Thank you, as always, to all of you for your support and your kind words! The chapter you're about to read is one I'm particularly excited for, because the plot point this chapter revolves around is basically the idea that made this story happen in the first place! So I really, really hope you guys enjoy this chapter, because I certainly had fun writing it!
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Vikings, only the OC's.
Chapter Eighteen
Signe woke to the song of morning birds twittering away outside, accompanied by the sounds of someone attempting – and failing – to move about the room quietly. For a few moments Signe lay there in bed, feeling warm and comfortable and unwilling to get up just yet. Sighing contentedly, she reveled in the pleasant, woodsy smell in her nose and let the steady rise and fall of the pillow beneath her head lull and sooth her, until she had very nearly fallen back asleep.
But then Signe remembered something. Pillows weren't supposed to move. And as soon as that realization flashed through her foggy, sleep-hazed mind, Signe's eyes popped open in surprise.
The reason her pillow was moving was because she wasn't on her pillow at all. At some point in the night, she had abandoned the feather pillow Tóra had given her and had decided, instead, to sleep on Torstein. He was still fast asleep on his back and she was cuddled into his side, one hand laid on his stomach and her head resting comfortably on his broad chest. He had a strong arm wrapped around her shoulders and a leg between hers, completely unaware of the fact that they were cuddled together as he snoozed away.
Signe lifted her head slowly, her eyes wide as she looked down at Torstein's peaceful face. She wasn't sure how exactly they had come to be in this position in the first place, but she knew she wanted to get out of this position before he woke up and saw her peering down at him like some letch.
With slow, careful movements she started to back away from him, doing her best not to jostle him too much or wake him up. She only made it a few inches away, however, before the arm he had around her tightened and pulled her back into his side. Signe froze as he shifted and mumbled in his sleep, certain he would wake up at any second and find her sprawled across him. He didn't wake, though, merely settled down again and resumed snoozing, holding her securely to his chest.
Signe let out a sigh, then began her second attempt to gently disentangle herself from him. This time she was able to get away successfully. Once she was free she sat up and put some distance between them, watching as Torstein turned toward her and his hand slid around on the space she had just occupied, as if he was searching for something. With a frown, she realized that she felt instantly cold and almost a little…bereft…now that she was no longer in his arms, though she couldn't possibly begin to explain why.
A throat clearing made her blink and remember what had woken her up in the first place. She looked up, fully expecting to see Jorund or Tóra and bracing herself for whatever looks she would receive after being caught cuddling up to Torstein. It was actually Gunnar who was there, though, and as he lifted a brow at her, she couldn't decide if him catching them was better or worse than the alternative.
He looked at her, cast a pointed look at Torstein, then smirked. "Cozy?" he asked in a knowing tone.
Signe flushed violently, then quickly stood up, running her hands over her hair and her clothes to smooth them out. "Feeling better?" she asked to change the subject.
"Much," he said with a nod. He wasn't going to be deterred that easily, though, and continued to look at her with that same, irritating smirk. "You are sharing a bed with Torstein now?"
"There was only so much room," Signe answered, trying to keep her tone from being too defensive. "It did not seem fair forcing him to sleep in the barn vhile we made ourselves at home in his sister's house, so I told him we could share."
"And you decided to save even more space by sleeping on him?" Gunnar shot back. He seemed a little too amused by the whole situation, which was unexpected behavior from her usually overprotective brother. His amusement didn't make her feel much better, though, since it was a clear sign that he intended to tease her mercilessly.
Signe gave her brother a withering look. "Nothing happened, Gunnar," she said through clenched teeth. "Now stop pestering me about it."
Gunnar opened his mouth to undoubtedly say something snarky in return, but, thankfully, the arrival of Tóra in the next moment made him close his mouth again. He shot Signe a quick look, though, one that said this conversation was not over and that he would not forget what he had seen.
"Good morning," Tóra greeted them brightly, smiling at Signe first, then Gunnar. "You look much better today, Gunnar," she then observed.
"I feel much better," he said, using a far nicer tone than he had been using with Signe. "A good night of rest and a good, hearty meal did wonders. Thank you again."
"You are welcome," Tóra said. "I am going to start on breakfast. How does pork and eggs sound?"
Gunnar practically drooled, while Signe smiled enthusiastically. "That sounds wonderful," she said. "May I help?" she then offered, partly because she did not want to be a useless house guest, but also partly so that she would be too busy for Gunnar to bug her.
Tóra smiled. "Sure. That vould be nice," she said with an agreeing nod.
Signe dressed quickly, then joined Tóra in the cooking area so that the two of them could get to work on breakfast. Soon the house was filled with sizzling sounds of cooking pork, and as the inviting scent spread from room to room, the rest of the sleeping inhabitants were quickly roused from their beds. When Torstein woke and sat up in bed, stretching his long arms high over his head, Signe was instantly reminded of the way it had felt when she had woken to the feeling of those arms around her. She had to turn away quickly so that he would not notice her blushing.
"Good morning, everyone," Torstein said as he stood and went to join Gunnar at the table.
"Good morning," Signe and Tóra said, while Gunnar nodded his head to the man, his eyes narrowed just the tiniest bit. "I see you never made it to the barn," Tóra observed, shooting a brief look in Signe's direction. "I trust the two of you were comfortable?"
Gunnar spoke before either Signe or Torstein had the chance to answer her question. "Do not worry, Tóra," he said, his eyes never leaving Torstein. "By the looks of things, they were very comfortable."
Signe gave her brother the worst glare she had in her arsenal, which had Gunnar smirking at her evilly. Torstein merely raised his brows, looking surprised and confused by the exchange between the two siblings. "Never mind my brother, Tóra," Signe said icily. "He knows not when to shut his mouth."
Tóra raised her brows, then slowly nodded and turned back to what she had been doing, seemingly deciding that it would better not to get involved in their squabble. Torstein still looked as though he didn't know what to make of the exchange, but as for Gunnar, he just continued to smirk back at Signe with a challenging gleam in his eyes, looking thoroughly unintimidated. She glared at him for one more moment, then resumed helping Tóra with breakfast, forcing herself to shake off the annoyance Gunnar had made her feel so that she could have a normal conversation with her cooking companion.
The awkwardness that had filled the room finally melted away when Jorund and Leif joined them a few moments later. They greeted everyone enthusiastically, making a special stop next to Tóra to give her kisses on the cheek, then claimed their seats at the table to await their breakfast. Once they had finished cooking, Signe and Tóra quickly made plates for the men and distributed them. Signe, admittedly, went out of her way to step on Gunnar's foot when she took him his plate, which was childish on her part but made her feel better nonetheless. Gunnar did not retaliate, merely scowled at her before stabbing his fork into his food with more roughness than was necessary.
After the men had been served, Signe and Tóra made plates for themselves and joined them at the table. Tóra sat between Leif and Jorund, while Signe eased into the seat next to Torstein. The moment she sat down, he leaned closer to her.
"Is everything alright?" he asked in her ear, glancing briefly in Gunnar's direction.
The woodsy smell that always clung to him invaded her nostrils again, which had her thinking about waking up to that scent in her nose while she'd been snuggled up beside him. She firmly pushed those thoughts away, though, when she saw Gunnar lift a brow at the fact that Torstein was whispering to her.
"Everything is fine," she whispered back, forcing on a reassuring smile to go with her little fib. "Do not pay attention to him. He is just being annoying."
Torstein didn't look as though he believed her, but he still nodded and leaned back in his seat again, before digging into his breakfast.
Though Gunnar was obviously feeling better, the decision was made over breakfast that they would stay with Tóra and Jorund for one more night, that way they could take the day to go to the market for more supplies, and so that Gunnar could get one more good night of rest under his belt. Signe didn't mind spending one more night under Tóra's roof, especially considering how comfortable she felt here already, but the thought of sharing a bed with Torstein for the second night in a row did make her stomach erupt with nervous butterflies.
After breakfast, Signe and Torstein took inventory of their supplies to see what they needed – they really didn't need much in the end, but they decided that it wouldn't hurt to get a bit more food to take with them just in case hunting proved to be a challenge while they were on the road. Before long, Torstein headed off to the market with Jorund, taking Leif with them when the boy practically begged at their feet to accompany them. Gunnar attempted to go too, but Signe reminded him that he was supposed to be resting and ordered him stay put, which he did with a lot of annoyed grumbles under his breath.
With Gunnar taking it easy and the rest of the men gone, that left Signe and Tóra with some time alone. Though Tóra insisted that Signe was in no way obligated to help her with chores around the house, Signe swiftly reminded the woman that she had two perfectly capable hands and that she refused to sit around twiddling her thumbs while Tóra worked around her. Having evidently learned fairly quickly that Signe was stubborn and would not take no for an answer, Tóra heaved and agreed to let her help with household chores.
They went outside first to feed the chickens and milk the two goats that Tóra and Jorund owned. It was a rather pleasant day outside, not too hot and not too cold, with just enough cloud coverage to keep them from burning under the sun while they worked. When they were finished tending to the animals, Tóra went inside to round up all of the dirty laundry that needed washing. After she returned with a mound of clothes in her arms, the two of them stationed themselves at a large laundry bucket full of soapy water and got to work.
Conversation was not difficult to come by. Tóra, Signe had learned very quickly, was easy to talk to. They talked about their lives at their respective homes, then divulged their brothers' most embarrassing stories, which had them in stitches soon enough. Because Tóra had grown up with two older brothers, Signe noticed a certain toughness that one acquires having overprotective siblings always bossing them around. She seemed like a kindred spirit in a way, which made it easy for them to connect with one another.
"How did you meet Jorund?" Signe eventually asked, curious to know more about the two and how their marriage had come to be.
Tóra smiled at the question. "There are not as many merchants in the market, so Jorund and his father vould make the trip to Kattegat every so often to trade off goods from either their hunts or the summer raids," she started to explain. "I was living in Kattegat still when he came to town with his father. I vas in the market with mother selling off some of the pelts that Torstein had brought back from his hunts when Jorund came by. He claimed at the time he was interested in the pelts," she said with a small laugh. "Later, he confessed he had only come to look at them because he wished to speak to me."
Signe smiled and let out a small laugh. "That is a sweet story," she said.
Tóra nodded. "Jorund is a sweet man," she said. "He came to visit me in Kattegat every single month for half of a year. On the final visit, he proposed marriage. We were married within a fortnight, and then I left Kattegat to start a life with him here."
Signe nodded in understanding. "Was it hard leaving Torstein and your mother behind in Kattegat to be with him?"
Tóra sighed. "It was," she confessed honestly. "I love my brother, and I certainly loved my mother. We are always close, but we grew even closer after the deaths of our father and brother. So when I found myself faced with the decision to leave them, well…it was not an easy one," she admitted with a shake of her head. "I vas in love with Jorund, though, and I knew my place was by his side." Tóra shrugged. "In the end, this vas the life the Gods planned for me," she concluded.
Signe nodded slowly. She understood completely why Tóra had made the choices that she had. What better reason was there for starting a new life elsewhere than doing so for love? And as far as what the Gods had planned, well…Signe knew that their plans were not easily ignored. After all, she herself had left her home and her father to journey to a place she had never been to help an Earl she was not loyal to reclaim a home that was not hers, and a large part of her reason for doing so was because it was what the Gods had wanted.
"You must be happy to be returning home," Tóra commented after a momentary lull in conversation.
Signe smiled and nodded. "I am," she said. "I have missed my family terribly. It vill be wonderful to see them again."
"And I am sure they vill be happy to see you and Gunnar in return," Tóra said with a half smile.
"They vill," Signe agreed. "Our family has no idea vhat has been happening with Gunnar since our brothers, Hallsteinn and Garik, left us in Kattegat. Gunnar was doing very poorly then, so much so that I was not certain whether or not he vould live. Our family is unaware that he has recovered, which has me worried that they might believe he has gone on to Valhalla," she explained with a small frown. "When they see that he is alive and well, they vill be overjoyed," she said, brightening up again at the thought of the reunion to come.
"You took care of Gunnar by yourself?" Tóra asked curiously. Signe nodded in confirmation. "You must have a talent for healing, then," she mused aloud.
Signe shrugged modestly. "When you spend half your life tending to five injury prone men, you certainty learn a few useful tricks."
Tóra gave a quick chuckle and nodded in understanding. "Of that I have no doubt," she said, smiling widely.
They were quiet for a few minutes as they resumed their work. Signe found her eyes drawn to the window nearest to her, which allowed her to see Gunnar as he rested inside. He looked bored out of his mind as he sat near the hearth and poked at the fire with a long stick. She shook her head to herself at the mopey sight he presented, but did not feel bad or him – whether he wanted to admit it or not, he needed to rest, and she was going to make sure that was exactly what happened.
"Signe, I feel I should apologize to you," Tóra said to break the silence, drawing Signe's attention back to her. Tóra had a sheepish look on her face now. "Last night, I mistook your relationship with my brother for something it vas not. If I caused you any embarrassment, I am sorry. Know that it vas not my intention to do so," she insisted.
Signe smiled and waved her apology away. "You have no reason to apologize, Tóra. It was a simple misunderstanding," she said understandingly. "To be fair, I can see why there may have been confusion," she admitted. "Torstein and I have grown quite close with one another. From an outsider's perspective, I can see how our friendship could be mistaken for something more. But we are only friends."
"Well, I am glad you are not angry with me," Tóra said, sounding relieved. She hesitated for a moment, as if contemplating saying something more, then gave Signe a look. "Though if I am to be completely honest with you, there is a part of me that is perhaps a little…disappointed."
Signe paused in what she had been doing to glance at Tóra questioningly. "What do you mean?" she asked with confusion.
Tóra shrugged. "I have alvays hoped that my brother vould someday find a good, kind woman to settle down with," she revealed. "I like to believe I am good judge of character, and from what I have gathered so far, you, Signe, seem like a good, kind woman," she said with a meaningful glance. "The sort of woman I would hope to see by my brother's side."
Signe fought the urge to blush. "Thank you. That is kind of you to say." She paused, her fingers fiddling with the clothing she held in her hands. "I do not think your brother sees me as more than a friend, however," she said with a shrug. "Nor am I in any position to think about being with another in that way. You see, I…suffered a recent heartbreak," she confessed, frowning. "It has not been easy to recover from."
Tóra immediately frowned with sympathy. "I am sorry to hear that," she said. "May I ask what happened?"
Signe took a moment to think about Bjorn and all that had happened between them in Kattegat. It seemed like too much to attempt to explain, nor did she particularly feel like divulging all the details. So, finally, she just shrugged. "I fell in love with my closest friend. He did not reciprocate those feelings," she said simply. "It vas not meant to be."
Tóra made a sound of understanding, then gave her a pointed look. "Well, I do not know who that man was, but if you ask me, he sounds like a fool," she stated.
Signe shrugged, a smile tugging at her lips. "Thank you," she said, grateful to Tóra for being so ready to defend her, despite not even knowing the full story, nor knowing Signe all that well.
Tóra just nodded firmly in response, as if that settled the matter.
By the time Torstein, Jorund, and Leif returned, it was past noon. Signe and Tóra had long since finished the outside chores and moved inside, where they first cleaned up around the house before positioning themselves in front of Tóra's loom to work on a blanket that she was in the process of making. When Torstein walked in with Leif bouncing around his heels and talking animatedly, there was no stopping the smile that tugged at her lips – she really did enjoy witnessing the way he interacted with his nephew. When she noticed Tóra was watching her, though, she quickly turned back to the loom and focused on what she was doing, diligently keeping her eyes anywhere but on Torstein.
It was an easy day after that. While Signe and Tóra cooked dinner, Torstein and Gunnar, who refused to lay around for a moment longer, went outside to check on the horses and make sure they were ready for their impending departure. Dinner was a happy affair – they all laughed and talked and drank ale, and even Leif had finally started to come out of his shell and was happy to join in on their conversation. After dinner, Signe and Tóra made quick work of cleaning the kitchen, then joined the men around the hearth for a few more rounds of ale. Finally, when Torstein reminded her and Gunnar that they had a busy day ahead of them, everyone agreed to call it a night and headed off for their respective beds.
Torstein and Signe agreed to share the pallet again, and though she had been nervous earlier about the thought of them sharing a bed for the second night in a row, she didn't feel nervous anymore as she kicked off her shoes and prepared to get settled in. Maybe it was because she was too tired to be nervous, or maybe it was just because she'd had more ale than usual. Either way, she did not hesitate to crawl into bed beside him once it was time to go to sleep.
Signe lay on her back for a moment, sighing as her body relaxed, before turning onto her side to face Torstein. He'd had his eyes shit, but cracked one open to peer at her. "Something on your mind?" he asked.
"I had a good day with your sister today," she said with a smile. "Considering the fact that I am surrounded by men on a near constant basis, it is nice to spend time around a woman for a change."
"I am certain she feels the same," Torstein told her with a nod, opening both his eyes now so that he could look at her fully. "It has never been a challenge for her to make friends, but it seems she took to you particularly fast."
Signe grinned. "Well, obviously. My charms are simply impossible to resist," she joked, wagging her eyebrows at him.
Torstein chuckled and shook his head. "Exactly how much ale did you drink?" he asked, quirking a brow at her.
Signe shoved his arm. "I am not drunk, if that is vhat you are insinuating," she retorted, even though she did feel rather on the inebriated side.
Torstein chuckled again. "If you say so."
Signe gave him a look, then propped her head up on her hand. As she peered down at him, she thought about what Tóra had said earlier regarding her wishes for Torstein to settle down with a good woman. To be honest, she really couldn't understand how Torstein had gone so long without taking a wife – he possessed all the favorable qualities that a woman would look for in a husband, after all, and from what she understood, he'd had plenty of admirers over the years. Suddenly she began to think about Dísa, the Hedeby shieldmaiden that she had seen him getting friendly with in Kattegat. Though the two had parted on bad terms – Dísa had even slapped Torstein – Signe couldn't help but wonder if he had any plans of seeing her when they arrived in Hedeby.
"What are you thinking of?" Torstein asked. She realized she had been staring at him for too long and that it must have roused his curiosity.
"Will you see Dísa when we reach Hedeby?" she blurted out, the ale in her system making it impossible to hold back the question.
Torstein blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard by the question. "What in the world made you think of Dísa?" he asked with raised brows.
Signe just shrugged, not wanting to divulge the things his sister had told her. "Will you?" she repeated, eager to know the answer.
Torstein heaved, then shook his head. "It vas not my intention, no."
The answer left her feeling oddly pleased, though she couldn't say why. "She vill be disappointed," Signe commented.
Torstein shrugged, then gave her a serious stare. "Then so be it. I am not going to Hedeby for her. I am going to Hedeby for you," he said.
Signe went quiet at that, a strange feeling creeping into her chest as her eyes held his. There was something in his gaze that she couldn't put a name to, but it made her heart thump against her ribs regardless. "And for Gunnar," she added quietly, just for something to say.
Torstein cleared his throat, then nodded. "Yes. And for Gunnar," he added, though he didn't sound as emphatic about it this time around.
The air around them became too thick after that, too intense. She had to tear her gaze from his and lay flat on her back again, finding that staring up at the shadows on the ceiling was far easier than holding Torstein's gaze. "It vill be strange, being home again," she said to change the subject.
Torstein took a second to respond. "Being home again vill be a good thing, though, yes?" he asked.
"Well...yes," Signe answered with a small nod of her head. "I cannot wait to see my family and hold them in my arms again." She paused, then sighed. "I just grew accustomed to life in Kattegat so quickly. I am starting to fear that life in Hedeby vill not be the same as it was before the battle against Jarl Borg."
Torstein didn't say anything for a long few moments. He was silent for so long, in fact, that she began to think he wasn't going to say anything at all. But then he shifted so that he was propped up on his elbow, which had her eyes sliding back over to meet his. There was a serious look on his face again.
"Signe, may I ask you a question?" he asked. She nodded in consent. "If you had nothing to hold you back, if there vas a way for you to live in Kattegat that your family could not argue against…would you choose Kattegat over Hedeby?"
Signe quirked a brow at the question. "Why do you ask?" she countered. "Have you conjured up some master scheme that vould have my family agreeing to let me leave Hedeby?" she asked, her lips pulling into a slightly teasing smile.
Torstein shrugged nonchalantly. "An idea may have come to mind."
The vague response had Signe giving him a look. "Would you care to elaborate?" she asked, curious to know what he had in mind.
Torstein shook his head. "Not at this moment, no," he denied. Signe opened her mouth to pry further, but he interrupted her before she could say anything more. "Answer my question," he encouraged.
Signe took a good, long moment to consider what he had asked her. She had not wanted to leave Kattegat in the first place, for she had enjoyed her time there and had felt, for the first time in her life, like an independent woman free to do whatever she wished and lead a life of her own choosing. But Hedeby was her home, where she had grown up and where her family was. Yet, she supposed she didn't really love Hedeby, not the way Bjorn loved Kattegat. If her family hadn't been there, she thought it safe to say that she never would have returned. Especially so now that she had ventured out into the world and discovered that there were so many more adventures and experiences to be had elsewhere.
"I think I vould," she finally said, nodding her head. "Is that wrong of me? That I vould be so willing to leave my homeland and my family behind so easily?"
Torstein shook his head. "No," be said. "You have your own life to lead. You should spend it doing vhatever makes you happiest, even if it means starting over somewhere new."
Signe didn't say anything to that, just sighed and shifted her eyes back to the ceiling, wondering if perhaps she was only thinking this way because of the ale in her system. Deep down, though, she knew that wasn't the reason. Kattegat felt like the place she was supposed to be, the place where the Gods wanted her to be. She just didn't know how to make such a move possible. Torstein seemed as though he had a plan, though, assuming he was being serious when he told her an idea had come to mind.
"Are you going to tell me of this master plan of yours now?" she asked, raising her brows curiously.
Torstein thought about it for a second, then glanced over at her. "Let me think on it a while longer," he said. "The plan needs…a little more contemplation."
Signe quirked a brow at his mysteriousness, but nodded in agreement. "Very well," she said. "Contemplate away."
Torstein gave her a small smile and nodded. They was no more to be said after that, and soon enough they had both fallen asleep.
It was not much of a surprise to wake up and find herself, once again, in Torstein's arms. She came to early in the morning, lying on her side this time, with her back flush against Torstein's chest and a warm, heavy arm locked around her waist. It was quite a comfortable position to be, if she were to be completely honest – Torstein was warm and she felt very protected with his strong arms around her. Still, she carefully and quietly wiggled her way free of his hold before he could wake up, purely in an attempt to avoid any embarrassing encounters.
Once everyone was awake, it was time for them to start preparing for their departure. They had a hearty breakfast, then packed up their belongings and went outside to prepare the horses. When that was finished, Signe and Gunnar started saying their goodbyes, thanking Tóra and Jorund for their hospitality. After promising the two that they would visit anytime they were in the area, Signe hugged Tóra for a long few moments before saying goodbye to Jorund and Leif and headed for her horse. Torstein was the last to say goodbye, giving Tóra and Leif extra long hugs, before he eventually came to join them. With one last farewell, the three were on their way.
It was a rather uneventful journey after that, which was no bother to Signe and her companions. The time at Tóra's house had certainly done Gunnar good and had left him feeling noticeably rejuvenated, but they still kept their pace easy and steady, so as not to push him. It was the same routine for the next week – wake up, ride until lunch, make camp at sunset, and take breaks every so often to so that they, and the horses, could rest. They encountered a few people along the way, all of whom were travelers such as themselves and were, thankfully, quite on the friendly side. But for the most part they encountered nothing more than a few wild animals and wide, open, uninhabited terrain.
As night fell over the earth once again, Signe, Torstein, and Gunnar stopped at sundown and settled in to make camp for the night, just as they always did. Because they had so much practice with this now after several nights of camping, it was a quick process to get everything set up. Within half an hour, they had their horses tethered up, their beds laid out, a fire going, and supper cooking.
Though most of their nights had been quiet and relaxed, there was a different energy in the air tonight. There was a feeling of excitement and anticipation pulsing around them now, and it was because finally, after nearly a week and a half of travel, they were beginning to close in on Hedeby. Signe and her brother had begun to recognize landmarks they were passing by, and Gunnar had grown especially excitable when he recognized an area where he had made camp with Garik while they had been on an extended hunt earlier that year. If they continued on at the pace they had been going, Signe estimated it would only be a few more days before they would reach Hedeby.
The thought of being so close to home again had left Signe in a bit of an odd state. On the one hand, knowing her family was so close had her fighting the strong urge to climb atop her horse and ride to Hedeby as fast as she could so that she could see them and hold them and kiss their faces. It was almost torture, being so close but knowing she still had so far to go. She could barely keep still as they sat in their camp and ate their dinner, feeling so antsy that she couldn't stop herself from bouncing her knee or tapping her fingers.
At the same time, however, there was a large part of her that was disappointed to know that this new and exciting chapter of her life was coming to an end. Once she was home, Torstein would go back to Kattegat and life would go back to how it had always been. That would be the end of it. It would almost be as if it had all never even happened. The thought of parting ways with Torstein and officially saying farewell to her time in Kattegat was not one that she liked, not even a little bit. That conversation with Torstein the night before they left Tóra's had stuck with her, had planted a seed of yearning in her mind. She rather liked the idea of starting over somewhere new, of leading her own life and being her own woman. It wasn't as if her father and brothers tried to control or dictate her life, but she knew that as long as she stayed in Hedeby, she would never get to live the life she truly wanted. The one where she did what she wanted to do when she wanted to do it, not when it was convenient for her father and brothers. Where she was able to sail west with Earl Ragnar and explore distant lands. Where she was able to fulfill the destiny that the Gods had placed before her. Returning to Hedeby made her feel as though she was turning her back on everything that she wanted, and it left her with an ill feeling in her stomach.
Needless to say, Signe had never felt more confused, nor conflicted. How was it that she could yearn to return home so badly, yet dislike it so much at the same time? It did not make sense to her, and the fact that she truly had no idea what she was supposed to do was immensely frustrating.
"I can hardly wait to see the looks on their faces vhen we return home," Gunnar said eagerly once they had finished their dinner and taken to drinking ale around the fire. "Garik is going to mess himself vhen he sees that I am alive and well."
Signe smiled at his enthusiasm, but quirked a brow. "I rather hope he does not mess himself. That would be quite disgusting," she commented.
Gunnar smirked, then took a drink of ale. "I can see them all in my head right now," be said, letting his eyes slide closed. "I imagine father and Garik are sitting by the hearth, drinking ale just as we are now but looking horribly miserable because we are not there to entertain them," he said.
"Hallsteinn is probably off drinking somewhere," Signe interjected with a nod.
"Or charming a woman into his bed," Gunnar added.
"Or both," Torstein offered with a shrug.
Signe and Gunnar shared a smirk. "Definitely both," they agreed st the same time.
"As for Valborg, he is most certainly at home with Inge and the baby," Gunnar concluded. "Our nephew has to be here by now, and I cannot wait to hold the little man in my arms."
"How do you know it is a boy?" Torstein asked curiously.
"I just know," Gunnar said with finality.
Torstein merely nodded in response, then took another drink of ale.
"I think the baby is a boy, too," Signe said, smiling at her brother. "And I am just as eager as you are to see them all again. Just a few more days, Gunnar, and then the waiting vill be over."
Gunnar leaned over to clink his cup against hers. "And thank the Gods for that," he said, before taking a hearty drink of his ale.
Signe took a drink of her own ale, her eyes sliding over to Torstein on their own accord. He had been smiling and looking relaxed only seconds ago while they had all been talking, but now he was frowning into his cup, his brows furrowed together as if something was bothering him.
To be perfectly honest, this was not the first time she had caught Torstein looking this way since they had left Tóra's house. Every so often, whenever Torstein seemed to not realize anyone was looking, she would catch him frowning at nothing in particular. She had also noticed that he had been a bit more subdued than he normally was, a bit more reserved. It seemed in recent days that he had a lot on his mind, and though she wasn't completely sure what that something was, she had a feeling it might have something to do with this mysterious plan of his that they had discussed their last night at Tóra's. Needless to say, her curiosity had been piqued, but she had thought it best not to badger him about it. Instead, she had been waiting for him to come to her and finally reveal whatever it was that continued to plague him. He had not done so yet, however, and she was starting to wonder if he would at all.
It took longer than usual for them to settle down that night. Gunnar was full of energy and chatted nonstop, which kept Signe and Torstein up longer than they normally would have stayed up for. Though, to be honest, Signe wasn't all that tired herself, nor did she spy any signs of exhaustion in Torstein. She was still too antsy to settle down for the night.
Eventually Gunnar decided to go to bed, claiming that the sooner he slept, the sooner daybreak would come and the sooner they could be on their way. Having always possessed the miraculous ability to sleep just about anywhere, he was sound asleep within ten minutes. The same, however, could not be said for Signe and Torstein. They stayed up a little while longer, speaking quietly to one another as they waited for exhaustion to claim them.
After a while, when sleep was still feeling further away than she would have preferred, she decided to go for a walk, thinking that maybe a little activity would get rid of some of the energy lingering within her. She stood up from her spot on the ground, which had Torstein looming up at her curiously.
"I am going to go for a walk," she announced. She paused before leaving, though, and raised her eyebrows questioningly. "Would you care to join me?"
Torstein glanced at Gunnar, who was beginning to snore, then nodded. "Sure."
They left camp and began to walk around at a leisurely pace, making sure to stray too far and that the glow of the campfire was always in sight. There was no conversation at first – they merely strolled side by side, their eyes surveying the stretching landscape around them or the twinkling stars overhead. Eventually, though, Torstein cleared his throat and cast a look down at her.
"How much longer until we reach Hedeby?" he asked conversationally.
"Three days, assuming all goes well," she answered with a nod. "We are very nearly at the end of our journey," she added with a sigh.
Torstein lifted a brow. "You do not sound as happy about this as I might have thought you would," he said observatory.
Signe looked up at him, then shrugged a shoulder. "As you well know, my feelings regarding our return to Hedeby are…mixed," she reminded him. "I am happy to know I vill see my family again. But I am sad to be saying goodbye to Kattegat once and for all."
Torstein made a sound of understanding. "It is not goodbye forever," he reminded her. "You will return when it comes time to raid in England. And I am certain you will come to visit Hallsteinn and Bjorn."
"Yes, that is the plan," she said with a nod. "But…I fear visiting vill not be fulfilling enough," she told him honestly. "Or perhaps it is merely the thought of resuming life in Hedeby that no longer seems fulfilling enough." Signe sighed and shook her head. "I do not know how I am supposed to feel anymore, Torstein, or what I am supposed to do. My head is telling me one thing, but my heart is telling me another. It is as confusing as it is maddening."
Torstein smiled sympathetically, then sighed and turned his gaze elsewhere. "I believe I understand vhat you are feeling," he said quietly.
Signe peered up at him, noticing the frown that had appeared on his face again. "You have seemed just as troubled as me in recent days," she said, which made him look back to her.
"You noticed?" he asked.
"I have spent nearly every day of the past month with you, Torstein. I like to believe I have come to know you quite well. Perhaps even better than you realize," Signe said with a pointed look. "Does this, perhaps, have something to do with that plan you mentioned at Tóra's house?" she then asked.
Torstein looked at her for a moment, then slowly nodded. "It does. I have been thinking about it quite a lot, and I think I have…come to a decision about it."
Signe made an uncertain face, thinking his choice of words was a little odd. "What exactly was there to decide?" she asked.
Torstein gave her a sideways look. "Whether or not I was mad enough to go through with this plan," he answered bluntly, which had her brows creasing together with confusion. "It is…quite a life changing plan, Signe. And I am almost certain you vill think me insane when you hear it," he added with wry smile.
"Well, I suppose you vill not know for certain unless you tell me," she said. When Torstein still said nothing, however, Signe nudged him with her elbow. "Come now. The suspense is too much. Tell me vhat you have been thinking of."
Torstein heaved, his eyes full of indecision for a moment or two. Finally, he stopped walking, which prompted Signe to halt next to him. When he turned to face her and give her his full attention, his expression was more serious than she had ever seen before.
"If you truly wish to leave Hedeby, if you really wish to live in Kattegat…then I believe I have thought of a way to make that possible. One that your family vould not be able to argue against," he said.
"And what way is that?" Signe prompted.
Torstein shifted on his feet, then held his chin a little higher. "By marrying me."
His words didn't register for a second or two, but when they finally did, Signe couldn't help but laugh. Of all the things he could have said, that was the last thing she might have expected. She shook her head, still laughing in surprise, before she finally recovered and gave him a grin of amusement.
"Very funny," she said, certain he was just pulling her leg and that he wasn't actually asking her to marry him. "Now vhat is your real plan?"
Torstein said nothing, merely quirked a brow at her, his expression anything but joking. Slowly but surely, Signe began to release that Torstein wasn't kidding around with her. He actually was proposing marriage. The realization made her grin of amusement fade away, replaced instead by a look of utter disbelief.
"You are being serious," she stated dumbly.
"I am," Torstein confirmed.
Signe opened and closed her mouth a few times, her mind struggling to catch up and fully understand what was happening. "But…what?" she finally managed to ask, her tone incredulous. "Why vould you propose such a thing?"
Torstein shrugged. "You wish to live in Kattegat, but you cannot leave Hedeby without a good reason for doing so. I can think of no better reason than moving to Kattegat to live with your new husband," he explained simply, as if they were merely discussing a change in the weather rather than a completely unexpected marriage proposal.
Signe blinked at him again, still completely flabbergasted by what he was saying. "I do not understand," she said with a shake of her head. "You vould marry me and give up your way of life as you know it just so that I could live in Kattegat?" she demanded, frowning deeply now. "That is madness, Torstein!"
He did not look surprised by her reaction. "Madness or not, I have given it a lot of thought. And I believe a marriage between us could work."
Signe raked a hand throughout hair, feeling confused and dumbfounded and frustrated all at the same time. Torstein going out of his way to help her was nothing new, but this? This was taking things to an entirely new level. This was too much. This was insane.
"Torstein, do you understand how serious this is?" she asked, her voice raising. "This is marriage we are speaking of."
"I am aware," Torstein said with an easy smile.
Signe sputtered in response for his nonchalant response. "You know vhat comes with marriage, yes?" she asked. "We vould be bound to one another before the Gods. We vould share a life, share a home, share a bed," she listed off.
"Yes, we vould," Torstein agreed with a nod of understanding.
She took a moment to look at him as if he had birds flying out of his ears, then shook her head in with incredulity. "I do not understand this one single bit," she admitted. "This is completely unexpected, Torstein. We have only known each other a short while. We are only friends."
"Yes, and the fact that we are friends is an advantage for us," Torstein countered. "People marry every day without having even met their husband or wife. At least we like one another and get along well."
"But those marriages are arranged for business purposes. That is not the sort of marriage I want, Torstein!" she said, gesturing wildly with her hands. "Remember what I said at Hilda's that night we all first had dinner together?" she asked. "I said I vanted to marry for love. And if I remember correctly, you yourself said you vould only want to marry if it was the right woman!"
"No, what I said is that I vould marry for the right reasons," he corrected calmly. "The fact of the matter is that I am thirty years of age, and the time has come for me to take a wife. I need someone to help manage my home, to take care of things while I am away raiding or at war, someone to have children with and carry on my name." He paused, his expression serious again. "I have met many women over the years, but there was never one that I ever considered sharing my life with…until you came along, Signe."
Signe blinked at him. "What?"
Torstein stepped closer, his eyes staring intently into hers. "You are a good woman. You are my friend. I enjoy being around you, and I truly do care for you. I vill find no better woman to share my life with than you, of that I am almost completely certain," he said, which made her heart skip a beat.
"But what about love?" she asked. "We do not love each other, Torstein. Do you not wish to wait for someone you actually are in love with?"
Torstein was quiet for a moment, then shrugged. "I have known plenty of people who were not in love when they married, but that did not stop them from having happy and fulfilling lives together. Some of them even did fall in love eventually. Take Hilda and her husband," he said with a gesture of his hand. "They did not love one another when they married, but they were certainly in love with one another in the end. She loves him still, even though it has been years since his passing."
Signe remembered the story Hilda had told her very well, but still shook her head. "But what if we do not?" she asked. "You would be trapped in a loveless marriage. Is that vhat you want? Because that is not what I want."
Torstein rubbed his forehead for a moment, before giving her a serious look. "I know this is unexpected, Signe," he said calmly. "I know this idea is madness to you. But if you accept, know that I vill not mistreat you. I vill provide for you and take care of you and do everything in my power to make you happy. That is my promise to you." He paused and stepped closer, one of his hands grabbing hers. "I am not demanding you come to a decision right this very moment," he said gently. "But I am asking that you at least take some time to consider what I offered and to think about the things I have said," he said imploringly. "Will you at least give it some thought?"
Signe stared at him for a long moment. When she had received marriage proposals in the past, she had never hesitated to turn the men down and send them on their way. But this was different. This was Torstein. He was not some stranger that meant nothing to her – he was her friend. As surprised as she was by this whole thing, she was even more surprised by the fact that she did not immediately want to tell him no. But why? How was it that she was actually considering his proposal. She was still in love with Bjorn, wasn't she? How could she possibly entertain the idea of marrying Torstein, a man she was not in love with and had only known for a few months, when she had always sworn she would only marry for love?
Quite out of nowhere, Signe began to think of the Völva and the conversation they had had before she had left for Kattegat. Signe had asked the woman when she would marry, and her answer had been this – Soon. Much sooner than you might have anticipated, as a matter of fact.
All this time, she had believed that marriage would be to Bjorn. But he had rejected her, and it had been made clear to her that he was not the one the Gods had intended for her. Now Torstein was standing before her, proposing marriage when she least expected it, and suddenly she had to wonder if he was the one the Völva had seen in her future.
If it was Torstein the Seeress has seen, well…that changed things a little. She did not love him, no, but she had to admit it – the thought of being his wife was certainly not the worst proposition she had heard. They were friends. They got along. They worked well together. And though she had tried to deny it, there was a part of her that was attracted to him. This was sudden and unexpected, yes, but at the end of the day, marrying him was far better than marrying a stranger, wasn't it?
Then again, what if she was wrong? What if Torstein wasn't the one she was supposed to be with? What if there was someone else out there for her? If she agreed to marry Torstein, she could potentially be throwing away her chance for a happy, loving marriage. It could end up being the biggest regret of her life.
Signe cleared her throat and glanced down at Torstein's hand, which still held hers. There was no possible way she could decide anything at this exact moment, but he wasn't asking her to do that. He was only asking her to consider it.
"I vill think on it," Signe finally told him with a nod.
Torstein smiled. "Good," he said. He finally released her hand and took a step back. There was an awkward moment of silence between them, before he cleared his throat. "We should probably go back to camp, before Gunnar wakes and realized we are not there," he said, motioning toward camp.
Signe just nodded in response, and with that, they began to make their way back to camp in silence. Once they had reached the fire, they found Gunnar still asleep, which was a relief – he would have questioned where they had been and what they had been doing, and Signe did not think she would have been capable of hiding anything from him in her current state.
She went straight for the bed she had made for herself and laid down, releasing a long breath. She could hear Torstein getting settled in her own bed, but there were no more words spoken between them – she thought it safe to say that more than enough had been said that night. She finally turned onto her side to get comfortable, hoping sleep would come and ease her mind. But sleep did not come for a very long time, and if the movement she heard every so often on the other side of the fire were anything to judge by, Torstein did not get much sleep that night either.
Things were definitely a little awkward between Signe and Torstein for the next two days. With his marriage proposal weighing on her mind nearly every moment of every day, she found that it wasn't easy to act like her normal self around him. She tried to act normal so as not to rouse Gunnar's suspicions, but she nervous and shy around Torstein in a way she never had before, and she could not longer speak to him – or even look at him – without her cheeks turning as red as a tomato. Torstein, to his credit, seemed to have picked up on the way she had been feeling and seemed to be doing his best to give her a bit of space. He still talked to her about normal, everyday things, but he usually allowed her to be the one to initiate conversation and he did not bring up his proposal again, though she still knew very well that it was on his mind, too.
As night fell on their last day of travel, Signe and Gunnar were left by themselves to start setting up camp when Torstein went off to collect some firewood. Gunnar, she noticed, kept shooting her looks out of the corner of his eye, but she did not ask him why. If her brother had something on his mind, he would come out with it eventually.
Sure enough, she did not have to wait long for him to speak up. "Things have seemed odd between you and Torstein," Gunnar said. "Has something happened that I should be aware of?"
Signe looked at him for a moment. She had not told Gunnar about Torstein's proposal, nor did she intend to tell him until she had come to a decision. It was not surprising, though, that he had picked up on the tension between her and their companion – Gunnar knew her too well for her to hope that he would not notice the awkwardness between them.
"Nothing has happened," she lied, shaking her head. "I am merely…tired," she then excused. "It has been a long journey and I am ready to be home."
Gunnar nodded slowly as be unrolled his bedroll and situated it by the fire that would soon be built. "Well, we are almost there," he said. "We vill be home tomorrow, and once we are there, I vill convince father to give you a much needed break," he promised with a small smile.
Signe flashed a grateful smile. "That is kind of you, brother," she said.
She unrolled her own bedroll and laid it out a few feet away from Gunnar's. Once that was done, she went to their food supply to decide what they would have for dinner. While she rummaged around in the pack, she could not help glancing in the direction Torstein had gone – he was some twenty yards away, collecting wood still and bending over every so often to add more wood to the pile in his arms.
Footsteps approaching made her glance back at Gunnar, who came to a halt next to her and crossed his arms, his eyes peering at Torstein for a second or two. "If something had happened, if Torstein had…mistreated you in some way…" Gunnar looked down at her, his brows creasing with concern. "You vould tell me, yes?"
Signe sighed and stood to her full height. "Of course I vould," she said. "But there is nothing to tell, because he has not done anything to harm me. Nor do I think he ever vould do anything," she added firmly. "Please stop worrying."
Gunnar heaved, before giving her a meaningful look. "You are my sister. I vill always worry for you," he said, which made her smile briefly. "But if you insist nothing is wrong, then I shall stop questioning you."
"Thank you," she said, squeezing his arm.
Gunnar nodded, but the look he shot toward Torstein before walking away told her that he still had some lingering doubts. Thankfully he stayed true to his word and did not question her further, which she was glad for. There were few things in the world she disliked more than lying to her family – the less questions he asked, the less she had to lie, which was definitely ideal.
After Torstein returned, a fire was quickly made and Signe got started on making their dinner. There wasn't as much conversation between them that night as there usually was, partly because Signe was still too awkward to really participate and partly because Gunnar spent a lot of the dinner eyeing Torstein with hints of suspicion, which Torstein either didn't notice or simply chose to ignore.
Gunnar was the first to sleep, though he seemed as though he tried to fight it and stay up longer – most likely to try to keep an eye on her and Torstein. Once he was out, Signe, who was nowhere near tired, tried to keep herself preoccupied by sharpening the edge of her axe. It didn't work as well as she hoped – she was still acutely aware of the fact that Torstein was awake and only feet away, and that for the first time since he had proposed, they were alone together. Signe felt as though she should say something, but she honestly didn't know what know what. Torstein undoubtedly would be curious to know if she had an answer to his proposal, which she did not. She had thought about it for two days straight, but was no closer now to having an answer than she had been the night he had proposed. The part of her that still loved Bjorn wanted to say no, wanted to wait and see what happened with Bjorn and cling on to the hope that maybe someday he would change his mind. The part of her that kept hearing the Seeress's voice in her head, however, was still trying to figure out if Torstein was the man the Gods had intended for her all along. And if he was, she had been trying to decide if marriage between them could work, and also whether or not she was brave enough to take the plunge and accept his proposal.
"Signe, I wish to apologize," Torstein said out of the blue, which made her stop what she was doing and look at him with raised eyebrows. "I do not think I went about things the correct way," he said, frowning into the fire. "I surprised you, and I have obviously upset you. For that I am truly sorry."
Signe stared at him for a moment, then sighed and gently set her axe down. "There is no need for apology," she said, which made him finally look to her. "I am not upset with you, Torstein."
"No?" he asked unsurely.
Signe smiled gently and shook her head. "You did surprise me, yes, but I am not angry with you because of that. The proposal was merely…unexpected," she said with a shrug. "And as I am sure you know already, it has given me quite a lot to think about."
Torstein visibly relaxed. "I am relieved you are not angry with me," he admitted. "I was beginning to fear I had ruined our friendship, and that vas a thought that did not sit well with me in the slightest."
Signe smiled reassuringly. "Well, fear not. Our friendship is still intact, I promise."
Torstein smiled and inclined his head to her, looking a bit more at ease now. Signe held his gaze for a moment, then sighed and looked to her brother. There were questions on her mind now that she'd had time to think about Torstein's proposal, only she hadn't been able to ask them yet because they had not really had a moment to themselves to discuss anything any further. Now that Gunnar was fast asleep and now that she was feeling brave enough to talk things out with Torstein, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get answers to those questions.
Signe stood, then went around the fire to sit next to Torstein. "May I ask you something?" she asked, to which Torstein nodded encouragingly. "Why do you wish to marry me?" she asked. "I have thought about it a lot, and I simply cannot bring myself to understand why you vould do this."
Torstein considered her question for a few seconds before answering. "As I said the other night, I am at the age where I need a wife," he said with a shrug. "You are the only woman that I truly think I would enjoy being married to, simply because we get along so well. Also, you want to live in Kattegat, but said yourself your father vould never allow it unless there was good reason. In my mind, it seems the only way to get vhat we both want is by marrying one another."
Signe pursed her lips at his explanation. His reasoning was simple enough, but she could not shake the feeling that there was something he wasn't telling her. That there was more to this idea of marriage that extended past just convenience.
"That is all?" she asked. "That is the only reason?"
Torstein sat a little straighter, looking for the tiniest moment in time like an animal that had gotten caught in a trap. He hesitated for a few seconds, as if contemplating saying something. Finally, his posture relaxed and he gave her a small smile.
"My decision was perhaps influenced by something the Seer in Kattegat said to me before we left," he admitted, which had her curiosity piqued instantly. "He saw a woman in my life. A woman with an important role to play," he revealed. "A woman kissed by fire," he added, sending her a meaningful look.
The words made her eyes widen a bit. She immediately thought back to the first night in Tóra's house, when she had mentioned the phrase her mother had so often used to describe herself and Torstein's strange reaction to it. Now, hearing that the Seer had been the one to utter that phrase to him and that he had foreseen her playing some important role in Torstein's life, well…his reaction made a lot more sense.
"He vas speaking of me," she mused aloud.
Torstein nodded. "It seems the Gods have seen fit to tie my fate to you, Signe Olegdóttir," he said with a wry smile. "And I, for one, am very curious to discover what exactly that fate is."
Signe nodded slowly in understanding, thinking that his proposal didn't san quite so mad anymore. It was still sudden and still unexpected, but she understood his reasons for it a bit more now.
Signe sighed, taking a moment to think everything over again. "Marriage is not something to take lightly, Torstein," she said gently. "There are those who do not take it as seriously, but I am not one of them. Marriage, in my eyes, is for life," she told him. "If we marry, you vill be stuck with me for a very long time," she earned.
Torstein smiled. "That does not sound so bad."
Signe lifted a brow. "You do realize marrying me means you vill forever be surrounded by my obnoxious brothers as well, yes?" she asked pointedly.
Torstein chuckled. "Trust me, if I have survived this long being friends with Ragnar and Floki, I think I can handle your brothers just fine."
Signe wasn't so convinced he could, but decided not to argue with him on the matter. "There are things I vill want to accomplish in life," she said with a firm look. "I have already been told I am meant to sail west and fight in battles. If you expect me to stay at home and wait on you hand and foot, know now that is not going to happen," she said firmly.
Torstein nodded. "I did not think it vould. I know of your aspirations, and l vill not stand in the way of them," he assured her. "So long as you are not with child, you are free to do whatever you desire," he added bluntly.
Signe felt her heart skip a beat at his casual mention of children. Having a child with Torstein would require, well…sleeping together. And that was something she had never imagined before, not with him at least. As someone who had never known a man in that sort of way, she began to wonder what that would be like – would she enjoy it? Or would it be awful and something she only did out of a wifely obligation? What if she and Torstein were not compatible in that way?
She must have started frowning as these question raced through her mind, because it made Torstein clear his throat unsurely. "Does the thought of having children displease you?" he asked.
Signe blinked and looked over at him. "No," she said, shaking her head. "I already know that I vill have children, because the Seeress has seen it. I just…" She could feel her cheeks heating with a blush. "I was thinking that having children vould require…being intimate," she admitted. "And I have never been intimate with anyone before."
Torstein made a sound of understanding, then gave her a serious look. "I vill never force myself on you, Signe," he stated firmly. "Nor vill I ever pressure you into anything you are not comfortable with."
Signe nodded. "I did not think you vould," she said. "But…if we marry, it will have to happen at some point or another if we are to have children." Signe paused, then frowned. "What if you and I are not…compatible…in that way? What if we are awful together? We have never been even remotely romantic with each other, Torstein. We have not even kissed."
Torstein made a sound of understanding. "No, I suppose we have not." He took a moment to think about what she had said, before he seemed to come to some sort of decision. "Alright then," he said, turning to face her a little more fully.
When he placed a hand on the side of her neck and began to lean in, Signe gave him an uncertain look. "What are you doing?"
Torstein smirked, his face mere inches from hers. "I am going to kiss you," he said simply. "Is that alright with you?" he asked, brows raising.
Signe gulped and glanced at his lips, her stomach swarming with nervous butterflies. He was giving her the opportunity in the world to say no and push him away, but she didn't. She was admittedly curious to know what kissing him would be like. Finally, she nodded in consent, and once he had her permission, he closed the space between them.
When his lips met hers, she did not respond at first. But slowly she found herself leaning into him, her eyes sliding closed as he continued to kiss her. His lips were surprisingly soft and warm, and though his kiss was firm, it was not demanding or controlling in any way. Signe could not stop herself from kissing him back then, one hand slowly raising up to rest on his broad shoulder as he pulled her closer. Torstein sighed against her lips, then tilted his head and coaxed her lips open to seek entrance to her mouth. The moment his tongue brushed against hers, heat like she had never felt before shot through her limbs and her stomach filled with butterflies. She leaned into him further, her heart pounding against her ribs so hard and fast she thought it might explode clear out of her chest.
Torstein finally pulled his mouth from hers, though he did not move away from her. As Signe opened her eyes again, she found him staring at her with an intensity that had her suppressing the urge to shiver. He was breathing harder than usual, his exhales stirring the hair around her face. Signe was breathing just as hard, both her body and her mind reeling from his kiss.
"That was not so bad, now was it?" he asked, his voice noticeably huskier than it normally was. Clearly the kiss had affected him to a certain degree.
Signe gulped. Her lips were still tingling, and between his close proximity and the woodsy scent invaded her senses, it was difficult to think coherently. It had been a good kiss…better than good, actually. She had enjoyed the feeling of his lips on hers and the gentle scratch of his beard against her face. She had felt a spark within her that had not been there with anyone else she had kissed. Not even Bjorn. When Bjorn had kissed her, it had been desperate and clumsy and, admittedly, not at all what she had expected. This kiss had been…quite different.
"No, it was not," she admitted quietly.
Torstein seemed pleased with her response. He released her and pulled away, giving her some space again. Signe couldn't decide if she relieved or disappointed by the move. They sat in silence for a few moments after that, Torstein staring into the fire while Signe was, admittedly, still reeling from how unexpectedly nice kissing him had been. Finally, Torstein cleared his throat, which had her gaze shifting to him. He looked serious again, his brows creasing together.
"Signe, I know this is not an easy decision for you to make. But I want you to know that I vill understand if you decline," he said. "I do not want you to feel as though you must accept merely to preserve my pride. I want you to do vhatever you feel is right in your heart. I vill accept your decision no matter what it is," he assured her with a firm nod.
His words sent an odd stirring in her chest. He was so kind to her, so good, and the fact that he was such a good man was what had her thinking that maybe, just maybe, marriage between them wouldn't be so bad after all. Some of the men that had asked her father for her hand in marriage had been rude and uncouth and just downright unpleasant, but Torstein was none of those things. As far as husbands went, she could do a lot worse than Torstein.
Signe reached for his hand without giving it a second thought and squeezed his fingers. "I honestly do not know what my answer vill be, Torstein," she said. "But we vill arrive in Hedeby tomorrow. When we do, I wish to consult with the Seeress," she revealed. She had thought about it a lot, and she had come to the conclusion that speaking to the Völva was the most logical thing to do. She would be able to tell her if it was Torstein the Gods wished her to be with, and whether or not accepting this proposal was the right thing to do. "My hope is that she vill help me make sense of things. Knowing the way she is, however, she vill likely just confuse me even more." Signe huffed and shook her head. "I think she enjoys toying with my mind."
Torstein chuckled. "I think all of those who communicate with the Gods enjoy toying with us mere mortals," he said with a smirk.
Signe laughed lightly and nodded her agreement.
They sat in silence for a moment, looking at one another with smiles on their faces. Torstein's hand was still in hers, and though she could feel calluses on his fingers, she didn't mind the way they felt against her skin – they were a testament to how hard he worked and trained. When Torstein's gaze dropped briefly to her lips, she thought, for one small moment in time, that he was going to kiss her again. Part of her said that kissing again might not be the best idea, not while everything was still so uncertain – another part of her sort of wanted him to kiss her again, just to see if it affected her the same way as it had the first time.
In the end, he didn't get the chance to do anything. Gunnar suddenly stirred, then turned to face them and lifted his head, blinking sleepily. Signe dropped Torstein's hand at once and tried to act casual.
"What are you two doing over there?" Gunnar asked.
Signe shared a sideways look with Torstein, before shaking her head. "Just talking," she said. "Go back to sleep."
Gunnar stared at her for a few seconds, before nodding and settling in again. Once his breathing had evened out once more, Signe looked over at Torstein.
"We should probably be getting to sleep ourselves," she said. "Tomorrow is looking as though it vill be a very important day."
Torstein nodded, watching as she stood. Before she could step away from him, he reached out to catch her hand, which made her pause and look down at him. "I am glad we talked," he said with a nod.
Signe smiled. "Me too," she agreed.
He flashed a brief smile, then finally released her hand. "Sleep well tonight."
Signe nodded, then, when he released her hand, she went back to her bedroll. The talk with Torstein had eased some of her worries, and she found that it was much easier to sleep that night.
It was not a dreamless sleep, though. No, she had a very vivid dream. One where she was back in Kattegat with Torstein, the two of them wrapped up in each other's arms and sporting identical wedding bands, surrounded by giggling children with golden and auburn hair. It was a dream that felt very real, and left her with a decidedly happy feeling in her chest…until she realized the Völva was there too, lurking in the shadows, watching her with sharp eyes and an unsettling smirk on her painted lips.
What will Signe decide to do? Find out in the next chapter!