This post was inspired by todays "Picture is worth 1000 words" writing prompt in the Freewriters Community - LINK
The tale I've written is (very, very loosely) based on a true story.
Enjoy !
The crew of the longship shivered and huddled together, despite layers of woollen clothing, and waterproof oiled leather hats and capes. Even the dragon prow was wrapped in hide to protect it from the freezing sea.
The oars were held ready, but they were trying to use the single great sail as much as possible to minimise their exposure to the elements. The water was calm enough, the wind steady; there was no need for the back-breaking work of rowing.
"It's a pretty desolate place, Erik." Old Garm the helmsman had a way with words. He was a master of understatement, and certainly when it came to this forbidding shore at the farthest edge of the world. But his grip on the great steering oar was firm and steady. Years of experience had taught him how to make a ship dance to his command.
The captain nodded to the old man. "Yes, too much ice, not enough dry land. Look at the height of those ice cliffs. Twice the height of our mast !"
There was grumbling from the crew in front of the captain and helmsman.
"Why have you led us to this gods-forsaken place, Captain Erik ?"
The man who called out was Bjarni, one of the youngest of the crew. He was joined by others in a chorus of discontent.
"We've sailed through storms and gales for this ?"
"How can we profit from a land made of ice ? How will we be rewarded ?"
A crafty look stole across Erik's face as he listened to his men.
He strode up the ship until he was stood at the prow.
"Listen men, and I will tell you how we will get rich from this land. It is true, it is clad in ice and freezing cold. But it isn't entirely ice-bound. Look there to the right - do you see those grassy hills ?"
The men looked. "It's just scrub," called Bjarni, "no crops will grow there !"
"That is true, Bjarni. Crops won't grow, but sheep and goats will graze happily. Men can live here and make a life fishing and shepherding. When we offer them passage, at an expense reflecting the hazard and time of the voyage, we need not mention the months of winter darkness, the snow and cold."
"So how will we persuade them, then ?" asked Garm.
"Simple. We offer them the hope of a new life in a new land. A land named for hope and happiness, for grazing and fishing, not for dark, ice and cold."
He waved over at the towering blue-green glacial cliffs that sat at the edge of land and sea.
"These walls of pure, fresh water inspire me with the name of this new land. We will tell them it's name, and I shall name it... Greenland !"