Chapter 13 The Lighthouse of Serpent Isle

• Elsa had changed her name along with her appearance as best she could as did Viggo, she no longer had ginger hair instead she had managed to darken her hair with ink and used a wrap to cover her head. With the money that Elvinia had given them, they had managed to buy a lighthouse with a farm attached to the place. Viggo had stored most of their money so that they could appear to be humble farmers, as he manned the lighthouse. She had only seen the ocean because of their escape, now that she and Viggo were husband and wife, he gave her the best wedding present which was living by the ocean. Every morning she would get to see the lovely skies and of course, she had finally found her freedom. Though she missed the longhouse, she enjoyed living in the home attached to the lighthouse. She fed the horses and the long, haired cow who had just had two calves. A few chickens and ducks and some geese and of course a few goats and sheep. The hogs were not that far away, for Viggo would feed them right after checking the fire up in the lighthouse. Right now, she had picked the eggs, and then she brought in some wood for the fireplace so that she could fix them for breakfast. It had been a few months since she had seen either Elvinia or Baldr, but Viggo said that there was a rumor of two warriors who had saved miners from monsters. So they knew that the others were safe, Viggo thought it best to lay low for a while for a few times he heard and saw assassins searching for the runaway chieftain's daughter named Elsa. Elsa no longer went by her real name instead she went by Maven with long black hair much like a raven's wings. Viggo use to keep his hair long now it was to his shoulders, though he managed to change his hair to medium brown with dyes that he made a few times and now he used the dyes for him and Elsa. He kept their weapons hidden, now instead of a sword, he kept an axe for chopping the wood or his pick axe for he had found a mine that had been abandoned and there he was able to make extra money by melting the silver into coins. Because they lived off the mainland, he was the only one to go to the village and get supplies. Now that winter was here, they had everything that they would need to endure the winter months. He was able to make them both winter clothes to keep them warm when they were outside, fixing the stables for the animals to keep them from freezing. Now that they were leading new lives, he was happy for the first time in a long time. He saw her bringing in some of the wood for the fire inside, and already she had milked the cow and the goats. He had gone fishing so now they would have salted fish and have plenty to last till the Spring. He came inside the house where she was fixing the dough for them to have bread for the next few days. Viggo had put away his coat and boots then came over to the fire, "You seem like you have found your place quite easily. Is this the life you want?"
• She smiled as she kneed the dough and once again she could only smile with flour on her cheek, "Aye. I am very happy and it is better than what we had before. Granted I am hardly ever clean by the end of the day, and granted I have callouses on my hands but I have my freedom. I think mom would have wanted this for us, not to be under his thumb. I am happy of course husband."
• He got out his knife and began to do some woodwork, for he would soon be a father. It was only a month or so ago that she had been sick in the mornings and now she had a tiny bump showing even though she was petite, the baby's bump made her even more beautiful. In the mornings, he couldn't help but rub her bump, and soon enough, he would feel a movement coming from her womb. Right now, however, she was barefoot and trying to finish before supper. He helped her carry the kettle so that she wouldn't strain her body more, it was amazing how protective he had become. Once the loaves were in the oven, she began to sweep up the mess she had made. she had already made butter with honey and poured some milk for herself.