Chapter 15
1320 Words
After finding Ragnar's body, we returned back to the camp, to the command centre. Halfdan kept his arm wrapped around my waist, all the brothers remained quiet, clearly distraught by the sight of their father's body.
Upon arriving at the command center, they rechained King Aella and slumped into chairs. Halfdan pulled me on to his lap, wrapping his arms around me. Bjorn was the first to break the silence, "What are we going to do with him?"
"We should blood eagle him," Ivar blurted out.
They all nodded. If I remember rightly, the blood eagle was an incredibly brutal and barbaric execution method used the Vikings, though there was no real proof of it besides the written word. God, I am going to have to watch this. I hadn't noticed it, but I had been shaking on Halfdan's lap. Halfdan noticed and whispered in my ear, "You are shaking. What is wrong?"
"I am just cold," I whispered back.
"Come here," he said, as he pulled me closer to his chest and wrapped his arms around me, alittle tighter.
I smiled at him, he smiled back before I cuddled in to him. Ubbe spoke next, "We should blood eagle him. Then we should sack the city they call York."
"It is decided. Tonight, we will blood eagle our father's murderer. For now, we will prepare for the executions that will follow. And, you all have to be present," Bjorn said, as we all nodded.
A priest began screaming behind us, as two men dragged him towards us. One of the men said, "This priest was found in the woods burying this locked chest."
Two other men brought a locked chest up and placed it on the table. Ivar spoke first, "Well break the lock, open it."
One of them started beating the lock, it wouldn't budge, and the banging was giving me a headache. I stood up and Halfdan grabbed my hand, I looked at him and smiled. Before turning to the man and saying, "Move. You, men make something much harder then it has to be. So, many things can be down quitely if you use your heads."
I walked around to the chest and Halfdan followed me. I pulled a metal hair pin from my hair. I knelt on the floor, so that I was eye height with the lock on the chest I jammed the hair pin in the lock and began to move it about, until I began to hear the click of the lock mechanism moving. Within a few moments, the lock popped open and I stood up.
"Wow, how did you do that," Halfdan asked, as he wrapped his arm around my waist pulling me flush against him.
"It's a unique talent. Now, shall we see what is in the chest," I replied.
He nodded, letting me go. He opened the chest, and found some scrolls and leather bound books. He threw them on the table like they were nothing.
"That was all you were burying," Halfdan asked.
I leaned over and looked inside, the chest was empty. Wait a minute, crafty. The chest was smaller on the inside, compared to the outside. I tapped Halfdan to draw his attention to me. There was a hole, I stuck my finger in and pulled lifting a plank of wood from the base. Halfdan pulled the other plank free. We both gasped, there was lots of gold and precious gems.
"Well, a secret compartment with lots of treasure," Halfdan said.
I turned my attention back to the books. I sat on the table and opened one, trying to make out what it all said. As I flicked through, the priest stole one of the men's dagger and charged at me. Of course, I was a woman touching the written word. Got to love being a woman in the middle ages. His arm outstretched in the air, weilding the dagger. I didn't see him coming, but Halfdan did. Halfdan gripped the priest's wrist, and slammed the dagger in to the priest's neck, before pushing him to the floor.
"Thank you, Halfdan. You saved me," I thanked him.
I put the book down, and grabbed him, pulling him to me. There I was sat on the table with him stood between my legs, about ready to do something I said I wouldn't do. I was overwhelmed with the fact he saved my life. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and pressed my lips against his. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer, before he deepened the kiss by pushing his tongue in my mouth.
A throat cleared next to us, we both pulled away and turned to look at the one that cleared their throat. Sigurd was leaning against the table, throwing food in his mouth, as he watched us intrigued.
"Don't let me stop you. I was rather enjoying watching," he sniggered.
It made me blush, and I covered my face with my hands, before rest my head against Halfdan's shoulder. Halfdan pushed his brother away from us, before saying, "f**k off. You are just jealous, that she kissed me."
"Maybe a little. But, who wouldn't that woman is a goddess. She is incredible," Sigurd responded.
"Shut up, Sigurd. Leave them alone," Bjorn snapped.
Halfdan whispered in my ear, "Come on. Let's get you some food and we can go rest for awhile before the executions."
I nodded, lifting my head up and pulling my hands from my face. I took Halfdan's hand, and he led me away from the command centre back to my tent. On the way, Halfdan grabbed a huge plate of food and a jug of mead, for us.
Arriving at my tent, I took a seat on my bed and Halfdan took a seat next to me. He offered me food off the plate.
"You know I really wasn't expecting you to kiss me like that. But, I liked it. You should put yourself in danger more often, so I can save you," Halfdan grinned.
"I just wanted to thank you," I replied.
We continued to eat, remaining quiet. I really do not know what I feel at the moment. I have been stuck here for a week and I do not know if I will ever return home or when. Maybe, seeing where things go with Halfdan will be okay. He is so much better than my ex-boyfriend back home. I care about Halfdan, and I have no idea how long I will be here for so I will try to find some kind of happiness here.
"Could we cuddle again, while we rest, before we have to go to the executions," Halfdan asked.
"Only if we can kiss and cuddle," I smiled flirtatiously.
He smiled from ear to ear. I began to lay back on the bed and he followed. We were laid on our sides, facing each other. I put my hand on his cheek, and he placed his hand on my hip. We leaned in together, and began kissing. Our kiss grew more passionate, by the second. He pushed his tongue into my mouth. Our tongues battled for entrance to one anothers mouth. He slowly lowered his hand from my hip to my ass. He squeezed, causing me to moan into his mouth. I let my hand lower down from his cheek to his chest, and continued lower on him. Halfdan smiled against my lips, and pulled away to say, "If you keep going lower, I won't be able to control myself and we will be late for the executions. We will get in to trouble. You also said you weren't ready yet."
"Maybe I would like that. Maybe you saving me, finally made me realise who I want to be with," I replied.
Halfdan was stunned by what I said at first, but he just smiled and leaned in to kiss me again.
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