The Devil and The Snake

3. Wedding or War

The Christian ceremony was quick and, although you were in the physical place of the wife, you couldn't feel like it was yours. When your husband lifted your veil, you locked eyes with him. Trying to see as much of him as he was right now of you, trying to believe he was going to be good. He didn't smile when he saw you. You had been warned of it, but you still felt crushed. Thinking maybe he thought you were ugly.

Not that it would matter after tonight.

You didn't saw any northmen in the crowd except Ubbe. You saw your mother's eyes and it gave you strength, she raised her chin and you turned and did the same, mimicking the strength you didn't have. As the priest asked you to kiss you closed your eyes. His lips were soft, but the kiss was so quick you couldn't make anymore of it.

Then you walked out the hall, some of the people in the crowd caressed your hand on the way back and you smiled at them but when you were in the hallway, alone, your heart dropped and you looked behind you, wondering if any of them would follow, lift you up, save you. But as you realized, they couldn't follow you in the pageant ceremony and it was the first time you were alone.

"Are you okay?" You hadn't heard your husband speak yet, really speak. His voice resonated in your ears and it took you a second to find the strength to answer.

Before you could think of what to tell him you were surrounded by a dozen of northem women who took you away. Giggling and laughing. You watched Ivar as you were carried by them.

He smiled.

Oh.

So, he could smile, and you frowned and stayed fixated on him until you turned the corner of the hall. That is when you felt the ladies already starting to undo your dress. You clenched the poison under it, scared that It would fall.

They closed the door of your room and then they stopped talking and sat you on the chair in the corner of your chamber. You looked at their smiling faces, wondering what to say as to not offend them.

"So, how do you feel about the king" one of the women said, being shushed by the one next to her suddenly. You recognized the spirit of Caroline in her.

"Well, I do not know your grace very well..."

"You do not need to answer, Yrvest is simply stepping out of her boundaries."

"Oh, that is alright."

The older one went in front of you and took your hands in hers and looked you in the eyes.

"You look frightened child. Do not worry, we do not bite"

"I am sorry if I look frightened, it is only.." you had to take a breath. "I have never seen so many strangers in my room"

Some laughed and then the frenzy started again as three of them went to start on your hair and then two others undid your dress. You were careful to keep the poison in your hand until you were able to put it in your dresser again without anyone noticing.

The braids were tight, and your head throbbed as they were doing them but once finished you didn't feel them, the dress was looser than your old one, hotter too, the thick fabric heavy and soft. You first backed away when one tried to put a black thing on your eyes but when she showed you on hers you let her, your eyes watering with the foreign feeling of coal on and under your lid.

The door opened and you didn't think anything of it at first, knowing how many backs and forth were already going on but when the northen ladies stepped back, you turned to the new figure.

"Is she ready?" Hvitserk asked.

"Yes Hvitserk, she is. Is Ivar ready?"

"Of course, he is. You look really beautiful (Y/N)"