raven ↠ vikings

NINE

The sound of a bell being rung shot excitement through my veins. I jumped up from the table with Bjorn and Gyda. Smiles formed on all of our faces as we sprinted out of the house. We all knew that bell meant ships were coming in at the harbor. A small part of my mind was filled with concern that Ragnar would not be on that ship, but I remembered what the Seer told me. I would return to England with Ragnar, so he had to still be alive. 

I ran beside Bjorn as we stopped at the dock. A crowd of people had already gathered as the first few ships docked. I couldn't see over all of the people, but I pushed my way through the crowd to get to the front along with Bjorn and Gyda. The death of Ragnar and Lagertha's unborn baby came to my mind. He would be so upset when he heard the news. Ragnar expected to come home to a new life being brought into the world. My heart felt sadness for him and Lagertha.  It must have been so terrible to lose your own baby before it could be born. 

My sadness drifted away when my eyes landed on Ragnar as he stepped off the ship. None of us hesitated as we ran up to him. All three of us attacked him in a big hug, and he stumbled back with laughter.

"My children," he said, "I missed you so much."

"We missed you too, Father," Bjorn said as he pulled back. 

He ruffled his son's hair and kissed Gyda's head. Then Ragnar looked at me, "Will you two give me a moment with Raven?"

Bjorn and Gyda nodded before walking away. I gave Ragnar a confused look, "What's wrong?"

He put his hand on my shoulder, "I stopped by your old village before we left Northumbria, and two of your sisters, Lily and Hannah, fell ill over the winter and passed away."

Lily and Hannah were Jude's actual daughters. They never liked me and my two other sisters, Edith and Greer. They had their father's temper, and they never seemed to care about me, but I never wished they were dead. 

"Edith and Greer?" I asked.

"They weren't there. I think they moved away after Jude's death," Ragnar answered. I nodded and then Ragnar pulled me in for another hug. He rubbed my back in comfort. "You're such a strong girl, Raven. I know the gods have so much in store for your future."

I was tempted to tell him about everything the Seer told me, but something in my mind kept my mouth shut. For some reason, it was a secret that I wanted to keep.

• • • 

When Ragnar found out about his unborn child, he was devastated. He didn't talk to anyone for two straight days. When he finally started talking again, I could feel the building tension between him and Lagertha. Both of them seemed like they were on edge, and I could tell it was having an effect on Gyda and Bjorn. They were worried about their parents not being happy. 

But I was hopeful that the tension would go down soon because in three days we were all leaving to go to a place called Uppsala. People went once every nine years, and at this place they would offer sacrifices to the gods to thank them for everything in their lives. They would pray for a good harvest for the next year and for success in battle. It was an important and sacred tradition, and this year was the first year that Ragnar was taking his children. 

I was a little nervous to go because I still didn't know if I believed in the Viking gods. I didn't know if I believed in anything, but I hoped this trip would clear a few things up for me. Athelstan was also going, and if I decided that I didn't believe in the gods then I would just stick with him the whole time. 

Currently, I was standing with Bjorn, Gyda, and Lagertha as we accepted people's offering to the gods. Not everyone could take the long and difficult trek to Uppsala, and those that didn't go would come to the Earl and his family asking them to present their prayers to the gods for them. We received all kinds of things from the people of Kattegat. I enjoyed seeing their faces and getting to know even more people. Most of the villagers knew who I was by now, and almost everyone seemed to like having me around.