A Divine Secret - Viking Fanfic

The Ergi

I finished Part 3 about 2 weeks ago! It's most definitely the best part so stay tuned for the last few chapters! Much love <3

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It was cold in Kattegat when Einar and his ships arrived. It was colder than it had been in Stavern. As autumn turned to winter, the rain turned to snow, and the day turned to night. The worst time to start a war. What was Staun's plan? He did not believe they had one.

Einar had an uneasy feeling about Kattegat. This had been Runa's home. She had once walked the same dirt path that he sauntered down now. Runa left a part of her heart in Kattegat. Einar had no doubt in his mind that he would meet Rollo and Ragnar Lothbrok. It was inevitable. He looked forward to meeting the man that had captured his wife's heart; Runa told him she would always love Ragnar. Einar, however, retched at the thought of encountering Rollo Lothbrok. He had the ability to instill fear in Runa, Einar's strong-spirited wife, from an ocean away. He had to be a vile, poisonous man. Einar had to be smart. Should he not return home alive, Runa would be vulnerable to Rollo. He would need insurances that protected Runa from Rollo Lothbrok. Ragnar was the solution.

"Earl Baardsen is a mare," Unn remarked and gulped down the rest of his ale. He raised his mug in the air and a servant quickly refilled it.

Einar picked up a piece of bread, said, "How so, Brother?" and took a bite. He chewed as he listened to Unn's enthusiastic speech.

"'How so?' Well, Brother, I'll tell you all about it."

The long table erupted into cheers as the men gathered around with their horns of ale. Unn was the best storyteller in the North. He could make any tale into a comedy, a talent that he acquired from their father. He drank his mug in one swallow, pushed back his chair, and lunged on the table. The center of attention. Einar leaned back in his chair and watched his twin entertain the drunken men.

"Where do I begin with Kalf Baardsen? He's no Earl, I'll tell you that. His wife runs the show! Yes, yes, yes she does. He's an Ergi! How can you call yourself an Earl when your woman is making decisions, and then telling you about them? She's the Earl, no? I think it's for the best, I really do. Listen here, who starts a war at the beginning of winter? A fool, like Karl Baardsen, that's who! They don't even have furs to cover their own arses!" Unn's voice boomed through the hall.

The men hollered in laughter as Unn smacked his own behind. He cackled to himself before continuing, "And that necklace! That stupid bird's foot. Does he think he's so special for killing a bird? My boy's not even a winter old and he's strangling birds in his sleep!" Unn turned to Jarl Lorensen, "Is that not right, Father?"

The Jarl howled at the head of the table, "That's right, damn right!"

Einar laughed quietly to himself. His brother knew how to please a crowd.

"Kalf, Kalf, what a stupid man, hell he's a dumb mare. But if you ask me, I got his reason. This war, this ill-planned and pointless war, is a last-ditch attempt to get into Valhalla. But you wanna know something?"

The room fell silent and the men, including Einar, leaned in closer to Unn. He squatted on the table, "Odin ain't letting that bastard into Valhalla!" He slammed his fist against the table before he fell back and rolled on the table in a fit of hysterical laughter. The hall shook from the roars of the men. Einar found himself breathless from howling. Unn the jester had struck again.

Jarl Lorensen stood up from his seat and raised his horn in the air, "To Kalf Baardsen! Here, here, the man's earldom is as small as his cock!"

"Are we sure he's even got one?" Einar shouted at the top of his lungs. The chamber quaked.