Chapter Eighty-two

"Thank you all for being here," Knut smiled, his fingers playing with Gro's as they sat in their thrones and stared out into the room. "I know many of you had to travel a long way, but I promise we'll make it worth your while." The room bustles, echoing with many laughs, many cheers and shouts from the long, large tables packed and piled with people. "We have much to celebrate this Jul," Knut nodded. "My daughter, Bodil," he raised his cup to where Erik and Bodil sat at the end of a table closest to the thrones. "Has finally come home and she will marry Erik, who I already love like a son. It's been a long time coming," he nodded. "And I'm glad that our families will become even closer.

"Now, you must have heard about Jarl Sigurd's attack on my men. Many good warriors joined Odin in his halls because of that, many good friends… We'll have to wait to go raiding this summer and we'll have to protect this town, but when I look out at all your ugly faces tonight, I have no doubt that we'll beat back Sigurd and his men and make them sorry that they ever set eyes on Bergen!" The room erupted, their cheers and screams so loud they made Enid's chest hurt. Jarl Knut screamed too, his fist beating down on the arm of his throne, his cup held out in the air in front of him. "Skol!" he shouted.

"Skol!" they shouted back, and then they all starting drinking, gasping for air and slamming down their cups when they were done.

Enid moved then, walking through the crowd and filling their cups, her ears peeled and straining to catch something, anything, that might be useful to them now. But all she heard was noise, loud grunting and laughs and women sighing and moaning as they leaned on the men beside them. A long time later and she stopped listening, her ears somehow always ringing like church bells, a pain in her head growing and growing. She felt something tap against her pitcher and she turned to pour the person another cup before she went stiff. Hilda smiled up at her, her eyes bright and shining as she bit into a chicken leg and tore off the skin.

"Hilda!" Enid gasped, and Hilda's smile grew, her eyes darting around almost like she was checking for something, and then she wiped her fingers on the skirt of her dress, grabbing Enid by the arm and pulling her out through the doors.

Hilda wrapped her arms around Enid, hugging her tightly and squeezing until Enid felt her muscles aching. "How have you been?" she asked.

"Good," Enid gasped.

"Good, good," Hilda nodded, finally letting her go and holding her by the arms. "Has Ivar been treating you well?"

"Yes. He's…" Enid paused then, suddenly unsure what she should say, suddenly desperately wanting to tell Hilda everything though she couldn't say why. Enid leaned in close, her voice a soft whisper when she said, "He's going to marry me."

Hilda grinned, her face almost splitting in two as she hit Enid's shoulder with her palm. "Ha!" she laughed. "Make him buy you a house, Enid. Don't settle for that old farm or I'll steal you away myself."

"You're happy?" Enid asked.

"Yes, I'm happy," Hilda said, wrapping an arm around Enid's shoulder and holding her closer. "It's fated. I knew that the moment you put on that dress and if Helga wanted this, who am I to argue?" she grinned. "And…" she said, her voice soft and her head leaning forward. "I have good news too," she took Enid's hand and held it to her stomach, her eyes shining bright and glowing.

"You're with child?"

"Yes," Hilda beamed. "It's still early days, but he's healthy. I can feel it."

"Oh, Hilda!" Enid gasped, wrapping her arms around the woman and feeling her laugh against her chest.

"He's Knut's," Hilda whispered. "I'm going to tell him tonight. He'll be so happy."

"Knut?" Enid pulled away, her eyes fixed on Hilda's face, everything she had ever learnt about Knut suddenly racing through her mind.

"You can't, Hilda," said a voice beside them, making them both jump and Hilda pull Enid closer.

Ivar watched them, his eyes darting back to the door before he pulled them further along the wall. "Tell them it's mine," he said. "And I'll help you look after it. Don't tell Knut, you'll only be in danger."

Hilda laughed then, grabbing him by the shoulder and smiling. "You always worry too much," she said. "This is a good thing," she shook him. "And I'll name him after you, it's about time you had a namesake." Ivar's face went slack then, his hand reaching for her stomach as she smiled and smiled. "He's like you already, Deathless, I can feel it. Now come on," Hilda said, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him back towards the door. "You and I have a lot to discuss. I won't let you make Enid live in that little hovel of yours anymore."

Enid watched them go, a lightness gripping her heart, a smile curling at the corner of her lips as she did. Suddenly she saw how they must have been before, so young and bright, their laughs strong and loud as they leaned against each other.

"Ivar's right."