Well, hello!
I know it's been a very, very long time. And right now, some of you might be confused. After all, some months back I put in the summary that I had discontinued this story. Here's the deal with that – I had completely lost motivation for this story when I decided to discontinue it. My inspiration was gone, I couldn't seem to get past writer's block, and then I received an especially nasty message from a reader calling me all kinds of fun names because I was taking too long to update, which effectively killed any drive I had to keep this story going. So I decided to stop writing it and move on. But I didn't delete the story completely because A) I've deleted stories in the past on a whim and wound up regretting it, and B) I wanted it there in case I ever found the spark again and decided to pick it back up.
Lo and behold, I've found that spark! And, after some debate, I've decided to give this story another go. I understand it's been an insanely long time. Most of you have probably forgotten the plot of the story, many of you have probably lost interest entirely. I'm certainly coming back into this expecting to have lost a lot of readers. I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for the incredibly long delay. To those who have been waiting and hoping to see an update, thank you for hanging in there. For those who moved on, I hope that you will give this story another chance – I hope you will give me another chance!
Anywho, I hope you enjoy the update. Happy reading!
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Vikings.
Chapter Ten
The next morning, Signe was feeling more than a little nervous as she and Hallsteinn prepared to leave for Earl Ragnar's hall. She had spent the morning making herself look as presentable as possible, wanting to look her best when the time came to speak to the Earl. She had washed her face and hands, cleaned her teeth, braided her hair in a simple, yet nice looking style, and donned the nicest dress that she'd brought with her to Kattegat. Signe had also been practicing what she would say to the Earl ever since Hallsteinn had given her his blessing to stay in Kattegat the night before, hoping that if she was well prepared that she would not stumble over her words or make herself look like an idiot.
Yet no matter how much rehearsing or primping she did, she still could not get rid of the anxious butterflies flapping around in her belly. It was not as though this was the first time they would speak to one another, seeing as Bjorn had already introduced her to his father prior to the battle. But still…he was Ragnar Lothbrok, he was still an imposing figure, and she was still about to ask a very large favor from him. Signe feared she would do something to make herself seem like a fool – worst of all, she feared Bjorn would be wrong and that the Earl would deny the request she was about to present to him.
"Why so frightened, sister? You look as though you are about to walk to your death," Hallsteinn commented as she paced back and forth, shooting her a sideways look as he finished with the belt he was fixing around his waist. "This is what you wanted, remember?," he then felt the need to point out, his tone a touch mocking.
"I know it is," Signe told him, sending a dark look in his direction. She and Hallsteinn had been on shaky terms after the drama of the previous day. For the most part she'd been able to ignore him whenever he said something to try to get a rise out of her, but between the tension lingering between them and everything else already weighing on her mind, she was in no mood for his attitude or mockery. "I am just…nervous. Earl Ragnar is an intimidating man. An intimidating man who, very soon, will more or less decide the fate of our brother." She looked over at Hallsteinn again and quirked a brow. "Does that not bother you? Even if only a small amount?," Signe asked, her words edged with a hint of scorn.
It was pretty clear from the look in Hallsteinn's eyes that this did in fact bother him a bit. He did not vocally admit to such a thing, however, and turned his gaze elsewhere without answering. Signe rolled her eyes a bit, but said nothing as she too turned her eyes away and resumed her pacing.
"Can you two stop with this? Please?," Garik spoke up, looking back and forth between the two of them with a frown from his place by Gunnar's side. He had been doing his best to keep the peace between Signe and Hallsteinn and, for the most part, was doing a decent job of it. Whenever tensions started to rise, Garik was there to intervene before anything had the chance to get out of hand. In spite of his efforts, however, that still didn't stop Signe and Hallsteinn – more so Hallsteinn – from throwing a few verbal jabs at each other here or there. "Things are difficult enough without you two arguing like bratty children," Garik added, sounding impatient with the both of them. "Besides, I am beginning to grow tired of hearing you nag at each other."
Though Hallsteinn chose not to say anything, a shamefaced Signe had the decency to send her brother an apologetic look. "My apologies, Garik," she said quietly. Garik just sent her a look, then went back to the breakfast he was eating.
In the next moment, Signe and her brothers' attention was drawn to the barn door as it swung open, letting in a gust of fresh air and a bright beam of morning sunlight. She expected it might be one of the other warriors from Hedeby coming to check on an injured friend, which had not been an uncommon occurrence over the last few days, but to her surprise, it was Lady Lagertha, followed closely by Bjorn. At the sight of the famous shieldmaiden, the recovering warriors in the barn – those who could move about with ease, anyway – scrambled to stand so that they could greet their Earl's wife properly. Lagertha, however, smiled and quickly held up a hand to still their motions.
"Please, do not get up," she bid them gently. "Continue resting, friends."
Once everyone had settled back down, Lagertha began making her way through the barn, making sure to stop and speak with every single person, even if only for a few moments, to check on their well-being. While she did this, Bjorn came over to where Signe and her brothers were stationed so that he could speak with them. "Good morning," he greeted with a nod.
"Good morning," Signe said in return, her brothers echoing her sentiments. She looked past Bjorn to watch as Lagertha crouched down to speak with a man who had suffered a gash to his face that had nearly cost him his eye. The blonde-haired shieldmaiden spoke to him in quiet tones for a moment, then smiled and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder before moving on to the man next to him. "We did not expect you this morning," she said, looking back to Bjorn. "I had thought you and Lady Lagertha would have gone to speak with the Earl already."
"We are on our way there now," Bjorn confirmed with a nod. "She wanted to stop in and check on the wounded for herself first, though," he explained, shooting a glance toward his mother over his shoulder for a moment. "I believe," he continued, turning back to Signe, "she wanted to speak with you, as well," he revealed, raising his brows. Signe, feeling rather surprised by the fact that Lagertha had gone out of her way to share words with her, started to ask Bjorn what she planned to speak to her about. Before she could, however, Bjorn looked down at Gunnar before shooting a questioning look at her brothers. "Still the same," he asked, purposefully changing the subject.
Garik shot a glance toward Signe, then looked back to Bjorn. "More or less," he confirmed.
Bjorn nodded, then turned his attention to Hallsteinn. "Do you have a moment?," he asked, indicating that he wished to speak with Hallsteinn alone. Hallsteinn nodded, then the two of them stepped away to talk in private.
Signe couldn't help the uneasy feeling that settled over her as she stared after Bjorn's retreating back. Before leaving the previous night, he had assured her that he would speak to his mother about Signe's plans to ask for permission to stay in Kattegat. If Lagertha wished to speak with her now, she could only assume that was what the woman wanted to discuss. But did the fact that Bjorn had purposefully avoided divulging any further detail just now mean something bad? Had Lagertha been unsupportive of the decision? Was she about to tell Signe that she did not have her blessing to remain in Kattegat?
"I wonder vhat that is about…" Garik mused aloud, eyes trained on Bjorn and Hallsteinn as they spoke a little ways away. Whatever the conversation was, it looked serious.
"As do I," Signe agreed, though her gaze was locked on Lagertha, not on Bjorn and her brother.
It took a good few minutes, but finally, after speaking with everyone in the barn, Lagertha made her way over to Signe and Garik. Signe immediately stood straighter as she approached while Garik quickly got to his feet. She tried to keep her expression neutral, wanting to hide how much more apprehensive she had become over the past few minutes. "Good morning, Signe, Garik," Lagertha greeted, giving them an easy smile as she stopped before them.
"Lady Lagertha," Signe and Garik said almost simultaneously, both inclining their heads to the woman out of respect.
Lagertha glanced between the two of them, then looked down at Gunnar. Almost instantly, her expression filled with sympathy. "It seems Bjorn was not exaggerating when he told me that your brother was not faring well," she said, looking back to Signe and Garik. "I am sorry to see Gunnar in such condition, and I am sorry for the strain it has brought your family. I will pray to the Gods and ask that they give him the strength to survive."
"Thank you, my lady," Signe and Garik said gratefully, once again almost in synch with one another.
Lagertha smiled, then focused her attention on Signe. "Signe, I wondered if you and I might speak in private?," she said, raising her brows a bit.
Signe immediately nodded. "Of course."
Lagertha nodded, then motioned for Signe to follow her to the only unoccupied corner of the barn. Once the lady was satisfied that they were out of the hearing range of others, she clasped her hands together in front of her and gave Signe her full attention. "I have heard from many that you have done much to help our wounded comrades," she stated, coming right out with it. "We have lost men and women, which is an inevitable outcome of war," she continued, her voice taking on a note of solemnity, "but from what I understand, we would have lost many more if not for your services." Lagertha smiled then. "You have a talent, Signe, and you have impressed many, myself included. I thank you for all that you have done."
Signe had not expected Lagertha to give such praise, so she was a bit caught off guard for a moment. She quickly recovered, however, and gave a humble nod of her head. "Thank you for your kind words, my lady. I was, and still am, happy to help however I can," she assured the famous shieldmaiden.
Lagertha nodded, then let her eyes drift back to where Garik and Gunnar were. After a moment, she looked back to Signe. "There are those who thought I might remain here in Kattegat," she started, "but, as I am sure Bjorn has told you, it is my intention to begin the journey back to Hedeby come tomorrow. I must return to my husband, you see," she explained. "I also intend to give the order for the rest of our warriors to make that journey with me. The people of Kattegat have been kind to our people, but the time has come for us all to leave and return to our duties back home." Lagertha paused. "It seems many of our comrades are eager to return home, return to their family. Bjorn, however, has brought it to my attention that you do not wish to make the journey yet. He has told me of your desire to stay here and care for your brother until he is well again."
When Lagertha raised her eyebrows in a silent prompt, Signe took that as her cue to start talking. "Bjorn speaks the truth, my lady," Signe confirmed. "My brothers and I knew that Gunnar's recovery would not be an easy one, but it is proving to be even more difficult than we might have predicted," she proceeded to explain. "He is struggling greatly, my lady, and we all fear that if we remove him from Kattegat, he will not live long enough to see our home again. His best chance for survival is if he stays here, and if I stay with him to help him heal."
"And your brothers agreed to this?" Lagertha asked, tilting her head to the side a bit.
Signe smiled with a hint of sheepishness, shrugging one shoulder. "They have, though I confess that it required a fair bit of convincing," she admitted. "Neither of my brothers is overly fond of the idea of me staying behind in a foreign village without them."
"I should imagine not," Lagertha interjected, raising an eyebrow. "A pretty young woman such as yourself is bound to draw attention, some of which will be unwanted." Signe was fairly convinced that Lagertha was speaking from experience – with how beautiful the woman was, there was no doubt that her looks had garnered her plenty of attention over the years, unwanted or no. "I am sure they worry what might happen to you if they are not here to protect you."
Signe slowly nodded her head. "They are," she admitted. "But they also know that they are not as capable of caring for Gunnar as I am. They understand this is what must be done if we vant him to continue living."
Lagertha nodded her understanding, then raised her eyebrows knowingly. "I should imagine your father would not be overly fond of this plan either, if he were present to hear it," she added pointedly.
At the thought of her father, Signe's heart clenched. It had been many years since she had been parted from him for this long of a time, and she missed him greatly. But, she told herself, she'd have to miss him for a little while longer. Lagertha might have been right – Oleg wouldn't have been happy to hear that his youngest child, and only daughter, would be staying behind in a village full of people he did not know rather than returning home. But, at the same time, her father was a sensible, rational man. She knew he would have understood her reasons for staying in Kattegat longer than anticipated, especially so seeing as it was motivated by her determination to save one of his sons. Or so she wanted to believe.
"I am certain that if I had the chance to explain this to my father, he would understand as well," Signe stated confidently. "But even if he did not, it would not change my position on the matter. Since my mother passed when I was a girl, it has been I who has been looking after my father and my brothers. I have stitched their wounds, helped them fight off illness, and seen them back to strength after suffering injuries during battles and raids. It is in my power to help Gunnar overcome his injuries and return to his normal self, so I will do whatever I must to see that happen. Even if it means doing something my father might not necessarily approve of."
"Strongly spoken words," Lagertha said. If Signe wasn't mistaken, she looked a little impressed. "But you are right," the shieldmaiden continued after a few seconds. "We do what we must for those that we love," she said, a faraway look entering her gaze for a moment. Signe had a feeling that Lagertha was thinking about the sacrifice she herself would soon be making when she left for Hedeby without Bjorn by her side. It would kill the woman to leave her only living child behind, but she would do it because she knew it was best for Bjorn.
After a few moments, Lagertha blinked to clear her thoughts and then looked back to Signe. "I understand why you wish to stay, Signe, and I commend you for your dedication to your brother," she said diplomatically, standing a little straighter now. "Know that if you wish to remain here in Kattegat, you will meet no resistance from me."
Signe felt some of the weight lift from her shoulders. Even though she still needed to speak with Earl Ragnar and receive his permission to remain in his village, it was a relief to know that she had Lagertha's support. "Thank you, my lady. Thank you very much," she said gratefully, inclining her head.
"You are welcome," Lagertha said, smiling at her for a moment before raising her brows. "I assume when we arrived that you were preparing to go speak with the Earl?" Signe nodded in confirmation. "That is my next destination as well." Lagertha paused, then smiled and placed a hand on Signe's shoulder. "Come," she said, leaving no room for argument. "We vill speak to my ex-husband together."
Signe quickly nodded her agreement. With their conversation concluded, she and Lady Lagertha went to fetch Hallsteinn and Bjorn and tell them that the time had come to go speak to the Earl. After saying a quick goodbye to Garik, who wished them luck, the four then left the barn and started for Earl Ragnar's hall.
The hall was bustling with people when the four of them arrived a short time later. As if Signe hadn't been nervous about speaking to the Earl to begin with, when she saw just how many people she'd have to speak in front of she felt her anxiousness increase tenfold.
Lady Lagertha led the way into the hall, followed closely by Signe, Bjorn, then Hallsteinn. The appearance of the Earl's ex-wife instantly had everyone in the room whispering behind their hands and turning to look in their direction, eyes filled with curiosity and interest. Lagertha didn't seem bothered by the attention as she held up a hand, motioning for Signe, Bjorn, and Hallsteinn to hang back. While the three of them halted on the edge of the crowd, Lagertha stepped forward to stand by the hearth. With her shoulders squared and her eyes filled with determination she faced the Earl, who was standing on a raised stage on the left side of the hall while his wife, Princess Aslaug, and their children flanked him. He had been sharing words with a man that Signe had never seen before, but his full attention was now on Lagertha.
Signe, her heart pounding against her ribs in apprehension, gulped and wiped her suddenly sweaty palms on her skirt, her eyes quickly scanning the crowd around them. Almost everyone was focused on Lagertha and Ragnar, eager to know why the Earl's former wife was there and to see how this meeting might play out. There was one pair of eyes, however, that was trained on her. She did a double take as she locked eyes with the tall, blonde-haired Torstein, who was present and standing at the back of the crowd. It was clear from the questioning look on his face that he was curious to know why Signe was there, but he made no move to come and speak to her. He stayed where he was and simply gave her a small, acknowledging nod of his head. Signe, unsure whether his presence made her more or less nervous, sent him a jerky nod of her own.
"What is wrong?" The Earl finally asked, stepping down from the platform to come and stand before Lagertha, looking mildly concerned.
"There is something I want to say," Lagertha told him firmly, jutting her chin into the air.
Earl Ragnar hesitated at hearing that, his expression quickly turning uncertain. He leaned closer and lowered his voice as he spoke again, but Signe was close enough to be able to hear him. "Are you sure you do not wish to speak in private?," he asked, as though he thought this might be a matter best discussed when there were less ears around.
"No," Lagertha said firmly.
The Earl gave a shrug. "Alright…say what you wish to, then," he said, waving his hand in permission as he went to take the seat next to his wife again.
"I will," Lagertha said as Earl Ragnar sat down. "But before I do," the shieldmaiden continued, "there is someone else who wishes to speak with you first."
Signe felt her spine stiffen as Lagertha looked straight at her, eyebrows raised expectantly. When every other eye in the room followed the woman's gaze and locked on her, she felt her cheeks turn bright red with embarrassment. She was not overly fond, or overly comfortable, with being the center of attention, and at the moment, that's exactly what she was. Signe suddenly wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole just so that she could escape the enquiring gazes of those around her.
Earl Ragnar turned his eyes in her direction, recognition lighting his features in the blink of an eye. "I see," he mused allowed. He then nodded to her before motioning for her to stand next to Lagertha. "Step forward, Signe Olegdóttir. Speak your mind."
Signe shot a look at Bjorn, who nodded his head encouragingly, then moved to stand with Lagertha by the hearth. "Good morning, Earl Ragnar, Princess Aslaug," she said courteously, bowing her head and giving a small curtsy first to the Earl, then to his wife. As she straightened up again, both were watching her with interest, waiting to hear what she had to say. Signe sucked in a deep breath, then began speaking.
"As I am sure you are aware of by now, tomorrow marks the day that the Hedeby warriors intend to leave Kattegat and begin the journey back to our homeland." Ragnar nodded, confirming that he did indeed know this. He also shot a look in Lagertha's direction, his eyes filling with silent question for a moment, but quickly returned his attention to Signe as she continued. "You have been gracious, Earl Ragnar, as have your people, in allowing us to stay for as long as you have. But we know the toll the battle with Jarl Borg has taken on Kattegat, as well as those who fought. As grateful as we all are for the warm reception, we know the time has come to go home."
Earl Ragnar seemed pleased with her polite words, but he also seemed as though he was ready for her to get to the point. "Is there something you wish to ask of me, Signe?," he inquired, cocking his head to the side.
Signe sucked in another deep breath. "My comrades are ready to return to our homeland, understandably so. Even those who have been injured are eager to be reunited with their friends and family." She paused. "But the road will be long and strenuous, and there are some who are not yet strong enough for such a journey. My brother, Gunnar, was gravely injured during the battle against Jarl Borg," she explained, just in case the Earl was unaware of her brother's condition. "So gravely, in fact, that I and my brothers thought him dead when first found him on the battlefield. But by the mercy of the Gods, he is still alive."
The Earl nodded his understanding, watching her intently as she spoke.
"I love my brother very much, Earl Ragnar, and I want him to live," Signe told him earnestly. "But he is very weak. I fear that if we attempt to move while he is still in such a fragile state, he will perish before we return home." She paused, then decided the time had come to be blunt. "That is why I have come here today. I seek your permission for myself, and my brother, to remain here in Kattegat so that I can continue to care for him until he is well enough to return to Hedeby."
"Only you and Gunnar?" he asked, as though he were mildly surprised to hear that her other two brothers were not going to stay as well. When Signe nodded in confirmation, Earl Ragnar pressed his fingertips together and rested them against his lips, his blue eyes trained intently on Signe. After a moment, he shifted his gaze to Hallsteinn. "What are your thoughts on this, Hallsteinn?" he asked curiously. "How do you feel about Signe staying behind to care for your brother while you and…" he trailed off and waved a hand, silently prompting Hallsteinn to remind him of Garik's name.
"Garik, Earl Ragnar," Hallsteinn told him, stepping forward so that he stood by Signe's side.
"While you and Garik return to Hedeby?" Earl Ragnar finished.
Hallsteinn glanced down at her, then looked to the Earl. "I will admit that I am not fond of the idea of leaving my only sister behind in a town where I do not know its people, nor is Garik," he said calmly. "But," he continued, "we also want our brother to live. We have discussed it, and we believe this is vhat must be done. Therefore, we have both given her our blessing to remain behind with Gunnar. I will worry for her," he added, "but I have been assured that Signe vill be looked after in my absence."
Hallsteinn then shot a pointed look toward Bjorn, who nodded firmly in return. The moment Signe saw this exchange, she felt confident she knew why Bjorn had wanted to speak to Hallsteinn in private before coming to the hall to see his father. He had already been certain that Signe would be staying behind, and he had gone out of his way to reassure her brother that he would protect her.
Ragnar considered Hallsteinn's words, then let his gaze slide over to Lagertha. "And what does the wife of your Earl have to say on this matter?" he asked evenly, a small smirk appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"I believe she must do whatever she feels she must to help her brother, and I praise her for her unwavering dedication to her family," Lagertha answered, holding her head higher. "If she wishes to stay, I will not try to stop her."
Ragnar stared at Lagertha for a moment, then nodded his head. As he looked back to Signe, the smirk faded from his lips and his expression turned a bit more genuine. "I know how important you are to my son, Signe," he said, which made her blush a bit. "You and your family were there for Bjorn in his greatest time of need. That is not something I will soon forget," he reminded her, nodding his head. "You, as well as any member of your family, will always be welcome here in Kattegat." He paused, then smiled a bit. "You and Gunnar may stay for as long as you wish."
Signe let out an enormous sigh of relief, feeling the tension that had been in her shoulders for the past few days quickly fall away. "Thank you, Earl Ragnar. Truly. Thank you," she told him in earnest.
Ragnar nodded his head in a silent 'you're welcome'. "For your brother to heal properly, he will need suitable accommodations. I will provide the two of you a place to live while you are here. Go to your brother now and begin packing your belongings," he commanded. "Someone shall come to collect you and show you to your new lodgings soon enough."
Signe was more than surprised by his offer, something she was certain he could see very clearly in her expression. "That is…a very generous offer, Earl Ragnar," she said, feeling rather stunned. "Again, thank you."
Ragnar nodded again and then waved a hand to signal that their discussion had concluded. Signe gave a small curtsey to Earl Ragnar, while Hallsteinn bowed his head respectfully. Her brother turned to leave after that, but Signe lingered just long enough to flash Lagertha and smile of gratitude. After Lagertha gave her a small smile in return, Signe then turned to follow Hallsteinn, pausing only one more time to briefly squeeze Bjorn's arm as she passed. He patted her shoulder, but did not move to leave with her, choosing instead to stay while his mother made the announcement that she would be returning to Hedeby while her son stayed in Kattegat. As Lagertha started to make her announcement to Earl Ragnar and the people of Kattegat, Signe reconvened with Hallsteinn outside. Then, together, the two headed back to the barn.
The next few hours passed by rather quickly. After Signe and Hallsteinn returned to the barn, they informed Garik of Earl Ragnar's decision, then went about getting Gunnar prepared to move to wherever the Earl was going to place them, that way they would be ready and could leave the moment they were fetched. When they were finished with that, Garik and Hallsteinn went about gathering up and packing their own belongings while Signe went around to all the wounded in the barn to check on their condition and help however she could to get them ready for the long road to Hedeby.
In her eagerness to get Gunnar moved and settled, Signe had been keeping an eye out for whoever the Earl would send. She was hoping it would be Bjorn, or that her friend would at least stop by to visit with them at some point. Every time the door opened, she looked in that direction with expectant eyes, hoping the new arrival would be the tall, blonde-haired Bjorn. It never was, though. It was always another Hedeby warrior coming to check on friends and family members healing in the barn. After a while, Signe began to doubt that Bjorn would show up at all.
A little past noon, the door opened and someone not of Hedeby finally stepped inside. Because she had been watching the door so closely, the moment the Kattegat man stepped into the barn Signe noticed him straight away. It was Torstein, and since she couldn't think of any other reason for him coming to visit wounded soldiers that he did not know, she could only assume that he was the one who had come to direct them to wherever they would be staying. He paused to look around, searching the many faces in the barn. Signe, who was tending to the bandage of a man not far from her brother, raised her hand and waved so that she could catch his attention. Torstein saw her then and quickly made his way over.
"There you are," he said, eyeing the man she was helping for a quick moment before looking at her. "I have come to show you and your brothers to the house you and Gunnar vill be staying in," he then informed her.
"I thought as much," Signe said, nodding. She finished tying the new bandage around the man's leg, then patted the wounded warrior on his shoulder. "Keep this clean and covered as you travel back to Hedeby," she told him sternly, "otherwise, you may find yourself without a leg. Do you understand?"
After the man assured her that he did indeed understand and that he would take care of his wound, Signe straightened back to her full height and turned to face Torstein, wiping her hands clean on a cloth she'd been carrying around with her in case she'd gotten any of the man's blood on her skin. Torstein looked down at the man, observed the people around them, then locked eyes with Signe. "You have been helping all these people?" he asked, sounding impressed.
Signe shrugged modestly. "I have been trying," she confirmed. "I help how I can, anyway."
Torstein nodded his understanding, but if he had more to say on the subject, he kept it to himself. A brief silence fell between them after that, where they both stared at each but did not seem to know what to say next. Signe didn't know why, but she suddenly thought about the day before, when she'd seen him kissing Dísa. She wondered if they had seen each other since. She also wondered what the nature of their relationship was and, if it was serious, whether or not Dísa was considering staying with him in Kattegat. As curious as she was, Signe did not ask him about her. She did not think it was her place to ask such questions.
"Shall we go?" Torstein finally asked to break the silence, tearing his gaze from hers so he could look around for her brothers.
Signe blinked to clear her thoughts, then quickly nodded. "Of course," she said. "Let me just fetch my brothers."
"I will come with you," Torstein said, following her as she began to walk back to where she'd left her brothers. "I brought a wagon to help transport Gunnar. I will help your other brothers get him onto it."
Signe was more than surprised, both because of his willingness to help and by the fact that he'd been thoughtful enough to bring a wagon with him. Not everyone would have taken the time to go to those lengths just to make moving the already fragile Gunnar as easy as possible, but Torstein had. She was stunned. And, truth be told, a little touched. "I…thank you," she stuttered out, not knowing what else to say.
Signe finally recovered for her shock enough to lead him to where Hallsteinn, Garik, and Gunnar were. As they approached, Garik and Hallsteinn looked up. While Garik did not seem to think anything of seeing Torstein with Signe, Hallsteinn, who had seen them together before on the battlefield, quirked a brow and stood a little straighter as he observed the man. Signe, knowing very well how protective Hallsteinn was of her, saw the shift in her brother's demeanor and quickly spoke up before he had the chance to say anything rude or rash.
"Brothers, I am certain you remember Torstein," she said, motioning to the tall man next to her. Torstein nodded to the two, but his eyes lingered on Hallsteinn for a moment longer. Signe was almost certain he could feel the slight aggression starting to exude off her second eldest brother. "He has come to show us to where we will be staying. He vas also gracious enough to bring a wagon to move Gunnar, and has offered to help us transport him," she added pointedly, giving Hallsteinn a look that very plainly told him to play nice.
Hallsteinn glanced at her, then back to Torstein. After a moment, his shoulders lost some of their tension. "Very…thoughtful," he said. His eyes still sized Torstein up for a moment before he finally jerked his head toward their injured brother, who was not currently awake. "Come then," he continued. "Let us move him."
Signe stood back while Torstein, Garik, and Hallsteinn worked together to first gently place Gunnar on a long blanket, then carefully lift him up and begin carrying him toward the door. As they disappeared through the doorway and stepped outside, Signe made quick work of gathering up her belongings, slinging her pack and her shield over her back and carrying her axe in hand. Then, after grabbing Gunnar's pack, she quickly followed after them.
They had already gotten Gunnar on the wagon by the time Signe joined Torstein and her brothers outside. As she approached, they all looked to her. "I have Gunnar's things, but I could not grab yours," she said to Garik and Hallsteinn, setting Gunnar's pack on the wagon next to him. "Go on and get your belongings. We vill wait for you here. And bring Gunnar's weapons as well!" she called after her brothers as they turned and headed back into the barn.
Now alone with Torstein, Signe looked up at him and offered a small smile. "Thank you for this," she said to break the silence.
"You are welcome," Torstein responded, nodding to her. He was quiet for a moment, then said, "How long do you think you vill be here in Kattegat?"
Signe pursed her lips and shook her head. "I do not know. That vill depend on how quickly Gunnar heals," she said, looking down at Gunnar. She frowned as she observed him. His skin looked even paler, the bags under his eyes even darker in the light of day.
Torstein followed her gaze and looked down at Gunnar. "He looks better than when I last saw him," he commented, as though trying to instill some optimism in her.
Signe sighed, then nodded slowly. She supposed Gunnar was showing improvement, but it was still not enough to offer her much comfort. "Yes, but he still has a long way to go yet."
Torstein made a sound of understanding, then shifted his gaze back to hers. "Are you nervous to stay here without your brothers?" he asked curiously.
Signe thought about it, then shrugged uncertainly. "Perhaps a little, I suppose," she admitted.
She started to say more, started to confess to him that she was nervous because she had never been away from her homeland for such a long time, that she had never lived away from her father for so long. Signe also might have admitted that neither she, nor Gunnar, had much in the means of supplies or money and that now, with the decision to stay in Kattegat final, she was starting to worry how they would survive on what little they had for however long it took Gunnar to heal. Before she had the chance to say either of these things, however, a voice suddenly rose above the noise of the crowd bustling around them.
"Torstein!" At the sound of his name, Torstein turned to see who was hailing him. Signe looked as well, then quirked a brow when she saw Dísa pushing her way through the crowd. "There you are! I have been searching all over for you." Her eyes suddenly landed on Signe, which made her stop short and made the smile that had been on her face quickly melt away. "Oh. Signe. I did not see you," she said, her eyes now glancing back and forth between Signe and Torstein.
"Hello, Dísa," Signe said politely, beginning to feel a little uncomfortable as her fellow shieldmaiden continued to scrutinize her and Torstein, the look on her face becoming increasingly more suspicious, and increasingly more upset, by the second. "Torstein was just about to show me and my brother to the home that Gunnar and I will be staying in while he heals," she quickly added, feeling the need to explain why she and Torstein were together.
"I see," Dísa said blandly. "Torstein?" she then continued, looking to the tall Viking with a quirked brow. "I wondered if we might speak?" Dísa glanced at Signe, then returned her attention to Torstein. "Alone," she stressed.
Torstein pressed his lips together, then gave a single nod. "If you would excuse me for a moment," he said to Signe, before walking just far enough away with Dísa to where Signe could not overhear whatever it was that they were discussing.
She tried not to pay attention to them as they spoke, but she honestly couldn't help it. Signe found herself sneaking glances in their direction, feeling overcome with curiosity as she watched the two interact. At first, the shieldmaiden reverted back to the same flirtatious behavior that Signe had witnessed the day before. She smiled and moved in close to him, caressing his arm and batting her eyelashes. But when Torstein's response was to say something with a shake of his head and cross his arms over his chest, Dísa's charming smile quickly dissolved. The shieldmaiden seemed confused at first and seemed as though she was demanding some sort of explanation. When Torstein said something that Dísa clearly did not like, the woman then quickly grew angry.
"Where has Torstein gone?" a voice asked behind her, making Signe jump in surprise then quickly whirl around, her cheeks tinging pink at being caught spying. Garik and Hallsteinn had just returned, and both were looking around for the Kattegat warrior. "Well?" Garik asked, looking at Signe with raised brows. "Where is he?"
Signe cleared her throat, then nodded in the direction he and Dísa were standing. "There," she said.
Both her brothers followed her gaze. In the next moment, as Torstein shook his head again and held up a hand in what seemed like a gesture of denial, Dísa, enraged, slapped him across the face. Signe started in surprise, while both her brothers made hissing sounds and shook their heads in what seems like a mixture of amusement and sympathy. Dísa suddenly left Torstein and came storming toward Signe, which made Signe quickly straighten up and square her shoulders a bit. When Dísa reached her, she glowered at Signe before shooting a nasty look at Torstein over her shoulder. As she faced Signe again, she looked as though she wanted to say something confrontational. Dísa seemed to decide against it though, and merely gave Signe one last, withering look - a look that wasn't quite as potent since she stood nearly five inches shorter than Signe - before storming off without another word.
Signe watched her go, frowning in confusion, then turned back toward her brothers. Both were giving her strange looks. "What was that about?" Garik asked with a quirked brow.
"I have no idea," Signe told him truthfully, shrugging her shoulders in cluelessness.
It was about that time that they all noticed Torstein making his way back toward them. He was rubbing at his cheek, which was now red from the slap Dísa had delivered, but he did not seem particularly upset. If anything, it looked as though he had expected something like this to happen. "Woman troubles?" Hallsteinn asked with a wide smirk, looking rather tickled by the whole thing.
Torstein merely shrugged in resignation. "So it would seem," he said without much inflection. After shooting a brief, undecipherable look in Signe's direction, he walked past the trio of siblings and up toward the head of the small wagon. "Follow me," he instructed, clearly wanting to move on from the incident that had just occurred. "The house is this way."
While Torstein started off down the road, Garik and Hallsteinn shared one last amused look with one another before going to the front of the wagon and grabbing either of the handles to begin pulling it along, following Torstein. Signe lingered just long enough to shoot one last look at the barn they had been staying in, then started in that direction as well, trailing after the tall men.
The house Torstein led them to ended up being close to the edge of town, located just off the road that led out of Kattegat. While Garik and Hallsteinn brought the wagon to a halt in front of the small home, Signe went straight to the front door and followed Torstein inside, pausing by the doorway to look around with inspecting eyes as Torstein went around opening the shutters covering the windows to let more light in. It seemed to her that whoever had lived here had been living alone. It was a one room house with only one small bed in the corner, a hearth in the middle of the room, and a table that looked like it would only fit maybe two or three people. A few trinkets decorated the walls and hung from the ceilings and a single chest was placed against the wall near the bed, but other than that, the house was devoid of many personal affects. Signe went to open the chest, finding that it was full of various tools and men's clothing.
"To whom does this house belong?" she asked as she closed the trunk again, turning to Torstein with a curious expression.
"His name was Vermundr. He was one of our warriors," Torstein explained, glancing around. "When we left England and came back to Kattegat to fight Jarl Borg, we sailed through a harsh storm. The boat Vermundr was on capsized." Torstein frowned a bit to himself as though back to that storm. "He and everyone on that boat with him died at sea."
Signe nodded her understanding. "I am sorry to hear it," she said sympathetically, which earned her a grateful look from Torstein. "We are not inconveniencing anyone by staying here, are we?" she asked next, just for peace of mind. The last thing she wanted was to run anyone out of their home just so that she and her brother would be comfortable. No matter how desperate she was to see Gunnar back to health, it would not be right to steal someone's home right from underneath them. "He did not have any family living here with him?"
"No," Torstein assured her. "He had no family. No wife, no children. This house is vacant."
Signe nodded again, relieved this time. "All right, then."
A noise at the door made them both look in that direction. They saw that Garik and Hallsteinn had moved Gunnar from the wagon and were now struggling to get his limp, heavy body from the door. Torstein quickly moved to help them, grabbing hold of the blanket they were using to carry Gunnar so that her brothers did not have to bear his weight themselves. Signe moved out of their way as they headed for the bed, where they deposited Gunnar. Once he was settled, Hallsteinn and Garik took a step back and glanced around, surveying their surroundings.
"A fallen comrade's house," Torstein told them, answering the unspoken question on their faces. "Signe and Gunnar are free to stay here as long as they need. As for you, Hallsteinn," he continued, catching the attention of her second eldest brother. "Earl Ragnar wished me to tell you that you may claim this house for your own when you come to live here in Kattegat, if you want it."
Hallsteinn looked a bit surprised, but nodded, his expression soon turning to one of satisfaction. "I do. That is very gracious of the Earl. Please pass along my gratitude, and inform him that I shall come soon to thank him myself."
"I shall," Torstein said with a single nod. There was a short pause, then he spoke again. "I will take my leave now. If there is anything you might need, do not hesitate to ask for help," he added, directing his words more toward Signe than anyone else.
Hallsteinn and Garik nodded, then said a quick word of thanks to Torstein for his help and went about retrieving their things and getting settled. While they want back and forth between the wagon and the house and moved their belongings inside, Signe followed Torstein outside. He hesitated just outside the door and turned to face Signe. "Thank you again, Torstein, for all your help," she said with a grateful smile. "And please be sure to thank the Earl for me again. Without his help and generosity, I am certain we would have lost our brother. I could thank him a hundred times over and it vould still feel like it is not enough."
Torstein smiled a bit, though it was obscured by the beard covering the lower half of his face. "I will be sure that he receives the message," he reassured. "And remember what I said, Signe," he added, giving her a pointed look. "If you find that you need help with anything – anything at all – do not hesitate to ask."
There was a certain gleam in his eyes that made Signe feel as though he was trying to silently convey something to her, trying to make her understand something he would not say aloud. When he had first said that she could ask for help, she had thought he had been telling her to go to Bjorn, or someone in town, or maybe even Earl Ragnar himself. But now, as he looked down at her, she had to wonder if what he really meant was that she could go to him if she found herself in need of assistance. But…surely that couldn't be right. They hardly knew one another. Why would he be so willing to help someone that he was only barely acquainted with?
"I will keep that in mind," she said, regardless of the thoughts crossing her mind.
Torstein merely nodded in response. "Goodbye, Signe. I am certain we shall see each other again soon."
Signe nodded and gave him a small smile. With that, Torstein finally turned and left, heading off down the road and back toward the heart of town without another glance back. Signe watched him go for a moment or two, then went back inside, quietly shut the door behind her. As she turned back around to face her brothers, she still thinking about what Torstein had said. When she saw the way Garik and Hallsteinn were looking at her, however, her thoughts quickly ceased and she frowned at them with uncertainty.
"What?" she asked. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Garik and Hallsteinn shared a sideways look, then shifted their gazes back to her. "How is it you came to know Torstein?" Hallsteinn asked, eyes narrowing some.
Signe's frown deepened. "He saved me on the battlefield. You knew that already," she told him steadily, having a feeling she knew where this conversation was headed but still not liking it very much.
"But you did not meet on the battlefield," Hallsteinn countered. "Garik told me that he and Gunnar saw you speaking vith him the night before the battle against Jarl Borg," he then revealed, which made Signe look to Garik sharply. She had indeed talked with Torstein before the battle – she had spoken with him twice, actually – but she had not realized that her twin brothers had witnessed her talking to the man while they had been waiting for Earl Ragnar, Bjorn, Hallsteinn, and the now dead Urich to return from burning the food supply in Kattegat. "So I ask again," Hallsteinn continued. "How did you come to know Torstein?"
Signe, having grown impatient with the conversation, squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. "I know what you are thinking, brother, but you are wrong," she said bluntly, seeing no point in continuing to beat around the bush. "There is nothing between Torstein and myself. We are friends. That is all," she firmly clarified. When Hallsteinn started like he might argue that fact, Signe quickly spoke over him. "I said that is all," she interrupted sharply, giving him a look that clearly said to stop pressing the issue.
Hallsteinn narrowed his eyes and frowned, still looking very much like he wanted to pester her about Torstein until he got whatever answer he seemed to be looking for. Garik, however, nudged him with his elbow. "Enough, brother," he said calmly. "If Signe says they are only friends, then they are only friends." Hallsteinn stared at Signe for another moment before finally heaving and turning his gaze elewhere. Garik, satisfied that Hallsteinn wasn't going to say anymore on the subject, slapped his brother across the back. "Now, then," he said with a small smile, "since this is our last night together, I think we should make the most of it," he suggested.
"I vill go fetch us ale and food," Hallsteinn said brusquely, already moving for the door. He paused next to Signe and looked down at her. Signe met his stare head on, not backing down one inch. "I vill return soon enough. While I am gone, make sure Gunnar is comfortable."
Signe did not get the chance to respond before Hallsteinn continued on, slamming the door shut behind him as he left. Signe heaved in exasperation and looked to Garik, he merely shrugged and rolled his eyes, not looking overly surprised by the shift in Hallsteinn's mood. They both knew very well that he had a short temper – him getting angry at a moment's notice over trivial things was not an uncommon occurrence. "He will be fine," Garik said, nonplussed. "Once he gets some ale in him, he vill forget all about his anger."
Signe just nodded, then, with a sigh, went to check on Gunnar.
In the end, Garik was right. Hallsteinn still seemed to be in a bit of a mood when he returned with food and ale, but once they had all eaten and gotten a cup of the potent alcohol into their bellies, the atmosphere lightened considerably and all was well between the siblings again. As the sun went down, they were all hit with the realization that they would soon be parted and found themselves trying to make the most of their time together, just as Garik had suggested. They spent the rest of the night drinking and laughing and reminiscing over memories from their childhood, making sure to check on Gunnar frequently and, on the few occasions that he was awake for longer than a few seconds, trying to get food and water into his system.
The next morning, the companionable mood that had surrounded them the previous night faded completely, replaced by a much more somber one. Garik and Hallsteinn prepared to depart with only minimal conversation had between them, while Signe sat on the edge of Gunnar's bed holding her brother's hand and watching the two with sad eyes. Now that the time had come for them to leave, she was able to fully grasp just how terribly she was going to miss the two of them. This was not the first time she'd been away from them, of course – with all the times they had raided and gone off to battle, she had had to say goodbye to her brothers several times before. This was different though. She'd always been home when they had been away, had been with her father and Ingelill and all her friends back in Hedeby. This was not home. This was a place she didn't know, filled with people she didn't know. Well…with the exception of Bjorn and Torstein, anyway.
Sometime around midmorning, Hallsteinn took a look out the window, then turned to face Signe and Garik with a sigh. "I can see them assembling down the road," he announced. He pressed his lips together, looking grave. "It is time for us to go."
Garik looked to Signe, then nodded. With that being said, Signe's brothers slung their shields over their backs then grabbed their packs and their battles axes. They turned to Signe, looking as though they were going to say goodbye right then and there, but Signe shook her head. "You still have to fetch your horses," she said, forcing on a smile. "I vill come with you. Gunnar will be alright by himself for a little while," she added when they shot uncertain looks toward their injured brother.
Hallsteinn and Garik agreed, but did not head for the door yet. They instead went to Gunnar's side, both of them taking their turn to press their foreheads against Gunnar's and tell him heartfelt words of goodbye, even though he was not awake to hear them. Garik lingered with him the longest, holding his twin's hand tightly and promising him that they would see each other again. Hallsteinn and Signe averted their gazes while their brother said his goodbyes, knowing how hard it was for him to leave his twin and wanting to give him his privacy so he could say everything that he wanted.
When Garik was finally finished saying his goodbyes, Signe and her brothers left the house and started off down the road, heading for the stables that had been home to the horses belonging to the Hedeby warriors since they had arrived in Kattegat. They passed several comrades along the way, all of whom looked happy at the prospect of returning home. As they passed the barn that the wounded had been staying in, Signe could not resist asking her brothers to wait for a moment as she stopped into see if anyone was still there. She found it empty, however, and quickly continued on with Garik and Hallsteinn.
They reached the stables soon enough, where many of their friends and companions from Hedeby were saddling their own horses in preparation for the upcoming journey. While Hallsteinn and Garik began preparing their horses to leave, Signe went over to her own horse to pat the steed's neck. Because she had been taking care of the wounded, she'd left it to her brothers to look after hers and Gunnar's horses in their spare time. Her horse seemed happy to see her and nudged her shoulder affectionately, nipping at her shirt as she stood there watching her brothers prepare to leave.
Finally, Garik and Hallsteinn were ready to leave. Their bags and weapons were stowed away on their horses. There was nothing to hold them back now. They had run out of time and they all knew it. As the other Hedeby warriors began leading their horses out onto the road, Garik stepped up to her first, only staring at her for a brief moment before pulling her into a tight hug.
"Be careful, sister," he said in her ear, squeezing her even tighter. Signe returned his hug just as fiercely, trying to ignore the lump forming in her throat. "And take care of our brother."
"I will," she said, nodding. "I swear by all the Gods that I will do everything I can to help Gunnar," she added with unwavering resolution.
Garik pulled back far enough to look at her, nodded, then pressed a quick kiss to the top of her head. He then patted her shoulder and moved off to the side so that Hallsteinn could say goodbye next. Signe smiled at her second eldest brother as he approached, then gladly received him as he pulled her into a hug.
"Here," he said as he pulled back from the hug. He had produced a small pouch that jingled as he placed it in her hand. "Garik and I want you to have that." Signe, curious, looked into the pouch. Upon seeing that it was all the money that Hallsteinn and Garik had brought with them, she swung wide eyes up at her brother. "You will need it more than we will," Hallsteinn said, able to predict the protest hovering on her tongue. When Signe finally nodded, Hallsteinn placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a firm look. "Be safe. Do not drop your guard for even a moment. Stay close to Bjorn if you can," he added with a nod. "He vill keep you protected."
The mention of Bjorn, whom they had not seen since she and Hallsteinn had gone to speak to Earl Ragnar, made her frown for a brief moment, but she nodded regardless. "I will be safe. I promise. You be safe as well as you return to Hedeby. And…" She paused, feeling her throat tighten again. "Tell father and Valborg that I miss them, and that Gunnar and I will be home soon. Be sure to give Ingelill my love as well. And if I am not there when the babe arrives, give him kisses for me and tell our nephew I will be eager to meet him."
Hallsteinn nodded. "I will," he promised.
Hallsteinn kissed her forehead, patted her on the shoulder, then went to collect his horse. Garik did the same and, together, they led their horses out of the stables by the reins. Once they had joined the rest of the Hedeby soldiers lining up to leave on the road that led out of Kattegat, they climbed up to onto the backs of their tall steeds and then slowly trotted up toward the front of the caravan, where the other horseback warriors were. Signe trailed after them, arms crossed over her chest, trying hard not to let her emotion get the better of her.
"I love you both," she told them, not caring who heard her say it.
"And we love you," Garik said, while Hallsteinn nodded. "We will see you soon. You and Gunnar both," Garik added adamantly, clearly refusing to believe that he would never see his twin again.
"You will," Signe confirmed. The sound of approaching horses suddenly caught their attention. Signe looked away from her brothers and saw Lagertha approaching, followed closely by a small group of shieldmaidens that she kept near her as her personal guard. It could mean only one thing – Lagertha had said her goodbyes as well, and was now ready to leave. "Safe travels, brothers," Signe said to Garik and Hallsteinn, forcing on a smile for them. "May Odin and all the Gods watch over you on your journey."
Before either had a chance to respond to her words, Lagertha and her shieldmaidens reached the head of the caravan and came to a quick halt. The beautiful shieldmaiden stopped to look around, eyeing her warriors, before her eyes suddenly landed on Signe. Lagertha gave her a firm nod, which Signe returned. "Warriors!" she then called to the Hedeby fighters. "We ride for home!"
With that, Lagertha took off again. Her shieldmaidens followed suit, then those on horseback. As Garik and Hallsteinn started off as well, casting one last look at her over their shoulders, Signe stood rooted to the spot and watched them go, raising a hand to wave goodbye as her brothers rode away from her. She hardly noticed as the rest of the Hedeby warriors walked past, her ears did not even register the cheers and calls of goodbye from the Kattegat townsfolk as they waved goodbye to the fighters that had helped Earl Ragnar win his lands back. She could only watched her brothers and her comrades leave, not knowing when she would see them next.
When the last foot soldier finally disappeared around the bend and the army was out of sight, Signe sighed heavily to herself and closed her eyes, sending a prayer up to the Gods that her family and friends would be protected as they returned home. When she opened her eyes again, she glanced around at her surroundings, at the place that would be her home for foreseeable future. Signe thought she caught a brief glimpse of Bjorn somewhere in the crowd, but he was gone before she could be sure. Pressing her lips together, she finally started back toward what would be Hallsteinn's house when he returned, thinking it would be best to get back to Gunnar. There was a brief moment where Signe worried that something might have happened to Gunnar in the time that he'd been left unattended, but, thankfully, when she returned she found him in the same condition he had been when she left. Smiling sadly to herself, Signe went to sit on the bed next to him and grabbed his clammy hand, squeezing it tightly. He did not stir, nor open his eyes.
"It is just you and me now, brother," she said. "Just you and me."
Thoughts?