Chapter 18 Skarth the Godless #2
“You are old enough to understand that today, we incite war. I do not know if we will win this time.”
Sune’s eyes soften, but my brave boy doesn’t cry. “You will not return?”
“With everything I am, I will try my hardest, but all's fair in love and war, my son. If I do not, I need you to look after your mother. She will be all right because she is a fighter, just like you and Loki. But you are my eldest son, and you are the man of this house when I am not here.
“Can you do that for me?”
Sune nods, his chest suddenly puffing out in pride. “Yes, Father. But you will be back. Promise me.”
“I cannot promise that, Sune. Only the gods know what is in my future. But know I will fight until death to return to you, your brother, and your mother. I am proud to be your father. Never forget that. I love you, my boy. My firstborn. My life.”
I remove the silver arm ring and place it around Sune’s wrist. It’s in the shape of a wolf.
Sune’s bravado soon lowers, and he throws his arms around my neck, hugging me tight. “I love you too, Faeir.”
This is the closest I’ll ever get to perfection because perfection would be us finally being a family, living in peace and harmony.
But I remind myself this is the reason I do this.
I kiss Sune on the forehead before bidding him farewell.
I leave my sons with a bittersweet happiness in my heart. “Until I see you again,” I say under my breath.
I round the corner as I make my way back to Emeline and bump into Ulf. It’s apparent he knows what Loki said.
“The gods are not always right,” he states, tying his long hair back, ready for battle.
“They are rarely wrong, either, my friend. Look after my family when I cannot.”
“You do not need to ask,” he says with conviction. “They will be safe. I will protect them with my life. But that will not be necessary because you will live to see another day.”
We both know that is not true, but we humor one another nonetheless.
“If you do not, then I vow to keep Emeline warm at night.”
In response, I punch him in the chin, splitting his lip open.
He laughs, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand. “Works a charm.”
What better way to ensure my survival than threatening to bed Emeline in my absence? In his warped way, these are Ulf’s words of encouragement.
I’m going to miss this arsehole.
We walk in silence, the reality of what awaits us becoming real. And as Emeline, amidst swinging a sword, comes into view, both Ulf and I inhale deeply.
It’s time.
She’s attempting last-minute training with the men. Pushing them into formation and teaching them the proper way to use their shields and swords. It’s a technique she learned from fighting alongside Danes.
She is a vision as she fights with precision. But it’s all in vain.
“I do not think we have ever gone into battle with the odds so against us,” I say to Ulf as our eyes are still glued to Emeline.
“That has never stopped us in the past. We can always forfeit this fight. Go back home.”
But I shake my head. “We are not cowards. We do not run. I accept whatever fate the gods deliver.”
“Good, because for a moment there, I thought you had misplaced your balls.”
I chuckle.
Aedan walks over, battle-ready. “The men are as ready as they’ll ever be.”
Sigrith holds my sons’ hands, standing atop the hill. A beautiful parting vision with the sun beaming down behind them, they appear like a true gift from the gods.
Emeline sees them, and I suspect she will say goodbye. But I am surprised when she does not. She instead walks over, nothing but worry plaguing her. I kiss her forehead and take her hand, leading her to our horses.
There is no room for goodbyes because Emeline refuses to accept it. We all know our places, so it’s time to attack.
We both mount them, and I cluck my tongue.
We ride toward the palace and hope we don’t encounter trouble along the way.
* * *
The ride is long, and we’re both tired.
Other than watering the horses for a few minutes, we don’t stop. We ride toward the castle, on alert for an ambush that never comes.
It’s too quiet.
It takes us two days instead of three, but with a few miles away, Emeline clucks her tongue and tugs on the reins. Her horse comes to a halt, and mine follows suit as I wonder why we have stopped. She dismounts and walks away.
I assume she needs space.
I know better than to crowd her, so once I dismount, I lead both horses to the stream.
Emeline keeps her back turned, arms folded, and she’s deep in thought. I wonder if her sixth sense has kicked in and she knows what Loki said. Emotions are high as things are up in the air.
I hate that this is how it ends, but I don’t regret a minute because if my death is Emeline’s freedom, then I embrace what comes.
“Our love has been nothing but a tragedy. How can two people who love one another so much constantly have the world against them? Perhaps the universe speaks, and we don’t listen.”
I understand her frustration, but we agreed that there is no other choice.
“Emeline, look at me.”
But she keeps her back turned.
My heart breaks knowing that our last moments on this earth are ones filled with sadness and regret.
“Love does not make sense. It’s not fair. And most times, all it does is hurt. But I do not regret a single thing because I had your love, and we have experienced so much. We have survived, hugrekki.
“Our love has survived. And it will withstand the test of time. Our love will be spoken about for generations to come because there is no other story of the Saxon princess who sacrificed everything for her beloved Viking.”
Emeline’s shoulders shudder, hinting that she is crying.
“Please do not cry because it is over…smile because we lived.”
I walk over to her, but a snap around my wrists has me turning over my shoulder to see Ulf standing behind me, chain in hand. He has snapped manacles around me, binding my wrists together.
Before I have a chance to ask what he’s doing, he punches me in the face.
“Have you gone mad?” I cry, shaking the fog from my brain.
He doesn’t reply and tosses the chain around my throat and leads me toward the closest tree.
I dig my fingers under the restraint, but it’s too late.
I’m not going anywhere.
He fastens me to the tree trunk, and because my hands are restrained, I am rendered helpless. Emeline walks over, her face heavy with sorrow.
“What have you done?” I ask her, attempting to break free.
“I’m not going to sit back and allow you to sacrifice yourself. Loki told me many moons ago that you leave us over and over again, until one day you will never return. Your heart is heavy, but you do this to save me.
“I never really understood what he meant, but now, I do.”
“Emeline, if this is the will of the gods, then so be it.”
She purses her lips. “Oh, fuck the gods.”
Both Ulf and I gasp, because speaking such disrespect does not go unpunished.
“I do not accept that. I only just got you back, and I will fight every god to keep you here.”
“If I do not present myself with you to Aethelbald, he will kill you on sight, as he will believe I am planning an ambush and offering you as a distraction.”
Emeline nods. “You are right…which is why there is a change of plans.”
“No.” I violently shake my head, desperate to break free. “Let me go!”
Emeline ignores me as she retrieves a vial from her pocket.
“Emeline, do not be stupid! This will not work! You know that it won’t. You sacrifice the lives of hundreds to save one! Do not do this! I cannot protect you like this!”
She douses a white handkerchief with the clear liquid from the vial and walks over to me. “It is my turn to protect you this time. Forgive me.”
Before I can protest, she places the white cloth over my mouth and nose, forcing me to inhale. I smell cloves and lavender and something bitter.
“The brothers said you’ll be awake come morrow. Something to subdue you. So sleep now, sweet prince, for when you wake, we will be together.”
With every ounce of strength I have in me, I fight against the urge to sleep, but my eyelids grow heavy, as do my arms and legs. Before long, I barely feel alive.
“A dead martyr is a stupid one. I won’t allow any harm to befall her. I vow to the gods,” Ulf says into my ear, placing a blade into his pocket. “Sigrith will be here soon to keep watch until you wake.”
I want to fight, but my body grows lax, and I succumb to a slumber so deep that I’m not sure what I will face when I wake.