The Pagan Goddess

Chapter Two

A few mornings later we were woken up to the guards screaming words, but the words were distorted as I was still half asleep. Hilda busted in our hut with a worried look, "Hilda?" I groan letting my eyes adjust to the light.

Tora was cradle in my arms still asleep. "What is it?" Thyra said sitting up quickly. Her face was worried it would bad news about Torsten and Erik as we have not heard from them for a few months now.

"The king has made an appearance." Hilda said quickly, "we need to get you guys out of here."

Thyra quickly got up and grabbed Tora who woke enough to wrap her little body around Thyra's body. Thyra grabbed furs and wrapped it around Tora securing her around Thyra's body so she could gather things into a satchel. I quickly grabbed my sword and satchel which is now stuffed full of furs and essential items we may need. "Why is he choosing now to show his face after so many years?" Thyra groaned in frustration as she pulls her satchel around their bodies.

"A rumor has filled his ears that the pagan goddess has been living here." Hilda stated as we all quietly leave the hut from the back. We followed Hilda to the back out the prayer room where there was a hidden exit my brother and Torsten installed before they left three years ago in case we had to make a quick exit.

"The pagan goddess?" I question, quickly as we made our way deeper into the trees. I look back and see the king and his men entering the gates by horse. Why would the Saxon king be looking for a pagan? I question in my head. No one answered my question, but I did see Thyra and Hilda share glances. Thyra shifted her weight like she was uncomfortable of the topic so I just left it be for now.

It has been a few hours as we make our way, on foot, deeper and deeper into the trees. We make our way up a hill when Tora starts to wake. She reaches for me so Thyra gave her to me. I wrapped her in furs around my body and gave Thyra my satchel. Tora is like a little sister to me and she always wants to be by my side. My sword was the only thing I kept around my waist to have easy access to if we need it. I am very well trained in battling, Torsten and Erik made sure of that.

We start down the hill after Tora was settled nesting her head in my chest into an open field when all of a sudden Hilda stops us and quickly hides behind bushes. I look to see where her and Thyra's gaze is and notice a man on a dark horse. He seemed not to notice us as he was looking around slowly like he heard something.

"Come out now and there will be no harm done." His deep voiced echoed in my ears. I do not know what made me do it, but I slowly came out from the bushes with one hand on my sword and one hand on Tora's back. I heard Hilda and Thyra protest, but it was too late.

"Who are you?" I stated firmly. I was able to see him better now that the bushes were not blocking my view. His head was shaved on either side and he has dark hair pulled into a knot. Furs laid on his shoulders and a sword was hanging from his side. I could tell the man before me was a Dane.

"Bjørn Berntsen." He grins, "Son of Bernt Berntsen, the noble."

"Bjørn?" Hilda shows herself with Thyra slowly following. Bjørn narrowed his eyes toward Hilda and after a few seconds, a smile formed across his face.

"Hilda!" He expressed as he jumped off his horse. Hilda ran into his open arms while both of them laugh. Thyra comes to my side and places her hand on my lower back, staying close to Tora and I.

"Look how you've grown!" Hilda expresses as the embrace ends, "I have not seen you since you were a little pup!"

"You know of this man, Hilda?" I asked, my voice stern as I kept my eye on the man who grins toward me and my hand still laid on my sword. Tora moved her head to the other side making the man look at the my chest. I narrow my eyes at him gripping my sword harder. Thyra grips my clothes from behind and shifts her weight.