The snow had all but disappeared, replaced by the bountiful summer that gave our people so much joy. The men would load onto ships and would sail to lands that we knew too well and every year, they'd return with less and less. The women and children would work the fields, they would fill the stores with the food that kept us going through the harsh winters.
That morning, i found myself sitting on the shoreline. The sea calm and beautiful as it reflected the flawless sky. Bjorn was at my side, his small decorated blade stabbing into the sad in front of his crossed legs. The blade leaving small holes in the dry sand.
"I can't believe that they would just leave me." Bjorn whimpered. His body dropped back, lying on the sand with anger in his eyes.
"They couldn't take us, Bjorn... We're not old enough." I sighed. But deep down, i wished that we could be sailing with the men. This was their second voyage, and Lagertha had gone with the men. A small breathe slipped through my lips as i too lay back on the sandy ground with a frown on my lips.
"I just... I just thought my father would've taken me by now." He cried. My body rolled onto my hip as i raised onto my lower arm with my eyes looking down at Bjorn's somber face.
"Bjorn, we have our whole lives to travel the sea and to battle. I promise you, we will not always be left behind." I insisted. He sighed a deep breath, turning to me with eyes of sorrow but a small smile growing on his lips.
"I'm glad that you're here with me, Olyvia." He yawned. The blade slipped through his fingers, landing in the space between my fingers and his outstretched hand. "I wonder if the sky is different in England."
I could hear the seagulls flying above and the waves crashing against the rock cliffs. I could also hear the gentle breaths of Bjorn as he stared up at the sky. The village always turned quiet after the men left, now more than ever. The women would all come together and make wishes of their husbands and sons safe return. Children would prey to see their fathers again and all those who had no family would just wish for the plunders that the men would bring back. Bjorn, on the other, just wished to be there himself. He wanted to experience it himself, he wanted to fight the saxons.
"Right, get up. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, lets see if you've learnt how to fish yet." I teased, gently pushing at his arm with a smile on my lips. My body rolled into a sitting position, snatching the knife from the sand before jumping to my feet.
"Olyvia! Where are you going? Give that back!" Bjorn shouted as he sat up straight. I watched his head shake, refusing to stand.
"Come on, Bjorn!" I shouted, my hand outstretched for him. A loud groan filled my ears as he slowly struggled to him feet, his hand reaching out for the knife. My hand move, shielding the knife from him. "You're going to have to try harder than that, Bjorn." I laughed. A chuckle left his lips as his hands continued to fight for the knife.
Spinning on my heels, i began to run. Running towards the river in the forest. Bjorn was hot on my tail, shouting my name through laughter.
The forest grew dark as i ran through the river, Bjorn's hands grabbing my waist as he dragged my frame down. We landed into the shallow water, both laughing.
"Eir is not going to be happy about this!" I shouted as i looked at my clothes, drenched and muddy. Bjorn laughed, splashing more water in my direction. His hand snatched down, taring the knife from my fingers before pushing my body back under the water with a laugh. "I hate you so much, Bjorn!" I cried out, my hand slapping against his arm.
"Just tell Eir it was my fault." He groaned. His eyes flicked to the trees around us, a small smirk growing on his face. "I have an idea." He whispered. His hand found mine, dragging me to my feet as he pulled me out the water and towards the trees. The knife was taken from his pocket as he started to scratch at the tree's bark. Five runes at first and another five runes just below it. Olyvia and Bjorn.
"I never took you as a sentimental, Bjorn!" I gasped, my hand resting on the freshly carved runes. I could feel his eyes on me with a gentle smile. "Shall i teach you how to fish now?" I whispered, laughing slightly as i remembered his previous attempts.
His hands took the spear that had been left many weeks before. His knees submerged beneath the water with his arm raised, wielding the spear.
I watched closely as his eyes scanned the water surface, waiting for the shimmer of a fish's scales. In the blink of an eye, his hand thrust the spear down in the water... The clanging of the spearhead echoing in the forest.
"You're trying to spear a fish not a rock." I teased. His eyes glared up at my frame with a look of determination on his face. "Would you like me to help you?" I sighed.
His head shook wildly. His hand flicking at my body in a gesture to stay away.
"No, I will do this." He groaned. Again and again his hand thrust the spear into the water, each time the spearhead clashing against the rocks and catching nothing. A sigh broke through my lips as my hands forced my body up, my body wading into the water the skirt of my dress soaking up the water. My body stopped behind the young boy as my hands gently slipped around his wrists.
"Don't throw the spear at where the fish is, throw the spear where the fish is going to go." I whispered. His head tilted slightly, turning to see my face staring into the water. A small fish began to swim around our bodies, Bjorn's face lighting. "Remember, where the fish is going to go." I repeated.
His eyes watched before the spear was once again thrown into the water. No clashing sound echoed through the forest, only cheers and giggles.
"I speared one, Olyvia!" Bjorn shouted. A small girl ran into the clearing, her face full of happiness and excitement.
"Bjorn, mother and father's ship has been spotted." She announced. Bjorn span to me, his hand snatching my wrist before he began to run to the beach that had previously heard his words of anger. Our bodies skidded to a halt at the growing crowd just outside of the Earl's hall. I could see Lagertha's blonde hair, Bjorn pushing our way through the crowd till his mother's eyes found us. Her hands curling around my wrist and Bjorn's in her other hand.
"And where is Knut?" The Earl muttered. The mutters went silent, the grip on my wrist tightened, Bjorn glancing over at me with worry in his eyes.
"I killed him. He tried to rape my wife, Lagertha." Ragnar declared loud enough for everyone to hear. My eyes shot up to the blonde woman beside me, her blue orbs meeting mine.
In a rush of action, Lagertha pushed my frame into Bjorn before she tried to move to her husband. Arms trapping her as they held her frame back and began to tug Ragnar's body towards the barn where criminals were kept.
The sky was turning dark as the small congregation, including the now forgiven Ragnar strolled back to the home of the Lothbrok's, Bjorn at my side still mumbling about his victory at fishing. I don't think he could quite believe it.