Vikings: Nordic women

Chapter 48: The Fingers That Hold Hela’s Gaze

Margaret slowly put on a long-sleeved woolen Knowles dress. The deep black color was as bright as the night sky, and paired with her skin that had almost no melanin due to the low light, it was eye-catching.

This long skirt is extremely comfortable and can keep the skin dry and comfortable, which is a world of difference compared to later polyester fiber clothing.

Black, this color is always endowed with mature, stable, noble and other temperaments. It gives people a mysterious and profound feeling, which can stimulate the inner emotions of the wearer and produce a sense of luxury visually.

"Your beauty is so enviable. If I could have half of your beauty, it would be a great gift from the gods to me!" the maid praised sincerely.

Her hands rested lightly on Margaret's shoulders, but the weight on them made Margaret feel a little uncomfortable.

Considering the weight caused by her age, she felt like she was being held down by a bear.

"Listen, I don't need praise. If you have any suggestions, I think it will make me happier than praise!" Margaret shook her shoulders, broke free from the maid's hands, and her tone revealed obvious displeasure.

She was tired of hearing such compliments on her appearance. Moreover, the other party's tone made her feel despised. Based on his own life experience and background, the complimenter believed that he was more qualified to make an evaluation than the person being complimented. This seemingly well-intentioned behavior actually subconsciously treated Margaret as a child. For her as a lord, this was an insult.

Besides, she was not close to the maid. "I really mean it. You are the greatest treasure the gods have given us!" The maid continued to praise, seemingly unaware of Margaret's change of mood.

"Since you like appearance so much, then you can dress yourself up here first!" Margaret's face darkened and her words were ambiguous, expressing both alienation and directly leaving the other person behind.

The maid was left where she was, her face gradually turning pale, with confusion and grievance flashing in her eyes.

At this time, bursts of laughter and the sound of light lute were heard in the hall, which made Margaret curious and wanted to know what was going on.

After tidying up her appearance, she opened the door, walked through the lounge, and came to the lord's hall accompanied by her maid.

The hall was filled with people and everyone was laughing as they watched the jester, a short man who was playing the role of a clown. In this era, and until the Middle Ages, such characters usually entertained others through funny performances and behaviors.

Smiling seemed to be contagious, and Margaret smiled unconsciously, even though she didn't want to.

Suddenly, the laughter stopped, and everyone's eyes turned to her sitting on the Yar throne. She was the only one still laughing.

Sigrunjar walked up to his eldest son "Little Sigrun" with a glass of wine in his hand and patted him on the shoulder as he was staring at Margaret in a daze.

"Your chance has come. Remember, I will ask you to join Huscarz. You need to defeat the guys from other families, strive to become Queen Margaret's husband, and then strive for more benefits for the family and bring the family to the top!"

"Yes, father!" Little Sigrun nodded and glanced with hostility at the noble children around him who might pose a competitive threat to him.

Other lords, such as Sven and Magrus, also gave instructions to their children, and even five-year-old children received instructions from their fathers.

In an instant, Margaret became the focus of everyone's competition, attracting a group of lords with their own calculations to fight openly and secretly. When a group of predators simultaneously set their sights on a piece of "meat" that they think is harmless, it means that a fierce fight will occur.

"Quiet!" Lord Harold's voice echoed in the hall like thunder. He stood up and glanced sharply at the people who were whispering to each other. "Bring the sacrifices up and offer them to the gods. Next, please invite High Priest Sina to preside over the coronation ceremony!"

More than a dozen sacrifices were brought to the open space. They had dazed expressions, lowered their heads, and knelt in the middle of the venue, facing Margaret who was sitting on the throne.

The executioner came forward with a huge axe in hand, and the sacrifices lowered their heads and exposed their necks. At this tense moment, Margaret's voice suddenly came: "Wait a minute! I don't want my crown to be stained with blood. I propose to release these captives!"

This proposal shocked everyone present. They didn't expect Margaret to "disrupt" her coronation ceremony. But she didn't think so. Killing ten strong men in her territory at a party? This was too wasteful.

Yes, it is wasteful, not cruel.

She looked around with a determined look in her eyes: "Who is in favor, and who is against? The vassals of the House of Gotland who are in favor, raise your right hands!"

Margaret also needs to take this opportunity to see the current political situation. If she wants to take power, she will inevitably conflict with the current three-member regent council. She only hopes that she can smoothly take over the supreme power of Gotland from the three people who may or may not have changed their minds without having to kill anyone.

"Uh..." All the lords looked at each other, and they all looked at Lord Harold and High Priest Sina who were frowning at Margaret. Looking at the two factions, Margaret's eyes flashed, and she seemed to be thinking about something.

"I say again, surrender to the Gotland family, obey my vassals, please raise your right hands!" She reminded again without giving others a chance to speak.

Still no one raised their hands. Everyone was waiting for the faction leader to express his opinion. For a moment, her position was a little awkward. Margaret was unwilling to give up. She stood up and looked at Harold: "Do you want to object to Aunt Eunice's will?"

"Of course not, Miss Duti!" Harold raised his hands helplessly, and looked at the other lords. Half of the lords in the field raised their hands, and they all received Harold's eye signal.

"Ms. Polly, as the chief minister and steward of the Gotland family, do you want to oppose your lord?" Margaret turned to Polly and asked.

"No, I have always been a supporter of the Gotland chieftain's family!" Polly also raised her hand. Seeing this, most of the lords raised their hands, except Sina and the four jarls who were originally granted fiefs.

Margaret was surprised to find that there were still a group of people who did not raise their hands. It seemed that the situation was not the separation of powers she thought. Sven, Joachim, Magrus, and Sigurun looked at each other and raised their hands. They looked like neutrals who were sitting on the fence.

When High Priestess Xina was about to speak, Margaret decisively interrupted her: "High Priestess, as Aunt Eunice's maid and the apprentice of the former High Priest, are you going to oppose me now?"

High Priestess Xina sighed and raised her hand silently, and the priests around her followed suit.

"Immediately release these sacrifices and use cattle, sheep, and pigs for sacrifice instead!" Margaret pointed at the people in the center of the venue. "They are all the power of the territory. We will never allow anyone to harm the people of the territory."

"But they did this voluntarily!" the priest at the side reminded Margaret, "and it goes against tradition!"

"So I need a priest to convey my request to the gods through beheading!" Margaret pointed at the priest who spoke, "Is there anyone willing to be beheaded and convey my proposal to change the sacrifice to the gods?"

Margaret paced back and forth. "I am an open-minded leader. I allow people to raise objections. I am also not sure whether my ideas are consistent with the will of the gods. Since the answer obtained through communication with the gods is not clear, I need someone to help me go to Valhalla to ask!"

"Are you going?" Margaret pointed at the priest who had just spoken. She couldn't be controlled by anyone using divine power.

In her view, royal power should be higher than divine power.

The priest lowered his head, looking panicked, took a step back silently, shook his head, and said nothing.

She pointed to another priest and said, "Or do you want to go?"

For a moment, her finger seemed like Hela's gaze, and the people she pointed at avoided her. However, she was tactful and only asked these priests.

　I was too busy writing this morning, so I deleted and rewrote this chapter.
　　(End of this chapter)