Author's Note : This is a Seperate one Shot Story that deviates from my other storylines (It's set in a different timeline even though it's the same ship within the same universe if you get what I mean) . All the One shot Stories of mine are in a different timeline to the main stories. For the main series - The last Journey was the last one for This Ship.
Anyway let's get on with the story before I confuse y'all even more or give away spoilers lol.
Eivor Varinsdottir woke up with a sigh at the longhouse of Ravensthorpe all alone . Another year , Single. Another year all alone with no one, no partner . The residents of Ravensthorpe, the ones who had coupled up and weren't single, were all cuddled up , snuggling up in the hall of the longhouse .
Everywhere she turned , was couples among rows of couples snuggled up and making out all around her . It made her envious with disgust . However she couldn't deny the pang of loneliness and longing in her heart how she wanted somebody to look at her like that if only .
So like last year , while everyone else was celebrating with their partners . Eivor was going to lock herself up in her room that Sigurd had given her to avoid seeing the other couples all loved up . The very thought made her want to retch.
She stared at the letterbox in front of her , waiting and praying for just a letter . Any letter of anyone who would be interested but just like every year nobody was …. Nobody wanted a fierce Shieldmaiden who could kill them in their sleep as their Partner . Especially not Saxon men who scorned Eivor and called her a pagan wherever she went .
And the Norse they just wanted a gentle housewife who would tend to them and look after them . Eivor knew she couldn't fit the categories of what they wanted so gave up hoping and trying . Even though she so wanted someone ….
Before she could dwell on her thoughts any longer …. A small slip of paper appeared inside the letter box . Curious , Eivor reached over and popped open the lid placing the box on her lap .
Probably another thank you letter from one of the alliances I made . She thought before opening it up .
To her Surprise was a Love note . It seemed like She had a secret Admirer .
Meet me at the Woods outside Ravensthorpe by the River tonight . I have something to tell you .
From
Your secret Admirer .
Eivor placed the note down, frowning at it . Not believing what she just read . Who was this ? Was this a trap ? She racked her brain around trying to think who it would be .
Couldn't be Ceolbert as Ceolbert was dead, and while he was still alive the boy never had shown an interest in her.
Couldn't be Soma either as Soma had no interest in women. Or Hunwald, he had Swanburrow already .
Villi? No . Villi was too obvious . That was no secret .
Who the hell could it be ? Eivor racked her brain thinking hard with frustration at who the mystery sender was .
Then suddenly something hit her . Out of all the allies she had , only one had never written to her . Oswald of Elmenham . But it couldn't be . Oswald was married already. He had a wife.
Another final one could be …
Hytham ! Eivor thought with a jolt . The forest meeting at night, the secrecy . Only an Assassin would think of that . It's got to be Hytham .
But then Why would Hytham hide this … it seems odd of him . Unless Basim disapproves .
Shaking all her thoughts aside , Eivor went out and left the room taking a short stroll by the river and the woods thinking on who the mystery writer could be .
I could be here, meeting this mysterious person tonight. On Valentines . It sounds romantic and creepy at the same time .Who is he or she ?
Oh well , better bring a weapon with me just in case .
With a sigh , she sat down and knelt down on the ground . Meditating . The hours sped by and suddenly it was nightfall.
The wood was dark in front of her , with only the shadows of the trees and the blue sky and stars lighting up and the moonlight falling on small patches on the grass .
Eivor watched crouching carefully and slowly towards the river's edge of the wood .
There with his back turned away from her staring into the river's edge was a man . She could just about make out his shape in the darkness . She crept up behind him nervously, knife in hand , ready to take him out just in case he was another spy like back in Norway.
She reached him and with a grab grabbed the man from behind clasping her hand tightly over his mouth while placing a strong arm around his neck with the knife there .
"Who are you and why are you sending me suspicious messages ?" She questioned the man
"Mmmmmmmmm" was all the man could muster under Eivor's tight grip . It was like he was trying to tell her to let go , but was incoherent as Eivor had muffled him
With another strong grab, she forcefully spun him around to face her pinning him on the ground . Not taking any chances , she still placed the blade on his neck before removing her hand from his mouth .
"Eivor please" The man begged, holding his hands up in surrender . "I'm not here to hurt you far from it I promise"
At the sound of his voice , Eivor burned bright red in embarrassment and shame. The blade slipped away from her hands and dropped onto the nearby grass next to them . How could she be so Stupid and not recognise him? Goodness she had made a fool of herself.
She looked closely at him , under the pale moonlight . Was the familiar features of a man who she had known not so long ago.
Her heart Thudded and beat ten times faster at the sight of him . He had hardly changed with his blonde locks and youthful handsome features still there . And of course the green tunic and outfit shining underneath the moonlight. His blue eyes shining onto her under the pale moonlight … his
Eivor thoughts were interrupted when the familiar Saxon boy spoke up .
"Eivor. Eivor Are you alright ?" He asked her looking at her with concern
"What?" "I'm fine" she insisted shaking her thoughts from her head before continuing
"Oswald. It was you who wrote the note . What are you doing here all alone in the woods in the middle of the night?" Eivor questioned
Oswald sheepishly sat up stroking his hair removing the strands of grass from his hair while doing so .
"Yes. There's been something I've been meaning to tell you . A secret I've been hiding . I thought tonight would be the perfect chance to tell you. I've waited long enough. I can't hide this anymore"
"What could you possibly tell me on the evening of Valentine's? Shouldn't you be in bed with Valdis right now" Eivor laughed snarkly
He looked at her slightly hurt. Eivor didn't notice, instead bitterly staring out into the stream ahead of them .
"I should be . But instead I came here because I wanted to see you because I missed you so much more than you'll ever know" he sighed staring at the water too to calm his emotions inside
"But why wait until today Oswald . You never wrote to me once . Everybody else did . I assumed you were too busy to care about me" She scoffed dismissing him.
Oswald's heart sank once again as he stared at the grass in shame .
"Today is Valentine's Day.. An important day for us Christians . The saint . Saint Valentine Created this day . A day to share with people you love. I have always wanted you Eivor believe it or not. But I wasn't brave enough to say not until now" he admitted
Eivor turned around to see an ashamed Oswald staring at the ground . Touched by his words.
"Do you really mean that? Do you really mean what you say? That you want and love me ?" She asked him with a serious expression
Oswald looked up from burying his face on his knees to see a serious faced Eivor looking at him. His heart hammered even faster at her words. She had stopped being sarcastic and bitter and was looking at him gently .
"Yes. I've always loved and watched you from afar ever since we met . And I was so upset when we had to say Goodbye. You never left my mind ." He trailed off
"But What about Valdis? Don't you love her?" Eivor asked frowning
"I don't. Not as much as I love you. If I had a choice I would of chose you but I don't so here I am" now it was Oswald's turn to sound bitter
He had come so far there was no turning back now .
The words hit Eivor hard . So Oswald felt the same all this time but couldn't bring himself to say anything until tonight because it was Valentines . Damn the whole situation is fucked up .
"I'm sorry Oswald . I don't know what to say" Eivor murmured at a loss of words, stroking his shoulder and giving it a light squeeze .
"It's alright, Eivor . It's not your fault . Life sucks sometimes but you got to deal with it" he shrugged giving her a weak smile .
"Tell me about it" Eivor rolled her eyes at the remark agreeing with Oswald
"So. Will you be My Valentine?" Oswald asked picking up a nearby flower near them to give to Eivor
She smirked at his braveness and at the flower in front of her . She threw the flower away from his hands .
A shocked Oswald looked at the floor then back at Eivor in disbelief he was about to utter about the flower being thrown when he was pinned down to the floor once again followed by a set of lips crashing against his .
His eyes widened once again at the feel of Eivor's lips against his . As he melted and blushed under her touch. After a few seconds and the initial shock that had passed , he relaxed onto her cuddling and kissing her back .
They pulled apart feeling breathless and woozy . Oswald looked up to see Eivor's braid dangling above him and the moon and trees and stars around them from his laying down vision . He smiled back at her, blushing and giddy at what just happened .
"So I guess that was a Yes then" he grinned back at her
"It was." Eivor smiled back at him before adding "Fuck Valdis. I just want you" she grinned as she stroked his cheeks his blonde locks while cuddling onto him
"Yeah Fuck her" Oswald smiled back . "It's just me and you nobody else" he said nuzzling onto her
He reached out onto her, bringing her closer to him and kissed her once more . Only this time he was ready. They spent the rest of the night in the woods snuggling and kissing together for Valentines enjoying the moment while it lasted .
Saint Valentine really was sweet after all.