They did not travel far before Ragnar brought them all to a stop. They were in yet another open space with trees shrouding them from the kingdom's view. Here the blades of grass reached high in browns and greens which sprouted from the ground. Millie briefly remembered how as a young girl she played in this very space. It was dead to her now. She found no reason to reminisce over something so trivial.
Everyone began to dismount their horses excluding Millie and Aethelwulf who neither of them bothered in acknowledging the Vikings. Ragnar talked and talked but neither of the two cared. She briefly heard him tell one of his comrades to retrieve the others. Others being her own or his-she did not know and she did not care. Their attention was elsewhere before Millie looked to her father who grunted as he was pulled off of his mare. The one who pulled her father down had no hair around the back of his head and whatever bit he had in the front grew down into his beard which was adorned by silver. He was rough and Aethelwulf pulled away from him in anger as he sat him down onto the ground.
Millie had cast her eyes down in silent thought before averting her gaze over to a figure by her side. Ragnar held his arms up as if to haul her down. Without a word, she slipped her leg over the horse and slid down the side of it without his help. His hands fell to his sides and with a small shrug trudged over to the part of the clearing where the grass grew thickest and highest. She eyed in small wonder his retreating form before he turned to face her. Her brow raised as he stood there watching her before she looked away in a hurry.
Ragnar unbuckled himself and pulled his trousers down to relieve himself. He snickered at how flustered she became with her cheeks growing red.
She wandered over to her father and sat by him. She looked over the plates of his armor and the seams of his trousers. One piece hung loosely from the stitching and she idly pulled on it. The action filled Aethelwulf's chest with warmth and for a minute there he did not see a woman but his little girl from some years ago.
How could he have let her get dragged into this? He had the choice in telling her no. That she could not join him for this battle, but he was so sure everything would go well. Her first real battle and it ended with one too many of his brother's men dead and him and his daughter captured and used as ransom. He wanted to tell her he loved her but he could not let them take advantage of this moment that was meant to be shared in private.
"We should attack. While they are weak."
Millie looked up at the man with the scar on his face. He was the one who helped her back onto her horse earlier when she tried attacking Ragnar. The same one she tried kicking when he but swatted her like a pest. He was lazily chewing on whatever he pulled from the pouch in his hand and stood before her as he continued.
"How long will it take them to raise another army?"
The other who strapped her and her father to their horses dug into the snatch himself and she could see they were berries. Somewhere in the back of her mind she hoped they were poisonous but she knew better.
"Attack, attack, attack. That's all he ever says." Ragnar chastised.
He stood and Millie could hear the sounds of him making himself decent once more. He was so open to the others, undressing and dressing himself in front of them. Neither one batted an eyelash at what he had done and she knew then how different the worlds they lived in really were.
"I want to talk to the King."
Her ears perked up and she watched her father's eyes jump from Pagan to Pagan as they conversed.
"What is there to talk about?" Rollo walked away to face his brother. "Imagine the treasures the King keeps in his household. I want them." He smirked.
Ragnar tucked away his weapons into his belt with a smile.
"I want to see how he lives. What manner of men they are. And I'm hungry." He patted his belly.
Millie rolled her eyes. This was a joke to them. To Ragnar at least who was being reprimanded. The man with the scar spoke and made sense of how the King could kill them all if they were to join him in his home.
"You forget," Ragnar started. "We hold his brother hostage. And his niece."
"Why should he care about his brother? About both of them?"
He sat and looked at Rollo with a look unlike any other. There was a wonder in him and he was curious to know if his brother knew where he stood with him. If he cared at all.
"Do I not care about mine?"
Turning, Millie watched him place a stalk of grass between his lips. She eyed his features and that of the other man. Were they really brothers? She did not see in one what she saw in the other besides their eyes. Though the colors were different, there was a shape and look to them that made her understand that they were just that.
"I do not know any of your names."
All eyes shifted over in her direction. She felt her lips move but she did not comprehend the words. It took her a second to know she'd spoken before she attempted to do so again.
"I-"
"Does it matter?" Rollo asked in distaste.
"I am your hostage. I should at least know the names of my captors."
They all stared all the while she stared back. Each and every one of them held something in their eyes that differed them from the others. Some were calm, some were wild and the others were shrouded in mystery. Neither spoke up and she doubted they would before his voice rang in the clearing.
"He is my brother Rollo." She looked at Ragnar. With his head, he nodded to each man as he named them off.
The one named Floki scrunched his nose and tucked his chin in. His head lowered and eyes caked in darkness-he looked like everything she was ever warned about the heathens. Like a devil in disguise. His face twisted into disgust before he moved about to the approaching sound of hooves.
The one with the patch over his eye had come back with two others riding behind him. They were not Christians but were of Ragnar's tribe. They stopped and settled by the rest of them, awaiting whatever orders that would be sent their way.
"That is Arne." Millie looked back to Ragnar who pointed at the eyeless man. "And those two are Olaf and Torgeir."
He smiled at her but she could not tell if it was sincere. He found reason to talk to her and make her respond but she did not. Instead, she looked back at her father. The man before her seemed to age right before her very eyes. He was worn from the fight. From it all, really. The color of his eyes grew dull and only lit by the fire in the core of his being whenever the Vikings made an action of threat. His face was stone, shielding her from any thoughts that could slip through with expressions.
Ragnar stood from his place, his feet almost silent as he walked in Millie's direction. As he believed before, her disregard of him was not something he was particularly keen of. She did little to acknowledge him save for her states of displeasure all of which he riled out of her.
Millie stared at Aethelwulf as his eyes wandered over to the nearing form of the Pagan leader. From the corner of her eye, she could see Ragnar kneel by her. She averted her attention away from him and focused on the feet of Leif, who towered over them, as he dug the toe of his boot into the dirt.
Her wrists ached from the binds and she flinched when she twisted them. Ragnar looked at her hands and saw how the skin chafed. It was an angry red mottled with bruises. He pulled a knife sheathed from in his boot and grabbed her hand. His touch was gentle as he turned her to face him, the tip of his knife pressed precariously to his temple. Millie wanted to pull away but the little strength she had was beginning to wane.
His knife tapped against the side of his face with him in thought. He could cut the rope and give her some relief but she would try and attack him. There was no doubt about that. He looked over at Olaf and could see the roll of rope hanging on the side of his horse.
"Olaf," he called.
The other Viking raised his brows in question. He ordered him to bring the rope and took it graciously from his hands when it was presented to him. Ragnar stretched out his arms all the while watching her. He continued to pull until a certain length before he leaned in to tie her. Millie drew back from him and he stalled his movements. He observed her closely waiting to see if she was going to attack him. She made no move to do so but he could see the wariness in her eyes.
"Let him do it."
Millie looked at her father. He'd been watching Ragnar, in fear at first. He saw the way he looked at his daughter's bound wrists. He saw the way she cringed from the pain and he felt the need to ease her but found he could do nothing. Only Ragnar could at this point. Aethelwulf knew then what the man planned to do and if he could not calm his daughter with a father's touch, he would with words.
"Let him." His tone was soft.
She hesitantly sat forward again with shoulders stiff. Slowly at first, Ragnar leaned in and wrapped the rope around her. He pinned her arms to her sides, twisting and pulling, making sure she was held tight. His face was close to hers and she could feel the air he exhaled through his nose. It tickled her and she grunted when he pulled hard on the rope one final time before tying it into a knot.
He rested his arms on her legs before looking into her eyes. They were heavy from exhaustion but she fought to stay alert. Unlike her, Ragnar was wide awake. He was well rested and she far beyond that.
With the same blade from before, he began to cut into the binds at her wrists. Millie bit back the hiss that was threatening to leave her lips from the friction of fiber against skin. She swallowed and flared her nostrils instead. Once her hands were free, she twisted them round and round to bring some feeling back into them. She looked over the flesh and back to Ragnar who never stopped watching her.
He did not look menacing for once and Millie did not know whether that was a welcoming sight or not.
"We will go and see the King."
It was not to her that he spoke but the others. Ragnar stood and addressed his brother with a smile. Rollo's face was unreadable but he knew he was annoyed. He could sense the tension exuding from him. It increased after seeing the interaction between his brother and the girl and he imagined it could only get worse.
"Torgeir and Olaf will stay with the Christians and the rest of us will have dinner with the King and his people."
"Have you not heard a word I said?"
"I did." Ragnar shrugged. "And we will sit with the King and eat his food, just as I said."
Rollo bit his tongue, staving off the need to retort. He stalked off towards his horse without a word and waited for his brother's next move.
Ragnar surveyed him at first. Brothers fought but it was most unbecoming of Rollo to stand against everything he had to say. Especially against his word as Earl.
Everyone began to mount their horses and set forth back to the gates of the kingdom leaving the last two Vikings to arrive with Aethelwulf and Millie. Ragnar cast one last look to her before he galloped away.
There was no relief for her as she watched the one named Torgeir pull out his knife. He toyed with it and she knew he did it to intimidate her and her father. It was going to be a long night, she knew. She only hoped her uncle would make a decision and fast. One that did not end in any more unnecessary deaths.
The beating of hooves were loud and drew the attention of the guardsmen from earlier. They all came out to see Ragnar and his group making their way back up to them. The one who attended them before looked them over but saw neither the Lord nor his daughter. Deep down he knew they were still alive but he could feel his knees twitch for his legs quivered. His nerves were all out of sorts.
He turned away having the men follow him in past the gates and into a sea of people. The Christians were at a loss for words at first. Ragged men. Bastards. Heathens. The Vikings were nothing more to them than that. Slow and low at first, but soon their voices raised as they began to chatter. They cursed under their breath, some spitting in the Pagans' direction.
Ragnar casually slid off his horse in mid-ride, observing everything that was around him. Many of the guardsmen stood before them, shielding the Christian people away. Floki advanced on the one to lead them in, towering over him like he were prey. He sniggered as the other turned away and led them into the throne room.
More Christian men flanked the Vikings from left to right. They eyed them with fear and hate with King Aelle sitting coolly upon his throne. The room was lit only by candles and the bishop's staff shimmered in the light. Ragnar looked him up and down with neither a smile nor frown.
"Sire, this man is Ragnar Lothbrok, his brother Rollo and their companions."
Floki reached for a Christian man and espied his attire. His smile was mocking as he continued on to the others. Ragnar looked into the pit of flames that warmed the room and the others stared off inattentively.
"Ah yes. Ragnar Lothbrok." The King's tone was snide.
Ragnar ran his hand over the top of the flames. He could feel his skin tighten as the heat dissolved the moisture from it. His fingers danced over the light and he smiled when the King admitted to hearing of him once before.
"We are pleased you have decided to talk to us."
He turned to acknowledge Aelle but said nothing. His lips still curved upwards and the look of his eyes terrorizing the King in silence. The others looked about while the Christians whispered amongst themselves.
King Aelle could feel his upper lip twitch in contained enmity that which did not go unnoticed by Floki who cocked his head.
"Perhaps sire," the man from before started. He tried to break the tension that was slowly boiling over into something he did not wish to see. "You should invite them to eat first."
His eyes switched from his nobleman and back to Ragnar. Aelle had felt himself slowly losing control. He briefly thought of slaying all of the barbarians right there at that moment but he did not know where they hid his brother and niece. He would need to play their game if he wanted them back.
"Forgive me. Let us feast together." His jaw was set and his eyes were just as deadly as Ragnar's. "And then talk."
They came to an agreement then and waited to be taken to the feasting hall. The Pagans were quiet unlike the others who continued to damn them where they stood. Millie truly fit right in with this crowd having been damned by her one too many times already in the short time he'd come to know her.
The King was shown out first, the bishop behind him, and the rest of his men followed. It was a while before Ragnar and his companions were called out as well and the rest of the Christians filed in. Dinner had already been set. Time was closing in for them to eat before the Vikings decided to make their appearance once more. As much as it disgusted him to do so, Aelle had no choice but to bring them along and he hated how limited his choices were becoming.
Everyone took to their own tables, the Vikings banding in with Christians. Floki nearly leapt down onto his knees as he took in the wood. He ran his fingers over it and crawled under to caress the surface from beneath.
"This table is very well made**." He spoke in Old Norse tongue.
He knew when to give praise when needed.
"So are the women**." Arne joked.
Torstein covered his smile with a cup while Floki laughed openly. The men and women sitting in front of them looked away in discomfort only guessing at what they said to one another.
"The King." It was announced.
"Ragnar Lothbrok," he smiled forcibly. "I present my wife Ealswith and my son Egbert." He ran his hand over the boys head lovingly.
The wife of the King held her son who flinched when Floki reached for him. He was not going to harm the boy but he took joy in the way he jumped.
"Cheers**!" Leif nodded at Egbert. He reached out his cup and offered for him to drink, questioning him softly only when he did not respond.
Ragnar grinned from ear to ear. The boy was small and he remembered back when his son Björn was his height. He thought of his children back at home and had actually felt content from little Egbert's presence.
"Hello," he said.
The little boy turned into his mother's bosom, tears threatening to spill from the corners of his eyes. He was fearful of them and could hear Floki giggling from behind.
Aelle forced himself to laugh, internally fighting the urge to hurt anyone that dare tease his child.
Ragnar's smile faltered as Ealswith urged the boy to go in peace. He did not expect for him to react so unfavorably. He would never dream of hurting the child and he found himself frowning at his retreating form. It was a blow to him and Ragnar tried smiling to himself but it did not reach his eyes.
The Christians did not seat themselves until the King did. He clapped his hands and servants approached the tables bringing foods of all kind. Before they could settle the plates down, the Vikings grabbed at them with sounds of pleasure. Pieces of meat fell out and onto the table as they began shoveling bits of every dish into their hungry and awaiting mouths. They elbowed one another in delight and consumed like savages.
The Queen released a breath of disgust at the sight. Aelle watched her and held the apology he wished to give her for this was one of the last things he wanted for them to pay witness to.
The bishop still stood and began a prayer as he moved his hand in the shape of a cross in the space in front of him and one across his chest. The Christians chimed together with an 'Amen' before a chorus of men began to sing the hymns of their God. The Vikings stalled with looks of confusion that slowly turned into ones of displeasure and detestation. Ragnar and Floki looked to King Aelle who made no sign in stopping the men from singing.
"What a terrible noise**." Leif grumbled. "These people are so strange**."
Tostig nodded in abhorrence, the others making sounds of agreement.
It was after the choir had ended that the Christians made to eat.
Instruments filled the hall with soft music but it did not drown out the sounds of satisfaction the Pagans made whilst they ate.
Floki picked up one of the plates and examined it. He sniffed and bit it in curiosity before he hit it against the table. He laughed aloud when it shattered. In response, Arne stood and grabbed a plate of his own before smashing it onto his head. They all began to laugh and harder still when Tostig broke his cup. His drink splashing everywhere and wetting those who sat across from him.
"Stop it**." Ragnar cried in amusement. "Stop making me laugh, I'm trying to be serious**."
His pathetic plea for them to stop did nothing as they continued on in mirth. Ragnar had to splay out his hands in the fashion of an Earl to quiet them down. From there, he leaned onto Floki and addressed Aelle.
"Shall we talk, King?"
Aelle chewed slowly knowing well where Ragnar was going with this. He gestured with his hand to silence the musicians and swallowed before answering.
"Very well. What do you want? For the safe return of my family and for leaving my kingdom?"
Ragnar's eyes widened in a childlike fascination. "Is he a priest?" he asked pointing in the direction of the bishop.
Aelle felt vexed at the sudden change of topic. "He is a bishop of our church." He corrected him. "A man of God."
"I too have a man of God at home."
The King suspected what he believed him to mean. He'd taken a Christian as a slave. One who had nothing but God to guide him in his despair.
"Two thousand pounds, in gold and silver."
"What did he say?" The bishop asked incredulously.
Aelle drank deeply, fury coiling in the pit of him. Another asked in a quizzical manner and Ragnar looked to him before repeating himself.
"Two thousand pounds." He grinned falsely and rolled his eyes.
"I do not think I heard you properly, Ragnar Lothbrok." King Aelle sniggered.
Ragnar hummed before standing. He cupped his mouth with his hands and bellowed "Two thousand pounds! In weight. That is the price."
Everything went silent. Ragnar was feeling miffed and he could feel the strain rising between them all. It was foolish of the King to try him. Did he not care for the safety of his brother and niece? It seemed so once the guardsmen who stood along the walls approached them. They grabbed at the hilt of their swords and immediately the Vikings stood with weapons of their own drawn.
Floki held his arm out with a knife firmly in his grasp. Rollo stared down one man in particular who stood too close to him. He knew this was going to happen and deep down he wanted it to. He was itching for another fight.
Still sitting, Ragnar continued to eat unperturbed by the turn of events. He was sure of himself and knew deep inside the King would back down. He would not risk the lives of the innocents.
"I agree to the terms." The King spoke almost immediately.
Ragnar burped in satisfaction. "Good."
The rest of the group sat down in accordance and chortled. Tostig stabbed his knife into the table and resumed eating like the rest.
"But first," Ragnar inwardly groaned. "You must return my brother and niece."
He looked over to the King. He could feel his eye twitch and his head tilted to the side. They stayed staring at one another before Ragnar looked away with a smile. He thought about the Lord and his daughter and a new feeling he could not begin to define formed within him.
"When we receive payment, you shall have your brother."
"And my niece?"
Rollo watched his brother in consternation. The tips of his fingers were beginning to go numb. His blood rushed to his head and the veins on his temples throbbed. The feel of it slowly took over his senses and he hoped Ragnar would not say what he thought he would.
"I want her for myself."
There were gasps falling from everyone's lips. The Queen's was the loudest as she placed a hand over her heart. Torstein, Arne, and every other Viking looked at Ragnar in disbelief. King Aelle's hands trembled and his vision grew red. He tried in calming himself down but he could not help the way his voice shook in anger.
"Unacceptable," he ground out.
"Then we will kill every last one of your men and burn your kingdom down to the ground."
This was no laughing matter. Ragnar was done playing games. He sought for treasure and found much more. He would take what he desired be it in the guise of money, a woman or both. Millie had fast become an interest of his and he could not imagine him leaving without getting to know more of her. And if he could not do so in Northumbria then he would back at home.
Time was running out and Aelle knew he was at a loss. He did not want to give up his niece. But if he chose not to then his brother, his wife, and children would die. His kingdom would fall. He did not doubt the Pagan. It was a promise he made and it was one he would keep. If he gave Millie away then they all would be safe and he could possibly save her from the hell he would be releasing her into later along the line. That is to say if the heathens would not tarnish her first.
"You must give me time, to collect such a vast amount."
Queen Ealswith's eyes were wide as she looked to her husband. Had he gone mad? She did not believe he would leave Millie to rot with these men yet here he sat, agreeing to the conditions.
"And in the mean time, you and your men must remain in your camp and make no further attacks on my people or their property."
Ragnar's smile grew into a full blown grin at the prospects. "Agreed."
He could imagine Millie now, idly waiting by for his return. To hear what her uncle the King had to say. Would he tell her and watch the last glimmer of hope vanish from her eyes or leave her thinking and waiting for salvation? A need to see her soon quickly overcame him.
"Sire, how can we trust the word of a Pagan?" The nobleman stood bringing Ragnar out of his thoughts.
The bishop leaned in close to the King and whispered something to him. Aelle felt he had nothing else to lose and made for one more proposition.
"There is one further condition." Ragnar rolled his eyes. He hung his head and waved his hand around as Aelle continued. "I desire that either you or one of your companions agrees to be baptized into our faith. And that way I can make peace with a friend and fellow Christian and not an enemy."
Ragnar held his head low hailing his words as a joke.
"You want one of us to become Christian?"
"Yes."
He laughed and wiped his nose.
Leif leaned into him hoping to understand the situation at hand and laughed along with the others as Ragnar told them in their tongue of the conversion King Aelle expected from one of them. Floki and Rollo were the only ones who could not find the humor in that. The former because the belief in their gods was stronger than anything a mere Christian held. Especially over one measly God. Of one that did not exist. The latter's mind reeled before he nodded and his answer silenced them all.
"I will be a Christian**."
Floki's eyes grew wild with the sting of betrayal. He looked at Rollo and his chest heaved in resentment. Ragnar clenched his teeth in frustration. His brother always made to step over him and his patience for him grew thinner and thinner the more he spoke.
Rollo stood slowly with a knife in his hand. He waved it about as he spoke. "I will be Christian." He was nonchalant about it and it served no other purpose for him than to be hated by his comrade. Floki would never forgive him.
King Aelle raised his cup in approval and he drank to his word. He could not have his niece but he would destroy the tribe from the inside out. If he were to fall, then he would drag them down with him.
AN: Woo! Well that's done. I was going to wait a while but decided to give you guys the new chapter now. I am literally half asleep but I did my best so hopefully there are little to no mistakes.
This chapter was a bit of a filler. It's the closest to the A King's Ransom episode since it isn't following Millie's POV. I went with it though so we could see everyone's reaction to Ragnar wanting to keep her. Also, I wanted that to be like a "last straw" for Rollo and that being the reason why he agreed to become Christian.
In the next chapter, I will be jumping back to Millie and from there is where her and Ragnar will begin to interact on more personal levels. It'll also be where I will begin to stretch out the time frame. With that I mean, in the episodes we understand that days go by and in the story I will be writing about those days. That way we don't rush into things so soon.
Welcome and thank you to the new followers and those who fav'd!
Reviews:
Ain'tEasyBeingBreezy: Lagertha is very much alive. This was something I thought about for a long, long time before I even posted the first chapter. I wanted Björn and Gyda around and I couldn't bring myself to kill Lagertha off for the sake of Millie and Ragnar. I know it sounds weird, haha but it all works out in the end-or not. We'll see ;)
Silently Tearful: I'm glad you did! More interaction between the two will happen starting next chapter so stay tuned.
Katastrophe101: Thank you so much! This is a huge compliment as I try very hard to give the story the right feel. One that will actually drag you into it. Was this update soon enough? Haha. I will be doing updates like this as much as possible.
NiNa5: Thanks!
Dalonega Noquisi: Thank you! Another battle is coming up so I'm really excited to type it. I'm happy you're liking it so far. Such long chapters are pretty time consuming but I know it's worth it in the end.
wabi-sabi1090: Haha, no worries! He is a cocky shit. Thank you for your kind words. He does catch Millie off guard. He's unpredictable as we see again in this latest chapter and every now and again the two will go toe to toe because of it. Again thank you!SamanthaJane13: Thank you so, so much!
Theoris: Haha, I'm so glad to know I made your morning. I will definitely do my best to stay on top of this so more Viking-filled mornings can come your way!
AmalieNico: This makes me so happy. It's like a boost of confidence and it does encourage me to continue with the story. And of course! Knowing I'm making your mornings better makes my day better. Thank you for wanting to stick around and I hope you do until the very end!
HeavenlyKitten: Thank you and I'm glad that you do!
Well it's time for me to finally get to bed. Thank you again to everybody. You guys are amazing.