Unforgiven

Sigrid slipped into her room and closed the door behind her. She felt her heart pounding. Her skin was clammy.

What had she seen? And heard?

She tried to collect her thoughts as she shakily packed the essentials.

Before leaving the room, she ran her fingers over the wolf's teeth hanging around her neck. Then she went to Thora.

"We have to leave. Now."

Thora spun, her eyes darting back and forth. "Where... where are we going?"

"Away from here."

Thora opened her mouth but hesitated. Her gaze darkened, and her shoulders sagged. "I can't face Sigurd." "And I think... I think I'm with child."

Sigrid held her gaze. "Sigurd is dead."

Thora's emerald-green eyes widened. "Dead?"

Sigrid gave a brief nod. "I will explain everything later; have faith in me."

Initially, Thora's face showed fleeting relief, followed by tears and shame.

Sigrid understood. The relief of being free. Of never having to fear him again. She had felt it herself when Sigurd collapsed lifelessly before Ragnar in the forest. Guilt, fury, and pain.

It was as if she had a heavy burden lifted from her shoulders.

Her thoughts raced, but one thing was certain: she had to leave. She couldn't be near Ragnar right now. A tiny spark of thankfulness flickered within her, a fragile thing in the face of her overwhelming grief for Bjørn and Erik and all the other innocents he had betrayed at Fimreite, the supporters of Magnus. She hated him for that.

She crept toward Leif's room. The house was still quiet. Having shut the door, she saw him sitting on the bed's edge. She sat down beside him and took his hand as she explained they had to leave.

He didn't hesitate. "I'm coming with you."

Sigrid nodded. They needed all the help they could get.

Soon, Thora, her mother, and Leif were ready. Sigrid's heart pounded as she listened, tense.

She afterward entered the main room, cautiously looking toward the yard.

There he was-Ragnar-engaged in what seemed like a heated discussion with her. Gerd.

Sigrid swallowed, relieved. He was occupied, but that also meant one thing: their escape route had to change.

She directed them through the tunnel to the stables. They slipped through the narrow passageways, the damp scent of earth and rotting wood filling their noses.

As they rode from the stable, her breath came in ragged gasps. Thora clung tightly to Leif, Sigrid guided Fenris forward with determination, and Thora's mother rode her own horse.

They took a detour through the forest to avoid Gerd and Ragnar. Branches whipped against her face. Fenris' hooves pounded against the ground, drowned out by the heavy pulse in her ears.

Sigrid swung her leg over the saddle and dropped to the ground as they approached Åsheim. She ran her fingers through his mane before turning toward the forest and calling out for Balder.

The dog was still some distance away but trotted toward them. Alone with her dog, she walked toward the main house. Sigrid took a deep breath, placed her hand on the door handle, and pushed it open.

Her father looked at her as if he were seeing a ghost. Thorstein was seated next to him.

Her mother hurried to embrace her. "Sigrid! I never thought I would see you again! What are you doing here?"

Sigrid lifted her chin. "I've come to bid farewell and visit Åsmund."

Her mother wiped away her tears, her face growing serious. "He's in his room. He's ill. Just lies there and barely speaks... but he asks for you."

Thorstein eyed her, seemingly wanting to speak, and offered only a curt nod.

Sigrid moved toward the stairs, but her father stepped in front of her.

"Have you come back to us?"

She held his gaze for a moment before answering, calm but firm."

"No. I only came to say goodbye."

"Goodbye?"

His brow furrowed.

"Yes. I'm leaving with Thora to the convent. She is with child."

"With child? Shameful! Without being married-"

"It wasn't like she had a choice in the matter, Father-she was assaulted and taken by force."

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence.

Her mother's eyes widened. "Terrible. Have they caught him?"

Sigrid straightened. "He fled, of course. To escape punishment."

Impatience stirred within her. She needed to move on.

"I want to see Åsmund," she said, pushing her mother aside. She departed without response.

When she opened the door to her brother's chamber, she halted.

The frail body lay motionless on the bed. A shadow of himself. His skin was nearly gray, the dark circles under his eyes accentuating the sunken face.

"Åsmund..."

Her voice was low but tense.

He spun toward her. His tired eyes lit up.

"Sigrid?"

Tears streamed down his hollow cheeks. He blinked several times, as if to make sure she was there.

"Is it really you?"

She nodded.

"Yes, it's me."

She sat by the bed. Balder curled up at her feet. She studied her brother and gave a small smile.

"You look terrible, brother."

He shrugged but returned a crooked smile.

"It hasn't been easy."

His gaze darkened and drifted away, as if he were disappearing into another place.

"Sigurd doesn't understand... that I'm different. That I need rest. That I'm not made like them."

He shook his head and let out a hollow laugh.

"Look at me. Even my body looks like a twig."

She laughed with him, but the sound was empty.

"He took it out on you while I was gone, didn't he?"

The question was unnecessary. She already knew the answer.

Åsmund closed his eyes but said nothing.

She leaned closer, lowering her voice.

"He can't hurt you anymore. He is never coming back."

Åsmund opened his eyes again, still silent.

Sigrid took out a small bundle of herbs and placed them in his hand.

"This will help you relax. And Balder will be good company."

Her brother stared at her with wide eyes.

"What do you mean?"

She took a deep breath.

"I have to leave him behind. Doubt they will allow me to bring him to the convent."

"You're leaving again? But you just got back."

Sigrid looked away.

"Yes, I'm leaving with Thora."

Her brother's eyes gleamed; he swallowed hard, then looked at her. "Is it true? That Sigurd isn't coming back?"

She placed a hand on his arm and looked at him. "Have I ever lied to you?"

He shook his head and smiled.

She smiled back, then lay down beside him on the bed and wrapped her arms around him.

They lay there in silence for a while before she sat up.

"But now I have to go. Maybe you and Balder could visit once you're better?"

She ran her fingers through the dog's thick fur, inhaling the scent and warmth before patting the bed. "Stay, Balder."

The dog climbed onto the bed and lay down beside Åsmund. Sigrid bent over and kissed them both on the forehead.

No one understood how much Balder meant to her. When Balder had grown large and strong, Sigurd had suddenly left her alone-at least physically. But he had also helped ease the pain.

When she came downstairs, her father stood with his arms crossed. He threw his arms out in frustration. "Will you not say anything to me?"

She stopped in front of him, letting his words hang in the air for a moment before she answered.

"I absolve you, Father, for overlooking Sigurd, and I am grateful that you gave me Balder. He helped me through it."

Her father opened his mouth, but no words came. He remained motionless, seemingly at a loss for words.

She turned to her mother.

"You too," she said and kissed her on each cheek.

Then she stopped in front of Thorstein, meeting his gaze.

"And I forgive you for not daring to stand against him."

He didn't answer; instead, he lowered his gaze.

"So... what now?" Her father asked in a whisper.

Sigrid straightened.

"Now I leave with Thora. I'll stay there with her. I have to go now-they're waiting."

As she opened the door, she heard her mother's voice behind her.

"You haven't seen Sigurd, have you?"

Sigrid stood still for a moment, her back turned to them. Then she turned and met her mother's deep hazel eyes.

"I doubt he will ever return."

She let the words sink in.

"I told you, he fled-after what he did to Thora."

Then she left them.

Without further ado.

As Sigrid rounded the courtyard, she turned to Leif.

"Can you get us to Tautra?"
She knew the convent on the island took in women in Thora's situation.

Leif nodded.

"We can go to some of my mother's relatives. They live just across from the island."

He glanced at the sun.

"It will take some time to get there, but we should arrive before nightfall. Tomorrow, we can get you across by boat."

She reached for his hand, her touch light but firm. "Thank you for doing this. After everything you've been through..."

Leif met her eyes and gave a faint smile. "I promised him I would look after you, you know."

"I still can't believe he's gone," Sigrid said, her stare lost somewhere far away.

He squeezed her hand before adding, with a wry smile, "Neither can I. That's why it's good to have something else to focus on."

Sigrid grabbed the reins and swung herself onto the horse.

Thora looked at her. "What about Balder?"

"I doubt the convent takes in dogs. And after everything Sigurd put Åsmund through... I think he needs him more than I do."

Thora nodded and took Leif's hand as he helped her into the saddle.

They rode up the hill, and Sigrid felt a tightness in her chest. She halted her horse, turned, and let her eyes drift back toward the farm.

"Goodbye," she whispered.

Then she pressed her heels into the horse's sides and rode forward to catch up with the others.

But just as she neared the edge of the forest, she froze. A feeling crept over her-someone was watching.

She jolted. Held her breath. Tight.

Then-a movement among the shadows in the trees.

Slowly, he stepped forward.

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