Flóki glared at the Christian that Ragnar had brought with them; he hadn't liked it when his friend had told him that the man would be going back to Kattegat with them, and he hated the notion even more, now. The unconscious Haffrue, though appearing far better than she had before she had been able to touch the water, was still not as she should be. Not that he had ever lain his eyes on a maiden of the sea, before; but he just knew it. It obvious, when he, Torstein and Rollo had found her that she had been locked in that cell for some time. And Flóki couldn't help but aim his anger at the young man. The boat builder making his way over to the quiet monk, as Rollo dipped his large cloak into the sea, before placing it over the Haffrue's tail.

"What did you do to her.........?" Flóki asked as he crouched down next to the man called Athelstan. His voice having and air of lightness to it; but the monk could tell that there was no real amusement there. That behind the man's odd behaviour, there was nothing but pure malice.

"I......I didn't do anything to her, I swear. The Abbot said that she should be locked away. That she was a daughter of the devil and would seduce us all, if she was left free. We were waiting for the bishop to come, so that it could be decided what should be done with her. I saw her but once when I took her some food and water.........." Athelstan confessed, as he too looked at the maiden with equal astonishment.

He had not been on the beach when she had been found; and by the time that she had been brough up to the monastery, all he had seen was a naked woman, having no idea why the Abbot would be announcing that the poor creature was a demon, as she had been locked away in the little cell. It not until later that he had heard what the others had seen that morning; how they had found her washed up on the beach, and that she had had a tail instead of legs. One of the older monks that had known many an old tales, even stating that she could be a kind of water fairy. But all he knew was that he had felt sorry for her when he had taken her food; feeling in his bones that she was not wicked, that she was as much a creation of God, as he was. And even though he had tried to speak to her, she had said nothing.

"Leave him alone, Flóki ......." Ragnar suddenly said from behind him. The boat builder giving the Christian one last look, before he got back to his feet, and made his way to the back of the boat where many of the men still congregated, all watching as Torstein and Rollo had taken it upon themselves to ensure that the Haffrue was remaining as soaked in sea water, as possible. The sight really quite amusing if it was thought about; large, feared Viking warriors, carefully dotting over a female that they had found on their raid. But unlike the Christians, they knew what she was; and Flóki was sure that the goddess Rán would reward them for saving one of her most beautiful children from those that would have undoubtedly killed her. The boat builder pushing his way through the other men, so that he could rejoin Rollo and Torstein; Flóki wanting to be there when she woke up.

                                                       >>-------------------------------------<<

She sighed softly, as the scent of salt water filled her senses. A small smile pulling at her lips, as she felt something move beneath her as if it were being rocked by the sea. A part of her was sure that she was dead, she must be, that the only explanation as to why she felt better than she had. Why her body was wet, and she was sure that she could feel that her tail had returned.

The last thing that she could recall was that she had heard the bell toll and that had been followed by more sounds; sounds of fear, of horror and pain. Sounds of voices that spoke in a tongue that was not that of the monks; a tongue that she had heard on her travels across the great expanses of her home. The tongue of the Northmen. She quite surprised when she had opened her eyes to see three strange men looking at her. Words slipping from her mouth, begging them for help, before everything had turned to darkness. So this........this had to be death..........the maiden slowly opening her eyes, wishing to see what the next world looked like. Her smile getting broader, as she saw the blue of the sky and heard to call of the seabirds.

"She's awake........." A voice called out. The deep tone causing her to sit up. Her eyes growing wide as she realised that she was in some kind of boat, surrounded by men that were all sort of........smiling at her. Three in particular, closer than the rest. The maid unable to stop herself from smiling back, as she recognised those that she had spoken to; the three men that she now owed a debt to. The maiden well aware that she would have to go where they did, until that debt was paid. Not that she minded, they were all quite handsome in their own ways, all very different, and all quite intriguing. The breath catching in her throat as another man pushed his way through the others; staring at her in wonder, as he fell to his knees by her side. The others following suit.

"I am Ragnar, son of Sigurd. And you......you are my honoured guest aboard this humble vessel..........." Ragnar told her. A subtle smile pulling at the corner of his lips as he took her hand and brought it up to his lips, while ignoring the grumblings of his brother, Flóki and Torstein.