GRACEFUL ━ VIKINGS

━━ THIRTEEN

[ act ii - burn the kingdoms down ]
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
( words are just words )

     ALTHEA LAY IN HER BED NEXT TO GUNNAR LISTENING to his breathing. She had thought long and hard for the past two weeks about what exactly she wanted to do. If she would go back on her word or not. The word she had promised herself to keep. But she was fighting her pride and ambition with her heart. Her head telling her one thing and her heart telling her another.

Althea finally stood and got ready for the day, Brynhild coming in at some point to braid Althea's hair. The Princess telling the young girl to keep watch of Gunnar while she was out. Althea pulled her cloak over herself. It had been a few a week and they were still in Wessex debating about what they were going to do and where they were going to go. Althea stepped out of her tent into the dull light of the morning.

Maximus was already on his way to her tent, he stopped when he saw her. Speaking in hushed tones as he leaned closer to her, "Revna came to find me." Maximus said softly, soft enough to hide his words from prying ears. "Just like you said she would."

"Take me to her." Althea whispered. Maximus turned back around and led her to his tent, making sure no one was watching them before entering.

Revna was sitting in a chair near the table Maximus used, looking around at all the books that lay on it. Revna stood once she saw Althea as she was about to bow, Althea stopped her.

"There is no need for the formalities," Althea spoke softly. "No one followed you here?" Althea asked, motioning for the girl to sit back down. Revna shook her head no. She used her finger, drawing on the wood of the table, 'I came at night while everyone was sleeping.'

Althea nodded. "We will find a way to communicate better, I promise." Althea took a seat next to her, Revna's eyes following her. "I take it that since you came here you accept my offer?"

Revna nodded, motioning to her wrists showing new bruises. Before returning her finger to the wooden table, moving it along the wood, 'I am tired of being treated this way. I want to be seen as an equal.'

"I understand," Althea took Revna's hands in hers and squeezed them lightly. "You will never have to fear another man again. I will protect you and you have my word." Althea breathed in deeply turning her attention to Maximus. "You will keep an eye on her and if you can not, you will find someone who can, a woman preferably."

Maximus nodded, "She will travel with us and she will be seen as one of us." Althea turned her attention back to Revna, "If one of my men tries to harm you, you will come find me immediately and I will deal with them. If you can not make it to me, you have my permission to do what you must." Althea could tell Revna was not weak, but she could see men took advantage of her because she could not speak.

"I will not ask why you can not speak, I hope that you will tell me with time. But until then Maximus will keep an eye on you." Althea finished as she stood pulling her hands away from Revna's.