Chapter 31

Hi everyone and Happy Belated New Year! Sorry about the delay, I've been needing a break from this story but I'm back now! Yea! Thank you so much for all the great reviews! I've had so much fun writing this chapter! I love hearing from you guys and how much your enjoying this story! Please review this chapter and let me know what you think! God Bless!

-Vegter999

Disclaimer: Any factual research is not mine. All rights go to original owners. No copyright intended.

Freyja's POV:

"Mother why do you have a baby?" Bryn had come in from playing outdoors shortly after we'd brought the child into the house. Kai also approached, sniffing at the bundle of blankets. The child stirred but otherwise did not seem to mind Kai's prescence.

"I found him alone" I explained patiently.

"Where are his Mother and Father?"

I hesitated, not wishing to impart such painful details to one so young and innocent.

I decided to go with "we're looking after him for his mother and father."

Bryn peeked over the blanket with curious eyes.

"He's tiny."

"Babies usually are. Would you like to hold him?"

"Really?" Bryn asked, eyes going wide in surprise.

"Sure. Sit down and I'll hand him to you."

I got up off the chair and had Bryn sit in my place.

Once I was sure he was secure I slowly placed the child in his arms.

"Good Bryn, now make sure to support his head...there you go... you got him" I encouraged before finally releasing him into Bryn's arms.

I was both surprised and warmed when Bryn unexpectedly gave his forehead a big child-like kiss.

That is until the baby started to cry.

"What's wrong with him?" Bryn asked.

"I don't know Bryn, he might be hungry. Here let me take him." I gently lifted him out of Bryn's arms and began to gently bouce him up and down, at a loss as to what to do.

"Here Frauen (Lady)*, this might help." Gyda came and held out a skin that normally held water with a small cork placed on top to keep the liquid in.

"It's fresh milk from the cows. It's not his mother's but it will have to do for now."

"Thank you Gyda."

I uncorked the end and slowly lowered it to the child's mouth, from which he began suckling vigorously. I secretly wondered how long it had been since he'd been fed. I might've rescued him only just in time.

When he was done he gave me a look before suddenly bursting into tears. I glanced up at Gyda, at a loss as to what to do.

"He probably just needs to be burped Frauen. Here hand him to me."

I obliged her request and she held the baby against her shoulder, gently yet firmly patting his back.

After a couple seconds gurgles and tiny burps filled the air, making Bryn double over in laughter.

"Did you hear him Mother?! He sounded funny!" Bryn's face began to redden as he rolled on the floor kicking his feet up.

Agnarr chose that moment to enter the room. He took one glance at Bryn, then at Gyda and finally at me.

"Do I want to know?"

"No not really" I replied.

###

The next morning Agnarr was up before I was which I quickly surmised when I glimpsed the other half of the bed to be empty.

I grumbled in irritation, pulling the covers tighter around me and wishing desperately for Agnarr's warmth to be here.

After a while I gave up on trying to go back to sleep and crawled out of bed, summoning Hulda.

"I wish to dress now. Please pick something nice yet simple."

"Yes Frauen" she replied, heading towards the wardrobe as I sat down, beginning to comb out my hair.

Soon Hulda had me dressed in an a dark blue gown that contrasted perfectly with the darkness of my hair.

As I sat back down again, I expected Hulda to begin preparing my hair for the day but instead she spoke up as I turned to her inquisitively.

"Pardon me Frauen but, the Jarl wanted you to have this."

This was a beautiful necklace with blue stones that appeared as if, put into the sunlight, they would almost shimmer.

I had to sigh and shake my head, though in a happy way. Agnarr simply spoiled me.

"Forgive me again Frauen but..."

I turned towards Hulda again in the chair.

"Yes Hulda what is it?"

"A man's coming by to see that child. The one you brought in yesterday. I heard the Jarl talking about it to that slave of his."

"What man? I was not informed we were to have visitors to see the child."

"I couldn't say Frauen. Only that the slave was sent to go look for him."

My mind started to race. Who wathis visitor showing such an interest in an abandoned child and why the apparent secrecy? Why hadn't Agnarr told me? He'd never kept secrets from me before.

" Will that be all Frauen?" Hulda asked, bringing me back to reality.

"Yes of course...wait!" I said, remembering another matter I wished to be made clear.

"Hulda, Agnarr's slave is named Loki. Please refer to him as such from now on."

"Yes, Frauen."

"Good. That'll be all thank you."

Hulda departed the room, and I turned back to brushing my hair, still confused as ever by Agnarr's actions.

###

When I came out into the main area of the longhouse, Agnarr was sitting by the fire-pit. He stood up as I approached him.

"Good Morning" he said, kissing me on the cheek.

"So who is this mysterious man I hear will be visiting us?" I asked, getting right to the point.

Agnarr looked startled at the fact that I had discovered his "secret."

When he recovered from the initial shock he finally seemed to find his words.

"Well.."

A knock at the door interrupted him.

"That's for you" he said.

Narrowing my eyes suspiciously at him, I headed to answer.

I pulled the door open...to find Helga standing there, bundled up in a fur coat, a large fur hood framing her face. Beside her stood a man, who probably looked to be about in his late twenties with similar eyes to Helga's and dark brown hair that flowed to about shoulder-length.

"Helga!" I exclaimed, delightedly.

"What are you doing here? I thought you weren't coming back till spring!"

Helga had been away the past couple months visiting her elder son, who's wife had just borne their first child and Helga's first grandchild.

"I thought I'd come back early, considering the roads weren't too impassable and see how you and Agnarr were doing."

"Oh I'm so glad you did!" I pulled her into a hug.

The man beside us cleared his throat.

"Um...pardon me Frauen but, it is a bit cold out here so..."

"Oh of course forgive me please do come in!" I exclaimed, ushering them into the house.

Helga removed her heavy cloak, while the man beside her pulled off the piece of cloth covering his nose and mouth to protect from the cold.

"I don't you've met but, this is my elder son Bjorn" Helga explained after they'd removed their outer layers, gesturing to the man.

"Now that they were inside get a closer look at Helga's son. He was about the average height for a Northmen, with Helga's blue orbs and a small dark beard running along the side of his face and stopping just below his chin.

His dark hair was neatly combed and pulled back with a length of cord. Altogether, a quite handsome man, though of course I probably shouldn't have said so with Agnarr in the room, not that I was at all attracted to Helgas son in that way I mean.

"I believe I am to congratulate you Bjorn. Boy or girl?"

"Girl. We named her after her mother, Asa."

"How lovely. I look forward to possibly meeting her and her mother one day."

"You were right mother, she is quite sweet" he said, directing his statement towards Helga.

She chuckled in response.

"What's so funny? Is there something wrong with being kind?" I placed my hands on my hips, slightly irritated at the joke they seemed to be sharing at my expense.

"No absolutely not Frauen. It struck me how much your manner is differentfrom that of the Jarl's first wife."

"That's what I keep hearing. Was she really so terrible?"

"You have no idea."

We lapsed into silence for a few moments.

"Thank you Agnarr for sending that slave of yours to help us fix that broken wheel on the cart."

I again cringed inwardly at the way they talked about Loki but, now was not the time to show that. Why couldn't they just use his name? It's not like it was exactly hard to remember.

"You mean Bjorn was the man you sent Loki to?" I turned to Agnarr.

He grinned tentatively.

"I wanted their coming to be a surprise. That's I didn't tell you I had sent Loki out."

I couldn't help but, giggle and shake my head at all the worry I causd mself over what turned out to be nothing but a sweet gesture on Agnarr's part.

"You and your surprises" I replied, grinning and kising him on the cheek.

####

After Helga and Bjorn had returned to their home, Agnarr had some business to attend to in the town. Apparently a full on fight had broken out between a carpenter and a customer over the price of a chair. Arn and several other men in the town apparently had had to rip them apart and wrestle them to the ground and then sent someone to call on Agnarr to solve the dispute immediately before anyone else got hurt.

I took the opportunity to go looking for Loki, as I was always curious where he went during this time of the day. Bryn had Gyda looking after him and Kai loped after me as I headed outside.

The chill of the air hit me and I pulled my fur cloak tighter around me, another gift from Agnarr.

I entered the stables where the horses were nestled, some were munching hay while others poked their heads out from their stalls curiously.

Snowflake nickered and nodded her head as I came closer.

"Hey girl" I scratched her nose and she butted me with her head.

"Wanna help me find Loki?"

It was then that someone behimd me cleared their throat. I turned to see Loki standing there, a bundle of firewood in his arms.

"Ah Loki, there you are. I was looking for you. Why don't you sit a moment you look tired.

Loki simply shook his head and pointed to the firewood and then a corner of the barn.

"I understand if you want to get on withyour work, but would you like some company while you do it. I know that always helped me."

Loki's eyebrows scrunched together and his eyes darkened as he shook his head. I wondered what I'd said to cause such an abupt change in his mood.

He headed past me to place down the firewood, stacking it against the wall into a neat pile.

"Alright then, I'll just leave you to your work" I said, still mystified.

As I was going to leave, something inside stopped me.

I turned back towards Loki and with his back still to me I spoke.

"Loki, I understand you. Some things are hard to say."

And with that I left the barn.

*This may have been the title used to address a Jarl's wife though this isn't absolutely certain.