[ act iii - the healed heart ] CHAPTER THIRTY ( and so it begins )
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THE WIND RUSTLED THE BANNERS OF THE OPPOSING SIDES asAlthea stood, her hands clasped in front of her as she breathed in deeply. Her head cocked to the side as she watched Ivar and his people approach. Ivar smirked when he saw her. He noticed her long thick white hair was braided and pulled back from her face. It feel just above the small of her back, when down it fell below her bottom.
Knowing it was him who brought her here even if she gave up on her word to him. She came, and it did not matter that she was on what he thought was the losing side. His eyes then landed on Lagertha before he came to a stop in the middle of the giant rectangle. Chairs were placed out so they could negotiate.
But Althea knew there was no negotiating such a thing. Ubbe stood on her left side before he then sat down in a chair near her. Torsten and Eskel had stayed behind preparing things for battle. A crow cawed in the distance before a voice broke the silence.
"We all know today we have so many shield-maidens and warriors-at-arms that we must decide whether we fight or we reach an accommodation allowing us to go live our lives with integrity and honor." said Bjorn.
"I call upon my brothers, Ivar. Hvitserk. Let's put aside our differences, for the sake of our father. A civil war can only bring tragedy, weaken our family, and set in train a lifetime of revenge obligations for those who manage to survive. Is that really what you all want?" Bjorn finished.
"I want to speak up and support Bjorn, and his call for a peaceful resolution." Ubbe spoke up from where he sat, Althea placed her hand on Ubbe's chair. "It is true I set my face against my brother. But if you can forgive me, Ivar, let us make an accord."
"We are going to war for the Kingdom of Kattegat. The Kingdom of Kattegat was carved out by my husband, Ragnar Lothbrok, and then by me. I am its rightful Queen." Lagertha spoke as she stood from the chair she sat in. A crow cawing in the distance.
"What we should be discussing is how we combine our great armies and direct them out towards new lands, new conquests, new opportunities. What a..." She trailed off as she walked to the side before continuing. "Terrible pity to kill our young men for a piece of land which is already ours."
"Astrid!" Lagertha spoke as she looked at Astrid, King Harald's wife. "I am happy to see you again. Whatever has happened, I don't want to fight you."
"Astrid." Lagertha spoke once she did not reply.
"I am married now. I am King Harald's wife." Astrid finally spoke looking from King Harald and then back to Lagertha.
Lagertha looked from Harald back to Astrid. "Queen Astrid, I suppose!" Lagertha said as she walked back to stand in front of the chair she was sitting in.
