Arywn could already smell the blood of her beloved before he even walked down the hallway. She jumped off the bed where she was tending her sister and she almost pushed their room door off its hinges to get out. She turned in the direction of the smell of the blood and saw Thorfinn holding himself up against the wall as his other hand clutched his abdomen. "Lord!" She shouted as she ran over to him in a panic.
"I am well Arwyn, the wound looks worse than it is," he said trying to assure her. Arywn put her hand under his arm and with her strength assisted in carrying him back to the room. She sat him down on the chair and knelt in front of him, "What do I do lord!" She said with extreme worry.
Thorfinn grunted as he pulled his tunic off and threw it on the floor. Blood spurted out of his open wound but he quickly pinched the muscles together with his hand "Get me a damp cloth and the black satchel by the drawer," he asked, the dagger had gone deep and he could only hope that it had not punctured anything inside him, but from the position of the wound he could estimate where it would've gone. 'I'm just glad it's not a gut wound,' he thought to himself, that would've been days of slow agonising death.
"Here Lord let me," Arwyn said as she started to wipe away the blood that had dried, while she did this Thorfinn opened the gift he had received from Beric for proving to be such an adept healer. It was his old physician's kit, inside was a sharp iron needle with a linen thread, he had read the best way to treat wounds and before he would've just burnt it, which carries a greater risk for infection. He almost growled as he stuck the needle through his skin and started suturing his wound.
Arywn watched with great distress at how her lord suffered, her anger bubbled up within her and she found herself almost growling as she wanted to tear apart the person who had done this. "Who did this lord!?" She asked as she showed her teeth —two of which had started to grow into fangs. Thorfinn looked at Arywn with shock as he saw her thin body start to grow more muscles and actually get bigger.
"Calm yourself Arywn, the man is dead I killed him," he instructed her. She nodded but he could still tell she was angry at the dead man; he was starting to think Edgar got off lucky on fighting him, Arywn looked like she wanted to rip him apart.
"Yes Lord," she said solemnly as she went back to kneeling by the seat and placing her head in his lap. Thorfinn finished suturing his wound he then grabbed a bandage and soaked it in a herbal mixture he had made that would hopefully prevent infection. Thorfinn couldn't help but appreciate how his newfound knowledge had already begun to help him in ways he never considered. It made him want a lot more, but first, he would rest, his body ached and his eyes grew heavy. He had taken over wounds across his body but apart from wiping them with a cloth and bandaging them, he didn't need to attend to them any further.
He limped over to the bed with heavy steps and slipped inside with Arwyns help. He was sweating a lot so she wiped it off with her clothes "Rest well lord and be better tomorrow," she said as she leaned towards him and placed a kiss on his lips. She then climbed on the other side of him and hugged into his side, she never closed her eyes though, she kept watch and made sure nothing else befell her beloved.
From the other side of the bed, Eowyn finally opened her eyes, she had listened to the whole conversation and breathed a sigh of relief at what was said and what Thorfinn had just done.
'Soon, soon I'll be free,' she thought to herself.
———————————————————-
Blaeja had already started packing the things she needed, she left out all of her pretty dresses and finery and kept only the bare essentials. She felt her blood heat up with excitement at the prospect of what she was doing. 'I am leaving this boring place, no more boring feasts, no more courtships, no one more being locked in my chambers,' she thought to herself with a grin on her face. She was slightly worried about Edward after leaving him yesterday, but since he had defeated that stranger before there was no reason he couldn't do so again, he was obviously a skilled warrior and that is why she had chosen him to travel with. The reality of death had not settled in for her until she nearly faced it those few weeks ago, she had very nearly met her end and in the face of it felt unsatisfied with how she had lived to that moment.
That is why she was doing this, she didn't want to face death again with regret that she had never lived and done what she had always dreamed of doing. She packed all her books and maps —the ones she owed Edward too. Once ready she grabbed the small chest and lifted it, grunting in discomfort as she did as it was rather heavy. She hoped she might convince him to lift this for her but she doubted it 'If I had to guess he would most likely leave through the cove after taking as much silver as he could,' she deduced. Nodding her head she decided she'd carry her chest down to the cove harbour where she would hide it, therefore when it was time to leave they wouldn't have to leave her belongings.
...
Blaeja breathed heavily as she leaned against the castle walls, her arms ached and muscles burned after carrying that damn chest so far, she wished she could've gotten a servant to do it, but the suspicious behaviour might've made them inform her father of what she was doing. It was done now and she had managed to avoid anyone while she did it; now she was on her way to Edwards's chambers, she wanted to find out when he would be stealing from the treasury as she had promised to help him. 'Getting inside shouldn't be an issue,' she thought to herself as she walked down the corridor.
Walking to his chambers she knocked on his door only to get no answer when she did. She tried to knock again but as her hand raised the door was opened by a short blonde girl "Can I help you, My Lady," she said.
"I'm looking for Edward," Blaeja replied.
"He is not feeling well at the moment, you'll have to come back later," she said before trying to shut the door. Blaeja put her foot down on it though and frowned, she then sniffed the air and could smell blood in the room.
"Is Edward okay? Let me inside," she commanded as she tried to push the door open. However, despite the girl being shorter and slimmer than Blaeja she appeared to be stronger and was able to hold the door shut no matter how hard she pushed.
"Arwyn... let her in," a voice said from inside.
Arwyn stopped holding the door and Blaeja had to catch herself as she fell inside the room. She thought she saw Arywn crack a smile at that but when she looked up at her she had a stoic expression on her face. Dismissing that she looked towards the source of the voice and found Edward lying in bed, pale and sweating, his breaths were heavy and he looked very sick. On his bedside was his wife Eowyn who had a damp cloth and wiped away his sweat periodically.
"What happened..." she asked with shock.
"The man from last night, managed to stab me in the abdomen, he must've pierced something and given me an infection of some kind," Thorfinn said through a croaky voice. His whole body hurt and he felt freezing despite the fact that his body was incredibly warm.
"Where is he now?!" She said in a slight panic, the man had tried to kill her before and she could only assume would do so again.
"In Hel or wherever you believe people like him end up," he said with a chuckle which quickly turned into a cough.
Slightly relieved, her panic only returned when she thought about how their plans were now disrupted, he couldn't get out of bed never mind steal from the treasury. She could very well be on her way back home by the time he gets better and she couldn't let that happen. "Do not worry yourself Blaeja, the schedule has not been affected," Thorfinn reassured her.
"You can barely move, how will you break into the treasury, it won't be an easy task," Blaeja said sceptically.
"Arywn will be going with you, she is more than capable of doing what needs to be done, I will be ready in the cove when you arrive and we will leave then," he said before he started to cough and sputter, blood came out his mouth and covered his chin. Arywn rushed over to her lord nearly pushing her sister out of the way to check if he was okay.
Blaeja was concerned about him as well, he had saved her life before and now he was the one taking her away from a life she despised "Should I call the healer? He might be able to do something," She asked as she stepped forward towards him.
Thorfinn shook his head "He cannot do anything I haven't already done myself," he said as he shivered.
"Arwyn go with Blaeja, do as she says and bring as much silver as you can down to the cove," he said as he put a hand to her face, one she leaned into.
"Yes lord," she said with tears filling her eyes, she didn't want to leave him while he was in such a state but she had no choice, she had to do as he commanded.
Arywn kissed Thorfinns palm before standing up and walking over to Blaeja. "Let us go, we will have to wait for nightfall, but I want to know what you have planned," she said in a cold tone completely different to how she spoke to Thorfinn.
Blaeja could only nod and both girls left the room leaving Eowyn and Thorfinn inside where she kept wiping his forehead with a damp cloth. As the hours passed Thorfinn only seemed to worsen and his shivering increased —so did his tendency to cough up blood. "If I am to die... then take the silver and leave with Arwyn," Thorfinn stuttered out catching Eowyns attention.
"That is what I would do even if you did not say," Eowyn replied as she sat by his bedside.
Thorfinn tried to laugh but coughed instead "Stay away from the coast, my people came east from across the sea and will be coming again, go far away from here," he said to her.
Eowyn frowned at him "Why would you tell me that, why would you care if we are captured by your people again?" She asked a little more angrily than she intended.
Thorfinn didn't respond for a while, he just kept breathing heavily "I like you... and your sister, I was going to grant you freedom after we had left this place... my people would not have done that and if you were taken by them you can guess what would happen to you both," he explained.
Eowyn found her anger increasing at his words, Thorfinn could see this as she wasn't able to keep it off her face. "You like me? As what?" She laughed humourlessly "Your favourite bed warmer? Whore?" She asked.
Thorfinn shook his head "You are smart and resourceful, traits that are rare in a farmer's daughter," he stated.
Thorfinn started coughing again and Eowyn brought him some water after pouring it from a pitcher. He drank it greedily before handing it back to Eowyn "If I live... I won't force myself on you any longer, you can be free of that worry..." he said as his face contorted in pain.
"It's too late for that kind of gesture, I have already lost my purity," she said.
Thorfinn looked up to the ceiling "You are right..." he said.
"In your faith would I see my family again in the afterlife?" He asked.
Eowyn was about to tell him that he would no doubt be going to hell but for some reason she didn't, instead, she said words she hadn't expected to say. "Yes... all our loved ones await us in the kingdom of heaven," she replied.
"In my faith, we only go to Valhalla if we die in battle... I won't get to see my family if I die," he said in a slightly pained voice.
Thorfinn was struggling to stay awake at this point and was slightly delirious "I am sorry Eowyn..." he said as he looked at her with his bloodshot eyes.
She looked at him "What are you sorry for?" She asked.
"For what I did to your family... I regret killing them, even though I did not know you then there was still no honour in slaughtering defenceless people," he coughed out —spewing up blood again.
Eowyn found her eyes started to water as she remembered her family. "I do not know if I can ever forgive you for what you did," she said.
"I would not expect you to... I hope one day you can be reunited with them," he said sincerely. Eowyn was at a loss, she didn't know what to say, the Thorfinn she had known for a while was completely different to the person that lay in bed before her.
"I hope you reunite with yours as well," she said to him which caused Thorfinn to smile a little.
"In a different life... do you think we could've been friends?" Thorfinn asked.
Eowyn let herself smile slightly before she nodded "In a different life..." she replied.
Thorfinn smiled before his coughing fire started to grow worse, as did his fever. It seemed inevitable that his sickness would take him, he doubted he would even live to see the next day if things kept on progressing at the rate they were going. "I did not think my saga would end so soon... and I have no children to continue my name, perhaps I should've stayed on the farm," he said as he looked up at the stone ceiling.
Eowyn looked at Thorfinn and despite the anger and hate she felt for him, she couldn't help but pity him. "Your saga won't end Thorfinn," she said as she grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly.
Thorfinn looked up at her in shock, but his shock quickly morphed into joy and then into sorrow "It makes me happier beyond words that you are with child, but also fills me with sorrow I will not be there," he said as he squeezed her hand.
Eowyn sat closer and held his hand while she stroked his hair, her heart was filled with guilt at what she had done to Thorfinn, but she had no choice, she had to do this. At least that is what she told herself.
"Tell me about your life... your family," Thorfinn requested.
"I don't think-"
"Please... I wish to hear it."
Eowyn breathed out, she did not like thinking about her family as it always reminded her of what she lost, but she started talking about her childhood and her family, mostly her brothers and sisters and how they'd all play together in the forest. She talked for hours before she soon realised that Thorfinn had fallen asleep, she looked out the window and saw that the sun was close to setting and she let go of Thorfinns hand.
"You've made your decision then," Carden's voice sounded out from behind her.
She nodded "I do not wish to go with you, When Thorfinn dies I will find my way with my sister," she said resolutely.
Carden looked at her for a moment before breathing out a long sigh "I wish you would have just come with us, we take no pleasure in forcing you to," he said regretfully.
Eowyn stepped back as a frown marred her face "But your baby is too important to be left to the protection of yourself and whatever creature your sister has become, I'm afraid you never had any choice I'm not coming with us," Carden said as he started to approach her.
She grabbed a dagger from Thorfinns belt which was on the floor but before she could attack Carden he touched his staff to her head and she passed out. He caught her before picking her up and slinking off into the night with her body.
———————————————————-
Arwyn and Blaeja stood down the corridor from the treasury room where three guards had been posted. Blaeja could tell that the disappearance of a guard plus the blood splattered down the hallway had spooked Lord Uhtred so it wasn't a surprise at how they had increased security. This messed up her plans as they needed to access the window that was next to the vault —the one Thorfinn had thrown the guard out of— but right now there was a guard standing there drinking from a cup.
"What is the plan?" Arwyn whispered.
"We cannot do anything if we do not get to the window, but we need to get rid of the guard first somehow," She explained.
"Perhaps I can go around the overside and distract-"
Blaeja was interrupted when Arwyn charged down the corridor to the guards "RAH!" She cried out as she grabbed the guard by the window and shoved him out. This alerted the other two who grabbed their spears and ran over towards her "You've fucked up now girl!" The lead one said as he tried to grab her. Arywn grabbed his hand and in a feat of strength surprising Blaeja and the guards she slammed him into the wall before slamming him into the opposite wall and making him collapse to the ground.
"Demon!" The last guard said as he gripped his spear and tried to impale her. Arwyn was glad she had all those lessons with Thorfinn as she was able to avoid the spear and tackle the man to the floor before pounding her fist into his face completely denting it and killing him. She then stood up and brushed the dust off herself like it didn't happen and turned back to Blaeja who was coming back down the corridor.
"What do we do now?" She asked.
Blaeja was just dumbfounded as her brain raced to try and find a logical explanation "How did you?"
"What do we do now!?" Arywn repeated which snapped Blaeja out of her thoughts.
"The treasury has one window inside, it'll be locked but considering what I just saw I don't think you'll have a problem opening it, use this window and shimmy across the edge until you get to it, once you're inside you should be able to open the door," Blaeja explained the plan.
Arwyn thought about it for a moment before a look of confusion came upon her face. She turned around and walked to the treasury door, she pushed her hand against it and tried to apply more and more pressure, she felt the wood bend slightly which was what she was looking for. "What're you doing?" Blaeja asked.
Arwyn ignored her and walked back a dozen feet, she then ran towards the door shoulder first breaking it open on her first try. "That's one way to get it open I suppose," Blaeja said before walking inside.
When they went inside they were greeted with around five chests full of silver. Also around the room were various trinkets and artefacts, there were even a couple of books that Blaeja gravitated to. She picked it up but the language was in symbols she had never seen before, she couldn't even begin to start translating it, but nonetheless a book was a book and it was in here because it held value to Lord Uhtred. "Let's start moving as much as we can to the cove," Arwyn said as she picked up one of the larger chests. Blaeja contented herself with a smaller one —and she even struggled with that.
They had managed to get three chests down to the cove. Any more and the rowing boat may not take their weight, Arwyn closed the treasury and threw the guard's bodies out the window, they then waited for Thorfinn and Eowyn. They waited but he didn't come and this was concerning, to Arwyn most of all.
"Stay here I am going to look for him," Arwyn said as she rushed up the steps of the cove and back into the castle. She rushed back to the chambers they had been in but when she arrived she found the bed empty, it was covered in Thorfinns blood which she knew could've been from his wounds. She went to the bed and sniffed his blood, she hoped with her enhanced senses she might be able to track where he had gone.
...
Thorfinn woke up in a haze, he could not feel the softness of his bed beneath him anymore, instead, he felt the hard stone floor. He didn't feel as bad as he did before but still felt pretty awful. As his vision cleared up he looked around to see that he was in a cave or some sort 'Where am I?' He thought to himself as he tried to stand up only to realise he was chained to what looked like a large smooth stone.
"You've awoken..." a voice hissed from the dark. Thorfinn snapped his head around and saw a cloaked figure in the dark.
"Who are you!?" Thorfinn practically growled.
"Isn't it customary to introduce oneself before asking," the hooded figure hissed in amusement. Though Thorfinn wasn't in the least bit amused and kept shooting the man a glare.
"Very well... I was once called Aden, but that was a long time ago," he said before turning to a table that had a book on top of it.
"Release me now or I shall kill you!" Thorfinn growled as he rattled the chains.
Aden chuckled "An empty threat, both of us know you do not have the strength to do such a thing, you were in very bad condition when I found you your blood was filled with poison had I not given you some of my own vitae you would've perished."
'Poison!?' His mind started to race as he considered his symptoms, His thoughts then went back to a chapter he had read about Belladonna 'I would've died much sooner had I ingested it... unless.' It must've been in the tonic that he placed on the bandage. That would slowly spread the poison and kill him throughout the day. He stopped looking at the man and leaned his head back on the stone before chuckling humourlessly 'She is pretty smart,' he thought to himself. He couldn't blame her for what she tried to do, he had killed her family, and it was only revenge she wanted.
"The poison should be out of your system by now, with your blood pure again I can finally begin the ritual," Aden said as he approached Thorfinn.
He leaned in close almost licking Thorfinns skin as his long tongue snaked out of his mouth "Even with your blood full of poison I was so tempted to drink you dry, such power in these veins, it's intoxicating," he shuddered. Thorfinn shook and rattled his chains trying to grab the man's throat and tear it out, he'd even settle for ripping it out with his teeth.
"So many people sacrificed and yet their blood isn't worth a drop of yours," Aden said as he looked over Thorfinn, the chained Viking followed his gaze and saw a large pile of dead bodies in a corner of the cage, all were pale and looked as if they had been drained of their blood.
"What are you planning to do," Thorfinn asked with a little concern in his voice.
"I plan to summon the means to protect myself... tell me, do you enjoy books," Aden said as he picked up an old leather-looking one from the side. Thorfinn looked closer and noticed that it wasn't leather but human skin used to bind it. When the book was thrust in his face he found that he couldn't read it, it looked unlike anything he'd seen before "What language is this?" Thorfinn asked his curiosity getting the better of him.
"Dethrelic, the Abysal Tongue, The Second Word, it had many names, it is the language used in Hell, the corruption of the first language by the Devil," Aden explained.
"What does it say?" He asked.
"The Nine Gates of the Kingdom of Shadows, a book authored by Lucifer himself," Aden said as he looked at the book in awe.
Thorfinn chuckled darkly "You are chasing fairy tails, the Christian devil will not help you."
"We will see..." Eden said before he started to light the candles and start speaking in a rough guttural language.
Thorfinn started shaking the chains even more as he tried to break free but it was no use. He saw the sharp dagger that hung from Aden's belt and knew it would likely be used on him, he needed to get out of there before he finished.
Aden however stopped as he heard a small growl coming from the entrance of the cave. He looked over and he saw a young blonde girl with her teeth bared almost crouched to the floor. "Arwyn!?" Thorfinn shouted not expecting to see her here.
Aden sniffed the air and bared his teeth "Be gone from here foul beast or I'll add you to the others," he said.
Arwyn couldn't hear him, she only saw her master chained to an altar as a man prepared to kill him. She charged at Aden jumping off the ground and over the altar that Thorfinn lay on. She drop-kicked him and sent him back a couple of meters, he scowled at her when he righted himself and easily avoided a punch from her. "You are weak..." he said as his fist connected with her temple sending her tumbling to the ground.
Arywn didn't give up and only tried harder. She tried to tackle him to the ground but he grabbed her by the waist and threw her up to the cave ceiling. Thorfinn could only watch helplessly as he pummelled Arwyn who relentlessly threw herself at him. As Arwyns temper flared her nails started to grow and so did the muscle on her body.
Aden became frustrated with her constant interruptions and grew the claws on his hands with the intent to tear her throat out. However, Arwyn avoided his grapple and swiped her claws up slashing them across the man's face and unmasking him. What Thorfinn saw was an old man with grey hair a beard and red eyes, his face had just been sliced open with three deep gashes which made him stumble backwards.
Aden kicked Arwyn with a powerful kick which sent her flying across the room where she hit her head against the wall. Thorfinn wouldn't allow this to happen any longer, he was a warrior and he wouldn't lie down while other people fought for him. "That was unpleasant... you didn't tell me you had a dog," Aden said as he stood still, then miraculously his wounds started to heal, while they were visible they were still slow.
Thorfinn allowed his anger to bubble up to the surface he started pulling on the chains with renewed vigour. His entire body clenched as he pulled and he could feel the iron chains start to give way. "Now let us continue," Aden said as he approached the alter again.
"No..." Thorfinn said as his left restraint snapped and he immediately grabbed Aden's throat. He yanked the man towards him and slammed his head into his nose, he expected to hear a crunch but he barely got a crack.
He pushed Aden back a few metres before he snapped the other restrain and twirled himself around, he then kicked Aden with both his feet skidding him back a few metres "You are strong, but not strong enough to beat me," Aden said as he wiped the blood that poured out of his nose.
Thorfinn roared as he rushed to Aden who stood stoically. He threw a punch but the older man avoided it, he threw another but with the same result; Thorfinn tried again and again but he couldn't seem to hit him. Aden then caught his fist then connected his fist with Thorfinns jaw and then ribs, he unleashed a devastating combination that sent Thorfinn over the alter and to the ground. Thorfinn coughed up blood before pushing himself back up.
"You tried Thorfinn... but take some comfort in knowing that you died before ever knowing how terrifying the world truly is," Aden said as he approached him.
"Had my old master been the one to find you, you would've wished you stayed in whatever backwards land you come from."
*Growl*
Both Thorfinn and Aden looked over to Arwyn who had gotten up from the ground except she was growing larger. Thorfinns eyes widened as he knew what this was and started backing away to the entrance, as he did he found his sword 'She must've brought it,' he thought to himself.
Arwyns rage had gotten to the point where it exploded inside of her and started leaking out. "RAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!" She roared out as her bones started to snap and she started to grow larger. Her face morphed and in its place was a snout with large jaws, golden fur started to grow over her skin and her clothes ripped off. Moments later where Arwyn was a werewolf stood and its eyes were fixed on Aden.
*ROAR*
Arwyn roared at Aden echoing it throughout the whole cave. Aden's eyes turned a deeper red and his fangs extended as he hissed. Arwyn charged at Aden on all fours; Aden couldn't stand up against her strength now and she tackled him to the ground trying to get her jaws around his neck. Aden hissed as he held her neck back but could do little else.
Arwyn scrapped her claws across his body making him scream in pain, she then gripped him and threw him across the room where he hit the cave wall. He wasn't even allowed to fall before Arwyn was there, he summoned greater speed and avoided her charge —letting her smash into the wall. He then drew his dagger out and tried to stab her but was backhanded by the wolf.
So distracted by the werewolf Aden was unaware of Thorfinn who had drawn his sword and ran up behind him. Aden screamed as he felt the most unbearable pain he had ever felt, he looked down and saw Thorfinns swords sticking out of him. Before he could scream anymore Arwyn ripped his throat out, she kept biting and biting until his head came clean off his body.
Thorfinn drew his sword out before backing away and falling on his back. He was breathing heavily, and despite the poison already being out of his system he wasn't in top shape. The werewolf rushed to his side and Thorfinn nearly raised his sword to attack it had it not started changing back into Arywn.
Arwyn screamed as her bones cracked and broke back into place and she once again took the visage of a naked girl. She crawled over to Thorfinn and collapsed onto his chest "Are you well lord?" She asked with concern.
Thorfinn touched her hair and stroked her "I am now," he replied.
They lay there for a few moments before getting up. Arwyn had told him that their take was a success and they had all the silver ready to move. When they left the cave he realised that it was just one of the side caves within the cove and they were not far from there at all.
"Edward!" Blaeja shouted as she saw them both coming towards her covered in blood and weak.
"I am well... and don't call me Edward anymore, call me Thorfinn," he said as he walked to the boat.
"Where is Eowyn?" He asked as he looked over to Arwyn.
She looked down at her feet "I'm sorry lord, she was taken as well, I was following both of your scents when they changed directions, yours came to the cove and Eowyns went to the forest," she explained.
Thorfinn nodded, he should leave her, she had tried to kill him, and she deserved whatever fate had come upon her 'Maybe she wasn't even taken, she could've left of her free will,' he thought.
'What about your child.'
He felt a whisper say in his head, he clenched his fists as he got into the boat with the girls following him. "We will row down the coast a bit and then you will lead me to Eowyn in the first, I will get her back," he said resolutely.
(AN: So the Bebbenburg mini arc is over. The confrontation with the druids will happen next chapter and it will end next chapter, don't worry it won't be dragged on, after that Ragnar and his men will return. Btw Thorfinn isn't immune to poison or disease, he is just highly resistant as he is only a Demi god. He was under the impression that Eowyn only put nightshade on his bandage, but the fact is she gave it to him constantly, every tonic he took, every time his badge was changed he ingested nightshade, this was why he got worse, the injury combined with the large amounts of poison. I hope you enjoyed the chapter)
(Btw Aden was not a Vampire he was a Revenant)
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