"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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.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
"It's almost time for the great army to leave," Lagertha spoke to Torvi, Astrid, and I. Together, the four of us sat in the Great Hall discussing plans for Kattegat, "My daughter has brought it to my attention that we may have to ask the gods for their help. We have to prepare sacrifices."
Astrid lifted her chin, "What shall we sacrifice?"
Mother smiled and lifted herself out of her chair, "This will be the largest army we have ever sent out." She paced around us as she spoke, "If the army fails. . . if they are defeated by the Saxons, our peoples might never recover." Her eyes shifted over to me, "Whatever Ragnar and I started long ago, will perish and be forgotten."
I nodded solemnly, "That would be the price of our failure."
"Then I repeat," Astrid spoke up again, "what shall we sacrifice?"
Torvi gave me a knowing look, "I think Lagertha means, 'Who shall we sacrifice?'"
The older woman glanced over at us and then back at Lagertha before slowly nodding.
The two women left the room together and I walked over to Torvi who held her's and Bjorn's new child, Asa. I held out my arms as the blonde gently passed over her little daughter.
"How are you and my brother?" I questioned while smiling down at my niece.
Torvi sighed and sunk into her chair, "I fear he no longer loves me." Her frown widened, "He is angry more and more as the days pass."
My hand rested on her shoulder, "He is my brother, my twin, and I can honestly say that I am sorry for his actions. I cannot make it better but I know he can never be fulfilled and that is not your fault, Torvi."
She nodded with tear-filled eyes, "Thank you, Eira. I wish you and all your family the best of luck when you return to England." I forced a smile as she took her child from my arms before leaving.
"You should never speak of your brother behind his back." I whipped around to see my mother standing in the doorway of the hall.
I smirked and rested my shoulders, "Perhaps if he did not give me reason, I would not do it."
Lagertha walked over to me and placed her hands on the sides of my face, "I will miss you while you are away. But I know that you and Bjorn must do this. Ragnar was a great man even after all of his failings."
My lips went thin as I saw the regret-filled expression that covered my mother's demeanor, "He loved you, Mother. . ." she perked up, "he often told me."
We sat down together on the chairs and stared blankly into the fire, "His death must've hurt you far more than anyone else." She commented with pain in her eyes, "You have lost so much, but you always loved your father."
