Vikings - (I think) YA, historical - female lead - romance - DAMN GOOD - not an erotic viking novel

The wonderful thing is, I remember nearly everything in the book except author and title.

This is about this girl who is a Viking (or slave?) and she is chosen to die with the Viking Chief (reasons unremembered). This is a process where the "sacrifice" is raped by all the little Viking subordinates then sent in with the Viking Chief or something along those lines. Anyway, instead of her going, an old lady goes in her place so she can escape.

Then she escapes blah and meets people. I remember distinctly that they gave her an apple. . . Then they took her in. Fast forward she becomes an assistant of some kind of the Queen or queen to be who was raped by her cousin? Anyway the queen/queen-to-be had a child at one point in the story, and that child was given to one of the woman who took her in.

Anyway, the lead female ends up with a soldier I believe.

Oh. . . and I also remember that at one point she was taught how to swim.

I remember some pretty useless facts.

Oh and also, there was some battle where the Vikings were fighting against the side she switched to when she ran away and she stripped naked and faced them in battle. They ran for their lives, I believe, because she was thought to be dead or something?

Please help me!

It doesn't ring a bell with me, although your description made me think of a vaguely similar book: The King's Peace (no Vikings at all, alas).

Unfortunately that isn't it. . . Ah well. I never did have much hope of finding this book.

Any info on when it might have been written? When did you read it?

This sounds like Elske by Cynthia Voigt. It's the fourth book in her Kingdom series, and features all the plot points you mention.

OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH @Sakerfalcon

YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO SO MUCH. I HAVE BEEN AGONIZING OVER THIS BOOK FOR SUCH A LONG TIME. You are a true miracle worker

It's one of my favourite books! Hope you enjoy it when you find a copy!