Bodel
Bear walked over to Sage. It was the moment I had been dreading - their meeting. It was the first time they had seen each other since we had married and after what I had read, I couldn't be okay with them interacting. I walked toward them, trying to think of what to say. As I got closer, I heard their conversation. She was telling him that she was a princess. I rolled my eyes and gritted my teeth. That was all I needed. With everything Bear had been through with me, you would think I'd be able to trust him, but he was never really my husband. He belonged to Sage and all I had was the fantasy of a husband. I got closer and they still hadn't noticed me, lost in their bubble. He ruffled her hair and I felt sick with jealousy. We never played like that, we didn't have a bond. The only thing holding us together was our child, and I wasn't even sure that was a strong enough tie. I needed to make sure I was queen of Västerbotten, with or without Bear. "Bear, get our guest a meal." I commanded , interrupting them. They both turned around looking like they had been caught in the middle of a private moment which felt like a blow to the gut. Bear scrambled to his feet, like he had any opportunity to salvage our rapport.
He smiled at me and let his hand brush against mine. I closed my eyes, remembering his warmth. He left to gather a meal for Sage. My reminiscence of our past embraces were shattered when he called out "I want to hear the rest of that story." Sage stood and I met her eyes with rage. "You will not be telling him the rest of that story." I sent her away with a warning to remember who she needed to respect around here. And if I had my way about it, she wouldn't be around for much longer.
Each day I watched that vermin walk around my quarters, her blonde hair flipping over her back, I grew angrier by the day. I felt eyes on me. "Get back to work." I snapped in the direction of two onlookers. I wasn't usually harsh, but she had me feeling things I hadn't felt before. "Bodel, do you think you could keep your attitude in check?'' Frida giggled, sidling up next to me. My best friend was married to one of the kindest and best picks in our little town. "You know how she makes me feel." I groaned under my breath. She pulled my arm until we were face to face, "Do you need reminding that you are married to him and you are the mother of his children?"
"None of that matters when she's around." I turned my eyes to Bear who was walking over to meet her. "Well, we can always do what we did when she used to live here..." Frida narrowed her eyes and smiled a wicked grin. "Are you up for another punch up?"
"Frida." I looked back at her, "She won the last time."
"Don't let that get you down!" she patted me on the back enthusiastically, "You have the guy, and no matter how much you think that doesn't matter, it would bother her. Plus you're full of rage, that counts for something. "Maybe you're right." I turned to her, biting my lip and narrowing my eyes. Maybe we needed to have a punch up.
I marched over to where Sage was standing and pushed her. She looked up in obvious shock, "You don't want to do that." She said, but her voice wasn't angry, it was more like a warning. "Don't I?" I replied. "No, because I'm not the same person that you tried to fight with a few years back, Bodel. I'm stronger now."
"So am I." I said, thinking about all of the horrific things I had been through since I had married into Bear's family. I pushed her again, eager for her to fight back, so I would finally have the opportunity to win. "Come on, fight me!" I taunted her. Any sign of her anger being aroused would satisfy me. Her skin began to darken, and I didn't know if it was just my eyes, until I was certain that it wasn't. A dark cloud rose around her and she disappeared into it. "You wanted anger, you can have my wrath in full force." She churned and I crumbled on the inside, but on the outside I kept still and stood my ground. I was a queen and I would not crumble underneath the words or actions of anyone.
I found my way through the smoke as I tuned out the groans, gasps and whispers of the other women in the tent. I found Sage and pushed her with every inch of power I had within me. She fell to the ground with a thump and I revelled in my small victory. I could feel her coming for me again and I tried to make my way out of the tent. I would be happy with the courage I had just had and not push the risk of death any further. I would come out of this alive and well and as the queen of Västerbotten, Sweden. My strength and pace felt stronger and faster to me than I had ever felt before, though it was nothing for her. I was enveloped by her cloud and then her push as I fell to the ground with the weight of her on top of me. "Save your queen!" I shouted and men rushed in, risking their lives to pull me out from under her. I scrambled up to safety as they all tried to hold her back. "You are not welcome here! Get out of my sight!" I decreed as her smoke dissipated. She looked defeated, but I didn't care. I wanted her out of my life, now and for good.
I watched as they carried her away to the boats and I watched as Bear ran after her, turning momentarily to stare death into me. I stood my ground, but couldn't help but think how different this would be if it was two years earlier and she was her and I was me. "You did the right thing." My father came out of nowhere as he always did and clapped me on the back, hard, jolting me forward. Queen or not, I wondered if I would ever be out of his grasp.
