The Viking and the Witch [Halfdan The Black]

Chapter 2: Her

Several years prior

It was a rainy day but the trees gave her a good shelter as she walked through the woods looking for herbs, berries and plants. She was not only a good cook  but a talented healer. Her knowledge could compete with the knowledge of the monasteries. She wore a simple brown dress and her hair was bound back behind her neck. She was young yet already an adult. She was twenty summers old.

She knelt down and picket up a few wild blackberries. The red-haired woman looked around when she reached a cherry tree. Looking around she saw no one so she reached up as high as she could. She wasn't tall enough to reach the fruits in but a strong wind came and made the cherries fall into her hand perfectly. As she continued to collect different berries she walked closer to the edge of the forest and closer to her village. The young woman looked up confused when she heard screaming from the village and hurried back to the centre of the village where the mayor stood and continued to scream for everyone to hear.

"Our harvest is unusable because of those women."

The angry mob shouted in agreement.

"Everyone who brings us witches will be rewarded and those witches will burn!"

Again she could hear shouts and whistles of agreement.

As the crowd dispersed she walked into her home. She took the herbs and tied them together with a string before hanging them up to dry. She took a bucket and was about to leave to get fresh water when she heard a knock on her door. She quickly got up and opened the door. In front of her was an old woman who often came to her place asking for her tasty breads and the herbs that stopped her aching back from hurting too bad.

"Mary, my child, I am so happy you're here. My son already came by earlier but said you were gone."

"I am so sorry. I was out looking for more herbs. Please come in."

The elderly woman entered the house. It smelled different from the other houses in the village. It smelled fresh, fruity and full of life. The old woman, Anne, looked at Mary as she sat down on the small table. It hurt her to see such a pretty and kind woman like Mary alone and without any man by her side. She remembered the day her parents brought her here. She was already three summers old back then. But not only she but also her parents got older until they died of a disease that infected a few of their village. Since Mary's father died she was under no protection of a man. But many desired her. Mary saw the looks she received from men but ignored them. She never felt the need to be around men or to marry. She just wanted to live a simple life helping those around her. And that's what she did.

"I'm quickly getting some water so we can have some tea." She told Anne and left with the bucket.

When Mary left Anne stood up and walked around the very small house. The house only had three rooms. The largest room being the kitchen. The next room was a bed room with a bed and a closet nothing more. The last room was a storage room as well as a tiny washing room. Anne went to the shelves Mary had in the kitchen and took out a small book. She often saw Mary writing and drawing into it. It showed the drawing of a herb on the left side and information about it on the right side. Anne placed it away and  looked around seeing herbs hanging around the kitchen. Some fresh, some half dried and some ready to be made into tea. As she glanced out of the window she saw Mary walking back to her house and quickly sat down where she sat before. A strong wind blowing as she did so. A strong wind? Inside the house?

Mary opened the door and smiled gently at Anne.

"What kind of tea would you like?", she asked as she poured some water into a iron bucket to heat it up.

"Do you have peppermint?", Anne asked and Mary nodded taking some dried herbs from the stings carefully pressing them so a few crumbs would fall into their cups. When the water was hot she poured it into the cups and brought them to the table.

"Here", Mary said as she placed a small bag next to the cup of tea.

"So your back doesn't hurt to much." She offered Anne a smile.