Chapter 40

Hey everyone! I'm back with another chapter! Thank you so much to all my reviewers! I'm so glad to hear that people are enjoying this story! To all my guest reviewers, sorry I can't reply to you because that's how it's set up but thank you all the same! Please REVIEW and let me know what you thought of this chapter! God Bless :)

-Vegter999

Freyja's POV:

I sat there for a few moments staring after Agnarr. Then all of a sudden I heard voices being raised down the hall.

Concern for Agnarr and curiosity both got the better of me and I slipped out of the room and tiptoed down the hall until I came to a large wooden pole that I could hide behind and observe the conversation between the three men.

"Why not?! This raid will profit our people greatly Jarl!" Hakon exclaimed.

"You forget your place Hakon." Agnarr said, dangerously low.

Hakon took a step back and lowered his eyes, but not before I caught a flash of anger in his eyes.

"Forgive me Jarl" he said, begrudgingly.

"I am chieftain and I say we do not raid. Do I make myself clear?" Agnarr snapped.

"Yes Jarl" they murmured.

"Good now leave me" Agnarr commanded.

They quickly departed out the door.

I stepped out of the shadows and made my way to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He gazed down and took my hand in his, kissing it.

"Why didn't you tell them about me?"

"Because the moment anyone finds out I married a slave no one will support me anymore."*

His comment stung and hurt must've been written all over my face because he took my hands in his and pulled me close.

"It's not like that. I'm not saying it's your fault or that I'm ashamed of you. I think of Bryn and how I will not be able to create a life for him or you for that matter if this gets out because my people will no longer regard me as a good leader. They could depose me from my position, or stop trading with us and we would quickly starve or end up on the streets."**

"But what about your lands. Surely they cannot take those away from you."

"If this gets out Freyja even my own family will turn against me. I would have no one to turn to and neither will you. I am only one man against many and my family would have no problem deeming me unfit or even insane and then claiming the lands for themselves."

Sadness gripped me as I realized he was right. I had put him and Bryn in a dangerous position, their lives could even be at stake.

"It would've been better if we'd never met than none of this would've happened" I felt tears form in my eyes.

"Don't say that" Agnarr said, lifting my chin to look at him.

"I am grateful to have known you Freyja. You have helped me see what was missing in my life and that was love. You have taught me to open my heart again. I would die a 1000 deaths rather than live a lifetime without having known you."

I gave him a watery smile at his words and pulled him to me, kissing him deeply.

All of a sudden a knock at the door came.

Agnarr sighed at the interruption and went to answer it.

I followed him to see who it was.

At the door stood the same servant who had brought Frida's boys.

"Forgive the intrusion Jarl, Frauen. I bring you glad tidings. Your sister is nearly recovered and she sent me to collect the boys as she is better but not well enough to leave her bed yet."

"I'm very glad to hear it" Agnarr exhaled in relief.

"We will have the boys ready for you in a moment" I added.

We relayed the good news to the boys, who all practically jumped for joy and beemed from ear to ear.

We quickly packed up their things and loaded them onto the cart which the servant had brought.

"Goodbye Aunt Freyja" they said, each giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"Goodbye. Have a safe journey" I replied as they set off in the cart, waving to them until the cart was out of sight.

###

That night I changed into my nightdress and made my way to Agnarr's chambers. I pulled my shawl tighter around me and pushed the door open. Agnarr was already there, removing his boots.

He stopped to gaze at me and I smiled at him shyly before making my way to one of the benches. I pulled my hair out of its braid and let it fall to nearly my waist. I could feel Agnarr's eyes on me even though my back was to him, as I combed out my hair.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore.

"What is it Agnarr?" I inquired, turning towards him.

"I was just thinking about the one thing I want the most in this moment."

I smiled and made my way towards him and he scooted over to make room for me on the bed as I got under the covers.

"And what would that one thing be that you want most in this moment?"

He grinned mischievously and leant forward, whispering in my ear.

"I want a child with you Freyja."

"Oh!" I blushed. "I...see."

"No, no getting embarrassed with me. I am your husband" he said huskily, stroking my arm through the nightdress with his finger.

I think I blushed an even deeper shade of red because I felt my cheeks grow hot.

He whispered in my ear again.

"Would you like me to take you tonight Freyja?"

"Yes..I mean no I mean..."

He kissed me and suddenly all my doubts melted away. Agnarr was a good man, a man I could entrust my honor to. And with that I allowed him to take me to bed.

###

The next morning I opened my eyes and glanced over my shoulder to find Agnarr grinning down at me.

I offered him a shy smile in return.

"Good morning" he whispered into my hair, before giving me a quick kiss on the top of my head.

"Good morning" I replied, stretching my arms and legs out.

Once that was done I gazed at Agnarr and asked rather innocently "So what do we do now?"

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"What do husbands and wives usually do the morning after...you know."

He grinned and snorted.

"Well that depends on the couple."

"Alright so what should we do?"

"Horseback riding?"

"I'm afraid that would probably not be best because I'm a little sore...um...down there."

Concern flashed across his eyes and he placed his hand on my hip.

"Was I too rough?"

"No, you were fine...I mean you were great. I've been told that it's normal to be sore the first time after being with a man."

"Ok so no horseback riding. We should probably start cutting down on any strenuous activities for you anyway."

"Why?"

He placed his hand on my stomach.

"Because you might already be carrying my child. I don't want you overtaxing yourself."

"Oh Agnarr really I'll be fine."

"Just promise me you'll take it easy."

"Alright I promise, but I am not just going to sit in bed all day."

"You are stubborn my Freyja."

"I am but you wouldn't have me any other way" I grinned, kissing him.

"No I wouldn't" he grinned, before pulling me over for another kiss.

*In Viking society if someone was a slave at any point in their life, even if they were freed, they were forever tainted by their slave status.

**The fact that a Jarl would marry a slave girl would be a major breach of social norms and since a Jarls position depended upon how many supporters he could muster to follow him, those supporters would most likely be unwilling to follow him if he breached tradition that was sacred to the Vikings which included marrying someone of the same social status or at the very least a free person.