Northwind

6

Siegfried had me by the throat, I tried to kick against him and clawed into his hands but it seemed he had gained some strength even if he had lost his speech. He knelt on my chest, almost crushing it. A fallen soldier's sword laid not far from me, I reached for it. The tips of my fingers just about reaching its hilt, I gripped it in my hand and stabbed Siegfried in the shoulder, he let go immediately, I raced up and tried to take in as much as air as I could. As disorientated as I was, I continued to fight.

But Uhtred and I had become separated. I retrieved an axe from a dead Dane and hacked it into the skulls of everyone who charged at me. The blood-soaked my armour and even worked its way through the thick leather. I realized I was being surrounded, I turned and turned but men just barricaded against me. "You're going nowhere warrior!" A voice behind me exclaimed, I turned and there stood both Erik and Siegfried.

"Odin help me if I am to fall. May a Valkyrie take me to my final resting place," I said. I charged, roaring bravely, I leapt up attempting to dodge Erik's shield but he used his weight against me and I was knocked onto the ground winding myself. I pushed myself up and repositioned my mask.

"Doesn't matter hiding your identity, when I kill you and I will, we will found out who you are," Erik said. I said nothing and raced forward; I dropped my weapons confusing them. I hauled Erik's shield from his arm breaking it, he cried in agony and dropped to his knees. His brother soon charged at me from behind but I heard him in the mud and turned on my heel and head-butted him. I was going to fight with my fists, not steel.

"How is this fair?" One man yelled. I didn't answer as I kicked Siegfried down on his back but Erik pulled me back off him, and held me steady as his brother punched me in the abdomen a few times. I didn't make a sound Erik threw me towards his brother who threw me onto the ground, he pushed his knee into my throat and tried removing my mask but I scratched his face.

He leapt back and I tried to scramble off the ground, but as I did one of the spectating men stabbed me in the back, this time I whimpered. "The great warrior cries!" Erik exclaimed. "You're nothing but a soft warrior."

"You think so," I said jumping on Siegfried's back. "Watch your brother die, his soul is mine!" I snarled, I punched my hand into his back, I broke his spinal cord. As soon as Siegfried dropped, I got off and, pulled the knife from my belt and slit his throat in front of Erik and his men.

"No!" His brother cried and rushed at me, I side stepped him as grief now took over him, I refused to fight a man blinded by it. I made my way out just as Erik was pulling himself up off the ground again. "Where are you warrior, I am going to end you!" he yelled.

"Ar..." the pain from my wound now made its way around my body, but I paused. "Best thing you can do is retreat or surrender, you're out numbered! Besides some of your men are already running away," I laughed. Uhtred, Finan and a few others chased the Danes away. Erik rushed at me, but Finan rode his horse in between me and him.

"The battle is over, return with your men," he said pointing his sword at him. Erik said no more and left with his retreating army.

"What did you do?" Uhtred asked me.

"I killed Siegfried," I said.

"Alone?" Finan asked a little disbelieved.

"Yes," I nodded.

"Are you hurt?" Uhtred asked.

"No," I lied shaking my head.

"You go with Finan, and I'll tell Alfred of our victory. They won't attack for some time yet. They need time to mourn." Uhtred said. We walked back to Cookham.

"Freya..." I glared at him. "You lied, didn't you?"

"No," I said and walked ahead of him. The gates were opened as we returned, I went straight to the longhouse and locked the door behind me. I cleaned all the blood off me and saw to the wound on my back it was deep and made me want to scream, but I bit my tongue. After it had been seen to, I walked to the field behind the house after a battle I always needed peace to myself but kept my mask and cloak close.

I heard horses returning but ignored it, but found my concentration dwindling. My wound caused me great pain, I hadn't given it attention at the right time. I was sure it was infected, besides I'm sure the blade which pierced my back wasn't exactly clean either. I fought to stay awake but I lost that fight, I slipped down the side of the house and laid in the long grass.