Hi ! So it's the first time I'm posting something I wrote in English, which is not my mother tongue, so sorry for any mistake !

Hope you enjoy the first chapter :)


She woke up, feeling the air on her face. The window was wide open. A gift from her glorious husband. God she hated him with all her heart. Her eyes explored the room, which was still the same, every morning since two years. Aewyrth stood up, bracing her arms around herself. She stood by the windows, looking outside.

She married Eadwig when she was eighteen. Quite an old age for a bride. The fact was that her father was really hard to please and rejected almost every man who wanted her hand in marriage. He wanted someone wealthy and powerful, even if her family wasn't that important. That is why she ended up with Eadwig, a noble man and close friend to the King. The man was old and already had three wives, but none gave him a child. Aewyrth was expected to do so, thanks to her young age. He chose her for this reason. Her father made it clear that she was the perfect bride for him and that she would have a child very soon.

It's been two years and still no sign of any pregnancy. Eadwig started to be angry at her about a year and a half ago. She didn't feel guilty. She knew the problem wasn't her. She bled, so she could have a child. But her beloved husband would never take the blame. It always was the woman's fault. No matter what.

Aewyrth opened her clothes chest and put a dress on. Even if she lived in the King's court, she did not have a servant to help her. She used to have one, a really nice old lady, but she died and Eadwig didn't want to find her another one. While she was combing her hair, she heard knocks on her door. This place was her room. She only shared a bed with a husband once in a while, like last night. Not really helpful to have a child, but she was happy that way. She put her comb on a table and went to open the door, finding one of the King's servants.

"The King wants everyone from his court in the throne room."

"I'll be there in a few minutes, thank you."

Aewyrth finished getting herself ready and closed the windows before she left the room.

A few minutes later, she entered the throne room. The place was already filled with people, mostly known faces. She found her husband and walked through the crowd. As she stood by him, he did not even look at her.

"You're late."

"I'm sorry. I overslept."

"Why do I even bother, you are worthless."

It was like that all the time. Every day in her life, since two years. He was rude to her, because she did not give him a child. He hit her, mostly slaps. He said it was to remind her of her position. She did not believe that. But she was a woman and she had no right to protest. She raised her head as Ecbert walk into the room and sat on his throne.

"My dear friends, welcome!" As always, he had this enigmatic smile on his face. Aewyrth could not guess if he was truly happy to talk to them, or if it was just acting. "My spies told me, that they spotted many ships a few days ago."

The Northmen. She knew that eventually, they would return. She was not in Wessex the last time they raid in this region. She never actually saw one of them. She heard many stories about those men. They were told invisible, not afraid of death.

Voices rose everywhere in the room. She could hear people starting prayers, or military advises. The King calmed the noise with a gesture of his hand.

"Everything is going to be fine. I will talk to King Ragnar and no one will get hurt."

Aewyrth heard many sigh of relief. She heard a lot about this Ragnar. About how him and the King made agreements. What the Northman King did not know, was the murder of his colony in Wessex. She was not in is head, but she was sure he will not be happy about that.

As the King started to speak again, the doors opened, a man coming through. The King stood up, surprised.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"My King, I have news of the Northmen arrival."

"Talk, we are all listening to you!"

The man looked around him, finding himself the center of the attention.

"A Northman King is here. And he is not Ragnar Lothbrok."


So this is it for the first chapter !

Again, sorry if there is mistakes, but I'm french. Please leave a review, it would really help me !

Thank you :)