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introducing...
ೃ⁀➷ chapter one of downfall
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„I swear to God, if you don't open that door right now, I will kill you!" was all that Cecilia heard before a loud noise made her jump. What the hell was going on?

Slowly she made her way out of her room and down the stairs to where her father used to be most of the time. Confused she looked around but neither, her father or her brother were to be found.

„Father? Father, where are you?" Cecilia walked to the door, opened it slowly and looked into Earl Ragnar's truthful and honest eyes, „Oh hello Earl Ragnar. What brings you here?"

„Hello, sweetheart. I'm looking for your father and brother. Are they here?" Earl Ragnar smiled at her and gently stroked her head.

„Yes, they're here. I'll get them real quick!" and just as Cecilia finished those words, she disappeared and looked for her father and brother, „Father? Sven? Earl Ragnar is here and is looking for you."

A dark shadow appeared and moments later she looked into her brothers eyes, „What brings him here?" was all that he cared about and Cecilia saw the fear in his eyes. She tilted her head and shrugged her shoulders, making him even more anxious.

„I do not know. Maybe you should just speak with him to find out?" she had always been cheeky, which sometimes resulted in fights with her brother, „Just go, it can't be that bad."

Sven swallowed and hoped for Kjartan to stand by his side, but his father was nowhere to be found. Slowly he walked towards the door, opened it and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, before he felt a warm hand on his left shoulder. Sven opened his eyes and looked at his father, who talked to Earl Ragnar, trying to soothe him, but he wasn't really successful.

Normally Cecilia would've listened to the conversation, but today she didn't feel the need to do so. So she just went back to her room and continued reading her book. About 2 hours later, her father called for her, making her jump and quickly walking down the stairs. He had a look in his eyes, she couldn't really describe and now even she was anxious.

„You called for me?" she quietly asked, quickly taking her eyes off her father. Kjartan took a deep breath before he kneeled down in front of her, caressing her cheeks softly and gently.

„Sweetheart, we have to leave. We're not safe here anymore and I want you two to grow up in peace and safety." she could see the tears in his eyes and his voice was shaking. Sven's one eye was covered by a blindfold making him even uglier than he already was.

„Who makes us leave or why do we even have to leave?" Kjartan sighed and turned to Sven, who quickly lowered his head and looked at the ground, „We were so happy here and now we should leave?"

Throwing a little tantrum had never hurt anybody so it was Cecilia's favourite thing to do. But usually Kjartan scolded her for throwing tantrums, so she was positively surprised, that he spared her today. It seemed like he didn't really have an answer to her questions so he just stupidly looked at the ground and remained silent. That patience didn't count to Cecilia's strength's was no secret and usually Kjartan should know this, but he let her wait nevertheless.

„Sweetheart, I'll explain everything to you, when we're out of here." was all he said before he stood up and walked away, leaving her with many more questions.

„Do you know something father doesn't want to tell me? Or perhaps do you want to tell me what happened to your eye?" she now looked at Sven, who still looked at the ground, „Hello? Am I talking to a wall?"

„You don't need to know everything!" he literally yelled at his sister, resulting into him getting slapped by her.

Perplexed and confused he held his right cheek, watching Cecilia proudly smiling at him. He shot her an angry look, but that didn't really bother her so she just walked away and left him standing there alone.

5 years later

„Cecilia, we are leaving!" was all that Kjartan yelled, before he brought his things to the horses and waited for his children, „Sven, the same thing also applies to you. Get your asses down here now!"

Cecilia rolled her eyes before she headed outside to where her father was waiting. Annoyed she saddled her horse, mounted her horse and then yawned. Kjartan rolled his eyes at his daughters behaviour and then nearly lost his nerves, because Sven took so long.

„Sven, for fucks sake, where are you?!" quickly Sven came running towards them and Cecilia hard a hard time to stifle her laughter. Her brother always ran like an injured horse or something, because he simply was too stupid to run.

„Sorry, father." was all that Sven had to say and again Cecilia rolled her eyes. In the last few years, the relationship between her and Sven got worse than she had ever imagined and at first it scared her, but now she didn't care and only felt hatred for her brother. He was a rat and everybody knew that.

„Men, are you ready to start a new life?" all of Kjartan's men clashed their swords and were happy to follow their Lord into a new life, „Cecilia, Sven, are you as well ready to start a new life?"

He probably imagined both of his children to be happy, but only Sven nodded and showed his happiness. Cecilia still was suspicious and angry, that they had to leave, because that meant, that she had to leave Uhtred, Ragnar, Brida and Thyra behind.

At some point Kjartan accepted, that Cecilia wasn't in the mood to answer or react, so he just gave the command that they were leaving now. They rode for a couple of hours until they finally stopped. Cecilia looked around, because the area was familiar and when she was Earl Ragnar's house, she knew, that her father had planned something. Her gut feeling told her that something was wrong, but before she could ask any questions or speak her mind, two of Kjartan's men brought her a few minutes away, so that she couldn't see what was happening.

She could only smell it and tears instantly rose in her eyes. Did her father seriously just set Earl Ragnar's house on fire? Whilst Earl Ragnar and his family were inside? Cecilia prayed that Uhtred, Thyra, Brida and Ragnar weren't home, because she didn't want to lose them this way. The next morning Kjartan, Sven and his men looked around for things they might need and even abducted Thyra. Cecilia never would've thought that her father was so cruel and all she felt was shame, betrayal and heartbreak. She didn't want to live with him anymore, she wanted to run away but she knew, that her fathers men would find her.