Thank you to those who read my first chapter! I'm excited to be writing again- heres another one to keep you going.
I do not own any of the characters in this chapter except for the Chieftesses - S.K.A. Birch
Chapter II "As The Raven Flies"
Retreat. The word was still stinging the back of Ragnar's throat, slithering all over his tongue. For the sake of his people he had no other choice. Ragnar was taught there is a beginning to any great matter but the continuing unto the end, until it is thoroughly completed yields the true glory. This is not finished. Was the wheel of thought Ragnar couldn't stop from spinning through his mind. Though the silence of the ship was unlike any other the noise inside Ragnar's head was deafening.
The company of Ragnar Lothbrok watched their friend rooted and unmoving throughout the night, afraid to move themselves. Exhaustion, disappointment and unrest blanketed the entire ship; everyone prayed for the arrival of a new day. Eventually, Ragnar's gaze slowly slid to Athelstan who was sitting across from him. The poor monk was compulsively wiping his face with the back of his hand, over and over. Ragnar could see his lips and chin red and agitated even through the blackness but he said nothing. Rollo approached taking rest next to Ragnar, his young brother's face looked almost twisted in the darkness. The hollow under is eyes seemed to swallow his blue pools all together.
Shoulders touching, they sat together letting the silence fester ever longer. Rollo leaned forward and crossed his strong arms over his knees burying his face in the fur of his coat. Although it was the middle of the summer months, Rollo was too consumed to remove the weighty layer. Releasing a heavy sigh he turned his face to Ragnar without lifting it.
"Brother?" Rollo whispered curiously. Ragnar neither moved nor uttered a reply. The men shared the space in the darkness, letting it envelop them; hiding any air of disappointment that creased their faces.
Athelstan lifted his eyes to meet Ragnar's but neither spoke. Ragnar dropped his head from one side to the other, letting an audible crack resound through the stillness. Rollo rested, silently surveying the men and women before him, not one left without a mark to remind them of this failed journey. The surprising sensation of heart ach crept its way into Rollo's chest before he smothered it back down.
No one shifted for hours. A few slept, others prayed for the swift deliverance of land but most sat in silent rage, not a sound came from the company on that clear night. The occasional rustle of Floki at the helm and the gentle knocking of the waves at the bow was all that resonated through the ship.
Morning seemed to take an eternity until the first hints of black dissolved into the morning's purple; Ragnar still in a wash of silence. There was a faint silver hint of the new day and the comforting promise of the glow from the dawning sun; they had made it through that black and bitter night.
Lagertha maneuvered her way next to her husband and across from Athelstan, lacing her fingers together she let her back hunch and head droop. Savoring the few moments of a stretch before she said, "Thor has not abandoned you for saving your people, Ragnar Lothbrok. Your strength and love for your men is too great to be ignored."
Ragnar looked into his wife's eyes as if to say, what would you have me do then? Lagertha sighed and said nothing.
Athelstan ran his aching fingers through his sandy hair while arching his back. "Maybe its time to start asking for a sign," he muttered almost sarcastically.
"What would you know of signs, priest?" Rollo scoffed, his voice as gritty as the shore. Athelstan didn't humor Rollo with a reply, he simply slouched back into the comfortable position he had had. Rollo could feel his legs aching from under his elbows, this journey was taking longer than most and his patience was wearing thin. He rubbed the exhaustion from his eyes and let his head fall back between his shoulder blades for a moment. He could see Floki behind him on his stoop leaning on the steerboard.
"Come my love," Lagertha said, "let us get you something to eat." She stood waiting for Ragnar to follow suit. "All the men have eaten." She held out her hand for his.
Ragnar stretched his neck backward as well, sharing the view of the early morning sky with Rollo. A set of dark winged fowls crossed over the path of the ship, starboard to port; it was a pair of large ravens, silent and bold.
"Did you see what I have just seen?" Rollo asked unmoving.
Ragnar dropped his head further back to see his mate. "Huginn and Munnin are flying north, are they not, Floki?" he asked rhetorically. The initial break of silence from their leader caught everyone's attention.
"I believe you are right, my friend," Floki replied slightly startled at Ragnar's break in stillness, only seeing the ravens after they had passed to his left.
"And what is to the north?" Ragnar asked though he already knew. Everyone knew.
"That would be Kaupang," Rollo answered, watching the birds disappear, "then Oslo." Ragnar lifted his head at this and looked at Rollo. "Wait, wait I am not so sure about that, Brother." Ragnar raised his eyebrows with a smile. "You have heard the talk, Ragnar. They are mad tucked up there in the north," he continued.
"Have you ever met them?" Asked Ragnar.
"No," Rollo's voice lifted.
"Well how do you know then?" The men rose from their seats and made their way up to Floki's perch at the helm. "My dear Floki, how long would it take to travel to Oslo? An extra day's journey or so?" Ragnar asked wrapping his arm around Floki's neck.
"For once I believe I am with Rollo, my friend," Floki fidgeted, "your men just want to return home to their women. The town is out of the way and the Chieftesses are not well know for their hospitality."
"Has my priest not reminded us of our great father and the power of his wisdom? He has shown us the way! As plain as the blue of the sky!" He held up his arm toward where the birds were first seen.
"Why Oslo, they could have been flying anywhere up north," Floki said
"Just a feeling," Ragnar muttered with a grin. "All great events hang by a single thread, the clever man takes advantage of everything and neglects nothing that may give him some added opportunity, the less clever man by ignoring one thing sometimes misses everything."
"Ragnar, the chances of the Chieftesses offering men or assistance without security or something in return are slight," Floki said closer to Ragnar's ear, "your people are tired, do not let your pride delay their rest. "
Ragnar's arm slid from his friend's shoulder. A smarter man would usually be more vigilant with his choice of words towards Ragnar Lothbrok. However, Floki was possibly too smart for his own good and unquestionably the craziest of them all, therefore never put a filter to his words.
Ragnar took the step down onto the hull were his men and wife were waiting. "Shall we let our company decide for themselves?" he said to them, his foot falling heavily on the wood planks of the ship, step after step. Floki's face twisted as he listened, biting his bottom lip. "Do you not harbor dissatisfaction in your hearts? Anger?" he said more forcefully walking though the middle of the boat. "Rage for your fallen brothers and sisters?" His fists clenched.
No one dared to answer; the memory was too fresh and too painful. Ragnar stopped in the middle of the boat and let his hand wrap around the mast. He circled around to the other side and looked back to Rollo and Floki at the steer board. "The opportunities of battle and riches wait for no man," he said with a half smile, "my offer is for us to sail a day's journey off course to Oslo." Ragnar turned and continued walking to the bow of the ship. "There, we will ask the Chieftesses for aid, for MEN! Whomever they are able to spare. Then we shall return to that wrenched shore and take the plunder we set out to take! Take what women you will and kill those who stand in your path!" The company of the ship began to shift.
"You're starting to sound like a barbarian, Ragnar," joked Svein.
Ragnar grinned stepping closer to Svein. "Savagery is the natural state of mankind, civilization is unnatural," bending down to the seated man, he continued, "it is a impulse of instance and barbarism must always ultimately triumph."
"Go to Oslo. For more men?" Lagertha asked crossing her arms.
"You want your payment, do you not?" he answered his wife, straightening his aching back. "That in which we seek will pay ten fold for each man plus those who help us from Oslo."
"And what of the Chieftesses?" asked Rollo.
"Yes, what of the Chieftesses," Erik laughed within his big booming chest. The new day had brought ease and laughter to the ship, even if only through a humble innuendo.
"I will gladly share my stake with them," Ragnar replied opening his arms wide. Lagertha sighed. "That is if my wife permits it," he continued to joke. The company chuckled and shifted even more in their seats, their pockets burning hotter than their wounds. "What then of your determination? Your will?" Ragnar asked. They waited for him to continue.
"The ultimate test of willpower is the ability to dominate rather than to be dominated. A strong will is the function of a sound conscious," Rollo proclaimed.
Ragnar couldn't help but smile ear to ear, "Ladies and men, I give you my brother, Rollo." Ragnar held out his hands in awe though he wanted to applaud.
"I have never been to Oslo." Rollo smiled which was a rare commodity.
"And the rest of you?" Ragnar looked side to side. "Would you just go home? Or would you take those beautiful beings as a sign from Odin himself? To not give up."
"I shall go," Athelstan said.
"Aye," Erik joined; the rest followed one by one with the exception of Floki in their background.
"What of you, Lagertha?" Rollo asked when she said nothing.
"I will just be happy to bathe," she replied and walked away. Another laugh rippled over the deck. The golden morning swept a new wind into the sails of their ship, pushing them to greater paces. Rollo took a moment to breathe in the dawn before he made his way to the bow of the ship to stand with his brother.
"Why Oslo? Why not Viborg, or Aarhus? At least they are on the way home," Floki twittered as if to no one - for no one answered.
"We are to finally meet the Chieftesses of Oslo," Rollo sighed leaning over the railing. "We have heard much talk over the years, have we not?" Looking out over the sea, his arms resting on the boat's ledge and his chin atop his fist.
"Yes, we certainly have. Things are a bit different there in the north it seems," Ragnar replied, exhilarated though he had not slept in days. His hand landed hard on his brother's back, "What do you think, Rollo?"
He took a moment to savor the unnatural stillness of the morning water, "Well, what is the worst they can do? Say no?"
As you can already tell in this FF Rollo is a bit more reserved (for now). Don't worry, he will still be an arrogant, hotheaded bloke but he loves his brother.