It was midnight and Dalla was having a dream, well more a nightmare. Having a nightmare about the night that her family and friends died.
The people were laughing and drinking. The Skald was chanting Beowulf and Dalla sat in the corner thinking of Locksley and Luke. Then her best friend Inga bounded up to her.
"Come on Dalla, please Dance with us." She asked
"Must I I'm not in the mood." She replied
"Moping isn't going to get you back you're Luke. If you ask me you should have accepted that Tom's proposal." Inga retorted. It was Inga's marriage the village was celebrating and Dalla felt a pang of Jealousy
"He hates pagans Inga and he would force me to be Christian you know that. He only wanted me as a prize and I will not be treated like that. Besides Mother says I can go to England when I turn eighteen and then I'm going to find Luke." Said Dalla her mind a million miles away.
"Suit yourself" Inga knew there was no point in trying to argue with Dalla. Then at that moment the hall's heavy doors swung open revealing a hundred or so men. A hundred or so armed, angry, Christian men.
"Pagan scum! You know what to do." The apparent leader shouted. The celebrating villagers scattered in all directions and were caught and bound one by one. The village's men were drunk and weapon less, after all what sort of man carries a weapon into a feasting hall. So there they all sat bound and helpless. Then Tom appeared from the mass of men. He was dressed as a great warrior. He wore a mail coat that came to his knees it was hemmed with a row of gold links. His shield was on his arm and it was painted with father's symbol. His sword was in his other hand and he swung it roundidly. To top it all off he wore a beautifully engraved boar crested helmet. He stood in front of Dalla's Kneeling form.
"Up" He ordered as he grabbed her hair and yanked her up. "You're coming with me." He spat "bring her mother too." He ordered one of the men. It was not just any man Dalla had refused but the son of the most powerful lord in the area. She was surely doomed
Dalla was dragged outside followed by her Mother
"I will teach you to humiliate me you pagan witch." And then Dalla saw what she feared most. The hall was surrounded by men with flaming torches. It was a hall burning and no-one survives a hall burning.
"Yes" She said, her eyes fixed on tom's.
"What?" He replied.
"I will marry you"
"Oh it's far too late for that now" He laughed. "Burn it" He roared
"NO!" Dalla screamed. She could hear the people panicking, children crying, women screaming and man shouting. Then that was all drowned out by the roar of the flames and crackling of human fat.After ten minutes or so the next punishment came.
"Kill her" Tom screamed, pointing at Dallas mother drops of spittle landing in his wispy beard. Dalla did not scream this time. Her mouth was dry and she was paralysed she couldn't move or speak. Then her mother's throat was cut. Blood bubbled from the gash as her mother struggled for a final breath. Then she was dead.
"Lord do will kill her?" One particularly gruff looking man asked
"No" Tom replied as he drove his blade into her shoulder. She screamed in agony. "Run collect a few things and run. I'll let you live with the grief and shame because it's all your fault. Now go!"
Dalla hid in the trees all night and in the morning gathered her belongings. All the house's had been looted and her Mother's horde stolen. But IN the woods Dalla and her mother had hidden something far more precious. Her Grandfather's war gear. The chain mail shirt, shied, two swords and the beautiful helmet. She took them and Ran.
Dalla woke coated in a layer of cold sweat. Luke stirred beside her.
"Dal are you ok you look like you've seen a ghost" He asked nervously. It pained him to see her like this. Every night she would wake up in a cold sweat with a sheet white completion. This was getting to much, it was not fair on him, he had to know. So taking a deep breath Dalla told and him everything.
Ok so chapter seven done. There will be happy bits to come. As always please tell me what you think.