Chapter Seventy-four

The doors to the longhouse were heavy that day, heavier than they had ever been before, but Enid pushed them open, her jaw clenching and her shoulders stiff. She could still feel it, that knife that Erik had given her pressing against her ankle, somehow awkward, somehow painful, but it made her stand a little taller, made her grit her teeth and furrow her face into a slight scowl. That scowl grew deeper as those women turned to her, women who'd once been kind, been warm and smiled when they'd asked her about her life before coming here, but now their eyes were sharp and cold, now they tutted under their breaths and whispered to each other.

"Get out," Gro snapped, and Enid looked at her a moment, only then feeling any fear and a sadness grip her heart. She wanted to shake her head, wanted to go running and fall at the Princess' feet, but Gro threw her cup onto the table, slamming down her hand and glaring at the women. "Get out!"

So quickly the women gathered their things, bumping and knocking over chairs as they hurried from the room, their shoulders crashing into Enid as they pushed past her, and Gro came hurrying too, closing the door behind them and grabbing Enid's hand.

"I'm so sorry, Enid," she whispered, and Enid went to answer and tell her that she was fine and that none of this mattered, but the Princess pulled her into the room, sitting her down by the fire and pouring her a drink. "Please, don't hate me for last night," Gro said. "I was only trying to protect Erik. You understand that, right?"

"Of course, I do," Enid gasped, and Gro sighed, squeezing Enid's hand and small, sad smile springing to her lips.

"I'm glad. You're the only one I can talk to… I don't know what I'd do if you hated me."

"I could never hate you, Gro!" Enid shook her head, but Gro laughed then, a soft laugh that came from deep down her chest as she cupped Enid's cheek, tracing it with her thumb before she brushed her hair behind her ear.

"I'm old enough to know that everyone is capable of hate," Gro sighed. "Even the people who love you the most. Sometimes it's even easier for them…" she shook her head. "I don't know if he'll listen to you, Enid, but you have to try to get Erik to let you go. You're not just a slave now, the whole of Bergen knows about The Seer's prophecy and he can't protect you from all of them. And… he's going to be married soon. There's only a few weeks left and he can't bring his wife into this. Think about what it would do to her-,"

"I'll try." Enid whispered. "I don't want him to get hurt because of me."

"I know that," Gro smiled, squeezing Enid's hand. "Men live for the moment. They think about glory and pleasing the gods. They're the ones who leave us early and only think of Valhalla and never about the future. We have to work together," Gro nodded. "All of us women, sooner or later we're always the only ones left," she paused then, her eyes flicking to Enid's face. "Will you go back with Ivar in the spring?"

Enid stared at her, leaning forward as she spoke, her forehead lining in a slight crease. "Of course, I will. I don't belong here, Gro. I belong with those children."

"What if you don't, Enid? What if The Seer's prophecy is right?" Gro asked, and Enid couldn't help it, she found herself reeling and pulling back from Gro almost like she'd been burnt.

"Erik said-," she started.

"Erik doesn't know everything," Gro cut in. "He could be wrong about The Seer. He's been wrong before, many more times than he'd care to admit. I don't want to believe it, Enid…" Gro sighed. "But I'd be letting Helga down, if I didn't ask you to think about it."

"I love them…" Enid whispered.

"I know that," Gro nodded. "And they love you, everyone can see that. I want you to stay with them. I want you all to be happy, but I want that with my heart. My mind still wants you to be careful. Maybe… maybe you should go see The Seer yourself. Maybe he could explain some of this so we can understand it better."

Enid almost found herself nodding. She almost grabbed back onto Gro's hand and told her she would leave right away, but then she shook her head.

"I can't," she said. "My God would punish me. He tells us not to believe in false prophets."

"The Seer is not a false prophet. He speaks for the gods!"

"There is only one true God," Enid shook her head again. "I can't… I can't believe in anything else. I know this in my heart, Gro, so I have to follow his teachings."

The Princess stared at her for a moment, her eyes unblinking, her dark eyes almost shining in the dim light, and then she sighed.

"You don't have to believe, Enid, what's important is that the people believe in him. He might say something that will protect you and protect my son."

"You're right," Enid nodded. "But I don't care what people think of me, Gro. I'll do this for Erik and only if he wants me to."