"I don't want to be what everyone else wants me to be. . ." I breathed while looking out across the camp.
He looked out to the camp once again and sighed heavily, "The world, the gods, and people are. . . tricky things. My brother wants to be king b...
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.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
~10 years after the return from Paris~
Asmund and Canute ran through the cabin swinging wooden swords at each other. Elof ran closely behind the twins trying to keep up as much as he could. Gunnar sat in front of the fire with Herleif watching the flames rise and fall.
I smiled at my four boys as they played. I scanned the room for Rekkr but he wasn't there, "Asmund, where is your older brother?" I asked the boy.
He just shrugged, "He went with our uncles to the cabin to hunt."
I nodded and walked over to the table in our large cabin and set down many things I had bought from the market.
Ten years had passed since we returned from Paris. And since that return, Ragnar has been shut away. Bjorn and I mostly handle public disputes. We had not been anywhere extravagant since. Halfdan and I were soon married after the return. We kept it quiet due to all the devastation that loomed over everyone. He stayed for the twins' birth and then left. Now and then he would return for weeks or months at a time. After the birth of Asmund and Canute, I have given my husband three other children, Elof, Gunnar, and Herleif. They miss their father whenever he is away.
Rekkr spent his days as a man training. I helped when he desired it but he mostly spent his time with my younger brothers. Of course, when I wasn't handling my children or leading the village, I was training with them all.
But for the past ten years, everything has been. . . quiet. There were no celebratory feasts or anything we did as a community. We were all seen together when we praised our gods.
"Children," I called out after hearing a loud thump, "please don't be fighting in here." I scolded, "Go outside if you wish to do such things."
A knock came from the door. We all went silent as I wiped my hands on the apron of my dress and went to open the door. Bjorn stood tall in the doorway. I stood off to the side and let him in. my children ran over to their uncle and embraced him.
I smiled at the sight and then went back to gutting the fish and washing the fruit I had bought.
Bjorn walked before me as the boys went back to playing. He lowered his voice and leaned down, "The settlement we established in Wessex was destroyed." He spoke.
My heart stopped beating and I put down the knife in my hand, "How did you find out?" I questioned while staring up at him.
He furrowed his brows together, "You knew?"
"Yes, Ragnar told me soon after we caught word." I explained, "I-I thought he would've told everyone else or make an announcement but it never came."
My twin frowned and sat at my table while lifting his feet and leaned back in the chair, "Well Aslaug and I just met with a man who told us of it. He also claimed that Ragnar has another son with Queen Kwenthrith. Magnus his name is."
