The sun is blotted out by an endless stream of thick clouds, paling the entire landscape, painting everything gray. At long last, brother and sister were reunited. His smiling face was clean-shaven, fiery hair dancing against his brow to the whispering wind. Agi did not know nor care about her own appearance, though she likely looked unrecognizable to him. Floki was hovering against her, his lanky arms entangled over her petite form, holding her tightly. Though she could not see Floki's face, she knew it to be twisting into a sneer. Ragnar stood behind her brother, motionless as the unchanging sky.
No words had been spoken between siblings nor comrades.
Ragnar raised his blade to Lon's throat, and slid the steel from ear-to-ear. A gushing flash of red broke the stillness, the silence thwarted by the sound of Lon gurgling on his blood. Floki began to giggle, softly at first, but his laughter became maniacal, causing Agi to bob against him from the weight of his chuckles. Lon died beneath Agi's unwavering stare, she had not screamed nor cried. Her gaze crept upward, onto Ragnar who was readily staring at her. Lon's blood had coated the underside of his beard, his mouth shaped in its familiar molding of an inactive smirk. Agi began to drown in Ragnar's sea-green eyes, her body still lulling against Floki's hysterical laughter. Agi was overcome with the intensity of Ragnar's eyes. And then, she laughed too.
Agi awoke to her spine tingling, her mind roaring in protest to the nightmare it had endured. Again, she heard the familiar hustle of Floki giggling above her, and Agi's body grew rigid with fear. Was she still dreaming?
A thin hand brushed against her bare abdomen, startling Agi. She sprang upright, her shirt furling down to her waist, and saw that the hand belonged to Floki. It appeared he had been sitting beside her while she slept, which made Agi question whether it was daytime or night.
"You trembled and tossed, like the steam of a leaf reluctant to fall from the branch." Floki informed her, his head swiveled a bit to the side. "What does your God, burden your dreams with? Why has it not stopped?"
Agi was silent, her gaze sweeping toward her surroundings. She sensed Helga was not nearby, a rarity that made Agi uneasy. Agi did not trust herself to be around Floki alone, the mere thought inspired inappropriate excitement. She drew in a breath, her eyes fluttering closed in the process, and shuffled her overlapping thoughts into a barrel, nestled away in the back of her mind. "Why does my God burden my sleep so?" Agi repeated, her gaze spearing into Floki. "My God cares only, perhaps, that I am a traitor unto myself - that each passing day, my betrayal grows." Agi lowered her gaze from Floki, though she noticed how he crooked his head as if waiting for her to continue speaking. Agi however, had said enough, She grew tired of reminding herself to cling onto a hatred that alluded her so effortlessly.
"There is someone you must meet Agi." Floki declared, rising from the bed. Surprise sprouted upon Agi's face, luring a smile onto Floki's mouth. "Come, while it is still early." he insisted, beckoning her with his arm.
Curiosity whirled within Agi, as she followed Floki through the village. She had questioned him of course, but Floki had merely smiled, childishly. In the distance, Agi could hear the thrashing of axes against tree trunks. The construction of new vessels were progressing at an alarmingly quick rate, which Agi had not experienced in civilization. She strived not to think of their upcoming pillage, of all the lives that would be needlessly lost, how many women would be raped, and least of all, how Agi herself would fare without Floki and Ragnar to safeguard her. Agi chided herself for such conceited paranoia, but it existed even so.
Floki had led her to the edge of the village, before slowing to a stop. "We are here." he announced, with a stale grimace. Observing the structure throughly, an unnatural chill ached within Agi. "Do not be afraid Agi, the Seer will not harm you."
"Seer?" Agi echoed, tearing her gaze away from the hut onto Floki.
"He speaks for the Gods. I am certain he can help you...but I do not know if he will." Floki responded, his attention shifting from Agi to the establishment and back again.
"..Is he not sacred?" Agi questioned wearily.
"Yes. You are also, Agi." Floki replied evenly.
A slow laugh vibrated in her throat. "You are playing a trick on me.." Agi said softly.
"You do not believe me?" Floki asked simply.
"...I do not." Agi confirmed.
Floki smirked, though the corner of his lip upturned higher than usual, resembling a sneer. "Go, speak to the Seer, Agi...I will wait here."
Agi stared wordlessly at Floki. The lines on his cheeks were scrunched in impatience, his arms squared against his chest as his eyes met Agi's determinedly. Arguing was not an option.
When Agi stepped forward, dread lined her stomach. When she approached the doorway, curiosity threaded her chest. And when she passed through the doorway, anxiety eroded her mind. A wraith of stone jingled alongside the door. The inside was far smaller than the outside, with room enough only for a firepit, a bed and two chairs facing opposite each other. In the chair nearest the bed, sat a cloaked figure with dead skin mottled over his eyes. His blackened mouth opened reluctantly, and his gravely voice resonated in Agi's ears. "The Gods waste no words. You visit without cause, many do...None are slaves, none either, are blessed by the valkyrie Brynhildr."
"...Slaves cannot be blessed.." Agi said dejectedly.
"You are not a slave - the word, is the only shackle you bare." the Seer responded, his tone unchanging.
"You are wrong." Agi told him flatly.
The Seer made a disgruntled noise. "I am never wrong. Steel is your calling,"
It had not been a question, but Agi answered as though it were. "..Yes.."
"Your craft will besiege you...then you will besiege it." the Seer continued. "You will wield your craft beside them, thirst as they do...You are, where you will always be, Agi." the Seer finished.
A panicked anger choked Agi, as she backed away. The chill that had inhabited Agi's psyche, had grown colder and larger, jutting at her from every angle. Her thoughts became frozen behind an iceberg, a haunted look of disbelief still etched into her features as the door to the Seer swung shut before her eyes. She felt Floki's palm grip her shoulder, pivoting her in a circle. Floki grasped Agi's neck with both hands, his thumbs pressing the hinges of her jaw upward so he could study her face. Floki smiled contently. "He helped."
"No." Agi blurted subversively.
Floki shook his head dismissively, and kissed the bridge of Agi's nose. "The Seer speaks only truths." Floki craned his neck, so that his forehead rested against Agi's. "Even truths we do not wish to be true." he stated reassuringly.
"...No..." Agi mumbled flaccidly, separating herself from him. Disapproval sprawled on Floki's face, his mouth slightly ajar. "No truths..only trickery. That is why Helga was not near." Agi responded with a stubborn scowl.
Bjorn's voice carried through the wind. "Floki!" he called. Floki held Agi's gaze for a few seconds, before turning to glance over his shoulder. Bjorn ran up to them, slightly breathless. "Father wants to speak to you, Floki. He is in the Great Hall.."
Floki reverted his attention onto Agi. His mouth folded and unfolded a few times, as if he were debating whether or not to speak. "A shield wall, can not protect a shield maiden with no footing." he said at last. His hand reached out to trace the curves of confusion haloing Agi's brow. Then he turned abruptly, clawed playfully at Bjorn and walked away.
"Why are you not at the forge Agi?" Bjorn asked curiously. Agi however, did not respond, her gaze following Floki, though she remained still. "Agi?" Bjorn pressed, tugging on her wrist. Agi glanced down at the young Lothbrok blankly. Bjorn had never seen Agi in such a state, and it worried him. "Why do you not laugh?" he wondered aloud.
"I did not hear your joke." Agi replied dryly.
"I did not joke.I don't joke. But Floki is the funniest man I know...you never laugh, not with your heart..." Bjorn explained, keeping pace with Agi as she began to walk.
"Does Athelstan laugh?" Agi piped.
"Not often, but more often than you.." Bjorn said.
"Mm.." Agi hummed. Silence reined for a few moments, until Agi realized Bjorn was staring at her. His action was inexplicably reminiscent of Ragnar "What?" she added in a clipped tone.
"You did not answer my question." Bjorn replied with a frown.
Agi sighed irately. "I miss my kin..."
Bjorn glanced to his left. "They are right there." he said, pointing at Jai and Lan, who both held pails of milk strung over their shoulders.
"They are not all of them. And they resent me..."
"Why?"
"I don't know." Agi lied. "Perhaps because I am speaking to the son of the Earl while they toil?"
"I would talk to them, if they were more like you." Bjorn responded, souring Agi's half-hearted humor.
",,.That is why they resent me Bjorn. They believe I differ too much from them..." Agi said, her eyes straying onto Athelstan as he approached.
"And if they not envy you, their misery would be endless." Athelstan greeted, coming face-to-face with Agi.
"You are starting to sound like Ragnar." Agi informed him, annoyance coloring her tone.
"It is the truth." Athelstan insisted. When Agi did not react, Athelstan lowered his gaze onto the child. "I wish to speak to Agi alone, Bjorn..."
Bjorn briefly looked at Agi. "Make her laugh Priest." he declared, heading towards the docks.
"Athelstan?" Agi pressed. She did not want to converse anymore, she longed for the familiarity of the forge.
"Ragnar is plotting the course for their next voyage as we speak. He obtained a map from your village..." Athelstan began.
"Jonathan.." Agi murmured, a pang of sadness coating her eyes. Athelstan's lips were pursed, but he paused allowing Agi to unload. "He was visiting from abroad, his mother lived among us. Copied maps for coin..he was remarkable.."
"I am sorry." Athelstan said sincerely.
"Why tell me this?" Agi asked, irked at herself for interrupting him with ghosts.
"Ragnar asked where I thought your brother had fled. He suspects if your brother shares your spirit, he intends to reclaim you, and to do so, would require a place of substance. I was vague, but he will likely ask you next." Athelstan responded. "Do you wish to be reunited with your brother?"
Agi laughed bitterly, her thoughts turning to her nightmare. "No, I do not. I am no longer his sister. I do not know what I am.."
Athelstan nodded gravely. "I understand. If ever you need to talk, do not hesitate to seek me out.."
"And what would I speak of Athelstan?" Agi challenged. "How I must rely on dreams to remember what my life once was? How I am an abomination that yearns for the company of the very chieftain who laid waste to my homeland?" Anguish had flooded Agi's voice, tears of hatred swelled in her eyes. "...I am beyond saving Athelstan. I envy Jai and Lan for their afflictions. They are tortured by the lust and loathing of their masters, but it is I who torments myself with such things. That is why, I would rather be dead with the others, than to have my brother see me as I am now."
Athelstan wished to embrace her, but he feared that would only upset her further. "He is your blood, he would love you no less..." he remarked wistfully.
The edge of the ocean lapped over Agi's toes. Her chin was niched atop her knees, her hands griped her ankles. A safe distance from anyone who might disturb her, Agi sat, staring mindlessly across the horizon at the setting sun. Yet some part of her knew, it would not be long before Ragnar would find her.
"It is my understanding, that you avoided the forge today." Ragnar greeted. Agi nodded numbly. "Why?" Ragnar piped.
Agi shrugged meekly, slowly straightening her back, so she could gaze up at him lifelessly. "Are you going to punish me?" she asked.
Ragnar's smile was empty of emotion. "Should I?"
"Yes." Agi said with a note of hope.
"Why? You were not ordered to work."
"It was expected of me."
"I have other expectations.." Ragnar said, his smile filling. "Come inside, let us speak in warmth.."
"I know what you will ask of me." Agi replied, standing reluctantly.
"Then..I implore you, to indulge me..." Ragnar smirked.
The Great Hall was empty, a single fire blazing in the midst of the room. At the edge of the grand table, was the map Athelstan had mentioned. Agi's nostalgic fingertips traced the familiar penmanship, and she said a silent prayer for Jonathan. As Agi's gaze revolved from the map onto Ragnar hovering beside her, Agi realized this was the first time, the two of them had ever been alone. It made her nerves jitteryi.
"You know what I am to ask of you, what then is your answer?" Ragnar queried curiously.
"I have none for you." Agi said stoically. "You bring me here to chart the course of your next pillage, using my brother as a guise for what area may yield the most reward..." Agi turned away from the table, to stare him fully in the face. "You show your cruelty at last Ragnar."
Ragnar smiled impishly, a warning sign Agi was unable to interpret. The next instance, his mouth was moving against hers, his weathered fingers weaved in her hair. Pure shock weighed Agi down, she was sinking pleasantly beneath Ragnar's tongue. Her mouth meshed against his, then her teeth plunged into his bottom lip until she tasted blood. Ragnar broke away with a laugh-like hiss, his fingers instantly jumping to his busted lip. Adrenaline flowed through Agi's veins, her face flushed and furious.
"You chastise Quinor for touching another's slave, then mark yourself a liar, why?" Agi demanded, her voice a tad shriller than it ever had been.
Ragnar's shoulder swaged nonchalantly. "I cannot chastise myself." he teased, with a bloodied smirk.
With her every fiber, Agi glowered at Ragnar, willing her heartbeat to slow. She wanted to attack him, kill him - she wanted the sickly feeling of lust to wash away when his blood seeped into her pores. "You. Disgust. Me." Agi spat, speaking each word like a thrown dagger. Ragnar's cheeks rose in a jeer, his eyes alight with mockery. He did not believe her. When Agi took a step towards the door, his hand clamped onto her arm. Agi reeled her free hand against his face with full force, however Ragnar barely blinked. Ragnar raised his other hand in turn, and a cowering Agi closed her eyes in preparation. She expected Ragnar to strike her, but she felt only his fingertip brush against her lip. Agi's eyes flew open, witnessing as Ragnar wiped away a smear of his blood from her mouth.
Ragnar smirked at her awe-struck expression, his gaze no less mocking. "I had hoped you would help me with our next destination, so that I may bring you with us."
"What?" Agi gasped, her thoughts rushing to the Seer's foretelling.
"If you choose to stay behind, I will expect you to bear Athelstan's seed while we are away." Ragnar continued, gingerly sliding his hand down Agi's arm.
"You cannot...Floki..." Agi stammered, goosebumps blistering her skin, as Ragnar's hand swept past her wrist, his fingers grazing her palm.
"Floki has already given his blessing. He does not think you will choose to stay. It is clear to anyone that you have the markings of a shield maiden - come with us, and it will be so. You will become a free woman." Ragnar announced.
Agi scrutinized Ragnar with whatever dignity she could muster. "You ask me," she said slowly. "How best to condemn myself...Motherhood or Barbarism? Why present me with choice?"
"Forced choice, is not choice, Agi." Ragnar replied coyly. "You have time yet, to decide." Ragnar's eyes shifted from Agi, to the door and back again, granting her permission to leave. Agi stared wordlessly at him for several seconds, before she complied.
Once Agi was gone, Floki stepped from behind a pillar and rested his weight against it. "She tempts you, such as gold and glory tempts you..." he noted.
"No, she is worse...always within reach." Ragnar argued, a bittersweet smile engrossed on his torn lips. "But my reach is unwelcome."
"I am not certain."
"Than I am certain enough for us both friend."