Vikings: Harsh Lesson
Chapter 1 of my first Vikings story, hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Vikings, it belongs to History Channel.
Chapter 1
It was strange how, in the light of morning, the recent events, particularly those at night, seemed to vanish from sight. Although not from mind; there were no physical signs of it, the shrine, the tools used, the body, but the Blood Eagle performed on Jarl Borg lingered in Ragnar Lothbrok's mind.
'It was such a waste; however necessary…the end of a strong man.' Ragnar thought to himself. 'But he faced his death with courage. May Valhalla welcome him with open arms.'
He turned from where he was standing to see Ubbe and Hvitserk coming towards him. He smiled and greeted the boys warmly; embracing them and ruffling their hair. His smile merely grew as he saw Aslaug approaching with Sigurd; carrying the infant with practiced ease, despite her current pregnancy. Ragnar and the boys walked over to meet her halfway. Ragnar gently took Sigurd as he and Aslaug kissed.
"Good morning, my love." He greeted her warmly.
She smiled back. "Good morning."
Aslaug looked around Kattegat; her face was serene, but Ragnar could see in her eyes, she was thinking the same as him. She too had noticed how easily things could vanish from sight. Finally after a pause, she looked back at him.
"We should go inside, dear husband." She said at last. "Torvi will be leaving soon."
Ragnar nodded slowly; Torvi, Jarl Borg's widow, she had lost so much. The least they could do was give her the courtesy of a formal farewell.
So he followed Aslaug inside; there they found the servants and slaves hard at work, moving all of Torvi's belongings to the cart outside. Torvi herself stood in the hall; she looked apprehensive. They approached her and she turned to face them, managing a tight smile.
"You'll be returning to Gotaland?" Ragnar queried.
Torvi nodded. "Things are fragile there; they are waiting for my child to be born. If a son; he will succeed his father when old enough. But if it is a daughter, I fear war will rage amongst my late husband's people, over who will succeed him. Even so, I fear there may be civil war anyway, over who rules in my child's stead if it is a son."
Ragnar and Aslaug nodded sympathetically, aware of the precarious situation. It was then that Bjorn entered the hall, along with the slave girl, Porunn. Ragnar suppressed a smile on seeing them, he knew of the relationship between them.
He would have to make sure, after the return from their latest raid, to grant her status as a free woman. He knew it was the only thing holding the two of them back. She had certainly earned it, he felt.
Porunn was carrying a small bundle of Torvi's belongings; she looked over at Torvi, as well as Ragnar and Aslaug.
"These are the last of them." She explained.
Torvi nodded. "Thank you."
Bjorn and his father shared a glance and then Bjorn and Porunn went outside.
Ragnar explained. "Bjorn will escort you to your ship."
Torvi nodded gratefully; yet still she seemed apprehensive about something.
Finally she seemed to make her decision.
"Earl Ragnar, I must warn you." She said quickly. "After what has happened to my husband…There is a man who will seek vengeance upon you."
Ragnar shook his head. "There are many who seek vengeance upon me, and just one man? I would have thought several of Jarl Borg's friends and allies would seek vengeance."
Torvi shook her head. "That may be so, but they are nothing compared to this man. I only met him once, but even that was enough to make me see the danger."
"Who is this man, that he would inspire such fear?" Aslaug asked, incredulous.
Torvi took a shaky breath before speaking. "He is Jarl Alfgeir; a close friend of my husband. A man not to be taken lightly."
"I know this Jarl Alfgeir." Ragnar replied with a grin. "You ask me to fear an old man?"
Torvi shook her head. "Old he may be, but he is still dangerous. He is smart, he is cruel, the laws of Gods and men mean nothing to him."
Ragnar remained confident however. "He is still but a man and an old one at that. I welcome any challenge from him."
Torvi realized there would be no point continuing to try and warn Ragnar. She gave Aslaug a beseeching look before bidding them farewell and leaving.
That night, once the boys were in bed and Sigurd asleep, Aslaug turned her attention to her husband. She considered the look Torvi had given her and knew things would be difficult; but she had to convince Ragnar or the danger.
Her husband, for all his greatness, had some rather unfortunate flaws. Sadly his pride and overconfidence could be counted amongst them.
"Ragnar." She said softly. "I feel we should lend some credence to what Torvi says."
He turned to her and smirked. "You fear Jarl Alfgeir?"
She sighed. "He may be an old man as you say; but she is right, he is smart, cunning, cruel…He doesn't need to fight or attack you directly to get his revenge. There are so many ways he could do it, worse still, he's likely thought of all of them."
Ragnar nodded slowly. "Maybe; but revenge, makes men reckless…"
"Not Jarl Alfgeir; I met him once myself. He is patient, beyond human patience. He will his revenge simmer for years, plotting, planning, then, in one move, he gets it." She explained.
Ragnar sighed. "I see; but still; he is only a man, he bleeds like any other."
Aslaug smiled lightly. "That is true; but despite his age, he is still a skilled warrior, not only that…His sons are just as bad as he is."
"Sons?"
Aslaug nodded. "He has two. All I ask dear husband, is that you consider everything carefully. Do not underestimate Jarl Alfgeir, or it will be your ruin."
Ragnar smiled. "As you wish, my love."
With that he kissed her and they fell on the bed, their worries about Jarl Alfgeir, momentarily forgotten.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please. Just a note, Jarl Alfgeir and his sons are complete OCs, not based on anyone specific in Viking history.