Disclaimer: I don't own any of the noticeable Vikings characters, just a fan of the show!
Plot: Taking place after the Paris raids in Season 3, we follow Lagertha and her people back in Hedeby. Kalf was killed shortly after their return in a riding accident when his horse spooked and threw him, so Lagertha regained her title of Earl. WARNING CONTAINS SEASON 3 SPOILERS. One moon equals one month.
Frost lay on the ground, a sign of winter's refusal to release its icy grasp to allow the spring rains to nurse the year's crops. With the newest seeds carried over from the city of Paris, the land of Hedeby would begin to flourish in food and wealth. Earl Lagertha, the legendary and famous shield maiden rode her grey mare confidently through the forests, her personal guard rode nearby, keeping a respectable distance but also close enough in case of any surprise encounters. The Earl could stand her own, but her townspeople felt it necessary she have help if the need arose. The frozen mist of her breath made Lagertha pull her coat tighter around her body, she was with child, her stomach noticeably swollen and was due to give birth in about three moons. She was on her way to Kattegat to discuss trade with her ally, father to her son and her ex-husband, King Ragnar Lothbrok. Any of the hostile feelings she held for Ragnar and the woman who took her spot by his side were gone for she no longer cared, or at least she locked the unpleasantries of the events leading to and following her divorce. Ragnar did not know of her condition, nor did Lagertha willingly intend for him to have such knowledge.
The night before the first attempt at a siege on Paris, in a moment of drunken weakness, Lagertha and the King lay together as they used to when they were married. Sneaking away in the forest and under a broad and strong pine, the child who had been unseen by the Gods and the Seer was conceived. When she began fatiguing more so than usual, the shield maiden attributed it to the stresses of ruling an earldom. But as the circumference of her abdomen grew, her past experiences of being with child filled her mind and were later confirmed by the Earl's private midwife. Putting the pieces of her memory together, Lagertha knew who the father was and when she had slept with Kalf the night of their wedding, she had already been with child. She was nervous, her last pregnancy ending in the stillbirth of her son a moon early.
Looking into the sky, Lagertha could see the smoke from the fishermen's' fires, a morning routine of smoking their fresh catch of salmon and other local fish. Kattegat was drawing closer and closer and Lagertha made sure to cover up her midsection, her swollen belly disappearing almost completely under her furs. Feeling the child kick, a small smirk crept onto her face…a smirk that quickly disappeared as Ragnar's envoy arrived to escort the Earl into town. The villagers were all eager to welcome back their beloved Lagertha; she had always been a sort of village favorite even years later after her departure. Young girls, barely ten years old would flock and beg her to train them to fight because anyone trained by the great Lagertha would be revered and respected on the battlefield. She always took the attention in stride and tried to not allow it to effect her ego. While she was such a great warrior, Lagertha knew that she was still human and could still get injured and if the Gods wished it could travel to Valhalla to drink ale and feast with them. Eager to see her son Bjorn, Lagertha made her way through Kattegat's riding paths and carefully dismounted to walk herself into the village mead hall where she knew Ragnar would be waiting to welcome her.
Reaching the large wooden doors, Lagertha paused and collected herself making sure that her furs remained in place while her guard gathered around. Breathing deeply, Lagertha nodded and two of the guard members opened the doors so she could walk through. Trying to appear as if she was happy to be in Kattegat, Lagertha faked a smile as she made eye contact with her ex-husband. But something was missing, or perhaps…someone. Instead of Queen Aslaug sitting at his side, the English Queen Kwenthrith of Mercia sat tall with a young boy in her lap, the boy, Lagertha knew was Ragnar's youngest son, Magnus. Ragnar cleared his throat and rose to his feet, "Welcome Earl Ingstad."
I am sorry this is such a short first chapter! I was trying my hardest to set the opening up the best I could, I haven't written anything in a long time so if this in anyway seems weak or lacking, please (respectfully) tell me so I can improve the story. I will be trying my hardest to capture all the characters' personalities and mannerisms, I'm a big Lagertha/Katheryn Winnick fan so I apologize if this seems to be so Lagertha heavy, although this is a story focused around her. Right now I am in the mindset that Lagertha is nervous to reveal to Ragnar of her pregnancy due to her past complications. It kinda irked me some they never really showed her more maternal tendencies in the show…you could tell she was upset that her unborn son and daughter Gyda died but you never truly got to see her grieve…and I think that is something that I will attempt to explore. Also I'm resurrecting Athelstan because I was so mad that Floki killed him…I didn't care too much for Siggy so she'll stay dead, haha! Please review and let me know of any suggestions!