Siv and Rollo walked back to Kattegat soaking wet. Rollo had returned Siv's cloak to her, but it was now also wet and did little to protect her from the cool air. However, she didn't mind the cold so much and neither did Rollo. They both were used to the frigid northern winds.

"And how shall I explain my state to Lady Aslaug?" Siv asked out loud.

Rollo glanced at her.

"You fell into the lake and I rescued you."

She stopped dead in her tracks and whirled around angrily.

"Excuse me," she snapped, "I was the one who rescued you!"

He smiled and walked past her.

"I was teasing you."

Her cheeks reddened slightly at getting upset at his jest and she quickly followed him.

"Then what should I really say?" she asked.

"Tell her the truth."

Siv eyed him carefully before responding.

"Are you sure that I should mention you?"

Rollo stopped and turned around to study her.

Siv stopped and watched him as well. She folded her arms over her chest and her green eyes scanned over him.

"Perhaps it would be best to make up a story."

"I agree," Siv said, "But we have to agree on one."

He nodded his head.

"Perhaps we were searching for Siggy's body?"

Rollo considered her suggestion. It was partially true.

"And perhaps I slipped and went under the water," she continued, "and you pulled me to the surface."

He was surprised that she put him in the role of savior after her earlier outburst. She glanced to the side.

"I think it's for the best if we keep your original motive between us."

He nodded his head in agreement.

"I think so too."

Lady Aslaug wasn't pleased when Siv entered the hall soaking wet with an equally soaked Rollo.

"Siv," she began in a cool voice, "What happened?"

The servant bowed her head and did her best to look ashamed.

"Rollo and I were searching for Siggy's body in the lake," she began, "I slipped and went under the water, but Rollo pulled me to the surface."

Aslaug glanced at Rollo and the warrior nodded his head in agreement with her story.

"Very well," she said, "Please, Siv, do not get sick."

Siv raised her eyes and gave her mistress a small smile.
"I will try my best not to, Lady Aslaug."

Aslaug smiled and went to tend to her children before stopping in her tracks.

"Siv," she said, "Please make sure that Rollo is sufficiently warm before he returns home."

Siv bowed her head.

"Of course."

Aslaug left the main hall and Siv relaxed her shoulders once her mistress was out of sight. She turned towards Rollo and beckoned for him to sit at the large oaken table.

"Please, sit," she said, "I will bring you some warm wine."

Rollo sat at the table and removed his wet cloak as Siv went over to a pot sitting over the hall fire with a goblet in her hand. She kneeled beside the fire and carefully dipped the goblet into the pot. Rollo couldn't help but notice how her long dark hair brushed the floor when she kneeled.

Siv rose to her feet and crossed the hall to the table where Rollo was sitting. She placed the goblet before him and he nodded his head in gratitude. She took off her cloak and sat across from him. She watched him drink from the goblet and wished that she had one of her own. Rollo seemed to have read her thoughts, for he offered the goblet to her. She took it and took a deep sip before returning it to him. She felt warmth spread from her middle and out to her body.

"Thank you."

"Thank you for saving me."

Siv smiled.

"Siggy would have been angry with me if I hadn't."

He smiled slightly and took another sip of the warm wine.

"Siggy and I would tell stories and sing songs in this hall," she said, "Lady Aslaug's sons used to love playing with her."

"Do they play with you?"

Siv smiled.

"Yes," she said, "They have become my shadows as of late."

Rollo remembered when Björn and Gida had been small. Björn had followed him and Ragnar around as soon as he had learned to walk much to Lagertha's displeasure. Gida had been more content to remain at home with her mother, but had always spared him a hug when he came to visit. It was hard to believe that the young girl had died so many years ago. He wondered if Siv remembered her.

Siv sighed and leaned her cheek on her hand. She looked tired. It had been no easy task to save Rollo from drowning, but it was one that she didn't regret. Siggy would have been furious with her if she had allowed anything to happen to him. She would honor her friend's memory by making sure that Rollo was well.

Rollo drained the goblet and met Siv's gaze. Her eyes were studying him carefully.

"Feeling warmer now?"

"Yes, thank you," he said.

She smiled and her eyes lit up.

"Can I trust you to walk yourself home without trying to end your life?"

He rolled his eyes and she grinned.

"Yes," he said, "I won't try to kill myself again."

"Good," she said as she rose from her seat.

He rose as well and put on his cloak. He could tell that Siv expected him to take his leave soon.

She smiled politely as she opened the door of the hall for him.

"I expect that I will be seeing you again?" she asked.

He paused at her words and glanced at her face. As the fire of the hall danced across her pale skin, he noticed the servant's beauty for the first time. Her long hair was draped over her shoulder and her green eyes shined like emeralds in the light. His throat tightened and he abruptly averted his gaze. He felt like he was betraying Siggy.

"Yes," he finally said, "I am certain that we will meet again."

Siv bowed her head to Rollo as he walked through the door.

"Good night, Rollo," she said.

"Good night, Siv."

As the door shut behind him, Rollo stared into the night sky. Two faces entered the forefront of his mind: Siggy's and Siv's. Both women were beautiful and intense. He understood why the two had been so close. He sighed and started walking towards his home near the outer ring of Kattegat. Ragnar had offered him a place in his home, but Rollo had declined. He felt that he didn't deserve his brother's hospitality after he betrayed him so long ago.

Siv leaned her back against the hall's door and took a deep breath. When the sun had risen that morning she hadn't expected that later in the day she would rescue a warrior from drowning. Nor for that warrior to be Ragnar's brother, Rollo. She pondered over the intensity of his gaze as he had left. What had he been thinking? Did it have something to do with Siggy? Or was it about her? She shook her head. It had obviously been about Siggy. He was still mourning the loss of his lover and he would be for a while. Siv took the goblet from the table and crossed to the pot over the fire. She dipped the goblet into the pot and immediately raised the goblet of warm wine to her lips. She would certainly rest well.

(Author's Note:) So I'm really enjoying writing this fic and I hope to continue it! If you have any suggestions for plot points, please comment about it and I might choose to include it!
If there's any confusion about why Siv suddenly decided to weave the story so that Rollo rescued her after she had showed displeasure about him suggesting it, it's because Siv realized that Rollo's reputation needed to remain intact, so she painted herself to be the halpless one.