The Frenzy of Love & War

The Dream

The servants scrubbed Hedda roughly. The blood dried hard on her skin and in her hair. Hedda felt numb, as it finally had sunk in that her family was dead. She had no more tears to cry, and she felt nothing as there was nothing to be done now. The servants pulled her around cleaning her and putting her in clean clothes. So many questions were running through her head ‘Who attacked them? Why did they wait for our warriors to return? How did they know our language? What kind of armor were they wearing? What will she do now?’ The servants closed the door behind them, and Hedda buried her face in her hands. Her body was in pain, her heart was in pain, and she wanted to rest. She crawled into the warm bed and fell asleep.

When she opened her eyes, she felt someone’s warm next to her. She turned around and saw Ivar. She lightly touched his face, and his eyes fluttered open. He smiled and softly kissed her lips moving closer to her. He slipped his hands under her shirt caressing her in places she had never been touched. He swiftly removed her clothes and she was bare underneath the animal furs in bed. She was moaning softly as she had her hands tangled in his hair, and while his face was buried in her neck. She let go of his hair and her hands felt wet, she looked down and they were covered in blood. She gasped and pushed away from Ivar, but he held on looking at her weakly. 

“Why didn’t you help me? Why didn’t you try to save me?” He said.

Her breath caught in her throat “I...I didn’t…” She looked up from Ivar and saw her father, Unn, Turid, and Bera standing beside the bed.

“You left us to die.” 

Hedda woke up with a scream clutching the blankets to her. She was sweating and began wildly looking around the room. It was dark except for a few candles. “It was a dream, it was just a dream. There was nothing I could do for them.” She repeated to herself when a servant rushed in. 

“Are you okay?” 

Hedda didn’t even acknowledge them and continued mumbling to herself. The servant left and returned again with someone else. 

Hedda was on her side staring blankly at the wall. Einar crouched in front of her, breaking her trance. She sat up and grabbed his fresh tunic “There is nothing I could do for them, right? I couldn’t have saved them?” 

Einar calmly enveloped her hand with his detaching it from his shirt, and placed it in her lap. He held both of her hands in his “There is nothing you could have done. It was too late, and there were too many of them.” 

Hearing him say that steadied her, and she bowed her head. He stood up and sat next to her on the bed, he wrapped his arms around her, and she softly cried until she couldn’t anymore. After she cooled down, Einar stood up and opened the door. “The food should be ready, and I can’t stand to be out there by myself since you made me look like a weakling”. 

Confused at this comment, Hedda wiped her eyes and walked out the door in front of Einar.

The mead hall was full when they entered, there was music and people loudly talking. Hedda met the Jarl’s eyes and he gestured for them to sit at a table near the front. She nodded and smiled politely, something felt wrong about the Jarl. When they arrived he didn’t seem surprised about the attack but almost worried. Was he worried his town would be next? Hedda shook away the thought and began eating the mutton sitting in front of her. Einar sat across from her and began drinking, eating and observing the room. It was filled with firelight, and people continued to pour in and out. It reminded Hedda so much of her home, she was beginning to fill with anxiety when Jarl Ove came over. He pushed a cup of mead to Hedda “You’ve had a long journey. Why don’t you relax? The servants said you had a hard time sleeping?”. 

Hedda pursed her lips and took the cup from the Jarl. She downed it and looked at Jarl Ove. He smiled and filled her cup again, and placed a hand on Einar’s shoulder “Good thing you were there. The gods only know what would have happened if you weren’t.” Einar didn’t look up at him, the Jarl looked back to Hedda “I wonder if there is a place for your father at Odin’s table Hedda. I know Freya always has openings.” He looked slyly at her and walked away. 

Lightning-quick Hedda was directly behind the Jarl, but something stopped her. She turned around and Einar grabbed her arm “Not now Erling. Not now.” 

Hedda sat down not taking her eyes off the Jarl. He sat down next to Eir and smirked happily watching his people. Eir looked at him fretfully. She looked down to Hedda and motioned outside.

Hedda glanced at Einar, and he shrugged and continued eating. 

She stood up and made her way where Eir had gestured.