Chapter 15: A New Hope

Before the evening hours set, the viking campsite had been taken down. The wounded were led onto a longboat where they remained in remission, while the dead had been buried in deep mass graves upon the rich soiled hill where the battle had taken place. Each boat was loaded once again with all of their supplies along with the loot that had been robbed from the peaceful village. Two of the ships had already began to sail up the Seine river, which were led by Erick and Bard, the rest were following closely behind.

Astrid stood leaned against the rail of the slightly rocking ported ship, watching the sun as slowly sat into the orangish-pink horizon as the other crew members loaded onto the boat. A lone bird sang in the distance, sending out a mournful sound in the air. Astrid closed her eyes to embrace natures sounds, figuring she would not have another opportunity to.

"Are you ready?" Knute asked, popping up behind Astrid.

"As ready as I will ever be." She responded simply with a shrug, stepping back towards a bench beside an oar where lowered herself slowly since her hip was still sore. "I do not want to be afraid, Knute, but I find it harder and harder to show no fear."

Knute sat down beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "I think that the gods will spare you. For you have been brave when no one else held bravery."

"I should be dead!" Astrid shouted, causing everyone around her to look up. "Iona was killed and she was innocent of everything. She never done a thing to anyone. She only wanted to prove herself but died while trying. Look at me! I am a slave! That is all! I have nothing to prove to anyone. I am not brave, I just do not fear death because I could not possibly be killed anymore!"

Knute tilted her head to face him.

"Iona is dead because she did not know fighting strategies. She did not know how to kill and survive. That is why she is dead not because of you or me or anyone else!" He scolded, pointing his finger sternly at Astrid.

Astrid dropped her head low, avoiding eye contact with any others.

"Astrid, " Knute whispered pulling her close to him. "I wa-"

"Do not waste any more of your time pleading or giving me speeches of things I already am aware of." Astrid blurted out, cutting Knute off rudely.

Astrid looked up at him harshly, showing no sense of care whatsoever.

"You should get to your position." She insisted, sitting upright poised.

Astrid glanced up at the burly captain of the ship. She had seen him around Erick's home occasionally but never knew his name. He had light brown hair cut into a short bur with a short, well-trimmed beard. He stood at the helm of the ship with a slave girl to his left, who was handing him sailing needs. Astrid locked eyes with the thrall and shared a sincere smile.

Knute sighed and nodded his head before he walked towards an empty bench behind a dark haired man.

"Row!" The captain shouted, looking into the distance.

Astrid pulled back the heavy oar with all of her strength, breaking the intense force that the water brought upon the wood. Back and forth the men and women rowed the large ship, making their way up the Seine river as quickly as the longboats would go up the wide river. The stinging pain returned in Astrid's hip as she pulled the heavy oar back once again.

They rowed until the moon and the stars painted themselves across the black sky. Astrid felt the veins in her forehead throbbing, louder and louder with each pulsation that sounded in her ringing ears. Come morning she knew the ships would arrive into the city where they would pillage and fight for objects useless to her life. She examined the crew around her who were all resting with exceptions of several that continued rowing the boat up the river. Knute slept soundly with his head propped against the siding of the boat with his knees pressed closely to his chest. Astrid felt the surge of loneliness jolt through her as she watched him sleep. She fought back every desire to go to his side and drift to sleep in his arms, where she imagined to stay forever but knew her dreams would never happen since she had to leave as soon as she reached her goal-freedom. But what was the price of freedom?

Astrid watched the shimmering reflection of the moon upon the water until she, too, dissolved into a light sleep. After a couple of hours of sleeping she woke with a jolt, forcing herself to sit up. The dawn had broken into a new day. The men had transitioned into a different group controlling the boat. A thick fog covered the water making it hard to see what laid before them.

"It is only a matter of time now until we arrive!" The captain shouted loudly, making the rest of the men to awake. "We are to treat these people just as we did the others. We will go in and get what we want then come out. No one is to be harmed unless they fight first, then by all means kill them first." He continued his speech walking around beside the shipmates.

He quickly glanced down at Astrid, who refused to stare at anyone but the sights ahead of her.

"Look at me, slave." He stated, plopping forcefully down beside of Astrid.

Astrid shut her eyes tightly, hoping he would leave her side soon, and took a deep breath then released it. She bit the inside of her jaw and gave a slight shake to he head before popping her eyes wide open, meeting the captains gaze with a smile.

"What is it sire?" Astrid replied meekly, holding the fake smile on her face.

"My name is Sigurd." He informed her scooting himself closer to her. "I am the chieftain now."

Astrid's blank stare never left his cold glare.

Sigurd placed his big hand upon her knee, where he began rubbing it lightly. He leaned his head in the arch of her neck and began nuzzling his nose and beard along her exposed skin, all the while planting kisses wherever he desired. Astrid looked back forward again, ignoring his lewd behavior.

"You are Jarl Bard's slave girl, correct?" Sigurd whispered into her ear, placing another soft kiss on her bare neck. Astrid felt her heart begin to pound nervously as a chill ran down her spine.

Sigurd began kissing her neck passionately as he tilted her head to face him, where he crashed his lips upon hers. She tasted the bitter taste of mead that was smeared on his dry, cracked lips. She sat completely still, refusing to touch him anywhere or kiss him back, staring straight ahead as he sucked on her bottom lip. His rough hands began to find their way up to her breasts where he began massaging them vigorously. Astrid closed her eyes, hoping the scene would be over soon. No one seemed to pay any mind to the acts of molestation occurring around them; instead, they continued rowing silently, cutting through the fog like a knife.

Sigurd leaned away from Astrid, taking her bottom lip between his teeth and tugging on it before releasing it disappointment with her response.

"Are you not enjoying yourself?" He hissed aggressively, pushing her backwards onto the plank bench.

Astrid shook her head wildly.

"How can a person enjoy themselves if they are being forced upon!" Astrid spat back, pushing him off of her into the floor of the boat. "I might be a slave but I am not a whore!"

Sigurd sat up rubbing his head puzzled, yet angered.

"You will take what you have coming to you, slave." Sigurd grumbled, forcing himself back onto Astrid.

Astrid balled herself up to shield her body from Sigurd. In a quick action she kicked him in the groin which brought him away from her. From there, Knute and another man grabbed him from behind, gripping him tightly in their arms. Astrid hurriedly gathered herself and rushed towards a robust lady, whose arms were outstretched to her. The lady took Astrid into a tender embrace and began rubbing her on the back calmly. Soon, the commotion on the boat consumed the attention of the entire crew.

"Let me go!" Sigurd yelled, jerking himself away from the grasp of Knute. "She is just a slave. What is so special about her?"

"When she returns to Oliefsborg she will be free." Knute informed. "Bard offered Astrid her freedom if she raided with him. She is not just any slave."

Sigurd smugly smiled.

"I believe you have feelings for this slave girl." He looked at Knute then at Astrid. "I have seen you together. Just as everyone else has."

As Knute opened his mouth to speak, the man beside of him pointed out a large wall that was vaguely visible through the fog, which was starting to thin out.

Sigurd ran to the side of the boat and leaned out, squinting his eyes to get a better view.

"Evreux is just ahead." He stated, looking at the crew. "Get back to your positions and row!"

They rushed back to their spots where they began rowing aggressively until they came to a small stone mill house with the mill turning the water. There was no sight of villagers around the mill. As the Northmen continued sailing, small cottages were side by side upon the hill sloping towards the rivers edge. Soon, they came across the other viking boats that were docked onto the banks of the river and stopped directly beside them and disembarked once again onto the lands of France.

There was still no sign of anyone around the village as they trudged along the cobblestone paths, surveying their surroundings and occasionally entering into the small cottages to loot.

Astrid noticed at the end of the path was the cathedral with swords propped against the outside. She realized then that it was Sunday and all of the villagers were there-unarmed, unprepared, and in worship. She approached it alone, at first, then was joined by several men along with Erick.

Erick and another man pushed the pentagon shaped door open forcefully, startling the people inside. The women and children rushed towards the front of the church, hovering behind the men who blocked their view of the Northmen. The priest marched down from the pulpit towards them with open arms.

"May our God-" he began to speak in French looking around at the alien men, examining their different burly features. His jaw dropped at the sight of Astrid, who held the same expression. "Astrid?" He asked in the Germanic language that Astrid was familiar with.

"Heinrich." She replied in the same tongue. "It cannot be you, everyone was killed."

"No Astrid, it is I." He stepped closer to her. "You are alive in the flesh. I cannot believe that I am seeing you again."

Astrid smiled in disbelief and looked over at Erick, who stood on point with the rest of the men.

"What are you saying?" Erick asked in the Norse.

"He is a peaceful man. They do not deserve to have their home destroyed." Astrid pleaded. "You do not have to do this Erick."

He nodded and left the church followed by the rest of the men. Astrid smiled and nodded to her friend before leaving also. Outside the men were gathering all of the swords that was leaned against the wall.

Astrid felt hope build inside of her heart. Heinrich was the priest that taught her the Norse language. How many more of her dear friends from Hamburg were still alive?

"Who was that man?" Erick asked as he ran to Astrid's side.

"He was a man from my home in Hamburg." Astrid replied glancing back towards the church.

"Seeing him again was a chance." Erick stated and walked out ahead of her. "Now go on about your way."

Astrid stopped in front of a larger stone house. She inspected the door before ramming inside with her thick shield. Inside she began gathering the silver utensils into her leather satchel. Rummaging throughout the house she found two gold crucifixes and silver rings. As she went to exit she was met by a fancy man beside the door with his sword pulled. Astrid let out a sigh and looked to her side before drawing her weapon.

She lunged forward meeting the man's iron with a loud clang. With a grunt the man lunged forward, slicing his arm on the edge of Astrid's blade. She turned quickly, catching the mans sword in a way he could not free himself. From there she knocked him to the ground and ran from the house. She had no desire to kill the man, for he was a living and breathing person too. The ram's horn echoed out in the distance signaling the Northmen to return to the boats after a few hours of raiding.

They took off in a quick pace back down the village path where they came in. Astrid stopped cold in her tracks at the sight of the Frenchmen chasing after them with bows and arrow.

"Run men!" Bard yelled violently rolling up behind the Warriors. "Astrid come on!"

Astrid fell in with the rest of the Northmen when the French knelt down and released their arrows, picking off a few of the vikings. They continued running quickly until they reached the river itself and loaded onto the boats, where they pulled their shields over themselves. Even with the shields several men were killed.

The French continued to shoot arrows until the Northmen did not pose as a threat to them and were sailing back down the river.

Astrid closed her eyes in attempt to regain herself as the pain stung horribly in her hip.

"Your leg is bleeding again." Knute informed her as he sat down nearby. He pulled out a thick piece of cloth from his belt and pressed it against her open wound.

Astrid felt the hot tears begin to roll down her face.

"I cannot do this anymore." Astrid wailed as she pushed Knute's hand away from her. "Just let me bleed to death."

Knute shook his head, placing the blood-covered cloth back onto her leg. "I cannot let you die; It is over now. When you return home, you will be a free woman." He assured Astrid with a smile.

Astrid wiped the moistness from her face, looking out into the distance. Freedom was at her fingertips, all she had to do now was reach out and grasp it. Soon enough she would return to Oliefsborg and be happy or at least she hoped...

Sorry for the delayed post. I have been super busy lately. I realized with this chapter, I suck at writing. I just could not put what I was thinking into words. Also I didn't know what to name this chapter. any suggestions?? Sorry this chapter jumped around so much. I hope next one is better. I have a better plan of what is going to happen in it (hopefully). Remember to vote & comment. I take all of your comments into consideration. 💗 God bless!!