Chapter 32

Hey everyone! I'm back with another chapter and am glad I could get another one out and share it with you guys (and girls of course)! Only about eight chapters left to go after this one as I really wanna start wrapping this up. Please Review and let me know what you think of this chapter! I'd also love to hear what about the story everyone is enjoying. I love hearing from you guys and how much everyone is enjoying this story so far! God Bless :)

Warning: This chapter will contain content that may be triggering for some of you. Self-harm. Viewer doscretion advised.

-Vegter999

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

Loki's POV:

Loki I understand you. Some thing's are hard to say. I stood there in silent shock as she left, closing the door gently behind her. All of a sudden I felt anger well up inside me.

She understood me? How could she? She was a Jarl's wife, a free-woman, respected in ways that I never would be.

Yet she respected you and your decision did she not?

I slammed down one of the logs onto the pile, my anger growing with each passing minute, ignoring that little voice of reason.

She had no idea what it was like, to be ashamed of how you were born, to be an outcast, to have your own father loath you as much as he would an annoying flea, to be the sole and complete property of another, who by the way happens to be your own family!

And the only light in it all had been my mother. Until Bjorn sold her away when I was nine and I never saw her again. I had received word of her death many years later.

The pain welled up in my chest, crushing me and making it almost unbearable to breathe. Without thinking, I broke off a sharp wooden splinter and drew it across the flesh of my arm, slowly watching as little scarlet drops hit the floor...

Freyja's POV:

I stood outside the barn, something inside telling me that I should go back and see if he was alright.

Don't be silly Freyja. He clearly wanted to be left alone to do his work.

Still, I hesitated.

There was something in his eyes, a deep loneliness as if he had not a friend in the world.

I pursed my lips, my mind pulling me two different ways.

Before, I could fully comprehend was I was doing I turned around and pushed the door open to the barn.

"Loki I know you probably wanted to be left alone but I was concern..." I stopped in mid-sentence as I rounded the corner.

Loki was kneeling there, staring at the log pile.

"Loki are you alright?" I inquired. He turned his head to gaze at me, his hamd covering his other arm. It was a moment later that I saw why. Blood covered the hand over the wound and dripped down his arm and onto the floor.

"Your hurt! Let me see" as I leant down to inspect the wound he jerked away violently and stood up, holding the injured arm and shaking his head.

"If you don't treat it infection will spread."

His eyes hardened further than they already were and my confusion only deepened.

"Why won't you let me help you?"

"I don't need your help!" he suddenly snapped. I'm not sure what shocked me more, his tone or the fact that he was actually speaking aloud.

Loki even seemed to have even surprised himself.

The next thing I knew he rushed past me out of the barn.

###

At dinner that night I pushed my spoon around in the stew.

"It's not gonna get any warmer the longer you wait" Agnarr remarked.

I sighed heavily, putting the spoon down on the rim of the wooden bowl.

"Anything the matter?" Agnarr inquired, concern filling his voice.

"It's Loki."

"What about him?"

"He was wounded today but he refused to let me help him. He even spoke aloud."

Agnarr's spoon paused halfway to his mouth.

"He was wounded? Where?"

"His arm."

"He could have simply injured it by accident while he was working Freyja."

"No I'm sorry but I know what I saw Agnarr. It was self-inflicted."

He paused for a second, chewing his food thoughtfully.

"Well, he's alive. I suppose thats all that matters."

I balked at his almost nonchalant response.

"How can you be so dismissive?" I snapped.

"He's a slave."

"And your family!" It wasn't until a second later that I realized what I had said.

"What...did you just say?"Agnarr asked slowly and slightly shocked.

He stood up, palms placed upon the table.

I held my chin up high, keeping eye contact and resisting the urge to run and hide in the next room in embarrassment and shame that I had let Magni's secret slip.

"You heard me."

Agnarr removed his hands from the table, his mouth set in a thin line.

"I guess it doesn't take a genius to figure out who told you."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It seems I didn't have to."

"You're not answering my question" I replied, frustrated.

"How long have you known?"

"Long enough."

"That isn't an answer."

"Well, neither was yours!"

"Why are you shouting?!"

"Why are you not answering my questions?!"

By now things had evolved into a full on shouting match.

"Why do you care so much how I treat a slave?! He is my property!"

I sighed in disgust and frustration.

"My mistake" I said heatedly. And with that I stormed to my chambers. I had once been a slave according to the Northmen. If Agnarr found ou who I really was, would he call me the same

###

I lay on the covers, the blankets enveloping me as I pulled them tighter around my form. I played our interaction over in my mind, wondering where exactly it had gone wrong. I had been hurt by what Agnarr said, that was obvious. Property? How could he say such a thing about his own brother?

Yet, perhaps it wasn't merely that that has struck a cord in me.

I had been a slave once according to the Northmen law. If Agnarr found out who I really was, would he treat me the same? Call me the same? I sighed and shifted onto my back, gazing up at the wooden ceiling.

Suddenly the floorboards creaked and I looked over to see Agnarr standing there.

"I know why you're angry" he said.

I turned my head away.

"Do you?" I asked, fear starting to rise within me that maybe I had given myself away.

"You're angry because I kept something from you even though your my wife." The bed squeaked under his weight as he climbed onto it, brushing a hair from my face.

I said nothing.

He grinned mischevously.

"Here's to our first fight."

I couldn't help grinning despite myself.

"Alright from now on, no more secrets. Deal" he held out his hand.

I shook it, knowing full well how hypocritical I was being, as I had kept secrets from him since the day we met.

"Deal."