The Cripple and The Shieldmaiden III

// 5 //

Torhild rocked the chair fort and back, looking down to her daughter curled up against her chest, sucking her own bottom lip as she restless looked for her sleep. Raynor laid asleep in the chair beside her, covered under a furry blanket against the cold. She slowly looked up from Ase into the fire, trying to keep her tired mind to work on the task that laid at hand. She had to go back to Kattegat, the weather calmed down, Floki and some men were preparing the ship in the best way possible. It was over two weeks since Ivar left, two weeks she felt hollow, two weeks she felt alone. Raynor was quiet without his father, Ase was a handful. She wasn't in any way like her brother, she had temper, she was more awake then she slept. Torhild could have guessed it, given the pregnancy wasn't that calm either. She shortly closed her eyes before looking in the fire again. The flames danced around, pulling her deeper into her sleep until the vision came again. She stepped into the great hall, a queen sitting on her throne while everybody else was kneeling. When she looked aside Ivar was there to, sitting aside the queen, his hair braided over his head, that mischievous smile all over his face while he lifted his cup to that new queen. He didn't noticed Torhild, he just was so consumed by that new queen.
'You choose well my king.' She said and Torhild startled up. Ase cried and Raynor woke up.
'Mother?' He asked, seeing the concern on her face. Torhild turned her head to Raynor and gave him an reassuring smile.
'It's fine.' She whispered, rocking Ase back to sleep as her eyes automatically went back to the fire. What did this meant?

'Aren't we supposed to harbor in Kattegat?' Raynor asked with trilling teeth. Torhild wrapped her cloak closer over her body, shielding Ase from the wind as she investigated the surroundings.
'If Kattegat is already taken we can't be seen there.' She explained him. One of the girls helped Raynor on the horse before Torhild got up.
'Where are we going then?' Raynor asked.
'I need to bring you and Ase in safety first, we are going to the hunting cabin.' She explained, looking over her shoulder to the two Vikings that escorted her. 'Go to the nearby village, ask a little around but don't be too obvious, if Kattegat is fallen it's only a matter of time before other villages do to.' She commanded. The man nodded, starting walking into the direction he first came from. Torhild looked down to little Ase wrapped against her chest before looking aside to Raynor who had his blue eyes determined on the surroundings, walking over the land she vaguely remember. Before Torhild became a shield maiden she traveled a lot around, she knew the country, the men, their loyalty. A lot of loyalty went out to Kattegat, if it was taking the other villages automatically would bow down for whoever took Kattegat over. The only safe place she could think of was the hunting cabin, a couple hours away from Kattegat, close but still far enough to keep at least Raynor and Ase safe.

'You sure this is safe?' The Iceland Viking asked. Torhild looked over to the hunting cabin from out of the woods, looking down to Raynor who sat down against a tree. She was exhausting him and it pained her for pushing so through. But he never complained.
'One way to find out.' She whispered, nodding to him as he walked out of the forest towards the hunting cabin.
'Where is father?' Raynor asked in doubt, pushing himself up to stand with his mother. Torhild wrapped her hand around him and pressed a kiss against his hair.
'I don't know Raynor, he will be fine.' She whispered. He looked over his shoulder up to her, his blue eyes bright and in doubt. 'Your father is Ivar The Boneless my son, for that you are the most treasured boy on the world, don't be afraid, he fights for you, for Ase.'
'For you mother.' He smiled softly. Torhild nodded slowly, looking back up to the Viking that investigated the hunting cabin. The vision kept hunting her.
'I will look for him, but you have to stay with your sister. Do you understand that Raynor, she needs you.' Torhild followed, looking back down to her son. Raynor turned a little, looking down to the bundle supported by Torhild her arm.
'I will take care for her.' He nodded. Torhild forced a smile on her lips and looked back to the Viking. He had disappeared inside and when he came out he gestured to the woods it was safe. Torhild let out a relieved breath and walked out of the forest, over to the hunting cabin.
'There is a woman here.' He announced, drawn axe while standing in the doorway. The servant girl took Raynor at her side before she carefully took Ase. Torhild gestured Raynor to stay put.
'Let her come outside.' Torhild commanded. It took a while but then an old lady came outside and Torhild felt her breath release out of her lungs. 'Marion.' She whispered.
'Torhild?' Marion asked. Torhild nodded to the Viking before Marion got released and she walked over to Torhild. She wrapped her arms around Torhild and Torhild closed her eyes, feeling the tears burn. She never saw Marion in her departing to Iceland. She had left her here knowing the woman only wanted to serve Torhild. But Torhild didn't do her justice, in the time they had been locked up in England the loyalty was always there. Marion had served her, followed there.
'It is so good to see you after all that time.' The old lady whispered, pulling back before cupping Torhild her face. 'You look so good, time didn't change you.' She softly admired. Torhild laid her hand over that of Marion and turned around, looking over to Raynor. 'Little Raynor.' The woman breathed. Raynor smiled, looking up to his sister in the arms of the girl. Torhild asked her to come closer and took Ase over from the girl.
'This is Ase, my daughter.' She introduced her daughter to Marion. The woman her eyes widened as she slowly caressed Ase her cheek. But then her eyes grew more concerned.
'What are you doing here with two children, this is dangerous Torhild. Come inside.' She urged, wrapping her arm a little over Raynor his shoulders and leading him inside. Torhild welcomed the warmth, given she was already traveling so long this was a welcome sight. 'This wasn't a wise decision. You must be having cold.' She said against Raynor, leading him to the fire place. Marion took over little Ase so Torhild could make it herself comfortable.
'What is going on?'
'Where is my father?' Raynor asked curious.
'He is fine.' Marion smiled, giving Torhild a short look. She foresaw Raynor and the others from some food before she took Torhild a little further into the cabin.
'Does Ivar know you are here?' Torhild asked. Marion shook her head, looking outside the window.
'Margrethe is the only one coming here, pretending she is my daughter taking care of her mother. They investigated it here but believed her so I'm safe here. I don't trust Ivar.'
'Why not?'
'Because for the past weeks he does nothing more then being at her side, he does things, Torhild, I urge you to wait.' Marion said on a soft tone.
'On what do I have to wait Marion? I can't stay here, I need to get Kattegat back.' She whispered conflicted. Marion was a good judge of character but it couldn't be that Ivar so easily forgot about her, that wasn't him.
'Kattegat is a stronghold of her men, she is powerful, I wouldn't advise you to stay back if I didn't think it was serious.' Marion whispered. Torhild stroke her cold fingers over her forehead and Marion leaded her to a seat. 'You look tired.' She observed in concern. Torhild looked down to her hands, shaking her head slowly.
'Ase isn't that easy, I do wrong by my children, bringing them here in all of that.' She pointed to the direction Kattegat laid. Marion folded her hands carefully around those of Torhild, looking her reassuring in the eyes.
'You fight for their future, there is nothing wrong with that. Rest, there is word going out, it's only a matter of time before your army will come.' She smiled encouraging. Torhild looked in those grey soft eyes before looking to Raynor who laid curled up, staring to the fire.
'What is left?' She stated.
'Björn has left over the Mediterranean again, there is still King Harald and Halfdan.'
'And King Harald wants nothing more then a queen to rule Norway with, I shouldn't count on his help.' Torhild muttered, thinking about both the brothers she barely trusted.
'You rest first, the rest comes later. I will take care of Ase.' She offered. Torhild laid her hand on Marion her arm and gave a weak squeeze. She didn't thought seeing Marion back would do so much. That woman her wisdom was the beginning of a stronger day tomorrow.

Her scout came back, not so emptyhanded as she thought. He spoke of a village, taken over by a large group leaded by a ruthless blond haired man, tattoos covered over his face as he had slaughtered everybody who dared on leaving the village. Torhild knew one man stating that ruthlessness and it was Halfdan, but what was he doing here? With a horse and covered under a cloak she left the hunting cabin to ride north to the village. It was pouring rain by the time she arrived and it felt utterly weird to be back in her shield maiden clothes after wearing dresses for over eight month. Her Icelandic friend showed her the way to a large shed, what seemed to be some kind of a gathering place. Torhild stayed in the dark, looking to the person standing in the middle, encouraging a fight between two drunks. She hoped to never see him again, but here she was. The one fighter killed the other and everybody yelled.
'Who is next?' Halfdan asked. Torhild stepped forward, pushing of the cloak over her head.
'I am.' She announced. Halfdan turned around and a smiled widened over his lips.
'Torhild,' he greeted her with a fast look over her body. 'Daughter of King Ecbert of England,' everybody shouted in negativity. 'and Queen Lagertha of Kattegat.' He chuckled on the balder of his man. 'We were waiting for you.' He said with a respectful nod. Torhild squeezed her eyes together, giving him a puzzling look.
'How did you knew I was coming?' She asked. Halfdan smiled, looking down in his cup before offering her a full one. She ignored it and his smile grew bigger. He pointed up to the sky.
'Let's say the gods gave me a sign.' He answered.
'Where is your brother?' Torhild asked with a look around in the shed. Halfdan gestured her to follow and she did. They walked over to some kind of a stable and Torhild thought for a second that she would find Harald there but there was nobody.
'He noticed a queen in need of power and an claim.' Halfdan announced, sitting down on a wooden table as he crossed his arms on his upper leg, looking at her from underneath his blond hair.
'The queen that took Kattegat?'
'Why do you think it went all so easily?' Halfdan shrugged. So Harald was the reason she came to Kattegat? 'Björn isn't here, you weren't here, Lagertha is getting older and weaker. That queen conquered already so much so why wouldn't he. His dream still is to become King of all Norway, now he has a queen to back him up.'
'And to marry.' Torhild guessed. Would Ivar know this? Would he know that Harald was behind all of this to? That the reason Kattegat was taken on this exact time was because of Harald? 'What are you doing here then?' She asked, looking back to Halfdan who only chuckled.
'He is gonna get killed, besides, it is not my ambition to wait orders, all you and Björn did for me is giving me lands to travel to. My brother is an idiot, he knows her reputation and he thinks he can change her mind.' He explained. Torhild believed him, he stoke honestly, his acts had always been honestly. She nodded leaning against the shed wall as she started thinking about it. 'I took four villages back here without her knowing it. Our armies are thin, Harald has a part of his man at her side, Björn has men with him to. Kattegat is all imprisoned, how do you suggest we get Kattegat back?' He asked curious. Torhild slowly looked over to him and shook her head, trying to think like Ivar would think. But it was hard, knowing Harald was behind this and Ivar probably was way in over his head anyway.
'Ubbe his wife can bring information out, we don't show in force, we show nothing until it is to late for them to see. If you have been here for a time already and nobody noticed they don't know you are here. If I go in there, show weakness by taking Raynor she won't expect an attack. In the meantime you kill everybody, silent and in the dark.' She suggested. Halfdan drank his cup empty before nodding and deviously smiled. He walked over to her and stood still beside her.
'Don't get the kid in trouble Torhild.' He agreed with the plan. Torhild looked up into his dark eyes.
'Don't fail in being unnoticed.' She warned him back. He nodded and walked out. Torhild gazed into the shed before leaving that village again, returning back to both her son and daughter.

Her stomach felt heavy as she crouched down before Raynor. It was getting dark outside as she stood before the hunting cabin aside a horse. A week ago Margrethe came to give the details that a group of the new queen her warriors would travel to her home country. Today was that day and it would be rather vulnerable now more than other times.
'We will go look for Ivar, but you have to understand you will see things. You won't say a word, you won't run towards him, you stay close, alright?' She asked him concerned. His blue eyes looked at her before he slowly nodded and Torhild kisses his forehead before helping him on the horse. It wasn't the first time she asked him something, but she felt always guilty for doing so. She pulled herself in the saddle behind him and looked down to Marion with Ase in her arms. 'I will come and get her personal, do not give her to Ivar if he comes, just keep her safe.' She instructed Marion. The woman nodded, tensing her grip around little Ase. Torhild signed and looked to Halfdan. 'Kill them all.'
'Keep her talking.' Halfdan nodded on her words. Torhild nodded to, kicking her legs in the animal as she and the two Icelandic warriors followed her.
'Is father gonna be okay?' Raynor asked quietly. Torhild wrapped her arm around him and looked to the road before them.
'When he sees you, yes he will.' She answered him. Raynor felt nervous as they drove closer to Kattegat. And when the village came closes she could see the changes as black shields hang over the defenses, as warriors demanded her to come down from her horse. Kattegat was a trading place, there were hardly any new marks into the mud. Raynor squeezed her hand tightly, generally afraid of the silence hanging around the street as they escorted her towards the great hall. Torhild looked down to him when she waited before, giving him a encouraging smile.
'You can go.' One said, pushing Torhild against her shoulder inside the great hall. Her one hand rested on her axe as her other entangled with Raynor his sweaty nervous hand. Two rows of female warriors where they both walked in between. Torhild lifted her chin, looking to the blond woman sitting in the throne Lagertha always used to sit. And then her eyes drifted to Ivar, sitting so close beside her, leaning on the edge, his dark eyes resting on little Raynor. Raynor looked away from his father and Torhild looked back to the queen before Ivar could look at her.
'Torhild, welcome in Kattegat.' The queen started, not even standing up. She wear a heavy crown, a black dress pushing her pale skin forward as a slick smile came on her lips. 'I'm Reyna, your queen.' She introduced herself. And then her eyes fell on little Raynor and she finally stood up. 'And who do we have here?' She asked, speaking like she was talking to a baby. Torhild pulled Raynor a little back and the queen smiled, crouching down so she could eye level herself with him. Torhild looked over to Ivar who sat there, all tensed, fists bald as he looked so intensely to his new queen.
'I'm Raynor and you have something that belongs to my mother.' Raynor answered. Torhild closed her eyes. Asking Raynor to do something was like asking it to Ivar, none of them listened. The queen laughed, a high laugh as she stood up again and looked over to Torhild, her eyes looking down over Torhild her body.
'And I'm asking myself what that is, a throne or,' she turned around and looked over to Ivar, giving him a amused grin before walking back to that throne. 'So Torhild, what is that you want back so badly? This man or your throne?' She asked, her fingers tapping on the extend of her armrest.
'I don't think I'm in the position to ask for either one of them.' Torhild gave in. Looking over to all her warriors, she was trapped and she couldn't risk Raynor to get in the middle of it.
'You were right,' Reyna started, looking aside to Ivar, closing in on him. 'she is smart and beautiful. I see why you loved her all that time.' She smiled sweeten. The corner of Ivar his lips trailed up, looking over to Torhild.
'Then you can also see why I grew bored of her.' He replied, still looking. It broke her heart, hearing him say that. The queen looked back to her but Torhild couldn't turn away her eyes from Ivar, the hard sarcastic look that changed into a warmer kind of anger, the look everybody knew from Ivar The Boneless, the look of vengeance. Raynor slowly smiled and Torhild looked back to the queen, lifting her chin a little, pretending she was a girl beaten down by ranking.