Not Too Late

Old Wounds

Yn's POV

I walk along the dock and sit at the very end. I let my head hang back as I look up at the stars. I let myself breathe in the cold night air. The night is so beautiful, I don't know why people waste it on sleeping when they could just look at the stars all night long. My wondering mind is soon rudely interrupted by the sound of footsteps along the dock. I brace myself for the conversation ahead as they sit beside me. "Why aren't you at the feast?" I internally groan as I lift my head and stare at the open water. "Not really my thing" "I know your mad-" "I'm not doing this with you Lagertha just leave me alone"

"I would've taken you with me if I could" "I was two Lagertha, two and you left me on that field to die alone" I  see her looking out at the water. "If you're here to ask for my forgiveness you won't get it because it takes a mean woman to do what you had done to me" I get up and start walking back to the great hall. "Yn wait" As much as I didn't want to be near her I stopped. "If I could go back to that day I would because now I can not live with the person I created"

I face her and scoff. "You didn't make me. I made me. All you did was show me how heartless vikings could be. Don't take credit for me being like this, Take credit for the fact that you left a bleeding child on the battlefield crying for help. And when she finally sees someone they turn their back on her!" Even through the dark night, I still see her tears flowing down her cheeks. "The memory of that day is what drives me. The memory of who vikings really are. So save your tears shield maiden because you're wasting them on a ghost" I turn away from her and walk off the dock.

*

Gunnhild's POV

I wake to small cries. I quietly get out of bed and throw on my robe before heading to yn's bed. I poke my head in to see her crying. I knock something over and she quickly pulls herself together. "you know you don't have to hide from me" I walk over and sit beside her. "I do not know what you mean Queen Gunnhild" She keeps her eyes glued to the floor. "You don't have to do everything yourself" "That's where you're wrong, I only got me and I've only ever had me" I watch as she traces the scars on her hands.

"You've killed before correct?" "Yes why?" "Do you enjoy it? The feeling of taking someone's life away from them?" For the first time tonight we make eye contact. I raise my hand and brush a piece of loose hair behind her ear. "Sometimes I do" She stays quiet and just looks at me. She pulls away from me and stands up abruptly. "I need to leave" She starts grabbing her stuff quickly before rushing out. On the way she knocks into Bjorn. "I would like to leave, I will go over the request and get back to you" Bjorn looks at me then Yn.

"Your boat is down by the dock it isn't a one man boat though and we are at war after winter" "Thank you I'll notify you when I have made my decision" Yn starts running out with all her stuff. "Yn!" I give Bjorn a glare and run after her. She gets to the boat before us and is already on the water. I sigh and Bjorn comes up beside me. "We can't let her battle with us" "Why not?" "She's a child Bjorn" I turn and look at him. "A child who could most definitely be the decider on whether we win or not" I look out at the water and the boat disappears into the night.

***

Yn's POV

I walk into the throne room and Judith walks up to me. "You're here! How did it go with the pageons?" "They heard of my reputation and they wanted me on their side for their war they're having" "are you going to take it?" I shrug. "I haven't turned down an offer but it is the pageons who are fighting pageons and I'm the only odd man out. But putting that aside I am here to inform you that after today I won't be working with him" "Are you still going to visit?" I smile shyly at Judith. "Well I can't leave you behind" She smiles widely and hugs me. "Could you tell Alfred for me? I don't wish to see him" "of course, be safe Yn" "Aren't I always?" I wink at her before I head back out on my boat.

***

Flashback

I lay in my small bed before being awoken by loud screams. I shoot up out of bed and look around. My mother storms into the hut. She grabs me and hugs me tight. "Mother what's happening?" She doesn't say a word but tries to shield me from the outside world. I get out of her grip and heads over to the front door. I open it slightly to see all my neighbours being burned alive and their huts on fire. I run to grab father's sword and March out of the hut. As I do red is what blurred my vision. As I was wiped my face blood is what covered my small fingers. I panic as I look around only to find death in the village I used to call home.