Chapter 7: A Fair Trade

Astrid arose from Jezebel's side on the pallet, storming towards the rounded wooden door that led to the feasting hall, which was also used for meetings with the public villagers.

"Do not go in there, Astrid." Knute ordered, rushing out ahead and blocking the doorway. "Not right now anyway." he insisted.

Astrid looked around the dark, house. Light illuminated from candles burning along the walls and table. The felling of despair and betrayal began to invade her heart. Her eyes fixed upon Knute, studying his peaceful face. His tender blue eyes twinkled by the light of the torch hanging beside of the doorway. He crossed his arms over his chest, placing his hands onto the tops of his arms. Astrid remembered seeing him do this when he was ashamed or saddened by something.

Astrid sighed. "I have to go in there Knute!" She mumbled, approaching closer to him.

"I cannot tell you what to do, Astrid, but I do not believe it is best for you to go in there. Do what you feel is right for you." Knute stated, rubbing the back of his exposed neck. Without hesitation, he glided away from the door's entranceway.

Astrid inspected the door fully before raising her hand to the golden ring to pull it open. She glanced at Knute, who looked back with a gloomy expression, and gave him a nod before flapping the door open widely and storming inside.

A large group of Bard's men were seated at the tables listening to the bargains that were being made by Erick. Erick sat at the end of the isle in his high-backed, carved oak throne in front of the table with his son to his left.

"Ah, welcome Astrid?" Erick greeted, motioning her towards the front of the room.

"What do you think you are doing!?" Astrid shouted, scowling at Erick.

"I am completing some business with my son." Erick rose from the throne, glaring at her coldly. Anger boiled on his stern face. He met Astrid half-way down the empty walk space. "If you would like to know, I am selling you to my son. The agreement has been set."

Astrid felt her heart sink as the words repeated in her mind. She began to shake her head vigorously, denying the fact. "You cannot do that to me, Erick. I have lived here eleven years of my life serving your house." She cried, tears glazing over her yes.

Erick straightened his posture, gazing back over towards his son, who seemed to be enjoying every minute.

"I am sorry but it must be done." Erick ruled, walking back to his chair where he sat down. "I need the help he has to offer more than I need you. You have always been a pitiful slave."

Astrid gazed at the men sitting around her, waiting for something else to be spoken. She felt anger boiling inside of her leaving it nowhere else to go but out of her mouth.

"I do not think you heard me." Astrid blurted. "I have lived here eleven years of my life. I have tried so hard to grow accustom to this life and I almost have. I am still trying to make myself understand that I will never see a day where I am free again." She paused to catch her breath. "When you took it all, and I mean all, from me and brought me here you showed me kindness. I trusted you. Why are you doing this to me?"

The room stood silent. Erick watched Astrid disgruntled, before making his way toward her.

"Then you cannot blame me for your own mistakes. You should have never trusted me, or anyone for that matter. I am only human just like everyone in here. The gods have not given me any special powers that make me different. Though I wish I had powers of such, I do not posses them." Erick smiled a smug grin. "I cannot help that you trusted me. Maybe you have learned now that you cannot trust anyone in this world, Astrid. Those who you trust the most can, and will, turn on you. You are my slave and I can do with you what I so choose to do. Do you understand?"

Astrid nodded in agreement. Astrid felt her cheeks red hot with anger, knowing that it did not matter what she said, nothing would change the mind of the power-crazed Erick. She felt her heart hardening more now with this betrayal. She then promised herself no more opinionated words would be spoken from her mouth.

"Return to your business for now. I will deal with you later." Erick fanned her away, turning back to the crowd of people. "Then it is settled. Our forces will come together and we shall raid into Northern France in this week. You all may leave." Erick stated. "All but you, Astrid."

The men began filing out of the room, one by one, until Astrid, Erick and Bard were left. Astrid stared at the ground, ashamed at what had happened. Bard made his way to Astrid's side, taking her by the arm. She looked up at him, furrowing her brows.

Erick raised is hand back, while Astrid graced herself for a strike.

"I cannot strike you." Erick spoke as his rage melted away. "If this happens again, know that I cannot nor will not let it go--" he grasped her shoulders tightly. "You will be punished." He waved for Bard to approach them. "This is my son Bard. He will be your slave master soon."

Bard approached them, bowing gracefully before them. "I hope that You will respect me the same as you respect my father." He said. "And I hope that you will like me as a master."

"Thank you, sire. I am sure you will be a good master." Astrid insured, faking a smile. "If I am allowed, I would like to leave."

Bard closed his eyes and nodded. Astrid bowed before leaving the room. Upon closing the door, she leaned up against it, sliding her back down until she was sitting on the ground. She leaned her head back against the wood, tilting it to the side to fight back the tears, which pricked her reddened eyes. Knute approached her quietly, glancing down at her.

"What are you doing out here?" Knute asked, stretching out his hand to help her up.

Astrid grasped his hand, hoisting herself up from the cold, hard ground. "I am trying to forget the sorrows that have flooded my soul once again. Knute, I am dying on the inside. I do not know what to do anymore." Astrid whispered as the tears began falling from her eyes, first the left then the right into a free-fall.

Knute pulled her into an embrace, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and back. She laid her head down upon his chest as her tears fell rapidly onto his gray woolen tunic. He placed a kiss on the top of Astrid's head, reassuring her that it everything would be alright, as he stroked the braid down her back.

"Bard is a good man." Knute commented, pulling Astrid away from him and tiling her chin upward. "You will go far, Astrid. Keep your head high and do not let the world get to you and you shall make it just fine."

Astrid nodded. "I am scared, Knute. It is like I have to learn how to live all over again. I do not want to."

Knute took her hands into his large, rough hands. "You are a strong woman. I know you are, I've seen it in you." He uttered as he leant down and kissed her on the cheek. "Go on to bed. I shall talk to you in the morning. Alright?" Knute advised, sending Astrid on her way back to the pallet where Jezebel lay stiff, sleeping away her sorrows.

Astrid wondered how Jezebel felt about Oliefsborg and the people living here. All she knew was that there was nothing left for her. She did not want to leave with Bard, she had grown accustom to this place, but she was mainly worried about leaving Knute. Knute is a free man with a whole life ahead of him, why would he ever want a slave girl like myself? Astrid thought to herself as she pulled the sheepskin blanket over her lap, leaning against the wall. She looked briefly down at Jezebel, reminiscing on all of the events that have led up to now. Jezebel had been like a mother to her ever since the Northmen attacked her village. How could she ever bear to leave her? Astrid wondered, closing her eyes and attempting to rest. She knew it was already the morning just early. Feasts lasted for hours on end with Erick, especially if a meeting was held. Astrid felt her head begin to bob then she was sound asleep, letting the dreams of her dead mother and sister haunt her soul once more- reliving each scream and cry that was made in Hamburg.

Knute strolled calmly into the feasting hall where he found Bard and Erick sitting together, talking and planning what was to happen. The majority of the candles had gone out, leaving a dark, eerie glow casted inside of the room.

"Erick?" Knute said, butting himself into their conversation.

Erick raised an eyebrow at him taking his attention from his cup of mead. "Yes?"

"I need to speak with you," Knute answered, looking at Bard who was drinking something from a horn. "Alone."

Erick fixated his eyes upon Knute, who glared at Bard and Erick.

"Very well. Bard you may leave." Erick arose from his chair and placed his cup down onto the nearest table before stretching and letting out a long, loud yawn. "What do you want?"

"You've killed Astrid." Knute snapped, rushing towards Erick aggressively.

Erick put his left arm over his chest as he turned to his side, fearing what Knute rage might bring. "I never harmed her. She is fine. If you do not believe me go out there and look beside of Jezebel." Erick clarified, pointing in the direction of the door.

"I know she is alive but she is dead on the inside." Knute informed, taking Erick by the shoulders. "You love Astrid dearly, as do many of us, why did you sell her to Bard!?"

Erick placed his hands over his face, hiding his shame. He began shaking his head violently. "It was the only thing he asked for. If I had not have traded Astrid we would not have had any additional forces."

Knute's eyes grew wide with anger. "You should be ashamed of yourself. You have hurt Astrid in a way that cannot be fixed and it was all for yourself!" he argued, throwing his hands into the air. "The gods should punish you for this!"

Erick glanced up, placing his hands back to his sides.

"She was dead on the inside already. I only finished her off." Erick bluntly stated. "You can leave my presence now."

Knute stared at him disgusted at what Erick had just spoken. "I will gladly leave you." He responded, leaving the room just as he had come in—calmly.

Astrid woke up to Jezebel shaking her lightly. Morning had come quickly once Astrid had went to sleep. She hoped she would arise and everything that had happened was just a dream but reality hit her making her know life was changed for good and it would never be the same again.

"Why did you not wake me up last night when you got sold?" Jezebel whispered angrily.

Astrid sat up straight, looking at her with wide red eyes. "How did you find out?" She asked, pushing herself up from the bed.

"I overheard Erick and Bard discussing the matter." Jezebel chatted, leaning closely to her ear. "You cannot leave me here, not like this, not in my condition."

Astrid's forehead crinkled with confusion. "What do you mean 'your condition'?" she asked, stepping away from Jezebel.

"I am with child." Jezebel muttered as fear wrote across her face. "It is Erick's child."

Astrid's eyes grew wild with bewilderment and her mouth dropped open. She turned away from Jezebel, running her fingers through her hair letting the words re-run themselves over and over again.

"You are with child?" Astrid asked again, making sure she heard her friend right.

Jezebel nodded. "I only thought I was sick, but now I see that it is something else." She stated, pulling her loose fitting dress tight against her stomach, exposing a small bump.

"Does Erick know?" Astrid questioned, moving Jezebel's hand away from her stomach.

Jezebel shook her head, disagreeing. "I never have got the chance to tell him. Anyway, I do not know how to go about informing him."

"I will help you just remain calm." Astrid remarked, taking her by the arm and walking towards the doorway. "They will be raiding in a few days and it is un-telling how long they will be gone. You have to tell him before then or he will think it is someone else's child."  She whispered, catching a glimpse of Bard off in the distance watching them closely.

"Astrid!" Bard called, motioning her towards him.

Astrid assure Jezebel everything would be fine before walking over towards Bard, who was standing near the table beside firepit, which was not burning.

"Yes sire?" Astrid asked.

"I want to offer you a proposition that I believe you cannot resist." Bard exclaimed, leading her to the bench where they sat down side by side.

"What do you have to offer me?" Astrid inquired, facing Bard who was smiling.

"Your freedom," Bard said, raising a finger. "If you fight with me on this raid."

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