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Chapter 8: The End of the Raid - Monks

(Written by 4th Class Bunclody National School)

They had left us alone at last, those wicked and violent men from a distant land.

We all crept out of our hiding places and looked around in horror. One woman was crying because the Vikings had taken her fifteen year old daughter and twenty year old son away with them along with eight others as slaves.

The villagers were devastated when they discovered that a beautiful young girl, named Deirdre had been killed. She was getting married in a few weeks.

The monastery was in ruins, all the cells were burned to the ground, and the scriptorium was destroyed along with the holy books. We discovered that many treasures had been stolen. Luckily the most valuable gold and silver ornaments were saved. The abbot asked us to gather in the church. We knelt and prayed, thanking God for sparing our lives.

For many nights we couldn’t sleep in fear of the Vikings’ return. Now we only feel safe when a storm is raging.

We will all have to work hard and help each other to rebuild our monastery. The terrifying memories of that day will stay with us forever.