IVAR, I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU

Chapter 2

"My heart will never be mended. I am forlorn and unable to escape the grasp of a monster who holds me captive. If I had the power to free myself from all my torments, I would. But alas, I see that no one can aid me but you. Please, do not leave me to a life such as this. I am free but only in title. Oh, how I wish for the days of being a thrall, when I did not know the depth of sorrow I feel now. Holy Father....if you hear me, your humble servant, I beseech thee in the name of Christ Jesus to give me the strength to endure until you see fit to free me from my situation. Amen."

Your prayer left your lips in a choked whisper as your bitter tears fell from your eyes onto the furs beneath you.

______________

You cried yourself to sleep that night, waking up every so often due to the pangs of sorrow that filled your broken heart. The unfortunate day, that had now turned to dusk, was to have been the happiest of your life. You were supposed to be upon a ship headed to your lover and a life full of joy. But as fate would have it, all your plans were dashed in an instant. The happiest day of your life, became the worst you had ever experienced - even when compared to the day your family was captured by the Vikings.

Ivar had not only diverted your plans with his immense power and reach, but he had all your things brought back from the docks. You could do nothing except watch your items, dresses and other belongings be put away in their usual places by thralls. As you stood, dumbfounded, you looked to the floor, almost numb to it all. Finally, you did find the courage to speak.

"Why are you doing this?" You had asked a content Ivar as he sat in a chair near where you stood. "Why do you insist on keeping me here when we are both unhappy?"

Your words cut Ivar almost as deeply as when you had announced that you no longer wished to be married to him and loved another. He knew he wasn't the perfect husband and that his temperament often got the best if him. Yet and still, he could not understand why you kept saying things that hurt him to his soul. To hear you say you were unhappy around him only added to his brokenness. Despite this, he was determined to be the strong person his Father and Mother had taught him to be.

"Because, as I stated already....you are my wife." He replied. "You belong with me."

Before he had left you in your chambers - the entrance heavily guarded by four burly men - he made one last comment.

"Remember this Y/N. It is not over! It is not over in the least!"

____________

That was the night before. Now, it was morning and you were outside in the courtyard with workers from Uppsala Temple. As you looked into the still darkened sky, perhaps, looking for your God, the snow fell upon your face.

Returning your gaze to the women who had been interrogating you on the whereabouts of your lover, you sighed.

"I have said it once and will say it again. I have nothing to say." You replied as yet another bucket of cold water was thrown at your person.

As the freezing cold water hit your face and body, you shivered. This torturous process had been going on for at least two hours if you had calculated properly. You were colder than you had ever been in your entire life and your eyes burned from the salt that had been mixed into the well water. As you looked at your fingers, you noticed that they were beginning to wrinkle from the long exposure to both the water and the outdoor temperature. Still, you knew you had to hold fast. If Ivar thought you were going to simply volunteer the location of your lover, he was sadly mistaken. It was unfortunate that he had already been given your lovers name by fearful thralls.