The Valkyrie Rises

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Thor has seemed to curse our voyage as a large storm has stopped us completely in our tracks and forced us to seek shelter. Ubbe, Hvitserk, Torvi, and I have taken shelter inland while Igor and Katia have taken the shore line to keep guard of the boats. It was hard to keep dry from the down pouring rain. Ubbe and Hvitserk did their best to cover the tents twice over so that no rain would seep through. There wasn’t much to do or to be done except to wait out the down pour. 

Torvi came over to me and sat right beside me. She had a gleam in her eye of excitement. 

“Sigrun-” her angelic voice came, “May I do your war paint?”

I looked at her curiously, containing my excitement. It would a big honor to have a shield-maiden do another shield-maiden’s make up. 

“You never wear war paint and I know it would be brilliant on you!” I nodded in excitement. It was a little bonding time with someone other than Ubbe and Hvitserk. 

Across the tent, Ubbe and Hvitserk lean against the table and smile humbly at me. Their expressions said it all: They were happy to see me happy. Hvitserk placed an apple in his mouth and chewed on it while keeping his smile. Hvitserk is happy for two reasons: One is me and the other he has something to eat. 

“There has been something that has been troubling me…” Ubbe said. Hviterk took another bite of his apple. His eyes were fixated on me; lustfully starring at me. 

“Hm?” Hvitserk muttered.

“Why haven’t you married Sigrun yet?” 

Hvitserk stopped chewing and swallowed as he sighed putting his head down. “I don’t want to have this conversation.” 

“Well you’re about to have it with me, wha is the cause? Is it Baldr?” Ubbe asked.

“Heavens no, I love him. More than you ever know.” 

Ubbe sighed, turning back to Torvi and I. “She’ll make a wonderful wife and a damn good mother to your sons as you know.” 

“Without a doubt-” Hvitserk said, Ubbe raised his eyebrow, “I have been conditioned, unfortunately, to think life with Sigrun would be impossible.” 

Ubbe’s eyes grow hard, “You’re lying to me.” 

Hvitserk sighed heavily, “If I married her, Ubbe, I’m defiling God.” Ubbe took his hand across Hvitserk’s face. The sound caught the attention of Torvi and I. Ubbe gestured for us to continue what we were doing. Hvitserk slowly turned his head back to Ubbe, anger burned in his eyes, but he maintained himself.

“Do not talk to me about God. You have disrespected greater than what Sigrun could,” Ubbe growled. 

“I love her, Ubbe!” Hvitserk growled back, lowly. “More than God!” 

“Then marry her before it’s too late!” 

Hvitserk began to get heated and angry towards Ubbe. He stormed out of the tent. Ubbe did not make a scene as he calmly went after Hvitserk. Hvitserk stood in the pouring rain allowing the cool droplets to ease his anger. Ubbe went in front of him,

“You cannot avoid this subject.” 

“I cannot just marry, Sigrun, it is not that simple for me,” Hvitserk spoke through the rain.

“What is so complicated?” Ubbe said impatiently. 

“I’m the complicated one, not her.” 

“Do you love her?” Ubbe asked.