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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: MERCY
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Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER NINETEEN: HELL
SOPHIE FOUND HERSELF abandoned in the darkness, tethered to the post that cruelly denied her any respite. Her legs throbbed, longing for rest, yet every time her eyes began to close in hope of a brief reprieve, her bouncing head jolted her awake. It was a torment she had never experienced before, making her almost wish that Ragnar had chosen to end her life. The cold gnawed at her skin, the thin dress she wore offering no protection from the biting chill. The cloak, once deemed useless, now seemed like a desperate necessity. In her solitude, she couldn't help but wonder why Helen hadn't come to visit her. Had she been abandoned in her time of greatest need? Sophie felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness and fear in the darkness, while everyone else was comfortably inside, basking in the warmth of a crackling fire or slumbering peacefully. Unknown to her, Ragnar observed from a short distance away, perched in the shadows, unable to sleep. The image of the vulnerable girl alone out
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER TWENTY: SAVIOR
THE DAY FELT like an eternity for Sophie, who had been unable to get any sleep due to the commotion in the lively city. Her head throbbed, burning with fever, and every bone in her body ached from the lack of rest. Helen finally made an appearance, approaching Sophie, who barely had the energy to acknowledge her presence. "Sophie, my child," she spoke softly, as if afraid her voice might startle her. "I brought you some food." "Water," Sophie tried to speak, her voice failing her. "Of course, of course, I brought water too," Helen said as she brought the cup to Sophie's chapped lips, noticing the heat radiating from her head. "There you go, my poor child." She wanted to tell her to stop calling her that, but she knew better than to waste her energy arguing with the older woman if she had any energy left at all. So, she drank from the cup that was held for her, nurturing the little coolness the water provided. "You'll have to eat something," Helen told her as she moved the now emp
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER TWENTY ONE: THE SAIL
SOPHIE'S LIFE had undergone a profound shift in the past few months as King Ragnar Lothbrok and his Viking crew prepared for their voyage to England in the coming spring. Since Ubbe had brought her to the cottage, she had been confined there, and she had lost track of how much time had passed. The days dragged on with a monotonous routine, spent mostly in solitude. Despite being their captive, they ensured she was cared for, sending Helen to provide her with food and warm baths. Sophie found herself with nothing to occupy her time—no chores, no responsibilities. The lack of purpose was slowly gnawing at her, making her feel like she was losing her grasp on reality. King Ragnar had not visited her since the day he rescued her from her attackers. That harrowing incident haunted her nights, and she found herself unable to forgive him. While he did rescue her and stationed guards outside her confinement, it was his actions that set the chain of events in motion, and she couldn't shake
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER TWENTY TWO: MAYHEM
THE VIKINGS had set up camp just outside the Kingdom of Wessex as they all gathered, preparing and strategizing for their next move. Sophie was escorted into a tent by Hvitserk, accompanied by four guards to ensure she remained confined until they convened for the feast. They couldn't risk losing their valuable hostage. Later, she followed two guards to where King Ragnar and his allies were assembled. The raucous noise reminded her of the feasts she had witnessed in Kattegat, but this time, she was to join in rather than serve. Life had its way of playing tricks. It remained unclear to her whether they were planning to attack her kingdom or negotiate with her father, potentially offering lands in exchange for her—a typical Viking strategy. If Helen had accompanied her, Sophie might have learned a thing or two about their plans, but she was on her own. "Join us, Princess," King Harald beckoned, seated beside Floki and his brother. "Get our Princess a drink, please," King Ragnar i
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER ONE: SURVIVE
KATTEGAT. That was the only word Sophie could understand amidst all the chatter. She had heard a few tales about that place, or was it a village? Uncertainty clouded her thoughts, but she hoped to learn more soon. Kattegat was notorious for being the stronghold of the pagans, and the prospect of being sold to these barbarians sent her heart racing. After what felt like an eternity, Sophie was roughly pulled to her feet from the wagon that had transported her and others to what she assumed was Kattegat. She hadn't had the chance to meet her fellow captives, as her head was covered with a bag that blocked out most of the light, making it impossible to tell the time of day. The head covering puzzled her. She had been sold and bought once before, but her previous owners had never hidden her identity like this. What was the purpose behind it? Were they afraid that she might bond with her fellow captives and hatch an escape plan? Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when the bag was ya
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER TWO: THE FEAST
IT HAD BEEN NEARLY a week since Sophie had been sold to Aslaug, and during that time, she hadn't had the chance to speak with her new owner. Most of her days were spent in the barn with the other slaves, where nothing was required of her. This left Sophie questioning the reason behind her purchase in the first place.When she was first introduced to the other servants, Sophie was relieved to discover that one of them spoke her native language. The woman, who was nearly twenty years older than Sophie, proved to be a helpful guide as Sophie adjusted to this unfamiliar place. She taught Sophie about Viking culture, beliefs, and their language, although learning it was a slow process. Still, Sophie managed to pick up some words and phrases that might help her understand the pagans if they ever spoke to her.Now, Sophie paced nervously in front of her new friend, who sat by the fading fire, knitting. For the first time in days, Aslaug had summoned her for a feast, as Helen had explained. S
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER THREE: A CUNNING MAN
A WEEK had passed since the feast, and during that time, Sophie couldn't help but notice King Ragnar's eyes on her whenever she entered the great hall or even when she worked outdoors with Helen in the fields. Nothing inappropriate had occurred, but the constant scrutiny made her uneasy.She wondered whether he was watching and waiting for her to make another mistake, so he could punish her more severely this time, or if he had some other motive. Her mind often wandered to the darkest possibilities, despite Helen's reassurances that King Ragnar was not capable of such malevolent deeds. To Sophie, he was a Viking, and Vikings had a reputation for anything but kindness.Today, Sophie was tasked with assisting Queen Aslaug in trying on a new dress, and she was supposed to meet her early. However, she had been delayed by a last-minute task, and her inability to explain the situation due to the language barrier left her feeling frustrated. Helen was nowhere to assist her, and Sophie cursed
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER FOUR: THE LOTHBROK BROTHERS
SOPHIE HAD BEEN tasked with fetching a bucket of water for the Queen's chambers, so she made her way to the source to fill it. Along the way, a young man walked beside her and started speaking, but Sophie couldn't comprehend everything he said, nor did she want to.She knew he was one of Ragnar's sons, and Helen had advised her to avoid them as much as possible, as they were not as benevolent as their father."Are you deaf?" the young man spoke in his native language, irritation clear in his voice before he blocked her path. Sophie couldn't help but wonder why everyone seemed intent on distracting her from her work, which she was desperately trying not to mess up."I asked you a question," he repeated, this time in a manner she understood but chose to pretend otherwise. In her mind, the less she spoke, the better chance she had of avoiding trouble.Shaking her head in apparent confusion, she looked up at the tall Lothbrok son with piercing blue eyes that resembled his father's. She ho
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Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER TWENTY TWO: MAYHEM
THE VIKINGS had set up camp just outside the Kingdom of Wessex as they all gathered, preparing and strategizing for their next move. Sophie was escorted into a tent by Hvitserk, accompanied by four guards to ensure she remained confined until they convened for the feast. They couldn't risk losing their valuable hostage. Later, she followed two guards to where King Ragnar and his allies were assembled. The raucous noise reminded her of the feasts she had witnessed in Kattegat, but this time, she was to join in rather than serve. Life had its way of playing tricks. It remained unclear to her whether they were planning to attack her kingdom or negotiate with her father, potentially offering lands in exchange for her—a typical Viking strategy. If Helen had accompanied her, Sophie might have learned a thing or two about their plans, but she was on her own. "Join us, Princess," King Harald beckoned, seated beside Floki and his brother. "Get our Princess a drink, please," King Ragnar i
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER TWENTY ONE: THE SAIL
SOPHIE'S LIFE had undergone a profound shift in the past few months as King Ragnar Lothbrok and his Viking crew prepared for their voyage to England in the coming spring. Since Ubbe had brought her to the cottage, she had been confined there, and she had lost track of how much time had passed. The days dragged on with a monotonous routine, spent mostly in solitude. Despite being their captive, they ensured she was cared for, sending Helen to provide her with food and warm baths. Sophie found herself with nothing to occupy her time—no chores, no responsibilities. The lack of purpose was slowly gnawing at her, making her feel like she was losing her grasp on reality. King Ragnar had not visited her since the day he rescued her from her attackers. That harrowing incident haunted her nights, and she found herself unable to forgive him. While he did rescue her and stationed guards outside her confinement, it was his actions that set the chain of events in motion, and she couldn't shake
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER TWENTY: SAVIOR
THE DAY FELT like an eternity for Sophie, who had been unable to get any sleep due to the commotion in the lively city. Her head throbbed, burning with fever, and every bone in her body ached from the lack of rest. Helen finally made an appearance, approaching Sophie, who barely had the energy to acknowledge her presence. "Sophie, my child," she spoke softly, as if afraid her voice might startle her. "I brought you some food." "Water," Sophie tried to speak, her voice failing her. "Of course, of course, I brought water too," Helen said as she brought the cup to Sophie's chapped lips, noticing the heat radiating from her head. "There you go, my poor child." She wanted to tell her to stop calling her that, but she knew better than to waste her energy arguing with the older woman if she had any energy left at all. So, she drank from the cup that was held for her, nurturing the little coolness the water provided. "You'll have to eat something," Helen told her as she moved the now emp
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER NINETEEN: HELL
SOPHIE FOUND HERSELF abandoned in the darkness, tethered to the post that cruelly denied her any respite. Her legs throbbed, longing for rest, yet every time her eyes began to close in hope of a brief reprieve, her bouncing head jolted her awake. It was a torment she had never experienced before, making her almost wish that Ragnar had chosen to end her life. The cold gnawed at her skin, the thin dress she wore offering no protection from the biting chill. The cloak, once deemed useless, now seemed like a desperate necessity. In her solitude, she couldn't help but wonder why Helen hadn't come to visit her. Had she been abandoned in her time of greatest need? Sophie felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness and fear in the darkness, while everyone else was comfortably inside, basking in the warmth of a crackling fire or slumbering peacefully. Unknown to her, Ragnar observed from a short distance away, perched in the shadows, unable to sleep. The image of the vulnerable girl alone out
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: MERCY
"King Ecbert will pay the price," Ragnar's words were a menacing threat to Sophie, who stood frozen, caught in a struggle between fight and flight, desperately hoping for someone or something to intervene. Two words whispered incessantly in the back of her mind like a faint warning: run away. But she couldn't, not when those two glinting blue eyes were fixated on her, momentarily making her wonder if she had been picturing the devil wrong her whole life. "Don't be afraid, I won't kill you," he assured. "I have greater plans for you." Sophie glanced around, perhaps hoping for Athelstan or Queen Aslaug to come to her aid, but they were nowhere to be found, assuming they would have intervened. She was on her own. "I took good care of his daughter while he slaughtered my people," Ragnar recounted, his gaze hard on Sophie, who maintained a rigid posture. "Tell me, Sophie, what am I supposed to do now?" "We can fix this," was all she could manage to say. The truth was she wasn't sure
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
AWAKENING TO THE gentle patter of rain, Sophie slowly opened her eyes, finding a sense of calm in the melodious symphony of raindrops harmonizing with the song of the birds. Happiness was a rare visitor to her waking moments in Kattegat. Little there brought her simple joys, save for her training sessions and conversations with her two close friends. Everything else seemed insignificant. Each day followed the same pattern—training, visiting Helen and Yelda, and concluding with long, solitary nights during which Sophie yearned for her homeland. She often wondered if she would ever step foot on her native soil again. On this particular morning, Ubbe was conspicuously absent. Curiosity piqued, Sophie decided to venture into the city. To her surprise, the townsfolk of Kattegat were fixated on her, their intense stares causing her heart to race. "Christian!" A person nearby hissed, setting off a chain of insults from others. If their looks were piercing, their verbal barbs were even sh
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER SIXTEEN: SHIELD
SOPHIE FINALLY summoned the courage to visit Helen and Yelda, deciding to let go of the fear of Ivar and his brothers. She knew she couldn't hide forever. The three women spent their time engaged in their usual activities, with the two housekeepers rambling on and on, their words falling on deaf ears as Sophie listened with little interest. The gossip among the servants meant little to her. "He did strike her," Yelda mentioned, drawing Sophie back into the conversation. "I saw him, and it wasn't the first time." "Poor Aslaug," Helen sympathized. "She has endured enough." "I think he still cares for Lagertha," Yelda continued. "Does he still bother you?" she asked Sophie. "King Ragnar?" She inquired. "Yes, does he still visit you?" the young woman pressed. "You ought to be careful." "No, he hasn't visited in a while," Sophie reassured her. "That's good," Yelda nodded. "What happened to him being a good man?" Sophie asked Helen. "No one said he wasn't," Helen replied. "Then w
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER FIFTEEN: HATE
SOPHIE WAS SUPPOSED to meet Ubbe at their training field, which was quite a long walk from her place, let alone from Ubbe's, as she preferred to stay away from the public eye. However, Ubbe was nowhere to be found when she reached her destination. She waited impatiently to start the day's session. For unknown reasons, Ubbe hadn't allowed her to have her own sword or bow, leaving her with only her knife—Torvi's knife—to defend herself. She heard a rustling noise not far away, presuming it was Ubbe. But a bolting figure told her otherwise as she ducked away just in time to avoid the blade of steel swinging at her. Surprised to see King Ragnar standing there with a sword in hand and a smirk on his face, she found herself glaring at him as her quivering hand found the hilt of her knife. It was no wonder where Ivar got his sneakiness from. "Where's Ubbe?" she asked, growing more and more irritated as he studied her with those glinting eyes of his before he almost caught her off-guard b
Kingdom On Fire CHAPTER FOURTEEN: BETTER LEFT UNKNOWN
WEEKS HAD PASSED, and Sophie dedicated her days to daily training sessions with Ubbe. King Ragnar was conspicuously absent since their last encounter, which was a relief, considering how he enjoyed playing mind games that confused her. Ubbe proved to be an excellent and patient teacher, training her as if preparing for battle. Sophie was thankful for his guidance. She never imagined she would have the opportunity to wield a sword, let alone learn the art of combat. One aspect of Viking culture that appealed to her was the way they treated women equally. The next day's training involved archery. Sophie, although skilled with a sword, was eager to try her hand at being an archer, a childhood aspiration. She was thrilled about the prospect, only to find that archery was more challenging than expected, leading to consistent failures. "Watch your stance," Ubbe instructed, correcting her posture. "Face me, not the target; you keep forgetting that." Sophie followed his guidance, readying
