Bread Thief - Written work

Happy Sunday! For once it's not angst Sunday, but I have a little written work to offer this weekend. Based on the "Have you seen the Viking guard" animatic. I've been working on a longer animatic, which is why there is no animatic this weekend, but it's coming soon! <3 As always thank you for all the love and support!

~

“Fiadh!” Orla’s knuckles rapped over the wooden door of Fiadh’s wagon, waiting only a brief second before knocking again, louder. “Fiadh, I know you’re in there, wake up!” Orla called, an annoyed edge to her voice. 

A moment later, the upper half of the wagon’s door swung outward, and Orla had to step back to keep from getting hit in the face. Fiadh stood at the door, her hair curled over her shoulders. She looked somewhat startled, and her shoulders were tense, as if she were trapping air in her lungs. 

“Y-yes?” She asked evenly, and Orla rolled her eyes.

“About time, do you know where the guard is?” Orla asked directly. Fiadh blinked, her mouth gaping slightly for a moment. “T-the guard?” 

“Yes!” Orla hissed, waving her arms about, “The guard Ma hired to protect the camp? There’s missing food, something to do with the flour and, whatever-” She grumbled irritably. 

“Why would he take flour?” Fiadh asked.

“How should I know! More importantly, the cinnamon bread is gone and now no one is resting until Ma finds it.” 

Fiadh blinked. “The bread I made?”

“Yes, of course, who else? He was the only one up last night, he should have seen, or else he’s taken it.”

“No…sorry, I-I haven’t seen him.” Fiadh’s fingers found her knitted shawl, pulling it a little higher over her shoulders. 

Orla gave an exaggerated huff of frustration, waving her arms about again. “Gods you’re useless.” Was all she grumbled before stepping off the wagon and moving on to ask the next person she came across. Fiadh watched her go, leaning over the lower half of the door. She exhaled softly then, relaxing. She glanced back, her eyes lifting to the ceiling of her wagon. Njotr was wedged between the higher storage cupboards of the narrow space, keeping himself elevated between them. His eyes met her, shadowed beneath his hood, and a half smirk teased at his mouth. 

“If you needed flour, you could have just asked me.” Fiadh teased and watched as he dropped down quietly, before rising to his full height. Njotr huffed slightly as he approached, taking a quick look out the upper half of the door. Fiadh swallowed, the warmth of his body pressing close in the small space. It made heat flush to her face, even if they’d just been even closer only minutes before. 

“I didn’t steal the flour.” He said, voice low as he turned to look at her. He reached beneath the flap of his cloak, producing a small, familiar bundle. Fiadh’s eyes widened, and she looked up at him in confusion. 

“Only seems fair that the one who went through all the effort for a treat should be the one to enjoy it. It shouldn’t go wasted on…well.” He didn’t finish his thought, but the implication was there in the way his mouth quirked devilishly. 

Fiadh couldn’t help the small huff, smiling as she accepted the bundle of cinnamon bread she’d made only the day before. She looked down, her mouth already moving to defend her family out of habit, no matter what.“It was a request-”

“It was a demand.” Njotr interjected, a hint of distaste in his voice. “I was there.” He added then, gentler, before Fiadh could argue any further. “If your mother wants it so badly she can make some herself.” 

Fiadh felt a smile tug at her mouth despite herself. Normally, the thought of upsetting her mother made anxiety bubble up and drown everything else out. This time however, she felt oddly calm, as if it didn’t matter. She knew she couldn’t be blamed for it, she’d done what had been asked of her, after all. Or maybe it was the way Njotr made her feel. Somehow, her usual fears seemed smaller when he was beside her. 

“You’re not worried about getting into trouble?” She asked and looked up at him, her amused smile lingering. He appeared to almost laugh, and his grin was answer enough. 

“Not if we take care of the evidence.” He nodded down at the bundle in her hands and Fiadh’s smile widened. Njotr’s arm reached for the still open upper half of the door, and pulled it in to close them off from the world once more.