V̶i̶k̶i̶n̶g̶s̶: F̶i̶r̶e̶ & B̶l̶o̶o̶d̶

Slave.

The bright sun that hits my eyes makes me make a face to the woman I see. I turn over quickly and close my eyes. She pulls the blankets from my body and I sit up quickly. "What is wrong with you?" I speak but she just looks at me. She can't understand me.

I stand up and she hands me different clothing from yesterday. Much different from a dress. Harald must have given it to her to give to me. I pull it on and adjust it. It feels as if it's pushing my breast up to my chin and it's uncomfortable.

I make another face and look to see Athelstan step in. "You're going to create creases in your face." I look at him and squint towards him. "I don't need your intake Christian." I raise a brow and move my hair back. "Sit down." He speaks and I scoff toward him. "Sit." He says again and I listen this time. He starts braiding my hair back and I cross my arms. "You are acting like a child." I look at him in the mirror and slightly adjust. "You betrayed your god so why shouldn't you betray us." He lets out a laugh.

"All my future lies with Ragnar. I wouldn't be who I am without him nor would I betray him." He says and ties the bottom of the braid. "I see how Harald treats you." He says honestly. "You could stay with us. Get back home that way." Athelstan says and steps back. I look back to him and I hold onto the back of the chair. "He wouldn't let me go." I speak lightly and then stand, placing the ring around my neck.

I move to open the door and I see Harald. How much has he heard? "King Harald." I speak and he just smiles. "I was coming to get you." I nod and smile lightly to him. He still remembers last night. How I embarrassed him. I start walking and he walks beside me. "I'm sorry for what I said. I was drunk." Harald laughs and places a hand to my back. "I understand Yrsa." He says and nods. "I haven't been nice to you."

I keep quiet from that moment on. I wasn't comfortable around him, nor anyone else. I was scared. Terrified. It's not in our best interests to be. But I am. Odin would be furious in me. We step into the dining hall as everyone packs their stuff up. I furrow my brows and as we step in, King Ecbert is sat in the throne. I am urged to the front and I look to Harald. He looks to a man with white hair to his side and starts speaking to him. "Tell him that I would like to sell her to him." I looked to Harald and I am gripped by my arm. I try to tug away and grunt. "Let go Harald."

King Ecbert smiles and then nods as he speaks. "He said he will be grateful. She will become a great queen for you." The man with white hair speaks and then Harald takes the ring from my neck. "Tell him thank you." And so he speaks. He pushes me towards Ecberts guards and I lash out. "HARALD! YOU CANNOT DO THIS!" I yell towards him and they lift me off of the ground slightly. I kick my legs and scream deeply. Ragnar steps in and looks to me. "You will be damned Harald Finehair. I will find you and burn you slowly." I say as I happened to get into his face. "Ragnar. Tell him to let me go. Ragnar please." I speak to him and he steps to me.

"Stay here and we will be back for you." Ragnar speaks quietly to me and I look at him. They turn their backs to me, walking away from me. "Ragnar!" I yell and lash out. They start dragging me away and towards a small place. A cage. A cell. They push me in and I stand up to kick the cage door. "Let me out! Christians!" I kick it again but it doesn't budge. I look around and push a hay bail to the window. It's small but I reach up. "Bjorn! Ivar! Ubbe!" I yell multiple times. They don't hear me.

I fall from the hay and I sit against the wall. "Odin. Help me." I speak and grip my knees to my chest. I take an angry, shaky breath and grit my teeth. "I. Will. Burn. Them all."

-

After days of being in here, I'm tired. Hungry. Seeing things. I look up in a blurred haze at the Seer that appears to see me. I stand weakly but I manage. The door opens and steps in is Ecbert along with guards. He nods and I am taken with them to the great hall. There is stood a man. He has tanned skin and looks to me. "Hello Darling." He speaks my language. I blink at him. "What is your name?" He says and lifts my chin with his finger. "Hm?" He asks and I speak. "Yrsa Vigdísardóttir." I manage to say and he smiles lightly. He nods and speaks to Ecbert.

He takes my hand lightly. "You are going to be safe with me Viking." He says and strokes my cheek. He nods and then things go black.

-

I wake up to the drifting of a boat. My hands and feet are tied together. I look around to the bright area and feel my lips dried. "Drink." He holds up as bottle. I drink as much as possible and feel it drip from my chin and chest. "Now. I am commander Euphemius. I am taking you to Ziyadat Sultan." He says and smiles. "You will be safe there." I furrow my brows to him. I don't trust it. My gut is telling me no. He unties my feet and stands me up as we finally have made it to the land. It's a tan land. Hot and no life for miles.

I step off and I am tied to the back of an animal with humps on its back, making me step in the sand. If I'm to fall I'll be dragged. I take steps and feel the heat getting to me. I've never been in heat that was this exerting.

We continue to walk and my legs are about to give out. We stop for a moment and Euphemius holds out something for me that is dried meat. I take a bite and pull on it. I chew it. It's hard and taking the rest of the moisture from my mouth. He then gives me more water to get it down. I grab it from him and drink as much as I can before it's snatched from my hands. He drinks after me and then we start walking again until we meet the doors or a beautiful architecture. I part my lips and we step through the doors. The women are wearing vibrant colors and the vegetables are vibrant as well.

I look around and I get stares. I am walked into the throne room where a man is on a rug bent down on his knees saying his own language. He does it 3 more times and then stands. "Commander Euphemius what have you brought me from Ecbert that was so important?" He says to Euphemius but I look around because I know not of what they are speaking of. Euphemius urges me up and this man looks to me. He parts his lips and steps to me. "Beautiful." He speaks in my language. I make a face and then spit in his. He closes his eyes and then blinks to me. He takes a knife and holds it up.

I look at him in the eyes and he slices through the rope. "Do not be frightened. You are safe." He nods and smiles to me. He speaks to the ladies behind him and they take me to a room, past guards, big ones. They start undressing me and helping me to a soothing bath. They wash my body for me as well as my hair. They help me out and dry me off. They put me in a white dress and braid my hair back. They start poking at my eyes. Black stuff they put close to my eyes.

I step out and they make me walk into the kitchen. They leave me there and then I am handed stuff. I'm a slave.