The Nephilim & The Maiden

S i n g l e C o m b a t

I didn't wait for the ship to come in to port. Sigurd's words sent my head spiraling. I know I didn't kill his mother but there was no one here to validate my side of the story. Sigurd and Ubbe were trapped in Hedeby leaving only Torvi and Lagertha as witnesses, which he would never believe. For months I'd been praying to the Norn's to change Ivar's fate to let him live and come back to me and now I found myself questioning if I even wanted him back.

Pushing past people as I ran, tears fell freely down my cheeks. I didn't even see Ubbe before I ran straight into his chest. The force pushed me back and I almost fell but Ubbe snatched my forearm and kept me from falling.

Ubbe and I barely spoke to each other, even when we were young so I was taken aback when he asked why I was upset. His tone and expression were both genuine.

"Ivar is going to kill me." I blurted between sobs.

Ubbe looked at me confused. "I don't think Ivar is coming back but if he does, why would he kill you?"

"S-sigurd and I w-were talking, months ago." I stammered, wiping tears from my face and trying to calm myself. "When your mother had first taken my freedom, I was so angry with her that, that Sigurd and I were joking about killing her." I saw Ubbe's face turn red and I quickly spat out the next part. "But I wasn't serious! I was just angry and, and Ivar over heard our conversation. I had no part in her death, please you have to believe me! I begged Lagertha not to kill your mother, she was surrendering and was going to leave peacefully but Lagertha grabbed my bow and shot her as she was walking away." My voice broke at the last part.

Ubbe stared at me, eyes wide and lips in a flat line. His eyes rolled to the back of his head as his lids fluttered shut. He took a deep breath in through his nose before opening his eyes and looked past me.

"Please believe me!" I begged, folding my hands in front of my chest. My voice as well as my body was trembling.

"Relax, Briet. I believe you." He sighed, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I am aware of the relationship Sigurd and my mother had and it was no secret that she didn't like you, even when you were a child. I can understand the two of you needing to vent your frustrations. You are not a killer."

I let out a shaky sigh, relieved at his answer but how would he take the question I am about to ask? I bit my lip and gathered courage before looking into Ubbe's eyes. "Will you protect me from Ivar?" I whispered.

"Ivar won't kill you, he-"

"Yes, he will! He told me before he left that I must protect Aslaug and that I 'shouldn't shoot her with my bow.'. How am I supposed to explain this to him?! He knows my relationship with Lagertha, he'll find out that you and Sigurd were trapped in Hedeby, he'll find out how she was killed."

"Margrethe was the one who tricked Sigurd and I, not you! And Ivar cares for you, Briet, he won't harm you."

A single tear trailed down my cheek. "You don't know your brother." I whispered.

Ubbe looked hurt at my last comment. His eyes traveled over me, watching as I stood there shaking in fear at the thought of Ivar coming back, that he might be in that boat. "Then why did you stay by his side after he freed you? Why did you pick him over Sigurd who so obviously cares for you and wouldn't cause you to be so scared?"

That was one hell of a question. Why Ivar? My lips moved to answer, controlled by my heart- my foolish heart- instead of my brain. "Ivar is a sea. He is calm and gentle and will take you to places you've only dreamed of. Heavenly places. But his rage is like a storm, causing huge waves that crash and break you down. And when you think you're about to drown, the storm passes and you wake to find another beautiful land, more beautiful than before. And you stay because it feels... it feels like home."