Release My Heart

by Carrot Top

-IN PROGRESS AGAIN- The seeress told Signe she was destined for great things. She would raid and see the world. She would fall in love with a warrior and have many children. When she fell in love with Bjorn Ragnarsson, she was certain he was the one she was meant to experience these things with. But then she went to Kattegat, where she met Torstein. And soon everything changed.

17. Chapter Sixteen

Thank you for reading, thank you for reviewing, and thank you for all of your support! You're all wonderful!

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Vikings, only the OCs!

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Chapter Sixteen

Signe lay in her bed, staring silently up at the ceiling. She had been home for a while now, but even though she was tired, and even though she had long since settled into her bed with the intention of getting some rest, she simply could not fall asleep.

Sighing heavily, she turned onto her side, watching the fire crackle and dance in the hearth. She had not been able to stop thinking about Bjorn, nor about the fight they had had in his father's hall. It seemed nowadays that they couldn't be around each other for five minutes without snapping at one another or having some sort of disagreement. It was frustrating and infuriating, and it was something that Signe was not at all accustomed to. Sure, she and Bjorn had had disagreements in the past, because friends, no matter how close they were, were going to argue at some point or another. But they had never fought like this. Not this frequently, and definitely not to this level of severity.

The part of her that was still very much angry at Bjorn for the way he had behaved and the things he had said wanted to believe that this was all his fault. After all, he was the one who had hurt her, and who continued to hurt her by being rude, inconsiderate, and just downright infuriating. He had broken her heart, insulted both her and Torstein, and had flaunted his feelings for another woman directly in front of her. The way he had been acting was not the Bjorn she had fallen in love with, the kind, noble, loyal man she had befriended back in Hedeby. This new version of Bjorn was overbearing and annoying, and so long as he continued to be so, she honestly and truly wanted nothing to do with him.

There was another part of her, however, a more rational voice in her head that she could hear more clearly now that the alcohol from earlier had worn off. The voice was telling her that Bjorn was not the only guilty party in this situation. Signe knew, deep down, that she was just as much to blame as Bjorn was for the current state of their friendship. She had let her own jealousy and grief get the better of her, which, therefore, had resulted in her doing and saying things that perhaps she shouldn't have. That spiteful woman that had been in Earl Ragnar's hall, the one who had been so full of bitterness and anger…that wasn't her. That had never been her. Signe had always prided herself in being patient, rational, and level-headed, just like her brother, Valborg. But tonight, she had been anything but those things, and because of that, her friendship with Bjorn was at an even greater risk of falling apart than it had been already.

Yet could she really be blamed for how she had acted? Wasn't she allowed to be angry and spiteful toward the man who had stomped her heart into the ground? Wasn't she allowed to be bitter when she had to sit there and watch the man who had rejected her make eyes at another woman? Wouldn't any other woman in her position act the same way?

Signe heaved and flopped onto her back in frustration. She couldn't say if she had been right or wrong tonight, and as of this moment in time, she officially had no idea where to go from this point on, nor how in the world she was going to make things with Bjorn better. Something told her that Bjorn would not be in the mood to talk to her after the way they had left things, and if she were to be completely honest, she didn't particularly wish to speak to him if he was going to continue to behave like an overbearing fool. She was beginning to think, perhaps, that it had been better for them to keep their distance from each other after all. Maybe if they took a few days to cool down and get themselves back in order, they'd actually be able to speak to one another like civilized adults.

That's what she hoped, anyway. Because as angry as she was at him, she still knew that she didn't want her friendship with Bjorn to be over. But with how things were currently going, it didn't look like anything would be going back to normal any time soon.

A voice outside suddenly caught her attention, making her perk her ears and lift her head from her pillow. Signe listened out, frowning with uncertainty as the voice drew closer, until she finally realized that the voice belonged to her brother. He was talking loudly, and as she listened to him ramble on, it became clear to her that he was angry about something. She sat up in bed, wrapping her blanket around her shoulders, finally able to hear what he was saying as he drew closer.

" – and I vould do it again!" he exclaimed. "I will not stand idly by while my family is being insulted, no matter who be the one doing the insulting!"

The door burst open after that, making Signe jump in surprise. Gunnar stormed in, followed by Torstein. Gunnar looked drunk and infuriated, while Torstein looked as though he was trying very hard to hang on to his patience. "Gunnar, for the last time – " Torstein began to hiss.

"What in the name of Odin is going on?" Signe interrupted, frowning as she quickly climbed to her feet.

Both men looked at her, their expressions both of surprise as they realized she was awake. "Signe, we thought you would be asleep," Torstein said. "Did we wake you?"

"No, I was awake already," Signe said. "Not that I would have been able to sleep anyway, with all the noise Gunnar was making." She cast a look at her brother, who was scowling angrily and rubbing the knuckles of his right fist. "What has happened? Are you well?"

"I am perfectly fine," Gunnar said snappily. "Though the same cannot be said for Bjorn," he added, looking smug now.

Gunnar went to the tankard of ale she had purchased the day before and proceeded to pour himself another drink, even though it was obvious he'd had a lot to drink already. Signe frowned with uncertainty, unsure as to what Gunnar had meant by that, and looked to Torstein for an explanation. Torstein sighed and shot a look at Gunnar's back.

"Your brother decided it would be a good idea to break Bjorn's nose," he stated bluntly.

Signe's eyes went wide with shock. "He what?" Signe looked to Gunnar, who was drinking his ale. She noticed then that the knuckles of his right hand were a little red, a sure sign that he had recently punched someone. Hard. "You hit Bjorn?"

"I did," Gunnar confirmed without remorse.

"Why?" Signe asked.

"He had it coming to him," Gunnar said simply.

Again, Signe looked to Torstein for further explanation. "Bjorn was drunk and came to confront me about you," he said with a sigh, which made Signe stiffen. "He seems to believe I have dishonorable intentions for you, and did not believe me when I attempted to tell him he was incorrect," he explained, frowning now. "He threatened to cause me serious injury if I attempted to, as he put it, turn you into a whore. Unfortunately, Gunnar was nearby and only overheard part of our conversation. He mistakenly believed he had heard Bjorn calling you a whore, became angry, then attacked," Torstein concluded.

Signe cursed under her breath, feeling all of her anger from earlier instantly return. She was not angry at Gunnar, though – all of her anger was for Bjorn. She supposed it wasn't a huge surprise that Bjorn had confronted Torstein after she had left, but she was still furious with him for doing so. He was acting more and more like an ass with each passing moment, which was absolutely infuriating. Though Signe had told Gunnar not to hurt Bjorn when he had first offered to do so, now she was glad that he had. Bjorn deserved it, both for the way he was acting toward her and the way he was acting toward her friends.

"That imbecile," Signe huffed, before walking over to Gunnar and grabbing his hand to look at his knuckles. "Did you hurt your hand?" she asked.

"No," Gunnar said with a shake of his head. He then lifted a brow, giving her an uncertain look. "You are not angry with me for hitting him?"

Signe scoffed. "No. On the contrary, I wish I had been the one to hit him."

Gunnar smirked, looking pleased, but then he swayed on the spot and his expression rapidly changed to one of discomfort. He pressed a hand to his mouth, as if he feared he may be ill, before he pointed to the bed. "I…I think I should lie down," he said, before stumbling in that direction.

Signe watched as he collapsed on the bed, then sighed and looked at Torstein. He was staring back at her, and though his expression was difficult to read, she was getting the distinct impression that he had something on his mind. Considering the events of the night, she had a good feeling she knew what that something was.

"Did Earl Ragnar see vhat happened?" she asked with hesitance. When Torstein nodded, Signe cringed. "Was he angry?" she asked, already fearing the repercussions Gunnar might face for punching the Earl's son.

"He did not seem to be, no," Torstein assured her. "He still informed me to remove Gunnar from the hall, however, so that the fighting vould not continue."

Signe nodded her understanding, feeling certain already that they would need to pay the Earl a visit so they could explain what had happened and make amends. "I do hope Earl Ragnar will not hold this against him," she said, glancing at her brother.

"I doubt he will," Torstein said. "Bjorn may be his son, but he is also a grown man. He made a decision to act a certain way tonight, and this is what has happened because of that. Earl Ragnar vill see it for what it was – two drunk men having a disagreement."

"I hope so," Signe said.

Torstein paused for a moment to glance at Gunnar, who had his eyes closed and one arm flung over his face. He then looked back to her, before nodding to the door. "Signe, may I speak with you outside for a moment?" he asked, his tone careful now.

Signe frowned a bit at the quick shift in both the conversation and Torstein's demeanor, but nodded. "Sure." She went to Gunnar's side and poked him in the shoulder to catch his attention, which made him snort as he removed his arm and peered at her with glazed-over eyes. "I am going to step outside to talk with Torstein. Do you need anything before I go?" she asked.

Gunnar stared at her, then groaned as his brows furrowed. "Only for the room to stop spinning," he said.

"Put one foot on the floor. That alvays helps me," Torstein advised.

Gunnar did as he had been told, then made a sound of relief. "Much better."

Signe shook her head, wondering if her brother would ever learn his limits, before leaving him to lay in the bed. She then followed Torstein to the door, nodding to him when he opened it for her and ushered her through first. Once they were outside, he closed the door behind them. Signe held her blanket even tighter around her shoulders as a chilly wind whipped around them.

"Thank you for bringing Gunnar home, and I am sorry he was such a nuisance tonight," Signe told him sincerely.

"It is fine. It was not the first time I have brought a drunken friend home, nor will it be the last," he told her. Signe nodded quietly. Torstein looked down at her for a silent moment before heaving and crossing his arms over his chest. "May I ask you a question?"

Signe frowned at the seriousness of his tone. "Of course."

"Why did you leave the hall so abruptly tonight?" he asked.

Signe, who saw no use in trying to lie about anything, sighed. "It was Bjorn. He came to speak to me while you were fetching us ale. He and I ended up getting into an argument."

Torstein made a sound of understanding. "About me?" he asked knowingly.

Signe pressed her lips together, then nodded her head again. "Partly, yes. He does not like that we are friends," she admitted.

Torstein huffed. "I had gathered that much, judging by the things he said to me." He paused and gave her a long look, before uncrossing his arms and taking a step closer. "Signe, I need you to know that what Bjorn said has no truth to it," he said seriously. "I have come to cherish our friendship very much, and I vould never do anything to intentionally hurt you. I hope you know this."

Signe realized why he had seemed so troubled just now. He was worried that Bjorn had turned her against him. She managed a small smile and reached forward to grab his hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "I know, Torstein," she said with a nod. "You are a good man, and a good friend. Nothing Bjorn has said to me has changed the way I see you."

Torstein sighed with relief, his shoulders relaxing the moment the words left her lips. "I am relieved to hear you say that," he admitted.

Signe smiled again, then sighed and shook her head. "I am sorry that Bjorn confronted you," she said guiltily. "His behavior was inappropriate and inexcusable."

Torstein smiled a bit. "Do not worry. I have dealt with far worse than some drunken fool making threats against me."

"Still, I feel badly that you have been dragged into the middle of our problems and I am sorry for it," she said with a frown.

Torstein just gave her a look. "You have done nothing wrong. Bjorn's actions were his own and nothing you had control over. And as I have already said, I have dealt with far worse. Now stop apologizing, alright?"

Signe hesitated, but then finally nodded. A momentary silence passed between them, and it was only then that Signe realize she had never let go of Torstein's hand. She tensed, her eyes shooting downward to their joined hands. She could feel the calluses on his fingers, feel the warmth and security of the hand that had wrapped around her own without her even knowing it. The nerves in her arm jolted to life, making her eyes jump back up to his. He was peering back at her, the gleam in his blue eyes difficult to decipher. Finally, with a clearing of his throat, he released her hand. She couldn't decide if she felt relieved or regretful that he had let go.

"It is late. I should go and leave you to your rest," Torstein said to break the silence. Signe just nodded and wrapped her arms around herself. Torstein then raised his brows questioningly. "I will see you tomorrow?"

Signe nodded at once. "Yes," she confirmed.

Torstein smiled, looking pleased, then took a step backward. "Goodnight, Signe," he said.

"Goodnight," she said in response.

Torstein flashed one last small smile, then finally left. Signe watched him go, before opening the door and stepping back inside.

---

Torstein raked a hand through his hair as he made his way back through the village, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of the shieldmaiden he had just left.

He had come very close to kissing Signe just now. Too close.

He heaved with frustration, waging an internal battle with himself as he walked along. Part of him wanted to turn around, go back to Signe, and kiss her senseless, just as he had been yearning to do for weeks now. She had looked so beautiful while they had danced in Ragnar's hall, had looked even more beautiful just now, wrapped in her blanket, with her hair loose and her hand in his own and her eyes so full of trust as she had looked at him. Every part of him yearned for her, wanted to hold her close, dig his fingers into that long, soft hair, and finally find out what her lips felt like, what they tasted like.

But he couldn't. Because the other, more sensible part of him knew this was not the time to try to take their friendship any further. Knew that he needed to keep walking and leave Signe be. After what had happened with Bjorn, Signe had been beyond frustrated and beyond angry with the way the man was acting. It had been a difficult night for her – well, truthfully, things had been difficult for her ever since Bjorn had rejected her a fortnight ago. The last thing he wanted to do was cause her more stress when she was already dealing with plenty of that as it was. Gunnar had said Signe needed him to be there for her as a friend, nothing more and nothing less. And that was exactly what Torstein had been trying to do. Heed her brother's advice and be her friend during a trying time in her life.

It was hard, though, Torstein could admit that. His attraction to her was impossible to ignore, and it only grew stronger every time he was around her. It had been taking a lot of restraint and a lot of willpower not to act on his feelings, and there were times – like just now – where that restraint slipped and he came close to doing something rash. He couldn't let that happen, though, because this wasn't the time for that. Not while Signe was still struggling with heartbreak. Not when Signe had never once said or did anything to make him believe that she wanted him in that way.

Then again, he supposed that might not be completely true. Sometimes, when Torstein least expected it, he thought he saw something in her eyes whenever she looked at him, something that extended beyond friendship. The first time he had seen it, he had convinced himself he had been mistaken, that he hadn't seen anything at all, that it was all in his head. The second time he had written it off as a trick of the lighting. The third time, however, he had finally allowed himself to feel the first twinges of hope. Hope that maybe she was moving past her feelings for Bjorn. That maybe she was beginning to see him as more than just a friend. That maybe there could be something more between them.

But then he would remember that Signe still loved Bjorn, and all of his hope would fade away. It didn't matter that he had broken her heart or that he had been acting like an imbecile in recent days. That gleam was still in her eyes whenever she talked about him or looked at him. Even when he made her angry, even when she hated him, she still loved him. And now, as he heaved with frustration, he couldn't help wondering of he was setting himself up to be sorely disappointed by allowing himself to care so much for a woman who did not see him in that light.

Torstein continued along, cursing under his breath. He wasn't really paying attention to where he was going or anything that was going on around him. But then, as the Seer's hut came into view, his attention was suddenly caught.

He paused right there in the middle of the path and stared at the quaint home, finding himself drawn to it as if drawn by an invisible force. It was late and most everyone in the village was asleep, but the Seer appeared to be awake. The door was open and a fire was burning inside, casting an orange glow on everything it touched. It was an inviting glow, and though Torstein had not had any intentions of visiting the Seer, had not even been considering it, all of a sudden he found himself changing courses and heading in that direction, as if his feet had a mind and plan if their own.

He stepped up to the door and hesitated, before stepping inside, having to duck so that he wouldn't hit his head. The Seer was sitting by the fire, draped in black as always, seemingly unsurprised that Torstein was there.

"Come and sit, Torstein," the Seer said.

Torstein did so, his lips pressed together tightly as he occupied the seat across from the Seer. The man looked at the fire with unseeing eyes, his black lips pursed with thought. Torstein sat close enough to the Seer to be able to and the scent of spices and body odor that hung in the air around him. It wasn't a pleasant smell, but he didn't make an attempt to move away.

"You have not visited me in a long while," the Seer commented.

"I did not have questions that needed answering," Torstein replied.

"But you do now," the Seer responded.

Torstein nodded. "I suppose I do," he confirmed, even though he hadn't realized he did have questions until he had stepped into the Seer's hut.

He expected the Seer to say something, but he didn't. The man merely sat there, waiting patiently for Torstein to speak. Torstein considered his words, knowing he wanted to ask about Signe, but feeling foolish in a way at the thought of inquiring about the fate of his love life. Instead, he decided to be vague.

"What do the Gods have planned for my future?" he asked.

The Seer hummed for a moment. "You have asked me that question before," he reminded. "Do you remember the answer I gave you?"

"I do," Torstein confirmed, able to recall the words vividly, even though it had been many years since be had heard them. You will be victorious in battle. You will sail to distant lands. You will have glory and notoriety and be respected by many. Even once you have gone to Valhalla, your name will still be remembered. "I want to know if my fate has changed."

"Yes…and no," the Seer said mysteriously. Torstein frowned with confusion, unsure what he meant by that. "I see the same path I have always seen. One full of battle and bloodshed. Adventure and women. And there is glory, the glory that every great warrior seeks. But I see another path now, a different path," he revealed. "On this path, there is still battle. There is still bloodshed. There is still adventure. But there is a woman. One woman. A woman kissed by fire."

Torstein sat straighter at hearing that, though the words kissed by fire gave him pause. He had not heard anyone use that phrase before and did not know what it meant. Was that something to be taken literally, or was that just a saying that meant something else? "Kissed by fire?" he repeated.

The Seer nodded once. "She has a role to play in your life, one that could change the entire course of your future. She has the power to save you. To bring you happiness beyond what you have known before. To bring you a different sort of glory than one would find on the battlefield. But she is not a woman whose heart will be easily won," the seer warned. "It can be won, however, so long as you are willing to fight for it."

Torstein nodded slowly as he let those words sink in. The seer had to be speaking of Signe. He just had to be, because it was the only option that made sense. But there was still a shard of doubt within, which drove him to ask his next question.

"What is this woman's name?" Torstein asked, desperate to hear the Seer say her name.

The Seer smiled in a way that was a bit unsettling. "I cannot say," he answered.

Torstein held back a heave of frustration. Sometimes he truly believed the Seer enjoyed toying with them, just so that he could see them squirm about in annoyance. "Cannot or will not?" Torstein asked.

The Seer just continued to smile. "The Gods think I have said enough already," he answered. "But I will tell you one last thing," he added, holding up a finger. "You vill have a decision to make soon. And what you decide will determine which path you shall travel for the rest of your days," the Seer said. "Follow your instincts, Torstein. And, as always, trust the Gods.

The Seer held his hand out after that, palm facing upward. It was the signal that their conversation had come to a close. Torstein stared at the Seer, thinking their short conversation had only served to confuse him more, but obediently leaned forward to lick the Seer's palm. The Seer closed his fist, as if trying to capture Torstein's saliva, that grin never leaving his face. Finally, Torstein stood to leave, and with the Seer's words ringing in his ears, he left the hut and went home.

---

Signe was standing in the middle of a large, open field. Looking straight ahead, she saw nothing but trees and rocks and bushes stretching as far as the eye could see. When she turned to look behind her, she saw mountains and high, jutting cliffs. A single, dirt path branched in each direction, but the path looked untraveled. There were no footprints or horse tracks, no sign that any travelers had come through any time soon.

Signe turned to look forward again, then blinked when she realized that the scene had changed. A house lay in the distance now, one that was so familiar it made her heart ache. It was made of wood and stone, with straw on the roof and a small chimney for ventilation. It was her house, the same one that she had been born and raised in. And standing in front of that house were five figures she knew and loved. Her father, Oleg, stood just in front of the door to the house. To his right stood Hallsteinn, then Garik. To Oleg's left was Valborg, then Ingelill. Ingelill, Signe noticed, was holding a small bundle in her arms. A baby, small and pink and crying softly from the safety of its mother's arms.

Signe smiled at the sight of them, a lump forming in her throat as she realized then exactly how much she had missed her family. They smiled and waved at her, before they each began to beckon her over enthusiastically. Signe took a step in that direction, but then, suddenly, a strong gust of wind pushed back against her, making her pause. For some reason she felt compelled to look behind her, as if the wind was trying to tell her that something was there.

Turning slowly, she saw that the scene behind her had changed as well. She could now see the village of Kattegat sitting there, with its many houses and bustling market place. Most of the people she saw in Kattegat had blurry faces, which made it impossible to tell who they were. But there were some figures standing right at the edge of town that she could see clearly.

One was Hilda, short, grey-haired, and grinning at her as she pet a chicken that she held in her arms. A few feet away from her was Earl Ragnar and Floki, who had at least a dozen faceless warriors standing behind them. Floki was giggling and had mischief in his eyes, but Earl Ragnar was the picture of seriousness. He stood straight and tall, holding a sword in his hand, his impossibly blue eyes shining with fierce determination. He looked as though he was about to lead the warriors behind him into battle again, and though Signe did not know who the battle was against or what it was for, she felt ready to run into battle with him.

Signe stared at Earl Ragnar for another moment, then shifted her gaze to the two figures who were closer than all the rest. It was Torstein and Bjorn, standing side by side, each man staring intently back at her. They each turned to glare at the other, before the looked back to Signe. In the next moment, they both extended a hand in her direction, willing her with their eyes to come to them.

Signe stood rooted to the spot, her eyes sliding back and forth between the two. She wanted to go to them, felt a tingle in her own palm that told her to go and take one of their hands. Only she couldn't decide which hand she wanted to take. At first she felt the strong urge to go to Bjorn, to slide her hand into his grasp and see where he led her. But then she looked at Torstein, and she realized that the urge to go to him was just as strong.

The wind hit her again, blowing in the direction of her family. Signe looked away from Torstein and Bjorn to gaze at her family again. They were all extending hands toward her, just as Torstein and Bjorn had, their eyes pleading with her to choose them. Signe gazed at them, her brows furrowed with indecision, before looking at Torstein and Bjorn again. They still stood there, hands extended, both watching her with eyes that clearly said they hoped she would choose them.

A figure appeared next to her in the next moment and placed a hand on her shoulder, drawing her attention. Gunnar was standing next to her now, and though she was filled with indecision, it was clear from his resolute expression that he knew exactly where he was going to go.

"Home," he said simply, giving her a firm nod.

Gunnar released her shoulder, then began walking toward their family, all of whom opened their arms to greet him as he approached. Signe watched Gunnar go, feeling a pull in her stomach that said to follow him. But the sound of her name on the wind made her look behind her again. Torstein and Bjorn were closer now, their expressions pleading.

"Signe," Torstein said. "Stay."

"Come, Signe," Bjorn said next. "Stay."

Signe pressed her lips together tightly, glancing at Torstein and Bjorn, then at her family. She truly did not know what she was supposed to do. She wanted to stay, wanted to go to Torstein and Bjorn. But then she watched as Gunnar was hugged by their family and the desire to go to her family, to take her father and her brothers in her arms again, was undeniable. She had never felt so torn. Had never felt so conflicted.

The wind began to blow again, growing fiercer and fiercer, whistling loudly in her ears and making her hair and the skirts of her dress whip around her almost violently. Signe pressed her hands to her ears and closed her eyes, breathing hard as the wind continued, fearing it might be strong enough to actually lift her from her feet. All the while she could hear the voices of the people on either side of her, each urging her to choose them, each pulling her in opposite directions. It was maddening and confusing and Signe began to scream, desperate to bring an end to the chaos.

"STOP!" she shouted at the top of her lungs.

And it worked. The wind stopped howling and the voices stopped talking. Signe stood there, panting for air, and slowly opened her eyes to take a tentative look around. Her family still stood to one side and her friends in Kattegat to the other, but they were all quiet now, standing so still and so quiet they appeared to be statues.

And then a lone figure seemed to appear from nowhere and came striding toward her. A woman with long, dark hair and dark, piercing eyes, wearing all black, her pale skin covered in dark tattoos. The Völva was coming toward her, her black-painted lips pulling into a wide smirk. She finally came to a halt in front of Signe, bringing with her the usual scents of incense, spices, and something slightly foul. The woman stared at Signe intently for a long moment, until her lips pulled into a smile that displayed yellow teeth.

"Trust the Gods," the Völva finally said.

And with that, the Völva began to shrink into herself, growing smaller and smaller within her clothes, until she had disappeared entirely and her clothes were nothing but a heap or fabric on the ground. Signe stared at the dark clothing for a moment, unsure what had just happened or where the Völva had gone. But then the clothes moved, making her jump in surprise. A moment later a creature emerged, and her breath instantly caught in her throat.

A black raven, its feathers shiny and lustrous, its beady eyes staring right at Signe. Signe pressed a hand to her mouth in shock.

"Allfather?" she asked, staring unblinkingly at the raven.

It let out a loud SQUAK in return, then took flight, hovering in the air by Signe for just a moment before heading in the direction of her family. Signe watched the bird fly with amazed eyes, her heart pounding in her chest. Finally, the bird landed on her father's shoulder, where it released another SQUAK. Oleg looked up at the bird on his shoulder, then back at her, his one dark eye peering at her intently.

"Home," he said simply. "Home."

Signe eyes popped open as she woke, and for a moment she lay there staring straight ahead, still able to clearly see her father and the raven that had been perched on his shoulder. She finally blinked, and when she opened her eyes again, the image was gone.

Sighing heavily, Signe rolled onto her back and glanced toward the window. It was dark still, but she could see just the faintest hint of blue beginning to appear in the edges of the closed window, which told her that dawn would be approaching soon enough. Signe sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, before running a hand through her long, wild, auburn curls. Glancing in the direction of the bed, she found Gunnar still sleeping, snoring loudly and looking precariously close to falling off the bed. Signe shook her head and stood from her bed, before going over to Gunnar and pushing him further onto the bed so that he wouldn't fall. He stirred a bit in response, but did not wake. Instead he merely shifted in his sleep, then settled again and resumed his peaceful slumber.

Signe left her brother to his sleep and went to pour herself a cup of water, finding that she needed it after all the alcohol she had drunk the night before. Signe drank the water, sighing gratefully when it made her feel better, then poured herself a second cup. Once she had finished the contents of the cup again, she set it aside and started to get dressed for the day, knowing she wouldn't be getting back to sleep. She pulled on a tunic and a pair of trousers, fixing a belt around her waist to cinch the tunic in securely. She then went to pull on her boots, before combing her fingers through her long, auburn hair to get rid of any tangles and braiding it in one long, plait. By the time she was done getting dressed, it was still fairly dark outside. Knowing it would likely be some time before Gunnar woke, Signe decided fresh air would do her good and headed for the door.

Kattegat was quiet and peaceful in the early hours of the morning. Because the sun was not yet up, most of the townsfolk were still sleeping, but she did spy a few people moving about here or there as she made her way toward the docks. Signe smiled politely at anyone she passed, but did not stop to talk to anyone, not that anyone tried to pull her into conversation anyway.

She reached the shore just as the sun started to peek above the horizon and walked down the length of the wooden dock that extended out into the water. She walked past the impressively built boats that Earl Ragnar and his men had sailed in when they had returned from England and went to the very end of the dock. Signe then sat down and let her legs hang over the edge of the dock, her eyes staring out at the gently rolling water of the sea.

The dream she had had was still fresh in her memory, and it was the only thing she thought about as she watched the bright, morning sun rise over the water. It was not often that she had dreams one might consider to be prophetic. She was not a Völva, not a seeress, and therefore did not dream of things that might come to pass in the future. But every so often, whenever she found herself faced with difficult times or hard decisions, she had dreams that were impossible to ignore. Dreams that felt as though they were a sign from the Gods, an attempt on their part to steer her down the right path.

So now, as she thought about what had happened in the dream, she had to believe it had been a sign from the Gods. It was no secret that she had been struggling with the decision as to when she and Gunnar should leave Kattegat. Her dream had reflected that struggle perfectly, right down to the storm of confusion that crashed down on her whenever she thought about it. But it was the strange seeress and the black raven that stood out in her mind the most. The last time the seeress had invaded her mind, it had sent her down the path that led her to Kattegat in the first place. And as far as the raven went, well...that was something she could not ignore. She had never dreamt of a raven before, but it was common belief amongst her people that the presence of a raven – whether it be in a dream or in real life – meant that Odin was there. If Odin had come to her, if he had been sending her a sign, then there was no mistaking the meaning behind the bird flying to her family.

Signe had always believed in the Gods, had always trusted the Gods, and right now, she could only believe that they had finally come to show her the way she was supposed to go. Leaving Kattegat was not what she wanted to do, but if her dream was anything to judge by, it was what the Gods wanted her to do.

It seemed the time had come to go home, whether she liked it or not.

Signe sat on the docks for a while longer, torn between feeling sad to leave Kattegat but ecstatic to see her family again, until the sun had finally risen and she could hear Kattegat coming to life in the distance. Eventually, when a few irritable fishermen came to shoo her away, claiming that she was hogging their favorite fishing spot, Signe got up and began walking back toward the heart of town, running over everything she and Gunnar would need to do before they left and trying to decide when they should go. She figured they would need a day or two to prepare, but not much more than that. If all went well, they could be on the road in three days. It was quick, yes, but the way she saw it, the sooner they left, the less opportunity she would have to rethink her decision or talk herself out of it.

Signe kept walking, but instead of turning down the path that would return to Gunnar, however, she found her feet carrying her in the opposite direction, toward Torstein's house. She was surprised with herself and unsure what had motivated her to see him so soon after making her decision, but the pull to see him was so strong, she did not even attempt to fight it.

When she reached Torstein's house, she knocked twice on the door and then waited patiently for him to answer. It took a few moments, but eventually the door opened to reveal Torstein, who looked a bit disheveled. His hair was messy and his shirt wasn't on completely straight, as if it had been pulled on hastily. She realized quickly as she looked up into his blue eyes that there was still a slight fog of sleep in them, which could only mean that she had woken him up.

"Signe?" he said in confusion, his voice huskier than usual in his half-awakened state. "Is everything alright?"

Signe nodded quickly. "Yes. I am sorry for the early call. I can see that I have woken you up. I can return later if you vould like," she offered, already taking a step backwards.

"No, no," Torstein said quickly. "Come inside. I do not mind," he urged, standing aside so that he could make room for her to pass through the doorway.

Signe nodded and stepped inside, pausing just inside the doorway to survey Torstein's house. As much time as she spent with him, this was actually the first time that she had gone into his house. It was decently sized and tidier than she had expected it would be. A hearth was in the middle of the room, with a kitchen area to the left of it, as well as a table and chairs for dining. She could see jars of herbs and wrapped packages of meat, cheese, and bread in sight, as well as a large tankard of ale. A table was near the back wall, which looked as though it was a station for cleaning and maintaining his weapons. There were several tools, as well as several weapons, stowed on top of the table. To the right of the hearth was a doorway that looked as though it led to a few other rooms, and though Signe was incredibly curious to see those rooms, she didn't dare head that direction to snoop around, knowing it would be incredibly impolite of her to do so. The home had a surprisingly cozy feel to it, though it obviously lacked any sort of feminine touch. It also smelled faintly of the forest, a scent she accredited to the collection of animal pelts hanging from a rack in the back corner, trophies from their many hunts that she suspected Torstein planned to turn into clothes or to sell off at some point or another.

"Have a seat," Torstein said as he shut the door. "May I get you anything?"

"Just water, thank you," Signe said as she took a seat at the table.

Torstein nodded and went to fill two cups with water. He joined her at the table, placing one of the cups in front of her. Signe thanked him and took a sip, before fiddling with the cup. Suddenly she felt nervous to tell Torstein of her decision to leave, simply because she was not sure how he would react to he news.

"How was Gunnar feeling this morning?" Torstein asked to break the silence.

"He vas still asleep when I left, actually, though I vould imagine he will not feel the best when he wakes," Signe predicted. "As angry as he was last night, I think he vill regret what happened with Bjorn once his head is clear again."

Torstein nodded. "I think you are right, he agreed. "Ale more often than not leads people to act in ways they otherwise would not. Once the haze of alcohol has gone, the aftermath of decisions made can sometimes be ugly and embarrassing."

Signe nodded. "I am sure he will apologize to Bjorn for vhat he did."

"Will Bjorn forgive him?" Torstein asked.

Again, Signe nodded. "They are practically brothers. They vill make amends with each other, I am certain of it."

"He can make amends with Gunnar, but not with you?" Torstein asked with a quirked brow.

Signe sighed. "Our problems are a bit more complicated," she told him with a frown.

Torstein smiled sympathetically. "Yes, I suppose they are."

There was a brief pause in conversation where they both took a drink of water. Signe then set her cup back down, before giving him a small smile. "I wanted to thank you again for last night. Not just for bringing Gunnar home, but for our time together in Earl Ragnar's hall," she told him as she remembered how much fun she had had dancing and laughing with Torstein before the night had been effectively ruined. "I had fun dancing with you. You made an otherwise strange night enjoyable."

Torstein smiled and inclined his head to her. "It vas my pleasure," he told her.

Signe smiled at him a moment longer, before sighing to herself when she remembered that her time with Torstein would soon come to an end. It made her feel sad, and it must have shown in her face because Torstein soon frowned with uncertainty.

"Is there something on your mind?" he asked.

Signe looked at him, then nodded. "I…have made a decision regarding mine and Gunnar's return to Hedeby," she said. And since she didn't see any use beating around the bush any longer, she just came out with it. "I believe it is time for us to leave. When I return home, I intend to tell Gunnar that we will depart for Hedeby in a few day's time."

Torstein seemed surprised. "Why the rush?"

"The longer we stay, the greater the chance I vill attempt to conjure a reason not to leave," she admitted with a wry smile. "Best to get on the road and be on our way as quickly as possible."

Torstein nodded his understanding, though there was no denying the disappointment in his eyes. "Well, I vould be lying if I said I had not been expecting to hear something like this from you any day now," he told her. He paused, then spoke again. "Yet, I vould also be lying if I said I had not been giving this journey back to Hedeby a great deal of thought myself," he said slowly.

Signe quirked a brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Torstein gave her a long look, then sat forward to lean his elbows on the table, his expression serious. "What I mean is that the road to Hedeby will be a long one, possibly even a treacherous one. Gunnar is better, yes, but not well enough to be expected to fight should trouble come along. And I can admit that I do not like the thought of the two of you braving the outside world by yourselves," he told her matter-of-factly.

"So vhat are you getting at?" Signe asked.

Torstein held her gaze firmly. "What vould you say if I offered to escort the two of you back to Hedeby?" he finally asked.

Signe's brows jumped up with surprise. This was not an offer she had expected him to make, especially so considering the fact that this was a long trip that would mean him going more than just a little bit out of his way. "I vould say that it is a kind offer, but not one I would feel good about accepting," Signe told him. "Hedeby is much too far. I cannot ask you to leave your home behind to travel countless miles out of your way just for us."

Torstein smirked. "That is what I thought you would say," he countered knowingly. "But I vould not mind. I enjoy travelling, and with winter just around the corner, the time to leave Kattegat for a while and stretch my legs grows smaller every day. I vould like to get out for a bit before winter shuts us all in," he said with a nod. "Besides, I have never been to Hedeby. I would like to see it. And after all you have told me of your family, I vould very much like to meet them, as well."

Signe looked at him, then sighed. "Torstein, you are far too generous to me," she said with a shake of her head. "As much as I would enjoy having you traveling with us, I simply cannot ask this sort of favor from you. I would not feel right."

"You did not ask, remember? I offered," Torstein pointed out. "And you are my friend, Signe. Friends help one another, no matter how large or small the task." Torstein paused, then reached over to touch her hand. "Allow me to come with you," he encouraged gently. "I vould feel much better knowing that you and Gunnar made it to Hedeby safely."

Signe looked down at his hand, which rested over hers, then peered into his blue eyes again. She knew she should say no and insist that he stay here in his comfortable home, but the longer she looked into his imploring eyes, the harder it was to get the word past her lips. "Earl Ragnar would not mind you leaving?" she found herself asking, despite her doubts.

"Ragnar will survive just fine without me," Torstein reassured her with a nod.

Signe pressed her lips together as she contemplated her answer. She didn't want to make Torstein go out of his way, nor did she particularly like the thought of him having to travel alone back to Kattegat once he had seen them home. But, at the same time, there was a selfish part of her that quite liked the idea of Torstein coming with them. It would mean that they wouldn't have to say goodbye to each other just yet, that they would have more time together. It would take at least a week to return home, and she thought it only reasonable to believe that Torstein would stay with them in Hedeby for a while so that he could rest before returning to Kattegat. She would be able to enjoy his company for at least a few more weeks, perhaps even a month if she was lucky.

Signe quirked her brow at him. "You are certain you want to do this?" she finally asked.

Torstein nodded without hesitation. "Yes."

Signe finally sighed and nodded her head. "Very well," she conceded. "If you truly wish to come with us, I vill not try to stop you."

Torstein beamed at her with satisfaction. "I am glad you accepted…though even if you had said no, I still vould have followed you," he admitted with a smirk.

Signe just sighed and shook her head. "Of course you would have," she said sarcastically.

They shared a smile for a moment, before Signe finished her water and stood up. Torstein did the same.

"I should return to Gunnar," she said. "He vill be delighted to hear that we are returning home."

"I vill go and speak to Ragnar and inform him of our plans," Torstein said. "After that, I vill begin preparing for our journey."

"As will I," Signe agreed.

They headed for the door, which Torstein opened for her. "I look forward to meeting the rest of your family," he said as she stepped outside. "After all you have told me of them, it vill be nice to finally spend time with them."

Signe suddenly thought about her family, before cringing slightly. Valborg and her father, Oleg, would be perfectly pleasant to Torstein, of that she was sure. But when she remembered the way Hallsteinn and Garik had behaved toward Torstein while they had been in Kattegat, she suddenly feared how they would react when they saw him again. Garik she could probably talk to and make him see reason, but Hallsteinn? He would not receive Torstein warmly.

"You say that now," she quipped. "We shall see if you still feel that way once Hallsteinn makes you the target of his wrath."

Torstein just smirked. "I am not afraid of him," he said confidently.

Signe gave him a look. "You should be," she countered, which made Torstein's smirk falter a bit. She smiled then, before turning on her heel to leave. "I vill see you soon, Torstein," she called over her shoulder.

And with that she walked away and began making her way back home, leaving Torstein to stare after her as she went.

---

As she had predicted, Gunnar was awake, hungover, and feeling incredibly guilty for punching Bjorn by the time she returned home. Though he insisted he would defend her honor until his dying breath, he also admitted that he had indeed heard Bjorn wrong and that punching him had probably not been his smartest decision. Signe told him that Bjorn would likely forgive him if he explained himself, but Gunnar just grumbled in response, obviously not as convinced as her, and said he thought it better to stay away from Bjorn for a bit.

She let her brother sit there for a few mopey minutes and berate himself for being a drunken imbecile, until she finally decided to lift his spirits the only way she knew how – by telling him they were going to go home. And it most certainly worked. To say that Gunnar was ecstatic would have been an understatement – the moment the words left her lips, Gunnar was off the bed and scooping her up in a strong hug, lifting her clean off her feet in the process. He laughed happily, obviously forgetting about Bjorn in a heartbeat, and swung her to and fro, until he plopped her back on her feet and demanded to know exactly when they would be leaving. Upon telling him that it would depend on how long it took them to get fully prepared, Gunnar immediately asked what she wanted him to do to get ready for their journey. Clearly he was ready to get on the road as quickly as possible.

They rest of the day was spent getting preparations underway. They went to the market to trade off some of the goods they had collected in Kattegat in exchange for supplies for the journey home. They bought food and ale for themselves, food for their horses, and a few tools they thought might come in handy should they have any trouble along the way. Once home again, Signe got to work washing all of their clothing and hanging it out to dry, while Gunnar went around inside and searched every inch of the house, rounding up any of their personal belongings and packing them away.

Torstein came over for dinner that night an informed her that he had spoken to the Earl about their plans to go to Hedeby, and that the Earl had no issues with him leaving, just as he had predicted. Signe decided then, since it seemed official now, to reveal to Gunnar that Torstein would be embarking on the journey home with them. Her brother was surprised, but not displeased to learn that Torstein would be coming with them – he had warmed up to Torstein, whether he wanted to admit it or not, and therefore did not mind Torstein's near constant company these days. Regardless, with how happy he was to know they would be reunited with their family soon, however, she doubted anything would have ruined Gunnar's mood. Her brother, grinning, merely slapped Torstein on the back jovially and began to tell him all about Hedeby, as well as the fun Torstein would have there once they arrived.

The next morning, Signe woke early and snuck in one last hunting session with Torstein so that they would have a little extra food for the road. They stayed out for several hours, talking perhaps more than they should have but still managing to get a decent haul. Once or twice she noticed that Torstein seemed distracted, as if he had something on his mind, but anytime she asked him if he was alright or if there was anything he wanted to talk about, he would merely smile at her and say he was just thinking about their journey. Signe didn't believe him, of course, but since it was obvious he didn't want to tell her what was on his mind, she stopped pushing the issue.

After their hunting trip was concluded, they returned to Kattegat and went back to the house, where they sat down with Gunnar to go over everything they had done and determine whether or not there were anymore preparations to be made. In the end, they realized there wasn't much else to be done and decided there was no use putting the trip off any longer. To Gunnar's everlasting delight, they all agreed that they would depart for Hedeby the next morning.

Torstein stayed for lunch, then headed off to take care of a few tasks he needed to see to before they left. Once he was gone, Signe left Gunnar to tend to the haul that she and Torstein had brought back from their hunting expedition and headed to the stables so that she could check on their horses and make sure they were ready for the journey to come.

Once she was checking over their horses and was finally left alone to her own thoughts, Signe couldn't help feeling several different emotions all at the same time. She could not deny that she was elated to see her family again. She had missed them terribly and could not wait to just hug them and kiss them and see their faces again. They would be beyond thrilled to have her and Gunnar home again, beyond thrilled to know that Gunnar had survived and was recovering nicely from his wounds. She could not wait to hear what they had been doing while they had been gone, nor could she wait to find out if Ingelill had had the baby yet. If the dream she had had was anything to go by, it seemed likely that Inge had had the baby, and Signe was more than eager to meet her new niece or nephew.

At the same time, she was still sad to leave Kattegat. The freedom she had felt here had been sweet, and much too brief in her opinion. It wasn't as if she wasn't free to do as she pleased back in Hedeby, but at home, where everyone knew her and her family, it was difficult to escape the long shadows that her father and brothers casted. Her family never belittled her or made her feel insignificant, but being the youngest, and the only girl, Signe felt as though the rest of the people in town never took her as seriously as her brothers. She felt like she was viewed as the tag along, the little kid jumping around at the heels of her brothers, just begging for attention and to be noticed.

But here, in Kattegat, it wasn't like that. She was her own woman, with her own friends and an entirely new sense of purpose. What would it have been like, to live here under the great Earl Ragnar? To serve him and fight with him and experience adventures she had only ever dreamed of? She wished she could have known, but now that she was leaving, she knew she likely never would.

"I hear you are departing for Hedeby tomorrow," a voice said as she was bent over checking one of the horseshoes on her brothers horse. Signe straightened up in surprise, then felt her eyebrows raise when she saw Earl Ragnar leaning against the door to the stables.

Signe turned to face him, wondering why he was there and whether or not he had purposefully sought her out. "You heard correctly," she confirmed. "Did Torstein tell you?"

Earl Ragnar nodded. "I saw him not long ago, headed in the direction of his house. He told me then," he explained.

Signe nodded in understanding, then watched as Earl Ragnar stepped closer, his bright blue eyes turning toward the horses belonging to her and her brother. He reached out to pat her horse on the neck, eyeing the large animal with appreciative eyes, before shifting his attention to Gunnar's horse and running his fingers along the horse's mane.

"These are fine animals," he complimented.

"Thank you, Earl Ragnar. They were gifts from our father," she said, patting her own horse fondly and smiling as it nipped at the fabric of her shirt with its large teeth. "I came to check on them and see if they required any attention before we leave. It will be a long trek. I wanted to ensure they were well enough for the journey home."

"They appear to be well taken care of. I should think they will be fine," Earl Ragnar assured with a nod of his head.

"I agree," Signe told him.

Earl Ragnar continued to pet Gunnar's horse, but turned his blue eyes to peer at Signe curiously. "What about your brother? Is he well enough for the journey home?"

Signe pressed her lips together, then shrugged. "As well as he can be, I suppose," she answered. "Regardless, he is beside himself with eagerness to be reunited with our family, and I no longer have the heart to hold him back. It is time for us to go."

Earl Ragnar just nodded in understanding.

Signe watched the Earl from the corner of her eye, before sighing and turning to face him fully. His mention of Gunnar had reminded her of what had taken place between him and Bjorn a few nights previous, a matter that she now felt the need to address. "Earl Ragnar, I vould like to take this time to apologize for what happened between Gunnar and Bjorn in your hall two nights ago," she told him sincerely. "It was wrong of him to punch Bjorn. He was drunk and not thinking clearly."

Earl Ragnar lifted a brow at her. "From what I understand, my son was drunk as well and causing a scene," he replied. "I vas also told that your brother believed he was defending your honor. I cannot fault a man for protecting his sister, even if he misheard what was actually said. In fact, I admire him for his readiness to defend his family...and find myself quite impressed by the strength of his punch, especially so considering his recent injuries," the Earl admitted. "Do not tell Bjorn I said so, though," he added with a mischievous smirk.

Signe couldn't help but smile, both out of relief that Earl Ragnar was not angry at Gunnar and out of humor for what he had just said. But then she sighed, her smile falling as she shook her head.

"Not telling Bjorn should not be a problem," she said dully. "We can hardly be around one another at the moment, let alone actually speak to one another."

Earl Ragnar gave her a sideways look. "Yes, Bjorn told me of the recent troubles between you two," he said, confirming her suspicions from the other day. "When I invited you to dine in my hall, I had hoped it vould provide the opportunity for you and him to talk through your problems. Judging by the events of the night and the foul mood Bjorn has been in these past few days, I can only assume that did not happen."

Signe shook her head. "No, it did not," she said. "In fact, I think it safe to say things might even be worse now." Signe sighed again and raked a hand through her auburn curls. "I cannot say with certainty that things ever will get better. My hope for better days with him is fading rapidly, and I fear things will never be the same between us."

Earl Ragnar gave her a look, then sighed and stepped closer. "Let me tell you something, Signe," he told her seriously. "Us Lothbrok men can be stubborn creatures. We like to think we know everything, that we have all the answers. But that it not the truth, especially when it comes to matters involving women," he admitted with a small smirk. "I can admit that I have made many mistakes where it concerns women I care about, mistakes that could have been fixed had I not allowed my pride to interfere," he then said, and the look in his eyes let her know that he was referring to Lagertha. He seemed to become lost in thought for a moment, until he shook his head and focused on Signe again. "Bjorn, unfortunately, seems to have followed in my footsteps. I see a lot of myself in him, which I suppose is both good and bad," he acknowledged. "These past few weeks, I have seen him make many mistakes. Mistakes that are all too familiar to me, mistakes that I had hoped he would not make himself. But as wise as Bjorn is, he is still a man – and a Lothbrok man, at that, which means he was bound to make mistakes no matter the circumstances."

Earl Ragnar paused, then gave her a look that could only be described as sympathetic. "I wish I could tell you he vould see the error of his ways, that he vould realize what he is in danger of losing and rectify the situation. But knowing that the Lothbrok blood runs in his veins, I fear he will not see matters clearly until it is far too late," he added with a shake of his head.

Signe pressed her lips together, unsure she knew what to make of the Earl's words. She felt as though there was a double meaning to his little speech, but she couldn't quite place her finger on what it was. Was he just worried that his son was about to lose his closest friend and confidant? Or was there something else he was worried about, only he didn't wish to say it aloud?

Before she could ask him to clarify, Earl Ragnar spoke again. "Despite everything that has happened, I do know that he cares for you, Signe. Of that I have no doubt. From the moment he told me about you, and in every moment since, his affection for you shines as brightly as the sun over our heads. You are very important to him. And though you may not have seen the way this rift between the two of you has affected him, I have," he told her with a nod. "It pains him to know that he hurt you, and pains him even more greatly that it has put such a strain on your friendship."

Signe considered what Earl Ragnar had said, then gave him half-hearted smile. "It pains me, as well," she admitted. Signe sighed then, and shook her head. "Truth be told, he is not the only one who has made mistakes these past few weeks. As much as I have tried, I simply cannot blame him for everything that has gone wrong between us. I am just as at fault." Signe went quiet for a moment, before frowning. "I had hoped that we could have come to some sort of understanding before I left. Now, however, it does not appear that it going to happen."

"There is still time," Earl Ragnar pointed out.

Signe sighed. "Yes, I suppose there is," she agreed, though she was having a hard time imaging any conversation between them would go well after the way they had left things. Did she really want to risk getting into another argument with Bjorn right before she left? Or was it worth the risk if it meant being able to at least somewhat fix their friendship before they went their separate ways? "I shall think on it," she finally said.

"Do not think too long. You only have until the morning," Earl Ragnar reminded her.

Signe just nodded.

Earl Ragnar stared at her for a moment, before he seemed to decide that he had said all that he had needed to say. "I will leave you to your preparations. I am sure there is much to do still," he told her with a single nod. But he did not make a move toward the door just yet. "Before I leave, however, I would like to take this moment to extend to you an invitation."

Signe quirked a curious brow, their conversation about Bjorn instantly pushed to the back of her mind. "An invitation?" she repeated.

Earl Ragnar nodded. "Next summer, my boats will be sailing west again, to England," he revealed. "I am alvays in need of strong warriors, and your family has proved itself more than capable in the fight against Jarl Borg. Hallsteinn will already be joining us, seeing as he will be living in Kattegat soon. But it vould please me very much if you and the rest of your brothers were on my boats as well."

Signe's jaw dropped in surprise, simply because she had not expected such an offer. "Truly?" she asked, dumbfounded.

Earl Ragnar smirked. "Truly. Unless, of course, you would rather raid with Earl Sigvard," he added with raised brows, his tone tinged with sarcasm. It seemed he thought the foreign Earl was a bit of a joke, and the notion that anyone would choose to raid with a man like that over a man like him was absolutely ridiculous.

Signe couldn't help but snort. "I think I speak for all my brothers when I say we would very much prefer to sail with you, Earl Ragnar," she said without hesitation. It was the answer he had likely been expecting, but Earl Ragnar still seemed pleased to hear it. "I will extend the invitation to my brothers when we return home. Sailing west with you has been a dream of ours for quite some time now, though, and I can assure you that this is an invitation that vill be met with great excitement. I am certain the answer vill be yes from all of us," Signe said with a nod and a smile.

"Then I will see you again for the summer raids," Earl Ragnar said with a note of finality. Signe could not help the thrill of excitement that shot through her in response. "I am glad to have met you, Signe Olegdóttir, and though I have said it already, I wish to express again how grateful I am to you and your family for your aide in helping me reclaim my home. Safe travels on your journey, and may the Gods protect you while you are on the road."

Signe smiled and inclined her head respectfully. "Thank you, Earl Ragnar. And thank you again, for all that you have done for me and my brother."

"You are welcome." The Earl finally turned to leave, but when he reached the door, he paused and shot a smirk at her over his shoulder. "Tell my ex-wife I said hello. And that I hope our paths cross again someday," he said.

Signe pressed her lips together, then nodded in agreement. Earl Ragnar left after that.

---

Their last night in Kattegat was a bittersweet one. After how close she had gotten with Hilda, it seemed only fitting to spend this last evening with her. So Signe, Gunnar, and Torstein went to Hilda's for dinner so that she and her brother could enjoy one last night in the woman's company, and though they ate a lot of food, drank a lot of ale, and spent many hours talking and laughing with one another, there was no denying the fact that there was an underlying note of sadness to the occasion.

For Signe, who had grown to greatly respect and admire Hilda and all that her friendship had to offer, she felt, in a way, as if she was losing a mother all over again. Hilda was the first person – the only person – who had come close to filling the shoes of her deceased mother. She was someone Signe cared about, someone whom she looked up to for advice and guidance and for the sort of warmth that could only be found in a mother. To have found such a bond after so many years of not having a mother around, it broke her heart to know that she would soon be losing that. As for Hilda, well…on the outside she was happy that they were going to be reunited with their family soon, but Signe could tell that, underneath it all, she was sad that they were leaving and was dreading the moment they would have to say goodbye to one another. Singe liked to believe it was because Hilda had come to view her as a daughter, and because Hilda also did not want to lose the wonderful bond that had formed between them.

They stayed as late as they felt they could, then, when they knew it was time to go home and get a good night of sleep, they finally said their goodbyes. Hilda hugged Gunnar first, then Signe, embracing them each for at least three minutes. By the time she was releasing Signe, she was sniffling a bit and looked a little teary eyed. She played it off as if nothing was wrong, however, and promised to see them off in the morning. Then she headed inside, and though Signe knew it was probably in vain, she found herself hoping that Hilda would not spend the rest of the night crying.

It was a restless night for Signe and Gunnar. They both tossed and turned all night, the anticipation and excitement of the journey to come making it difficult to fall asleep. Eventually they were both finally able to calm their mind and drift off to sleep, but before they knew it, sunlight was streaming through the windows and the songs of the morning birds filled their ears. Morning had come quickly, and their departure was right on its heels.

Signe and Gunnar had a quick breakfast and then began to get dressed and round up the bags of belongings and supplies they had packed. While Gunnar talked a mile a minute with excitement, Signe found herself only listening with half an ear. She was thinking not of her family back home or how excited she was to know that she would be seeing them soon, but rather thinking of Bjorn. She had not gone to speak with him the day before, as Earl Ragnar had encouraged her to do, partly because she had not known what to say to him, but mostly because she had been too afraid. Afraid that they would argue, afraid that Bjorn would not want to see her, and, most of all, afraid that by talking with him one last time, it would somehow be the conversation that ended things between them once and for all. So she hadn't gone through with it, and had instead been a coward and stayed away.

But now her time in Kattegat was rapidly coming to an end, and as she thought about everything Earl Ragnar had said to her, she began to regret not speaking to Bjorn. She knew she would see him again – surely he would come to visit Lagertha in Hedeby at some point or another, and with Hallsteinn coming to live in Kattegat and with Earl Ragnar inviting her to come to England, there would come a day where she would return to this village again. But it would likely be many months before that happened, which meant that there was really no telling what sort of state their friendship would be in when they saw each other again. Either the time apart would help to heal the wounds that had been inflicted here and they would be able to go back to normal when they saw each other again, or it would have the opposite effect – the wound in their friendship would just continue to fester the longer they left it untreated, and things would be even worse.

There was suddenly a knock on the door, which made both her and Gunnar pause. "It is probably Torstein," Gunnar mused aloud, before heading to the door to open it.

It wasn't Torstein, however. When Gunnar opened the door, it was Bjorn who was standing on other side, which made both Gunnar and Signe stop short with surprise. He looked a bit awkward, shifting back and forth on his feet as his wary eyes shifted between Signe and her brother. Even from where she stood, she could see that his nose was swollen and the skin around it bruised an ugly purple color. He still looked handsome, regardless.

"Bjorn?" Signe asked uncertainly, stepping forward to stand next to her brother. "What are you doing here?"

Bjorn eyed Gunnar nervously for a moment, as if he feared the man might try to punch him again. When Gunnar made no moves to do anything, Bjorn looked at Signe again, and this time there was hope in his eyes. "I wanted to speak with you…if that would be alright with you, of course."

Signe hesitated, then nodded in agreement. Bjorn seemed relieved, but still regarded both her and Gunnar with caution. Signe, sensing that this was perhaps a conversation that should be had in private, turned a look on her brother. "Will you go collect our horses while I speak with Bjorn?"

Gunnar glanced at her, then nodded. He stepped outside, but paused next to Bjorn. His expression was rather on the neutral side, but there was a hint of apology lurking in his eyes. "Bjorn…about what happened when we saw each other last – " Gunnar started to say.

Bjorn held up a hand to silence him. "You do not need to ask for forgiveness, for there is nothing to forgive, my friend. You thought you were defending Signe's honor. You behaved exactly as I would have, had I been in your position. I am not angry at you for what happened, and I hold no grudges."

A look of relief passed over Gunnar's face. "I am glad to hear it," he said with a nod. He then glanced at Signe again, who was watching the exchange in silence, before turning his eyes back to Bjorn. "I vill leave you to it, then," he said, before finally walking away.

Once Gunnar was gone, Bjorn looked back to Signe. She did not miss the way his shoulders tensed as their gazes held, though whether it was out of caution or fear, she couldn't quite tell. It may have been both. Without saying a word, she turned and stepped further into the house, beckoning him to follow her. Bjorn stepped inside, leaving the door open behind him.

Signe crossed her arms over her chest as she faced Bjorn again, feeling awkward and uncomfortable in a heartbeat. She didn't know what to say to him after everything that had happened, and Bjorn didn't seem to know what to say either, despite having purposefully sought her out to talk. Finally, he sighed and glanced at her and Gunnar's packs of belongings, which were piled up by the door.

"I had hoped I had misheard my father when he said you were leaving today," he said to break the silence. "It appears it is true, though."

Signe nodded. "It is," she confirmed. "We lingered here as long as we could, but…the time has come for us to go home," she explained with a shrug.

Bjorn nodded in understanding. "Your family will be overjoyed to have the two of you back, of that I have no doubt," he said, forcing on a smile.

"And we will be overjoyed to see them in return," Signe said. "Though I think Gunnar and Garik will be the happiest of everyone," she added with a small smile, already envisioning how ecstatic the two would be when they saw each other again. "They have never been parted like this before. They will be elated to see one another, and I should think it will be impossible to separate them once they are reunited."

"You are probably right," Bjorn agreed. He gave a timid smile then, and gave her a knowing look. "Then again, you are always right, are you not?" he asked, referring to the many times that she claimed exactly that. Jokingly, of course.

Signe smiled a bit at his words. It felt odd, him trying to joke around with her after how tense things had been between them. She supposed him joking with her was better than him arguing with her, though.

There was an awkward pause, before Signe, unable to help herself, frowned at Bjorn's bruised nose with concern. "How does your nose feel?"

Bjorn reached up to gently touch his nose, his expression turning into a slight cringe. "It hurts still, but I shall be fine," he said with a nod. "For someone who was half dead barely a month ago, Gunnar is still incredibly strong," he added with a wry smile.

Signe smiled gently. "Just be glad it was Gunnar who was there to mishear vhat you were saying. Had it been Hallsteinn…"

Signe trailed off and gave him a look, one that Bjorn read easily. "I vould likely be dead had it been him there," he finished with a shake of his head.

"Likely," Signe agreed.

Another silence passed, this one longer and even more awkward than the one before it. Finally, Bjorn heaved and pushed a hand through his short, blonde hair.

"This is not how I planned for us to spend our time in Kattegat, you know," Bjorn said with a frown. "When we left Hedeby, I had thought we vould come here and have this great adventure together. I thought, once we defeated Jarl Borg, that I vould be able to show you Kattegat and all it had to offer. I thought, by day, that we vould hunt and fish and stir up trouble, then, by night, we vould sit around my father's hearth and drink ale and listen to all of Ragnar's stories from his travels. I wanted to relearn my homeland, and I wanted you there by my side while I did so. But…that did not happen."

Bjorn sighed sadly, and Signe could not help but echo the sentiment. She had done all of those things while she had been in Kattegat, only she had not done them with Bjorn. She, too, thought it would have been nice if she and Bjorn had been able to spend time with one another like that, and was sad that they had not been able to.

"Signe, I know things between us have been strained," he continued. "But I came here today because there is something I must tell you before you leave. Something I should have said the moment I saw you in my father's hall and should have said at least a dozen times since," he said, his features set in determination. "I am sorry, Signe," he told her sincerely. "I have done so many things wrong since we arrived here in Kattegat. I am sorry for hurting you. I am sorry I vas not there for you when you need me the most. I am sorry for the distance that has grown between us. I am sorry for interrogating you about Torstein when I should have been using those moments to try to mend our friendship. I am sorry for everything. I have been a fool, and I simply cannot apologize enough for the way things have been."

Signe felt a lump form in her throat. She knew Bjorn meant what he was saying. She could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice, practically feel his remorse on her skin. Suddenly, her anger at him disappeared completely. Had it been anyone else, she would have gladly held on to her grudge, would have made them suffer and wallow in guilt. But this was Bjorn, the man she loved and cared for and cherished above nearly everyone else in her life. All she wanted was peace and understanding between them.

"I am sorry, too," she said back gently. "I made just as many mistakes as you have these past few weeks. I know that I put you in a difficult position when I told you how I felt, and then I punished you for not feeling the same, even though you attempted to turn me down as gently as you could." Signe shook her head as she remembered that horrid day, wishing she could just take it all away and make everything normal again. "I should not have shut you out the way that I did. I should have listened to you when you attempted to speak with me, not treated you so coldly. But I was hurt and heart broken and I behaved in a way I should not have. There are many things I vould do differently, if I could back in time. But I cannot, so I will do the only thing that I can and say, once again, how sorry I am."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Bjorn said quickly. "I do not blame you for how you treated me. You have every right to hate me after the things I did."

Signe shook her head at once. "I do not hate you, Bjorn," she said at once. "I could never hate you. You are my best friend. You mean too much to me for me to hate you."

Bjorn's eyes flashed with hope and he gave her another timid smile. "You still consider me your best friend?" he asked, as if he had been convinced that he had lost that title. "Even after everything, you still view me as such?"

Signe couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of that question. "Of course I do, you fool."

Finally, Bjorn smiled. A true, genuine smile. He then placed a hand on her shoulder, and though he hesitated for a quick moment, he eventually pulled her closer, before wrapping her up in a loose hug. He was giving her the option to pull away, to keep her distance, but Signe didn't want that. With a sigh, she leaned into him further, accepting the embrace and sliding her arms around his waist. Bjorn tightened his arms instantly and rested his chin on top of her head, releasing what sounded like a breath of relief. Signe smiled a bit, feeling some of the weight lift from her shoulders. She knew things would not be completely normal again just like that, that it would likely still take time for everything to be exactly as they had been back in Hedeby. But right now, in this moment, all of the tension and awkwardness and anger had gone away. She felt as though she had her best friend back, and for now, that was more than enough for her.

"Why could we not do this a fortnight ago?" Bjorn mused aloud, still holding her tightly. "Why vas this so hard?"

Signe shrugged against him. "I do not know," she answered. "But I am happy it happened now. It vould have haunted me for months if we had left each other on bad terms."

"Me as well," Bjorn agreed.

There seemed to be nothing more to say after that. Silence fell between them as they stood there hugging one another tightly, and for the first time in many, many days, the silence was not uncomfortable. Signe couldn't say for sure how long they stood there like that, just hugging one another and reveling in the moment, but eventually the sounds of voices and the neighing of horses outside caught their attention. Signe and Bjorn looked toward the door, which was still open. Gunnar had returned with the horses, but he was not alone. Torstein was there, bringing with him his own horse, and he was accompanied by both Hilda and, to her surprise, Earl Ragnar, whom she could only assume had come to see them off.

Signe and Bjorn finally pulled away from one another, sharing a small smile as they did so. "It is time for me to go," she said regretfully.

Bjorn looked as though he did not want to say goodbye. "I wish you could stay," he told her.

"I do, too," Signe said with a nod. "But we vill see each other again," she said encouragingly.

"We will," Bjorn said determinedly, his tone laced with promise.

Signe just smiled, then reached out to squeeze his shoulder.

When she released her hold on his shoulder, she gave him one last look before moving to start collecting the her and Gunnar's packs. Bjorn quickly moved to help her, then, together, they carried them outside. Gunnar had been talking with Earl Ragnar, while Torstein and Hilda had been sharing a few words between themselves. When Signe and Bjorn stepped outside, all four stopped what they were doing and turned to look at them with similar expression of curiosity.

"Good morning," Signe said to Torstein, Hilda, and Earl Ragnar, feeling a slight blush in her cheeks in response to the looks they were directing at her and Bjorn.

The three nodded and said good morning in return, but did not stop eyeing her and Bjorn. Finally, Gunnar was the one to say something about it. "Everything alright?" he asked, looking back and forth between the two of them.

Signe looked at Bjorn and they shared a quick a smile. "Yes," she answered.

Her answer seemed to please everyone, especially Gunnar and Earl Ragnar. "Good," Gunnar said with a firm nod. "I vas really not looking forward to having to punch Bjorn again if things had not been alright," he then joked.

Earl Ragnar and Torstein snorted in response, while Signe gave her brother a look. Bjorn smirked in response, but there was a flash of wariness in his eyes that said he actually was a bit afraid of getting punched again. When Gunnar stepped toward him, he tensed a bit, but when her brother just smiled and patted him on the shoulder, Bjorn instantly relaxed. He seemed to know then that all was well between him and Gunnar.

After that, they made quick work of securing their packs and their weapons to their horses. Bjorn and Earl Ragnar helped them get ready to go, asking them various questions about the routes they were going to take and offering up alternative paths in case they ran into any problems. As for Hilda, she all but forced a few wrapped packages of bread and meat into Signe's hands, before she began fussing over her, Gunnar, and Torstein, asking them a dozen questions about the supplies they had packed so as to make sure that they were fully prepared for the journey.

"And you have plenty of water, yes?" Hilda asked. "You filled your skins?"

"Yes, Hilda, we did," Signe answered patiently. When Hilda started to ask yet another question, Signe placed her hands on the shorter woman's shoulders. "We are as prepared as we can be, I assure you," she told her with a smile. "We vill be alright, Hilda."

Hilda just sighed and nodded, before pulling Signe into a bone crushing hug. Signe was happy to return it. "You vill come back to visit me, yes?" Hilda asked hopefully.

"Of course," Signe promised without hesitation.

"Good." Hilda pulled back and placed her hands on either side of Signe's face. "I vill make a sacrifice to the Gods and pray for your safe passage," she promised. "Be safe, Signe. And take care."

Signe nodded. "Thank you, Hilda. For everything," she told her.

Hilda pulled her head down to kiss her forehead, then hugged her again. They only pulled away when Torstein appeared next to them. "We should be going," he said, smiling gently. "We have a long way to go yet. Best to be on our way."

Signe nodded, and with that she and Hilda finally released one another.

There was one last round of goodbyes had amongst the group. Hilda hugged Torstein goodbye first, then Gunnar, squeezing each man tightly. Signe said her goodbye's to Earl Ragnar, who bid her safe travels once again and told her not to forget about his invitation to sail west with him. After she assured him she would not be forgetting anytime soon, she moved aside so that Gunnar could shake hands with the Earl. After that, Torstein stepped forward and, to Signe's surprise, shared a brief, manly looking hug with the Earl, who told Torstein to be safe and return as soon as possible.

The only one left to say goodbye to was Bjorn, and he the one she wanted to say goodbye to the least. Gunnar hesitated as Bjorn came to stand before them, but then he stepped forward and embraced the younger man, patting him almost roughly on the back.

"We vill see each other again, my friend," Gunnar said with a nod as he released Bjorn.

"I look forward to it, brother," Bjorn said in return.

Gunnar nodded, then stepped away so that Signe and Bjorn could have a moment to themselves. Signe hesitated, then pulled Bjorn into a hug, which he happily returned. When she pulled back to look at him, she offered a smile. "Take care of yourself," she said.

"I will," Bjorn promised. "Be safe on the road, and be sure to hug your family for me when you return home," he told her. He then sighed, his expression turning to one of longing. "And, if it is not too much trouble, could you tell my mother that I miss her? And tell her that if she ever needs me, for anything, just send word and I shall come."

Signe nodded. "I will," she promised.

Bjorn smiled gratefully and reached out to squeeze her shoulder. He then turned his gaze to Torstein, who had been standing by with the others while they waited for them to finish saying goodbye. The look he gave Torstein was not overly friendly, but it was not nearly as loathing as it had been the last few times Signe had seen them together either. It was clear that the tension between them had dissipated some, but it had not gone away completely.

"Take care of them," Bjorn told the man. "Protect them."

Torstein, whose expression was hard to read, nodded firmly. "No harm will come to them. You have my word."

Bjorn seemed satisfied with the answer. He did not move to shake Torstein's hand or hug him, however, merely nodded to him once, then finally backed away from Signe and went to stand with his father and Hilda.

With the goodbyes said and the horses ready to go, they knew there was no more use in delaying the inevitable. After sharing a look with Gunnar and Torstein, Signe went to her horse, stuck her foot in the stirrup of her saddle, and lifted herself up onto the back of the large, strong animal. Gunnar and Torstein followed her suit and climbed atop their own horses. As Signe grabbed the reins and made herself comfortable in her saddle, she glanced back at Bjorn, Earl Ragnar, and Hilda. Bjorn and Hilda looked sad to see them go, but Earl Ragnar just gave them a respectful nod.

"May the Gods be with you on your journey," he said.

Signe, Gunnar, and Torstein nodded in response to his words, before Torstein finally dug his heels into the flank of his horse to send the animal forward. Gunnar quickly followed, a broad grin stretching across his face as he did so, undoubtedly from pure joy at the knowledge that they were finally on their way back home. As for Signe, she hesitated long enough to share one last long look with Bjorn. Then, with one more smile, she finally sent her horse forward and followed after Torstein and Gunnar, leaving Bjorn, Hilda, Earl Ragnar, and – eventually – Kattegat behind.

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Well, they're going home! I'm very excited, because the part of the story we're about to get to is more or less the very idea that launched this whole story to begin with! I'm also excited to bring Signe's family back into the mix! Hope you guys enjoyed it, and please let me know what you think!