"ѕнe waѕ тнe ғιre тнaт ĸepт тнe world вυrnιng."
She was a girl, outcast by her home in England and imprisoned for her crimes. That is until Earl Ingstad, (otherwise known as Lagertha Lothbrok) the ex wife of Ragnar Lothbrok, freed her and took her b...
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My horse made its way over the mountainside much like it had done all those years before when I had first come to Kattegat with Bjorn. Seven years ago. That's how long it had been. I was twenty three now, my hair still long and dark but my eyes were no longer cold. They were calm, collected, prepared. The wind blew my hair gently behind me as I looked down at the large town that I had missed so dearly. I moved on.
When my horse made it into Kattegat, people stopped and whispered. I saw them muttering to eachother, gesturing to me. I had sent word that I would be coming to fight beside Lagertha. However, that word was sent from Brunhilde. They were expecting a fierce nomadic warrior. They were not expecting me. I gave Siggy, my horse, to a slave to take to the stables before slowly walking towards the huge wooden doors of the once familiar great hall. I pushed the doors open, stepping inside with my hood up. The people were silenced by my entrance, no one seeing my face. My breathing became heavy as I walked forwards. "This must be Brunhilde... The wandering shieldmaiden who spoke of fighting beside you." One of Lagertha's shieldmaiden audibly whispered to her. Lagertha nodded.
"Welcome, Brunhilde. It will be an honor to have you on our side." Lagertha spoke.
With that, I lifted my eyes from the ground and looked up towards her. I pulled my black hood down and the great hall gasped in unison.
"Aneira?" Lagertha whispered as though she had seen a ghost.
"I'm here for the war."
"So in your absence you became Brunhilde the wanderer?" Tori questioned, all of my old friends now sitting around me intently listening. Lagertha had hugged me as though she would never let go when she saw me. She told me how proud she was of who I'd become in my absence. No more was I a confused little girl. I knew what I wanted. I knew who I wanted. And I knew what I was going to do.
Bjorn was sat beside me. This was the first time I'd seen him since he left Wessex. It was incredible to see him again. Ubbe and Margrethe were nowhere to be seen yet though I hoped that Ubbe could understand why I left.
"That is what they called me, yes." I smiled. "It was difficult for me to leave but sometimes you have to. I had to."
"You do seem different, I suppose you've had time to think everything through." Torvi spoke in response.
I nodded.
That night, we celebrated. Soon we would be leaving to battle Ivar's crusade. Today the Sami and myself had come to aid Lagertha's army. So, tonight we feasted. Tomorrow we would fight.
I did not notice when one of the soldiers exited The Great Hall. A soldier that in turn would spread the news to all of King Harald and Ivar's forces that Brunhilde had joined Lagertha... And Brunhilde was me.
