'Fire In Your Eyes' (Thorfinn x Reader) - Vinland Saga

Ny

I'd been gone for at least an hour, I could hear the men waking up and going about their own morning routines. The grunts from the tents left little to the imagination, morning wanks, followed by the hungover barking of breakfast demands and then the hourly fights over something as trivial as one of the idiots sitting on another's seat. The boredom had swept the entire camp, and as most of the women had been "disposed of" and the plan of action halted, many of the men had resorted to simply over-drinking and passing out by late afternoon, and that's saying something when it comes to Vikings.

2 of the brutes emerge from a bush after their morning shit and notice me approaching my hut, barrel in hand and not at all amused by their topic of conversation. I glare back at them, confident and unperturbed, making a point to slowly lower my gaze to their midriff then crotch region. I cock my eyebrows. No weapons. Careful now. Wouldn't want to lose something, would you? This sends them wandering off towards the centre in a brisk jog, hands firmly on their belts, whispering some sort of profanities to each other, they wouldn't dare say it to me.

I sigh and slowly kick open the door, lugging my now too heavy barrel into my humble quarters. I make sure the door is shut behind me before dropping to my knees and let out a loud groan. FUUUUCK I have to stop jogging like that, I'm strong but not that strong. I quickly wrestle off my sword and roll onto my back gasping for air. My legs and back feel like they're on fire. I definitely overdid it today. Think I was too spooked by the possible attack earlier, if they were still watching me I couldn't let it seem like I was too weak to fight at any point. I need to focus on breathing through my nose, the air keeps burning my throat and I don't recover as fast. My head is spinning. Come on breathe deep and slow. One. Two. Three. Four. Fi-

I can hear a commotion outside. There's one voice yelling louder than usual "Someone's here! Get ready you lazy scrotes!!" I sit up and keep listening, they aren't orders for an attack, someone is approaching the village. "Fuck please don't let it be one of the traders!" The last 2 who arrived had their stocks ransacked, one of whom was a young lad who was immediately killed for talking back to Gorm, and the other trader, an older gentleman was let go but had his assets and clothes stripped. I wasn't able to locate him once he'd been run out of the village with arrows shot at his feet for good measure. I could only hope his death wasn't painful.

I decided to leave my waster at home, taking a second to compose myself before I make my way into the centre. Some of the men acknowledge me wandering through the crowds, whispering as I pass. The drunkards tripping over themselves in excitement that something was happening. I make my way undisturbed to the front of the crowd that had gathered towards the village's main entrance, a large square gap purposely formed by sawing down 8 surrounding trees and now marked off with Nordic flags. Viking territory now.

"General Leif! Good to see you again, still as ugly as when you left!" the men burst into laughter as Leif dismounts from his horse and friendly punches and handshakes are exchanged between them. Leif wasn't ugly at all for a barbarian, he had dark brown hair that had been shaved on both sides but kept long at the top, fashioned into a neat braided plait embellished with various feathers and wooden beads. His face was chiselled, slim nose, full but chapped raw lips, and brown eyes that always seemed to be focused elsewhere. Never angry looking.

Behind him approaching at different speeds, a few men I recognised and amongst them a vast number of men I didn't. All dirty, scruffy and exhausted. Some on horseback, many on foot, a few on a small wagon pulled by two very malnourished looking horses. The most noticeable of the new group was a tall man with blonde spiky hair with an awful receding hairline, a matching spiky goatee, with a deep scar above his right eyebrow. Stern looking and slim, he was clearly their leader. Trotting forwards he squints at the rabble before him unimpressed, catching me in his moving gaze before swiftly dismounting his horse.

"Askeladd! You beautiful son of a bitch! Come here!" to my right Gorm pushes past and embraces the groups new addition. Askeladd? Weird name. He looks like a twig compared to Gorm who has Askeladd in smothering hug, but Askeladd is taller and more muscular. He wraps his arms around Gorm in equal gaiety. "Gorm! My brother, it's been too long. Have you lost weight? I can actually reach my hands all the way around you now!" he guffaws.

I haven't seen anyone talk about Gorm's weight so casually without getting an arm broken, a testament to their friendship as Gorm slaps Askeladd playfully on the back and laughs with him. "Listen all of you, these fine men here are our own now! You six! Go cut down as many trees as we need to house them and their horses! Start the biggest fire you can make! Tonight we celebrate and feast!" House these fuckers? Good god. There's going to be even more of them here now? I shake my head and watch as some of our men step forward to welcome our new band, many with far less enthusiasm as Gorm but there is a genuine ripple of happiness that something new has happened since their arrival.

Horses are led towards the stables and I stroke a few as they walk past, and then I feel it... the few men who have spotted me and are attempting to figure out what I am are staring at me with the same hunger as the original bunch had when they first arrived. I stare them back sternly. Here we go again. If any of you cunts lay a finger on me- I'm suddenly brought back by Leif who has approached me and puts a warm hand on my shoulder "Don't do anything here. You'll be ambushed" he mutters in Norse. I stare up at him. He has a point, not just the newcomers, they don't understand my position here, but clearly this Askeladd guy means a great deal to Gorm, if I start anything they'll all rush me and lord knows what they will do to make an example out of me. Besides not all of them have noticed that I am definitely a woman. I'll be safe if I just keep my head down.

I grunt in agreement and punch Leif in the shoulder Why are one of them? You're so much better than them. I purposely adjust my gait to come across more threatening, turning towards the horse drawn cart. I eye some the supplies they've brought along with them, barrels of ale and sacks of what looks like grain and vegetables. I'm definitely strong enough to make a statement, those pigs wouldn't believe an English woman could lift triple her own weight, what better way to blend in? As I go to grab one of the huge sacks from the back a boot swings off the cart and almost hits me in the face. I jump back in time growling at whoever almost kicked my teeth in. The cart rocks slightly as the individual jumps off. It's a young man, way younger looking than the rest of them. Dressed in dirty off cream coloured tunic, with bright messy yellow hair, staring right back at me with a look of complete shock. Wait... where have I seen that yellow before?

We stare at each other for a moment, his look turns quickly from shock to an angry frown. Fucks his problem? I've never known any of these men to have an outwardly sunny disposition as they were all constantly scowling, but this one in particular has a scowl that shoots daggers. His lips chapped and pressed into a pout, his golden eyes staring straight into my soul. How old is this guy? He definitely isn't much older than me. How'd he wind up so angry looking? But I guess he is one of THEM. I doubt he has any semblance of moral fibre. As barbaric as the rest of them. He clicks his tongue and pushes past me, taking a long stretch and yawning and he strides off in no particular direction. I cringe as he moves past and the wind catches his scent. Urgh. He smells like blood and shit. Don't these lot ever bathe?

I watch him saunter off and turn myself back to the task at hand. I realise some of the men had watched our little encounter, I keep my head down and follow the cart as it's wheeled further centre where the men have begun preparations to expand the camp and the fire. 

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There's our boii! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Next one's going to be a lot shorter but more of our boy and our OC to come!