I smiled as my hand maiden and loyal best friend finished up putting the beautiful red dress on me. I was excited, more than I've ever been before. I giggled and twirled in my dress as Mary, my hand maiden, rolled her eyes at me. I looked in the glass to see the way my hair was curled and put up. My eyes were perfectly darken but not too dark to seem ugly. My lips were red as my dress and I smiled at my necklace and my earrings. I looked beautiful, more beautiful than ever.
"Do I look beautiful enough for Ragnar Lothbrok?" I asked, giggling as I turned around to face Mary. She quickly put her finger to my lips to hush me.
"Must you speak so loud of your devious plans?" Mary whispered before giggling with me. "But you look more beautiful than I've ever seen you. You're the most beautiful woman in the world."
I smiled, pulling her into a hug as another excited giggle escaped me. Then, I pulled back and said, "It is time... My friend."
Mary nodded and grabbed my hand as we both looked serious and tried to look even scared. We took a breath of air and left my chambers. We walk down the halls until we saw my step mother and half-brother. Mary patted my arm and let me go walk up to them. I nodded my head at my step mother as the guards let us in the dining hall.
I knew instantly who Ragnar Lothbrok was. I've dreamt of him many times for quite awhile. And yet I feel incredibly nervous.
My father frowned at my appearance as he knew on usual occasions I would dress like Mary only with some jewelry on to show our family riches. He quickly recovered and cleared his throat as he introduced his second wife and son before putting a hand on my back.
"This is my beautiful and first born child, Elena." Opposite of my brother or anyone else I smiled at King Ragnar as his eyes gazed into mine.
"You must be King Ragnar. It is a honor to meet you, my lord," I spoke in his tongue confusing everyone around me and then I bowed, holding my dress. My father tighten his grip on my arm as Ragnar smiled at me once I stood straight. My father asked him what I said to him as he didn't know I spoke his language.
"All she said was it was nice to meet me," Ragnar said, his eyes glued to mine as my father frowned before smiling and letting go of my arm.
I looked over my shoulder at Mary, who was holding ale and nodded her head at me. I covered my mouth to hide my excitement as I walked up to the table and sat in between my half brother and father. Once the food was set down in front of us and the vikings they began to grab food. I giggled at them as all the Christians frowned then began to pray. I rolled my eyes as we finished the prayer and I felt eyes burning into me. I looked up to see it was Ragnar as he laughed at me. I chuckled before looking at the silverware and my meat. I smirked as I grabbed the meat and began to eat with my hands.
Everything became silent except the vikings as they ate.
"Elena, mind your manners!" Father snapped quietly as he continued to eat.
"Why? I'm trying to make the vikings comfortable and less like outsiders?" I say, causing most vikings and Ragnar to look my way.
"We are not here to feel comfortable. We are here to negotiate with the pagens," Father growled out and I arched an eyebrow before rolling my eyes and drinking ale.
"Let us negotiate then, King Aelle," Ragnar said, looking at my father, who nodded his head in agreement.
"Fine. What will it take for you to leave my kingdom in peace?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at him.
Ragnar shrugged before saying, "2,000 pounds in gold and silver."
"What?" King Aelle snapped. I rolled my eyes as I repeated what he said, causing him to raise his hand to smack me. I dodged though and he glared at me as the vikings laughed. Ragnar rolled his eyes before repeating his words, yelling them across the dining hall.
My father glared at him and I put my hand over his. King Aelle looked at me as I calmly said, "We need to do it for our people. We need our men for greater wars than this one, father. King Aelle."
"My daughter is right... Fine. We will give you 2,000 pounds of gold and silver, but we will need a few days to gain as much."
Ragnar nodded his head and I smiled in triumph before standing causing everyone to stare at me.
"Let us rejoice in this peace. How about the North men join us in celebration and come dance in our halls? In peace of course!" I said, the Christians seem leery as my father sighed, knowing I always did this when guests were over.
"It will be done, if Ragnar and his men want to."
"Let us rejoice," Ragnar said, smiling at me once I sat down and I nodded my head at him.
I giggled as the fiddles started playing and I immediately grabbed my friend's hand. I grabbed the end of my dress as I twirled around Mary and we danced. Many of the Christians were drunk as well as most vikings as they too danced. I stopped though when one of my father's soldiers grabbed my hand and pulled me to him to dance. I grimaced as he did and I pulled away from him. His eyebrows furrowed as he made another grab but before he could. Someone else took my hand and twirled me around. I stopped and gasped as his hands rested on my waist.
It was Ragnar Lothbrok.
"Hello, King Ragnar," I spoke in his tongue as my hands rested on his shoulders.
"Hello, Princess Elena." I smiled as he remembered my name. He smiled as well and then the fiddles slowed down, which confused him. I giggled as I lifted his hand off my waist and intertwined my hand with his.
"Sway to the music and hold me like this," I say and he nodded his head. We danced slowly at the music and I was glad many people were around us, hiding us from my father's sight.
"You are not afraid of me... Why?"
"Do you believe in fate?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows as I looked at him. He nodded his head, confused as I softly smiled at him. "I have... Dreamt of you. For many months. I do not believe in any one God or gods, but... I do believe in dreams."
"What of your father to say of this?" Ragnar asked, his eyes glancing down to my red lips.
"He does not know of this. Only my loyal friend, Mary. My father would break himself and me if he knew about my dreams, my beliefs and... My heart."
"Why do you stay then?"
"Because I was waiting for you, King Ragnar Lothbrok," I say, stepping out of his arms. I smiled as I turned around and walked away.
