46 Days
After Lagertha's announcement, the people start looking differently at Mary. She is still angry, her hand still wrapped in bandages, but when she is taken to the market on the second day, she finds that there is at least one thing she can be happy about.
Her standing as a Seer brings the expectation for her to be distinguished from others. Helga shows her around he stalls, asking her to choose anything she would like and Mary uses the opportunity to trade Viking wool for colourful silk, and once she tells the servants what she would like, she almost feels like her old self. She wears dresses that end at her knees rather than drag into the mud. No heavy brooches are needed to keep them up, and instead she wraps them around her neck, or ties them at her back. She wears emerald green, bright red, dark yellow, and no one dares say a thing. Suddenly, it's not obscene but godly. She tries not to stray too far from the people's sensibilities though, keeping the skirts wide and fanning out from her waist down rather than tight, but she still allows Tanaruz to adorn her in fine shawls wrapped around her head and over her shoulders, and to paint delicate patterns on her shoulders and hands.
By day 6 she is unrecognizable form the slave girl she used to be. People stare, people talk to her, smiling and wishing her a long life, but Mary refuses to let those false niceties fool her. She doesn't smile back at the men that come looking for her to tell them their fortune, she doesn't make idle conversation with warriors trying to take a glimpse, and she doesn't feign enthusiasm when she is called to advise.
But when Inga approaches, when Tanaruz talks, that is when she laughs, when she talks, and soon they call her Vanir. As far as she understands, it is a word connected to fertility and knowledge, and they soon calling Inga Sola and Tanaruz Mane.
On day 7 she is requested at the war council for the first time.
It's also the first time that she sees Ivar again, and he stares when she steps in, draped in colour and with a sigil (she is not quite sure which one) drawn in kohl on her forehead. Floki had insisted on it, saying that she should have at least something viking about her, if she is to serve in the planning of the invasion.
The atmosphere is tense and Mary refuses to allow herself more than a few stolen glances at the brothers, holding her injured hand protectively while Lagertha asks her questions. She answers the best she can, but often she just doesn't know the answers. Should they flank the English or engage them head on? Where should their boats land and which weapons will be the most useful.
But at the end of the day, the question most discussed is always the same. Who should be their leader? Everyone's answer is different.
On day 10, the rumours. The Ragnarssons are fighting, disagreeing on every decision and going behind each-others backs. Some say the brothers will kill Ivar, others say the opposite.
On day 13, Mary steps into the war room again and the animosity between them is almost tangible. They bicker, they insult, they punch. Ivar is angry again, taunting the others with cruel words, starting fights that leave him bloody and this time not even Ubbe can calm him down. He has gone mad, they say, mad in his lust for blood and revenge. He is always the one to vote for the most brutal plan of attack, calling the others cowards when they disagree and call for caution.
On day 14, she finally talks to Floki. While he is around every other day, she has never had much of a conversation with the man. But on that day, she goes out looking for him, finds him deep in the woods, and shows him a sketch of a crutch. She tells him about her idea to help Ivar walk and while he is hesitant at first, he is also quick to point out that crutches alone will not be enough. They work on the idea until deep into the night and Mary is surprised to find that the man is incredibly intelligent, finding errors in their design that she would have never seen. It takes them two days of almost constant work, but then their idea is ready. Metal to encase his legs, able to be locked at the knees to allow him to sit down without taking it off, and a crutch on one arm. She accompanies Floki into town the next day, to talk to a blacksmith.
On day 20, there is a celebration in the great hall and her presence is required. Rather than letting her go in her usual attire, servants are sent to the hut to dress her. They put her in a dress that, while beautiful, is completely impractical as they fasten a thin layer of armour around her shoulders from which falcon feathers spring around her head. They itch and keep tickling her nose, and halfway through the celebration, her hair gets stuck on it. But when she enters, the crowd falls silent.
A shield maiden is at her side through the whole celebration, maybe to keep her safe, maybe to keep her away from the Ragnarssons. Mary spends the evening bored and listless as she is dragged from one important guest to another. She is talking to woman, the wife of some earl who has come to Kattegat, when her ears are drawn to a different conversation. She can make out Ubbe voice behind her and she wants to lean back and brush her shoulder against his, but then she catches his words.
Ivar is losing his mind. Ivar wants to lead an army. Ivar thinks he is a fighter. She pauses then, and turns back around.
On day 23, Ubbe gets married. The ceremony is short and sweet and ends in a race between Ubbe and Hvitserk, which the groom wins and then they retire to the house. Mary stays at the altar, and she kisses Margaretes cheek and wishes her luck when they are declared married. It's the first time that she sees Ivar and his new legs. He still seems a little unstable on them, but he is walking about by himself and Mary smiles, lowering her eyes when he looks at her.
On day 25 there is a ceremony. A sacrifice they say, and Mary's attendance is once again required. She stands with the others as they watch Lagertha appear, dressed in white, painted in gold, and with an owl on her shoulder. It's hypnotising. The candles in the dark forest, the people standing in solemn admiration of their gods, and for the first time since she has come here, she can feel the people's dedication. Their belief. But then, Lagertha steps up to a man that Mary had talked to a mere week ago and he smiles as she puts a sword through his chest.
It's the first time she has ever seen death. As far as dying goes, the man seems perfectly willing, but the way the blood spurts on Lagertha's dress and the respectful but determined look of the people around her makes her shiver.
On day 26, she is talking to Tanaruz about her home. The girl tells Mary about the spices, about her mother's favourite foods, and her favourite dress. Then she talks about the mosque and it is when Tanaruz bows down and shows Mary how her prayer goes, that Floki joins them.
As far as Mary can say, he has never had a full conversation with the girl, but he sits down and curiously asks questions. Do they really pray five times a day? How do they know which direction to face? Why do women pray separately. Tanarus tries to answer but quickly gets annoyed by Floki's constant Why?
Its not the last time they discuss things, and Floki starts taking them around the forests, showing Tanaruz his gods, telling their stories, and talking about her traditions.
Mary is happy to join on these excursions and always comes back to the cot just a little wise. Floki tells of blessings and expectations, and once he starts talking almost exclusively about what a Seer is supposed to do, she starts suspecting that he might know more than he lets on. But rather than being hostile against her, he just seems highly amused whenever she talks about her visions, her knowledge. Even during the war council, he smirks and cackles at her whenever she speaks, as if she and him have a shared secret. But he never asks her directly, and Mary does not tell him more than she has told the others.
Still, he asks about her home, and how far away it is, and how different she seems. The question he never asks is the one she has heard the most. He never asks about his destiny. It is almost friendship that she feels towards him at the end of the 64 days, even though she still feels him staring at her, still feels like a child compared to a man with so much knowledge.
On day 28, Mary gets her period. Its painful, maybe because she has skipped two months, maybe she is just unlucky, and she stays curled up in her cot, missing the day's call for her to join the war room. When Tanaruz returns from the market with Floki, she giggles and tells Mary that the pretty brother, Ubbe Mary finds out, has asked after her when he heard that she was unwell. She tells her about worry turning into embarrassment when he realizes she is not actually sick and then Tanaruz laughs. Stupid men.
On day 33, she is invited back into the war room, and when she goes the brothers are angry, hostile, and openly aggressive. The room is full, with more and more earls arriving, the number of men at the meetings is increasing day by day.
"We are all equal as Ragnar's sons but we are not equal in battle." Bjorn says "So, I will take the lead."
He talks loudly as he paces the length of the room, slamming his chest like a silverback proving his might. The others nod in agreement, but Mary can see Ivar's eyes narrow.
He taunts and openly dismisses his brother's words, giving nothing but condescending words and cocky comments at whatever is said, and the longer the meeting lasts, the more he aggravates the others. As if he is trying to antagonise himself on purpose, making more enemies with each passing moment, until it is too much.
"You age makes you believe that you know more than you do." Bjorn says, and Mary has to agree. The boy is smart, cunning, and incredibly perceptive, but he knows very little of what actually happens in such a war.
"I may not have fought a battle yet, brother, but I am smarter than anyone in this room. The Seer " he has started referring to her in that way during the meetings "Foretold that I would be successful as the leader of our great army."
"She foretold that you would lose your very first battle." Bjorn corrects him and, once again, Floki chuckles in amusement.
"And then I will win, and I will kill the man who killed my father."
Sigurd, finally fed up, makes a snap decision and snatches the crutches from Ivar's side. He falls forward, catching himself on the table and glares at his brother.
"How do you want to lead a battle, brother?" Sigurd asks, looking at him as he struggles to stand upright.
"I can fight." Ivar grounds out, but Sigurd laughs.
"Really?" he asks, and then opens his arms wide "Come then. Fight me."
Ivar tries to heave himself along the table, but the effort is enormous and when Sigurd uses his own crutch to strike him in the side, Ivar loses his grip and falls to the ground.
Mary presses her lips together. She wants to scream. She wants to scream at all of them, at Bjorn for being so stubborn, at Sigurd for being stupid, and most of all at Ivar for being arrogant. But Astrid is right by her side, so she just closes her eyes in pain when Ivar, determined and driven by his need to prove himself, tries to crawl to his brother. It's a pityfull picture. Mary would never tell him that, but here he is, surrounded by warriors and shield-maidens, and they are all staring down at the boy as he struggles to move.
"I am a viking, I am the son of Ragnar Lothbrok, just like you. I can fight, and I can lead." Ivar grounds out.
"Oh please, brother." Sigud says, squatting down with a malicious smile on his lips. "You cannot even satisfy a woman. Ivar the Boneless, useless in a fight and in bed."
The comment makes Ivar freeze, and even Ubbe looks shocked at his brother's words.
"Sigurd." He says, shocked at his brothers cruel and, more importantly, public words.
"What? Don't you think the people should know? They want to follow a man, not a cripple." And with that, Sigurd throws the crutch at Ivar and leaves the room, promptly ending the meeting.
On day 35 Mary goes to the market and the gossip is everywhere. Stories of Sigurd's words have spread like a wildfire and when she sees Ivar pass by, he doesn't even look at her. His eyes are angry, they are always angry these days, and he tries to ignore the stares. Bute she knows he hears the whispers. He hears them all. The taunts, the insults. Clear as day, and he remembers every word, and he remembers every face.
A man to Mary's left laughs.
"Ivar the boneless." He says to his companion, "A fitting name."
Inga accidently spills a bottle of wine over him. Tanaruz apologizes profusely when she trips and covers him in fish.
On day 37 Mary corners Sigurd. She leaves the house under the pretence of going for a walk, but she slips back into her old clothes and disappears in the crowds of slaves. Like always, her maidens are by her side.
When she finally finds Sigurd, Inga steps into his line of view, smiling coyly and when she disappears between two houses, Sigurd follows her with a salacious grin on his face. Rather than a willing girl, he finds Mary, and she throws him against the wall. She is much shorter than him, but there is no hesitation when she leans in, eyes blazing.
"You are despicable." She whispers "Humiliating your brother just because you can. You can fight all you want, you can hate him, you can love him, you can punch him for all I care. But this is the worst thing you could have done to him."
Sigurd looks surprised at first, but then he scowls.
"My brother is an idiot and a fool, and he will get himself killed if he keeps going like that. He thinks he is so much better than all of us, just because my mother used to give into his every whim." He hisses and then he lifts his chin and stares down at her "I don't know why you try to defend him. I said nothing that is not true."
His face changed again, and he looks her up and down mockingly. Sigurd takes her chin in his hand, the gesture patronizing more than threatening.
"You should know." He says, his voice softer "I'm sure he has tried to bed you, but still failed. I bet he had you naked and on your knees and could not do what every normal man would do."
And then he pulls her against him, pressing his lips against her in what might have been a kiss, if it hadn't been so unkind.
Mary's intention had been to scream at him, to make him feel ashamed, maybe to threaten him. But he had turned the situation around on her, making use of his size and strength ad Mary struggles and he just holds her in place, laughing against her mouth. She gasps, and bites down hard on his lower lip. Finally, he pulls away.
And then Mary, who has never been in a fight, who has delicate hands, and who has seen more violence in the last two months than she has in her entire life before, punches him.
She hits him square in the face, and blood spurts from his nostrils, splattering over her hand, her face, and both of their clothes.
In retrospect, it was a pretty good punch. Inga and Tanaruz come sprinting across the corner, trying to warn her of the guards whose attention has been drawn by the commotion, but its too late.
Thankfully, her still healing hand is spared.
Instead, the man does to her what she had just done to Sigurd. But he is bigger than her, almost twice her weight, and when his fist connects with her cheek, she can hear the bone crack.
She stays in bed until day 42, with Tanaruz nursing her injury and Inga coming in every other day for company. Floki shakes his head when he sees her for the first time, and later that same evening he tells her that the gods will punish Lagertha for her indolence.
When she steps into the war room again, her face is still bruised and her right eye specked in red where the veins burst. The swelling has gone down, but she looks like a woman well and truly beaten. Ubbe looks worried, Bjorn looks ashamed, and Ivar is furious. But Mary refuses to play the role of the victim and he walks in with her head held high and her eyes hard. She stares at Lagertha and congratulates her. The punishment is quite effective. She should teach it to the other men. They can use it on their wifes. The words make Lagertha flinch, but she says nothing.
Ivar watches Mary lock eyes with Sigurd, who himself is sporting a rather impressive collection of bruises. Two black eyes and a broken nose. They know what happened, everyone knows what happened. When he scowls at Mary, she just smiles haughtily and lifts a middle finger.
The next day, Sigurd has yet another injury; a split lip and a loose tooth. Ivars knuckles are bloody.
On day 45 Mary sees the Chariot and realizes that Ivar will be riding into battle.
On day 46, they set sail. She is once again dressed in the feathered dress and her hair is braided into a crown weaved with gold.
Floki paints her face. Her eyes are black, the colour smeared from her temples, over her eyelids, and down the side of her nose and there are three dark lines running over her lower lip and down her chin.
When she steps into the harbour that day the morning air is foggy. She is flanked by Tanarus and Inga, both of them playing their own roles. The Sun and the Moon.
Some of the warriors swear that she is Freya herself. Some say they hear the sounds of war coming from the water as she appears. Some say she is a charlatan.
But Mary ignores all of them as she takes Bjorn's hand and steps into his boat. He will lead the army into battle, so she will travel with him. She doesn't say a word while she waits for the ships to fill. The fleet is impossibly large, and the force arriving in England will be made out of thousands of men and women, warriors and slaves alike and when they are sent off, a Raven settles on the ships mast.