Hello, lovely readers! First off, I would like to apologize for the time lapse between updates – I just couldn't seem to make this chapter come out! But then one day, poof! My muse came back and the words started flowing again. The season three premiere had a lot to do with that, I think!
Anywho, I want to say thank you to all of you who have added this story to your alert/favorite list. It's your support that keeps this story alive! I'd also like to say an even bigger thank you to those who take the time to review! Your feedback is much appreciated, so keep it coming!
That's enough from me, though! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Vikings!
Chapter Nine
Signe closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath through her nose, basking in the feeling of the afternoon sun warming her skin. When she opened her eyes, she was met with the pretty sight of the Kattegat sea stretching out before her, its waves gently rolling here or there, disturbed only by a few small boats of fisherman. Signe admired the scenery for a few more moments, taking comfort in the fresh air and bright sun, then returned her attention the cloak she'd been washing for the past half hour.
For the past three days, Signe had hardly left the barn that the wounded warriors had been staying in and had kept a near constant watch over her brother, Gunnar. Despite having shown small signs of improvement upon first arriving, he was still a very long way from being fully recovered and, as Hallsteinn had predicted, was not having an easy time on his road to healing. He was very weak, ate very little, and slept often. When he was awake, Gunnar was in so much pain that he was hardly coherent, seeing things that were not there and speaking of things that nobody else understood. It not only greatly saddened Signe to see her brother in such a state, but it left little room for hope that he would survive his injuries. Yet she and her brothers never gave up on him and continued to hang on to what little shred of optimism they had, telling themselves and reassuring each other that Gunnar was strong and that he would not give up the fight to live.
Though caring for Gunnar took up much of her time, he had not been the only one that Signe had been tending to since arriving in Kattegat. The local town healer helped with their wounded as much as she could, but between the injured warriors and the everyday needs of the Kattegat villagers, it was difficult for her to handle the workload all by herself. So Signe, having learned enough from her mother to feel qualified to help, had leant her time and knowledge and had been helping to care for the other wounded Hedeby warriors as well. The work wasn't always easy and usually meant long, sleepless nights of seeing to the needs of others, but in spite of all that, Signe relished in it. She liked taking care of other people, liked making a difference. And if it meant keeping herself busy enough to where she did not constantly fret and worry over whether or not her brother was going to live, she was more than happy to do whatever she needed to.
Yet it was that constant workload that had landed her where she was now – sitting on the shore of the Kattegat Sea and finally taking the time to scrub the bloodstains from her brother's wounds out of Torstein's red cloak. It had not escaped the noticed of Hallsteinn and Garik that Signe was working herself to the bone. Around noon the two of them, having grown worried for her well-being, had demanded that she take some time for herself and all but forced her out of the barn, telling her to get some fresh air and not to return for the rest of the afternoon. She had tried to resist, uncomfortable with the idea of leaving her brother and their wounded comrades for too long of a time, but they had insisted that they would watch over everyone and had sent her on her way. There had been no room to argue with them then. Signe had reluctantly conceded and left the barn, but not without grabbing Torstein's cloak first – if her brothers were going to kick her out, she was at least going to be somewhat productive. It was high time she washed it and returned it to Torstein anyway.
Signe's brows furrowed with concentration as she pulled the red garment from the water, being careful not to damage the wolf pelt, and began scrubbing at a particularly stubborn stain with some soap she'd purchased in the market. It was therapeutic in a strange way, washing the remnants of her brother's blood away. It felt almost as if she was washing away the memory of that day, or as if by cleaning the blood from this cloak it would somehow make her brother stronger. Signe sighed, however, knowing it wasn't as simple as all that. The only way Gunnar would get stronger was by giving him time to heal, and the vivid memory of finding him on the battlefield looking pale as death was not one she was going to soon forget. She knew she'd think of it any time she saw this cloak on Torstein's back.
In an attempt to not worry over her brother any more than she already had been, Signe pushed her concerns over his health aside for the moment and instead let her mind wander to the owner of the cloak himself. She had not seen much of Torstein over the past few days, which she couldn't say surprised her very much. Of course he would be busy – he had just returned to his home after raiding in England and fighting in a battle. He had responsibilities and obligations in Kattegat. He had friends here, perhaps even family that he needed to look after. Surely he had more important things to do with his time than seek out a shieldmaiden he hardly knew for a bit of company.
But something told her that being busy with everyday duties wasn't the sole reason behind her and Torstein's sudden lack of interactions. Just because she hadn't seen much of him, that didn't mean she hadn't seen him at all. She had seen him at the celebration when they had first returned to Kattegat. The next night, when she and Hallsteinn decided Garik needed to get fresh air and dragged him to Earl Ragnar's hall for the dinner being held there, Torstein had been there too, seated next to Floki and a pretty blonde haired woman while they dined. And just yesterday, when she had stepped out for a brief moment to get some food and water for the wounded, she had passed Torstein in the market as he was returning from a morning hunt. Their paths had crossed, but Torstein was treating her differently. Instead of coming to speak to her like he had anytime they'd seen each other in camp, now she was lucky if he acknowledged her presence at all. Now all he did was give a nod of his head and then continue on with whatever he was doing, as if she were a complete stranger.
If she didn't know any better, Signe would think that Torstein was distancing himself her. And for a reason that she couldn't quite place her finger on, the possibility of that bothered her a little. Just judging by the interactions they'd had prior to coming to Kattegat, she had thought perhaps that a friendship was forming between them. They had helped one another both on and off the battlefield, they got along well enough, and Torstein had seemed as though he was genuinely concerned for not only her well-being, but her brothers' as well. He had seemed like he'd cared.
Now, well…she wasn't sure what to think anymore.
There was an even more troubling matter at hand, though, because Torstein had not been the only one making himself scarce these past few days. Another man had been surprisingly absent as well – Bjorn.
He had come to check in on Gunnar often at first, but ever since she had delivered the news that her brother was – somewhat – on the mend, Bjorn's visits had been less frequent. She'd seen him maybe twice in just as many days, which was strange in and of itself considering how close Bjorn was to her and her brothers. Normally they didn't go more than a few hours without finding a way to see each other.
Signe wanted to feel upset with him over it, especially so because Gunnar was in such bad condition and she felt Bjorn should be showing a bit more concern about that than he currently was. But she tried as hard as she could to push any feelings of resentment away, and, for the most part, succeeded in doing so by reminding herself that Bjorn was back home for the first time in four years. There would be many people he'd want to see – like his father and his younger brothers, for example – and many things he'd want to do to reacquaint himself with his homeland. She could not expect him to be by their side every moment of every day, regardless of the circumstances.
The fact that she and Bjorn had not yet discussed their kiss before the battle did nothing to help her feelings, either. Signe wished to talk about what had happened and wanted to know what it all meant, but there just never seemed to be the right time to bring it up. With Bjorn readjusting to being home and with Signe tending to Gunnar and the rest of the wounded, a kiss between two friends just didn't seem like an important matter to worry over. But secretly, she was worrying over it. She worried that he regretted what had happened. She worried that Bjorn had only kissed her back because they'd been on the brink of going into battle and he had not been thinking clearly. Most of all, she worried that Valborg had been right when he'd said that he thought Bjorn didn't reciprocate her feelings, and that by kissing him, she might have successfully scared him away.
Signe stopped washing Torstein's cloak for a moment to rub the heel of her palm into her forehead, feeling a headache coming on as a result to the many thoughts swirling through her head. This was not what she was supposed to be doing – she had come out here to get fresh air and try to clear her thoughts, not so she could fret even more and worry herself to death over questions she had no answers to. There were far more important things to worry about, like the brother who was dancing the line between life and death and the many hurt comrades in the barn not so far away. With a feeling of determination, Signe shoved any lingering thoughts of Bjorn or Torstein to the back of her mind for now and resumed her task, trying to think about something else – anything else – as she set to work on Torstein's cloak again.
Once she had gotten the cloak as clean as it could be, she then laid it out on some nearby rocks to dry underneath the sun. Since she was positive her brothers would not allow her back into the barn yet, Signe decided that while she waited for the cloak to dry she might as well try to catch up on some of the sleep she'd been missing out on. So she made herself comfortable right there on the sandy beach and settled in for a nap. Though it took a while to make her own thoughts quiet down, eventually she was lulled to sleep by the comforting sounds of the sea.
She woke a few hours later, slightly sunburned but feeling refreshed from her nap. Upon checking the cloak, she determined that it had dried well enough to be delivered back to its owner. After coming to the decision that she had been away long enough to satisfy her brothers, Signe folded the cloak and then started back in the direction of the village, her intention being to try and find Torstein so she could return the garment to him before going back to the barn to check on everyone and resume her healing duties.
It was late afternoon now, but the village of Kattegat was still as active as it had been when Signe had passed through earlier. With the addition of all the Hedeby warriors still lingering in the area, the town was even busier than it might have normally been. People loitered around vendors and carts every direction she looked, some perusing goods to possibly buy while others merely stood around chatting with the locals. Signe nodded to those she recognized and exchanged greetings whenever she was spoken to, but otherwise did not stop to talk with anyone for too long. She was anxious to find Torstein and then get back to the barn as quickly as possible so that could check on Gunnar and the wounded – she never liked being away from them for too long.
Signe reached Earl Ragnar's hall soon enough and found the double doors open to the public, as they often were. She approached the hall with some hesitation and stopped just outside, unsure whether she was free to enter as she pleased. Signe decided not to go inside and instead just peered into the hall, seeing that it was relatively empty, save for a few men that she recognized from the battle. Unfortunately, the man she was looking for was not one of them. Torstein was not there.
With a sigh and a slight frown, Signe decided she'd look for Torstein some other time and turned to leave. But she barely made it five steps, however, when her attention was caught by the sight of a tall, familiar figure with golden hair emerging from the crowd. It was Torstein. He was walking in her direction, but he was not alone. On his arm was a pretty, blonde-haired maiden whom Signe recognized. Her name was Dísa, and she was a fellow shieldmaiden from Hedeby, the same one that had expressed interest in Torstein when they'd been in the bathhouse prior to the victory celebration.
Signe watched as they walked and talked, knowing in an instant that their conversation was likely far from just a friendly chat between two comrades. The way Dísa smiled up at Torstein and the way she leaned into his shoulder was too flirtatious to be anything friendly, and judging by the wide grin beneath Torstein's beard, it was clear he was more than accepting of it. He kept one of the shieldmaiden's hands tucked into the crook of his elbow as they walked, the fingers of his free caressing the top of her hand, then moving to toying with a strand of her hair. He then leaned down to say something in her ear that immediately had the blonde beauty giggling into her hand, the look in her eyes nothing short of mischievous. When they were barely ten feet from Signe, Dísa suddenly pulled Torstein to a halt, placed her hands on either side of his neck, then pulled his head down for a kiss that he was happy to reciprocate, neither seeming to care that they were in public and within plain view of many people.
As surprised as Signe was by the display, she could not seem to look away. She stood rooted to the spot and watched as the two kissed with gusto, a strange, unpleasant feeling taking root at the pit of her belly. Finally, after a few minutes, Signe decided that she had gawked long enough and made to leave the area as quickly as possible, preferably before they stopped and caught her staring at them. But just as she started to leave, Torstein and the shieldmaiden separated and his eyes turned in Signe's exact direction, as though he'd known she was standing there the whole time. Feeling as though she'd been caught doing something wrong, an embarrassed Signe turned her gaze elsewhere and hastened to leave. Torstein, however, wasn't going to let her leave so quickly.
"Signe?," he called after her, pulling away from Dísa long enough to take a step in her direction.
Signe stopped, closed her eyes for a moment, then sucked in a deep breath before turning to face Torstein again. "Good afternoon, Torstein," she said, forcing her tone to remain neutral. "And to you as well, Dísa," she added, nodding to the shieldmaiden. Dísa nodded back, but not without looking back and forth between Signe and Torstein with slight confusion. She looked like she was trying to figure out how they knew one another.
"Good afternoon," Torstein responded, his full attention on Signe now. "Were you looking for Earl Ragnar?," he asked, glancing toward the Earl's hall. "He is not in at the moment."
Signe, cheeks still aflame, shook her head. "No, I was not," she answered. "Actually I vas…looking for you," she said, which seemed to surprise both Torstein and Dísa. "I came to return your cloak," she explained, glancing pointedly down at the freshly washed cloak within her grasp before moving to give it to him. "Forgive me for taking so long. I have been quite busy these past few days," Signe apologized, handing the garment over to him.
Torstein looked down at the cloak as he took it from her, then looked back up at Signe. The searching look in his eyes when their gazes met unnerved her and left her with the strong urge to look down at her own feet, but somehow she managed to hold his stare. "There is nothing to forgive, I know you have been busy tending to your brother and the rest of the wounded," he told her with a nod of his head. "Thank you for washing my cloak. And for returning it to me."
Signe nodded, then an awkward silence fell over the three of them. While Torstein continued to stare at her, the expression on his face difficult to decipher, Signe glanced over at Dísa, whose expression was quite clear. The blonde seemed to have gotten over her confusion and was now eyeing her with a sort of predatory, territorial suspicion, as though she thought Signe was trying to do something to steal Torstein's attention away. It was the sort of look that Signe didn't like being on the receiving end of, which had her quickly determining that it was time to leave. She didn't particularly want to linger around anyway, not with the way the conversation was currently going.
"I must go now," she said to break the tense silence surrounding them. "The wounded in the barn need me, I am sure." She gave a quick, jerky nod to Torstein. "Have a good day." And before either could say anything else Signe brushed past the two in departure, hurrying off before she could be stopped again.
The awkward interaction with Torstein and Dísa replayed in her mind as Signe continued on to the barn, making her frown to herself with embarrassment and confusion. Why had Dísa seemed so threatened by her? And why had Torstein been looking at her the way he had? What did it mean? Signe also couldn't seem to push the image of the two kissing from her mind, no matter how hard she tried to. Now she understood why Torstein had been distant the past few days – he'd been too busy running around with Dísa to give Signe a second thought. But truth be told, she wasn't entirely sure how to feel about this new revelation. There were several different feelings that had begun swirling around in her belly, but her reeling mind was have a difficult time pinpoint what any of them actually were. Shock? Perhaps. Confusion? Definitely. Astonishment? Maybe a little. After all, when had Torstein and Dísa even met?
There was still something else burning in her belly, though, something that she had felt before. She had felt it whenever other girls looked at Bjorn in that certain way, and she had felt it when Dísa had first mentioned being interested in Torstein. That something felt suspiciously like jealousy…but that couldn't be it, could it? What did she care if Torstein was kissing another woman? It wasn't as if she was interested in him romantically. She and Torstein were comrades, allies, perhaps – to some extent – friends. Her heart had, and always would, belong to Bjorn.
Signe thought about it a little harder, then came to the conclusion that if she was jealous, it was only because she was envious of the affection she had witnessed. The attention she had seen Torstein bestow on the shieldmaiden was the exact sort of attention Signe craved from Bjorn. She wanted him to look at her the way Torstein had looked at Dísa, wanted him to be close to her and touch her hair and kiss her lips. Yes, there was no doubt in her mind that Bjorn was the one she wanted, not Torstein. Dísa could have the man, if that's what she wanted. Signe had no plans to fight the woman for him.
Signe was finally able to forget about Torstein and Dísa when she reached her destination. She stepped into the barn and, as usual, was hit with the putrid scent of blood and unwashed human flesh. Though there had been more wounded in the beginning, now there were only about a dozen recovering warriors lying in various places around the barn – the rest had either healed enough to join their comrades in a separate barn on the opposite side of town or, in several cases, had left this world and gone to join the Gods in Valhalla. Signe stopped to check on a few who looked a little worse off than others, made sure they had water and food nearby should they need it, then continued on to the far corner, where she knew she would find her brothers.
Out of the wounded still left, Gunnar was, without question, in the most critical condition. Where most of the others had recovered enough to be able to eat, drink, and move around under their own strength, Gunnar was lucky if he could remain awake long enough for Signe or one of her brothers to force bread or water down his throat. The healer seemed to think that the rest of the wounded would be mostly, if not fully, recovered soon enough, but whenever she came by to check on Gunnar, there always a look in her eyes that left an unsettling feeling in Signe's stomach. The healer might not have said it aloud so as to spare disheartening Signe and her brothers, but it was clear she did not expect Gunnar to survive for much longer.
As Signe approached the spot where Gunnar was, she saw Garik wiping his twin's head with a rag while Gunnar, looking sallow and sweaty, moaned painfully and writhed a bit on his pallet. Hallsteinn, she noticed, was not present.
"How is he?" Signe asked, kneeling down next to them and looking her injured brother over.
Garik sighed and shook his head, looking frustrated. "He burns again," he informed her.
Signe frowned and peeled back the blankets lying on top of Gunnar. He shivered as soon as the air hit him, which made her instantly feel guilty, but Signe dutifully ignored the feeling and moved Gunnar's shirt out of the way so she could push aside his bandages and inspect the large gash he'd sustained to his side. Because the wound had been bleeding so freely, they had been forced to heat the blades of their daggers and cauterize it closed upon returning from the battle so that Gunnar would not end up bleeding to death. Though it had worked, treating wounds in this way greatly increased the chances of infection, which is exactly what appeared to have happened. The skin around the burned wound looked bad, having turned an angry red color, but the smell coming from the wound itself was worse. With a grimace, Signe noticed that yellow puss was beginning to seep through the dark scabs of his cauterized gash.
"The wound is infected," Signe said with a sigh, looking up at Garik as she pulled her dagger from her boot to cut Gunnar's old bandages off and then toss them away. "I feared this would happen." With a sigh, she reached for the nearby pile of clean bandages she'd stocked up and grabbed a few from the top. "Hand me that, would you?," she instructed, nodding to the skin of ale next to Garik. "And I vill need you to hold him down as well," Signe added. "This is going to hurt and I do not want him thrashing about."
Garik frowned, then wordlessly handed the skin of ale over before scooting closer to Gunnar and firmly pressing him down by the shoulders. After he nodded to signal that he had his brother secure, Signe pulled the stopper from the ale and poured a generous amount on his wound. As she suspected, the sting of the potent alcohol hitting his wound jerked Gunnar from his sleep. His eyes popped open before slamming shut as he released a loud sound of pain, his body jolting in protest. Garik gritted his teeth and pressed harder against Gunnar's shoulders to keep him still while Signe doused some cloth in the ale and began to wipe at the wound as gently as she could, trying to get it as clean as possible. Gunnar continued to voice his discomfort while Signe worked, groaning with pain and, occasionally, crying out.
"I am sorry, Gunnar," Signe apologized sincerely, hating herself for causing him pain but knowing it had to be done if he was going to get better. "I am nearly finished. Be strong just a little longer."
When she finally finished cleaning his wound a few minutes later, Signe motioned for Garik to lift him so that she could tie a new bandage around his middle. Gunnar cried out again as his twin lifted him, but he didn't struggle. Signe, working as fast as she could, wrapped the long bandage around his waist several times so that his wound would be protected, then tied it off. Once the bandage was secure, Garik gently lowered his brother back down to the ground.
Gunnar sighed in relief once they were finished, his chest heaving from the treatment he'd just received. Signe, overcome with sympathy, smoothed back his hair before reaching for a nearby pitcher of water so that she could fill up a cup. "Drink some water," she said, lifting Gunnar's head with one hand and pressing the cup to his lips with the other. "That is it. Good," Signe encouraged as Gunnar took a few small, timid sips.
When he could drink no more, Signe lowered his head back down to let him rest again. As Gunnar's breathing evened out again and his body relaxed, Signe raised her eyes to look at Garik, who was staring back at her with a troubled expression. Though he said nothing aloud, she knew the fear in his eyes and knew what worried him so. It was the exact same fear and concern that she felt, feelings that only worsened as the days passed and Gunnar continued to struggle.
"Where is Hallsteinn?" Signe asked, hoping that if they talked of something else that it might help them both stop worrying so much.
Garik glanced down at Gunnar one last time, then sighed and relaxed again, leaning back against the wall of the barn. "I do not know," he answered in an unenthusiastic tone. "Earl Ragnar came to collect him some time ago."
Signe's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Earl Ragnar?," she repeated, curiosity quickly filling her. Garik nodded in confirmation. "What for?," she demanded to know, not sure she knew why Ragnar Lothbrok would be seeking out her second eldest brother. They had gone on the mission to burn the food supply in Kattegat together prior to the battle, but other than that, they did not know one another. Not well, anyway.
"I do not know that either," Garik answered with a shrug. "We shall have to wait to find out vhen he returns."
Signe nodded her understanding, then stood and stepped around Gunnar so that she could settle in next to Garik. For a moment she let her eyes stray around the barn, her gaze moving from injured man to injured man, the silence of the barn broken here or there by sporadic coughs. Signe then looked to Garik, who was staring unblinkingly at his twin. Signe knew he had not been sleeping well, there was evidence enough of that in the bags under his eyes and the pallid tone to his skin.
"You should rest, Garik," she told him, reaching over to squeeze his arm.
Garik tore his gaze from Gunnar to look at her. "I am fine," he answered, though his weary tone stated otherwise.
"No, you are not," Signe countered. "Go to sleep, brother. You need it. I vill watch over Gunnar in the meantime. Here," she said, stretching out her legs and then patting the tops of her thighs. "You may use my legs for a pillow."
Garik thought it over for a moment, then gave a begrudging nod and moved his tall body around until he was stretched out on his back with his head resting atop her legs. Once he was settled and comfortable, Signe moved a hand to his head and began to gently rub the space between his eyebrows with the pad of her thumb in slow, soothing strokes. Almost instantly, the tense muscles of Garik's body began to relax. "Mother used to do this for us," he mused aloud without opening his eyes, his voice already sounding heavier with the swift approach of sleep.
"I know," she said, smiling fondly at the memory of her mother doing this very thing for her when she'd been a girl. If she and her brothers had ever been sick or had trouble falling asleep, this had been Gunnhild's favorite way of bringing them comfort. Often time there had been a song or a story accompanied with it, too. Just thinking about her mother's singing voice made Signe's heart clench – oh, how she wished she could hear her mother sing again.
"I had forgotten how nice it felt," Garik admitted, some of the worry lines in his forehead disappearing as she continued smoothing her thumb between his eyebrows. He paused for a moment, then asked in a hopeful, almost childlike voice, "Vill you sing, too? As she used to?"
"Of course," Signe agreed, unable to tell him no.
She wracked her brain for a moment, then decided on a song that her mother had favored when they were younger, one that spoke about hope and perseverance and having faith that the Gods would see one through any troubles that came their way. It seemed fitting, given the circumstances. As Signe launched into the song, a smile ghosted across Garik's face and he let out a long sigh, this one sounding much more content. He wasn't the only one listening in either – Signe noticed that several of the men in the barn had turned toward her, looking as though they were enjoying the song just as much as Garik was. Signe blushed a bit, but did not let the attention stop her. She just turned her attention back down to her brother and continued to sing until he finally drifted off to sleep.
It was another hour before Hallsteinn finally returned to the barn. As he strode into the barn and made his way over to where she and the twins were, Signe could tell that his meeting with the Earl, whatever it might have been about, had gone well. His expression was fairly neutral, but the fire of excitement in his eyes was difficult to miss.
"Garik," Signe said, gently shaking her brother's shoulder. "Garik, wake up." It took only a moment for Garik to wake fully. He started to sit up in alarm, clearly fearing that she was waking him because something had happened to Gunnar, but Signe spoke before he could worry too much. "Hallsteinn has returned," she said, nodding to their older brother as he approached. Garik looked to Hallsteinn, then glanced down at Gunnar as though confirming to himself that nothing was wrong with him. When he saw that Gunnar was still sleeping, he made a small sound of relief.
"How is Gunnar?" Hallsteinn asked once he had reached them, turning inspecting eyes down at the man in question. "Has his condition changed?"
"His wound is infected and he burns with a fever again," Signe informed him. "We shall have to keep a close watch on him. If we are not careful, that infection could be the end of him." Hallsteinn looked disappointed with the news, but nodded his understanding regardless. "Where have you been?" Signe asked with furrowed brows, changing the subject. "Garik said Earl Ragnar came to collect you. What for?"
That spark of excitement returned to Hallsteinn's eyes, but instead of answering, he waved a dismissive hand. "I vill tell you, but before I do, there is something else we need to discuss first," he said, taking a seat on Gunnar's other side, his expression serious. "I crossed paths with Bjorn as I was headed back just now," he said, making Signe's ears perk at the sound of her friend's name, "and he had some interesting news to relay."
"What is it?" Garik asked, his interest piqued.
Hallsteinn looked at Garik, then turned his eyes to Signe's. "It seems that Bjorn does not intend to return to Hedeby with Lady Lagertha," Hallsteinn revealed, his tone holding a note of sympathy, as though he expected Signe to be upset by this. "He plans to remain here and live with Earl Ragnar."
Though Garik looked shocked to hear the news, Signe was not nearly as surprised. The seeress had already told her that this very thing would happen before they had even left Hedeby to help the Earl win back Kattegat. In a way, she was saddened by the revelation – she felt sympathy for Lady Lagertha, who would be losing her son, and it made her sad to think that the days of she and Bjorn running about Hedeby together were likely over. But after what the seeress had told her, she had prepared herself for this. And besides, Signe was certain that she was not going to be separated from her friend just yet. The Völva had also said that she would be one of those who helped Bjorn on his path to greatness - something told her there was still much to do yet in those regards.
"So Lady Lagertha has given him permission then?," she asked curiously.
Hallsteinn blinked, his expression shifting to confusion. "Yes," he confirmed. Hallsteinn paused for a long moment, then tilted his head to the side. "Are you not upset to hear this, sister?," he asked in bemusement. "I have just told you that Bjorn, your closest friend in the whole world, will not be going back to Hedeby. That does not sadden you?"
Signe sighed and shrugged. "To an extent, yes," she admitted. "But I knew this would happen already."
"How?" Garik asked, quirking a brow at her.
"The Völva told me," she answered simply.
"It would seem the Völva tells you many things," Hallsteinn commented, looking as though he was curious to know what else the seeress had told her but seemingly knowing better than to pry. "Anyway," he continued, getting back to the conversation at hand. "He said he planned to visit this evening and relay the news himself," he said, raising his brows at her. "So when he does, try to act surprised."
Signe took that to mean that Bjorn had asked Hallsteinn not to say anything about it until he himself had the chance to. But Hallsteinn, of course, hadn't been able to help himself and had blurted out the news anyway. He never had been very good at keeping secrets. "I will try," Signe said with a nod, but not without shooting her older brother a slightly chastising look in the process.
"Now what of the Earl?" Garik asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. "What did he want vith you?"
Hallsteinn held up a hand to silence his brother's questions. "Wait, there is more," he said, dodging the question yet again. Garik and Signe shared an impatient, sideways look, but did not argue. "Bjorn also said that Lady Lagertha intends to make an announcement in the morning regarding her plans to return to Hedeby very soon. But she will not be the only one leaving Kattegat," he said. "The villagers here have been gracious and welcoming, but after vhat had to be done to draw Jarl Borg into battle, there are not enough resources here in Kattegat to support both the villagers and us. Not to mention, many of the men are anxious to return home, return to their families. She feels the time has come for the Hedeby warriors to move on and return home. We all shall be leaving in two days' time."
Signe's stomach immediately turned at the news. Though she had known that the Hedeby warriors wouldn't be able to stay in Kattegat forever, she had hoped that they would at least have a little more time to fully recover after the fierce battle against Jarl Borg and his men. Sure, the uninjured warriors would have no trouble making the journey home. But what about the wounded comrades scattered all around them right that very moment? What about Gunnar? He could barely stand being moved more than two feet – how in the world would he make it all the way back to Hedeby? The answer to that question was that he wouldn't make it back to their homeland.
"We cannot leave," Signe protested at once. "There are still men and women who are hurt," she reminded, waving a hand toward the wounded lying nearby. "They need to rest! They need to heal!"
Hallsteinn shrugged a shoulder. "Lady Lagertha seems to think they are well enough to make the trip home," he said regretfully.
"Not Gunnar!," Signe persisted in a heated tone. "He cannot eat, he can barely drink – he can hardly even stand to have his bandages changed, Hallsteinn." Signe shook her head, eyebrows furrowed with a combination of alarm and stubbornness. "The journey would be too much for him. He is barely clinging to life as it is, brother. Hear me when I say that if we try to bring him home now, he will die."
"What vould you have me do, Signe?" Hallsteinn asked in a slightly frustrated tone, eyebrows stitching together. "It is not for me to decide who stays and who goes. That decision lies within the hands of Earl Ragnar and Lady Lagertha, nobody else."
Signe pressed her lips together, crossed her arms over her chest, and turned her eyes elsewhere, feeling upset with this turn of events. The other injured warriors would probably be strong enough to make the trip home once it came time to leave, but Gunnar? She wanted to believe that he would survive his battle injuries, but she knew in her heart that if they took him out of Kattegat now, he would most certainly die. He was too weak and too hurt for the long trip back to Hedeby, plain and simple. So what could they do? What options did they have before them to ensure that Gunnar would have the time he needed to heal? How could they avoid forcing him onto a road that would surely lead to his demise?
After a few moments of thinking this over, the answer hit Signe like a shield to the chest. What if she spoke to Lady Lagertha and Earl Ragnar and told them how dire her brother's situation was? What if she asked for permission to stay behind with him and care for him until he was well enough to make the trip home? Lady Lagertha liked her enough to where Signe thought she would agree, and given how Earl Ragnar had reacted to her once Bjorn had told him all the things her family had done for him, she didn't think it too far-fetched to believe he would agree as well. They would have to agree – it was the only option they had if they wanted Gunnar to live.
The more she thought about it, the more convinced she was that this was what was supposed to happen. The seeress had said that there would be much for her to 'discover' in Kattegat, which Signe took as a hint that she would be spending more than just a few days in the village – perhaps all along it had been the plan of the Gods for her to stay here and care for Gunnar. Perhaps this had something to do with the 'destiny' she was supposed to discover here in Kattegat. "I know vhat must be done," Signe said resolutely, looking at Garik first, then Hallsteinn. "Tomorrow we will go to Lady Lagertha and Earl Ragnar, tell them that Gunnar is not strong enough for the journey, then ask that they allow me to stay here in Kattegat and care for him until he is well enough for the trip."
"What?" Hallsteinn and Garik both asked at the same time. "You? Stay in Kattegat? Alone?" Hallsteinn then demanded, his frown deepening with each question. Garik just stared at her as though she'd grown another head. "Have you gone mad?"
"It is the only way!" Signe insisted. "And I will not be alone – I will be with Gunnar! Plus Bjorn will be here as well!," she reminded him, not about to give up the fight.
Hallsteinn rubbed his forehead for a moment, then pinned her with a hard stare. "Tell me this is not some ploy so that you may stay here with Bjorn," he growled out, starting to look angry. "We all know how you feel about him, Signe – tell me you are not proposing this out of the hope that if you stay here with him, something more vill come of your friendship."
Signe jerked back as though he'd struck her. Their brother was lying right there in front of him and was on the brink of death, and the only thing Hallsteinn thought was that she was trying to get closer to Bjorn? "How dare you ask such a thing?," she asked, completely offended. "Our brother is dying, and you dare to ask if I stay for Bjorn?" Despite the venom dripping from her tone, Hallsteinn did not back down. He met her stare head on, waiting for her answer. "No," Signe snapped, "that is not why I am proposing this idea. I want only to care for my brother and ensure that he lives. After mother's death, this family cannot handle another loss – I cannot handle another loss."
She and Hallsteinn stared one another down for a few moments longer. Finally, he seemed to decide that she was telling the truth. "I believe you," he conceded, though his voice lost none of its authority. "But regardless, you cannot stay here. Father would never approve," he told her firmly.
"I vill stay," Garik immediately offered, looking resolute. "He is my twin – if anyone should be looking after him, it is me."
"No," Hallsteinn said with a shake of his head, denying Garik as well. "I am the one that father has placed in charge," he reminded. "If anyone will stay behind, it will be me." He paused, then added, "I will be living here anyway, so I vill stay and take care of him."
His words made both Signe and Garik start with surprise. "What?" Signe asked while Garik blinked in confusion, looking as though he wasn't sure what he'd just heard. "What do you mean 'you will be living here'?," she demanded, an uneasy feeling filling her stomach.
Hallsteinn took a deep breath before explaining himself. "Earl Ragnar has offered me a place in his ranks," he revealed. "That is why he came to collect me earlier." He paused while Garik and Signe exchanged an astonished look. "The Earl was impressed with my performance in battle and thinks I have much promise in my future. He believes that I would do far better serving under him than Earl Sigvard. He has offered me a place in Kattegat, as well as a place on his boats when the time comes to sail west again."
"And you accepted?" Signe asked, stunned.
Hallsteinn hesitated, then nodded. "Yes," he confirmed. "This is what I alvays wanted, you both know that," he quickly defended himself when he saw the look on her and Garik's faces. "This is my chance to prove myself to him, to earn his trust and approval. I could not say no."
"You did not think you should discuss this with us first?," Garik asked, frowning now. "Or perhaps with father?"
"The decision was mine to make, not yours. And as for father…" Hallsteinn trailed off and sighed. "He knows of my aspirations to fight and raid for Earl Ragnar. I am certain this vill not come as a surprise to him," he defended.
"So you were just going to stay here, then? You were not even going to return home?," Signe asked with a hint of accusation in her tone, quirking a brow. "You do not think this is something you should speak to father about face to face?"
"Of course I was going to speak to him about this face to face," Hallsteinn quickly defended himself, frowning at her a bit. "I had planned to go back to Hedeby when the rest of the warriors left. I was going to speak with father, help him finish with the summer harvest, collect my belongings, then return to Kattegat before the cold season set in. But now, with vhat is happening with Gunnar…"
Signe sighed and shook her head, her mind so jumbled with thoughts that it was difficult to concentrate for a moment. The news that Hallsteinn was going to leave Hedeby – and their family – behind to live in Kattegat on a permanent basis and serve under Earl Ragnar was hitting her very hard. She knew she should probably be happy for him for chasing after his dreams, but right now, with everything that was happening, she was too shocked, too sad, and, admittedly, too hurt to feel happiness for her brother. Their family was so close, so dependent on each other – how could he just decide to leave them for good? What would it even be like to not have Hallsteinn around anymore? But yet, Signe realized, wasn't she trying to do the same thing? She pondered it for a moment, then decided it was different – Hallsteinn wanted to move here, while she was only trying to extend her stay a little longer. He was the one abandoning the family, not her.
And then, of course, there was the matter of Gunnar. She understood why her brothers did not want to leave her in Kattegat, but at the end of the day, it was the best option. Garik and Hallsteinn knew little of healing, whereas Signe, who had learned from her mother and expanded her knowledge through practice over the years, would be able to give Gunnar the treatment and care that he needed. Regardless of what Hallsteinn and Garik thought – or what their father might say – it had to be Signe who stayed with Gunnar.
"Hallsteinn," Signe said, her voice firm but neutral. "Go to Hedeby. Speak to father and tell him of your plans. This is something he needs to hear of now, not later. And when you go, take Garik with you," she added, glancing toward the twin on her left. "I will be the one to stay here with Gunnar while you see to business back home."
Her brothers immediately began to protest. "Have you heard nothing I have said?," Hallsteinn demanded, while Garik said, "Signe, you cannot stay here alone!" They continued on, talking over one another as they shot at her the many reasons why she shouldn't be the one to stay behind in Kattegat, but after only a few moments of this, Signe reached her wits' end.
"Enough!," she said in a raised voice, making Hallsteinn and Garik fall silent. "Despite what everyone in our family appears to believe, I am not a child anymore! I am a grown woman, and I am just as capable of making my own decisions as either of you!" She took a moment to glare at each of her brothers before speaking again. "Nursing Gunnar back to health will involve more than just watching over him as he sleeps and fetching him more blankets when he needs them," she explained. "His wounds are fatal. He will require constant care, and he will need it from someone who has experience with healing," she stated matter-of-factly. "Brothers, as capable as both of you are in everything else, neither of you is qualified to give Gunnar the care that he needs. But I am."
"Signe – " Hallsteinn tried to interrupt.
"I knew more about healing by the time I was ten than either of you will know in the whole of your lives," Signe continued, not letting him get a word in. "I can help Gunnar – I can save Gunnar. But you vill need to trust me and you vill need to let me do what I must. Otherwise, we will lose him. Is that vhat you want?," she shot sharply.
"Of course not!," Hallsteinn snapped, eyes glaring at her for a moment. "I vant our brother to live."
"Then you will stay true to your original plan," Signe stated firmly, eyes filled with determination and chin jutted up resolutely. "You will return to Hedeby with Garik, you will tell father of your plans to live in Kattegat, and you will help him with the summer harvest. Your strength will be far more beneficial to him for that than mine will, anyway," she told him. "In the meantime, I vill stay here in Kattegat and take care of Gunnar. As soon as he is well enough for the trip, we will make way for Hedeby."
"I vant to stay too," Garik spoke up, his eyebrows furrowed together. "I do not like the thought of leaving Gunnar behind, nor leaving you here without protection."
"I can handle myself," Signe told him. "Besides, father will need you both to help with the harvest. Valborg's baby should be arriving soon, which means he will not have nearly as much time to work in both his fields and ours. Father is going to need all the hands he can get."
Garik looked at her for a moment, then sighed and turned his eyes away in defeat. When Signe looked at Hallsteinn, he was staring back at her with a hard expression on his face and a look in his eyes that let her know his mind was working a mile a minute. She met his stare full on, holding her ground. After a moment or two of grinding his teeth in silent brooding, he finally heaved and shook his head.
"As much as I do not wish to admit this, you make valid points, sister," Hallsteinn told her, indeed looking thoroughly unhappy to be admitting to such a thing. He paused for a long moment, glanced down at Gunnar, then looked back to Signe. "I vill think on this," he growled out, standing to his feet. "You vill have an answer by the end of today."
And with that, Hallsteinn turned and stalked out of the barn, all but slamming the door behind him as he left.
Two hours later, Hallsteinn had still not returned. The sun had gone down, Signe and Garik had had their dinner, she had changed several bandages, and they had even managed to rouse Gunnar long enough to make him eat a small piece of bread, but there still had been no sign of their hot-headed brother. It was pretty clear that Hallsteinn was angry, though whether he was angry at her, the situation, or both, Signe wasn't quite sure. Several times throughout his two hour absence, she considered going to find him so that they could talk more, but each time she talked herself out of it. They were both upset and she knew that if they talked now, they would likely get nothing accomplished. It would be best for them both if she just left him be.
Nearly another hour crept by when the door to the barn finally opened. Signe, who had been sitting next to her brothers and silently brooding to herself over the events of that afternoon, was immediately roused from her own musings and looked to see who had arrived, expecting it would be Hallsteinn coming to shout at her or something or the sort. It wasn't him in the end, but the face was one she still recognized very well.
Signe stood to her feet as Bjorn made his way over, watching as he stopped to briefly talk to a few people that he knew. In spite of everything – Gunnar's poor health, the disagreement with Hallsteinn, her disappointment over Bjorn's sparse visits – her heart lightened some at the sight of her friend and she could not help but feel happy that he was there. She managed a smile for him when he finally came to join her and Garik. Though he returned the gesture and smiled back, she could tell that it was only half-hearted. Clearly she wasn't the only one who had a lot on her mind that night.
"Hello Signe, Garik," Bjorn said in greeting as he halted in front of them.
"Hello," Signe said in return, while Garik nodded his greeting.
Bjorn held her gaze for a silent moment, then looked down at Gunnar. As soon as his eyes landed on his friend, his gaze filled with worry. "How is he?"
Signe sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. "He is struggling," she told Bjorn truthfully, unable to keep the weariness from her voice. "One moment he will show signs of improvement, then the next he will be doubly worse than he vas before." She shook her head, staring down at Gunnar with sadness. "I am doing all that I can for him, but in the end, it vill be the Gods who decide whether he lives or dies."
"I will continue to pray for his recovery then, and beg of the Gods to show mercy," Bjorn promised her. "If there is anything I can do otherwise, just let me know," he added, to which Signe and Garik both nodded gratefully. His words brought her much needed comfort – it was good to know that even though he hadn't been around as much, he at least hadn't forgotten about his injured friend. "Signe, may we speak for a moment?," Bjorn then asked, changing the subject. He glanced at Garik, then at her. "Alone," he added with emphasis.
"Of course," she said with a nod, already knowing what he had come to talk to her about since Hallsteinn had told her ealrier. "Garik, will you…?"
Garik nodded. "Go on. I have no plans to leave his side," he assured her. Signe nodded, and with that she and Bjorn turned and made their way out of the barn.
It was nice to step out into the fresh air. With the sun down the temperature had gotten a little cooler, but after being cooped up in the stuffy barn with that stench stuck in her nose all afternoon, Signe wasn't about to complain. It felt good, actually. She sucked in a deep breath through her nose and then slowly released it, closing her eyes to truly savor the sweet, night air. When she opened her eyes again, Bjorn was watching her and looking a little fidgety, as though he wasn't sure how to say what he had come to tell her. For a long few moments, neither of them said anything at all, just stood there and glanced at each other with a growing feeling of awkwardness. Signe soon began to feel uneasy – she didn't know why, but something felt different between her and Bjorn.
"I am sorry I have not ben visiting much," he finally said, looking guilty and apologetic. "It was not my intention to stay away for so long, and it is not as though I do not worry for Gunnar. I have just been spending a lot of time reacquainting myself with my father and getting to know my little brothers," he quickly explained. "I hope that you are not angry with me, or think less of me for not checking in on him more frequently," he added, shooting her that pleading, hopeful look that had always worked like a charm on her.
Signe hesitated for a moment, then sighed and shook her head. "No, I am not angry with you," she assured him, even though she had been a bit upset prior to his apology. "You are back home for the first time in many years. Of course you vould want to spend time with your family. I would never fault you for such a thing."
Bjorn looked immensely relieved. "I am happy to hear it."
Signe offered a small smile, then tilted her head to the side. Now that the conversation was going, things was starting to feel a little less strange between them. "That was not all you wanted to speak to me about, was it?," she asked, even though she already knew the answer.
Bjorn slowly shook his head. "No, it is not." He paused to wring his hands together for a moment, suddenly looking nervous. "My mother and I have been discussing many things these past few days, most of all our future plans," he started. "As you know, I have been unhappy in Hedeby for a long while. You and your family have made my stay there easier, but…" Bjorn trailed off and shook his head. "My step-father makes life in Hedeby unbearable." Signe nodded, silently telling him that she knew this fact already. "Being here, being home, being with my father," Bjorn continued, "it has given me new life. Made me feel as though I have a purpose again. The thought of returning to Hedeby…to Earl Sigvard and his ridicule," he said with distaste, practically spitting out the name. "I cannot do it, Signe."
"You plan to stay here with your father instead," Signe stated plainly, saying the words the Bjorn seemed to be struggling to say himself.
Bjorn looked surprised by her blunt words for a moment, then shook his head with a knowing look. "Hallsteinn has told you already," he said, looking a little chagrined.
Signe nodded. "You know as well as I that Hallsteinn has difficulty keeping a secret," she told him with a small smirk. She suddenly had to wonder if that was why Bjorn had told her brother first rather than coming straight to her. Maybe deep down he had known that Hallsteinn would tell her and had hoped it might make this moment easier for him.
Bjorn quirked an eyebrow and gave a small, conceding bob of his head. "That is true. I should have remembered Hallsteinn's inability to keep secrets," he agreed. "But yes," Bjorn went on to confirm, "I vill be staying. Mother and I have discussed it and we both think it vould be better for me to stay in Kattegat." He paused, then looked to her with a hint of wariness, as though he was afraid to know her reaction to this news. "Vhat do you think about this, Signe?," he asked, looking a little apprehensive of her answer.
Signe flashed him a small smile, hoping it would ease his worries. "I too think it would be good for you to remain in Kattegat. Hedeby is not your home, your true home. And Earl Sigvard vill only hold you back from becoming the man you are supposed to be." Signe reached out to touch Bjorn's shoulder, her eyes serious. "I support your decision to stay here, Bjorn."
Bjorn sighed, looking hugely relieved. He mimicked her gesture and placed a hand on her shoulder and give it a squeeze, his eyes filled with gratitude. "There are no words to describe how much it pleases me to hear you say that, Signe." Bjorn smiled and gave her a nod. "Thank you."
"You are welcome, friend."
After that another silence stretched between them. For a small moment in time, it struck her that perhaps this was the moment she had been waiting for, the perfect opportunity to finally speak to him about the kiss they had shared and determine where it was that they stood. But Signe quickly dismissed the notion, feeling once again that this was not the time to discuss such things. The day had been a strange one, and there were simply more important things to be talking about, like her desire to stay in Kattegat with Gunnar or the answer she was still awaiting from Hallsteinn.
"There is something I need to speak to you about as well, Bjorn," Signe told him, breaking the silence that had fallen over them. Bjorn nodded, silently telling her that he was listening. "Hallsteinn told me that Lady Lagertha plans to take the Hedeby warriors out of Kattegat in a few days' time. She plans to leave with the army and return home."
"Yes, this is true," Bjorn confirmed.
"Well, the truth of the matter is that Gunnar is not ready for a journey such as that. He is much too weak and his injuries far too great – I do not believe he would survive the journey back to Hedeby," she explained. "I have asked Hallsteinn to allow me to stay here in Kattegat with Gunnar and continue to care for him until he is strong enough to return to Hedeby." Bjorn's eyebrows shot up a bit, as though he was surprised. "If he says yes, I plan to go to your mother and father and ask permission to remain here in Kattegat," she continued. "Do you think Lady Lagertha and Earl Ragnar vill agree?"
Bjorn seemed a little caught off guard at first, but he quickly recovered. "I believe so, yes," he said, which immediately brought her encouragement. "My mother has always been fond of you, and she knows how much your family means to you. She vould tell you to do whatever you must for Gunnar to ensure he lives. As for my father," he continued, "he knows what you and your family have done for me. I do not think he would deny you in a time of need."
Signe breathed much easier, relieved to hear her friend's words. But now the question remained – what did Bjorn think about her staying behind in Kattegat? "And what do you think about Gunnar and I staying here?"
Bjorn hesitated for a moment, then gave a small smile. "I too think it vould be what is best for Gunnar. And I think it would make me happy to know that two of my closest friends are here in Kattegat with me, even if only for a short while."
Signe didn't quite know what to make of his hesitation in answering, but decided not to read into anything and quickly dismissed it. Instead, she smiled at him and nodded, feeling significantly more optimistic about everything after having spoken with Bjorn about it. Now all that remained was for Hallsteinn to return and deliver whichever decision he had come to. Part of her feared that he would deny her request and force her to go back home, but the rest of her prayed he would see reason and understand that her staying behind with Gunnar was his best chance for survival. Then again, this was Hallsteinn they were talking about. He was known for many things, but his ability to see reason wasn't one of them.
Signe sighed and turned her eyes elsewhere, wondering how much longer she'd have to wait for Hallsteinn to return, when she spotted someone coming in her and Bjorn's direction. As if he had sensed that she was silently begging him to come back and give her his answer, Hallsteinn was now coming to rejoin them. She couldn't decide whether to feel afraid or excited at the sight of her brother, but Signe's stomach lurched regardless and she stood straighter, turning to face him as he approached. As he drew nearer, she saw this his handsome features were set in a hard expression and that a stern frown turned the corners of his mouth down. She could not tell if that was a bad sign or not.
Hallsteinn came to a halt in front of Signe, his eyes trained on her for a long moment before sliding to Bjorn. Bjorn was glancing back and forth between the siblings, as though he had picked up on the tension between them and was uncomfortable with it. He looked as though he were contemplating leaving them alone to discuss their business. "Bjorn," Hallsteinn greeted.
"Hallsteinn," Bjorn said in return, giving a nod of his head.
Hallsteinn looked back to Signe, his expression never changing. "Have you told him vhat we discussed?" Signe hesitated, then nodded. "And what are his thoughts on the matter?"
"He too believes it would be best for Gunnar if we remained here," she told him firmly. "And he thinks that Lady Lagertha and Earl Ragnar would give Gunnar and myself permission to stay here in Kattegat until he is well enough for the journey home."
Hallsteinn took a long moment to process her answer, even looking to Bjorn with scrutinizing eyes as though trying to determine if Signe was telling the truth or not. Finally, after a moment, he stood a little straighter and jutted his chin into the air. "Very well, then," he said, which made Signe's heart thump hard against her chest. "If the Lady and the Earl agree, and if you truly think yourself capable of saving our brother, then I vill not stand in the way." Hallsteinn hesitated, looking as though he was having difficulty getting his next words out. "You have my permission to remain here in Kattegat with Gunnar," he told her, albeit reluctantly so.
Signe almost couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Truly?"
Hallsteinn nodded, then pointed a finger at her. "But only under the condition that you return home the moment you think he is capable of the trip," he demanded. "And if for some reason he is still not well enough by the time I come back to Kattegat, I will assume responsibility for him and you will return home, understood?"
Bjorn seemed both surprised and confused to hear that Hallsteinn would be coming back to Kattegat, but he also seemed to know that now was not the time to ask questions. Instead, he remained silent while Signe nodded her understanding. "Yes. Thank you, brother," she said earnestly, feeling less upset with him now that he had agreed to her request. "You have made the right choice."
She might have hugged him, but Hallsteinn did not look like he wanted any sort of affection from her at the moment. He merely gave her a stiff nod in return and brushed past them, heading for the door of the barn so that he could go back inside. Signe watched him go for a moment before sharing a look with Bjorn, who raised his eyebrows at her. "And one more thing," Hallsteinn said as an afterthought, pausing just by the door. Signe and Bjorn both turned to look at him, each with question in their eyes. "You vill be the one doing all the talking when it comes time to ask permission from Earl Ragnar," he stated, leaving no room for argument. "You claim you are grown and capable of handling your own affairs? Well, now it is time to prove it."
And with that said, he shot her one last knowing look and disappeared into the barn.
Oh, there's some drama a-brewin' in Kattegat! Torstein's kissing women, Bjorn's acting a little weird, and there's tension in the family! How does everyone feel about everything? Let me know!