The Norse Of the North

Sometimes murders have pretty faces

It wasn't even midnight when the queen opened her eyes wide, almost as she wasn't sleeping at all for this whole time. She tried to observe the king to see if he is sleeping. After a few moments that she made sure he was completely asleep, she uncovered the blanket and moved her legs carefully to her shoes. When she managed to wear them she took a shawl and covered her arms as she exited the chambers subtly. She looked around carefully to see if someone could spot her and after she was certain none was following her she moved a big chair off a wall and someone opened a door for her.

She entered the room, things were pretty dark only a few candles were lighted, and the smell was kind of different and mixed. It seemed like a combination of oil and herbs. She sat at the corner of the table facing a man that had his face covered with a cape and his hands were filled with marks of black ink.

"So did you bring it?" he said in a low tone

"Yes it's in here" she gets off her dress a packet wrapped with a fabric. The man unwraps it and opens the box and takes out a few strokes of hair.

"I told you the hair isn't the only thing I need, it identifies the origin but it doesn't guarantee results. Nature should maintain order no matter what. If you are requesting a life you need to be generous and gift a life in exchange." the enchanter says while scowling.

The queen is staring at him desperately "But I can't, there is no baby in the kingdom and even if it was how I can kill another woman's child so I can be a mother"

"You want to gift the king a descendant don't you?" he persists

"Well yes I would love to be a mother but if I can't I am not sure I should challenge my luck and make the gods angry about my false choices"

"Do you have any idea what could this mean about you. Estrid don't be so naive the main goal of a king is having sons to make sure that his clan will rule the kingdom for centuries after his death. That's how we ensure that the Viking culture will go on and our legacy will be spread out in all parts of the earth. If you can't give that to the king you are useless to him."

"Useless? What are you even saying? Harald could have any woman he wanted but he chose me! And I know for a fact I'm not the prettiest woman on his kingdom. He loved me and that's why he married me..."

"I am not saying there's no love, it might be but the duty he has is stronger. If you are enable to help him to grow his power maybe he will look elsewhere and that will be catastrophic for you..."

"I know what you are talking about enchanter I am not as naïve as you think I am. What about a sacrifice? Gods always appreciate long feasts, right?"

"My dear Estrid you are missing the point. We are not dealing with no gods but nature itself. Even the gods are not able to control nature and most of the times they compromise with the circumstances created for them."

"Then what do I do?" she asked as she realized she's out of options.

"You remember Gudrun?"

"Gudrun, my servant that is married with BO the sharp? Yes what about her?"

"She and BO have recently became parents to a girl. The baby is barely one month year old. That means she is free of sins and her origin is by a true warrior and a servant"

"You don't want me to just grab the baby and pretend it's mine don't you?"

"Oh god no Estrid that would be too obvious. Your part will be to spot the baby alone and choke it. In that way you will be offering your gift to Mother Nature. Afterwards I will cast a spell and burn your hair and Harald's hair in a pot together. That's how the deal will be sealed. In less than 2 full moons you will be pregnant with a boy that will rule after Harald. So what's your decision?"

At that moment Estrid realized there is no other way and that she is selling her morals for love. But is it love or something deeper than this? The same people decided that they should all stick to some cruel rules that they make them put some type of duty over their hearts will. All of the rules that they are calling ethics are just a cover, a more heroic excuse to ensure their power. Estrid knew the rules although she didn't understand them. What is the point of making sure you have descendants? What kind of woman can bare being margined because she is not able to be a mother? Not being able to give birth is a pain on its own. And not only we didn't thought of supporting women about it, but we also force them to be humiliated by seeing somebody else on their place.

"I agree" she said what chance she could stand abandoned by the king anyways...