A/N: Here we go, Vikings Season 2!
There was a 2 year jump from the last chapter, so Sansa is 22...
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Back to the canonic storyline…
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Chapter 13 Invasion
Four years had passed since Lagertha had left Kattegat. Four years since Ragnar's wedding to Aslaug and the subsequent adoption of Sansa. Four years since the last raid to the west.
Many men had come into the great hall. Ubba was playing with his younger brother Hvitserk. Athelstan and Thorstein were discussing the different techniques and advantages of axes. Floki and Helga entered the hall and interrupted them.
"Thorstein, you are standing in the way of the fire", Floki told him, "So, where is our Earl?"
"Behind you", Ragnar answered, holding Ubba in his arms, "you've made yourself rare, Floki."
"Oh, I've been busy, busy like a dwarf building your boats", Floki explained, "Even in the ice and the snow."
"Soooo busy", Ragnar teased him, "Yet so much time to complain."
"Every year", Thorstein began, "Your people wonder when you will order another raid west…"
"And every year you disappoint them", Floki added, "I've heard some people say, that Earl Ragnar is becoming like Earl Haraldson."
"Then I will put their minds at ease", Ragnar answered. He stood up onto the table.
"It has taken a long time to prepare ourselves", he announced, "To build our ships, to replace the young men that we lost in the plague. But now we're ready. So this summer we shall finally go west again!"
The audience cheered, but Ragnar was not done, yet.
"We will return to England", he told them, "For this country has been so ...generous, the last time. And we will not go alone. King Horik and Jarl Borg have agreed to join us. And maybe we will not return so soon. Maybe we will stay a while, explore the land. Maybe even winter there. For this is an interesting place."
"And now that I put your minds to rest", he finished, "Who is hungry?"
Sansa was sitting on the table talking to the pregnant Aslaug and trying desperately not to answer the itch on her upper arms with scratching. Her new tattoos were almost healed. She had a Thor's hammer on her right arm and Hugin and Munin, the two ravens that belonged to Odin decorated her left upper arm. Since the wedding, Ragnar had also acquired a new tattoo, the shaved skin of his left skull was now covered in a tightly woven pattern.
Siggy was walking through the town. The snowflakes were loosely falling around her, when she saw someone lying in the dirt. She stepped closer and pulled the man's hair out of his face. It was Rollo.
Rollo was asleep from all the ale he had drunk. Siggy failed in her attempts to wake him gently. Frustrated, she looked around and discovered a bucket with water, which was frozen. She broke the ice and then splashed the icy water in Rollo's face. The giant warrior awoke in an instant and had to face Siggy's accusing looks.
In the great hall, Ragnar had just been handed his meal from one of the servants, a young woman with blond hair.
"I have never seen you before", he said, "What is your name?"
"My name is Hild, Lord", she answered shyly.
"Where are you from, Hild?" Ragnar wanted to know.
"Uppsala", she said.
Aslaug had watched the conversation. When Hild had left, she turned to her husband.
"What were you talking with her?" she asked a little too innocent. Ragnar sighed.
"We talked about … movements in the shield wall", he answered, annoyed. Aslaug was not satisfied with this information.
"Girl", she called out, "Bring me some more food. I'm eating for two."
The girl brought her another plate. As she wanted to step back, Aslaug cautioned her, "You are old enough – be careful who you choose to be familiar with."
Later that evening, Ragnar and Aslaug were in the bedroom, Ragnar asked, "What is it? You are acting strangely."
"You think it is strange for a pregnant woman to wish for her husband to be supportive and kind?" Aslaug asked him.
"No", Ragnar stated.
"Then why do you think I'm acting strangely?" she asked. Ragnar looked at her with big eyes.
"I don't know", Ragnar told her.
"You don't know that you are flirting with other women?" Aslaug accused him, "That you show them you want to bed them?"
Ragnar sat up on the bed and put his face next to Aslaug's pregnant belly.
"Tell your beautiful mother, that I am not doing what she thinks", Ragnar told the baby.
"Yes, you are", Aslaug insisted, "Women know these things. Especially me, I have certain gifts."
"Gifts?" Ragnar asked, "You mean you're a Völva?"
"I might be", Aslaug said mysteriously, "And the fact that you want to sleep with this slave girl, is such an insult to me."
"I do not want to sleep with that girl", Ragnar murmured, already half asleep. Suddenly Aslaug sat up in the bed.
"I won't let you sleep until I've told you this", she said, "I have given you sons, and I am carrying another son. My father killed the mighty dragon Fafnir and in our son's eye will be the image of the serpent."
Ragnar was lying on the floor, throwing Hvitserk high in the air. Ubba sat on his legs and laughed. Sansa was sitting next to Aslaug, trying to feel her unborn sibling move. Everyone looked up as Siggy entered the room, followed by Rollo.
"You should all leave", Ragnar told them. They all got up and Sansa took her little brother by the hand.
"I said everyone", he told Siggy who was still standing in the room. She left in a hurry and Ragnar seated himself on the bench.
"Are you not going to take a seat?" he asked Rollo, "What do you want?"
"I am your brother", Rollo began.
"You chose to fight against me", Ragnar reminded him, "You could have killed me."
"I remember when we were boys, we often fought against each other", Rollo replied, "But I never could have killed you."
"So why should I trust you ever again?" Ragnar asked him.
"Because I ask you to", Rollo pointed out, "I merely ask for the opportunity to regain your respect, to fight alongside you again."
"You have suffered these past years", Ragnar admitted, "But many have suffered more, because of what you did."
Resignated, Rollo made a move to stand up and leave.
"Let me think on it", Ragnar said, "Then I will give you my decision."
King Horik and his companions walked through the streets of Kattegat and entered the great hall.
"Ragnar Lothbrok, my great friend", the King greeted him, "I am glad to see you. These are my sons, Ari and Erlendur."
"King Horik, It is a pleasure to have you here", Ragnar replied, "I look forward to getting to know your sons, and to introduce you mine. There is someone here you will well remember."
Ragnar led his visitors to the back of the hall. Jarl Borg was sitting on a bench, holding a cup of wine. He looked up when he saw the group approaching.
"I can see that you are not too delighted to see me here, King Horik", Borg said, "But I hope you are not surprised. After all, we agreed to raid together and I have come here to honor our agreement."
"The last time I saw you, Jarl Borg, I had the distasteful task of burying many of my kinsmen and friends", the King answered, "But it is true, I am not surprised to see you here."
Everyone turned around as Rollo entered the room. The guests both looked shocked as they recognized him.
"Surely this is not Rollo, the brother who fought against us?" the King asked, "You spared his life?!"
"The gods spared his life", Ragnar explained, turning to Rollo, "I accept you back. I acknowledge you as my brother, but I don't want you to raid with us."
"I accept your judgement", Rollo answered.
In the evening there was another feast in the great hall, to honor the prominent guests. Ragnar's family and the guests were sitting at the same table. Ragnar was talking with Ari, the King's son, while the King was talking with Aslaug. Sansa was sitting between the King's sons, trying to stay out of the conversation.
King Horik suddenly leaned over to Ragnar.
"I've come to a decision", the King said, "I don't want Jarl Borg to raid with us. I cannot bring myself to trust him. You must inform him of our decision."
Ragnar rolled his eyes, knowing exactly what Borg's reaction was likely to be.
The next day, King Horik's ships arrived in Kattegat. Half a dozen ships, all bearing the white and black shields that were carried by the King's household troops. Ragnar and Floki were standing further down on the pier, out of voice range of the King.
"Are you jealous?" Ragnar teased Floki. Floki giggled.
"They won't even make it out of the Fjord", he said.
While King Horik overlooked the arrival of his ships, Ragnar returned to the great hall, where he was awaited by Jarl Borg.
"So, when do we set sail?" the geatish Jarl wanted to know. Ragnar sighed.
"Forgive me, Jarl Borg", he began, "But we have decided not to seek your help."
"I thought we had an agreement?" Jarl Borg argued.
"It is not my intention to break this agreement", Ragnar told him, "but on this occasion…"
Jarl Borg turned around and walked away, shaking his head angrily.
In another house in Kattegat, Siggy was talking to King Horik.
"I know many things here in Kattegat that you don't know of", Siggy told the king, "I knew Ragnar's first wife and her son, I know of Ragnar's strengths and weaknesses."
"Why should I want to know about that?" Horik asked her.
"Because Ragnar is your ally", Siggy told him, "It is always a strength to know the weaknesses of your friends, don't you think?"
"But how can I know that I can trust you?" Horik wanted to know.
Siggy pointed at the bed in the corner and let her dress slide down.
Ragnar was saying goodbye to his family. He had Hvitserk on his arms. Sansa and Aslaug stood around, while Ubba was trying to carry his father's sword. Despite his struggle, the point of the sheathed sword slithered over the floor.
"Now you grow big and strong", Ragnar said to Hvitserk, "I love you." He handed the boy over to Sansa. "And I am glad you're my daughter", he told her, "And stop being sad for your ... friend leaving you."
Sansa smiled weakly. "It's been over for a year, father", she grinned, "I would easier forget about him, if you finally stopped reminding me..."
He bowed down to Ubba and took his sword from the boy. "You do what your mother tells you to do", he urged him, before whispering, "most of the time." Finally he took a small wooden sword from behind his back and gave it to him.
Ragnar stood up. "Farewell, my wife", he said.
"We will make a sacrifice to Thor", Aslaug told him, "But I think you should cross the sea safely."
They embraced tightly for a moment, then Ragnar went on his way to the pier.
The boats were loosened of the pier and rowed out of the fjord. Then, the sails were hoisted and they set course towards England. King Horik and his sons were on Ragnar's ships, sailing with the famous navigator who had first found the way west. Athelstan was also aboard, Ragnar had meant that he was ready to fight.
After three days at sea, Ragnar was getting nervous. By now, they should have been close to land. In the evening, a giant storm hit them. The boats were dancing across the waves and the men aboard were miserable and wet from the spray and rain.
Ragnar was on the helm. He was having laughing, being completely in control of the ship.
"Are you having fun, King Horik?" he asked laughing.
The wind came in hard and the big sail of the boat began to tear.
"We have to let the sail down", Ragnar commanded. The men quickly began to work when they suddenly all listened up.
"What is this?" Athelstan asked.
Floki shuddered. "That's the sound of waves hitting rocks", he stammered. The sound every sailor fears.
"We have to set out the oars!" Ragnar shouted, "Row! Pull us away!"
Somehow they managed to row away from the cliffs. Finally, the storm ceased and fog set in. After the fog had lifted, they realized they were the only ship around.
"We've been blown miles of course", Athelstan stated, "Who knows where we are?"
"The gods, priest", Floki told him.
Ragnar overlooked the condition of the boat. The yardarm was broken and the sail had a gash, but otherwise they were fine.
"What I want to know, is where are all the ships?" Ragnar asked when they approached several other ships, "How many do you see?"
"Only four", Floki told him.
"Some of the others may have been scattered", Thorstein reminded them.
In this moment, Erlendur, the King's younger son pointed out into the fog. A darker scheme could be seen against the foggy sky.
"Land!" King Horik called, "I told my boys, Ragnar always finds land."
While the rest of the crew was cheering, Ragnar stepped next to Floki.
"What do you think?" he asked, "Where are we?"
"I don't know, Ragnar", Floki answered, "After all, I'm only the boat builder – you are the navigator."
The five ships were rowed to the beach and the Vikings disembarked. They waded ashore silently and headed into the land. They soon found a small river, which they followed. After a few hours of marching, they decided to camp on the gravel banks in the middle of the river.
Soon, everyone was relaxed. Some slept in the grass, others fished. Almost everyone was eating.
Suddenly arrows landed in the middle of the camp. The King's son, Ari, was among the first ones who got hit. The arrow had entered his right chest and he died quickly. Others scrambled for their shields.
The northmen divided into two groups which each formed an individual shield wall. They closed their shield walls to all sides, taking effective cover from all the arrows flying through the air.
"They're everywhere", Thorstein told Ragnar after a short look around.
In the other shield wall, King Horik was glancing above his shield.
"Erlendur, do not be dismayed", he told his son, "Meet everything head on. Whether we live or die today is already in the hands of the gods! Fight well and if you fall surely Odin will take you to Valhalla!"
The English soldiers began their attack and hit both shield wall with force. A heavy fight began. The Vikings used their axes and swords to hit and stab the English soldiers, while they tried their best to make the shield wall break.
"Horik is in trouble!" Athelstan told Ragnar, pointing at the other shield wall, which was heavily hit by the English soldiers.
"Go help him!" Ragnar ordered. Athelstan took his axe from his belt and charged across the bed of the river towards the other shield wall. He was intercepted by some of the English footmen and they began to fight in the middle between the shield walls.
"Help Horik", Ragnar ordered Floki. Floki and Thorstein left the shield wall and ran over to the other shield wall, were they struggled to strengthen it. Ragnar ran out into the river and tackled down the two English soldiers which were trying to kill Athelstan. They both joined Horik's shield wall.
"Open!" Ragnar ordered. Thorstein and the warrior next to him immediately followed his command, allowing the English warriors to enter the shield wall. There in the middle of the shield wall, everyone was stabbing at them, and several of them were quickly cut down.
Ragnar tackled another english soldier to the ground, killing him with his sword, when a second Englishman swung his sword at his back. Just in the right moment, Athelstan arrived, digging his axe into the English soldier's back.
The battle was won, the Vikings were looking after their wounded and dead. King Horik and his son Erlendur grieved for Ari. Athelstan was sitting at the side as Ragnar walked up to him.
"You did not hesitate today", he complimented the former monk. He handed Athelstan an arm ring.
"Take it if you want", he offered. Athelstan eyed the ring for a few seconds, then put it on his wrist.
Ragnar and Athelstan walked over to the two English warriors they had taken prisoner.
"Where are we?" Athelstan asked, "This is not Northumbria."
"This is the Kingdom of Wessex" one of the men answered.
"So your king is King Egbert?" Athelstan wanted to know.
"Yes, our king is King Egbert", the man confirmed, "Have you heard of him?"
"I have heard many things about him", Athelstan told them.
"Everything you've heard is true", the other prisoner said.
"What have you heard about King Egbert?" Ragnar asked Athelstan.
"That he's just like you", Athelstan smiled.
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A/N: Sorry for having so few moments with Sansa in this chapter...
In case I have confused you with the mentioning of 'Four years' at the beginning, this refers to Lagertha and Bjorn leaving. The last two chapters covered about one and a half, or two years of that timeline jump.
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