Chapter 16: Lies

One Week Later

Astrid patted her foot excitedly as she rowed the oar back and forth, nearing the shores of Oliefsborg. She felt a new feeling; a feeling of happiness and hope that she had not felt in years.

"We are almost home." Knute said with a cheeky smile as he sat down beside of Astrid.

Astrid could not help but smile in return.

"I cannot believe that I am going to be free!" She cheered. "When I set my feet on land as a free woman I am climbing that mountain. When I am at the top, I shall spread my wings and fly into a new world." Astrid pointed to the tall mountain off into the distance as the memory of Iona returned to her. It was the mountain that Iona mentioned just before her death. "I will be free, just as Iona said."

"Are you going to stay in Oliefsborg?" Knute's face held sadness as well as happiness.

"I do not know." She shrugged. "Heinrich, my old friend, was still alive. I need to know how many more from my home are still alive. He could be one of many."

"You cannot return to your home. There is nothing left and some things should remain the way they are." Knute stated, arising from the bench when Oliefsborg came in sight. "You cannot make a home of something that has a past like it does."

"That was years ago." Astrid replied sharply stepping up beside Knute. "That is not my home. It has never been my home." She turned back away from Knute. "Sure my family is dead but why can I not start me a new one. And before you even ask, I will not have a Norseman. Not after all I have been through."

Knute let out a disgruntled sigh. "I understand Astrid that you have been through a lot but you must put the past behind you and start a new." He paused and glanced back at her with pity in his eyes. "I am just as good as the next man, if not better. I will treat you good with a life full of love. Why can you not see that?"

"Because I am not what you need." Astrid replied bluntly, placing her hands on his rough, bearded face. "Save your love for someone who needs it do not waste it on a woman like myself. You deserve better."

Astrid left Knute alone and walked towards Erick who watched from the end of the boat with a pleased smile on his face.

"I get to see my beloved Jezebel once again." Erick spoke. "It seems like it has been forever since I felt her touch upon my skin."

"It has been several weeks. I am sure she is coming along well with her child." Astrid replied as she began watching the water splash under the boats wide bottom. "Knute wants to marry me. What do you think I should do?"

Erick raised his eyebrows. "Marry him. Knute is a good man. He will treat you well and try to please you in any way possible."

Erick gave Astrid a wink. Astrid shook her head.

"I do not think I am what he needs." Astrid stated simply.

"Well you asked me what I thought and I think you should marry him." Erick said looking back at the nearing village. "You do as you feel the need. I cannot live your life for you; I have one of my own."

"Ease into the docks, men!" Erick ordered the crew. "Just remember you are still a slave until told otherwise. Before you go and make plans with your life, see if Bard still has his offer on the table." He whispered to Astrid before leaving.

Soon the boats were docked on the shores of Oliefsborg. Swarms of villagers were lined up awaiting the return of their loved ones. Happy reunions of families were taking place all around Astrid, but there was no one to greet and reunite with her. Erick took Jezebel into a strong hug at the end of the wooden dock. Astrid forced herself through the crowds aggressively, giving no one around the time of day as she made her way towards Erick's long house, which was blocked by villagers also. After several minutes of pushing thought people she finally entered into the house. A wave of heat hit her from the many open cooking fires scattered all around the house where Wald, Ingrid, and other slaves cooking a feast

"Astrid," Ingrid said, rushing towards her. "Am I ever so glad to see you."

Ingrid wrapped her small, yet muscular, arms around Astrid's neck. Astrid looked into the distance hesitantly at Wald before pulling her arms around Ingrid's tiny frame.

"It is great to see you too." Astrid responded, shutting her eyes tightly.

"Jezebel is ruling harshly." Ingrid informed, breaking the hug. "She pushes us to our limits. She even had an elder slave killed because he refused to work out in the pouring rain. You have to talk to her. You are the only one she will listen to."

Astrid shook her head in disbelief.

"I cannot do anything for her. We are two completely different people now." Astrid paused. "She will do as she pleases now, even if that means kill innocent people." She started walking towards the door. "But I can try to talk to her."

Astrid went through the door back into the streets, which had partially cleared out. Erick and Jezebel remained on the docks engaged into deep conversation with two couples and Bard. Astrid debated on approaching them but decided it would be best if she did not. She began to stroll leisurely down the open pathways towards the markets, stopping beside a fresh fruit market to smell the sweet, juicy fruits. Paying no attention to the man behind the high barrier of fruit baskets, Astrid picked up a red apple, thumped it with her index finger testing its ripeness. She smiled when the juicy pop sounded and laid it back onto the pile with the rest of the apples.

"Take it." The marketer offered. "It is a token of appreciation for raiding with the Earl."

Astrid smiled with a nod. "Thank you sire." she gracefully replied, picking back up the fruit.

Astrid continued on with her stroll, crunching her apple along the way as she enjoyed herself. She stopped beside of the square where returned fathers were teaching their children swordsmanship with toy wooden swords. The mothers stood along the sides observing each move their beloveds made. Memories of her own father haunted her mind as she remembered him showing the techniques of weaponry to her at a young age. She quickly shook them away when she noticed Sigurd, the new war chieftain, watching her intently from across the square. Astrid looked around once more at the people around her before leaving to walk once again, this time she was returning to Erick's home.

As Astrid neared the longhouse she realized that many of the Warriors were also entering inside to join the Earl for a victory feast. She felt a sense of dread overcome her when she stepped inside, facing the men first thing. At the back of the room sat Erick with Jezebel on their large thrones surrounded by the stolen gold and silver baubles, which were still being toted in by a couple of the men. Astrid walked down the open path slowly approaching Jezebel.

Jezebel placed her hands upon her, now, well-rounded stomach. "Astrid, I am so pleased you returned. I need someone to help me with this child when it comes."

"Might I have a word with you, Jezebel?" Astrid asked, respectfully bowing before them.

Jezebel placed her jewel covered hand upon her chest, twisting a golden necklace around her finger, and nodded with a smile as she stepped down from the wooden platform.

"I am as excited to see you as you are me, but can we save the words for later and just enjoy the feast." Jezebel answered enthusiastic, dropping her hands onto her lap.

"I agree with Jezebel, let us enjoy our feast." Bard chimed in. "Me and my men will be returning as soon as it is over. Now will you serve me a drink."

Astrid glanced at him, tilting her head slightly, confused.

"Sire why are you asking of me, I am a free woman now." She stated, feeling her face grow hot. "Aren't I?"

Bard let out a sigh and cocked his head to the side as a smug smile came onto his face. Silence fell among the entire house as the tension began to rise. Astrid realized then it had all been a lie. The promise that he had made to Astrid was lies, nothing more than a false hope.

"Am I not free?" Astrid asked, choking back tears that was coming to her eyes. "Was it all a lie?"

Bard stood up and approached Astrid, who wrapped her arms around her body embarrassed.

"I would not necessarily call them lies." He began, taking a step closer to her. "You can still be free just not here, of course. The only way I can grant you that freedom is if you return with me."

Astrid whipped around forcefully.

"So I am still your slave?" Astrid asked sharply, forcing every emotion that came to her back down. A long silence came from Bard. "Answer me!" She yelled angrily as hot tears began to fall from her eyes.

Bard hung his head, avoiding the answer.

"Lies. Lies is all that comes from your mouth, is it not!?" Astrid shouted. "You promised me my freedom but here I stand remaining a slave." She whirled around and faced the crowd. "I cannot believe you look up to this man! He is not a leader but a coward and a liar. I am certain your gods will frown upon your actions you have chosen today."

"Astrid settle down." Jezebel blurted out.

Astrid spun back around aggressively to face Jezebel.

"No you settle down. You stand up there eating with your silver spoon while the rest of us barley achieve the scraps that fall onto the floor. You are not even aware of what I have been through while you take advantage of every golden opportunity." Astrid argued, stepping closer and closer to Jezebel. "I trusted you more than anyone. I almost could have said I loved you, but now I see you are just a web of lies just as everyone else is. The high life has corrupted your mind. I know it has because you was never like this until Erick took you under his wing."

"That is enough Astrid." Bard yelled, jerking Astrid by the wrist. "It is settled that you will return with me to my home. There you can be granted whatever I can give you."

Astrid wriggled around fighting Bard. He took her into a strong grip, refusing to release. Astrid let out a sigh giving up the fight, turning away from him.

"Who are you really?" Astrid asked, remaining with her back turned. "Before I sail off into a world unknown again in bondage, I have to know what I am sailing into."

"This is the real me." Bard replied outstretching his arms. "I rule. Anything nice I do is for my own gain. It is all for a bigger plan. It is not to please anyone else. It is only to get what I desire. I will do anything I can to get what I want." He stepped closely behind Astrid, breathing his hot air against her neck. "And you are all I want."

Astrid turned to face him.

"You have one thing figured out." She answered with a sly grin.

"What is that?" He confusedly questioned, caught off guard by her response.

"You have to keep me a slave to return with you. There is no way I would ever chose to return with you willingly." Astrid replied, staring at everyone in the crowd. "I will not be serving anyone here and I will take whatever punishment that you decide to give me, but I refuse. Instead I will be out there thinking about how much I really hate all of you."

She stormed through the house angrily, with hot tears pouring down her blood-red face. The crowd had stopped anything they were doing and was watching the commotion. Directly beside the door stood Knute peacefully with a disappointed scowl on his face. Astrid seen the hurt in his eyes. It was the hurt she was dealing with on the inside and the outside. Seeing the tears prick his sensitive bright blue eyes broke Astrid's heart even more. She buried her hands over her face and ran quickly out of the open door through the village until she reached the blacksmith shop.

Inside the small building she screamed loud, painful cries until her throat became hoarse. She looked around frantically until she found a dagger hanging upon the wall. Doubtfully, she approached the shiny weapon and removed it from the hook where it hung, taking it's cold silver handle into into her sweaty trembling hand. She examined the freshly made blade, by running her finger along the edge. Back and forth she stroked the deathly sharp blade until she sliced her finger deep, drawing out her own red blood painfully. She winced slightly, looking down at the open cut on her finger, then at her stomach. Shutting her eyes as tears remained to fall, She wrapped her hand tightly over the handle and steadily placed it under her breastbone.

"I thought I might find you here." Knute spoke just as she started to push the sharp pointed blade into her, stopping her instantly. "Please do not do this."

"I have nothing to live for." She popped open her eyes. "Nothing at all."

Knute ran to her, taking the dagger from her hand. He tilted her head upward and placed a hard kiss upon her lips. Astrid wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer towards him, embracing the moment before they each pulled away.

"We will meet again, in this life or the next." Knute said. "Remember that I truly love you if no one else does. One person's love should be enough to keep anyone alive."

Knute kissed her one more time before leaving the shop. She looked around the quaint shop before plopping down onto a large round stump in the middle of the building and looking down at her finger which was still dripping blood. A whole new world was created in her mind, filling her heart with despair once more each time she thought of sailing into a foreign land again but no matter what she had to remain strong-stronger than those against her.

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