperor and you are the faithful women of the Emperor. Would it not make sense that we both would be among the first of the blessed of his Convent? Why was it the so called 'barbaric' Space Wolf, then I understood as I watched the footage of the Astartes" The Black Templar spoke.
"There's footage?" The Sister questioned.
There was no shortages of questions the Sister wished to ask both the Templars, be it why a Space Wolf to why the sudden change in heart and strangely the confession of envy in both their hearts.
It was understandable - yet it goes against all tenants of her oaths and order.
"Yes" The Templar nodded "but you won't see it - you aren't Astartes, but what matters is that we understand him. We understand that it is the Emperor's will - even with envy in our hearts we accept it, and should the Emperor and the Golden Wolf call us, we shall answer"
"The Golden Wolf?" The sister questioned.
"Yes, that is his title the Space Wolves gave him; Agnar Wolfbreaker was changed to Agnar The Golden Wolf" The Templar spoke just as the Elevator stopped and gave way outside the hive.
The world they're on was a hive world yet Pollution has yet to poison the world to its roots and instead greenery and trees still existed around the hive
"Get those damned gates closed already" the Inquisitor barked out as she swept her hand out ordering both regular guardsmen and Arbites.
"Tell me three are done with your conversation?" The inquisitor walked towards the three.
"Indeed, how'd you know?" One of the Black Templars asked.
The Inquisitor gazed towards the Battle Sister "someone forgot to turn off coms" the Battle Sister could do nothing but flush in embarrassment.
"But, I have greater news; a lot of your brothers are on their way towards Fenris saying that they're there to see the so called Golden Wolf themselves, and unfortunately for us by command of the High Lords of Terra we're also going" the Female Inquisitor grimaced.
"How many of our brothers are going?" The black Templar asked as the Inquisitor grimaced.
"A fleet has amassed, we've counted a total of 15,000 thousand Black Templars, five battle barges, seven strike cruisers, and a singular forge ship have made a makeshift fleet heading towards Fenris, lead by Marshal Raul Emrik" The Inquisitor adjusted her hat fully uncomfortable with the sheer number of Space Marines heading to one place.
"That's…" the Battle sister's throat became unnaturally dry.
"The Black Templars are non-codex compliant, which is why they have such large numbers - but were mainly there to make sure that the Black Templars do not destroy the Space Wolves - as strong as they are they cannot survive an assault from the Black Templars" the Inquisitor gestured for the Arbites and Guardsmen to seal the elevator.
"Come along, we've work to do" the Inquisitor gestures towards her kill squad as they followed.
————————————
The White Scars weren't what many thought space marines are supposed to be - silent in their feats yet are bravely on the table when in the discussion of greatest fighters in the galaxy.
Seglei Ujumm is a warrior of the White Scars and yet he feels insecure of his prowess, it was an alien feeling, not being good enough.
Yet it is a hole he fell into.
"What are you thinking?" His Stormseer spoke as Seglei glanced up. They're currently on their Homeworld of Chogoris, a feral planet that was more Feudal in nature with sprawling and vast steppes.
"That I'm not good enough" Seglei spoke, their Primarch'a geneseed have changed them from their normality, desires change, ideals are molded differently, and wants are also molded.
Seglei sometimes wonders if their Primarch would feel inadequate amongst his brothers.
"That is normal, I'd say go train, but your broken bones are yet to be healed." The Stormseer folded a hide onto his bed.
"What am I to do?" Seglei asked as his eyes met that of his Stormseer as he moved in a way to not inflame his broken ribs and forearm.
"Tell me why're your feeling inadequate" the Stormseer sat onto his pillow as he leaned somewhat forwards towards Seglei.
"The Golden Wolf" the title alone made the Stormseer nod in understanding, it was rare in these times to not know of the blessed Astartes, it made a widespread shock in all their ranks and then feelings of inadequacies blossomed soon after with most of them training harder than ever.
Leading to the predicament that Seglei is in now, broken bones and forced to face his own inadequacy.
"Makes sense, yet, I must ask you; why you?" This caused Seglei to raise an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
The Stormseer gave a small smirk "why must you be blessed instead of the Space Wolf?" This caused Seglei to pause in silence, he had never contemplated that question.
On the thought of being better, of training harder to match the Space Wolf.
"I… I do not know" he admitted, it was embarrassing.
"You're feeling inadequate for another's achievement, and when asked why another's achievements aren't yours… you become blank" embarrassment flared up to Seglei's ears and was quickly pushed down under a mask of stoicism.
"And that's okay, it is okay to be unknown to yourself - as long as you accept your failures and move on from it, you can be a better person and a better warrior" the Stormseer rubbed his hands together to make a fire as Seglei's eyes followed his movement.
"Some growth is inward instead of outward, the quicker you understand that the quicker you accept your shortcomings and thus being stronger outside" Seglei silently digested the words as he stared at the fire that the Stormseer made.
The words were obvious in nature, yet when spoken provided power that was rarely found in blades, it was in this thoughts that Seglei found clarity and further failure in his own training.
"How do I provide growth inward?" He asked as the flame's light danced around the hut they dwelled in.
"By finding your peace - the way I furthered my inward growth was by the acceptance of our Great Khan's failure in the heresy, so many times he was given a chance to further both his greatness and to combat the Great Wolf's own dogma.
Failures on both sides of the fence.
And yet why does he only think this?
Was it because his Stormseer accepted these failures and strived to be better.
"A beautiful way to put it, but I would disagree Stormseer, I'd say our Primarch's failures made him inadequate and as such he never faced himself. He ran into the warp, some say he abandoned us - I say he didn't. I say that he understood that he failed and simply couldn't accept failure, and went to hunt the Eldar to hide away."
A new face - a new armor the Khan of their Brotherhood walked in, his left eye was naked, blinded by that of a Orc war boss's axe, a goatee covered his chin and a small smirk rested on his lip.
"That… doesn't make sense" the Stormseer spoke with a frown as the Khan laughed.
"It wasn't supposed to - but the main point does, stop hamming in on your failures, when you do Chaos finds it and leeches onto it making it easy to corrupt you, do not measure yourself against those who're too far away to properly equalize yourself against" The Khan spoke as he took slow steps forwards the fire.
Their Khan - Khavorg Aghulo was a calm man, and more akin of that of a sarcastic jokester that hides genuine lessons in his jokes, he was elevator to that of a Khan due to his campaigns against a war against a Orc waaagh that threatened a large number of systems.
"I do have great news though, as you two know of the Blessed Astartes that is within the Space Wolves ranks have landed on Fenris, and many other legions are on their way to either test the man or to join him - Black Templars, a few Blood Angel squads, Aurora squads, Salamanders, and even the ever elusive Minotaurs are sending a delegation to meet the blessed Astartes" the Kahn listed off.
"That's just barely scratching the surface, it seems as if every chapter master is sending someone to meet the Golden Wolf, and the hundred of us our brotherhood is the pledge our selves to him" the Kahn spoke.
"Plege? We are to join him and the space wolves campaign?" The Stormseer genuinely looked surprised.
"No, from what every other legion is doing it seems that we're inadvertently forcing the administratum to make a new chapter, welded together by a single pillar, and as such forcing a crusade using the Golden Wolf's name" the Khan dropped his droopy smile.
"They plan to burn him out - kill him inadvertently by using us to seem to force him to be a chapter master." The Stormseer came to his conclusion.
"That is what I hypothesized the High Lords of Terra will do - they fear him and his likeness as such they will elevate him to a position he is not prepared for and as such he will burn himself out" the Khan nodded.
"Warmaster?" Seglei piped up with a raised eyebrow.
"Possible, but I do not think they're that desperate - as ugly and hideous they are in their methods, they also worship the Emperor, and not to mention if they wish to force him to lead a crusade they'd have to get through the Fenris's wolf's" the Khan gave a cruel smile.
It wasn't proudly said but their Khan had duels with Space Wolves, mainly a few of their Wolf Lords whenever he had the chance, and he lost all of them except for one: 1-8 a upsetting score yet it hammers in the sheer combat ability in close combat the Wolves have.
"Nothing short of a Custodian will make them accept the High Lords verdict" The Stormseer chuckled to himself as he pulled out a knife.
"What can we do?" Seglei spoke - he felt out of place, in terms of rank he was a foot soldier currently talking to his commander and chaplain in a discussion about generals.
"We join him and guide him in the manners of warfare - eighty years old, it must be hammered in that he knows he knows nothing, as such we will assist as elders do" The Khan gave a small nod to the Stormseer who nodded back.
"We leave in the 'morn I will meet other Stormseers to see about spreading the message" Khavorg stood up, and he walked away Seglei suddenly felt pity for the Space Wolf, all the loyalists are gunning to meet him.
Chaos had to be worse.
—————————
"Can we confirm the blessing?" The Dark Angels were known to be paranoid, as such when it comes to the matter of faith this is also another thing they are skeptical about.
Especially the 'blessed'
Naberius the current Supreme Grand Master of the Dark Angels stared at the Holo of Agnar the Golden Wolf of the Space Wolves.
The inner circle was empty today - to feast as it was decreed of the Feast of the Emperor's Ascension. Yet Naberius couldn't look away from the Blessed Astartes, it wasn't anger or envy it was like a child staring at a flame of a candle for the first time.
"We cannot ourselves, not without being there" their Chief Interrogator-Chaplain spoke to him, it was obvious - to send a delegation to the Space Wolves to not only meet this Agnar but to also ascertain both the truth and the level of the blessing.
"Zethar, at what point can I trust the words of the Inquisition? A few months ago a squadron of Battle Sisters challenged his blessing and found nothing of fault. Yet, I have more questions the more I stare at him" Naberius spoke softly, it was an unusual feeling lost as he stared at something he couldn't fully understand.
Space Maries are weapons of the Emperor, they are supposed to be surrounded by saints and blessed beings, they themselves aren't supposed to be blessed - yet Agnar destroyed nearly ten thousand years of certainty.
"Zethar, take yourself and a few of our successor chapters - should they wish - and challenge this blessing of his. As soon as you ascertain the truth report" Zethar himself gave a salute before he bowed out.
Naberius rubbed his forehead as he turned off the holo, the stress was quickly worked away as he sighed. It was the day to feast, as such he put his overall mission on hold as he decided that a steak or two was in order.
Just another day in the Galaxy.
————————-
"This is stupid" I spoke as I stared at Eivor and Logan as they both wore a toothy grin.
"The armor is perfect." Eivor swatted his hand as he gestured towards the armor that was mine. Built for me.
It held the blue-ish grey the Space Wolves held, Saints skulls were chiseled into wolf skulls and painted gold. The Armor was engraved in the Fenris language of our mythology - and most importantly a golden wolf fur draped along it's back like a cape.
The cape housed three wolf heads, two on the shoulders and a massive one covering the head, mentioning the head - the helm itself was a golden plated wolf head that thankfully didn't limit vision.
The armor's type was Ætheric-rune armor, which has been painstakingly remade in my honor, which is strange. It's like someone deconstructed a private plane to give you a car key, it was alien yet so so important.
"Not to mention the weapon" Logan cackled to himself, I would punch him in annoyance, only if I wouldn't get my back broken for it.
The weapon - they named Thaldrin or Wyrmwrath in normal tongue - was engraved in silver as the weapon's color was gold. It was a massive battle axe, with the handle itself being more of a metal pole than a grip, the length of the pole was that of the size of myself; and for the record I am well above 7 feet. And the head, oh god the head. It was massive, as long as I was, it was double sided, and the blade itself held a powerfield on it that was equal to Logan's.
"Don't look at our handy work as if it was a sin. It's not… every thousand years you get to make armor and weapons for a blessed brother - so I'm going to say this as kindly as I possibly can" Eivor cleared his throat.
"You're gonna take the armor and weapon - and you're going to like it" his eyes deadpanned onto me as I gripped Thaldrin in one hand.
Thaldrin despite be massive was light, not in the sense of weightlessness but rather I felt like I was wielding an unruly umbrella that was elongated to proportions that were comical.
"You'll have to wait to don your armor until your ceremony of becoming a champion, but until then Thaldrin is yours" Logan spoke as the very special Ætheric-rune armor stayed there and seeming stared down at me like I was unworthy of it.
"That… this is more than fine" I nodded.
"Now! Let us train, you're in need to get better at your weaponry - and I'm in need of losing the weight I gained from the feasts!" Logan laughed as Eivor smirked.
"Can… can we even gain weight?" I asked.
"Only if you didn't feast enough! Now, come along, we need you to get adjusted to your weapon!" Logan gestured as I followed him like a man to his execution.