The monks stared at each other and one of them raised his hand. "I think we should think better about what we are going to do, because we are talking about what we are going to commit suicide.
I do not think I am the only one who understood the words that the pagan king said. His speech had many parts of the bible and others that we do not understand.
I believe that we should surrender and in order to know more about the knowledge of him, as monks we must never forget our principal work.
I know that the founders of the monastery had a reason to believe that the best option was suicide, but these pagans are not normal.
We have to analyze very well what we are going to do and I hope that everyone can do it, at least I am trying to end my life.
I think we can learn more from them, besides the rumors are just that, we cannot guarantee that they are real. I hope you can take my words into account. "
Another of the monks nodded and looked at the Abbot. "I think it would be better to surrender, as they could have attacked us at this time, but they are celebrating this day like us.
You only have to look through the windows of the monastery to see what they are celebrating. If they had wanted to kill us they would have already done so.
They have enough troops to kill us. It's the best we can do. "
When the Abbot saw that there were more monks willing to surrender, he could only sigh "I cannot force you to end your lives, so take your food and leave us alone.
But I want to ask that before you surrender, please bury our corpses in this place. At least that way we will be the guardians of this place.
It is my last wish. Those who want to end their lives following the words of our founders can stay to be able to spend these last moments as a family. "
Half of the monks thanked the Abbot for his decision and took their food before leaving the room in silence, all of whom remained looked determinedly at the Abbot.
As they were sure of being able to end their lives, they did not want to surrender to a pagan because they considered him something unworthy of it.
The Abbot looked at the monks who had been left with a smile. "Thank you very much to all of you for respecting the orders of our founders.
I want you to know that all of you are a genuine family to me. Many of you came as children or simply sought God's way of your own free will.
You should not feel afraid because all of us will reach heaven together, where our place will still be next to God as his faithful followers.
That is why we must first enjoy this sacred food before we can end our lives. Now my family just eats and enjoys this last moment.
If you have sins to confess, do not hesitate to say them because today everything will be forgiven of any evil that you have inside.
This day it does not matter what we have been in the past, for all of us will leave with our souls clean and free of any guilt.
That I can assure you. "
After those words, all the monks ate while enjoying an atmosphere of calm and tranquility.
The monks who were eating out also enjoyed their food, as they knew their lives would improve under the pagan king.
Although they couldn't know the future, they had a feeling they could.
In Dublin, the Yule festival was being prepared to be celebrated in the evening following the rules that Einar had established with his father-in-law Asgot.
Those who were in charge of doing such work were the Godis who had been studying in the Nordic nation.
The atmosphere was one of complete jubilation for the inhabitants of the city as they would also celebrate that the war would only take perhaps a couple of months before it came to an end.
Also, the civilian population of refugees and Irish citizens enjoyed the jubilant mood within the entire kingdom, mainly because they had been given food in large quantities.
Although they somewhat hated the fact that they were eating fish, they could not complain at all because in the end they are receiving food.
Which had been scarce in their own places of origin.
In the newly conquered kingdoms, the situation was quite calm because the guardians who stayed to safeguard the fortresses of those places only had to worry about keeping warm.
Well, there were no rebels or any force that prevented them from living a quiet life within the areas they were guarding.
The only ones who didn't seem to be enjoying Christmas were the Irish who were in the kingdom of Ulster.
Well, there were hundreds of thousands of people who barely received food, however that did not matter to them because they were training with everything they had in their hands to be able to fight against the Nordics.
The coalition of Irish kings was completely sure that perhaps they could win the war by having an army far superior to the Nordic army.
That is why they bet the survival of their kingdoms on an army of peasants, women and children to fight to the end.
They knew that if they lost, it would be the end, however they were completely confident that victory, that is why all blacksmiths or anyone who knew how to handle metals.
They were working hard to be able to create armor and weapons. At that time, they no longer cared if the armor or weapons were made of iron or copper.
The simple fact that they could protect their bodies was more than enough for them.
In the evening, Einar started the banquet so Dreide could taste the delicious food that Einar had prepared.
The soldiers were also able to enjoy the Christmas banquet and the Yule; it was at that precise moment that the entire army forgot for a moment that they were besieging a walled monastery.
For them, there was simply the power to enjoy delicious food and have a good time at that time.
Everyone enjoyed the food and when they finished, Einar took the accordion from him and started playing some pretty interesting tunes.
Dreide who was listening sat next to Einar and leaned her head on his shoulder, because she simply wanted to hear how he played those beautiful melodies.
For their part, the monks who had already finished their meals entered the dining room where they could see their dead companions all leaning on the table.
For the poison had ended their lives.