Jane pulled the girl along, a shiver running down her spine. What a strange woman. "Come on, Ketty. Keep up. What were you doing out of your house so late anyway? Don't you know there's a fever running wild? You could catch your death out here!"

The young child struggled to keep up with Jane's strides. "Janey, you're walking too fast for me!" she said, tugging on Jane's arm.

"Sorry. I'm just a little worried about that strange old woman. Have you seen her before, Ketty?" Jane asked, slowing her strides.

Ketty shook her head. "I haven't. She seemed kind of strange."

Jane nodded in agreement. "There was something…off about her, wasn't there? Well, no matter. I'm sure you won't see her again, especially if what she's said about being a traveler passing through is true." Jane shivered again.

It's those eyes.

"What did you say, Janey?" Ketty asked. Jane blinked back her sudden daze.

"Did I say something? I didn't mean to." She laughed nervously. "My head must be stuck in the clouds again," she lied. Ketty said nothing in reply, only holding Jane's hand tighter.

It wasn't long before they reached Ketty's house. They walked up to the front door, and Jane extended her arm and knocked. She waited a few more minutes before knocking again. She heard a muffled sound from inside the house, and the door swung open. Jane offered a polite smile to the woman that opened the door.

"Ketty! Where have you been?" the woman exclaimed. Jane gently pushed the young girl forward into her mother's arms.

"She came to the healer's cottage; she told me she wasn't feeling well," Jane lied easily. The woman's eyes widened.

"She doesn't have the fever, does she?" the mother asked, frightened. Jane's eyed widened and she shook her head.

"Oh no! Not at all! She just had a small stomachache. Isn't that right, Ketty?" Jane asked, looking to the young child. She nodded earnestly. Jane smiled.

"Thank you, Jane," the woman said with a genuine smile. Jane nodded.

"It's no trouble at all. Be good, Ketty. Stay indoors; it's cold outside!" Jane said with a smile. The young girl nodded, and Jane turned down the walkway and toward the street.

The wind blew harder, and she shivered. She wished this winter would end; it was one of the harshest she could recall. Her steps slowed as a thought rose to the forefront of her mind.

Well, the harshest since the winter her parents died.

Jane bit her lip. It had been years ago; she had only been six years old when it happened. Her father was never really around when she was growing up; granted, Jane never resented him for it, but it still created a void in her heart. He was a part of the village council, and he often had to travel, so he was almost never home. Her mother did the best that she could with what she had, but she often struggled.

Jane's mother had fallen ill during winter; when her father had heard the news, he returned home immediately. It was the most Jane could remember ever seeing her father at home. He was constantly by her mother's bedside, caring for her during every waking moment. Jane was usually sent to stay with Edrun or Erik; her father simply couldn't look after both her and her mother.

As that winter grew colder, her mother's condition grew worse. At the time, Jane didn't understand what was happening: only that her mother was gravely ill, and she could no longer see her. The winter winds blew, bringing about the harshest winter in the region's history, and seemingly swept up Jane's mother with them. She'd lost her mother on a Sunday morning. She may not have remembered much, but she vividly remembered her father weeping beside her mother's lifeless form, utterly inconsolable, and Edrun trying to pull Jane away. She fought hard to stay in the room with her parents; Edrun eventually gave in, and Jane rushed to her parents. She asked her father, over and over, why her mumma didn't wake, but he could offer no answer save for the sobs that racked his entire body. That day had been one of the longest days Jane had ever had.

The following day, her father set out on a self-proclaimed expedition. No one knew where he went; he had simply left the village, leaving only a written apology to his daughter and the beloved pendant he had given to her mother. The piece of parchment was covered in his familiar handwriting: he profusely apologized for leaving her, and informed her that he left her under Erik's care. Jane fought and screamed and kicked when she'd heard the news; she was heartbroken that her papa had left her, utterly alone. She cried for him, but nothing she said or did brought him back.

Jane played with the pendant that rested just below her collarbone, lost in thought. The intricate knot was so familiar to the touch, but sometimes it felt too foreign. It represented the family that she once had but never really knew. The only family she had was Erik, but Erik couldn't even make the effort to be around. She tried not to blame him, though. He lost his family as well. He once had a wife and two sons, but a strange sickness took them from life only two years after Jane's own parents.

"A little lost, are we?" came a gravelly voice. Jane whipped around in surprise. Before her stood a familiarly handsome face: high cheekbones, light blue eyes, a crooked smile, and white blonde hair. Bastard, Jane thought to herself.

Olav was one of the village's most well known members. Everyone was absolutely infatuated with him, and Jane could never understand why. He was a murderer, a plunderer of innocent villages, and one of the vilest men she'd come into contact with.

"Olav," she breathed.

"My little Jane. Where are you off to this late in the evening?" He took his coat off and held it out to Jane, but she shoved it away.

"It's none of your business where I'm headed, Olav," Jane bit back. She turned around and began walking again. Olav laughed and grabbed her arm.

"There's no need for that, Jane! It was only a question!" he laughed. Jane yanked her arm from his grasp and narrowed her eyes.

"Don't touch me," she spat. "Isn't there someone you have to brag to? Somewhere you have to be?"

"Come on, little Jane! Don't act that way," Olav said with a grin.

"Leave me alone, Olav," Jane said before walking off. Olav stood alone, watching her leave. He scowled, but it became a smirk as a deliciously infallible plan came to mind.

You will soon be mine, dearest Jane.

oOoOo

After she'd left Olav standing alone, Jane couldn't help but occasionally look over her shoulder. It was a natural impulse to watch her back; there was something about him that she knew wasn't right. Olav may have been handsome and generally charismatic, but Jane couldn't help but feel unsettled every time she was around him. He always looked at her with a sort of predatory grin, and it always made her skin crawl.

Upon approaching Edrun's cottage, Jane quickly pushed the front door open and stepped inside. She shut the door behind her and let out a sigh of relief.

"Heavens, child! You look as if you'd just seen a specter! What's all the fuss about?" Edrun asked, hand flying to her chest. Jane faced her mentor.

"Tonight has been a strange night, Edrun," Jane confessed. Edrun gave her a strange look.

"What do you mean, Jane? Come, sit and tell me what has happened."

Jane did as she was told and sat down. She rolled her eyes and leaned her head on her hand.

"I was on my way back here when I came across Ketty. She'd been standing alone in the middle of the path, but it was strange, Edrun: she appeared as if she were under some sort of…spell. She started walking toward this peculiar-looking old woman-"

Edrun raised an eyebrow. "Who was the old woman, child?" Jane shrugged.

"She said she was a passerby. I'd never seen her before. She had the most peculiar disposition. There was something…off about her. Her gaze lingered, and she just seemed strange." Jane paused, and an involuntary shiver ran down her spine before she continued.

"After I brought Ketty home, I was…lost in thought. I hadn't been paying much attention until I felt that someone was watching me. My instincts were right; Olav had been watching me for a short while. He took me by surprise, but I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised that he was watching me," Jane finished with disgust.

"What did he have to say?" the elderly woman asked.

"He asked me where I was going."

"Oh, that seems like a harmless enough question, don't you think, Jane?" Edrun tried to reason. Jane shook her head in response.

"You know how I feel about him, Edrun," Jane deadpanned. Edrun sighed, patted Jane's knee, and moved across the room.

"I know, child, I know. And you're right not to trust him; his intentions are less than innocent. It's a pity though; Olav is such a handsome young man," the older woman replied with a sigh. Jane's eyes widened.

"Edrun!" she exclaimed.

"You and I both know it's true! Just because he's got a rotten personality, doesn't mean he's got rotten looks."

Jane scowled. "It's his rotten personality that makes him that much less attractive," she mumbled. Edrun nodded her head.

"I agree with you, child. Nonetheless, you shouldn't worry your little head over this. Just avoid him as best you can and he will eventually stop chasing," Edrun said gently.

Jane sighed. "It's been this way for months; I've told him to leave me alone in hundreds of different ways, be he just doesn't seem to be understanding me."

"Give it a bit more time. He'll understand eventually," Edrun replied. Jane nodded once, and stood up, preparing to leave.

"Stay the night, Jane. It's getting colder, and who knows where that rat Olav might be lurking?"

"I couldn't possibly leave Erik alone," Jane reasoned. Edrun gave her a stern look.

"Child, that man is most likely in the mead hall; he's thrown his lot in with the other drunkards. I wouldn't be surprised if he falls asleep there already. Just take the cot in the back room."

"Are you sure?" Jane asked. Edrun pushed her gently.

"Of course I'm sure. Go ahead; you'll need your rest. I'll be getting you up early in the morning to help with the chores," Edrun replied with a wink. Jane laughed and headed into the back room. She pulled her boots off and tucked them beneath the narrow cot. With a sigh of relief, Jane lay down on the cot, pulling the blankets over herself. Once her head hit the pillow, it wasn't long before she'd fallen asleep.

oOoOo

The mead hall glowed with the warmth of several fireplaces and drunken patrons. Olav set his jaw as he walked through the large entryway. No one noticed him enter; they were either too busy drinking or gambling to notice any newcomers.

Olav's eyes scanned the hall until he found the person he was searching for. He quickly made his way to the table hosting a sizeable crowd, and sat down with a grin.

"Erik Selvig! You're just the man I've been looking for," Olav said, clapping the older man on the shoulder. Erik turned and smiled widely.

"Olav!" he slurred loudly. "What brings you over here?"

Olav shrugged. "Fine ale and gambling. I hear tell that you've had a stroke of good fortune, my friend." Erik nodded and pointed to the large pile of gold pieces set out on the table before him.

"Care to challenge my luck, boy?" Erik slurred with a laugh. Olav shrugged, but Erik pressed on. "Come now, you aren't afraid of a challenge, are you?"

Olav raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "Of course not, friend. However, I might be tempted to challenge your good fortune if the stakes were higher."

"Is that so? Name your wager, then," Erik said confidently,

"If I lose, I will give you two hundred gold pieces. But if I win, I will gain Jane as my wife," Olav said with a wicked grin. Erik's smile fell.

"Surely Jane isn't what you want," Erik said in disbelief. Olav raised his eyebrows.

"Oh, but she is."

Erik shook his head. "I will not do it."

"You are too afraid, my friend. I suppose I could understand; you have much to lose," Olav said with a shrug. "Though, I did not think you would ever back down from any wager. That isn't the Erik Selvig I know."

Erik frowned. "I would not."

"Then what have you got to lose? With your good luck this evening, you should have nothing to fear, my friend." Erik nodded slowly.

"Do we have a wager?"

Erik hesitated. If my luck should run out, what will become of Jane? I disappoint her as it is; what would she think of me?

The ale muddled his thought process, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to form a coherent thought. Erik furrowed his eyebrows. Olav scowled, growing impatient.

"Do you accept?" Olav pressed.

"Let's begin."

A/N: Hi all! Thank you for being patient with me; you're amazing! Things have been so hectic, and I'm trying to keep up with it all! I'm going to try to publish the next chapter as soon as I can. If you enjoyed this chapter, won't you leave me a review? :)