Floki

[Part One]

Early in the morning, Helga wakes up and carefully slips out of bed, not wanting to disturb Floki. She cooks breakfast for the both of them, porridge, as it's the only thing Floki can eat at the moment. Gently waking him, she helps him sit up, and she spoonfeeds him, sharing the porridge out of the same bowl.

Later, with the assistance of a servant, Helga changes Floki's bandages and applies a fresh healing paste to his wounds. The gouges in his side still ooze blood, but they don't seem infected. Helga only worries that they're too deep to close up properly.

For Floki, sitting up to have the bandages removed and the clean ones wrapped around him is painful, as his ribs still feel as if they're stabbing his lungs with every breath he takes. But he is determined to do some things on his own. Like standing. With the help of a wooden staff, of course. But not for too long because the bed is really quite comfortable and lying down is good.

Sometimes, with a silent plea to the gods, he tries to move the fingers of his right hand. And tries not to panic when he finds that he can't.

He would truly go out of his mind if not for Helga. And this idea of Athelstan's is the next best thing to divine intervention.

Her hair is like spun gold, soft and fine, cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders and down her back. The crackling fire makes it shine like curtains of sunlight. She brightens our plain little house and turns it into a beautiful place.

"Floki, I know you're awake," Helga says, filling a bowl with porridge.

I shut my eyes and pull the furs up to my ears.

"No, I'm not."

She laughs, and it sounds like birdsong in springtime.

"Your breakfast will get cold."

"Not if you keep it warm."

"I can't keep it warm forever."

"How about keeping me warm forever?"

"I can probably do that, but that's much easier than porridge. Now get out of bed and come here!"

She makes her demands with the most enchanting of smiles, so how can I resist? Wrapping the fur blanket around my bare shoulders, I lumber out of bed like a disgruntled giant and shuffle to the fireplace in the middle of the room. I sit on the floor beside Helga, and she gives me the bowl and a spoon. She then pulls the blanket around her own shoulders and leans in against me. Our body heat fills what little spaces are left between us.

"What will you work on today?" she asks as I eat.

I think back to what Thor had told me. Personally. To my face. That the gods may only inspire, while my skills are all my own.

That is a lot of responsibility.

"I don't know yet," I say.

She rests her head on my shoulder.

"It will come to you."

"Perhaps. Or perhaps nothing will come at all."

"It's not such a bad thing if nothing comes today," she says, scratching the back of my head as if I were her pet (which admittedly is not such a bad thing either).

"But Ragnar is depending on me. We spoke of bigger ships, better ships, and I said I would build them for him. I know I can."

"And what is stopping you?"

"...When nothing comes."

Helga smiles and sighs, covering my hand with hers.

"Oh, Floki. Just eat."

"How can I eat? Why should I eat? Did you cook bright ideas into this porridge?"

"Yes, I did," she replies with a straight face. "I picked them off a tree growing out back. Eat."

I laugh, and she pokes me.

I kiss her, and she kisses me in return.

I set my breakfast down, and we roll ourselves up in the blanket.


Breakfast has gone cold when there's a knock on the door. Helga and I untangle ourselves with great reluctance. After I give her the blanket to cover herself with, I get to my feet and pull on my breeches.

"Yes, yes," I bark as the knock comes again. I open the door, and there's a man standing there, a man who I have seen around Ragnar's hall. "What is it?"

"Earl Ragnar would like to speak with you," the messenger replies. "King Horik has sent word."

And suddenly I have no appetite for breakfast.

"Tell him I will visit this afternoon."

The messenger nods and leaves, and I close the door.

"Floki?" Helga looks up at me with her ocean-blue eyes.

I sigh and sit next to her, and we wrap around each other again.