The Young Seer |Vikings|

Chapter Twenty: Freydis

Ivar's POV

Blood flows in from the crack underneath the door. I sit up in bed to see the pool run towards me. Who's blood?

I heard wheezing beside me, the breathing was so hoarse. I turn my head to see Hedwig laying in my bed, stiff as a board while she tries her best to breathe with a rope around her neck. Blood crusted around her lips. She looked like she had been beaten.

She had rope burns and she looked scared. Her eyes slowly landed on me, I could see the pain in her eyes. It shattered me. I watched as a tear fell from her eye as she blinked.

I stroked her head. "You're going to be okay."

"No she won't." I heard my mother tell me. I turned my head to see her standing at the foot of my bed. "You did this."

"No..." I shook my head vigorously. "I'd never do this."

"You're such a monster. What have I raised?" She growled.

I felt anger burning in my chest. "I AM NOT A MONSTER!"

"Look at her." She ordered. I felt like she forced my eyes upon my dying friend. Her breathes were getting shallower. She looked scared of me and that scared me. "Hedwig The Völva, you betrayed your friendship for arrogance. You wished for her and her father to be killed."

"No." My voice cracked as tears spilled from my eyes. "I-I love her."

"No you don't. Not if you let the wolf into your life."

"T-the wolf?" I questioned.

"Hedwig is dying." She stated as she came around to see what I've done. She clicked her tongue. "Your work was sloppy, you had idiots executed her." She unsheathed a knife. Hedwig started to squirm and started sobbing and tried to plead for help, but she could barely breathe let alone talk. "You will have to do the work yourself."

I blinked my eyes and I'm holding the knife. I couldn't control myself. I grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling her head back and as tears fell from my eyes, I slit her throat. Her blood sprayed on my face. She gagged a few times with wide eyes before falling limp, her blue eyes staying on me.

I burst into fresh tears and cradled her in my arms. I didn't want to kill her. What have I done? I killed my only friend.

Hedwig's POV

It seems Ivar forgave me for talking to his brother. For the past month he had become a leader over the others and ordered workers to strengthen the defense system. The people have been working hard.

Idun was becoming bigger and looked like her stomach was ready to pop at any moment. One more month, she was growing antsy and tired of being pregnant. I couldn't blame her. It seemed awful.

Ivar seemed in high spirits. I walked into his little headquarters which was in an old church. He remodeled it into his throne room, dining area and in the back, his bedroom.

I skipped through the doors with my basket. I noticed Ivar always with these two goons who were more like devoted followers, they reminded me of Baldur and Arvin.

"Ah! What brings you here?" Ivar greeted me on his throne with a big extended smile, it was almost as if he was relieved. He had been having many nightmares of me and from the circles under his eyes, sleeping wasn't getting any better.

"Well, I got you some fruit, my lord." I teased, giving him a half-hearted bow. I opened my basket and let him peek inside.

"You've been of great service to me, servant." He replied playfully as he grabbed a grape and popped it into his mouth.