The Valkyrie Rises

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

The forrest had finally calmed the rage of fire and a heavy smoke took place of it’s precents. The light blue, early morning sky was masked with the grey smoke. It was eerily quiet- indicating the amount of death from each side. The smell of rotting filled the air and intertwined with the smoke. There was no fresh air to be had. From above, vultures soared high looking for their breakfast. 

I glanced around to the soldiers that were mangled and slaughtered. None of them mattered. I just want to assure myself of Hvitserk and Ubbe’s safety. My gaze search through the smoke filled air. I turned to my left and gasp at the most terrorizing sight to be had. More terrorizing then the behead soilders. 

Hvitserk is gravely wounded. 

I rushed over and got to my knees. A sword was gravely plunged into Hvitserk’s heart. He clung onto life as the color of his face indicated his fading light. I tried to pull the sword, but he grunted greatly in pain.

“No, no, no, no!” Hvitserk softly pleaded. The pain was to severe from, and if I were to pull it, he would instantly die without a fight. 

“I’m sorry!” I sniffled. My eyes filled with tears as I tried to process everything right now. Not another one. Odin, not another one. Hvitserk’s eyes were fading, his color was grey, and his lips were turning white. Hvitserk tried to adjust himself on the ground, I leaned in, hovering my body over his to keep him warm. I slicked his hair back, comforting him instantly. 

He looked at me, “Let me spend some time with you,” he whispered, his voice was horse, and nearly nonexistent. I nodded, anything he wants right now. Anything. He has all of my attention.

“I’m sorry for any hardship and grief that I might have caused you.” He grunted through the pain. 

“I know I was a difficult child.”

“You were so beautiful,” I whispered, “I forgive you, I forgive you.” I leaned in placing a kiss on his cold lips. 

Ubbe came from behind me, his face was overwhelmed with grief, his eyes wilted up with tears. He bent down, placing his arm around my shoulder. Hvitserk reached his shaking hand out, wanting to take Ubbe’s hand. Ubbe gripped his hand and pulled it to his lips. 

“I love you…” Hvitserk weakly said, “I always have.” Ubbe nodded, his lips trembled as he sighed, letting a whimper out. He glanced over at me, a look of concerned flashed upon his face then he turned back to Ubbe.

“Take care of her. Take care of her.” Hvitserk pleaded.

“I will. I will,” Ubbe whimpered.

Hvitserk raised his hand to my face and softly caressed it. It was still warm. His thumb ran across my lips as my salted tears fell upon them. He wiped them as they fell. His arm slowly fell to his lap, he looked up to the sky, and smiled. His body began to tremble. His eyes lighted up with glee, “Odin?” 

His body stopped trembling and the light in his eyes faded into darkness. I forgot myself and began to cry hysterically over his lifeless body. I laid my head upon his chest and continued to cry. I’m not a Queen right now, I’m a mother who just lost her child. I’m not a mother either, I just lost the love of my life. My beloved Hvitserk. Ubbe laid his head on my shoulder, I forgot him for a moment, and I knew he needed comforting as well.

I got up and grasped him in my embrace. Ubbe buried his head in my shoulders and cried. His cries brought on even more pain for me. He gripped me tighter to him. I’ve never heard Ubbe cry before, I stopped myself, and allowed him to cry for he just lost another one of his brothers. Ubbe is now the only living son of Ragnar Lothbrok. And that brought on even more pain for me- I have failed Ragnar over and over.