"How could you?" I ask Floki as I my bloodshot eyes stare at him

I am shivering and shaking, I am also exhausted and never would I have imagined that my birthday would turn out to be like this. France is under attack and now I feel alone while facing these heathens on my own

"When I met you in the woods, I was surveying the land for the attack" Floki says while lowering his eyes and I stare at him in disbelief, "But we do not intend to hurt you" he says while looking deep in my eyes

"But I trusted you..." I say with sadness in my eyes and the sword nearly slips from my bloody grip but I get my senses back and grip it more tightly even though the glass pieces stuck in my palm's skin are making it more painful to grip

"Nova... understand we don't want to use force against you" Floki comes towards me as I raise my sword against him and say "Don't you dare" and he stops

Ivar starts clapping his hands in amusement and says "I am impressed princess, Nova" he says while raising his sword shaped eyebrows "you have put on quite a dramatic show, but we don't have time for all this you see" he tilts his head and says "we are busy looting your country" and smirks

I charge at him with my sword but he block my attempt with his arms and twists my arm, my swords falls to the ground. 

"Ready to see your beloved family?" He says and takes my arm behind my back and tightens his grip and pulls me closer to him, as soon as my body touches his, my heart-rate quickens and my neck starts sweating

"You are bleeding? your lips and your hands..." he says into my ears with a very concerned tone but I don't reply as I am too exhausted to speak

"Are you okay?" he says and I look sideways to see his face leaning on my neck, his bewitching eyes looking into mine

"It was supposed to be my birthday" I say with the saddest tone I have ever known which has come out of my mouth and he loosens his grip and looks at me as if he knows me and knows my pain

"Please Nova this way" Floki says and gestures towards the hallway which leads to throne room

I follow Floki quietly as Ivar walks behind us in total silence, I turn a little to look at him but he is walking while looking at the floor, he looks defeated but I turn forward and follow Floki into the throne room and what I see next nearly kills me

My mother and my two brother Adrian and Eric - kneeling on the floor and shackled 

"Oh no no no... mother!! Adrian!! Eric!!"  I run towards them and kneel in front of my mother who is crying and it cup her face with my hands

"Nova I thought you died , my child" she shivers and cries while looking into my eyes

"No mother I am alive" I say and at this point I have lost all my strength, I am weak and nothing in my heart speaks of courage or strength anymore. I just want to die.

"Nova, be safe" Eric says while crying and I hug him and look back at Ivar who is sitting on the king's throne 

"HOW CAN YOU DO THIS?! THEY ARE THE ROYAL FAMILY OF FRANCE, THEY ARE MY FAMILY" I scream at Ivar and everyone's eyes widen

"Shh Nova, you don't know him, he will kill you" my mother says with fear in her eyes

"No, I won't" Ivar says as all the vikings look at him including his brothers in total disbelief 

Floki looks at Ivar ecstatically

"I do not intend to harm Nova, as informed to me by Floki, Gods has chosen her to... " Floki gives Ivar as serious look and Ivar continues

"To be safe" he says and looks at me, "She will return to her chambers and live her life with dignity and comfort" He says 

"No, I want to die" I say standing up "Please kill me" I beg him as blood drips from my lip and palms to my dress

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ivar's camp

"KILL ALL 4 OF THEM, NO MERCY!!!!!" Hvitserk says as the vikings erupt in cheers

KILL THEM ALL...

KILL THEM ALL

KILL THEM ALL 

THE THRONE ROOM ERUPTS IN THE CHANTS OF KILLING THE ROYAL FAMILY

"ENOUGH!!!" Ivar screams and gets up from the throne, and the room goes completely silent

"I am the God and your future king, you will do as I say!" he screams and Ubbe scoffs

Ivar death stares at Ubbe and says "Anyone who is against my plans if free to leave, NOW!" but nobody moves

"If you trust me "IVAR THE GOD" then say AYE!"

The crowd says AYE!!!!

"Whatever decision I make, I will make it for my people" he says, "Torvi!! take Nova to her chambers and wash her wounds" 

                                                                                      (Photo = Torvi)

"Nova you have nothing to be worried about, you have my word" He nods at Nova and Nova looks fearful as Torvi walks towards her

"No... I want to stay with my family" Nova kneels, shakes and hugs her mother but Torvi snatches her away.

Nova kicks, cries and howls but all in vain, Torvi being the strong viking warrior overpowers her and drags her out of the throne room into her chamber by force

"Now what do I do about you? Ivar rubs his chin as he looks at the 3 french royal family members kneeling and shivering before him. The queen mother crying and shivering, Eric being fearful and teary eyed and Adrian quite. Adrian knows he has lost as France's new king and has accepted his defeat, he hangs his head in shame as he has failed his nation, his family and his people

"Kill them brother, they don't deserve deserve to live!" Hvitserk says and draws his sword out

"Calm down Hvitserk, no decision in haste" Ubbe says and Hvitserk looks at him in total disbelief

"Why don't we keep them in the dungeon till we decide what to do about them?" Floki says quietly as he stands to the righthand side of Ivar, an Ivar goes into deep thought while considering Floki's offer

                                                                 (Ivar considering Floki's offer)

"What does this fool even know about the wars?" Hvitserk says while pointing at Floki, Floki gets angry and steps towards Hvitserk, they both look into each other's eyes and are ready to choke each other

"I think Floki is right" Ubbe says while rubbing his beard, " We should keep them as our prisoners till we decide what to do with them, any decision in haste might lead to brutal retaliation from other catholic nations, we cannot just kill them" Ubbe looks at Ivar who is sitting on the King's throne 

Ivar nods and says "True, then that's it, throw them in dungeon then" Ivar commands the vikings and 5 men grab the royal family as they protest and drag them out of the throne room

Queen mother turns around and looks at Ivar, he smirks. "Dare you harm Nova" Queen mother says and Ivar scrathes his head and says "Hmmmm, I will think about it, maybe I will let her give me a bath tonight?" He starts laughing like a mad dog and Floki joins him in the laughter

"Jesus will never forgive your sins, you pagan" Queen mother says and spits on Ivar

Ivar gets angry but maintain his calm, he wipes off the spit and give Queen mother a death stare

"Take her away" Ivar commands and the vikings follow his command

"I don't believe this" Hvitserk throws his arms in the air and Ivar looks at him in frustration as Hvitserk leaves the room

"Well done brother" Ubbe says can hugs Ivar, only for Ivar to push him a little away but still gives him a smile

"FEAST AT THE HALL NOW!!" Ivar screams and the crowd cheers

The viking's feast today includes all the delicacies and dishes which were prepared for Nova's Birthday eve. The vikings attack the food like wild beasts who have been starved for months

The whole dining hall erupts in cheers and celebrations

But nowhere near to what Nova had imagined it to be like, it was worse than a nightmare for her.