Chapter 36: Planning for War

Astrid entered into the dining hall, glancing around at the stiff expressions written on the soldiers' faces. The a dreadful silence hung in the deadened room, creating an uneasy feeling in the pit of Astrid's stomach.

Gracefully, Astrid eased herself down onto the wooden bench, which sat directly across from Erika and Igor along with several of her warriors. Astrid politely poured a glass of wine, offering it to the nearby people. Each person respectfully declined, returning into a stiff daze.

Astrid glanced around, locking eyes with Erika, who held a cold expression.

"You all fought well today." Astrid remarked loudly, rising from the seat. Hastily, she inched her way to the front of the room, where she began to applaud. "Defeat is necessary before one can achieve victory." She stated, pacing back and forth before the crowd. "The faults present in our tactics that we used today has caused a minor problem in achieving our victor against these," Astrid paused a moment. "The Northmen. However, this loss cannot be a burden placed upon anyone because no one was prepared for the brutal fighting tactics of these men. Because of their violent ways, we have lost." She stared intensely at the men and women seated around her. "We will be better prepared when we fight again; and we will fight again very soon in the future."

"What is the status of the King?" A deep voice boomed from the back of the room. "Is he dead!?"

"No," Astrid reluctantly spoke, shaking her head slightly. "The King is not dead yet, but he is not well by any means." She paused, wiping away the sweat that beaded on her forehead. "Deman is on the verge of death because of the injuries he sustained and now we must take charge and find a new way to eliminate this enemy."

Pain was written along the men's faces, while cold stares pierced Astrid. At that moment Astrid knew they were tired of it all, just as she was, but it would not be over until Bard was dead. Knowing that everything would be over soon was enough motivation to keep her and the others fighting.

"We must create new battle plans or we shall lose again." Astrid informed, finding her way back toward her seat with Erika. She glanced up at Igor, who secretly whispered to Erika.

"My husband is right." Erika blurted, rising up from the table. "These men are not like normal men, they are far more fierce and violent. When they fight, they do not fear death, but desire it. There is no greater achievement in their world than to die in battle." Erika spoke, tugging her lip between her fingers. "They kill without warning and do it violently."

"You are one of them!" A man shouted over the hushed crowd.

A dark haired man rose in the back and rushed to the front of the room, shoving people out of his way. Each member of the audience stared at him confused. "Why are they leading our attack!? The king or his councilmen should be giving us orders, not a Viking!"

The crowd began to mumble among themselves. Astrid looked at the unsettled crowd, displeased with the reactions she was seeing. It was at that moment when she noticed disgruntled look upon Erika's face as she leisurely strolled away.

"Listen!" Astrid yelled, climbing upon the wooden table. The crowd remained noisy and disruptive. "I said, Listen to me!" She shouted once again, only much louder and bolder. Silence fell amongst the people as she climbed down. "You must keep your heads, men." She calmly spoke, patting Igor on the back. "Erika and her army are not like the enemy that we are fighting, they are our ally."

"But they are Vikings!" The same man yelled obnoxiously. "I cannot believe that you have betrayed the king by allowing these monsters to be in our presence."

Astrid faked a smile, approaching the man slowly. "How dare you think like that! Why would I betray my husband? I-"

"You were one of them before you came here! Were you not?" He rudely replied, slamming his hand against the table. "I think you should be removed just like your monstrous ally."

Astrid stopped beside him, cocking her head to the side and glaring at him with cold, beady eyes. "I do not believe that they are the monsters in this situation." She leaned close to him and softly whispered into his ear. "You are making me very angry and I would suggest that you leave my presence before I kill you."

"Kill me?" He sarcastically questioned, gasping dramatically. "That is the Viking coming out in you, is it not? Everyone is too blind to see that you are a monster just like they are."

"I suppose I am a monster," Astrid softly replied, staring back at the man expressionless. "But aren't we all? These 'monsters' that we are fighting bleed like us. They have feelings and families and beliefs just like you do--just like I do." She let out a deep sigh, pointing at the individuals around her. "I have found friendship within some of these people whom are your enemy. They are not all bad. It is just like the harvests, you cannot give up on the entire crop because of a rotten piece, instead you get rid of the bad and keep the good, and nourish it until it is what you desire."

"You speak only lies. I know that! The king knows that!" He paused from his unruly behavior, inching closer to Astrid's face until they were nose to nose. "Everyone knows how you really are. You are only a lying coward who wants to rule and-"

Astrid felt the blood boiling inside of her. Abruptly, she drew back in haste, striking the man with her tightly clinched fist. In a matter of seconds she and the man were wrestling vigorously. She jolted backward as she took a hard blow to the nose, causing a stream of blood to drip down her face. She paused momentarily, smearing the warm crimson liquid across her face and continued fighting, shoving him over the table. He attained a sword that was leaned against the nearby wall, causing Astrid to stop.

"You have just killed yourself," He slyly spoke as he stepped closer to her. "Queen Astrid."

Astrid nodded, heaving for a breath. "No sire, you have just marked your death." She replied, spitting blood from her mouth before spinning around and disarming the man. Quickly, Astrid drew out the knife from the sheath hidden in the top of her boot and stabbed it into the man's chest. The crowd gasped in awe as the gruesome scene unfolded before their eyes.

"You are right, I was one of them for a little while." Astrid commented, pulling her knife from his chest. "They taught me how to kill and never think twice." She watched in utter shock as he fell to the ground. Astrid let out a breath of air, running her fingers through the roots of her oily hair while contemplating what she had just done. Gracefully, she regained her posture. "Would anyone else like to obstruct this discussion, or insult my comrades and I?" Silence fell over the room as she limped back to her chair. "That is what I thought." Astrid paused, taking the seat in front of Erika. "Now let us discuss our business."

The room remained silent while each person thought to themselves. Servants roamed around between the men and women, serving wine and fruits to each person. Several of the women servants continued caring for the wounded warriors.

Astrid kept quiet as she thought to herself. She uncontrollably patted her fingers against the wooden table. "What if we attack from different angles?" She remarked, looking up at Erika. "You place your men behind the Northmen and as we begin to attack from the front, you fire arrows upon them."

"You mean ambush them from behind?" Erika questioned, raising a brow.

Astrid nodded, running her fingers along the cracks of the wood. "Move your ships onto the other side of the river. Make them believe you have left, then attack. They will never expect an attack like that from the land."

Erika frowned, shaking her head. "I think you should go from behind, your men are better equipped with arrows." She suggested, glancing over at a row of crossbows lined along the wall. "I will assign my army to attack from the front, where they will participate in hand to hand combat. Igor will be responsible for that group of warriors. I will go with you, Astrid, and we will kill Bard."

"I believe that our boats should remain at the shoreline so they cannot attack when you are vulnerable, which they will." Igor spoke, nodding agreeably.

Astrid pondered the information then nodded. "I believe that the plans could work. We shall attempt to fight the Northmen again in the next few days. The wounded men and women should regain enough strength before fighting another battle because we need every able body to fight with us." Astrid rose, waving to the crowd. "The meeting is now over. Go and do as you please." She bade the crowd goodbye before leaving the room hastily.

Astrid staggered up the spiral stairwell, while stiff pains formed throughout her entire body. She grasped a glowing torch from the wall and slowly made her way throughout the dark, cold hallway toward her depressing bedchamber. Quietly, Astrid pushed the heavy door open, where she was struck with a warm gust of air.

The room glowed with the blazing fire, showing every dark detail of the room. She placed the torch onto a sconce beside the door and quickly began mulling around the dull room in hopes to avoid the brutal truth of Deman's condition.

Astrid's eyes locked onto the motionless body of Deman. She let out a sharp, quick breath while watched his unsteady breaths, all the while mixed emotions filled her mind. Hesitantly, she stepped toward the bedside, where she lightly eased her pain-filled body onto the hard wooden chair. Her eyes remained fixated on the exposed parts of his bruised face. She lightly caressed his battered face, tracing her trembling fingers along the outline of his facial features, taking in every detail of him as if it was the last time she ever would.

"My beloved husband," Astrid whispered into the silence, resting her palm against his stubbly cheek. "I am waiting and praying for you to rise from this bed at any moment and lead your army to their much deserved victory," she paused, running her finger along his face, pausing at a large swollen bruise just below his eye. " however, I know that a miracle-a great miracle- must take place before you can do that." Astrid placed a kiss upon his cheek, while tears formed at the corner of her eyes. "Miracles can happen though. Look at all the miracles that have happened in my life. God brought me to you," her voice trailed off as she took him by the hand, entwining her fingers around his cold hand. "When I thought I could never love again. Now I know what it feels like to be truly loved and wanted. I know what it is like to have a home. That was a great miracle in my life so I know God can bring miracles."

Astrid kissed him once more on the cheek before rising and making her way toward the door. She left the room just as she had entered and roamed alone throughout the dimly lit halls until to she reached her favorite place in the castle- a tiny windowsill which overlooked the the land below. Carefully, she pushed herself up onto the cold stone, swinging her legs over the wide place resembling the way one would mount a horse. Peacefully, she leaned back and watched the clear night sky. Several bright stars twinkled on the black canvas, bringing a light of hope into Astrid's life. A stiff pain was beginning to form in her injured leg, which she pretended was not there. Reluctantly, she prodded it with the tip of her finger, causing a jolt of pain to rush through her body.

At that moment Astrid leaned her head against the stone wall, letting out an agonizing cry, which she had been holding in for quite sometime, that echoed throughout the sad, empty halls. It had not been until that moment that the brutal reality hit her with a mighty swing, bringing only a painful blow followed by complete sorrow.

"You cannot bear the burdens of every man on your shoulders alone, Astrid." Erika's soothing voice remarked from within the tunnel of darkness. "I know you hurt, physically and mentally, but you must stay strong for your kingdom." She continued to speak, approaching Astrid with a dimly lit lantern. A smile crept upon her face, flashing her crooked teeth. "I still cannot believe you killed that man. I do not believe it has processed with anyone yet, actually." Erika remarked with a chuckle, staring kindly at Astrid. "Although, I strongly believe it helped the entire meeting."

Astrid smiled shyly, averting her eyes back into the the darkness. "What have I become?" Astrid asked, breaking the silence between them. Erika brushed a finger against her cheek reassuringly. "I killed an innocent man, Erika, for no real reason!" She slowly turned to face Erika on the window sill. "What would Deman say!? He would be furious with me! What about God!? What would he say?"

Erika propped herself against the wall. "That man deserved it, everyone seen he did. Also, if you had not killed him it would have been you they toted out in a sheet." Erika reassured her. "I would not worry about it any longer, Astrid. If it had been up to me, I would have killed him sooner."

Astrid smiled at her remark, looking up at the night sky. She closed her eyes, letting out a painful sigh. "Needless to say, you killed him with the daggers you stared at him."

"True." Erika laughed, patting Astrid on the shoulder. "How is your leg? The way you were moving out there I am surprised you are not sore."

Astrid shrugged, slightly shaking her head. "I am very sore, but I cannot let that bother me now. I have much larger problems that I must deal with." She paused, letting out a sigh. "Also, it cannot hurt any worse than any other injuries I have had. I am used to dealing with pain."

Erika nodded, moistening her lips. "I suppose you will fight even though you are wounded?" She questioned raising a brow.

Astrid stared at her blankly, before laughing uncontrollably. "Do you think I will quite because of a little flesh wound? I would fight if it was with my dying breath."

"That is what I thought you would say." Erika smiled, patting Astrid on the shoulder. "I believe I will leave you be for now. If I may, I would suggest that you not be too vigorous until you heal partially." She winked and nodded. "I bid you a very good night."

"Same to you, Erika." Astrid meekly replied, watching her as the dim light she held vanished into the dark hall.

Astrid swallowed hard, letting out a deep sigh as she looked up at a single bright star.

"God," she mumbled into the still night. "If you can hear me give me the strength I need to carry through with all of this. Help me to accept what life is giving me." She folded her hands together, raising them into the air. "Please, o God, please..." Her voice trailed off as she shook her head. "Make something happen. I do not care what you do, just let me know that you are hearing me. Amen."

Her eyes settled onto the Northmen's camps below. She was ready for war once again...

Thanks for reading! Remember to vote and comment. I am sorry for the very slow update. I have been extremely busy with other actives and my writing has fell short.