Firstborn

Thorfinn struggled to stay conscious as he was jolted and moved about when being carried by the stranger. Nonetheless, he tried to thrash and get out of the man's grip, but the man's grip was tight and the speed he ran made it hard for Thorfinn to do anything —not even mention his oddly angled arms. The man sped past Kattegat entering the forest throwing oddly smelling pellets behind him that assaulted Thorfinns senses. He kept on running for what seemed like an hour until Thorfinn gathered enough strength to slam his fist into his shoulder while pouring a drop of his leviathan ability into it.

This made the man grunt he then threw Thorfinn off his shoulder to the ground. He looked back in the direction of Kattegat, then grunted "Should be far enough..." he muttered to himself before moving over to a bolder and sitting down on it, taking out a piece of dried meat and eating it. Thorfinn who groaned from landing on his shattered arms moved onto his back and leaned up against a tree. "Who are you..." he asked. This whole night had been one nightmare that never seemed to end, strangers, all with abilities both similar and mad dissimilar to his showed up and took control of everyone in Kattegat, even his closest friends.

To make matters worse the one responsible wants to take his child away from him. 'Just like before...' he thought to himself as a flash of what happened to Eowyn ran through his mind. The stranger looked at him, taking a few more bites out of his meal and then putting away the remainder of it. He took the hood off his cloak exposing his face.

A young-looking man with yellow eyes, white hair similar to his own and a white beard. "I am Geralt of Rivia..." he replied in a gruff tone before he took off the rest of the cloak and looked at the injury that Arwyn had given him.

There was something strange about the man in front of him, from his smell to the way he breathed. That being he didn't have a smell; now that the pain from his consuming to the leviathan was starting to abate his senses were starting to heighten to an even greater degree than before. Thorfinn could smell the berries on the plant several dozen feet away and yet he couldn't smell the man in front of him. He could only smell the saliva that had been left behind from Arwyns bite.

"What are you doing in my home Geralt of Rivia..." Thorfinn said with a slightly venomous tone. He didn't trust the man in front of him, not after he had spent weeks sneaking around Kattegat. The only reason they were talking at the moment was because he had saved Thorfinn so he had decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. Geralt didn't answer at first and instead kept on removing his armour which seemed to be a black leather with some metal plates embedded. When his chest was bare Thorfinn could see all the scars the man had as well as a necklace in the shape of a wolf.

Seeing it more clearly now Thorfinn could see how nasty the bite was. 'He must be more durable than normal...' he knew better than anyone that a bite from Arwyn could crush bone, he'd seen her tear apart numerous people in her wolf form.

"I came hunting a witch..." Geralt replied as he removed a small bottle from his pouch. He made a pained expression as he poured some of the liquid inside the wound which started to sizzle as it made contact, he then drank the rest of the liquid. Thorfinns eyes widened as he saw the flesh continue to sizzle, but the wound started to close up. In five minutes there was now just another scar.

While Thorfinn was interested in the ingredients of this concoction, he had more important things on his mind. "The witch? Dahlia? What do you know about her," Thorfinn asked. She was strong, she handled him like he was a mere child.

Geralt looked at him and a small chuckle escaped his throat. "Don't even bother boy... this is a foe beyond you," he stated.

Thorfinn ignored the jab and kept his gaze focused on him. "I don't care, she plans to take my child from me."

"That green mist you conjured how did you do that, it weakened her I saw it," Thorfinn said.

"I spent years getting the materials for the dimeritium bomb, it was the only way to seal her magic and make her vulnerable," Geralt stated. "I did not take into account she would have a werewolf under her control."

"That cannot be the only way to defeat her," Thorfinn growled out.

Geralt looked at him before his gaze went down to his arms. "You won't even defeat one of her thralls in your condition."

Thorfinn tutted as he looked away, but as he looked down he could see the man was right. Both his arms were bent at odd angles and he could barely move them without a large amount of pain. "Give me whatever concoction you used," Thorfinn requested.

Geralt shook his head. "It wasn't meant for you, normal people's bodies can't handle it," he replied.

"What makes you different..." Thorfinn said with his eyes narrowed.

"I am not normal, I'm a Witcher... our bodies have been altered by magic," Geralt explained.

Thorfinn wanted to refute it but it made sense. The man was unnaturally strong and fast and he seemed to have some unique magic of his own, so he had no reason to doubt his words. Nonetheless, if he didn't try then no one would be there to defend Rebekah. "Give it to me... I can handle whatever pain it causes," Thorfinn stated.

Geralt scratched his beard. "I have watched you for a while... you aren't normal, but you still might die," he replied. "It's better to wait, let them heal naturally..."

Thorfinn took a deep breath as he swallowed his pride "Please help me..." he asked Geralt.

The man hesitated for a few moments before he grumbled and reached into his back before taking out another bottle. "Your chances of surviving this are less than a quarter, and your chances of beating the witch are a hundred times less than that..." Geralt stated. "It may be more painful now, but if you want to live then leave and don't come back..."

Thorfinn looked at the bottle in front of him. "Death..." Thorfinn said before taking the bottle with his mouth and swallowing the contents. He didn't feel anything for a moment just a pleasant warmth that filled his stomach.

That pleasant warmth quickly changed into a roaring inferno that made it feel as if his blood had turned into fire. Geralt stepped forward covering his mouth with his hand as an unconscious scream tore itself from his mouth.

It wasn't long before the pain overwhelmed him and his consciousness faded for the second time that night.

...

When Thorfinn woke up the first thing he did was throw up. The contents of his stomach were brown and red, his body still felt sore but one thing he noticed was that he was holding himself up by his arms. It had worked. He clenched his fists as he inspected them, apart from the lingering pain the evidence they'd been broken at all was gone.

"You seem to have luck on your side," a voice said gruffly from the side. Thorfinn turned his head and saw that Geralt sat on his knees with his eyes closed.

"The gods have always favoured me," Thorfinn replied as he pushed himself to his feet stretching his sore muscles and shaking feeling back in his arms.

"Why are you still here? I expected you to leave," Thorfinn asked as he gazed at the man who still looked to be meditating.

Geralt opened his eyes. "You fought hard for you people today, you deserved the honour of a proper burial rather than to be left to the wolves," he replied.

While Thorfinn could appreciate that he was a little annoyed that he had so little hope of him surviving. "How long have I been asleep?" Thorfinn asked.

"Six or seven hours..." Geralt replied as he looked up to the moon.

Thorfinn nodded. It wasn't ideal but he could still make it if he was fast. His farm was twelve hours away on foot, they had a head start but they were slowed down by travelling in such a large group. If he left soon and ran the whole way he shouldn't be that far behind them.

"Your current course is one that leads to death... luck or not," Geralt said as he stood up. At his full height, he was nearly the same size as Rollo over a full head and a half bigger than Thorfinn.

"Anyone can be killed, this witch is no exception," Thorfinn said as he continued to loosen his body.

Geralt grumbled. "I have been tracking this witch for over a decade, every attempt I made at killing her failed, tonight was the best and only chance where she could've been defeated... now with her magic unrestricted, there is no choice but to start planning for the next encounter," He tried to explain.

Thorfinn looked at the man narrowing his eyes. "I won't accept that, she'll bleed just like anyone else," he replied. "May I ask why you even care what happens to me?"

Geralt grunted as he moved to put his armour back on. "You have potential, strong and skilled for someone so young, would be a waste to see you die."

Thorfinns expression softened. "Thank you for your help Geralt of Rivia, but I can't abandon my wife and child..."

Geralt strapped his combat leathers to his body and attached both his sword to his back. "I understand..." he replied.

Thorfinn nodded. "I have to leave now if I am to catch up with them, perhaps one day we shall meet again," he said before offering his arm out. Geralt hesitated for a moment before taking the offered hand and clasping arms with him.

"Don't let her speak, her power is in her words..." Geralt said before he let go of Thorfinn and walked off into the darkness of the forest leaving the young Jarl alone.

Thorfinn watched him leave before exhaling a deep breath. He knelt down in front of the tree he stood near and placed his hand upon its trunk. He offered a prayer to Freyja to give him strength and to offer protection. The future of Kattegat and his family rested upon his shoulders and he needed every advantage he could get.

Standing up and placing a kiss on the bark of the tree he turned around and started running. He needed to be fast else he'd arrive too late.

————————————————————-

(Three days Earlier)

Rebekah moved slowly into the main hall of her home helped along by Helga who held her by the arm. Her mother who had sequestered herself away since she had gotten here had asked for everyone to gather. In truth she would like to know the reason she was here, she had offered no hints nor given any indication of when she would leave. The only thing she had done was tell her Thorfinn was dead, which she believed to be a falsity after her talk with Hild. Moving into the main hall she saw Blaeja who had a book with her as she usually did, next to her was Gyda and across from them was her brother Elijah who looked as morose as he usually did. Despite her telling him that she believed Thorfinn to be alive he didn't seem to be happy with her —likely not believing her.

Rebekah moved into the room carefully and took a seat next to Hild who seemed to grow just as morose as her brother did as the days went on. It was something that baffled Rebekah as she no longer suffered from nightmares; no longer did she scream and call out in the night, and yet she didn't seem happier. "Are you well Rebekah?" Hild asked as the other pregnant woman sat down with the assistance of Helga.

"I am looking forward to getting this babe out of me," Rebekah said as she leaned back putting her hands over her stomach. She enjoyed the feeling of Thorfinns babe growing inside her, but she could do without the constant need to relieve herself as well as feeling hungry so often.

"It shouldn't be too much longer now," Helga said as she grabbed a cup and offered Rebekah a drink. Rebekah smiled and thanked Helga before sipping at it.

"Do you know where Mother is?" Rebekah asked Elijah.

Her older brother shook his head. "She'll come when it suits her," he replied in a low tone, though Rebekah could tell he was annoyed by it.

With nothing else to do Rebekah and the others made causal conversation with each other. She has spent the summer with these women and had grown closer to them, even the Saxon woman from the west. While she couldn't understand Blaeja's obsession with those writings she always had with her she was a kind and interesting person. She was also one of the only ones who had actively tried to discover why her mother had come, though this didn't lead anywhere as Blaeja put it 'she had no trail to follow.'

Gyda was someone else Rebekah enjoyed speaking with. Perhaps it was due to their similarity in age but she found herself having quite a lot in common with her. Not only that but she could recognise small traits that she seemed to share with Thorfinn —perhaps due to them being raised together. She much enjoyed the stories of Thorfinns childhood, as while he did tell her a lot of it. He left out a few embarrassing stories here and there. Though it was clear to see that Gyda was jealous of her, not for her beauty or her wealth, but because she held Thorfinns love.

Many times she'd seen the girl looking at her stomach. She could only guess that Gyda wished it was her that grew heavy with his child. 'Perhaps something that can be seen to in the future,' she thought to herself. She wouldn't mind Gyda joining her as a sister-wife, nor would she mind Hild or any other others, they were all loving people. Something her family had been devoid of.

She knew her brothers loved her, but they were terrible at showing it —with the exception of Henrik. While they talked Helga brought up the subject of names, something to which Rebekah had not given much thought since Thorfinn had left.

"Morgyn," Hild replied quickly turning the attention of the room to her.

"A beautiful name, and what if it's a boy?" Helga asked.

Hild smiled at the older woman. "It will be a girl," she replied.

"How can you be sure?" Blaeja asked as she looked up from her book.

Hild moved her hand over her stomach. "A mother knows," she said.

A grin formed on the Saxon princess's face. "Do you also know Rebekah? As a fellow mother?" She asked.

Rebekah rolled her eyes, but she considered it anyway. "I've felt for a while that I will give birth to a beautiful daughter..."

"What will you name her?" Gyda asked.

Rebekah thought for a moment, she did not want to name their child without Thorfinn being here, but as things were it might be a while before he came back. "Freydis, to honour Thorfinns patron god and my older sister," she said.

Helga reached over and rubbed her stomach. "A beautiful name, it'll suit her well," she said.

"What does it mean?" Blaeja asked. She still had slight issues with the language and the different meanings associated with names.

"Peace, or woman of peace," Hild answered for them.

Blaeja shook her head as she sighed deeply. "You people have such strange meanings with your names," she said as she went back to reading. Rebekah giggled slightly but it seemed Helga took some offence towards it and for the next five minutes the two of them argued about what names should be like. It only stopped when they heard the door open and her mother walk into the main hall.

She looked more pale and sick than Rebekah had ever seen her mother be. She took a seat next to Elijah, who had stood up and helped her down. "Thank you, Elijah," she said in a slightly strained voice.

She then looked out to everyone else in the room before her eyes settled on Rebekah. "It has been a while since I have come here... and I know you have all wondered why," she said.

"I have concealed my purpose here as I did not want to cause panic... especially not with your condition," Esther said as she gestured to both Rebekah and Hild.

"We understand Mother, now get to the point," Elijah said, the tiredness in his voice clear.

Esther nodded. "It is complicated, but in short... Rebekah your child is in danger," she said looking up at her youngest daughter.

"What do you mean!?" Rebekah snapped as a surge of panic ran through her body. "How is my child in danger!" She asked.

Esther rubbed her eyes feeling the effects of the countless sleepless nights start to take effect. "I'll have to start at the beginning," she said.

"Many years ago before you were born me and your father struggled to conceive... I tried everything but nothing seemed to work. I could see that I was losing your father... back then I was young and stupid and so I turned to the only person I believed could help me."

"My older sister Dahlia."

"We have an aunt? Why have you never mentioned her?" Rebekah asked.

"She is not a person we invoke the name of often... your father would kill a man for even uttering it," Esther replied. "The only one of you that might remember her is Finn, Elijah was a baby at the time and you and the others had not been born."

"I asked my sister to help make my womb bear fruit for my husband... she accepted but for the price of my firstborn, a price I reluctantly paid," Esther said.

Rebekah's eyes widened for a moment, as did Elijah's as they understood what this meant. "Freya never died..." Rebekah whispered. "She was given to Dahlia by you..." Rebekah's eyes began to water as she covered her mouth in shock.

"How could you do that..." Elijah said in a low tone. His hands were squeezing the arms of his chair so much they nearly snapped off.

Esther could look down at the fire ashamed. "I did not know... I loved Freya more than you can know, and I wish every day that I did not give her away..."

Esther then looked up. "But we are not here to talk of my sins," she said.

"I was tricked by my sister, for not only did she claim my firstborn, but the firstborn of every Mikaelson from now until eternity."

"She wants to take my babe," Rebekah said with horror in her voice. Esther nodded her head which only made the tears in Rebekah's eyes fall faster.

"What about Finn's child?" Elijah asked.

Esther shook her head. "Finn tried to run away with his pregnant wife when we told him the truth of what would happen."

Both Rebekah and Elijah remembered when Finn had left Kattegat for a while, he had been gone a year before he came back. Yet when he came back he was a changed man, someone completely unrecognisable.

"Dahlia found them and Finn decided to kill his son so as to not subject him to whatever plans Dahlia had," Esther explained. "As punishment, Dahlia killed his wife and turned Finn into the man you see today... a person devoid of love... devoid of everything."

Esther squeezed her hands as she spoke of it finding it difficult. To see a complete stranger wearing her son's face walk around her home was a torture of another kind. "Dahlia will not stop until she gets your babe, even now I can sense the power your child will have," she said. "You come from a powerful line of witches, and it's clear Thorfinn has strong blood as well."

Rebekah sat there in silence, unsure of what to do, unsure of what to say. Her mother had just told her that her child would be taken from her and there was nothing she could do. "What can we do to stop her?" Elijah asked.

Esther took a deep breath. "That is why I'm here," she replied. She then took a stone out of her pocket and put it on a nearby table where everyone could see it. "This is a rune I've spent the last week creating it should offer some small protection against my sister."

"Through her whispers, she takes control, for those who have no protections of their own they can hear her whispers on the wind. This rune will offer protection and stop her from controlling you," Esther explained.

"Apart from that there is little we can do, we can only hope to injure her or make her retreat..." Esther said.

Elijah frowned. "Surely that can't be the best plan we have, can you not use your magic against her?"

Esther shook her head. "She is far stronger and more knowledgable than me, and she also draws power from Freya who is the firstborn of the next generation, there is nothing more I can do but try to keep her out of here."

"How will you keep her out?" Rebekah asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"A ritual that will ward the village from supernatural creatures," Esther replied.

"What is the price for the ritual," Hild chimed in. Apart from Esther, she was the most knowledgeable about magic in the room, even if it was not much.

Esther's face turned cold. "Life..." she said in an emotionless tone.

They all knew what this meant. They would have to sacrifice some of the villagers in order to power the ward. Rebekah found her heart aching at the idea of it but she would do anything to keep her child safe. The question was who would they pick, she didn't think she could make that decision.

As if reading her mind Elijah piped up "I'll handle it... when can you start the ritual?" He asked.

"I have most of the ingredients I can start tonight and channel the light of the full moon," she replied.

"Do it, I'll get you the sacrifices," Elijah said with a blank expression.

Esther nodded and then turned towards her daughter. "I'm sorry you have to suffer like this because of me, I hope one day you can forgive me," she said as she stood up and left the room, with Elijah getting up and joining her.

Seeing that Rebekah was still frantic and tearful Helga leaned over and hugged her and tried to reassure her that it would be okay. "Come I think you should rest now," Helga whispered to her as she helped her up. Gyda walked over to help as well trying to reassure her as well. As they walked out of the room they heard what sounded like water hitting the floor. When they all turned they saw Hild standing up and a lot of liquid staining the bottom of her gown.

Hild looked down then back up at them.

"Oh..."

(AN: I'm really bad at estimating how many chapters I have left, tbh I just write until it feels right. Anyone else know what I mean. This chapter was more just preparation for the final chapter which will be the next chapter. after that will be a small epilogue where we lead into what happens next. Anyway I hope you enjoyed it.)

If you like my stuff consider supporting me.

Patreon.com/captainalfie78works