The smell of pork stew roused Agi from an uneasy slumber, but she did not open her eyes, until the sound of Lagertha's voice filled the room. "You must eat quickly, else-wise we will be late for judgement." Agi, who had fallen asleep in a sitting position, shuffled upright, and clumsily grasped the breakfast bowl. The faint smirk creasing Lagertha's rose lips, told Agi that any attempt to conceal her surprise, would've proven futile. "It is strange to think we have spoken so little, and yet here you are, due any day.."
"...I don't blame you for avoiding me..." Agi said plainly.
"Is that what I was doing?" Lagertha retorted haughtily. Agi slurped her stew awkwardly. Lagertha's smirk returned, and her voice grew kinder. "..It's true, I was avoiding the embodiment of my shame, and failure as a woman, as a wife. But I wanted you to know, that unlike Bjorn, I do not blame you for what happened in Gotaland." Although Lagertha's voice was strong, Agi spotted the strain in her eyes.
"I am relieved to hear it, Lagertha.."
"Good. Because you do not need more stress...considering Floki's condition."
"He will be fine." Agi said automatically, though there was a twinge to her brow as she spoke.
"I pray that he will be."
"As do I.."
"You are the second Christian, Ragnar has been besotted with. I do not understand why the Gods have allowed you and him to become viking, but it does not mean I hold any less affection for you, than I do Athelstan..despite what others might believe. I hope that you believe me." Lagertha responded. "When Brandr is born, you intend to raise him and his brother in Floki's homestead?"
"Yes." Agi said with an affirmative nod.
"Considering how small Floki's home actually is, I assume you made this decision, because of me.." Lagertha responded.
"It is not so small.." Agi deflected. Lagertha stared at her expectantly. "..Partly, out of respect for you, yes." Agi admitted.
"I do not think that is fair to anyone, least of all Bjorn; he may seem standoffish now, but in time, he will be glad to have a brother. That is why, for part of the year, you will live with us." Lagertha decided.
"Thank you Lagertha!" Agi gasped in appreciation. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Agi continued, "There is something I want you to know as well...though I feel less certain saying this now, considering Aslaug." Agi paused, breathing in deeply. "Whatever it is that Ragnar feels for me, it does not compare to what he feels for you. I will always be second, I know it in my heart...and I am happy with it. I could not compete with a goddess such as you.."
"There is no need to sweet-talk me Agi." Lagertha said sternly.
"I wasn't trying to!" Agi laughed. "Consider it a exclamation of admiration, long overdue...nothing more."
Lagertha's lips twitched, but she didn't allow the smile to show. "Hurry. I still must help you dress.."
Rollo's face was caked with blood and grime, his hair matted and snarled, his clothes frayed and torn. His dark eyes stared solely at the chopping block a foot ahead of him. Agi noted his shoulders weren't hunched, even as the Lawgiver stated Rollo deserved to die, amid cheers from the crowd. "But I have decided to spare his life." Agi's jaw unhinged, her gaze soaring upward to the graying man speaking from the rock-top, "I have taken the advice of the Gods. If They had wanted him dead, he would've died in battle - but They spared him. He came forward, and threw himself on the mercy of his brother. He behaved in an interesting and unexpected way - and therefore I conclude the Gods have made Their own judgement, that I cannot overturn. I therefore order this man be set free!"
"Free?!" roared the crowd.
Torstein nearly knocked over Rollo on his path to Ragnar. "We should kill him anyway! You are the Earl."
"No. We must obey the law." Ragnar stated calmly. Agi's gaze drifted from him, onto the man wielding the axe.
"Who is the Lawgiver, just an ordinary man." Torstein argued, as Agi stepped out of the masses.
Agi did not hear Ragnar's rebuttal, as her hands yanked the axe from the disenchanted grip of its owner. Rollo's eyes locked with hers, as she raised the axe upward past her shoulder. Rollo displayed no fear, no disdain, just an emptiness that chilled her to the core. "Stay still.." she whispered, her words drowned out by the buzzing crowd.
"AGI!" Ragnar hissed, his voice suddenly quite close.
"Torstein is right! He shouldn't be allowed to live. Not after such a betrayal...not after Floki..." Agi's voice cracked. Her weary eyes found Ragnar. "If you do not have the stomach for it, then I will kill him myself! I am more justified than any lawbringer!"
"Than what are you waiting for wisp?" asked the rigid voice of Rollo, reverting Agi's attention.
"We both know, you don't want him dead, don't we?" Ragnar said lowly, hovering closely beside her.
"If Floki dies I will want him no other way!" Agi snapped, turning her head to glare over her shoulder.
"Oh so you've given up on Floki's health?" Ragnar chided. Agi's features crumbled and in that instance, Ragnar snatched the axe out of her grasp. Agi hurriedly tried to grab it again, but Ragnar held it behind his back. "Go to him. Last I heard he was awake, and mending well." Agi's gaze flicked onto Rollo, a scowl scribbling along her mouth. "And let me make something clear..." Ragnar whispered in her ear, laying a hand upon her stomach. "If you don't vow to heed the Lawgiver's Will, I shall spank you here and now for all to see, until you are unable to sit. What is it going to be?" Ragnar asked haughtily.
It was then Agi felt a sharp pain irriadiate her stomach. "..Gods!" she whimpered, buckling in pain. "Not here, not now.." Fear hammering within her chest, Agi cast a glance at Rollo. He was standing precisely where he had been knelt, his mouth askewed, his eyes reproachable.
Ragnar's hand fiddled between her legs. "You're not wet...you are fine..." Ragnar announced, his gaze upon Lagertha. "Still, you should be resting...you've enough excitement for one day...Torstein! Help her indoors..."
Agi stared out across the ocean, her fingers beneath her tunic, tracing the diagonal scars beneath her belly. Agi's auburn eyes rattled shut, the moment she heard Rollo's voice. "False labor. Lagertha experienced it with Gyda...I remember that day well..."
"If you are here to make small talk, I am not interested..." Agi stated, peeking over her shoulder at him. Rollo's ratty clothes were gone, replaced with a light green tunic, his hair washed. "Do not pretend to care about me and my brood - it doesn't suit you..." she added dryly.
"I will put on no airs...so long as you don't pretend, that it did not thrill you, to have me at the mercy of that axe." Rollo responded with a nonchalant sigh.
Agi's scoff was instantaneous. "So what if it did thrill me?"
Rollo smirked and drew closer. "Perhaps at last you can understand, why I've treated you as I have." he simpered.
Agi chuckled darkly as she faced him. "Are you joking?"
"That thrill is hard to match." Rollo stated.
"Do not speak to me of thrills Rollo. Your greatest thrill is rape!" Agi snarled. "You should be dead! And if Floki dies, I will kill you, I don't care what Ragnar thinks."
Rollo's blank face softened, a streak of vulnerability adorned his words. "To think I've inspired such hatred from someone so spirited...but I suppose it is hardly an achievement. Tell me, how long did it take for your hatred toward Ragnar to change?"
"I would slap you if you had the energy..." Agi retorted. "You think that I will grow to care for you? Do not delude yourself Rollo, such a day will never happen!"
"You are right. I am leaving Kattegat. But I couldn't resist seeing your scowl one last time before I went.."
"You're leaving? Where will you go?"
"Why do you care?" Rollo challenged, with the faintest of smiles.
Had she seen his genuine smile before? Her heart thumped out of tune. "..I don't care. Go. I will be grateful for your absence." Agi said thickly.
Rollo's smile broadened briefly, then he took her hand in his. Agi instantly tried to pull free, but Rollo's grip remained firm, and he raised her hand to his lips. "Take care of yourself Wisp." he concluded.
A/N - ROLLO IS NOT BEING WRITTEN OFF. Siggy convinces him to stay, circa season 2.