raven ↠ vikings

ELEVEN

The war could not be avoided. 

King Horik and Jarl Borg launched themselves towards a gruesome battle because neither one of them were willing to compromise the land. Basically, our trip was pointless and wasted. The second we returned to Kattegat, I was sure all of us wished we had never left. A sickness had tore through the town taking many lives including Gyda's. Ragnar, Bjorn, and I were shocked to hear the news from Lagertha when we got back. She barely got out the words before breaking down, and the rest of us followed. I wasn't prepared for someone I cared about to die, especially Gyda who had become a sister to me. 

We mourned for several days and nights. The Lothbrok family wasn't the same. There were tensions between Ragnar and Lagertha, and Bjorn and I were sad every day. I looked to the chair Gyda would always sit in during supper, and my eyes filled with tears. I couldn't eat or sleep very well. I felt like there was a hole in the family.

Ragnar didn't have as much time to grieve as the rest of us. Two weeks after we returned, he left again to fight for King Horik along with most of the men in the town. I got back to doing my daily chores and started eating normally. Bjorn and I got back to training and sparring, and life started to become bearable. 

But when Ragnar and his men finally returned from a long battle, things started to get complicated. Bjorn and I ran down to the docks like we always did when Ragnar arrived home. The boats were not as full as they were when they left. Several faces were missing, including Arne. I watched in shock as Rollo was dragged off the boat as a prisoner. People yelled traitor at him. Floki was taken off the boat on a makeshift stretcher. He was badly wounded, and Helga ran to him with tears rolling down her face.

Lagertha made it to the docks, and we pushed through the crowd. Ragnar approached us, looking injury free. I let out a breath of relief as he hugged all of us. We followed him back to the house, eager to hear an explanation for everything.

Once we had all sat down, Ragnar spoke up, "One eye died."

"Arne?" Athelstan asked with sadness.

"Rollo killed him," Ragnar's eyes were filled with betrayal. "And Floki may not survive for he is so badly wounded."

Anger boiled in my stomach for Rollo. Why would he fight against his brother for Jarl Borg? Was he really that desperate for power? He threw away everything good he had left because of his burning jealousy over Ragnar's success.

"This was not your quarrel," Lagertha said. "You should not have become involved. Look what has happened!"

Ragnar sighed, "No man can walk through his life without things happening to him, Lagertha."

"Yes, I chose. Rollo chose! And Rollo choice led to all of this!"

Bjorn spoke up, "Don't argue you two." I could tell he was on edge. Both of us were.

Ragnar looked at Lagertha, "I am weary, and I am blood-sickened, and that is the truth."

Ragnar continued eating, not wanting to talk anymore. We sat in silence for a moment, but then the mood changed when Lagertha brought up a topic that I knew would change everything for the family. 

"Who is Aslaug?"

Ragnar threw his plate on the floor, and I tensed up, "Stop."

"Who is Aslaug?" She asked again.

Ragnar looked Lagertha in the eyes, "She's a Gotaland princess. We met her over there."

"You just... met her?" Lagertha said with suspicion. 

Bjorn and I had told Lagertha about the trip, and Aslaug's name came up. I just said she was a rude woman who seemed to like Ragnar too much. 

"What have the children told you?" Bjorn and I both looked down as we felt Ragnar's gaze on us. "What did you tell her?"