Shield maiden ~ Vikings

»39«

Björn woke from his rest with a sharp gasp, shooting up with a hand pressed to his chest.

"What is it?" Erik asked.

Breathing heavily, Björn gazed out onto the distance. "We have to get to Kattegat." He said roughly. The roar of thunder broke the silence, and Björn lied down with a grunt, feeling as though his chest would burst. "I have to get to Kattegat . . ."

*

Kattegat

Tears ran down Torvi's cheeks. "Lagertha." She whimpered, sobbing and cupping the dead shield maiden's cold cheeks.

"Who killed her?"

"No one knows, Lord Ubbe."

"What was she doing here? On her own with nobody?" Torvi demanded.

The servant Ingrid sighed. "Poor Lagertha." She shook her head.

Torvi sniffled. "Where's Gunnhild? My children! Were her dreams true?"

"You don't know." Ubbe said softly.

"No, no! I have to go. I have to find out." Torvi stormed out, crying.

"Go and help her." Ubbe told the servant. He then turned to the men. "Where is my brother, hmm? Where is Hvitserk? Go and find him."

"Yes, my Lord Ubbe."

"I need him." Ubbe muttered.

The doors to the Great Hall closed, leaving Ubbe with Lagertha, dead.

"You killed my mother." He sighed. "But I can still weep for Lagertha the shield maiden."

*

Kiev

Aila gasped softly as she woke, rubbing her eyes with a sigh.

At the sound of her baby's coos, Bloodeye sat up in the bed with a soft grunt, finding Ivar sitting on the floor with their son in his arms.

He quickly noticed that she was awake. "Are you all right?" Boneless asked. The past few weeks since little Red Ragnar's birth had been hard on Aila. She had spent nearly all her time in bed, weak and asleep.

Aila nodded. "Mhm." She hummed quietly, lying.

At the sight of her, Ivar frowned. "No." He knew. "What is wrong?"

She was in pain, but it felt wrong. "I think I had a bad dream, is all." Aila said softly, trying to figure out what that ache all over was.

Ivar looked down at little Ragnar when he cooed softly.

Aila sighed in annoyance. "I need to move. I'm losing my mind in this room." She pulled the covers off and sat at the edge of the bed, taking a moment to stretch her legs, roll her shoulders, straighten her back, anything that would make moving slightly more comfortable.

"Are you strong enough to walk?" Ivar asked. He looked down. "I feared you'd die during the birth."

Aila narrowed her eyes, closing her eyes. "I've had worse."