A/N - I made slight revisions to the previous chapter because once I reread it, I fucking hated it.
Floki is still on the mend from the battle with Rollo.
Agi's fingertips traced his slender knuckles as Floki's palm rested upon her belly. She watched Floki's expression eagerly, how brightly his eyes gleamed when he giggled. It had been so long since she'd seen his eyes shine. "Does it hurt when they kick?" he asked.
"Only when they kick each other." Agi answered with a grin.
Floki's giggle grew louder. "Fiesty like their mother..I cannot wait to meet them.."
"Won't be long now.." Helga commented.
"Sooner the better, I say..." Bjorn grumbled from his spot at the heath.
Ragnar lazily reached out and tusseled his son's hair. "You were not asked.." he mumbled. Bjorn huffed angrily, his shoulders hunched, but he remained silent. Ragnar's attention flicked onto Agi. "He may behave this way now, but in time he will be proud to have brothers.." Ragnar reassured her.
"Mm I wonder how many brothers he will have..." Agi mused, her eyes narrowing in contempt.
Ragnar's nostrils flared, but his tone remained steady. "Many, if the Seer speaks true. Perhaps you will never be able to go raiding with us.." he replied sharply.
Agi smirked slightly, sensing the heavy gazes of Floki and Helga. "It is not my fate to only bear children...that is a more fitting role for a princess, don't you think?" Agi retorted. Bjorn glanced at last away from the dancing embers, to study the reaction of his father.
"Princess?" Helga repeated.
"Hush Helga, this is between them.." Floki noted.
Ragnar chortled joylessly. "It is between us, but Agi wishes to include you anyway. I slept with a Gotaland princess named Aslaug, and unlike Lagertha, Agi is determined not to forgive me." he explained. "But I believe once Brandr and Vali are born, things will change.." he added confidently.
"I would not...agh...oh...Gods..." Agi gasped, rocking onto her side.
Floki's hand molded with her shoulder, a giggle leaving his lips. "The babes are coming. They heard you speak their name Ragnar!"
"Uaaahh...agh!" Agi cried, auburn eyes closed, her teeth barred in pain. Blindly Agi clasped her hand onto her shoulder, her nails embedding into the webs of his fingers. "Floki..I'm frightened.." she whispered.
"All will be well. Helga, kiss her head, I cannot.." Floki responded, his words nearly drowned by Agi's budding scream.
-How many days I have spent in bed with the twins upon my breast? Too many surely, but I am still so weak. And in truth, there is nothing I would rather do than in lay in bed with them. They produce the sweetest smell in the world. Ragnar visits often, and the smile upon his face...I have never seen him smile in such a way. Sometimes when Ragnar visits, Torstein carries Floki to see the twins as well. Too often I think. I worry Floki's constant visits will hinder his health. Helga insists he is doing well.
-Visited the Great Hall. There were many stares, but I was prepared. Ragnar held up Brandr for all to see, Vali too. Floki was delighted. I saw with my own eyes, that Rollo did not leave Kattegat after all. I should've known...
-Floki is fully healed, and with good timing. Vali is too eager to crawl.
-Bjorn is warming up to Brandr, and his glares towards me are becoming fewer.
-The twins can walk!
-I am still in shock. Will writing help? Doubtful. Aslaug has come to Kattegat, her belly larger than mine ever was! Perhaps that is not true...I do not think I can find the words to explain Lagertha's face upon Aslaug's arrival. The dignity Lagertha clings to even now, breaks my heart. I could not even look at Ragnar, though I sensed his gaze. Aslaug smiled often. It is an ugly smile. She is taller than me, and perhaps her eyes are nicer, but she is NOTHING compared to Lagertha.
Agi stared at her own writing for several seconds, before ripping the pages out. The journal was quite thick and she had written sparingly in it. A pisspoor parting gift for Lagertha, but it was one of Agi's nicer possessions. Agi gathered the torn pages, and with a heavy sigh tossed them in the fire.
"What are you doing?" Helga piped from beside the crib.
"I do not want Aslaug reading about my life.." Agi huffed, slinging a cloak over her shoulders. "I will be back shortly, I know you'd like to say farewell also..."
"Still can't believe this is happening..." Helga said softly.
"Nor can I." Agi grumbled.
"Um..I do not know if such a thing will interest you, but if nothing else, it will provide good kindling on the road ahead..." Agi announced apprehensively, awkwardly offering Lagertha the journal.
Lagertha's smile was genuine. "Thank you Agi..." Lagertha tucked the journal in the trunk she had been packing, then roped Agi into a hug. "Keep an eye on her," she whispered in Agi's ear.
"I promise." Agi mumbled back.
Lagertha recoiled from the hug, but her hands remained on Agi's arms. "Look out for yourself, and those boys of yours...I think I would like to see them before I go.."
"Truly? Of course, I'll grab them." Agi bounded for the door, then paused, her gaze darting past Siggy who was helping Lagertha pack. "Lagertha...if I am unable to say so later, I want you to know, that you will be missed..."
Lagertha's smile returned briefly. "It goes without saying...just as I will miss you.."
Scarcely able to breathe, Agi watched as Lagertha kissed the heads of both Brandr and Vali, rubbing her thumbs upon their cheeks. "I promise as they grow, they will know of you and Bjorn." Agi said, her voice sounding steadier than she herself felt.
Lagertha smiled meekly. "That is kind of you, but the decision is up to him.." Lagertha distanced herself from the twins, her attention on her own son. "Bjorn..You have to choose, say it now.."
"...I choose my father.." Bjorn announced. gravely.
Lagertha did not sob, nor sneer. "Very well.." she whispered, clenching Bjorn into a hug.
A mortified Bjorn returned to Tornstein's side, where the blonde expectantly placed a hand on Bjorn's shoulder. Agi frowned, holding Brandr tight upon her hip, while Helga scooped up Vali. Agi continued to study Bjorn and Tornstein until the crack of the horse's whip reminded her of Lagertha's departure. Lagertha stared longingly at her son as the cart carried her away.
"Bjorn...we must speak in private..." Agi said, gesturing at Tornstein to hold Brandr.
"Now?" Bjorn retorted.
"Yes now.." Agi insisted, leading the lad away from the gates. Lagertha had already disappeared from view. They had barley taken four steps together, when Ragnar crossed their path, atop a horse. Bjorn and Agi stared up at him with soured expressions.
"What?" Ragnar asked blankly.
"Mother has left." Bjorn stated woefully.
A strange look crossed Ragnar's face, and in a blink of an eye, he had galloped off.
"Bjorn, I feel as though you were caroused into staying..."Agi began.
"Why do you say that?" Bjorn deflected.
"Were you? Because of your father's infamy?" Agi prodded. Bjorn merely stared at her. "Fine...answer me one thing, and I will leave you be...Do you really want to live with Aslaug?"
"No! I don't want to be anywhere near her..." Bjorn responded.
"Then perhaps you should start running..." Agi encouraged.
Much to Agi's amazement, Bjorn wrapped her in a tight hug. "I don't hate you." he said, before dashing off.
Agi allowed herself a smile, which vanished rather rapidly, the moment she realized Aslaug had been watching her.
A/N - There will be a time jump, but I'm not sure if it will be the next chapter or the one after it.