Chapter 9
Freydis
When I opened my eyes, I was standing on top of a mountain. Mist rose, twisting around me.
Nearby, a bird called. I turned around, trying to find where the bird was, and when I followed it, I came across bodies. There were so many bodies lying on the ground; all dead. Blood flowed out of their wounds. The smell of burning flesh hit my nostrils, and I frowned, bringing a hand to my nose.
When I walked further, stepping on the bodies, my eyes widened as one of the people winced, raising his hand toward me.
He gurgled something, his eyes wide, before his hand fell back and he died.
My breath caught in my throat, and I hurried out of there. I flung myself forward, coming closer and closer to a longhouse. As I did, a figure became clear.
The bird whistled again, and I took a step forward. The woman turned. Her face was soaked with blood. Her blonde hair was dishevelled and soaked with blood too.
Her face was drawn into a deep frown, and she was holding an arrow.
My breath caught in my throat.
The woman was me...
"Freydis, goddess-born, wake up. Find your destiny..."
I gasped, opening my eyes to find myself in the room. The fire in the hearth had burned low. I shuddered. It was getting very cold in here.
I rubbed my forehead, thinking back to the dream; the dream I always had from time to time, and it was always the same.
What if the woman I saw was a version of myself from the future? A warning of what would happen if I give in to the mark on my back? Was it from God?
A cold chill swept through me, digging into my bones. I wrapped my arms around myself. The fire was nearly out, but it wasn't the cold; it was fear.
She might have had my face, but those eyes... those bloody eyes weren't mine. They were black and empty, with no soul in them.
I reached for the Bible and rosary beads I kept on the table. Holding them in my hands, I closed my eyes and began to pray
.....
When I woke up again, it was to a knock on the door. Siggy walked in, informing me that I had been summoned by the King.
After dressing and braiding my hair, I hurried to the hall to find Harald seated on the throne. He wasn't alone. Warriors were scattered around the hall, and drinking mead; some were even sparring with each other.
"Freydis," Father called from his throne.
"I was in my room when you summoned me," I said, bowing my head in greeting.
"Aye," he said. "The warriors I sent to scout the area came back with nothing. It's unfortunate that we let those Hounds escape."
"The Hounds are no fools. They've gone into hiding," I replied.
"I have news from Eastland."
"What news?" I asked, frowning.
The Eastlanders had always tormented my people. They crossed our borders, killing our men and women, and taking captives.
"There is to be a wedding," he said. "That is the reason I called you here."
I jerked my head back. Was the King planning to take a second wife? Lagertha would be deeply displeased with that.
"A wedding?"
"Aye."
"Whose wedding? Yours? Are you planning to take a second wife?" I asked. Was he doing this because he needed a son? But he had already named me his successor.
Father sighed.
For some reason, I didn't like the direction this conversation was going. A voice in the back of my mind urged me to turn around and return to my room.
"A lot has been going on lately," he said.
"What?" I asked.
"In Eastland. Their people are divided; fighting among themselves," he explained.
"Why?"
"A few days ago, their King was challenged. A warrior stood against him..."
"Challenged?"
"Their customs and traditions are a lot different from ours," Harald said. "The former king is dead; killed at the hands of the warriors. But his wife and daughter were spared."
I nodded.
"After what happened, I was surprised to receive a letter from him requesting a meeting between us," he said. "The meeting was held just yesterday."
Yesterday, when I was at the church. I wondered what the meeting was like. Was there any fight? Argument?
"And?" I asked.
"He is not weak; the new king of Eastland. But he also didn't want the war between both lands to continue," the king leaned back into the throne. "Just what I wanted."
"So, it is settled then? No more war between both lands?" I asked.
"If only it was that easy, Freydis," he said with a dry smile.
Recalling the reason I was here, my face fell. "Is this why you summoned me?"
"Isn't it big news?" he asked. "That both lands are working on stopping the feuds between us? No more killing? Kidnapping or raping of women? Surprisingly, this new ruler is a Christian."
The Eastlanders were never Christians to me. They'd done so many barbaric thing; kidnapping our women as thralls, raping and killing them. They would go to the church and kill our priests, stealing the gold and silver there, breaking the statues of angels and Mother Mary.
"Christian," I said. "Did the king tell you this when you met?"
"Aye. He prayed with us, and his behaviour showed he was not just a good leader, but a Christian man."
"Interesting."
"And he was young. Young, around your age. And he has a doll-like face, even though he seems powerful—tall, with blood-red hair. He believes peace between both lands should be cultivated."
"Good luck then. I'm glad to hear there'll be no more bloodshed," I said.
"Aye," he said.
I took a step back. He was staring at me like he had more to say.
I paused. "The wedding you mentioned. Are you getting married again?"
Harald pressed his lips together first. "The last time we tried to call for peace between both lands—"
"It ended bloody," I cut in. "The East lander man killed our woman. He slit her throat with a dagger and offered her blood to their gods. Then he sent her head back to us as a warning."
Harald sadly shook his head.
"It wasn't just once. Our ancestors also tried to make peace, and it didn't—" I paused, eyes widening. My mouth hung open as I stared at Father. "Is this a jest?"
"Freydis."
"Tell me you don't plan to marry one of our people to them to stop the war," I said. "Who would even agree to marry them?"
The King stared at me for a long time, and I immediately knew what he was about to say before the words left his mouth.
I frowned, hands clenching. "Did you drink mead? Because it looks like you're drunk."
"He is a good man and has promised to end the war if you agree to marry him."
"I won't be sold to an Eastlander!" I said. "No amount of words would convince me to marry him."
"He promised to keep you safe in a hall for a year, which would send a message across both lands that we can be safe with one another—"
"Why are you asking me this? I cannot be the sacrifice for Fellur."
"You aren't a sacrifice," he said.
"Well, what happened to the last woman who was sent there as a bride? She was sacrificed to their old gods?!"
He looked at me with softness in his eyes.
"I'm not marrying him."
"Freydis."
"Nay."
"The former King's death was an opportunity to bring both lands together again after many years of being rivals."
"He was murdered, and that is a sin in the eyes of the Lord," I said. "And you would have me marry a sinner?"
"Sinner," he scoffed. "Do you know how fast the Hounds are growing in our land?"
"I don't care."
"If the Hounds all join forces, they can wipe us out and take Fellur from us."
"I'm leaving." I turned around and started walking.
"He promised to build you a hall and offer many things for your dowry."
I ignored him and continued walking.
"Freydis!" he yelled from his throne, making me turn.
"You are going to marry him whether you like it or not."
Without a word, I walked out of the hall. I was angry, my hands clenched into fists. I could feel my nails digging into my skin.
I passed through the tunnel and headed into the woods. I followed my feet, walking deep into the woods and passing many trees.
A calm wind brushed against my skin, and the anger slowly began to leave me. The overwhelming thought was that Harald had all the power here. Once he made up his mind about something, he wouldn't change it.
What play could I make if he held all the power in his hands? He was the King here. Women were never allowed to have a say in marriage.
But I had always thought, as his successor, I would at least be allowed to choose who I would marry.
I walked into a clearing a few minutes later. Close to it was a small stream.
Crack.
I felt it; like the presence of someone. But when I whipped around, there was no one. I pulled the dagger from my belt.
"Show yourself," I said, knowing someone was hiding behind those trees.
No, there were two.
I didn't know how, but I could sense when someone was nearby.
The answer came as a laugh, and two bulky men stepped forward. Their beards were thick and braided with rings. Dark kohl circled their eyes, and they smelled heavily of mead.
From their faces, I could tell they were Eastlanders. I frowned. Harald had allowed them into our land so soon?
"Well, well," the shorter one drawled. "Since you asked nicely, here we are."
"What are you two doing here?" I gritted my teeth.
They laughed. "What does it look like?"
"It looks like you shouldn't be here."
"And why do you think we're not allowed to be here?"
"Eastlanders are forbidden to step foot in the South," I said.
"Is that so?" the shorter one laughed. "I don't think you understand that an East lander doesn't follow any rules."
"So fearless," the taller one said. "Why did our King choose you?"
"Does that answer my question about what the both of you are doing here?"
"I suppose it doesn't." They stepped forward, and I stepped back. "We followed you down here. You have such beautiful curves and face, Princess."
Anger boiled through my blood. "Step away now!"
"You think your little dagger is going to stop us?" the shorter one asked, and both of them laughed again.
But when the laughter died down, their expressions turned serious.
I held the dagger tightly, watching as they moved closer, ready to cut through their skin.
The men rushed toward me, and I swung the dagger, digging it into the side of the shorter man. He growled in pain.
The taller man shoved me to the ground. I fell hard, hitting my already wounded head on a stone. I felt my skin tear open, blood flowing down my face.
My fingers dug through the dirt, searching for my dagger.
The men grabbed my legs, and as they pulled me, I fought; kicking, screaming.
Suddenly, they let go. One of them collapsed on top of me.
I screamed, trying to push him off. But when I turned and looked at him, my eyes widened.
He was dead.
Footsteps approached.
When I looked up, I saw Ragnar.