The Viking Slave

Chapter 24:

Astrid glanced over at Deman, who was resting in the large red chair beside the fire. She studied him closely as she had never done before. His light brown hair was cut short, with hints of gray along the roots. His features were strong with a square jawbone covered with light beard scruff. His smooth ivory skin glowed with the illuminating effect from the warm fire. The small wrinkles beside his eyes showed his age. His wide hands held masculinity, as well as the arched muscle that protruded from the short sleeve of his tunic.

Astrid cleared her throat loudly, causing Deman to wake up. He smiled happily at Astrid as he proved himself up straight in the chair, staring into the orange flames in the stone fireplace.

"How old are you?" Astrid asked as she looked up from her embroidery. "You never did say?"

"I am forty-four." He replied simply, glancing over at Astrid with a smile. "What about you?"

"I am either twenty-six or seven." Astrid shrugged. "I am not sure. Time moves so quickly I simply cannot recall my exact age."

"How have you managed to live this long as a slave?" He questioned, staring back at the fire.

"Just like you have managed to survive." Astrid responded, leaning closer to Deman. "I remained a fighter," she laid her hand lightly upon his knee. "If I had given up like they had planned, they would have won."

"I wish Lorna was more like you." Deman shared, letting out a discouraged sigh. "She is selfish and gives up easily."

"I am sure she will grow out of it. She is still young."

"I am dearly sorry for what she done to you." Deman apologized, shaking his head. "She had no place to speak wrongly towards you. You are our guest and you shall be treated like one."

"Oh," Astrid said, faking a smile. "Do not worry about it. I understand what it is like to be under pressure. It is hard to hold your tongue sometimes."

"Her suitor is coming today."Deman shook his head once more. "These last few days has been a nightmare on the maids and I with the way Lorna is acting."

"Marriage is a hard things for a girl to accept at her age, I am sure." Astrid said, beginning her embroidery once again. "She will come to accept it in a few days, I assume."

"You were dealing with completely different things than marriage." Deman responded, staring intensely at Astrid with a serious expression. "I want to ask you something, something I want you to think about."

Astrid raised her eyebrows and began to bite the corned of her lips with an uneasy feeling boiling in the pit of her stomach.

"What is it that you ask?" She hoarsely asked, slightly reluctant.

"I would like you to consider being my wife." Deman boldly asked, twirling his thumbs nervously together. "I understand that you do not know me well, and I do not know you either but I feel that you would be a great asset to my kingdom and a wonderful influence on Lorna." He paused a moment and cleared his throat. "Just think about it. I would never wish you to do something your heart does not agree with."

Astrid focused her blank stare at a crack in the floor, grasping her cloth tightly in her clinched fists. She continued biting her lip uncertain of how to respond.