Accept marriage

Hours passed and there was nothing, Sigurd insisted in keeping their distance but Alfhild worried deeply about his decision so sneaking out began searching for him. When she found him he was sat slumped against the crates looking down as the horses walked passed him peaceful in their own activities, “The smell in here is horrific!” Alfhild grumbled finding something clean to sit on, “We heard what you did on the raid, Sigurd is proud!” “What does that get me? The worst woman in the village, I was happy a few weeks ago, almost had the sum and we were friends; now look at us. I wouldn’t even insult my spit by aiming it in your direction” “I know I failed you... I was overconfident and when I realised the mistake it was too late. I’m trying to make it right, you just need to give me time!” “I don’t trust you Alfhild!” “I know and I don’t want you to get back up and say, “It’s fine” because we know it’s not, I just want to earn your forgiveness” “You want me to be the good “little son” that Ragnor should have been. No!” “Then how about it politically? You marry Astrid and then you could be an heir to the next Jarl, become that then...” “I don’t want it. It’s not my responsibility, it’s better I leave!” “Listen to me, we know what Astrid is but use her name and influence to play Erik at his own game. I can help!” “No, I’m not like you! Is there no other way, is there some duel I could fight to free Lagertha?” “A divorce is possible later which is Sigurd’s intent after the political trouble ends!” “So when he is dead! I can have anything?” “Anything!” Sigurd stated, joining his wife hopeful, “So I could just kill you right now and Lagertha is free!” “You would be executed!” Ernak nodded before saying, “So I marry your whore and then I have power. As soon as this happens I will kill you Sigurd and Ragnor...” “You don’t mean it!” Ernak grabbed his knife as he yelled, “This is going through your throat so I don’t have to listen anymore of your fucking lies.” Alfhild pushing her husband back spoke, “Come on let us offer you some sort of compensation for the damaged stock” Ernak contemplated it before acknowledging killing Sigurd wouldn’t be as straight forward started to list his wants, “I want two houses, one for Astrid one for me; this stable is mine. I want my own ship, I want 80% of all your income and I want Erik’s head on a spike!” “Ernak?” Alfhild protested, “You exploit the situation, I can exploit it. I will see you all poor and in rags for what you did to me” “I can’t give you 80% I already owe Erik, 30%!” “I will take 40%!” Sigurd looked down before holding his ground snapped, “No!” they heard a whistle from Ernak who now throwing his bags and saddle onto a horse heard Sigurd compromise, “Marriage... just give me a few years to grow stability; the stables yes, the houses yes. I can’t give you Erik’s head but Torvi... She is originally in my protection but she is yours, if she dies then she dies...” “Sigurd!” “He wants justice, I don’t approve of it but she isn’t of value to the deal. Hell if he wants to sleep with her then be it. Money... I can’t pay you yet but, I will give you all that I can give now plus 30% when I reached stability. It’s all I can do!” “There is three other things I want!” “What? My throne?” Sigurd snapped, “No three finer details. I will not control your daughter and thus I want it made clear any dishonour, any compensation is your burden. Secondly I will not consummate it, there will be no children and any children will not be mine and finally, I want to be part of every raid, every clan battle, every war that we are part of!” “Why the last one?” Alfhild queried, “Because I don’t care about what happens to me!” he sat back down studying his bow in silence, “Ernak... if there was another way; I would have taken it. I hope you believe that. You have the rest of your life in front of you, please don’t throw it away for this or us!” “Are you done?” “I’ll take my leave! Alfhild?” she nodded before looking back at Ernak spoke, “We have an saying ‘Freyja guides loved ones together through the darkest of times’ lets see if this was the right call or if we are going to Helheim for this!” he didn’t look up but closing his eyes gasped to see the images play through his mind again. “Ernak what’s wrong?” “Nothing!” “Ernak...” “I said nothing, where is the Seer?” “In her sanctuary, why?” “I must speak to her!” he rushed past them before heading up the hill began to bang at the door ignoring the town watching him before taking a breath entered to be greeted by the Seeress who smiling spoke, “Welcome Ernak!” “Seer, I see I’ve interrupted your rest!” “I am here to offer advice and guidance when people seek it but tell me my dearest Hun what is it that you need?”

She didn’t move but instead tapping the seat next to her spoke, “Come, let’s talk” he joined her to her smile before sitting closer to him watched as he undid his shirt to reveal the glowing lines over his body and the artefact that glowed matching the colours she stared more at his toned body over the lines, “This bow... ever since I have touched this bow, I have acted differently. My senses are stronger and more prominent; these lines have appeared and these visions... I see these visions!” her hands reached to his chest feeling the light bumps from the lines before concentrating on his query simply spoke, “I have never seen such lines in person, in my visions I have seen these lines, the lines are from the realm of the Gods, they are covered in them all different but yet the same and their buildings, tools similar to this. You have an item that doesn’t belong to you and it’s changing you, unless...” “Unless what?” “These visions are meant to be for you, the Gods chose you to have this very artefact and the visions are trying to teach you why. Has anyone else touched it?” “Ivar” “And has he experienced such visions?” “He has had no side effects!” “Then I may be right. We need to focus on these memories and focus on translating them into words we understand, maybe it’s multiple stories or several pieces, we need to join them and see what it tells us!” “Thank you Seeress, I will work on it!” he stood up heading to the door before hearing her get to her feet she spoke in her low rasping voice, “There’s one more thing” “What?” “Can I be of any other service my God?” Ernak looked back to see her dress fall to the ground in a pile before falling to her knees winked at him, “Be with me instead; only I can satisfy what is going to happen to you...” Ernak helped her up before taking her hands in his spoked comfortingly to her, “I don’t want to marry Astrid; I love Lagertha. If I didn’t love her then I would accept your gracious offer but my answer is no but thank you!” she looked down hearing his clanking boots grow fainter and fainter out the door and for her to now gather her clothes and get changed in disappointment at his rejection to her.

The marriage took place a week later, strategically by Erik so Lagertha would see when she returned but whilst the others celebrated Astrid and Ernak didn’t, the ceremony tried to lift them but the responses were quick and the kiss was simply a peck and now as the feast began Ernak refused to sit next to Astrid instead he sat next to Lagertha which angered the guests but Astrid herself didn’t care she sat next to her many other suitors, “You seem really excited about this?!” Ragnor joked but receiving and glare from his former friend remembered the animosity between both parties, “Kiss you two!” Alfhild smiled hinting at Ernak to show some affection so turning to Lagertha kissed her lips just to annoy the family and Lagertha to return it out of spite, “How about your wife?” Sigurd clarified, he looked at her before topping his mead up looked the other way to stare out the window, “Ernak, I’m going to try to make this work but you have to try!” Astrid spoke, “Don’t bother, I once heard of a story from my mother’s friend who learnt it off her village and was passed on through the ancestors to her; it’s a story about two Greek gods; Hades and Persephone. Hades kidnapped Persephone and **** her to marry him but there was no affection, instead they lived in two different lands doing their own things because any reconciliation failed. Persephone loved another and that is what Hades couldn’t break. Your parents virtually sold you to me and said I could enforce your “good behaviour” in any matter I sought fit!” she gulped but shaking his head he spoke calmly, “From the way I see it... due to my deal, you have your own house, I have mine. You can do whatever you want, I will do what I want. Despite it being official I don’t acknowledge it and due to a perk any of your actions affects YOUR family and they will have to pay for YOUR consequences. You want to sleep with everyone then shall be it. I will be on the next raid or in the next war and the rest of the time in the stables. That reminds me... Erik Torvi, she is my “political prisoner” now, so drop her off to my house later. Sigurd said I could execute her if I wanted!” “Ernak?” Lagertha squealed, “Lagertha... would you really think I would do that? I’m just freeing her from him!” Torvi smiled before jumping up and down excitedly cried out, “I can live with you?” he nodded and Erik looked at Sigurd who shrugged his shoulders, “Quote: I can do whatever I want with Torvi, I only care about boys and marrying my daughters off for gain!” Sigurd repeated. The room fell silent with Ivar nodding to Ernak stated, “You own the stables right?!” Ernak nodded before stating, “Yes, as promised prior; your men are entitled to a cheaper rate along or exchange like the villagers can borrow them, to compensate Erik your new order for five Icelandic horses has tripled in price. Call it added tax for being a bastard! Sigurd yours has doubled and with my new found wealth I have bought the only blacksmith and two merchants which happens to have new prices as well. You won’t pay me the 80% of wealth I asked for so we are going to exploit it! But enough shop!” Sigurd glared at him before slamming his fists to the table snapped, “In the centre of the room now! Let’s sort this out like only you Huns can understand!” Ernak threw his wedding shirt off to stare at Sigurd who removed his shirt. The guests watched as Sigurd swung to Ernak dodge his swing before landing a punch to Sigurd’s jaw watched at the older man massages his jaw before swinging again this time knocking Ernak to the ground, Ernak jumped up as he landed an uppercut to Sigurd before kneeing him in his chest laughed as he landed another winding Sigurd who grabbed at, Ernak elbowed his jaw before punching him watched as Sigurd let back and fell back allowing Ernak to swing again with a punch and another and then a kick as he grabbed Sigurd’s legs and lifting them toppled him over the table and climbing over him started to slam endless punches to his face before grabbing his head slammed it against the floor, “I said I would be the one to kill you!” Sigurd coughed feeling the blood trickle from him until feeling an reprieve saw his guards drag Ernak from his person, Sigurd got up and wiping the blood from his face before signalling for the guards to release him Ragnor looked over to his father worried and then Ernak in disgust, “You what?!” “I’m now an heir to his kingdom, Alfhild pointed out that if Sigurd dies, I could rule the kingdom and marry Lagertha after disposing of Erik” “Mother is this true?” Ragnor yelled and nodding she confessed, “We owe him. I did however think he would have given us a bit longer than a few hours before trying to killing Sigurd; I hoped in time things may have worked out or the situation would have changed!” Sigurd looked over to the hate filled boy and nodding spoke, “I’ll do anything in my powers to fix it when I can!” “More lies. Just like Alfhild” Alfhild stopped cleaning his wound before handing Ernak a knife spoke, “Then do it! Take my life if you think it’s worth it!” Lagertha looked at Ernak who gripping the blade tighter snapped, “You know I don’t kill women!” “Then see me as the traitor that you picture me as!” Ernak looked down and shaking his head she nodded placing her hand on his chest to comfort him. He pushed it away and slamming the knife through Alfhild’s hand yelled over her screams as she tried to free herself from the pain, “If I become Jarl, I will see your name dragged through the dirt and then after starving you all I will make you walk naked through the frozen mountains. You don’t deserve Valhalla!” Sigurd laughed before looking over to the steaming groom replied, “You’ll do alright kid. Next time try not to elbow me in the eye!” “Whatever?!” Ernak growled and seeing Ragnor glare at him he simply spoke, “We were once like family that stood by each other through it all!” “And now we ARE family, who can’t stand each other!”

After the confrontation, the mood was heavy and not in a good way no one would talk to each other and views were divided among each mini group and Sigurd knew this; so in between gasping pain he simply spoke, “Skald the mood is most depressing, tell us a story about our legends!” the Skald sat up as he became to speak, “For Lagertha and Ragnor who have missed the telling of this story, I will tell you all the story of ‘The Örlendr’ the story I was able to witness” Erik growled as he tried quickly to change the story, “No another one!” “I want to hear it!” Lagertha protested waiting for the Skald to begin, “It was a foggy morning when our boats reached the shores of Britannia’s coast and our young legend unaware of what would befall him this very day followed behind Ivar who full of his usual confidence led our men forward. Whilst the others blindly raided the land like and infestation of crops, Ernak stood out. Even his enemies were shocked that he spoke their barbarian language; but it was his actions that surprised even I, this humble Skald. He didn’t harm an innocent and protected the women from harm of our own men, Bernia now one of us and kept a mother safe the legend had already began. His selfless bravery pulled Ivar from the jaws of this “Christian Faith” in the monastery and with the wisdom that Odin granted him charged on horseback alone into the warriors who had set us up in a surprise ambush. His arrows pierced even the most strongest of armour and his swords gleamed in the faint sunlight as the blood squirted from our foes, allowing us to escape to the ships. When his horse was chopped down the enemy encircled is like a pack of wolves waiting to pick us off engulfing us in this darkness that only could only be described as: Helheim creeping up on us. Björn like his father was wounded with Ernak by a sword through their chests and to us signalled the ending of us all but through this darkness came a mighty roar almost as if Kratos had came to save us; in this darkness came two swords on fire which lit our way. What came next could only be described as fearless, swords on fire Ernak released another roar when he charged towards the enemy looking to **** the pack back. Enemies tried to flee but he didn’t allow it he pushed forward killing everything in sight forcing them to retreat and Ernak in one masterful shot kill the evil that commander the leader of this darkness, a shining arrow pushing past the clouds of darkness and him to simply carry the Jarl to the boat and despite all this he sits with us like we are all the same, eyes filled with anger for his betrayal, but yet he stays with us or will we simply be a distant memory as he embarks on his own path!” the main family fell silent looking over to Ernak who wasn’t listening instead looked like he was contemplating something but the others cheered, toasting his success and Astrid despite not admitting it liked how people recognised his bravery. “You did all that?” Ragnor queried and shaking his head Ernak responded negatively, “Lie’s innocents were hurt and I didn’t kill all of them!” Ivar looked over to him before stating, “You charged into enemy forces of at least two hundred people on horseback and attacked them, you then after losing the mount set your swords on fire and charged at them again, you killed at least 50-75 people alone, that isn’t including the warriors in the monastery and carried us on your back to the boat. That enough deserves recognition and that next raid, count us in!” Alfhild smiled seeing the time of night before looking to Ivar spoke, “It’s time to lead the newlyweds to their bed as per tradition states, we witness the coming together of the couple!” Astrid looked up nodding but Ernak getting up stated, “Like hell I will!” “Ernak please, you don’t have to consummate it, just let us lead you to your bridal bed!” he shook his head before grabbing four bottles of mead stated, “I will do it only once; that’s for the woman I love!” before leaving the table heard Alfhild protest, “But Ernak!” “Leave him Alfhild, he doesn’t love her so why disappoint the gods?” Ivar smirked drinking his mead before stating, “Now this is a wedding!”

The night drew near its conclusion and apart for the constant moaning of Astrid being led to the bed alone, soon found comfort in one of the witnesses which embarrassed the Jarl despite his explanation of the families expectations of her, meanwhile Ivar with Alfhild and a few others searched for the groom to try and talk some “sense” into him however the one who eventually found him was Ivar who watching the man cast his fishing line into the water grabbed one of the two spare lines attached to a float to do the same. Ernak didn’t look up instead he just waited for the person to sit next to him and then nod when he head the distinct voice of Ivar begin to speak, “Good choice if you ask me!” “Peaceful, alone and no distractions!” Ernak confirmed, “Got a plan?” “Either die on the battlefield like all you warriors dream of, exhortation until I get what I want or wait for a divorce!” “And if Lagertha... you know ends up falling for him?” “Plan 1!” he nodded grabbing a bottle of mead before drinking from it stated, “Enough of this shit, just enjoy the peace and quiet, I know I am!”