1000 A.C
Flickering her concerned gaze from her mother to Esther, Astrid leaned forward, placing a reassuring hand on her mother's shoulder.
Clearly uncomfortable with the attention and immediate affection she was heavily receiving from her daughter, Sigrid swatted Astrid's hand away, rolling her shoulders tensely.
Glassy, red rimmed iris' glared heatedly into Esther's.
"I said I was fine, there's no need for all this fuss!" Sigrid complained.
Carelessly disregarding her mother's comment, Astrid turned to Esther, arching a brow.
"Everything seems okay- normal?" Astrid asked quietly.
Sigrid let out a loud scoff, throwing her hands in the air in annoyance. "You don't need to talk about me like I'm not here. I'm not some diseased cattle that needs to be slaughtered."
Slouching back against the harsh wooden back of the chair, Sigrid payed little attention to the blanket that Astrid had wrapped around her shoulders, the thick furs sliding down in retaliation to the sudden movement.
The corners of Esther's lips perked up in amusement.
"Well her attitude is still intact, which is always a good sign." Esther commented.
Sigrid grumpily sent the woman a glare. "Yes, yes, very well. Is that all? Have you just come here to trade petty insults?"
Ignoring Sigrid's bitter words, Esther leaned forward, placing a hand on Astrid's shoulder, sending her a half-hearted warm smile.
"Was there anything else?"
Astrid's mind drifted back to the alarming shade of alabaster her mother's eyes had so suddenly flashed, followed by the sharp words that clearly had a deeper meaning.
The whole situation was memorable to say the least, and it had shaken Astrid up to the core.
Deciding to confine in her mother-in-law, Astrid moistened her lips, her tongue gliding across her bottom lip.
"Before she passed out, her eyes turned white and- and she said something."
Raising a brow, Esther leaned in slightly, while Sigrid's expression was unreadable. "What did she say?"
The warm smile that had once rested on Esther's lips faded into a pointed (and clearly painted) grimace.
Hand moving to rest comfortably on her stomach, Astrid tried to steady her nerves, anxiously meeting Esther's inquisitive hazel gaze.
"She said 'It shall be then, when the mark of the one becomes the mark of many, a crimson river shall bring forth the dawn of evil and the age of death'." Astrid recited, the words having been scorned into her mind.
Sigrid waved a nonchalant hand in the air, an uninterested expression on her face as she dismissed her daughters concerns.
"I was confused, I'm sure it was nothing to worry about, child. Now, if you excuse me, I'd like to get some rest. It's been a tiring day."
Her mother quickly intervened, shaking her head frivolously, though Sigrid didn't shrink under Esther's suspicious glance.
Humming in response, Esther turned, beginning to gather up her tools, placing them in her wicker basket, with Esther's back turned, Sigrid received a sharp look from her heavily pregnant daughter.
Once she had gathered up all her medical instruments and jars of herbs, and had securely placed them in the carrier, Esther politely nodded at Astrid and Sigrid.
"Very well, if you feel unwell, you know where I am, Sigrid."
Placing the basket in her arms, Esther silently turned on her heel, exiting the longhouse without a further comment, leaving the mother and daughter in a beyond tense silence.
Annoyance was present on her daughters pretty features, her lips curved into a frown as Sigrid struggled to meet her daughters eyes.
At the sight of her mother's cold azure eyes flickering down to the floor, Astrid released a sigh, her harsh gaze softening as she once again placed a hand on her mother's bony shoulder.
"Would you like me to stay the night? I don't feel comfortable leaving you alone when you are unwell."
Batting the concern away with a flick of her wrist, Sigrid swiftly shook her head. "Nonsense, I'm fine. You should get home before it gets dark."
...
Heavy sobs smothered by thick furs radiated through the longhouse, the atmosphere fragile.
Turning to Kol questioningly, Astrid rolled her eyes when the young man helplessly shrugged his shoulders at her, pointing in the direction to Rebekah's shared bedroom.
With Esther away consulting with Ayana over private matters, Kol had been unsure of who to bring to speak to his sister.
Usually his mother would deal with Rebekah when she was upset, and afterwards Nik would bring her some flowers or a present of some kind, but Kol wasn't Nik and he certainly wasn't his mother.
He didn't do well with dealing with emotions and feelings, girls crying just made him uncomfortable if anything.
But this wasn't any village girl he was talking about, this was Rebekah, his spoiled baby sister who he enjoyed teasing and provoking.
Though it was clear at that moment, Bekah didn't need him poking fun at her, she needed a womanly presence to cheer her up.
As soon as Astrid had turned her back to glance in the guided direction, Kol quietly backed away, no doubt leaving her to deal with the situation he clearly felt was out of his depths.
Twisting back round to face the empty spot that Kol had previously been occupying, Astrid rolled her eyes.
'Oh Great', he'd left her to deal with a situation she herself wasn't entirely comfortable with.
After a moment of hesitation, Astrid's fingers clutched the separating curtain, reminding herself that this was an emotional teenage girl she was dealing with, not a wolf man.
Gathering up her courage and pushing away any unpleasant feelings, Astrid wrenched the curtain over, her eyes immediately landing on the petite figure buried under the covers.
A mop of blonde curls stuck out the top as Astrid forced her feet to comply, moving to sit beside Rebekah.
At the sudden dip of the furs, the blonde stilled tensely, however, she soon settled when a soft hand stroked the knot of blonde hair peeking out from under the covers.
"Bekah. What's wrong?" Her tone was soft and wary.
Astrid wasn't the best at comforting those in distress, a mannerism she had clearly inherited from her mother.
After all, Sigrid had never comforted Astrid when she was upset, she had always told her daughter that warriors didn't show their weaknesses, even when Astrid had been a mere child.
Her mother's strong voice rang through Astrid's mind, 'warriors don't show their hearts until the axe reveals it' Sigrid had harshly informed her after finding a four-year-old Astrid crying.
She had been teased and pushed over by some of the villages older boys, however, Sigrid hadn't cared too much about that, she had been more concerned that her daughter was openly sobbing for all those in the village to see.
But this was Rebekah. Sweet, innocent and naïve Rebekah, and Astrid certainly wasn't her mother.
Astrid was snapped out of her thoughts when Rebekah, at the sound of her friend's voice, pushed the covers away, revealing puffy eyes and red, wet cheeks.
"I- I- I was so stupid." She burst out into broken sobs, curling into Astrid's lap, not bothered about the brunettes large bump that was practically pressing against her cheek.
Stiffening at the sudden affectionate contact, Astrid swallowed before her fingers continued their calming motion of running through Rebekah's silky blonde locks. "You're not stupid, Bekah." Astrid argued.
Shaking her head rapidly, Rebekah let out another noisy wail. "You don't understand Astrid!"
"Then make me understand, I won't judge you."
The blonde seemed hesitant, reaching up to clumsily wipe her tears away before she shifted so she could meet Astrid's gaze. "Promise me you won't tell anyone."
"What-"
Bekah's pretty blue eyes watered as she looked up at Astrid through a fan of long wet lashes. "Please."
Nodding, Astrid rubbed Rebekah's back. "I promise."
Glancing towards the curtain, Rebekah lowered her voice to a whisper, obviously not wanting Kol to overhear.
Astrid could only hope he wasn't standing behind the curtain, ear pressed against the material, it was certainly something Kol would do.
"I thought he loved me." Rebekah's bottom lip trembled, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks like torrential rain.
"But turns out he just wanted one thing." She continued, burying her head into Astrid's lap.
Realization kicked in as Astrid suddenly understood the meaning behind Bekah's words.
Rebekah had given her innocence to a man, thinking he had loved her.
Astrid had always known Rebekah was naïve and had dreamed of falling in love, but the thought made her stomach churn uncomfortably.
The blonde's body trembled with each hearty sob as Astrid wrapped her arms around her, gently tugging her up so she could embrace her sister-in-law. "It'll be okay, Bekah. I promise."
"N-no it won't! If father finds out, if anyone finds out!" Her head rested comfortably in the crook of Astrid's neck.
The neckline of her sage gown was beginning to dampen from Rebekah's heavy flow of tears, but Astrid payed no attention to that.
Her gown was the last thing on her mind at that moment.
"They won't. I won't let them." Astrid argued fiercely.
If anyone found out Rebekah had lost her innocence before being wed her reputation would be tarnished, no matter how beautiful she was or what dowry was in her name.
No respectful man would wed a tainted bride.
"But- what if Godrick tells someone?!" Rebekah panicked, but Astrid quickly soothed her worries.
Godrick had been the handsome young man she had seen Bekah dancing with at her wedding, however, Astrid was sure that the man was not foolish enough to let word of what he and Rebekah had done.
Not with Rebekah having a fearsome father and four older brothers, as well as little Henrik.
"He won't, he wouldn't dare because of your brothers, because of your father. They would kill him. You needn't worry about Godrick."
The blonde's soft cries slowly faded into breathy hiccups. "Did he-"
Struggling to word her sentence, Astrid met Rebekah's confused gaze.
Taking Rebekah's hand in her own, Astrid gently placed it on her swollen stomach.
"Oh- no. He- he pulled out." Rebekah mumbled, her cheeks flushing pink with humiliation, though she didn't move her hand from Astrid's stomach.
Nodding, Astrid managed to mask her relief. At least Rebekah would not birth a bastard child.
"Good. Would you like to stay the night at mine and Nik's place?" Astrid questioned, fingers brushing through Rebekah's blonde curls.
"Would that be okay? Won't Nik mind?"
Astrid playfully rolled her eyes, sending Rebekah a toothy grin. "Never mind Nik. He can sleep in the spare cot for the night. You're my best friend, and I think after everything you've been through, we need to cheer you up." Astrid decided.
Not hiding her smile, Rebekah beamed at the idea.
"Like a girls night!" The made up phrase rolled easily off her tongue.
In fact Astrid quite liked it.
"Well, we are girls." Astrid teased, making Rebekah giggled.
Before either of them could say another word, the curtain was hastily opened, Kol standing there.
He was no longer supporting the uncomfortable grimace, instead his cheeky smirk was intact.
"Girls night? Whatever it is- I'm in!" He wiggled his eyebrows, making Astrid laugh and Rebekah scoff.
Sitting up, pulling away from Astrid's embrace, Rebekah quickly wiped her face with the sleeve of her gown, as if she hadn't wanted Kol to see her looking so vulnerable. "You're not a girl, Kol."
Pouting, Kol turned to Rebekah, holding a hand to his heart. "Does that mean my invite has been dissuaded?"
Gripping the cushion between her fingers, Rebekah grinned mischievously. "You were never invited anyways, idiot." She exclaimed before throwing the cushion and hitting Kol in the face.