Askeladd - Thorfinn x reader -

38.5

Chapter 38.5
Welcome, Y/n.
2 MONTHS LATER 

Askeladd sat down in the stool beside the bed, watching as Mei held her newborn child close to her chest. 

Ever since Frode's death, both Mei's physical and mental health took a turn for the worst. It was a miracle her baby was born healthy, and it was even more of a miracle that Mei herself was still breathing. 

The delivery had taken a huge toll on her weak body. But despite being so weak, she refused to let go of Y/n. She kept a tight grip on her child, not even letting Askeladd hold her for a second. 

"Why won't you let me hold her," Askeladd asked, keeping his voice low trying to conceal his frustration. For the last two months of Mei's pregnancy, every time he returned to Jutland it took everything out of him not to strangle her. 

"IT will take her... IT wants to hurt her." That was the first time Mei even spoke since she'd delivered her child, and now it was the first time her eyes left the baby in her arms. She stared at the wall in front of them, her eyes holding no emotions. It appeared she was staring off into space, but Askeladd could tell her gaze was locked on something. 

Or someone, someone he couldn't see. 

"Askeladd..." Mei's eyes fell back down onto the sleeping child in her arms, "I'm going to die." 

Askeladd furrowed his brows, as much as he wanted to kill her himself he couldn't let her die now that she'd gave birth. Who would take car of Frode's kid? Askeladd knew he was incapable of dealing with a baby. 

"Far, far to the west, across the sea, there is a paradise.." Mei began, "It's warm and fertile. It's a faraway land, free of slave traders, war and evil spirits." 

Askeladd was familiar with the place Mei spoke of, it was the paradise where the hero Artorius lived. A land no mortal man could reach, far over the western sea. 

"That's the only place IT wouldn't have been able to follow me," Mei said, "It's the only place IT won't be able to hurt my child." 

Mei turned her head to face Askeladd, and for the first time in two months emotion reflected in her e/c orbs. Her eyes glazed with tears as she sniffled. 

"You have to take her," Her weak voice was barely above a whisper. "You have to take her." She repeated, a tear rolling down her cheek. 

Askeladd couldn't hold eye contact with Mei, instead looking down at the baby in her arms. 

"Please," Mei's voice cracked, Askeladd not even nodding in response. His lips sealed shut. 

Mei moved her gaze back down onto the child in her arms.

"What is her name?" Askeladd asked. 

"Y/n. It's the name Frode wanted, if we had a girl.." 

Once again, silence embraced them. 

"I'll protect her," Askeladd suddenly blurted out, breaking the silence. 

"You won't let IT hurt her. Ever." Mei's eyes quickly locked with his own cold blue ones. "You promise. She won't ever have to go through anything I did." 

"I promise." 

Mei's lips turned up into a small smile, the tears finally breaking free as they stained her cheeks. Although Askeladd could tell they weren't tears of sadness, but of joy. 

It seemed Mei was actually relived.

For the first time in two months, Mei felt as if she was finally at peace. 

As her grip on Y/n began to loosen, she kept her eyes on her daughter. 

The last thing she wanted to see before she died was Y/n, the life Frode and her had created. 

♡

"Mei?" 

Askeladd noticed her grip on Y/n completely loosen, her body going limp. 

Slowly and gently, he took Y/n out of her arms. 

The moment he did, the babies eyes slowly peeled open and he was met with big e/c eyes identical to Mei's. Her mouth parted, as she reached out one of her short cubby arms towards the mans face. 

Askeladd sniffled, ignoring the tears that had sprung so suddenly at the feeling of the newborn child in his arms. 

"Y/n," He said her name for the first time. 

He vowed to himself, that if Y/n bore the same mental illness as her mother he'd put her to rest before things got out of hand. So she wouldn't have to suffer like her mother did. 

Still, he would uphold his promise to his twin brother Frode, and take good care of her.  

And if their were a chance that Mei's illness hadn't been passed down to her child, he'd raise her as his own. 

Even though he was her uncle, he decided he would take on a different role. 

"Y/n, I am your father.."