The Heart Of The Warrior (Rollo Lothbrok x OFC)

Chapter 31

(A/N Right off the bat I want to thank anyone who is keeping up with this story and my long breaks between updates, I always torment myself for how long I take to keep this going but I truly don't want to rush or force myself to work faster because I will ruin it, I have done that before and I love this story too much to do that to it. I want to thank each of you so so much because you share a love for this story in the same way I do, and I appreciate the patience each of you have given me. )

After the strange man had left her room Kari still had a million questions, she almost couldn't believe him, something was telling her not to. He knew her. He must have. And if he did he had answers to questions Kari felt she would never know. The next day came quickly as she had spent so much time resting trying to restore her energy from the long trip here. Mikkel had come back from a meeting with the king that afternoon and told her they were joining them for dinner that night. Kari was obligated to try to dress her best but her growing belly was making the effort to look extravagant feel more and more uncomfortable. She would be due in a moon phase or two. It was hard to know. 

Kari tried her best to dress up, wearing a dress that was beginning to feel too tight around the stomach but was still the best fitting she had. Doing her hair she did braids from the sides pulling back into a long braid at the back, leaving the lower half out and down her back. She had always incorporated jewelry into her braids and hair, it just felt normal to her, like part of her had done it her whole life. Finishing off with a silver circlet as a statement of nobility and a light dusting of some makeup she kept for special occasions. She hated the simple look of rouged cheeks, always wanting to add coal to her eyes to make the blues pop but it wasn't very common practice here, but she was not from here, she didn't know where she was from, but it wasn't going to stop her emphasizing her favorite feature, the icey blue ocean eyes. Everything else about her was so plain, they were the stand-out. 

When she walked out of the room to meet Mikkel she got a look of disappointment from Mikkel about the eye makeup. "You look like a heathen with that stuff on your eyes" He mumbled, he didn't care what she looked like at home, but he needed the approval of the Franks. "Perhaps I was, in another life" she smirked "Shh.. please just don't say that to them, they are christians. There is no other life" he sighed "Oh stop, you know I will behave" she whined, walking ahead of him in frustration. 

Walking into a beautiful hall she saw a table with chairs all around it, Mikkel having a place set at one end, nobody had arrived yet but it was assumed by Kari they would walk in soon and she then could take her seat after them. Before she could finish the thought the King walked in, a skinny man, quiet frail-looking. Kari bowed quickly and kept her head down, before being welcomed to take her seat. "I trust you are feeling much better now Madam" the king spoke to her, his voice calm but not even slightly commanding, as many kings were. "Yes, thank you. Your hospitality has been so welcoming, I am very grateful" Kari did her best to maintain the thankful but proper behavior that was expected of her. Kari looked down the table to the man sat beside the daughter of the king. He did not look toward her, his eyes fixed on the walls opposite him, glancing around in a way that seemed to be an act to distract himself. 

The dinner passed slowly, slower than Kari could bare, it felt like time dragged on and all she begged for was this man to look at her, to show his face so she could try to read the truth. Mikkel was an expert at smalltalk, however, and he seemed to be having the time of his life. Kari had hoped the daughter of the king would have more to say to her, something to keep her mind occupied but she remained quiet unless spoken to, leaving Kari to play with the food she was too full to eat. "May I be excused please, your majesty. I feel I need to go out for some fresh air, I haven't been outside since we arrived" "Of course, Madam, if you take the corridor to the far side there you'll come to a courtyard" he said, followed by a gup of wine. He truly was quite an easy-going king, in a way that seemed more like a doormat than a king. Kari hadn't realized till after she asked how it could have been rude, but he excused it with no question. With a nod of thanks, Kari stood, ignoring the glare from Mikkel and walking towards the corridor the king mentioned. 

She had been sitting out there for quite some time before a man came out after her, "I was just coming to check if you were alright" Kari turned to see the strange man who came into her room, Rollo. "I'm fine, just.. castles are so cold, and stuffy. I don't think I'll ever get used to it" she let out a half-hearted laugh. "I know what you mean" he let out a chuckle and sat down opposite her, on another bench. "You were a northman, a viking. Weren't you?" she said, curiously "Yes" he smiled, looking up at the stars above him. "from a small harbor village, I had big dreams, and they lead me here" he said, a sad look crossing his face before he realized and changed it. Kari waited for him to look at her but he didn't, getting up she walked over and sat beside him. "Do you know me Rollo? did you know my name? have you seen me before? am I from here?" she pleaded, her hand resting on his shoulder. His eyes glued up on the stars "I did, I do..you could never be from a place like this.. you have the flames of Thor's hair, the wisdom of Odin in your eyes, the justice of Tyr in your heart" Rollo spoke sorrowfully in old Norse, Kari not understanding a word. He prayed perhaps she could still understand those words, but he thought perhaps it was best she may not. "I.. I don't understand" she asked "No, I don't" Rollo said softly, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself, not her. Kari began to get upset, she felt the baby in her belly going crazy, kicking, wiggling, enthralled by the sound of this man speaking. 

Standing up she sighed and wiped her eyes, that had tears welling in them. She had so much hope for answeres and was given nothing. Storming off she made her way up to the room she was staying in. She furiously tried to pull the clothes clinging to her off, winded and bent over afterwards. She was sick of this. Sick of her mind blocking all the answers she was begging for. 
Curling up in the cold bed she would call hers until she left, she sobbed softly. She needed answers. Whispering softly to herself she prayed for answers, the way she had many times before. Not to the Christian god this time, but to anyone. She couldn't believe in this christian god any longer, she had lost all faith long ago, but to the greater power that must have existed. Closing her eyes tightly she pleaded for answers but soon drifted into sleep instead. 

Darkness of sleep overcame her before she began to see a light off in the distance, she felt like she was falling but couldn't wake up, freezing suddenly in the air she felt herself floating. The light was a tiny blue dot, far off but getting closer. As it got closer she saw a shadowy figure coming into view, the sound of crows cawing, piercing her ears before fading off into the distance.