A Divine Secret - Viking Fanfic

3 Years Later

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! It was a bit odd spending Christmas away from my family, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. 

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Runa had come to love the village of Stavern. It was nearly double the size of Kattegat. The people truly had welcomed her with open arms. A celebration was held in the great hall for her arrival. All, except Kory who was forever unclear about his feelings towards Runa, acknowledged her and treated her as if she had lived there her whole life. It was astounding. Never in her life, had Runa felt so loved in a matter of days. It allowed her to temporarily forget her heartbreak over Ragnar. She buried her thoughts of him deep, deep down inside of her. Runa needed to be happy. She deserved it.

Years passed and Runa stayed happily in Stavern, her thoughts of Ragnar soon long forgotten. On her eighteenth birthday, she had a revelation. She was old. The others of her age in the village had already married and were having children. The thought of marriage made Runa anxious. She wanted to wait for Ragnar, for his words were still scribed in the back of her mind.

"I'll find you."

Runa repeated those words to herself every day for the first year she stayed in Stavern. They held a promise and Runa had faith in them. She had faith in Ragnar. For one year, Runa waited patiently for her love. She let herself believe that he would come back to her. He hadn't said goodbye. If he had said goodbye, Runa would've let the thought of him go, but he hadn't. He made her a promise. Runa wanted to believe that he would keep it, and she did, for one year. However, as the years passed, one, two, three, Runa's faith in Ragnar diminished. She still held onto thoughts of him, but she didn't believe he was coming. If Ragnar wanted to find her, he would have done so already. Runa let Ragnar go, and on her eighteenth birthday, she let his words float from her mind. He wasn't coming to find her. Runa needed to live her life, for she was convinced she would never see Ragnar Lothbrok again.

Jarl Lorenson had two sons, twins, Einar and Unn. Unn was a confident, strong warrior who basked in the attention of anyone who would present him with the time of day. Einar, on the other hand, was a silent fighter. He was not nearly as strong as his brother, but his skill and marksmanship were superior to Unn's. Like Runa, Einar preferred a bow to a sword.

Runa had developed a relationship with both of the Jarl's sons. Unn was a friend, one with whom Runa spent her free time with. They dueled together and were the entertainment at the town's weekly feasts. He was a loud man. Unn was the fun.

Einar was also a friend, but the time Runa spent with him always had a purpose, hunting. Einar was the village's local hunter, for he could move silently and gracefully through the woods. He seemed to relish in the fact that Runa was a skilled archer. Einar was quick to bring Runa along on his weekly hunts. He was always silent, always calculating. Einar was the labor.

Runa enjoyed the two brothers, for each day they presented her with both work and play. They were a happy balance in her life, and it seemed her presence had changed the dynamic of the twin's habits. Lady Helle, the twin's mother, often told Runa of how pleased it made her that Runa developed a relationship with both brothers. It was rare that Einar and Unn shared a common interest in the same person. Helle told Runa that the brothers planned together who would spend time with her. It was never their intention to steal Runa away from each other. This fact was shocking to Runa, but it soon became apparent to her. When her time with one brother was over, the other came as if on cue. Runa found it odd at first, but it ensured no one was caused grief. It was a system and it worked.

The only sound that filled the woods was the wind and thunder. It always seemed to thunder when Runa went hunting with Einar. Einar loved it; he said it frightened the deer and gave them a stronger taste. Runa sighed. She sat at the base of the large spruce tree that Einar had climbed up minutes ago to get a better view. To keep herself busy, she ran the emblem of Fenrir back and forth over the silver chain.

Whack!

"Ow!"

"Shh!"

Runa rubbed the top of her head and glared up the tree, "What was that for?"

"Shh!"

Another spruce cone struck Runa, in the eye this time. She shouted into the air, "Stop it, Einar!"

"Then shut up!" Einar's voice boomed down the tree. Runa frowned. He always wanted to silence. He was always calculating.

Einar's head appeared from somewhere between the branches and he looked down at Runa. His face softened; he motioned for her to climb up. Runa squealed in excitement.

"Shh!"

"Sorry," Runa whispered as she hiked up her dress and kicked off her leather shoes. She slung her bow over her shoulder. Grabbing onto the first branch, Runa hoisted herself onto it. Straddling a wide, thick, high branch, Einar cocked his head and watched as Runa gracefully scaled the conifer. He scooted back on the bough as Runa reached him and she sat in front of him. Leaning back into Einar's arm, Runa waited for his reaction. His whole body tensed. She giggled, "Loosen up, man, or you will send us both to the ground."

Einar relaxed, just a bit, and wrapped his arms around Runa's waist. She gazed up and raised an eyebrow at him.

"I'm keeping you steady."

"Sure, Einar," Runa smirked before she turned back forward.

Einar's cheeks flamed crimson as his fingers brushed over Runa's skin. He pulled the wooden bow from her shoulder, handed it to her, and rested his head on her shoulder. Runa swore she could feel Einar's heart drumming in his chest. His voice was soft as he breathed in her ear, "Look, straight ahead. See that group of deer?"

"Past the stream?"

"Yes."

Runa craned her head to look at Einar, "Will we follow them?"

"No. We're going to shoot them when Thor strikes his hammer. Fear will course through them and they will be full of flavor for the feast. It will be something special for the end of the summer."

"We're going to shoot them through the trees? But, Einar-"

"I will guide you, Runa," Einar said, "Raise your bow."

Runa raised the wooden weapon as Einar grabbed an arrow from his quiver. Handing it to Runa, he placed his coarse hands over Runa's on the bow. She stiffened at his touch.

"Loosen up, woman, or you will send us both to the ground," Einar mocked as he chuckled quietly to himself. Runa sent her elbow into his stomach and stated, "You are not funny, Einar."

He grunted, "Ow!"

"Shh!"

"Neither are you- enough of these jokes. Look at the sky, it will thunder again soon. We cannot miss this golden opportunity."

Einar guided Runa's bow to the heart of the largest deer. He whispered, "Hold steady, and when I say, release your arrow. Steady, Runa, and with power."

Einar's hands left Runa as he stood up slowly behind her on the tree bough. He took his own bow from his back and placed an arrow between his fingers. He waited; Runa held her breath. The low rumble of thunder came over the mountains and echoed in the valley.

"Now!" shouted Einar as he released his arrow. Lightning flashed.

Runa launched hers a split second later. Neither stopped to see whether they had hit their targets as they continued to send arrows flying through the lush, green forest. Einar emptied his quiver first, for he could lock onto his target quicker than Runa. With the speed of an eagle, Einar climbed down the spruce tree and ran past the stream to where the animals had been. They were all dead. Runa watched as Einar inspected their work. He looked to her place in the trees and gave a thumbs up. Runa smiled. He was pleased with the hunt which made her elated. She loved hunting with Einar.

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