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When Beorn and Froki entered the hall, they found the place abuzz with excitement.

'What's all the commotion about?' Froki asked a reveller

'The Elves had a huge fleet coming to try and invade! But a huge storm blew up, and they either sank or were shipwrecked - the whole fleet!' he replied jubilantly

They bought a flagon of mead and joined in the drunken celebrations by belting out a popular drinking song.

'Chug a mug of mead And another mug of mead Chug another mug of mead Till you fall down Chug a mug of mead And another mug mead Chug another mug of mead, warrior!'

'So, what's it like being the son of a Jarl?' Froki asked

'It's not so bad, you may be the Jarls son, but that doesn't mean you can get away with stuff.' Beorn replied

'Really? I thought you'd get a free pass.'

Not with my father,' Beorn replied taking a swig ' let me tell you something from my childhood.'

Eight years earlier...

'This is it, the town armoury.' whispered Beorn

'Excellent, now lets get ourselves some real weapons!' Leofric answered

He produced a small supply of lock picks and set to work.

'Almost there, just a little... damn!'

'Do you even know what you're doing? That's the third one you've broken.' Beorn asked

'I almost had it that time!' Leofric hissed back 'Why don't you put your natural talents to use?'

'OK, fine. Stand back.' he shot back

'All right, here's the -'

He was cut off by Beorn charging into the door, wrenching the lock free of the door frame. They hardly had time to react before two guards came running to investigate the noise.

'What in the nine holds?'

'I can explain.' Beorn said, trying to seem casual

'Master Beorn, we might have known it would be you and your friend.' said the lead guard

'So, you're going to let us go?' he asked hopefully

'Oh no, I'm taking you to your father, and he is going to decide what to do with you.' he replied

And the guard was true to his word, force marching them to the Jarls' hall where his parents sat on two thrones, his sister playing with her dolls nearby.

'My lord, I caught your son and his friend breaking into the armoury. Luckily we apprehended them before any real harm was done. However, the door will need to be repaired.'

'Beorn, what am I going to do with you?' his father asked, head in hand

'You could let me train with real weapons.'

'I've told you, you're too young.'

'But I'm twelve already! Let me join the Holdmoot and become a man!' Beorn shouted at his father

'Enough! Go to your room and wait for me.' he shouted back

'Yes father.' Beorn replied sullenly

'Bye Leofric.' he added as he trudged away

'Now young man, what to do with you?' he said, turning to Leofric

'Please lord, don't tell my parents, I'll do anything!' the lad begged

'I'm afraid I can't do that, Hrolfr wouldn't appreciate me keeping a secret from him.'

Leofrics' face fell, he knew he was in for a mighty punishment now.

'Take him home, tell his father what happened but also not to be too hard on the boy. I suspect my boy is more to blame in this.' 'Yes, my Jarl.'

'Oh, and tell Hrolfr that in addition to the current order, we'll need some wood to repair the door.'

'It will be so. Come on, off to Half Moon Mill with you.' replied the guard, leading the boy away

'Right, now to deal to that troublesome boy of ours.' Folcwine said rising

'Mummy, is Beorn going to get a smacked bottom?' Atahbah asked anxiously

'Perhaps, darling. Daddy is very angry, Beorn and his friend could have been hurt.'

'Oh daddy, don't hurt him - he didn't mean to do it!' she begged, tugging at her fathers hand

Foclwine looked down at his daughters sapphire eyes, and her pleading face.

'I won't be too hard on him, but he must learn to stop all his misbehaviour.' he assured her, putting a hand on her head 'Run along now, go back to playing'

When he entered Beorns room, he found his son sitting stiffly on the edge of his bed.

'So, you want to become a man eh?' he said, shutting the door

'Yes,' came the soft reply

'Well then,' he said sitting next to his son 'if you can behave yourself between then and now, I will present you at the next Holdmoot and give you a real weapon.'

'Really!?' exclaimed his son, forgetting his fear and sadness

'Really.' replied Folcwine, putting an arm around his son

'Thanks dad!' Beorn replied, hugging his father 'And I'm sorry for the door.'

'I know that, but you still need to be punished. What you did was both disobedient and dangerous! Your mother would have you doing jobs, perhaps helping Hrolfr at the mill. But I think a few short, sharp blows to your backside are more fitting to a would-be warrior than hours of manual labour. What say you?'

'Yes, father!' Beorn replied, realising that his father was giving him a milder punishment

And so Folcwine bent his son over his knee and gave six smart slaps to his backside before returning to the main hall.

'You're too soft on that boy, dear.' S'fara chided him

'I know, but a father wants his sons to be both headstrong and responsible. Hopefully I will have just helped him develop into a fine man.'