Chapter 6

Agnarr's POV

"Then I owe a double apology." I took her hand and kissed it. She blushed and looked down, obviously shy of receiving such attention.

"You are forgiven" she mumbled, avoiding eye contact. I found her change in demeanor strange. Yesterday, she hadn't been afraid to stand up to me, and before Baldr had showed up she'd conversed with me quite easily. Now she shrunk away like a submissive slave, as if she couldn't wait for me to let go of her hand and get out of her presence.

Usually it was the other way around. When women found out who I was they began talking non-stop, practically begging for me to ask them to dance or take a walk. By Odin it bothered me since I always knew what they were after.

But this woman seemed even less willing to be here than she had yesterday, if that was even possible. For some reason a need I had never known before to know this woman better overcame me.

"Well, I suppose I should make my apologies to Magni sooner rather than later. Shall we all make our back together?" Baldr shrugged.

"Doesn't matter to me."

I looked to Freyja and she gave an almost imperceptible, reluctant nod, keeping her eyes averted at all times. Baldr stayed ahead, just in case anyone unfriendly should come along. I walked beside Freyja, thinking how this had by far not been my plan of how to meet my possible future wife. Freyja remained quiet, averting her eyes every time I glanced in her direction, clutching the pouch of Hvonn in one hand and the dog carving in the other. Today she was wearing a blue vest with straps over the shoulders, on top of a long-sleeved white dress. I had to admit it went with the blue sheen in her dark hair quite nicely.

"Your dress is lovely."

"Thank you" she responded politely, still not looking at me. We arrived at Magni's long house soon enough. When I rapped on the door, he was surprised to find me standing there.

"Agnarr what are you doing here? And with Freyja?" his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"I wish to make my apologies for injuring your dog and frightening your ward yesterday, if I may be aloud entry?"

"Of course" Magni moved aside. I noticed the injured dog lying by the fire pit. Magni directed me to sit by the fire pit and handed me a wooden cup of ale. Once everyone else was settled, with the exception of Baldr who'd returned to work, Magni broke the silence.

"Now tell me what this is all about."

"Magni, your dog came upon me and starting eating from my food pouch, and when I tried to drive him away with my sword, he lunged at me. I struck only to wound him. Shortly after, Freyja came upon us and was noticeably shaken up. And I must admit that was partly my fault, I did not act as honorably as I should have, though I swear on the name of Forseti I did not harm her. I did not know this was your dog nor your ward. I allowed my temper to get in the way and I apologize."

"Freyja is this the truth?"

"Though he was frightening, he did nothing to harm my honor. I ask only that the chieftain shows due respect and honor next time. Gifts and apologies mean nothing if actions do not change."

"There won't be a next time." She scrunched her eyebrows in confusion.

"Because it won't happen again" I clarified.

"Good now that that's settled, I believe you still owe me another round of Hnefatafl." Hnefatafl was a board game of two players, where one tried to get all their pieces to one side of the board before the other. Whoever accomplished this first won the game. I preferred it very much but playing with Magni was extremely boring because he took a good ten minutes probably to even make a move, and he knew it. It was his way of exacting even a little more playful revenge when someone owed him a favor.

"But, this time I'll spare you of having to play with me. You can teach Freyja to play instead." Freyja looked visibly startled at this proposition.

"I'll be right outside" he gave a knowing grin at us, before shutting the door behind him.

Freyja's POV

The silence hung in the air so thickly you could cut it with a knife. I sat upon the stool opposite the chieftain, my feet tucked underneath, and my eyes averted towards the floor, and then towards Kai. He lounged upon the floor, snoozing away and completely oblivious to the awkwardness of the situation. His wound was beginning to heal up nicely, which had relieved Magni and I.

"Do you have many friends here?" I nearly jumped out of my chair when the chieftain broke the silence.

"Not many Jarl."

"Why not? Surely, a beautiful and loyal woman such as yourself would attract many companions." My mind raced about how to answer his question without specifically giving anything away. I didn't want to tell him that most of the girls in the small farming village, young and old, avoided me out of superstition and thought me rather odd. It hadn't helped that in the year that I had been here I had never attended the small pagan festivals they held to celebrate their gods and goddesses, nor had I joined in the one of the larger town. But I refused to compromise God for fitting in. And if that made me an outcast then so be it.

"Freyja?" the Jarl prompted, and I realized I had been sitting silently there for a good minute or so.

"Sorry. I was thinking. I suppose it's because there's so much to be done here that I haven't really had the chance" I replied, finally settling on that as my explanation.

His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Freyja I don't think your being very truthful with me. I can tell a lie from a mile away. I don't wish to pressure you into sharing if your not comfortable, but next time just say your not comfortable instead of trying to bluff me."

I shrank down farther into my seat. Partly from embarassment and partly because of his blatant tone. He reminded me so much of the man who'd killed the Reeve when I was taken from Wessex from the Isle of Portland. I had to watch as he stabbed my Father in the neck. Magni took care of me so no harm came to me from his hand, but the bloodthirsty look on his face...I had seen that reflected in Agnarr when he'd injured Kai. That's what scared me the most about him. To my dismay tears began to try to escape from my eyes. I tried to wipe them away but Agnarr had already noticed. He got up and came over to me, offering me his hand. Hesistantly, I took it. It was well muscled from years of hard fighting, but surprisingly warm. It made me feel...safe.

"What's wrong Freyja?" I looked down, shocked at the sudden feeling that I just wanted to tell him everything. Let it all come raging out in a stream of tears that had welled up inside me that had yet to be released.

"Did I hurt you?" I just continued wiping the tears, unable to answer.

"Hey" he lifted my chin slightly to look at him, his voice soft and tender.

"I would never hurt you Freyja, or any woman." I could only nod.

"Come, I'll teach you to play Hnefatafl, if that's agreeable be with you." I nodded, feeling my spirits lift a little, as he set up the board.