Another update, my exams are done and happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me… Yes today is my birthday and instead of giving you guys a party or cake, I'm giving you guys a new chapter! This is my last update before my vacation and I'm leaving you guys with a cliffie. Why? 'Cause that's how I roll. The next chapter will be the gathering and it'll be long (I might have to put it in two parts) I started a poll on my account about the fan fictions ideas I have. I just want to see which fiction you guys really want to read, so if you guys could drop a vote or two I'd really appreciate it. There is some religious stuff in this chapter. I have no idea what kind of religion the Scots or the Anglo-Saxons had at this time period (probably pagan, which I hardly know anything about) so I just went with Catholicism.

With that all being said, enjoy (there nothing to report in this chapter except a little Jackunzel and a bit of a tear jerking father-daughter scene)

Chapter #10: Preparations

Jack's POV

Tonight is the new moon and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't anxious. Sure, I've done this before but there was always the anxiety of the possibility of being caught. I stared at my hands, my fingers fiddling with the rosary and repeating silent prayers in my mind,

O Jesus! Royal virtue, joy of the mind, recall the anguish and sorrow Thou didst endure at the approach of death, when filled with bitterness, insulted, and outraged by the Jews, Thou didst cry out in a loud voice that Thou wert abandoned by Thy Father, saying: "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" By this anguish, I beg of Thee, not to abandon us in our anguish, O Lord God. Amen.

I let out a quiet sigh. I touched my forehead with my index and my middle finger, then my heart and lastly my right shoulder and my left shoulder; the sign of the Cross.

"Jack? Are you alright?" I looked up and saw Rapunzel standing by the table, her face one of concern. Unlike me, she had already changed into the clothing she'd be wearing for the gathering: a deep greenish-blue dress with a thick white and decorated trim along the square neckline and the slightly widened sleeves.

"Can't help it if I'm anxious." I let out another sigh and stared back down at the rosary. I could hear Rapunzel feet move against the floor. She sat down beside me on the bed and rubbed my back, trying to ease me,

"Jack, you've done this before. Nothing's going to happen." She cooed, rubbing circles on my back.

"It's not only that." I turned my head and looked at her, our noses almost touching. She looked at me confused, "Seoc told me that Aileen has another assignment for me and I was hoping for us that we'd get some quiet time after this."

"Jack, you knew what you were giving up when you volunteered for this; you knew what you were risking." She placed her hand on my cheek and rubbed her thumb over it "Everything will be fine. I promise." She took my hand in her free one and smiled. I must have been blessed by the heavens to have a wife like Rapunzel; so loving, so caring, and so supportive. She leaned closer and kissed me. I took in a quick and sharp breath and returned the kiss, making it more passionate and fiery. Rapunzel started to run her fingers through my hair and then-

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Somebody knocked loudly and roughly on the door. Rapunzel and I instantly separated and looked at the door. All was silent for a moment and then I got up. I opened the door, knowing exactly who it was.

Heather entered before I even had the door fully opened. As I closed the door, Heather walked to the table and dropped the large sack she'd been carrying on it.

Rapunzel opened the sack and smiled to see the pile of black clothing,

"Finished them this morning" Heather beamed as Rapunzel lifted a large black shirt from the sack to examine it. As Rapunzel began to unpack the sack, Heather turned her attention to me, "You remember where you are meeting Aileen?"

"Of course I do: the Ring of Stones."

"Alright." Heather nodded, "I'll see you there." She turned around and left without another word. In the meantime, Rapunzel had emptied all the contents of the sack onto two neat piles on the table. Both piles consisted the same items: a black shirt, black pants, black cloak and black boots. The only difference between the two was that one pile had bigger clothing.

"Heather has done a fine job." Rapunzel commented as her sight shifted between me and the clothing. I stared at them for a moment before reaching underneath the table and grabbing the key.

With the clothing under my arm, I headed to the hiding place. When the door opened, Tuffnut's head shot up, relaxing when he saw it was me. I walked to the table and placed the piles of clothing on it. I looked at Tuffnut and he nodded. I gave a weak smile and a nod before I left the room to prepare.

Third Person POV

As soon as Jack had left, Tuffnut and Rannveig began preparing for their life-threatening journey. They packed the few belongings they had and put on the black clothing they were given.

When he finished tying up the cloak, Tuffnut checked to see how Rannveig was doing only to find her fiddling with the ties on her brown cloak; she'd wear the black one over it. He let out a forced chuckle and knelt in front of her, taking over the ties. When the brown cloak was done up, he wrapped the black cloak around her and tied that one up as well. He took the black hood and brought it to about halfway her scalp before placing it down. Watching her expression of fear, Tuffnut let out a sigh of worry and regret; no child should live a life like this, a life of hiding and constant fear.

Sensing his distress, Rannveig took her father's hand,

"Don't worry, papa." the 5-year-old cooed, "Thor will protect us." Tuffnut couldn't help but smile at his daughter's optimism. He knew that she was aware of their situation but hadn't dared to tell her what would happen if they were caught. He took her hand a bit tighter,

"Can you promise me something?" She nodded. Tuffnut sighed. What he was going to say next would be difficult for the both of them but he wouldn't be able to live with himself if something happened to Rannveig. "If the guards find us during the journey," He started and he felt Rannveig tense up, "Promise me that you'll run and not stop until you're over the wall."

"But you'll be running with me, right?" She asked in a small voice. That was the dreaded question Tuffnut was expecting. What he was going to say would not only shatter her heart but his as well. Slowly, he shook his head,

"I'll be keeping the guards at bay long enough for you to escape." It had been a hard decision but if it meant that Rannveig had a chance of reaching England on her own safely then so be it. As he had expected, Rannveig began shaking her head and started to cry, throwing her arms around his neck and sobbing into his shoulder, begging him to not leave her alone. Tuffnut wrapped his arms around her small body, feeling the tears collect at the bottom of his eyes. Rocking Rannveig back and forth, Tuffnut silently prayed to Odin and Thor to keep him and his daughter together, to keep them safe, and that they'll reach England but for now all they could do…..was wait.

A really short chapter, I know. If any of you want visuals on the clothing the characters are wearing, I post pictures of it on my deviantart account (I'm under the same name) If you go there, you'll also get an exclusive look at what the characters will be wearing during the gathering. I have no idea when I'll update next but I won't be for at least another month. Oh well. I'll see you guys then. Review, favourite, follow.