Chapter 38: The End of an Enemy

Astrid woke with a startling jerk, sitting beside the fire in the throne room. She glanced around and pushed herself up from the ground. Calmly, she walked toward the window, looking out at the armies that were coming together into a battalion. Igor was working quickly to group his soldiers together in a line, while Erika studied each of the king's warriors carefully to see where she would place them.

Quickly, Astrid made her way outside. Standing at the end of the bridge, which connected the castle to the village, peering down the long, she peered down the long, depressing path. Igor working quickly grouping his soldiers together in a line, while Erika studied each of the king's warriors carefully. A nervous pit welled in her stomach, causing a sickening feeling to overcome her.

"If only Deman were here to see you." Camilla spoke from behind, approaching her with another servant woman. "He would be proud to know that you are fighting for his kingdom."

Astrid faked a smile in attempts to hide the true expressions of terror. "I still cannot believe he is dead." She shook her head, squinting her eyes at the castle behind her. "I just cannot fathom it, he was improving daily. I know because I was with him at every moment. I do not see how he died."

Camilla shrugged, pressing a hand on on Astrid's back. "He is alive if you believe." She encouraged, taking her by the hands. "Do be careful, my lady."

Astrid smiled as Camilla kissed each of her hands before disappearing down the path toward the castle. She looked up at the bright sun as it was beginning to rise. Her nightmares were unfolding and she could do nothing to control it, except fight with all she had.

Lightly, she ran her hands down the thick leather vest she wore and rested her hands upon her unsettled stomach. She closed her eyes, taking in a deep, refreshing breath of air into her lungs and released. Abruptly, she began to vomit uncontrollably and dropped to the ground. A brisk air blew, reassuring her it would be alright. Instantly, Astrid rose to her feet and joined into the armies.

The sounds of metal weapons and armor clinked as each person grouped together. Astrid smiled at a small group of women who wet sharpening their swords, but continued walking. Erika stood with her shoulders arched back at the end of the path.

"I thought you were not going to show up." Erika sarcastically remarked, glancing over at a silent servant girl who carried a bowl filled with a thick red liquid. Calmly, she dipped two fingers into the mystery liquid and streaked it across her face.

Astrid watched Erika as the Crimson color dripped down her cheek. "I would not miss this wonderful occasion for nothing."

"That is what I want to hear." Erika replied with a smile, approaching Astrid with the same bowl. She repeated the same actions on Astrid and pulled her into an embrace. "The gods will now look over us."

Astrid touched the warm liquid, nodding in confusion. "What is this?"

"It is the blood of a cow that we sacrificed to the gods." Remarked Erika, who patted Astrid's shoulder. "It will not be long now."

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Igor's large band of men and women stood before the Northmen, clinching their shields tighty in front of themselves to create a barrier between the enemy. Their nervous breaths sounded heavily as they waited anxiously for each second to tick by. Igor's dead stare focused solely on Erick, who stood dismayed at the unexpected sight.

"Warriors!" Erick yelled brashly, sweeping his cape from his shoulders. "Line up! Prepare yourselves for battle!" His voice carried, causing the opposing army to become antsy. Erick's army gathered into a large battalion and began to beat their weapons against the shields that they held. The drumming created an intensity on the frontline.

"Some of you may die," Erick stated bluntly, walking down the line of soldiers. "Some of you will live. Your fate is already determined by the gods." He paused, stopping in front of Knute. "If you die today, know that I could not have wished for a better group of warriors." He flashed a smile at Knute, who nodded in accord. "Know you died proudly. And know that we shall meet again in Valhalla!" He finished with pride, raising his sword into the air. "Victory for Valhalla!" He cheered as he gritted his teeth and prepared himself. The rest of the Warriors mimicked his actions and stood poised, at the ready.

Astrid propped herself against her shield, breathing heavily as she listened to Erick's flamboyant speech. Mixed emotions filled her unsettled mind while she looked up at the beautiful morning sky. Her eyes surveyed the calming surroundings. The green sloping hill provided a barrier against the Northmen, however it was also the one thing that would affect their plans.

"It will only be a matter of minutes before we attack." Erika informed the army before moving to the front of the group with Astrid.

Astrid stared blankly into the distance, waiting to make a move. She clinched her jaw tightly, while rage burned in her eyes.

"Death is on its way for some of us." Astrid spoke matter-of-factly, glancing over her shoulder at her group of warriors. "Do not fear the hand that swoops to take you to everlasting life, embrace it like a child does its mother's." A silenced pause overcame Astrid, as she looked around. "Death is the mother of us all and she bids us to return home. It is a far greater prize than life, for when death shows itself, it allows one to see that they have finally made it and that their work is finished.." Astrid smiled with dignity. "If we happen to die, know that I do not wish to die beside anyone else. Now let us prepare ourselves for a war."

Astrid marched quietly up the hill, followed by Erika, and began to spy on the Northmen. Igor's army let out a battle cry before charging into the wide open space. Just before the armies met in the middle, Astrid motioned for the army of marksmen to the top of the hill where they began to fire arrows down below at the enemy. Startled by the surprise attack, the quickly rushed to create a wall with their shields but were too late. One by one the Northmen fell to the ground. Hesitantly, they pressed forward to Igor's army.

"Fire!" Astrid yelled again, waving her hand downward.

At that moment another group of marksmen released their arrows, impaling the men once again. A pleased smile crept onto Astrid's stiff face while she watched more and more of her enemies die. Her eyes kept focus on Bard, who cowardly hid behind Knute's shield. Suddenly, a loud clash echoed throughout the still air as the two armies met in the middle of the open ground.

Astrid drew her sword, pointing it forward. "Attack!" She commanded, charging down the hill into the heat of battle.

Astrid clashed violently with a large man, who wielded a double-sided battle axe. The hard hit the axe made on her sword addled Astrid momentarily. Hastily, she zig-zagged the long blade until the man had been run through. Without hesitation, Astrid ambushed a woman from behind, killing her without any fight. Astrid stopped for a moment and glanced around at the fighting mass of people in search for Bard. She spied Knute in the distance as he fought an armored man. With each hit made an anger festered inside of her. Instantly, a dark haired man knocked Astrid forward with a shield. Astrid maintained her balance, spinning around to face her opponent. He stood a head taller than she, exposing his bare, muscular chest. He struck Astrid once again with the bottom of the big, round shield. Suddenly, he drew a small sword from behind, slashing Astrid's cheek. Astrid ignored the bleeding injury and began to fight vigorously. Soon, she had disarmed the man and he lay dead.

After Astrid killed the man, she was aggressively shoved to the ground by what she thought was a woman. Astrid scurried onto her feet, talking a battle axe into her hand. She stared intensely at the woman, whose face was hidden behind a helmet. Suddenly, the woman lunged toward Astrid, only to be caught by Astrid. Astrid pulled the woman toward her, causing her to fall to the ground. At that moment, Astrid drew the axe back and began to drop it down. The woman hastily began to remove the metal helmet away from her face, exposing the frightened face of Jezebel. Instantly, Astrid swerved the weapon and struck the ground directly beside her head and let out a disgruntled sigh.

"Please!" Jezebel shrieked, raising her hands over her face in hopes to shield her from the expected blow. Astrid watched Jezebel's body tense. "Do not kill me." Jezebel begged, bracing herself.

Astrid shook her head annoyed. "What are you doing!?" She yelled, looking around nearby for any assailants. "You will die out here if you do not leave!" She shouted, before being ambushed by a man from behind.

The man was smaller than some, but was much stronger than he appeared. Astrid locked her axe against the blade of his sword, pushing forcefully against the sting steel. Having no success, she spun around and brought the axe into the man's back. Hastily, she pulled a knife from her belt and cut his throat. Jezebel remained lying frightened below Astrid's feet. Astrid peered down at her, wiping the blood from her face. Her eyes grew wide, as a crooked smile crept onto her face before she ran from Jezebel into the mass of people.

In the midst of fighting, Astrid caught a glimpse of Bard fleeing into the woods nearby. A raging fire built within her at the sight of him still alive. Quickly, she moved through the mass of bloodshed and began to chase after him. She trailed him for several minutes before spotting him resting beside a clear, running stream.

Astrid stayed a good distance away from Bard as he knelt down beside the water, reaching his hands in to refresh himself. She noticed in an instant that he had been wounded by an arrow, which was still lodged in his shoulder. Carefully, Astrid watched him as he attempted to extract the arrow, grimacing in pain.

"You could have been a good man." She spoke softly from behind, breaking the silence between them. "I saw good in you the first time we ever met." She shook her head, stepping closer. "But you hid behind a mask, a very well-developed mask. A mask that could hide your madness." Bard raised his brow, letting out a painful sigh. "I believed in you at the beginning, but now I know what you really are. You are a monster lost in darkness and I was the light you found. But when I burned out, you returned to dark and lost what sanity you had." Astrid knelt down beside him and rested her hand on the end of the arrow. "I realize now that all you wanted was to be loved just as anyone else. You should have waited and someone would have came into your life that was a much brighter and steadier light than I ever was."

Bard looked at her coldly for several seconds before opening his mouth. "You never will understand my madness."

Astrid smiled back at him slyly. "Neither will you understand mine." She forcefully jerked the arrow from his shoulder, causing a painful yell to slip from his lips.

"What was that!?" Bard objectionably shouted, back jerking Astrid by the wrist.

"I have waited so long for this day!" Astrid loudly replied, pulling away from him.

He peered up at Astrid, holding his bleeding shoulder. "Just kill me, Astrid." He pleaded, squirming uncomfortably on the ground.

Astrid shook her head. "Oh no, I am going to make you suffer the same ways you made me. But first." Astrid paused, placing a passionate kiss on his lips, sliding a dagger from underneath her sleeve. As she pulled him closer, she buried the sharp blade into the center of his back.

Bard let out a scream of pain, before Astrid pulled away from him. She knocked him to the ground and pulled out the handle of her weapon.

"You made me this way..." Her voice trailed off as a devious smile came across her face. "Heartless."

Blood poured from his open wound while he curled up with intense pain. Astrid took the blade of her knife and began to run it along his face, making small incisions all around.

"This is for all of the times you gave me scars!" She brashly yelled, pressing the knife deeper into his flesh. Bard's screams grew louder and more violent with each cut made. Abruptly, Astrid sliced his shirt off and began to make cuts similar to the ones she had made on his face. Slowly, she would cut around his sculpted muscles until his exposed skin was painted red with the Crimson liquid.

"Words cannot describe how much you are hated by everyone." Astrid bluntly spoke, pressing his wounds down. Bard let out a agonizing moan. "You killed Jezebel's baby, you tormented Erika, you ruined Erick's life, you destroyed Oliefsborg and Lundur-"

"Enough!" Bard managed to speak out. "I do not deny a-anything I d-did." He stuttered, trying to catch his breath. "I do not regret s-seeing everyone s-suffer." He took a breath of air. "Especially you."

Astrid felt her face grow red with anger. Out of nowhere, she began stabbing him repeatedly in the chest, while his blood drowned their bodies. Soon, Bard lay in a pool of his own blood, motionless. Astrid stood, dripping with the blood of Bard. She glanced down at him with a sense of satisfaction.

"And I do not regret what I done to you either." She mumbled under her breath before plopping onto the ground beside him. The warmth of his blood covered her body while a cool gust of air hit her body. "It is finished now."

Astrid remained in the same place for hours. All she could manage to do was stare at the lifeless body of Bard. A pulsating thump ran annoying throughout her head and surged through the rest of her aching body. Her trembling fingers ran along the deep blood-caked wound on her cheek. She closed her eyes for a moment, and in that moment she fell backwards.

Her eyes focused on the peacefully moving sky, reminding her of the day that the Northmen came...the day that changed her life forever. She thought of Jezebel, wondering if she was now alive or dead. Her thoughts of empathy left quickly as she closed her eyes. Astrid noticed the sound of running peoplen approaching her but made no efforts to rise. Instead, she rolled onto her side and curled up.

"Do not waste your time waiting on me to fight." Astrid blurted out, breaking the stillness of the air. "Just kill me if you must, for I can no longer fight. All of the fight in me is dead and I am not far from death myself."

"I knew we would find this scene, Astrid." Erick's voice replied, hovering over Astrid. "I no longer wish for a war between us. I only want peace with you and your people."

Astrid repositioned onto her back, locking eyes with Erick. No words came to her empty mind as she stared up at his stern face. "I could not trust you when Bard was living, and I cannot trust you now." She propped herself onto her elbows and spotted Erika approaching Bard's stiff body.

Erika circled Bard like a vulture on prey before standing poised over him. "I believe you have stabbed him for everyone's vengeance to be fulfilled." She light-heartedly spoke, inspecting Bard's corpse thoroughly. "I think you did better than I ever could." Erika flashed a smile at Astrid, winking kindly. "You are good at this killing game, better than I expected."

Astrid let out a deep breath of air as she thought of the comment. Killing was just another thing she had to do, but it was the one thing that made her feel human.

"Well," Astrid mumbled. "I did make sure that he suffered." She shrugged slightly. "I made him suffer the ways he made us all." Her eyes focused down onto her bleeding and bruised hands. "Now no one has to worry about him."

Erick smiled down at Astrid, offering her a helping hand. "I think you have went through enough, Astrid." Said Erick, wiping the blood from Astrid's face. "You shall live out your days knowing that we are not your enemy."

Astrid stared out into the distance, before dropping her head. "You will always be an enemy to me, for you cannot change the past." She stared at him. "But who is to say that we cannot drink side-by-side until we are drunk."

Erick grinned contently, patting Astrid on the back. "So be it, child. You deserve that."

Erick slowly approached his son. Quietly, he looked down upon his son's blood-covered body, closing his eyes at the sight. "I know he had to die, but he was still my son..." His hoarse, shaky voice trailed off.

Erika raised her brow in confusion, breaking out into a hysterical laugh. "Man up, uncle. Tender words should not be spoken about Bard! He does not deserve them." She harshly spoke, stopping beside him. "The little bitch had to die sometime, and I did not wish to see him dead any other way." She smiled a crooked grin, before smearing blood against her cheek. "Astrid did justice for us all." She rested her hand on Erick's shoulder. "Even you."

Astrid began to jog away from the scene without another word spoken. Erika followed behind Astrid, sword in hand. Erick was alone in the remote area. He stared down at Bard in silence before taking Bard's body into his arms and followed the women back to the shore. The fighting had finished and both armies were searching the field of dead for their comrades. Astrid stared coldly at the horrific sight, taking in the bloody picture.

"The bloodbath was all fort nothing." Astrid mumbled, looking at Erika. "So much pointless bloodshed."

Erika raised a brow. "I do not believe it was for nothing. Many people have been freed now." She shrugged. "You are free now."

Astrid forced a smile onto her face. "I suppose it is finished now." She laughed, resting her hands on her hips. "I never thought I would get to say that. It is over..." He voice trailed off.

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