Chapter Eight - The Love of a Daughter

Floki was sitting around the fire with Ragnar, Rollo, Lagertha, and newly, Gudrun. It was the first time she was invited to attend one of their meetings, but she wasn't very excited. It had been three days since Aegir had visited her and since she had received the sword from the spirit. Ragnar and Floki thought it was a Valkyrie. Rollo and Lagertha didn't believe it. Lagertha had some doubts, since Gyda claimed to have seen her too, but Rollo was skeptical.

"Don't you think it was a trick? Some evil lie from an enemy side?"

"I know it's hard to believe, brother. But we all saw it. You have to trust us."

"I need proof! We can't just follow the orders of some old man blindly!"

Gudrun frowned at him calling Aegir an old man. She glared at him and he briefly acknowledged it. He carried on protesting against the potential truth of the past events. Still angry from the debate, he rose from his seat and looked in the fire.

"Consider me out."

"It's too cold to go out." said Ragnar.

"I know. Just act like I'm out. I'm going to sleep."

He left the room rather discreetly for someone of his height, and Gudrun felt alone. She was wounded that he didn't believe in her story, which was by the way also his brother's. She thought maybe he was right. Maybe it was hard for someone like him to believe in something he had no proof of, and she half excused his behaviour. He was right. It was right. Then it came to her mind. She had a proof!

"Rollo, wait!" she called out.

Rollo came back in the room, looking half-annoyed and half-pitiful. Gudrun ignored his expression and got behind her seat, where she had hidden the sword. She unwrapped it from a grey cloth and showed it to the tall Viking. He stared at it for a few seconds then raised his eyebrows.

"What?"

"Well, look!"

"It's just a sword."

"It was given to her by Aegir, we think." intervened Ragnar. "You have to believe us, for once, brother."

"And what name did you give her?" asked Rollo to Gudrun, who felt some vivid blush creep up her cheeks.

"Well... What..." she mumbled.

"Every warrior has to name their sword." he said.

"Well... I have named it but... I don't want to tell." she blushed again.

"Come on, tell us!" said Floki, smiling. Gudrun could see the pride in his eyes and couldn't deceive him. She felt ashamed and sentimental to have named her blade like that, but she went on anyway.

"Its name is Hildasmunr."

"The Heart of Hilda..." said Floki, his eyes searching for something in the flames. He turned his face away from all of them, but Gudrun saw with a clenching of her heart that he just had a sad smile. Looking at Floki often hurt her, he reminded her of her mother a lot somehow. And she had the feeling that he wasn't telling her everything her knew about her mother's flight from Kattegat.

Gudrun laid Hildasmunr at her side again, but Rollo held out his hand. She gave it to him. His eyes seemed to be focused on the blade, intrigued and somehow passionate. She hoped he would believe them with that very proof, and apparently the gods were kind. Because that's what he did.

"This blade... I have never seen such." he said as he stroked the blade affectively. He gave it back to Gudrun with a smirk at the corner of his lips. "It's a fine sword." Gudrun saw him sit with them again and felt slightly better.

"I have a question. How... How are we even going to find the spy, the traitor, however you want to call him?"

Ragnar was the first to answer, to Gudrun's relief. She wasn't fond of the idea either, but what choice did they have?

"We have to become spies ourselves," said Ragnar. "we must infiltrate the Earl's house and look for clues, look for anything. We would need a diversion and time..."

"We don't need that. I think I know a better way." began Rollo, avoiding Gudrun's gaze. He had just recollected a thing Siggy had said, my husband has a new ally. "The Earl has newly formed an alliance with some folk. Who it is, I do not know, but it could be who we're looking for."

"Wait, how do you know this?" asked Lagertha.

"I know of spying, too." he said. Lagertha's stark eyes were on him and he strongly resisted to the pressure they inflicted.

Lagertha frowned one last time, but this 'conversation' probably wasn't over for her. Rollo hated the fact that he would have to explain her his own ways of... uhm... spying.

"If the Earl has made a new ally, this ally could also be him. Surt." said Floki with wide and intimidating eyes.

"And the Earl would be the traitor? Are you sure of that?" asked Ragnar, raising an eyebrow in Floki's direction. "Why, by Tyr, would he want the destruction of the place where he lives?!"

"Maybe he was tricked into believing he would be saved." proposed Lagertha.

"Or maybe he doesn't know it is Surt at all." suddenly said Gudrun, drifting out of her silence. All eyes were on her and she suddenly felt uneasy. She gripped her hands tight and tried to look at all of them. Her eyes avoided the tall brother of Ragnar.

"I... Sorry. Forget that."

Floki was looking at her with bright eyes.

"I think it's a very good idea." he said with a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I think I'm going to bed, I'm tired." she mumbled. "Good night."

They watched her leave silently. Her throat felt very tight but she didn't look back. She didn't like that way of taking decisions, even if it could seem more safe in that perspective than to just not think and act first. She had difficulty to think since her blood felt like liquid ice in her veins, probably an aftereffect from stress. Her shoulders also felt like they were carrying a weight too heavy for her since she was given that task. She fell in her bed like an inanimate log, and fell asleep immediately.

Everyone was quiet when Gudrun had left. They all knew she wasn't comfortable yet with the idea of the end of the world, but neither were they. It wasn't something they were very fond of, and they needed her with them. It was not a simple fortuity if she was there, but a sign from the Gods.

"So, what's your proposition, Rollo?" asked Lagertha to distract them from Gudrun's departure.

"I know a way in. I..." he had to tell them. "I have stayed in contact with Siggy. She can lead us in."

"What?! Siggy!" practically screamed Lagertha and Floki together. Their eyes were wide open.

Rollo held out his hands in a calming motion. "Let me explain." He frowned. He looked at his brother, who was looking at him intensely. He was the only one who knew, and now Rollo could see his brother would trust him.

"She's the one who's been giving me information all along. How do you think I knew for Haraldsson's knew alliance? Or for everything else?"

"Wait. You mean that you have made a pact with her. Very well. But I don't think we can trust her. She's the Earl's wife, and she probably wants to stay like this. What makes you think she'll let us in her home?!"

"I don't think we can totally rely on her. But if I make her believe something the next time I see her, it could lead us to the Earl."

"We don't want of the Earl." said Ragnar. "We want to search his house."

"Don't you think, brother, that we'd have better chances to find out something if it actually comes from him?"

Ragnar stayed silent for a few seconds and stared deeply at his brother. Then, a wide smile spread on his lips. "I like the way you think."

"I let you sort out the rest easily." replied Rollo, equally smirking.

"We make them believe through Siggy that we're coming back at mine to get things back. They all leave, leaving only the Earl and his family in his house, maybe a few of his men." Ragnar was smiling all the way he spoke. "We find him quickly, then we make him talk."

"I like that plan... Rollo, when did you learn to think?" said Lagertha jokingly.

"Be careful, Lagertha." smirked Rollo.

Everything was sorted out. They distributed the roles of the attack, not including Gudrun for the moment Ragnar believed in her good willed participation, but no one was really sure if she would handle that. Floki was not too fond in her coming. There was no need in asking why. As the fire slowly died in the red hearth, the fire in the woman and men was burning high.

Gudrun thanked every night with no dreams. When she woke up, her throat was sore and her eyes had terrible difficulty to stay open, but she was glad she didn't dream. It would only add pressure and Odin knew that was not bearable. Apart from Aegir, she hadn't really seen Jötnar, and she prayed she never had to. She had feared to see them in dreams, but hopefully that hadn't happened yet.

She rose from her warm covers and rubbed her tired face. She felt she needed some fresh air to wake her up, so she went outside and sat against a tree. She let the almost too cold air fill her lungs and observed the still sleeping forest. A small noise coming from the house's door set her alert, but she relaxed when she saw Björn coming out of it. She reckoned she had rarely saw him since the last events and regretted having lacked his company. He was coming to her, and she let a small smile invade her lips.

"Hey." she said.

"Hey." he answered.

He looked pretty tired too.

"Can I sit?" he asked sleepily.

"Sure." she smiled. It was rare now that she spent time with him, and she was glad he had made the first step. Again.

He sat quietly next to her and yawned. He had a small smile on his lips too, apparently pleased to be with her again.

"Are you afraid, Björn?" she asked.

"Depends of what," he said. "There are very few things that could scare a Viking."

Gudrun smirked. "Yes, I see that. But what do you think of that whole thing with the fire Jötnar, and Surt and making an inquiry in Kattegat..."

"I am not supposed to know all that." he said, blushing slightly.

"Come on, I saw you last night. You were eavesdropping. Plus I know your mother will always tell you." she grinned at him, seeing his lie be undone.

"Yeah, yeah... But don't tell my father."

"So, are you afraid?" she asked more seriously.

"No. Not really. I have faith in the Gods, and I don't think Ragnarök is for now."

"Nice." she said.

"And you, are you afraid?" asked Björn with a hint of a sever look in his eyes.

"Yes... Very." Gudrun blew out silently. The stress was apparently returning and Björn had noticed that.

"You should not be. You're going to die one day anyway, at least if you die in battle you'll go to Valhalla"

"That's good to know..." she said ironically.

"I am not afraid of death. Us Vikings don't fear it. I don't want to die an old man, you know. I want to live my life fully, and the monsters can go to Hel."

Gudrun was impressed with his philosophy. It was probably Ragnar's, passed onto him, but she found it strange for a boy to think like that. Still, she reckoned it was safer and healthier for the mind. But she thought too much, she would never be able to live fully in the present.

Björn apparently saw how uncomfortable she was and attempted a diversion.

"You know, I'm happy you're not dead."

"Excuse me?!" Gudrun said, astonished.

"Well I thought the axe hit you received to the head was pretty bad. Now, you've only got a scar."

Gudrun passed her hand over her scalp, searching the softer skin. It had been ages she had not looked at a reflection of herself, and though she didn't really care about how she looked, she was curious to see how she had changed over the past months. She trailed a hand through her hair. It was already longer than when she first arrived in that northern land, but the memory of it being cut was sour. She quickly stopped playing with it as she saw Björn was looking. She didn't want to talk of it, really.

Hopefully, the boy apparently noticed.

"So, your mother was Floki's cousin?" he asked.

"Yes." she said, a sad smile lingering on her lips. "Her name was Hilda."

"I know!"

"I know you know."

"Did my parents know her?"

"I don't think so... Didn't they come to Kattegat later?" Gudrun said.

"Yes... My father and uncle lived more in the North. They were trained by their own father to be good fighters and when he died, they both came here. It was a good place for organising raids." His eyes were shining as he spoke of raids. Gudrun's heart suddenly hurt.

"Do you... Do you want to raid, too?" she asked shyly.

"I dream of it! I want to prove my father I am worthy of his name."

"Don't you find it a bit... Cruel?"

"No! It's how we live. Besides, remember it's the raids that brought you back in your land. You were not made to be a slave, but the Englishmen are made to be pillaged. That's how things are." he said starkly.

"Okay..." she ended this discussion, knowing it would be impossible, even for women, to pity the fate of the strangers. The Vikings unity was solid to a certain point. It was always better to be on their side.

When Rollo got out, the sun wasn't shining yet. He appreciated the cold morning air, making his thoughts clearer and more bearable. He was in a mental conflict since last night: was Aegir really Gudrun's father?! And would they have to face fire Jötnar, like in the tales?

He passed a hand through his hair. He would see that for later. He noticed a blonde head sitting against a tree, and recognising Björn, he went to see him.

"Hello, Björn." he said.

"Hey Rollo." Björn answered tiredly.

"You look like you didn't sleep well."

"I slept well, but it was too short." Björn was looking at his uncle with an amused eye. "You just missed Gudrun."

"She's up that early?"

"Yes. I think she went training." Björn was strangely smiling.

"Training... Like swords training?"

"Yes! You don't believe me?"

"Yeah, yeah." replied Rollo. He wasn't sure the kid was telling the truth, but he actually wanted to see her if she was really training. Might be interesting, and he liked giving her advice.

"Where did she go?"

"I think she's by the shore, more up north."

Rollo nodded and went to take his sword. Might come in handy. He said to Björn that he would come back later, probably with Gudrun. He looked smug and though it might have been funny in some way, Rollo didn't really like that. He didn't want the kid to turn into a joker like that damn Floki.

Floki... While he was walking, Rollo thought it was a strange thing that Gudrun and Floki were related. They had nothing in common, except maybe the shape of the face... No, no. Really, they were nothing alike. They seemed to get along well, but still... Gudrun, like Floki, was probably a dreamer. She looked at the sky a lot, like she expected something from it. And she also stared at the sea so much when she was near it... That was probably why she had chosen to go train near the shore. Rollo remembered, actually amused, when she was his "slave" and demanded the permission to go to Kattegat's shore. He was not glad she had disobeyed him but didn't really care where she went. She was respectful and did her job well. He never really had wanted a servant, for he didn't need it. But he wasn't one to deny that he hadn't resented the presence of a woman in his life, even if it was that small. He thought about Siggy again. He was growing tired of playing that game with her. He knew she did not love him, and he didn't love her back either. They had been caught in the course of events and now, they were only mere spies. He had to stop this. He was a warrior, a fighter. He would not take backstabbing anymore. That just wasn't his style.

He arrived to the creak Björn had described and recognised it. He hadn't come here before but somehow knew that Gudrun was there. As to prove he was right, he noticed a few cracked branches and some grass that looked like it had been stepped on a few minutes ago. It was funny, that he was tracking her just like with a prey he would be hunting. Though he would have no difficulty catching her on the spot, he wanted to take things slow. He liked them better like that.

He pushed aside the large and dark bushes, and saw something he truly was not prepared to.

Gudrun was standing on the edge of the small beach, her bare back facing Rollo. She was apparently fidgeting with what seemed to be her shirt. She was shivering. Droplets of water were running down her skin and her hair was wet. Rollo's eyes lingered on her working shoulder muscles and on the defined curves of her backside. She quickly slipped in her shirt, running her arms on her sides. She felt incredibly cold, but at least, she had cleaned herself. She sat a bit further in the grass, obviously not noticing the tall Viking. Rollo inwardly swore. Björn was becoming too much like his father.

He noticed Hildasmunr planted in the earth not far from Gudrun, so he hesitated on leaving or attempting to train with her. He clenched his fist. Fucking Björn. He rose and silently left, leaving Gudrun in her peace. When he got back around Floki's, he spotted Björn, throwing things in the water. The kid saw him and came to his level.

"So, did you train with Gudrun?" he asked cheekily.

Rollo chuckled. "I didn't find her."

Björn looked a bit disappointed, but kept on smiling. He went back to whatever game he was playing. Rollo looked away at the water, and kind of understood why Gudrun was always watching it. It was deeply beautiful, and seemed to hold many mysteries. Gudrun was also probably always wondering if that was where she came from. The more Rollo observed Gudrun, the more he believed she was Aegir's daughter. She looked like that at the sea far before she had met the Jötun.

If he could have drowned in that mass of salty water, maybe Rollo would have gone fore it. He still wanted to fight against what, or who, was coming for them, but sometimes it was too much to handle. He was not one to get away and desert, he would never do that. But maybe that peacefully drowning was far better than what was coming for them.

[A/N: I know I have not updated in ages, and I am deeply sorry. Writing this chapter took forever. I have been sick for a week and then comes the terrible writer's block, but I am proud to announce you that I am BACK! I'll never abandon this story in case you have doubts. The updates might sometimes be long, but instead of associating it with my departure, think that there can be so many reasons that it takes longer. I apologise again.

I'd like to thank wabi-sabi1090 and The Ghost Who Walks1, your reviews were very nice and heartwarming! ^_^

To wabi-sabi1090, well you've gotten the situation quite well ^^ In the next chapters, answers will be delivered concerning Rollo and Siggy, and also about the Earl. Things are getting complicated.

To The Ghost Who Walks1, in next chapter you'll see about Gudrun's ancestry and why the Earl wants her dead :) you're kind of right to a certain point. And thanks for inspiring me the sword name, it helped! ^^ Be surprised (or not), but I don't want to kill Gyda. I don't want to hurt all of you (including myself) as the show did.

I also want to thank the 44 people who followed, this really makes me happy ^_^ and I want to thank the people who take the time to read this too! Even if you don't like or review or even follow, I'm kind of glad to know that it's not something 2 people are reading.

Lastly, I want to apologise for the shitty diddly ugly writing I've done in the previous chapter. I don't want to reupload it, but I deeply want you to know that I did not reread and ugh. I feel so bad right now.

Anyway, feel free to review and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!]