Ragnarssons And The Berserker's Daughters

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  The weather was cold and bleak after the boat funeral for the former Queen of Kattegat.  Lagertha saw to it that her rival at least had a lavish departure from this world and to the next.  Everyone attended the docks but Gerd, Hillevi, Ubbe, and Sigurd.  It had only been a few hours since she took over Kattegat and she had a feeling she would be facing the Ragnarssons soon alone with her students.

  Lagertha currently sat on her new throne in the Great Hall.  She made sure to replace Aslaug's banners with her own and anything else that woman left behind.  She was satisfied after it was all said and done.  Now to the matter at hand.

  She was studying the young woman who cracked the side of her head after the fall of Aslaug.  The hit would definitely leave a scar to Lagertha's annoyance.

  "You are Hillevi's younger sister are you not?  Gerd?" Lagertha finally spoke breaking the silence in the room. 

  Glaring hatefully at the shieldmaiden before her, Gerd growled until the guards that were holding her arms yanked her back.  They also made her fall on her knees. She winced at the force, but never took her eyes off Lagertha.

  "You took me by surprise...I will admit that." Lagertha spoke cooly.  "I expect no less from the daughter of a berserker who was on good terms with Ragnar.  You and your sister carry his strength."

  Gerd almost allowed her upset expression to melt at that compliment.  Lagertha was smart when it came to her wording.  Gerd knew that.  She had a feeling the woman was unsettled by her presence because she spoke in a certain kind of way.  Perhaps it was because she didn't want another episode to be produced?  Whatever it was, Gerd disliked it. 

  "However," Lagertha continued.  "I suggest you control that rage of yours.  A good berserker must learn to control their emotions.  Isn't that what Hillevi and Olin have been training you in?  If you continue to have these outbursts, I will have no choice but to do something about it.  I will not let things slide just as Aslaug has done."

  Gritting her teeth, Gerd felt insulted and hurt.  It was true that Hillevi and Olin were doing their best to teach her to control herself, but it was a very slow process.  She beat herself for not being able to harness her emotions.  She often imagined that her father took years in controlling his.  He was just as frightening as she was when emotions gave way.

  Lagertha could see the internal struggle going on within Gerd.  She wasn't afraid of this young woman, but she was very cautious.  She knew what this woman's strength could do.  The cut that was healing was only a glimpse of Gerd's true brutality.  Lagertha wasn't new to facing such a fierce spirit.  Hillevi proved that.

  Recalling the memory from some years ago, younger Hillevi stood in the training fields with some other young girls who were being trained by Lagertha.  It happened so suddenly.  Hillevi's mood switched over and before anyone new it, she had tackled one of the other girls to the ground.  Hillevi used her fists to beat the girl's pretty face into a bloody pulp.  The poor girl let out horrific screams during the whole ordeal.  The other girls around them started crying as Lagertha swiftly ran toward them.

  She managed to tug Hillevi off just as she heard a sickening crack.  The girl's nose was broken and bleeding profusely.  She was struggling to breath.  Lagertha remembered yelling out orders to the older woman who came to help as she restrained a crazed Hillevi.  She command everyone to leave the field as she attempted to calm her down.

  Eventually, Hillevi did calm down and Lagertha managed to get a response for such an out burst.  She was surprised that Hillevi wasn't afraid of herself or what she had done to the other girl.