tw: almost rape (sorry, you guys D: ), somewhat violence? (freya's a lil violent, but only to be protective), kidnapping

( 10th century — kingdom of norway )

Esther coos quietly at her daughter who was holding onto her finger tightly. She was a darling little one. Beautiful and perfect in every way. Her birth had been a little rocky, with Freya crying every time she was even near Esther.

But as soon as Mikael was gone, Freya was all hers. No crying, just little noises and tiny fingers grasping at her.

"Hello, my little one," Esther gently scooped her daughter up, humming a small song as she walked back toward the spell she had started. She swayed with her daughter in her arms as she used her other hand to grab the small needle. "This is going to hurt for just a second, my sweet girl." She kissed her daughter's forehead and then pricked Freya's pointer finger.

She started crying instantly as Esther flicked the blood into the bowl.

"Oh, I know, I know," Esther murmured, rocking her daughter and healing her finger. She gave the newborn palm a couple of kisses, brushing her hand over Freya's head. Her daughter calmed in her arms.

Esther looked down at the bowl and put her hand over it. She murmured the spell and suddenly, an image appeared. The parent.

Esther felt tears well in her eyes as she watched Alix walk with a dead boar over her shoulder. It was light wherever she was, contrary to the darkness that surrounded Esther and Freya.

"Your mother would love you," Esther murmured, looking down at Freya and seeing the love of her life in her face. Freya had dark eyes now, but she hoped when she grew up that she'd have the same beautiful green eyes Alix had. "I am sorry you will not meet her..." Esther sighed and looked back at the image. She committed to her face to memory, even though she already had. There was no way she would ever forget her.

She waved the spell away.

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

Esther silently watched as Freya set a flower crown on her little brother's head. She smiled softly at the sight, glad that those two were as close as they were. Even at such a young age. You could always see Freya holding Finn or dragging him along.

Finn was always at least one step behind Freya, holding her hand or her clothes. Freya hadn't minded and actually welcomed it, smiling when her mother would murmur about how cute they were.

Finn was Mikael's child, Esther saw more of it every day, but he was also hers. Esther didn't care who his other DNA was. Finn was hers just as much as Freya.

"Mommy, want crown?" Finn asked, bumping into her legs. He was still getting used to walking as was him talking. Esther smiled softly at her little boy, brushing a hand through his hair, she was careful of the crown.

"Yes, please," Esther replied. Freya bounced over and set an identical flower crown on her mother's head, beaming. "Oh, thank you! I love it so much!"

Freya giggled as Esther scooped her and Finn onto her lap. "Now, we're matching!" Freya said.

Finn squealed a bit, nodding. The three sat in silence, watching the birds and feeling the breeze. It was nice. They often did this when Mikael was away. They enjoyed the peace and quiet.

"Hey, mama?" Freya asked hesitantly and Esther looked down at her. "I... I'm not father's child, am I?"

Esther blinked in surprise. How did she find that out? Esther never said anything for fear of what Mikael would do to both her and Freya. She did not want to leave Finn alone with that monster of a man. "I—"

"It's okay," Freya said, sharing a look with Finn. Those two were always very smart, even at such young ages. It kind of unnerved her. "It's just... I have green eyes, but neither of you do. And... and there's just this... when father is around, there is this voice in my head telling me that he's dangerous. That I need to get away..." Freya looked down at her hands.

Esther sighed a bit and kissed her daughter's forehead. "You can never tell your father. He will not be kind," she said seriously, looking between her kids. They both shared another look before nodding. "No, he is not your father, Freya... your mother's name is Alix."

Freya tilted her head, her eyes lighting up, "I have two moms?" She asked excitedly.

Esther smiled and gave her a small nod. "You do."

"Do I have two moms? I want two moms!" Finn pouted, clutching onto Esther's dress with wide eyes.

Esther laughed softly and kissed his nose. "I'm sure Alix would love you."

Finn's pout deepened, "but Mikael is my father?" Esther nodded. Finn sighed heavily, "phooey."

Freya giggled as Esther shook her head in amusement. "Will we ever get to meet my mom?" Freya asked, looking up at her mother curiously.

Esther said nothing as she stared out in front of her for a moment. Images of Alix and what their life could've been like flash through her mind. Then she shook her head a bit and looked back to her children. "I truly hope so. She is a wonderful woman. You'd love her."

Freya sighed a bit. "I wish she was here."

"Me too, my love," Esther muttered.

"Can... can we see her? Is there a way?" Finn asked curiously, looking up at his mother.

Esther tilted her head. "There is..." she looked to Freya, "but I'm going to need your blood." Freya nodded. Esther twisted her wrist and a needle appeared in her hand. Freya held out her hand and Esther gently pricked her palm. Freya winced a little and healed her hand. Esther held up the needle and flicked the blood off. An image shimmered into existence.

Alix was standing near a hut, her arms crossed. It seemed like she was talking to someone, but they could not hear it.

"She's very pretty," Finn said, leaning his head against his mother's shoulder.

"She is," Esther agreed, smiling sadly as she watched Alix turn her head. For a moment, their eyes connected and Esther was terrified Alix could see them, then her eyes flicked left then right, a furrow in her brow. She then looked back toward whoever was talking.

"I hope I'm as pretty as her one day. Or you," Freya said, looking up at her mother.

"Oh, my dear. You already are," Esther murmured, smiling. 

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

"Mikael, please! I am exhausted from taking care of the children. Let us just sleep for today," Esther pleaded, stepping backward when Mikael came toward her. It seemed he wished for it every day now. She hated it. Taking care of two children close in age was hard enough, and Esther isn't sure if she wishes to do it again. Maybe in another year or two.

"Once again, Esther, I do not care what you want. I am in need," Mikael grabbed her arms, forcing her onto the bed, "when will you ever learn?"

Esther tried to fight him, but her hands didn't make contact. The hatred she held for that damn cuff. It was exhausting. "Mikael, no. Tomorrow. Please." She knew it was no use, but she wanted it to end.

"No, I'm—" Something cracked him over the head and he slumped to the ground. Esther stared wide-eyed at her husband's unconscious body before her eyes turned to look at Freya who was shaking slightly, but had determination and anger in her eyes. She had a piece of wood in her hand, a large piece, and was holding it at the ready.

"Well," Esther muttered, wondering if laughing would be the correct response to this. Freya was definitely Alix's daughter.

"I–I'm sorry, mommy! I didn't mean to kill him. Please, forgive me. I swear I didn't—"

"Oh, honey," Esther quickly scooped up her child, swaying a bit, "you didn't kill him. He's just sleeping. You're okay. You're okay." She kissed the side of Freya's head as her child calmed down. "Thank you, my beautiful girl."

She'd have to come up with a lie on how Mikael was knocked out. Perhaps she had kicked something and the piece of wood had fallen and hit him. Anything other than the truth. She would not let Mikael harm her daughter.

Finn looked between Mikael, his mother, and his sister. "Is he dead?" He asked and Esther could detect some excitement in his voice.

Once again, Esther wondered if laughing was the right response. "No, sweetheart."

Finn pouted. "Phooey."

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

It was about five months after Freya's fifth birthday that Esther felt like she was drowning all over again. It was snowing and they were all dressed in their warm clothing.

Finn and Freya were holding hands and jumping around in the snow, giggling away. Esther put a gentle hand over her stomach where her third child was becoming.

She smiled as she watched her darling children.

"Sister."

Esther tensed and turned around, meeting Dahlia's eyes. The woman was dressed in dark clothing, a hood pulled over her head. "Dahlia..." she said, holding her hand over her stomach protectively. She would not be able to fight this time, not with the fetus in her womb, not with her children so close. But she'd do what it takes to protect them. She just hoped Dahlia would have mercy this time around.

"Dahlia," she greeted back. The woman was not her sister. She hasn't been for five years. She never will be again. "What are you doing here?"

The dark-haired woman smirked a bit. "I've come to collect my 'anything'," she says, watching her niece and nephew play.

Esther tensed a little bit. She had not forgotten her agreement. Every time she looked at her children, Dahlia's words echoed in her mind. Her own words echoed in her mind. She would have to do something for her sister.

"Of course," Esther nodded, placing her hands on her stomach. She hopes her sister doesn't make her go to find anything. She was carrying her next child. However, she wouldn't put it passed her sister. "What will it be?"

Dahlia says nothing, watching as the two children come running up to them. Finn grabs onto his mother's hand with his free one, his other clasped tightly in Freya's who is watching Dahlia with an unreadable look. "Who might these two be?"

Esther glances down at her children, reluctant to give their names or even introduce them. "This is Freya and Finn," she says, squeezing Finn's hand gently, "can you two go back to the house? I will be there—"

"Hello, little ones," Dahlia greeted, looking between her niece and nephew, "I am Dahlia, your aunt."

"Hi!" Finn grins, bouncing on his toes, "we've never seen you before."

Esther clears her throat. "Go home," she told them seriously. Freya takes the hint and starts tugging Finn with no response to Dahlia.

"Not so fast," Dahlia said, holding her hand up. She was frowning now at the lack of acknowledgment from the little girl. Freya freezes, unable to move. She makes a panicked sound, her eyes flicking over to Esther.

"Let her go!" Esther demands, her eyes blazing with fury.

"Freya!" Finn pouts, his eyes tearing up as he tries to help her move. She can't. Nor can she speak.

Dahlia looks to her sister. "My 'anything' will be her..." she beckoned the girl over and Freya's feet slid backward, her hand coming out of Finn's. Dahlia's hand wrapped firmly around Freya's bicep as Finn's hand tightly grasped Esther's once more, tears falling from her eyes.

"Let me go, lady!" Freya says, trying and failing to pull away. It was like Dahlia's hand had been drenched in sap and now she was stuck to Freya.

"Dahlia, please. Do not do this!" Esther says, aware of the predicament she was in. Though, if it came down to it.

"You wanted a family! Fate said otherwise," Dahlia sneered.

Freya looks up at Esther who pulls Finn closer to her. He was trying to reach for Freya, but Dahlia kept his sister away. Esther looked panicked, her eyes wet and her mouth pulled into a frown.

"So you came to me. And for a price, I granted your wish. Now I must collect," Dahlia said with finality.

"No. No, I won't let you take her away. You have ruined my life, but I will not let you ruin hers!" Esther exclaimed, glaring at her sister, "I will do whatever you wish for the rest of our miserable lives, but you must give her to me. You must leave her and my children alone!"

"No," Dahlia said, "and you won't be able to do anything about it. Much less her." She produced a cuff that was all too familiar to Esther.

"No!" Esther used her magic to push Finn away while her other hand lashed out, her knife flying forward and shattering the cuff right before Dahlia could put it on. Dahlia yelped, jumping away.

Freya stumbled away, backing up and out of reach of her aunt. She rushes into her mother's arms as Finn hides behind his mother's legs.

Dahlia snarled at Esther. "This changes nothing." She produces a familiar totem. "I tried the nice way, but you have left me with no choice." She holds the totem up a bit, smirking cruelly. "You will let me take Freya—"

"No!" Esther cried, her grip loosening on Freya without her consent, "no, Dahlia, please! Please!" Freya held onto her mother's clothes, sobbing herself.

"Mommy, don't let her take me!"

"Freya!" Esther steeled herself a little, meeting Dahlia's eyes, "when Mikael returns, I will tell him—" Even if she hated the man, he loved Freya. He would get her back.

"You will tell him Freya grew ill and died," Dahlia cut in.

"No, Dahlia—"

"You were forced to burn her body to stop the spread of plague," Dahlia says, Freya's arm now back in Dahlia's hand.

"Mommy, mommy, mommy!" Freya sobbed, reaching for her mother but unable to get to her.

Esther shook a bit, her fingers flexing as she tried desperately to go against her sister's magic. "Sister, please. I can not give up my child!"

"Oh, you have already offered me more than just this one child," she smirked, "our bargain was for anything I wished for. I wish for this firstborn and every firstborn of each generation that is to come! For as long as your line shall last."

Esther stepped toward her sister, fury written across her expression. "If you do this, if you take my daughter, I swear to you I will return to the black arts. I will grow in power as a witch, AND I WILL MAKE YOU PAY."

"Your power is nothing against mine!" She looked her over with judgment, "Foolish girl. You knew the bargain you made. And should you defy me, then I will take all your children. Including little Finn."

The boy in question cried out loudly, clutching onto his mother's dress in fear. Esther wrapped her arm around him quickly, holding him close.

"Even that one, Elijah."

"Dahlia—" Esther pleads.

Dahlia turns, picks Freya up, and rushes away.

"Mom!" Freya shouts, holding her hand out for her mother.

"FREYA! FREYA! PLEASE, SISTER!" Esther screams after her sister, tears falling from her eyes steadily. Sobs build up in the back of her throat.

"MOMMY! MOM!"

Esther sobs as she listens to Freya's screams for her grow distant. She picks Finn up, holding him close as they cry together. Esther makes her way home, unsure of what to do.

Her daughter was gone.

Esther looks down at the cuff on her wrist.

Determination sets in.

She will get strong. She'll get stronger than her sister. She will kill her and get her daughter back. 

AN: dahlia why you gotta be an asshole fr :( stealing freya away, so mean

wc: 2662