Chapter 11.
Facing your biggest fear on a disturbed stomach felt like Hel. Each time the sea lurched and water splashed Ivar's face his stomach would roar and he'd throw up at the side of the ship. He was gripping tightly at a stub used to wrap rope and glaring at anyone and everything. His ship mates, all old men wanting to go one last time to battle and die on their feet, earn their place in Valhalla beside the gods, his father who was looking like a scared rabbit and the goddamn water around him.
The vast water in which he couldn't swim, he couldn't even float.
Miserable and irritated Ivar closed his eyes. he imagined Kattekat in the snow, with its people asleep from ale and good food, around fires and cozy furs. He imagined himself sitting on a rock above Kattekat watching the village and the clouds on the sky.
How they slowly sailed the skies, fluffy and lazy, filled with the softest snowflakes.
He imagined his mother watching over the incoming trading ships filled with silks, foods he'd never seen before and slaves, ready to work.
He even imagined the nettle loving girl. The one he'd find himself coming back to in his mind. A sanctuary, where their quarels were safe places, where he didn't fear the sea under him. She'd be yelling at him at times, sometimes speak of her homeland or just sit and work on something. Just the sight of her calmed him.
˝My daughter is of turbulent nature˝- A soft voice spoke. It was a woman's, clear as day in his mind. It wasn't Llucias. Ivar's brows tightened as he tried to make sense of his thoughts. ˝She's the fire in a home, burning brightly and giving warmth˝ - The voice spoke again.
˝Who are you? Come out!˝- Ivar yelled in his mind. In his thoughts he could walk, and so he walked around the dark corners of his mind, illuminated bit by bit. He saw the fire place of the halls in Kattekat. His mother and brothers weren't around, just a woman dressed in a soft brown cloak, a white tunic dress underneath, her hair a mess of orange and yellow curls. She smiled at him and played with the fire.
˝Sit young Ivar, a family hearth must never die˝- To his ears it sounded like heart.
˝What are you doing in my mind?˝
˝Have you never been visited by your gods?˝- She asked. Ivar stood in his mind paralyzed. A Goddess?
˝You don't look Viking˝- to him she looked like someone of Llucia's. The goddess nodded.
˝My name is Vesta, the Goddess of the hearth, family and a home. Llucia was born to a priestess of mine...˝- She explained with a small smile. It didn't seem like she preferred her. ˝I am a virgin and so should my priestesses be˝
˝And yet someone of yours wasn't˝
˝Who am I to kill an innocent being? The very goddess that protects home and family? Hmm˝- She mused.
˝What do you want from me?˝
˝Do you know the words she said to you?˝- Ivar shook his head. He tried walking towards the fire but every step he made didn't shorten the distance. He just kept walking and staying at the same spot. ˝You can not come if you can not walk˝
˝I am aware that I'm a cripple, there's no need to remind me in my own mind˝- The goddess laughed at his snarky comment.
˝Forgive me, it has been some time that I've spoken with mortals.˝- She continued to adjust and play with the fire and Ivar's eyes watched her moves. ˝Come back safe˝
˝What?˝
˝Veniet pax, come back safe. I trust you won't play with my child's heart?˝- The eyes of the Goddess became fires in her skull, soft fires that warned they'd swallow him.
˝Why do you think I'd do that?˝
˝You're a child˝- Ivar snarled at her comment which amused her ˝You're still so young Ivar and too innocent˝
˝I've killed already˝
˝Not that innocence I was referring at˝- Ivar's face became red with a flush of blood on his cheeks. He watched the flames again. ˝Be careful of fire, kindle it gently so that it lasts. A fast burning fire is violent and swallows lives˝- She said disappearing in the flames. Ivar blinked and found himself back on the rocking ship. A storm had came and everyone was yelling and rushing on the small boat.
He was going to die because of water and not fire.
˝Sitting beside the door won't make him come back faster˝- Bjorn commented. Llucia sat up immediately and took her dried herbs and her mortar and pestle. She glared at him as he laughed. It had been a few days since Ivar left and his older half brother just looooved to annoy her. To him it was clear they were bethroned and nothing she'd say would change that.
˝Leave her, don't you have a raid of your own?˝- Earl Ingstad asked from her chair beside the fire. They'd leave the doors wide open at dusk, enjoyed the brisk fresh air. Her son snorted.
˝I do but we wait for your men to collect their stuff, don't we?˝- He tossed the question at Llucia who huffed. Why was it so fun to torture her?- ˝Will you go back to Kattekat?˝
She looked up surprised by his question - ˝Why would I?˝
˝She can stay here Bjorn, no one is forcing her to leave, in fact we like her here. Her talents are helping all of Hedeby˝- Earl Ingstad said. She was sipping on some wine. Slowly getting up she reached her favorite white owl. The bird chirped a greeting and rotated her head in favor of a petting. So fluffy and so deadly at the same time.
˝And wait for more ships with slaves?˝- Bjorn teased.
˝Ask Bjorn, directly don't go around the bush.˝- Llucia said slowly. She sat up straight and eyed him. Since her encounter with Ivar she had become a bit like her old self, more keen on showing she still had fighting spirit in her.
˝I heard there was a ship a few months ago, here in Hedeby, with slaves from the Mediterrean. Is that true?˝- Llucia nodded. ˝And you didn't befriend them? Ask them about your home?˝
˝I was sold, my home remains in my heart.˝- It was like lifting a boulder of her chest. Yes, she missed her home and the life that was simpler and warmer but she was sold as a slave by her own father. Not even a priestess of Vesta could have saved her then. She was shipped off, to be someone else's burden. It was on her to find another place for herself.
˝Is that true? Could you find another home?˝
˝Ask Bjorn, what do you want to know?˝
˝Does my younger brother look like home to you?˝- Again a flush coated her face like an ocean wave. Breathing slowly she met his gaze and responded.
˝I might be young but I am not a fool and I've been through a lot already. I see him for what he is and do not run from that. For now my home is in my heart and I will leave my fate in the hands of Gods˝
˝Bjorn, she might be young but she's wiser than you right now˝
˝Even you mother?˝
˝A woman understands another one˝- Earl Ingstad winked at Llucia. The girl let out a sigh.
˝You won't let me live in peace?˝
˝Now that I have you talking and sharing stories? Absolutely not! Before they return from the raid I want you blossomed! You will not rot here like some turnip!˝- Her eyes sparkled.
˝She reminds you of Gyda, doesn't she?˝- Bjorn commented.
˝Sometimes...˝
˝Who is Gyda?˝
˝My daughter, I've lost her to the plague˝- Earl Ingstad said slowly. Her eyes dazed with a sheen of unshed tears or were they the last ones to fall?
˝I'm sorry for your loss earl˝- Llucia said bowing her eyes to the floor. A simple respect.
˝She's with the gods, now don't be grim. We have a lot to do˝- Her voice didn't promise sunshine but Llucia nodded nevertheless. She stared at the fire behind the earl and smiled at it. Maybe she was watched over after all..
a/n : We've come to that chapter, it's now a decision to write chapters after the new episode comes out and stick to the plot or to go on a tangent and do my own thing and use the series to fill in character and plot holes as needed. I have this story roughly planned out and nothing is quite certain except the ending chapter. So I'd like some input from all the lovely readers out there