Chapter 18: Pain

This chapter features Mature Content.

"Before you wonder off in a hurry," Leif smiled a crooked smile and took her by the hand. "There is someone I want you to meet."

Astrid stopped slowly and turned to face him. "I have no desire to meet anyone of your standards. I am certain they will be just like you; I am sure everyone here is like you and Bard."

"I think you will like this person." Leif said as he continued to walk down the path with his arm around Astrid.

They walked down the streets past the smithy and traveling marketeers, who were only there for the time being. Once they made it beyond the small shops in the village, a tiny wooden, square house stood alone beside the high fence of the community. A gray cat roamed just outside of the entrance way of the dwelling. The flag of Lundur flew on the roof point.

Leif walked up to the door where he knocked loudly until a lady appeared at the door. The lady was short and thin. Her hair was a golden blonde while her eyes were a deep green. She stepped through the doorway, sweeping her long blue apron dress through the dirt as she hesitantly walked towards them.

"Father," she said with a smile on her face. "I was not expecting you." She looked beyond him at Astrid, who was dumbfounded, staring back at her. "Who is this?"

Leif glanced at Astrid and smirked.

The lady looked displeased at Leif and stepped closer to Astrid, outstretching her hand. "I am Erika, named after my uncle in Oliefsborg." She paused. "What is your name?"

"I am Astrid, the slave of Bard. It is a pleasure to meet you Erika." Astrid meekly introduced herself.

"You are too pretty to be a slave. How old are you?" Erika asked sincerely, tilting Astrid's face from side to side.

"Twenty-six."

"Well I am twenty-seven." Erika replied, glaring back at Leif. "If you do not mind my asking, why are you a slave?"

"Erick traded me to Bard for his aid in fighting the French." Astrid informed. "Bard promised me freedom but did not fulfill that promise."

"That sounds correct with Bard." Erika bluntly shared. "Bard is nothing but a bold faced liar and cheat!"

"Erika, do not talk about your brother like that!" Leif scolded her harshly.

Erika whirled around and stormed towards Leif. "And there you are taking his side again. You are just like him! You do not know how to value life for yourself or anyone else. You cannot argue that! You and I both know it is true." she shouted angrily as she poked Leif in the chest with her index finger. "I am not like you and Bard, I do not lie."

Leif huffed angrily but did not reply.

"That is what I thought father." Erika finished, returning to Astrid. "I am going to show Astrid into the house while you go elsewhere. I will have her returned by nightfall. Farewell father."

Erika took Astrid by the arm and began leading her towards the house before Leif could argue.

Astrid stepped through the door, followed by Erika who slammed the door shut. A bright fire located in the middle of the floor lit the one large room. Off to the right side of the fire was tables and to the left was a separate room where the beds were. The walls was decorated with carvings of gods and dimly burning torches. Further into the house was a pen with sheep and a cow tied on the gate of the pen.

"Make yourself at home." Erika invited as she gathered wooden bowls and cups from a table beside the door. "It is nothing fancy here but it is livable."

Erika sat down a bowl of soup and a sliver of bread on the tabletop in front of Astrid, who had sat down on the corner of a bench.

"My husband says my cooking is not that great but you know men," she suddenly stopped speaking. "Say, do you have a man?"

Astrid looked down at her food and shook her head.

"Have you ever had a man?" Erika questioned. "I am sorry I should not be asking you such things. That is not nice of me."

Astrid forced herself to sip the watery soup and smile.

"You do not have to apologize. There is nothing to be sorry about." Astrid remarked, biting into the tough bread. "I have had men. Not that I wanted them..."

Erika let out a disheartened sigh.

"You were raped?" She asked shocked, grabbing her gaping mouth with her hand.

Astrid put her head back down embarrassed and nodded meekly.

"Yes." Astrid's voice became shaky. "I had no choice but to submit." She took another bite of bread to forget the visuals implanted in her mind. "But that is all in the past. I am certain Bard will not allow anything to happen to me."

Erika rolled her eyes slightly at the remark.

"How are you and Bard related?" Astrid asked, sipping warm water from a wooden mug.

"Bard and I share the same mother." Erika answered. "Leif never married Porunn because she never did officially leave Erick. When I was born I was cast to the side, more or less. Bard was to get it all. I was not entitled to anything but a hard life ahead of me since I was an illegitimate child. When Porunn died of an illness, Leif started to gain interest in me but I was seventeen then. I have always had anger in my heart towards them, especially Bard. We never had many dealings together since he was so worried about himself. They never thought I would do anything right." She slammed her fist on the table. "I showed them though! I married the smithy and created a life for myself."

"You have a beautiful home here." Astrid complimented, standing up from the bench. "Thank you for the meal. It fills a hungry stomach."

Erika arose behind Astrid and began inspecting her filthy clothing.

"I think we could get you cleaned up." She stated, giving Astrid a pat on the back. "If you are going to be with the Earl, you should look like the Earl."

Erika bypassed Astrid and went towards the back of the house where she was gone fore several minutes. She soon returned with a woolen dress slung over her arm and two buckets of water in her hands, which she sat down upon a nearby table.

"Come here Astrid." Erika said, waving Astrid over

Astrid dunked her hands into the pail of water and began scrubbing off the thickly caked grime from them. Once they were spotless she splashed the cool water on her face, washing out her clogged pores.

"I am sure Bard will allow you a bath later this evening." Erika spoke, trying to avoid silence. "I guarantee it would feel better than just running water over yourself."

Astrid glanced up at Erika with a smile.

"I truly a grateful for this. I do not have much kindness shown towards me." Astrid thanked as she wiped the dripping water from her face. "I have only ever known a slave's life."

"I feel that you will go far, Astrid. You have a strong will but mainly you have a strong heart."

Astrid gave Erika a puzzled look. "Why do you say that? You have only known me for a few hours. You do not even know me really."

Erika took Astrid's hand. "I do not have to know you to see that you have a strong side to you. I know I could not live the life of a slave."

Astrid dropped her head with sadness.

"This dress is one that I made several months ago. I have never worn it since I already had a new one." Erika reached the cream colored woolen dress to her. "I want you to have it. You need it more than I do."

Astrid grasped the soft fabric in her hands. "Are you sure?"

Erika nodded.

"Thank you. I do not know how to repay you." Astrid responded with gratitude.

Erika turned her back to the wall as Astrid began to slip her tattered garments from her body, exposing her bare body. She slipped the fresh wool dress over her head. A sigh came from her lips as the soft feel of the material brush against her skin.

"It fits wonderfully." Astrid uttered as she tied the black strings that laced the flaps at the neck together.

"You look presentable now." Erika beamed. "Would you like me to braid your hair?"

"You have already done so much for me. I can fix my hair." Astrid declined, roaming back towards the fire.

She sat down on a small bench that was near the pit and began staring at the blazing orange glow before placing her raggedy clothes upon the flame.

"I will not be needing these anymore." Astrid claimed while watching her belongings burn. "I hope to never raid again." She wrung her hands nervously as she remembered the blood that was spilled upon her hands. "Death haunts my mind much too often. I have killed before. Once you have killed you can never forget it. The feeling--the feeling never goes away. Their faces are forever imprinted in your mind."

"Death is part of life." Erika divulged, taking the seat beside Astrid. "We are guaranteed death as soon as we are born. It comes sooner or later. We are not in control, the gods are; remember that."

A long silence fell over them as they watched the crackling fire. Astrid arose and walked towards the door where she stood observing the rushing men and women as they roamed throughout the village heading towards Bard's home. Hours had passed by quickly without her realizing the evening had fell. She knew the homecoming feast was taking place and if she did not go, punishment would follow.

"Erika," Astrid mumbled, glancing over her shoulder. "I want to thank you once again for the dress and your kindness. I have not met anyone like you in a long while." She stepped out of the doorway. "I must be on my way now though, Erika, or else I could be punished. I promise I will visit you sometime in the future. Thank you again, Erika."

Astrid gracefully smiled at Erika before taking off down the village road. She felt her heart pounding as she realized the main portion of the villagers were no where to be seen. She knew she was late and that Bard would not be pleased with her arrival but she rushed inside anyway.

"There you are!" Bard yelled over the noise of the crowd. "Step forward Astrid. I want to show my people who you are."

The crowd parted out, leaving a clear path for Astrid to go down. Astrid slowly approached the platform where Bard stood. She felt her face become incredibly warm as she walked beside the gawking audience.

"People of Lundur!" Bard exclaimed as he reached for Astrid's hand. "This is Astrid. She belongs to me and by belong, I mean, she will be my wife one day. Until then she is my slave."

"Why would you even call me a wife then?" Astrid snapped back. "I would still be enslaved by your...power!"

Bard tightened his grip upon her hand angrily with a cocky grin on his face.

"She is a feisty woman. Men do not mess with her too much. You must leave something for me!" He announced cockily, releasing her with a shove. "I will need-"

Astrid glared up at him with daggers in her eyes, then quickly turned toward the crowd.

"How does this man not disgust you?!" Astrid interjected, stepping through the crowd looking at each person negatively.

"Why would he when he lets us see pretty women like you?" A man commented in front of her. "When can I have you?"

"I am no-"

"Take her now!" Bard offered, shoving her towards the rough man.

He grasped Astrid tightly in his tattoo covered arms.

"Let me go!" Astrid objected as the man pulled her away with him. "I will get you for this Bard!" She yelled, beating the man's thick arm.

He threw her onto Bard's feather bed and began tearing his tunic away from his body, exposing his muscular chest. Astrid held her arms tightly around her body refusing any action from the man, who was now tugging at his dark trousers. He pulled Astrid closely to him by the legs.

"If you submit this will go much easier." He said, pushing the bottom of Astrid's dress upward.

"I am no whore!" She replied, spitting upon his face.

Her action enraged him. He jerked her arms away from her body and ripped up her dress, uncovering her bare bottom and began ravaging her forcefully.

When he finished her clothed himself and returned to the party. Astrid covered herself, attempting to regain strength from the fight she put up. She pulled her knees up closely to her chest and began sobbing. Through her tears she saw another man enter the room, wanting the same thing the other wanted. She remained curled up on the edge of the bed, scared and hopeless. She closed her eyes and submitted to whatever was to come, which was another violation from a strange, burly man.

Astrid laid flat on the bed, huffing for a breath that was unattainable through her cries. She hoped the feast would end and it would all be over. Fear boiled up in her that another man would enter through the doorway and take advantage of her when she was at her weakest. She cried until she drifted into a light sleep, which was disrupted by a drunken Bard.

"How many men have you had tonight?" Bard asked, falling onto the bed beside Astrid. His putrid odor of mead and greasy food was settled upon his body.

Astrid scooted away from him. "Two." She mumbled shakily.

Bard rolled over. "Two!? That is it? Why are you sleeping then?"

Astrid choked back every urge she had to hit him and remained silent. Bard sat up and began to pull his tunic off, revealing a toned, masculine chest and a swirling tribal tattoo on his lower abdomen. After he dropped his shirt on the floor he kicked his boots off with a thud.

"I am going to bed." Bard grumbled as he scooted his way to the top of the bed and covered himself in the fur. Astrid rose from where she was seated and scrambled towards the door.

"Where do you think you are going?" Bard asked, opening one eye. "Lay with me."

Astrid stopped dead in her tracks as her heart sank. She backed herself back up into the dimly lit room lowering herself onto the bed beside Bard.

"Get in here." Bard scolded lifting the covers.

Astrid crawled in beside him, tucking the covers up around her neck. Bard nuzzled up close to her and began breathing heavily on her neck. His hands began finding their way along every curve on Astrid's body, leaving them rested upon her breasts.

"I can now see how strong you are. Not a tear fell from your eyes, instead you laid down and slept." Bard whispered breathily. "I must see what else you are made of before I take you for my wife."

Bard moaned when he rolled onto his back. Astrid licked her dry, crackled lips while she watched the candle that was slowly going out on the table beside the bed.

--

In the blink of an eye the candle was out. Darkness consumed the eerie room while the emptiness grew in Astrid's heart. Darkness filled her life. Her light was gone forever.

Thanks for reading! I am not happy with this chapter but it will be alright (I hope)! Remember vote and comment!

💗Sarah Jane💗