Good evening everybody! I almost didn't get this edited on time, but here we are. I hope we've all enjoyed this weekend. It's never long enough.
Again, this follows up from the previous chapter, but we're also filling in some gaps from what I felt needed to be explained a little. I also wanted to have Lilith and Ragnar to have a little scene of their own, so I hope you like it. This chapter is in Lilith's perspective, so I tried to show how she noticed what was happening around her.
This is also a longer chapter, and there are longer chapters on their way.
More at the bottom. Enjoy!
Attack
The farm looked a hundred times more inviting than it had the first time Lilith had seen it when they all returned after only being in Kattegat a few days. Ragnar had not spoken at all, even as he and Athelstan carried the wooden case all the way to the long house and deposited it by the fire. He stormed out after that, and though she had never seen anyone behave this way, it was obvious he was upset. Well, he was much more than upset, but she had no other words for how he was acting.
"Do not worry, my child," Lagertha said as she shared a pouch of cured meat between her and Gyda and Bjorn. "Sometimes, Ragnar is like a bear. He is angry and nothing can stop him from being so. It is only for us to be here for him when he comes out of his anger. You have nothing to fear."
Lilith only glanced at Gyda and Bjorn, seeing they were accustomed to it and accepting what Lagertha said since she had no reason to believe otherwise.
"Now," Lagertha said. "We have something more important to discuss than my dear husband's mood. We must set aside time for you and Athelstan to show Gyda and Bjorn your materials we have brought from England. Would you like that?"
For the first time since the night before, Lilith smiled and nodded.
Lagertha reached out and caressed her cheek, looking toward the door and revealing that Athelstan had been standing there the whole time. She nodded for him to come closer, and he sat next to Lilith and Gyda with a smile to them both. Bjorn was the only one who remained silent, but at least he didn't object.
"For now," Lagertha decided, "I think some time in the evenings just before supper will be sufficient enough, and then later on, if you wish to do more, we can have time in the mornings after breakfast. We still have our chores, and we need to focus on those as well. Hmm?"
Lilith nodded, and Lagertha laughed softly, reaching for her hands and squeezing them gently.
"Finish eating, and then you and Gyda can go outside to feed the animals. I must speak with Athelstan and Bjorn before we all get too busy."
She looked at Athelstan curiously, but she didn't argue, settling in beside Gyda to finish her own food. There wasn't much, but once it was gone, Gyda led the way outside so they could do as they had been bid. It was still warm outside, but Lilith enjoyed it even if she knew it was mostly to keep her busy so she wouldn't worry about what was happening with Ragnar.
"Father doesn't do this often," Gyda said as they walked to the barn. "He's usually very calm, at least with me he is. And he will be with you as well. It is usually only with Bjorn that he gets irritated. Now that you and Athelstan are here, I am sure he will be patient with you both. We only have to give him time."
Lilith accepted this the same way she had accepted Athelstan's reaction to finding her marks, when he had all but cursed Father Cuthbert for having done it at all. She still remembered how angry he'd been, and she realized that Ragnar was acting the same way. Not because it had happened, but because he had not been able to stop it. Maybe Ragnar was more like Athelstan than she had believed in the beginning.
She and Gyda worked in the barn until it was time to eat again at noon, and they made their way back to the long house.
"Gyda," she said as they walked close together, "how long has Ragnar been fighting?"
Gyda's brow furrowed. "Fighting?" she asked.
Lilith tried to reword her question. "Exploring?" she asked. "What he was doing when he came to the monastery."
"You mean raiding?"
"Is that what it's called?" Lilith asked, and Gyda nodded.
"He's been doing it for as long as I can remember," Gyda explained. "Mother as well."
"Why do they do it?"
Gyda sighed softly. "It is simply the way it is here," she said. "All the men must provide for the rest of us, and sometimes, it is only by going to other places that they are able to do that. It isn't always safe, but we live however we can."
"Do you and Bjorn want to do it as well?" Lilith asked.
"Bjorn does," Gyda answered immediately. "He has been learning to fight from Father, and he has already received his arm ring that makes him a man."
That made Lilith pause a little, thinking of how Lagertha had called her a woman because of her bleeding. Athelstan still called her a little girl, which was fine with her, but it was curious how different things were here. Because he had chosen it, Bjorn was a man. But because of something Lilith had no control over, she was a woman. Could she not choose like Bjorn had?
"Do you want to raid as well, Gyda?" Lilith asked pointedly.
For half a minute, Gyda didn't answer her. Then she spoke softly. "Mother wants me to," she admitted. "And she has already begun to show me how to use a shield. But it will be many years before I will be as good as she is. And she says I can choose to be whatever I wish to be. What about you? Has Athelstan begun showing you to fight?"
"No," Lilith answered immediately. "Why would he? There was no need for him to. He has taught me to survive, but I had no need to fight before. Should I have learned by now?"
"Not necessarily," Gyda assured her. "And you can always learn. Mother will not mind teaching you. She will teach you to fight, and Athelstan will teach me and Bjorn to read and write like you do."
Lilith looked at Gyda, seeing her smile, and when she offered her hand, Lilith took it instantly, walking into the house together.
That night, before supper, Athelstan sat with Lilith, Gyda and Bjorn to show them everything that had been in the wooden case Ragnar had brought them. Lilith helped with the quills and brushes, and she showed Gyda the inks and paints. Bjorn didn't say much during this first lesson, especially since there wasn't much to do without getting into the words and images needed to teach anything. Gyda especially loved the paints and brushes, and she immediately wanted to know what they were used for. Athelstan showed her how colorful the paints were, and he drew her a goat from the barn so she could see what it looked like.
Ragnar didn't say anything the entire time they sat at the table looking through the materials he'd brought them. He barely ate anything, and when he finished, he left the house again to go outside. Lilith saw how angry he still was, but she didn't understand why he would not talk about it. She remembered when Athelstan had been angry at Father Cuthbert or Brother Cenwulf, but he had at least talked to her about it. And soon, his anger had abated. Ragnar just got angrier as the hours passed, and it looked like that was how he wanted it.
Lagertha didn't try to explain his behavior again, waiting until after supper to leave the house and follow her husband to wherever he had gone. When she came back, she announced it was time for bed.
"Is Father going to sleep outside?" Gyda asked as she and Lilith got ready for bed.
"Of course not, Gyda," Lagertha said and sighed. She helped Lilith with the strings of her dress, lifting it over her head and handing her a gown to sleep in before she helped Gyda. "But until his anger subsides, we must simply carry on as we normally would. Everything will be back to normal soon enough. Now, I want the two of you to get in bed and get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day. I can already see that."
Bjorn was already in the little alcove asleep when Lilith and Gyda climbed into their alcove. Lagertha waited until they were settled in to go get ready for bed herself. Lilith waited until Lagertha was gone to speak softly.
"Gyda, how often does Ragnar go raiding?" she asked.
After a minute, Gyda whispered back. "Only in the Spring and Summer. That is the only time when it's safe to cross the sea. Since he has already gone twice this summer already, I doubt if he will go out again. He probably will not. Are you worried about that?"
"He is so angry," Lilith said. "I have never seen anyone so angry."
Gently, Gyda took Lilith's hand in hers, comforting her easily. "Don't worry, Sister," she said and smiled. "Mother and I will protect you. Bjorn will protect you. And I'm sure Athelstan will protect you as well, as he surely always has."
"Both of you be quiet and go to sleep," Bjorn groaned.
Lilith couldn't keep from laughing, and Gyda laughed as well before they settled in. She relaxed easily, closing her eyes so she could get some sleep.
It was almost dawn when she woke up and needed to use the latrine, and she climbed over Gyda and Bjorn so she could hurry outside. It was a little colder outside than it had been the day before, and when she was coming back from the trees, she saw little flurries floating through the air. It was the first time in her life she had seen snow so early in the year, but winter was months away. Was this normal for this place?
When she stepped back into the house, she discovered Ragnar sitting by the hearth with a cup of ale, and when he saw her, she noticed his expression was much calmer than it had been. He reached for her, and she went to him without hesitating, smiling when he folded his arms around her and enveloped her in his warmth.
"You're awake early," he said softly.
"I had to go make water," she explained.
Ragnar grinned even as he furrowed his brow. "Is that what you call it in England?" he inquired.
Lilith shrugged. "I don't know. That's just always what Athelstan called it. I never did it where the other monks did it anyway. Athelstan was always careful to make sure none of them bothered me or really knew when I did it. They weren't very considerate about things like that."
He held her closer to him, kissing her head gently. "He's taken very good care of you," he said of Athelstan. He paused for a minute before continuing. "I am sorry I haven't been a good father to you since you arrived. That wasn't my intention. Forgive me."
Lilith sighed as she watched him drink more of his ale. "It's all right," she assured him. "I understand."
Ragnar laughed just once, squeezing her again. "And I'm sorry I've been so angry. It is not your fault. I will never be angry that you are here. Hmm?"
She nodded, and he kissed her head again before becoming quiet.
Several minutes passed as they sat there, and even though no one else was awake, Lilith felt the need to ask her next question as quietly as she could. "Ragnar?"
"Yes, my child?"
"How long does Athelstan have to remain a slave?" she asked, pleading.
He was quiet for a minute, probably, and Lilith thought he might not answer her. "That depends on him," he said after another minute.
Lilith thought on that for just a bit longer, responding quietly. "So he has to want to not be a slave?" she asked.
"In so many words," he concurred. "But it's also not up to me, dear one."
"Who decides who will not be a slave?" she pressed.
Ragnar stayed quiet still, and Lilith felt him take in a cleansing breath even when he pushed out an angry huff. "Earl Haraldson," he answered simply.
And just like that, his anger returned. Lilith could see it in his eyes, and when he clenched his jaw, she knew whatever calm had overcome him had passed. His hold on her tightened only a little before he nudged her away from him. Just as he did, Athelstan appeared at the front door, having also left and returned without either of them noticing. His hair was wet, and his tunic was wet in his hand, revealing his bare chest.
"Come and take her," Ragnar commanded in a low growl.
Athelstan didn't hesitate, hurrying forward and beckoning Lilith into his arms. She went without waiting, climbing onto the bench and allowing Athelstan to lift her up so her legs were wrapped around him. He did not struggle to hold her or even stumble once she was in place, holding her more securely than he ever had and cradling her head as Ragnar side-stepped them to leave.
"Where are you going?" Athelstan almost pleaded.
Ragnar did not answer him, storming out much like he had the day before. Lilith watched as she clung to Athelstan with both her arms.
"It's my fault," she confessed.
"No," Athelstan said and held her closer. "He's been angry since we left Kattegat. That's not your fault. Why would you say that?"
"Because of what I said," she explained. "Because I asked about you."
He furrowed his brow. "What about me?"
"I asked him how much longer you would have to be a slave," she revealed. "And when he told me, he said Earl Haraldson would have to decide that. And he was angry."
Athelstan sighed softly, rubbing her back absently. He moved away from the hearth toward the back of the house where Lagertha was still sleeping. "I'm grateful for your concern, Lili," he assured her. "But you shouldn't be worried about me. I know when we first arrived that I was frightened for you, but I'm not so much anymore. Lagertha and Ragnar have kept us safe, and whatever other people see me as, what matters is that we're together."
He held her closer, arriving at the bed where its occupant currently laid to one side. "And we are together, Lili. We're safe. So don't worry over me, please. Let me worry over you. All right?"
With her arms around his shoulders, Lilith held him tighter, only reluctantly letting go as he lowered her to the bed. The movement woke Lagertha easily, and she looked up to see them there.
"What is it?" she asked quietly.
"She needs to sleep a little longer, but I don't want her to wake Bjorn and Gyda."
Nothing else needed to be said as Lagertha pulled the furs back so Lilith would be able to lay with her. "Come, Lilith. And you, Athelstan," she ordered gently. "We all need our rest."
He hesitated, and it was clear he was thinking back to something she did not know about, and even if it looked innocent enough, Lilith knew there was a reason had not shared a bed all these years, even when she had been a baby.
Then Lagertha looked up at him and nodded pointedly for him to do as she said, and Lilith knew it wasn't a request. So for the first time in almost thirteen years, Athelstan climbed into the large bed with Lilith between him and Lagertha. Under the furs, it was warmer than it had been outside, and when Lilith snuggled up next to Athelstan, it got even warmer. Slowly, they both relaxed, forgetting why they'd never done this before now. Lilith lifted her hand to Athelstan's face just before he went to sleep, remembering her talk with Ragnar and hoping it became possible one day.
For over a week, nearly two, Ragnar fumed. Lilith watched as he barely ate or slept, and even if Lagertha was certain it would end soon, she did not modify any of their chores or meals. And she allowed Athelstan and Lilith to sit down with Gyda and Bjorn to teach them to read and write. They sat down before supper, and for an hour, they all learned to read the runes and carvings of the North.
Since Lilith had only just begun learning this language, she learned as well, helping Gyda with the letters and showing her how Athelstan had translated the shapes into letters. Gyda learned quicker than Bjorn did, but that was probably because he didn't think he had to learn as much since he was older. And whenever Ragnar appeared and disappeared, Bjorn followed him even if he was only outside doing menial things like chopping more wood for the fire.
Lilith saw this only because in addition to their lessons with Athelstan, they also had chores to do every day. She saw Bjorn watching Ragnar like he was waiting for something big to happen, and even if Athelstan was always close to make sure she and Gyda were safe, it was obvious he was worried as well. He always tried to look like everything was all right, but when Ragnar left the farm with his pallet and didn't come back for supper or breakfast the next morning, it seemed Athelstan couldn't keep from needing to know what was happening.
"What is Ragnar doing sitting on the hillside?" Athelstan asked as they sat eating supper on the second night Ragnar was gone from the house.
Lagertha looked up from her food, holding his gaze for probably half a minute before she looked at Lilith and then Gyda and Bjorn. Lilith could see she had gone through this before, but when Lagertha didn't have an answer, she went back to her food without a word. Lilith looked at Athelstan, but he didn't look satisfied with the answer he'd been given. He tried to smile at her, but the smile didn't reach his eyes, confirming her fear that it was worse than Lagertha had originally stated.
This went on for a couple of days, and Ragnar did not return. Lagertha changed chores for Lilith and Gyda, having them change out the hay for the horses and walk to the garden patch for vegetables. Lilith didn't mind the work. She was used to it after being on the island, but as every hour passed, she worried more about Ragnar. And slowly, she began to worry over Athelstan. It became obvious to Lilith that he was watching Ragnar and his worry over the man continued to grow as well.
"Come inside, daughters," Lagertha told them when they had enough bounty for their meal that night. "We must prepare supper. In case your father returns tonight."
Lilith sighed as she watched Athelstan, and when he glanced back at her with a small smile, she did as she was asked, following Gyda into the house so they could cut up the vegetables they'd picked.
They were just finishing when Athelstan came inside by himself, drawing all their attention and looking at Lagertha as she looked up at him.
"I know what he's doing," Athelstan announced. "He's preparing himself."
Just like before, she had no answer for him, even to disagree. When before she had remained quiet, this time, she glanced at Lilith and Gyda before turning back to him. "We need wood for the fire. Go and get some," she ordered with finality.
Athelstan glanced at Lilith, huffing but now knowing what he'd said had been confirmed. He didn't say anything else, turning and leaving to do as he'd been told.
Ragnar didn't return for supper that night, much to Lagertha's irritation, and she sent Lilith, Gyda and Bjorn to bed right after they finished eating. She left the house afterward, staying outside for so long that it seemed like she had gone to find Ragnar. For another night, Lilith found that she couldn't sleep, and she climbed out of the bed with Gyda and Bjorn, finding Athelstan as he slept by the fire.
She didn't realize that he wasn't sleeping either until she noticed his eyes barely closed. Normally, she would sit on him to wake him, like when he had been teaching her to swim at the monastery. But she could already see how worried he was, and she didn't want to make it worse, sitting in front of him and touching his face so he would look at her.
"You should be sleeping, Lili," he chastised. "It's too late for you to be up right now."
"I can't sleep," she informed him. "Sit up. It's cold."
Reluctantly, he followed her command, reaching for her and allowing her to sit inside his arms so the fire would warm them both. He rubbed her arms like he always did, pressing his cheek to hers even if half his face was as cold as it was outside.
"Athelstan, I'm worried," she said after a minute.
He sighed as he squeezed her against him, kissing the side of her head. "I know you are. I'm worried as well. I don't know what's about to happen, and that scares me. For you. And for Gyda and Bjorn. But no matter what happens, Lagertha and I will keep you safe. I swear."
It was quiet for another minute, and just when he was about to get up and put her back to bed, Lagertha returned, discovering them there and sighing heavily as she disrobed to her night gown. She didn't order him to send Lilith to bed or even to go to bed himself. She simply reached for Lilith's hand to pull her from the fire.
"Come on, both of you. You will both be useless tomorrow if neither of you get any sleep."
When before he had hesitated, there was none of that as Athelstan stood up with Lilith and followed Lagertha back to the bed she shared with Ragnar. Lilith lay between them, facing Athelstan so she could watch him.
"Ragnar will come back tomorrow," Lagertha told them both. "I believe the bear in him has calmed enough for him to rejoin the world. And we will have much to do, as winter will be soon, and we must prepare. So both of you sleep."
Lilith relaxed slowly, in Lagertha's arms as she held her securely. Slowly, her eyes began to droop, and she felt Athelstan's hand on her cheek before she fell asleep.
Just as Lagertha said, Ragnar returned the next morning, and while he wasn't in a much better mood, he still sat with them to eat breakfast and smiled at Lilith and Gyda so they would know it was all right. Lagertha looked pleased enough, and when breakfast was finished, she showed Lilith and Gyda where the loom stood with a half-woven piece of fabric.
"This," Lagertha gestured to the loom, "is how we make most of our clothes. We keep all the fabric here, and we can trade for more when a special piece of clothing is needed. Like armor for the men and wedding dresses for the women. And this," she said, reaching behind the loom and revealing a simple green dress, "is for you."
Lilith reached for the dress with a smile on her face, the same way she had when Athelstan had given her the blue dress she still wore. It was only the second time anyone had given her anything that was hers alone, and she looked up at Lagertha, seeing the woman smiling as well.
"Do you like it?" she asked even though it was obvious she knew the answer.
"It's beautiful," Lilith gushed.
"Here," Lagertha said and handed her the dress. "You will have two dresses. Just like Gyda. Now," she said, "both of you change out of your sleeping gowns and go check on the chickens. Maybe we will have a special supper tonight now that Ragnar has returned."
They all moved to leave the loom when Ragnar came in through the side door alone. He looked at each of them before he spoke.
"The Priest and I are going fishing," he announced and left.
Lagertha sighed without saying anything, pressing her lips together and looking at Gyda and then Lilith. "Go on," she urged. "Lots of work to do today."
She left them to that, disappearing toward the front of the house where it was clear she was trying to follow Ragnar.
Gyda helped Lilith with her new dress, and they put away their gowns before leaving the house to check on the animals. They fed the goats and the pigs before Gyda decided they could walk up to the garden to pick more carrots and onions for supper that night. Lilith's new dress was heavier and warmer than her blue dress had been, and her shoes matched the stitching on the dress. As she worked, she wondered how long it would be before she could have a new one like when she had at the monastery.
"Gyda," she said as they picked vegetables. "How do you tell what month it is?"
Gyda was quiet for a minute before she spoke. "Mostly by the moon. I know some women call their monthly bleeding Moon Blood. Why? Is it nearly time for yours again?"
"No," Lilith said quickly. "I do not think that will be for another week or two. But I wondered what month it was. It has been a few months since we came here, hasn't it?"
"It has," Gyda agreed. "Why?"
Lilith hesitated a little, thinking of the time that had gone by and how busy they had all been. Gyda looked back at her, still questioning. Lilith sighed. "It's because of my birthday," she said.
Slowly, Gyda moved to be in front of her. "When were you born?" she asked.
"Athelstan says it was at the beginning of Autumn. So that's always when we celebrated it. We have been so busy. I did not think of it until today when Lagertha gave me my dress. Do you think Athelstan told her?"
"It's possible," Gyda shrugged. "Father said you were twelve when you arrived. So this means you are thirteen now?"
"I suppose it does," Lilith agreed.
It was quiet for a minute, and then Gyda smiled. "Well, I always wanted an older sister," she revealed. "So now I have one."
That made Lilith smile as well, and Gyda moved forward to take the basket of vegetables from her.
"Come, Big Sister. We should get these back to Mother so she can start cooking for supper."
That was the last thing that was said before they walked back to the house.
When they made it back, Lilith noticed that the boat was back on the beach and the fishing cages were empty, but when she stepped inside with Gyda, she saw only Lagertha and Athelstan inside getting everything ready to cook.
"Where is Father?" Gyda asked.
"He's gone hunting," Lagertha informed her. "For a buck, possibly. If he has a good hunt, we will have a great deal of meat for the winter. Come. We will cut up these vegetables, and then Gyda, you will show Lilith how to spool the fabric and threads for a new dress."
Neither of them complained, moving around to do what she asked.
"Athelstan," Lilith said after giving the vegetables to Lagertha, "did you see my new dress?"
He smiled as she did a twirl for him. "It's beautiful, Lili," he chuckled.
She sat down next to him as he sat across from Lagertha. "It's warmer than my blue dress as well."
"That's good," he nodded. "It's getting colder out, and so you need a warmer dress."
She thought about mentioning her birthday to him, but she decided it wasn't important now that Ragnar had rejoined them. There would always be more birthdays.
It turned out that spooling was the easiest thing to do on the farm, even though Gyda made sure Lilith knew how important it was for the fabric and threads to all match since they had to do specific things in any of the clothes made with them. And they had a special place in the house where it all stayed so it wouldn't get dirty. Of everything she had learned to do since she learned to read at four years old, spooling was strangely the most fun thing she'd done. And when she laughed about this, Gyda did as well.
The house was quiet outside everyone working on their individual tasks, and Bjorn left to replace the fishing traps in the boats outside while Lagertha and Athelstan began putting food into the pot for their supper. Lilith wondered when Ragnar would return, but she knew he would be back to eat, so she didn't worry.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until they all heard screaming outside the house. And then there was shouting, and Lagertha hurried to the side door to see what the commotion was about.
"We're under attack," she exclaimed. "Bjorn!"
She realized he wasn't in the house and turned to Athelstan. "Get Bjorn," she ordered.
He glanced at Lilith and nodded for her to stay, turning and leaving the house quickly.
"Girls," Lagertha said, beckoning them to her. She passed the knife in her hand to Gyda. "Take this. Stay together."
She grabbed a sword and then a shield, turning to the door as Athelstan and Bjorn came back. "Bjorn, your sword. Give Athelstan your father's ax over there."
He didn't hesitate, doing as she asked and standing behind her so they all faced the door. "What should we do?" he pleaded. "Should we run?"
"No," she huffed. "We fight. We must stay strong, and when your father comes back, he will know what to do."
Bjorn didn't argue, glancing at Athelstan and then Gyda and Lilith.
The screams and shouts outside the house got louder and closer, until they were right outside the door. Lilith couldn't help but remember the day Ragnar had come to the monastery, and all the other monks who had been killed inside the walls of the monastery. She remembered the blood and bodies, and she was squeezing Gyda's hand before she realized it.
Ragnar burst through the door less than half a minute later, wounded and bleeding like all those monks and barely able to stand up.
Lagertha rushed to him, throwing her sword and shield away before she reached his side, holding him up. "You're hurt! What is happening?"
"We must get to the boat," he croaked out, groaning as he held his side with his bloody hand and nudging her toward the back of the house.
"Go," Ragnar shouted. "I'll be right behind you."
In the shuffle of trying to get out of the house through a crawlspace along the back wall, Athelstan disappeared and reappeared with Lilith's cloak and her journal, helping her and Gyda into the crawlspace behind Lagertha as Bjorn waited. Lilith followed Gyda and Lagertha all the way to the opening of the crawlspace before she looked back to see Athelstan and Bjorn behind her, but not Ragnar.
"Where's Ragnar?" she whispered.
Athelstan pressed his finger to his lips, telling her to be quiet, and they waited there until Lagertha said it was safe to go.
Together, they left their hiding spot and hurried across the grass, between men slaughtering the people in the farm and other men burning everything they could reach with torches. They reached the boat as it set tied up on an unnoticeable stretch of sand, and Lagertha helped Gyda and Lilith into the boat before climbing in herself.
"Get down, girls," she said, sitting in the bottom of the boat as Bjorn and Athelstan climbed in after shoving away from the beach. "Athelstan, hold onto my son."
Once they were all in the bottom of the boat, they drifted over the water. Lilith held Gyda's hand still, keeping her eyes shut and trying to forget the memories of the dead monks that she would probably always remember. Lagertha held them both, not speaking or moving for several minutes until they smelled the smoke. Athelstan sat up first, and then Lagertha did. When Lilith looked, she saw the house burning.
She looked down and saw that she was wearing the green dress that Lagertha had given her just that morning, and she realized that her blue dress was still inside the house as it burned. She looked at Athelstan, and then he looked at her, seeing the same thing before he pulled her into his arms to hold her.
"Where is Father?" Gyda asked.
They all looked around then, drifting passed the burning house and the rest of the farm before they were surrounded by high cliff faces. Lilith looked all along the tops of the edges, not seeing anything and worried they may be drifting the wrong direction.
"There he is!" Lagertha cried.
They looked in the same direction she was, and there, atop of the nearest cliff, Ragnar stood on the very edge. It looked like he was covered in more blood, if that was possible, and just before Lagertha could say anything else, Ragnar tipped over the edge of the cliff and fell into the water.
Bjorn scrambled to the edge of the boat. "Where is he? Do you see him?"
Lilith looked with Gyda, holding the oars of the boat as Lagertha peered over the bow into the water.
Before she could do anything, Athelstan nudged her out of the way and dove into the water. Lilith hurried to where he'd been, only stopped by Lagertha as she watched the water.
"It's all right, Lilith," she assured her.
Seconds passed as Athelstan remained in the water before he broke the surface with Ragnar in his arm.
"Father!" Gyda exclaimed.
The instant that Athelstan was within arm's reach, Lagertha reached over the boat and helped hoist Ragnar into the hull. He flopped on the hull like a dead fish, oozing blood from his shoulder and his leg, and Lagertha sprung forward.
She ripped the hem of her dress and nodded for Gyda and Lilith to help her. "We must put pressure on these," she instructed. "Come. It is all right."
"Where should we go?" Athelstan asked as he knelt at Ragnar's feet.
Lagertha looked at him and then Bjorn, nodding to her son.
"Floki's," Bjorn announced. "Grab that oar, Priest. It's not far."
Together, they sat over the middle seat, each taking an oar and turning the boat around to go south instead of north. It took them a few rows to be in sync, but once they were, the boat quickly moved in the direction they wanted.
Lilith watched them for just a few seconds before she turned to help Lagertha with Ragnar's wounds. Wherever they were going, she hoped it was safe for her and Athelstan. She hoped it was safe for Ragnar with him being hurt so badly.
She prayed silently for Ragnar to be healed.
She had just started getting to know him. She wasn't ready to lose him.
I'm just finishing up a big chapter toward the end of the story here, and I've started expanding the world around our characters to see much I can add to it for a more well-rounded story.
Thanks to everyone who's reading. I hope you're enjoying it. Thank you to everyone following this and putting it in their favorites, and especially to everyone who has left a review.
*I'm gonna have to set a timer for next week so I won't post the next chapter so late.
Until next time!
