A few notes:
This is a fanfic, which means it's not exactly cannon. There may be some inconsistencies with the show, but not many.
RagnarXoc, slow burn
Chapters may be broken up by POV, which will be signified by the person's last name. It will be clear.
Lastly, I THRIVE off of reviews. Please don't hesitate to let me know what your thoughts are.
ONE
Ealhunding
My father is not a bad man. He is greedy and manipulative, but his intentions have always been for the good of our country. I had watched him eat and drink with the Northmen. Watched him greet them as old friends. He offered them land to farm and colonize.
He had been a tough father, one not shy of violent punishments when his children disobeyed. A fan of the whip to keep his servants and children in line. I have the scars to prove it.
But I wouldn't say he was a bad man.
Troubled, maybe. But the word bad should be reserved for men like the Northmen. Men who raid and pillage and rape and murder and steal. Those are bad men. My father is many things, but not that.
Perhaps that is why I do not believe the words he is speaking to me now. Because a bad man would have made this decision. A good man would not have. Bad men trade their family, their daughters, like cattle. Good men do not.
I had not been allowed to attend the feast he shared with the Northman yesterday. He had insisted that I stay in my chambers and that food be brought to me. I thought it had been an act of protection, a way for him to shield me from the savages, as I was always invited to his meetings with powerful men. My father valued my intelligence, just as he valued Athelwulf's battle skills.
But now I see that was not the case. He wasn't protecting me from those men. He hadn't wanted me to get in the way of his trade. My father knew me well. He knew I would not have sat idly beside while my fate was determined over roasted pig and fermented wine. No matter how hard my father had tried to force me to grow into a submissive woman as a child, I would not become one.
"No." I said flatly, interrupting my father.
"Nessa," he sighed, signalling that he was about to launch into another drawn out speech about responsibility to the crown. The way he uses my childhood nickname in a time like this makes my throat swell. "I do not think you understand the…"
"I would rather die." I did not scream the statement. I could never scream at my father. I loved him, even when I hated him. I had learned as a girl that raising my voice to my father, showing blatant disrespect, would end in punishment.
"This is quite possibly the most important moment in our history." he swirled the wine around in his cup. "And regrettably, I am the one burdened with these decisions." His voice was taking on a hardened tone, one I was only used to hearing when I was nearing his limits. As a child, I had a habit of getting in trouble, going places children were not allowed, doing things children, or rather women, should not do. The first time I remembered hearing that tone was after guards had broken Aethelwulf and I apart in a brawl. We were fighting over a trinket one of the village blacksmith had made. That was the day I learned that my father's wrath could be turned on his own children. I still had the scars to remind me. It was also when I learned that women were not meant to fight, or own toy swords.
"Regrettably?" I challenged his words. Had we been discussing any other topic, I would have conceded. But this was not some trivial decision. This was a devastating one. This was my life we were speaking of. "You don't sound very regretful, father. How long have you been planning this trade?" Despite my best efforts, I felt the blood rising to my cheeks.
"Do you think I take this decision lightly?" he slammed his cup on the table. "You are my daughter! My only daughter!"
"Who you have chosen to sell to a savage like a prized steer!" I cried out, losing what little control I still had over my emotions. "Father, our army outnumbers these Pagans 10 to 1. We have won against them before, or don't you remember? It was me who developed the battle strategy! And now you want to throw me away like..."
"We are forming an alliance." my father pinched the bridge of his nose as he cut off my sentence. For the first time I noticed how exhausted he truly looked. "I am sorry Agnessa. I truly am." He pushed his chair back and left me sitting alone at the long wooden table.
"I won't do it!" I called after him, knowing that it was untrue. The only way out of this was through death, and I could not take my own life. That I knew for sure.
My mind drifted to the Northmen. I had seen them only once when I stood behind my father as he welcomed them at our gates. They were massive, dwarfing even our largest soldiers. Their clothes and skin had been stained with dirt and blood. Stories of their destruction, their disregard for life had travelled throughout Europe. What would happen to me once I belonged to them?
Maybe death was my only option.
Lothbrok
"You know Aslaug will not be happy." Rollo commented as we rode back to the castle. Three days ago, I had agreed to marry Ecbert's daughter. I had hoped for treasure, but this was even better. This was leverage. I would forever have a bargaining chip at my side.
"No, I suppose she will not be." I rolled my eyes. The woman was never happy. I was the only man Ecbert would consider for his daughter since I was baptized on our last encounter. Asking for him to give her to Rollo or another Pagan would have only caused more conflict. Besides, I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious.
Imagine what I could learn from her. About her father, their military, their wealth and secrets. Athelstan has told me stories of their God and saints, now it was time to learn of real people.
"At least she is pretty." Rollo snorted from beside me. My eyes snapped to him.
"How do you know?" I asked, watching him carefully. My brother was a good liar, and what better joke to play than telling me My soon-to-be wife was beautiful only to find out she is a cow.
"She was with Ecbert when we entered the village." He pulled his horse to a stop. The castle was in sight now, it's enormous stone towers nearly reaching the clouds. "She stood a ways behind him, but it had to be her."
"Why are you so sure it was her brother?" I asked with a smirk. Rollo has a way of creating his own reality.
"Because she was beautiful." He replied in a simple tone.
"And no other woman can be beautiful unless she is the King's daughter?" I tossed my head back and looked to the clear blue sky with a laugh in my chest.
"No. But why would a young and beautiful woman be standing near the King at such an important meeting?"
"Perhaps she was his lover?" I countered as we began to slowly ride towards the castle gates. I had brought 10 men with me. It was not an army, but I would bet 10 of my best warriors against 50 of theirs. I did not worry.
"Perhaps." Rollo laughed, his big shoulders bouncing upon his horse.
"Ragnar." Floki's voice called from behind us. I glanced back to see him trotting to catch up. "Are you sure this is wise." He had asked the same question yesterday, and again this morning. But it appears he has forgotten my answer.
"I am sure my friend." He was close enough for me to reach across and pat his back. "Think of the possibilities this will open. We will have his daughter at our mercy, a King's daughter! I do not think he will break this treaty easily, knowing that she is ours."
"The Gods will not be happy." He sounded like Rollo. It seems no one will be happy with this marriage besides Ecbert.
"This will be a Christian marriage, Floki. Our Gods will know it is but a joke." I reassured him. We will not have our own ceremony. This marriage will only be valid in the eyes of the Saxons. For the rest of us, this girl will be nothing more than a slave that was willingly given to us.
"And you would treat her as such? As a slave?" Rollo questioned. I must have spoken my thoughts aloud.
"I don't know." I said truthfully. I had not thought about how she would be treated when we arrived home in Kattegat. I would not make her sleep with me. But I would not make her sleep in the barn either. Like all of our slaves, she would eat and have clothing. But would I be able to force her to do work like a slave? Would she be too afraid to refuse?
Regardless, her wellbeing was imperative. Should she be harmed in any way and Ecbert find out, our people left to colonize in Wessex would surely meet a terrible fate.
I did not have time to think further about the subject because the castle gates slid open before us. The King's guards led us to the doors of the church. Athelstan had explained to me how a Christian wedding worked. I looked at him now, giving a small nod of thanks. As expected, he did not seem happy.
He had voiced his opinion when the King had made the offer. Though he understood the strategy, he felt badly for the daughter. He had also explained what happened after the ceremony. At least I was able to ease his fears on that end. I would not force a woman to bed in front of a crowd. Treaty or not. I had no plans on consummating the marriage. I knew what taking another lover could do to a marriage. And though Aslaug was not a woman I loved, she was the mother of my children. I needed her. I would not lose another child as I had like Bijorn for all those years.
"What is her name?" I asked him before I was shuffled through the doors. I had just realized I did not know it. Or perhaps I had been told, but I did not care enough to remember.
"Agnessa."