𝑨𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒉 | ✔️

10 | Town Meeting

Summer, 6th June 864AD – Late Afternoon

Word about the town's meeting tonight spread vastly, like flames engulfing homes in a raid. Even the king, his family and his family had shown up tonight. Hmm I wonder if I had been very convincing to make the king come.

The entrance of the hall illuminated by the glowing torches, providing warmth for tonight's chilly weather.

While summer would be staying for a while, it seemed as though autumn wanted to make an early appearance.

Around three or four hundred – the entire village were present tonight. With the recent raid still haunting us, it's no surprise many of us were here, eager to express our concerns and propose the next course of action. That is, if the king will take the time to listen.

After all, we formed East Anglia, and it would be wise for our king to heed to our words; our needs; our plea for a safe and just civilization.

Clamour of voices shouted across the dark, enormous hall. I weaved through the animated villagers, rubbing shoulders and muttered apologies. I glanced around for signs of Edwyn or the others.

"Ardith!"

I swivelled around to find Aidan clambering down from his throne, pushing through the crowd. He approached me with a sorrow smile. My heart rose and fell in my chest.

"I've never seen this hall so full," Aidan murmured, his gaze set on the grumbling villagers. An amused chuckle came out of his lips. "And so many of them look like they are always walking beneath a storm cloud. Or perhaps they suddenly pricked their feet on something sharp."

I cocked my head, wondering if he was trying to be humorous.

"That's because it is true, Aidan," I said flatly. "In case you have been hiding under a rock, and had no recollection of last night's raid, people I know have witnessed the Danes slaughter or captured their loved ones. You can't blame them for reacting this way. Once you experience something traumatic, you-''

"I know what trauma feels," Aidan said bluntly. Dejection respired from his lips. "I am still haunted by my brother's death, and hearing of the horrific deaths from last night's raid made me realise life is short. We take everything for granted and forget about the simplest things until our lives are taken right before our eyes. However," his gaze fell to the crowd again, and an amused grin crept on his face, "we should thank heaven for our dark humour. It is the sharpest weapon to fight in the face of adversity."

I nodded, knowing what he meant.

"Well, it surely is a gift. What you said about taking things for granted, well, I have my regrets." I scowled at the timber floors with such remorse bubbling inside me. "I lost my mother at a very young age. I don't remember much about that fateful night, but each passing day, I'm forgetting her more and more. If only I hadn't been so naïve to think nothing will happen to mother. If only I had stayed by her side that night instead of leaving her alone."

Aidan frowned. "Where were you that night?"

"I don't remember." I shook my head. "It had been so long ago. I had been so young."

Aidan shook his head. "You got no reason to blame yourself. What happened that night was unexpected. Neither of us knew it would be our final moments, but now that we know how serious these raids have gotten." He paused and exhaled sharply. "I wanted to apologize, Ardith."

I frowned, brow raised. "What? Why?"

"On behalf of my father." He cast a dejected look at the king.

I watched King Brandon being confronted by his people's complaints while he sat there with a stoic expression. He did his best to calm them, but neither of them listened. As the clamor of voices intensified, I could see the distressed look stretched on King Brandon's wrinkled face.