It had been written that the daughter of Ragnar Lothbrok was taken to Valhalla as a young girl.
But what if the gods didn't take her? What if the gods spared her?
Gyda Ironside, the only daughter of Ragnar and Lagertha rejoins her family as a train...
When I was a girl my mother told me something that had stuck with me ever since.
"As a women, your choices will never be easy. They fall to us because only we're strong enough to handle them, because we've the courage to decide the right thing to do—knowing the consequences and pain that comes with it. That is the honour of a woman and the burden of one."
Her words were all that echoed through my thoughts, they were the only thing that kept my head held high during the whole meeting. I agreed to the treaty, just as the three leaders did. There was no going back now, I was to be married, I was to leave my family and homeland—everything.
A condition of my marriage pact was the permission to return home with my family, to say goodbye and to settle my affairs. I gave my word that I would return back when the leaders come back to build the settlement in the land that was gifted to us—only then will I be wed.
While this plan seemed simple in my head, the reality was much more complicated. With the finalisation of the treaty and the meeting, all in my party gave me a wide berth.
I knew what they were all thinking, they'll see me as the one who eagerly jumped on the chance to marry a Christian and betray her gods.
Father and Bjorn were silent, mother too, they were angry. Ecbert was a scheming man, that much was true, he was smart to corner me. Ecbert needs my father's obedience, and now he would have it. I was a political pawn in this treaty, though I do not know what else I could have done in that meeting. If I declined, Ecbert would have seized us all then—no matter if King Aelle was still kept by our people, that is how conniving he was willing to stoop in order to come out on top.
As we made our way back to camp, tents were already being pulled down and ships were being loaded. Ecbert came through on his promises, we were granted chests of silver and gold. I watched our warriors load the cargo, while in the background, King Aelle trotted past on his horse, back towards the castle.
I watch on as all commit to their orders, loading and readying the ship to deport. I couldn't help but feel so on the outside of it all, like all of a sudden I didn't belong with my own people anymore—thanks to this treaty, that seemed all too true now.
"Gyda!"
Eira comes bounding over towards me, Nels following suit. Nels and I had not spoken since the kiss we shared in my tent. I was angry and confused about it still but that didn't take priority at this moment.
"They say we are to set sail for home, I take it the talks went well?"
"Yes."
"Ecbert has paid us in gold?"
"Yes."
She is not the only one to look me over at my short words, Nels eyes are suspicious as he watches my demeanour change, my arms loosely fold together as I avert my eyes to the ground.
"What is wrong?" His eyes are soft but his tone is hard—no time wasted in seeking an answer.
Silent passed between our trio as I contemplate the right words. In the end I decided it best to just say it as it was.
"Ecbert is to gift us five thousand acres of farming land, a treaty has been signed to unite our people."
The two exchange puzzled glances to each other, the corner of Eira's lips twitch up as she arches a brow.
"Is that why you are not yourself? Is this not good—"
"I am to marry a nobleman of Ecberts court."
She looked as taken back as I thought she would. Her eyebrows furrowed together as she search my face for any hint of deception. She finally speaks after a few moments.
" I...I don't understand."
With my head held low I answer her, "It is one of the condition of the kings treaty we have signed. Because I'm doing this our people will be united, there will be no more battles—no more deaths." I was trying to convince her but really I was trying to convince myself.
"But why you Gyda?"
"Because he could only offer a nobleman. My mother and I were the only woman present who could answer this condition. He did not want mother, he wanted me."
"Because he can leverage your life in exchange for your father's cooperation."
Nel's shares his discovery with solemn eyes as he lowers his head, his fist balling by his side tightly.
|
As Eira, Nels and I boarded a ship, I was taken back by the figure that was readying the sails.
"Athlestan?"
When he turned to me, he had parted ways with his God's clothes and its symbol that he wore around his neck.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
He was now the Athlestan we missed. Wearing our clothes, his hair left out with a sharpened axe resting on his belt as well as his golden arm ring that father gave him.
I take his hands as we meet in the middle, "You are coming with us?" He smirks as he bends his head to kiss my hands.
"Where my family goes, so do I."
I offer him what smile I could muster as I stroked his shoulder and walked to the front of the ship to sit with Eira, Nels taking his post by the ores.
The ships began to retreat from the shores of Wessex, ores are thrusted down as we are propelled to the river's mouth and back to the open sea.
With the feeling of some kind of coldness, I look over my shoulder to the adjacent ship and meet the unwavering eyes of our king. How long has he been watching me? He doesn't divert his cold stare—my cowl is pulled tighter around my body in the hope to bloke out the sharp breeze and the feel of his unnerving observation.
While some of my problems were being left here in England, I was evidently on my way to meet new ones waiting for me at home. Everything is about to change.
