The children and the priest ate at the dining table of the Lothbroks, staring at each other. Gyda knew something was going on, but her brother and Bálburunn would not say what. Lagertha paced around, stirring her stew occasionally while she waited for her husband to return home.

Finally, the door opened to reveal Ragnar. "I have good news, my family. I have the Earl's permission to sail back to England. We will be leaving soon."

"How soon is that?" Lagertha asked, staring at the pot.

"Tomorrow."

The children stared at Lagertha. Her eyebrow quirked. She sighed. "We all wish you success. We will sacrifice to Odin." Bálburunn and Björn glanced at each other.

"Are you not coming?" Ragnar turned to his wife with a mischievous smile.

"What?"

"I want you to come with me."

"But the farm…the children."

"Björn will stay behind. Gyda will help him farm." Bálburunn could not help but smile about Björn being rejected. The last time they pillaged, his mistake almost cost Bálburunn her life. Björn opened his mouth to protest.

"Who is to be in charge? I want to go to battle, father!"

"The priest. I will leave him with the key."

"You are not ready, Björn. Your father made the mistake of taking you last time. Bálburunn will stay behind with you." Lagertha said.

"What?" Bálburunn stood up at the same time as Björn. "But I can fight!"

"Father, you cannot put a slave above me! I am your son!"

Ragnar stared down the two of them. Björn sat back down, but the redhead stood in protest.

"I do not see him as a slave. He is a responsible person."

"Please Ragnar Lothbrok. Do not do this." The priest's voice was soft.

"What do you think, Gyda?" Ragnar turned to his daughter.

"I don't mind, I like the priest."

"Then it is decided." Ragnar smiled before exiting the house. Bálburunn chased after him.

He already exited the gate of his farm when she called after him.

"Old man!" The man stopped, turning to her with his arms crossed.

"You will make a horrible wife if you keep talking to people in such a rude way, child."

"I do not wish to be a wife, you ugly grandpa! I wish to fight!" She marched up to him, fists balled up. The sky glowed orange, lighting up her crimson curls. "Why must I stay behind? It is not my fault your son can not use a shield!"

Ragnar smiled down at her. His eyes were twinkling again. He kneeled down, brushing her copper hair behind her ear. "Bálburunn the Bearslayer, child of the forest, forged by Odin himself in the flames of his hearth; we are not keeping you here because you are not worthy. We want you here to train Björn." The girl stared at him, emerald eyes widened. "You are a strong warrior, and you already know what he needs to work on. When we get back, if he is half as fierce as you are in battle, it will make me a proud father." He kissed her forehead before walking away into the night.

Bálburunn returned to the hut in the woods. Floki sat by the fireplace, chewing on venison jerky. He stroked her copper hair as she sat down beside him. "You have heard the good news?" He asked, grinning.

The girl nodded. "I will sacrifice to Odin to bring you luck on your journey, Floki." He scooched behind her, beginning to braid her hair.

"It is too bad you cannot come with us, child." He let out a strange giggle, "I was already imagining the faces of the English when you run at them with an axe." He faked a high-pitched scream, causing the girl to laugh. "I will be up early tomorrow to inspect the boat. We will leave just before the sun is at its highest."

The next day, Bálburunn found her father figure and Ragnar whispering to each other over his navigation wheel. Lagertha was busy loading the boat. Floki stood up when he saw the redhead, opening his arms. "My child! You've come to see me off!" He wrapped her in a bony hug, kissing the top of her head. "When we come back, Björn will be ready to fight, I just know it. Odin smiles upon you, Bálburunn."

"Thank you, Floki. Good luck on your travels. As you said, the Gods love your boat." She smiled up at him.

Lagertha strode up to her, clapping a hand on the child's shoulder. "You are a fierce warrior, Bálburunn. You will make a brave shield maiden. If that priest does anything to hurt any of you, you are free to end his life. We will see you soon." The blonde woman kissed her cheeks before walking over to her son and daughter. Behind Lagertha was Ragnar, sitting on a wooden post of the dock. He gave her a mischievous smile, winking once.

The ship sailed off with Floki on it, shouting about the journey the Gods will surely give them.

Bálburunn turned to Björn, Gyda, and the priest. "Shall we begin, Björn?"

"I do not understand," Björn spoke as he and Bálburunn cooled off in the lake. Every day, they trained after Björn finished his farmwork. They would practice until the sun set. He was getting better at using his shield. Bálburunn only hoped that it was enough to impress his parents. "I am two years older than you, yet you…"

"Yet I am a better fighter?" Bálburunn rubbed her face with the water. "Have your learned nothing, Björn? Skill is not determined by age, nor what is between our legs. It is determination and experience."

"When did you start?" The blond boy stared at her.

"I have been shooting arrows since I can remember. As soon as I could lift a shield, Floki made me train every day."

"Why do you call him that?"

"What?"

"'Floki'. Why not 'father'?"

"Floki is not my father."

"But he calls you his child."

"He found me in the forest as a baby. Someone left me there. He says I was a gift from Odin to him, but he is still not my father."

Björn stared at her before dunking his head underwater.

That night, they supped at the Lothbrok's house. Bálburunn had only just walked in when Björn slammed a ram's head onto the table, staring at the priest Athelstan.

"I want to go to Kattegat," the boy said, "I want to see my father return soon. He must return soon."

"I gave your father my word that I would look after you both here." The priest argued.

"You are not looking after us. We are looking after ourselves."

"I cannot allow you to go on your own to Kattegat. Your father would never tolerate such a thing."

"Then we should go together – the four of us."

"Who will look after the farm?"

Björn could not come up with an answer. Athelstan said a prayer before he began eating, pouring himself a cup of ale.

"Can I have some ale?" Gyda's small voice asked.

"You are too young to have ale."

Björn frowned, passing his cup of ale to his sister. Bálburunn looked between the two males.

"I want to make a sacrifice to Thor, for my father's safe return." The blond boy said.

"What will you sacrifice?" The priest asked.

"You." He threw his cup at the Christian, storming out. Bálburunn rolled her eyes, following the boy outside. She found him sitting on the docks by the lake.

"You are an older brother, yet you whine like a baby." The redhead said, sitting beside him.

"He prays to a fake god. He could sway Gyda into those fake beliefs."

"He does not talk about his beliefs with her. He talks to himself and no one else. Your father is the one you should be worried about."

"What are you saying?" He studied the girl's peppered face.

"Ragnar was asking him all sorts of questions about his religion when we brought him here. Did you not notice?"

"Father would not pray to a fake god."

Bálburunn shrugged. "Do not try to kill the priest tonight. I suspect your parents will be returning soon. Ragnar would be angry if Athelstan died."

She got up, walking off toward her small cabin.

Thank you to xenocanaan for the review! Hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. Feel free to follow/fav/comment ! :)