Valhalla Awaits

I open my eyes and I see the stars and ravens wheeling above me. The battle is over and we are victorious! The enemy is driven from our lands, but at what cost? I turn my head, oh! how it aches, and all I see is shatter'd helms, riven sheilds and mangle'd bodies.
I raise myself up on my elbows and try to stand but I cannot feel my legs beneath me. I look down and see the hilt of a dagger in my chest.
I remember now, I have fallen in battle.
We had fought for hours in the pouring rain, the blood from our veins mingling with that of our enemies in the mire.
The rain has stopped now and so has the blood. My victorious brethren have marched home, leaving the field covered with the slain for the ravens and the wolves.

I look about me, hoping to see a living face. There is a group of women far in the distance, I cannot see their faces but I know they are weeping. I could shout and they would hear me; carry me back home where I could die among friends. Above me I see a rainbow, but sun is set and the moon is gone and I know there can be no rainbow there amidst the parting clouds and faintly flickering stars.

Two ravens are above me, their beating wings are blotting out the stars. Valhalla awaits me. If I close my eyes all is over.

We have won!

This is the end.