Fighting, Honour and Valhalla || Vikings x The Originals x TVD

Home at Last

Nothing felt right in this world, not the food she ate nor the water she drank. Everything was grey, bland, tasteless. That was how Rebekah had spent every waking moment of her existence since her mother had uttered three simple words to her.

Thorfinn was dead.

She did not want to believe it, he had persevered over all other challenges before, no matter how insurmountable they seemed. But even she could not imagine Thorfinn conquering the Leviathan, a creature that had given her nightmares as a child and had claimed the lives of many.

Thorfinn was dead.

What hurt most is the one responsible for his death was her father. Her father had doted on her since she was a little girl, but he had also suffocated her. She rarely left the Mikaelson home because it was unsafe for a flower such as her, and when she was allowed out it was only with the whole family. It was one of these outings she had first met Thorfinn. She thanked the gods every day that she had seen him, she couldn't imagine a life where they'd never met.

Yet now that's what she was faced with, a life without her bonded. The only thing stopping her from joining him was the child growing in her belly, but even then it was a close thing. Her heart was well and truly shattered; Thorfinn was her one and only, she'd know no other man until she joined with him in the halls of the Aesir.

Despite the state she was in she found no comfort from her mother who seemed to constantly be busy, though for what reason she didn't know. Elijah had taken the news hard despite the fact he did not show it. He had instead thrown himself into a task that Esther had given him —which was to build a massive palisade that went around Thorfinns homestead and the village. It took a while but with the fresh iron tools it went quickly, and while the fighting men of the village had gone there were still plenty of strong people to help dig trenches and place the logs. Elijah rarely spoke, he pushed himself into his work and then trained with the sword before eating and sleeping.

One person Rebekah expected to feel her pain was Hild. She bore Thorfinns child as well, they had been joined together in the eyes of the gods —or so Hild had told her. Yet she did nothing, the only difference in her behaviour was the nights she spent screaming as nightmares infested her sleep. In truth the only person she'd been able to seek comfort from was Gyda who had taken this just as hard as Rebekah had. They slept together a lot, Rebekah took comfort in holding the girl and asking her for stories of Thorfinn before they met.

Rebekah lay in the bed she shared with Gyda and Hild. The latter had already gotten up and was sitting outside stitching together an outfit she had been working on for a few days. Meanwhile, she and Gyda lay in bed, it was well past morning and they had not gotten up. Neither girl could summon the strength to leave their bed. Gyda was asleep lying on her side, Rebekah however was on her back. For months she'd been sleeping naked as she didn't like how her night gowns stretched over her belly.

Rebekah lay on her back her hands moving over her swollen stomach. Her baby would be coming soon, thoughts of it had been the only thing that had kept her mind off of Thorfinn. She wondered if she would have a girl or a boy. She wanted a boy, a powerful warrior as handsome as his father, but she would be just as happy with a girl.

Rebekah moved off the bed struggling slightly as she got up, her feet rubbing against the furs that had been laid on the ground. She walked slowly over to her dresser and pulled a loose gown out and pulled it over her head. She had been in here long enough, and as much as she'd like to stay she needed to go and eat so the baby would be strong.