A/N - Firstly, thank you to anyone who is still reading this story. No one's more disappointed than I am, that I took this long to 'update', especially since I consider this an unfinished chapter. But this chapter contains Floki smut, as previously promised. Ragnar isn't in this chapter, unforunately.
This chapter is different than the others, because I had intended to flesh out Agi's time with King Horik, but I would like to get the timeline moving, since I am trying to write this hand-in-hand with the show. Although...honestly this past season has me questioning that resolve. I think I'll just have Agi slit a certain's someone's throat, and that'll be that. ;)
The stranger's fingers effortlessly slid the folded parchment from the confines of the book, as though he himself had placed it there. Unfolding it, he noted the ink was smudged in some places from Agi hastily hiding it. The stranger smoothed the parchment out, squinting at the first few words, then tutted softly to himself. "Hmm..baby names...Brandr, Vithar, Sleipnir, Vali..." Agi's handwriting had suffered from lack of practice, which she was all too aware of in the very first line of her musings. The stranger smiled at her self-degratation, then read onward.
-On the road, I spoke each night to the Gods about Hillevi. Floki chided me. 'The Gods treasure you and those you bear, you should not dread her.'
My dread for Hillevi stems from the hatred I feel for Rollo, for her to exist, would be to betray myself. Have I not said this to him already? Yet Floki would not listen to my reasoning. His belief in the Gods is steadfast, always. Perhaps at least Ragnar overheard, and can understand why it was I lied to him. I do not want that girl to live, not even in my dreams.
-Upon arriving, Ragnar declared to Horik, that I am a free woman. His hand touched my naval, his lips met my temple. That was his farewell. Floki whispered to my stomach. Bjorn hugged me.
By Horik's will, I am to be referred to as Dianthra during my stay in Denmark, for I am his kin and the public needn't know of our ties to the Northmen. It does not make me glad. I had set aside that name and all the anguish it bore - to hear it again, to answer to it...strange.
I met the Buthlungr of Denmark, Ari. He stayed behind when first I met Horik and his family, though they offer no explanation as to why. Ari is much unlike his brother Erlendur. Thank the Gods.
-Horik has chosen me a husband, though he did not present the man as such. To his folly, Horik first claimed Zane was a manservant, but Zane lacked the humility of anyone less than a noble. Horik knows of my pride, so he said and that is why he sought to deceive me. 'In the unlikely event, that both Ragnar and Floki perish, you will need a man to provide for you. I am thinking only of your best interest, Dianthra...you, and your children.'
Sickens me. Such an arrangement was made out of business, not compassion. The man is a lord, a barren lord, but his land is plentiful. I should kill them both.
-Horik thinly attempts to make amends. Commissioned a mural of Volundarkvida, amongst other antics. Were these the same efforts to buy my father's trust, I wonder? How close were Horik and my mother, truly? He speaks as though, they were the dearest of siblings. Why then, did Dorete never inform Horik that she was alive and well?
-The smoothness of my stomach is disappearing, and still no word from them. I grow impatient..
The stranger hears the interrupting creaks of the floorboards behind him, and smirks slightly. "Tis hard to be tactful while carrying a litter." he greets Agi, refolding her parchment and sliding it inside the book from where it came.
The stranger wore a tunic, an odd shade of green, his hair cropped evenly above his ears. When he glanced innocently at Agi, she realized his eyes matched his tunic. "Who are you?" she asked bluntly. "How did you know that was there?"
"My name is Skirnir, I am here on behalf of my Lord. He has grown curious about you." the stranger said with the makings of a smile. His voice held ingenue levity.
"You aren't one of Horik's underlings...one of Zane's disciples?" Agi guessed, observing him closely as he paced around her. His motions were fluid yet lazily, as though he wished to run circles around her but had slowed himself out of curtsey.
"No m'lady."
"Do not call me that."
"Fridla Volundr then...or shall I say Mistress Wayland, that is the common tongue is it not?" Skirnir retorted.
Agi scoffed. "Enough! Who is your illustrious lord, and why did he not come himself?"
"Perhaps one day He will. His nieces have already graced you with Their presence.."
"Have they?"
Ceasing his pacing, Skirnir sighed. "Disappointing that you must ask...that you do not know whom I serve outright...but perhaps a muddled mind should be expected, given your condition." He stated with a cruel glance at her protruding stomach. Agi's cautious face hardened into a glower. Skirnir snickered, as he neared the doorway. "You make that expression so often, you just may be immortalized with such." he warned.
"Skirnir." Agi murmured, causing him to pause. "The name of Freyr's servant..."
Slowly Skirnir faced her, one hand clasped over his wrist, a slight smile on his face. "You speak fact, but sound skeptical.." he noted.
"I grow weary of why I am so special to the Gods."
"The privileged often question where they should not. You should be thankful for Their blessings, in any form. Especially that of a child."
"You speak of Hillevi." Agi grumbled, perching on the bed. Skirnir remained silent, his face unyielding. "That is how I piqued the interest of your Lord...He heard my pleas about her.."
"You named Him thrice. Attempted to bargain..." Skirnir chortled. "That, I must admit, did amuse me."
"I do not find it amusing." Agi scowled.
An expression made of amazed scrutiny masked Skirnir's face. "Ungrateful frilla; your opinion matters not."
"Course it doesn't...else-wise I would've entered battle first, not motherhood. Tell me, is that all I am to the Gods, a birthing canal? Surely that is all these men will me as - a sacred cow to mother their babes."
"You bring value and value is bestowed back upon you." Skirnir alluded.
Agi touched her stomach tentatively. "...And what 'value' is there in Hillevi? She will be a madwoman."
"The value of a blessing is not for you to decide." Skirnir slowly advanced toward Agi. "Perhaps she will absorb the anger that nourishes you, perhaps your loathsome nature will define her. For I know you, Fridla Volundr, how you detest all you desire." Skirnir stopped a foot away from her, his listless eyes gorged her apprehensive ones. "I've seen how you've despised these men, for kindness, for cruelty, for caring...yet always you lusted."
"Not always.." Agi argued, swallowing a lump in her throat. "Not Rollo."
Skirnir leaned down, resting his hands on his knees, his face mere inches from hers. "Learn to lie less. You truly are horrid at it." he whispered unnecessarily.
"If you know me so well, why then did you come snooping?" Agi challenged.
Straightening, Skirnir sneered. "I came because Freyr commanded it. I heed His will complacent. You would do well to learn from my example." Skirnir extended a hand upon Agi's stomach, disregarding the hiss Agi gave at the contact. "Many times you've disputed the path the Gods have set for you, not once considering the path They steered you clear of." Skirnir's hand cupped her chin. "Most foolish frilla." he tsked. As Skirnir released Agi, and backed out the open door, Agi felt her eyes begin to droop, a sporadic wave of fatigue consuming her.
Their beauty was awe-inspiring. They were still only a moment, then they ran, moving with all the grace and speed of a butterfly. Two sisters, dressed lavishly in clothing that flowed as they themselves did. Rollo followed in hot pursuit, his dark eyes never leaving their swaying hips. When at last, he thought he was closing on Hnossa and Gersemi, Rollo rounded a corner of the market and discovered they had disappeared. His eyes however, did hone in on a red-haired woman approaching the forge. She was frantically searching for a finished sword. Rollo advanced toward her eagerly. She spotted him approaching, and hastily drew a sword from the rubble. Her gaze was made of lead, but her hands betrayed her fear - the sword in her grasp, nearly shook with the wind. "Little wisp." he tutted. Her head jarred slightly to the left, as though she understood him. Then she struck, Rollo parried and continued to do so for a time, his curiosity outweighing all else. She grew tired, as he knew she would, yet she made no attempt to run. Rollo smirked as he circled her. "You fight with the ferocity of shield maidens.." he praised. Rollo grew still, and a look of contempt crossed his face. "Do you share their tightness as well?" he mused. She drew in a deep breath and lunged at him with the last of her strength. Rollo side-stepped her easily - her face fell upon the earth and he claimed the little wisp.
_Once upon the ship, a chain was secured around her neck. The wisp barely acknowledged it, her gaze was focused on her homeland burning.
_The chain was only removed when Siggy bathed the wisp. Rollo watched Siggy attempt time and time again, encouraging speech, to no avail. She had an iron will, that wisp. Rollo had no need of her voice, nor did he care for her mouth. "Perhaps I should just cut out her tongue." he said idly, one suppertime.
Siggy glanced at him sharply. "Don't do that."
"Why not?"
"If the Goddesses lead you to her, surely she must be valuable."
Rollo took a long hearty gulp from his tankard, his eyes remained locked on the wisp. The skepticism showed on his face, causing Siggy to apprehensively, clasp her hand atop his. Siggy leaned across the table, murmuring reassurances. The wisp could not hear, the wisp would not have cared, even if she could.
_An intruder came to Kattegat, his hair rustic, his shoulders broad, his eyes auburn. His name was Lontyr Wayland, he came with treasure, seeking to buy his sister, Dianthra. Golden coins, sterling silverware, baubles both big and small. Rollo was not reluctant to part with the wisp, indeed he was only glad that Siggy had been right.
_Dianthra's stomach grew, slowly but surely. When she could no longer see her toes, she tore her own throat with a dagger.
Agi awoke with her heart drumming in her ears, one of her hands resting on her collarbone. Staring at the ceiling, she tried to calm herself.
"Good dream, or bad?" asked the familiar voice of Erlendur. Agi raised her head, and saw her young cousin sitting at her desk, his focus entirely on her. "You were moaning and wailing...I was unsure if it were proper for me to wake you." he explained with the mildest of smirks.
"I wish that you had.." Agi retorted, sitting upright with some effort.
"A nightmare then...what about?" Erlendur pressed. He wasn't concerned, that boy had no threshold for true emotion.
Agi closed her eyes briefly to collect herself. "Why are you here?" she asked.
Erlendur was silent a moment, his disappointment at her evasion evident. "..Father asked me to escort you to the foot of the forest."
"Why?" Agi asked.
Erlendur smirked as he stood, his turn to withhold information. "Shall I tell him I couldn't wake you?" he offered.
Agi barely was able to bite back a sigh. "No."
From afar, Agi thought perhaps her eyes were playing tricks on her. The figure was tall, cloaked, but very much resembled Floki. When there was merely several feet separating them, Agi could not contain her excitement any longer. "Floki!" she cried, hurrying forward. She bypassed her Uncle, King Horik without so much as a glance, and threw her arms around the chuckling form of her lanky lover. "Gods, it is you." she murmured gladly into his chest, inhaling his musk as though it were life itself. Floki ran his hands through her hair and embraced her mouth with his. "Tell me the negotiations have ended." she nearly pled.
Floki did not immediately answer her, as he watched the retreating form of King Horik. "There will be no negotiations..only demands..as its been from the start." Floki responded. The way his mouth twitched, Agi was uncertain if Floki wanted to jeer or giggle. As though sensing her confusion, Floki's eyes met hers and a smirk ventured on his face. Floki wrapped an arm around her lower back, his free hand resting atop her baby bump, his mouth nuzzling around her ear. A purr gurgled within Agi's throat, thriving on his affection. Floki's hand rounded her stomach, and came to a rest, between her thighs. Blindly, hurriedly, Agi lifted the edge of her dress, her mouth hungrily meeting his. Shallow whimpers fumbled from Agi's lips as Floki's fingers teased her, pushing in and gliding out at varying speeds. Her legs shook, her nails bit into his neck, but before Agi reached her peak, Floki paused to lower her onto the forest floor. His finesse would've impressed Agi, had she not been so enraptured. As Floki loomed over her, Agi grabbed his throbbing manhood with both hands. She wasted no time working her thumbs, eagerly returning the teasing touches he had given her. Floki's eyes shuddered closed, then suddenly he bit her breast startling her. Giggling, Floki lurched one of her legs further apart, and entered.
Afterwards, Agi's neck ached, the muscles in her back enflamed, but nestled in Floki's embrace, she felt sated. He lazily traces the bitemark on her breast, his eyes skyward.
"I want to be free of this land...I want to go home.." Agi states.
Floki gives a singular chuckle. "I thought you wished to be with us in Gotaland...?" he baited.
Agi perked her head. "Will you let me ride back with you?" she piped eagerly.
Another chuckle. "No."
Agi gives him a hard stare. "Why not? I am a free woman, Ragnar said.."
Floki's giggle sounded strained, as his fingers looped down her right arm, to her wrist. "A free woman would not still be wearing a bracelet made of wood.."
Agi briefly looked down at the bracelet Floki had crafted for her. When her gaze darted to his face again, she saw Floki was at last looking at her. "It was a farce.." she murmured.
Floki crooked his neck. "How many times have you deceived Ragnar, Agi?" he retorted.
Agi's voice grew gargled as she swallowed the lump in her throat. "...I believe this makes us even..." Floki's face flexed in a smile, that did not fully show. Agi averted her gaze to their surroundings, as she rested her chin on his chest. "How is he?" she asked softly.
Floki was silent, and for a moment, Agi wondered if he hadn't heard her. "Restless." Floki said at last. "But all this shall be over soon.."
A/N - you can continue to vote for the names of Agi's unborn sons until the poll magically disappears. if you don't have an account, leave a review with your choice.