Love Isn't Enough

I Don't Want This

Gyda Pov:

"Gyda will you stay with your father or come with me"how could I answer that. Why did that woman have to come and ruin are lives ? "Please Gyda you must chose" my mother said. I chose my mother only because Bjorn was going to stay with father. I didn 't want her to be alone, It would break my heart to think of it but so did this whole situation. But when me and mother were on the road father came, I tried not to listen to what they said or I would cry. But then I saw Bjorn and he said he wanted to go with mother. I didn't want father to be alone so I stayed with father. We watched as mother and Bjorn left, we cried together. 

That is the last memory I have of my family. I haven't seen mother or Bjorn since. My life has changed since then. I've never had to work and I have fancy clothes to wear. Father has changed since then he has become more of a drunk than he already was. Also I have a new mother who I try to avoid along With my new brothers. I don't want a new mother or brother. I want my real ones back together. Father doesn't even care for Aslaug like he did mother. I mostly stay in my room and enjoy the company of Athelstan and Siggy. Athelstan teaching me saxon ways and language while Siggy taught me how to act noble and ladylike. I don't usually leave my room. I don't want to honestly. But one day father came. 

"Gyda'' he said walking in.

"Yes" I say puzzled my father usually leaves me be unless he passes me by in the hall for an occasional hug what could he want?

 "Gyda I know we have not talked much of this but you are at a certain age now that..." he couldn't utter what he was about to say but I knew. I'm nineteen I guess that is way pass marrying age in our society as Siggy has constantly reminded me of it but there is no one I think I would want to marry.

 "Who?" I say as my father stands uncomfortably. 

" Erlendur eldest son of king Horik" my father says staring off into the distance.

"Why? is it for alliance, I thought we were already allies" he looks down. 

"King Horik wants a blood alliance that will connect us" my father says not very happy. 

"Do you like him?" he looks at me sadly. 

" Which one the father or son?" looking around the room to see if there is ale or wine.

 "Both" I say curiously. 

" I don't know the son but the father is a great warrior" my father says sighing.

 "How is he as a man?" my father shrugs.

 "Did you agree to this?" he looks angry now, "No, Aslaug did before I could answer and I said I would bring it up to you, but she was like she is pass of age, she can not live in this place forever, his son is handsome and king Horik talked about his daughters and the conversation passed before I could object any further" I should've known Aslaug had a hand in this. 

"If his son is terrible I will not have you marry him"unless Aslaug says so.

 "There will be a feast in the hall to celebrate the coming raid and you should come, and may come on the raid" this makes me lift my head up.

"l can come on the raid?" I say shocked and my father is grinning. 

"Yes, I want you out of this room and to spend time with you, I never see anymore you always stay in here"oh father it's not to see you it's to not see your new family. "Will come to both but only stay by you at the feast"he smiles. 

"Whatever you want"as he is walking out. A raid to England would be wonderful I could practice everything I've learned from Athelstan.

"So did your father tell you?" Siggy said as she walked into the room. I just nodded. 

"Isn't it exciting?" Siggy smiled. I just nodded again.

 "Oh I was nervous too when I first was betrothed to my late husband"not nervous, uninterested.

 "Come on we have to get you ready for the feast" I simply nod as she leads me over to a chair to do my hair.

"I think you should wear your blue dress" I do a slightly playful scoff of Siggy's obvious way of trying to get me noticed by my future husband at the feast. My dress is a light blue, velvet,body-hugging with a one long sleeve and one no sleeve, It's very foreign. 

"You have never wore it, it will be beautiful on you" I have in the summer I think to myself starting to look down until Siggy motherly lifted up my head to make it easier to comb my hair.

 "Oh Gyda you're such a quiet girl, I hope you talk more to your husband" I always had a quiet spirit my father said but after our family spilt up I basically became a mute even to those closet to me but to a boy I don't even know I most likely will be even more a mute than usual.

Erlendur pov

"Father do you know what she looks like" I say hopefully. 

"If she is an ugly cow you are still marrying, we need this control over Ragnar Lothbrok" as he smiles to a person passing by.

"Have you heard anything of her?" he's starting to get annoyed.

 "Only that she's quiet and that is good in a wife" or that she will be a bore of a wife I thought to myself as the rooms attentions started to shift to something.

"Well it seems the gods have smiled on you Erlendur"and I looked to where he points. 

''Is that her?" she is beautiful, maybe the beautiful woman to ever be known but it is was not merely her looks but her presence as well.

"Come along" we walked over to them.

Gyda pov

There was what I persumed was Horik's son Erlendur he wasn't impressive to me. My father introduced us, I nodded and tried to be polite as the boy started conversation but I didn't really respond to him. He mostly talked of himself and the little things he has done. He would not stop looking at me which made me uncomfortable I wasn't used to men looking at me. I was just waiting for the feast to be over. We sail off in a day or two and then my life will begin.