Chapter 13: Attack!

"What are you going to do now!?" Astrid asked loudly chasing behind Erick who now was straightening up his tunic and making himself look presentable, ignoring every word that Astrid spoke.

He hummed a chipper tune to himself as he rubbed his hand along the top of his burred head, glancing up every once in a while at the the French army, which included a Calvary of one-hundred and an estimated three-hundred foot soldiers, that was halted atop the of the banks. Each man stood erect with their black steel rectangular shields at their feet and their swords in hand at their sides. Their protective garb rattled with every move they made which allowed for the Northmen to know that their bodies were well protected from arrows they could shoot. The fancy leader pushed back his swooping dark brown head of hair away from his face as he pondered what his plan of action would be. His horse hoofed the ground fiercely while he sat gallantly perched upon the black leather silver studded saddle strapped upon the white steed's back. Dead expressions were written along the warriors faces, just as the Northmen.

Astrid tugged on the gold embroidered sleeve of Erick trying to grasp his attention.

"Listen to me Erick!" Astrid shouted displeased at his actions. "If you take your men out there it is certain death for us all. They are better equipped and probably highly trained in military tactics, sire. Your men stand no chance."

Erick stared at Astrid while thinking intently.

"We have no other options now, do we?" Erick snidely remarked. "If we did do you not think I would be using them right now. Astrid use your head too. What does your gut tell you to do?"

Astrid's eyes grew wide in disbelief at Erick's tone.

"I would sit beside the water and cry." Astrid stated sharply, pointing towards the rippling shore. "That is what my gut wants to do. But I am not going to do that. If I have to fight, I will fight, only for my freedom."

"That is the only reason why you are here is it not, Astrid?" Erick asked, raising his eyebrows.

Astrid pursed her lips and bobbed her head in agreement.

"Yes sire, that is the only reason why I am here." Astrid stated simply as she focused her attention back onto the army. "If you must fight then these brave men and women will stand and fight with you, even if it means their lives to be taken." She finished saying, pointing around at the Northmen warriors who were prepping themselves for a battle.

"You see Astrid," Erick began, staring each of his soldiers. "they do not fear death since they know if their lives are taken while fighting Odin will sweep down and carry them to Valhalla where they will live forevermore happily with their fellow comrades who have fallen in death also."

Astrid plastered a fake smile onto her face.

"That is good for them. At least they have that peace of mind." Astrid replied, putting her attention onto the ground.

Erick took her by the hand and began rubbing his thumb over the dirt-caked back of her hand.

"What is wrong dear?" He asked sympathetically, patting her on the back.

Astrid shook her head slightly while she began biting her bottom lip nervously.

"If I die today, or any day, I know your Odin will not favor me roaming in the halls of Valhalla and my God, I know, will not allow me to walk his streets of gold for all eternity. I guess I will just remain as a spirit on the earth." Astrid answered, shaking her head. "I am only an outcast."

"Or," Erick blurted. "The gods may favor you so greatly they will let you roam the land forever as a traveller and give you prophecies and stories to share with each place you go."

Astrid smiled simply.

"I am sure that is what will happen." She agreed positively. "Have you got any plans of how you are going to take this army?"

Erick shook his head. "I do not know. I feel that if we sit back and watch, they will sit back and watch also. That will give me time to come up with an idea."

"I suppose that is better than charging towards them insanely only to get your men slaughtered." Astrid added turning herself away from Erick. She spied Knute standing alone beside the water looking out across the wide strand of water. "If I may, sire, I am going to go speak to some people while you think."

Erick quickly nodded his head and motioned her away with his hand. She strolled calmly past the tents of men to where Knute stood silently contemplating about himself.

"You know standing alone will not help one's health." Astrid said, sweeping in beside Knute.

A cheeky smile immediately came onto his stone cold face. Astrid returned a shy smile to him as she glanced out in the distance.

"I was about to come find you." Knute shared, entwining his fingers with Astrid's. "There is something I must tell you."

He turned to face her solemnly, placing his opposite free hand onto her face. Astrid stared back at him concerned since he never acted in such a manner. No words rustled to her mind as she stared at his complexion. His sweet, tender complexion that stared back intently at her, taking in all of her delicate features.

"I want you to be my wife." Knute finally blurted out, breaking the silence like ice.

Astrid's mouth flew agape shocked by his proposal. Thousands of thoughts rushed from one side of her brain to the next, jittering every feeling she had.

"Knute, I am-"

"Shocked. I know. I did not know how to ask you better or when I would get the chance." Knute finished excitedly. "Of course it will have to be when we return to Oliefsborg and you are free."

Astrid shook her head slightly. "But what-"

"I have thought about this long and hard, Astrid. I cannot get you out of my head. You are like a disease that is eating away at my mind. You never leave my thoughts. I wonder how you are and where you are and how you feel." Knute answered softly, rubbing her braid down her back. "I want you to be my wife so I never have to wonder where you are or how your are. I want to be able to take you into my embrace and know you are alright because we are together."

Astrid closed her eyes and placed her shaking hands over her blushing face.

"You do not understand do you?" She asked. "You do not understand that I am not staying. I want to start a new life in a new land. I want to clear every painful memory I have of my past and create me a new future."

"Do not talk like that Astrid." Knute begged. "We can start our new life together. We can leave and go where your heart desires, together though. Astrid I cannot live without you."

Astrid nodded her head, veering her gaze away from Knute's tearing up eyes.

"You have lived without me this long Knute, I am certain you can go on living fine without me." Astrid insisted, stepping away from him. "You will find a woman, a great woman, one day and you will settle down and be happy. I am not that woman. I will never be that woman. I do not want a husband or a family, for that matter." Astrid looked back at him, tears trickling down her cheeks. "All I desire is freedom. I want to be able to breathe in the fresh air and know I am a free woman. Free to do as I please without risk of punishment. Do you understand that, Knute?"

Knute choked back his tears, returning to the cold face he held before. "Yes, I understand perfectly that you do not want to marry me." he answered snidely. "I know now that I am only a fool."

"You are not a fool." Astrid argued, storming towards him again. "I never said that."

She placed her hand lightly upon his cheek, wiping away the single tear that fell from his reddened eyes.

"But you meant it." He growled, jerking her hand away from his face. "Why do you have to be like that?" He turned as he started to walk away.

"Like what?" Astrid questioned.

He looked back at her with a sly grin. "The perfect woman."

Knute twirled around hastily on his heel, storming away angrily towards Bard and Erick who were now under a tent sitting around a round table discussing important matters. Astrid stood motionless, looking around in a daze at what had just taken place. She eventually just sat down next to the water, feeling its coolness as it rushed up towards her.

Her eyes peered up at the sky which still resembled a rainstorm but would fall to night in a couple upcoming hours. A graceful bird flapped its strong wings along the steady winds high in wispy, dark clouds. Her heart ached at the sight. How could a creature fly peacefully, allowing nothing to stand in its way? She wanted to scream as loud as she could so someone might finally hear the torment that built within her. She was a slave though and was not even titled to her own emotions. She was not allowed to cry or scream or show any sign of weakness. Desires of giving up came to Astrid frequently but strength was the only thing Astrid was allowed to possess and even then it was very seldom. Her eyes scanned along the skies until they fixated on where the crystal blue water met the gloomy horizon. Something in the glistening blue water sparked memories for Astrid. Memories that she had long forgotten- some pleasant, some sad. Happy memories of her father that had been dead for what had seemed like forever and thoughts of her little sister as well as her mother. Even though they were deceased they were very much alive in her. Past thoughts of them is what kept her going all this time.

As the cold water rushed upon her once again, Astrid came back to reality. She realized at that she should be elsewhere then sitting beside the water. Astrid stood with a grunt as she started walking back towards people. While she was walking a plan started formulating in her own wild mind.

"Erick!" Astrid yelled running towards the tent.

He glared up at her displeased, tapping his fingers atop the table.

"Now what do you need?" Erick snapped with an attitude.

Astrid looked around at the several men who sat around with Erick.

"I have a plan." Astrid mumbled, locking eyes with Knute who looked away quickly. She averted her eyes back to Erick who was now intrigued by her.

"Do tell your plan." Erick insisted, standing from his twig-woven chair to move towards her.

"There is a place in the wall that is much shorter than the rest. We could send some of our warriors over that part in the wall and let them go into the village."

"How would they not see them going over the wall?" Gustavo's booming voice asked. Erick glanced at him angrily, raising his hand signifying him to be quiet.

"See, they can move at night. It is pretty well clear the French are not leaving from up there." Astrid informed, motioning up to the army which was now setting up fires and small campsites. "The group that goes over the wall can gather what they need without harming anyone and the army will never know it. Then if we must we can fight the army. Surely we have tactics to take on an army."

Erick bit his fingernail as he thought hard about the idea. The group of men satisfactorily nodded with it.

"I think it would work." Gustavo shared. "We could send the women and the weaker of men to get the treasures, while the stronger of us stay and wait for the army to make a move." He patted his fist three times on his thick, muscular chest.

"But what if there is another set of warriors on the other side of the wall?" Bard asked.

"Scope it out before you jump into it." Knute replied, looking back at Astrid.

She felt her cheeks grow hot when his icy eyes met hers.

"It will have to do. We have nothing better to work with." Erick said with a nod. "Bard, you and Gustavo, gather a group to scale the wall. They will move out at night fall and raid the city. The rest of us will wait on the other side. No one should be expecting it." Erick raised his hand and flicked it to the side slightly. "Everyone leave!"

The group of men filed out of the tent talking about the new plans. Astrid awkwardly followed behind Knute until they parted ways towards other cliques of people.

Astrid felt horrible for Knute. She knew he genuinely meant what he said to her. Somewhere in her mind she wanted to say the same things to him but she knew some of the words she could not mean. She cared for him, true, but not enough to be his wife.

She sat down and leaned up against a roll of fur blankets across Iona and another lady who were eating a bowl of stew and chatting. Astrid crossed her arms over her chest and sat in silence, keeping to herself. Soon after sitting down, she felt her eyes grow heavy until she drifted off into a light nap that went into a heavy sleep. She dreamed of herself with Knute, then of her living in a quiet stone cottage down by a crystal shining river alone and free at last. Her peaceful sleep was shattered by Iona nudging her.

"They have ordered for all of the women to scale the walls." Iona informed her. "We have to go. It is time for the raid to begin."

Astrid stretched and yawned as she sat up. Looking around, Astrid noticed that through her nap night had fallen. The visions of campfires were lined all along the banks where the French were resting. Few fires were burned by the Northmen so they could fall through with their action point. Astrid gathered her shield and a nearby sword that she put in the fur sheath that hung around her waist. She took her time in getting up where she then fell into the flow of the slowly moving foot soldiers, which were trying to move as quietly as possible to not startle the enemy. Iona ran out ahead of Astrid, catching up with two other ladies and leaving her behind. As Astrid jogged towards the others she was caught by someone with a tight grip around her wrist.

"Let me go!" She scolded, jerking away from the mysterious person.

"Be careful Astrid." Knute breathily whispered, leaning his forehead on hers and placing his hands upon her cheeks where he rubbed them slightly with his thumbs. "Promise me that you will be."

"Knute," Astrid replied, laying her hands on his wrists. "I will."

She stretched onto the tips of her toes and placed a kiss on his cheek before running away to the others led by Bard. They moved swiftly until they reached the shorter break in the barrier where they began throwing ropes over the side and scaling it quickly. Soon each person was over and were ready to raid.

The village was serene and quaint. Square stone houses were lined in rows all along the cobblestone paths. Light was scarce throughout the area. Occasionally a glimpse of a candle would be seen burning in a window but there was no sign of movement taking place. The clouds had finally cleared out, allowing the twinkling stars to appear across the black night sky. Bard motioned for them to spread out to cover the entire village. Several men barricaded the draw bridge so the French army could not enter to cause any fault in the plan.

Soon shrieks and screams of fear rang throughout the streets as the viking warriors forced themselves into the peaceful cottages, only looting the people of their valuables, nothing more. The glowing lights of fires were being seen from the torches made by the Northmen, as well as the candles that were burning in the windows of the frightened french dwellers who were attempting to protect their homes and lives.

Astrid shoved the wooden door in on a house, entering in with a force. She looked around at the simple cottage that brought back memories of her own childhood home. A bright burning lantern sat on the table, flickering wildly with its light. Astrid picked it up and began examining the entire house. Nothing was of value inside except a silver bowl and two silver spoons, that she put in a satchel hanging around her body. She turned once again this time she was looking in the face of a lady and a young boy, who appeared to be around ten. They shook in fear, cowering in the dusty corner with an old gray Tom cat. Astrid stared at them and they stared back at her terrorized. Eventually she nodded and stormed out of the house the way she came with the lantern in her clinched, sweaty hand. She looked down the path where the vikings were gathering all of their loot stolen from the homes. In the distance the sounds of swords hitting rang loudly. Astrid knew the army was now fighting with the Northmen, and by the way it sounded it was vigorous.

Bard motioned the group towards the draw bridge where he shouted a prayer to Odin before letting it down into the tense, heated battle. Darkness consumed the fight between them to where Astrid could not tell who was who. It was all a black blur as Astrid ran into the midst of the fighting and began swinging her sword killing what appeared to be a french man. Suddenly a sharp pain hit her in the side as she whirled around to find a French man swinging a sword wide, which she ducked and missed by a hair. When she straightened her posture she hit his sword repeatedly until he was caught off guard and pierced the middle of his stomach with the sharp point of her iron. Her fingers trailed down her body to where the stinging sensation burned to touch, only to find an arrow buried into the top of her hip. As she started to pull it, she realized it was stuck and there was no way of getting it out without ripping part of her flesh out along with it which would cause her to bleed to death in only a few hours. She broke off the thin, aerodynamic bow beside the entrance of the wound and continued fighting.

After hours of fighting, the French army finally surrendered, rushing themselves back towards the protective wall. The Northmen cheered at their victory, but with their victory came a great loss.

The exhausted Northmen plopped down into rows inside the tents, resting peacefully for the first time since the boarded the boats. Astrid staggered towards Bard, who was celebrating with his father, in pain due to the arrow that was applying pressure in her hip. She laid her head against his back and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I need your help." Astrid whispered hoarsely. "I got an arrow in my leg and I need you to cut it out."

Bard spun around and traced his eyes down Astrid's body until he seen her blood-covered hip with the small protruding bloody piece of wood showing through her clothing. His eyes met up with hers quickly at the sight of it. With hesitation he swept Astrid from her feet into his strong arms, carrying her to a fur blanket beside of the red glowing fire.

"When I take it out it will hurt." Bard informed Astrid brushing away the hair that was stuck on her face in the beads of sweat.

Astrid pulled him down close to her. "I can take the pain. Now get it out."

She released him with a force and laid back against the soft fur, closing her eyes. Bard took out a gold handled knife and laid it into the flames, turning it from silver into a bright orange glow. He took a glimpse at Astrid who laid still waiting patiently for him to finish the task.

"Are you ready?" Bard asked, patting his hand on the back of Astrid's.

Astrid nodded clearly. He let out of sigh as he pulled out the knife and cut the arrow from her hip. Astrid let out a small painful groan but quickly held her jaw tightly until the metallic taste of her blood filled her mouth as she lay motionless taking the unpleasant surges of pain that ran through her entire body. Once Bard extracted the small piece of arrow, he laid the scorching blade against the open bleeding wound to stop the flow of blood.

"It should heal now." Bard enlightened her. "In the morning hours we will collect our dead and give them a proper burial. From there we will sail on up the river into France." He wiped away the beads of sweat from Astrid's face with a small linen cloth. "You should get some sleep and let that wound heal."

Astrid let out a drawn out groan and drifted off in a deep sleep beside the warm fire to the victory cheer of the Northmen.

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