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They Came From the North (Alvis Alendran & BMTH)

"How long do you intend to leave her in there?" Thorkell asked. Goðþormr shrugged.
"A while anyway. Let her wonder if she's been forgotten. But we can't have her expiring on us, there's still work to be done with her." He answered.
"Who is in charge of seeing to her?"
"You are. See to it she doesn't die, and don't open her cell for anything. Anything else you manage is up to you."
"Thank you my Jarl." Thorkell moved off, deciding to put some thought into what he might do with Mae under his care.

Goðþormr considered his options. Mae needed time to really process what had happened to her, and what was likely to keep happening to her if she kept fighting. But while he did want her obedience, he knew that there was still value in her, something that could be useful and help his cause here. So reducing her to a blubbering wreck suitable only for a mans entertainment wasn't quite what he wanted for her. It would be a fine line to walk, but he'd tae what time he needed. And in any case, he did have another plan to work with while they let her stew in the dungeon.

The next morning he saw to it that a fairly lavish meal was laid out in the morning.
"Bring the girl. Aisley I think she was called? Inform her she'll be breaking her fast with me in the main dining hall." He ordered one of his men. That man nodded, and set off to retrieve the girl.

Heavy pounding on Aisley's door would bring her attention to this.
"You've been summoned by our Lord. Make yourself ready to dine with him this morning, and do it quickly!" He called through the heavy wooden portal.
 
Darkness and solitude has a funny way of consuming a person. For some people, it can destroy them. For Mae? Not even close.

It seemed as if hours had passed while Mae remained a blubbering mess. It had been an exhausting, long span of time from the moment the Pagans arrived until now. Mae had fought, screamed, stood up for and defended her people who were merely butchered before her eyes. It had taken a lot to break Mae down into the wreck of a woman she'd debilitated into but her exhaustion was just enough to push her over into the throughs of slumber.

*****

Aisley had been sprawled out upon the mattress, the only bit of furniture remaining in the room she'd been locked into since the prior morning. She'd grown bored, having finished her prior meal and tossing the tray to the wall over sixteen hours ago. It had begun to grow maddening, the lack of attention. Although naturally weak, Aisley had felt the crushing need to conform to the Vikings at risk of death. She'd already offered Goðþormr more information than she should have. He had rewarded her with food and, unlike her sister, was given a proper bed. Even if her freedoms had been stripped from her, she was already being manipulated by the invaders.

The thick knock upon the wooden door made Aisley jump in surprise, pushing herself up by her hands upon her mattress before standing upon the cold, hardwood floor. She remained silent as the instructions to ready herself for breakfast with Goðþormr. Silently, she nodded her head and brushed her hands down the chemise that still fortunately adorned her lithe frame. Her hands rose, her fingers finding the tangles of hair that framed her face. Brushing them back, she quickly braided it at the back of her head before stepping forward and knocking on the door.

The guard on the other side opened the door and glanced at Aisley before turning, barking at her to follow. Her toes barely left the man's heels as they made their way towards Goðþormr, Aisley's eyes anxiously fixed upon the floor the entire time.

*****

It was practically instantaneous to Mae from the moment her eyelids shut to when they reopened. To any onlooker, she'd clearly dozed off but to her, it was as if she'd simply blinked. Her deep blue eyes appeared to glaze over as they focused upon the room around her. She was still left alone and the dungeon had grown precariously dark. The candle was Mae's only sense of the passage of time and it had been extinguished. A puddle of dried wax remained where the candle once stood, the flickering light no longer haunting the shadows contained within the room.

Mae sat up, wincing as the pain flickered across her body as a reminder of what she'd been forced to go through already. A chill ran up her spine and her arms wrapped around her torso before her hands busied themselves upon her naked body, her palms trying to wipe away the dry, crusted remains of the Vikings' seed that had entwined within the dirt beneath her.

Moments passed before she pushed herself up against the wall and leaned against it, her seated position alleviating some strain yet allowing for her to focus within the confines of the dark room. The longer she stared into the darkness, the more determination rose within her chest. Her chattering teeth clenched tightly together and her eyebrows flustered into one.

By the end of this, each and every last Pagan's head will stand tall upon the thorns of my halls.
 
When Aisley arrived, she had her head bowed, adn didn't seem interested in making eye contact with anyone around her. This one lacked the kind of spirit that her sister possessed, likely one of the reasons that it had been fortunate for the family that Aisley hadn't been the firstborn. Too meek, too mild, she'd have been run right over in any kind of rulership position. Goðþormr considered her something of a Plan B so to speak. If Mae became completely unmanageable, then he could resort to executing plans with Aisley, but that woudl be far less satisfying in the long term.

"You're here. Thank you for coming. Please, sit." He said to her with no real sign of distress or anger. He seemed...pleasant. "I know it's been some time since you've been able to eat, and for that oversight, I apologize. I was attempting to help your sister see reason, but she was just not interested in that, so I have one of my men looking after her right now. In a few days, perhaps a week or more, I'll see if she's come around at all. In the meantime, to ensure you suffer no further issues with food, I would prefer if you would take your first meal here, with me, daily. Would that be acceptable?" He asked her.

The man at the door who had fetched Aisley furrowed his brow, looking at his jarl. This...calm, collected side of him that seemed entirely reasonable wasn't a side of him that he was used to seeing, adn if he was honest, it unnerved him far more than any of the vicious attacks that he'd seen the man do. It made him far more unpredictable.

*

Thorkell bumped open the door tot he dungeon, a bare flicker of light following him. He stepped in, not speaking or looking at Mae as he went to the small table that a guard would normally sit at to keep an eye on prisoners. He set down a plate that was piled with food, steaming with warmth, and fragrant spices wafted through that air, showing however had been cooking certainly knew their draft well. Thorkell sat down, a small lamp beside him giving him light enough to see by, barely shedding shadows onto the cell that Mae was locked in. Thorkell looked over at her, adn grinned, before beginning to eat, steadily demolishing hte food he had brought.
 
It was awkward and uncomfortable but Aisley bowed her head in agreement to the Viking lord before her. "I... That would be acceptable." There was a hesitation in her voice as she gave in to Goðþormr's offer to let her feast with him each break fast. Her eyes scanned the table, looking over the lavish setting that had been placed upon her childhood table. They ate like gods, their daily meals akin to the meals Aisley and her family would enjoy every few days with the likes of their kingdom. Yet still, it was the same foods. Perhaps they weren't all too different?

Plucking a grape from its vine, Aisley placed it between her lips before clenching her teeth. The corners of her lips upturned, the sourness of the juice bursting forth and quenching that initial thirst. She chewed cautiously as her eyes once more rose to Goðþormr. "Is... is Mae okay?"

*****

The darkness served as nothing more than a sheet for hallucinations as Mae pictured every man that had stood before her, emptied themselves upon her, at the point of her sword. She'd find revenge or die trying, that was for certain. Mae was so enveloped in her own imagination that it wasn't until the sound of the wooden door above snapped shut did she flinch and her head tilt, her eyes trying to seek out the shadow that descended into the dungeon with her. Before even becoming aware of the dim light held beside him, Mae could smell him.

Thorkell.

Her nose crinkled before her stomach whined, her intestines twisting and writhing within their confines at the scent of food. It had been far too long since her last meal and before the scent was consciously picked up by her crinkled nose, Mae's mouth was salivating. Yet she remained seated against the wall, her body language tense as her teeth bared slightly between her pursed lips. She looked almost like a wolf examining its prey, waiting, watching for a weak moment before pouncing.

All the while Thorkell enjoyed his meal, the smells tantalizing the starving woman, Mae's eyes remained focused. She barely blinked, her expression of stone as she stared down the man who taunted her.
 
Goðþormr paused as he chewed a mouthful. Swallowing he considered his answer.
"She is not injured. She still struggles with the reality of the situation, but that may change, perhaps soon. I do hope so, it is a terrible thing to struggle with accepting the world as it has become." He lamented. He tucked back in to his food for a few more moments. He made some idle small talk with Aisley, the polite thing to wind up doing at a meal.

When they were nearly done, Goðþormr had another thought.
"You miss Aisley, it does come to mind that a lady of our standing should not be forced to remain in such simple attire. If you can offer me your solemn oath to not cause trouble, I can see to it that at least a portion of your wardrobe might be returned to you. If we have consistent good beahviour from you, I can see to having other familiar comforts returned to you as well." He offered.

Carrots, and sticks. Mae seemed to be hard lined to only respond to a stick, while Aisley seemed much more amenable to a carrot. It would provide him with options.

*

Thorkell made quite a show of enjoying his food to a great degree, savouring every few bites. He worked through his meal, and gave a great sigh of contentment, and let loose a belch that echoed off of the walls. He smiled at Mae, and stood, taking his plate and his lamp. He hesitated a moment, and dropped a leftover crust of bread from his plate, letting it fall outside of her cell. It wasn't close, and he doubted she could reach it, but he was willing to let her make an attempt. After all, he could very simply watch her for some time from the viewing port in the door, and he could use the entertainment.
 
Although Aisley was still very visibly discomforted, she clearly made an effort to communicate with Goðþormr in a relatively calm manner and remained fairly put together, all things considered. Every bite of food was carefully placed within her mouth, her eyes never leaving Goðþormr as he spoke to her and regarded her as an equal. WIthin her chest, Aisley felt a warning that tugged at her heart. Goðþormr was still the enemy, she couldn't fully trust him. Yet she also knew that to remain comfortable, she had to behave. She'd seen what he'd done to Nikolas and to the other villager... to her father. Every last one of the men they'd killed had suffered.

So Aisley remained communicative. When Goðþormr made his offer to keep her comfortable, the hesitation came back. Wide eyes matched the vibrato of her voice before she nodded. She was swearing her allegiance to the monster before her but she had to have known there was no other choice. "Yes. Yes, I swear it."

*****

Mae remained statuesque throughout Thorkell's taunting, the only noise coming from her simply that of her stomach as it twisted in desperation for fulfillment. Not an inch of her moved as she stared through the dim lighting of the dungeon. She wasn't watching the food though, her eyes were blazed into Thorkell's eyes. Her gaze remained unwavering as he completed his meal. Even when he stood up, her eyes moved to follow him. There wasn't any other flicker of movement aside from her eyeballs when he pawed the remaining garbage off of his plate.

Once the heavy wooden door shut behind him, Mae remained still. Silently, she was counting. It wasn't until she hit upwards of 100 did her body finally move. Suddenly, she flung herself towards the bars of her cell. Thrown against the iron, Mae was making a visibly desperate attempt to grab the sliver of crust that sat just barely out of reach. "C'mon, c'mon," she was whining as she twisted and turned within her cell, continuing to try and grab the bread. They'd starved her just long enough to make her desperate but she wouldn't make an ass out of herself in front of everybody else. Not yet, at least.

Mae spent a few minutes trying to reach for the bread. At one point, the tips of her fingers brushed the crisped yeast but merely pushed the crust away. It was in this moment she erupted. A loud scream came from her before her fingers wrapped around the bars of the cell. She was now pulling and tugging at them, screaming ferociously in frustration as any last bit of composure left her. This would carry on for an hour or until the heavy wooden door to the dungeon was pushed open, whichever would have come first to silence her.
 
"Splendid." Goðþormr stated with a smile. "I'll ensure that everything I have promised you will be done. Despite everything, it is as I said to your sister. Consider throughout everything that I have done, I have never broken my word. Anything that I have said would be done, has been. So long as you keep your word, I shall keep mine." He rose from his chair, his meal completed.

"I've things to see to this day, when you are finished, Asbjorn here..." he gestured tot he man that had been sent to retrieve her from her room. "...will escort you to your chambers. Within the hour I'll see to it that the first of your clothes are returned to you." With that, Goðþormr took his leave, and swept out of the room.

*

Thorkell watched from the viewing slot in the door, seeing Mae desperately reaching for the crust of bread, straining with everything she had. If he'd been a different sort of man, he'd have found it tragic, but as it was, he simply found it funny. When her frustration began to wane, he reached back for the small bucket that was upside down on the floor, and flipped it open, grabbing what was under it. The rat squirmed in his grip, but he simply fed it through the slot, and let it hit the floor.

A few moments later, the sound from teh rat came clear as day as it began to pace around the floor, looking for anything that might be interesting to it. It paused, and located the crust of bread, lifting it in it's paws, and beginning to eat the morsel of food. With that going on, Thorkell metally amended his thoughts on mae's state. After all, now she had company! He chuckled, and head off. He'd be back tomorrow morning.
 
Aisley's inquisitive yet meek nature caused her voice to silence as her head tilted at Goðþormr's follow up. He had yet to prove himself not a man of his word. Every horrible thing he'd laid claim to, he'd done. He'd hurt far too many people right before her very eyes and she had no doubt he was capable of much, much worse. Even still, what he spoke of laid true. He was a man of his word. If Aisley wanted to make it out alive, she knew she had to play along with his game. In her mind, the less pain the better.

There was no hint of pleasure as her lips pressed tightly together, her head tilting once more as she glanced over at Asbjorn. Her gaze quickly lowered to the ground once he met her eyes and she nodded in understanding to Goðþormr as he excused himself from her presence. Silently, Aisley slowly worked her way through the remainder of the plate before her before standing at attention towards Asbjorn. There was a discomforted silence between the two as Asbjorn chaperoned her back to the small room she'd been housed in. Much to her surprise, a stash of her clothes were brought to her. Asbjorn watched over the servant who brought the handful of garments into the room and then left her isolated once more within the confines of the four walls.

The silence was filled by a gentle sobbing as Aisley plucked through her clothes and spent the rest of the day changing from one outfit to the next between minor fits of hysteria.

*****

By the time Mae's screams silenced, her throat had gone hoarse and blood blended in with her mucus from her shredded throat. Mae slunk to the floor upon her knees, her body leaning haphazardly against the bars of her cell as she panted. The overly dramatic tantrum exhausted her, the sheen of sweat coating her naked body showing off her exhaustion even more. Her eyelids grew heavy as she tried to catch her breath, a few moans of distress leaving her sore throat. It was around then that she heard the rat fidgeting with the crust just barely out of her reach.

Mae's eyes opened wide as her head tilted and she peered once more out at the crust. The rat busied itself with the burnt edge, nibbling at it as if its life depended on it. For a while, Mae attempted to cue the rat towards her. She snapped her tongue and tried to get its attention. Before her eyes, the rat nibbled at the bread until no more than half of it remained before it scampered off into the darkness with the remaining bread.

Another whine left Mae's throat before she returned to her limp state, her body pressed against the bars and her forehead resting against the steel that barely held her body up. It was like this that she remained throughout the remainder of the day, moving only to relieve herself in the corner of the cell before returning to her spot against the bars. The sounds of her stomach roared to life within the dark cell, their tune being met with a few desperate moans that barely left Mae's lips.
 
Goðþormr left things fairly simple for Aisley, letting each morning come and her have a proper meal with him. It was somewhat less elaborate after the first time, Goðþormr knew he did have to exercise some restraint on his consumption. There was only so much food in the village, though apparently even that had changed significantly after some of his men taking stock of hte village in total. Apparently this village had been something of a prime exporter of foodstuffs to the surrounding countryside, which meant that they were in a prime position to exploit things. Of course, it also meant that there was going to be far less time before someone came looking for what had happened to the shipments of food that had not gone out, courtesy of the invaders commandeering it.

By the third day, Goðþormr had released one of the former servants of the castle into Aisley's care, giving her someone that was familiar to the girl, but would also help give her more of that sense of normality, of comfort, of simple familiarity. He had to wonder just how Thorkell was doing with Mae by then.

*

Thorkell was working his way through breakfast again, and again in front of Mae. He was nearly finished when he did something different. He approached her cell with a small wooden cup, and set it in front of her bars, easily in reach. It was simply water, but that was far more than she'd been offered before. He stepped away, and back to his chair, sitting down.
"Drink. You've been a long time without it. Unless you truly set on dying of thirst in here." He point out. "And besides, you'll need the moisture if you want to be able to eat anything without being sick." He held a small chunk of bread up, maybe the size of his fist.
 
The days dragged on within the four walls of Aisley's nightmare. With no windows or lighting available to dictate the passage of time, Aisley learned that the only telling sign of what time it was was when she'd be invited to join Goðþormr for his lavish break fast each morning. The hunger within her stomach seemed to quell each morning, never growing painful enough to dictate more than twenty four hours of time between meals.

Once the third day came, Aisley was gifted a servant, Cwen - someone who had previous served her family prior to the invasion. Aside from the small talk that Goðþormr and Aisley shared each morning, the lack of human connection was beginning to drive her mad. Cwen was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise dusty room. Unfortunately, Cwen appeared to have been put through the ringer - she barely spoke and when she would, it was short, precarious responses that had clearly been beaten into her. She refused to tell Aisley what she'd been through, despite the blackened eye and bruises along her neck. Obedience to the Pagans had obviously been forced rather quickly into the poor servant girl.

Aisley had Cwen fetch her a loaf of bread which was then shared among the two women. The fourth day, Aisley was given the freedom to bathe, which she happily accepted with the assistance of Cwen.

*****

Three days devoid of light, conversation and humility left Mae desperate and defeated as she no longer paced the small confines of her cell. The sounds of the domesticated wildlife outside of the castle walls awoke her, the familiar sound soon followed by the sound of the dungeon door opening and Thorkell once more bringing his breakfast in to taunt her with. The sweet scent of bread paired with the tantalizing scent of savory meats only made the starving girl salivate even more. Mae didn't sit up for Thorkell's presence, though. Instead, she remained lying on her side, fetal, with her curled body facing away from the nefarious man who took pride in starving the thinning woman.

Mae's eyes glared at the wall, the darkness now a familiar scene and something she was easily able to navigate. The darkness alluded her hallucinations, visions of what life once was paired with magnificent colors kept her somewhat sane despite her growing weakness. It wasn't until the sound of the wooden cup being placed upon the floor reached her ears did she seem to perk up at Thorkell's presence.

Her head turned, her chin rising above her shoulder as she peered through the dim light to see what Thorkell had placed near her cell. He had just barely begun speaking before Mae twisted her body and pushed herself to her knees. She barely brought herself to her feet, lunging towards the bars of the cell and reaching out to desperately grab at the cup that was within arms reach. In a blur, she brought the cup to her lips and sucked down the sweet, clear nectar that just barely quenched her growing thirst.

Her stomach growled in pain at the sudden hydration, her intestines twisting at the opportunity of bread. Mae let out a gasp as the cup lowered from her lips.

"M-more water. Please."

Her voice sounded unfamiliar, the hoarseness cracking her otherwise melodic tone that had been silenced since three days prior.
 
"Can we trust the servant?" Goðþormr asked Asbjorn.
"She knows her place, better than most of the others. It's why I chose her." The man explained.
"Fine work. Fine work." There was a long pause. "Was there something you wanted?"
"A piece of that princess we're getting all prettied up again. Let me have an hour with her."
"Not yet, no. We still need her built up a little more, to have some further trust built up. And letting you have her would break that completely."
"What if I...what if she agreed to it? If I got her to invite me to do so?"
"No, I think you would find ways to convince yourself she invited such without actually doing it. Leave her be for now, else I'll find someone else to attend to this."
"As you wish my Jarl." Asbjorn was not pleased about the words, but he wouldn't argue with Goðþormr. That never ended well. Still, he had a thought about how they might be able to help bring her around to trusting them, or at least trusting him. He head towards Aisley's room.

He knocked firmly but not the harsh pounding that he had used before.
"Lady Aisley? I've been informed that should you wish it, I can escort you for a walk around the grounds." He said through the door. It was a risk to be sure, but Goðþormr had often rewarded people that took initiative.

*

Thorkell smiled as she moved with every bit of desperation of the starving. He'd dealt with more than enough of the slaves back where they came from to know the look. She was on the edge of her sanity, survival starting to take priority in her mind. A lot of the aspects of her life that she'd likely never considered to be anythign more than simple truths were falling away. Pride, dignity, even choice. Here and now, in these dark walls, all that mattered was making it to the next moment in time.

Thorkell took the cup from her, and moved to the door, producing a pitcher that he'd stowed there, and refilling her cup. He set it back on the floor, and stepped back, giving her the chance to take and drink her fill. Once she'd finished that water off, he took the cup back, and then held up the bread. Real food, even such a small amount, could mean the difference between keeping ones strength up enough to be able to take care of yourself, versus needing to be fed.

"Now, the bread. The water you needed just to survive, but if you want the bread...well, that isn't free." He told her plainly with a smirk on his face. "If you want to eat at all, turn around, and put your ass against the bars. And wait there for me."
 
Cwen met Asbjorn at the thick wooden door, pulling it open to allow Asbjorn entrance to the small room that had since been turned into more of a bedroom than not. Over the course of a few days, Aisley had been provided a warm pelt to keep warm, a small dresser to house the handful of clothes she'd been given, and two pillows. Her lack of fight was being rewarded. Sitting upon the bed, Aisley looked up to Asbjorn as he offered her the chance to leave her small room for more than just food - a walk outside. A walk in the daylight where she'd be able to feel the sunlight upon her skin!

Stepping up, she nodded at his offer. "I would allow it." Aisley trailed after Asbjorn, accepting the opportunity of minor freedom.

*****

The second cup of water was met with just as much desperation as the first. Mae scrambled for the cup, drinking it with vigor as no more than a drop left her lips to stream over her chin. The cup was upended and emptied faster than it had been filled and Mae finished the water with a gasp, the second cup still clearly not being enough.

Inside, her stomach twisted and churned in pain. It had shrunken from lack of food yet pleaded with her to do anything she needed to do to fill it with the small loaf being displayed before her. Mae's fingers grasped on to the bars of her cell as she watched Thorkell contemplate his next move before holding out the offering. For water, Mae would have done just about anything. For food? Mae was nearly there but not quite.

She was too weak to talk back to Thorkell in any substantial manner but that didn't keep her from releasing her grip and stepping back. "N-no." Her head shook slightly, pride still outplaying her selfish need for survival. He'd given her water, a few more days without food wouldn't kill her. Even still, her stomach flipped and groaned. Mae flinched at the impact of her own hunger, trying to quell it with her determination. She stepped back, remaining facing Thorkell, until her back pressed against the back of the cell.
 
Asbjorn bit back a response at her statement of 'allowing' it. As though she were in a position to allow or disallow much of anything these days. He wanted to personally educate her in what her truest place was, but he knew that his Jarl would have his hide nailed to a tree if he did as such. He led her out onto the walls of the castle, letting hte light of the late morning wash over them. It did give a fairly commanding view of the surrounding lands. There were no small number of warriors on the walls, and many of them were very conciously eyeing Aisley as she passed. Cleaned, dressed in her finery, and seemingly exposed. Asbjorn made a point of redirecting attention, also making sure that Aisley was aware of the efforts. Small work to keep her secure here, but it was still work. He was a shield to her against this threat to her being.

*

"No? Oh well that's a shame." Thorkell observed, breaking off a piece of the bread, and stuffing it into his mouth. He'd eaten a third of it. He cracked a smile, and then stuffed the rest into his mouth. "Suppose I'll be seeing you later. I have some work to do, so I won't be by for our usual visit tomorrow. Maybe the day after either." He warned her, starting for the door. "You take care now, and be nice to your cellmate." As he spoke the rat that had been tossed in before scampered into view. A moment later another one joined it. "Oh I'm sorry, looks like you have a few more of them! Remember to be nice to them! Wouldn't pay to be poor a neighbour!" He chuckled as he started for the door, pulling it back open once more, sparing a moment to see if she had any reaction before he closed the door and left her back int he darkness.
 
The moment the castle doors were pushed open, the warm sunlight blazed a trail into the hall. Aisley's eyes squinted and she paused in her gait, her chin rising to face the fresh air that suddenly enveloped her body. A light mew left her lips as she felt the moment wash over her. After days of being left in a windowless room, being removed only for the opportunity to eat, she'd missed the sensation of the sun upon her body. Surely it was not lost upon Asbjorn how much Aisley was enjoying every moment of the chaperoned walk he was providing her. Although she kept a strict three feet between them at all times, she seemed to practically circle him as they walked together. The men eyeing her remained unnoticed by the stunning woman as she soaked in every bit of sun she was able to.

It had been no more than fifteen minutes before Aisley finally cut through the silence. "Thank you for this." She stopped walking as they paraded upon the castle wall, her body now facing the exterior of what was once her family's kingdom. Her eyes scanned the expansive damage that the initial invasion had caused along with the rebuilding the Vikings had already done. For a moment, Aisley fell silent as her eyes gazed into the depths of the sea that taunted the edges of the kingdom.

*****

Mae's stubbornness remained plastered across her face as Thorkell spoke down to her. In that moment, she didn't care that he wasn't going to give her food. She wouldn't belittle her pride to scrounge for the smallest loaf of bread. At least, that was what she had thought of in that moment. With water, she'd be able to survive for a month without food, if not longer. Of course, that didn't take into consideration the immense amount of pain she'd feel brought on by starvation. And it was only made worse by the isolation.

It took a day before Mae was talking to the rats, trying to coo them over towards her as if they were pets. The scampering creatures kept their distance at first, only coming near the starving woman when she would doze off. A second day would prove to be painful, her stomach unrelenting as she threw a tantrum that would have awoken any sleeping member within the castle walls.

She was breaking down.
 
Asbjorn nodded to her.
"You're welcome. We should get back inside. We're exposed out here, and we don't want any of the more...unruly elements of the warband to get any ideas about you being here." He toldd her simply. As though summoned by his words, a pair of men that looked like they were considerably less well kept than the usual fare of those living in the castle now. Without another word, Asbjorn quickly herded Aisley off of the walls, and back inside, making a direct line for her room. He was not in the mood to try and argue with a pair of bear shirts over whether he should stand aside and let them have the princess.

"I'll see about trying to get you outside more often." He told her as he closed the door behind her, locking it firmly. He let out a sigh, and started away. The two men that had come onto the walls had apparently followed him, and leered at him, silently questiong locations, and Asbjorn just shook his head, and point away from the room. They snarled, but didn't argue. Asbjorn felt a wash of relief. Not a situation he wanted to really have to deal with in the future. He'd have to warn Goðþormr about this development, maybe try and get warriors like them pushed out of the castle, adn into the village, or even send them into the woods for hunting or the like.

*

Thorkell didn't return to the dungeon the next day, true to his word. He also didn't return the day after. Two complete days surviving on nothing but two cups of water was likely going to be an ordeal in and of itself, and he was curious to see what became of the fiery princess. After all, there was only so much a body could endure before it broke down, and he felt she had to be close to that. But then, he didn't knokw her well, she might have hidden reserves that he didn't known about. He didn't come for breakfast on the third day. He left it towards the evening, loading a plate up with dinner before making his way to the dungeon.

The door swung open, and he entered, his lantern set on the table as per usual, and he sat down in his usual space. He didn't verbally acknowledge Mae's existence yet, but started to dig into his food. Roasted pork was the main portion, and if anything, it was far mroe fragrant than the normal morning foods. If he was going to torment her, he intended to do it to the best of his ability.
 
Aisley seemed to disregard Asbjorn's remark towards her but once he began ushering her away from the wall as two men, more bear than human, approached them, Aisley turned her attention back to Asbjorn and kept by his side. He offered protection although Aisley hadn't yet picked up on the comfort she felt by his presence. Even as he diverted the attention of the two men that had followed them back towards her quarters, Aisley appeared to have paid it no mind.

"I would like that," she offered him a weak smile. It was half hearted but a surprising light up of her otherwise barren features that had grown stoic over the past few days. Her eyes remained on his as he shut the door and once it was locked, she settled back in to her routine of nothing.

*****

Thorkell would wander into the dungeon to a surprising sight. Being alone and starved for such a prolonged period of time was making her energy levels completely taper off. In the depths of the shadows of her tiny cell, Mae was barely leaning against the cold wall. Gentle moans were leaving her chapped lips every few moments and her heavy eyelids would barely raise to allow her to see out into the darkness that she'd become so acclimated to.

To the careless observer Mae appeared, for all intents and purposes, deceased. A keen eye would see through the darkness and notice her chest just barely rising and the wheezes that would leave her throat every so often.

Mae remained unmoving for the majority of Thorkell's meal. Even as the scent of the succulent roasted pork reached her nostrils, it took time for Mae to find the energy to react. This was more than enough torment to motivate the weak princess from her resting position. Shifting, Mae moved to her hands and knees and crawled to the bars of the cell slowly before leaning herself against them while resting upon her knees. She could barely make visual contact with Thorkell through her heavily lidded stare.

"Please," her voice was weak, "I'm so hungry. Please."
 
Thorkell was only a little surprised to see the near ruin that Mae had become in his absence. There wasn't much left in her at this point, and he'd have to do something, else she would die, and Goðþormr would have his balls fed tot he pigs if he did something that stupid. What was worse in his mind was that she was weak enough that she might not even be able to render the payment that he'd demanded for the privilege of eating. But then, she might be weak enough that there were...alternatives in mind that would be far far safer with her being this weak.

He moved off of the table, and came close to her. He set a cup of water close to the bars for her again, knowing that was always going to be the first step. He waited for her to get some liquid in her, something to help fortify her slightly, to keep herself awake and moving. He had to be careful with what he gave for food, else she'd be in even worse shape. He lifted a slice of the pork, letting the scent of it waft over to her.
"I've got some great things for you to eat. But if you want it..." He trailed off, and undid his belt. A moment later, he was pulling his cock out, and bringing it around. "...first you'll have to put that mouth to better use." He warned her.
 
Pride and stubbornness was something the princess was known for. She was fair and understanding while thick-headed and her spitfire personality never ceased. Yet here in this cell, that spitfire had all but extinguished under the crushing weight of starvation and thirst. Mae's need for survival was strong and she wasn't quite ready to die. Not here and now, like this.

There was a clumsiness to Mae's movements when her arm reached out to grab the wooden cup Thorkell had placed before her. Her hand was shaking slightly as she brought the cup of water to her lips and she daintily drank back the water, careful not to down it all in one gulp. Despite her minor movements, her body still remained pressed against the bars as she struggled to even hold herself up. Once the water was gone, she lowered the cup and then rested her forehead against the bars as well, her eyes looking up at Thorkell as he pawed at his pants before revealing himself before her.

The only defiance Thorkell would receive was a soft whimper. Mae's eyes lowered but her lips parted, her head shifting slightly against the bars to allow him easy access to her mouth. She wouldn't suck him off, she was far too weak to even do so, but she's allow him to use her mouth.
 
Thorkell smiled as she made the move to comply with him. It wasn't everything he'd wanted, but it was going to be enough. For now at least. His hand moved to gently rest on the top of her head, before it slid around to the back. His fingers tangled into her hair, and he pulled her tight to the bars. His breathing picked up in intensity, and he moved in. He fed his cock into her mouth, a little disappointed that there wasn't going to be more contact from her. Still, the price he paid for letting her sit this long.

Keeping her pinned to the bars, he simply began to hammer his cock into her mouth. He pumped away for a few moments before he pushed deeper, pressing his cock inot her throat, groaing as he did, feeling the constriction around his girth. He kept at her for a few moments more before he gave a long groan as he stayed in her throat, and came. he pumped his load down her throat before pulling out of her mouth. He let go of her head, and smiled down at her as he put his cock away.
"There's a little more for you to eat." He mused at her. He set his plate close to the bars, a slice of pork and a few small pieces of bread. He smiled and walked away from the cell, leaving her to eat. He'd be back int he morning.
 
The only visible reaction from the princess was a crinkling of her nose as Mae's head remained in Thorkell's grip. A soft gag came from her chest but the retch was quick to dissipate upon the emptiness of Mae's stomach. Her eyelids pressed tightly together as she felt Thorkell begin to hammer into her throat and her head shook back slightly in his grip but couldn't jar itself out of his hands. Her own hands rose to support herself against the cell, her fingers wrapping around the steel bars as she braced herself against Thorkell's assault.

Time seemed to freeze for Mae as Thorkell's cock continued to piston into her body, using her and abusing her mouth over and over again until finally he pressed himself flush against her face and held her there, forcing her to choke once more on his girth. A few spurts of saliva caught against Thorkell's groin as she sputtered from his orgasm. When he finally pulled away, Mae nearly collapsed as she coughed and gasped for breath. Her eyes wouldn't raise to look at the man in the face as she tried to breathe. She didn't look up again until Thorkell shut the door of the dungeon behind him.

As soon as the wood slammed against the door frame, Mae looked up and eagerly reached out for the plate, desperately stuffing her mouth with the scraps that had been left on the plate before her. It took no more than thirty seconds for the plate to empty and another thirty seconds for Mae to tuck herself back into the shadows of her small cell.
 
Each day, Thorkell would return and make a play to get some kind of favour from Mae in exchange for food. She was recovering herself more and more, and it was to the point that Thorkell was asked by his Jarl about a possible meeting. Thorkell knew he'd bought all the time he could, and agreed that it might not be a bad idea.

Goðþormr was carefully laying out his plan for the next day. It was going to be a delicate thing to arrange. He was going to make sure that Mae had the chance to see the current chnages to Aisley, and all that had been wrought in difference. Aisley's agreement, and Mae's defiance would be in stark contrast to one another. He risked damaging his progress with Aisley, but he knew that the risk was worth it if it finally made the progress he needed from Mae.

Effort was made, and a somewhat more lavish meal was prepared, something that would be an excellent chance to properly sate the hunger of all involved. Mae could likely use that at this point. Thorkell descended into the dungeon, and wasted no time in unlocking the door to Mae's cell.
"Come along now. Goðþormr has called for you to join him for a meal." Thorkell informed her, guiding the reluctant and bedraggled woman out of the cell. In accordance with Goðþormr's orders, Thorkell draped a robe on her shoulders. It wasn't much, it was thin and didn't really provide much warmth, but it would largely cover her, adn it would give her the smallest shred of dignity back.

Goðþormr was sitting in his usual chair, and nodded as Aisley was led back in, her attendant taking her place behind the young lady. Aisley had been given more and more of previous trappings, until she looked very nearly like she had before the invasion had happened.
"Your sister is joining us this morning." Goðþormr informed her. Within a few moments of his saying that, Mae was brought into the room.
 
The shadows remained fully encompassing as Mae found herself reduced to cowering in the corner of the cold, damp cell. With her eyes having fully adjusted to the darkness, she would watch as the rats danced and scurried across the floor. Their movements dictated the motion of time, their hunger aligning with daybreak each morning despite the lack of visibility to the outside world. Their interactions with each other was the only company Mae had and even with the little bit of food to satiate her groaning stomach, Mae's apparent senility had her talking to the rats. They'd visit her in her cell, allowing her to run the knuckle of her pointer finger along their scrawny, dirty bodies as they scurried past her.

A full day passed before Thorkell visited Mae again, his presence causing her to scoot towards the bars of the cell to silently greet him. The promise of food was far too tempting to leave her against the cold, hard wall she'd been leaning against. Two cups of water lubricated her throat before Thorkell took it upon himself to skull fuck her in the same manner as the day prior. There was no eagerness from Mae, only desperation. She knew where her next meal was coming from and this time Thorkell left behind just a little bit more. Mae chose to share the small loaf of bread with the rats while slowly savoring each piece of pork that Thorkell kicked towards her.

The following day Mae was left starving when she refused to press her head against the bars. The day after that, she greeted Thorkell at the edge of her cell once more. It wasn't until the third consecutive day that she dubiously consented to letting him penetrate her throat was she finally rewarded with the smallest glimmer of freedom.

Mae was pressed against the cell as soon as Thorkell pushed open the dungeon door, her eyes watching as he sauntered down towards her fairly empty-handed. Where was the food? Her stomach sounded out in frustration, gurgling in need. Her neck craned as she peered up at Thorkell, listening to his command as he displayed the thin, grey robe that hung over his forearm loosely. Now this had to be a trap. Her head shook reluctantly but Thorkell had no problem unlocking the cell and stepping to her before dragging her to her feet with nothing more than a tug of her mane.

A soft yelp left Mae as she gripped at Thorkell's wrist, her frail fingers wrapping around his meaty grasp just before he released her. Mae grabbed a hold of the cell bars, trying her best to steady her stance while Thorkell draped the robe over her shoulders. "If this is your plan to kill me," Mae began, her hands gripping at the edges of the robe before pulling it into her body, trying to soak up every last bit of warmth it offered her, "you may as well just get it over with now." Her snarky comment was met with silence. Silence was fine. Mae trailed after Thorkell slowly, her entire body feeling pained from the sedentary few days she'd been forced to spend in the dungeon. She had spent hours each day pacing the length of her small cell but it never quite made up for the lack of freedom.

Slowly they ascended the stairs until finally Thorkell pushed open the dungeon door. The flood of light made Mae cry out softly, her eyelids narrowing as her eyes attempted to adjust to the light she'd been deprived of for days. The brief hesitation wasn't met with any surprise, Thorkell waited a short moment before continuing to lead her out towards the lavish dining room that seated her captor and her sister.

Aisley had settled in as much as could have been accepted from the meek princess. She had sworn to behave and not cause any trouble and thus far, she'd help up her end of the deal. In exchange, she was provided luxuries she'd grown so used to experiencing over her short life. She sat near Goðþormr, her hungry fingers toying with the vines of a bushel of grapes. She had always favored fruits over savory meats. As the sweet, skinned berry burst within her mouth, her eyes followed up to meet Goðþormr when he commented on the presence of her sister. Aisley paused, swallowing down the fruit as her head tilted. There was a pause before the presence of her sister walked in, forcing the meeker sister to turn her head to face the beaten down woman she had once followed after so longingly.

"Mae," she started, her lips parting slightly as if in disbelief.

Mae stopped walking, her eyes glistening from the natural light that flooded the hall. Her attention switched between Aisley and Goðþormr three times, her emotion clearly one of disbelief. She'd been locked in the dungeon and barely fed scraps for days while her sister sat here beside the enemy, prettied up in royal purple and pampered with the lavish smörgåsbord her family had once enjoyed with its people. It took a few moments before her eyes finally settled upon Goðþormr, her gaze blazing into his own.

The tiny hands that were barely covered by the arms of the robe balled into tight white tensed fists of rage. Her eyes narrowed and an aggressive rage washed over her petite body. The urge to leap across the table and jam Goðþormr's cutlery into his own eyes was intense but Mae was able to quell the compulsion as her jaw visibly tensed. "I want," Mae started, her quivering voice still showing signs of defiance as she seemed to struggle to catch her own voice, "my land back."
 
Goðþormr heaved a sigh at her words, shaking his head lightly.
"Well, it's certainly good to want things. Your reach should always exceed your grasp. But you should really sit down Mae, you look like you're barely able to stand right now, and could use a good meal. Unless you prefer your previous arrangement...?" He let that hang, the implication very clear to send her back into the dungeon under Thorkell's tender care. He turned his attention back to Aisley.

"You see Aisely, you've come to a solid understanding. The situation may not be what you wanted it to, but you've agreed to behave, and thus, look at yourself. You've come ot know me and some of my men better, and you should have also noted that I've kept every promise made to you. You sister has constantly refused, and..well, the results of that seem rather self evident." He said with a tired, resigned tone to his voice.

"Now, we do need to come to some kind of understanding here Mae, so please sit down and eat something so we can try and come to an accord."
 
Aisley looked down, shame clearly splattering across her face as her cheeks reddened. She couldn't face her sister, not after the past week when she'd been forced to spend her time in the dungeon while Aisley remained upstairs. Even if her room was windowless, similar to her sister's cell, she at least had a warm bed, clothes and the comfort of other people. Just looking at Mae's distraught appearance confirmed what she'd missed for so many days.

Mae's chest rose and fell heavily, her nostrils flairing as she continued to stare at Goðþormr. Her hesitation was fueled by tentative action that eventually lead to her stepping forward and kicking out a chair slightly before sinking into it. Even with her gaze fixated on the Pagan before her, it didn't stop her from reaching out to grab at some food sitting between them. Her fingers twisted around the leg of a roasted chicken, the skin crackling beneath her touch as she pressed her other hand against the body of the carcass, using it as leverage to yank the leg off.

It was as if someone flipped a switch within Mae. Her glare dropped from Goðþormr and settled now on the cut of meat she was quickly bringing to her lips. The desperation Thorkell had witnessed in the dungeon was still there as Mae bit into the juicy poultry, one hand on either side of the bone. The tiny morsels that Thorkell had given her were just barely enough to keep the poor girl alive and now that there was a feast set out in front of her and offered freely to her, Mae could no longer hold back. She nearly inhaled the chicken with fervor, her life very clearly dependent on this meal.
 
Goðþormr patiently worked his way through a share of his meal, giving Mae the chance to demolish some food to fortify herself. It didn't take long before he nodded to a servant that had been thoroughly cowed to approach and pour a large cup full of water for her.

Once she'd had the chance to go through that as well, he began to speak to her again.
"You still have information that I want to make things easier. Knowledge about the surrounding lands and their lords. I've learned a fair amount from some of the villagers. I know that this place was one of the principle food producers for those around us. And I know that since no shipments have come from us, they are likely to start looking into that soon. So I would like you to tell me who is around us." Goðþormr explained simply enough.

"No one here doubts your spirit, but I think you've spent enough time in reflection on the folly of defying me to know that there's no need for you to keep suffering for defiance." He explained.
"Please milady." The servant whispered faintly, barely loud enough to be heard. "Please. It pains me to see you so." She squeezed her eyes closed, shivering.
 
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