VIKINGS || GYDA

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟖

In an instance I pull my sword, swiftly spinning to face Izoc who's back was turned to me. My arms pull the metal back far to deliver a deadly blow—A swift force hits my shoulder. I lose my grip on my sword as my body spins to hit the ground hard.

I gasp at the sensation of searing heat embedding into my shoulder. It spread to my arms and chest. The pain was sharp and cruel. Finally opening my eyes I look down to see a thick arrow in my shoulder.

As I fight to look around I see that I am not alone with Izoc anymore. Many warriors revealed themselves from their hiding spots in the trees around us. The most prominent of them being Erlendur and Horik. Horik stands with the crossbow still rose to his eye. A weapon I watched Erlendur take from a dead Saxons body in Wessex. His son watches him intently as the king pulls the weapon away and places into his sons hands.

"It shoots well my son. You have a fine weapon." Horik slaps his shoulder then proceed to walk to me with his sword now drawn and pointed down to me. I writhe in pain as my hand cups my shoulder while the other holds me up from the ground.

"Please do not make me do this Gyda. Surrender yourself and be by my side. If you do this I swear to be merciful to Eira."

I gasp out a pained sigh as I peered up to him, "What have you done with her!"

"My men took her. They have orders to kill if I say so. If you do as I say no harm will come to her. I will send her back to the kings-guard." 

I was rendered speechless as I panted through the throbbing in my shoulder. What else could I do? I was surrounded, they had Eira. I could never forgive myself if anything were to happen to her because of me. She was good, she was my friend, and she deserved none of what I had brought on her.

"What of my family?"

His eyes looked void of patience as he heard me.

"No compromise will be had there Gyda. You can die now and your friend with you or you can join me. Choose."

No compromise. He would kill them all. It seemed an impossible decision. I loved Eira like she was my sister but my brothers were my responsibility. My mother and father were my everything. Eira would have understood that. Though it didn't mean my heart didn't break at the thought.

"I beg you Horik. Spare my family. Let them live their lives in exile, and I will go with you. I will do as you say and marry your son and be loyal to you."

The cold steel of his sword rests it's tip against my throat now. His eyes had darkened.

"I didn't come here to exile your family. I came here to end them. Your father has to die, there is no other way. Lagertha and Aslaug with him. Your brothers too—I will have no son of Ragnar grow up to take revenge on me."

"And you think a daughter of Ragnar won't?"

His lip curls into a snarl as he pulls the sword away and lifts his boot to press onto the wooden tip of the arrow sticking out of me. He drives the wood to push further through. I could feel the other end stab through my flesh, digging itself into the dirt below me. My screams are deafening. I couldn't hold them in even if I tried. I clawed and pushed his boot with what little energy I had with my free arm, but he only pushes harder.

My whole body spasms as he finally lifts his boot away. I can't even reach to cup my shoulder as it burned with pain. It rendered me still as the blood leaked through. My arm now becoming numb.

His sword is back to my throat as he spits down to me, "Will you join me or not."

I allow my free arm to give out, my back lays to the ground, my eyes now looking up to the darkening sky. I close my eyes, I am slow in my answer—I shake my head no.

He will never have me. No one will. I don't open my eyes as I hear him sigh in disappointment. I feel him pull the sword back.

Looking up to the sky I see all who I love pass by in my mind. If they were to die, then I would go to.

"Allfather be with me." I breathe as I await the strike.