Scottish Border- 804 AD

As expected, the celebration of their latest victory lasted well into the following night. Happy with their haul, they had competitions to see who could lift the golden cross and created their own portrayal of burning the church.

Not in the mood for celebrating, Tualla snuck away from the festivities, walking away until she could only hear her own thoughts. Looking up, clouds obscured the stars and she felt more alone than ever, as though the gods had turned their backs on her. 

Footsteps approached, stopping behind her. 

“It’s strange,” she said without looking at Torsten. “I thought it would feel different, but I feel empty and lost. My life has never really been mine. Every decision I’ve made has been swayed by the gods and now I don’t know what to do without a purpose.” 

Torsten held her shoulders, shielding her from the chill of the breeze. “Now you are free. You can have a good life as a strong and fierce warrior.”

“I don’t feel strong. Every battle I’ve won is because the gods have protected me.” She thought back to each of her battles; the man in the woods, Torsten, Osric, Edwin… she’d had help with them all. “I am no warrior.”

He turned her round to face him and lifted her chin. “You once asked me why I saved you. I saw your fire the moment I laid eyes on you.” His blue eyes burned like fire, thawing her from the inside. “I have seen your strength and that is why I desire you.”

Without any warning, his lips crashed down on hers. Although taken by surprise, she kissed him back, giving into him as his tongue breached her mouth. Passionate and rough, he picked her up, wrapping her legs around him. She felt every bit of his need and in that moment, she needed him too.

***

Tualla woke up with Torsten’s arms around her. They’d spent the night in the open and the morning dew had collected on their bare skin.

Torsten groaned when Tualla shifted, and tightened his hold on her. “Where do you think you are going?”

“Won’t your men be wondering where we are?” 

“Let them wonder.” He smirked, pulling Tualla on top of him and sat up to kiss her. This time his kisses were softer. She leaned into him as he planted kisses along her neck. “Come home with me,” he whispered. “I want you to be mine.”

Tualla frowned in confusion. “I already am. You beat me.”

“No, not because I won. You are free from the gods and free from me. I want you to be mine by choice.”

She didn’t have to consider it. What sort of a life could she have here when everyone she loved had gone? Maybe with Torsten she had a real future, one that wasn’t dictated by the gods. “I’ll go with you. But first, I’d like to say goodbye. I want to go home.”

***

Scotland- 804 AD

The familiar landscape brought back her childhood memories, but they’d be forever tarred by that night. She couldn’t explain her need to come back, she’d seen enough to know that Dun-Barnock and it’s people were lost, but perhaps she would have the closure she needed to grieve properly and move on.

Torsten had surprised her by agreeing. He and forty of his men accompanied her while the rest stayed at a nearby camp, preparing for their journey across the sea.

As they approached the remains of her home village, Torsten and his men gave her some space as she looked around. All of the bodies were gone and Tualla hoped they’d seen a proper burial. 

Through the burnt remains, Tualla struggled to locate their home. She knelt where the hearth used to be, just a stone's throw away from where Elspeth and Beathan had lost their lives. She’d witnessed both their births, she’d nursed them while they were sick, and taught them to weave and cook. But, other than a few remnants of metal tools, nothing survived. A whole lifetime of memories gone, as though they never existed.

It still didn’t feel real. The past few weeks had been like some crazy dream.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.” 

She stayed there for some time, enveloped in grief and with each tear shed, she let go of her hatred. “I have to go now, but I’ll never forget.”

Wiping her face, she felt better as she made her way back to Torsten, as though a weight had been lifted and she could finally start to heal.

***

They were in the valley beyond Dun-Barnock when Torsten pulled Tualla behind him and barked an order at his men. Their shields went up as they pulled into a tight formation, creating a solid wall.

“What’s wrong?” Tualla asked, looking around confused.

“We aren’t the only ones here.” He nodded his head towards the brow of a hill. 

Tualla strained herself looking, but she couldn’t see anything. “Are you sure?”

She heard the gallop of horses before they came into view, appearing where Torsten kept his gaze steady and focused. Still in formation, his men shifted to a better vantage point before the threat could reach them.

Tualla could count at least twenty of them. Although Torsten had more men, being on foot put them at a disadvantage. 

“Wait!” Tualla cried, as the opposing force moved closer. She had to blink a few times to be sure, but she recognised their tartans, and some belonged to her clan. She tried to push through the shield wall, but the men held steady. 

“Let me out, those are my people.”

Torsten refused to put his men at risk, but Tualla couldn’t let them fight. She’d already lost too many people. 

Without much room to work with, Tualla looked for a way out. She managed to get on the ground and crawl through a small opening between legs. Once through, she didn’t slow down as she pushed herself up and ran towards the other group. 

“Tualla! They’ll kill you!” Torsten bellowed behind her. But she didn’t care. If they let her get close enough, someone would recognise her. And someone did. She heard her name being called from their ranks.

“Don’t shoot, don’t shoot,” one of them shouted as a horse raced towards her.

Aedan!

Screaming his name, her heart had never beat so fast. Aedan jumped from his horse, running the final stretch and spun her around as he lifted her into the air. 

“I thought I’d lost you,” he said as he brushed back her hair, staring at her as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. “Where have you been? I came back for you and you were gone.”

“I didn’t think you were coming back.”

He held her tight, as she breathed him in, melting in his arms. Looking behind her, his grip turned possessive as he registered the strange group of men. “Who are they?”

“They are the norsemen.” 

Aedan’s face crumpled with worry. “They haven’t hurt you, have they? How did you escape?”

“No." Tualla laughed, shaking her head. "They're friends of mine. They helped me sack Elnwich.” His brows shot up as she took his hand. “Come on.”

Although reluctant, Aedan let her lead him to the group of norsemen. 

Torsten’s men remained defensive as Tualla introduced them. 

“Thank you for taking care of Tualla and bringing her home.” Aedan held his arm out to Torsten, but he glanced down at his other hand holding Tualla's and snubbed him. 

“Thanks again,” Aedan said. “We should be getting back to camp now.”

As Aedan began dragging Tualla away, Torsten looked ready to kill. In fact, she suspected the only reason he hadn’t already done so was because of his respect for her.

“Aedan, wait,” Tualla said, pulling her hand free. 

“If we leave now, we can be there before dark.”

Before she could tell him why she wasn’t ready to go, Torsten patted Aedan on the shoulder. “Wonderful,” he said, nodding to his men. “Me and my men could use a rest.”

Aedan’s face fell as the group walked by him and he realised Torsten had just invited himself to their camp. Tualla couldn’t help laughing.

***
   

With both parties weary of the other, it made for a tense journey. Neither Aedan or Torsten let her out of their sight, and once again, she was caught in the middle.

At their camp, Tualla delighted in seeing Branan again, one of the watchmen from Dun-Barnock and Aedan introduced her to Kenroy, a member of her father’s clan. 

“Have we met before?” Tualla asked the familiar face.

“No, I don’t think so.”

As Tualla followed Aedan to a quiet spot, she couldn’t stop looking at Kenroy. She had seen him before but she couldn’t remember where.

"Tully?"

"Uh?" 

"I was just saying that the gods really do look out for you. We were planning to leave tomorrow."

“By the way, what are you doing here?”

“After I went back for you, a group of us made it to Ennead where your father arranged some mercenaries. We’ve been scouting the area for other survivors, searching for anything worth salvaging and making sure those we lost got a proper burial.”

That gave her some relief. At least they could access the afterlife. 

Soon overwhelmed, Tualla stepped away from the camp and Torsten followed. “My men are anxious to get going. We will be leaving at first light.”

Tualla nodded her understanding. She knew she had to make a choice but everything had happened so quickly. Before she could say anything, Aedan spoke for her. “She’ll be staying here with her own people.”

“That’s for her to decide.” Torsten scowled at Aedan before leaving them alone.

“You can’t leave, Tully,” Aedan said, looking hurt. “I’ve only just got you back.”

With two possible futures ahead of her, how could she decide? 

“I don’t know if I can stay here, Aedan. Too much has happened and I’m not that same person anymore. I need some time to think.” She walked further away, leaving Aedan behind. She’d loved him since they were children, and he would always hold a special place in her heart. 

But Torsten offered her a fresh start and she couldn’t deny their connection. She felt things with him that she’d never felt before and perhaps, with time, they could have something special.

Not looking where she was going, Tualla bumped into someone as she headed back to camp. “Sorry,” she said, looking up at Kenroy.

“It’s no problem.” His lips curved into a grin and her blood ran cold as she realised where she'd seen him before.

Her vision.

He killed Dena.