VIKINGS || GYDA

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟓 *

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Crowds swarmed the docks as our ships arrived back into the port of Kattegat. After five days at sea, I near sprung myself from the deck and onto the awaiting wooden dock, but this would only come after I assisted the others in lifting my uncle off the ship.

His broken body lay in a makeshift cot, covered with furs to shield him from the sharp northern winds. Through the five days of travel he had progressed in his healing, he could stay awake longer and was coherent in his speech and thinking, but his arm lay broken in a sling of fabric wrapped around his shoulder, and his leg remained idle in the cot as a deep gash festered on his shin, the bone laying snapped under the surface.

The men amongst the crowd that await us practice no hesitation as they take one end of Rollo's cot whilst myself and Bjorn lift the other end onto the sturdy wood of the dock. Bjorn lift himself up and off the ship as he leads the way for the men to carry Rollo.

Upon stepping off I am welcomed by a familiar face, Helga embraces me warmly. Something presses into my stomach—I am fast to push myself away as I look down her body. I erupt with a gasp of joy as I see that the middle of her dress is rounded.

"Helga, you are with child?"

She smiles brightly to me, her hands lowering to caress herself, the small bump concealed by her petite hands. "The gods have blessed me." She is then swept off her feet as Floki leaps from the ship and takes her into his arms. He holds her passionately as he embraces her. Pulling apart, he begins to whisper his words of love that had been trapped within him for the past month he was separated from her. His hand joins her own against her rounded dress, his joy uncontainable as he pulls her face to join his own, locked into a loving kiss.

I give them privacy as I move past the crowd and walk off the docks. I don't walk alone for long as someone takes a grip to my arm and pulls me closer to them.

"Follow me." He orders. My steps halt as he strides past me once more and makes his way into the town. I pick up my pace as I see him enter into a hut. I am sure to check that no one watches me as I follow him in.

There I find him standing amongst wooden crates filled with grain, the small space stuffy with its scent. There was a heavy tension as I close the door shut.

"How could you awaken my longing for you, if you were just going to leave."

"You weren't there. King Ecbert's guard surrounded us all, they would have taken us all then and there if I didn't agree."

He scoffs dryly as he shakes his head, "We had the king of Mercia as a hostage—what kind of fool would Ecbert be if he attacked you all? The man was bluffing and you fell for it!"

"King Ecbert is no fool. Upon the battlefield, he demonstrated his knowledge in battle strategy, we were almost reduced to half our number because of this! Then there is this treaty. Yes, we may have land and treasure, but Ecbert's marriage pact ensures he will have control over my father. This is a man who thinks! He knew just how to corner us, made it known that death was the only other alternative—Tell me Nels, does that sound like a fool to you? Is that a man you would dare to deny?"

He does not deign a retort. His chest rose and fell with the passion of a man who knew he had nothing to say back in the matter. He begins pacing in what few steps he could get in the hut as he angles his head towards me.