Chapter 23: When The Rain Falls

Oliefsborg

Bard slammed the door of Erick's longhouse open widely and stomped down the center of the aisle.

"Where is she!?" Bard yelled aggressively, jumping onto the platform where Jezebel, who was almost ready to give birth, sat collected and calm.

She stared at him with a blank expression and shrugged her shoulders. "I am the only one here." She stated confused. "Might I ask whom is it that you are looking for?" Jezebel asked calmly, messing lightly with the gold pendant that hung around her neck.

"Do not play dumb, woman!" Bard shouted once again, stomping his foot on the wood creating a loud bang to echo through the hall. "She is your friend, I know she had to have returned here. You are the only one who she cares for."

Jezebel closed her eyes and placed her swollen hands to the temples on her forehead. "If you are speaking of Astrid," she stated, shaking her head slightly. "She is not here. I have not seen her since you took her with you."

Bard rolled his eyes and turned away from Jezebel. "Where is my father at!?" Bard whipped around quickly once again, leaning down to meet eye level with Jezebel. "I feel as if you would hide her from me just because you could. But my father, I believe he would return what is rightfully mine back to me."

"I do not know where Erick is. He left at dawn with some men to test their new ships. He will be back soon." Jezebel responded, trembling within her confused voice. "Tell me, what is going on."

Bard looked up at Jezebel with a sly grin in silence as he patted her enlarged stomach awkwardly.

"I sure would hate to see something happen to this child." He replied smugly, tracing his finger up to her chin where he caressed it gently. "Or your beautiful face."

Jezebel's heavy breaths quivered with each touch Bard made.

"Astrid is not here. What more do you want me to say!?"

Bard raised his eye brows, popping his crazy blue eyes out widely. "Perhaps tell me where she went?"

"I do not know!" Jezebel yelled back sternly, sitting up straight in the throne. "For all I know she is dead somewhere. If I knew I would tell you."

Bard stepped down from the raised platform onto the dirt ground and made his way to a chair where he plopped down forcefully. "I will sit here and wait for my father." He paused and looked up at Jezebel smugly. "If she is here I will find her and I will promise you, you shall pay for your lies spoken."

¤§¤

Astrid sat down on a cold rock located beside a lively glistening pond, just outside the royal garden. She watched as the white swans glided gracefully along the top of the crystal clear water. A hazy visual of fish could be seen under the water. She looked up at the hazy, cloudy sky, feeling the hot sun beaming down upon her exposed pale skin.

"When I look up at the sky and talk to you what I would give if I could hear your voice, your laugh...everything. I miss everything about you." Astrid mumbled, looking around the sky. "I keep myself busy everyday with little things, but every time I stop I think of you." A long, drawn out pass came over her. "People tell me that life goes on and to me that is the saddest part. I do not want it to go on." A single tear ran down Astrid's cheek. "No matter what they say, some wounds will never be healed until my last breath is taken and lonely heart stops beating." Astrid wiped away the many tears that poured down her face. "Oh mother, why did you have to leave me here?"

Astrid studied the rows of flowers around, remember the first time she met Jezebel tending to her rose. It seemed like forever had passed, leaving only a vague memory of her home. She come back to reality once she heard the distinct sound of saddening cries nearby. Hesitantly, Astrid moved closer to the sound of the sobs. She let out a puff of air before pushing back the thick leafy bush, only to find Lorna in tears staring back at her.

"What are you doing out here?" Astrid asked, sitting down onto the rock bench beside her. "Shouldn't you be elsewhere, I mean I know it is none of my business where you go but-"

"I hate it all so very much. I just want to be like the other girls." Lorna blurted, throwing her hands midway into the air. "My uncle has already found me another suitor who is supposed to come join us for a feast in two days!"

"I am sure many girls your age would love to be where you are." Astrid shrugged, averting her eyes. "They will be married off one day as well. It is just destiny for a woman to marry whom their families choose. There is nothing wrong with it."

"What about you? Is that why you ran away?"

Astrid shook her head and began to bite the corner of her dry lips.

"I was a slave and if I had not escaped from where I was at my master was going to marry me," Astrid boldly stated with a shake to her head. "And I would have rather been dead than be married to him."

"You were a slave!?" Lorna rudely questioned.

Astrid silently nodded while she kept her eyes focused on a small bug crawling on the ground nearby, attempting to avoid the unspoken subject.

"I cannot marry him though. I have promised my hand to a soldier whom I love dearly." Lorna whined, changing the subject back onto herself. "And if I cannot marry him I will just kill myself."

Astrid looked at Lorna confused, laughing slightly. "I do not think you would ever kill yourself. Especially over men who both, probably, are not worth your time."

"You do not understand the tears I have cried."

"Trust me, Lorna, I understand. I know exactly how it feels to wait for everyone to fall asleep so you can fall completely apart. I know what is like to cry your tears in solitude so no one will hear your weakness."

"If you was a slave then how do you understand my problems? You have never had to face any of them."

"Because I know what it is like."

"To do what?" Lorna snapped.

"To beg God to take it all away." Astrid finished coldly, staring at Lorna longingly. "I understand things unimaginable to your little tender mind. At your age I was forced into a pagan world just after watching my dear friends and my own family be slaughtered in front of my eyes. A marriage will not kill you, I promise I have lived through much worse."

"Why don't you just leave like you came!" Lorna shouted, jumping up from where she sat. "All you have done is cause me more stress in my life!"

She quickly huffed away angrily back to the castle. Astrid shut her eyes tightly trying to clear her head once again from the painful memories she so desperately to disappear completely. She sat in the quiet garden, providing her with a small, peaceful sanctuary for her mind. Her wandering mind traveled back to the thought of Knute, who she longed to see once again. The words Lorna spoke echoed painfully through her ears. Where could she go? Who was left? Nothing came to her mind. She let her eyes roam freely once again on her surroundings, focusing in on the darkening clouds that hung heavily in the dim sky.

Lorna stared displeased at the grounds below, watching Astrid's every more carefully.

"What is she doing?" Deman asked, strolling leisurely down the hall, carrying a basket filled with scrolls. "Does she not see the storm that is rolling in?"

"Hopefully she is leaving." Lorna scowled, glancing up at Deman for a second. "I told her to leave and that she was ruining my life."

Deman frantically looked down at Astrid, who had now began to pace back and forth nervously.

"You told her what!?" Deman asked, shocked nonetheless. He looked back down at Astrid and watched her as she looked up at the castle before taking off in brisk sprint.

"Why did you tell her that!?" He shouted as he watched Astrid making her getaway. "I will deal with you later." Deman remarked before running down the hall, dropping the basket.

"Uncle!" Lorna shouted back, chasing after him. "You surely are not going after her!"

Oliefsborg

Bard watched the doorway for hours, impatiently waiting for Erick to arrive. He glanced over at Jezebel and smiled slyly.

"It looks as if Erick is not coming any time soon." Bard said smugly, raising his eyebrows. "Are you sure he is not hiding my Astrid?"

"He is on the waters, no where else." Jezebel answered sternly, standing upright. "No I will kindly ask you to leave. There is no one here for you."

Bard angrily ran towards Jezebel, causing her to move to the other side of the room.

"Why are you running from me?" Bard asked, cornering Jezebel against the wall.

"Someone!" Jezebel cried hoarsely rushing away from the aggressive Bard. "Help!"

He gripped her forcebly by the arm then slammed her against a splintery table flat on her back, with his firm hands wrapped stiffly around her neck. Jezebel gasped for breath as he tightened his grip.

"It does not matter how much you cry out," Bard shouted, slamming her head against the table. "No one will hear you!"

"Help!" she softly cried out once more, until she had no air left in her lungs. She heaved heavily for a breath.

"I should just kill you and save the effort later." Bard bluntly stated as he released his hands from her bruised throat. "But you could also be the only way to retrieve my Astrid."

Jezebel stepped away from Bard, breathing heavily.

"I told you," Jezebel heaved with a shake to her head. "I do not know where Astrid is."

"You see, I do not believe you." Bard replied, stepping towards a bucket of water. He slyly grinned over his shoulder. "I will find Astrid." he dunked his hands into the cool water and met them to his mouth. "And you will help me find her or you can kiss your dear baby goodbye."

Jezebel placed her hand over her open mouth, hiding her overwhelmed feelings while watching Bard slink around silently. He went into the bedchamber and pulled the curtain together. She heard him flop onto the bed and quickly left the house. She rushed through the village, passing villagers up as she ran frantically in search for Knute, who was working with a farmer planting his crops.

Jezebel pulled Knute off to a secluded place in a stable, placing her hands firmly on his shoulders.

"You must find Astrid." She sternly spoke, giving his shoulders a slight squeeze. "Search the lands far and wide, if she is alive you find her and bring her back here."

Knute stared at the ground for several minutes with confusion plastered on his face.

"Why should I bring her back!?" Knute asked, glaring at Jezebel coldly. "So you can give her back to Bard for your life will be perfect again. I can only imagine what has happened to her since she has been under his possession." He stepped away, turning his back to Jezebel. "I am sure wherever she is at now, life is better for her." He closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "She is finally free."

"I want her here so peace will come back to Oliefsborg. Until Bard gets her back, he will make life miserable for all of us." Jezebel snapped, tugging on the sleeve of Knute's green tunic. "One life- her life -Could save us all."

Knute shook his head vigorously. "I will not put Astrid back into bondage." He looked sympathetically at Jezebel. "I do not care how many lives Bard takes. I will not have that on my conscious."

"How do you know she is even alive?" Jezebel snidely asked, placed her hands upon her hips. "And if she is why do you care so much!?"

Knute's stern face melted into a warm smile. "Because I can still see her in my dreams. I feel her in the rush of air, in the warmth of the sun, and in the smiles of children." He closed his eyes again and began to imagine Astrid in his mind. "She is only a distant memory now. I will never feel her touch or taste her lips ever again." His eyes crept open and met Jezebel's cold glare. "Her memory is what keeps me going. The thought that someday I will have her in my arms again comforts me. It gives me something to live for."

Jezebel stared at him in silence before she fell to her knees and started weeping. "I have not forgiven myself for leaving her like I did. I should have been there with her at her darkest hour. I should-"

"But you were not there!" Knute blurted out, cutting Jezebel's dramatic scene short. "I would watch her from a distance as she wondered throughout the village. I could see the hurt and betrayal scattered on her face. Tears hid behind a fake smile that she wore everyday! She broke completely the day you betrayed her. I seen it. I followed her out to the blacksmith shop where she was going to take her own life, but I stopped her." He paused a moment and shook his head. "You have no right to say anything about her. If anything, you should take her place. I am certain she has went through unimaginable things but I am sure she was strong enough to overcome them all."

"You really do love her." Jezebel mumbled, forcing herself off of the ground. "I thought you only-"

"If I did not love her do you think I would have waited this long for her to come back." Knute shared. "Every night I stroll down beside the waters in hopes that I may catch a glimpse of her sailing up to greet me. Then I realize, I am only hoping for unrealistic dreams so I leave but return the next day hoping for the same impossible dream." He swallowed hard and stared at Jezebel. "If Astrid is alive, I do not want her to come back. She does not deserve anymore punishment." He nodded silently. "She has already served her time."

Knute closed his eyes and nodded before leaving the stable. Jezebel stood perfectly still, letting the words sink into her mind before leaving also.

¤§¤

A clap of thunder rang loudly above Astrid as she continued running full speed away from the castle with Deman chasing after her.

"Astrid!" He yelled, stopping abruptly andleaning forward to catch his breath. "Please, Astrid, stop running."

She continued on for several seconds more before stopping cold in her tracks, staring straight ahead at the open field before her- showing no sign of bondage or suffering, only freedom.

"Where are you going?" Deman asked short-winded, stepping closer towards her.

She remained silent watching the thick green grass sway with the stormy winds.

"Tell me where you are going and who you are going to and you are more than welcome to go wherever you please." He suggested, focusing his attention onto the storm that was quickly rolling in. "Astrid, please answer me."

"I will not stay another day here, sire. I have over stayed my welcome, I do believe." Astrid responded, taking off into a leisurely walk once again.

"It is about to come a storm. Can you not see it?"

Astrid glanced up at the sky and nodded. "I am ready for the storm."

Deman shook his head and sprinted after her, stopping in front of her.

"Look at me and tell me who you are going to. I will not have you leave with no where to go. Do you understand me?" Deman spoke sternly, putting his hands on Astrid's shoulders.

Astrid's eyes began to fill with tears once again as she shook her head. "Just let me leave so I will not be a nuisance anymore." She argued, pushing past Deman, who caught her by the arm.

"I do not want you to leave." He bluntly blurted, locking eyes with Astrid. "This kingdom needs you. Lorna needs you, even though she would never say it. More importantly, I need you."

Astrid bit her tear-soaked, cracked lips. "I am not what anyone needs."

"I promise you that I will treat you well and give you everything you need." Deman said with a smile. "Your wish is my command."

"Please," Deman begged, reaching out his hand. "Do not go. I do not want to lose you."

"I have Only been here for thirteen days." Astrid countered. "How do you even know what I am?"

"Because if you were going to do harm, Astrid, you already would have. "

Cool raindrops fell one after another until a downpour of water was pouring over them.

"Look around you," Deman spoke softly. "All of this can be yours, all you have to do is just come back with me."

"If I go back with you," Astrid mumbled, staring intently at Deman. "Will I be a free woman?"

"You will not only be free," he replied, grasping Astrid's trembling hand. "You will be a ruler with great powers. People will bow to you in your honor."

Astrid closed her eyes and thought of her situations as the cool rain poured down her face, soaking her green silken dress. There were no better plans formulating in her mind.

"I accept your offer." Astrid agreed walking away from Deman.

He went after her and took her by the hand. "We should be returning then."

Astrid raised her hand motioning for him to stop. "Please, just let me stay her for a few more minutes. I can feel it once again." She closed her eyes and outstretched her dripping arms. "I can feel the rain again for the first time in years."

Deman watched her closely as she spun around with the rain pouring over her. She began to laugh and smile with true happiness beaming from her face.

"I can feel it, Deman!" She laughed, falling to her knees while her head spun in circles. "Isn't it wonderful?"

Deman smiled back down at her. "It is spectacular."

Thanks for reading!! Remember to vote and comment. Also, this chapter needs a title. If you have a good one please share! I am also very pleased to inform you, my readers, that I will be letting you preview my new book very soon! Thanks once again and may God bless. 💗 Sarah Jane

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