The Devil and The Snake

1. A Stranger in Wessex

You knew of his reputation, everyone had either warned you or tried to comfort you, without stating you were worried. That was a sign, the sign that your husband to be was to be feared. Your brother had fought alongside his army during a raid and you'd heard him talk about how cruel he could be. Now you were scared. Some stories were too worrisome to believe. From what you knew, he had been married before and the fate of his ex wife... well. Your mother had told you not to pity her, but you couldn't help wondering if this wasn't your fate to end up like her.

You weren't getting married to form an alliance between your countries; you were married to be slaughtered. Like you would give away a pig in exchange for money only for that pig to have its throat cut off once the ex-owner got his due.

You were careful not to offend anyone, you cried alone, only your mother was aware of your fears. You worried in your head, making sure that in public your face remained stoic, stern. Your father hadn't been of aid, never acknowledging what was happening. Even so, you could see guilt in his eyes every time someone mentioned the marriage to come.

Your closest friend had tried to find good in it, without believing, telling you that maybe he wasn't as bad. One time one of your lady had made a joke about his legs. You had heard tales of him murdering those who did it, so you shut her up, acting like a defender of this man when in fact you were protecting her. After that night your ladies didn't talked much about it, they were scared too. As the date of his arrival was closer, it was safer to act as if he wasn't.

You were to be married at once, the quickest possible. In Christian fate and in his the same day. Then, he would return to Kattegat and you would have to follow him. Yes, you were afraid for your life and your security, but also you had to leave everything you ever knew, every person. You were to make the journey with three of your father's men, to ensure that you were safe, but once in the new land you would be truly alone.

Today, during diner your father had mentioned how grateful he was for this alliance and how beneficial it will be for "our" country and you couldn't smile anymore. They were supposed to be at their shore at any moment. You felt the terror in your chest, you could barely eat. You would need courage once he was there so now you couldn't spare to be courageous; it was too much.

Later during that night, you had heard bells. There were boats. Some men screamed orders and you tried to peak from your windows, but it was too dark out and you were too far from the coast to see anything. As you laid a hand on the window you realized how much you were shaking. You stayed there a long time, long enough to hear more screaming, to see more fire being lit but still unable to see clearly, your hand never stopping to shake.

If it were true, if it was him, tomorrow you would be married.

Someone knocked.

You jumped and turned, quickly grabbing your robe to cover yourself more.

"yes?"

Your mother entered the room and you let out a big sigh, somewhat relieved to see a familiar face.

"Mother..."

"You've heard the bells?"

"Yes, is..."

"It is the northmen"

You couldn't answer. You didn't want to show what that this statement meant to you. The queen approached and laid a hand on yours.

"I know how scared you are"

She didn't, how could she. You were being sent to live with a murderer, a man who killed his own last wife.

"Don't be frightened my child"

"But mother, I can't. Everyone, everywhere they all say how cruel he is. How awful he can be, I don't want to be hurt, I don't want to die not at someone else's expense"

With her other hand she placed something in your palm and then closed it. Holding something in your palm.

"You have a decision to make my child. Either you stay here shaking, to be dragged out of force tomorrow or you show him, show him that if he can be cruel, you can be worse."

She looked you in the eyes with a serious look, one you had never seen on her face. You opened your palm and saw a small phial. You didn't ask any question, you knew this was poison and the choices were either to use it tonight or to keep it, in case. For him.

She then took a step back and smiled, a wide smile.

"It will be a beautiful wedding. And I've heard that he is far from a sore for the eyes."

"mother..."

She placed a finger on your lip.

"I will always love you my child, but now you are to be alone and this need to stay hidden. Nobody knows and nobody, but you and I need to know"

You closed your palm again. She kissed your forehead.

"Goodnight dear, sleep well, you have a big day tomorrow"

And then she left.

You went back to the window, this time you were able to make out the boats on the shore. You saw the figures far away of men getting out of them. You clutched the poison in your hand, wondering if you would use it tonight. And if it wasn't tonight would you need to use it one day?

You didn't cry this night, the words of your mother kept you awake until you fell in a deep sleep. You didn't know if you could be cruel. You dreamt during the night of horrible things, of blood and death. The poison was still in your hand when you woke up the next day.