When Youre Trying To Write And Your Last Two Functioning Brain Cells Start Yelling At Each Other

when you’re trying to write and your last two functioning brain cells start yelling at each other

King Harald (Vikings) - SFW Alphabet Headcanons

A/N: This is my first time writing for Harald, so I hope it doesn’t feel too OOC. A few mentions of smut under the cut, but nothing too dirty. Mostly just the soft, sweet stuff. (GIF not mine  — found on Google.)

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

Harald is an incredibly affectionate, romantic man. He’s driven by his passion and his heart, and he has always longed for true love. He lavishes you with affection, and he wants to take care of his woman. If the gods were kind enough to bring the two of you together, he feels like it’s his duty to honor that by showing his devotion in any way possible. He is the king, and he expects his queen to be treated as such.

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The Wild Hunt Chapter (1/6?) This is Why you Never Play with Oujia Boards

October 31st, 1987 Aethelswith Atheling (17),  Ainsley Burke (16),  Joan Hanson (17),  Sarah Harlow (17), and Heluna Umbria (16), went missing at  Mrs. Jane Harlow’s home at 147 Cherry Lane.  If anyone has information in regards to their whereabouts, please immediately inform your local police department or contact the Wessex County Police Department at 749-XXX-XXXX.

Saturday,10:30 pm Halloween night,  Sarah Harlow’s 17th birthday party.

Aethelswith had never been a fan of Halloween night. It wasn’t because her family was Catholic, nor was it the fact the Sarah always partied a little too hard on her birthday. Rather it was the strange occurrences that had started after her thirteenth birthday, specifically on Halloween night. The 31st seems to hold the worst omens for her. It was as if the things stalking her would grow evermore powerful starting on this day.  Birds would start watching her throughout the winter with beady little eyes, another time she swore something or someone tried to drown in her family’s pool, and now the ever increasing empty stares that seemed to followed her had begun to target her friends.

Joan with her vibrant red hair and ‘too cool to care’ attitude had started complaining about always being cold. Even in the middle of July, she dressed as if it was the middle of November. She felt like a walking corpse that was unable to retain heat. Shy Ainsley who rocked a bitchin brunette perm had the opposite problem. She was always hot, to the point when others touched her, it felt that her skin was oozing the very fires of Hell. Blonde Sarah had always said nothing was going on, but recently an alarming amount of bodily injuries had been piling up on her past boyfriends. Some had little nicks or cuts that they would wake up to find on their body, but the longer the boy had dated her the worst the injury. Just last week, her boyfriend Johnny broke his leg by falling down a flight of stairs. He swore that someone pushed him. But out all of these strange events, the craziest occurrence was Heluna was in love.

Heluna, who was technically Aethelswith’s aunt,  grew up in a rather strict household.  This pure angel, goody-two-shoes,  teacher’s pet, perfection incarnate had broken parents' cardinal rule: if you’re dating we must meet the boy first.

Not only had Heluna failed to mention him to her parents, but gave as little as possible information to her friends. The only information her friends had gotten her was that his name was Sigurd, and according to Heluna, he was a dreamboat with blonde hair and snake-like eyes. They had met at the reptile exhibit at the zoo in June. He sends her poems and love songs coined ‘ to my love Blaeja’.  Apparently, it was a compliment to Heluna's black eyes. It might be the first time in Heluna’s life that she had any true freedom to make her own choice.  It was like she was planning their wedding already and the following escape from her father’s control. Interrupting Aethelswith thoughts Sarah pulled out something out of the living room closet.

“ Girls, let's play a game” Sarah called out. Out of the corner of her blue eyes, she saw the infamous Ouija Board.

“No, way I am doing that!” Ainsley whispered. Her brown doe eyes widened in fear as if she knew who was on the other side.

“Come on! As the birthday girl for the next hour and a half, I get to decide what we get to do. Besides, don’t you guys want to take a little risk.” Sarah scanned the room directly looking at Heluna, Ainsley and her knowing they would be the most reluctant.

“ Whose in?” Sarah asked while setting the board down on the coffee table.

“ I’ll join” Joan called from the kitchen after getting another slice of pizza.

“So will I” Heluna called triumphantly, moving towards the coffee table.

“Heluna, you can’t be serious. Your dad is going to kill you when he finds out.” Aethelswith warned.  She could feel it in her gut. A cold, sickening feeling squirmed in her stomach.  It was if the room was growing darker, heavier as if more people had joined the room as if they were waiting for them to play or, worst, pushing them to play. Perhaps she was the only one that could tell. Rationally, she told herself it’s just Halloween jitters, nothing is out there or in here.

“ I totally agree, with Ash. Can’t, we like, just paint our nails or play Twister. Anything…  I don’t care… just not this.” Ainsley lithe body seemed the fall into herself as if she could feel the same things as Aethelswith.

“ Don’t worry about this Ainsley. I got it from Stacy. We’ll each ask a question and be done with it ok. I promise” Sarah gave a radiant reassuring smile ”Besides, you, I, and Stace are on the cheer team together. Would she really do anything bad to us? Plus, she left me some notes on this thing”

Sarah lifted the note from Stacey. Stacey was on the cheerleading team at their high school with Sarah and Ainsley. They were stereotypical popular girls at their school. Honestly, if Sarah hadn’t met her other friends at their Catholic school, Stacey probably would have led her into hot water, but Sarah was loyal to a fault.

She started to read the bright pink note.

Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great 17th.

Sorry, I couldn’t make it.  Love Stace.

Remember to keep these rules in mind while playing!

Rules From Stacy

Be Serious This is not a game

ALWAYS SAY GOODBYE

Ask one question at a time

DO NOT ask about God, when you will die, or where gold is buried.

NEVER play alone 

“See it's totally fine, don’t worry about it. Ainsley, Aethelswith come on please join.” Sarah whined until the remaining girls finally joined in. An unnatural chill came over the girls as their hands touched the planchette. Aethelswith could feel another hand on her wrist lightly tracing the skin as gently as a lover. But, of course, there was nothing there, nothing tangible, clearly, Aethelswith thought that she must be losing a little bit of her sanity. Shakingly, Sarah started speaking.

“Um, Hi, I’m Sarah, In the Star Wars shirt is Joan. In the rainbow nightgown is Ainsley, in the blue PJs is Aethelswith, and to my left is Heluna. We would like to ask some questions”. After a short pause, Sarah continued.

“ Did someone push my boyfriend Johnny down a flight of stairs?”.

It felt as if the majority of the silent presence were slightly laughing at the expense of another person there. Slowly, the disk moved towards yes. The girls looked at each other with a silent agreement that none of them had truly moved it.

“Who did it?” Ainsley whispered barely loud enough for Aethelswith to hear despite being right next to her. The disk moved again but it was not the done by the same spirit as before. The disk started spelling. H-V-I-T-S-E-R-K.  

“Who the fuck is Hvitserk?” Joan uttered. The disk moved again slowly spelling more letters. A-M-O-N-S-T-E-R. The air gets colder as the light slowly dims above them. Flickering on and off. Ainsley visibility shuddered and whipped her hands off the disk.

“ I’m done! I’m not doing this anymore! I can’t take it touching me with those burning hands anymore!!” Ainsley yelled, fear contorting her face As she ran to the bathroom. Joan went after her, trying to calm the crying girl down.

“I think we should stop- ” Aethelswith replied but the hand tracing her wrist suddenly became a solid bruising grip preventing her from taking her hand off the disk.  A dark seductive voice whispered in her ear: You didn’t ask your question my beauty…. As a calloused hand ran through her curled locks.

“ Did you guys hear that?” she asked.

“What do you mean, I didn’t hear anything’ Sarah quipped as if trying to deny the ever growing gloom pressing down on them.  She continued. “Heluna ask your question, I’m going to go check on Ainsley and Joan. They’re taking a while.” Taking her hands off the disk as she went towards the hallway bathroom where it had become oddly silent.  Heluna took a shuddering breath before gathering her courage.

“Is Sigurd like Hvitserk- I mean is he an actual monster or are you using the term ‘monster’ as a description of Hvitserk’s personality?” Heluna asked but was replied with no movement from the board.

“ I think you need to ask something simpler or maybe you need to ask one question at a time,” Aethelswith responded quietly.

“ Ok. Where is Sigurd?” Heluna continued jokingly not thinking the board would know the answer. To their surprise, the disk began to move again. H-E-R-E.

“Sigurd, can’t be here. He doesn’t even live in this county-” She turned to Aethelswith

He told me he’s from-” a sharp knock came from the door interrupting her. They look away from the board and stared at the doorway.

“Heluna, don’t answer the door!” Aethelswith hissed, but a strange trance seemed to overtake Heluna. Black eyes almost glittering with want.

“But what if it's him... I’ll just answer the door and prove it's not.” She whispered back.

“Heluna, please! I can’t play alone, remember.” Aethelswith pleaded with wide blue eyes. Another harsher knock came from door impatiently waiting for them to answer. Heluna regained focus and looked back at Aethelswith nodding to finish the game. Taking a deep breath Aethelswith asked her question

“What do you want from us?” she questioned as the invisible hand holding her wrist began silently trail from wrist to her fingers. The hand settled on top off hers as it guided the disk. A-Q-U-E-E-N. It had taken a slight pause and began to move again. A W-I-F-E. It moved for a final time painfully gripping her hand. A-M-A-T-E ”  Ugh gag me with a spoon. What does this psycho think he’s talking about? Were, like, 17.” She thought to herself with disbelief.

“Hey, Heluna will you get the other girls? We need to say goodbye to board” Aethelswith stated growing tired of the hand on top of hers.

“Yeah let me go answer the door first,” Heluna said as she quickly moved from the living room.

“ I really don’t think that’s a good idea-” she was cut off by the hand crushing hers, keeping her hand on the disk. She could feel the sharp sting of claws digging into her skin. Suddenly, the room seemed to warp into another landscape entirely. The cream-colored living room faded into a stone covered walls. Taperaries were hung against the walls and furs covered the floor. She was bathed in firelight coming from the roaring fireplace. She could now see a discolored hand on top of hers. Claws protruded from where a normal person’s nails would be.

“Do not worry my princess. Soon we'll be together again” a dark gravelly voice spoke to her. She willed herself to look up at where the voice was coming from. The darkness obscured his face but from the shadows, she could make out curved horns, sharp teeth, leathery wings, and haunting ice blue eyes. She quickly tore her hand away from his, as she tore her body away.  shuffling from him as quickly as possible.

“Get away from me!” Aethelswith whispered frantically backing up towards the wall. He remained in the darkness but she could see the hurt in his eyes.

“You don’t remember do you?” he sighed, “ I suppose it has been so long since we were last together, my beauty. But after tonight, our long wait will be over and it will be as things once were. Before you were taken from me.”

Turning from the creature she ran out of the room her heart hammering in her chest. She wasn’t crazy, all this time she had been right. There had been something following her and her friends. She crashed through the wooden door in front of her leading back to the living room.

This can’t be right. Why am I back here? She thought to herself. She had to get her friends and say goodbye to that stupid board. Running to the hallway bathroom she swung open the door to discover Ainsley, Sarah, and Joan had disappeared.

Inside the bathroom, lava oozed from the bathroom mirror and burn marks covered the room. On the other side of the room, frost covered the shower tiles while snowy handprints showed an apparent struggle. The most disturbing part of the room was the floor. What had once been a pastel pink tiled floor now had a gaping hole in the center that only showed an earthen black abyss. Whatever had taken the girls was not of their world.

Rushing from the scene, she realized Heluna wasn’t with her. Please God, tell me she didn’t answer that damn door! In another sprint, she raced to the front door. Opening it to find it empty but crawling with snakes, from constrictors to vipers. Slamming and locking the door back behind her, she couldn’t help the fear rising back up.

This isn’t happening! I’m dreaming! Right of course. I’ve fallen asleep first like I always do. She thought to herself. Ignoring the ever present darkness closing in around her, she made the move to pinch herself. If it doesn’t hurt that must mean I’m dreaming. Quickly her right hand pinched her left arm but was only felt pain.

Oh God, why are doing this to us? Is it my fault? She thought. but was interrupted by the bang at the front door.

“Princess, unlock the door.” he chastised gently, “ We don’t want to keep the others waiting, do we?”. He was real, this was real. She gripped her crucifix as tears filled her eyes, and recited a prayer knowing it was the only thing that could help her now. She started speaking loudly,

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He causes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even when I walk in the valley of darkness, I will fear no evil for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff-they comfort-”

“Princess, you know I hate when you call on your precious Jesus Christ. You know he can’t help you now.” The voice was no longer sweetly chastising her, but replaced with a gravely demonic voice that dripped with acidity. As if he sensed her fear he returned to a sweet purring tone,

“I didn’t want to scare you too much, but we’re going to be late for the hunt princess…” he sighed.

“I guess we're going to have to play a little rough… but you always enjoyed that didn’t you? ” he chuckled darkly. Without a second to spare the figure kicked down the door showing the monster behind the door. Her breath caught in her throat, staring at the creature before her. He was strangely attractive with long braided hair, dark beard, and Armani suit. Like a predator on the prowl, he began to slowly advance towards her.

Shit Sarah, this is why we don’t play with Ouija boards! Aethelswith thought to herself as she slowly back stepped from him.  Stalling for time to get to the back kitchen door she faked bravery and began talking to the creature.

“Look, I’ve never met you in my life buddy. You’ve clearly got the wrong girl.” She boasted but remained unfazed by the announcement.

“Princess, it won’t be long until you remember. Now don’t make this difficult for me. I don’t like causing you pain, well, unless you ask for it. That’s a different story.” He chuckled.  

“Great, I’m dealing with some pervy demon intent on getting into my pants” she mused. But then inspiration struck her, perhaps I could entice him with her body. Sure she never had any real experience with that type of thing unless you count Edmund at eighth-grade bible camp, but then again she was pretty sure he was in the closet.  Subtly shifting her nightshirt  to show off some of her skin, she gave him her best fearful face pleading mercy with him

“Sir, please, I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. Please, won’t you just let me go? I promise I’ll behave” she pleaded, seeing the lust in his eyes. Only of few more steps lay between her and the back door.

“Oh, but Princess, I want play with you” He growled taking a swift lunge at his target, but she had already reached the door. Running into the dark forest not bothering to look back or think about what might in the woods she ran. Heart hammering in her chest, she ran further into the maze of forbidding trees. Taking a look behind her, she saw glowing blue eyes in the distant.“

You just made this so much more fun for me, Princess!” He laughed. It sounded like he was right behind her breathing down her neck.

 “Leave me alone!” Her shrill voice cried out, tears visibly coming down her face. With a loud crack another creature came from the woods. It was… It was a dog? Thinking of the sheer  absurdity of the situation, she could laugh to herself. But soon the body of the fluffy white dog began to grow adding another head, limbs, tails, until there were six eyes look back at her. These were no fluffy white dogs anymore, molted decaying skin clang to their skulls while they possess the same icy glowing blue eyes as their master. Another figure came up behind the hounds with the same glowing blue eyes.

“I see you’ve met my very own Cerberus.” He paused to look back at his princess running further to the starting line,”

When playing this game, it’s important not to make any noise” He shouted to her. Ignoring his words she continued running but the scratches and marks were blooding her skin and she knew she couldn’t keep up this pace. Suddenly she saw candlelight  in a window of a abandoned Victorian house. Not believing her luck she renewed her effort. Just a little farther and they’ll be someone there to help you she prayed. Crashing through the door  she found it entirely empty, but safe enough for her taste. Taking a turn back  she saw the demonic creature and his dogs  jogging at a leisurely pace. Flipping the bird  to them, she slammed the door, locked it and began pushing the nearest piece a furniture  against the door when the house changed around her. Changing from a decaying house, the candles began glow in force all around her, faded wallpaper return to it’s colorful hues, and broken and missing furniture filled the foyer. Turning to face a sweet girly voice Aethelswith faced a small blonde girl with purple bruises around her neck, staring at her with green eyes,

“ Are you ready to play the game?”

I was not expecting this answer but I can see it. Thanks to lauren-celeste for doing this for me. I guess my dream of being with Harald is just a fantasy. Although it gives me some great headcanons for Harald/reader/Ivar love triangle.

Could you do a ship for me? I'm 5'0, petite, with some curves and am 21. I have blue eyes and light brown hair. I have an ISFJ personality and a cancer zodiac. I would describe myself as introverted, caring, naive, serious, honest, and kind. I tend to believe that everyone is being serious with me so I often misunderstand when someone is being sarcastic or joking with me. I love cats and dogs, and I am becoming a teacher.

I ship you with….

Ivar The Boneless

Ships!

Send me some ships. You can describe yourself and I’ll ship you with someone from Vikings.

Killing Me Softly

trigger warning for mentions of rape

Someone Must get Hurt and it Won’t Be Me

Aethelswith

The smell of burning wood and bodies filled the air and sneaked through the cracks in their hiding place. All the screams still rang in her ears even though it had died down hours ago. Had it been hours? Minutes? Seconds? In the end, Aethelswith didn’t know who was alive, dead, taken, or tortured. Sooner or later, the Heathens would find her and the children who hid in the bell tower cupboard.

Aethelswith gathered the courage to speak putting on the facade of bravery to calm the children hiding with her.

“Bridget, Avery, Lorna, I need you to stay here. You must promise me not to leave until the Heathens are gone” she whispered to the frightened children.

“You're not going leave us right princess?” poor blind Beth pleaded. Visibly shaking with fear.

“ I have to go, they are looking for me and I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to you. You’ll have to look after one another. Will you promise me that? “ Aethelswith asked.

“Of course princess, if any of those Heathens come near us I’ll protect Leorna and Beth” Peter replied cheerfully masking his own fear.

“More like I’ll be protecting you.” Leorna quipped back despite knowing her lame leg prevented her from running like the other children. Aethelswith knew that if the Heathens found these children they would waste no time in killing them. Twisting the ring off her ring she gave it to Peter.

“ After the Heathens leave you will need to head to York. Show this ring to Lord Benton and tell him what happened here. He will take care of you.” She told them trying to maintain a facade of strength.  She began moving out of the tight cupboard space knowing she had to seek out the men that had ruin this safe haven: The Sons of Ragnar.

The stone corridors were eerily quiet as she snuck through the halls. It was as if she was entering a strange kind of purgatory as she descended through one of the stairwells. The silence wasn’t one of quiet reflection or prayer, it was the silence of death.  The only thing she could hear was her own rapid heartbeat and the slow breathes she was taking in order to calm herself down. Maybe they already left… they took what they wanted and left. She told herself, naively trying to convince herself of the better outcome. Motionless she took a look out one of the narrow windows in the stairway. What she saw was out her nightmares.

Limp dead bodies cover the grounds as Heathens took no notice of them as if they were just dirt under their shoes. The remains of burning buildings lay in ruins while men took pleasure in the women they took alive. They looked as if it was just another grand day for them as if they didn’t take the lives of innocents. A voice spoke to in her head ‘This is your fault. If you weren’t here this wouldn’t have happened. You're the reason they’re dead’. She slowly sank from the window trying to swallow back the tears and the guilt. It was the time to hate, to have no mercy for any enemy, mourning would be for later, anger and revenge would fill her heart now.

Finally, Aethelswith strode softly through corridor trying to make it without being spotted. She could hear two voices coming closer. It was now or never. It would be better to surprise them than or for them to surprise her. Making a swift movement out of the dark she made her way towards the men, increasing the sounds of her steps. ‘Only a few feet from them now’ She thought as they suddenly became aware of her presence.  A rough, calloused hand went grabbed her neck nearly crushing her neck.

“Er den lille sauen tapt?” the mocking voice crooned. He had unforgiving black eyes, queer tattoos covering his face, and her opinion, the most ridiculous haircut she has ever seen. Another hand started caressing her face with an almost tender touch but spoke with an equally dark voice.

“Nå bror, jeg vil ikke at du skal skade den vakre jenta for mye. Afterall, er hun ikke modig for å komme ut med å leke med oss?”. The one who spoke had cold ice blue eyes, similar facial tattoos, an attractive face, and a stupidly long brunette braid. She wasn’t going to even bother to translate what they had said to her. It was no doubt something derogatory that didn’t warrant a response. She straightened her back and spoke with all the confidence of a queen in their language.

“Jeg er prinsesse Aethelswith, og du vil bringe meg til å se ragnars sønner”. A rather surprised look came over the men as the hand slightly loosened around her neck. She continued speaking in their language.

“I am sure that the sons of Ragnar would like to see me unharmed and taken alive. As the granddaughter of King Ecbert, they would like me as a hostage.” slowly moving she carefully removed her earrings. They were gold with little blood red jewels in the center. It one of the few jewelry pieces she had taken with her, and now they were even more necessary to bargain for her safety.

“As payment you may have these.” putting out her hands with the earings, seeing if it would be enough to persuade them. The blonde eagerly took them, as the brunette began to speak again.  Quickly, she began translating what he was saying, silently thanking God for the lessons in the heathens language that she had been taught growing up.

“Why would you come out now little Princess? Were getting tired hearing your Christians dying? Hmm? Surely, you know what the sons of Ragnar will do to you.”   He questioned, almost, she thought, with some pity in his dark voice. “You should have stayed hidden,” he whispered as he took her arm not ungently but with urgency to take her away.  

“If I am to die on this day, then I would like to it to be over with. I believe you call it fate…” She took a pause, speaking more to herself than to them. “ Perhaps it’s my fate to die today after all the suffering I caused. Perhaps God wants me with him Heaven.” she mused to herself ignoring the snort by the blonde man. Thinking back on how this happened. thinking why had God forsaken his people in their time of need. Thinking about how this might have been her fault in some way.

.

The paper faded in and out view before her. It was of no use concentrating on minuscule details of the report on the springtime plow in Streoneshalh.  Aethelswith’s fingers gently tapped against the writing desk in the room she had been given at Streoneshalh. It had been about a year since Ragnar had died at the hands of King Aelle. Now, King Aelle’s limp body was lying in the forest where he had put Ragnar to death. It was only a matter of time before they came for Wessex despite the blind belief of her grandfather that the Sons of Ragnar wouldn’t attack.

Staring out the window, her blue eyes surveyed the peaceful happenings below. The everyday tasks went unencumbered in the courtyard. Townspeople and farmers went about their business in blissful ignorance. She briefly saw Joan and Sarah heading towards the barn. Joan easily recognizable with her bright red hair escaping through her veil while Sarah blonde braids wrapped around her head under her headscarf. Please God, do not let them come here, Aethelswith thought. After the kindness some of her family had shown Ivar, would he still want of all them dead? One side thought “Yes, of course. We sent his father to his death.  They’re Vikings all they know how to do is rape, plunder, steal, and murder.  Naively she believed he would come through. No, he made me a promise… doesn’t that count for something? she thought while tracing her lips.

It was one of the worst places to be on the defensive with a thick fog covering the area. Against the East Cliff, facing the North Sea, on the river Esk, and a two days ride York,  an attack by the Heathens would be an easy win. Surely, it would be safe enough to protect her and the people living here, right?  Why would her grandfather send her back here if it wasn’t safe?  Surely, the Heathens would not know of or search for her. Unless King Aelle had told them before his death about sending his daughter Heluna there. Surely, the man wouldn’t have been such a coward as to bargain his own daughter away in exchange for his own life? Aethelswith knew he didn’t like her mother’ s affair with the priest Athelstan, or fraternizing with King Ecbert, or painting of the Holy Scriptures but surely he still loved his children. The brief interactions with King Aelle left her with mixed feelings for him despite being her grandfather. He held ridiculous notions towards female intelligence and their place in the world. As for Heluna, she had few interactions with her to form a definite opinion but seemed like the perfect Christian princess.

As if her worst fears were realized, the eery ringing of the church bells began to ring, but not for mass or to signal the hours. A cold sweat broke out among her skin as she dared to look back out the window. Black smokes mixed with the heavy fog, while the people scrambled to get away from the oncoming slaughter. The blaring sounds of foreign horns signaled the cold call of death.  

No! No! Anyone but them. Anywhere but here! Please, God, do not abandon us!

A sickening feeling played within her mind. They were here for her or, at the very, least the demons would find her. Rooted to the ground she forced herself in a blind flurry out of her room. The corridors teemed with a flurry of rushing nuns and women running to escape the inevitable. Trying to move through panic to get somewhere, anywhere but here. Making her down the stairs through the suffocating amount of people an arm pulled through the crowd with a surprising amount of strength.

“ Aethelswith, come with me” an elderly voice called. It was Sister Edith, her confessor. She was one to the oldest member of the convent and it showed with a heavily wrinkled face and slightly bent back. She led Aethelswith away from the crowd with surprising speed and towards the ringing bell tower.

“Sister, we have to leave this place. It isn’t safe anymore!” Aethelswith stated. Wondering if the old lady had gone senile.

“ Oh, I  know that, but you won’t be any safer out there. Out there you’ll be easy prey for those animals” she responded. As if it was the most natural conclusion. “Besides” she continued, “ I’ve been here for twenty-five years. I’m not leaving anytime soon.”

“ But, they’ll kill you” Aethelswith whispered, not understanding why Sister Edith wouldn’t save herself.

“Well, I think I’m ready to join God in his kingdom. I’m too old to escape now.” Sister Edith chuckled. “Now, go and hide and wait for them to leave. I have to go find Princess Heluna”.  With a kiss on the cheek and a firm hug, Sister Edith shooed away to a safer place knowing that this would be their last goodbye alive.

Her heartbeat continued to hammer against her chest as she looked for a place to hide. How long would it take them to get there? 10 minutes? 5 minutes? 45 seconds? She was working with borrowed time and she knew it. Trying to reach higher ground, she ran through the various halls and staircases. She heard suddenly the quiet singing of a child with her hand tracing the wall. It was a sweet voice that belonged to a small girl, that could be no more than nine or ten.

“All glory, laud, and honour  To Thee, Redeemer, King! To Whom the lips of children  Made sweet Hosannas ring,”

Aethelswith quickly grabbed hold of the girl only to see that the girl was blind with a cloudy unnatural look.  Was she left behind? Could she not keep up with the others? Why didn’t anyone help her?

“Hello. Who are you? My name is Bridget...  Did Sister Mildred send you? “ She spoke without a worry in a dreamlike state. Her hands started feeling the clothing to see what she was wearing, trying to tell if she was friend or foe.

“ My name is Aethelswith, and we must hide quickly. The--” Aethelswith whispered quickly pulling her towards the belltower but she cut off by the girl.

“ Princess Aethelswith!” Bridget paused trying to make what Aethelswith suspected was an attempt at a curtsey. Bridget continued in an excited voice “ It is so wonderful to meet … I remember when you came by Tamworth in Merica… before the plague came and-” she was about to continue when a crash came from outside the building. She quickly ran to one of the windows to the sight of Hell. The heathens had crashed through the gate like wolves descending on a wounded deer. They were cutting down various townspeople that had tried to take refuge from the slaughter in town. More men took the nuns that had not managed to escape, defiling their holy virtue. She could picture it in her mind, the men burning the holy church, the rape of the holy women, them dragging her beaten body to the one who had promised her that no harm would come to her. He would mock her with his hauntingly beautiful blue eyes and taunt her naivety that she had entrusted him with such a promise.

She swiftly she turned from the horror before her and grabbed the hand of Bridget. Running as fast as she had ever done in entire life, all but dragging the girl to keep up with her. They needed to find somewhere to hide and fast. Before the heathens had made it to the upper levels.  Begging God she silently prayed give us shelter, give us mercy, protect us, please merciful Lord.

“They’re here, aren’t they? The Heathens. I can’t hear the bells ringing anymore.” Bridget whimpered. Her face was contorted with fear, knowing that the heathens had invaded their home.

“Yes, they are here Bridget-” Aethelswith paused, the bells, the belltower… “ I know we can hide Bridget.” Running with renewed effort, they went through the small door that led to the belltower. Gripping each other hands they climbed the stairwell together. Spotting the small cupboard opening only to find two other faces peering back at her. Ignoring them she pushed Bridget in the cramped space and wiggled herself in as well.

It was dark in the cramped cupboard space but she could barely make out the other little faces with her. One that she recognized was the face of a reedy pox-marked, flaxen-haired boy. His name was Avery, an orphan from a village about 20 miles north of Streonshalh and usually worked in the barn. The pox had nearly wiped out the village a 5 years ago, but he had survived by the grace of God. The other face was of a pretty girl with a mop of brown curls. She had a crutch by her right leg. Aethelswith remembered a letter that she had been sent on the status orphanage she was the patronage of at Streonshalh. Lorna, age eleven, beamed crushed her leg in a house fire. They were able to save the girl but not her father.

They were looking at her for what to do, for her to step up a show no fear, but instead, she was saving herself and hiding. Inside she felt like a coward, but another side of her thought was it truly wrong to try to save herself?

“Now children, we will have to be very quiet and we might have to stay here for a long time. Do you think you can do that for me?” Aethelswith whispered, and was met several nodding heads. Trying to comfort the children around her, she wondered how long it be until the Heathens would stop destroying the sanctuary around her and figure out that Princess Heluna and her were here under their noses. Surely, it wouldn’t take Ivar long to figure out that the best to cripple and taunt her father was to use her. The comforting knowledge that her father loved her now made her sick. What type of sick torture would they use on her to get back at him? For the first time in her life, she feared Ivar the Boneless.

The tightening around her arm intensified as the tow Heathen lead her to their destination. The sounds of laughter and the smells of food and alcohol were becoming more apparent as they closed, but it couldn’t stop the sickeningly sweet smell of death from sneaking into her nostrils. Then, she saw it, the bodies of the dead piled outside the church’s main door. They were heaped like discarded garbage instead of human beings.

A black feeling crept up inside, she dug her fingernails into her skin. They aren’t human, these heathens, they are the vilest creatures of this Earth. These good Christian people had never done anything to warrant this defilement. This is my fault, she thought to herself

Staring at the bodies, she started searching for anyone she knew, praying that she didn’t know any of them. But then she saw Sister Edith. It was almost like she was sleeping, but the blood stains coming from her chest betrayed that thought. It can’t be her, she didn’t deserve this.  Sharp breaths were coming in and out of her chest willing herself not to cry.

“What is the little christian going to cry” the blonde mocked cruelly. Black thoughts clouded her mind as she gave him a look that would scare the vilest demons in Hell

“ I promise you, you’ll never see me cry, not in your wildest dreams. If someone must get hurt it won’t be me.” she hissed.

“You sure about that,” he sang back, but before the blonde could do any more the brunette interceded,

“That’s enough brother. We made a promise. I intend to keep it.” He almost commanded as he looked back at her with what she thought might be the smallest bit of empathy.  He opened the church doors to an array of tall brutes of heathen men some with her Sisters of Christ.

She straighten her posture to that of queen, fully intending to show no mercy, give no quarter, and make them pay. Her thoughts as she entered the place that used to be for God were now a place for vengeance. You’ll wish you never met me, never betrayed me, and never set a foot in this country. For what you did to these people, you’ll regret ever crossing me.