Author's Note: This is a spin off piece to my other fic, "Siege of Portcestre" it's not exactly a prequel but it's in the same universe and timeline but not directly a prequel if you get what I mean due to the storyline being very similar. re. Before you start on me, I know Eivor is Norse and not Dane, but he doesn't know that at the beginning until later, on with the fic before I spoil it and confuse you even further.
Oswald of East Anglia had a bad Childhood, ever since that night they raided his parent's home and killed them, he vowed to never forgive Danes or have anything to do with them. So he was very surprised when he woke up one morning, to find Finnr with a Norse Woman.
Oswald grimaced as he approached the table rubbing his temples, to alleviate a headache. He had slept poorly tossing and turning once more.
Ever since the night they died, he always had nightmares about them, the burning, the screaming, it was almost as if he was still there - even though it had been years, so long that he was now an adult and no longer a child.
What is he up to? And who is that Dane looking Woman that's with him? Why is she looking at me with a Smile?
Ugh. Just another Heathen in this room. The women aren't that much better, they're equally as bad as their male counterparts, doing the same - stabbing, burning and killing people. She isn't any different to them. A female raider never killed my parents, but I bet you that his wife probably did the same thing as well. It's just their nature.
Pushing those angry thoughts away, he arrived at the table
"Good Morning Finnr" he greeted
"Morning Oswald" Finnr grinned
"What's up Finnr?"
Finnr smiled straight to the point. "Eivor. This is Oswald. This is the boy I told you about"
Oswald watched as the woman named Eivor, smiled at him warmly. She put her hand out. "Nice to meet you Oswald"
He stepped back frowning as he felt fury rise beneath him once more.
How dare she try and be friends and act friendly towards me? No. No way.
Eivor's face dropped as she removed her hand back placing it back to her side, looking a bit dissapointed.
I understand. I have to earn his trust back, it's not easy I know. He probably thinks I'm the same as them, which is why me being here is so important so I can help change his viewpoints and help him move on, which is exactly why Finnr asked me here.
Finnr continued breaking the awkward silence as Oswald continued shooting an angry and resented glare at Eivor.
"I want you to train with Eivor, Oswald. It will do you some good to learn some self defence so you can protect yourself from an invasion if one ever comes to East Anglia, which is looking highly likely since there's word some Danes are advancing over from the seas. It will also do you some good to move on from the past as well if you work with Eivor"
What? You got to be kidding me. Work with this heathen? No. No way. I am not doing that. I would rather die thank you very much. Work with the same people who killed my family? My parents would be rolling in their graves right now at this very thought.
Invasion? Well I guess some people don't change then do they. More of them coming to kill other families and children, like they did to me.
He remembered coming out of the cottage after to find that he was the only one that had survived, bodies had been littered on the ground along with the remains of razed homes. He had only survived because his parents sacrificed themselves, buying him time and distracting the raiders so he could live. Only to be forced to work with the same people years later, only a different generation.
I wonder if she ever felt the same loss as me, but then why would she? Her parents were probably the same, the ones going out to kill everyone. I bet you they are still alive today, drinking the blood of the dead or whatever crazy crap they do. They only kill foreigners like me who are easy prey, no one else. Not their own kin.
"No. No way Finnr. You must be crazy to think that I would work with such a Heathen" he spat
Eivor gasped at his tone, she had been called Pagan and other insults by other Christians throughout expeditions, but never expected to be called a Heathen. She knew that Oswald resented the Danes due to his Childhood experiences, but never expected it to be this bad.
"Oswald!" Finnr reprimanded as Oswald scowled back at him
"What? It's true. They're all the same. Just because she's a woman doesn't mean anything different. I've seen them do the same thing as the men, raiding, burning, killing that's all their good for"
"I'm sorry about this" Finnr mumured to Eivor apologising
Eivor placed a hand on him forcing a smile. She didn't want to worry Finnr as he already had enough stress running a kingdom, let alone looking after Oswald.
After Oswald had lost his parents, Finnr happened to be passing by East Anglia via horseback when he spotted the Young Oswald crying, sobbing as he sat outside the ruined village.
Looking around him, Finnr tried to see if there was anyone else in the village that could help Oswald. There was no one except for only smoke, ash and blackened buildings and just a young child crying.
Approaching gingerly as not to frighten him, Finnr knelt down to Oswald tapping the young boy by the shoulder.
"Are you alright?" he gently asked
Oswald shook his head while crying. "No! They killed my parents! They're dead, Everyone's dead!"
"Shhhh" Finnr soothed pulling the young boy into a hug before pulling back and looking Oswald gently in the eyes.
"Who Killed your parents? What happened here?" He asked, even though he knew.
Being a retired Dane and Viking, he had seen this happen in his lifetime of almost forty winters on the planet, it was all too familiar. He was numb to it, having been used to seeing it since a young age.
They raided the place and killed his parents. He knew as he once was one of the young Danes who had done the same. He always wondered how many young lives he took all because of gold and plunder, or a scrap of land? How many children were orphaned like Oswald all because he was greedy? He tried to push the thought away as Oswald looked up at him teary eyed.
"A few nights ago... they came and raided the village. My parents sarcrificed themselves so I could live. I was the only one who survived, I came out here and everyone was just dead"
Finnr nodded. Just like I thought then. Damn it, I know I shouldn't be doing this, but he has no one else and I don't want to leave him here.
"Don't worry. Your safe now. I will take care of you" He said before he could regret his decision
Oswald looked up at him wide eyed, "You would? Oh, Thank you Kind Stranger!" before he threw his little arms around Finnr's chest
Finnr laughed while stroking his hair. "Of course. Come with me. What is your name?"
"Oswald. My name is Oswald" Young Oswald said back to Finnr as he took Finnr's hand and they walked away together from the Village.
"It's alright Finnr. He'll come around in time" Eivor reassured
Will he really? Finnr couldn't help but worry. I knew this was a bad mistake. I was hoping Eivor being female you know, might soften him up a bit, melt his cold heart. But he's not having it.
"No. No I won't. You can't force me Finnr, You can't make me!" He screamed as he went back to the bedroom and the door slammed.
Eivor winced at the door slamming as Finnr facepalmed shaking his head. "Maybe this was a bad idea..." he sighed
Eivor looked at Finnr sympathetically placing a hand on his shoulder. "Give the boy some time. I'm sure it will be fine"
"I hope so Eivor, I really hope so"
Meanwhile Oswald was pacing back and forth angrily in his room.
Really, Finnr? After all this time you force me to work with one? I mean what did you expect, that I would just turn around and forgive them for everything that they've done?
He picked up the candle-light and threw it against the wall before screaming "Fuck!"
Eivor winced as she heard the clatter of the sound outside as she looked towards the door concerned as did Finnr.
Oswald broke down, collapsing onto the bed face down as he broke down in broken sobs and chokes.
Approaching the door, Eivor knocked.
"What?" He snapped hoarsely
She opened the door gingerly, only to be surprised when she saw that his eyes were red and puffy from crying as he snivelled all over.
"I came to check if you were alright"
"Why do you care? Your just the same as them"
"You know I am not the same as them, I also lost my..." Eivor started trying to soothe him but he cut her off
"I don't care. Your just a Stupid Heathen. Go away!"
Taken aback, Eivor backed away from him towards the door. "Alright Oswald... Alright"
Oswald sighed as he heard the door click shut once more.
Finally piece and quiet. He continued to sulk.
Eivor meanwhile returned to Finnr.
"No luck" she shook her head
"Just give him time. I'll talk to him. You don't have to wait for him you know, you could do something else while you wait. I'll sort it"
"Are you sure Finnr?" Eivor looked at him wide eyed
He nodded. "Yes I'm sure".
Finnr watched as Eivor left the longhouse, as he thought about his idea. He knew the perfect thing to say, one that might get him to change his mind and give Eivor a chance.
Finnr had never told Oswald the truth about who he really was, and that he was actually a Dane too. When Oswald had asked, he had lied to him saying that he was just a Saxon like he was, afraid that if he told the truth, Oswald would run away from him so he didn't.
I hope Oswald won't be mad at me, but if he runs off, it'll be less worrying as he's an adult now and not a child. Hearing it was quiet, and convincing himself that Oswald wasn't in one of his angry rages, he knocked on the door.
"What? He tiredly said through the door
"It's me. Finnr" Hearing no other sound or grumbles from Oswald he entered.
Oswald had stopped crying, but Finnr could tell that he had. His eyes were still puffy and he looked drained and tired. He must have exhausted himself crying again. This was a semi regular occurrence that happened throughout the years, since he took Oswald in. Oswald would always cry from time to time, especially during the anniversary of his parent's death each year, that was when he cried the hardest.
Finnr would spend hours rubbing and hugging the boy's back in an attempt to calm and soothe him, in the early days when he was still small, he even slept with him until he settled in and grew older and stopped, being too embarrassed to sleep with his adopted father.
"What is it Finnr, are you in here to talk to me about forgiving that Heathen" he grumbled bitterly
Finnr shook his head. "No. I'm here to talk to you. Father to Son"
Oswald looked at him suprised, he hadn't had a heart to heart with Finnr for a while, hearing Finnr's gentle tone put him at ease as he relaxed once more.
Finnr continued, "There's something I need to tell you, Oswald. Something that I haven't told you and kept to myself"
Oswald looked at him wide eyed. "You mean a secret?"
Finnr nodded "Yes" before he took a deep breath.
"Oswald. I'm not actually Saxon. I lied to you, I'm actually a Dane"
Oswald gasped as Finnr looked at him cautiously, worried that this news might have upset his son.
"You are?" he managed to stutter out "But bbbbut Why did you lie to me?" he stammered
Finnr sighed. "I was worried you were going to freak out on me if I did or I was worried if I told you, that you would run away and I would lose you, so I didn't"
"Oh" Oswald's face dropped as he was lost for words. "But your not one of them right? You said you were just a merchant who happened to be passing through, or is that a lie as well?"
Finnr hesitated. He actually wasn't even though when he found Oswald, he had already quit that life since leaving Denmark. He had sailed to England to start a new life, and that wasn't a lie as he did have a market stall in Norwich, he was on his way to make a trade when he had bumped into Oswald on the edge of Beteleah were his village was.
Seeing Oswald's scrutinising looking at him Finnr quickly answered gulping "No that wasn't a lie Oswald. I was a Merchant in East Anglia at the time, until you came along and I committed my life to looking after you. I was never those raiders. I knew them, yes but I wasn't one of them"
Oswald sighed relieved, as Finnr did the same mentally, as not to arouse suspicion from Oswald that he had bought the lie.
"Good, Finnr. I'm glad. I'm glad your not one of them senseless killing machines" he couldn't help but bitterly spit at the last part.
"Of course. I guess I am telling you this because I want you to realise that not all Danes are bad. There are honest, kind people like me who don't hurt and kill. I was also hoping this new information would change your mind on Eivor"
Oswald froze when he heard the mention of Eivor's name. So that's why he came in here to tell me this, in the hopes that I would forgive her? I almost even fell for it. Yes, Finnr may be one of the rare nicer ones if what he's saying is true, but Eivor. I could tell from her appearance that she was one of them. The armour, the tattoos, the fierce look and the way she walked. Everything just screams that she is.
"You may be one of the nicer ones Finnr, but that doesn't mean Eivor is. She's one of them, I can tell. Why should I trust her? What if she tries to kill me under the guise of helping me?"
I mean, I wouldn't be surprised. She looks like she could kill somebody.
"Because you trust me right? And I am a Dane, I can't deny it but you are right, Eivor is a warrior in her own right. But she is different. I see something in her that sets her apart from the others. She has morals and a sense of justice. After all, I wouldn't choose someone who will put my son in danger".
Finnr had had this plan for a while, he had contacted various Danes and Norsemen and Women across the country. He had settled on Eivor, after declining Broder and Brothir because they were too brash and rough, and also Valdis because she was too cold and cruel to melt his heart. He needed somebody soft and gentle, to melt and change his son's heart and they weren't the right fit.
"Hmmm I trust you Finnr, it's her I'm not so sure about"
"Just think about it as if you were with me, and remember how kind I was to you, that will help. You can start from there"
Oswald hummed as he thought. "Maybe that won't be so bad actually, I'll have a think about it"
Finnr grinned clapping him on the back "Now that's my boy! When your ready come and see me and I will fetch Eivor"
Eivor walked back to the dining room in the longhouse, having just come back from a break doing her own thing.
"How is he Finnr, did you manage to convince him?"
Finnr scratched his hair and his beard as he answered her. "Maybe. He said he'll think about it"
Just then they were interupted when Oswald came barging out of his room, flinging the door open.
"I've decided. I'll do it. I'll give her a chance"
Finnr beamed a big smile as Eivor let out a small relieved one too.
"I'm glad Oswald. Eivor will take you to Seahenge where the training will begin"
"Follow me" Eivor gestured as Oswald followed her out of the longhouse.
He followed her onto a small paddle boat that was docked at Elmenham's port.
"Hop in" Eivor said letting him go on first.
Oswald was very surprised by this. He had been taught by Finnr to always let the ladies go first, so when seeing her let him go on the boat first was kind of strange as he had never seen a woman so eager and so happy to let him go first.
Why is she being so kind to me? He thought.
As oswald proceeded to sit down, Eivor started to man the paddle boat, paddling and pushing it through the calm river and out to the sea.
I haven't been to the beach in a long time. Finnr used to take me there to see the seals and to teach me to swim. I miss the smell of the sea air, and the feel of the cold water lapping on my arms. For a moment I could just forget everything. It was a paradise. Even if it was only a temporary one.
It felt refreshing to breathe in the sea air again, after being cooped up so long.
Soon enough, they arrived at their destination. Oswald recognised it as Seahenge, the stubbly little island that he and Finnr used to sit on from time to time. He had always gone there with him, or sometimes on his own when he needed some space to himself, paddling out to the spot by himself. It felt good to be there again.
Eivor docked the boat as he disembarked, walking towards the sandy square's edge.
"We're here" She spoke breaking the silence once more.
Oswald gave her a nod, choosing not to say anything. Now that he was here, he felt nervous as she stood opposite him clicking her knuckles. He started to feel uneasy at the sound as the memories threatned to come back, he pushed them away as he started to feel a bit nauseous and sick.
"I want you to let it all out. Your frustration. Anything you feel just show it. Don't hold back"
Oswald stared at Eivor who had stopped clicking her knuckles and who was standing there, waiting for him to make the first move. He stared at her armour, her weapons on her belt, at her. As he started to feel fury boiling through his veins as he was reminded of his past, he charged towards her roaring, but Eivor didn't flinch. She was ready.
That's what he looked like that arsehole. The one who killed my parents. He had tattos and was armoured just like her. He started to swing, punching her. She stumbled back, wiping the blood off her nose as Oswald stared at her, heaving and panting and shaking in anger.
"Keep going Oswald. Don't Stop"
He roared again, swinging towards her as he kept punching as various images flashed by his mind. The fire, the blood, the screams. His Mother's screams as his Father was beaten to death, her cry of pain as she wailed, and kicked and screamed to no avail. Her final gasp and groan when she died.
Eivor fell to the ground battered and bruised, clutching her stomach, she forced herself to get up.
"Well come on then! Is that all you got?" she roared back at him.
Feeling even more anger, he charged towards her pinning her down and knocking her on the ground. I should of killed him. If only I was older, I would of killed him like how I'm beating her now, he wouldn't of lived. Why didn't I do something? Why? I should of died that day instead of them. They would still be alive if it was me instead.
He could hear it in his ears, visualize it as if he was still there. He continued battering her as he got lost in the past, in the anger, the pain the memories. He grabbed her by the neck, squeezing it tight as she started to gasp and push his hand away from her neck.
"Oswald, Your hurting me." She gasped weakly trying to push his hands away
He removed his hands off her as realisation hit him on what he done. He had gone too far, lost in the rage and the memories, lost in the pain.
Tears started to fall out of his cheeks as started sobbing and shaking violently.
I hurt her. I almost killed someone because of my rage and my anger. I may be angry at the Dane who killed my Father, but that's not her fault. I promised myself I would never touch or hurt a woman even if I don't like her even if she is a Dane or a Heathen. Oh god. What have I done?
Sitting up now that his hands were free from her neck, Eivor soothed him, pulling him into a hug "Shhhhh it's alright"
He didn't even tense at the touch, instead placing his hands on her back, he returned it as he sobbed into her shoulders. For a while they just hugged not moving.
Oswald broke apart first. "Why are you being so Kind to me? Why are you helping me? Why haven't you just left after I almost killed you like that"
"Because I also lost my parents the same way as you did. I was going to tell you, but you shut me down."
Oswald gasped surprised. "Your parents died in a raid? I wouldn't of thought" he trailed off
"Yes they did. It's not just Saxons they invade as well. The Danes and the Norse, they have their own battles to fight. An enemy clan of my Father's invaded my parents home one night and killed them in front of me. They bought me time so I could survive"
Oswald's face dropped. "I'm sorry Eivor. I was wrong to misjudge you. Perhaps we really are a lot more similar than I thought we would be. How old were you when your parents died?"
"I was seven. The same age as you, I was also adopted like you were soon after. A friend of my father's adopted me. He's still in Norway. You won't know him"
He blinked in surprise. Norway? So she's not actually Dane then. Finnr said they were different, Norsemen maybe? Or Woman, since she's female.
"Your from Norway? I thought you were Dane and from Denmark? So your Norse then?"
Eivor laughed as he let out a small smile of relief. "Yes. I get that all the time actually. You Saxons always fail to see the difference between the two. The amount of times people have called me Dane is ridiculous. It's a bit annoying sometimes. It's the same as people saying that Anglo-Saxons and Saxons are the same thing"
"Oh yeah" Oswald agreed "I can see how that definitely is annoying. Thankfully people here can tell each other apart except for the Vikings I suppose. At least I sort of know the difference even if I struggle sometimes. But thanks to you and Finnr I may be able to"
"So, Finnr" Eivor started as Oswald looked at her battered and bruised face, one eye had been blackened and swollen shut as a result of the brawl - "Finnr adopted you or so I heard"
"Yep he did. Although he isn't my real Father, I still love him and see him as one. He didn't have to take me in, he could of just left me there"
"True. I feel that too sometimes as well. Do you remember your parents? Do you miss them?" Eivor redirected the question back to him
"Yes. Yes I do. I miss them every year. I go back and visit their grave near Cedd's stone from time to time. The anniversaries are the toughest. I do remember them. They were both Farmers. My mother was a woman with brown hair who was kind and gentle, my father was the same. Soft and Stern at the same time. Just like Finnr was"
"The same as mine then." Eivor smiled wistfully as she thought back to Rosta and Varin and the last night they had together at the banquet's hall.
"My mother had Auburn hair, and my Father had black hair along with a beard. I still remember the last night we had together before they died. We had a banquet. It was a large dinner celebrating an alliance that we had with a family friend, who was later to be my adopted father which I didn't know at the time. My Father loved me very much. I sat on his lap as he told stories, about the various songs and sagas. My Mother she was sweet and loving till the very end"
"I see. I don't remember much about the last night I had with my parents, it's all a bit hazy. All I remember is waking up in the middle of the night, and My Mother telling me to hide, then a large Dane coming in through the door who proceeded to beat and kill my parents, before they ransacked the house and left"
That sounds too familiar. Eivor thought. I've done the same in raids, in both Norway and England. Settlements, Churches the whole lot of them. I don't know why I would do the same thing, when I was once a victim of a raid and nearly orphaned myself, if not for Sigurd and Strybjorn.
Oswald spoke breaking Eivor out of her thoughts. "So What did your Parents do? Were they Farmers or Merchants like the people here? He was interested to know if people in Norway lived like the people in East Anglia and the Saxons.
Eivor gulped before answering quickly in order not to raise suspicion "My Mother was a housewife she stayed at home and cleaned and cooked for My Father. My Father was a Jarl, or what you people call a nobleman over here. He ruled a small piece of land in Heillboer, where we lived in Norway."
I won't tell him the full truth, I've only just gained his trust back, I don't want to topple it all over, so I will use Finnr's approach which is to hide the truth for now. He won't find out anyway, only the people I'm close to know the truth, that's Sigurd and a few members of the clan.
Oswald bought the lie much to Eivor's relief. "Just like the people over here then. What made you become a Warrior, or is it a Sheildmaiden they call Female Vikings - Finnr said you were different to the Danes who raid, that you only fight for Justice and honour meaning you don't kill innocent people"
Eivor chuckled. Well he sure does seem like a Knowledagable kid, Finnr certainly told him a lot. He knows a lot more than the average Saxon does, which is a lot considering his upbringing. If it wasn't for Finnr's Dane Heritage he wouldn't of known so much.
"Yeah. We may be only a Sea apart but our people are very much alike." Eivor smiled as she thought about the people back home in her clan, the residents doing the same thing, right at this very moment.
"I became a Viking because I wanted to avenge my Father's death. So I trained. With Sigurd and Strybjorn who was my adopted brother and Father. I found the bacraut two winters ago before coming here and after seventeen winters I finally got my revenge. And Yes I don't kill Civilians, only people who deserve to be killed"
That was partially true, even in the raids since coming to England, it was only the Saxon guards she killed who were guarding the Monasteries, but not the innocent pope or churchgoers who happened to be there at the time. The last time she had killed citizens was back in Norway when trying to erase Kjotve's settlement.
"So it was revenge that drove you into killing. How was it when you finally managed to kill the person who murdered your parents? Did you feel better?"
Or in other words, Was it Worth it? The Revenge?
Oswald had always wondered and thought about what it would of been like if he went back to Denmark to find the man who murdered his parents all those years ago, Would he be as old as Finnr now? Was he even still alive? Had he been killed since? He had always wished that if he had a chance he would, but unlike Eivor nobody had trained him up.
Probably because Finnr was one - Trying to keep his cover of being a merchant, so he couldn't mention it and second - He didn't want Oswald to go down the path he had done, a path of fighting, raiding and revenege. He wanted to protect his son from that life.
Eivor thought back to when she finally killed Kjotve after years of searching for him, chasing him across the whole of Norway and to the moment she finally sunk her axe onto him killing him once and for all.
"I did at first. It felt good to finally kill the man who had destroyed my childhood so long ago. I even got some closure from it, but after I realised that it's the pain like that helps you grow stronger, it helps you grow and change as a person if you utilise it in the right way. I realised that even if I didn't kill Kjotve I could still move on with my life. I couldn't see it at the time, but now I do"
"Oh" Oswald's face dropped as he realised that revenge wasn't exactly what he thought it was. He had expected Eivor to feel happier and relieved that her parents' killer was dead, but it seemed like it was the opposite for her which surprised him.
"Maybe Revenge isn't as glorious as we think it is"
"Still I'm sorry you had to go through that, and I'm sorry that I misjudged you and hurt you as well. What I did was wrong. I categorised you as the same as them, judging you too quickly all because of what you looked like and I beat you so brutally because of my anger that I nearly killed you"
"Oswald. Relax. It's alright. It's not your fault. People grieve in different ways. I took it out on Kjotve with an axe, you took it out on me. I understand why you hated and pushed me away at first because of my appearance and what happened. I understand wanting to kill, I do. Also it was my idea. I gave you permission to hurt me Oswald. I wanted you to feel better and I hope it worked"
"Also, if this was a real battle, you wouldn't of killed me. I went gentle on you. Finnr wouldn't of been happy if you came back battered looking in the state I am, he would give me a very big whooping in the ass for that. If it was a real battle and you were an enemy of mine, the second you laid your hand on me, that person would of been skewerd by an axe, they wouldn't even have a chance to go further than that"
Oswald gulped as he heard Eivor's words and how if it was another man, they would of been dead already if they did the same thing.
It did. It really did, having this conversation with her, letting all that anger out with my fists, I really do feel like I've found closure and moved on with my life. Finnr was right, we are more similar than we think. I'm glad he did this, I'm glad he forced me to confront my demons and to try and move on from my past. He really is the best father one can have, even if he isn't my real dad.
"It did Eivor. Thank you. Thank you for helping me find closure. I'm really glad you and Finnr brought me out here so I could. I can finally move on with my life now, I'm glad I could finally find closure after all these years"
Eivor smiled. "I'm glad it did. I'm glad you feel better Oswald. Now Shall we go, Friend?" she winked placing her hand out to him
He took it, as she pulled him up to ground level so they were facing each other again. "Friend" he smiled back, shaking her hand.
Author's Note:I originally wasn't going to make Finnr Oswald's adopted Father in this, it just somehow happened? Yeah it's a little odd I know but I wanted to add it as a plot point and also to make Eivor and Oswald have some extra bonding as they begin to realize actually how similar to each other they both really are. Despite how odd it is, it actually works out nicely I think. It's nice to see that Finnr is a softie in this version instead of the hard ass grumpy geezer he is in the game.
It's also funny to see that he's Oswald's adopted Father in this and not just a steward. In this story, none of that King shit happens, he's just a regular everyday Joe in this, but like Saxon Version. Hence why Valdis and her brothers aren't in this fic (except for the odd mention) as none of the King stuff happens.
I'm thinking about extending this fic via two ideas. One of them being Eivor and Oswald eventually fall in love as he learns to trust her and the Danes more, and they eventually get married where Finnr, Sigurd, and some of the Ravensthorpe residents attend. I don't know I just like the idea of her, Finnr and Oswald being a little unit and family. The other being a Hurt/Comfort fic where Oswald is having a nightmare about his parents dying (as a kind of trauma and PTSD) and Eivor comforts him, it will be a short one. Idk.
Anyway hope you enjoyed this fic, don't forget to favourite and leave comments if you did so I know you read it. Damn site playing up again with the stat page being broken like it has for the past month, FFN should really do something. Why A03 is better. Anyway, rant over. See you next time!
