Author's note: I do NOT own anything of Vikings! It is a Television Drama created and written by Michael Hirst. The only thing that I claim as mine is my OC, that is all! I absolutely love the Vikings TV Show! However, I am still currently watching the series, so no spoilers! lol, I will be starting on Season 2 after Gyda passes and making my way onward. Unfortunately, since I have other things in my life that need to be done first before I get on here, I will not be able to update as often as I'd like but will do my very best as I possibly can. So, I completely understand if readers will not like the possibilities of a wait and look elsewhere, trust me, I do not like waiting either so I will not be offended at all, but I ask that you try to be as patient as you possibly can be. Advice and corrective criticism is always welcome, but I will say that no rudeness or bashing will be tolerated. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy it!

*** (Just as a head's up, clearly my story is likely not going to be following the lines much of the Vikings TV show took since I plan to do quite a bit of changes and twists, so the path this takes will likely be very much different. Though, it would be only fair I forewarned you wonderful readers :) ) ***

*Also! I will inform you now, however, that it could be a while before something is finished or updated. I do have other things in my life I am doing as well so to be honest, fanfiction stories will likely be my last priority.

Prologue

She stood back in the arms of Siggy, both crying. They all cried for their lost ones. Those who had not survived the Plague which had swept through Kattegat. She watched her mother place the torch upon her sister's burn pile. "Mother -"

"Hush, Eira." Siggy softly shushed the crying girl, holding her back in her arms as she once had with her own children. Her daughter, then her sons, all of whom she'd lost in just a few painful years of each other.

Siggy was all alone now.

Even after Lagertha had become her dearest friend, Siggy was alone, no family to help her in these times. Her cousin, who had buried her son just a month ago was likely dead herself. She felt Athelstan rest a hand of comfort upon her shoulder and gently squeeze in sympathy. He too had fallen ill shortly after he'd cared for her daughter, Thyri.

Then Gyda fell ill.

Lagertha, fearful her youngest daughter may catch the fever as well, had locked Eira away in her room. The two had bathed before and after Lagertha would attend to the ill of their people. Her grey-blue eyes watered with unshed tears as she set the burning torch upon her daughters' burn pile. A wailing scream lodging in her throat she had to swallow back as she watched the flame rise, engulfing Gyda's body. Her last sight of her eldest daughter, her once lively and smiling face. Lagertha could hear her daughter's sweet voice echo with the winds that carried it off with the rest of their lost loved ones to the gods. Taking a few steps back from the raging fires, Lagertha wrapped an arm around her remaining daughter, with one thought ringing through her mind.

'No one shall harm you, Eira. For I shall slaughter them.'

Lagertha was worried. Her husband had been away for far too long than he needed to be in the first place. And with the news of their eldest daughter's death, she had assumed Ragnar would have come running home. Instead, he'd stayed longer, no reason was given, and left her and their only remaining daughter to suffer themselves in the comforting silence of Athelstan and Siggy, to rebuild from the loose of human and cattle alike.

With the difficulties falling to Lagertha alone in the Jarl's place, she had asked for Siggy's guidance and that of Athelstan's aid. Her daughter too had grown in the last few months after Gyda's death. She noticed that Eira too, like her older sister, had stilled her quick movements and playful nature. Her daughter's royal blue eyes the gods had without a doubt blessed Eira with, yet the blonde waving and curled hair she had from her mother. But Lagertha feared her daughter may have wrapped herself up, hiding inward away from others. She had tried to reach the girl emotionally, but her time had been spent mostly on the welfare of the people and the livestock that she barely got to spend time with her daughter, even when Eira would rush to her for love and affection, Lagertha would walk away to attend to something else which needed her attention as well, it hurt Lagertha to do it, but her people needed her. After a while, Eira had stopped going to her and began to keep to herself. And Lagertha knew why Eira had begun to do so. Because truthfully, she was avoiding her daughter.

seven months later

Upon her father and brother's return, Eira, and Lagertha, had wished for a happier reunion. Sadly though, with Gyda's death and Rollo's sudden betrayal had only been added to the pain when Bjorn finally confided in their mother of their father's meeting with a woman named Aslaug had made the heartbreaking and uncomfortable days worse than ever when their mother unwittingly questioned Ragnar regarding this woman's identity and why her husband had been meeting with her.

Lagertha had the suspicions he'd slept with this Aslaug, but to have heard him admit to it had nearly killed Lagertha's beating heart. Once was enough for Lagertha, though she knew it should have never happened in the first place because now she feared her chances of ever bearing Ragnar's next child had been robbed of her.

However, Ragnar had kept more from Lagertha.

Aslaug was already carrying his unborn child.

This, Ragnar, knew. Yet Lagertha had thought nothing of asking this question to her husband, thinking she could still try to bear the next son. Her hopes and dreams had been shattered shortly after the arrival of the cold bite of winter that had set in, the icy winds bringing a ship to their shores of Kattegat revealing the Princess Aslaug herself, months pregnant with Ragnar Lothbrok's unborn child proudly showing in the doors of the Great Hall. Lagertha's fears had been realized to be true. The Shieldmaiden and mother had understandably not been pleased one bit, Bjorn even less welcoming, and Ragnar in the middle of a rather warm seat between his wife, a woman he loved more than anything in the world, and the woman who was likely destined to bear his many sons which he was predicted to have.

All the while Eira had been silent, more crestfallen than usual and wondering what was going on. Bjorn had been cold and distant towards her, unwilling to answer anything she asked and less liking to be near her.

"Your pathetic Eira, crying like a baby. Get away from me." He'd grumbled to her just the previous night, shoving her off and going to his room to sulk, leaving his little sister in the halls of their home, silently crying.

If her cries were annoying, she'd cry silently so she didn't bother her brother any longer than she had already, yet she couldn't keep much more back. Eira had only wanted to try to welcome him home over the days, but he'd constantly shoved past her with a sneer.

Their mother had been less cold to her daughter, more cautious in her words while the Princess and Ragnar were near her, yet Lagertha had barely spoken to her daughter. Her father seemed glad to be home, to still have his son and at least one daughter. But Gyda had been the light of his life, the first bright star in his eyes. Bjorn, his first-born son, his only son from the woman he loved so much, that he too was distant and nearly as silent when Eira was in his presence and at arm's length. Leaving only Siggy and Aslaug, who'd been curious, and worry-filled with the sadness that filled the child's beautiful eyes. Aslaug too had offered comfort to the girl.

However, Aslaug knew that if she could win over one child's love then she could win over Ragnar faster. This child was alone, just as alone as she had been as a child when her parents had been killed.

Eira had been forbidden from seeing Rollo, even after he'd been spared. Yet the now ten-year-old daughter of Ragnar and Lagertha hadn't yet been dealt the worst of the pain.

Wishing to begin training to become a Shield Maiden, and after early mornings and long hours of training the last few mornings, Eira had gone to her room to nap for a short time, all the while Lagertha packed her things to leave, never asking Bjorn where his sister was, when in fact he'd locked the girl in her room as she slept.

Planning to stay himself, he hadn't thought of running to get Eira when their mother left. Bjorn had only thought of his pain as his father rode up to their home and Great Hall to find his son near tears and heavily panting as if he were having difficulty breathing.

Confused at his son's distress, Ragnar looked around thinking something had happened to Lagertha or Aslaug. Or worse, his unborn child. "What? What is it, boy?" He demanded. Fearful of the answer, the look his friend Torstein was giving him was also discouraging, even more so of the comforting hand, he had to his son's shoulder.

The words had scratched Bjorn's throat painfully, hard to breathe he forced the words from him, "Mother's left," And with it said Bjorn rushed off, changing his previous decision to stay. He chose his mother, he chose Lagertha, but in his quick decision, he had forgotten to get his sister he'd left barricaded in her room now trying to open the door.

Her childlike face was drenched in tears, trying to get out and very confused as to why she was trapped in her room. She'd never been locked inside a room before, the notion worried her, fearing she'd done something wrong to make everyone wish she was away from them.

Eira had been found by a frightened Aslaug frantically unblocking the door, tossing the chair aside that had barricaded her in. The Princess had been shocked beyond words when Ragnar's daughter had stumbled from the room in tears saying she was sorry and begging for forgiveness for whatever she had done wrong. Confused by all measures, Aslaug had pulled the crying girl into her arms, shushing her, hoping she could comfort Eira's fears. The girl had done nothing wrong from what she'd known of.

Leaving

Riding his horse in front of the horse and buggy that held Lagertha, Ragnar leaped from his beast, quickly approaching his Wife's side, tears shining in his ice-blue eyes, "So, you're just going to leave us! Just like that!"

"You insult and humiliate me! …. You've left me no choice, Ragnar. No choice but to leave you… and Divorce you…" The words tore her apart, shredded what was left of her breaking heart.

Her words tore him apart from the inside out, his heart dripping with internal blood at the thought of losing her. "I do not want you to go." He whispered, softly pleading with her to stay. Ragnar wanted to beg her to stay, he didn't want her to leave. But he wanted a lot of things, like Gyda to still be alive. He wanted to regret sleeping with Aslaug, but then he'd never have his sons. And he'd never be able to regret his children.

Lagertha's heart broke more and more as she leaned forward towards him, her eyes showing her pain, mirroring Ragnar's, "It's fate,"

Both were upon the brink of tears, Ragnar had looked away, raising his arm back towards Kattegat, to use their children against her, in hopes they could bring her back to him. But his heart fell deeper at the sight of a figure rushing over the hillside, running towards them. The figure only being that of their son, Bjorn. A smile on his face as he raced after his mother only to drop upon seeing his father's fallen face.

Glancing between his parents, Bjorn became nervous, "I… I've changed my mind… I'm coming with you," Bjorn said, looking at his mother, trying not to look at the hurt and pain on his father's face.

Bjorn's words had swiftly brought Ragnar facing his son once again, and once more he felt his stomach sicken with dread at the absence of a certain nine-year-old. "Where's your sister?"

Bjorn's face paled, suddenly remembering he'd blocked her in her room not two hours ago to escape the annoyance of her, he suddenly felt like he'd ran her through and began to feel sick to his stomach as his parents gave him a look of fear and worry, "She is in her room…" He stated simply. There was no way he was going to tell them he'd locked her in her room using a chair, he liked his fingers the way they were.

"Why did she not come with you?" Lagertha asked, feeling a bit hurt her daughter hadn't come with her son or the moment she'd left until it had struck her. Lagertha had never said a word to her daughter of leaving.

A bit worried they'd see through his partial lie, Bjorn looked at the buggy's seat his mother sat in, "She went to take a short nap, I wasn't going to come, but I suddenly changed my mind, I never-"

"No! You're not taking Eira from me as well Lagertha! Not my daughter." Ragnar shot out quickly, anger and fear ceiling the words in the stones of fate.

Pulling back from her leaned position, Lagertha sighed silently, "I think it best she stays with you either way Ragnar. I do not know what I'll do, what will become of me. I can care for Bjorn, he is old enough to help me, but Eira is still just a child. She had me when we lost Gyda, now she needs her father…. Take care of our daughter, Ragnar?"

Nodding painfully, Ragnar pulled his son into his arms, a tight embrace as he kissed the top of Bjorn's head, "Take care of your mother."

Nodding, Bjorn held back his tears, he never wanted to have to choose, but he was forced to, he had been given the choice to leave or stay, not Eira, he needed her safe. But he also needed her to know he did love her, that he was sorry. "You take care of my sister… T- tell her I'm sorry? I didn't mean it… I didn't mean any of it…" Bjorn knew his father was thinking he was sorry for leaving her, but that wasn't what he truly meant, he was sorry for shoving her away, he was sorry for not being there like he once was. As the brother he had once been to her before Gyda died. He had betrayed his sister, betrayed her love for him as the eldest, as her brother.

"Of course, I'll tell her. She knows you love her…" But that was what Bjorn feared for, after the way he'd treated her, she may not know what he was sorry about, she may not forgive him. And if she grew to hate him, he wasn't sure if he could bear it.

The exchange was painful to watch, Lagertha had choked back her tears as she helped her son up onto the buggy and wrapped her arms around him, she hadn't even hugged her daughter that morning, never even seen her. She hadn't told Eira she loved her before she left. Lagertha had given Bjorn the choice to leave, so why hadn't she given Eira a choice? Lagertha let it simmer at the back of her mind for hours as they rode off, and she had concluded that her words to Ragnar were true. She had been there to comfort their daughter when they lost Gyda, and she seemed to have possibly failed in reaching her. Maybe she needed her father instead of her mother. Though her being constantly busy, as well as avoiding her on the few occasions Eira had come to her freely for comfort had left the child in wonder that she did not wish to give comfort. That had Lagertha fearful.

Kattegat

Aslaug shushed the young girl as she cried into her arms, "It's alright. Now, tell me what happened."

Still crying from the situation, Eira wiped her tears away as much as she could, "Bjorn, he… he left me in here, blocked my door. I know it was him. Did I do something wrong, Princess?" Eira sniffed. She never cried much, not really, but the fact she knew her brother had done such a thing to her when all she'd desired since he and the others returned was comfort from her remaining sibling. Her mother was distant, as was her father.

Siggy was busy with Rollo, and Floki was still healing with the help of Helga.

Eira had practically been alone the entire process of grieving for her sister's loss.

"No, never, we never would do such a thing and I doubt Bjorn would do such a thing either. Your brother loves you-"

"No, he doesn't he h-hates me. Ever since he and father have come home. Mother doesn't speak anymore, Siggy is with Rollo and I'm not allowed to be near him. Father doesn't care anymore. I'm all alone… I've been nothing but in the way… Bjorn said so. I'm useless, annoying and I'm pathetic."

Shocked and heartbroken as she listened to the girl's ridiculous ramblings, Aslaug held the girl at arms' length and wiped the blonde's tear-stricken eyes clean, "That is enough. You are a child. You are not pathetic unless you allow yourself to be, nor are you annoying. You are your father's daughter, your mother's daughter. They love you regardless of the hardship of the times. Be strong… And I hope I too shall be allowed to love you." Aslaug softly spoke, a gentle smile growing upon her face, happy her smile had allowed the girl to smile herself.

Even though Eira was still sad and unsure of her parent's love for her, the sudden fall of her face once more gave Aslaug pause with worry, until she felt Eira gently rest her small hand to her growing belly. "Will father love me less now that he's having a son with you? Why would you want to love a child that isn't yours, Princess?"

Her heart tightening at the question, Aslaug's face softened to the young girl, "I would be honored to love you like my own if you let me… May I love you, Eira?" Aslaug asked softly. Whereas honest as it was, she had said it sooner than she'd have liked to, but she was desperate to see the girl smile. At least a bit happier. Aslaug knew Lagertha was gone, she knew Bjorn had left with his mother. Smiling brightly at the girl's gentle nod, Aslaug grabbed her hands and kissed her cheek, "Then shall we go wait for your father to return, I believe I hear his horse all ready."

"No need. I have already returned... Eira, come here… Please?" Ragnar requested softly. He'd heard enough to know his and the rest of their actions had left the girl fearful, scared, and hurt more than he had thought any of them had been. In losing one daughter he was on the brink of losing another. It was a mistake he'd never allow himself to cause again. Wrapping his arms around the small girl, nine she may be, but Ragnar couldn't resist lifting her into his arms and holding her close in a tight embrace as he kissed her cheek. Her small arms around his neck, Ragnar took in a deep breath to recollect himself. But at this moment, he found it hard to do so. His, Bjorn's, and that of Lagertha's distance and own hardships had left them pushing one of their children away, likely making the child wish she too was dead. It was a fear he feared worse than his death. "I am sorry…" He whispered into her unraveling blonde braided locks. Sniffing back his sorrows, Ragnar walked to Aslaug and rested a hand to her growing abdomen, then held her face in his hand as he looked into her eyes. "Come, we have a lot to talk about, and many things that need done."

Traveling

Lagertha knew Ragnar would never let a harmful thing happen to their children, Gyda was his first light, but Eira had given him the extra brightness to his smile every morning, Bjorn gave him the pride of a father had always wanted to have in a son. No matter how much it hurt her to leave her daughter behind, it was her fault her daughter wasn't with her. Lagertha had left Eira. Whether or not the intention was at the front of her mind, she had still left her only living daughter to be raised by Ragnar and the woman who had stolen her husband.

As the hours moved by they set up camp for the night, Bjorn couldn't help but have thought over the short month or so he and his father had been home that he had suddenly remembered Eira hadn't necessarily annoyed him, she had only rushed to him for comfort, her royal blue eyes watery with tears she desired to shed, something she had always done with him and Gyda, yet he'd cruelly shoved her away with sneers and ignored her the moment they had gotten back. Her silence was not normal, and he'd found he had cared so little, shouting at her, telling her to go away. For the first time since crying over the loss of his sister Gyda, Bjorn silently cried himself to sleep that night, wishing he hadn't so harshly brushed off his younger sister. Her royal blue eyes flooding with tears and shoulder-length messy braids of blonde hair that he knew would haunt him for many years.

Six years later

"Ubbe! Come," Aslaug called for her son, a hand resting against her once more swollen belly with another child, their third in fact. "Why don't we go see what your brother and sister are up to? Yes?" Aslaug asked with excitement. They had a special gathering that night and in the next short months on their ways.

"Yes," Ubbe said happily, a skip in his step as he walked with his mother, his hand warm in hers. He was excited to see another gathering in the Great Hall.

A sudden gasp left the oldest boy of Aslaug and Ragnar as he was lifted into small but strong arms, his back pressed against still growing breasts. The girl giggling as she tickled the boy in her arms and kissed his cheeks, "Hello Ubbe, how's my precious little Warrior? Are you keeping an eye on our dear mother?" The girl said, walking herself and the giggling boy the rest of the way into the Great Hall with Aslaug smiling and giggling along beside them.

"Yes," Ubbe said laughing, glad when his sister had set him down. Ubbe turned and wrapped his little arms around her hips. She was small in nature, though was merely fifteen years old, the boys of Aslaug and Ragnar had always said their sister was among the most beautiful living in Kattegat. Only fifteen and she looked as if she were filling out already. Though she still had a way to go in growth. Eira was rather remarkably skilled since she trained with Torstein and their father. The boys, however, were confused. They didn't yet understand what Torstein and their father meant when they said she was just as good as her mother, yet Aslaug had outright admitted she had never laid hands upon a blade nor set foot on a battlefield. So, how was their dear sister Eira like their mother?

"Eira!" A smaller boy shouted, running up, his arms out to her, and laughed as she lifted the boy into her arms and danced around with him.

"Hello, Hvitserk," Eira said and put him down as she walked back towards her stepmother with joyful laughter, both hugging one another in a mother-daughter-loving embrace.

Aslaug laughed loudly, a slight blush on her face as her stepdaughter dramatically bent and kissed Aslaug's pregnant abdomen, whispering her silent but usual promise Eira had given to the unborn child each time Aslaug was pregnant. "You're still in trouble young lady, why were you out there without a wool wrap nor a cloak of fur. I thought I raised you better?" Aslaug began to scold her gently yet sighed as she looked at Eira's playful pout which ended with Aslaug gently smiling at her. Aslaug could never scold Eira for long, at least not yet, the young woman had not truly done anything to earn herself the glare and scolding she may get once she was older.

"I was looking for a gift for you if you must know, mother dearest."

"After six years I've never once heard you call me by name. And as much as my heart soars when I hear you call me mother, Eira, you must always remember that Lagertha is also your mother." Aslaug spoke softly to the young woman that had become so dear to her. Ubbe may have been her first-born son, first-born child. But Eira was the daughter in her heart Aslaug knew she could never bear in her belly. No matter how much she knew Lagertha's and Bjorn's leaving Eira behind had hurt the young woman, Aslaug was glad they had. Because she not only had two sons and another on the way, Aslaug got the chance to call Ragnar's daughter her own, claiming her as her daughter before the gods themselves and the very people they lived among. But no matter how much she loved hearing the young woman call her mother, she never wanted her to forget Lagertha.

Eira sighed at the conversation that seemed to always spur on her aggravation towards Lagertha and her older brother. "I love Lagertha, mother, but she left me. Though she was probably right. But you, Aslaug, have been more mother to me than she had been since before she left, she was exhausted and thin as it was with tasks needing to be tended to. It was not truly her fault. Bjorn was the one that abandoned me. If I'm being honest, I think it started to go down a bad path when she lost the child before Ragnar went to Gotaland. Lagertha was so broken, and Gyda and I had no idea how to help her, then my sister died, and Lagertha and Bjorn left, without so much of a goodbye -"

"Alright, I'm sorry I brought it up. But remember, your father did say Bjorn and she were beside themselves when they realized you weren't with him when he rushed out to them. Bjorn and your mother love you… They always will Eira. Just like I shall always love you. Now, no more hardships, your father is here." She smiled with small embarrassment, kissing her daughter's hairline of her temple. Aslaug took her seat happily with Eira sitting beside her, leaning against her chair on the fur rugs of the steps, allowing Aslaug to play with her long and beautifully grown blonde hair. "I'm always so jealous of your hair Eira, it's so lovely. Surely the gods blessed you so. Your father and I are already turning away suiters." Aslaug playfully teased the young woman, glad it had graced the already roaring room with gentle laughter's as Ragnar walked up with Hvitserk in his arms, announcing their Journey back to England in Spring with Jarl Borg and King Horik and sat in his chair after ruffling Eira's hair, getting a scolding look from Aslaug, "I was almost finished, Ragnar. Now I must start all over." Aslaug huffed rather annoyed. Though Ragnar didn't react at all to the glare, instead grinned and sat, accepting a bowl of food from a servant girl. She was a sweet girl, Eira liked her. The girl was funny and adventurous, though her father's instant fascination with the young woman's back story had driven Aslaug to more glares, assuming he wanted to take the young woman to bed.

Eira never understood why her stepmother felt that her father would do such a thing, though the idea that he had taken Aslaug's company while in Gotaland trying to settle the confrontation between Jarl Borg and King Horik seemed to give Eira the knowledge as to one possibility. Her father had willingly slept with Aslaug, he was on no raid, therefore their little saying "What happens on a raid stays there" did not exactly apply to the situation, he was away on business. And his little adventures had led to Bjorn's discouragement of the new wife of Ragnar and encouraged her brother in leaving, instead of staying. He wanted no part of his fathers' troubles at the time. To Bjorn, Aslaug had caused a rift in his family, and he wanted nothing to do with her.

Putting the past where it was, Eira sighed softly with small annoyance when her mother called for Hild to bring her more food, "I have to eat for two," Alsaug said softly, making a point to Eira's father. But her stern words to the girl had left the poor thing fearful she'd be sold for unintentionally offending the Princess. This had sent her parents into a bit of a silent argument until they went to bed.

"My lady Eira, please. Am I… Am I in trouble?" Hild asked fearfully later that night. With her chores done early, she had swiftly searched for the young lady of Ragnar's house, not wishing to ask the Princess in fear she'd be punished.

Confused at the sudden question, Eira stared at her with slight shock. "I do not believe so. But, for you, I will speak to my mother, calm her worries. You did nothing wrong, Hild. My father is just nosy. That's what got him into trouble."

Poor Hild's fears rose at the thought of Jarl Ragnar in the crosshairs of his wife had surely placed the young woman now in the line of rage of the pregnant wife. "But surely if he is now on the angry side of your mother, I too am on a more disposable side? Please, I beg you, do not let them sell me. I am safe here. Your family is0 the most generous of the ones I served previously." The dear girl begged with fear. Tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

"Hild, you continue to forget you are not a slave. Not anymore." Eira softly spoke to the frantic girl. She may only be fifteen herself, but she acted far from it. Hild likely being three years her senior in age, the two got along swimmingly. "Come, we are friends, yes?"

Her words brought a smile to Hild's sweet face, nodding she took the friendship with open arms. Surely being friends with the Jarl's only daughter was a great thing to happen to someone like her, she had no family since she was a child. Sold into a slave's life as a young child. But once bought by Lady Aslaug to attend to a fallen sick Eira at the age of ten, the young woman had formally, in front of everyone once better, announced that Hild was no Slave to the Jarl's house, but a free woman. Hild had stayed to serve in the household at the side of Eira and the rest of the family. They had treated her kindly, yet the moment Aslaug's words had been said to her, Hild felt fearful she'd be sent away.

"Truthfully Hild. My father likely took to asking about you because you just remind him of Gyda. I was not the only daughter of Ragnar once, I had an elder sister before and a brother. Both once loved me dearly, and I them." Eira's words were filled with sadness, her usually bright and cheerful royal blue eyes filling with sadness themselves and unshed tears.

Hild's curiosity had grown ten-fold. She had heard rumors of what had happened, all likely false. But how would she know? She wasn't from Kattegat, but Uppsala. "May I ask what happened?"

"She died, unfortunately, tragic really…" A sudden voice spoke into the darkening Great Hall, drawing both girls' attention to a still very much awake Aslaug. Hild's old instincts from being a slave much of her life and abused into pure submission had sent the young woman back into a fearful and rigid form. Jumping from her relaxed seat next to Eira and bowed her head low to the Pregnant Lady of the Jarl's household, "Eira, give me a moment alone with Hild, please." Aslaug spoke calmly, her eyes not straying for a moment from the servant girl until she had taken notice of her daughter's failure to listen to her, "Eira, go to bed… I will not tell you again, young lady."

Nodding with a soft sigh the fifteen-year-old stood from her seat and placed a comforting hand on Hild's arm, "Yes mother. Good night, mother. Good night Hild."

"Good night, daughter."

"Good night, my lady Eira." Hild's words were soft, timid, and frightened.

*** Thank you for reading, I hope you've all enjoyed it. Reviews are very welcomed, I always look forward to reading your thoughts. Is it too much? not enough? Is it predictable? Good or bad? What else you'd look forward to. What are your thoughts? What do you suppose may happen next? Stuff like that? Have a wonderful Day/Night!