Ease The Dawn

Part 3, Chapter 1 (alternate ending to Part 1)

Ivar's limp body was being dragged, his head slumped forward and his heavy limbs jostled as Hvitserk, and another warrior named Loni hauled him toward the tent. Heaving him along, both men grunted under the awkward weight of his slack body.

Rushing forward, Brana and Gussr ran to help, stopping to listen to Hvitserk's urgent orders. Paralyzed in place, Aethelswith watched the horrific scene before her. Unable to hold back, her eyes filled with tears and she cried out, pleading for an explanation as to what had happened.

The men dragged Ivar through the tent door, heaving him onto his bed and Loni rounded the far side to help Hvitserk roll him onto his back. As if moving in slow motion, Aethelswith approached the foot of the bed and scanned his wet clothes and his ash coloured skin void entirely of colour... of life. His lips were deep violet and his eyes were peacefully closed.

"Is he dead?" she covered her mouth with her hand, feeling the burn of another wave of tears in her eyes.

Crouching forward, Hvitserk brought his ear to Ivar's mouth before dropping down and pressing his ear to his chest. His eyes darted side to side listening for sounds of life. Glancing up to Aethelswith, he nodded.

"He is little dead. Little heart. Little breathe," he answered in a thick accent, using the best english he knew.

Pushing through the tent flap, Brana and Gussr hurried in, carrying large rocks; Brana held one, while Gussr managed four. They placed them into the crackling fire and fast words began flowing between the men. Aethelswith's eyes dashed between them, hopelessly attempting to understand. Nodding, Brana approached Aethelswith, tipping her head close.

"Ivar insisted they cut across the frozen lake instead of following the shore back to camp. To save time and return before dark." Pausing, Brana listened to the men continuing to talk. "It sounds like the weight of his chariot broke the ice and he went into the water." She paused again. "It took time to get him out. The ice kept cracking. Ivar's horse and chariot were lost."

Reaching forward, she squeezed Aethelswith's arm. "The Prince is dying from the cold water, My Lady."

The ghastly image of Ivar thrashing in the broken ice flashed through Aethelswith's mind. Her eyes widened and she shook her head unable to process what Brana had told her.

"We must warm him," she whispered, "quickly."

Nodding, Brana returned to the fire and began laying sheets of thick canvas down flat on the ground, layering one on top of the other.

Rounding the bed, Aethelswith stood beside Hvitserk.

"We must undress him."

Hvitserk raised his eyebrows clearly not understanding.

"Remove his wet clothes," she explained, using her arms to motion.

Brana, glancing over her shoulder from the fire, rushed a fast translation for the men. Hvitserk's expression went slack and he nodded his agreement.

Crawling onto her knees beside Ivar, Aethelswith reached for the bindings on his legs. Not wearing his braces in the chariot, his legs were bound tight by leather ties in three places. Her shaky hands fumbled with the first knot and Loni leaned in, motioning for her to move, and pushed a knife under the tie above his knees, cutting them with a crisp snap. Loni set to work on the others moi before he slipped his knife down the front of Ivar's pants. Turning the blade up, he sliced the fabric from Ivar's groin down to his boot making a smooth ripping sound while Hvitserk started on Ivar's chest armour.

Gussr returned to the tent wearing oversized thick gloves that Aethelswith recognized as the ones blacksmiths wore. Approaching, he quickly exchanged words with Brana before reaching into the fire and picking up one of the rocks. Lowering it onto the center of the linens spread on the ground, Brana wrapped the edges of the fabric around the rock, holding her hands still on either side as if gauging the heat. She nodded to Gussr and he picked up the bundle and headed to the bed.