The Pagan Goddess

Chapter Seven

I wake up wrapped in furs in a large, warm bed. Questions fill my head as I remember leaving the cold floor in Karten cell. I do not know who took me and I do not where I am. My heart begins to race as I quickly get out of bed to try to get away, but my legs where to weak and I fell to the floor causing a loud sound.

"Oh Lady," I hear a women whisper as she leaned down to help me up. I try to get away from her hold and she quickly backs away. "It is okay. You are safe." I did not recall this young women in front of me. She was very young, maybe around 9 or 10 years of age.

"Hilda!" She calls out with a gentle smile. Hilda runs around the corner with a worried look on her face. Tear begin to form in my eyes at the sight of her. She comes to my side and helps me sit up on the bed.

"Freya, you do not recognize me?" The young lady slowly comes to sit on the other side of me. I shake my head as I try to speak, but nothing comes out.

The young girl sighs and grabs me a cup of water, "Lady Tora." Hilda smiles. I practically spit my water out of my mouth. My little Tora is a young women now? How long was I with Karten?

I begin to cry loudly as I embrace her in a big hug. "Let me go fetch mother." Tora says gently after squeezing me back.

After Tora made her exit, I placed my cup of water on the table in front of us and looked at Hilda. She gently smiles at me and tucks hair behind my ear. "How long was I asleep for?" I say, my voice still weak and raspy.

"A few days, on and off. Your body needed rest and to heal."

"Where are we?"

"Rumcofa."

"Bjørn." I whisper as I try to stand, but Hilda stops me.

"He is not here. He is settling a few things with Karten."

"Karten is still alive?" I question as my body tenses and my heart starts to pound in my chest.

"Ehh, you could say that I guess." Hilda grins as Thrya bursted through the door with Tora right behind her.

Tears begin to fill my eyes again as Thyra comes to my side and embraces me in a tight hug. She is much older now with her hair shorter and she seemed to gain a little weight.

"What of Erik and Torsten?" I ask Thyra after a very long embrace.

Thrya and Tora become quiet as Tora comes to Thyra's side with tears in her eyes. My eyes widen as I turn to Hilda with a worried look. "Erik is with Bjørn."

My heart skips a beat and tears swell in my eyes, blurring my vision. "Torsten is in Valhalla." Thyra says holding back tears.

I shake my head and become very frustrated quickly. I push Hilda away as I feel like I cannot breath. My heart pounds in my chest and I no longer feel like I have control of my body. I feel like a piece of me is gone, Torsten raised me since my parents died when I was so young. I feel like I lost a father, I cannot imagine how Thrya and Tora must feel. "Freya he is at peace with your father and mother." Hilda says gently as she brings me in a tight hug.

After a few long minutes, I calmed myself and grabbed Thyra's hand. "He's in Valhalla?"

"Yes. He died sword in hand with Erik by his side."

"When?"

"About a year ago on a Saxon raid."

There was a knock on the door making us all look up. Alfric appears in the door with a smile across his face. "I see you are awake Lady Freya."

Hilda stands, "I will go fetch you some food." She says and made an exit after giving Alfric a kiss on the cheek. His cheeks turn red and he smiles as he watches her leave the room.

"Now that you are awake, I will send a messenger to Lord Bjørn." Alfric says bowing his head.

"You do not need to bow Alfric. I am not your queen." I smile.

"You most certainly are my queen." His face serious before he made his exit.

"Would you like to wash up?" Thrya asks me gently as Tora leaped up to fetch some fresh water for a bath before I could respond. I guess I am headed to get washed up.

We both giggled as Thrya helped me walk to the bath. My long robe fell to the ground revealing many the scars that Karten left on my body. Thyra and Tora shared glances, but did not say a word as they helped me in the bath. I was still very weak so they both helped me wash myself being gentle not to hurt me.

After my bath, I stand in front of a mirror in this very large room as tears being to block my sight. My body is very thin with some old and new bruises all over my body. Scars appear on my back where Karten would order his guards to whip me with a long rope. My face and body is pale with my cheeks red. My once long, red hair is now to my shoulders as Thyra had to cut many knots out. The women I see before me is not Freya. The women I see before me is a weak, ugly women.

Thyra comes behind me and puts a large, dark robe over my shoulders, trying to ignore my pale and ugly body. "Let me fix your hair up." She smiles. We sit on the bed together and she begins braiding my hair back to get it out of my face.

After a few minutes of sitting on the large bed and talking with Thyra and Tora, Hilda came in with some food and told me to eat slowly. "We have something for you." Tora says gently as I finish my food.

"Bjørn?" I ask my facial expressions hopeful.

Tora smiles and quickly leaves the room. I share glances with Thyra and Tora who gently smile at me, both holding each of my hands. They have not stopped touching me since I woke up. I do not mind because it's been years since I was touched in a loving way. A few minutes go by and Tora comes back with Astrid holding a baby.

"Astrid?" I question as she brings the child to me with a smile. She sits next to me and gently hands me the baby. The baby coos and looks up at me. Tears form in my eyes as I gently hold the baby close to my chest. I have not seen something so pure in such a long time.

I look up at Astrid with a confused expression on my face, "meet your niece, Sigrid." She gently smiles.

"You and Erik?" I ask slowly looking down at Sigrid who begins to cry. I hand Sigrid to Astrid who begins feeding her by her breast. Astrid looks up at everyone her eyes speaking without words. Hilda, Thyra, and Tora did not say a word before leaving. Thyra smiled at me and kissed me on my head before exiting, following after Tora and Hilda.

Astrid turns her attention to me and gently grabs my hand while holding Sigrid's head with the other. Sigrid made little noises as she feeds. "Erik and I are married."

"What of Ivar?"

"He is growing big and strong. He is napping right now." She looks down at Sigrid with a smile, "Erik is a wonderful father to both."

I smiled knowing that Ivar was okay. He is the only blood Bjørn has. I know it would be devastating if Ivar was lost. "I know I was not a pleasant women to you." Astrid's speaks slowly, "and for that I am sorry. You are more strong then you know."

I smile toward her, "you do not have to apologize."

She shakes her head, "but I do because I love your brother very much and I love Bjørn. When I heard you gave your own life to safe Bjørn's, I realized you were the pagan goddess."

"I do not know what you speak of!" I scream making Astrid jump and cling onto Sigrid with both hands.

My breathing becomes labored and I clench my chest as my heart hurts. "I am sorry." I whisper through breaths and noticing the scared look on Astrid's face. Sigrid was fast asleep now so Astrid wraps her in furs around her chest and comes to my aide. She stands in front of where I sit and kneels to my level.

She puts her head to mine and gently grabs my hands. I breath in deeply and close my eyes trying to steer myself from the horrid memories. "We won't speak of it now. I will let you rest. " Astrid kisses my head before exiting the room leaving me completely alone. I curl myself under furs on the large bed and cry myself to another deep sleep.