Chapter 1

Hello everyone, here is other brain child from my mind. I find a good way to clear my head is when I think of a new idea for a story, I should just write it. Other wise it just sticks there like glue so to speak. Now I am not too sure where I plan to take this story but hope you all enjoy it anyways.

Now outside the show itself I am not too knowledgeable of things during this Viking age. So could use help with technology and stuff. I don't plan to go all conquer the world MC or anything like that so no industrialization but still things that put the Vikings over everyone else.

Fyi for those who like Lagertha I kind of dog her a bit at the start. That is not because I don't like her character but for the story's sake. Things change down the line.

As always leave a review at the end if you would be so kind and let me know your thoughts and options.

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"He is too young. " Lagertha says as she watches her husband Ragnar start on the road towards Kattegat. The day of the Thing was fast approaching and now that her son was 12 it was high time, he got his arm ring. It was a day any mother should be proud to see but for Lagertha it was somewhat said to see her little Bjorn grow up so quickly.

Turing around and looking at his wife Ragnar just smiles and walks in front of his son and takes his face in hand, "Old enough I think." Then messes with his son's hair. "Besides we not going straight to Kattegat. We hare head towards the pools first."

Hearing this Lagertha's eyes narrow a bit and says bitterly. "You're going to go see your Frode."

"Yes, there is much I need to talk with him about and will need his support if I am to get the Earl to agree to go west." Ragnar says to her simply.

Lagertha knows better, however. Nothing was every simple or easy when it came to Frode and she says as much, "Frode will not help you. He has supported the Earl's family scene before Haraldson was even Earl."

"Perhaps but than my brother has has always wanted to go west himself. He will support me." Ragnar says back to her sure of that much.

"Your love for your brother blinds you Ragnar." Lagertha says to him.

"Maybe or maybe I just know him better than you." Ragnar says than turns to walk away again with a very unhappy Lagertha watching on.

A while later on the road Björn asks, "What was that about and where are we going father."

Smiling as he walks behind his son Ragnar answers his 2nd question, "We are headed towards the salt pools. The wealth of Kattegat."

"Why are we headed there?" Bjorn asks. He knew about the salt pools of course. Everyone did but had never been there himself.

"To see the man who owns the place. My brother." Ragnar answers.

"Rollo?" Bjorn asks.

"No, my other brother Frode." Ragnar says thinking fondly of his younger brother who he had not seen in some time.

Bjorn on the other hand is just confused. While he knew his uncle Rollo well, he had never heard about this Frode or that his father had another brother. "I did not know you had another brother father."

Laughing a bit Ragnar says, "No, you would not. You have not seen him sense Gyda was born."

"Why is that?" Bjorn asks even more confused than before.

"Well, he and you mother don't get along well." Ragnar says, which is a vast understatement if there ever was one. The truth was that Lagertha hated his brother and for now reason at that. But to keep the peace with his wife Ragnar had cut off most communication with his brother. Only seeing him on occasion in Kattegat.

"Why?" Bjorn asks.

"Well, it difficult to say but the short of it is your mother blames your uncle for her parent's death." Ragnar says to him.

Feeling some anger build in his chest because of the love he had for his mother Bjorn asks in an angry tone, "He killed them?

This only make Ragnar laugh even more, "No not kill, he was just unable to save them. You see my brother is not just the owner of the salt pools, but our keeper of knowledge, a builder, a runecarver, healer and shaman."

"Shaman? Is that like the sheer?" Bjorn asks.

"Yes, but different. Look down at your feet see the stone road?" Ragnar asks.

"Yes father." Bjorn says as he looks down at the stone covered road not thinking much of it because it has been there since before, he could even remember.

"Well, your uncle built that and all the roads in Kattegat using his own wealth from the salt pools that he also built." Ragnar says proudly because while it was true his brother was the one to come up with the idea it was really his father, mother, brothers and himself who built them when they were all younger. An ambitious project that saw much fame and honor given to their family name

"What does that have to do with mother's parents." Bjorn says not knowing the importance of the road. To him it was just a thing that was there and didn't really see its point.

Rolling his eyes Ragnar says, "Patience boy, I am getting to that. You see like I said my brother is also a healer. Many go to see him to be healed instead of the local healers in Kattegat who were also taught by him. This includes your mother's father who sadly was very sick when he went to see him and Frode was unable to heal him. So, he died, and your mother's, mother killed herself in grief. Your mother blames Frode for this and has not talked or seen him since.

Shaking his head at this Bjorn wisely says, "But that is not his fault. The sick die, it is no one's fault that he died or that mother's, mother killed herself."

Looking somewhat proudly at his son's words Ragnar says, "True and you mother knows that, but you mother is a stubborn woman. Last they saw each other she cursed Frode's name and forbid him from visiting again. They have not talked or seen each other sense."

It really was a sad tale seeing as in the past he, Frode, Lagertha, Rollo and Floki were inseparable. But like his brother said somethings the past repeats itself. So who knew maybe they would be close again someday.

A frown comes to Bjorn's face not understanding his mother's anger but decides not to question it right now. So instead asks his father, "So why go see him now?"

"Because I need his help." Ragnar says to him.

"Help with what?" Bjorn asks.

"To convince the Earl to raid west instead for east this year." Ragnar answers.

"How can he help you with that father?" Bjorn asks.

"Simple, your uncle is a very powerful and rich man. While the Earl commands the ships, he only in truth owns most of them but not all. Your uncle owns a few of them himself and could perhaps convince the Earl to let me take those west." Ragnar says to him.

Understanding a bit of what his father is saying Bjorn asks, "Will he help?"

It is a good question and Ragnar couldn't not honestly say that his brother would. He believed Frode would, but you could never be sure about anything when it came to Frode. Since they were children, he had always been a quite person. Never saying more than needed or doing anything with wasted effort. He was a mystery, but regardless Ragnar believed his brother would support him. After all he was family and his brother always put his family above everything else.

"I believe so, but we will see. Your uncle is the type of man who won't do anything without a good reason. Its why he doesn't go raiding that much. He sees little point in raiding lands that have nothing to take." Ragnar tells him as they get closer to the pools.

- Frode POV-

It was hard to believe that I have been in this world for going on now 19 years. I was six years old or this body was when I woke up in the world of the Vikings TV Show and things have been anything but normal since then. I don't remember how it happen but sometime after my death following a battle with a would-be mugger who shot me several times in the chest, I woke up in the body of Frode Sigurdsson, 3rd son of Sigurds a Viking warrior and farmer of some respect and Halldis Gufidottir his wife and a shieldmaiden.

How did I get here I had no idea? Perhaps the gods of Norse mythology were real, perhaps Odin had brought me here to help his people survive the jackboot that was Catholicism. Or perhaps it was just the random whim of some greater power who thought it would be funny to put a modern man in the body of a young child in a fictional representation of a time period that had long passed. Whatever the reason was I didn't think much on it seeing as here was little point in doing so. I was here and that was that. Hard to believe I know but I was always good compartmentalizing my emotions when unexpected things happen to me. It was like the old saying goes. The past was dead, so there was really no point in dwelling on it. To do so was to only invite madness and besides my life before I died was not that good anyways.

With that said it was not particularly easy for a modern well-educated man like me to get use to this world. It was primitive and hard with none of the basic luxuries that the people of the 21st century took for granted. Yet oddly it was nice at the same time or at least in my case it was. As I said before my life before my death was not particularly good to begin with. Not horrible mind you but not good either. I was what you would call a gifted but neglected child. Despite being intelligent and successful in my old life I never had the love of my parents. They didn't want me and blamed my high intelligence for the fall out of their marriage. Where after it ended, I was sent to live with my grandparents who while good people were far too old to raise a child again.

Both being well in to their 60's by the time of my birth they just didn't have the energy anymore. Knowing this I tried to make things as easy as I could on them by basically raising myself and secluding myself as much as I could away from them with out making them feel bad about leaving me on my own. This of course left me a loner and introvert who spent more of his time reading books, watching tv, movies and searching the internet for interesting things to learn. Now while no super genius with a eidetic memory my IQ was well above 140 and by the time I graduated college with a Ph.D. in Engineering I was well versed in a number of different fields. Including things such as medicine, engineering, chemistry, craftsmanship, blacksmithing, leatherworking and a number of other things.

But all that alone time with those things had warped my way of thinking and needless to say by the time I was an adult I was a harden atheist with a chip on my shoulder. I didn't care for anyone or anything for most my life once my grandparents died. That was till the day I met Annabelle. A beautiful undergraduate who I met shorty after I got my Ph.D

God or Gods, I tell you she was perfect in my eyes. Both beautiful and intelligent she was the type of woman that could and would stand by herself in the world with no problem. We were perfect for each other or at least that is what I believed and was sure she did too seeing as she agreed to marry me when I proposed to her. It was like I was living in a dream for a time but like all dreams you have to wake up eventually and I did at the end of a 9mm.

Yet as tragic as that was it wasn't the end clearly. When I woke up again, I was at first surprised, I mean who wouldn't be but like always I was quick to adjust. Mostly do to the fact that I had retained everything the six-year-old boy I replaced knew. So, things like language or who was who was not a problem. Still even with those memories the sheer culture shook took some time to get over. Add in that I was in a historical fictional drama universe, and you could see why things were difficult at first. Lucky, I had to very good parents and siblings to help me adjust even if they didn't know that was what they were doing.

Sigurds and Halldis where very loving parents and patient with me. As they were with my brothers Rollo and Ragnar which was more of a shook than the reincarnation itself. They taught us everything we needed to know to survive in this hard world and more. Every other day Sigurds would take the time out of the day to take use to fish, hunt or just tell us the tales of the gods of which he was very knowledge of. In return for the love, they showed me that I never got in my old life I decided to do the best I could to bring them what mattered most to a Norseman family and that was bring fame and wealth to it. Which to be honest was no easy feat to do in this time period. Despite how most stories make it seem it was not easy to introduce new technologies or innovations to the world. People become set in their ways and change is slow, especially for a superstitious people like those of this time.

So, to get around that i used what knowledge I had on hand about the cultural and became that which was highly regarded in their lives. In this case a carpenter at first, making simple things like wooden idols of gods, animals and people. My most high selling items however became the complex wooden furniture and combs I made. From there I branched out in to healing, keeper of knowledge, shaman, and runecarver. All very important positions that couldn't be just tossed away on a whim in this society. But getting there was no easy feat by any means. It took time and years to go from a boy of only six whose father was a decent warrior at best to an import member of Kattegat.

What really put me on the map was a technology that was in no way new but unknown to the Norsemen people. That being the creation of a salt evaporation pond. With the availability of salt in the Early Middle Ages being what it was I knew that if I could provide a steady amount of salt I could not only endear myself to the people by my family as well. As well as make use very rich without the need to ride. Granted that a host of other problems would come it was in my mind the best step froward and it worked for the most part. By using my own earning from carpentry, I experiment for the better part of 5 years to get it right much to my father's disapproval. And by the age of 12 I was able to produce one bag of salt in a 6-month time period.

Now I know that may not seem like a lot, but you have to remember the time period I was in. One bag of salt was worth more than the total amount of silver I used to experiment with. Needless to say, my father who like I said disapproved experiment was ecstatic my mother joyful and my brothers just plain confused and slow to understand what I had do. But while they were my father understood all too well what I had done and did perhaps the single smartest thing anyone in that situation could. That being when the next Thing was called took men and the bag of salt straight to the Earl of the time and gift it to him.

I still got a good laugh remembering the look on Earl Harald's and his son's Haraldson when we gifted him the bag. A perfect combination confusion and shook if there ever was one. Harald of course questioned my father on where he got so much salt and suspicion was raised. But while Harald was much like what his son would become, he was more tempered and thoughtful in his actions and questions as well. A gift like that, given in the middle of the Thing was not something you refused or questioned openly that much. Such was salts value at this point in time that if he did or even tired to confiscate how I did it he could quickly find himself out of power and dead.

Lucky for Harald he didn't need to be overly worried or push the matter. Because my father showed his wit and offered him the opportunity to get on the ground floor so to speak in of making more so to pools. Something Harald jumped at seeing as he couldn't steal it from his free men. With his support the Kattegat Salt Pools were made or pools for short. With my family maintaining majority control over them but with his owning the biggest of the 4 pools constructed.

For the next four years Kattegat experienced a time of unprecedented prosperity growing to about 25 percent larger than it was at the start of the show. Such wealth however does not go unnoticed, however and within the first two years it saw its first ride. But Haraldson's father was no fool and saw these raids coming long before the pools were even built. So, by the time they came Kattegat was ready for them and repealed each attack. Things however only escalated till in in the 4th year open war between Kattegat and several allied Jarls broke out.

Again, however Earl Harald proved to be far smarter than his enemies and had allied himself with several neighboring Jarls who were not so short sighted as those who attacked them. While yes raiding was a way of life for Vikings, they were not stupid. They knew how to trade and recognized when it was better to do so than raid someone. After all they didn't know how to make the pools themselves or to maintain them. If they were destroyed than that was it and salt being what it was, it wasn't a lose they were willing to lose.

So, with their allies Kattegat went to war. A war that lasted just shy of a year and saw a friendship develop between me and Haraldson, fame for my brothers and a victory for Kattegat. But sadly, also saw the death of our respective fathers.

Gods it was hard to believe it has been 9 years sense the old earl had died I thought as I watched my brother Ragnar walk up the road towards the gate that led into the area where the pools were kept.

"I guess the time has finally come hasn't it." I say out loud to myself and give a sigh.

-End Frode POV-

"Who goes there? Make yourself known." A booming voice calls out as Ragnar and Bjorn approach the gate to the pools.

The voice is so loud that it scares Bjorn somewhat though he tries to hide it as best he can, but much to his shame his father saw him flinch laughs.

"You know very well who I am your old goat fucker." Ragnar yells out as they keep walking till, they come face to face with a giant of a man who walks out from behind the gate. A man who Bjorn notes is taller than his uncle Rollo and a head tall than his father's friend Erik who he met once.

"Ai, I know who you are Ragnar Lothbrok but I know not the dwarf with you." The tall man says again in a booming voice.

Being called a dwarf does not please Bjorn who forgets his fears for a moment and stands as tall as his short frame will allow him, "I am no dwarf. I am Bjorn Lothbrok son of Ragnar."

Looking down at the pip squeak for a bit the tall man watches him closely with a sick smile for any weakness he can spot. But finding none and that the boy is not backing down the man just tosses his head back and laughs again, "So you are. Well met Bjorn Lothbrok. I am Thorkell, Throkell the Tall. Friend of you father and uncles."

Nodding his head at the man Bjorn continues to stand tall but is happy when the man looks away from him and back to his father. Truly he was an intimidating man to behold.

"So, I take it you are here to see your brother?" The now named Thorkell asks.

"That I am. Is he around?" Ragnar asks

"Is he around, ha where else would that old coot be. He has not left this place in over three years. Happy to be left alone and be alone. Boring old fuck." Thorkell says bitterly.

Something Bjorn catches on to and asks, "Why do you sound so angry Thorkell?"

Thorkell does not answer however and just gets a gloomy and irritable look on his face. So, Ragnar answers for him. "Thorkell has sworn by Odin that he would and forever more follow your uncle wherever he go's. Take means if you uncle stays in one place Thorkell has too as well and for a warrior such as Thorkell there is no worser fate."

"That why make such an oath?" Bjorn asks as they walk pass the gate.

Getting a look of mischief on his face Ragnar says, "Because he loves your uncle."

"Hey, don't make it sound like that you fucker." Thorkell says when he hears that and turns to face Ragnar with an angry look on his face.

Laughing a bit Ragnar just says, "Than you explain to the boy why a warrior such as you sticks around here instead of going raiding."

While he knew it was not wise to anger Thorkell, Ragnar also knew that the giant of a man had a good sense of humor. Well so long as he thought of you as a friend that was. Otherwise making fun of him was a sure way to get an ax in your head.

Grumbling to himself for a moment Thorkell says, "Find I will tell the boy the tale. Tell me boy do you know about the Salt War?"

"Yes, father has told me about the war." Bjorn answers.

"Good, good than you know like your father and uncle Rollo many warriors made their names there. But of all of them it was I most of all." Thorkell says proudly, making Ragnar roll his eyes but not say anything because it was true.

"Really father never talked of you," Bjorn says making Thorkell trip and Ragnar laugh.

Grumbling even more to himself Thorkell ignores the boy's words and says, "It doesn't matter. Anyways during the war, I killed many famed warriors and even gave you uncle Rollo a scar on his chest."

"Your fought against my father and uncles?" Bjorn asks in confusion no understanding now this man was here if that was so.

Laughing Thorkell says, "Indeed I did and fought well seeing as both them and I am still alive."

"Now did you come to be here than?" Bjorn asks impatiently wanting to know more.

The inpatient of the boy makes Thorkell smile remembering how he was like as a boy. Clearly the boy wanted to make his own saga. "I am getting to that part boy. You see while I am a great warrior, I am not so good at telling the difference between friend and foe. During the war I had fought so bravely and greatly that my Jarl at the time wished to marry me to his daughter as a reward. Sadly, that would not happen for a snake of a man wished for the girl as well. The snake using his viper's tongue told my Jarl all kinds of lies in his ears till the Jarl foolishly believed them. In fear of my greatness and the lies he was told the Jarl set a trap for me during the end of the war that saw me a few good friends of mine fight off 20 men. My friends died in that battle, and I was heavy wounded."

Thorkell than pauses for dramatic effect. Making Bjorn want him to finish the tale even more like he knew it would.

"What happen next?" Bjorn asks in excitement.

"You really wish to known boy?" Thorkell asks.

"Yes," Bjorn all but yells.

"Very well, what happen is heavy wounded I crawled for what seemed like forever till by chance I came across your uncle Frode. Or perhaps it was the work of the Norns who put me in the part of your uncle. Whatever it was he found me when I was about to meet the Valkyries. But I was not ready to go to Odin's halls. Not before I got my vengeance on the snake and my ex-Jarl. Your uncle saw this in my eyes and offered to heal me so long a I swore to Odin the All Father that I would serve him till my dying breath. With I gladly did and after a moon's turn I was back on the battlefield where I found the snake and ripped his head from his shoulders and buried my ax in my ex-Jarl's head." Thorkell says in glee still remembering the day very fondly and can feel the awe and wonder from the boy.

That is till Ragnar speaks up and brings his fond memories crashing down on him. "And tell the boy how that worked out for you."

Feeling more than a little irritated Thorkell turns and looks at Ragnar and yells, "How was I to know your brother was such a boring man. During the war he was known as Frode the Swift but really he is Frode the Slow and Boring."

"Who is boring?" A new soft voice calls out from above them making Thorkell freeze in place.

Looking above them, they see a man standing on a hill looking down on them. To Bjorn he looked like a mix between father and Rollo but younger and leaner in build than both of them. About the same height as his father if not just a bit taller as but clearly shorter than his uncle Rollo and no where near as tall as Thorkell. But that didn't make him any less intimidating to Bjorn when he looked into the man's ice blue eyes.

Looking up at Frode, Thorkell gets an angry look on his face. He was not afraid of Frode, even though there was much to fear about the man. No, he just hated how he was always so fucking quiet when he moved around. He was like a fucking cat and he never knew when the man was there till he said something. "You, you fucking old coot. Would it kill you to stop sneaking up on people?"

"No but if someone hears me coming than most like it would them." Frode says with a smile that chills the bone. While known as Frode the Swift it wasn't because of how fast he was on the battlefield but because of how quickly he killed those who crossed him. It was told in tales that if you saw his Frode's ice blue eyes that meant you were already dead.

Spiting to the side Thorkell just says, "Fuck you."

"No thank you I prefer women Thorkell. Now why don't you go help Thorfinn at the western pool it needs cleaning before it can be refilled with seawater. I will show my brother the rest of the way to my home." Frode says to him.

"Now why the fuck would I do that? Have the fucking thralls do it." Thorfinn says not wanting to clean the pools.

"Because I asked you and you are the only one who knowns how to do it as well as me." Frode says to him in a kind somewhat flattering voice that doesn't make Thorkell want to do it any more than he already did.

Yet it was true, for 8 years Thorkell had been here helping Frode with his salt pools. With nothing better to do the man learned everything there was about building and taking care of them. With his knowledge he could go make his own anywhere he chooses but would never did so. No, he was here till the end and they both knew it.

"Fine, seen you later Ragnar, brat." Thorkell says than marches off but not without adding one last thing, "And Frode you better have something good for me to eat tonight. Fucking hate cleaning those pools."

Ragnar, just laughs at this thinking they were too much like an old couple and Bjorn, just waves and says goodbye.

With Thorkell now gone Frode looks at his older brother and says, "Come you can help me clean out the east pool."

Hearing this Ragnar just looks at his brother flatly and says, "We did not come here to do chores brother."

"No, you came here to talk and if you wish to you will help me clean first." Frode says, already knowing what his brother is here for and so can squeeze his brother for all the help he can get.

Giving a sigh as he watches his brother start to walk toward the eastern pool Ragnar sees his son looking at them and shrugs his shoulders than motions for him to follow. His little brother was always like this. If you wanted something from him, you had to give him something in return. Even if all you wanted to do was just talk with him. But even knowing this Ragnar still didn't what to fuck cleaning those pools.

-Later that night-

Sitting in front of a fire eating on a leg of a chicken in his brother house as his son sleeps in another Ragnar watches as his brother cleans up after eating. Ever since there were kids his brother always did things in a particular way and never deviated from it. Be it cooking, cleaning, woodworking or anything else it had to be done before he moved on. Still despite seeing so often it didn't make it any less odd to see.

When his brother is done cleaning up and comes to sit by the fire with him Ragnar says, "Are you done now, or do you wish to go clean pig pens as well?"

Smiling at his brother's jest Frode says, "No I am done now and by the way you son did a good job today. It is nice to see that all that hard work that father had put in to raising use has been passed down."

Looking over at his son than back at his brother Ragnar says proudly, "He is a good and strong boy. A little sure of himself and arrogant but a good boy none the less."

"Then he is just like you." Frode says to him.

Laughing just a bit Ragnar says, "Yes I guess he is."

Frode lets out a small laugh as well than asks, "How is Gyda?"

"She is good. You should come over and see her sometime. I am sure she would be happy to meet the uncle she had never seen." Ragnar says with no bitterness in his voice. He knew very well his brother would not come even if he was willing to face the wrath of his wife on his younger brother behalf.

"I do not believe that would be wise brother. Unless that is Lagertha has let go of her anger towards me." Frode says to him.

When his brother says nothing back Frode knowns she is still angry at him. Not that he can really blamed her for her feeling. It was simply human natural to lash out at the most convenient target during times of sorrow or anger and what was a more convenient target than a healer. When a healer fails to save a life, the family more often than not blames them because they don't understand the most basic information when it comes to medicine. But such was the fate of a healer. If you wished to save lives be prepared for the fools who don't understand you can't save everyone.

Wishing to move things along Frode asks, "Why are you here brother?"

"The summer raids are coming up." Ragnar says.

"Yes, I guess they are." Frode says not seeming to care and really, he didn't. Never liked raiding, the modern man in him showing himself in that.

"The Earl will send use East again." Ragnar states as a matter of fact.

"Yes, I would suppose he will." Frode says again in an uncaring voice.

Blowing some air out his nose knowing it will get on his brother's nerves than taking another bite the chinken leg still in his hand, Ragnar says, "I wish to go west."

Scratching his chin for a bit Frode says, "You have told me as much."

"I need your help to convince the Earl to go west." Ragnar says to his younger brother bluntly.

"The boats are commanded by the Earl. They go where he wills them brother." Frode states to him.

Rolling his eyes Ragnar knowns now they were coming to the hard part. Talking with Frode was like talking to a rock. He was unmoving unless you used the right leverage on him. Otherwise, he wouldn't help you. Even if you were family, unless it was life or death you needed to convince him.

"I know that brother, but you own a few of those boats." Ragnar says to him, and it was true. People thought his brother only owned the salt pools but in truth his brother had his hands in a lot of things. That included a few boats that were commanded by the Earl. It was an agreement he had made with the Earl a few years back. His brother could own a few boats so long as he reminded in command of them. Exchange his brother got a share of the spoils with out having to go raiding which Ragnar knew his brother was not overly fond of. It was a good deal really but now he needed one.

Looking at his brother like he is a fool Frode says, "You wish me to risk my boats for you to go west?"

"Of course, we are family after all," Ragnar says like it was common sense that he would allow it.

Frode knew his brother was joking and even laughs a bit loving that about his brother. Part of his brother's charm came from his almost lackadaisy attitude, but really it was his way of putting people at ease. "You joke brother but tell me for real why would I let you use my boats when you have no way to navigate west."

Seeing his brother eyes turn bright green just like they did in the TV show Frode knew for sure what he already suspected before. It was time to go west.

"What if I told you I knew of a way to sail west brother?" Ragnar asks.

"I would say I am intrigued," Frode says and what followed was almost exactly what Ragnar told Rollo in season one.

Frode of course listened to his older brother tell him everything and not being able to help himself pushed his brother for better detail. Even though he knew the sunboard would work with out the explanation.

After he hears his brother out Frode sits back and thinks on things. A part of him always knew this day would come despite some of what he knew about the history of this world changing do to him being here. So, he was somewhat ready to do what needed to be done but now that the time had come, he was feeling hesitant. While he would side his family over anyone else, knowing where this path would lead made him uncomfortable seeing as he thought of Haraldson as a friend. Even if their friendship had cooled over the years.

Haraldson despite what the show showed the viewers was not in fact all that bad of a man. Really, he was just a victim of circumstance and really bad luck. During his youth Haraldson had gone on many raids with his father and led just as many by himself. Earing renown, riches and fame that was envied by all. Then during the Salt Wars, he would distinguish himself even more by leading an attack on one of enemy Jarls' villages. Outnumbered by a little under half Haraldson still emerged victorious putting the Jarl and his family to the sword. Hel he even supported Frode with his salt pools from the very beginning and convinced his father to help build the stone roads around Kattegat.

Sadly, that friendship had cooled when his father had died in the war and Haraldson became Earl. But it wasn't due to things like jealousy, suspicion or anything like that. When Haraldson took power, everyone expected him to be an even greater man than his father, but a string of heavy blows hit him one after the other. The first came in the form of the first summer ride he ordered as Earl. Like he stated in the show in his heart Haraldson believed there were lands to the west and wished to go there himself. But unlike Ragnar he didn't think too hard on how to navigate the open sea, thinking that if there where lands to the west they wouldn't be so far away. As a result, 7 of the 10 ships Haraldson's father had built were lost at sea with all men on them.

Things got progressively worse from there for when he did return in failure it was only to find his cousin who he had put in charge of his family's salt pool destroyed it. Idiot had tried to expand its size without the knowledge on how to do so. Needless to say, Haraldson had killed his cousin for that and had to go to Frode for help in rebuilding. Now while friends Frode couldn't just help Haraldson out of the kindness of his heart and would have to charge him the exact amount needed to build a new one. Which was not cheap and with the failure of the summer raids Haraldson could not afford to pay for it and new boats. Not unless he wished to go completely broke and with no guarantee that the pool would produce salt right away it was too high of a risk to take.

But nor could he afford to do nothing seeing as those pools were the life blood of Kattegat. Having just one destroyed even by accident was not good for his political position. So, with little choice he had to take out a sizeable loan from Frode that stung his pride hard. A lone that till this date he still hadn't be able to pay back, but the final blow and the one that saw Haraldson come undone the most was the deaths of his sons.

Frode remembered it well and what lead up to the boys kidnapping and murder. After Haraldson had taken out the loan the first thing he did was of course build 4 new boats bring his numbers back up to 7, but two of those boats belonged to Frode till the debt was paid off. Then he used the rest to pay Frode to rebuild his families salt pool which cost more than the boats themselves. Heavy in debt to Frode Haraldson had done the only thing he thought at the time and that was squeezed as much coin as he could from the salt trade. And the only way to do that without pissing off his own people who were already questioning his leadership was to increase taxes neighbors. The same neighbors who had fought and bled for Kattegat.

This needless to say pissed off his once good allies. Bitterness and resentment built quickly till a tipping point was reached in the form of an argument that led to a brawl that saw one of his allies' sons die from a blow to the head. Amends were of course made seeing as none of them could afford a war after the Salt War but the Jarl whose son had died didn't forgive Haraldson. In the show it was never known who killed Haraldson's son's but this time we all knew who did it. And unlike the show Haraldson got his revenge but it was the final straw that broke the camel's back so to speak. He was now sadly a shell formerself and as for our friendship well it was hard to be friends when one owned the other money. How he was just trying to hold on to his past glories and what political power he had left.

If he could Frode would love nothing more than to keep his once friend from dying at his brother's hands, but it didn't seem like that was going to happen. Giving a small sigh Frode sasys, "Very well brother you have my support."

With a big smile coming to his face Ragnar says, "Thank you brother. I knew you would not let me down."

Chuckling to himself a bit Frode is happy to see his brother happy but but feels he has to bring him back down to earth so to speak. "Now hold up brother I said I will support you, but the Earl still commands the boats. If he still says no, it will be up to you to find us a way to sail west."

"Ah but you will still come regardless." Ragnar states knowing his brother had always wanted to go west as well but was too lazy to do it himself.

"Yes, I will go regardless. What can I say it sounds interesting." Frode says to him.

"That is all I need to know brother." Ragnar says than take his horn and clicks it against his brother feeling in his bone that everything was going to change now.

Ragnar had no idea how right he really was.