A/N- I'm incredibly thankful to everyone who has posted reviews in my absence and anyone reading this now. Been dealing with 'self-discovery' blahblah, anyway I'm so sorry.
I just wanted to say it is my intention to end this story happily, and that the end will probably be chapter 40. That's the goal anyhow, although I'd like to write an epilogue.
Reminder-the twins are 6.
Her hair clung to her brow, obscuring her eyes. Her chest heaved breathlessly, a chuckle hissing free as Floki bit her wrist stretched above her head. "What was that for?" she giggled.
Floki continued to loom over her bare body, nibbling down her wrist, until her euphoria faded and she shrugged the hair from her eyes. "I think it's time you forgive Ragnar." he said.
"You dont have a say in the matter." Agi argued lightly.
Floki's eyes hardened, but the rest of his face remained unchanged. "He has learned his lesson Agi."
"That isn't for you to decide.." Agi sighed, lacing her fingers behind his neck. "I dont want to argue anymore. It is my grudge to bury, and I will bury it when I am ready." She lifted her head to kiss him, bis tongue engulfs hers in seconds. Hearing the door creak open, Agi breaks away. "Come in Helga, we're done." She wiggled out from beneath Floki and hastily slipped on her blue cotton dress.
"Don't be too upset with him, Floki was just keeping his word to Brandr." Helga said.
"Brandr?" Agi echoed. Helga nodded. Agi sighed heavily, pecking Helga's cheek and sparing a glance over her shoulder at their lanky lover. Wrangling her fingers through her tosseled hair, Agi stepped outdoors to keep an eye on the twins sparing with wooden swords.
Brandr paused the moment he saw her. "Did you talk to Floki?" he asked pointedly.
"...He spoke and I listened." Agi replied, crossing her arms.
"And wha-ow! We were on a break!" Brandr winces, clenching the back of his head as he spins around to face his brother.
"I don't recall you saying that. Do you Mother?" Vali retorts. Vali's smirk mirrored Agi's.
"Going to miss you old girl." Athelstan murmured to the Lothbrok dog, his fingers kneading her ears. He sees a red mane out of the corner of his eye, and he rises from his hunched position with a smile. "Agi. Are you alright? Your walk.."
Agi raises a hand lazily, though her other hand remained behind her back. "I'm fine. Floki was just overzealous in his goodbye." she smirks.
"Oh..of course." Athelstan blushes. "You've come to say goodbye to Ragnar?"
"No, I came to say farewell to you" The surprise on his face was brief but palpable. "The thought of you pillaging fills me with great anxiety. I hope that you do well...and I pray that I see you again, to whichever God that may listen. Which is why I made you this." Agi brought her hand around from behind her back, revealing a lumpy leather pouch, which she twisted open before offering it to him. "I bought the mold from a traveler. The moment I saw it...I just knew."
Athelstan withdrew a cross from the pouch, its polished silver gleaming in the high sun. In the heart of the cross were indents Agi had made in Norse. Athelstan ran his thumb over the crude markings. "You inscribed a prayer for Freya?" he mused.
"I know it's blasphemous but.."
"So are we all."
"Exactly." Agi smiled.
"Thank you Agi." Athelstan beamed. "It means alot." he says, embracing her snugly.
Agi hooked her arms around his back, holding him tight, inhaling his scent. The incense Aslaug burnt and the smell of the sea overshadowed his natural musk, to her dismay. She drew in a deep breath, burying her nose in the crook beneath his ear, his beard tickling her cheek. "Please come back." she whispered.
As Agi reluctantly pulled away, Athelstan's hands cupped her face. She smiled beneath his touch, resting her forehead against his. Athelstan's palms traveled from her face to her shoulders. "I know we can never be, but I love you Agi." he said softly.
An irritated sigh, startled Agi apart from him, her heart pounding in her ears. A nonchalant Ragnar stood two feet away, his hands clasped somberly at his waist. "You should've kissed her. She wanted you to."
"It's enough that she knows.." Athelstan replied.
"Is it?" Ragnar murmured dubiously.
"I feel the same Athelstan." Agi responded, her head low but her words firm.
"..Well...I should leave you to your goodbyes." Athelstan stated, ushering himself indoors.
"You'd better look after him." Agj said steely.
"Of course I will." Ragnar replied.
Agi nodded. "Safe travels." she gurgled, walking away.
Ragnar caught her arm, and pulled her to a stop. "Is that all you have to say?" he asked her. Agi yanked herself free, and stood wordlessly. Ragnar smiled tersely. "Fine, I will speak and you will listen. Brandr does not understand as he used to. He sees you and Helga, and wonders why you aren't that way with Aslaug. He asked me 'why does she share Floki's bed and not yours?'."
Agi scowled, her face burning with shame as she countered. "I dont believe you."
"Why would i lie?" Ragnar asked.
"Why do you do anything Ragnar?!" Agi snapped. "This pillage with my uncle and his arch-enemy, is a disaster waiting to happen. But you're going to do it anyway, because.."
"It is just your uncle." Ragnar cut in. "King Horik changed his mind last night...I was on my way to inform Jarl Borg when I saw you." Ragnar informed her as he walked past.
"Won't that cause trouble?" Agi called after him. Ragnar did not respond, he merely glanced at her and continued onward"Wait! Brandr is right."
Ragnar retracted the space between them. "I thought you didnt believe me. Ah..he had already mentioned it." he guessed with an empty grin.
"I cannot share you with that woman. But I suppose I could be more civil toward her. Sleep beneath the same roof from time-to-time." Agi rambled.
"Same roof..not the same bed?" Ragnar observed, with a tilt of his head.
"Isn't that what I just said?"
"Where will you sleep then I wonder - with Athelstan?"
"Don't be absurd."
"But you love each other."
"It warms my bitter heart that you are able to feel jealousy Ragnar, but do not think you can run circles around me. Those days are past." Agi replied with a thin leer .
"Oh?" Ragnar asked mockingly, stepping closer. "Well if you say it's so, it must be so. " he simpered, cupping her chin. "I must deal with Jarl Borg. Then I will say goodbye to you all."
"...Be careful..." Agi mumbled, leading his hand away from her face.
"I made up with your father." Agi announced listlessly.
"You did?!" Brandr piped.
"Yes. Now I need you both to come with me, to bid your Uncle Horik farewell." Agi responded,earning an instant groan from Vali. "I don't want to either but it's necessary. C'mon."
"Dianthra! How sweet of you to see us off!" Horik greeted, arms spread wide. Vali and Brandr scarcely glanced at him before trotting up to Ari and Erelendur, Horik's sons.
"I hear Jarl Borg will not be traveling afterall...that you have changed your mind. But surely uncle, you see how this may prove dangerous for my brood."
"Everything will work itself out as it should, Dianthra. The Gods are always with us." Horik deflected with a hearty grin.
"Yes. They are. Which leads me to my question - did my brother ever mention Ecbert of Wessex to you?"
"Should he have?"
"Perhaps. I was told he acted as a guardian for us for a time. I was a babe when my father was slain. If Lon is to be believed, Ecbert took us until circumstance drove us away. I mention this in the hopes that if you were to cross paths with Ecbert directly, you will be civil."
"You worry about me being civil?" Horik retorts.
"I meant no offense. Tension amongst kings are not uncommon." Agi replied cheekily. "I wish you good fortune uncle. Ari, Erlendur, be well..C'mon boys."
Vali and Brandr readily separated from the youngsters, and followed Agi. A fair distance away, they spoke one after another.
"What was that about Jarl Borg, Mother?" Vali asked.
"Who is Ecbert, Mother?" Brandr wondered.
"Who indeed. I hope we find out soon..."Agi mused. "Jarl Borg will doubtlessly be a problem now, yet Horik seems completely indifferent about the situation he has just created. I know him well enough to know he is not aloof. We no longer trust Horik, nor his sons."
"If you made up with him, why are we waiting at the door?" Brandr wanted to know.
"Because he's already started his goodbyes."Agi said.
"I was born first, I shouldn't be the last he says farewell to." Brandr complained.
"I will be the last one," Agi sighed, averting her eyes as Ragnar kissed Aslaug. "So don't worry."
Ragnar approached with a wide grin, lifting Brandr off the floor in a ribcrushing hug. "Goodbye Brandr. Keep an eye on your mother for me, trouble seems to find her eventually." he stated ruffling Brandr's hair.
"I will." Brandr promised.
"And be kind to your brothers. Most of all Vali. Okay?" Ragnar kissed Brandr's temple and set him back down. He straightened up slowly, assessing every inch of Agi before he spoke. "You should be coming with us." he began.
Agi nestled her hand on Brandr's shoulder, her eyes darting to Aslaug. "Next time perhaps." she replied evenly.
"I may hold you to that." Ragnar stated. He extended his arms and reeled Agi in. He felt how her tense body softened, disappointment rippling her small form. He pulled back slightly, and as their eyes met, Ragnar's mouth gladly devoured hers. It startled Agi, but her tongue thrashed eagerly against his.
"Okay enough." Brandr winced.
"Sorry son,"Ragnar apologized, touching the corner of his mouth. "But I had to show Priest how it should've been done." The collective gazes of Ragnar, Agi and Brandr honed in on Athelstan lurking on the threshold of his room.
"Priest?" Brandr echoed in confusion, his face scrunched as he glanced up at his mother.
"Let's.." Agi began hurriedly herding Brandr toward the door.
"They're in love." Ragnar announced.
"Ragnar!" Agi hissed through gritted teeth.
"Oh. Floki is not going to be happy." Brandr said simply, walking out.
"Why did you do that?!" Agi demanded in a snarl.
"To see you make that face." Ragnar jeered. Agi shoved him as he followed Brandr, but Ragnar barely staggered.
Cutting a path through the mob forming, was the slender figure of Floki with Vali perched on his shoulders. They seemed to be racing Torestein to the docks. Agi's anger melted into a smile, but her face remained warm, acutely aware of Athelstan strolling four feet away.
Once the fleets left, Agi went to the tavern to drown her angst.
There was a thin film of ale at the bottom of her mug, that held the utmost attention of her muddled mind. A familiar voice severed her concentration,and her bleary eyes sought out Rollo sitting across from her. "What'd you say?" she murmured.
"I asked why you stayed, when the twins are old enough to fend for themselves. " Rollo repeated earnestly.
"But they are still young enough to be swayed against their mother. " Agi answered ruefully.
"...You think Aslaug would turn them against you...If your boys are anything like you, I doubt they could be swayed at all." Rollo responded.
"The passage of time brings out alarming changes in people." Agi murmured, sipping the last of her ale. "When I first arrived here, I was so determined to be free. But I could have left at any time. I could have gone back to Denyn and lived a normal life." Agi's eyes flash onto Rollo. "You remember Denyn? The suitor that came with my brother. You killed him over there. " Agi turned and pointed.
"He was too shrill. A poor choice." Rollo replied.
"Mmmmaybe. Or maybe you're just a bastard." Agi said, resting her chin on her knuckles.
"..Do you feel better calling me that?" Rollo asked, his face unreadable.
"I feel better reminding myself." Agi mused, tracing the mug with an idle finger.
"I thought the mere sight of me was a constant reminder of your hatred."
"It used to be. What happened? Why do I have to remind myself now? The answer is a passage of time!"
With a sigh,Rollo reached across the table and snaked the mug from Agi's loose grasp. "Go home wisp. You've had your fill." he remarked.
Agi groaned, tangling her hands in her hair as she slumped forward. "I can't believe that shrew was right." she mumbled into the tabletop.
"Are we still talking about Aslaug?" Rollo asked with a hint of amusement. Agi nodded but didnt lift her head. "What was she right about?"
"Ergh.."Agi grunted, fingers flying through her mane before propping herself up, arms flat on the table. Her lips were a straight line when she spoke, but there was a fire to her eyes Rollo had never witnessed. "I look at you now and I dont see the man I feared and hated. I just see a man." Agi said, begrudgingly. "It makes me miserable. She warned me. She said if I didnt forgive Ragnar, something dreadful would happen. This is it. Or Athelstan. Or both. Ergh." She rubbed her eyes.
"...But you did forgive Ragnar, wisp."
"..Did I? Did I truly?"
"Go. Home. I won't tell you again." Rollo said, pushing himself to his feet.
A silent hiss bubbled within Agi, but after a deep sigh, she also stood. As she turned toward the entrance, Agi's heart clobbered to a halt at the sight of a child not yet born. The smile on Hillevi's face was tiny, yet it cut Agi's mind into ribbons.
Someone's hand enclosed on Agi's shoulder, causing her to yelp and careen sideways, shying away from its touch. The hand belonged to a frowning Rollo. "You look.." he began.
"Don't!" Agi interrupted.
"What?" Rollo blurted.
"Don't touch me. Don't ever touch me." Agi retorted, visibly shaking.
"You.."
"I don't need your help. St-Stay away."
Rollo gaped at Agi who silently gawked back. Her shivering body was aimed at the door but her feet remained motionless. "..You saw Hille-"
"NO. No you listen to me - there is no one by that name and there wont ever be! Do you understand?!" Agi spat, jarring a finger at his face.
Rollo's voice was soft when he spoke. "...It isn't up to you wisp. It isnt up to either of us."
"ARGH." Agi screeched, lunging at Rollo's throat. To the surprise of everyone, Rollo didnt stop her, instead he buckled backwards onto the table making it easier for her. Agi seethed and shuddered in malice, but after a moment of glaring at Rollo's blank face, her hands grew slack. "Why?" she whimpered. One of Rollo's arms lazily tucked itself around Agi's waist, as he straightened up and held her deftly against him. "Why?" she repeated, a lone tear streaking her face. Rollo shushed her in a soothing tone, raking his palm against her cheek.
"You're right. She wasn't here. It was just the ale. You'll forget all about this in the morn." Rollo whispered, planting a kiss on her forehead. "You - go get Helga, she'll need help reaching home.." Rollo ordered to someone above Agi's head.
Agi closed her eyes against Rollo's chest. "No..i won't forget.." she mumbled dejectedly to herself.