Chương 49: Home at Last
Nothing felt right in this world, not the food she ate nor the water she drank. Everything was grey, bland, tasteless. That was how Rebekah had spent every waking moment of her existence since her mother had uttered three simple words to her.
Thorfinn was dead.
She did not want to believe it, he had persevered over all other challenges before, no matter how insurmountable they seemed. But even she could not imagine Thorfinn conquering the Leviathan, a creature that had given her nightmares as a child and had claimed the lives of many.
Thorfinn was dead.
What hurt most is the one responsible for his death was her father. Her father had doted on her since she was a little girl, but he had also suffocated her. She rarely left the Mikaelson home because it was unsafe for a flower such as her, and when she was allowed out it was only with the whole family. It was one of these outings she had first met Thorfinn. She thanked the gods every day that she had seen him, she couldn't imagine a life where they'd never met.
Yet now that's what she was faced with, a life without her bonded. The only thing stopping her from joining him was the child growing in her belly, but even then it was a close thing. Her heart was well and truly shattered; Thorfinn was her one and only, she'd know no other man until she joined with him in the halls of the Aesir.
Despite the state she was in she found no comfort from her mother who seemed to constantly be busy, though for what reason she didn't know. Elijah had taken the news hard despite the fact he did not show it. He had instead thrown himself into a task that Esther had given him —which was to build a massive palisade that went around Thorfinns homestead and the village. It took a while but with the fresh iron tools it went quickly, and while the fighting men of the village had gone there were still plenty of strong people to help dig trenches and place the logs. Elijah rarely spoke, he pushed himself into his work and then trained with the sword before eating and sleeping.
One person Rebekah expected to feel her pain was Hild. She bore Thorfinns child as well, they had been joined together in the eyes of the gods —or so Hild had told her. Yet she did nothing, the only difference in her behaviour was the nights she spent screaming as nightmares infested her sleep. In truth the only person she'd been able to seek comfort from was Gyda who had taken this just as hard as Rebekah had. They slept together a lot, Rebekah took comfort in holding the girl and asking her for stories of Thorfinn before they met.
Rebekah lay in the bed she shared with Gyda and Hild. The latter had already gotten up and was sitting outside stitching together an outfit she had been working on for a few days. Meanwhile, she and Gyda lay in bed, it was well past morning and they had not gotten up. Neither girl could summon the strength to leave their bed. Gyda was asleep lying on her side, Rebekah however was on her back. For months she'd been sleeping naked as she didn't like how her night gowns stretched over her belly.
Rebekah lay on her back her hands moving over her swollen stomach. Her baby would be coming soon, thoughts of it had been the only thing that had kept her mind off of Thorfinn. She wondered if she would have a girl or a boy. She wanted a boy, a powerful warrior as handsome as his father, but she would be just as happy with a girl.
Rebekah moved off the bed struggling slightly as she got up, her feet rubbing against the furs that had been laid on the ground. She walked slowly over to her dresser and pulled a loose gown out and pulled it over her head. She had been in here long enough, and as much as she'd like to stay she needed to go and eat so the baby would be strong.
Rebekah left the room, her stomach was comically big on her small frame making her waddle slightly. She emerged from the corridor into the main hall where she saw Hild standing over the fire pit cooking a meat stew. When she came in Hild looked up at her and a soft smile formed on her face. "Good morn, Rebekah," Hild said as she reached her hand out to her. Rebekah took the offered hand and let her guide her to a seat.
"Are you hungry?" Hild asked. Rebekah could only nod as she looked at Hild. Her morose mood seemed to have disappeared, she hadn't spoken for days apart from when she would scream herself awake every night. Now she acted as if it never happened.
Rebekah took the bowl of stew that Hild had given her. "Are you well Hild?" She asked.
Hild sat down with her own bowl of stew that she started to eat. She nodded. "I am well Rebekah, I am sorry for the sleepless nights I've been causing you, but worry not I am fine now," she said giving Rebekah a reassuring smile.
Sleepless nights was an understatement. Hild woke up screaming 'She is Coming!' Every night, it was so bad it caused Rebekah to have nightmares of her own. "I'm glad you're well..." Rebekah said quietly. She brought the spoon from the bowl to her lips tasting the rich broth, yet to her it was tasteless.
They both ate in silence, with Hild refilling her bowl and telling her she needed to eat more for the babe. "Do not worry Rebekah... Thorfinn hasn't left us yet," she said as she handed her back the bowl, grabbing her hand and rubbing it.
Rebekah looked up at Hild her eyes wide "What!? He's alive!? How do you know!?" She said, almost shouting and grabbing Hild's arm.
"I dreamed of it," Hild replied. "I dreamed of Thorfinn drowning in the ocean, his ship being crushed in a storm."
"But then I saw the storm break, I saw Thorfinn rise out of the ocean, he looked different, stronger... in my heart I know he is alive."
Rebekah didn't know she'd needed to hear those words so much. She started weeping as she grabbed Hild, the other woman stroked her hair as she wept.
"It's going to be okay Rebekah... I promise you and your baby will be okay."
...
*THUD*
*THUD*
*THUD*
Elijah slammed his axe into the tree again and again, each strike stronger and more aggressive than the last. With each hit, he was assaulted by flashes of memories, memories of Thorfinn. He had known the boy for a year and yet he would gladly call him family; even if he wasn't marrying his sister. What had hurt the most was the one that had killed Thorfinn was his father.
Elijah started hitting the tree harder, anger building up in his chest with every hit. Soon the tree couldn't take it anymore and it snapped, Elijah had to be pulled out of the way as the tree fell and slammed into the ground. "Watch out!" The older man said as he grabbed Elijah by the arm. Elijah breathed heavily as he looked at the fallen tree, he didn't say a word to the man who had pulled him out of the way. Instead, he slammed the axe into its trunk and walked off.
He marched through the forest his blood beginning the boil. His anger led him straight towards the house that his mother had taken residence in. He knocked on the door at first, but when he heard no answer he barged through the door. Inside was not what he was expecting, everywhere on the tables and the floors, nailed to the walls the walls were flat stones inscribed with runes he'd never seen before. He knew of his mother's sorcery, but he didn't know how far she truly delved into the arts. He had thought it mostly involved mixing potions and the sort, but this was different. The atmosphere in here felt oppressive, and even a battle-hardened warrior such as himself wanted to leave.
"Mother..." Elijah said gritting his teeth as he stepped through the door.
Esther did not answer, she was still leant over the table looking through one of her many books.
"Mother!" Elijah said louder which managed to snap her out of her thoughts.
"Elijah, I'm busy," she said before leaning back over the table not giving him another thought. Elijah might have left it at that in the past but right now he wanted to know why she'd come, he wouldn't accept the secrets and lies that infested their family. Not now.
Elijah walked forward his feet carving a path through the runes that littered the floor. Esther hadn't given him any notice, not even when he was the length of a breath away from her. His anger getting the better of him, he grabbed the book his mother was reading and threw it across the room. "Are you busy now?" He said in a stoic voice, though those who knew him would be able to tell how angry he was.
Esther didn't react at first, a few moments later however she turned around and looked up at Elijah.
"Why are you here Mother..." Elijah asked simply. He didn't want to go through the constant games his mother liked to play, he wanted a simple answer to his question.
Esther remained just as stoic as her son as she looked at him. "I am here, because she is coming."
————————————————————-
Five hard days of marching and they had finally reached Kattegat. Thorfinn appreciated this most of all, it seemed he had barely gotten a chance to rest since he had returned at the end of summer. Being ambushed, sent to slay the leviathan, being ambushed again, fighting the jarl's men, fighting werewolves. It seemed that he had barely gotten a moment's rest and now he felt he was long overdue one.
Though in truth he just wanted to return to his farm and see everyone. Give Rebekah the good news, that nothing would stop them from marrying now. But he was the Jarl and he had work to do before he could indulge in such luxuries. He could allow a close friend such as Floki or Ragnar to take over, but it would be a bad start to his rule. He was already younger than all the previous Jarls, and Northmen had short memories. They would forget about all of his deeds the moment a bad winter hit or a sickness spread through Kattegat and they needed to blame someone.
He needed to solidify his rule, once he did that he would go and be with his wife and the others. As he rode on his horse he considered sending for Rebekah and the others to come, and while it was a relatively short journey he knew that she must be close to giving birth. He didn't want to risk her being out in the open when it happened and not somewhere warm and comfortable.
A giggle from his left brought him out of his thoughts. "It seems we have friends coming out to greet us," Floki said with a grin on his face.
Thorfinn looked ahead and saw the men from his village blocking the entrance with a shield wall. Kattegat looked slightly different than when he had left nearly two weeks ago, his men had followed his commands and had placed wooden spikes around the village making it more defensible, there was even what looked like a half-constructed guard tower. He could also see half a dozen archers taking up positions behind them. The men behind Thorfinn tensed and drew their weapons. Thorfinn didn't give them another chance to escalate and shouted at them to put their weapons away. He then urged his horse forward galloping over to Kattegat.
Once he got within sight and he took the hood from his cloak off they put their shields down. "Jarl Thorfinn!" One of them cheered which was then quickly echoed by the others. Thorfinn jumped off his horse and turned urging the rest of them to come with his arm. His men welcomed him back clapping him on the shoulder and slapping his arms. Near the front of the shield wall was Magni, the giant of his village and someone he had put in charge of keeping the peace within the village —to take some of the load off of Storri.
"How goes the village," Thorfinn asked as he clasped arms with the man.
"Quiet, people are happy and content now they have food in their bellies and do not fear men breaking into their homes at night," Magni replied.
Thorfinn nodded. That was good, he needed the people to be content, it would make everything else easier. The biggest challenge however would be assimilating the jarls men back into the village. Even if there were only around sixty of them left, they were sixty fighting men that they would need when they returned to England. Loyalty meant more than fear, which had been proven by the previous Jarl.
As the others came over they greeted Thorfinns men. They all knew each other, as Kattegat was the main trading hub for the area, and despite it being half a day away people commuted from there all the time.
"Magni, gather everyone around the Longhouse, I wish to speak with them," Thorfinn said as he started moving past the crowd with his horse in tow.
"What shall I tell them?" Magni asked.
"That their Jarl wishes to speak with them," Thorfinn replied not even turning around. Arwyn pushed past the others and followed Thorfinn though she kept a slight distance between them, something which Thorfinn noticed but decided not to comment on.
Thorfinn smiled as he walked through the streets of Kattegat, people turned and stopped what they were doing to greet him. Wishing him well, welcoming him back, asking if he had slain the Jarl. All Thorfinn told them was to gather in front of the longhouse and all would be revealed. "Why does everyone love you so?" Arwyn asked as she walked next to him.
"They don't love me," Thorfinn replied while smiling and nodding to the villagers. "I am a warrior of renown, I filled their bellies and killed the jarl that oppressed them."
"Why would they not love you?" She asked, slightly confused.
"Soon they will forget what I have done and anything wrong that happens whether in Kattegat or in their own lives, they will blame me," Thorfinn explained. "Their love is as fickle and changing as the wind." Of course, he kept his voice down when he said this barely whispering it to Arwyn.
As he approached the Longhouse he signalled one of the slaves and they rushed over to him. "Take the horse to the stable, brush him and feed him," Thorfinn instructed. The slave bowed and did as she was told; Thorfinn moved past her heading towards the Longhouse with Arwyn.
As they got close Thyri who was walking out of the longhouse noticed Thorfinn, her eyes widened and a smile formed on her face. She ran over to him jumping into his arms "You're home!" She cried out. Thorfinn spun her around laughing slightly.
"I told you I'd be fine," he said as he put her down. Though as he did she pushed up pressing her lips towards his own. She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly as she tried to pry his mouth open with her tongue. Thorfinns eyebrows raised up at how aggressive she was being; he couldn't help but move his hands down her waist feeling her soft curves. However, before it could go any further he moved back. Thyri breathed contently as she opened her eyes.
Meanwhile, Arwyn stood there on the side watching. She felt a knot form in her stomach as she watched this woman she'd never met kiss Thorfinn; she had never felt jealous or envious before. She had sat down and watched as Thorfinn had fucked other women. She would watch as he fucked her sister as he refused to mate with her, but even then she hadn't felt jealous. She didn't know why she felt jealous now, she was sure she hated Thorfinn.
She didn't know.
Everything was confusing at the moment, and in all honestly she just wanted to leave. These conflicting feelings were getting worse by the day, and they would only end if she killed Thorfinn or she left —and she couldn't kill Thorfinn.
Thorfinn turned to her his arm still around Thyri's waist. "Arwyn this is Thyri, the daughter of the old Jarl, she was important in helping us bring him down."
Thyri walked forward and hugged Arwyn though the girl didn't return the gesture. "You are the girl from the new land are you not? I would love to hear stories of it," she said a friendly smile on her face.
"I didn't travel far and spent most of my life on a farm, at least until Thorfinn came and slaughtered most of my family, so I suppose we have that in common." Of course, Arwyn didn't say this, though it was the first thing that came to mind.
Instead, she brushed her blonde locks behind her back ears and looked away from Thyri. "I do not think I'd have many interesting stories," she replied.
"Nonsense, any news of lands beyond Kattegat is of interest to me," Thyri said as she looped her arm inside hers.
Thorfinn smiled as he looked at the two but quickly turned as they started to talk. He moved up the steps of the longhouse before walking through the doors. Inside were a few of his men and Storri who ate at the table, being served by a few slave girls including Eir who had served him previously. They all got up as they saw him and greeted him, Storri was the most eager to as he had not enjoyed being in charge while he was gone.
"How has it been my friend?" Thorfinn asked as he clasped arms with Storri.
The older man looked at him with an exasperated expression. "It's been terrible, send me back to the mines," he replied making Thorfinn laugh.
"Has there been any problems?" Thorfinn asked.
Storri sighed but shook his head. "The works you ordered before you left are underway, but dealing with everyone has been a nightmare since you left, especially since she is coming, and they don't listen to me as they do you," Storri complained.
Thorfinn nodded along before he stopped. "What did you just say?" He asked, unsure of if he'd heard the man correctly.
Storri looked at him with slight confusion "I was just saying they don't listen to me as they do you," he reiterated.
"No what did you say before that," Thorfinn said a little intensely.
However, before he could answer Thyri walked in through the door with Arwyn and she called Thorfinns name. Thorfinn turned to her and watched as she walked up to him. "Thorfinn before you are too busy I wish for you to speak to someone, please?" She asked.
Thorfinn looked at her pleading face before looking back to Storri. He sighed before nodding to her which made her smile and walk past him deeper into the longhouse. "Thorfinn the expansion to the harbour will take a little longer than planned, we've not had many good woodworkers since nearly all the fighting men left," Storri said recapturing his attention.
Thorfinn nodded and clapped the man on the shoulder. "Do not worry, with Floki back I'm sure the work will increase tenfold, now go help gather everyone in front of the longhouse, I wish to speak to them all."
"Yes Lord," they all said before leaving out the doors of the longhouse.
Arwyn took their seat as well as their drink and meals while Thorfinn moved to the throne and sat down pushing his hair back as he breathed out.
"Lord?"
Thorfinn looked up and saw Thyri standing before him with her mother Siggy by her side. Thyri looked at him with a hopeful expression on her face, while Siggy looked down at the ground not meeting his eyes. Thyri who held her mother's arm squeezed it. "Jarl Thorfinn I come before you to apologise for my actions..." Siggy said, still not meeting his eyes.
"I was a mother in grieving... my actions were emotional, if you would give me a chance I would serve you well in any capacity you wish."
"A servant, I can look after your children, I can be one of your concubines, please allow me to serve you in some way so I may stay with my daughter," she said before moving to the throne and kneeling before it.
Thorfinn wasn't sure whether she was lying or not, but he wouldn't be taken for a fool. "I'll allow you to stay here and serve me, but step one foot out of line and I will hang you from the bow of my ship when we next sail west..." Thorfinn said lifting her chin up so they made eye contact. While he couldn't tell if she was lying to him, he could tell that she was afraid and that was good enough. Hopefully, that fear would keep her from doing anything stupid.
Thorfinn then sat back in his seat gesturing for her to leave which she quickly did. Thyri approached the throne placing a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Thorfinn... I know would be easier to kill her or exile her... so thank you," she said placing her forehead against his shoulder.
"Make sure she stays in line, or I will carry out my threat," he warned her. Thyri nodded before kissing him one last time and then leaving.
Thorfinn yawned and placed his head in his hands as the exhaustion from the past two weeks caught up with him. "You come home and yet you don't see me," a voice called out from the corridor that led deeper into the longhouse.
Thorfinn looked up and a smile formed on his face. "Lagertha!" He said as he got up from the throne and walked over to the woman who limped across the wooden floor —using a staff.
When he crossed the room he hugged her gently not wishing to irritate her injuries. "We just came back not a few moments ago, how are you feeling? Are your injuries bothering you?" Thorfinn asked.
Lagertha cupped his face. "I am well, but thank you for worrying," she replied. She then looked around "So where is that husband of mine?" She asked.
"He must've gotten caught up with someone," Thorfinn replied. "I'm sure he'll be here soon," he said as he helped her over to a seat where she sat down.
"Where is Bjorn?" Thorfinn asked.
Lagertha sighed. "He's training, he said that what happened that night taught him that he was too weak, that I may have not been injured if he had known to fight as you do."
"It was not his fault, Magnus is the one responsible," Thorfinn said with a frown.
"I know that I wish Bjorn did as well," Lagertha said as she rubbed her side.
Thorfinn then sat with her for a while and told her of the events that happened in Darkmoon forest. The creatures inside, the Jarl's death and the surrender of Mikael and his remaining men. Lagertha was shocked by much of what she learned but in the end, she was glad that those that mattered most to her were unharmed and had come home. She'd spend many restless nights having nightmares of Ragnar and the others being dragged to Hel after they'd been torn apart by the Ulfhednar.
"Don't you have enough wives boy," a voice called out from the entrance to the longhouse.
Thorfinn and Lagertha looked up, distracted from their conversation to see Ragnar who had a grin on his face. He crossed the distance between them quickly before hugging Lagertha tightly and checking she was okay, they then hugged again and Ragnar kissed her saying that he hoped they not part again. Though not long after he changed the subject to Athelstan and what had become of him. Lagertha had informed him that she had left him on their farm so that he could take care of the livestock, this seemed to bother Ragnar a bit but he didn't dwell on it.
Soon Magni and Storri came inside to inform Thorfinn that everyone was gathered outside. Taking a deep breath Thorfinn stood up and left the longhouse, looking over the large crowd of people that had now gathered. They all muttered and murmured wondering what they had been called for, but a good number among them thought it was perhaps the time they'd decide the punishment for the ones who served the Jarl.
"My friends! I have returned!" Thorfinn said shouting out and raising his arms. "Victorious!"
Most of the crowd cheered for him, especially the villagers that Thorfinn had saved from the old Jarl's tyranny.
"You must be wondering why I have called you here today!" Thorfinn shouted as he called out to the crowd. There were nods of heads and murmurs of agreement.
"I come to discuss the future of Kattegat as well as the fate of those who served the Jarl," he explained, this made some excited and others nervous.
"I know many among you have suffered the hands of the Jarl and those who supported him... and I know you wish to see them killed or exiled."
"But I won't do that..." he said which caused some roars of outrage amongst the ground. Thorfinn waited for a few moments before raising his hands and telling them all to be quiet.
"We have lost too many fighting men in this pointless conflict! We need warriors if we are to cross the sea west again! Kattegat's future, the future of our people lies to the West, and I won't ruin it all by killing those who were misguided!" Thorfinn shouted getting a little heated.
He then calmed himself down a bit "I recognise that there are people here who served that Jarl that have caused you pain... and I will listen to your accusations, all of them, and I will make them pay reparations for the damage they've caused."
"This is the most of what I can offer you, it is what you'll have to be satisfied with."
"It is a new day for our people, and I will not content with returning to the way the Jarl did things."
"Kattegat will become a power of the north, and in the future, it will become the heart of an empire!" Thorfinn roared out. This managed to bring the crowd back onto his side and they all cheered for him as he turned around and went back into the longhouse.
"A nice speech," Ragnar said with a grin. "But what will you do, she is coming."
Thorfinn turned to Ragnar. "What did you just say!" He said a little heatedly.
Ragnar backed away slightly a frown on his face. "I asked about your wife. When is she coming," he explained which calmed Thorfinn down slightly.
"I'm sorry... I think I am just tired, do you mind handling affairs for the time being?" He asked Ragnar.
Ragnar raised his eyebrow. "Like your steward?"
Thorfinn smiled and nodded "I know of no one else who could do it better," he replied.
Ragnar chuckled "Very well Jarl Thorfinn., I will be your steward..."
(AN: So there we have it. Everyone is back home and we are in the endgame of this arc. A bit of a Rebekah POV at the start as we haven't visited the farm in a while. Arwyn is becoming more and more disillusioned with Thorfinn, I wonder what will she do next. Anyway I hope you enjoyed the chapter.)
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