A Divine Secret - Viking Fanfic

In the Woods Somewhere

As I'm copying this story into Wattpad, this song was playing. It definitely fits with the chapter I think. Enjoy and don't forget to leave a star and/or comment! 

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Runa camped in the woods while she awaited Ragnar's return with a contract. Thankfully, the weather had stayed neutral and the elements were not too harsh on Runa. She thanked the Gods for her luck. They had been kind to her so far and she prayed that they would continue to smile down upon her as she entered a battle with her former arranged husband.

The leaves rustled in the wind as Runa pushed her way through the forest. The lush foliage crunched under her feet and the sounds of the wild filled her ears. She had found some type of peace in the quiet of the trees. She loosened her grip on her bow as she came to a stream. Setting down her weapon on a nearby rock, Runa got on her knees next to the water. She splashed the cold water on her face before taking a drink. It was refreshing on her parched tongue. As she drank, her own reflection stared back at her. She examined her image. Dark circles formed around her sunken eyes and her lips were cracked from the lack of hydration. Her hair had fallen from its braid and her cheeks had lost their natural red color. She frowned at herself.

Crunch.

Runa's head snapped to the side as a tree branch snapped in the distance. It took but a second for her to grab her bow and conceal herself behind a tree. She took an arrow from her quiver and held her breath. The sound of vegetation of rustling resonated through the otherwise silent forest. Runa peeked her head from the tree that she was using as cover. She aligned her arrow with the figure's chest and pulled back. She let out a breath and waited for the perfect opportunity. The figure began to move in her direction and Runa took a step back.

Crunch.

She stepped on a tree branch and its sound blared through the woods like a warning horn. The figure turned and Runa decided now was the time. Stepping from her spot behind the tree, Runa gripped the shaft of the bow tighter and pulled harder on the string. She focused on the figure and-

"Runa!"

The sound of her name startled her and she released the arrow about five feet from her target. The arrow whizzed past the figure and they ran. Runa whipped around.

"Leif! What are you doing here?"

Leif stepped closer to Runa. His eyes scanned her appearance.

"I'm looking for you."

"Looking for me? Why are you- wait. You're working with Rollo? Leif, how could you?"

Leif sighed and rubbed his beard, "Runa, just go to the Thing."

"Why should I? I don't want to marry Rollo!"

"But you can divorce him. There is nothing stopping you."

"Leif, you don't understand. Rollo would kill me if I tried."

"Runa, don't be ridiculous. I don't think-"

Runa pushed her hair away from her neck and bared it to Leif. Purple and black bruises were scattered there. She shuddered as his hands brushed lightly over her skin.

"Do you see those, Leif? Those are from Rollo. He choked me in front of my own father. Rollo, he... he hurts me and we aren't married now. Can you imagine what he would do to me if I were his wife?"

Leif's breaths were shallow as he looked at the bruises his friend had left. He sucked in a deep breath, "I'm so sorry, Runa."

Runa pulled her hair back over her neck and said, "It's alright, Leif, but I need you to understand that I cannot go to the Thing. The men will vote in favor of Rollo."

"What are you to do?"

"Ragnar is with my father now. They are looking for a way to prove that I could be freed from the arrangement."

"There was a contract?"

"My father thinks so."

"What can I do to help?"

"Keep Rollo, and his men, away from me."

"You shot at Arne. He'll know that you're here."

"I will relocate. To the east edge of the woods. Tell Rollo that you did see me. That you called my name and that we talked. Leif, we are talking. You won't be lying to him. Tell him I got away."

"I cannot do that. He will question why."

"So, you tell Rollo that I was crazed. I look terrible and I've got the appearance of a wild woman. Tell him that I- that I beat you. Yes, yes. I attacked you."

"But-"

Runa stepped back and landed a punch in Leif's left eye. He stumbled back.

"Runa! Are you crazy?"

"No," she grunted as she drove a kick in his stomach, "Just desperate."

Leif fell to the ground and groaned in pain. Runa straddled him, "Remember. You found me and I attacked you. You saw me run to the west before you blacked out."

"To... the... west," he groaned.

"To the west. Thank you, Leif," Runa planted a kiss on his forehead before she knocked his head against the ground.

-

Plink.

Runa's eyes snapped open. A water droplet landed on her nose as she blinked. The sound of rain surrounded her and she stirred on the cold ground. Looking up, Runa stared at the wooden hut structure that she'd constructed. The rain somehow penetrated through her shelter and small water drops leaked through. She blinked again and groaned softly. A sharp pain ran through her back when she tried to sit up.

"Shit," she murmured. Runa's body was crying for her straw bed, but she couldn't return home yet. She had to wait for Ragnar to come to get her.

Plink.

Another raindrop grazed Runa's dirt-covered skin. Stagnant on the ground, she closed her eyes, breathed in, and waited for the rain to stop.

"Runa..."

"Ragnar. Where are you?"

"Runa..."

"Ragnar, please, please. Come find me! Please."

"Runa..."

"Please come find me. I'm so scared. Ragnar, please, please, find me. Save me!"

"Runa..."

"Ragnar, come find me. Come find me!"

"Runa..."

"Please-"

Runa awoke with a startle. She wiped the tears from her stained face. She had been crying for him in her sleep, but he was nowhere to be found. Runa sat up slowly from the ground and cradled her knees to her chest. She let her tears flow freely, for she could no longer hold them back. Her breaths were shallow as she wept. She wept for Ragnar, for her father, for looming marriage to Rollo, and most importantly, she wept for her body. Pain coursed through her every vein from the weeks of hiding in the woods. She was lethargic and struggled to keep her eyes open. She was becoming clumsy with his hiding spots and, sooner or later, Rollo would realize that Runa didn't run towards the west. She had a week, at best, before Rollo and his men caught up to her. She wanted to leave Kattegat, but she couldn't. Runa needed to stay so that Ragnar could find her. He would come when it was safe for her to go home. She knew he would.

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