Chapter 3: Mag's Beginning

"The beginning isn't the best place so I may jump around in timelines. I will tell you as best as I can," I started. Pam rolled her eyes and sighed. I took a sip of the TrueBlood and pulled my feet up on the couch. I looked at Eric and watched him.

"Godric told me that he took you to see how we were faring after you were turned." I lowered my eyes. "I was the babe that Brynja was holding when you saw her that night. Just so you know."

Eric straightened up and took a deep breath in Sookie's hair. He nodded for me to continue. "When I was in my tenth year when Ari was practicing with the other boys. I was watching when one of the boys attacked me with a stick. I had at least had my own stick and was able to block quickly. Then the rest of the boys, except Ari, came after me. The elders watched as I fought with all my might. In the end I was left standing with no bruises. The elders went to Brynja and told her of what they saw."

I lifted my head proudly and smiled, "I became Valkyrie. I learned to fight and protect our people. And no man would touch me. Around my sixteenth year I had fought alongside our men when our village was attacked. That night in the hall when all the men were drinking I was sitting alone wishing that one of them would show interest in me.

"I left and went into the woods near the village and found the clearing with the pool of water. I sat down and started to cry. I know that it was foolish to cry but I really didn't care. That's where Sahure found me."

Flashback:

I was curled sitting up on the ground rocking back and forth. They were scared of me. Just because I was a maiden warrior. I knew my sword was swift today. I suffered from no cuts. I may not be the type to want a family but I did want to feel a man between my legs. That's when I felt him in front of me. I wasn't scared but I knew I wasn't safe.

"Dear child," he whispered. "Why are you crying? You have had a great victory in your village."

I looked up and saw the smallest man I have ever seen a few yards in front of me. "I cry because I am Valkyrie and no man wants me."

Instantly he was in front of me and kneeling on the ground to look at me. "You are strong and far braver than any of those boys that are drinking the night away." His hand reached up and brushed away my tears. "And I may not be a man that you think of, but I am a man and I would be glad to have you."

I looked into his deep brown eyes and smiled. "You are not from here, are you?"

He leaned back on his heels and smiled appreciatively. "No, I come from a much warmer place, where the sun is in the sky for most of the day."

"Is that why you are darker than I am?"

He chuckled and nodded. "Do you not fear me?"

"I know that I should," I responded truthfully. "And yet I feel at peace with you."

"That is good. I would not want you to do anything that you did not wish to do."

"You are a strong man. I can tell. Even if you are a tiny man," I smiled.

He stood up and held a hand out for me. I took it without hesitation and stood next to him. I looked down and saw him smile up at me. His head came to my chest and he took a deep breath. "I am Sahure. What may I call you?"

"I am called Mags or Magdalena."

"Well, my Valkyrie, you need to return to your village. I hear a great battle going on. It seems that your enemies had two other ships waiting for night fall."

I turned to my village and took a step before I turned back to look at Sahure. He was already gone. I picked up my shield and ran back to my village. I heard the screams before I reached the fight. Most of our men had fallen since they were lazy from the drink.

I screamed as loud as I could and pulled my sword out and fought with all my might. In the end our enemy retreated and I was covered with the enemies' blood. The men all congratulated themselves on another victory and I was left alone again. I growled as they all went back into the hall to drink.

I turned and walked back into the forest. I dropped my shield and sword and stripped out of my skins and waded into the water to wash off the blood. I felt him again watching me. This time I didn't care and I continued to clean the blood out of my hair. I noticed a few scratches on my arm and hissed as the water cleaned the wounds.

"I can heal you, if you like," he said softly.

I turned to him and slowly walked out of the water towards him. "My arm will heal fine. I would rather find another way of releasing my frustrations."

He was in front of me instantly. "Are you sure you want that?"

"My maiden head is yours. If you want it."

For the next two hours I was ravished in all the ways that I heard the men talk. I was in bliss that this little man was not scared of me. As we laid there by the pool I smiled at him.

"What are you thinking of, my Valkyrie?" he asked softly. I rolled on to my stomach and propped myself up on my elbows.

"That I have never been so at peace after a battle than I am right now."

"That is good to hear." Sahure moved a lock of my red hair behind my ear and cupped my cheek. "You are a fierce warrior. You have much to fight for."

I sighed. "What do I have to fight for? A village where the men are afraid of me? My own mother and father are dead. Two of my brother's may never return from aviking and my other brother does not care if I live or die."

"And yet you still defend your kinsmen?"

"I am Valkyrie. I fight in hopes that Freya will reward me."

"You are a very interesting woman. And I would like to know more, but for now, you need to return to your village. It is nearly dawn and someone is bound to notice that you have not slept in your bed tonight."

He stood up with grace and lifted me off the ground and set me on my feet.

"Sahure, how did you become so strong and fast?"

"That is for another time, my Valkyrie." He tugged on my hair and I bent down to comply with his wish. He gave me a kiss and smiled. "In two night's time, I will come for you."

"In two night's time I will be here." I quickly put on my skins and turned towards my village. I looked around the clearing and noticed that he was not there, but I could feel him watching me.

I trudged to my resting place. It wasn't home for me. I lived with the elder women that no longer had someone to care for them. I crawled into my bed and fell fast asleep as the light of the dawn touched my village.