Fighting Gods

Humiliated Savior

They were back by midnight. Bjorn and Ivar covered in blood, the rest only had the crusty rest of the fight on them. But they were thirsty and alive, so alive. The feast was large and passionate, alcohol a flood. You didn't know there was this much in the boats. After two or three cups you were finally feeling brave enough to congratulate the sons, seeing they were the ones to thanks for this battle, disappointed in yourself or not.

Sigurd was the first you passed in front of. When you touched his arm he frowned, you felt wrong for it. But the moment you told him how you were glad that they had won the battle, he smiled wide. "Thank you, you are?"

"[Y/N]" you half expected him to add the classic: "daughter of Fore?" but he restrained, or he didn't know.

He clapped your arm with the palm of his hand before going back to wherever he was already going.

Bjorn was the second one, he was busy holding a woman by the hip, both very close, almost fucking right there. He only raised his glass in content when you told him.

You then looked around to find Ivar drunkenly laughing with Floki the boatbuilder. He was the one that you feared the most out of all of them. The story of him almost killing his brother in the metal shop had you worried. Floki also was intimidating, he was unpredictable, that you knew, admire him as you did or not. Fortunately, they did not say much, only a brief thank you and a raised cup.

The real one you wanted to congratulate was better hidden, you had to wander into the crowd for a while, almost quitting your task, feeling it stupid and futile now. Why even do that, not like you would be the only one. They didn't need your words to feel better.

Ubbe and Hvitserk both were talking and laughing, pretty intoxicated. You downed your cup to get the courage needed to face them. Standing in front they stopped talking and you were unable to look into their eyes.

"I wanted to congratulate you on your victory."

You raised your eye just enough to see Hvitserk smiling. You took a breath before addressing him.

"You have impressed me in the battlefield, I had never seen this good of a fighter."

You had never seen men fighting in real life point blank but that they didn't need to know.

"Always nice to hear that." Ubbe said.

But it was Hvitserk you were looking at and he smiled knowingly.

"Well..." you were about to turn, but Hvitserk said:

"Was it your first battle?"

"It would've been, but I don't really consider my participation in it, I didn't touch any man."

Both laughed.

"There's still time."

"I sure hope so." You batted your eyes at him. Instantly feeling ashamed of it. "I'll leave you to continue your conversation, I'm sorry for interrupting."

"My name is Ubbe by the way."

"I know who you are son of Ragnar. And you too Hvitserk."

"I'm saying it so you tell us your own name."

"Oh... [Y/N]."

"I'll remember it." Hvitserk said before you went.

Not "I'll try", he said he will remember. With butterflies in your tummy you went back to your friends.

--

The army was led the next day to Repton to defeat king Ecbert's army. Little was said to the warriors, only divided into 2 groups. One to run them into exhaustion and another to ambush them on their way to the boats. You were in that first group.

The run was painful but satisfying, seeing Ivar's plan work out better than anyone would've guessed.

"...You bloody mad genius!"

Seeing Floki hug at Ivar with huge smiles plastered on their face was a sight to behold for anyone.

Running back to the place of the ambush, the battle was already over, Athelwulf having deserted the place. You looked down at your clean sword. Happy that the plan was successful: yes. Disappointed that you didn't have the chance to touch anyone: YES!

Now to king Ecbert himself.

None of the warriors were in on the faith of the king. Whispers of hope that he would be blood eagled just as was Aelle, whispers you were participating in, where quickly shot down once the brothers came out of the castle to announce his death. None of them were covered in blood like last time.

"Now lets feast!" declared Bjorn.

He opened the door and the army swarmed in, impatient to put their hands on treasures of the land. You followed the crowd happily, until you spotted a small room that no one seemed to go in. You entered to discover a small cabinet fill to the brim with furs. You caressed it, the smooth feel welcomed for your calloused hands. You loved your sword but missed your soft bed. The sound of the army subsiding slowly, letting you in an almost silent with the comforting pelts. You grabbed one, having a few falling down in the process.

It was a greyish color and very dense. It was probably once worn by a wolf, the long hair warm even in this short of a time you had it on you.

"He did not deserve it!" the voice was far, but you still heard it. Then the sound of a metal object falling.

"He's the leader."

You slowly made way to the voices, curious to find who they belonged to.

"He's not my leader!" You recognized Ivar and should've gone away but you needed to see it, it sounded angry.

"You think you are?"

"I could be."

You weren't sure which of the brothers were talking but it sounded like more than one, maybe they were all in the same room. You turned the corner and then took a step back once you saw them. You saw Ubbe, Ivar and Sigurd.

"You think you could, boneless?" Sigurd put a lot of emphasis on the last word.

"Oh, Sigurd, just because you let Bjorn take you like his bitch doesn't mean that I do, I'm not a coward like you."

You jumped a little with the loud sound that unsuited. You hoped they hadn't jump at each other's throat but by what you could make out of it, it seemed the most likely scenario.

"ENOUGH!" the scream of Ubbe was muffled by the wall that separated you two, but it was still loud and impressive. You felt called out by it, even knowing it had nothing to do with you.

"Yes, that's it run to your lover!"

You heard steps coming closer and you tried to find an excuse to explain your intrusion before they could ask but the steps stopped. Sigurd was standing right there, but his back was turned, he hadn't seen you yet.

"At least I can run!" he said it with a smile.

Before anything else could happen, you spotted the shadow of something coming closer and you remember that fight the blacksmith had told you about. Still, after it was done, you didn't know why you pushed him, but you did. In your head an axe was flowing his way and you couldn't let a son of Ragnar die under your watch.

Sigurd fell on his butt and you were hit on the rib with a metal plate.

You groaned in pain but then in embarrassment.

You just saved the son of Ragnar from a metal plate. What a brave warrior...

They were all looking in your direction without a word.

"I thought it was an axe..." you finally said.

You then spotted Hvitserk in the corner of the room. He was the only one smiling at you. "Thank you [Y/N] from saving Sigurd from this deathly weapon."

You turned your head to Sigurd and helped him up. "I'm so sorry..."

You lowered your head and fled from the scene, completely humiliated. Ignoring whatever they were saying at your back.