Chapter 35: War!

Astrid felt her heart thudding within her chest, while wild nerves consumed her mind. To her it seemed like it had been forever since she had held a sword, let alone use one to take the life of another. She felt her arm begin to tremble, causing her shield to jolt around. She rested her trembling hand over the opposite, clinching her sword and shield tightly. Her eyes found their way back to Deman, who outstretched his arm to extend his sword. With the reflection from the glistening steel, Astrid and the others knew it was time for war.

"Fight!" Deman passionately yelled, running out into the field, followed by his men. Astrid's world moved in slow motion as she charged into battle with the rest of the army.

She quickly found herself in the midst of a bloodbath of Viking men. Hastily, she engaged herself in battle with a smaller, yet wild opponent. He gouged at Astrid with his spear until he dropped it to the ground. Out of no where he pulled an sword from a sheath on his back, swinging it at Astrid. Violently, he struck Astrid's leg, creating a gash upon her thigh. A shriek of pain slipped out of her gritted teeth. It was then anger overcame her and she overthrew her enemy, driving her sword through his heart.

Shortly after, two women approached her from behind, one holding her arms backward. Astrid struggled momentarily, kicking her feet at the other woman, who had now drawn a knife.

"Inge, hold her tightly as I carve into her-" the woman spurted blood upon Astrid's face after being struck by an axe. Erika stood behind her with a smile upon her face, retrieving her blood-covered weapon.

Astrid fought herself free after minutes of struggling. In the struggle, she had killed the other Viking warrior woman. Erika patted Astrid on the back and smeared the blood that covered Astrid's cheek across her face.

"Remember," Erika blurted, turning her head from side to side. "The gods are with you no matter what." She smiled and returned to fighting.

Astrid continued with fighting, too. One by one her enemies fell around her, but her eyes focused solely on one person--Bard.

Astrid paused within the ruckus as she noticed Bard slowly approaching Deman from behind as he fought a large, red haired man.

"Deman!" Astrid shrieked out in desperate hopes that he would hear her.

She watched in fear as Bard knocked Deman in the with an axe. Hastily, he jerked it out and grazed the side of Deman's head with the same weapon. Anger and fear boiled within her as she watched Deman fall to the ground, landing in a pool of his own blood. Bard slyly moved onto the next man, killing him in the same manner. The horrid sight replayed in her mind while she vigilantly fought her way through the mass of fighting men and women.

Once Astrid arrived at Deman's side, she dropped to the ground beside him and took his motionless body into her arms, holding him closely to her. Tears welled in her eyes as she began rocking him back and forth. Suddenly, a painful groan escaped from his lips.

His blue eyes, filled with death, peered up at Astrid with a sincere expression. Weakly, he lifted his arm and touched her blood-covered face with his bloody fingers. "I told you to stay at the castle." He grumbled as a pain-filled smile crept on his face.

"Did you really think I would listen?" Astrid sarcastically asked, propping his head up. "If I had who would have found you?"

"I am glad you are here." He mumbled, while his breathing slowed. "You are the only person I want to be with as I die."

Astrid shook her head as tears began to sell in her eyes. "You are not going to die." She lightly rubbed his cheek, placing a kiss on his forehead. "I will not-"

Abruptly, Astrid was kicked to the ground by a dark haired, burly man. She hurriedly caught her breath and rose from the ground, taking her weapon into her hand. He swung a sword at her, with a heavy force. Astrid caught him off balance and knocked him backward. She swung her weapon at him and thrust it violently until it buried deep within his chest. Quickly, she knelt back to Deman's side, who's eyes were tightly closed while he winced in pain.

"I will get you out of here." Astrid reassured him, placing a kiss upon his cracked lips. "Please do not give up just yet."

Astrid rose once again, returning to the battlefield where men of both sides were dying all around. To her surprise, the tables had turned and the Northmen were thriving on the battlefield. She shook her head while she slowly succumbed to shock. Her eyes scanned the area taking in the horrific sight of her fallen comrades, both Viking and royalty. The rotten smell of death and blood filled the crisp air, whipping her hair in front of her face.

A wild woman ambushed Astrid from behind, knocking the sword from her hand. She wielded her battle axes against Astrid, pressing them closely against her neck. Astrid pulled the woman's long hair back, and punched her in the nose until she was free from her grasp. Astrid frantically found her sword amidst the dead bodies and blood, and disarmed the woman from her axes. In a matter of seconds, Astrid struck the woman in her head with the sword, bringing her to her death.

Astrid stopped abruptly once again and raised her sword high waving to her soldiers. To her dismay, several turned to face her.

"Turn back!" She repeatedly yelled over the loud noise until the men started moving back toward the castle gates. Both armies began to flee toward the castle, while being picked off by the northmen's arrows.

Astrid stopped beside Deman, who was motionless but continued breathing. She shook him in desperate attempt to wake him up only to find he remained unconscious. Without a second thought, Astrid entwined her fingers within his blood-caked hand and laid down beside him. Her gaze focused upon the cloudless sky, taking in the beauty of the clear canvas.

"If you die," Astrid whispered, resting her head on his body. "I will die with you."

In the corner of her eye, she spotted Knute and Erick approaching her. She let out a sigh and closed her eyes tightly, but remained at Deman's side instead of rising in defense.

"You must leave if you desire to live!" Knute yelled, jerking Astrid up forcefully. "Bard is coming to kill you and your-" He shook her violently until he noticed Deman at her feet. "Your husband." He finished, releasing her. "He will kill you next." He spun her in the direction of the castle.

"My husband is dying and I will be damned to hell if I leave him like this!" Astrid yelled her sword out, placing it against Knute's chest. "I will not leave my husband to be killed by Bard or you or anyone else!" He voice raised, staring daggers at Erick and Knute.

"That is only the Christian coming out in you!" Knute spoke harshly, spinning Astrid to face the direction of the castle.

"Christian or not!" Astrid replied, whirling around vigorously. "I know that when I leave you will slit Deman's throat and leave him to rot."

"We do not wish for him to be killed!" Erick argued back, lifting Deman up from his head. "We only wish for peace with you, Astrid."

Astrid laughed, pointing her sword at Erick. "It is a little late for talk of peace, don't you think?"

Knute rolled his eyes and pushed the sword down. Hastily, he assisted Erick as they raised Deman's motionless body from the ground. They hurriedly moved toward the castle with him in their arms. Astrid limped hastily behind them, on guard for any person who might try to attack them. Beside the gate's doors several of Deman's soldiers took his body and entered inside the kingdom walls, where they began their trek to the castle.

Astrid stood still beside Knute and Erick, staring at them confused while more straggling soldiers fled inside the gates. "Thank you." She nodded at them graciously before following the men inside.

In a matter of minutes they had returned to the castle. Astrid hastily cleared a table in the dining hall, making room for Deman's body. The soldiers gently laid him face down against the wooden board and undressed him, exposing the bloody wounds. Astrid let out a gasp, taking in a quick breath of air. Camilla, along with another woman, rushed to Deman's side where they began to clean his wounds. Erika approached the table from behind, resting her hand on Astrid's back.

"It is not finished yet," Erika whispered in her ear, moving to the opposite side. "It will not be over until Bard is dead, you do know that right?"

Astrid nodded, looking up at her. She felt her heart sink as the tears freely began to flow down her cheeks. "I know." She simply replied, folding her arms across her chest. Her eyes wondered back onto Deman's body being stitched up by the women.

"I do not think that he will die." Erika reassuringly spoke, pulling Astrid into an embrace. "I think that the gods will sweep down and cure his body so he can fight again."

Astrid sighed, wrapping her arms around Erika. "I hope you are right, for I can not bear to lose him." She sniffled and moistened her lips. "I cannot lose another person I love."

Erika pulled back and cradled Astrid's face within her grubby hands. "Believe in the gods, Astrid, they will come through." She smiled reassuringly. "Let us go and talk, Astrid."

Astrid shook her head, before abruptly collapsing onto the ground.

"You are wounded!" Erika announced loudly, kneeling beside Astrid. Astrid managed to fake a smile and sit up.

Erika touched the caked leg wound, then glanced up at Astrid. "Why did you not tell me that you were injured?" She asked, motioning for a servant towards them. The white haired lady placed a bucket of water beside them, before scurrying back to where she had been working on another injured man.

Astrid sighed, lightly touching her leg. "I did not want them to work on me, before Deman. He was dying and," she paused, drawing a deep breath. "And I was alright. When I saw his body, I forgot about my pain. It seemed like my pain disappeared just so I could be strong enough to help him." She shook her head and licked her dry lips. "I cannot bear his pain for him, and that kills me."

"You should not have to bear his pain." Erika shared while wiping Astrid's face with a dampened cloth. "You should feel for him, and love him through it, but never bear his pain. You have your own pain." She submerged the cloth once again. "I seem you at your worst, Astrid, and no one took your pain but you. Deman is strong like you. He is strong enough to take whatever the gods place upon him."

Astrid stared at her intensely before rising up from the ground. "How are we going to defeat this powerful enemy?"

"First," Erika remarked, pointing at Astrid. "You must let me tend that wound so you will be able to fight."

Erika led Astrid to the corner of the room and helped her get seated onto the ground. Astrid attempted to remove her black, leather trousers only to find they were stuck to her body. Disgruntled, she cut the leg off of her trousers, exposing the swollen flesh wound. Dried blood caked the edges, while thick red blood remained slowly oozing from it's deep center. Her eyes widened at the gory sight.

"Isn't it beautiful." Astrid sarcastically remarked, throwing the excess of her trousers to the side.

"You mean to tell me that you forgot about this?" Erika spoke bluntly, poking the injury. "Astrid, do you now feel it?"

Astrid bit the corner of her lip and nodded her head. "I felt it, but I had to continue with what I was doing. It did not hurt that bad."

"You really have lost it all, Astrid." Erika replied. She quickly started her work on the leg, while Astrid sat completely still leaned against the cold castle wall.

After minutes of trying to close the wound, Erika stopped working and glanced up at Astrid, who was beginning to grow pale.

Astrid let out a sigh and pulled her steel knife from it's sheath on her belt.

"Heat this in the fire, then place it upon my leg." Without hesitation, Astrid placed the long, intimating weapon in Erika's dirty hands. "It will close it."

Erika hesitantly stared at the weapon, clutching it in her palm. "Are you sure? I could possibly-"

"I am sure. Let us just get it over with." Astrid replied, leaning her head back. She looked around at the once chipper room, but was now filled with sorrowful injured men being tended. She closed her eyes while she anxiously awaited Erika's return.

Erika returned with the heated knife, which was now glowing bright orange. She reluctantly smiled at Astrid, before placing the blade near her leg. Astrid swallowed nervously as she felt the heat from the steel. She nodded to Erika to continue on with the procedure. Erika rested the blade onto the bloody wound, while Astrid let out a painful cry. Her face cringed with pain as she bit down on the inside of her jaw. The injury began to bubble, until it was finally closed up. Astrid dropped her head with relief when Erika removed the heat.

Erika grinned with satisfaction, as she went on a search for Astrid a dress. Astrid placed a cold cloth onto the spot. Overwhelmed with everything, she began to cry hot tears. She stopped in a matter of minutes when she spotted the same men carrying Deman out of the room.

"No!" Astrid hoarsely cried back, expecting the worst. "Bring his back to me!"

Erika passed them, returning to Astrid's side. Astrid buried her face deep within her shaking hands.

"Where are they taking him!?" Astrid shouted until she was red faced. "Is he dead?"

Erika shrugged, helping Astrid to her feet. "He is alive, and they are taking him to your bedchamber." She bluntly informed, slipping a linen shift over Astrid's head. "They do not expect him to live, Astrid."

"I know." She replied meekly, limping behind them. Erika remained in the room to tend the other wounded individuals.

Astrid found her way up to her bedchamber, where Deman was stretched on the bed face down. She kneeled beside the bed, placing he hands on his face. Her fingers traced down his jawline, resting upon his chin. She placed a kiss on his lips, before rising.

A new hatred was growing within astrid as she moved away the bedside toward the window, where she glared down upon the Viking camp, spying Bard in the distance. Fury boiling within her at the sight of him. Angrily, she shuffled toward the fireplace, poking the dying embers to create a glowing blaze. She plopped herself onto the woven rug directly beside the fire. Her eyes focused upon the flickering flames, reminding her of the same flames of hatred that burned within her. She felt her head begin to spin in circles. To avoid toppling over, she closed her eyes curled up into the fetal position. Moments later, Astrid had drifted off into a deep sleep beside the warmth of the fire.

Astrid tossed around on the floor as her restless mind was being consumed with unpleasant dreams of death and violence. Would it ever be over? Her mind questioned, leaving the intense dreams. Soon, peaceful memories flashed before her but were short-lived and then Bard stood clearly before her once again, holding bloodied axes that dripped into pools upon her castle floor while her dead friends and loved ones were scattered around him.

In a haste, Astrid woke up, breathing intensely. Her eyes wondered over to Deman, who remained in the same position. Darkness had filled the room, as well as the outside world. She lifted her stiff leg into the air, causing a sharp pain to surge into her body. She slowly arose from the floor and returned to the window, peering down below at the glowing Viking camp. The only thought her mind could think of was the death of them all. Her eyes followed the stars in the dark sky, until she focused on the glowing full moon.

Bloodshed was once again coming soon, Astrid could sense it inside her. When and how, she did not know; the outcome was uncertain, but she did not care. Vengeance was in her heart, death would come upon her enemies sooner or later--she would make sure.

Thanks for reading! Please vote & comment! There will only be about three-four more chapters left.

💗

Sarah Jane