A/N - Filler chapter, I hate them as much as you, which is why it ends kinda suddenly.
There will be some Floki smut in the next chapter, because he is overall absent in this one. Please be sure to read the A/N at the bottom!
Ragnar circled the structure for the fourth time, fifth perhaps. He absentmindedly held a smooth stone from the river, jumbling it against his fingers. "I think I will claim this home for myself.." he declared aloud.
"You are Earl, is it not yours anyway?" Agi replied, from a bench beneath the window.
Ragnar's cool eyes were drawn to Agi. Her long red was tusseling in the wind, her hands cradling one another. "Always something smart to say..yet quiet when asked about her hand.." Ragnar mused to no one, tossing the stone lightly at her.
Agi caught it easily enough, glancing down at her clasped fingers. She studied the stone, then glanced up at Ragnar as he drew close. "It was ailing me...and then the goddess Eir healed me." she told him.
A small smile shadowed Ragnar's mouth. "Floki should be hearing this."
"Where is he?"
"He went to invite Jynir Still-Knee, to come with us for the negotations between King Horik and Jarl Borg. It has been many years since Jynir has left Kattegat. He cannot fight, nor travel alone. I could think of no better way to thank him."
"Thank him?" Agi echoed. "For teaching me.."
Ragnar nodded, taking the stone from her listless fingers. "And for keeping you safe." Ragnar enjoyed the look that crossed Agi's face - a mix of confusion and contempt. "I am told word has spread that you were sent by the Gods. Many don't believe it. Some may think to test you." he explained.
"I can fend for myself." Agi said sternly.
"Yes, but I don't want you to. Especially now, with my son growing inside you." Ragnar responded. Agi smiled, a rarity. Ragnar sat down beside her, sighing. "Which is why I think it best, while we are away, you visit King Horik."
"I intend to come with you." Agi argued.
"If negotations fail, there will be war, and what do you think Jarl Borg would do, knowing you are Horik's niece?"
"How would he know? Only if someone told him, would he know."
"You are not coming and that is final." Ragnar stated, matter of factly.
Agi's face contorted into a grimace, her voice toneless as she spoke. "..Fine. But you will not discard me so easily whilst I carry your seed."
Floki's laughter marked his return, drawing the attention of Ragnar. "Jynir will come with us." he announced. His grey eyes met Agi's auburn ones. "What are you talking about?" he pressed.
Ragnar answered for her. "I'm certain King Horik would want his kin, born on his land. Agi objects to this...though she knows, I've sworn fieldity to her uncle."
"For all the good its done you." Floki remarked snidely. "Hork needn't know of her childbearing yet. Even when he is told, he may not care - you do not know him well Ragnar."
"I suppose you are right.." Ragnar said, pushing himself to his feet. "We should return to the mainland, before we are missed."
Athelstan's voice softly carried through the wind. "Hello Agi."
Agi, glanced up from the bucket, her soapy hands threading through the thick fur of the Lothbrok dog. Athelstan's hair had grown a great deal, thick black locks framed his face, facial hair surrounded his mouth solely. "Athelstan..you look..less priestly.." Agi greeted
Athelstan's smile was bright, and Agi haplessly mirrored it. "I recall asking Ragnar once, if I could bathe their dog. He told me it was pointless..yet he allowed you with no argument it seems."
"Well. We slaves have to keep ourselves busy, don't we?" Agi replied, in a teasing tone.
"You're still a slave?"
"I have not been told otherwise."
"...You're happy." Athelstan noted.
"I suppose I am." Agi agreed.
"Just stay clear of Inkeri." Athelstan warned.
"Who is..." Agi paused as the Lothbrok dog shook himself, spraying her with water. "..Inkeri?" she finished with a sigh, as the dog ran away.
"A shield maiden, Lagertha's second. Inkeri has not been oblivious to Ragnar's infauration with you, but has remained in the shadows at Lagertha's bidding. But with this talk of you being sent by the Gods, I think Inkeri may challenge you." Athelstan explained.
Risening her hands in the bucket of water, Agi asked. "How did such a thing become public knowledge?"
"It may've been the children...or Siggy. Does it make much difference?" Athelstan responded, extending a hand to help Agi to her feet.
"No." Agi murmured, accepting his help. "What does she look like?"
A female voice resonated from behind Agi. "Why, do you intend to run?" After sharing a blank glance with Athelstan, Agi spun around. Inkeri's face appeared naturally scowly, her dirty blonde hair fell to her shoulders, her brown eyes displayed her agitation. "Agi - sent from the Gods to entice Earl Ragnar, and those closest to him.."
"I assure you, I aimed to entice no one." Agi said.
"Yet you have."
"..Are you envious?"
"Envious? I am appalled. Lagertha should've speared you long ago, I often wondered why she stayed her hand. Now I know. Dare I say, her miscarriage impaired her judgement. For why would the Gods send a Christian whore to bare the next Lothbrok?" Inkeri felt her throat close up in anger, her damp hands balling into fists. "Surely that is a lie, that not even Floki could fool himself into believing."
"It is no such thing." Agi breathed, attempting to keep her rage in check.
Inkeri shook her head curtly. "Than prove you are more than the trickster's tramp!"
Agi's fist soared skyward, but Athelstan caught her forearm. "She wants a fight." Athelstan reminded her.
Shrugging out of Athelstan's grasp, Agi took a step toward Inkeri. "The God Forseti visited me in the forest, He has been watching me from birth. I was once Dianthra Wayland, a descendant of Volundr, the legendary smith. Motherhood is not the only fate that awaits me, I will become shield maiden, I have seen it." Although Inkeri was taller, Agi stared into her eyes relentlessly. "Tell me, my words are false. Tart."
Inkeri smiled, and Athelstan thought perhaps the women would embrace each other. Instead, Inkeri headbutted Agi, causing blood to sprout from her nose. Agi tackled Inkeri, their flaiing feet knocking over the bucket of water used for the Lothbrok dog. Agi repeatedly kneeled Inkeri in the ribs, while the blonde jabbed at Agi's face. Athelstan attempted to separate them, but nearly slipped in the mud. Much to Athelstan's relief, Ragnar appeared and hoisted Agi off of Inkeri, just as the redhead caught the blonde in a chokehold.
Ragnar put Agi over his shoulder, and marched her indoors. Ragnar dumped her into a chair, and glowered over her, "What were you doing?!" he demanded loudly.
"She started it, she wanted a fi..." Agi began, but a furious Ragnar spoke over her.
"I don't care! She is not carrying my son!" Ragnar snapped.
That quieted Agi, as Ragnar retreated from her to pace in circles. Clenching her stomach tersely, Agi muttered. "..Your son will be fine, I saw the man he becomes."
Ragnar halted to stare at her, his gaze unreadable. "Just as you saw Rollo's daughter?" he challenged. "Or Athelstan's boy?" he added, gesturing at the raven-haired man who had followed them indoors.
"The Seer himself said a child born first from a nightmare, will not exist." Agi retorted, ignoring how her cheeks blazed from the look on Athelstan's face. "Not every dream is prophecy, Ragnar! After all your brother has put me through, you truly think I would bed him?!" Agi cried dubiously.
Ragnar approached her slowly. "What did you see? That day, with the leeches. You saw someone approach in the water, it terrifed you.." Ragnar perched over Agi once more, his eyes cutting her into ribbons. "What did you see?" he repeated.
Several seconds flew by while Agi debated whether to lie or tell the truth. "Everett. That was to be the name of your son Athelstan." Agi said, adverting her gaze onto him. "It is who I saw...but..he was bloody...dead, but living..." Agi fibbed.
Ragnar straightened up, staring at her. "We will take you to King Horik's land, and you will remain with him, until our business with Jarl Borg is concluded." Ragnar's eyes darted from Agi's bloodied face onto Athelstan. "Clean her up." he ordered, as he walked out the door.
Athelstan retrieved a rag, and fetched the clearwater basin. Agi stared into nothingness as Athelstan knelt beside her, wringing the damp rag. "Agi?" he muttered with relucanctcy.
A rough giggle rutted out of her throat. "He knew I was lying.." she whispered.
Athelstan frowned. "You saw Rollo's daughter in the water?" Agi nodded, gradually meeting his gaze. "Why did you lie?" he asked.
Agi broke eye contact again, with a meek shrug. "I was afraid admitting it to him, might make it real. Foolish...now he's sending me away..." she smiled grimly.
"Perhaps it's for the best." Athelstan said, wiping the blood off her chin.
Agi was unsure if she imagined a hint of resentment in his voice, or not. "His name would have been Everett, Athelstan. That was true. He would've been beautiful." she confessed.
"...Why are you telling me this?"
"...You deserved to know.."
Agi did not get a chance to speak to Ragnar again, until they were about to head out on horseback for Denmark.
"You forbade me for attending the negotations, but you bring Bjorn?" she blurted.
Ragnar hid a smirk, as he fastened the last loop of his pack onto the horse's saddle. "Why not? He at least, is always honest." Ragnar retorted, stradling his horse.
Floki giggled haughtily, as Ragnar galloped ahead. Agi repressed a sigh, which nearly transformed into a growl when her gaze unintentionally met Jynir's. "This is all your fault." she told the blue-eyed man crossly.
"What of it?" Jynir Still-Knee replied, inspiring another bout of giggles from Floki.
Agi glowered, shaking her head as she started to climb on the back of Floki's horse. "Agi." called Bjorn. "Ride with me."
Floki allowed one final giggle before dismissing Agi with a nod. "You heard him." he encouraged.
Agi groaned internally. Externally, she smiled at the young Lothbrok.
Agi and Bjorn rode in silence for hours. "I wanted to hate you when I heard...but I am only confused." Bjorn began.
"About what?" Agi asked, her stomach already twisting in knots.
"Gyda was happy to hear you would give her a half-sister...but a sister that is also a cousin..." Bjorn stammered.
Agi instantly glared at Rollo, who was riding ahead of them. Sensing her gaze, he glanced over his shoulder. "Something the matter wisp." he greeted.
"You've no right to be telling Bjorn and Gyda such things." Agi said flatly.
"Urrrr now I understand." Bjorn grumbled. "But it wasn't Uncle who told me, it was Father." Agi stared wordlessly at the back of Bjorn's head, before shifting her gaze ahead, far past Rollo onto Ragnar. "Father also said, it was not for certain yet." Bjorn added with a sideways glance at the redhead.
"It will never come to pas Bjorn, this I swear." Agi assured him.
"Shame. Gyda really wanted a sister..cousin or no..." Bjorn mused. Agi shook her head violently, trying to erase the entire conversation from her memory.
"You named her." Rollo said, seeking Agi's attention. He was rewarded, though she appeared more alarmed than Rollo thought she would be. "Hillevi. You told me it in a dream."
A/N - I'M GIVING YOU A CHANCE TO NAME AGI'S SONS - there is a poll on my profile, but you have to be a registered user to vote. If you do not want to make an account, leave a review with your choice. The choices are: Sleipnir / Brandr / Vali / Vithar.
Sleipnir has ties to the gods, its meaning is "slippery". Brandr meaning is "fire sword" (more or less).
Vali was a slayer godling. Vithar was a legendary slayer (also godly).
Feel free to vote more than once, but please do vote! It's going to take another 2-3 chapters before the twins are born, so I definitely won't be closing the poll until next month.
P.S. The dialogue with Inkeri wasn't as good as I hoped it would be. And as for Hillevi, truthfully Everett has a better chance of existing.