Siv carried the basket of mushrooms from the forest on her arm. Lady Aslaug had sent her to collect mushrooms to be used in rituals and in meals and she had been more than happy to oblige. Siv did enjoy the forest and enjoyed it even more when she was alone. Although she did wonder if Rollo would appear like he did a few days before. As she walked back to the hall she noticed a man eyeing her. She offered him a kind smile, but his eyes scanned over her body and she felt unease in her stomach at his gaze. As she walked past him she heard footsteps behind her and knew that he was following her. Her unease increased and she walked faster. The man kept pace and Siv finally had enough. She whipped around and stood her ground.
"Why are you following me?" she asked pointedly as the man came to a stop before her.
He was silent as his blue eyes scanned over her. Siv's eyes narrowed and she slipped out her knife from her belt. Before she could blink, the man had grabbed her wrists and dragged her back behind a house. The man pinned her wrists above her head and covered her mouth with his other hand. Her knife had fallen to the ground, leaving her defenseless. She kicked out at his legs, but her blows didn't seem to affect him. He grinned and leaned in.
"You think that I will take no for an answer?" he asked.
Siv's eyebrows furrowed as she tried to remember if she had ever seen this man before. He seemed familiar, but she wasn't sure how she knew him. Then she remembered: he had asked her to marry him a week ago. Apparently he hadn't accepted her refusal. She didn't know what to do as his grip tightened on her wrists and he pressed his body against hers. She squirmed against him, but he only seemed to enjoy watching her struggle.
"Marry me and accept what I have to offer you," he said, "and I will let you go."
Siv's eyes narrowed into a glare at his proposition. She'd rather die than submit to him. She bit his hand as hard as she could and drew blood while he cried out in pain.
Rollo was walking through the center of Kattegat as he pondered the curious woman that was Siv. Siv had quite the reputation for turning down every man that asked for her hand and he wondered why she refused them. He wondered if she would refuse him as well if he ever decided to ask for her hand in marriage. A sudden yell interrupted his thoughts. He glanced down a side-pathway between two houses and saw a man pinning a woman against a wall. His eyes narrowed when he recognized the woman as Siv.
Siv caught his gaze and her emerald eyes pleaded with him to help. He could tell that she couldn't force the man off of her. Rollo felt anger flood his veins as he took in how helpless Siv looked. He hadn't been able to protect Siggy, but he decided at that moment that he would protect Siv. He drew his knife and made his way down the path towards the pair.
The man heard him coming and quickly glanced at him.
"Rollo, what are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing, Einar," he said, "Or why you have Siv pinned against a wall."
"I was just asking for her hand in marriage."
Siv squealed behind his hand to cast doubt on his words.
Einar frowned and tightened his already painful grip on her wrists, which caused her to whimper in pain.
"Let her go, Einar," Rollo said.
"So you can have your way with her? Hel will freeze over before I hand her over to you!"
Rollo stepped behind Einar's back and pressed the blade to the man's neck.
"Let her go."
Einar quickly released Siv and she spat his blood out of her mouth.
Siv turned her angry gaze on him and pushed him away from her.
"I will never marry you," she spat, "May you never cross paths with me again or I will curse you for the rest of your days!"
Einar glared at her, but Rollo could see fear from her words in the man's eyes. He quickly left the alley.
Rollo turned towards Siv to see her fists clenched angrily in fists.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine due to your help," she said.
Rollo watched the woman sigh as she stooped down to collect her basket of mushrooms that had fallen to the ground.
"I wish I was strong enough to protect myself," she said, "and not have to rely on others."
Rollo watched her as an idea began to form in his head. Perhaps he could repay her for saving his life by teaching her to defend herself.
Siv seemed to have the same idea when stood once more.
"Rollo," she began, "will you teach me to use a sword?"
Her eyes shone in the light as she gazed up at him and he felt all of his hesitations collapsing under her gaze.
"You wish to become like Lagertha?" he asked, "Do you wish to become a shieldmaiden?"
The thought had obviously occurred to her and she smiled.
"Yes. I wish to fight in a shield wall one day. Will you teach me?"
He ran his eyes over her. Siv was thin and was more familiar with nurturing, not killing. However, the fire in her eyes reminded him of Lagertha.
"Alright," he said, "I will teach you."
She smiled and her smile seemed to shine like the sun's rays.
"Thank you, Rollo. I will never be able to repay you."
"I still owe you a debt," he reminded her as they began to walk towards the hall.
She looked at him in surprise and then remembered that she had saved his life.
"Of course," she said, "I suppose you will be out of my debt now."
"I suppose I will be."
He stopped when they reached the doors of the hall.
"Our first lesson will be tomorrow morning," he said, "I will bring you a sword to use."
She smiled and took a step towards him. She pressed a light kiss to his cheek.
He looked at her in surprise when she took a step back.
"To thank you for saving me," she said, "I will see you tomorrow, Rollo."
She walked inside the hall and smiled at him as she shut the door.
He stared at the door for a moment as he realized that the most beautiful woman in Kattegat, and the woman that most of his fellow men desired, had kissed his cheek. He glanced around and noticed that a few people had seen their exchange. He could practically hear the whispers as he quickly made his way towards his house.
Siv pressed her back against the door and wondered if she had done the wrong thing by thanking Rollo with a peck on his cheek. He had seemed surprised, but she wouldn't take back what she had done.
The next morning, Siv put on a pair of breeches that she had had buried underneath her bed and a green tunic. She put on her belt and a pair of boots. She quickly did her chores before the rest of the hall rose and snuck out the door.
Rollo didn't know what to expect as he waited outside of the hall for Siv. He honestly expected her to emerge in one of her usual dresses. He was quite surprised when the door opened and Siv emerged in breeches and a tunic. His eyes traveled down her body of their own volition and he took in the shape of her legs.
Siv smiled and took a few steps forward, so Rollo was forced to raise his gaze.
"You seem surprised."
"I honestly expected you to be wearing a dress."
She laughed and it sounded like the tinkling of bells.
"I have more sense than that," she said.
He smiled and started to walk towards the fjord.
"I can see that now."
He stopped at the water's edge and held out a sword to her.
She took it and felt her arm hang at her side due to the weight.
Rollo smiled as she blushed.
"Heavy isn't it?"
"Yes," she said, "Quite heavy.
"You will become used to it," he said as he moved her fingers on the hilt to aid her grip.
His fingers were rough on her smooth skin and Siv felt goosebumps form on her arms at his touch. When he was satisfied with the way she held the sword he turned his gaze on her hair.
"Your hair poses a problem."
She raised an eyebrow.
"I refuse to cut it."
"It is risky to have long hair in battle, Siv."
"I refuse to cut my hair," she repeated.
He sighed and grabbed a handful of her hair in his fist and yanked her head back.
Siv gasped and dropped the sword on the ground as he pressed his knife to her neck.
"Do you see why I am concerned?"
"Yes, but I refuse to change my mind."
He released her and removed his knife from her neck. Her hair had felt like silk on his callused hands. Rollo watched as Siv rubbed her scalp gently and smoothed her hair. He clearly wouldn't be able to convince her to cut her long hair for her own safety.
"I will obviously have to teach you how to defend yourself against an enemy grabbing you by your hair."
She nodded her head.
"Teach me then."
He grabbed her by her hair and yanked her head back. This time she didn't make a sound.
"What is your instinct?" he asked.
She pushed her elbow gently into his abdomen.
"I'm surprised at you, Siv," he said with a grin, "I figured that you would choose to aim a little lower."
She blushed and nodded her head.
"That also crossed my mind."
"Where else would be a suitable place?"
"The knees."
"Or?"
She looked at him in confusion.
"The feet?"
"A blade to the foot would be suitable."
"But I lost my blade."
"Try to break free of me some other way."
Siv tried to come up with a strategy. She took his advice to mind and decided on the best course of action. She stomped on his foot and tried to elbow him in the face when he grabbed her arm. She struggled against him and kicked him in the knee, but he wouldn't budge. She turned her head and noticed that he had left enough slack in her hair for her to turn her body around to face him. She quickly turned to face him and rammed into him with her shoulder. He fell backwards and she quickly straddled his chest and gripped his neck.
Rollo looked up at her in surprise. She had completely taken him by surprise and came up with a strategy that he didn't think she'd pick up on. He smiled and released her hair.
"Good. Not many warriors would see that coming."
She smiled and released his neck. However, the smile was quickly wiped off of her face when he rolled over on top of her and pinned her to the ground. She thrashed and kicked, but it didn't affect him.
"What do you do, Siv?"
She stared into his eyes and tried to think of a strategy. What would catch him off guard?
"Imagine a Saxon is trying to rape you on the battlefield. How would you protect yourself?"
A sudden flash of inspiration hit her she threw her weight towards one side and managed to roll over on top of him. She quickly grabbed her sword and poised it over his chest.
He smiled and raised his hands in surrender.
"You are a fast learner."
She smiled and lowered the sword.
"Perhaps the gods have granted me inspiration," she said.
Siv's scalp and body were sore by the time Rollo decided that she had a firm grasp on how to free herself when an enemy grabbed her. She gingerly touched her head as her teacher watched.
He handed a sword over to her and she took it.
"Take this with you and practice swinging and getting used to its weight," he said, "Our next lesson will be tomorrow morning."
Siv nodded her head and glanced down at the sword in her hand. It was blunt, so she didn't risk hurting herself.
"Thank you, Rollo," she said, "I will train hard."
"I know you will."
They parted ways as people began to mill about in Kattegat. As Siv walked back to the hall, she felt the eyes of everyone on her. She heard whispers as she opened the door and shut it behind her quickly. She pressed her back against the door and raised the sword before her. She would become a shieldmaiden. She would fight beside Lord Ragnar and Rollo one day.