Disclaimer: I do not own Vikings, I only own my OCs
Author's Note: This is not my first fanfic, I have done quite a few. However this is my first historical fanfic, so I'm not sure how it will turn out. Please bare with me! I'll try my best. Oh and the story at the beginning is true with the Winnili and everything, but I added a few of my own parts to it. Also I'm not sure about the Old Norse language, I'll try but don't expect it like professionally done like they have in the show alright? In this chapter you will meet my OCs, get sort of a back ground of them.
Chapter I
The Norsemen
Origo Gentis Langobardorum tells the story of how my homeland came to be. The story starts with a small tribe called Winnili located in Scandinavia, who built their settlement on a river. However the river, instead of thriving with fish and containing healthy soil, was dead; no matter what crops the people planted, it would get the same result, and no matter what the people did no fish would show up. The Winnili people were devastated, they pleaded with their Gods to help. And than one day, the Gods granted their wish, for when the Winnili people awoke they were surprised to see that the once dead river now contained the richest of soil with hundreds of fish swimming through the clean water. The land was said to be the most fertile of the land that could grow any crop planted in the ground. The fish that swam through the waters of the river were said to have come from all over the world, fish that people haven't seen before. The people of Winnili rejoiced, for the Gods have saved them in their bad time. Any crop planted grew to the greatest of qualities the tribe has ever seen. Any fish that was caught were twice the size that they originally were. The tribe ate better than kings for months.
However the tribe didn't stay on the Gods good graces for long, for the people of Winnili's greed began to grow. They thought that since the Gods granted them their wish to better the river that the Gods would grant any wish they so desired. And so the people began to demand all their wishes from the Gods. Demanding the most ridiculous wishes. Some would demand for the greatest treasures the world had to offer, others demanded to become the highest of royalty in the land, and some even went as far as demanding to hold powers of a God.
Outraged, the Gods sent for devastation and destruction on the people of Winnili. Their land, that once thrived with the greatest fishes and the most fertile land, was now the aftermath of destruction caused by the Gods. The people, saddened by their greed, pleaded with the Gods for forgiveness. But the Gods didn't answer to them. They never did. The people, now angry, began to fight amongst themselves. Many believed that if they pleaded enough, perhaps offer sacrifices, than the Gods would forgive them and bless them like they had done the first time. Others believed the land to be disgraceful, a symbol of people's greed and of the Gods anger. So the people of Winnili split into two; one group staying still holding the belief that the Gods would forgive them while the other group left their homeland in search for a new settlement.
The departing people were led by Gambara and her two sons Ybor and Aio. After many months of traveling through unknown waters, the people of Winnili arrived on foreign lands ruled by the tribe who called themselves Vandal, led by two brothers Ambri and Assi. The Vandal brothers gave the Winnili brothers a proposition; to either pay a tribute or go to war. Ybor and Aio were young and brave, however very reckless as well, and refused to pay tribute to the Vandal brothers. the two tribes prepared for war. The brothers of Vandal consulted with Hadur, their God of War, who proposed that he'd grant victory to whomever he saw first at sunrise. The brothers of Winnili mother Gambara sought guidance from Fortuna, Goddess of Fortune, who answered she would grant their tribe luck for the upcoming battle while she would bestow bad luck to the Vandal tribe. And that night the people of Vandal experienced a disastrous storm that killed half of their army, as well as destroying their weapons, while the people of Winnili were granted a good nights rest.
The Winnili tribe awoke fully rested and ready for battle, heading off to meet the Vandal tribe. However the Vandal tribe were still recovering from the devilish storm that had struck them as they slept. Hadur waited, watching to see who would arrive first to the battle sight. The Winnili tribe arrived first, proud and prepared while the Vandal were still struggling to make their way to the area. Hadur, spotting the people of Winnili first, said "Thou Gods have kept an eye over thy and granted them arrival first. Now I shall grant thy victory!"
And so the people of Winnili won the battle and gained the land for themselves. And have called themselves the Lombards of Italy. Or as it is called now Kingdom of Lombard, Italy.
On the Italian Peninsula held the land known as Kingdom of Lombard, Italy; ruled by King Liutprand (Liutprando) who has been successfully ruling the many villages he had divided among the peninsula, usually accompanied by Pope Gregory II (Santo Padre). The King and the Pope reside in Pavia, the center of Italy's trading and political power as well as the life of Italy's Christian belief. Pavia is mostly monasteries, nunneries, churches and trading markets. Houses are on the outskirts of the village while the King's palace, monasteries, nunneries, churches and markets are located in the center of Pavia. On the outskirts of the village, where all the homes have been built, lay fields of farmland as well as vineyards and grasslands for ranch animals.
In a modest size villa located on the boundary lines of the village with a larger than most field for both farming and wine making lived a family of six. Dante, owner of this farm/vineyard, is of full Italian blood. His parents, like their parents before them, were part of the many people who still hold Italian roots. Dante is a very respected man throughout Pavia, for he is one of the few that own a farm as well as a vineyard. He runs it along with his wife and four children. Dante's crops and wine has been served among feasts that the most richest of nobles have thrown. The success that comes with his name as well as respect was well earned. The people of Pavia have greatly appreciated Dante's hard work and hold him in high regard.
Dante's wife, Cateline, certainly sticks out in the crowd in the Italian rooted village. Cateline is of French blood; her parents were full French blood while their parents before them were a French man who married a woman that hailed from Scotland. Cateline with her pale skin, long wavy black hair and piercing blue eyes that match the color of the sky instead tanned skinned and dark hair, Cateline does draw peoples attention. Inherited and taught by her mother, Cateline has been very successful when it comes to sewing, successful enough for her to open up her very own stand at the trading center where she sells all the dresses she has made. Like her husband, people appreciate the hard work Cateline puts into the hand woven dresses that look as if they were made to be fit for a queen.
Dante and Cateline have a total of four children, three sons and one daughter. Rodrigo is their eldest son, following his father's footsteps. Like his father in every way; Rodrigo is intelligent, calm, respectful and proper (which seems to be more from his mother). From working out in the sun all day Rodrigo's skin is the natural Italian bronze but he got his mother's black hair and blue eyes which is quite an uncommon mix. Something the women seem to love since all the marriageable women have their eye on him, however, Rodrigo has just recently been betrothed to the daughter of the Blacksmith and is expecting his first child.
The second son, Amis, as Cateline decided to name him after her French blood. Amis out of the three sons is more of the trouble maker. He's always been a joker, ever since he's learned to talk. His personality is quite the opposite of how he appears; Amis is the spitting image of Dante, tanned skin with dark hair and dark eyes. While he is following in his father's footsteps now, Amis actually wishes to become a carpenter. He certainly has the build for one, Amis has always been naturally tall as well as sturdy with his large shoulders and muscular arms. And he defiantly knows how well women like muscular men, that's why he usually likes to walk around shirtless so he can flaunt to all the women that walk by the house to stare at him. He's of marrying age but he's more interesting in "searching through the field" as he likes to put it.
Marco, the youngest of the three sons, takes after his mother. Poised, well-mannered and soft spoken; Marco has always taken after his mother since she spoiled him the most of the children. When born, Marco got severely ill and it lasted for months, doctors had went as far as saying that he wouldn't make it. But he fought. Marco's more of the strong silent type. For, like Amis, is tall with muscular arms; he has his mother's black hair with his father's dark eyes. Marco, ever since he was old enough to accompany Dante to the central market, has always been greatly interested in trading. Trading weapons to be specific. While he does occasionally work on the farm with his father and brothers, Marco has been taken up as a Blacksmiths apprentice. Marco started off helping to make the weapons, which paid off greatly because it shaped him into a hard working responsible man, trusted enough to work the Blacksmiths stand at the trading center.
Francesca, the only daughter of Dante and Cateline, who was named for how far back her roots in both Italian and French go. Francesca, even more so than her mother, looks unique compared to the Italians she lives with. Long hair that is the most unusual color, orange, like a fox as Amis likes to tease; the orange fox colored hair comes from Cateline's grandmother. To add to the strangeness, Francesca got the dark green eyes of her father's mother. She is the black sheep of the family, and not just because of her unusual looks either, no it is because of the strange behavior she has. Francesca is not calm like her father, no she is adventurous and loud, nor is she proper or soft spoken like her mother, she is remarkably forthright and inappropriate. Ever since she's learned to talk, Francesca has been this way and seems to get worse every day as her mother likes to say. A spoiled daughter is what Francesca is, hardly told no by her father nor is she corrected on her ill mannered ways either, which seems to be part of why she acts the way she so does.
And spoiled is she. Dante holds Francesca to a special value, he loves her very much. He loves all his children, but Francesca is different, she is his little girl his only girl as a matter of fact. Francesca reminds Dante of his deceased brother, both hold the same usually frowned upon characteristics. Out spoken, mischievous and cunning. A fox as they teasingly call her. Dante doesn't see why such a curious free spirit should be punished or even scolded. Girls that act like her, that act so boyish, are usually looked down upon; some fathers even go as far as marry them off as soon as they are off marrying age. Something Cateline has been trying to do recently since Francesca has reached marrying age a few months ago. Every week a new suitor would come, asking Francesca for her hand. Yes she is a rare sight to see in Italy and while some are disturbed by her strange looks, other are intrigued and openly stare at the rare beauty. So finding new suitors isn't a difficult task for Cateline. However, Dante knowing that his daughter has no thoughts on marriage whatsoever sends them off at the sight of them. He will not have his daughter married off just because his wife and her don't get along well.
Yes Cateline and Francesca argued constantly, for they are complete opposites. Cateline sees the rare beauty in her daughter and has tried to teach her the ways of a proper lady but her daughter always reacts harshly. Francesca didn't want to be locked in the house where she all she would do is clean and cook. No she liked spending time out in the sun and working on the field with her father and brothers. She loved caring for the animals, no matter how disgusting her mother claims them to be.
And Cateline would complain to Dante about how their daughter rejects her so much. Dante, though sympathetic for his wife, lets Francesca do as she pleases. For he knew that if he told Francesca to stay in the house to be taught by her mother than the backlash would be even harsher. Cateline, both angered and upset about how her husband always chooses their daughter's side, worries about how their daughter will never get a man. She's far too boyish, she learned so much from working out on the field with her brothers; she learned to curse like a rugged brute, how to dress as a man, drink like a man and even fight! Cateline would catch them sometimes, Francesca wrestling with her brothers whenever they didn't have work and they were bored. It was disgraceful!
Dante knew of all these things his daughter does, he's heard her curse and has seen her fight with her brothers. The only thing he scolded her for was the drinking which Amis had taught her, though he punished Amis more severely than her. He knew no lady should act the way she does but there wasn't much he could do. Whenever he scolded or punished her, the girl immediately saw it as him finally siding with his wife which he didn't. Dante was stuck between letting his daughter live happily or letting his wife take control of the situation and marry her off to some suitor so she could be happy. He knew that if she was married off and if Francesca acted the way she did in front of her husband than the man would try to tame her into exactly what his wife has been trying to do for years.
His daughter's happiness was more important, which is why he lets Francesca live the way she pleases, even though it causes the rift between his wife and him to grew larger.
Dante, along with Rodrigo and Amis, heaved the large baskets of crops they had harvested the day before. The three had spent the morning washing them so they were presentable for the stand. The wagon was nearly full, only half a dozen baskets left. A worker, one of the many Dante had hired to help work on his large field, finished strapping the second horse to their wagon. Cateline, Marco and Francesca had already made their way into the market both were to help their mother set up her new stock of clothing she had made. Francesca, however, argued about going instead she wished to stay and help load the fresh crops into Dante's wagon and go with them. But one stern look from her father showed that he was too overworked at the moment to have another argument break out and, though complaining, went with her older brother and mother.
Amis grunted slightly as he placed the large basket into the back, his arms relieved the large weight was gone. He turned and quickly rushed to his father to take the basket from him. His age was catching up to him, the last time Dante lifted too heavy of a basket his back went out. Rodrigo, Amis, Marco and Francesca were running the farm for days until their father was better. The children still remember that day and silently made an agreement to not let Dante over work himself.
Dante huffed as he watched his two sons carry the last baskets to the wagon. "Well, that's the last of them. We best head there now, I don't want to arrive when the streets are too crowded."
Rodrigo latched the back closed. "Last time it was crowded with all the devastated girls when they heard of Rodrigo's marriage." Amis grinned, as he walked around his brother.
Rodrigo quickly tackled his brother causing the two to topple to the ground. Dante shook his head as he heard the two begin wrestling. "Enough, I said I don't wish to be late."
"Yeah brother, listen to Pops!" Amis struggled under his older brother's arms. Rodrigo pushed his head into the soil before jumping up and running to the wagon laughing as Amis cursed him to the Gods.
Amis glared at his brother from the back of the wagon as he continued to wipe the dirt from his face. Rodrigo just grinned.
"I wonder how well it's going with mother's new stock." Rodrigo said as he leaned back in the seat, glancing toward his father. He could see the exhaustion and worry in his eyes and knew that his father was hoping to arrive with no arguments going on. Though they knew that was too much to wish for.
"She's worked for weeks on sewing those dresses, she was greatly excited for her customers to see them." Dante replied.
Amis grabbed a grape from the stem before popping it in his mouth. "They'll love 'em, they a'ways do." He said, his mouth full of chewed grapes.
"Boy if you continue to eat my grapes, you'll be joining the horses for a nights sleep." Dante sneered without turning around. Rodrigo grinned, turning his head back just in time to see his brother placing a grape carefully back into the basket.
"Control, little brother." He scolded, snickering at his brother's annoyed glare.
"We should just pray to the Gods that Francesca didn't mess it up, she always seems to find a way to ruin mother's good moods." Amis spoke as he leaned his head back to watch the trees go by.
Rodrigo cringed at what his brother said and glanced over to his father, seeing the worry increasing. "Don't say such things, idiota!" He scolded back to Amis who just shrugged in return, not even carrying enough to lift his head up.
"Enough of that talk, Rodrigo when am I to expect my first nipote?" Dante smiled at the thought.
"I'd say Rosa is halfway Papa, she's growing bigger each day." The eldest brother grinned at the thought of his own child.
Amis rolled his eyes at the silly grin on his brother's face. "Don't let Rosa hear you saying that, the girl is melodramatic enough as it is." He grinned at the annoyed look his brother shot him. Rodrigo rolled his eyes as Amis shot him an innocent smile in return.
Dante chuckled at his son's words. "He doesn't understand Rodrigo, don't listen to your idiota brother." The two chuckled at Amis's complaint.
"I don't understand! How could you stand being with only one woman? Well not even a woman now, she's pregnant so you two cannot do anything." He exasperated. Amis paused. "Can you do anything when they're pregnant?"
Dante shook his head with a chuckle as Rodrigo hastily turned in his seat to scold his brother for asking such a question. He guided the horses to make the turn and quickened the pace as the wagon entered the trading center. Thankfully the streets weren't very crowding seeing as it was still early and Dante was able to steer the horses towards his designated stand.
"Unload that will you? I best find your mother and sister to make sure nothing too bad happened." Dante muttered as he walked towards his wife's stand, leaving his son's to unload the crops from the back. He spotted his wife's stand, it wasn't difficult seeing as it was five across from his, and easily spotted his daughter sitting on a barrel next to the stand, eating a pear.
Francesca's face brightened when she saw her father making his way over and quickly jumped off the barrel. "Hey Papa, do you want me to help unload your crops?" She asked once he was close enough. Her father gave her a gentle smile as he cupped the back of her neck to bring her head forth so he could place a kiss to her forehead.
"No piccola volpe, your brothers are taking care of that." Her smile dropped. "You are supposed to be helping your mother." Dante continued.
Francesca huffed. "I was but than she yelled at me and told me to leave before I ruined anything." The girl exclaimed before jumping back up on the barrel. "Marco's helping, I told you she wouldn't need nor want my help."
Dante sighed, rubbing his head that began to ache, it was too early to being dealing with such nonsense. He turned his head to the side and searched for his wife or son. "Where have they gone?" He asked when he couldn't find either.
"Mother wished to speak with some friends of hers." Francesca took a large bite from her pear. "Ann' Marco 'ent to 'serch the 'sands." She spoke, or tried to speak with a mouth full of pear.
Dante shot her a look.
The girl held her finger up, chewed for a moment before speaking again. "Marco went to search the stands."
Her father nodded.
"Shouldn't Marco be setting up his stand as well?" Dante spoke his thoughts.
Francesca shrugged. "He hasn't spoke of it."
"Hmm." That was certainly shocking to hear, Alberto has always had weapons to sell in the markets. And Marco was always gone the entire morning preparing to set up the stand. It was defiantly strange. He'd have to ask his son once he sees him again, Dante concluded.
"Watch your mother's stand, I must go talk with Marco." He called over his shoulder as he made his leave.
"Cosa?! Papa wait!" Francesca called after him but of no use. The girl huffed and turned to the stand displaying her mother's dresses, a shiver of discuss ran through her body at the various styles. "Dannato Papa." She grumbled, throwing the pear carelessly to the side.
Francesca, reluctantly, moved to stand behind the stand and with a huff rested her hand on her raised elbow as she watched the people wander from shop to shop. The people mostly went to the food stands and jewelry stands. Some would glance over at her mother's stand but other than that no one made their way over. Francesca let out a loud sigh before allowing her head to drop on the wood with a smack. This was her mother's stand why does she have to run it?
"Where is mother?" The mumbled, lifting her head up to search the streets but not spotting the black hair.
"What a lovely dress." Spoke a voice, catching Francesca's attention. A woman, around her mother's age, stepped up to the stand and was admiring the dark blue and gold dress hanging on the side. Francesca cringed. The woman was on the heavy side and Francesca doubted the dress would fit her. 'Of course this has to have happened when I'm in charge.' The thought sourly.
"Si, it's new, my mother made it a few days ago." Francesca said, straightening up.
The woman nodded her head vigorously. "Si si, I have always admired Cateline's dresses but this one is simply beautiful." She said than turning to Francesca, pulling her pouch out. "What is the cost?"
"Uhhh..." The redhead trailed off, glancing over at the small dress than back to the rather large woman. "25 gold." Francesca nodded, satisfied with herself, surely the woman wouldn't buy it, a dress that much is ridiculous.
"25 gold?!" The woman gasped. "I've never remembered Cateline's price to be so much!"
"Destra...well this dress happens to be made of the finest material, shipped all the way from England." Francesca smiled falsely at the woman.
"What material could be so rare that it could make a dress cost so much!?" The woman exclaimed.
Francesca glanced over at the dress, not really sure what to say. Sewing was her mother's talent while Francesca's...while Francesca didn't have a talent. "Wool." The second the word left her mouth, Francesca wished to smack herself. 'Wool?! Wool! What sheep is there that makes a dress so overly priced!' She scolded herself.
"Wool?" The woman's eyes widened. "Why is something as common as wool so expensive?!"
"Uhh...it's a royal sheep's wool." Francesca scratched her arm as she fidgeted on her heels. Why won't this woman leave?!
"A royal sheep?" The woman narrowed her eyes at the girl. "I don't believe there is such thing a royal sheep."
"Well you see-" Francesca tried to fix the mess but the woman interrupted her.
"Enough of this foolishness, I wish to speak to Cateline, the one who has the authority to sell me this dress." The woman huffed, glancing around in search of Francesca's mother but not spotting the black haired woman anywhere.
"Mi scusi?! I have just as much authority to sell this dress as my mother does! This dress isn't 25 gold, it's 15 silver and it isn't made from some royal sheep wool shipped from England either! The reason I made up such lies it because the dress wouldn't have fit you!" Francesca blurted out, her shoulders rising with her angry puffs.
The lady stared at the girl in front of with wide appalled eyes. "How dare you! That was so disrespectful! You can tell your mother that she just lost herself a costumer!" The woman yelled, putting her coin pouch away.
"Buona! You're saving my mother the hassle of making dresses for round creatures such as yourself!" Francesca yelled out to the retreating woman. She heard a huff from the signaling that she heard her and smiled to herself satisfied.
Glancing around the stand, Francesca noticed that many heads were turned in her direction, most of them wide eyed while some held disgust. The redhead sighed as she rested her head against the stand again. She was just about ready to leave, where is her mother! This is her stand, she should be dealing with difficult customers not her daughter! Glancing around the streets again, no black hair was in sight. Francesca groaned in annoyance.
"Avvitalo!" She muttered before straightening up and walking away from the stand.
Francesca wandered among the crowd in the streets, stopping occasionally if an item caught her eye but never making an purchases. She only had 20 silver in her pouch. No enough for anything that caught her attention. As she walked towards a food stand, shouts began to fill the street. Turning her head behind her, Francesca watched as people from the streets fled to the side, out of the middle. And once the streets were clear, Pavia guards walked their way through, occasionally pushing someone out of the way as they did so.
"What's happening?" She whispered, watching as more screams filled the streets.
Soon following the guards were...travelers? Francesca wasn't sure. They certainly weren't from here. They looked like warriors, she concluded. Francesca's eyes widened when they got closer. She thought her brothers were big, these men were giants! All of them! They were all tall and very muscular, defiantly warriors. And all of them were wearing tunics and pants, carrying round wooden shields and axes. Another thing Francesca noticed was how masculine they all looked; all of them had beards and long hair making them look like rugged brutes.
'Well they are rugged brutes.' She thought.
Francesca watched with everyone else on the street as the Pavia guards lead them. As they walked by, all the warriors stared at the street in interest. Some even went to the food stands and took some food, the owners too scared to protest. Laughing at the man's fearful expression, they took more food.
"Létta." A casual voice called out, halting the man's scavenging almost immediately.
Francesca turned to see all the men have stopped and were looking at the men rampaging through the stand. She couldn't tell who called out to them since all the warriors were looking towards them but whoever it was didn't sound like they truly cared what the men did. Probably the leader. The men walked back in line, though keeping the food they stole and began following the group like before.
Everyone watched as the foreigners walked out of sight. Francesca was confused yet curious. Where did they come from? She didn't know what the language was spoken before. But what she was really curious about was why they were here and why Pavia guards were leading them. Those foreigners looked ready for war, so why were they being led through the streets like they were allies. Because they certainly weren't!
'Must find Papa.' She decided.
Francesca turned and ran back towards her father's stand, pushing people who were still frozen with fear out of the way. She stumbled through the crowd that formed to watch the retreating people but still pushed her way through.
"Rodrigo!" She called out when she saw her brother by their father's shop.
"Francesca! We've been searching everywhere for you!" Her brother exclaimed, catching her shoulders as she panted for breath. "Where did you go?!" He hurriedly asked, quickly checking her over for injuries.
"I was with Papa." She breathed. "But he left to search for Marco."
"Destra, Marco is missing as well." He mumbled.
"As well? What do you mean as well?" She exclaimed, quickly glancing around the streets but not finding any other family.
"Mother is missing as well, Papa and Amis are searching for her and Marco right now." He explained. "I want you to go home, the streets are dangerous with these foreigners here." He said, turning back towards their father's shop.
"The foreigners? You saw them too!" She gasped, quickly following after him. "Who are they? Why are they here? Where are they going?"
"Francesca!" He rose is voice, silencing the girl. He sighed when he realized she was just curious and he rose his voice for nothing. "Papa said they are Norsemen, I don't know why they are here or they are going. Now, per favore, go back to the villa."
"Norsemen?" She asked, still following him.
Rodrigo turned, giving her a look. "Bene!" She groaned, following her head back in exaggeration.
Francesca turned and began to walk towards the trail on the side of the street, leading back to the villas. But she halted. Turning back around, Rodrigo had disappeared behind their father's stand to pack up. She glanced around, every owner was packing up their stand. No one was paying her any attention. Glancing around one more time, Francesca turned back to the way she had came from before running off.
Something strange was happening and she wanted to know what it was. As she ran back to where the forei- Norsemen walked through, she noticed that the streets were nearly empty. Glancing towards the stands, not even the owners were there. And the stands were full.
'Strange.'
Walking down the street, still following where the Norsemen were lead, she still didn't see any people. It was completely empty. These streets were never empty, not even at night.
'Perhaps everyone is interested in the Norsemen as well.' Francesca quickly began to run again, her curiosity getting the better of her.
As she ran through the streets, she noticed some people in front of her, they were also running. She quickly followed them. "Attesa!" She called out to them.
The two boys she realized, around her age, slowed down for her to catch up. "What is happening?" She asked, following them as they ran ahead of her.
One boy glanced back at her. "You didn't hear?! Someone is getting 10 lashes for harming a stand owner!"
Francesca's eyes widened in surprise. It was rare for someone to get lashed publicly. King Liutprando usually isn't so public with crimes, only if it was something drastic like a murder. But this? Shop owners were harmed all the time, mostly done by thieves that would get caught by them and panicked to flee. This and the Norsemen arriving?! Something is defiantly strange.
"A thief?" She called to the boys.
The other boy was the one to answer this time. "No! I cannot remember but it is no thief!" He called back to her.
The three went quiet as they entered the King's Palace Grounds. It was crowded. The only times it was crowded on the Palace Grounds is when there was an announcement from the King, an execution or a public punishment.
Francesca separated from the boys and began to try to see above the crowd, to look at the person being lashed in the center of the grounds. The crowd was surprisingly quiet which allowed for the sound of the whip hitting skin to echo across the grounds followed by a pained filled grunt. She pushed past people and stood up still trying to see in the middle but she could for there was too much people.
Another lash followed by another groan.
Francesca winced.
"Can you believe Alberto's apprentice would do such a thing?" A woman next to Francesca muttered to her friend.
Her heart stopped.
"Cosa?!" She gasped, turning to face the woman next to her.
The woman, not expecting the sudden yell directed towards her jumped. "Did you say Alberto's apprentice?!" Francesca demanded.
The woman hastily nodded her head, fearful of the angry girl yelling at her.
Francesca spun back, trying to look in the middle even harder now.
It was Marco! Marco was the one receiving 10 lashes!
Ein (Old Norse) - One
Idiota - Idiot
Nipote - Grandchild
Piccola Volpe - Little Fox
Cosa - What
Dannato - Damn you
Si - Yes
Destra - Right
Mi Scusi - Excuse me
Buona - Good
Avvitalo - Screw it
Létta (Old Norse) - Stop
Per Favore - Please
Bene - Fine
Attesa - Wait
Author's Note: So that was chapter one, hope everyone enjoyed! Please Favorite and Follow! Also leave a review saying if you liked the chapter or not so I know if people want me to continue or not!
