Chapter 28: We Meet Again...

Astrid watched quietly from the window as the morning sun rose. The pinks and oranges filled the cold sky. She carefully watched the strange band of men down below, observing every move each individual made.

"You should try to get some rest." Deman suggested as he moved close to her. "You have been awake all night," he laid his hand gently upon her back, rubbing small circles around her shoulders. "And I fear that worries will get the best of you."

Astrid looked up at him with a calming smile. "I will be alright, my dearest." She rested her cold, sweaty hands lightly on his wrists. "I must see who these people are, first, before I can do anything else."

Deman bit his lower lip in uncertainty. "Why do you worry with them?" He leaned forward as a serious expression overcame his face.  "Are they the ones who took your innocence?"

Astrid dropped her head in shame without responding. She felt her cheeks grow hot with fear while her heart began to beat rapidly.

"I fear that they are." She spoke softly.

"I will not let them take you," Deman bluntly stated, grasping her hands tightly. "NOr will I allow them to do anything to you, no matter how hard they try." He brushed his thumb along her reddened cheek. "You are my wife and I will not let any harm befall upon you. That is the vow I made and I will keep till I die." He planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "Do you understand?"

Astrid smiled and nodded, raising her hand on his. Without anymore words spoken, Deman left. She watched each graceful step he took until he was completely out of eight. Astrid let out a sigh before turned her attention back to the men down below. Her trembling fingers spun the ring around her finger to calm her worrisome mind.

It was then, there in the distance a familiar face appeared. She recognized the dark hair, masculine body, and scruffy beard of the one and only Knute; The face man whom loved her and promised her the world but only gave her heartache. Around him was Erick and the slave named Wald. Many of the men were unfamiliar to her, making her assume they were soldiers of Bard's. She felt the air go from her lungs at the unbelievable sight and quickly gasped for a breath of air, covering her gaping mouth.

"It cannot be." She mumbled to herself, shaking her head violently. "How did they find me!? Why!?" She shut her eyes and smacked her face slightly hoping that she was dreaming. To her disbelief, they were still there and coming onto the land. "No! No! This cannot happen, not again."

She leaned against the cold wall as hot, angry tears welled in her bloodshot eyes. She placed her hand over her forehead in hopes the throbbing pains would vanish. Silently, she slid down onto the ground, hitting the hard floor forcefully with a plop. While her head raced with what was to come, her heart beat out of her chest until she rolled over unconscious...

When she came to she found herself lying on her bed wrapped in the silk sheet. The warm sunlight was beaming onto her chilled body. Sharp pains ran through her head as she sat up on the edge of the bed. A single cup of water sat on the table beside her. She took a sip, wetting her dry mouth. Her eyes surveyed the room in search for Deman, who was no where to be found.

After sitting and supping water for several minutes, Astrid arose, slipping on her soft soled leather shoes before leaving the room. Her feet pattered lightly on the stone floors. She felt the dizziness stirring in her head with each step she took. The halls were dim and quiet. Not a should roamed, which was unusual for the castle during the day. At the end of the hall the faint sound of women's voices were heard inside the kitchen. Confused, Astrid made her way inside, hoping someone knew what was happening.

Once she was inside, the ladies went silent. They looked at each other timidly, while they continued prepping the food.

Astrid strolled past each of them, lightly touching their backs. "Why is everyone so quiet?" She asked lowly, stopping beside Camilla, who was kneading bread dough. "Camilla, my good friend, tell me why?" She paused, raising a brow. "You would not lie to me, now, would you?"

Camilla stared at her in silence for several seconds. Astrid tilted her head disgruntled at the silent treatment that she was being handed. After moments of silence, Camilla simply pointed toward the black curtain that separated the kitchen from the great hall. Astrid reluctantly peered though it, catching only a glimpse of Deman and Heinrich talking to someone. She started to walk toward the entranceway, only to be stopped by Camilla.

"I would not advise it this time." Camilla frightfully mumbled with concern in her eyes. "These men are like beasts." She shook Astrid's arm frantically. "They come from another world. A world in which we do not know." She paused, shaking her head. "Please do not go out there. I fear they will consume our peaceful land."

"How long have they been here?" Astrid questioned, stepping closer to the curtain.

"A few hours." Camilla responded as she added rushed to Astrid's side. "They cannot speak our language. That is why Heinrich is there."

"Why are they here?" Astrid asked, dropping her head.

Camilla shrugged. "I think I heard them say they were searching for someone. I do not know though. I cannot hear them very clearly."

Astrid walked to the opposite side where she carefully hid behind the curtain. She caught a glimpse of Knute and Erick kneeling before Deman. Her head fluttered nervously inside as she studied Knute's long-forgotten face and reminisced on her past-the past she had almost completely erased.

Deman noticed Astrid hiding. He glanced down at the men below him then back at Astrid. He stared at her hesitantly before motioning her toward him.

Astrid shook her head in disagreement as her breathing intensified. Camilla ran to her side, taking her tightly into her arms.

"Astrid," Camilla whispered into her ear while she stroked her head lightly. "Everything will be alright. God will watch over you and bless you, my lady."

Astrid stared longingly back into the throne room. She swallowed the thick ball of saliva that had built up in her mouth. She spied the tender smile that was plastered upon Deman's face.

"I would like you to meet the queen" Deman said slowly, allowing for Heinrich to translate. "She can speak your language."

Deman outstretched his arm, motioning for Astrid to come out of the room nearby. She hesitantly glanced at him, then back at the women around her; They shook their heads with blank stares. Astrid looked around momentarily before a wide grin came over her face. She arched her shoulders back, strutting out from behind the concealing curtain towards her throne, where she eased herself down gracefully. Knute and Erick's mouths dropped open in disbelief. Astrid smiled slyly at them, taking Deman by the hand.

"Hello again." Astrid spoke sternly, crossing her legs. "I thought I would never see the day where we would meet again." She let out a breath of air and shook her head. "Why are you here?"

"Bard has posed a great threat on Oliefsborg and Jezebel until we return you. He has threatened to enslave her." Erick informed hastily. "Do you know what we have done to find you!?" His stood erect, loudening his voice.

Astrid's eyes grew wide with anger as she stepped down from her throne. "I do not care."

"Astrid," Erick pleaded. "She will be beaten, if she has not already."

Astrid shook her head. "I do not care." She spun around aggressively. "I was also beaten and she was not there aiding me."

"I thought she was your friend. You should care more for her."

"My friend!?" Astrid shouted as hundreds of memories, good and bad, flooded her head.  "You must be a fool if you think I am going to return with you. I do not care if Bard has you all killed. The world would be a better place, I do believe!" She whirled around once again, storming toward Erick. "How dare you come here and do this! You should be ashamed!"

"You have betrayed us." Erick coldly replied, glaring at Deman who sternly watched every move the strangers made. "And to think," he dramatically paused. "I had trust for you."

Astrid raised her finger, smiling slyly. "Sort of like what you done to me." She shrugged her shoulders calmly. "You cannot blame me for your trust." She covered her mouth sarcastically. "A man once told me that you could not trust anyone in the world."

"Why are you doing this?" Knute blurted, stepping forward.

Astrid tilted her head. "I see you have finally grown a voice, Knute." She smiled. "As you can see, I have also." Her cold eyes met Knute's sharply. "I am doing this simply because I can and you cannot punish me for it." She sighed and nodded. "I am a queen now and neither of you can bear that fact." She glided back to the throne and sat down beside Deman. "Now, I would kindly ask you to leave."

Erick glared at her sternly. He boiled over with anger. "What if we say no?"

Astrid rolled her head around in confusion. "Then we will make you leave."

"It is like you do not even know us anymore, Astrid." Knute blurted, rising up to face her. "You once feasted with us. You were our friend and we were yours. What happened?"

"Life happened." Astrid bluntly responded, frowning upon them. "You betrayed me. All of you betrayed me. I have tried to forget everything and everyone, only to have you waltz in here and bring the painful memories with you!"

"Astrid..." Knute whispered, approaching her.

She raised her arms as a barrier between them. "Do not do this, Knute. Please."

A crooked smile came over his face. "I must." He mumbled as he leaned down, placing a kiss upon her lips.

Astrid pulled away quickly, rushing back to Deman's side. Silence overcame the room.

Deman glowered at them harshly, them at Heinrich. "Tell them to leave," He glanced back at Knute. "And that we will not be helping them."

Astrid buried her reddened face in her hands in shame. Heinrich translated the words then showed them out of the room. Deman watched Astrid sink into her throne with tears pouring from her eyes.

"I am so sorry." Deman whispered, entwining his fingers with hers. "I never meant for that to happen."

Astrid wiped her tear-soaked face and smiled a fake smile while she broke on the inside. "It was not your fault, dear. Do not think that it was."

Outside, Erick and Knute strolled through the village in silence. Knute watched the frightened people flee from them. Once they arrived in an open field, Erick punched Knute forcefully in his stomach, knocking the air from him.

"You fool!" Erick yelled, jerking his arm and pulling him close. "What was that!?"

Knute shrugged his shoulders as he tried to catch his breath. "I-" he breathed heavily. "Do not know..."

Erick harshly pushed him away. "After all the searching we have done, and you blow it for your affections."

"I could not help it."

Erick shook his in anger. "She is a queen now! And that was her husband in front of you!"

"I know, but-"

"No," Erick cut him off, waking away. "You do not know what you have just done. What help we could have got from them, consider it gone." Erick spun on his heel quickly. "Astrid hates all of us. She does not care what happens to any of us. Not you, me, Jezebel, nobody. She does not care anymore."

Knute nodded in agreement, holding his stomach. "What are we going to do?"

"You, not we." Erick stated. "You are going back to ask for forgiveness and talk to Astrid sensibly- Not about love or feelings. Do you understand?"

Knute nodded shamefully.

"Go now!" Erick shouted. "We do not have much time left."

Knute agreed and started back toward the village while Erick headed back to the Viking camp.

"Who were they?" Lorna asked, sitting down on the step.

"Norsemen." Deman simply replied. He shot a glance to Astrid, who was silent. "I think Astrid was familiar with them."

Lorna raised her eyebrows. "Oh, I did not know you were Norse."

Astrid nodded. "I learned Nor-"

A mailed servant entered quietly, approaching Deman. "My lord, one of the men has returned and wants to speak with Astrid. Should I send him in?"

Deman looked at Astrid, who nodded.

"Send him in." Astrid said with a nod. "I will speak with him."

Several minutes after the servant left, Knute entered humbly, bowing before them. Lorna watched him carefully in amazement.

"My lady." Knute spoke bowing before Astrid. "May I speak with you in private?"

Astrid stared at him stiffly, then at Deman. "He wants to talk alone."

"Are you sure?"

Astrid agreed, giving him a soft kiss. "I will be alright."

"Very well." Deman replied, motioning Lorna with him. They left quickly leaving Astrid sitting poised upon her throne.

The room was quiet and still. Astrid stepped down from her throne, watching him closely. His eyes followed as she filled a golden goblet with red wine. She sipped it classily before turning to face him with a displeased face.

"Why did you marry him!?" Knute yelled, breaking the silence. "I was coming for you with all the love in my heart." He aggressively pointed his finger in Astrid's face.

"Do not yell in my face!" Astrid shouted back, stepping closer to Knute angrily. "And stop with the sayings of love. You never loved me. You only enjoyed the thought of being in love, when in fact you do not even know what love is." Astrid turned from him and sat down upon her throne. "If you had truly desired me like you said, you would have fought for me when I was still in your life."

"I am sorry..." Knute whispered before going silent, closing his eyes for several seconds. "Two people who are meant to be together will always come together, no matter what stands in their way." He twirled his thumbs nervously. "We have been apart for so long, but we were never lost."

He stood closely behind her breathing his hot breath against her exposed neck. She stood completely still, avoiding any contact with him. The familiar warmth of his masculine body gave her a strange sensation.

"I love it when people reunite." Knute spoke, tracing a line down her spine. "It is finally the end of missing someone." He kissed the nape of her neck. "I have missed you in ways you will never know."

Astrid turned around, taking a step away from him. "I am a different person than I was the last time you saw me." She lifted her hand, flashing the wedding band upon her finger. "I am married now. I have finally found the home I was looking for. My heart is at peace and I know now that everything will be alright." She shook her head. "Knute, I am sorry but you were too late."

"We can run away together," Knute said reassuring. "Just like we used to say."

"No we cannot." Astrid spoke plainly. "I am married now. I have responsibilities."

Knute buried his face in his hands. "Astrid, do you know what you are doing to me?"

She turned her head to avoid looking at him. "Do you know what you are doing to me!? I waited for you as long as I could. You never left my mind," she paused and looked around. "Then Deman came into my life with his proposal of marriage. I never loved him at the beginning; I barely knew him, but I felt that it was my only way out." She smiled, looking down at her wedding ring. "But know I think I love again. I have never felt like this since I was young with my mother." She stopped talking momentarily. "You do not know what I have went through. If you did, you would be happy for me."

"I am." Knute replied, faking a smile. "And I will never come into anything with your life."

"Thank you." Astrid graciously spoke, returning to her seat. "It was nice to see you again. I am glad to know you are alright."

"Same goes to you, my lady. You keep yourself safe." He stated, pacing for the door.

"You too, Knute."

Knute stopped cold in his tracks and turned back to Astrid. "We need you as a ally in our war against Bard. Please show mercy on us, Astrid."

Astrid melted into tender emotions. "I am sorry. Deman has already spoken." She shrugged her shoulders. "This kingdom cannot do anything for you."

"Nothing?"

Astrid shook her head. "Nothing."

"Well thank you." Knute replied, returning to the door. "I still love you. I will always love you." He pulled the door open. "Please do not forget about me, my lady."

Astrid smiled. "I will not. Goodbye Knute."

He exited the room the same way he came, only this time it broke Astrid's heart. She rushed to the window, watching him from above and leaving her life once again...

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