GRACEFUL ━ VIKINGS

━━ NINE

[ act i - a legend born for greatness ]
CHAPTER NINE
( a sacrifice for the gods )

HUMAN SACRIFICE WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT than that of an animal. They willingly offer themselves up to die for the gods. It was eery and always has been. Valhalla will always open its doors to them.

Althea was numb she had seen many human sacrifices but that did not mean she enjoyed them. It was almost as if she was a hypocrite. She loved killing but there was just something, something strange about someone willingly giving themselves to the gods for a sacrifice. Something unnerving, something she could not place. The drums beat a tune for the ceremony, everyone in the city was there, and the man that was to be sacrificed was someone she did not know.

She watched him walk towards the two pillars where she watched him grab the ropes. He was ready and she could see it in his eyes. Citizens of the city clashed walking sticks with bells on them against the ground simultaneously. Lagertha walked towards the man with an owl on her shoulder.

She was offered the ceremonial sword - the priest offering his blessing, "Heilir, allar gudarnir." His face was painted and his head was bald. Lagertha accepted the sword and looked around before she looked up.

Gasps were heard and Althea also looked up seeing the beautiful sight before her, the stars seemed to fall as if it was willed by the gods. They soon faded out, causing her to look back at Lagertha. Her owl was taken from her shoulder before she turned to face the man that was to be sacrificed.

Words were exchanged between the two, ones only a few heard, his shirt was ripped off after. In their native tongue, she shouted words that they all repeated. The sword was slowly pushed into the man's chest, his hands moving to grasp the queens' shoulders as he pulled her closer.

Althea looked away from the sight and her eyes landed on Ivar the Boneless, who happened to be staring right at her. Her electric blue eyes bore into his own electric blue eyes. The light from the fire made his face very pleasing to look at, he was handsome but the light made the shadows look even better cast on his face.

Althea breathed in keeping her eyes on Ivar, who looked away, that was when she turned to leave, she stopped by Gunnar and whispered in his ear, "I want to share my bed with you tonight." She spoke, she missed him and she knew he missed her in the same way. But this was not because she wanted him. No, the cripple had stirred something inside her.

"Anything for you, Althea." Gunnar said before leaving with her, to the hut she was let to use for the evening before sailing to England tomorrow.

As soon as they stepped into the hut the door shut with a thud. Althea's cloak fell to the floor her back to Gunnar. Using the metal that held her dress up she took the pins out of the circles on either side of her shoulders, the dress fell to the floor, she turned to face Gunnar as she tossed the metal closings on the table near her.