We are all blind

Reunion

The two brothers from Köpingsvik were a week early. Not that their sisters were complaining.

Sidsel felt a couple of strong arms lifting her up off of the ground and swinging her around like she didn't weigh more than a stick. "Royd!" She giggled in glee. Royd was the oldest of the four siblings, turning twenty-four come the winter. He was also the tallest and was built sturdy as a rock. Nothing seemed to ever be able to stop him from falling over. 

He put Sidsel down and was about to lift up Asta as well but she threatened to kick him somewhere he really didn't want to get kicked if he tried to lift her, so he was satisfied with a hug. 

The twenty-two-year-old Halvor also embraced his sisters in a bear hug each. He wasn't as tall as Royd, but still almost a head taller than Asta. He too had broad shoulders and muscles that spoke of years of training and fighting.  Royd had the same brown locks as Asta while Halvor and the youngest sister shared hair colors. All except Sidsel had light blue eyes. 

"I have great news! You finally have a niece!", Royd declared proudly. "Her name is Toril". 

"Took you long enough", Asta laughed. Royd was already a father of four boys. Sidsel knew how happy his wife must be to finally have a girl to raise. "She's going to be so spoiled", Sidsel said knowingly. "I'm so happy for you and Idunn", she added. "Me too", Asta chimed in.

"When do I get to have nieces and nephews to spoil then?" Royd asked all his siblings. None of them wanting to have children of their own. Halvor had the same reasons Asta did. He didn't want to have just one woman to settle down with. He loved to charm women to share his bed for just a night just as Asta loved to charm men to her bed. 

"Never", all three of his siblings answered in unison. Royd pretended to be hurt by their word.

"So no wedding in sight for either of you?" 

"Brother - I can't see anything, I thought you knew", Sidsel smirked, effectively shutting her brother up from investigating further how the sisters' were doing as far as the Ragnarssons. 

"Is Björn in Kattegat?" Halvor asked to also help the sisters stray away from the subject of the marriage arrangement. 

Asta had seen Björn get a horse from the stables and ride away just as the sisters were about to go on a ride of their own. 

"Yes, but I think he's out hunting, I saw him leave earlier this morning", Asta said. 

"And the other Ragnarssons went to a hunting lodge yesterday afternoon, but Aslaug should be in the great hall waiting for you", Sidsel added. 

After spending lunch catching up with her siblings, Sidsel now sat and listened at the banter back and forth between her siblings, in the middle of the sounds of a sword or an axe meeting a sword or a shield. She missed Ivar a little. He would keep her entertained by explaining who was winning, what they were doing wrong and telling her how much better he was. Then she would scoff and tell him that she doesn't believe it until she sees it with her own eyes. 

"Hello Sidsel", Björn's voice woke her up from her thoughts. She looked in his direction and felt his presence by her side. 

"Hello, Björn. Royd, and Halvor are eager to meet with you", she greeted him and smiled. "I can tell by the way they're ignoring me", he said in a mock hurt tone that made her chuckle. 

"Asta is keeping them on their toes, isn't she?" Sidsel asked. "Yes, she has improved greatly over the years, I'm happy that she will be joining us". Sidsel frowned a bit. 

"Aslaug..." She started. 

"Sidsel, Aslaug has nothing to do with who I'm bringing or not", Björn assured her. "If you ask me I don't blame Asta for not wanting to marry one of my brothers".

Sidsel started to laugh. 

Eventually, the training session was over and as soon as Royd and Halvor saw Björn they disappeared with him to try and figure out a plan in more detail. 

"Well, now we won't see them for another year. Sometimes I think they're in love with Björn Ironside", Asta muttered as she put down her shield and axe and sat down with her sister. 

"I'm gonna miss you when you go", Sidsel whispered. "Ivar will take care of you, and if he won't, I'll kill him when I get back - sound good?" Sidsel chuckled at her empty threats. 

"Something tells me he's not that easy to kill".