THEY ATE MUSH THAT NIGHT AFTER THEY MADE CAMP. It was either oats or peas, Ella couldn't tell from the porridge-like consistency. After seasoning it with a little salt and some herbs, she was handed a filled wooden trowel. She didn't even hesitate like she had the previous night. 

The Danes had not stopped for a midday meal. Thorvid gave her an apple, but that barely held her. She shoveled the mush into her mouth with abandon, not caring about manners. Her captors were of the same mindset.

Gudrik was first watch, but she didn't have to worry about coming up with conversation. Her body ached in places she didn't even know possessed muscle. Horseback riding was an exhausting activity. The moment she laid her head down on a gathering of leaves and dried brush, she passed out cold. She didn't even have time to consider how she might escape once they reached their destination, or whether she should risk meeting Aelfred under the guise of Aethylthryth.

"Up. Get up." Sigurd yanked her shoulder at dawn. She blinked awake. Sigurd gave her shoulder one last shove for good measure, mashing her face into the pile of musty leaves. "Get up, I said."

"Leave her be, Sigurd. You're making a fool of yourself," Gudrik reprimanded after smoothing water through his hair.

Sigurd snickered as he ambled away. Ella pulled herself upright, glaring after him as she brushed the bracken from her messy braids. Gudrik rose and moved towards her. Instinctively, she flinched. She was still unsure what to expect from these men. He held up a hand. 

"Here. If you would like to wash," he said, holding out the bowl of water that he had just used for himself.

Ella wasn't entirely sure if he had blown his nose directly into the bowl, but she was certain that he had rinsed his mouth and cleaned his teeth with a stick, spitting back into it. It was a nice gesture... but her stomach turned a little at the thought. She shook her head and attempted a smile.

"No, thank you. But do you know if there is something I could eat?"

With a gruff hum, Gudrik walked towards his pack. He brought her a heel of the same mealy bread that she had eaten with Thorvid. Her stomach protesting audibly, she ate the whole crust, pea shells included.  

The camp turned in surprise as one of it's number ran into their midst, gasping for breath.

"It's them! I'm sure of it, they were right behind me. Fifteen warriors at least-" the scout rambled to Thorvid.

Thorvid's face grew stony as the iron grey sky overhead. He grabbed Ella by the elbow, dragging her towards their horse.

"We aren't going to fight them?" Sigurd asked.

"There aren't enough of us. We ride hard for Basengum. The closer we get, the more we will see my brothers' people. If they are stupid enough to follow, we'll take care of them then," Thorvid explained, nearly launching Ella over the horse when he lifted her onto the saddle.

Sigurd let out a frustrated growl. "But this is cowardice-"

"Sigurd," Gudrik warned.

"I don't intend on dying now when I have the chance to attain greater glory," Thorvid explained as he hopped up behind her. He patted her hip like she was a prize heifer. "And this is my chance, sitting right here in front of me. I'll not give it up without a fight."

Ella scoffed. She didn't know what was going on, but she was getting tired of Thorvid talking about her like she wasn't present. Or like she was an inanimate object. Before she could make a smart comment in return, he spurred the horse to a gallop. 

The sudden start caught her off guard. Ella yelped in surprise as she nearly toppled forward over the horse's neck. Thorvid caught her. Holding the reins with one hand, he clamped his other arm around her waist and pulled tight against him.

"Bear with me. Things might get a little... difficult," he spoke, his breath cushioning her ear.

"What is going on?" she demanded, heart racing as they pounded through the open fields and cut around thick forests.

"My brothers have enemies among our people. Other ambitious men threatening their authority. Guthrum is one of these men. We are being pursued by his warriors right now."  

Ella gripped his arm till her knuckles were white. She didn't let go. Loud shouts of warning sounded from the riders in the back. There were only six in Thorvid's company. She couldn't fight a full grown Viking from the Dark Ages. How the hell could she do something like that?

"What do I do if they catch us?"

Thorvid gave a mirthless chuckle. "Run. Hide. Other than that, what can you do? Nothing. However, you must tell them who you are. They will want the same thing that we do if they get their hands on you. You are worth more to them alive and whole than used for their amusement and killed."

Ella didn't speak again, his description silencing her to dreaded anticipation. Thorvid led the horse around a thin break between patches of wood, the horse leaping over a fallen log just in time. His grip on her never loosened as the horse stuck the landing with a thud. 

An arrow whistled past them. Ella gave a sharp scream and Thorvid drove his heel into the horse's flank. They came up alongside Gudrik who nodded to his leader. The large warrior fell back, guarding their rear as they drove through the breaking morning. The clouds parted overhead as they reached a river.

Water surged up over the horse's legs to their feet, soaking the hem of Ella's skirts. Thankfully, it didn't get deeper than that. They reached the other bank, cutting through a grove of pine. 

"We are in my brother's territory now. Guthrum is cunning. He would never pursue Ivar's own brother on his land," Thorvid spoke firmly, as though he were reassuring himself more than her. 

Another arrow whistled past.

"You sure about that?!" Ella demanded.

"Be still."

They crested a hill. Thorvid slowed the horse, the animal's mouth white with foam. They looked down towards the river. Guthrum's men had caught up to some of the riders in the back as they crossed the water. One threw himself at Gudrik who had fallen far behind. Both men tumbled into the current, out of sight. 

"Should we go back to help?" Ella breathed, her insides clenching as the men grappled in the stream below.

Thorvid seemed at a loss. Before he was forced to make a decision, a trio of riders came up the opposite end of the hill. He called out to them in greeting. Ella breathed a sigh of relief. Ivar's men were starting to appear. Thorvid jumped from the horse and held out a hand for one of the men. He motioned for him to dismount and took the animal from him.

"Take her to my brothers, tell them that she is the princess." He told the warrior then turned to the others. "Gudrik needs help."

With that they were off. Ella sat in stunned silence as the warrior left behind took Thorvid's place on her horse and rode them through the wood. The fort came upon them suddenly.

A circular fence hid a series of long houses. Men and women, families even, milled about inside the compound as they rode through the gates. The warrior didn't speak as he dropped to the ground and beckoned her to follow. He was very young, maybe fifteen years old, barely able to grow a beard.

"Princess," he said, holding out his hand when she didn't respond initially. "Please, princess. Come with me."

Their arrival had sounded the alarm that Thorvid and his company needed help. Many more Danes, tall and broad with swords and axes, poured out of the settlement. As the young man guided her gently through the crowd, Ella was too bewildered to take note of much. They approached the main longhouse at the center of the courtyard. It was two stories with an arched entrance way. The wood smelled freshly cut.

"Hilde, Hilde!" The warrior called out as they entered the busy front hall. 

A skinny, rectangular fire pit ran down the center of the room, coals glowing at the heart. The air was smoky, but rich with the smell of cooking. Ella's mouth watered. Meat was being grilled somewhere.

"What is this?" A stately woman with graying hair asked, eyeing Ella.

"This is the Princess Aethylthryth. The Saxon. Thorvid found her. Where can I take her?"

Hilde clucked her tongue as she eyed Ella with something that almost looked like pity. "Far away from Halfdan, that's for certain. But for the moment put her in Thorvid's quarters. He can deal with her when he returns."

The warrior sniffed. "That is if he doesn't end up in Valhalla first."