Mist & Moonlight

Chapter 52 | A New Horizon

The soft glow of firelight filled the private chambers of the great hall in Kattegat. The scent of pine and sea lingered in the cool night air drifting through the open window. Outside, the sounds of distant waves and the murmurs of night echoed faintly, but within these walls, all was still. Erik and Freydis sat together on a low bench near the hearth, wrapped in the warmth of each other's embrace.

Nestled between them was Halla, their two-month-old daughter, bundled in soft furs. She slept peacefully, her tiny chest rising and falling with each delicate breath. Erik held her carefully, his large hands cradling the small miracle they had brought into the world. Freydis rested against him, her head on his shoulder, her heart full.

In this quiet moment, with the weight of their struggles behind them, they mourned those they had lost and found peace in the life they were building.

Freydis's fingers brushed gently over Halla's downy hair as she whispered, "I wish Father could have met her again... just once more."

Erik kissed the top of her head, his heart heavy but steady. "He's watching over her," he murmured. "Over all of us. He's part of everything we do."

Freydis closed her eyes, letting Erik's words soothe the ache in her chest. Rorik's death was a wound that hadn't fully healed, but tonight, she found comfort in the love that surrounded her. "He'd be proud, wouldn't he?"

Erik smiled softly. "He would. Of you. Of us. Of everything we've fought for."

They sat in reflective silence, holding each other and their daughter as memories of those they had lost drifted through their minds. Sigvard's betrayal and the danger that had shadowed their wedding still haunted them, but they had survived it. They had emerged stronger—together.

Freydis shifted slightly, brushing her fingers along Halla's small hand, marveling at the tiny life they had created. "She's perfect," she whispered.

"She's everything," Erik agreed, his voice thick with emotion. He leaned down and kissed Halla's forehead, the simple act filling him with a fierce, protective love. "I swear, I'll keep her safe. I'll keep both of you safe."

Freydis tilted her head to look up at him, her blue eyes shimmering in the firelight. "I know you will. You always do."

Erik gave her a gentle smile, the weight of the past months lifting from his shoulders. They had fought battles, both on the field and within their hearts. They had mourned, bled, and broken—but in the end, they had built a life worth fighting for.

Freydis leaned closer, resting her hand on Erik's chest. "We've been through so much."

Erik nodded, his thumb gently tracing circles over Halla's tiny hand. "And we've come through it together. That's what matters."

Freydis smiled, the warmth of Erik's presence filling her heart. "We have a home," she whispered. "We have each other. And we have Halla."

Erik pressed his forehead against hers, their breath mingling in the quiet of the room.

They sat like that for a long time, wrapped in the comfort of each other's presence. The victories they had won were not just in battle—they were in every moment of peace, every glance exchanged, every touch shared. Their triumph was in the life they were building—one forged in love, loyalty, and resilience.

As the fire burned low in the hearth, Erik adjusted the bundle in his arms, holding Halla closer. Freydis rested her head against his shoulder, feeling more at peace than she had in a long time. Their journey had been long and hard, but here, in the quiet warmth of their chambers, they found something more precious than victory—they found joy.

Outside, the stars glittered over the fjord, silent witnesses to all that had passed and all that was yet to come. And in this moment, in the stillness of the night, Erik and Freydis knew that their story was only just beginning.

Freydis smiled, her heart light as Erik kissed her temple, his voice low and filled with promise.

"We've won," he whispered.

Freydis looked down at Halla, her fingers tracing the delicate lines of their daughter's tiny face. "Yes," she whispered back, her heart full. "We've won."