1 From Wolf to Bear

Truth. That is all my family ever wanted from anyone. But what happens, when you have a wolf among your prized hens? The same as death. Heartbreak and death; that is what seemed to follow me. My eyes laid upon my family, drenched in blood and the young ones screaming in painful agony. Not much older than them, I too watched as my brothers were slaughtered defending their land. While my father ran from them, leaving my brothers behind. As an archer planted arrows into my fathers back, he died a coward. My body frozen in place, as the man who killed my brothers, sauntered over to me. A smile was placed on his lips, and then he licked them. Blood and sweat, from what I could see, was pulled into his mouth with his tongue.

"My lord, we've got a young thrall over here!" He called out, laughing as he

did.

Gritting my teeth, I looked at the man with bloodshot eyes. As I caught a glimpse of a small ax, to my right in the bloodstained grass. I moved quickly, I tried to do as my brothers always taught me. Brandishing the mildly heavy weapon, I let out a battle cry with a tear stained face. "I am no thrall!" I screamed, as I laid the weapon into the larger man's neck. As he threw my weak body backwards, the man laid his harsh eyes upon me. Spitting at the ground in front of me, I spoke harshly towards him "You will die as the pig you are." As he took ragged breaths in and out, he ripped the ax from his neck. Blood poured out, and even splattered against the nearby fence. As he tried to say something, I turned around to hear a mildly young voice behind me.

"Feisty you are. Ha! Perfect!" He spoke as he walked towards me, drenched in the blood of my family and clans members. "You pulled a nasty move there on my friend. And by the looks of where you placed that ax, he won't make it to the long-ships." He spoke, as he moved closer to me. "Who are you child?" He asked as he stopped, staying at a distance though close enough to attack.

"Why would a no good raider like you, wish to know? It is not like I have much to live for any more." I said with a harsh tone to my voice. I was more than upset. I was heartbroken, hurt, and terrified. But why did my body react as such? It's not like I truly knew how to fight. My father kept me sheltered from it, until a few months ago when my brothers urged him for me to learn.

"Because I am here to find the woman I was promised. I am Jarl Ivvar, and you are way too young. But you do resemble her, quiet well in fact." He spoke, standing tall as he moved closer to me yet again. "Now, who was your mother child?" He demanded as he watched me with questioning eyes. His hand was over his ax, ready to kill me with one wrong answer.

"My mother's name was Astrid of the Wolf-Clan. She passed on a few winters ago. She followed the Valkyries to Valhalla and there she will be with my brothers now." I said, as tears began to fill my eyes. "Now kill me. I will never become a thrall, when I am of high born blood." I snapped as I stood tall, reaching for the closest thing to me, as a weapon.

Quicker than me, Ivvar was already grabbing me and tossing my body gently to the side. "You've given me no reason to kill you. Not yet that is." He said with a questioning look in his eyes. "Bind her hands. I have a plan for this child. You are no longer a pawn to the Wolf-Clan." He spoke harshly, then walked away following the war cries of others in the distance.

I watched, as a stranger moved towards me. My body froze with the events happening. As the man bound my hands, and the rest of my clan was killed one by one. I was full of emotion, but unable to do anything about it. Stopping myself, from letting more shameful tears escape. I looked to the ground gritting my teeth. I felt like I was forcing myself to turn my back on those that were left; who I called family and friends. Forcefully thrown over the shoulder of a dregner, I sneered at him. As I watched the rest of my home land, burn. And those who were taken as thralls and slaves, forced upon different long ships. I was placed in the main long-ship with Ivvar, himself. Glaring at him and his men, I noticed my cousin to my left. She looked beaten and badly hurt. As I tried to move closer to her, a rough hand pulled me backwards.

"Best not touch that thrall. She's going to our best warrior as a gift. He wouldn't want another thrall to touch her." One of his men spoke, as if trying to warn me.

"She will not be a thrall!" I snapped harshly, then my glare landed on Ivvar. "You! You are in charge here. You will not allow that to happen." I demanded as I looked at him, as if my eyes were shooting daggers towards him.

"And why is that, little wolf?" Ivvar mocked me, as he smirked.

"Would you like to see your only living relative be a thrall?" I said, my glare ice cold as I began to try understanding who and what kind of person he was.

"Family," He started to say then stopped himself. He looked out to the ocean as it began to snow. With a small smile playing at his lips, he looked back to me. "Family is not just blood. We make our own family. Those we hold with high regards. Trust. And have all the love for. That is our family." He finally said as looked at me, then to my cousin.

"Your words mean nothing to me. You will never mean anything to me either." I told him, my words held a venom to them. I then looked at my cousin, who was watching me through one good eye. "If you spare my cousin's life, and place her in my care; I will do whatever you ask of me." I finally said, not wanting to see her go through a hell filled life as a thrall.

"Your words are cold, yet have a sting to them as venom. You have spirit, and yet you care too much for those who are weaker than you. You are truly a thing of great mystery, as your mother was." Ivvar said, then turned away from the both of us. Thinking over the terms, he turned back to us. Looking at me with fire filling his eyes. "I'll accept these terms. As Jarl, I will find my champion another thrall to bed, and your cousin's safety is now in your hands." He added, as he again turned away from us.

As he said those words, I moved closer to my cousin and pulled her near. Holding her close, I sighed. "We will be alright, Ingrid. Together you and I will be the last of what remains of the Wolf-Clan." I whispered in her ear, as I moved some hair from her face. She smiled and placed a hand on my cheek. Tears ran down her cheeks, as she showed her true intentions through her eyes. Nodding, I only pulled her closer. Her wounds were much worse than I had originally had thought. And the climate seemed to get colder as we got further and further away from land.

As I noticed she was shivering, I too was shivering. It had been a time since we left our homeland, and to where we were told our new home would be. But it only got colder, the water grew more fierce and harsh. "I-Ivvar, please provide my cousin a cloth. She grows colder every minute we are out in this climate." I asked, with a sincere voice.

"We do not have much to spare. Either you share, or one of you gets the cloth to keep you warm. You decide." Ivvar said, his words cut through the cold like a knife.

I looked at my cousin Ingrid, and then to Ivvar. 'How could a man like this, truly make someone choose between their life and their family's life?' I thought to myself, and then looked back to him. My eyes held a glare, as if they were throwing knives at him. He chuckled, feeling my gaze at the back of his head. He turned and looked at me, only to show a different look upon his face.

"Have you decided who will get the cloth?" He asked in a cruel tone.

"Ingrid will have it." I said, as I moved closer to her yet again.

"N-No my lord s-she must take it. I'm not much for this world any longer, as it is. Your warriors beat me pretty harshly. And I am afraid that this weather will be my ending." I could hear her say, and I wanted to cry yet again.

"No! If that is the case, then we will share the damn thing." I told her, as I grabbed the cloth Ivvar was holding out for the both of us. Pulling most of it over her body, and then over my legs, I sighed. "I need your wisdom. You cannot die, when you have such a bright future as a seer." I told her with sorrow in my voice.

As he heard those words, Ivvar turned around again. "She will not die. Our seer is gravely ill and needs an acolyte to take over his duties. I will make sure of this." Ivvar said as he then walked closer to us. Bending down, to take a look at her, he sighed. "Dammit." He whispered harshly to himself, and then took his cloak off. He wrapped us both in it, and looked me in the eyes. "Do not let her drift away. We are close to our homeland now." He said, then unbound my hands to properly care for Ingrid.

As Ivvar said, we weren't too far from the dock and his homeland. I could see a few ships in the harbor, and others in the bay. Though Ingrid drew my attention in, once she coughed horribly. It sounded as if she were sick. But once she coughed again and again, and blood was left on her lips, I grew worried. The ship quickly docked, and Ivvar pulled Ingrid into his arms. He looked at me, and without a word, began to head off to the healers hut. I followed in suit, hoping that would be the best option for me at this time.

Once we arrived at the healers hut, Ivvar shoved his way through the rest that was waiting there before him. But before he could lay Ingrid down, the healer stopped him. "What in Freya's name are you doing Ivvar!? You cannot just come in here, push your way through the others, and expect to-" She began to say as she watched him place Ingrid in a bed. "I see. Your brutes beat her badly. This poor girl." The healer said as she walked closer to Ingrid. From afar, she seemed badly beaten, but at a closer look; the healer could tell something different. "I'll do my best to tend to her. But that is all I can do." She added, as she knelt down beside Ingrid. Feeling her forehead, the woman sighed. She looked over Ingrid with careful eyes, and gently began to do her work.

"She's in your care now Thyra. Try to keep her alive, she has the gift of seers to come." Ivvar said as he walked towards the door of the house. "Come girl, your cousin is in safe hands." He said as he looked over his shoulder at me. I nodded, and followed after him. As we walked out of the hut, there were many of my clans members already being sold off as thralls. "What is your name? How many winters are you?" He asked a few questions, but I was in no mood to speak. As we walked down the road, and towards the long house in the distance; I sighed.

"My name is Estrid. And I am sixteen winters." I reluctantly told him, my face looking down to the ground.

"Still a young shield-maiden. You have a strong arm. I mean you bested one of my best drengers." Ivvar admitted with an honest chuckle, as he kept walking through the settlement.

"I have never been considered a shield-maiden. Even by my father. He said I reminded him too much of mother," I said, then stopped, the tears of my mothers death still fresh in my mind. "He said that learning diplomacy was what I would be doing. Unlike my brothers." I finished saying, this time the tears streamed down my cheeks. Sniffing, trying to stop my tears, I couldn't. Ivvar turned around, and looked at me. His eyes showed a strange look, but his actions were different.

"Calm down. You will not be hurt, I have other plans in mind for you. Why cry for the dead? They are in Valhalla with the all-father." He said with a roll of the eyes. Turning around once again, he walked towards the direction of the longhouse.

"My father died as a coward. And m-my brothers are the only ones dining in the all-father's hall tonight. Along with my mother." I said, my voice cracking with anger, and yet with more pain. Following him, I wanted to die over and over again.

"You father died as a coward? How do you know this to be true?" Ivvar questioned as we stopped in front of the longhouse.

"I watched as he ran from the sides of my brothers. They stood their ground, while he ran. He was shot down with arrows, dying as a coward." I admitted as I turned my head from his gaze.

"Well, we will give your brothers a proper sending off. And your father?" He said, trying to make things seem better.

"How can we possibly do that? They died and you brought us here!" I shouted, my blood boiling with anger now. I turned to look at him with hate in my eyes.

Ivvar laughed, then looked down at me. "You will be able to bury your dead Estrid. But only because I allow it. Your clan has fallen and you are the only one who is truly left." He said with a smile perfectly placed on his lips. "Now follow me, or I will drag you behind me." He said, this time with a harsher tone to his voice.

I did as he told me to, for now I wasn't going to die in vain. If he was going to allow me to give my brothers a farewell, then I would take it. As he walked into the longhouse, I followed behind him slowly. 'This day, I vow that you Ivvar, owe me a blood oath.' I thought in anger, as I watched my surroundings. The men he ruled over, all seemed to be happy he was home. They all talked, as if this was nothing but another place they overtook. As he sat down on his Jarl's throne, I could hear the pitter patter of new feet behind me. Little feet in fact.

"Father's home! Arne, Erik, Frode! Come father's home!" Shouted a small feminized voice from behind me. She ran towards Ivvar, and he embraced her with love and joy.

"Ah my Frida. How has your training been with your brothers?" He asked his small daughter.

"Harsh. Erik won't take it easy on me, even though I am just learning father." She said with a pout on her face.

"Your brothers are just teaching you, as I taught them Frida. But you should be training with your mother. Where is she?" Ivvar said as he looked around, his wife was not around at this time.

"She's healing hut with Thyra father." A strong voice came from behind me, startling me a little. "What do we have here? A new thrall for the longhouse father?" The voice spoke, as he walked around me. Looking me up and down, he sighed. "She is too young to be a shield-maiden, unless my eyes mistake me." He added, then looked passed me and to the two that stood behind me.

"Erik, brother, she looks as if she is a highborn. You can tell by her clothing." One of the others stated, as he walked towards his brother. His eyes landed on mine, and I turned away, trying to avoid his gaze. He then walked up to me, and grabbed my face. Pulling it towards his, my face burned brightly. "Ha! Look at this brother. She's red in the face!" He laughed as he stared into my eyes.

"E-Enough!" I shouted as I pushed him off of me. "Ivvar, if you have no further use of me, I shall be returning to check on the care of Ingrid." I snapped, and glared at the son that held my face close to his.

"Feisty, is she not boys?" Ivvar said as he planted a kiss on his daughter's head. He then looked at her and smiled. "Frida go gather your mother. I need her." He said in a partially quiet voice.

"Oh! I know how to get her here!" She said with a giggle and bounded out of the longhouse to retrieve her mother.

"Indeed father she is. By the Gods, why is she here though?" The brother named Erik, said as he looked at me with a slight disdain in his eyes.

"That will be for your mother to help me decide. That is why I asked Frida to go collect her for me. For her being so young, that child is very cunning. So she will be able to collect her faster than you three. Arne, come here my first born. Tell me how the settlement held up, while I was away." Ivvar said as he looked at the last one standing behind me still.

As he walked towards his father, his steps were heavy and his axes swung on his left and right hips. He dipped his head towards his father, respecting him. He then looked over his shoulder and sighed. "The settlement is well. I sent a few hunting parties out. One to gather meat for the welcome home feast. And the other to gather some escaped thralls." He stated as he looked at his father, and stood high. He then turned to me and asked "So she is of the Wolf-Clan?"

"Keen eyes, my son. Yes, you are correct there. This is Estrid, she will no longer be a wolf, but a bear now. Once your mother arrives, she and I will find a place for this one. But my plans for her are much more than she knows now. You three, are to watch her at all times, until there is a conclusion by your mother and I. Do you three understand?" Ivvar said as he looked at them all with serious eyes.

"Aye father I can agree to watching her. But my brothers seem to want to do more." Arne said as he looked at me with softness in his eyes.

"Then I leave her in your care Arne." Ivvar said as he looked at his other two sons. "And by the Gods, what is it you two have in mind? Apart from doing what I ask?" He said with a harsh tone towards his other sons.

"I wish to go see Yrsa, father. She has captured my heart. And I wish to make her my wife. With your blessing of course." Frode said as he looked at him with an eager look. He seemed to be fidgeting at the talk of her.

"As you can see father, one of them has fallen in love." Arne said as he looked at Ivvar.

"And with a proud young shield-maiden as well. Your mother finally allowed you to court her. As it shall be then, Frode. You may go court your woman. Erik, son tell me what you wish to do?" Ivvar said as he dismissed one of his sons, then turned to the other. Watching him, he could tell it was either training for hunting.

"Thank you father!" Frode said as he left with a quick pace. He was soon out of sight of everyone.

"I wish to go hunt. There is a boar close by, and it would be perfect for tonight's feast. I wished to do it before you had returned, but you returned earlier than you had told us." Erik said as he looked at him with slightly soft eyes. As if begging to go hunting.

"Alright my son, you may go hunt that boar. But you must return before the feast begins. If you intend for the meat to be the feasts meal. Now, Arne, you will go with him. Estrid, you will as well. Since you are in Arne's care, until there is a decision on what to do with you. You won't run either, that's a coward's way out." Ivvar said as he looked at us all, then his eyes landed on me. He meant every word that he said, and even brought up being a coward.

"I will not die the way my father died. You are surely mistaken if you think that." I said with a harsh tone, then turned my head away from them all. Disapproving of this and everything that was to come already.

Ivvar laughed then looked at his sons. "Go now, I can hear Frida and your mothers voices in the distance." He said as he waved us all away.

"Come on, I will give you a mount to ride." Arne said as he moved towards me. He seemed nicer than the others, but to me it seemed like a rouse.

I did not say anything, just walked away. As I walked out of the longhouse, I could already see Erik was on his mount. A beautiful white stallion with a long black mane and tail. My eyes brightened up, when I noticed the stallion. Though they grew grim when I truly noticed the mount. Stopping in my place, I turned away from the two of them once again.

"Something bothering you?" Arne asked, as he stopped at my side.

"That stallion was once mine. My father gifted him to me, and I raised him to be the stallion he is. But seeing as if I am nothing here, I must resist the temptation to yell at your brother." I said with a high spoken tone to my voice.

"I see, well then." Arne said as he walked away. "Erik, dear brother, you do not get to ride the new horses brought from other settlements. You know this. Gather you mare, as I will gather mine. Father would not be happy to lose a new horse already." He suggested as he looked the stallion up and down.

"Right. Well this stallion is too high strung as it is anyway. Seems he only answers to one master." Erik said, as he dismounted the white steed. He sighed, then looked at me. "That girl does not seem to be up for a hunt. Nor does she seem capable." He said, this time loud enough for me to hear.

Turning my gaze to his, I glared at him. "Unlike you, I was raised to be of a highborn nobility. I know how to use a bow, better than that ax I placed into your father dregner. So do not say, I don't seem capable." I said like a quick witted, yet harshly placed knife.

"Ha! You besting one of my father's drengers, sounds unbelievable." Erik said as he mounted his mare. He then looked at Arne, and spoke softly "Northwest of the settlement is a small camp. Meet me there." He then took off with a quick kick to his mare flank.

"Besting a dregner, and a well groomed one, is a hard thing to do. What caused you to kill him?" Arne asked, as he led the stallion over to me. He watched me with light eyes, they seemed to hold my gaze. Then I finally gave in, and rushed the two.

"Rune, my dear steed. I cannot believe you are here." I said as I leaned into his strong chest and forelegs. The stallion whinnied lightly, then placed his head on my back. As if he was hugging me back. I then pushed myself backwards, and looked at Arne. "He called me a thrall. To which I am not. I am the last living child of the Jarl Birger of the Wolf-Clan and the shield-maiden Astrid of the Wolf-Clan. So I found a misplaced ax, and drove it into his neck. Your father watched the whole thing. That is why I was not killed, I believe." I told him with honesty and truth pained in my voice. I looked up at Rune, and placed my hand upon his snot.

Arne looked at me, then sighed softly. "Still young, and you killed your first drenger. And you were not a shield-maiden either. But now you will be trained as one. You'll like my mother. She's nicer than my father." He spoke with a gentle voice. He then waved over the stable boy, and looked over to me. "Ride your stallion. He won't listen to anyone but you. Show my brother you can do something better than he can. We will ride by the forge, I'll buy you a bow to hunt with." Arne said as he turned away and looked at the stable boy. Smiling, he patted his head. "Thanks boy." He said, then looked over his shoulder. Walking towards the forge, I followed after him.

As we walked towards the forge in silence, I took in his features. Biting the inner part of my lip, I blushed lightly. His hair was braided in a stylish fashion of the Bear-Clan, with gold and silver bands within. His skin tone, a lightly sun kissed color. And his hair, a dark brown hair color, with hints of red flowed through his hair; perfectly accenting his skin tone. His eyes, the deepest emerald color green; that even I have ever seen. And his chiseled jawline, tied his facial features in finely. As I took in the rest of him, I could tell he was tall, and stood proud enough to show it as well. His body was small, but held perfect features of muscles. As if he noticed I was looking at him, Arne looked over towards me. Blushing brighter, I turned my face away from him. As we reached the forge, he smiled softly.

"Alright go in and pick out a bow. Something you think you can handle." He spoke, as he walked towards the forge master. "Good day Trygve. Anything new today?" He spoke, trying to allow me to look over the items. As I looked, I saw one of my own bows. Already in the midst of the rest. I reached for it, only to have my arm grabbed. The man looked at me, then cleared his throat.

"That bow needs a new string. It's not for sale." Said the forge master, then released my arm.

"I'm buying it Trygve. Let the girl have it. I'll bring it in to get it fixed tomorrow. We are going hunting." Arne said as he looked at me. I was holding a shallow look on my face, as I tried to resist yelling once again.

"Fine, but don't tell your father I allowed this. Pay me in full tomorrow and you can take the bow." He said as he reached for the bow. Holding it out, he looked at the both of us. "It's made with," He began to say, though I cut him off.

"Cherry and oak would, finely crafted together, with great skill. Dipped in gold on the tips. With silver engravings of wolves on the bow. And the string, it is made of wolves guts." I spoke, as I slowly took the bow from the forge master's hands. Smiling lightly, I looked over the gift my own mother had given me.

"Smart, how could you tell?" Trygve said as he looked at me with questioning eyes.

"It was a gift to the daughter of the shield-maiden, Astrid of the Wolf-Clan. To represent the first day of womanhood." I spoke as if the memory was just being created. "I watched as this bow was created." I spoke with a gentle tone. Looking at Arne, I then turned to Rune and smiled. Quickly mounting him, I turned my gaze to the son of Ivvar. "Your brother awaits." I said with a smirk. I was ready to show him, I could hunt this boar better than he could.

"Thank you Trygve. You can speak to her another day about this. We must get to Erik." Arne said, as he mounted his light grey mare. He then kicked her in the flanks, and off we both went.

As we headed Northwest from the settlement, we seemed to have a different feeling between us. I got the sense that he was nice, much more than anyone in his family. I wanted to say something, but it wasn't the right time. I could feel that, but I also couldn't help having a slight smile on my lips as I rode with him. Rune's powerful body underneath mine. He made me feel so much stronger, and I felt like I was home again. Following after Arne, I could see him slowing down. So I pulled Rune's reigns, and stopped to his left. As he dismounted, he looked around the small camp near a large tree to our right.

"Camp has been ransacked. Looks like it is an animal, possibly looking for food." He said as he started to look around for clues.

I dismounted Rune, and patted his right fore flank. Walking towards him, I looked on the ground. I could see a few prints in the ground, slightly hidden underneath some leaves. I brushed them out of the way and looked closer. 'Hoof prints. Looks like a boar with how far they are imprinted into the ground.' I thought to myself, then looked at Arne. "I think we need to head west. These hoof prints look like they head in that direction." I said with a soft spoken voice. I then got down and smelled the print, definitely smelled like a boar. "Not sure how long ago it was here. But it can't be too far." I said as I grabbed my bow. Turning to Arne, I walked over and reached out towards him. He watched me closely, though I only reached for a few arrows. "I won't hurt someone who's been nice to me, when I haven't been." I said as I pulled three arrows out of his quiver. Holding them in my left hand, we headed west as I had suggested.

Arne looked at me, and smiled lightly. "You are not as you had appeared earlier. You seemed to have calmed down." He spoke, though with a soft chuckle. As we topped the hill above the camp site, we could see some deer off in the distance.

"I will admit, still being in shock and everything happening. I was not planning on actually going hunting with someone, like you." I said, then looked up at him. As he looked at me with a confused look, I giggled softly. "Someone who puts more trust in a stranger, than even I do. I am not used to this." I said with a sigh, admitting to something strange feeling nice. I looked ahead of us, hoping to find Erik, or better. The boar.

"I see. I will admit, when I agreed to watch over you. I was expecting you to be more hostile. But you've shown restraint, though sadness along with it." Arne said as he stopped, as if listening to our surroundings. "With all that has happened, hunting is probably something to clear the mind. I hope you can take a moment to think about all that has happened. And try to find calm times in dark times." He spoke with a poetic tone, though his words reminded me of those of my mother's. She always told me to be calm. Even when times were rough.

Smiling softly, I looked around. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the boar. Smiling brighter, I walked with a slow pace, and weaved in and out of the trees ahead of us. Arne following in tow behind me. Pulling an arrow into position, I quickly aimed at the boar. Arne grabbing my shoulder. "Are you sure you can hit that thing from this distance?" He whispered, then looked at the boar again.

"Of course I can. Just watch." I said as I pulled the bow into position once again. Steadying my breathing and aim, I closed my left eye. As he was grazing about two hundred meters out, I aimed for his heart. As I took one deep breath in, I released it and the string to my bow. The arrow went flying, over the tops of branches, and through a hole in one tree. As it started to descend, the boar positioned itself right in the line of fire. As the arrow hit, in the right spot for a perfect enabling blow. As I took off running towards the squealing injured boar, I looked backwards towards Arne. "You've got the knife. Finish him off?" I said as I didn't actually know how to do that. My father and brothers always finished off the kill.

"Don't worry." He said with a chuckle, then walked towards the boar. Kneeling down, he thanked Freya for the bountiful kill, then slit the boar's throat. Instantly killing it. He looked over to me, and smiled lightly. "Nice shot. Now let's find Erik. He's somewhere around here." Arne said as he looked around, the area. A head started to poke out from the distant hill. Getting to the top of the hill, it was Erik. He was running, as if he heard the squeal of the boar. "There you are! Come let's get this boar home. Father and mother have probably talked enough." Arne said as he took a rope and wrapped it around the boar's back legs. Whistling for his mare, he looked at me with soft eyes.

"Ah, you got him brother! And a clean shot too." Erik said slightly breathless, already assuming his brother killed the boar. I went to say something, but Arne cut me off.

"Have no doubt brother. Hunting is a lot easier when your loud mouth is not around." He laughed, then mounted his mare. I whistled for Rune, and looked at Erik. Rolling my eyes, I turned around to the sound of thundering hooves coming towards me.

Patting the stallion as he slowed to a slow prance towards me. "Good boy." I spoke, as I quickly mounted him. I then looked at Erik, as he looked at me and Rune.

"So you are his master. Such a beautiful stallion, but not a shield-maiden. Not even worthy of a horse like this." He spoke, still insulting me with everything he had.

"Enough, let us return with the boar." Arne said with a harsh tone towards the both of us, this time. He seemed annoyed by arguing, maybe that was why we got along a little better than the rest.

"Jumping to her defense already brother? I won't easily be swayed by her looks, like you." Erik said, then whistled loudly for his mare. A beautiful fawn colored mare galloped towards us from a distance. He then looked at Arne, as he dismounted his mare.

"I am only showing kindness, where you lack such. Father told us to look after her. While you sit here and insult her, I will not. Get over your arrogant arse, brother. Our father is our Jarl, and yet you want to defy every order he gives you." Arne said as he angrily walked up to his brother. Getting in his face, he was definitely upset. "So should I beat your arse right here and now? Before you even get drunk and embarrass yourself in front of our father, yet again at another feast." He said, this time staring into his brother's eyes. He was serious, and this was a different side of him. That, now I was seeing. As Erik pushed Arne away from him. Arne swung his left arm, and landed a fist into Erik's face.

As Erik stumbled backwards, he grabbed his jaw and mouth. Looking at his brother with wild eyes, he launched himself towards him. As the two threw punches back and forth, landing a few upon each other; I watched them. Finally, Arne got Erik to the ground and he pulled his arm behind him. Twisting it and pulling it further back, Erik let out a groan of pain.

"Yield brother!" Arne shouted as he pulled his brother's arm backwards again.

"Fine! I yield!" Erik snapped loudly in pain. As Arne let go of him, Erik rolled away and groaned. "Fine, I'll listen. But I take no blame for anything happening." He said as he pushed himself off the ground and looked at the both of us. Turning away, he walked towards his mare. Pulling himself up, he kicked her in the flanks. Leaving us behind.

Arne looked at me, and sighed. Walking over, he mounted his horse. "Let us return." He said as he disregarded everything that just happened. Nodding, I mounted Rune and followed after him.

As we reached the settlement, Arne looked at me. "Go ahead and wait in the longhouse. I need to get this boar to our cook." He said, then left rather quickly.

I sighed and dismounted Rune. Patting the stallion, he followed after Arne. Looking at the longhouse, I rolled my eyes. Walking in, I could see Ivvar and his wife talking. Leaning against the wood, I could see she noticed me. Looking down and away from her, I slowly started to become self conscious. As I wasn't looking at her, I could hear footsteps moving in my direction. As they stopped in front of me, I looked out of the corner of my eye. Ivvar's wife stood there, as if looking me over.

"Come now child, are you too shy to say anything? My husband is rather impatient, and could not wait for the reply of your people. I am Gunhild the shield-maiden of the Bear-Clan, and wife of Ivvar." She said as she smiled softly. Explaining a little bit of why Ivvar attacked, but also who she was. Watching me with light eyes, she kept looking me over still.

"I-I'm Estrid, my lady." I said as I gulped lightly. She then turned to her husband and shook her head.

"Ivvar, my love, you have this poor girl scared." She said as she walked towards him. Then turned back to me. Her eyes beckoned for me to move forward. As if my body reacted to her eyes only, it moved forward. "She's young, but there is so much potential in her. Frode is already in love with Yrsa. And Erik is hotheaded as you, Ivvar." Gunhild said as she sat on the arm of Ivvar's Jarl throne. He wrapped his arm around her waist and smiled. "But he has your spirit. And our first born," She started to say, but stopped herself. Looking back at me, she smiled lightly. "I think he will be the best, my love. Arne is the best choice in this matter. She would make a wonderful adviser and wife, as I do to you." She finished saying, as she looked back at Ivvar.

'WIFE!' I thought, as I held my head in my hands, I couldn't look at them any longer. As if I couldn't stand much more, I dropped to my knees. My body started to quiver, and I could see my life was shattering in front of me. 'How could this happen?' I thought, as a few tears escaped and streamed down my cheeks. As I looked at Ivvar, I pulled my hands away from my face. "This was your plan all along? To have your wife decide which son I was to marry." I said, fear and anger in my voice. I knew this day would come, but not when I was taken from my family. And forced to marry the man that killed my family, son.

"Not exactly, but this was better than what I had in mind. My wife is sparing you from certain death." Ivvar said, no remorse found in his voice. "You two will wed on the day of the Summer Solstice." He added as he stood up, he then proceeded to walk closer to me. Grabbing my face in his hand, he smiled. "Welcome to the Bear-Clan, little wolf." He whispered as he mocked me, releasing my face from his grasp. Leaving his wife and I alone, he left the longhouse, disappearing from sight.