Author's Note: Once again this contains spoilers. If you haven't read "The Runaway Flock" and "Horse Riding" Prior to this, I suggest you do now as the references here won't make sense. Or you can proceed. At your own risk that is.
East Anglia, 907
It was a grim grey day, at Beteleah Farm . The Crops had overgrown and the house was abandoned and falling apart. Once there stood green fields, lively sheep and a healthy strong home. All of it had gone. All there stood was Three graves marked with Wooden Crosses and a Shattered Cottage in the background. Everything that was once home, was gone. Eivor knelt in front of the Grave looking and reflecting.
Today was the 5 year anniversary since she had lost her loved ones. Nearly 35 years ago, on this same spot she had first met her husband, the love of her life and they had shared nearly 30 years together since . Oswald had passed away a tired old man just days before their 30th anniversary. Eivor remembered tending to him in bed during their last days together talking about their memories and how far they had come. Holding onto his hand as he took his last breath. She had watched too many die during her lifetime. Everyone she loved had died in front of her. It had been like that since the fateful day with Kjotve in Norway all those years ago.
The wind blew angrily with fury, whipping her thin white hair all around her. She was no longer as strong as she once was, having lived her life to the full. No longer the strong Shield-maiden She once was all those years ago. She knew that as the graves in front of her reflected so.
First it was the flock. Their hearts had broken when the flock disappeared like flies slowly dropping one by one. First Timmy's Mother, then Shirley then the rest of Shaun's brothers and sisters with Timmy being the last as he was the youngest. At first she and Oswald buried them, by the time Old Timmy passed away Oswald was too weak to move out of bed, and Eivor had to be the one to bury him.
Then it was her husband's turn. Why Oswald why? Why did the Fates have to be so cruel to her? He was so strong , a fighter when he was young. He had survived a tumble and a beating down at Dunwich Castle when he was a young man, but the fever had taken him. They had plans. They had plans to sail once more to watch the sunset together before they both passed away. Why couldn't he just hang on a bit longer? So they could do that together. Why did he just have to leave her so early for his Christian Heaven? Why? She stared blankly into the grave in front of her. Lost.
Nothing she could do to bring him back, Not Even Odin could bring people back from the dead. Oswald was gone. It tore her heart at the thought, her best friend , her soulmate, her number one cheerleader was gone. She couldn't deny it any longer. Staring at the mound would be no use. She had to carry on , get up and stay strong for them.
She stroked the soil where Oswald lay under her 6 feet under. And spoke to him gently.
"I'm going Baby. I've stayed here, Wasting away these past 5 years reflecting on everything and what could have been neglecting myself and our cottage. I know you wouldn't want this for me, You would want me to get up live my life and carry on"
"So I'm going. I'm going on one last Journey and Voyage. Like we always spoke of. Only you are not here with me. But you will be in spirit. Goodbye darling. I love you" she knelt down and kissed the ground before standing up.
She took one last look at the other two graves of Shaun and Timmy's and the flock 6 feet under too. "Mummy sheep's going. You stay here and look after Daddy Sheep won't you. He needs you in his Christian Heaven" she smiled sadly
She could imagine them, Baaing once again under the ground giving her a promise. She chuckled holding back tears before riding off once more to the docks of Elmenham.
When she got to Elmenham, it had all changed . It was much bigger the port then when she last went there with Finnr and Oswald all those years ago, it was no longer a small wooden dock anymore fit for one longship, it could fit 3 longships now. It was also a lot busier and not as quiet as it once was. 25 years she had not returned to Elmenham and the dock until now. Not after the ride and the time Oswald wet himself in front of her. She smirked at the memory, at their first time and what led up to it. In her mind she could still see the handsome boy sheepishly looking down when he discovered his trousers were wet because of her.
She dismounted and walked towards one of the merchant ships. It reminded her of Sigurd's longship all those years ago that he had lent to her once they had arrived in England. Only this one had different sails on it and was much larger than Sigurd's. The harbourmaster was standing look at a scroll of paper. He noticed Eivor in front of him and looked up.
"Yes . How can I help?" he asked looking up
"Do you sail to Vinland? Or is that too far away for your reach?" she asked him
"No, not at all. We actually got business with the Kan'inekaha Tribe there" He struggled with pronouncing the name
"Kan'inekaha" Eivor corrected him chuckling "So they're still there" She wondered aloud thinking back to when she went there to find Gorm
"Yes. We actually got some trade for them . Since you seem to know it already, perhaps you could join us as well. If you want to" he shrugged
"I'd like to. I'm headed there as well" Eivor smiled while boarding the longship.
She sighed as the boat left the dock and felt the wind once again on her hair. It had been years since she had sailed towards Vinland that it seemed like a lifetime ago . The familiar feeling of the salt in the air, the wind blowing her hair and the seas around them was a calming distraction. She now understood what Steward Finnr had meant all those years ago, about sailing. A life well lived. She thought as the boat sailed on towards Vinland.
One Month Later, The shores of Vinland, North America
"Here we are. We are here" The harbourmaster smiled announcing as the familiar view of Vinland appeared in front of them
It was the same beach, the same landing that Eivor had seen during the hunt for Gorm 27 odd years ago. Unlike Elmenham, it had stayed the same, remaining quiet and peaceful with not much expansion. The same hill was there. Thralls were unloading cargo from various ships, this time locals, not Vikings as Gorm's Men had passed on since. Eivor felt like a foreigner once again in a land full of Indigenous people as there were no Norsemen or women unlike East Anglia or England.
The ship docked, and Eivor disembarked looking at the familiar sight around her as she climbed the hill. She knew the exact spot that she was looking for to live out her final days and where the sunset could be seen for Miles.
Eventually, she got there just in time to see the Sunset. She panted out of breath, it was a long climb but it was beautiful and worth it. The sun shone brightly over the sea in front of her. She steadily walked towards the edge looking out at the view in front of her. It was exactly like how she had remembered, it had not changed at all.
She sat down staring into the sea, reflecting and Mulling her thoughts over. A shadow walked over to her.
"I see you finally made it. How does it feel?" It was the ghost of Oswald who had appeared next to her
"It feels Good. Nice to look at the Sunset One last time" She reflected at the bright sunset in front of them
"Good. I'm glad. I'm so proud of you Eivor" his ghost smiled at her as he sat down on the grass next to her
"I'm so proud of you too" She choked looking back at him once more. Was this it? Was this the entrance to Christian Heaven? Had she made it with him now that she didn't get into Valhalla? Was she dying? Why did Oswald look so young? So many questions were burning through her mind.
She started to feel her vision blur out as the sunset gradually faded into the night, and her bones went all weak. A white light appeared in front of her.
"It's ok I've got you" Oswald smiled at her pulling her up towards the white light and door where there was a church entrance. Eivor could see the flock standing behind him close to the entrance. Shaun and Timmy and the flock bleated in happiness upon seeing Eivor
"See our flock. We're all here. We all made it to Christian Heaven. And now it is your time to join us" He smiled leading her on, taking her by the hand
Eivor followed him stunned at what was happening around her , walking around in a daze. "Wow" was all that she could muster as she walked through the entrance and the door closed behind them.
The sun had disappeared behind the clouds, and it was now Nightfall in Vinland. With the last of her waning strength, an old Eivor collapsed and fell to the ground as the last rays of sunshine dipped behind the clouds as she made her way to Christian Heaven with her loved ones leaving Midgard behind.
Author's Note: And that's it that's the end of Eivor's saga and story on here and the Oswald/Eivor Journey! I hope you enjoyed riding all my fics. It's been a long ride with you all. Thanks for sticking by. See you around !