The Valkyrie Rises

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

We had won another day. Later on that night, we buried our dead respectfully. Ivan was buried with a particular honor. A servant offered himself to go with him into Valhalla. We could not perform a proper ritual, but as long as the soul was taken it was honorable for the Goddess of the underworld. I placed two kisses on coins and placed them on Ivan’s eyes. 

Ubbe, Hvitserk, and I gathered around a fire and sat privately together. I told Ubbe everything about Baldr. Ubbe smiled in delight. Then our matters turned serious. Ubbe had explained that the reason why he did not respond to my pleas for an alliance is because he refused the idea with a joint alliance with King Alfred. It was out of the question. Ubbe has seen too much of Alfred’s descitfulness between him and his wife to know to not trust him. He has seen much more honorable Christians. 

Ubbe placed his head down, he then took my hand into his, “My mother and my love, I hope you could forgive me for leaving you in the darkness…” 

I was never angry with Ubbe and to see him in such a vulnerable state shows how regretful he is. I gave him a hug and brought him close,

“You could never make me angry.” 

“Sigrun…” A gentle voice came. I gasped, getting up. It was Torvi. She was much older. He blonde hair has turned gray and time began to vavaged her. Nonetheless, she was still beautiful. She held a child’s hand that resembled much of Ubbe when he was a young boy. 

“Torvi?” 

“I was wrong about you, you are every image that the Gods have promised us, I just hope you could ever forgive me for treating you so wrong…”

I brought Torvi to me and hugged her. I was too happy to see everyone again that any kind of grudge was gone. 

Torvi and I parted as she smiled pleasantly, “This is my son, Ragnar…” She said. I smiled. Ragnar’s legacy will live on. 

“Ragnar…” Ubbe said, looking over to me, “This is your grandmother!” He is surely the splitting image of Ubbe when he was young. The same face and the same eyes. The same cocky smile and the same hair. Nothing of Torvi. 

--

All relationships were squared away except for the relationship between Ubbe and Hvitserk. Ubbe only came because of me not because of Hvitserk. Ubbe had explained to me that he cross because Hvitserk has turned his back to the Gods. The moment I thought I had my Hvitserk back, it turns out that Hvitserk is still devoted to the Christian God this is despite King Alfred’s betrayal. 

“I’m still content…” Hvitserk said, slurping his soup. 

“You were always a stubborn fool!” Ubbe growled. “You allowed your favorite nephew to be kidnapped!” 

“For the record, Sigrun did not only want an alliance for the army and a legecy, she just wanted to be close to me!” 

“Don’t put this on her, Hvitserk!” Ubbe said. I allowed Ubbe to scold Hvitserk. I listened closely, not saying a word. I’m tired of scolding Hvitserk, let someone else do it now. I wanted to make sure that our journey to Wessex will not be in vein. I turned to Hvitserk.

“Hvitserk, is Baldr in Wessex…” 

Hvitserk placed his head down, then back up, “He is. He’s well fed, and he plays with the other children.” It lightened my heart only slightly. 

“I wasn’t allowed to see him, and I was under the impression he was with Kollungr until I discovered the truth.” 

“We need to get him out of there, Alfred keeps him alive, but makes him attend masses,” Hvitserk regretfully said.