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Eastern Byzantium, 1035: Harald Sigurdsson cursed lightly to himself as he regrouped his men. He was told it'd be an easy mission; they walk in, kill the Arabs who had taken over the village, and they walk out. Instead, he'd watched half his men die and the rest take cover in an old tavern. He had a sentry watching out the window for Arab movements, some Byzantine named Amenas. Yeah, he was pretty sure he said it was Amenas.

"Sir, what if send a large force out towards their strong point, here," His second in command, a fellow named Gabalas pointed out a house on the map, "And then a smaller force can sneak around it, getting them from both sides?"

"Gabalas, that's a shitty plan. But there's not much else we can do, so it'll have to work. Send fifteen of the men as the big force, and you, me and two others will have to do as the smaller one."

He really wished he had more than nineteen troops to work with, but he guessed that was his fault for only bringing a squad of thirty-five and then falling for the Arab's ambush.

The plan proceeded as it should have; the large force approached the house, slicing up any smaller groups, while Harald and his squad sneaked around the backside of it. He heard fighting inside, which was the sign to get his ass in there, and kicked out the window. One glass filled tumble later, he was lying on his chest, looking up at a much larger group of Arabs with his troops nowhere to be seen.

The biggest Arab pulled out a knife out of a hidden sheath and walked up to him with a grin on his face. "Unhand me you dirty subhuman." Harald spat in his face, a look of hatred taking over as his troop mates dove in through the window. Just then, a door fell down and the fifteen reinforcements swarmed the room, but it was too late. Harald Sigurdsson had died, his throat cut by an unknown Arab. He would never return to Norway to take back his father's throne.

Danemark, 1045: Without Harald coming to the rescue, Sweyn Estridsson would continue to serve under Magnus Olafsson as the Earl of Jutland, never gaining the support or power to rebel alone. Fate had dealt Magnus a hand that would help strengthen his throne in Danemark-Norway. But would it help him escape his untimely death?

Afternote: This was my first attempt at a timeline, and the first POD was Harald Hardrada dying as a mercenary in Byzantium. Any feedback/comments would be great! :D
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