Disclaimer: I do not own the TV show Vikings or any of the characters mentioned in this story—the only one I can call my own is my original character, Freja.
Author's Note: This story has an M rating for strong sexual content and some violence. It is the first of my stories that I am publishing. Please rate, review, and subscribe! Thank you for reading.
The young brunette girl arrived to the small farming village of Kattegat on a black horse. She was fleeing a neighboring village that had been pillaged and burned to the ground, the people she knew slaughtered. She had been orphaned many years ago but the villagers had raised her as their own. Now, a young woman of twenty-one years, she was searching for a fresh start. Before fleeing, she had been nearly raped by a man, and then surely he would have killed her too. Kattegat, she had heard, was safe, and their Earl a kind man.
"Who goes there?!" A large old bearded man shouted up at her as she rode into the village.
"I wish to speak with your Earl," she answered back, sounding as strong as she could.
Freja entered the great hall where she saw the Earl sitting on a throne, cleaning his nails with a knife made of bone. He was an extraordinarily handsome man — a warrior, no doubt. He appeared younger than most men of his title. He looked up and beckoned her to come closer, and so she did until she was a few feet away from where he sat. He looked at her with eyes bluer than the ocean and the sky.
"Tell me, girl— what is your name?" He asked with a slight tilt of his head.
"My name is Freja, Earl Ragnar," the woman replied, meeting his intense gaze.
"Why is it that you are here?" He asked as he set down the knife on a small wooden table beside his heavy throne.
"My village, Øresund, was burned to he ground," she explained, "All of my people were slaughtered...I barely escaped with my virtue intact. I have come to Kattegat to ask for shelter for I have nowhere else to go."
Ragnar pondered for a moment, absentmindedly playing with his beard. This young woman was beautiful, there was no denying that. He thought of the possibility of taking another wife, he knew Aslaug would not object. No, but Lagertha surely would not stay if he took on another wife. A third would be unwelcome. He thought of the possibility of giving this young woman to Björn...he was seventeen now, a man. This girl could not be older than twenty, he was sure. Of course, he could always put her to work as a maid of some sort.
"I am sure I can find a place for you here," Ragnar said after he thought of some possibilities, "Leave me and come back at sunset and I shall have an answer for you then."
"May I offer a suggestion?" Freja asked, looking up at the handsome warrior and Earl before her.
Ragnar raised an eyebrow, "What is your suggestion?"
"I wish to be a warrior," she stated, "Have one of your best men train me and I promise I will not disappoint you."
"You wish to be a shield maiden?" Ragnar said with a smirk, looking her up and down quickly. She was not tall, but she was not short. Her body was shapely, womanly. So was Lagertha's and she was an exceptional warrior.
"I do, Earl Ragnar," she spoke again, "After witnessing what happened to my village, and almost being a victim myself, I want to learn how to protect myself and others should I ever end up in a situation like that again. There is so much I want to learn."
"I shall grant you this, Freja," Ragnar said, "Leave now, you shall begin training at sunrise...Torstein will show you somewhere to rest for the night."
"You wished to see me, Brother?" The tall, bearded brunette man asked as he approached his brother, the Earl.
Ragnar smirked at his older brother Rollo, "I have a job for you...if you are up to the challenge."
"What is it?" Rollo asked as he tossed his bear fur cloak over a nearby chair before taking a seat on it. Did Ragnar want him to lead a raid while he stayed in Kattegat?
"A young woman arrived earlier this evening from Øresund...the village was destroyed and the people were slaughtered," Ragnar explained, "She claims to be the only survivor and she has come to Kattegat seeking shelter."
"How does this concern me, Brother?" Rollo asked as he raised his eyebrows.
"She has requested that I allow one of my best warriors to train her. The girl wishes to become a shield maiden." Ragnar's voice seemed to have a hint of humor in it, as if he found the prospect funny.
"And this task, training some young girl, is one you would give to me?" Rollo was slightly insulted. What did this mean? There was a raid to happen soon, back to Northumbria, training this girl would mean he would have to stay behind, "What of the raid?!"
"I trust that we shall all be ready within a month's time," Ragnar replied, "You are one of the best warriors, Brother. By training this girl you will also improve your own skill and strength for the battlefield. I hope that she can keep up with you."
Ragnar rose from his throne and began to exit the Great Hall. He smiled at the thought of Rollo's frustration. He knew that his brother was displeased with the idea of having to train a young girl to fight. After all, he was a true warrior. He did not spar with women— he fought ruthelessly, he killed. However, Ragnar knew that his brother would thank him later once he saw the beauty that was young Freja.