VIKINGS || GYDA

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟗 *

Anxious was hardly the word as we marched on towards the battlefield to meet the consequences of horik's actions.

My heart was in a constant rapid beating that was far from normal. I had trained for this, I should have been familiarised, but it was hard to feel secure when I went into battle with soldiers I couldn't count on. Horik commanded a considerable force, but they were loyal to him only.

Our army was perched atop a hill, our forces were in a way divided. Horik and his warriors were moving down towards the king Ecbert's forces, putting themselves within a steep ditch.

Whilst my father and mothers warriors all stood still, unsure of how this was going to work out. Horik believed to have the advantage because the kings army was below us, but how could king Ecbert, who knows these lands better than any of us, make such an unwise move.

Horik makes his way down signaling for the rest of us to follow too, father gestures us on with his arms—an agitated look upon his features.

As we slowly made our way down the hill, I realize how loud my breathing had gotten. With each step down a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach stirred. I flinch at a sudden touch but calm as I realize who it is. Eira nudges me with her elbow.

"Get out of your head. You need to concentrate now."

"Something is wrong, this must be a trap."

"You think of nothing but your sword and whoever in front of you. Stay close." She does not indulge my worries as she draws her sword and starts into a jog to join the decent to the bottom.

Trying to follow her lead, I push out a heavy breathe from my lungs and take a tighter hold on my sword and shield as I too make my way alongside my countrymen.

Just a few more yards and we would meet in the middle with Ecbert's warriors. The sound of axes banging on shields and war cries was all that was heard in the steep valley as we mean to unsettle Ecberts men.

All attention is then snapped to the right, as an array of soldiers mounted the hilltop, looking down on us. Then to the left, another array on horseback. We were trapped in the middle. We were sitting ducks.

"SHIELD WALL!"

At my fathers words myself and others ran to the left side whilst others took the right. With Shields tighten around our forearm we pushed and fitted together to create our defense—but there was no way this would hold against horses charging downhill.

The Saxons begin their ascend down, picking up high speeds from the slope of the hill. At this time I realize there was no time for fear, if one of us breaks this wall, we all fall.

"HOLD! HOLD! HOLD THE WALL!"

Tucking my head down against the shield, we all lean against each other for support and push to keep the wall strong— shouting out our orders in unison. Hold.

It only took a moment before I hear the smash of clashing metal and flesh—I watch as the man beside me was ran down faster than I could blink.

His body lay unconscious, bleeding wounds from the horses hooves and the soldiers sword made him almost unrecognizable as he lay trampled in the torn up soil.

There was no time to even wipe away the blood that sprayed my face from the trampled man, as Saxon soldiers broke through the shield walls. I break away from the wall and turn to take on the solider that broke through.

With a running start I knock a Saxon off one of our warriors with my shield. He lands on his back, his sword unsecured in his armoured hands, he died quickly as I sliced across his neck.