XXXII. Cruel Bargains

Elva sobbed into her hand, quieting the cries that scratched at her throat.

Agnar had thrown her in their room a few minutes ago and demanded that she get herself together before the ceremony.

The ceremony.

The sight of Eksel plagued her mind like an endless nightmare and Agnar still expected her to marry him?

Rage had her trembling. She crossed her arms on her stomach, holding herself in a sad attempt at comfort. Tears pooled down her nose, and dropped off her chin to the floor. She couldn’t marry him. She had known that from the moment she realized who Eksel was and that she was falling in love with him. And now, all the reasons to marry Agnar no longer convinced her.

The door clicked and she spun on her heels. She threw herself into the corner, afraid of facing Agnar. But Meena’s round and red cheeks peeked out from behind the door.

“It’s wedding day!” She sang as she spun into the room.

Meena’s smile died instantly when she spotted Elva’s red and teary eyes. She gasped, setting the dress down on the bed while making her way to the corner in which Elva stood.

“Oh my dear, what is the matter? It is a joyous day!” She reached for Elva’s hands but she pulled back.

“It is not,” Elva whispered, eyeing the dress with disgust.

Meena frowned, scoffing, “But it is your wedding day.”

Fresh tears fell down Elva’s face and she shook her head. All at once, the realization of her decision hit her. Her stomach flipped in sour anticipation and her skin broke in waves of goosebumps.

This could not be her life. She could not allow that. She exhaled sharply, trying to decide if she was okay with letting her father down. Her people. Could she put them in harms way if it meant her freedom? She was tired of having such a big duty on her shoulders, something she never asked for. Something she would have never had placed on her had everyone known she wasn’t Arrion’s daughter.

“I cannot marry him,” Elva whispered, relieved that the words left her mouth, that was already more courage than she had ever had to show.

Meena stepped back, placing her hand on her chest, “What did you say?”

Elva looked at her, inhaling slowly and tightening her hands into fists, “I will not marry him.”

Her chest vibrated with sudden survival instincts, like a rubber band had snapped in her mind. She has swallowed her wants all her life. She did it for her father and her people. She let strangers take her from her home. Let Agnar take her from Eksel. She let him touch her. Because she thought that was her duty. But she did not want to repeat her mother’s life. She would get out of here, she would find Eksel and they would never return.

They couldn’t force her to stay, could they?

She was taken from her thought by a sharp sting to her cheek. Her mouth parted in disbelief as she pressed her hand to her warm face.

Meena straightened herself, brushing her hands down the skirt of her dress, “You selfish, ungrateful little slut.”

Elva stepped back, still holding her hand to her cheek, still not piecing together that Meena had slapped her.

“You sit here and cry for that filth, when Agnar is more than willing to look past it and marry you. You should be on your knees thanking him for even noticing you,” She shook her head as she spoke, and made her way to the bed.

Elva dropped her hand, “Did you just hit me?”

She ignored her, “Eksel is scum. A murderer, and I am surprised our Jarl has let him live long enough. Goes to show you what a big heart Agnar has. Which is more than I can say for that monster.”

Elva’s nostrils flared and her cheek burned. Meena had no idea the monster that Agnar hid. She had no idea that it was Eksel that had the gentle heart.

“Now get over here so we can get you ready,” Meena spoke with a dark voice, filled with anger and hate, refusing to even dignify Elva with a look.

Elva watched her quietly, her lips still parted in shock.

Meena raised her eyebrows, placing her hands on her hips, “I will not hesitate to hit you again.”

Elva narrowed her eyes, and walked to her. Meena looked away, happy with herself for forcing Elva’s submission. What she did not expect was for Elva to slap her just as hard. Meena gasped, grabbing her cheek as she screamed. Elva had to hold in her laugh. Meena’s dramatic flailing was a sharp contrast to her previous dark mood.

“Don’t you ever touch me again,” Elva whispered, surprising herself.

Just as Elva made her way to the door it whipped open and she gasped, stepping back as Agnar looked down at her.

“What is going on here?” He looked at her then at Meena, deepening his frown when he saw her crying.

“She says she will not marry you! Oh no!” Meena wailed.

Agnar shot Elva a penetrating gaze, and though she faltered for a second, she stood up straight.

He tilted his head, “You will not marry me, huh?”

She shook her head, “I will not.”

Agnar gripped her neck, pressing her against the wall.

She flailed, trying to pull his fingers apart.

When her face turned red and her veins popped in her forehead, he released his grip, eyeing her with disdain. His chest heaved as he breathed heavily.

He shook his head as he began to chuckle, “Do not tell me you still wish to be with my brother.”

Elva quieted her breathing, running her hands across her neck. She could not understand Agnar’s hate.

“Why would that be such a bad thing? Why do you hate him so much?”

Agnar recoiled, eyeing her as if she was crazy, “He killed my father.”

“Would you not have fought back if your father beat you everyday?” Elva gasped, still trying to calm her panic.

Agnar’s eyes twitched with the question and he shook his head, “There were other ways.”

Elva leaned her back against the wall, still trying to compose herself and stepped further from him, “And were you lining up to help him?”

“He killed our mother,” Agnar spat when he had no response for her.

Elva’s eyes filled with tears, “As have I. Would you call me a murderer?”

Agnar shook his head, “It’s not the same.”

Elva scoffed, “It is exactly the same.”

“He killed Halfdan,” Agnar was grasping for straws.

“To save me,” Elva cried.

“You would not have had to be saved if he hadn’t killed that boy,” Agnar growled.

“And do you not see the remorse in his eyes?” Elva whispered, taking another step away from him.

Agnar shook his head, “You will not convince me.”

That much was obvious to Elva. Agnar’s hate had no foundation in reality. It was fed by something that not even he could explain. Was it jealousy? Was it because deep down, he knew that Eksel was the stronger and better man?

“Why do they call him the monster when it is you they should fear?” Elva hugged herself, tears streaming down her face.

Agnar’s face contorted in anger and he stepped toward her, “Get ready for the ceremony, or I will show you exactly the monster I can be.”

“I will not marry you,” Elva resolved, not willing to submit herself to him. For a moment, even the threat of death would not have been enough to make her change her mind.

He inhaled long and slow, heat simmering from his skin. He shot Meena a glare and she scurried out of the room without hesitation. Elva watched her disappear, dreading whatever Agnar had planned for her. He stepped toward her but the sound of nearing steps had both of them turning to the door.

“Elva?” Arrion stepped into the room, frowning when he saw his daughter crying and buried in the corner.

“Father,” She whispered, relieved.

She tried to step toward him but he stepped back, making sure Agnar saw that he was yielding to his authority.

Elva froze, looking between the two of them. A trembling breath left her lips, followed by a soft whimper. She was on her own.

“What is going on here?” Arrion asked.

Agnar raised an eyebrow, giving him an annoyed glare before looking at Elva. He raised his hands as if he had given up, “Your daughter here is refusing to marry me.”

Arrion frowned, “Why? Elva, what is going on?”

Elva exhaled, twisting her fingers together, “I cannot marry him.”

Arrion looked to Agnar, who only shrugged, and then returned his gaze to Elva.

“I do not love him,” She reasoned.

Arrion sighed, “Love does not have much to do with it, Elva.”

She shook her head, stepping toward him, “But I-”

Arrion lifted his hand to silence her, “The deal has been made. I gave you a chance to step away and you didn’t take it.”

Elva’s chest felt as if it was caving in, “Father, please.”

Agnar crossed his arms on his chest, “There doesn’t need to be a ceremony.”

Elva and Arrion looked at him in confusion.

“We care not for the rules of your people. My people will acknowledge you as my wife, my woman, mine, because I will tell them to,” He lifted an eyebrow as he spoke.

“I’m not yours,” Elva muttered through gritted teeth.

“It is what we agreed upon, Elva,” Arrion corrected.

Elva scoffed, looking at her father in shock. In an instant, she no longer recognized the man that stood before her.

“No,” Elva sneered.

Arrion frowned, “Are you defying your father?”

Her nostrils flared and her brows furrowed in rage, “You are not my father.”

His eyes widened, and his lips parted. He eyed her up and down and at that moment Elva understood that Arrion had known all along that she was not his daughter.

He stumbled through his words, “Who-how?”

Elva breathed through her revelation, noticing Agnars confused features.

Arrion straightened, looking around the room and then at Agnar, “Where is my brother?”

“Shouldn’t you know that?” Agnar responded, trying to hide his irritation. His men had yet not found Alden.

Arrion chewed on the inside of his cheek, giving Elva a last look. His eyes were a mixture of remorse, guilt and hatred.

He nodded to Agnar, “Skip the ceremony if you must, but the deal must remain.”

Agnar nodded in response and Arrion left without looking back.

Elva screamed, her eyes widening as she ran to the door, “No! No!”

Agnar caught her around the waist and spun her onto the bed. She crawled away from him, kicking him in the face when he tried to grab her again.

He groaned, tossing aside any control he had. With a growl, he reached for her arms, pinning her beneath his body and wrapping his hands around her neck.

She screamed, hoping someone would hear her.

Hoping someone would come.

Black dots swam in her vision and though physically she felt like she was dying, she was torn apart inside.

Eksel was gone and not even her father would fight for her.

She was completely alone.

The last thing she heard was fabric ripping.