Chapter 6: Let Us Feast!

"A slave?" Bard asked with widening eyes.

Astrid nodded slightly before bowing in his presence. "Aye, your father is my master."

Bard turned away from Astrid, surprised by this information. "You do not seem like a slave. You are too up kept." He stated, facing Astrid once more studying her body.

As her eyes met his she felt her jaw clinching tightly together. People watched the scene between Astrid and Bard, which left an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. Her mind wondered back to Knute. Where was he!? She thought frantically to herself. Had he left her here alone? She quickly shook thoughts from her mind as she shared a moment with Bard.

A smile began to come onto his pursed lips as a small chuckle slipped from his mouth. "Why is everyone standing around staring!?" He questioned, stretching his arms outward as he twirled around surveying the villagers around him. "I am just like you. My men and I expect to be treated like one of you, nothing fancy."

The people applauded his speech before turning their attention back to their chores.

"Astrid!" Knute called, rushing to her side. "I have looked everywhere for you."

Knute's voice trailed off as he saw Bard standing before him. Astrid raised her eyebrows before staring down at the ground as the silence fell amongst them.

"Shall I take that from you?" Astrid asked, implying for the basket of goods from Knute. "Erick will be expecting us soon."

Knute dropped the basket strap, causing the heavy object to drop to the ground. "Here." Knute responded, stepping closer towards Bard.

"Bard?" Knute asked doubtingly. "Is that really you?"

Bard smiled and nodded, taking Knute into an embrace. "Ah, it is Knute!" He answered, patting him forcefully on the back. "How have you been?"

"I have been making it." Knute explained, leading Bard throughout the village. "I see you are just fine."

Bard let out a deep course laugh. "I am doing wonderful." He said taking in a deep breath of air through his nose. "It is good to be home."

Astrid rushed inside the longhouse, where she met Erick standing beside the doors awaiting his son's arrival.

"Where is Knute?" Erick asked, tilting his head to the side puzzled.

Astrid sat down the basket onto the table in the corners beside Jezebel who was kneading bread with the other slave lady, Ingrid. She hesitantly walked back to Erick who stared intently at her with furrowed brows.

"He is with your son." Astrid announced as she folded her hands over her stomach. "And I assume they will arrive shortly."

Erick spun himself around on the heel of is boot to where he was facing the entrance. Astrid made her way to Jezebel at the table where she sat down and began emptying the supplies from the basket containing ten freshly caught fish, two cabbage heads, string beans, and radishes.

"What was he like?" Jezebel asked, glancing up at Astrid.

Astrid shrugged her shoulders, reaching for a large wooden bowl at the end of the table. "He was fine I suppose. I did not deal much with him."

"People say that the Gods have blessed him with handsome features, is that true?" Ingrid asked, placing the flatbread dough onto the iron skillet above the open fire in beside the table.

Astrid smiled as she began skinning the fish. "I must say, he is a very handsome man." She responded, grinning widely. Jezebel and Ingrid began to laugh along with Astrid.

Their laughter was cut short when the sound of heavy boots approaching rang clear throughout the house. Astrid looked at the others whose faces were now blank and pale. Soon Knute, Bard and his soldiers marched into the large open hall.

"My son!" Erick shouted, running to greet his son. "It has been so long! I have missed you greatly"

Erick pulled Bard closely to him in a tight, hug, stroking his long, soft hair.

"I missed you, too, father." Bard stated before placing a kiss onto his father's cheek.

Erick pulled away from the embrace, stepping away from him and onto the thick wooden rail around the fire pit in the center, allowing him to tower above the viewers. "Due to my son's return we shall have a feast tonight all of you are welcome!" Erick shouted, gathering a cheer from the large crowd inside the home. "Tell your fellow brethren throughout the village of Oleifsborg to join us in this event worth rejoicing." Erick outstretched his arms, cheering with the others.

"Be on your way men!" Bard stated with a slight jerk to his hand.

Shortly the room was clear and silent once again, leaving only the sounds of food being prepared. Knute and Bard stood side by side in front of Erick, who remained on the wooden siding. Astrid glanced up at the three men only to find the warming eyes of Bard peering back at her. She quickly looked away, focusing on the pot of fish stew that she was mixing together.

Various thoughts ran through her mind as she cut and dropped pieces of meat into the kettle of water. She imagined how it would feel to be with a man with such powers and looks as Bard had. What hid behind the soothing face of this mysterious man? Astrid wondered. No one is perfect in this world, what is his flaws?

"Astrid." Jezebel mumbled, snapping her fingers to grasp her attention.

Astrid jumped from her imagination. "What is it?" Astrid asked.

"What are you thinking about?" Jezebel questioned, looking deep into Astrid's confused eyes.

Astrid pressed her lips tightly together as her mind rushed from one side to the other. She knew that she was thinking about Bard but she wasn't about to admit to thoughts of such.

"I am thinking about how only three of us is supposed to feed that many people." Astrid answered calmly, arising from the bench where she sat. "I will be back soon."

Astrid forcefully jerked up an empty bucket that sat outside of the door, feeling the annoyance fill her heart. The cool wind blew lightly through the loose strands of her hair, which sent a calming feel to her once again as she rounded the corner of the house to the small goat pen that was attached to the side of the wall.

"They said I was to kill three sheep. Do you know what is going on?" Wald asked calmly, making his way to the gate where Astrid stood.

Astrid nodded her head, hanging the rope handle onto the gate post. "Erick's son has returned and a feast will be taking place in the evening hours. I suppose the sheep shall be for him." Astrid stated, swinging the long gate open and entering inside the pen.

The flock of cream colored, fluffy sheep herded closely around her, nuzzling against her legs.

"Why are you here, Astrid?" Wald asked, waving the animals away from her.

Astrid glanced up at him, faking a smile. "I am only here to fetch the meat but I see that you have not yet-" her voice trailed off as she looked back at the innocent sheep that was eating the staw. "Finished the task."

"I will finish it once you leave." Wald assured with a nod. "Are you sure you are fine, Astrid?"

"I am sure." Astrid replied, leaving the pen once again. "I will be back sometime to gather the meat." She remarked and walked away back to the house.

Within each step taken, a nervous pit began to well up into her stomach. She closed her and rubbed her eyes before entering into the house once more.

"Where did you go?" Ingrid asked, placing the freshly made flatbread onto a platter.

Astrid sat down beside Ingrid only offering her a smile as an answer. Jezebel continued working on the dough of the bread while Astrid's stew began simmering on the open flame.

Hours passed as the women worked in silence to finish the feast before the evening came. Presently, the feasting hall was filling quickly with people enjoying the sound of the beating drums and mead. Astrid stood against the wall behind Erick's throne which sat in the middle of the long table, located at the front of the room. To his right was Knute, to his left sat Bard. Two long dining tables covered in white linen tablecloths were lined beside the walls. Along the tables were pitchers of water and mead with bowls of fresh stew and vegetables. In the middle of the room was a large rectangular fire pit with three fresh mutton chops cooking on the wooden rotisserie. Six large, circular iron chandeliers burning candles hung on chains from the ceiling above the tables casting the yellow glow of light. Four jesters were placed just to the side of the Earl's table playing a pan flute, lyre, a drum, and a rebec. The sounds of people's chatter filled the room as they danced and enjoyed the company of others.

Ingrid made her way to the fire to check the cooking meat that was finished. Soon, Astrid and Jezebel joined her side and began passing out the stakes of charred mutton to each of the tables filled with individuals. Astrid removed the wooden stake from the food and placed the prime meat onto a platter and sat it in front of Erick. The people at each table began digging into the food and slurping the mead while having a good time. Astrid lurked behind Erick and others making sure they were well kept while dining.

"Astrid." Erick called, motioning his hand for her to approach.

She leaned down closely to him between Knute to hear what he had to say over the chaotic noise in the room.

"My son is very interested by you. He keeps observing every move you make." Erick spoke slipping in another bite of meat into his mouth.

Astrid looked up at Bard who stiffly watched her.

"I see that sire but what does that have to do with anything." Astrid calmly stated, pouring Knute another cup of mead.

Erick's eyes flashed across the crowd angrily before smacking his hand down onto the table, causing the party to cease and go silent. "Do you not remember the deal we had?"

Astrid jumped, frightened by his aggressiveness. "What deal, sire? I do not believe I know what you are talking about." She mumbled, surveying the hesitant crowd before her.

Erick's eyes moved to her puzzled face. As she stared at him, her mind began racing back to all of the conversations between them bringing back the reminder she was to stay away from Bard.

"Am I not supposed to treat our guests properly?" Astrid snapped as she walked around the table to face Erick.

"Astrid do not speak to me in such a manner, I am your master and you are my slave." Erick's voice raised.

Astrid peered at him coldly.

"I am a slave." Astrid's hoarse voice mumbled. "I am a slave!" She shouted, looking at the gawking crowd. "But I am a person to! I feel the same as you!"

Astrid turned back to stare at the red-faced Erick.

"Leave my prescience." Erick called, pointing Astrid to the door. "I will deal with you later."

Astrid clinched her jaw tightly together, bowing to the men at the table before storming from the feasting hall into the throne room where she sat down onto the fur pallet in the corner. Hot tears glazed her beady brown eyes as the scene replayed itself over and over inside of her unsettled head. As she wiped away the salty tears from her hot cheeks, she felt her heart growing ever so much heavier now. She was aware life could be harder than what she was going through but it irritated her greatly to know that she she was the lowest of all people, knowing she understood how each person felt. Jealousy filled her heart. She desired to be free in a world where she would not be standardized as a slave.

Astrid soon dozed off leaning against the wall only to shaken violently awake but Knute.

"What is it?" Astrid tremulous voice spoke, running her fingers through the roots of her hair, attempting to regain herself.

Knute let out a long sigh before closing his eyes. "You better come with me, Astrid." He answered with his tight deep voice. "I am afraid you are being sold."

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