This part didn't want to be written, so I hope it's alright. Next one over the week-end. Just 2-3 chapters left...
I stayed over a month at the farm. Lord Einarr had departed soon after our talk, leaving me to mull over his words. He gave Domarr most of his remaining supplies and a piece of silver from his armband, to compensate him for the cost of feeding five more mouths.
Magge ruled her household with a firm and kind hand. Her slaves and servants were treated well and revered her. In the absence of high status guests, she allowed them to sit with their masters at the long table. Although it was strange to me after all these months of kneeling I soon got used to it.
The pony we had lost carried my clothing and Magge insisted on lending me hers. It was inappropriate for a slave and I protested. So did Domarr when I entered the hall dressed as the lady I once was. This was when I truly saw the dominion she had on his heart.
"Husband," she whispered with a sad face and teary eyes, "I am sorry if I displeased you. Sunngifu was my lady and seeing her like this reminds me of my people. She is to marry our Godi soon, I assumed that there was no harm in my fancy. We have no undyed dress that would fit her current shape, but I will find some rags for her to wear if you so wish..." The trembling of her lips was all it took for Domarr's will to crumble. He drew his wife to him and surrendered.
"We cannot have her in rags, she is carrying Lord Einarr's child and he left her in our care. She will wear whatever you decide besides a kerchief. Her head is to stay bare and her collar on display."
Magge sniffled. "I will do as you say, husband."
I admired her mastery. Domarr wasn't duped, if the wink he addressed the guards was anything to go by. He wanted to indulge her, and her stratagem allowed him to do it without showing weakness.
So I got to keep her clothes and felt like a free woman. My hair had grown fast and was reaching my shoulders. The iron collar was the main mark of my slavery, one I hoped to be rid of soon.
It was decided that my condition was not compatible with hard work and I spent my days at Magge's side, weaving and embroidering. We walked around the farm grounds together, giggling like children at play. I was alive again.
Domarr rolled his eyes at us and said we were fused at the hip. Magge just shrugged, retorting that he out of all men should know better. I spit out my soup in mirth at the look on his face.
Our time together wasn't all wasted in childish babbling. Within a week the snow came back with a vengeance and we were blocked inside, Of course we spoke of our kinsmen, wondering how they passed the winter, speculating on bearns to be born and weddings to come. I learned that the youngest of the girls taken with us lived in a farm across the valley. She had been bought as a wife for the farmer's youngest son and was being educated in the running of a household. At the end of the summer, she would meet her husband and travel back with him to Greenland, where he had settled after several years as a mercenary.
Three of my kinswomen had been claimed by members of Lord Einarr's crew and the others had been sold to wealthy men. They had fetched a hefty price, and while I still feared for them, I hoped that they would be well treated. What fool would risk damaging precious goods?
"... my Lady?"
I stared at Magge blankly. Absorbed in my thoughts, I didn't hear her question.
"Are you happy with Lord Einarr?" she repeated, keeping her eyes on the shirt she was mending.
"It could be worse, I suppose..." I really didn't have an answer. I had come to terms with my fate; I belonged to him, carried his child and would soon be his wife. Did that make me happy? I didn't know.
"You sure didn't seem adverse to him on your first night here. He seems very attached to you..." She still didn't meet my gaze, pretending to make small talk.
"I guess he is. He said I was dearer to him than life itself. I am yet to figure out how high he values his life..."
"Did he now?" This time she looked at me. I had piqued her interest. "Are you not returning his affection?"
I groaned; this conversation wasn't going well. "He took me away Magge! He had a choice, I didn't! He is an enemy of our people. I will do my duty to him for the sake of my little one, I will even admit that I am attracted to him, but love him? I don't believe I can."
"I was taken too, my Lady, and I love Domarr. Did it ever occur to you that once you'll be married your family will be kin to Lord Einarr? They'll need not fear him, they might even call to him for protection! I watched you together, you do care for him. By resisting him, you are denying yourself happiness. He is a good man, my Lady. Do not push him away."
I could have slapped myself. How could I miss this? Once again, Magge had seen farther than me. This changed everything. I was not a mere thrall, I was a peace-weaver. Had I been more amenable at our first meeting, Lord Einarr would have offered for me instead of enslaving me. He had said so. But I had made it impossible.
"Had he come to you as a suitor, under different circumstances, would you have accepted him?"
"I might have. He is noble, wealthy..."
"And handsome..." she added, wiggling her eyebrows.
"I'm not blind, Magge," I retorted in a voice I wanted stern.
She giggled. "Then prove it, my Lady. Open those eyes and take a good look at him. Forget the past and focus on your future."
I sighed, defeated. "I'm trying, but it's hard. Sometimes he is kind and I enjoy his company. Then he becomes annoyed or angry, and reminds me of the man who threatened our people. I hate him then, I can't help it."
Magge's hand covered mine. "It will come with time, trust me. Do you miss him?"
"A little, sometimes..." I couldn't tell her that I had trouble sleeping without him at my side. I turned and tossed at night, my body searching for his warm presence.
She gave me a knowing smile and reached for another thread.
Magge never brought back this conversation, leaving me to ponder on it. She taught me many a thing about the running of a farm and I felt humbled by her knowledge. I was used to giving orders without full knowledge of the work they entailed. And while I had learned a lot over the past months, my ignorance still vastly outweighed it. So I listened, wishing to make Lord Einarr proud when I took over his mother's role as mistress of his household.
Time went fast until a party of Lord Einarr's men came for me. Only when they dismounted did I notice Svana and a female thrall in their midst. Lord Einarr wasn't there and it saddened me. Somehow I wanted to believe that I was more important to him than whatever task had kept him away. It was silly of me, and I was aware of it. And still, it hurt.
I did my best to hide it as I welcomed my friend. Both women were there to ensure that I would not be left alone with men. It was somehow comforting. I hadn't been freed, yet I was treated as such. The honor of a slave was not worth protecting.
The trip back to Lord Einarr's house was uneventful. The air was cold and crisp, the snow fresh and dusty. The horses walked easily in it, used as they were to the climate of the island.
When we reached our destination, it was unusually busy. A slave carrying a large basket of vegetable nearly collided with my mare, while another jumped out of the way, dropping a bale of hay. A group of ponies waited outside the stables while the luggage they carried was unloaded.
"She has arrived," whispered the warrior beside me, a reverent expression on his face.
Discreetly, I elbowed Svana. "Who had arrived?"
"The volür!"
"I don't understand..."
"The völva, the seer! She is there with her retinue." She sounded both fearful and excited.
"A witch! There is a witch here!" I traced the sign of the cross on my chest, muttering a Pater Noster. May God protect me from evil!
"Hush! Her presence is a great honor. Do not behave like a child, Sunngifu, you'd make Einarr Godi furious. He might not forgive you if you insult his guest."
"I don't want to go near her. She is a follower of the devil."
"She is a follower of our gods and you will show her utter respect or she could curse you. Lord Einarr couldn't protect you," Svana hissed, offended by my protests.
I was terrified at the prospect of meeting a spawn of Satan, yet aware of the danger. In the absence of a priest, I couldn't fight her. For the sake of my child I would have to put up with her. "I will do what I can," I promised weakly.
"Make sure that you do. As it is, she is here to help you. Lord Einarr called her."