Welcome back everyone! As always, thank you for your continued support, and I sincerely hope you guys are enjoying the story! Glad to see there are still some Torstein fans out there in the world, even though his character is long gone. I miss that dude! Anyone else miss him, too?
Enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Vikings, only the OCs!
Chapter Twelve
The next afternoon, Signe stood before Gunnar with her hands on her hips, her expression full of uncertainty. Gunnar stared back up at her from his place on the bed, his face a little paler than normal, but his eyes full of determination. They had been debating with each other for several minutes now, but still had not come to an agreement.
"I do not know, Gunnar," she finally said. "I am not sure this is a good idea."
"It vill be alright," Gunnar assured her for about the tenth time. "I just...I cannot stand to be in this house staring at these same walls for one more moment," he told her, glaring at the house with distaste now. "I need to leave this place, even if only for a short while. I need to feel the wind on my face and the sun on my skin."
Signe pursed her lips contemplatively. She had spent the morning scouring the house, searching every dark, dusty nook and cranny, for anything even remotely valuable that the previous owner – the one Torstein had told her had died at sea – might have left behind. Originally, she had planned not to mess with anything in the house and leave its contents for Hallsteinn to sort through whenever he came to live here, just in case there was anything that he wanted to keep for himself. But now that she'd had a good night of rest and, thanks to Torstein, was operating on a full belly, she was thinking a little clearer and had decided that keeping her and Gunnar fed was far more important than leaving behind some trinkets for her brother. So she had gone through the house and grabbed anything that caught her eye, figuring that what Hallsteinn didn't know about, Hallsteinn wouldn't miss.
Luckily, she had managed to stockpile a small amount of various odds and ends that she hoped would be good enough to trade for food in the market. Now equipped with the bag of items she planned to barter with, she had told Gunnar she was going to make a quick trip to the market and hopefully bring them back some food. The moment she had told him she was leaving, however, Gunnar had started begging to come along with her, feeling the need to get out of the house after being confined to his bed for so long. Signe understood his desire to stretch his legs, but she was worried he was not yet strong enough and that he would end up hurting himself.
"Vhat if you fall again? Vhat if you hurt yourself?" she asked pointedly. "You will need to start doing things to gain your strength back eventually, but I fear it is too soon to start now."
Gunnar sighed and dropped his head for a moment, then lifted it again to give her a pleading look. "Please, Signe," he begged. "If it too strenuous for me, we can come right back. But please. Allow me to at least try."
Signe thought about it for one more moment, then finally heaved in defeat. He could she deny him when he was looking so completely and utterly pitiful? "Very well, then," she reluctantly agreed.
Gunnar smiled at once, looking equal parts elated and relieved. "Thank you," he told her sincerely. "Now come help me up," he urged eagerly, motioning her closer.
Signe shifted the bag on her shoulder and went to Gunnar's side, grasping him firmly by the hands and pulling upward to help him stand. As soon as he was on his feet, she pulled one of his long, muscled arms around her shoulders and locked her own arm around his waist so that she could both keep him steady, and help him bear the brunt of his own weight. Gunnar willingly leaned on her, making Signe release a puff of air as her taller, heavier brother used her for support.
"Alright, then," Signe said, trying not to let him hear any sounds of strain in her voice. "Let us go slow."
They made their way slowly and carefully out of the house. As soon as they were outside and the warmth of the sun hit them, Gunnar asked her to stop. For a moment they merely stood there while Gunnar shut his eyes and sucked in a deep breath through his nose, reveling in the fact that he had finally escaped the house they'd been in all week long. Signe let him have his moment and silently observed him, able to see just how disheveled he looked now that they were in such bright lighting. His face was covered in stubble, his normally short hair was beginning to grow too long, and he looked in desperate need of a bath. She vowed then and there that she'd help Gunnar get his appearance back in order as soon as possible.
"By all the Gods, I never thought I could miss, nor love, the sun so much," he commented, opening his eyes again to observed his surroundings, looking like a starved man eyeing a feast as he took in the sights of Kattegat. "Tis a glorious day to be alive, Signe," he told her with a smile.
Signe smiled in response to his infectious optimism. She was suddenly very glad that she had brought Gunnar with her now that she was seeing how happy it had made him. "That it is, brother. That it is."
With that being said, they finally started off toward the market, moving at a leisurely pace so as not to over exert Gunnar in his weakened state. Though he hissed now and again when he moved the wrong way or whenever they had to quickly change directions to avoid running into people or wagons, Gunnar did not complain as they ambled along. It seemed he was enjoying his time outside far too much to complain about any discomfort he may have been feeling. Signe kept a firm grip on him the whole time, ready to come to his aid should his legs decide to fail him and he go toppling to the ground. He seemed to be holding his own fairly well so far though, which she found as surprising as it was encouraging.
"You are doing very well," Signe told him happily.
"Just as I told you I would," he replied with a smidgen of arrogance.
Something suddenly caught his eye, making him stand a little straighter, a charming smile stretching across his handsome face. Signe quickly realized he had spotted two pretty girls heading in their direction and instantly rolled her eyes. It didn't seem to matter that he had only barely just escaped death, nor that he looked a complete mess – Gunnar, evidently, was not going to let that deter him from trying to charm an attractive woman.
"Hello there," Gunnar said in greeting as they passed the girls. The two girls looked at him, but did not stop to talk, merely giggled behind their hands and kept going. "You are both very pretty!" Gunnar called after them, craning his neck so he could watch them over his shoulder. "This is not my wife, in case you were wondering!" he added, indicating toward Signe. "This is only my sister!"
Signe shook her head and snorted in amusement. "No wonder you have not married yet," she commented as Gunnar gave up and turned his attention forward again. "You shall never find a woman to marry you if you shout at females like they are animals."
"Who said anything about trying to find a woman to marry me?" Gunnar quipped back with a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows.
Signe instantly pulled a face. "Say no more, before I lose my breakfast," she warned. Gunnar just laughed in response.
They made it into the heart of the market a short time later. Even though Gunnar was doing fairly well keeping his balance as they walked, it became clearer the further they travelled that he had nowhere near the same amount of energy he used to. After a while, Signe could hear that he was breathing harder than normal, and she could see sweat both forming on his brows and beginning to soak his shirt as he pushed himself to keep going. When his legs became too unsteady for Signe's liking, she gently directed him toward a pile of firewood located on the side of a small house and forced him to sit in the shade. Gunnar leaned back heavily against the wall of the house and closed his eyes, sucking in great gulps of air as he tried to catch his breath.
"How are you feeling?" Signe asked with concern.
"I am alright," Gunnar assured her, even though she could tell he was winded. "I just need a moment to collect myself."
"Should we return home?" she asked.
Gunnar shook his head. "No." He paused for a moment, then started waving her off. "Go, see what you can get for those trinkets," he said, glancing at the bag hanging from her shoulder. "I vill stay here and enjoy the fresh air. Once you have finished, then we will return to the house."
Signe frowned, not sure she liked the idea of him staying here by himself. The people of Kattegat seemed trustworthy enough, but a part of her feared what might happen if someone with ill intentions came along and saw a weak, defenseless man sitting all alone. "What if something happens to you?" she asked, her doubt evident in her tone.
"Nothing will happen to me," Gunnar rebutted. "Now, go. I vill see you shortly."
Signe was still not comfortable with the idea of leaving Gunnar, but finally nodded and turned to walk away. She told herself to just be quick about things, that way she could get back to Gunnar as soon as possible.
For the next forty-five minutes, Signe visited nearly every vendor in the Kattegat market. There were several people who scoffed in her face when she showed them the items she had to offer and immediately turned her away, claiming her goods were worth absolutely nothing. But, thankfully, she found others who were a little more sympathetic to her predicament and were willing to negotiate with her. It took a good deal of patience and even greater amount of persistence, but, eventually, Signe was able to trade off all the items from her bag and secure her and Gunnar enough food to see them through the next few days, which was a far better outcome than what she had been expecting.
With her bag now full of food, Signe began weaving her way back through the busy market, heading in the direction that she had left her brother. There was a bounce in her step and a smile on her face now that she knew she and Gunnar wouldn't spend the next couple days starving. And seeing as she was due to go hunting with Torstein the next day, she could only think that things would continue to look up. They'd have plenty of meat to eat, assuming they were able to get their hands on enough game, and, if she was lucky, she'd be able to trade the pelts of her kills for even more food in the market. It was a winning situation no matter what angle she looked at it.
It was as Signe was walking through the market, heading back toward the place she had left Gunnar, when something in the crowd suddenly caught her eye, making her pause for a moment. She frowned and tried to peer through the thick bustle of people, wondering for a moment if she had perhaps been seeing things. But then the crowd thinned, and Signe, knowing now that she had not just been seeing things, was finally able to get a good look at the figure sitting across the way.
It was Bjorn.
It was the first time she'd seen him in several days, and the mere sight of his handsome, familiar face had her heart giving a little jump. And right then, in that moment, it suddenly didn't matter that she had been angry with him all week. It didn't matter that he hadn't come to see her. He was still her best friend. He was still the man that her heart belonged to. She missed him. She wanted to go to him. She wanted – no, she needed – to talk to him and hug him and just be in his presence again.
Signe made up her mind in a second and started in Bjorn's direction. But she only made it a step or two before she stopped again. Because as the crowds parted even more, she realized that Bjorn was not alone. He was talking to a girl. She looked to be around the same age as them, had shoulder length blonde hair, and was tall and slender. Signe guessed that if they were standing next to each other, she and the girl would be about the same height. Her clothes were nothing special, and she looked to be carrying two heavy buckets. Whether she was doing that to help her own family carry out chores, or whether it was for a family she worked for, Signe did not know.
What stood out most about the girl, however, was the undeniable fact that she was very pretty. Even Signe, who was not standing very close at all, could see that the woman was attractive. As her eyes shifted back to Bjorn, it became painfully obvious that he thought the girl was pretty, too. Having grown up with four brothers and witnessed their many attempts to charm women, Signe knew good and well when a man was flirting with someone. The smile on Bjorn's face, the look in his eyes, the way he was acting as they spoke to one another…Signe realized, with a sickening feeling in her stomach, that he was very much interested in the girl. There was no way to deny it. It was plain as day.
Signe watched them for only another second, then turned on her heel and swiftly walked away, the need to talk to Bjorn evaporating instantly. She made her way blindly through the market, hardly paying attention to where she was going, feeling as though she could see nothing but Bjorn flirting with that girl, even though she was no longer looking at them. There was a thunderous storm of emotion beginning to rage within her now, making it hard to decide what exactly it was that she was feeling. But as a sharp pain filled her heart and as her eyes prickled with the threat of tears, Signe knew then what was overtaking her.
Heartbreak.
She reached the place she had left Gunnar very quickly, and had she not been so upset, she might have felt relieved to see that he was still sitting on the pile of firewood and that he was perfectly fine. Signe did not feel relief, though, could hardly feel anything but a deep, throbbing pain in the region of her heart.
"How did you do?" Gunnar asked when he saw her approaching, looking more like his normal self now. But then he got a good look at her face and instantly frowned. "Vhat is wrong?" he asked.
Signe hesitated, then quickly forced her expression to a more neutral one. She did not want to talk about what was bothering her. Not right now. Not while the pain was still so fresh. "Nothing," she said.
"Signe – " Gunnar started, clearly unconvinced.
"I said it is nothing," Signe repeated. "Now come," she instructed firmly. "Let us go back to the house."
Gunnar could obviously still tell that something was wrong, but he also seemed to understand that whatever it was, Signe was in no mood to discuss it. He finally gave in and nodded, not attempting to pry further. Signe went to him, helped him up, and let him lean on her again, keeping him steady with an arm around his waist. Then, together, they left the Kattegat market.
Signe was still upset when the sun rose the next morning and she began getting ready for her hunting trip with Torstein.
She could not stop thinking about Bjorn, could not stop thinking about the way he had been flirting with that girl. Most of the night had been spent tossing and turning, mostly because she was still so crushed by what she had seen, but also because she had begun to feel angry about it as well. She was so furious with Bjorn for choosing the attentions of some girl he had only just met over her and Gunnar, two of his closest friends in the world. But, at the same time, she was heartbroken over the very same reason. That kiss they had shared before the battle had obviously meant nothing to him. That much was clear now. Because if it had meant anything, then Bjorn never would have even looked twice at that girl in the first place. Plain and simple.
Signe, having braided her hair back and dressed in the same trousers, belted tunic, and leather boots she'd worn in battle, slammed things around irritably as she moved about the house. She had not seen Torstein since their dinner together, but he had sent word the night before to inform her that he'd be around not long after sun up so that they would have plenty of time to hunt. Knowing he could arrive at any moment, she had thought it best to be ready to go at a moment's notice.
She picked up a water skin and quickly filled it, unknowing of the fact that her foul mood had left her scowling at nothing in particular. Once it was filled, she closed the skin and went to throw it into her pack, not caring where it landed or what it landed on top of. Turning to the table, Signe wrapped up a decently sized piece of bread and a hunk of cheese, before tossing that into the pack as well. She then walked over to where she had left her shield and axe, roughly kicking a chair out of her way in the process, before grabbing her axe and staring at it contemplatively, knowing it wouldn't do much good in a hunt but thinking it might feel strange to not have it with her in the wilderness. Finally, she decided it was too bulky to bring along and put it back down, letting it clang loudly against her shield.
"Vhat in the world is all that racket for?" Gunnar asked with impatience from the bed. She looked over and saw him staring at her with furrowed brows, looking annoyed with all the noise she was making. "Vhat in Odin's name is wrong with you, sister?" he asked next, his tone slightly exasperated now.
"Nothing," she said snippily, turning her back to her brother.
Her tone did nothing to convince Gunnar. "You are lying," he accused. "You have been upset since yesterday. Do not attempt to deny it," he shot at her. "I am your brother. Tell me vhat is going on," he demanded.
Signe heaved and shot him a look over her shoulder. She did not want to tell Gunnar the true nature of her irritation, and she certainly did not want discuss her love life – or lack thereof. Knowing him, he would probably just end up teasing her, which would only exacerbate the situation.
"I do not wish to discuss it, Gunnar," she told him firmly, leaving no room for argument.
He stared at her for a moment, then threw a hand up in defeat. "Fine," he resigned.
Signe went to his weapons and grabbed the sheathed short-sword he liked to equip during fights should he happen to lose his axe. It would be much easier to carry than her axe would have been. "I am borrowing your sword in case we cross paths with trouble while we are hunting," she told him, once again leaving no room for argument. Gunnar just grunted in response.
She buckled the weapon around her waist so that the sword hung at her hip, then turned back to him. "I ask now that you not attempt anything foolish while I am gone," Signe told him sternly. "You did well going into the market yesterday, but you need to take things slow. There is food and water, as well as a bucket to relieve yourself, nearby," she said, motioning to the items she had placed at his bedside. "You should have no reason to venture too far from that bed, and you certainly have no reason to venture from this house," she continued firmly. "If I come back and find you have tried to go somewhere without me, I swear by all the Gods that I will kill you myself," she threatened, pointing a warning finger at him. "I mean it, Gunnar," she added for emphasis. "Do not test me. Not today."
Gunnar frowned, looking unhappy with her threats. "Alright, alright. I will not do anything," he said, holding his hands up defensively. He then huffed and gave her a look. "Keep at it like this, and you shall start to turn into Hallsteinn," he then muttered just loud enough for her to hear from where she stood.
Signe gave him a look and started to say something in response, but a knock on the door stopped her. She shifted her attention away from her brother and went to the door to open it. Unsurprisingly, she found Torstein waiting on the other side. He was dressed in similar attire as herself, carrying a pack of supplies on one shoulder, and was equipped with a sword, a bow, and a quiver of arrows. In his left hand he carried the extra bow he had said she could borrow, and in his right was an extra quiver of arrows.
As his bearded face pulled into a friendly smile, Signe felt some of her irritation slip away, though she couldn't quite explain why that was. "Good morning, Signe," Torstein greeted.
She forced on a smile and nodded. "Good morning, Torstein," she said in return.
He took a moment to peer around her shoulder and nod to Gunnar. "Hello again, Gunnar."
Gunnar, who had been infected by Signe's irritable mood, just made a non-committal noise in response. Torstein raised a brow, but didn't say anything about the man's less than friendly greeting. He instead looked to Signe and lifted his brows expectantly. "Ready to go?"
"Yes," she said, nodding. "Just allow me to grab my pack."
She left Torstein at the door and went over the table, grabbing the pack she had put together and slinging it over her shoulder. She started to leave, but hesitated, her eyes drifting back over to Gunnar. As horrible of a mood as she was in, she could not help the small feeling of guilt that bloomed in her belly. It wasn't Gunnar's fault that Bjorn has currently decided to turn into a selfish, insensitive jerk. It wasn't fair of her to take her anger out on him just because she couldn't take it out on the person who actually did deserve it.
Knowing she wouldn't have peace of mind if she left while on bad terms with her brother, she turned her eyes up to the ceiling in defeat before going over to Gunnar's bed to say goodbye. Though her expression had morphed into one of apology by now, Gunnar's was nothing short of irritable.
"I am sorry for my moodiness this morning. You have done nothing wrong. I should not have been so quick to anger with you," she said quietly so that Torstein would not overhear.
Gunnar cast a doubtful look up at her, as though he wasn't sure whether he should forgive her or not. After she continued to gaze at him with pleading eyes, begging for him to not be angry with her, he sighed and his features relaxed. "It is alright," he told her understandingly.
Signe, relieved, smiled and quickly leaned over to press an affectionate kiss to the top of his head. "I do not know how long we vill be gone, but I shall try to return as soon as I can," she promised.
Gunnar shook his head at her. "Do not rush," he said. "You deserve some time away from my sickbed," he told her, flashing a half smile. "I will be fine on my own. Now go," he said, jerking his head toward the door. "And have enough fun for the both of us, yes?"
Signe nodded, then finally turned to leave. Torstein stepped aside that she could pass through the doorway, then nodded to Gunnar again. "So long," he said.
Gunnar just narrowed his eyes at the taller, older man. "Protect my sister, or you are a dead man," he threatened as a means of saying goodbye.
Torstein looked a bit taken aback by the threat, while Signe merely rolled her eyes. "Goodbye, Gunnar," Signe interjected, before quickly shutting the door before Gunnar could threaten Torstein further. "Do not worry about him," she said reassuringly once they were alone. "He does not have the strength to kill a fly, let alone kill you."
"I am not worried," Torstein told her. He then gave her a questioning look and tilted his head. "Is everything alright?" he asked, having clearly picked up on the tense air lingering around Signe.
Signe sighed, her thoughts momentarily shifting back to Bjorn, but nodded her head. "Yes," she lied. "It has merely been…an interesting morning," she added vaguely.
Torstein looked as though he knew there was more to it than what she was letting on, but he seemed to know better than to pry. "Alright," he said, nodding. "Here," he added, passing her the bow and the quiver of arrows in his hands. "These are for you."
Signe took them from him, her expression grateful. "Thank you," she said.
After she had secured the quiver and the bow so that they rested comfortably on her back, they started off down the road and headed out of town so that they could get their hunting trip underway. As they walked out of the borders of Kattegat and made their way down the same road they'd taken when they'd come back from the battle the week before, they made small talk about the weather and about the things they'd been doing in the time since they'd last seen each other. Torstein told her he had been tending to some tasks he'd been neglecting around his house and had spent most of the day seeing to his crops and carrying out mundane household chores. Signe told him about her and Gunnar's trip into the market, and how he had not only done well walking about, but how she'd also bartered her way into obtaining them a decent amount of food, which Torstein seemed to approve of. Signe did not mention seeing Bjorn, nor the fact that she had seen him flirting with another woman.
They walked for a long while, eventually veering off the road and making their way into the hilly countryside, leaving Kattegat far behind. For Signe, it was a huge relief to get out of the house – to get out of town – and stretch her legs a little. The more distance they put between themselves and Kattegat, the more relaxed, the more at ease, Signe felt. It was good to feel the wind in her hair, to smell the fresh earth around her, to not be shut away in that house for a change. She could not stop herself from sucking in deep breaths through her nose every so often as she reveled in her new, wonderful surroundings, her spirit feeling lighter than it had in several days.
Eventually they reached their destination, a thick patch of forest that Torstein claimed was one of his favorite hunting spots. "Plenty of game for the taking here," he said, nodding as he eyed the trees. "If the Gods permit, we should have a decent haul to bring back."
Signe eyed the forest as she shifted on her feet. "Before we proceed, may I take a few practice shots?" she asked, wanting to get a feel for the bow she was about to use so that she would not make any mistakes once they were actually hunting. "It has been some time since I last handled a bow," she added, shrugging.
"Of course," Torstein agreed. "I will have a look around, see if I can locate any tracks we may follow," he said, waving in the direction of the forest. "I only ask that you aim that way," he added jokingly, pointing in the opposite direction of where he was about to go.
Signe lifted a brow and gave him a look. "I need to practice on moving targets as well, do I not?" she couldn't help but tease in return.
Torstein chuckled, wagged a finger at her, then started off toward the treeline. Signe smirked to herself for a moment, then retrieved the bow hanging on her back. She took a moment to admire the weapon, trailing her fingers along the finely crafted wood and testing out the flexible bowstring. Signe finally wrapped her left hand around the grip, which concaved a bit and was wrapped in sturdy leather, and went over to the line of trees not currently being scouted by Torstein. With her right hand, she retrieved an arrow from the quiver on her back and nocked it, raising the bow and resting the hand controlling the arrow against her jaw. She picked a tree to aim for, took a breath, then released. When it flew wide of the tree and disappeared into a thick brush, she lowered her bow with a disapproving frown.
Signe nocked and released three more arrows, none of which hit the tree she was aiming for. Feeling disgruntled and wondering when she had turned into such a terrible shot with a bow, she nocked yet another arrow and aimed again.
"Relax your shoulders," Torstein's deep voice suddenly instructed, making her jump a bit in surprise. She looked back to see that he had stopped inspecting the forest and was standing behind her, his arms crossed over his broad chest and eyes full of scrutiny.
"What?" she asked, so surprised by his sudden appearance that she was slow to process his advice.
Torstein uncrossed his arms and stepped closer, so that he was directly behind her. "I said relax your shoulders," he repeated, before placing his large hands on her shoulders and gently pushing down, so that they were not as drawn up as they previously had been. "You are tensing too much." His hands then dropped down to her waist so he could adjust her stance. "Open your hips more, as well."
Signe's shoulders tensed for an entirely different reason now. Even though it had not been inappropriate, she still had not expected Torstein to touch her the way he had. What she had expected even less, however, was the tingling sensation that lingered in the places his hands had just been when he finally released her and took a step back. Feeling surprised, and incredibly confused, by her own reaction to him, Signe gulped and blinked a few times to get herself back in order, before forcing herself to focus on the tree she'd been using for target practice. She aimed, took a deep breath, then released her arrow. This time, the arrow hit its mark.
"Better," Torstein said in approval.
Signe turned to face him, that strange, unexpected sensation slowly fading from her shoulders and waist. She watched as Torstein drew his bow and began pulling on the string, as though loosening it for the upcoming hunt. His blue eyes were surveying the surrounding trees and his face was set with concentration. He seemed oblivious to the reaction he had stirred within Signe only moment before.
"I found a set of deer tracks heading north through the trees. They look fairly fresh," he informed her. "We shall begin our hunt there."
Signe finally decided to just shake off whatever had just transpired. "Alright," she said slowly. "Allow me to collect my arrows, then we shall go," she added, before heading off to retrieve the arrows she'd loosed during her practice shots.
Once they entered the forest, there was very little conversation had between them. Seeing as they did not want to scare away any animals that might be nearby, they kept their movements quiet and stealthy and only spoke when they wanted to point something out to one another, making sure to keep their voices down whenever they said something aloud. For the most part, though, they communicated primarily in gestures and silent hand signals.
They followed the tracks that Torstein had found for some time, killing a number of rabbits and squirrels along the way. Admittedly, most of the woodland creatures were not killed by Signe. Having grown in a household with several capable hunters, the responsibility of going out to hunt wild game to be used for food or clothing had always gone to her brothers. Sure, she had joined them on their hunts here or there and honed her skills enough to be able to get a few kills under her belt whenever she went with them, but she would admit that handling a bow and arrow had never been her strong suit. And seeing as it had been quite some time since she'd last handled a bow or gone on a hunt, she was finding it difficult to shake off the cobwebs and find her stride as they ventured further and further into the forest. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that if she had been on her own, this hunt would have been a complete failure.
Luckily for her, though, she had Torstein with her. And she learned very quickly that he was an excellent hunter. His aim was perfect and his kills were quick and efficient. He handled his bow so comfortably, it was as though it was a part of his very being. Signe found herself watching him more often than not, admiring his skill and feeling very impressed with how effortless this all seemed to be for him. She might have even felt a small twinge of jealousy at one point, because she knew that she would probably never be even half as good as he was.
Signe didn't know how long they trekked through the forest for, but when they reached a small clearing and she was able to see the sun overhead, she saw that it was considerably higher than it had been when they'd left Kattegat. As Torstein came to a halt so he could add his latest kill to the string of animals hanging from his shoulder, Signe reached into her pack to retrieve her skin of water and took a few generous gulps.
"Shall we rest a while?" Torstein asked, eyeing her.
Signe nodded, then went to a fallen over tree to sit down in the grass and lean back against the trunk, setting her bow, her pack, and the pathetically small collection of creatures she'd killed on the ground next to her. Torstein followed her suit and sat next to her, also leaning back against the fallen over tree and setting his things down on the ground. Signe eyed the many animals Torstein had killed, then looked to him with apologetic eyes.
"I feel I must apologize for my poor performance on this hunt," she said, making him raise a brow at her. "I may have overestimated my own skills when you asked if I could hunt."
"You are handling yourself fine," he reassured. "I have encountered people who are far worse at hunting than you."
Signe gave him a skeptical look as she reached into her pack to pull out the cheese and bread she had packed, certain he was only saying that to make her feel better. "They must have been positively horrendous, then," she commented. Torstein just smirked in amusement and shrugged a shoulder. "Can I interest you in some bread and cheese?" she asked as she unwrapped her food.
"Sure," he said.
Signe tore off some bread and passed it to him, which earned her a grateful nod. She then gave him half of the cheese, before taking a bite of bread herself.
For a few moments, they ate in companionable silence, just taking in the scenery and enjoying the pleasant breeze swirling through the clearing. It was starting to get cooler outside, which meant that it wouldn't be long before summer came to an end and the cold season began to set in. Signe suddenly found herself thinking about her family back home, and tried to imagine what they might be doing. Valborg was probably spending his days preparing for the birth of his child, which was not far away now. He was likely fussing over Ingellil like a protective mother hen clucking after her chicks, too, making sure she didn't do anything to strain herself or the baby.
As for Hallsteinn and Garik, they surely had to be home by now, which meant they were probably working hard in the fields and helping their father prepare for the upcoming winter. In fact, they were probably working twice as hard as normal, since she and Gunnar were not there to help them. How strange it must be for them to not have their sister around, how unnatural it must feel for Garik to be separated from his twin for the first time in his life. And how strange it must be for Oleg to have only Garik in the house with him, when he normally had Signe, Garik, and Gunnar under his roof.
That was when she remembered that none of them knew what was happening here in Kattegat, and she couldn't stop herself from frowning. When Hallsteinn and Garik had left, they had had no idea whether Gunnar would survive or not. They would have returned home and told father and Valborg what had happened in battle, how their brother had been fatally wounded, how he had been knocking on death's door. None of them knew that Gunnar was improving, that he was slowly beginning to heal and regain his strength, that they both would be returning home alive and well. For all they could've known, Gunnar may very well be dead.
The realization did not sit well with her. The thought that her family was worrying themselves over Gunnar, that they might be living every day fearing the worst, made her heart twist. She wished she could tell them that he was alright, that they didn't need to worry anymore, that they didn't need to mourn for someone who was very much alive.
"What are you thinking of?" Torstein asked, drawing her from her thoughts.
Signe blinked and looked over at him, then sighed heavily. "I vas thinking of my family back home," she confessed, "and how they do not know what is happening with Gunnar." She toyed with the bread in her hands and sighed again. "I hate to think that they may believe him to be dead."
Torstein frowned a little at hearing that. "I am sure they are holding on to the hope that he is alive," he said, his tone encouraging.
"I hope you are right," Signe said in earnest.
Torstein took a bite of food, his eyes pensive as he watched Signe. "Do you miss them?" he asked to shift the topic some, though there was something in his voice that hinted he already knew the answer.
Signe nodded without hesitation. "Terribly so," she said. "I have never ventured so far from home, nor been away for so long," she admitted. "As insufferable as they can be, I do miss my brothers," she continued with a small smile. "Especially Valborg," she said, her smile turning a bit sad as she thought of her oldest brother.
"I assume he is the one who did not come to Kattegat?" Torstein asked, producing a skin of water from his package so he could wash down the bread he'd eaten.
Signe nodded in confirmation. "He is my oldest brother, and the greatest warrior in the family. He vould have come to fight, but his wife is due to give birth very soon," she explained. "He wanted to stay with her, so he could see her through the end of her pregnancy." Torstein nodded his understanding. "I miss my father most of all, though," she continued, her thoughts shifting to her beloved parent. "I have not been parted from him like this since I was a child."
Torstein took a moment to think that over, then turned a questioning look on her. "Speaking of your father, there is something I have been wanting to ask you, purely out of curiosity," he said. After Signe nodded for him to continue, he spoke again. "After the battle, when I was tending to your arm, you told me that your father had given up his life as a warrior," he reminded her. "May I ask why?"
Signe nodded again. "A short while after my mother passed, my father left for the summer raids. When he returned, he came back gravely injured," she revealed. "He had lost an arm, as well as an eye." Torstein cringed a little at hearing that. "His wound became so infected that he very nearly died. But by the mercy of the Gods, he survived. That brush with death made him come to a realization, though," Signe continued. "He realized that if he died, there would be nobody left to raise me or my brothers. He decided then and there that his days of fighting were finished."
"It must have been difficult, leaving that life behind," Torstein commented.
"It was," Signe said. "But to him, raising his children was more important than going off to raid or fight in battles."
"And he is correct," Torstein agreed. "The life of a warrior is thrilling, but nothing in this world is more important than family."
Signe smiled and nodded. "I could not agree more."
Torstein returned her smile, then turned his attention down to the pack lying next to his side. He took a moment to move his bow when it got in his way, then reached into the pack to pull out what looked like some dried meat. He tossed a piece to Signe, then bit into the piece he'd kept for himself.
"Thank you," she should, taking a bite.
While she chewed, she found her eyes staring at his bow. She looked it over, admiring the craftsmanship, then looked down at the bow he'd loaned her. After glancing back and forth between the two weapons, she turned an interested look on Torstein.
"These are fine bows," she complimented. "Did you craft them yourself?"
"This one, yes," Torstein said, nodding to the bow he'd been using. "That one once belonged to someone else," he revealed. "His name was Arne. He was a very good friend of mine."
Signe tried to remember if Bjorn had ever told her about anyone named Arne. The name sounded vaguely familiar, but if she had been told any specific stories about him, she had forgotten them. "What happened to him?" she asked curiously.
Torstein's expression became a little difficult to read. He looked grim and somber, yet a little angry at the same time. "He was killed in battle," Torstein revealed. "By Rollo," he added, his lips pulling into a mild scowl.
Signe eyes widened with surprise. "Rollo? Earl Ragnar's brother?" Torstein nodded in confirmation. "When did this happen?"
"Nearly five years ago now. Before Bjorn and Lagertha left Kattegat for Hedeby," he told her. He paused, then titled his head. "Did Bjorn ever tell you about Rollo betraying Ragnar?"
Signe did indeed remember Bjorn once mentioning that his uncle had done something to betray his father, but he had not gone into detail and, in the years that followed, had talked very little of his one and only uncle. It had always seemed to her that it wasn't a subject he liked to discuss, so she had never pressed the issue. Perhaps now Signe was going to discover why Bjorn had never wanted to talk about his uncle Rollo.
"He mentioned it, but never went into great detail," she told him. "I do not think he liked speaking of it."
Torstein nodded, then sat a little straighter. "Something I have come to know about Rollo," he started, "is that he has always been jealous of Ragnar, especially so when he became Earl of Kattegat. He hated being in his shadow, hated being seen as the lesser brother. And if you ask me, I always thought he was jealous of Ragnar not only because of his fame, but also because of his marriage to Lagertha," he revealed. "I have always suspected that he desired Lagertha for himself."
Signe listened intently as Torstein continued. "Somewhere along the way, someone else noticed Rollo's jealousy and decided to use that to his advantage. That man was Jarl Borg."
Again, Signe looked at him with great surprise. She had not realized that Earl Ragnar's problems with Jarl Borg extended past the Jarl's recent invasion of Kattegat. "Jarl Borg? The man we just defeated in battle?" she asked incredulously.
"One and the same," Torstein confirmed. Signe shook her head, too stunned to say anything else. "He turned Rollo against Ragnar, promised to make him a man of importance if he helped him defeat both Ragnar and King Horik, whom Ragnar is in allegiance with," Torstein continued. "We soon found ourselves facing them in war. Once the fighting began, Rollo broke through our ranks and began killing our men. That was when he killed Arne, a man who had once been like a brother to him." He scowled for a moment, then shook his head. "After Arne was dead, he set his sights on Floki next. Had Ragnar and I not come to his aid, Floki would not be living today."
Signe blinked a few times, then shook her head, feeling confused. How was it that a man who had betrayed his brother, who had betrayed his Earl, who had killed his friend and nearly taken the life of another, was able to walk freely in Kattegat? How could he possibly have stood by Earl Ragnar's side in battle, as if nothing had ever happened?
"But Rollo is still here," she pointed out. "And he helped us fight against Jarl Borg."
"Yes," Torstein said, though he didn't look happy about it. "In that same battle, he found himself face to face with Ragnar. He could not fight him, however, and surrendered," he explained. "Rollo was arrested and set for death, but the Gods wished him to be spared. That is the only reason he still lives today."
"And Earl Ragnar has forgiven him?" Signe asked.
"It took quite some time, but yes, he has finally forgiven him," Torstein confirmed, though the look on his face said he didn't agree with Earl Ragnar's decision.
Signe noticed the expression on his face. "What about you?" she asked pointedly.
Torstein gave her a long look, his lips pressing into a hard line. "He betrayed Ragnar. He killed Arne. And he very nearly killed Floki." Torstein shook his head. "That is not something I will soon forget, nor forgive."
They both went very quiet after that as they chewed their food, both lost in their own thoughts as they reflected on what they had just discussed. Eventually, though, Torstein sighed, drawing Signe back to the present and making her eyes turn back to him.
"I am sorry," he apologized, his eyes turning elsewhere. "It was not my intention to put such a dark mood on our hunting trip," he said, his expression hinting that he feared he might have said too much.
"Do not apologize," Signe said quickly, making his gaze meet hers again. "We are friends," she told him, smiling a bit. "Friends talk with each other about the things weighing on their minds, do they not?"
It took a second, but Torstein finally gave her a half smile in return. "Yes, I suppose they do," he said, giving her a single nod. Their gazes held for another beat, before he took a deep breath and shook his head, as though shaking off the momentary anger that had taken over as they spoke about Rollo's past indiscretions. "Let us talk about something else now," he suggested, clearly wanting to move away from the previous conversation. "Has anything changed with Bjorn?" he asked to change the subject.
Signe's smile faded at once as she thought about Bjorn and what she had witnessed the day before. She tore her gaze from Torstein's and looked down at the ground, her fingers toying with a blade of grass. "I would rather not talk about Bjorn," she told him blandly.
When she chanced a glance at Torstein, his brows had furrowed with uncertainty. "Why? Has something happened?" When Signe said nothing in response, he gave her a look. "We are friends, remember?" he told her pointedly. "Do friends not speak to each other about the things weighing on their minds?" he asked next, throwing her words right back at her.
For a moment, Signe very strongly considered not telling him anything. It would be too strange, too weird confessing all her secrets to Torstein. Besides, why would he care about something as trivial as Signe's lackluster love-life? But, at the same time, this was also something that was very much bothering her. And as she remembered that she didn't have anyone else to talk to, she thought maybe it would not be so bad to confide in Torstein after all.
Signe sighed and shook her head. "If I tell you, you must promise not to laugh at me," she demanded, her cheeks already turning pink with embarrassment.
"I promise I will not laugh," Torstein said at once.
When she decided that he was being sincere with his promise, she sucked in a deep breath. "Yesterday I saw Bjorn in the marketplace," she told him slowly. "He was…flirting with another woman." Torstein's brows rose at hearing that. "To most people, this would not be such a troublesome matter. But…" She hesitated, unsure just how much she actually wanted to reveal.
"But you have feelings for Bjorn," Torstein finished for her knowingly. When she looked at him with surprise, he just smiled in return. "You would have to be blind or a fool not to see that your feelings for him run far deeper than friendship, Signe," he told her gently. "And I am neither blind, nor a fool."
Signe blushed fiercely and looked away, unable to think of anything to say in return.
"Have you told him?" Torstein asked.
Signe pursed her lips, then shook her head. "No." But then she remembered what had happened between her and Bjorn before the battle and felt the need to correct herself. "Well...I did kiss him," she confessed, feeling a tiny bit bashful as she did so.
"That is one way of telling him," Torstein said with a smirk. Signe just shrugged a shoulder. "What did he do?"
Signe said blush deepened. "He kissed me in return," she told him. "But it was..."
She trailed off and waved a hand, unable to find the right words to describe the hard, urgent, almost clumsy way Bjorn's lips had moved against her own. Torstein quirked a brow as she continued to struggle. "It was bad?" he asked bluntly, trying to finish her sentence for her.
"I did not say that," she said quickly.
"You did not say it was good, either," he pointed out, his eyes lighting with what looked like a hint of humor.
Signe quirked a brow, thinking Torstein was finding just a little too much amusement in the situation. "It was…not what I expected," she finally told him. "Either way, that is beside the point," she continued. "We have not spoken of it, and he seems to have been doing his best to avoid me since. And after what I witnessed yesterday, I think it safe to believe that it meant nothing to him." Signe paused and shook her head. "It seems that, despite my hopes, Bjorn Ragnarsson does not harbor the same feelings for me that I do for him."
The amusement left Torstein's face at once when he saw her own crestfallen expression. "You do not know that for certain," he told her optimistically. "Talk with him. Tell him the truth about your feelings. For all you know, he may be thinking that you regret what happened between the pair of you, and, therefore, does not know how to approach you about it."
Signe smiled gently. "Your encouragement is appreciated, but I do not think that is the case," she told him truthfully.
Torstein just shrugged. "You will never know unless you talk to him, now will you?"
"I suppose not," Signe eventually conceded.
Silence fell between them for a few moments after that. Signe finished the rest of her food, her eyes staring off into the distance as she thought about Bjorn and the things Torstein had said to her. There was a part of her that wanted to believe Torstein was right, that maybe her pessimism was getting the better of her and that she was looking at this situation with Bjorn all wrong. But then the image of that girl flashed through her mind and as she remembered the way Bjorn had been looking at her, she knew in her heart that her hope was for naught. She was nothing but a friend to Bjorn, and that was likely all she would ever be.
A distant snap suddenly broke the silence around them, making them both sit a little straighter with attention. Signe peered over her shoulder toward the treeline around them, looking for the source of the sound she'd just heard. When she finally caught sight of what was moving in the trees just beyond the clearing, she quickly ducked behind the tree she'd been leaning against, placing a hand on Torstein's shoulder at the same time to force him to duck with her, so that the deer would not see them and run away.
Torstein, who had not seen the deer that Signe just had, looked at her with confusion. "Deer," she hissed, nodding her head toward the trees.
Understanding dawned on Torstein's bearded face. He slowly inched his head upward to peer over the top of trunk, his eyes searching the trees intently. Signe did the same, watching as the creature slowly sauntered through the trees and walked into the clearing, apparently oblivious to the presence of the two people behind the fallen over tree. She looked over at Torstein, who shifted his gaze to hers. It was only when his eyes dropped down to her hand that Signe realized she still had it on his shoulder. Flushing a bit, she quickly released him and placed her hand on the tree trunk instead. Torstein gave her a look that was impossible to read, then shifted his attention back to the deer. It was grazing around some bushes now, looking as though it were munching on berries.
"Take hold of your bow," Torstein instructed quietly, never once taking his eyes off the deer.
Signe looked at him with alarm now. Torstein had proven by now that his aim was far better than hers. Shouldn't he be the one to take the shot? "Vhat if I miss?" she asked, knowing how angry she'd be with herself if she missed and the deer got away.
"You will not," Torstein said reassuringly, seemingly confident in the belief that she could take down the deer.
Signe gazed at him for one more moment, then slowly grabbed her bow and an arrow. She rose to her knees and slowly straightened up, moving slowly so that she would not startle the deer. As she set her sights on the animal, which was still quietly grazing some twenty feet away, she sucked in a deep and pulled the string back, never once turning her gaze away from her target.
"Steady," Torstein murmured, his stare trained on the deer.
Signe sucked in yet another deep breath of air. When the deer suddenly raised his head, as though it could sense the danger it was in, Signe released her arrow. It sailed through the air and struck the deer in the neck, making the creature release a sound of pain and fall to the ground. It was not dead yet, though, and began to thrash about, its skinny legs kicking here or there as it tried to regain its footing. Signe started to nock another arrow, but before she could, Torstein surged to his feet with his bow in hand, nocked an arrow of his own, and released it. This time, the arrow struck the deer in the head. The animal's legs finally stopped moving, then the creature went completely limp with death.
Signe stood up as Torstein lowered his bow, her eyes on the deer first, then on her hunting companion. Torstein smiled at her in approval, a gesture that she quickly returned. "Good shooting," he complimented, reaching out to clap her the back in a companionable way.
"And you as well," she said in return.
He gave her one last smile, then stepped over the log and headed for the deer. Signe quickly followed, then stood behind him as he pulled the arrows out of the deceased animal. "Well, I think it safe to conclude our hunt now," he said, looking the deer over with approving eyes. "The meat from this deer, as well as from the smaller creatures, should keep you, Gunnar, and Hilda fed for a long while," he said, nodding his head in approval.
Signe smiled at first, but then frowned with confusion when his words sunk in. "Me, Gunnar, and Hilda?" she repeated. "What about you?"" she asked, not liking the thought of Torstein going home empty handed when he was the one who had done most of the work.
Torstein waved her off. "Do not worry about me. The purpose of this hunting trip was to put food on yours and Hilda's table, not mine."
"Torstein…" she said with a sigh.
"I hunt all the time, Signe," he said, giving her a small smile. "Trust me. I will be fine."
"You are certain?" Signe asked, her tone still skeptical.
"Yes, I am," Torstein said with a note of finality.
Signe decided not to put up anymore argument about it. Even if she had only known Torstein a short while, she knew him well enough by now to know that once he had made up his mind about something, he would not be swayed from his decision. "Well…then I shall say thank you," she told him with a grateful smile.
"You are welcome," he said in response. "Now, let us get this deer back to Kattegat before the beasts come and try to steal it from us."
Signe just nodded her agreement, then moved to help him pick up the heavy deer.
Signe and Torstein returned to Kattegat in very good spirits. Thoughts of Bjorn had all but disappeared as they walked back into town, Torstein carrying the deer on his strong shoulders while Signe toted the smaller game they'd killed. They talked enthusiastically with one another, laughing occasionally when one of them said something the other found amusing, both of them feeling happy and accomplished. When they were walking back up the road that would soon bring them back to the house Signe and Gunnar were staying in, Signe almost felt disappointed that their trip was officially coming to an end. It had been an enjoyable day with Torstein, and a part of her was not ready for that to be over.
"Hilda will be very pleased to see vhat we have brought for her," Torstein commented as he shifted the deer on his shoulders. "You will all be feasting like kings these next few days," he added, smirking.
"I am looking forward to meeting Hilda," Signe told him, smiling. "And to feasting like a king," she added, already mentally planning get out all the different message she'd be able to make with the meat now at her disposal.
Torstein laughed a bit, then shot a curious look. "Would you like to come meet Hilda now?" he offered. "Her home is very close to mine. I planned to stop and talk with her on the way back."
Signe thought about for a moment, then nodded. "That would be nice," she agreed. "But can we spare a few moments to check on Gunnar first? We have been gone a long while. I want to make sure he is well."
Torstein nodded. "Sure."
No more than ten minutes later, they reached the house she and Gunnar were currently occupying. While Torstein stayed outside and set the deer down to give his shoulders a break, Signe went to the door and opened it, stepping inside without hesitation.
"Gunnar, I am back," she announced. "And we now have plenty of – "
Signe stopped short, and the words died on her lips. There was nothing wrong with Gunnar. He was still sitting in bed, looking exactly the way he had when Signe had left. No, what made her freeze was the fact that Gunnar was not alone. Sitting in a chair by the bed and now looking at her with a small smirk on his face was the man who had been causing her so much inner turmoil.
"Bjorn," she said in surprise, watching as he stood from the chair. "I was…not expecting you."
Bjorn just gave a little shrug. "I vanted to come and see how you both were doing," he explained. He stepped closer and crossed his arms over his chest. "I vas a bit surprised, though, when I came here and found Gunnar alone." His eyes suddenly turned to the door, before he looked back at her with raised brows. "You were out hunting with Torstein?" he questioned.
Had she been someone who was not well acquainted with Bjorn, the tone he had just used would have sounded perfectly normal. But Signe was well acquainted with him. They had spent nearly every day of the past four years together. By now, she felt she could safely say that she knew him better than he knew himself. That is why the barely noticeable hint of disapproval lacing his words did not go unnoticed.
"Yes, I was," Signe said, raising her chin just a fraction. "In fact, he is outside now. If you would excuse me, I need to have a word with him," she said to excuse herself, knowing that she would not be making the trip to Hilda's now that Bjorn was there and not wanting Torstein to linger outside unnecessarily.
She turned to leave so she could tell Torstein she wouldn't be joining him after all, but hesitated when she saw Bjorn following her. "I will come with you," Bjorn said, leaving no room for argument. "I need to speak with you." He cast a look at Gunnar, then looked back to Signe. "In private," he added seriously.
Signe quirked a brow, but nodded her consent. "Alright."
They walked outside together, where the found Torstein leaning against the house and drinking some water. He straightened up with Signe came into view, but then froze when he saw Bjorn on her heels. He looked between the two of them for a moment, then inclined his head to Bjorn.
"Hello, Bjorn," he greeted in a friendly tone.
Bjorn crossed his arms over his chest and gave Torstein the same look that Signe's brothers had at some point or another. "Torstein," he responded rather stiffly.
Signe thought she saw Torstein's brow lift a bit as they stared one another down, but the move was so miniscule she couldn't be sure. "Torstein," she said to draw his attention to her, "you will have to forgive me, but I will not be able to accompany you to Hilda's. Something has…" She glanced briefly at Bjorn. "…come up."
Torstein did not look surprised to hear it. "Of course," he said understandingly.
"Please give my regards to Hilda, and tell her I shall come to visit with her soon," Signe asked.
Torstein nodded. "I will see to it that she receives the message."
"Thank you," Signe said with a smile. "And thank you for today."
Torstein said nothing to that, merely inclined his head respectfully. With that, he then fixed his bow and his pack onto his back, before crouching low to pick up the deer. Once it was resting on his shoulders again, he gave Signe and Bjorn one last look before starting off. Signe watched him go, unable to help feeling bad about the rather unceremonious way in which they were parting ways, especially so considering how enjoyable their time together had been.
When he was no longer in sight, she finally turned back to Bjorn, who was staring back at her with one brow lifted very high. As he opened his mouth to speak, she had a feeling she knew what he was going to say. "Do you vant to tell me what is going on?"
Signe crossed her arms over her chest, unable to help the defensive feeling beginning to creep up her spine. "What do you mean?" she asked dumbly.
Bjorn scoffed. "You know very well what I mean, Signe," he said, his tone sounding a bit impatient. When she still said nothing, he heaved and shifted on his feet. "Torstein, Signe," he said pointedly. "Gunnar tells me you have been spending a lot of time with him. Why?"
Signe shrugged her shoulders. "Why not?" she rebutted. "He is a nice man, and he has shown me nothing but respect and great kindness since we met. I rather like being in his company," she told him unapologetically.
Bjorn laughed a bit and shook his head. "You must be joking," he said, as if he could not believe the words coming out of her mouth. "Signe, you do not know what you are getting yourself into. I have known Torstein since I was a boy, and believe me when I say that you do not know him the way I do. You do not know how he can be when it comes to women," he explained. "You need to be cautious around him."
Signe blinked at him, feeling rather taken aback. When he had said he wanted to talk, she had thought he would want to catch up on everything that had happened in the past week, that he wanted to check up on her wellbeing, that perhaps he would even explain what exactly had been keeping him away. She had certainly not expected him to want to talk about Torstein.
Just like that, her surprise melted into irritation. Bjorn had been absent from her life for a week now. He had made no attempt to come see her or even check in on Gunnar, choosing instead to spend his free time flirting with random girls and doing only the Gods knew what else. And now he had the audacity to stand here before her, as if he hadn't ignored her for the past week, and talk to her as if she was some simple minded fool? What right did he have to come barging in out of nowhere and begin bossing her around? Who did he think he was, talking to her in such a way? She was not some naïve little girl – she was a grown woman, a shieldmaiden. And as far as she was concerned, she could do as she damn well pleased, with whomever she damn well pleased.
"Torstein is my friend," Signe said as steadily as she could, despite what she was feeling internally. "He saved my life during the battle, and he has been a great help to both me, and to Gunnar, while we have been here in Kattegat. Furthermore, he has given me no reason to distrust him, nor question the integrity of his character," Signe added in Torstein's defense, finding that she didn't like the fact that Bjorn was not speaking kindly of the man. "So it would be wise to not speak ill of him in front of me, because it will not be well received."
Bjorn's brows raised, though whether it was out of surprise at hearing how friendly she had gotten with Torstein or because of how readily she had defended him, she wasn't sure. "He saved your life?" he asked, sounding genuinely shocked.
She quirked a brow now, the only outward display of the annoyance bubbling away within. "Yes. And you might have known that had you actually taken the time to come and see me."
Bjorn looked shamefaced in the blink of an eye. He actually looked down at his feet for a second, as though he couldn't stand to meet her gaze. "I know I have not been around much these past few days," he said remorsefully, his previous attitude disappearing. When he finally lifted his eyes back to hers, he looked remorseful. "It was not intentional. I have merely been…busy."
Though she was normally a very level-headed person who was never quick to temper, something overtook her in that moment. She had already been angry at Bjorn for neglecting her and for flirting with that girl, but now, after hearing his lame and completely unacceptable excuse as to why he hadn't been around, Signe found it impossible to push down the flames of anger beginning to burn rampant through her body.
"You have been busy?" she echoed incredulously. "Too busy to visit me, your closest friend in the whole world? Too busy to visit Gunnar, who is like a brother to you? Who very nearly died? Too busy doing what, Bjorn?" she demanded to know.
Bjorn seemed at a loss for what to say. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, trying to get words out but struggling to actually find the right ones. Finally, he managed to get some words out. "What do you want me to say, Signe?" he asked, holding his hands out helplessly.
"I want you to say sorry!" she finally snapped. "Have you any idea how difficult all of this has been for me? I am away from my home. I am away from my family. I nearly lost my brother, and have been working day and night – forgoing meals, forgoing baths, forgoing sleep – just to make sure he stays alive!" she vented, unable to stop the words from tumbling past her lips. "I spent most of this week exhausted and starving, covered in blood and shit and my own filth! And where were you? Nowhere to be seen, that is where! And then," she continued, her voice raising some, "when you do finally decide to show your face, what do you do? Do you ask how I have been? Do you ask if there is anything you may do to help me and Gunnar?" Signe shook her head. "No. All you do is proceed to interrogate me about Torstein," she practically spat.
"Signe – " Bjorn started to say.
"I am not finished!" she interrupted, holding up a hand to silence him. There was a moment of silence where they stared at one another, neither of them saying anything. Once she was satisfied that Bjorn would not interrupt, Signe spoke again. "I tried to be understanding, Bjorn. I truly did," she told him. "You are home with your father and your brothers for the first time in over four years. I told myself that you would want to spend time with them, that you were preoccupied because you were reconnecting with them after being away for so long."
Signe frowned now. "But then yesterday I went to the market and I saw you. And you were flirting with some…other woman," she revealed. The edge had left her voice now, replaced by a distinct heaviness as the pain from seeing that returned. Bjorn himself went wide-eyes with surprised, then sighed heavily and looked down at his shoes again. "To see that after spending days wondering why you had not come. To see that after…" She hesitated, then finally just said it. "To see that after what happened between us…"
She did not saying anything more, mostly because she knew that the pain in her voice said everything that needed to be. The air around them shifted drastically, and for several excruciatingly long seconds, Bjorn would not meet her eyes. Signe continued to watch him, waiting to hear what he had to say now that she had finally addressed the kiss that was long over-due to be discussed. When Bjorn finally looked at her, she could not determine what the look in his eyes meant.
"Signe…" he said slowly, before reaching a hand up to rub the back of his neck out of nervousness. He seemed to be struggling with what to say again.
"Were we never going to speak of it?" Signe asked quietly. The anger had left her body now, replaced by a heavy sadness instead. "Was it something I was just…supposed to forget ever took place? Is it…is it the reason why you have been keeping your distance?" she had to ask.
"No," he said at once, his voice firm. "That has nothing to do with it, I swear." Bjorn then heaved and looked to the sky, as though searching for the right answer. "I have been meaning to speak to you about it," he confessed, his gaze dropping back down to hers. "Only…I have struggled with how best to approach the matter."
Signe frowned. "Do you regret that we kissed?" she asked bluntly, seeing no use in beating around the bush anymore.
For a long moment, Bjorn said nothing. But then, finally, he sucked in a deep breath and gave her a very serious look. "I…do not know," he told her.
Despite his words, Signe was certain now that he did regret it. She pressed her lips together, unable to think of anything to say in response, trying to ignore the lump that had formed in her throat. Bjorn sighed heavily, took a moment to run his forehead, then spoke again.
"Signe…when I came to Hedeby with my mother, I was…in a dark place," he told her. "I had just left Kattegat, just left my father. I did not know what the future held. I was scared," he said. "But then I met you, and…everything got better." He paused to suck in another deep breath. "You know how affected I was by Gyda's died," he told her, his expression somber. "She was my sister. I loved her. I still love her, even though she is gone."
Bjorn took a step forward, his eyes peering intently into hers. "When you came into my life, I felt as if the Gods had gifted me with a new sister. And I felt that with you by my side, I could face anything that came my way." He stopped for a second, then gave her a look. "I can admit to you that, as we have gotten older, there have been moments where I have thought that perhaps my feelings for you ran…deeper than just friendship," he confessed. His words did not ignite a spark of hope within her, though, because Signe already knew where this conversation was going. "But then I would remember that it is you. My best friend. The best friend I have ever had," he said, his shoulders lifting in a helpless shrug.
Signe's throat felt tight all of a sudden, leaving her uncertain whether she'd be able to speak or not. In the end, it didn't matter. Because Bjorn wasn't finished talking yet.
"Signe," he said, his eyes full of nothing but apology now, "I love you. You know that I do." Bjorn reached for her hand, his eyes gazing downward for a moment. "But I must be honest with you, for both of our sakes. The love that I have for you…is not the same as the love that you appear to have for me," he told her gently.
There it was. The truth. All of her worst fears confirmed. Bjorn did not love her...at least, not the way she had seen desperately hoped be did. She was a sister to him. Always had been. Always would be. It had hurt before thinking he did not feel the same for her. But now…now that she knew he did not feel the same…it didn't natter how gently he had rejected her, there were simply no words to describe the pain.
It was only when Bjorn began to get blurry that Signe realized she was beginning to cry. With a sniffle and a quiet clearing of her throat, Signe gently pulled her hand out of Bjorn's grasp and took a step back. Bjorn's hand hovered in the air for a moment, his eyes filled with both sadness and apology as he looked at her, before he finally let his hand drop back to his side.
"You should go," Signe said thickly, her eye turning elsewhere. She did not want to cry in front of Bjorn. Did not want him to see how completely and utterly heartbroken she was.
"Signe," Bjorn said uncertainly.
"Please," she interrupted, her lip quivering a bit in her attempt to hold herself together. "Please go."
It took another second, but Bjorn finally nodded. "Alright." He turned to walk away, but then paused to look back at her. "I am sorry," he said with nothing but sincerity.
He left after that, his head hanging a bit as he walked away from her. Tears began to trek down Signe's cheeks as her eyes followed his retreating back, but she made no move to wipe them away. When he was no longer in sight, Signe could no longer fight it. She sunk to her knees right there in the dirt, uncaring that she was in plain view of anyone walking past, and cried.
Poor Signe…
Thoughts?