The Heart Of The Warrior (Rollo Lothbrok x OFC)

Chapter 6

Kari had left the hall and began her slow walk back to Rollo's house, on her way she looked up to the mountains. Deep in the forest her father had a cabin, he could still be there... what would he think, seeing her now, seeing her as a slave, seeing her below the foot of some man. He would be ashamed. Tears well in Kari's eyes thinking of her father, thinking now how she could run away and go in search of him, but that would mean Lagertha could not help her train. Walking through the market Kari's eyes caught Siggy purchasing some fish at a stall. Walking over she bowed her head at the women and began to speak "I want to apologise if I have ever been a nuisance Siggy, you were once a queen, I owe you my respect, and you have it. Is there anything I can do for you?" Siggy turned to look at the short slave girl who stood beside her, the words 'once a queen' stung and the thoughts of her title being stolen from her come back to mind. What right did a slave have to speak of such matters as if they could understand? Kari had been more than a nuisance since she had came to Kattegat, Siggy could see the way Rollo looked at her, they way she looked at him, and even his angry facade couldn't hide it. Even if he was as cruel as he could be to try and prove it. Siggy knew that he lusted for the slave, and may still even lust for Lagertha. She knew she didn't deserve to be a 3rd option, a Queen could never be accustomed to such treatment.

With a sigh she glared at the fire haired slave "Yes actually. There is something I need you to do. I need you to cross the lake and head into the forest, beyond the pond you'll find flax, I need you to pick it. As much as you can. Go." Kari nodded and turned on her toes, walking towards the frozen over lake. Siggy smirked watching the small girl go.

Kari smiled as she went, happy to finally do something that would get her on Siggy's good side. The wind was cold so she pulled her hands into her sleeves and warmed her fingers as hey began to sting. Finally reaching the lake. Testing with her foot she would see if it was thick enough to walk over, things seemed fine so she began her journey, trying to see in the distance the flax Siggy had mentioned, not quiet being able to see the other side of the lake. With a misstep everything went wrong, in an instant she was falling back, landing hard on the ice, with a crack the ice beneath her body broke sending her plunging into the ice water. Kari's eyes opens wide under the water, reaching her arms for the surface, as if magic before her eyes the ice froze over the hole in the lake. Thins began to get dark and soon everything was gone.

Siggy was home, preparing dinner when Rollo stumbled in, sobering up, he sat at the table. "Did Kari not return home?" He asked, running his fingers through his hair.
"No... as a matter of fact I didn't even know she was back? She must have ran away" Siggy said cluelessly as she cooked the fish. Rollo looked confused for a moment "Helga said you spoke to her in the market? She saw you both" Siggy froze "I.. uh.. I didn't want to be the one to tell you... she confided in me... she said she was leaving. That she hated to be near you" Siggy made a quick save, Rollo nodding slowly before standing up. "I'm not hungry. I'm going to bed" he mumbled before walking past her, sliding his feet exhaustedly, he slunk himself onto the bed and fell asleep almost instantly. Siggy sighed to herself. The first night she cooks for him in a year and he pays her no attention. Still. Even with the slave girl gone...

Later that night Siggy crawled in beside Rollo and fell fast asleep, her dreams did not come to her, but moments before sunrise, her mind was taken over by the image of the frozen lake, Kari stood before her, ice frozen over her body and hair, frost on her face, blue lips, pale skin, eye's blue as the sky... a nightmare before her very eyes. Kari opened her mouth and water came flooding out, a voice whispers in her ear "Death comes for you." Before Siggy shot up from her sleep. The sunlight coming through the window warmed her skin, peaking in the room Rollo looked confused "Siggy?! Are you alright? Come out, Kari returned, she made breakfast" he said with a huge smile. Siggy only nodded slowly as he disappeared and shot up from the bed looking out into the room to see Kari perfectly healthy looking, healthier than when she had left. Turning with a smile, her new ice blue eyes frighteningly cold, Kari looked at Siggy "Siggy! You're awake. Look, I got as much as I could" she pointed to the corner of the room to see plentiful piles of flax, much more than she was capable of carrying... Siggy shook her head for a moment and closed her eyes. Was this a dream... how could she be here right now...