Between Brothers

Ubbe and Bjorn stood on the dock watching the ship carrying Thyra away getting smaller and smaller until it disappeared from sight.

Bjorn placed a comforting hand on Ubbe's shoulder. 'Come brother' he said but Ubbe shook his head.

Bjorn sighed but chose to leave his younger brother.

When Bjorn entered his home Torvi turned away from him trying to hide her tear stained face. Bjorn ignored her until she could no longer hold back. 'Did you really intend to marry Thyra?' she demanded.

'I did it for Ubbe'.

Torvi scoffed, 'you did it for yourself. I see the way you looked at her. You were so quick to offer marriage to her though I have been waiting years'.

'And yet you have stayed' Bjorn snapped.

'Because I love you Bjorn' Torvi's voice shook.

Bjorn once again chose to ignore her though her next words froze him in place. 'I am with child'.

Ubbe could not stop the hurt and anger coursing through his veins as he sat on the edge of the dock as night crawled over Kattegat. Somebody sat down on his left, another on his right. Hvitserk and Sigurd did not say anything to him but they knew he needed them. A dragging sound caught Ubbe's attention and he turned back to see Ivar crawling toward them. He stopped and hesitated unsure how his older brother would react, instead Ubbe turned back toward the sea. He did not have the will to fight Ivar now.

The four brothers sat silent together.

Months later...

Thyra did not know how many days had gone by since leaving Kattegat but it felt like an eternity. Her only saving graces was her developing friendship with Frans and the fact that El Sava had no interest in a sexual relationship with her.

He smacked her around a few times and threatened her every now and then, she was learning his language and had begun to understand him but he had yet to force his way into her bed.

As a matter of fact, he was spending his time in some one else's bed. She had caught El Sava and Frans one night together on deck when everyone else slept. El Sava looked like a different man as he stroked Frans cheek. Thyra quickly hurried back to bed and felt a small comfort that perhaps El Sava would not seek her out in that way.

Days later they reached land but only El Sava and a small crew got off the ship.

Where ever they were it was hot and the people had darker skin and spoke another language. A few hours later El Sava came back on board with skins of animals Thyra had never seen before and long white bone pieces. Frans explained that they were called ivory and they had made El Sava very rich.

Thyra ran her hand over a pelt of a great beast with soft orange fur and a brown mane around its large head. 'Lion' El Sava smirked at her before letting out a roar.

From that moment on, Thyra became interested in this new world full of fantastic beasts.

Months turned into a year.

Thyra sailed all around with El Sava and Frans. Though El Sava was still rough and course with her, his beatings became less frequent.

One day they had made land in the hot, dusty countryside where the fantastic beasts lived. El Sava had been tracking the ivory beasts, elephants as Frans called them to the uninhabited part of the world where the beasts roamed free.

The men were unloading weapons and gear as Thyra watched on from the deck when movement in the tall grasses caught her eye. Something was stalking El Sava as he barked out orders to his men.

Thyras reflexes were quick as she grabbed a bow and arrow from a man passing by. His shouting at her caused El Sava to turn just as a lion leapt into the air at him. But Thyra had him locked in her sights and let her arrow fly catching the beast in the neck and dropping him mere feet from El Sava.

He appraised the lion then Thyra. To her surprise he wagged his fingers at her calling her down from the ship. 'You saved my life' he stated. 'Perhaps you have use North Woman'.

From that day on, Thyra was at his side during hunts.

Occasionally they would return to the waters surrounding Kattegat. El Savas men would go to shore to trade their wares and then return. Thyra was not allowed anywhere near the port. She would stand on deck wondering if Ubbe knew she was near...

Ubbe, Hvitserk and Ivar watched Sigurd making a fool of himself over a girl as they feasted at Bjorn's wedding . After Torvi gave birth to their second child, Bjorn finally decided to marry her.

'Look at him trying to dance' Hvitserk laughed as Sigurd tried to engage the blonde girl. But she kept shaking her head and looking over at Ubbe. They exchanged some words, Sigurd pointed at Ubbe then hung his head and returned back to the table in low spirits.

'No luck brother?' Hvitserk asked as he popped a grape into his mouth.

'No, she does not wish to dance with me but Ubbe instead'.

Hvitserk looked over at Ubbe who merely grinned and sucked back his mead. 'Don't be a woman, just force her to dance!' Ivar sneered.

'Does that work for you Ivar? Forcing a woman to do things for you?' Sigurd glowered at his younger brother.

'Of course it does' Ivar laughed before grabbing a slave girl on her way by and pulling her down into a forced kiss. Because he was a son of King Ragnar Lothbrok, the girl allowed him to do what he pleased.

He pulled away from her, smacked her bottom and sent her away. 'Just like that' Ivar looked pleased with himself as another girl, the girl Sigurd had been talking to approached the table.

'Ubbe dance with me' she asked.

'Go on brother, show our little brothers how it's done!' Hvitserk called loudly on his way to being drunk as he slapped Ubbe on the shoulder. Normally Ubbe would decline but he was feeling good tonight as the mead and music flowed through his body.

Sigurd was feeling gloomy as Ubbe and the girl disappeared minutes later to enjoy each other privately.

Ubbe found himself out in the barn with the girl as they kissed passionately. He squeezed his eyes shut and pretended she was Thyra. At one point he called Thyras name out but the girl didn't seem to mind as she withered under him. It had been a few years and yet Thyra was all he could think about.

Yelling and the sounds of things being smashed against the wall from the room beside her awoke Thyra.

Lately Frans and El Sava had not been seeing eye to eye putting El Sava into a dangerously bad mood.

For the first time in months he had back handed Thyra. But Frans had been taking the brunt of El Savas anger in the past few weeks sporting split lips and black eyes.

El Sava went marching past Thyra half dressed leaving Frans sobbing in his room. Thyra went to check on her friend.

He was naked, struggling to get dressed as a fresh bruise marred his smooth, white cheek. Thyra didn't say anything and helped him pull on his robe.

'He is getting worse. He will kill me soon' Frans blotted at his eyes.

'Then we kill him first' Thyra felt angry.

Frans shook his head, 'that would be mutiny child. Talking like that could get you killed'.

'If he lays one more finger on us I swear' Thyra whispered as she tied Frans robe shut.

He reached out and touched her cheek. 'You have become a good friend to me Thyra. I am sorry El Sava took you away from your home but I am glad you are here with me'.

Thyra grabbed Frans hand. 'Thank you'.

The next few days got worse on the ship as El Sava turned his anger on his crew and even threw a few men over board.

Word on the ship was that he was using a plant that he got from

a Chinese trader but El Sava was a very secretive man and no one could confirm this. How ever he was becoming paranoid and increasingly violent.

One night Thyra returned to her room to find El Sava waiting for her. With inhuman strength he grabbed her and threw her to the bed grabbing at her roughly and bruising her skin. The thing she feared most was about to happen.

Her cries alerted Frans who came running in. He grabbed at El Sava trying to pull the much larger man off of Thyra who was kicking at him as he choked her.

'I knew it!' El Sava bellowed swinging around to face Frans. 'You are in love with her! You have been with her!'

Frans was shaking his head and backing away from him. 'She is my friend nothing more. I only love you mi amour'.

'Liar!' El Sava shouted as Thyra tried catching her breath.

El Sava grabbed Frans around the neck and began shaking him. Frans' eyes went white and his face began to darken as he struggled against El Sava.

Thyra sprung off the bed and launched herself at El Sava clawing at his back and neck. 'You are going to kill him!' she cried out beating on his back.

'Yes!' El Sava laughed.

Frans stopped struggling against El Sava and suddenly went limp.

Slowly El Sava let off on his grip and dropped Frans to a crumpled heap on the floor. He stepped back suddenly realizing what he had done.

He turned to Thyra who fell down beside Frans shaking him, begging him to wake up. 'He is dead' El Sava stated before turning and hurrying out of the room.

Thyra cradled Frans head in her arms and begged and pleaded to Odin to return her friend. But Frans remained lifeless. Her anger and hate flared. El Sava would pay.

Frans was giving a burial at sea where Thyra and a few of the crew who were more partial to Thyra than El Sava attended. El Sava stayed holed up in his office.

Thyra vowed to get revenge on El Sava.

Her opportunity came a few days later when they made port. El Sava was on the hunt for these colourful birds called peacocks. Their feathers were used for decorations among the nobles.

He of course wanted Thyra to join them as she had the best shot. However, Thyra was on the hunt for something else.

El Sava was acting normal as though he had not killed the man that was Thyra's only friend. It would be that mistake that would end him as he allowed Thyra to join him.

They had been hunting for a few hours and had bagged quiet a few birds that would fetch a nice sum of gold when El Sava ordered them to stop to take a break. Thyra waited for the few men with them to venture out on their own before making her move. She watched El Sava head toward a water fall, no doubt to cool off. She grabbed her bow and retraced his footsteps.

He was kneeling on the shore of the lagoon where the water fall emptied into, splashing water on his face and head. Thyra stood a few feet behind him, her bow was poised and ready. She was waiting for him to turn around, she wanted to see his face.

Seconds later he stood and slowly turned, startled to see Thyra there.

'Is this it? Are you here to kill me?' he asked smugly.

Instead of replying, Thyra steadied her hand and levelled the arrow at her target.

'Will you return to that god forsaken rock you called home? Back to that boy? He is probably married now and has forgotten you. Do you think Queen Aslaug will welcome you back with open arms?' he sneered.

'I do not care what Aslaug does. I will prove to her that I am worthy of being with Ubbe, that I am more powerful than she can ever hope to be' Thyra replied.

'Oh?' El Sava raised a brow. 'And how do you intend to do that?'

'I will sail the ship back to Kattegat filled with trade and gold and she will have no choice but to respect me'.

'You are going to sail my ship?'

'It is no longer your ship. I will have your head El Sava'.

'You were nothing but a scared little girl when I met you and you are nothing but a sad little woman now. You do not have the guts to kill me North Woman!' El Sava ran at her.

Thyra took a breath, steadied her hand and looked where she wanted the arrow to go. It hit El Savas chest with a thunk immediately stopping him and dropping him to his knees.

He began to laugh as blood seeped out of the wound. 'I am surprised' he played with the feathers on the arrow. 'But you can't finish me!'

Thyra grabbed a knife she was wearing on her belt, the one used to skin the animals. Anger and hatred roiled up in her as she approached El Sava who was now gasping for breath.

'I should thank you El Sava. Perhaps if I had remained in Kattegat I would still be that scared little girl. But now I am a woman, the woman who is going to kill you' she placed the knife to his throat and he laughed again spitting on the ground at her feet.

'You don't have it in you!'

Thyra sliced across his skin, his eyes went wide and he began to gurgle. Death happened slowly like he deserved.

When Thyra was sure he was dead she began the process of removing his head.

She had the intended effect on the crew as she approached the ship covered in blood later on in the day. She had never felt more alive, more like a true north woman, a Viking.

She held El Savas head above hers. 'El Sava is dead. I am the new captain of this ship' she called.

The men exchanged glances before a cry of approval went up through the crowd. Soon everyone had joined in and Thyra stepped foot on the deck as the new captain.

'Where to Cap'n?' a man called Smithy asked taking El Savas head from her.

Thyra smiled, 'home...to Kattegat'.

Authors note:

Before someone, if anyone points it out, I know Africa technically wasn't discovered yet!

I was debating about dragging out a few more chapters of Thyra being at sea but I am missing writing her and the boys together!

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Canada!