**Disclaimer; I don't The Vikings nor it's characters.**

**Heads up not a very happy story for bed time my dears. There will be acts of martial/child abuse, violence & strong language described in pretty much all chapters.**

***Rated M for a reason.***

***YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED MY DEARS. TOODLES & HUGS.***

Between Two Worlds
Chapter One

Welcome Home Bjorn

From Son to Father;

Late one night, Bjorn is alone in the Great Hall. He's sitting on a bench staring at the fire with a cup in his hands, deep in thought. Questioning himself again if he made the right decision to stay with his father. Bjorn just couldn't stand his step-father Sigvard, the Earl of Heneby anymore. Yet he questions himself;
"Did he make the right decision, the right choice to stay?"
"Did he leave his mother defenseless against that monst..."

"You can't sleep my son?"

Bjorn whips his head around to see his father, Ragnar standing behind him. While Bjorn hides his fears for his mother's life, his father sees right through him. Ragnar sits next to his oldest son & affectionately cuffs his head.

"Tell me about Earl of Heneby? Let me guess he didn't treat you well?"

Bjorn just stood up, faced his father & removed his shirt. Bjorn then turns to the side where the "Earl's" long scar started out the waistband of his pants, went around & up diagonally to the edge of his shoulder blade. Bjorn replied to Ragnar has his father looked at the scar;
"I was well fed & clothed by the Earl but 'we' were never loved by Sigvard, father. Earl Heneby is unable to love anyone or, anything."

"Whip?"

"Hot knife, father."

In the shadows two other people see the great scar on the 18 year old. One covers her mouth with her hand has she turns her head into her husband's chest to keep quiet.

"When?"

"A little over two years ago. The 'Earl' was 'teaching' me my place."

"By the Gods... that son of a whore!"

"You should've seen what mother did to him when she found out."

Has Ragnar chuckles since he could well imagine what his former wife Lagertha did to Sigvard.
"I bet. Tell me anyways."

"Once his mistress seen what he did to me, she turned him away for over six months & Mother over eight. During 'their' practice sessions, Mother gave him a 'scar' right...(Bjorn points to his inner right thigh near his groin) with a hot sword. To 'teach' him 'his' place."

Ragnar snorts with laughter as Bjorn continues;
"He never touched me again after that but he would hit Mother all the time."

Ragnar sees red again.

"Tell me everything my son. Tell. Me. Everything that he has done to you & to your mother."

Bjorn who holds his father above all men, does. He tells him how Sigvard refused him the rights of passage of any young man his age. This would be considered a crime in the Viking community. (Punishable by death for its endangering the community & going against the Gods.) How Sigvard would never let him train with the other boys his age, to be able to even help defend the earl's home or, to even protect his mother because he was only a step-son.
All his training was done in secret as arranged by his mother with only trusted warriors who would train him right. (at this piece of information, Ragnar knew that Lagertha was planning on sending him back to his father.) He tells his father how the Earl will hit his mother for no reason at will.
Then he tells his father all the times he had beat him for no reason. How Sigvard would ask a question & when he would answer his step-father, the 'Earl' would just lash out & hit him again, for no reason. Would hit him for no reason with whips, ropes & swords while calling him worthless all the while. To hurt Lagertha.

How he would deliberately berate him in front of all in the great hall. Only to then later to humiliate him in front of Sigvard friend's & their sons for being a step-son. When mother walked out of the hall because he was berating him behind his back, Sigvard hauled off and hit her so hard it spun her onto the ground. When he couldn't come after me after his stunt with the hot knife, he started on mother. How he felt helpless when he couldn't protect his mother like his father expected him to (at this Ragnar just grabs his son in a bear hug). With that Bjorn ended with;
"When your lands were invaded, mother went to him to have raise an army. He refused, tried to beat & rape her. If mother didn't stopped me, I would have killed him then & there. The warriors that came with mother & I, was her warriors that 'she' trained to protect 'his' (the Earl's) lands better. He never even really called me by my name father. He would only call me his step-son like I was his property. Like a servant. Actually the servants got treated better. He didn't hit them. At least not all the time, just us."

During this Ragnar listened to everything his son had said. Ragnar is angry how Sigvard treated Bjorn. He wasn't the only one. His uncle who is in the shadows listening is furious.

"Tell me something Bjorn. How tall is this 'Earl'?"

"Taller than me, father."

"Taller than Rollo?"

"A little taller but my uncle is bigger. Here & here. (as Bjorn points to his shoulders & mid section.)"

"Your mother let you stay hereto save you, son & for that I am glad of it."
Has Ragnar pulls Bjorn in for a bear hug.

"She's alone father. What if he... Did I condemn her to death by his hands?"

"Your mother is a Shield-maiden, a Warrior of the finest kind Bjorn. Now that you are here safe from Sigvard, she can take him easily."

What Bjorn didn't know was that has he was unburdening his greatest fears to his father, Rollo & his wife Siggy were in the shadows, listening. Rollo knew his wife still had friends in the higher circles in that region. Siggy just nods & leaves to do as they discussed. Yet Rollo stay to hear everything that his nephew tells his father. The more Bjorn tells his father what he & Lagertha have went through, the more Rollo wants revenge. Bjorn like his father is a descendant of Odin. Earl Heneby should have thanked the gods for Bjorn's presence in his home these last four years. Bjorn was always a blessing to be around yet this 'Earl' treated has if he was a curse!

Rollo catches his brother signal has he gets up & goes around to the front entrance of the Great Hall.

Ragnar looks at his son knowing that for him to move forward, his son had to trust him enough to talk to him about his life these past four years.

"It's late Bjorn. Well talk more later but Rollo & I have a surprise for you."