It was a cold night. Ragnar was sitting in the harbour, observing the waves swepping in over the sand and then back. Again, and again and again. The moonlight illuminated Kattegat with a weak and pale light. Soon it would be time to do it. He had to do it. A cool breeze swept swep in from the water and Ragnar shivered. He glanced up at Moon. He wished that some clouds would cover it. He did not really want Moon to see him. Ragnar rose up and took a deep breth. Then he started to walk back to his hall. No one was awake save from the harbour watchmen and the firewatch. Everyone was sleeping in their huts. Free men and slaves alike. It was still summer chilling winds sweept through the village. Vindsvali was coming. Ragnar came to his hall. The hirdmen where standing guard outside. Ragnar noded to them and one of them opened up the gate for him. Ragnar went into the hall and the hirdmen closed the gate behind him. The fire had burned out and nothing but a few glowing sticks where in the fire place. Ragnar carefully sneaked across the hall and onwards to his chamber. Hvitserk and Ubbe where sleeping in their little bed and Sigurd in his crib. Ragnar first went to Hvitsek and Ubbe. He stood and looked at his two sons. They where going to be strong lads. Ragnar went to Sigurd's crib. Sigurd looked peaceful as ever. He was not the kind of child that cried alot. He seemed happy most of the time and was very easy to comfort when he was sad. Ragnar wondered is his sight was normal. Was he able to see as good as he could? Ragnar turned his attention to the large bed. Once Haraldsson had sleept in there. Old men die and new men claim what was once theirs. Such is the nature of things. Now Aslaug was lying there. She had the newborn lying right next to her. Both where alseep. Just as he wanted to. Aslaug's arms where streched out as if to reach for him. Slowly and carefully Ragnar sneaked up to the bed and streched out to fetch the boy. She could not wake up. He had to make sure he did not wake her. Cautiously Ragnar held his hands around his infant and lifted him slowly from Aslaug's reach. Aslaug sighed. Ragnar froze still. Aslaug turned in her sleep and languidly reached for her boy child. Ragnar held him just above her grasp. Ragnar stood petrified. He did not move a muscle. Aslaug was still again. For a moment a worried streak came across her face, but then it faded. Ragnar slowly took the baby to him and turned around. He held it close to his shoulder and left his chamber.

Ragnar went into the woods the lied beyond the farming fields of Kattegat. He walked steadfastly through blueberrybushes and fern brushwood. The forest was almost disturbingly silent. No owls howled. No crickets made any noise. It was as if Hel herself was walking through the land. But none of this moved Ragnar. He was determined. Ragnar continued until he came to the river which the people in and around Kattegat called White stream. He followed the river until he reached place of the Nykr. It was a small beach by the riverside and it was here that the people of Kattegat used to leave... their unwanted children. Ragnar slowly place the child on the sand and then Ragnar noticed that the boy was awake now, but he did not make a sound. Instead it smiled at him. For a moment, the parental instinct in Ragnar's bones held sway over reason and Ragnar felt like he wanted to pick up his boy and take it home again. But he did not surrender to that emotion.

"This is the best for you..."

Ragnar stood up and slowly wandered away from the beach. He did not look back once. The boy was lying alone.

Out from the trees came Aslaug. She had sleept like the fox. She did not trust her husband. He had given the answer all leaders give when a unpopular decision is made: he pretended to have relented, but then went along with his plan anyway. Such is worth of trust in leaders of men and gods alike. As soon as Aslaug had noticed that Ragnar was entering the hall, she had pretended to sleep and then risen out of bed and followed Ragnar at a distance. No one was going to take her child from her. Not Odin, not Surtr and not Ragnar. Aslaug walked to her son and picked him up in her loving embrace and started the long walk to Kattegat. Aslaug hurried trough the silent forest because she did not want to come home after Ragnar. It had seemed Ragnar was taking more than his fair time getting home, but she would not afford any risk. Sooner or later Ragnar would know what she had done, but Aslaug did not feel like letting him in on what she had done tonight. Aslaug walked as fast as she could throught the forest. When she could she ran. She ran as fast as she could without the risk of falling and hurting the boy. Eventually, she made it back to Kattegat. She was very tierd and breathed heavily. She walked slower now, making her way to the hall, trying to avoid to much commosion. She was almost home.

"Where are you going this late, lady?"

Aslaug froze stiff. She turned around and with a mix of relief and disgust she looked at the Seer, looking out through the entrence of his hut. She had never gotten used to the sight of him. Could he really see her? Aslaug remained silent.

"It's the boy, is it not?"

Aslaug did not respond.

"Do you wish to ask the Gods about him? They say you have a very close connection to the powers. Mayby you don't need the help of an old man like me?"

A harsh cackle of a laugh came from the Seer. Aslaug hesitated.

"I don't have any questions for myself... But I want answers about my boy."

"Come inside child."

The Seer went into his hut. Aslaug followed. She had been inside the hut once since she came to Kattegat, to greet the Seer, as the wife of the Jarl should to all important members of the commuity. The rattling bones and strange smell had put her off. She knew that some of the bones where human. She had seen people sacrificed to the Gods before, but that did not mean she wanted to have any busniess with corpses. The Seer sat down in his place and Aslaug sat down in front of him.

"So, what questions do you have about your son?"

"I... I don't want my son to die..."

"No one can escape death. We all belong to her."

"I know, but what I mean is that... I have tried to see his future. I've asked Frigg and Freyja to reveal what his future might hold but..."

"But what?"

"I don't understand... I can't see his future..."

"Have the Gods ever been silent to you before?"

"Yes, but never about my boys."

The Seer picked up a bowl. It was filled with stones and bones, all marked with the runes. The Seer shook the bowl and then threw the contents before his lap. The Seer examined the pieces. The boy in Aslaugs lap started whimpering and Aslaug tried to comfort him. Suddenly, the Seer let go of his pieces.

"The reason the Gods are not revealing your son's future is because none of the Gods speaks for him."

"What? What do you mean?"

"None of the Gods has anything to say regarding your son. They remain silent."

"Why?"

"Who knows? Mayby they don't think you are ready to hear what will become of him?"

"Then what should I do?"

"Only Frigg knows the fate of all. The silence of the Gods does not mean their damnation. You must not give up hope for you son. Those who surrender instead of fighting until the end are barred from Valhalla. It's those that refuse to give in ,even when there is no hope are the ones that are worthy of the Gods. Tonight, you refused to give up hope of your son's future. That I am certain has pleased the Gods. So go on and live, child."

The Seer streched out his hand to Aslaug. Reculantly, Aslaug bowed forward and licked the palm of his hand. Then she rose up and left the Seers hut.

GLOSSARY

Vindsvali – litterary "Cool wind", in "Vafþrúðnismál" Vindsvali is said to be the father of winter.

Nykr, a river spirit.