"I will not! I will not!" I shrieked, heaving a hairbrush at the mirror that stood by the window.
The brush hit the reflection with a smack and instantly, the mirror cracked down the middle. My brown eyes widened slightly at what I'd done but I shrugged it off as a few shards fell to my bedroom floor. I glanced up into my mother's stormy face and bit my lip in shame but did not apologize. Why should I? I still had no wish to go with these men! These-these barbaric strangers!
"I cannot go with them, mother," I said softly, my voice breaking as I did.
A sigh escaped her mouth and she came to sit down beside me, pulling me into her chest just like she used to when I was but a child. Her fingers ran through my long, brown hair in a soothing manner but I was still tense, on edge.
"I know you do not want to, my love. I do not wish you to either but your father has already made the deal. It's set in stone now, my daughter... There's nothing I can say to change his mind, you know that." she admitted, tears brimming in her own eyes.
I cried into the satin material of her gown as she held me, feeling hopeless. How could I leave my home? My family?! And for what? To go to a place that I knew nothing of? That I wanted to know nothing of?
It wasn't fair! The tears subsided a while later and mother left me to fall asleep, pulling my covers up over my shoulders just before she did. Moonlight streamed in through my lattice window and I let out a sigh, my face feeling tight from all the tears. It was then with sudden clarity that I realized this would be the last night I would spend in my beloved Northumbria. My eyes fluttered closed as my chest tightened, thoughts swirling in my head as I drifted off to sleep. Oh, father, why, oh, why, did you make that deal?
The dawning of a new day came sooner than I would have wanted and before I knew it, my handmaiden was helping me to dress. After making sure my corset was good and tight, she helped me slip on my long, lavender gown. The sleeves were large and hung down past my wrist as all the dresses of this new fashion did. It was beautiful though with a long band of gold circling my waist as well as the low neckline. Lastly, she placed a diamond diadem on top of my hair, the gems hanging across my forehead as they glittered in the sunlight. I took in a deep breath as she came to stand behind me with hands on my shoulders, a smile showing on her weathered face.
"Ah, my lady, you look absolutely beautiful!" she cooed and I sent her a small albeit sad smile back.
She'd been my handmaiden and governess since I was just a wee babe still in the cradle. She was like a second mother to me and I loved her dearly. She was my family. And I knew leaving her would be hardest of all. I turned around and embraced her, my arms encircling her frail frame.
"Oh, Bronja, I wish you could come with me. So I could have a familiar face at least!" I sighed, buryng my face in her neck, the wispy white strands that had fallen free of her bun brushing my face.
Her hand rubbed up and down my back in an effort to comfort me and I heard her sigh as well.
"I know, my dear," she told me softly, stepping back from my hug to cup my face, "And you know that I would follow you to the ends of the earth if I knew it would help. But even if I could, your father has forbade it,"
I nodded, biting out sarcastically, "Of course he did. All the daughters of nobility are forced to travel without companionship. Then he would have more help for him here at the castle,"
"Oh, do not say such things, dearie. Your father loves you..." she said, trailing off.
"But does he, Bronja? If he did, surely he would not be sending me away like this!" I complained, huffing.
She said nothing, just smiled sadly at me before giving me one last hug.
"Be safe, my little Aife, be safe." she whispered into my hair before ushering me out the door.
Slowly, I made my way down the stone corridor, my hand reaching out to brush my fingertips across the cool stones. It would be the last time I would walk down these hallways, know the feel of the walls. My skirts flowed behind me as I took the last steps down the corridor before making my way to the front door. One of my mother's handmaidens came over to me then and slipped a fur coat over my shoulders before I was gently pushed out the front door. The cold wind was biting as it lashed against my cheeks, blowing strands of my hair back over my shoulder. My parents and little brother were waiting on me just to the side.
Those men - the vikings - sat astride their horses in wait for me. The leader, Ragnar, eyed me up and down, almost as if he'd never seen a noble before. He was the one who had made this deal which involved me. And it made me wonder: why did he wish to own a princess? What good was I to him? I had no knowledge of household chores, all of that had been done for me since birth.
I would be no good as a slave for labor. But from what I understood, he had done the same with a priest - took him just because. But what really caught my eye was the blue-eyed man close to Ragnar. He had kohl around his eyes, the dark paste making his eyes that much bluer. He had dirty blond hair that stood up in tufts on his head and there was a mischievous twinkle in those blue eyes that made me shiver. Brushing the thoughts aside, I turned to my mother.
I ignored my father completely and enveloped her in a hug. I could feel her tears hit my shoulder and I embraced her tighter before finally letting go. Her brown eyes, so similar to my own, still held tears but she held them back for my sake.
"I love you, Aife," she told me softly and I smiled sadly.
"I love you, too, mama." I replied, my voice threatening to break.
Finally, it was my brother's turn and I bent down to his height. Instantly, he threw his arms around my neck and he sobbed into my fur coat. I pressed a kiss to his cheek, breathing in that soft baby scent that still lingered on his skin.
"Aife, it's alright, my dear. Everything will be okay. It will be fine. I love you so, so much, sweetheart," I cooed in his ear.
"Will you come back?" he asked in a small voice, his eyes meeting mine as I pulled back from him.
I gazed into his tear-filled eyes and held back a sob, "One day. One day we will see each other again, alright? I promise,"
He nodded slightly and I brushed strands of his brown hair back to place a kiss there on his forehead. Finally, I stood up and turned to the vikings. Ragnar had been watching this exchange intently and I thought I saw a flicker of pity and regret in his bright blue eyes. But it was gone in a second and before I knew it, I was being helped up onto his horse. He sat me down in front of him, his arms encircling my waist so as not to let me fall. Discomfort at the closeness of a stranger coursed through me, making me bristle. The horse whinnied then and with one last nod to my father, Ragnar kicked the creature in the shins and it was off in a gallop. I glanced behind us one last time, the only home I'd ever known fading in the distance.