The Dawn of the Lost

5

When I came around I was tied down. I had been thrown into the barn. "You're not very tough for a Dane are you?" A tenant said kicking me in the side.

"Untie me, let's find out," I growled.

"No, we'll teach you a lesson first. We don't like stray Danes with our lord," another said.

"I'm sure that has nothing to do with you," I laughed.

"It does if we don't feel safe in our own homes," a woman spoke up.

"That's not down to me," I said smirking.

"Yes, it is," a man said punching me in the face. "Enough talk," a woman said now tying a gag around my mouth.

"Those ropes probably won't hold her, we should break her legs," a man spoke up. I made muffled noises as I tried to detest. Before I could do anything or even try to remove the gag one man stamped on both my knees breaking them. I cried out and whimpered. They then cut my wrists and laid them over buckets tying them down, I could hear the tinging of my blood in the buckets.

"This will keep you weak enough till we finally decide to end your suffering," a woman said.

They all walked out before their presence was missed. I could hear Uhtreds voice, he was looking for me.

"My lord, your Dane friend she left," a man told him.

"That's strange her horse is left in the stable," he replied.

"She was in a rush," a woman spoke up.

"If anything has happened to her, I will hold you both responsible do you understand?" He warned them. My head fell back, the bloodletting draining me. I prayed to Odin that he would send Uhtred a messenger. The night grew cold and I was shivering, I couldn't imagine anyone was bringing to bring me a fur blanket.

I could hear the animals calling out into the night. The pain that once radiated around my body was beginning to numb and turn dull as the cold bit into my bones. If blood loss wouldn't take me first then a fever would. Just as my eyes began to close I heard the door open, I slowly rolled my eyes up to lock them onto the figure. It was Mildrith."I'm sorry it had to happen this way but I don't trust you around Uhtred," she said. I rolled my eyes and sighed. "I won't have a threat around my child."

I tried to move the gag out of my mouth but it didn't move." Let me help you," she said removing it for me.

"You have no child yet!" I exclaimed.

"Yes, I do," she said.

"If Uhtred knew you were apart of this he would have your head. Married or not," I told her.

"You lie! That's all Danes do! They lie! My father warned me against people like you," she said.

"Your voice is rather annoying do you think you could leave me alone to die in peace," I told her turning my head away. She said nothing and stormed out.