the invisible string. Sihtric Kjartanson

Chapter nine: time running

Coccham was the place which we all called home now. It was a place of shelter. I lived with my father who had gotten himself a little hut and smithy. He had wanted to return to his homeland but Uthred offered him employment and my father accepted it.

Gisela and Uthred were happily married. I admired them for the still seemed as much in love as they had been the first day.

The others found home here to. We were guarding the river and interjecting raiders but we were also meant to build a burh as well. A burh was a fortress to protected the land but also to represent the kings power all over the land.

But I often got days off building when Gisela demanded my presence. She had set her mind that we would go swimming and then picking herbs. Nowadays my protection was not enough for Uthred to feel his wife was safe so Clapa and Sihtric accompanied us to the deepest part of the river Thames near Coccham. My and Sihtrics relationship had not improved in the past two years. I still beat him in training which bugged him and fuelled his hate towards me. He had a whore that he called his own now; Eahlswith. But every time he was assigned to guard me and Gisela I could feel his hateful stare in my back. Especially when I wore the light blue dress I had been gifted by Gisela. But also when I wore armour because Gisela had gotten a small mail back in Northumbria and gifted it to me. When I saved Uthreds life once he allowed me to wear it so Sihtric was jealous of that. But that day by the river I only wore my light blue dress, the same colour as my favourite flower the cornflower.

Gisela had looped her arm through mine and we casually strolled along the river now. She was glowing with happiness and telling me of Uthred. We arrived at the river and the guards dutifully turned around. I knew Sihtric was spying tho. I was acutely aware of his gaze on me whenever we went swimming. He never looked at Gisela because that would cost him his life. Gisela had me undo her laces then she undid mine and helped me pull the dress over my head and I helped her. When I was not building or fighting I kept my hair unbound as I was still unmarried. Gisela always had her hair in a beautiful braid but she undid it for washing as well. My hair had the same length as hers now that it fell down below my waist when it was unbound. It had naturally a dark blonde, mousy colour but the work outside bleached some strands golden that they glowed in the sunlight. Gisela already dove in the water while I still combed my hair and I could feel Sihtric spying on me, his eyes burning into my backside. He was thinking of stabbing me I was sure. His eyes went from my long legs up to my behind over my wide, round hips and my dipping waist to my brought shoulders which had been shaped by fighting. I knew he must've memorised the shape by now. I finished combing my hair and I saw how his eyes snapped away. A smirk tugged at my lips. I dove under the water as well.

We quickly dried off when we were all clean. I slipped back into my dress and helped Gisela dress. The lacing had gotten tight on her that I had to leave out a row. We were well fed here so it was no wonder at all.  But Gisela giggled and gripped my arm tightly. We walked to get the herbs we were supposed to collect.

"Kendra he is staring at your behind again" Gisela hissed in my ear as we arrived at the spot. I rolled my eyes. Could he be any more obvious?

"Why are you picking meadowsweet?" I changed the topic as I saw her picking the unusual plant. She grinned but didn't say a thing. "You have joint pain? I have this good ointment that will help" Gisela shook her head and looked at me grinning. I raked my head for what she was trying to tell me. I looked at her in disbelief as I realise that it was used for young mothers as well. "Gisela are you-" She nodded and I hugged her tightly. "How long? How can you keep this hidden from me?" I told her sternly as I sat back on my heels.

"For about three months. I wasn't sure before but I felt him stir recently" She told me as she rested a hand on her belly. I grinned like an idiot as well.