It had been written that the daughter of Ragnar Lothbrok was taken to Valhalla as a young girl.
But what if the gods didn't take her? What if the gods spared her?
Gyda Ironside, the only daughter of Ragnar and Lagertha rejoins her family as a train...
I'm out of my tent at the words and so are many others as they step into the early morning sunshine to see the arrival of a lone rider.
The barricades are parted and the leaders walk to meet him in the middle, my father the fastest of them all as he nearly runs to the riders steed.
One of our warriors takes the reigns and holds them still as the rider steps off, his black robes hitting the soft mud with a thud.
At this stage all crowd around staring at this man. I know this as I was stuck behind this crowd. There is nothing but silence as I make my way towards the front. I am able to hear the rider speak.
"Hello Bjorn. Do you remember me?"
Bjorn? How does this Saxon know Bjorn?
"Of coarse I remember you. I wanted to kill you when I was a child and then I loved you." My brother speaks.
I make my way to Bjorn, I look at him with confused eyes then to the dark haired Saxon before us. I almost doubled over in shock at the thought that the man in front of me was really who I thought it was. Bjorn smiles down to me as he wraps an arm over me.
"You remember right?" Before I can utter a reply the rider speaks first.
"Is that you Gyda?" This time there is no denying who was standing in front of me.
My mouth falls ajar as I lock eyes with him, "Athelstan?" I quietly gasp. He only nods his head as he looks me up and down in disbelief.
I run from Bjorn's side and dive into Athelstans. I see warriors reach for their weapons but release them as they realise I was not in danger.
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I pull my head back, my arms still draped on his shoulders and look him dead on, the smile on my face growing wider.
"They said you were dead."
He only shook his head with a knowing smile, "I gave it my best shot. But I was spared." As I pull away and stand to his side, he reaches out and cups my cheek.
"I cannot believe how you've grown. You stand so tall...So beautiful." I grab his hand and lead him closer to the group, he was sent by Ecbert, he must have something to say. I stand by his side, as he looks to Bjorn and myself.
"I know you were close with your uncle," He looks to the others and speaks louder, "I want all of you to know that Rollo is alive. Wounded but alive and being taken care of."
As I look to Bjorn, he wears the same relief on his face. Though the rest of the warriors still look to Athelstan with uncertainty in there eyes, unaware to trust—one being the King, who Athelstan acknowledges with a nod.
My mother then walks foward. "Why have you come Athelstan? Did you escape?"
"I've come to talk to you."
He is interrupted by Horik, "King Ecbert sent you. You do his bidding. You are one of them."Some of his warriors murmur words of agreement.
Athelstan continues on, "He offers you a chance for peace. He wants to speak of many things with you—good things." There was so much hope in the young monks voice.
But he is interrupted by Horik, "Yes, then he will kill us."
"No he will not, I swear. I know him." Athelstan reasons.
"You're his dog. You lick his fingers, you lick his arsehole." While some of the men laughed with the king at his words I could only shake my head to it.
Of coarse the torment on the monk wasn't done yet, Floki wanders to inspect him.
"I really like your new clothes Athelstan and your hair, very nice." Floki chuckles to himself as he stands to the side again.
"Is he prepared to offer a hostage?" Mother asks.
"Yes. He wants to reassure you in anyway he can of his honest intentions."
"Then we will meet him." Mother speaks, no hint of hesitation in her voice.
"Who are you to say?" The king swings his head to mother.
"You do not need to come. Ragnar and I will go and if Ecbert means to kill us then...so be it." She offers him a sny smirk as she disregarded Horik condescending stare and looked on to Athelstan.
"I will give him your answer." Athelstan turns and takes the reins of his steed and goes to walk out of camp. Ragnar steps forth towards him.
"I will accompany you part of the way." Father must have learned from the mistake we took when we let our last visitors leave this camp.
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As they disappeared into the tree-line I released a sigh of a relief that there were no screams of terror. Thanks to my father Athelstan was safe and our message of peace would be heard.
"Gyda."
I turn to meet mother walking towards me.
"We are organizing the group to go to meet the king. I wanted to see if you'd like to come with us? I trust Athelstan as I know you do and I believe we will not be in any danger."
I needed no time to think at all.
"I will go." she smiles
"We ride out shortly. Prepare a horse." I nod towards her. She then starts to walk away back towards the tents but stops as she quickly whips her head around.
"And Gyda," I look up, "No weapons, this is a convoy of peace and compromise not a war party." she smiles. I only nod in agreement.
