XXXIX. Blood Ties

The day was quick to arrive and they found themselves in a flurry. Preparations were being done and there was no time to sit around and wait for the night to come. The men sharpened their weapons, readied their armors and sparred lightly to prepare their bodies for the battle. By the time the sun had begun to set, tension was set in Elva’s shoulders and a sadness crossed Eksel’s features.

Elva sat on her makeshift bed while watching Eksel strap himself with knives. As he tightened a belt around his chest he gritted his teeth against the pain.

Elva stood, wrapping her hands around his arm and gently touching his shoulder. “Eksel, I can’t- please come back to me.”

“Elva-”

“Promise me, Eksel.” Tears filled her lids and she looked at him, pleading for him to understand the emotions that warred within her.

Eksel inhaled, taking her hand in his, squeezing it with reassuring strength. “What happens tonight is up to the gods.”

Elva exhaled a sob.

“But you must know that I will do everything to come back to you.”

Elva frowned, pursing her lips and Eksel took her chin in his fingers, lifting her gaze up to his.

“Everything will be for you. For our future.”

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she reached up and cupped his face in her hands. Her touch was tender, filled with an affection she wanted to pour into him.

He had to know how much she cared for him and how much she could not live without him. It terrified her that they made it this far only for all of it to be taken away with one deadly blow.

“I know you’ll fight for us,” She whispered.

He shifted, cupping her face in his hands too and smiled. “Good.”

She sniffled, “I will, too.”

He tensed. “Elva-”

“I want to be by your side.”

Eksel pressed his forehead to hers and he sighed, “I cannot have you by my side, little thing.”

She dropped her hands, her eyes widening with a mixture of hurt and anger, “Why?”

Eksel pulled back, caressing her cheek with a bittersweet smile, “I cannot bear the thought of you in harm’s way. You are everything, Elva. I cannot lose you.”

Elva shook her head, “Can you not understand that I feel the same way?”

His expression softened and he pulled her to his chest, kissing her forehead, savoring the sweetness of her scent. “You know its different.”

She buried her fingers in his shirt and shook her head, “But you’re injured.”

He sighed, parting his lips to respond when someone approached their tent, clearing their throat outside.

Elva kept her gaze to the ground, nodding her defeat. She would stay behind and trust that Eksel would return to her.

“I love you,” Eksel whispered.

Elva lifted her gaze, raising herself to the tips of her toes and kissed him with all that she had. Her lips danced with his and her tongue delved into his mouth. All her longing, all her fear, all her love were coming to life in that moment.

Eksel had to come back to her and this was all she could give him. For now.

She pulled back, catching her breath. “I love you, too. So please come back to me.”

Eksel held her close, his heart heavy with having to leave her but expectant at finally putting an end to everything. “I will do everything to return to you, little thing.”

They shared a lingering gaze, their love deeply felt in the way their bodies responded to each other. Elva covered her mouth with her hand as he exited the tent and she fell to her knees, praying that he would come back.

Alive.

And in one piece.

Because if he did not, she would shatter.

The air was thick with tension as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the forest floor.

Eksel’s horse fidgeted below him and he narrowed his eyes, looking to Gleneg. It was quiet, through Sten and Sigrid had left hours ago.

He looked around at his men and Alden’s men behind them. His heart swelled with a type of gratefulness he never though he would feel. Because of them he would be able to have his happily ever after.

Eksel gripped his sword, his back protesting in pain. He hissed, closing his eyes as he reminded himself why he was here and who he was fighting for.

Elva’s wide hazel eyes pulled on his heartstrings. The memory of her scent had his adrenaline pumping and the image of her tears had him raging, ready for battle.

The men around him grew restless. The night enveloped them like a shroud and the silence was deafening.

Then, the sky lit up in a crackle of fire and war cries echoed through the night. Eksel lifted his sword, yelling as he pulled on the reins.

Like a wave, they moved from their hidden position behind the trees and covered the clearing with their numbers. Though the wind was harsh around him, he could hear the horns, the screams and the panic coming from Gleneg.

They rode fast toward the fort and Eksel scowled when he noticed the guards on the tower falling one by one. His chest ignited with the feeling of victory and it only increased when the gates to the village creaked open.

Sten stepped through them with a torch in his hand and blood sprayed against his face. He waved them through, a smile on this face.

Eksel rode through the gates not hesitating, while some men followed him, others spread around the village. They wanted to confine the battle and not let anyone escape.

The clash of swords and cries of battle filled the air, but they reached the heart of the village with only a few casualties.

Eksel growled, dismounting his horse as pain shot through his back. Horns sounded again and more of Aganr’s men surrounded them, attacking without question.

But Agnar was not here.

Eksel pushed through the men, killing anyone that stood in his way, only tensing when pain shot through him.

He pushed until he broke through the barrier of men. He spun on his heels, narrowing his eyes to have a look around the village.

That’s when he spotted Agnar.

He was surrounded by his men, his eyes dark with hatred as the fire light danced on his face. He was standing in front of the gate and Eksel tilted his head with smirk.

Agnar had tried to run away, only to find Alden’s men stationed around the village.

Coward.

The air crackled with tension as Eksel raised his sword high. This was it. This is what he had been waiting for and they both seemed to understand that only one of them would leave this place alive.

The men surrounding Agnar stepped forward but Sigrid led a group of men to them, rendering them useless and exposing Agnar.

Agnar scowled, lifting his sword as Eksel approached.

“You touched her,” Eksel growled.

Agnar inhaled, “She is mine.”

Eksel yelled, swinging his sword. It met Agnar’s in a horrifying clash.

The air filled with their grunts of exertion and the battle raged on around them.

Eksel’s back throbbed, locking his arms in a cage of pain, with every movement, but sheer determination fueled his strikes. He was doing this for Elva, and that was the only reminder he needed to fight with all the strength he possessed.

“I’ve defended you, your whole life, “Agnar spat, swinging his sword.

Eksel grimaced, absorbing the hit with his sword.

“And this is how you repay me?” Agnar’s face contorted in anger and he stepped forward.

Eksel swung his sword, grunting as he pushed himself to reach for his knife. The thrusted it forward as Agnar was to preoccupied defending himself from the swing of the sword.

Agnar hissed, the knife piercing the skin on his side.

They took a moment, stepping away from each other and as Agnar looked at the blood spilling from him, Eksel pointed his sword at Agnar chest.

“You are my brother, and I would have followed you until my death, but not anymore.” Eksel grunted, stepping forward to catch himself as his strength seemed to fail him.

Agnar breathed heavily, tilting his head as he watched Eksel, grimacing when he saw the wound on his face and his eyes widening with realization. “You’re injured.”

Eksel frowned, “What exactly did you think Halfdan was doing to me?”

Agnar took a long breath, his jaw clenching.

Eksel’s head swam, and he grimaced, grunting as he stepped forward to catch himself again. Agnar moved, reaching down to grab dirt before throwing it at his brother.

As Eksel covered his face, Agnar ripped the sword from his hold and threw it far away.

Silence enveloped them as the battle slowly died around them. The men, mostly Eksel’s, watched at Agnar paced in a circle around Eksel.

He hit the back of his legs and pressed the tip of his sword to Eksel’s neck once he fell to his knees.

Eksel’s chest rose and fell slowly and the swallowed the lump in his throat.

He couldn’t fail.

“You were always the weaker one,” Agnar sneered, brandishing a wicked smile.

Eksel gritted his teeth, summoning the last of his strength to reach for another one of his knives and throw it. But the pain in his back lit up and slowed his movements.

Agnar lunged forward, pressing the tip of his sword even harder against his skin.

“Any last words, brother?”