It's never over // Sihtric Kjartansson

Chapter One

Tove
My stomach was doing somersaults. Wearing a hood would make them suspicious so I let my hair run free down my back, I was paranoid but I had my reasons. The road had been rough, my hips and back ached from being on my horse for so long but now we had arrived. The fortress was bigger than I had imagined it. Two guards stood at the doors speaking to Ivar, one of them looked past him staring at me, I smiled hoping it was believable. It must have been enough because the towering wooden doors slowly creaked open revealing a bustling courtyard. It was mostly men, warriors covered in amour and heavy weapons hanging at their waist. We were in a fortress, what was the need? I internally rolled my eyes. We left our horses at the stable, I was curious as I had only ever been in one other fortress. I wanted to look around but I stuck close to Ivar not wishing to get lost. The house was small and dusty. You could tell how long it had been left untouched, it didn't matter. I hadn't much stuff with me apart from clothes and furs. Unpacking didn't take long, I went to Ivar's room to see how he was getting on as he had considerably more belongings than me. He wasn't in his room so I went to look for him. The smithy was attached to the house through a side door in the kitchen. As I was going to go through the door I heard the front door close. He had left already? I rushed out the door after him.
"Where are you going?" I called out after him as he  began to walk away.
"Ale house!" He said turning in my direction but he didn't have the decency to stop, instead he walked backwards.
"I am dying for a good pint." he waved his goodbye and carried on.
I had hoped to at least speak to him. The journey had been long and very few words were spoken. What was the plan? He was a clever man but he preferred silver and ale to people that was for sure.

I went to the smithy laying out Ivar's tools and sweeping away the dust when the door opened and a young man walked in.
"Kjartan wants this place ready to take orders by sunrise tomorrow." he announced sternly. I stood up emerging from behind the counter, I think I made him jump, he took a step back startled. Then his face softened just as his tone did when he spoke again.
"Oh I am sorry my lady, I thought the blacksmith was here."
"He is at the ale house doing what all men do. I can tell him your message so you do not need to come back and repeat yourself."
I wanted to take back what I said. It sounded rude. It was rude. I aimed to make friends here, he stood there for a moment looking at me as I did the same. His dark hair was tightly braided to his head fully exposing his sharp features and beautiful eyes they were two different colours. His eyelashes would make any maiden jealous. The thought made me smile.
He nodded and left hastily, I waited till he was out of sight before collapsing my head into my hands. I sighed, off to a great start I thought sarcastically.

I did not plan to wait around for Ivar , I decided to get some vegetables and a big cut of meat from somewhere, food on the road can be cruel. I left with a pouch of silver and my dagger hanging at my hip maybe this makes me hypocritical but I just feel safer with a weapon. Though I stand by what I said who carries around a sword to go for a drink? My dagger is only small. The air was far from fresh, I guess that is something I will miss from long days in the forests. I walked around slowly taking it in and looking for the best prices and quality. But I wasn't the only one inspecting things, I felt eyes on me everywhere. I tried to pretend not to notice but it was hard. There was three pairs of eyes I couldn't loose even when I walked away, even when I turned around. I gave up being cautious on what I was buying, at this moment I just wanted to be back at the house. I payed for some vegetables and a lamb cut from the nearest stall and began home but I could hear their footsteps behind me. It wasn't a silent street but their stride was in time with mine, speeding up their pace as I did. I was getting nervous. They can't expect me to ignore it now. Moving my hand to the handle of my dagger I stopped abruptly and turned around looking at the trio of men stood in an oval like shape.
"What do you want?" I had tried to be stern with my question to intimidate them but the words came out shaken.
The man in the middle smiled. Not a welcoming smile, a malicious smile.
"Your hair is unbraided, and I'm looking for a woman." he grumbled his voice low but I could tell it wasn't naturally that deep. If I wasn't about to be snatched off the street of a fortress I'd not even been in for 24 hours I would have laughed in his face and mocked him but I knew it would not be wise.
"You will get nothing from me." I turned quickly trying to walk as fast as I could without running. I felt an arm wrap around my shoulders but this wasn't dirty and bare like the 3 men's. It was soft and gentle. I stopped as the arm did a familiar voice called out behind us:
"How about you go back to whatever whore house you came from before I kick the shit from you."
I was to busy trying to stop the pounding in my head from the sound of my heart. I looked up to see the man from earlier. He started to walk again without removing his arm from my shoulders.
"Thank you." I said, it came out almost a whisper.
He acknowledged me by looking down and smiling. It was a big grin that spoke without sound.
When we got back to the smithy Ivar was there.
"Found a husband already? That's my job done then." He laughed maybe a bit longer than was necessary making both me and the man scrunch our faces up. I slipped out from under his arm and faced him.
"You didn't have to do that. I don't even know your name."
"My name is Sihtric."
"I'm Tove."
I could hear Ivar laughing from inside. After glaring at the door I asked:
"Would you stay for dinner? I'm about to cook and I would like to repay your kindness."
He went red and shyly told me he had to run more errands for his father. It was a shame.

"What?" I ask finally breaking the silence over dinner.
Ivar chuckled and answered.
"You."
I narrowed my eyebrows impatiently.
"I'm Sihtirc and I'm Tove, let's be best friends."
He mocked in a weird voice.
"Is that seriously your impression of me?"
He laughed again.
"We need to speak."
"So you are getting married, I am glad."
When I didn't return the smile he put down his fork and looked at me.
"What's the plan?"
"The plan?"
"You know."
"No Tove I don't. I told you for 10 pieces of silver I would bring you along with me to a settlement and let you stay with me for free until you find a lord to serve or a husband."
"I will find neither here."
"And whys that?" He sighed impatiently crossing his arms,
"I told you I will not follow Kjartan or any of his men."
"I'm not asking you to."
"All the men here are loyal to him that means they are against me."
"Oh don't flatter yourself." he sounded harsh now.
"No one knows who you are but me. You don't have a blood feud with Kjartan, you have it with one of his allies."
I opened my mouth to argue but I felt silly. Like a little girl again.
I stabbed at the food on my plate not knowing how to respond.
"You have freedom. That's what you wanted is it not?" I nodded "You can leave if you wish."
"Mhm." I replied wanting this conversation to end.