I wake up in my hut to the melodic chirping of the early morning birds swirling above the village. It takes a moment for the reality of last night to sink in, and I still can't believe my eyes. I turn around, and there he is, still peacefully asleep. I gaze at him in silence, struggling to grasp the fact that this is real.
Last night, our reunion was filled with joy. Boleslaw shared tales of his journey across the sea with Arne and Frida. We all gathered in the Great Hall for dinner, where stories of their adventures unfolded. I spoke of my own well-being and the abundance of successful hunts in the area.
We conversed at length, but this morning, I couldn't help but feel that nothing substantial had been said between Boleslaw and me. I couldn't quite comprehend why he was here. Had he changed his mind? Would I change mine? Was this simply a passing visit?
My mind whirled with questions, and my heart yearned for answers. I needed to know, even if it meant facing the possibility of getting hurt again.
Silently, I rise from the bed, gather my belongings, and leave the hut. As I step outside, I draw in a deep breath, embracing the chill of the early morning. I wrap my sword around me and proceed across the verdant grass field towards the forest. With every breath of fresh air, my mind becomes clearer.
As I make my way through the forest, I tread softly, attuned to the sounds of the animal life surrounding me. Before I know it, I manage to catch a rabbit and collect a couple of eggs from the birds' nests, my regular gathering spot.
Returning to the village, I find it brimming with life. People engage in lively conversations, laughter fills the air, and tasks are diligently carried out. Unbeknownst to me, a smile graces my face as I pass by them.
When I reach the hut, Boleslaw is already awake, sipping tea and seated at the edge of his bed. He looks up in surprise as I enter, holding my provisions.
"Oh, where have you been?" he asks.
"I've been to the supermarket," I reply, a laugh escaping my lips. He appears utterly bewildered.
"What is that?"
"It's a market where you can find everything you need. That's why we call it a super... super market."
"I see. So, in this supermarket, can you get freshly killed rabbits and wild eggs?" he queries.
"No, I'm sorry," I say, realising my jest has left him perplexed. "It was a joke."
"Oh, I see. The rabbit looks delicious. Do you need help with it?"
I observe his relaxed demeanour and decide to handle the cooking myself.
"No, thank you. I'll be happy to prepare the food for us."
"Alright, then. What can I do to assist?" he offers.
"Hmm... Maybe you could tell me what brings you here?" I glance at him quickly as I start removing the rabbit's meat from its fur.
He rises and approaches me, observing my task, before finally speaking up after a moment.
"I came to see you."
"I'm really glad to see you too... But after how things were left, I never expected you to just come and visit me. Did something change?" I ask as I carefully skewer the rabbit's meat onto a metal stick, preparing it for roasting over the fire.
"Yes, something did change, and I felt the need to see you..."
"Oh, what is it?"
"I am to be engaged... to a woman..." I hear him say as I secure the rabbit above the crackling flames.
"Of course, to a woman. Is she nice? Do you like her?" I inquire.
"My father has chosen her for me. It's a union that will benefit both our families."
"That sounds reasonable..."
"Have you met her?"
"Yes, many times... We've known each other since childhood. She's much younger..."
"How much younger?"
"Six years?"
"That's not too bad... It's nice to have a younger wife," I comment as I finish setting up the rabbit for roasting. Standing up, I meet his gaze.
"Perhaps, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to marry anyone right now..." Our eyes lock.
"Oh... So you're here to figure out if you're ready?"
We stand in silence, and he grunts. As we continue to gaze at each other, the fire crackles and hisses, drawing my attention. I glance back at the roasting rabbit and rotate it. Once finished, Boleslaw joins me on the floor. We sit in quiet contemplation, both mesmerized by the dancing flames. Finally, I break the silence.
"Nothing has changed for me... I'm still waiting and searching for a way to get back home. I've had four proposals in the past three weeks from the men in the village... They don't seem to take no for an answer..." He looks at me and smiles.
"I can't say I blame them."
We enjoy our breakfast of roast rabbit and eggs, engaging in conversation throughout the morning. Boleslaw shares stories of his family, the trading business, and the political landscape that affects him as a soldier. I recount my experiences with the shieldmaidens and my love for hunting. Our discussion is interrupted by the arrival of Frida and Arne.
"Hello, how are you two doing?" Frida asks.
"We're fine, just catching up," Boleslaw replies as I put away the plates and cups.
"Would you like some roast rabbit?" I ask, removing the remaining meat from the metal skewer.
"Oh," Arne sighs.
"No," Frida says, but I can see the disappointment in Arne's eyes. Frida continues, raising an eyebrow at both me and Arne.
"We actually came to invite you for some sparring and a feast tonight."
I place the meat on a plate and hand it to Arne, his eyes lighting up with joy. Meanwhile, Frida's expression remains questioning.
"We didn't come here to eat, Arne," she says.
"Hush, don't worry. She may be your lovely wife, but she's not your dietitian," I tease, winking at them both.
"Yes, you're not my dietitian... lovely wife," Arne remarks to Frida, devouring the meat eagerly.
"Sit down, I haven't seen you for so long. Can't you just spend some time here with us?" I ask, looking at Frida.
"I suppose we can... I just didn't want to interrupt your conversation..."
"Don't be silly, just join us."
They take a seat, and I pour us some wine, sharing the dried fruit I keep in my hut. We begin reminiscing about when we first met and the battles we fought together. Eventually, Frida speaks up.
"I've heard that you have many suitors pursuing you?"
"Yes, I've had to reject four of them recently..."
"Four?" Arne exclaims in surprise, and Frida continues.
"Normally, this wouldn't be a concern. You're a free woman, and you choose for yourself if and whom you want to marry. But I am a bit worried about Ragda..." She looks at me intently and adds, "He claims you two have been hunting together and that you share a bond. He believes your union would be blessed by the gods."
"Yeah, he's clearly delusional," I spit out, frustrated by Ragda's behavior.
"I suspected as much," Frida acknowledges.
"I was out hunting, and he appeared out of nowhere, killing the deer I had been tracking for hours. He claimed he did it for me and wanted to cook it as a gesture. When I declined his offer, he became clingy and wouldn't let me go."
"Did he harm you in any way?" Boleslaw asks, his eyes filled with concern.
"No, he just grabbed my wrists and refused to release me, angry that I was rejecting the most eligible bachelor in the village."
"I thought she was supposed to be safe here, Frida," Boleslaw says, his voice tinged with anger.
"She is, she is... It's just this man... he clearly has some sort of desire towards you. You need to be clear about your feelings for him, ideally in public, to avoid any misunderstandings in the future... You know, it would be easier if you could simply choose a man... any man..." Frida's words carry a subtle innuendo.
I know that she believes I should marry Boleslaw, as she thinks I've had enough time to mourn my family, whom she considers dead. But they are still very much alive in my heart, and the hope of returning home remains too strong for me to settle, even for someone like Boleslaw.
"I suppose tonight I'll have to make my feelings clear to him," I say, determined to address the situation.
***
The day passes quickly, with the men engaging in rough games with sticks and balls, while the women cheer and laugh at their antics. Boleslaw and Arne participate in some of the games, providing entertaining moments. Ragda, on the opposing team, seems to have already sensed Boleslaw's significance to me. During the game, he attempts to be aggressive towards him, but Boleslaw's strength and skill in wielding the stick prove formidable.
The women's games differ; instead of direct competition, we face challenges that require both physical prowess and clever thinking.
I find myself participating in a game where a fur-covered object sits atop a tall pole in the middle of the field. My task is to retrieve whatever lies beneath the fur and safely hand it to the judge of the game, usually the Jarl or, in this case, his wife. Men, women, and children will try to hinder me from reaching the pole.
Scanning the surroundings, I spot an elderly woman seated on a tree trunk. I kindly request that she stand up momentarily, borrowing the trunk from underneath her. She playfully sighs and raises her arms, evoking laughter from everyone and allowing me to acquire it.
With the trunk in place, the game begins. I swiftly jump onto it, elevating my position. As expected, a crowd gathers around me. I leap into the air as high as possible and then climb atop a burly man standing before me.
The onlookers burst into laughter, witnessing the surprise on the man's face as he starts to walk with me perched on his shoulders. This arrangement enables me to propel myself towards the pole. A collective gasp of surprise gives way to cheers as I climb all the way to the top. Placing my hand beneath the fur, I discover two eggs.
Removing a furry hat that I had been carrying on my belt, I place it on my head and position the eggs in opposite sides of the hat. Carefully, I descend the pole, ensuring the eggs remain intact. Once on the ground, I retrieve the eggs from my hat, demonstrating to the surrounding audience that they are undamaged.
The crowd erupts into cheers. I turn and begin walking toward the Jarl's chair to hand over the eggs. However, to my surprise, I realize that neither the Jarl nor his wife is present. Instead, Ragda awaits me. He smiles as I approach, and I sense that this was a setup, though uncertain of what to expect.
As I hand him the eggs and prepare to leave, he grabs my wrist and starts striking my face with some plants. I struggle and attempt to break free, but he pulls me closer, discarding the purple flowers on the ground. His arms encircle my waist, and with a lecherous gaze and a wicked smirk, he stares into my eyes.
With a burst of strength, I stomp hard on his feet, using all my force to inflict pain. Seizing the opportunity, I launch my body forward, delivering a powerful headbutt to his skull. He releases his grip on me, visibly shaken as he tries to regain his balance. Utilizing this momentary reprieve, I quickly create distance between us. Assessing him from head to toe, I address the crowd with a resounding voice.
"Not this one! I seek a true man, not a mere child playing games!" Laughter erupts from the onlookers.
As I begin to walk away, his enraged voice reverberates through the air.
"You want a man?! I shall show you a man!" He lunges towards me.
I stumble and fall to the ground, my head and back taking the impact. Before I can react, he descends upon me, pinning me down with his weight. Struggling for breath, his presence compresses my chest, making it increasingly difficult to inhale. Amidst the strain, I hear his triumphant declaration.
"You shall be my wife! Our union will be blessed by the gods, and our offspring shall rule the lands of Sweden!"
"No!" I scream, my voice filled with defiance. "I am already married!"