Siggy listened, eyes closed, to the sea beneath the ship, as it ploughed the water forward. Siggy savored the harsh wind, so cold and sharp on her skin like a slap; at last, she was free, and that feeling outdid every slaps from the wind. At last, Kattegat was only a blurry memory; that town which saw her grow, which closed its eyes and pretended she never existed; that cursed town and all its miseries, betrayals and tragedies; that town she should have died in but was brought back through wolves and forest and a gentle girl's kindness; that town she despised and yet called home; the only place she ever knew.
Now it seemed her field of vision widened and now it seemed endless paths opened to her feet and when she looked at the horizon, the sun never shone brighter. She was Siggy the shieldmaiden and she was going to fight in England like brave warriors she had heard tales about. And perhaps – and as much as she tried she couldn't oversee it – walk where her mother had walked. At the thought, she sighed and shed a tear. Even away from her chains, she still felt them dragging her back.
Angrboda frowned as she saw a tear rolling down Siggy's cheek and came to sit beside her with one of those warm smile she inherited from her mother, concerned nonetheless.
"Is everything well?" she asked.
"Yes. Joy, that is all." Siggy said.
"Finally gone, huh?"
"Yes. Before, it was just battles against petty king among Sigurd's warriors but now, I feel like my fate opened right in front of me."
"I feel it too. The beginning of a story or the end of one. All changes and now our fate rests in our hands."
"You are talking like her." Siggy snarled.
"Aslaug?" Angrboda asked. "Yes, perhaps I am. I have known her for most of my childhood and she was my master. Yes, I suppose I do sound like her. But I am not her. I do not have her gift, just as you are not Lagertha and don't have her skills. I am myself, that is all. I cannot see the future and all I can do is accept it and embrace change. I am a changeling."
"What can a woman do against the sea?" Siggy said.
"Nothing. The sea is a fearsome goddess only the love of her devoted husband can tame."
"Floki would hiss if he heard you talk like that. Your vision is too bright, much to his chagrin." Siggy laughed.
"I know. My father tends to dwell in darkness and my mother, in light. I only summon darkness when necessary." she paused. "I only summon darkness to protect you."
Siggy smiled and leaned her head towards Angrboda's to touch her forehead with hers. She could feel her hot breath against her skin and hear her gentle heartbeat. If she had been one of her many cats, Angrboda would have purred at the contact.
"Boda. You know, it is my job to protect you. And yours is to yell at me while you patch my many wounds. I dwell in blood and pain and the only realm I wish to see you rule is kindness and joy. You are too good for this world." Siggy murmured.
"I know." Angrboda smiled. "But I need you by my side, always. Who knows where you'd get a wound?"
Siggy laughed and so did Angrboda; and both women looked at the sea, betokening of adventures and battles; of legends and might. Who knew what was in England? Kings, princes and priests? Or perhaps cities made of that gold they always brought back from there.
"What was that place, back then?" Sigurd asked as he rejoined them at the back of the ship.
"And old farm. It burned a long time ago. It's the only place Bjorn doesn't know and the only place he never went to look after me, not that he even wished to. I hid often there to avoid him. Everything's better there; more peaceful and easy. It is calm and modest and it suits me." Siggy said.
"The first time she led me there, we stayed up all night telling stories of gods and legends. Sig is particularly fond of the legend of that princess, Alfhidr, but I much prefer the stories my mother had told me about the gods." Angrboda added. "And often we would devise about how we could build it back from its ashes and abide there."
"And be farmers for the rest of your life?"
"And be free Sigurd. I thought you'd understand." Siggy said.
"I do." he said. "But I am afraid my heart is changing and I long for something else."
"What?" Angrboda asked.
"I want revenge for my father, but I also want to settle and perhaps find a wife to establish a dynasty. And I know it can only be achieved through blood and violence. I am hoping that, perhaps, I can have this through raids and battles in Northumbria." Sigurd kept silent for a moment and looked at his brother, pouting in the ship beside his own. "I know Ivar desires this too, but I cannot help but long to be as far away from him as possible. I know he will succeed in whatever endeavour he undertakes, but still, I want out of his shadow."
"Sigurd," Angrboda said, gently putting her hand on his shoulder. "You were never even in his shadow."
"Really?" Sigurd snapped, colder and angered. "You tell that to mother! You tell that to Siggy!"
"Oh boy, don't drag me into this." Siggy said, raising her hands.
"She has always loved him more! Cared for him more!" he yelled, not paying attention to his niece. "She was always with him! She was always telling him how special he was! She has always favored him and me? Ha! I was nothing to her! I talked but did she listen? No! She never did! She hated me! No. She never loved me! I was nothing compared to Ivar! I wasn't lovable enough and father? Father abandonned us and when he came back, did he have any words for me? No! His voice alone was for Ivar! Ivar! Even Ubbe favors him! He is afraid and he is right to be so! Everyone is so careful around him! Giving him all he ever wants! Worshiping him in fear even! I wish mother had let him DIE!"
And at this moment, a sharp pain on his cheek shut his mouth and stifled his words. At this precise moment, Angrboda slapped him, twice, to get the nonsense out of his brain or simply to shut him up. Her slaps were something. She was not as strong as Siggy but strangely, her slaps hurt more than one of Siggy's punches.
"How DARE you? How dare you Sigurd Ragnarsson, to dwell of self-depreciation? How dare you insult your own mother and blood?! How dare you seek division among your own ranks?!" she yelled.
"Fuck me!" Siggy gasped, amazed.
"Sig, I love you, but shut up or I'll grow angrier." Angrboda warned.
Siggy chuckled silently and pinched her lips together not to laugh.
"Hear me Sigurd, and shut your mouth while I speak. Aslaug loved you. Why else would she have named you after her own father? A mighty father she had always longed to know. You are the son who is the most like her, so eager for love and peace. You are the one with her traits. You are her. She merely thought it was enough. And yes, Ivar needs special attention with his condition and although I disagree with most of her decision, I respect them. What I mean is, she loved you in her own way. And she believed you did too. But apparently she was wrong and the tears she shed thinking you loathed her, you don't deserve them."
"But..." Sigurd began.
"Aslaug never knew Sigurd Fafnirsbana. All she wanted was to know another Sigurd. She hoped you would turn as great as him." Angrboda cut him. "Deal with it or do not, but never ever dare to think Ivar's shadow surrounds you."
"But..."
"Understood?"
"Yes, Boda. Yes, I understand."
"You people and your way to surround yourselves with darkness." Angrboda sighed. "Being born in Kattegat does not suit you."
"You were born there too." Sigurd noted.
"I wasn't. I was born in the woods, closer to the true gods than you'll ever be. Freya, Frigg, Idunn, Sigyn, Gerd and Freyr, their essence runs through me and I can see what they are truly. My father claims he can too but he is wrong; Kattegat blinded him and unlike Odin, he does not know everything. He is not a god." Angrboda said.
"How is he by the way?" Siggy asked. "I heard that Ragnar's death almost had him drown."
"He is handling it well for now. But I am afraid he might want to go with Bjorn in England and kill Aelle and a few Christians as repayment."
"That is if we, Ivar, Ubbe, Hvisterk and I don't kill him first." Sigurd noted.
"Why did he stay anyway? He has no taste for ruling and cares more about his stupid map than anything else." Siggy snorted.
"His mother is in Hedeby half the year. And Torvi isn't even his wife. How could she possibly rule in his absence? There is no one but him to rule, and that is his mother's fault." Angrboda said. "Lagertha trapped herself in Kattegat; she no longer can fight in the shieldwall and no longer can she feel the speed of a ship on a heavy sea."
"That's her tragedy." Sigurd said.
"I still don't get why you don't wish to avenge her." Siggy spat. "You should kill her, just like Ivar said."
"Because I consider the debt as paid." Sigurd said. "It does not bode well to dwell on the past; one must move forward."
"Words of wisdom Sigurd, and I wish you would apply this to yourself as well." Angrboda said.
Sigurd nodded and for a moment, looked at the horizon. His future was unclear and yet, something called far away from the ship; something stirred inside of him, drawn by those lands he would come back to, to wage war. Perhaps his mother was right; perhaps he truly was destined to great things. He wasn't the kind to trust her, but he trusted magic. After all, a part of him, small and hidden in his core, loved his mother more than anything and ached from her loss.
Siggy sat down and wrapped herself in her fur cloak. Often, even surrounded by those she loved most, she felt completely and utterly alone. And sometimes she wondered if the feeling would even go away. Even free, she still felt her chains and loneliness was one of them. She was alone to understand herself and alone to sustain her needs. She never needed anyone but she desperately needed someone. She gave a sad sigh, buried her face between her knees and shed a single shameful tear before she stood up.
"Guthrum isn't there." It wasn't a question, merely a note.
"He said he'll come to England next spring." Sigurd said. "When I asked him to come, he said that he wasn't ready and needed to be beside his mother to try and reason with her. But I am afraid this is doomed to failure. Summer will be over soon and you know that Bjorn's ship won't be able to cross the Winter sea. We are the last fleet to leave and I hope we will provide our brothers who left in the beginning of this Summer some welcome reinforcement."
"Did you tell him I was coming?" she asked with the desperation of loneliness.
Sigurd opened his mouth and tried to say something but his eyes told everything and the snake seemed to whisper 'alone' for a fleeting moment. Sigurd lowered his eyes and Angrboda gently embraced her.
"Doesn't matter." Siggy groaned as she brushed his absence aside. "I'll kick his arse soon enough. He'll pay for it and I'll bathe in his pain."
"If he hurts you I swear..." Angrboda muttered.
"You'll kill him?" Sigurd said, half-joking.
"No." Angrboda said. "I'll kill her reckless arse and tie her to her bed if that is necessary."
Siggy laughed. "I love you Boda!"
"I know."
"Sigurd, how did you afford to launch a raid so quick and how did you pay your ships?" Siggy suddenly asked. "This is troubling me ever since we left."
"I planned this raid since... Well, since Ubbe and Hvitserk left. I sent words that I was to set sail to England and a few Jarls decided to join me in such endeavour, bringing ships and warriors, recognizing in me, a prince of the blood and a true Ragnarsson. And the money, well... Let's just say that a sudden rise in my money chest was able to buy my own ship and form my own army to which I can add you as one of the main leader." Sigurd averted his eyes when money was brought on the table. "We have all been ready for weeks and we only needed to catch the tide and by chance, you provided us an occasion to leave on a day when the tide was gentle. So all went well, really. It was fated."
"When you speak of fate, you remind me of her." Siggy said with a wink. "You have the same spark in your eyes, Sigurd Aslaugsson."
"Perhaps..." Sigurd breathed. "Or perhaps not." he turned towards the front of the ship. "I better go see Gye. Maybe she'll know about her half-brother's reasons to stay in Kattegat and what he knows about our plans. Would be a shame if Bjorn knew we took you in."
Siggy gave a thankful nod and watched him walk away. "He does not like being reminded of his mother." she noted.
"No, he doesn't." Angrboda agreed. "I have a gift for you." she said, pulling out of her purse a necklace on which was tied a small wooden figure. "I carved it last night; Freyr. To protect you."
Siggy looked at the necklace and gave the warmest of smile. Gently, she took it from her hand and put it around her neck with all the delicacy she could. It was simple and yet so full of love; and Siggy knew, from one look at the pendant, that it was in fact effective. She knew Angrboda enough to believe that she was able to talk with the gods and that she possessed such a quiet magic it was impossible to feel it unless one was close enough from her to notice.
"Thank you, Boda. Hopefully, it will do wonders." Siggy said.
"On you? Please! Its protection is diminished! It will only make you hurt less." Angrboda sarcastically said, brushing aside Siggy's words with her hand.
Siggy laughed and after a look at her, Angrboda burst into laughter as well. Siggy put an arm around her and rested her head on her shoulder. She closed her eyes and felt it, her friend's heartbeat and he quiet and calm presence; a serene certitude that she would forever be by her side. And for a brief moment, her loneliness eased, as she let herself go.
She was alone, but Angrboda was here. At least, that counted for something.
For three days, Solveig had asked about Siggy. And for days all she ever got was looks of distrust and fearful people running away from her. Kattegat's atmosphere was so different from home.
Back home, everyone knew their neighbor and the evolution of the town as high place of trade brought altogether the people who lived there for they had all lived the same tragedies. Of course, men still quarelled as it was in their nature but women tended to soothe them through long afternoons baking together or weaving sails for their knarrs; and among them, was Borghild who recently became the oldest woman in town and the wisest; and suddenly, all recognized in her that figure she was ever since she reached adulthhod a long time ago, a wise woman and the highest figure of autority in the village.
In fame, she was only outdone by Thorunn who became the village's protector and the leader of an army she tried to gather and bend to her will; and in wisdom, many considered her as equally skilled as gods and goddesses. The village did not bow to any kings or any jarls; the village was alone but led by an old wise woman. The village was peaceful and free and quarells hardly shook it. There was no games of power there, only a common will to survive in a world that relentlessly changed.
But Kattegat wasn't like that, no. Kattegat was distrust as it witnessed too many wars for a cursed wooden throne to live afterwards. In Kattegat, everyone sought to kill their neighbor and claim a parcel of land, a piece of bread or even a grain of sand. Kattegat was large and big but even with so much inhabitants and vibrant colors from the South, it had become still and dull; and it no longer grew for people prevented it from doing town was prosperous and well defended but its rise to the greatest trading port in Jelling had increased covetousnesses and nothing was enough to quench people's thirst for power. In this town, Solveig felt the heavy burden of several civil wars, families torn apart for power, killing one another in the back like cowards, driven by their own ambition and selfishness.
In Kattegat, there was nothing but distrust anymore. How different from what Thorunn told her. How different from everything she ever knew.
"Excuse me," she politely asked to a young maiden that came nearby the harbour, for what seemed to be the thousand time. "Have you heard of a girl named Siggy?"
"No, sorry." the maiden said. "But perhaps they can tell you in the great hall."
"Thank you." Solveig said.
She was about to head to the great hall when a voice stopped her feet in mid-air. "Where are you going?" Siegfried asked.
"Afraid for your sister, huh?" Solveig joked with a smile.
"We are in enemy territory and Thorunn isn't there to protect you. Of course I worry." he shrugged, suddenly red.
"Don't worry, little brother, I can take care of myself. Now, please, finish what you have to do and tell Einar I'll be back soon." she joyfully said, kissing the top of his head.
"Tsk! Stop!" he groaned, shrugging himself away from her grasp.
Solveig laughed as she fastened her belt around her waist and seathed her sword. She gave a look full of affection to her young brother and walked away, towards the great hall of Kattegat, perhaps the place she should have started looking for Siggy; but again, she wasn't sure of what happened to the girl and even less did she know of where she was.
When she arrived to the great hall, the doors were open and it seemed no one was there if not for a woman, a few children and a handsome blond young man, leaning against a pillar, looking at the woman with contempt.
"Hello?" Solveig said.
"The king is not here. Come back later." the woman coldly said with no look at her.
"I am not here to see the king." Solveig said. "I am here because I want to know something."
"Did you not hear me the first time?" the woman stood up, all dressed in leather armor, a heavy line of khol circling her eyes and her pale blonde hair braided in a fierce style. "Come back later." she stepped towards Solveig, her head held high, looking down on her.
Solveig growled. "Are you his wife?"
A spark of anger briefly lit her eyes but sorrow and bitterness soothed it. Her lips suddenly quivered as if she was about to weep or bite and she waited to decide between the two.
The young man behind her chuckled and bit in his apple. The woman heard and her shoulders lowered for a bit; and for a moment, she looked miserable, alone, humiliated. But then, she rose again and took back her queenly stance.
"I am not his wife." she muttered, teeth clenched.
"But you are in the king's hall." Solveig said.
The woman gave a smile and went to sit on one of the two high chairs of the room. She eased herself in and gripped the arm-rest as if it was her rightful place.
"I am. And in the king's absence, I rule. But do not mistake me for his wife, or for a queen; for we all know who truly sit on the king's chair and she is mightier than any shieldmaidens on Midgard."
"If you must say so." Solveig shrugged.
"I do. No one outdoes her."
Solveig sighed. "Yes? Tell me her name, then!"
"Her name is Lagertha, queen of Jelling, Jutland and Hedeby."
"Quite a kingdom, huh?" Solveig said with a quick smile. "Lagertha... Like, Lagertha, mother of Bjorn Ironside?"
"Yes. And her son's rightful place is here, beside me, in battle or in bed."
So this was Bjorn's replacement for Thorunn. So this was the place where lived the people who had betrayed her. Solveig hated it. If it was for her, that place would have burned to the ground long ago.
And that woman... That entitled woman who held her head high like a queen and looked like a shieldmaiden! That woman who claimed no one was as geat as a woman who abandoned a child! That woman so fragile and insecure that clung to a throne she did not even have her place on. Solveig disliked her. No, her place wasn't here. It was Thorunn's. And that woman took it. If is had been for her, Solveig would have yelled that she did not deserve it. She would have brought her down and punch the cockiness out of her and screamed the name of Thorunn. But she did not. Einar and Siegfried's trade depended on her words and curtesy and as much as she loathed that woman in front of her, she couldn't help pitying her.
"So, what brought you here?" she asked.
"My name is Solveig, and I am here to gather information on behalf of... someone."
"I am Torvi. Speak."
"I... Do you know of a girl named Siggy?" Solveig hesitantly asked.
"I have known of many women named Siggy." Torvi said. "Which one are you talking about?"
Solveig rolled her eyes and sighed.
"If my answer displeases you, you can go." Torvi said.
"I don't even know what she looks like!" Solveig yelled. "Fuck! That was useless! Thank you for your time and good-bye!"
"I think I know who you are talking about." the man said, casually leaning on a pillar. "Siggy Bjorndottir. Isn't it?"
"Yes." Solveig said, giving a heavy sigh of relief. "Yes, that is her I am talking about."
"Should have said that earlier." he shrugged.
"So where is she? I must speak to her. Thatis, if she exists."
"Our king went to search for her since it appears she disappeared a few days ago. Hence why he isn't here on this throne to put you in your rightful place." Torvi said as one of her children came on her lap.
"I don't even abide by your law." Solveig groaned. "I am merely here as an escort for my merchant brother and his merchant master."
"And yet, you provoke me."
"If you must take it that way."
"Don't worry, ever since she got impregnated with a Ragnarsson's seed, she thinks herself as a queen and not as what she really is; a traitor and a whore." the man snorted with disdain.
"Guthrum!" Torvi voiced, more hurt than angered.
The man shrugged and took another bite of his apple. He was tall, a blonde as his mother and bore a ginger beard which was finely trimmed. His hazel eyes could have been warm if they were not filled with bitterness and anger. His voice was cold and Solveig could feel, just by looking at him, that he would do anything to fulfill his goals whatever they were. And his merciless attack towards his own mother finished to confirm her impression.
"Why are you asking for Siggy?" Torvi asked.
"That is none of your business. I am here for her, that is all. But since she disappeared, it seems like I wasted my time and yours. I apologize."
"That is my business." Torvi said. "I am her father's companion."
But not her mother, Solveig thought. And she knew Thorunn enough to have deduce that Siggy was in fact her daughter; for, many times, she mentionned her lost child when she was exhausted and although she tried to hide her unglorious past behind a smile and sweat, Solveig had managed to deduce that she was the Ironside's wife and that her sudden care for a girl named Siggy was one of a mother. Solveig appeared stupid to many, but in truth, she wasn't. And, all by herself, she deduced of Thorunn's past.
"Doesn't matter." she muttered. "She is gone who knows where. But she is still alive, yes?"
"As far as I know." Torvi said.
"My mother doesn't know much of Siggy. But I do know much more about her." Guthrum said. "I can tell you for sure that she is alive and well and that she is one of the fiercest shieldmaidens that ever existed." he looked at his mother with a mocking grin. "If not the fiercest."
"That is enough informations since no one seems to know where she has gone. Thank you very much." Solveig said with a polite smile.
Torvi returned the smile and so did Guthrum. But although Guthrum knew of Siggy's plans and where she was, he did not want to tell; not even if he was blood-eagled like his father. Siggy was too important to him, too precious. He loved her and did not want her gone to a place he could not achieve his ambitions. And he had a lot of ambitions.
As for Torvi, although she had not the slightest idea of where her lover's offspring was, she wouldn't have told anyone since she trusted that Bjorn's reasons to keep her in Kattegat were the right ones. She was his support and she would do anything to protect his ambitions. She would be her queen if he needed too, waiting for the true queen to take the seat she conquered. Kattegat was all, although she had always hated the place. Power was all, although she had never wanted it. And loyalty was all; for a man who was the first to show a genuine interest in her and for a woman who accepted her as she was and protected her from her last husband and took care of Guthrum.
And Solveig's loyalty was for Thorunn; the woman who freed her and saved her life. The woman who taught her to fight and the woman who brought love back into her little girls heart.
As she made her way out of the hall, she bumped into a tall man, blonde and blue-eyed. He looked at her with confusion and turned to Torvi.
"I see we have a visitor."
"Bjorn." Torvi said with a smile, instantly standing up. "Have you found her?"
"No. Alas, she is nowhere to be found. I went to see Helga but she doesn't know where she is and her daughter's gone too."
"And Floki?"
"He doesn't know either. He has not spoken to his daughter since three days. And they do not talk much."
"You will find her, right?"
"Of course. I promised her to Rognvald and I do not want to lose this alliance. It is too important for our endeavour in England."
Guthrum snorted and walked out of the hall, not bothering slamming into Bjorn's shoulder. He never cared about him nor did his mother. He was a burden for them both and they clearly made him understand that, so why bother being polite with them?
Bjorn groaned with anger and shook his shoulders to take back a regal posture; and true, he looked regal with his heavy fur cloak and his long hair. But mostly, he looked full of himself like Torvi, convinced that whatever he did was good and justified and that he owned the world. He was the son of a king and now the king of a queen. He was so different from what Thorunn rarely told Solveig about him.
"Rognvald will arrive soon. I want Siggy back to Kattegat by then and she will marry him even if I have to tie her to a chair."
"Is Siggy your daughter?" Solveig asked although she already knew the answer.
Bjorn looked at her but did not answer. Was she his daughter? Once, perhaps, when Thorunn was still there to care for her and raise her. But Thorunn was gone and Siggy was an aching memory of her scarred face and of her abandonment; of her betrayal. And Bjorn's heart shrinked and there was no place for love anymore.
Solveig gave a nod and left the hall. "Who are you?" Bjorn asked.
"A shieldmaiden here on behalf of my village to trade with Kattegat."
"Then I look forward to trade with your village and perhaps build an alliance in future endeavours." Bjorn said.
"I am afraid we do not have anough warriors to fulfill your ambitions. They are either dead or wounded." Solveig bitterly said, recalling the day her father and mother died.
"So I hope your king or your jarl treats you well and protect you."
"Whe have no king or jarl but a wise woman to lead us. As for protection, we need none but wolves' and bears'."
"The gods sometimes send unexpected protectors. I am glad they send them to protect your village. I hope you will find in Kattegat all you need. I shall arrange a barn for you and your merchant companions to sleep in."
"All my thanks. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must return to them."
Bjorn motionned his hand towards the exit and at last, Solveig was out of this freezing hall, so dark and gloomy which was lightless in spite of the fire crackling into the firepit and went back to her brother, laying on the deck of the longship while Einar was who-knew-where, trading some furs and other things he bought back in Rusland.
Solveig sat down next to him, slapping his legs out of her way with a smile. Siegfried straightened his back and moved with an annoyed groan as his sister laughed.
"Went it well?" he asked.
"In a way." she said. "I have the informations Thorunn asked me to gather so I suppose I had what I came for."
"Good." he stretched. "Einar told me that we will stay for a while here, so I am afraid that you will not be able to tell Thorunn about what you found right away."
"Why?"
"I don't know. Something to do with Winter and a harsh storm coming." he shrugged.
"Well that's a relief I found us a shelter, then."
"What?"
"The king. He agreed to let us sleep in a barn."
"But who will guard the boat and all the merchandise?" he asked with genuine worry.
"I will." Solveig reassured him. "I am your guard so it is natural this task falls to me."
Siegfried nodded and suddenly blushed. "What did Thorunn ask you to do." he asked.
Solveig gave an amused smile. "She asked me to gather informations on Bjorn Ironside's daughter. She wanted to know whether she was alive or not. That is all she told me. Her plans will depend on those informations, I believe."
"What plans?"
"I don't know. She hasn't told me yet. But as soon as we get back home, I will know."
"I wonder how she is. I wonder if no berserker has harmed her."
"I know her. She would never let a man kill her."
"I hope all is well back there. I hope Borghild is well." Siegfried said, gazing at the darkening sky above.
"Thorunn is there anyways. She will protect the village with her growing army. That is what she always did."
"She scares me sometimes." he confessed.
"And sometimes she appears more fragile than a baby bird. Such are women; wrath but also weakness. But we are stronger than what we let on and especially mothers."
"Still, I wonder what Thorunn is up to." Siegfried whispered.
Solveig gently put an arm around her brother's shoulders and drew him closer to her as she gently stroked his hair like she did when they were younger and he needed to be comforted after a nightmare. Solveig knew he was anxious and she could not blame him for she loved Thorunn too and Kattegat was a place filled with snakes and survived on nothing but a legend, a whisper, an idea of a king mighty enough to make other kings and empires bow to his hand. Kattegat was a poison she hoped to get ridden of soon. Kattegat wasn't her home. Her home was with Thorunn and Borghild, back at this little village that thrived ever since the wandering berserker fought to free them from raids.
But Solveig knew she would come back to Kattegat, for her instinct told her that Thorunn's decision would always come to vengeance and retaliation. And it seemed that the Norns sought to prove her right.
GUESS WHO UPDATED THIS FIC AFTER DECADES OF IT BEING UNUPDATED?, THAT'S RIGHT! THAT'S ME! For real, I hope you enjoyed this chapter I wrote in WHAT? THREE DAYS? WOW! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this! So long ppl! See you in a century for another update ;)