Shield maiden ~ Vikings

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"Gone?"

"Gone."

"Gone?"

"She is gone, Ivar."

Ivar slammed his closed fist against the table. Ubbe stared at him with cold eyes. Inside his chest, his heart was beating like mad. "HOW CAN SHE BE GONE?" Roared Boneless at the top of his lungs. He was filled with a maddening rage and an insatiable blood lust. Truth be told, Ivar wanted to feel Björn's warm blood on his hands for ever doubting Aila's loyalty to them. Blood or not, she was family, and he loved her more than any of his brothers. "She can't be gone." Ivar growled.

Ubbe gulped. "Ivar, I am telling you," He said. "she is gone. King Harald's man guarding her tent was dead, and no one has seen her since we took this castle-"

"She can't just be gone!" Ivar raised his voice.

"Well, she is!" Shouted Björn, earning a scowl from his youngest brother. Ironside stood with his arms crossed and a stern look in his bright eyes.

"You did this." Ivar hissed, venom dripping from his voice. "You did this by accusing her of treason!"

"We cannot look past the evidence-"

"What evidence?" Snapped Boneless. "Some bastard who happens to look a lot like her shows up and kills our men. Need I remind you that he tried to kill her, as well? Whoever these men are, they are not with her." Boneless shook his head. "And how could she conspire against us in the first place? She has been with us for years, she has been with us since before she could wield a sword."

"You are blinded by your feelings, Ivar." Said Ironside and looked down.

"AND YOU ARE BLINDED BY YOUR PARANOIA!" Ivar shouted then shook his head. "I do not believe it." He refused to believe that Björn's accusations were true. "There is no way she could betray us." Boneless shook his head. "There isn't." He said. There isn't . . .