Chapter 18

Hey guys, hope I'm doing the character's justice so far, especially now that Hakon has come back into the picture.

Just a quick guide on the Pronunciation of these Old Norse names (since I know some of them can get a bit tricky.] Agnarr and Magni's names are not included because they are pronounced exactly as they look):

Freyja (pronounced Frey-a or sometimes spelled Freya, the version in the story is the Old Norse form because I wanted to be as accurate to the time period as possible)

Hakon (pronounced High-con)

PLEASE Review and Enjoy :)

Freyja's POV:

The cart rolled to a stop in front of the farm.

"Be careful with that you idiots!" Hakon snapped at two of his slaves who were currently lugging a piece of furniture into the house.

Hakon saw us as Agnarr helped me down from the cart. Agnarr had been true to his oath to Magni and had arranged for me to stay with a kind, older widow, whom he'd know for years, of about forty, named Helga, whom I'd meet the previous day. She'd been cheerful and welcoming as well as overly generous in preparing a hot bath for me and placing a small cushioned dog bed made of animal furs in my room for Kai. (I was delighted to discover that she loved dogs as much as I did. The bed she had was used by the family's previous dog until her husband had died and her sons had married, the eldest taking the dog with him.) I'd told her I had no clothes, except those which I was currently wearing because the rest of my belongings were back at the farm. Agnarr had then promised to accompany me the next day.

Hakon approached, snapping me out of my revelry.

"Ah Freyja Magnisdottir. I hope you will forgive my moving in so soon, houses like these don't come around every day." He lifted my hand and kissed it in the usual Northmen manner. I wanted nothing more than to pull it away and slap him.

"No not at all" I replied, keeping my voice neutral. Hakon turned towards the house.

"I think I should make a few changes. What do you think Agnarr?" Hakon asked, smugly turning towards the chieftain. As Agnarr leant against the cart I could see his fingers twitching, a sign that I knew by now, of the fact that he was trying to control his temper.

"I think it's fine just as it is" Agnarr said, an edge of steel in his voice.

"Hmm, I suppose you're right" Hakon replied in a tone that left no doubt that he couldn't care less about the Jarls opinion. I had no doubt that he had planned for years how he was going to destroy Magni's legacy, and that of his ancestors, in the residence. After his second fake scrutiny of the house, he turned back to us.

"So to what do I owe the honor of this visit?"

"Freyja is here to get the rest of her belongings" Agnarr replied.

"Of course, be assured my men have touched nothing that isn't Magni's" he addressed me this time.

"You're very kind." I struggled to control my anger as I grabbed a large satchel from the back of the cart.

"Will you need any help?" Agnarr asked.

"No, it's just a few things. I'm sure I'll manage."

Besides there is one sacred item that wouldn't be good for you to see.

I made my way into the house, quietly maneuvering around the slaves as they began rearranging things. I came to my sleeping area behind the last curtain. As Hakon had said nothing had been disturbed or touched which was a relief.

I checked to make sure the slaves were still ingrosed in their work before I knelt down and lifted one of the floorboards. There lay a copy of the Gospel of John. It was my Father's last gift to me and I'd managed to smuggle it aboard the ship under my cloak. I pulled it out wiping some dust off the front of the book. It was a codex, a bound book instead of a scroll, which was something highly prized seeing as there were so few in my land.

No one, not even Magni knew of it. It wasn't that I didn't trust him, just that secrets had a way of getting out one way or another. I had often read by the light of candle within the house when everyone else had gone to bed. Since my room was at the back, the light usually provided no trouble. The few times that Magni had come back I had tucked the book behind me or under the blankets and excused my being up as I couldn't sleep. Gazing upon the words of God gave me hope. It helped me to feel a little less alone in this pagan world of the Northmen, and that God was still watching over me as his beloved daughter no matter how far I was from England.

"Freyja!" Agnarr called from the door. I hurriedly shoved the codex into my satchel and replaced the floorboard. I just barely made it to the small wardrobe before he poked his head in between the curtains.

"Are you nearly ready?" I could tell he wasn't asking because he was impatient, just curious.

"Yes I'm just packing the last of my clothes" I replied as I folded the other dress that I had and stuffed it on top of the other one within the satchel.

We made our way back outside, Hakon standing at the door with that insufferable smile of triumph.

"I trust the slaves gave you no trouble."

"None at all thank you."

"Those bastards, thralls are little better than animals, wouldn't you agree Jarl?" Agnarr said nothing, yet his fingers were twitching again and his remained a hard line and his eyes unreadable. He glanced at me.

"We should be going."

"Of course" I agreed readily, more than happy to be out of the presence of Hakon.

I kept my satchel close to my side as Agnarr helped me back onto the cart. He clucked to the horses and soon the cart was rumbling away from the farm back towards town. I took one last look around. The green fields where Magni had walked with me after my first weeks of being here, showing me the flowers to calm me down and make me feel comfortable after I had been bawling for weeks over the death of my Father. There was the barn, where the two pack horses whinnied in goodbye at my departure, since everything of Magni's with the exception of Kai now belonged to Hakon. Magni and I had often taken them out for rides together, laughing and enjoying the sun. Tears slid down my face as we slipped onto the road leading to town. The road Magni and I had traveled coming to the festival. Now he was gone. Tears continued to slide down my cheeks and my shoulders heaved as I softly sobbed.

"Freyja you alright?"

"I will be" I choked.

Agnarr placed his hand gently on my shoulder as we continued on into town.

###

Two Months Later

I shut the door behind me as the chilly November air ceased to wrap it's cold arms around me. It had been two months since I had last seen Magni, and I was currently returning with the last of any food from the market that Helga and I would keep in storage for winter. The two of us had become fast friends and I found out we both shared the same love of dogs, horses, and solitary walks outside. It was good to finally have someone besides Magni or the workmen to talk to, especially another woman.

"Ahh, good you're back" Helga called, taking the sack of grain from me and heading back towards the cellar.

She unlocked the massive door with one of a set of keys she kept on her dress belt. When a Northwoman was married she was given such keys to symbolize her power over food storage and preparation as well as the household in general.

"So, did you see Agnarr at the market today?" Helga gave me a knowing grin and raised her eyebrows. I rolled my eyes. Agnarr had been coming a round a lot recently the past couple of months, sometimes just to ask how I was doing, and other times to bring a small flower or two.

"I'm sure he's just trying to be nice. He made an oath to Magni that I would be under his protection and so he feels obligated to come by and see how I'm doing every once and a while." I had tried to explain his attention away to Helga many times over but she simply wouldn't hear of it.

"If you say so" Helga continued to grin as she glanced out of the corner of her eye at me.

"Stop it Helga" I shook my head lightly as I knelt down beside the pot of stew, hanging over the crackling fire, that would soon be our supper.

A knock came at the door. Helga raised her eyebrows at me and went to get it.

"Agnarr" she said, to the visitor I couldn't currently see from my position a little to the side of the door.

"What an unexpected surprise."

"I hope I'm not intruding on your supper."

"No, not at all, please come in." Agnarr stepped into the house shoving back the hood of his fur cloak.

"Here I'll put your coat away while you warm yourself by the fire." Helga gestured towards where I was sitting, giving me a conspiratorial wink before heading to put his coat away.

"Freyja" he nodded to me as he pulled his gloves off and rubbed his hands over the fire.

"Hello" I simply replied.

"How has everything been? You and Helga are getting along well I trust."

"Yes, very much so thank you." I replied politely, still unsure why he was here.

"I thought you would."

There was a moment of silence between us as we both stared into the flames for a moment, gathering our thoughts.

"May I ask how Bryn is doing?"

"He is quite well. It seems he grows up a little more each day. He wants to learn to ride soon."

"Riding is a wonderful pursuit. I wish him luck."

The side of Agnarr's mouth quirked up and he said nothing. I was saved from having to say anything else, by Helga reentering the room.

"Well, Agnarr seeing as you're here I think it might be a good time for me to ask the reason for your visit?" If there was one thing I'd learned about the Northmen, it's that they were not known for beating around the bush, or subtlety in speech.

"Yes, I actually wanted to ask Freyja, seeing as she's so good at riding, if she would do me the honor of tutoring my son in his riding lessons once spring comes." I was once again shocked at how polite and kind he was being, just as he had been these last few months. Now, to give me the honor of tutoring his own son...

"I think you overestimate my skills Jarl."

"I think not" he replied, that one-sided grin back again.

"Well, I for one think it's a very good idea. Freyja is a good rider and an even better teacher" Helga chimed in.

"No really.." I said modestly, feeling a blush coming on.

"She has endless patience. I've never seen her raise her voice to anyone."

"If you would Freyja, it would help a lot. I don't think I'll find anyone better anytime soon. Besides, I can offer you a decent wage and a respite once winter comes."

I looked to Helga and she nodded vigorously at me. Being around Bryn meant that I would be around Agnarr a lot, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that yet, or more accurately I wasn't sure how I felt about him yet. Yet, the chance to earn an extra wage could take some of the burden off Helga. Her husband had been a cloth artisan and now that he had passed and her sons were married the majority of the work fell to her, though her sons provided well for her and often sent her a large amount of their income to buy food and whatever else she might need. It couldn't hurt to have another source of income in the house though. I sighed inwardly.

"Thank you. I accept."

"Good. Byrn will be delighted that he'll be able to see you again after so long."

"In fact why don't you and your son have dinner with us tomorrow" Helga suggested.

"I regret I won't be able to. I have to travel to visit another Jarl before the snow sets in."

"Then may the gods go with you" Helga said.

"Thank you. You as well." Agnarr gave me one last look before he stood up to leave. Helga held the door open for him, and soon he had disappeared down the darkened town street. Helga shut the door and glanced at me, eyes sparkling.

"He likes you."

"No, he doesn't" I insisted, beginning to fuss with my apron.

"Freyja?" Helga's voice was serious now.

I looked up at her.

""What is it reallthat's holding you back from? Do you like not like him?"

"Yes...no..I don't know. I mean I do like him but..." I stopped trying to explain myself and fell silent for a moment.

"Its just why would he like me? I have nothing to give him anymore. If it weren't for you Helga i wouldn't even have a place to live. No, he must want me just for pleasure before he takea another wife. He's a Jarl and I'm..." I lifted the hem of plain brown dress slightly to emphasize my point.

"Do not think such things Freyja" Helga said, taking my hands.

"He has asked you to train his son. Agnarr doesn't let anyone near Bryn except those who he fully trusts and highly regards. Im not saying you shouldn't keep your guard up with him until you of his intentions towards you, but I encourage you to keep an open mind and give him a chance. Promise me you'll at least do that."

"I promise, though if I feel there is any deception on his part I will not see him again."

"Nor should you." Helga patted my hand.

"Now enough talk. Let's eat."

I heartily agreed and began to ladle out of some of the stew into our bowls.