She had been speaking in Norse and Sophie didn’t understand all of what was said, but Eirik growled “She is my property. Hilde tried to kill my slave and I would have had the right to kill her myself, if the slave had died, or been paid her sale price. Who will pay me for her loss now?”
Ubbe growled “She killed a Dane. You can take Hilde’s possessions to compensate you for your loss, but she must be punished.”
“Astrid has a good argument, she is down one warrior, beat the slave then give her to the shield maidens. You told me yourself, Eirik, that she was cold and dangerous, we’ll find you a more amenable slave, and you may take Hilde’s possessions as her sale price.” Ivar held up his hand as Eirik went to speak. “It is decided Eirik, or is it that she is more to you than you admit.”
Eirik scowled then stood up “She is just a slave, I agree that she be given to Astrid to train but would be the one to take her away and punish her.”
Ivar considered “Very well, but she is punished here and now. Guards, take the slave strip her and bring her to the platform.”
“Wait” Eirik said desperately trying to think of a way to save Sophie a beating, but unable to. “That dress is mine so I’ll remove it and the jewels.”
Going to her as Ivar and Ubbe turned away he said “My love, your life is saved but you must be seen to be punished, I am to beat you but will do my best not to injure you.”
“No, oh god, please stop this,” Sophie gasped clutching his arm.”
“Sophie,”Eirik murmured “You killed a Dane, a shield maiden, by rights I should take your head. Astrid has saved you, I don’t know why, but you must he seen to be punished. Be brave and you will survive this disaster. If I don’t agree to this your life will be forfeit.”
Collapsing onto the floor Sophie prayed that she would wake up from this nightmare, then as Eirik gently removed her earrings and combs she realised that this was real and she had to get through it if she wanted to live. Eirik lifted her to her feet and she allowed him to strip her of her dress, not caring that she was naked in front of all these warriors.
Eirik’s jaw was clenched tight as the warriors gave low whistles and growls of appreciation at her beautiful body, but he stood back and allowed two guards to take hold of her arms and drag her to the platform. A space had been cleared among the furs and the two guards held her arms out wide, her back to the hall, while two others took hold of her ankles and pulled them apart. Ivar and Ubbe were gazing at her with lust plain on their faces and she closed her eyes so she couldn’t see them. She was trembling so violently that the guards struggled to keep her still and was terrified that she’d lose control of her bladder.
“This slave has killed a shield maiden, she will receive twenty lashes and if she survives that, will take Hilde’s place in the shield wall. As her master, Eirik will administer the punishment. You may commence Merkismathr.” Ivar said as he handed Eirik a thick belt.
Sophie had, unfortunately opened her eyes as he spoke and saw the belt, and she gasped and tried to struggle but the guards held her tight.
Eirik took a deep breath and stood to one side, his face a harsh unreadable mask as he raised the belt and landed the first blow. The shock of it caused Sophie to scream and lose her breath, then the next one landed and she lost control of her bladder. Eirik had hit her hard wanting her to pass out but had avoided splitting her skin. He tried to land each blow on a fresh bit of her body, not wanting to hit her in the same place twice and he was shaking and sweating profusely, longing to throw the belt down and take her in his arms, but he knew that if he did that another would take his place and he’d lose any chance of protecting her.
On the sixth blow she finally lost consciousness and although seeming to strike her with his full force, Eirik’s blows became lighter and lighter. By the time he reached twenty Sophie’s back was bright red but none of her skin was broken. Astrid had been watching closely and when he stopped she nodded at him in approval and went forward to claim her new shield maiden.
“Eirik would you be so kind as to take my new recruit to our quarters,” she asked, and he gently lifted Sophie over his shoulder and carried her from the hall.
Once outside Astrid tapped his arm “Take her to your house, it will be easier to tend her there than in my crowded quarters. I’ll gather my women and join you there.”
“Why have you done this?” Eirik asked.
“She is a good fighter, or will be when trained, and she’s a healer. We need such a one and she saved me the job of having to kill Hilde myself.” Astrid said as she turned back to Ubbe’s hall.
On reaching his house Eirik shouted for Alta, then carried Sophie inside and laid her face down on the furs. When Alta appeared he ordered her to fetch warm damp cloths to lay over Sophie’s back. Horrified, Alta took one look and hurried away to do his bidding.
As he lay the first warm cloth on her back she stirred, then remembering what had happened she tried to get up, striking out at Eirik.
“Sophie, lie still, you’re not badly hurt but it will be sore. Stay still my love and let me tend you. I’m so sorry, so sorry, but I had no choice, Ubbe would have had your head.”
Tears flooding down her cheeks she turned her head away from him and sobbed into the furs. Laying the rest of the warm cloths over her back Eirik was devastated at what he’d had to do to this strange, brave loveable woman who’d given him her heart.
Alta came back with a bowl of willow bark tea and silently passed it to him, condemning him with her gaze.
“Sophie here drink this, it will help. Please stop crying, I know it hurts but it will ease soon.”
She tried to control her sobs but as she turned her tear ravaged face towards him, they still shook her body. Gently lifting her to her side Eirik held the bowl as she drank, grateful to see that she could move without screaming or passing out again. As her eyes met his he was amazed to see that she wasn’t looking at him with the hate he’d seen in so many enemies eyes, but with sadness. She drained the bowl and lay down gratefully trying not to tense the muscles in her back, which felt very much as if it was on fire. She whispered something and Eirik bent close to catch what she was saying.
“I’m sorry Eirik, I didn’t mean to kill her, just stop her choking me.” Her voice was harsh and it was clearly difficult for her to talk but she carried on, “thank you for having the strength to punish me yourself, I don’t think I’d have survived another doing it.”
She stopped talking and swallowed painfully, drawing his attention to the damage done to her throat. The front and side were covered in deep bloody cuts, where the collar had cut through her flesh, and her whole neck was swelling spectacularly.
“My gods, that bloody collar could have killed you,” he gasped.
Sophie coughed as she tried to chuckle “I thought she had, that’s why I lashed out.” Then she went into a paroxysm of coughs and splutters, trying to get breath into her swelling trachea.
“Don’t talk my love, I’ll get you some warm wine and honey to drink and then I’ll clean the cuts on your neck.”
As Eirik went to get the wine Sophie lay her face down onto the furs and tried to control the trembling in her body. For some reason she felt cold and then her logical brain told her that she was suffering from shock more than pain. Her back hurt but no more than if she’d fallen off a horse or been knocked on her back in a self defence sparring bout. What she needed was to keep warm, get some salve on her back and do something about the swelling in her throat.
Eirik brought the warm wine and honey to her and helped her to turn onto her side, and she knew that she must keep moving her back, if she stayed in one position it would become more and more difficult to move again so she insisted he help her to a bench placed near the brazier so she could get warm. He didn’t want her to move but she insisted so he helped her.
“I’m cold Eir
ik. It’s the shock, so I need to get warm. Please keep the warm cloths on my back and cover them with my cloak,” she whispered, as she started coughing again.
As he was laying her new cloak over her shoulders the door opened and Alta came in followed by Astrid and three other shield maidens.
“Ah, you’re conscious, good. No good as a shield maiden if you can’t take a little pain!” Astrid grinned at her. “This is Freydis, Ingrid and Siv, they want to shake your hand for getting rid of Hilde.”
The three Danes came forward and clasped arms with her each saying “Well done sister.”
Sophie tried to reply but her throat wouldn’t work properly and all that came out was a mumble.
“Mmm” Astrid said taking her chin in her hand, “that doesn’t look good.”
“I’ve given her some wine and honey and she’s had some of her willow bark tea for the pain, but I don’t know what to do for the swelling.” Eirik said frowning in concern.
Sophie tried to tell them that she needed a plantain and comfrey poultice but the words wouldn’t come out. Indicating Eirik she pointed at his arm and mimicked putting something on it.
Alta then dared to speak up “I think her and Ceolwen made a poultice of plantain and comfrey for Rolf’s arm.”
Turning to Sophie, Eirik asked “Have you got any?”
She shook her head and indicated towards the village.
“All the herbs were at Ceolwen’s.” Alta said.
“Ah, Gunnhild told me that some herbs might have survived the fire, in an outhouse.” Astrid said, “come on let’s go and see what we can find,” and she led the women out.
“We have the salve Sophie made that will sooth her back now it is cooled.” Alta told Eirik and Sophie nodded her head and indicated his trunk.
He rummaged through it and found the small pot of salve, showing it to Sophie. When she nodded he took it to her and taking the cloths off her back, carefully smeared some along each weal. She had stiffened when he first touched her but his touch was gentle and the salve was soothing. She’d warmed up and stopped trembling and apart from the fact that her neck was so sore and it was difficult to swallow was feeling a bit better.
After he’d covered every mark on her back with the salve, he replaced her cloak and sitting beside her on the bench said “I don’t blame you if you hate me, and my people. I failed to protect you and will never forgive myself, so I don’t expect your forgiveness.”
Sophie tried to speak and couldn’t so she did the only thing she could. She cupped his face in her hands and drew his mouth down to hers and kissed him, putting all she felt for him into the kiss. He responded and they both drew strength from each other until he drew back and rested his forehead against hers, gently holding her arms. They sat like that for a long time, until the door opened and the shield maidens came in, carrying two or three sacks each.
“The outhouse was undamaged, part of the house had fallen against it but being made of stone with a wet turf roof it didn’t catch fire. We’ve brought everything that was there.” Astrid said as they dumped the sacks on the table.
Stiffly Sophie stood up, Eirik hovering to make sure she didn’t stumble, and went to the table to inspect their haul.
She found comfrey and plantain and many other herbs, including tansy and pennyroyal and nodded her thanks, smiling at Astrid and giving her the thumbs up. By the time she’d shown Alta how to make a poultice she was exhausted and feeling dizzy again, so once a bandage was in place to secure the poultice she lay on the furs, on her stomach and within minutes was asleep.
After covering her with a cloak Eirik joined the shield maidens at the table with a tankard of ale and discussed how to keep Sophie safe.
“She will have to live and train with us once she is healed, or Ubbe and Ivar will know that we have duped them. However the good thing is that as a shield maiden she will be able to go where she likes and I think she likes your furs.” Astrid said grinning at him.
“I don’t know how she can forgive me.”
“Because she is a sensible woman and knows you did what you did to save her life. Well we must go. I’ll come and see how she is tomorrow. You will be chasing Myrce.” She stood up and slapped him on the back as the others drained their tankards and joined her at the door.
“I never thought to see Thegn Eirik Eirikson in thrall to a woman.” Siv said as they went out leaving him feeling as if his world had turned upon it’s head.
Chapter 20
Sophie woke the next morning feeling stiff all over, her neck in particular being extremely painful. Eirik had already left to take a patrol out after the Myrce but had left a message with Alta telling her to be ready to go with Astrid. Crawling out of the furs she groaned and once again wished that she were back in the twenty first century with central heating, doctors and a hot bath. The swelling in her throat had gone down a little so she unwrapped the bandage and removed the poultice, it had stuck to the little cuts on her neck and she winced and felt slightly sick as she pulled it away. She had no mirror to see how it looked but as she touched it gently she realised that she’d probably have a ring of small scars around her neck forever. The thought brought tears to her eyes but as it was difficult to breath through her mouth and her nose started to block up she determinedly blocked out the self pity, blew her nose and wiped her eyes.
Dressing in tunic and trousers she splashed water over her face, cleaned her teeth and went out to the meal fire. Alta was there stirring the porridge cauldron and she asked “Can you swallow some porridge and would you like some of that camomile tea you make, with a dollop of honey?”
Sophie swallowed and tried to speak but it hurt too much so she smiled and nodded.
“Sit by the fire and keep warm, it’s icy today.”
They sat in companionable silence as Sophie ate her porridge and drank the tea, enjoying the way it soothed her throat.
“You’ll need to pack your things ready to move in with the shield maidens, I’ll help if you like.” Alta offered.
Biting her lip Sophie fought away the tears that would keep rising and nodded her thanks. An hour later Astrid found them folding her things into two sacks. “Ah good, you’re almost ready, how are you today?”
Sophie grunted and Alta spoke for her “She’s moving stiffly and can’t talk, although the swelling in her throat has gone down a bit, and she’s eaten some porridge and had chamomile and honey.”
“Well it could have been a lot worse.” Astrid said, “at least your head is still attached to your body. Are you ready? We need to get you out of here before Ubbe or Ivar are told you are in Eirik’s house.”
Sophie nodded and picked up her sacks, then looking at Alta she put them down again and hugged the old woman tight before grunting “‘An yu.”
Then picking up the sacks she followed Astrid out of Eirik’s house and through the city to the long hall the shield maidens had taken over as their home.
***
The next few weeks were harder than anything Sophie could have imagined. From the very first day she was expected to train and learn how to fight. No allowance was made for her stiff back and the fact that she could hardly talk, a shield maidens life was hard and her life depended on being a faster, more lethal fighter than the men she would face. Because she was so petite she would never be as strong as a man so she must strike first and never get into close combat, or she would lose her life.
Astrid, as good as her word, helped train her personally and every night Sophie retired to her bed sporting more and more bruises. Some of the women were friendly and supportive giving her useful tips on how to survive, but some were unfriendly and churlish, delighting in seeing her knocked to the ground and bruised by a punishing blow.
When she wasn’t training she made ‘herbal teas’ and lotions as well as the scented soap, which the women loved, and s
old them to shieldmaidens and warriors alike. She also managed to make some small pots, for the lotions and salves, which she fired in the kiln Eirik had made for her. She didn’t see Eirik who was nearly always away on patrol, and missed him dreadfully. Their old life together, which at first had seemed so hard, became her greatest desire. Goldhill and her life in the twenty first century appeared to her to have been a strange dream.
Her throat had healed and she could speak again, although with a huskier voice, and her back was completely healed. She was fitter, stronger and in better condition than she’d ever been, glowed with vitality and was becoming a hard and dangerous fighter. She’d learned not to pull her blow’s as the women never pulled theirs and was becoming very fast. Astrid had been very interested in the blow she had used to kill Hilde and had her show the other shieldmaidens how to use it, as well as some other self defence moves she knew. Accepted by even the surliest of the women, she was settling into her new life, apart from missing Eirik dreadfully.
One morning she was sparring with Astrid, and had overcome her, knocking her to the ground, when she became aware that she was being cheered and egged on by male voices.After offering her arm to Astrid and helping her up she turned to see Eirik, Leif and some others lounging against a wall holding tankards of ale.
“Well fought, Drang!” Eirik said grinning at her.
“Thank you, Merkismathr,” she replied in her new husky voice, as her heart turned over at the sight of him.
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