GREATNESS
— 12. Full Moon

The horns sounded as they sailed to the shores of Kattegat. Bjorn stood with Halfdan, eying Kattegat intently. "Home?" Halfdan asked his friend curiously.

"Honestly, I don't know anymore. I feel as though my home is right here," He admitted, turning to look at Ylva, who was at another part of the boat, "She is my home. She is worth more to me than life itself. When I am with her, no matter where it is, I feel at home," He smiled, looking downwards as he shook his head, "In all honesty, though, I do not deserve her."

"What we deserve and what we get, Bjorn Ironside, is never in balance," Halfdan reminded him, gaining Bjorn's curiosity, "It appears the gods are not much interested in fairness. Though you must admit, you two are truly a pair. You work well together."

"We do, don't we?" Bjorn replied and Halfdan laughed, patting him on the back before he walked to another part of the boat.

_____

Making it to the docks, Bjorn and Ylva climbed off their boat to find a crowd cheering for their return. Ylva's eyes widened and she smiled at the sight of her children. Gyda was holding Thyra in her arms while Rorik stood beside her, taller than he had been before. Erik and Halig stood alongside them as well.

Though Ylva could not believe the sight of her two oldest children. They looked nothing like when she last saw them. They matured a lot since she was last there. Gyda no longer wore a dress and was wearing the attire of a shieldmaiden while Rorik was wearing something a lot like what his father would normally wear.

Bjorn bent down, laughing happily as Erik ran into his arms. He picked his youngest son up, pressing a kiss to his cheek. He turned, hugging Halig and Rorik as well. He pressed a kiss to Gyda's forehead, taking Thyra out of her sister's arms.

Erik and Halig rushed into their mother's arms and Ylva hugged her youngest sons tightly. She turned to Rorik and Gyda next, since Bjorn had walked off carrying Thyra with Erik and Halig following close behind them.

"Oh, how much you've grown since I last saw you!" Ylva laughed happily, tightly hugging her two oldest children. She sighed and her smile faded as thought about it. They weren't her oldest, though. Freya was. And the only the Gods knew what she was up to know. She knew it couldn't have been good, not when she had herself involved with Ivar.

Some people worked well as a pair and accomplished many good things together, people like her and Bjorn. Then, there people who worked well as a pair, but accomplished nothing but bad things together and that was Freya and Ivar.

"Well, well, well. Look who it is," A familiar voice suddenly spoke up, causing Ylva's eyes to light up in excitement.

She whipped herself around, laughing happily at the sight of her brother. "Sihtric!" She exclaimed loudly, smiling widely

"It's been a while, little sister," He replied and Ylva practically squealed, running into her brother's arms.

He hugged her tightly and lifted her off the ground, the two of them smiling widely. "You better have good stories to tell of your travels," Sihtric commented and Ylva scoffed as she placed back down on the ground.

She smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Trust me, I do," She replied, earning an amused look from Sihtric once he saw the look on her face.

Moments later, Ylva entered the Great Hall of Kattegat with Halfdan, Sihtric, Bjorn, and their children. Bjorn placed Thyra on the ground, allowing her to run off with Halig and Erik.

Bjorn and Ylva exchanged a look, just before making their way over to Lagertha while Bjorn had his hand placed on Rorik's shoulder.

Lagertha smiled at the sight of her son and his wife. She hugged them both tightly, welcoming them back.

Bjorn turned, the first to notice the Sami there. "Why are the Sami here?" Bjorn asked his mother in confusion.

Lagertha glanced between Ylva and Bjorn. She sighed, placing a hand on both of their backs before leading them to a place where they could speak more privately. "King Harald, Freya, and your brother Ivar are planning to attack us," She informed them, causing Ylva's eyes to widen at the mention of Freya.

"When?" Ylva asked, a worried look on her face.

"At the next full moon," She informed them in a calm tone.

"Well, it seems Ylva and I returned just in time," Bjorn admitted, sighing as he exchanged a look with Ylva, who felt uneasy as she thought of Freya.

"We need even more help," Lagertha reminded the duo in a hushed tone, "We can't underestimate the forces Harald, Freya, and Ivar will bring to bear. If they attack Kattegat, they are sure to do the same to Ashton soon after. That is why I invited the Sami to join us. Come and meet them. Bring Rorik with you. I hear their king has a daughter."

Bjorn and Ylva exchanged a look, realizing what Lagertha was getting at.

Moments later, Bjorn and Ylva walked toward the Sami with Lagertha, bringing Rorik with them.

"King Svase, may I present my son, Bjorn Ironside, his wife, Queen Ylva the Dread, and their eldest son, Prince Rorik," Lagertha introduced the trio and all three of them were quick to step forward to kiss the King on the cheek.

"A great honor to meet you, at last, Bjorn Ironside, son of Ragnar Lothbrok and Queen Ylva She-Wolf," King Svase told them and Ylva smiled slightly, forgetting how many people knew her as a she-wolf.

"And for us also, King Svase. A great honor indeed," Ylva replied, smiling politely at the man.

"May I present my daughter, Princess Snaefrid," King Svase introduced his daughter, who was looking directly at Rorik. Rorik was staring back at her, causing Bjorn and Ylva to exchange a look.

Rorik ended up being the first to step forward, pressing two lingering kisses to Snaefrid's cheeks. "Princess," He bowed his head slightly as he pulled away, earning a smile from Snaefrid.

Ylva smiled slightly at the sight, seeing that Rorik seemed already smitten with the princess. It seemed it was always the same with Ragnar, his sons, and his grandsons. They all thought with was in their pants and instead of what was in their heads.

____

At dinner, Lagertha was overloading Halfdan with questions, clearly suspicious of him since Harald was his brother and Harald was against him. Gyda and Rorik sat with their grandmother, quietly snickering at Halfdan's hesitance to speak of what happened during his journey with their mother and father.

At another part of the table, Bjorn and Ylva were sitting across from Ubbe and his new wife, Margarethe.

"Ubbe, why have you fallen out so violently with Ivar?" Bjorn asked Ubbe in a low tone as he stared down at the food in front of him.

"How can you even ask me that question?" Ubbe retorted coldly, "You know what Ivar is, you saw."

"And Hvitserk and Freya chose to go with him," Margrethe spoke up in a venomous tone, "The traitors."

"I don't know who you are, but if you speak about my daughter like that again, I will tear your eyes from their sockets. Count on that," Ylva snapped at the girl coldly as she tossed her piece of meat back on her plate and scoffed angrily.

"The three of them will destroy my father's legacy for all time," Bjorn complained in a frustrated tone.

"But we can fight to preserve as much as we can," Ubbe reminded his brother as he leaned forward in his seat, "Our father lives through us, Bjorn, or he doesn't live at all."

At the other part of the table, Lagertha continued to question Halfdan about what his decisions would be regarding his brother.

Halfdan ended up telling him he wouldn't choose his brother. Instead, he'd chose Bjorn and Ylva, since they saved his life and because of that, he swore alliance to him.

Noticing the tension, Bjorn and Ylva walked over to the duo. Halfdan sighed and turned to the couple. "Do you think I'm lying, Bjorn? What of you, Ylva?"

"You, Ylva, and I crawled out from under the same rock. I believe you will fight against your brother," Bjorn replied as he sat down beside Halfdan.

"As do I," Ylva agreed, smiling mischievously as she took a seat beside Bjorn next to Halfdan.

"Gyda, I brought something back for you," Bjorn informed his eldest child as he pulled out a knife from his pocket and held it out, "It belonged to a man named Commander Euphemius. A Byzantine prince."

Gyda's eyes lit up at the sight of the knife and smiled as her father placed it in her hand. "Thank you, Father," She replied and Bjorn smiled, nodding his head, "It is beautiful. Perhaps one day, I will have the chance to meet this Euphemius."

Hearing her daughter's words, Ylva choked on her mead while Bjorn chuckled and Halfdan awkwardly ate his food.

"Alas, no, you will not, my daughter," Bjorn replied, causing Gyda's smile to fade while her father exchanged a look with Ylva and Halfdan, "Your mother, Halfdan, and I ate him."

"You ate him?" Rorik asked, frowning at his father in confusion.

"Well, not on purpose," Bjorn replied as Ylva smiled and rolled her eyes at how dramatically he was speaking, "No, you have to understand that many strange things happened in that other world. Perhaps one day, Rorik, you and your sister will see for yourself."

"And maybe you'll get to have the same experiences we had," Ylva commented as she shot Halfdan a mischievous look.

He remained silent and rolled his eyes, knowing what she was getting it. Bjorn quietly laughed while Ylva smiled widely.

____

Later that night, the feast continued and Rorik was standing alone, eying Princess Snaefrid, who was staring back at him. She smiled at him and Rorik smirked, only to have it fade when his father walked over.

"I can see that girl interests you," Bjorn commented and Rorik turned to face his father.

"She does," Rorik admitted as he nodded his head.

"Then go talk to her," Bjorn encouraged his son as he patted him on the back.

"It's not that easy," Rorik argued, shaking his head in disapproval.

"You are the son of Bjorn Ironside and Queen Ylva the Dread. You are a prince of both Kattegat and Ashton. One day, you will be king of both. You could have any girl you please, even her. It is as easy as that," Bjorn explained, smiling as he walked away without another word said.

Much to Rorik's dismay, the moment his father walked away, his mother made his way over to him. "What is it?" She asked her son, knowing the look on his face all too well.

"I want her," He admitted as he looked over at Princess Snaefrid, causing Ylva to smirk.

Lagertha knew something like that would happen. It was why she convinced them to have Rorik introduced to the Sami as well. She knew if Rorik and Snaefrid were to get together, it would ensure the Sami would fight them. It would mean an alliance between the Sami and Ashton, but Kattegat as well.

"Is that so?" Ylva asked, a smile forming on her lips, "Sorry to say this, my son, but you know nothing of that girl."

"But I could know everything, if you were to ask the king," Rorik told his mother with a mischievous look on his face.

Ylva smiled at her son and playfully rolled her eyes. She lightly patted her son on the cheek, just before making her way over to King Svase and Princess Snaefrid.

She took a seat beside the man, who politely bowed his head to her as a form of a greeting. She was, after all, a queen,

"My son, Prince Rorik, is to be king one day. Surely, of both Kattegat and Ashton. And..." She trailed off, a smile forming on her lips, "He would like to sleep with your daughter."

They turned to look at Snaefrid, who seemed to be smiling at the thought.

___

Once leaving the feast, Ylva found herself traveling to the Seer, who seemed to have already been expecting her. "Why have you come, She-Wolf?" He asked as Ylva walked in and took a seat across from him.

"Ever since I left my daughter in York, I've been plagued with dreams," Ylva confessed as she let out a loud scoff.

"What kinds of dreams?" He questioned her curiously and Ylva was silent for a looking moment as she stared down at the group uneasily.

"My brother lays dying in my arms and he mutters one word to me before he takes his last breath. It is Freya. Moments later, I find each of my children lying dead at my feet, all but my daughters," She explained, which was something she hadn't even told Bjorn, "The Gods have given me many children as they promised, but I would like to know what their future holds. What will become of all of them, even Freya?"

"The gods always smile on brave women and the daughters of Ylva the Dread and Bjorn Ironside will achieve far more greatness than their brothers ever will," He revealed, causing Ylva's eyes to widen in surprise, "One will fall in love with a great king, shaking the world and enraging the gods like never before seen. One will be beloved by the gods and marry a man favored by the gods yet be bonded for life to another, a man who does not know his true self. One shall be the mother of kings. All this and more have I foreseen in the futures of the daughters of Ylva the Dread and Bjorn Ironside."

"What of my sons?" Ylva asked worriedly, "Why have you nothing to say about them?"

"Gold will be their crowns. Gold shall be their shrouds," He informed her, much to Ylva's horror, "One shall be blinded by lust. Another blinded by courage. And another blinded by loyalty. Each shall be the cause of their own undoings."

Ylva remained silent for a long moment, placing a hand over her gut as she tried to contain her sadness. "Will I have any more children other than the ones I have?" She found herself asking in a soft whisper.

"Your belly will swell with child many times in the future but none shall live long enough to draw its first breath," He informed her, causing tears to form in Ylva's eyes.

____

It was nighttime and outside, Sihtric was walking through when he heard someone crying. He walked in the direction of the crying to find it to be Ylva. She was sitting on the steps of her home, weeping to herself.

"Sister?" He called out to her and the moment she saw him, Ylva was quick to wipe her tears, "What has happened?"

"I went to see the Seer," She informed him and Sihtric sighed in frustration.

"You and I both know that's always a bad idea," He reminded her as he sat beside her and placed a hand on her back, "It leads to you trying to change fate, which never ends up working. Just like you tried to do with Freya, which did not work."

"I can't stop thinking about her," Ylva admitted in a whisper, looking up at her brother with tears in her eyes.

"You have only yourself to blame for that one," He reminded her, but still looked sympathetic, "I warned you. She was bound to betray you since the beginning. You were just too stubborn to accept it. You tried to change fate, but everyone knows you can't change fate."

Ylva sighed deeply, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "Do you forgive me, Sihtric?"

"Have I ever sided against you, Ylva?" Sihtric reminded his sister as he smiled at her softly.

"Never," She replied softly as she shook her head.

"Then why do you think I would know?" He raised a brow at her and Ylva smiled as she leaned her head against her brother's shoulder.

"I don't know what I would do without you," She admitted in a whisper.

"Die," He answered in a joking matter, which caused Ylva to laugh.

"Perhaps you're right about that. I would have never survived Erik or Father if it weren't for you," She confessed and Sihtric shook her head.

"You would have. You're the strongest person I have ever met," He smiled at her sister and playfully nudged her.

They both began to chuckle for a moment before a long moment of silence occurred between them.

Sihtric sighed, just before deciding to speak up. "Though I'm sorry you've been betrayed so many times in your life," He admitted, a disappointed look on her face.

"I still have you, don't I?" Ylva pointed out and Sihtric smiled, nodding his head.

"And you always will," He promised her, causing Ylva to smile softly at him.

"So what have I missed while you've been away?" She questioned her brother curiously.

"Torvi and I are no longer together," He admitted, causing Ylva to turn to her brother with wide eyes.

"What?" She asked him in disbelief.

"It is a long story, meant for another time," Sihtric replied, shrugging his shoulders, "A part of me will always love her and I always take care of her and our children, but we just weren't working out anymore."

"I understand," Ylva replied, nodding her head in response.

____

The following day, it wasn't long before Rorik arrived at King Svase's tent. He entered, finding the man to be sitting there with Princess Snaefrid, waiting for him to arrive.

He sat down in front of the duo, a determined look on his face. "I want to marry your daughter," He confessed to the king confidently.

"She is worth far more than you could ever give," King Svase commented and Rorik nodded.

"You're right," He replied as he let out a large sigh, "Because of that, I will give far more than I could ever afford. That is how much she would mean to me."

King Svase smiled slightly at Rorik's words. He might have been blinded by lust as his father and grandfather had always been known to be, but Rorik also had his mother's determination and stubbornness. He was passionate, too, just like Ylva.

"Very well," King Svase replied as he let out a large sigh, "If she wants to."

The two men watched as Snaefrid smiled and stood up. She glanced at Rorik before leaving the tent.

Rorik turned, noticing how King Svase was gesturing for him to follow Snaefrid. He smiled slightly, just before following after the girl.

____

That evening, at their home, Bjorn and Ylva were sitting together, having a drink when Rorik entered. They watched their son closely, knowing where he had been.

Bjorn smiled and stood up, walking over to Rorik. He roughly patted Rorik on the back, smiling widely. "Look who just became a man, huh?" He exclaimed and Rorik nervously chuckled.

Ylva leaned forward in her seat and tilted her head, noticing the look on her son's face. "You look like you've just seen a ghost."

"She tied me up and talked about chewing my balls off," He awkwardly admitted, "Yet somehow, it was the best sex I've ever had."

Bjorn and Ylva turned to each other after hearing their son's words. Unable to help themselves, they burst out laughing, earning an eye roll from Rorik as he decided to go to bed.

____

Days had passed and Ylva stood on the docks with Lagertha when Bjorn walked to join them, watching as numerous ships filled with warriors sailed to their shores.

"Our numerous are growing. Good," Bjorn spoke up in a calm tone and Ylva nodded but didn't say a word.

Later on, Ylva sat with Sihtric, Torvi, Ubbe, Bjorn, Rorik, Gyda, Halfdan, and the Sami as they made up their battle plans. Lagertha stood near them, pacing.

"Where shall we meet them?" Lagertha asked the group with her back facing them.

"They will expect us to protect Kattegat by a sea-borne attack," Bjorn answered in a calm tone.

"So, they won't attack by sea?" Ubbe questioned and Ylva shook her head before Bjorn decided to respond.

"In my experience, Ivar never does what you expect him to do. Neither does Freya. And together, they would be greatly unpredictable," Bjorn explained as Lagertha turned to face him.

"So, what should we do?" Lagertha asked the group curiously.

"If Ivar brings his army across the land, we should try and intercept him," Bjorn suggested in a calm tone.

"And choose a battleground that suits us," Lagertha commented and Ylva nodded her head.

"Indeed," Ylva confirmed as she looked directly at Lagertha, "Ivar always like to scout his battlegrounds before any battle, so he can use the features of the land to his advantage. It is something he learned from Freya, which, in turn, she learned from me. However, if we take that ability away from them, we will have the advantage."

"The battleground must include forest," Lagertha insisted as she crossed her arms across her chest, "That is where the Sami best use their skills."

"If they attack from the east, we should fight them on Scar Mountain," Ubbe suggested in a calm tone.

"There is one more thing," Bjorn spoke up, causing the group to turn to them, "In his cleverness, if Ivar does bring his army across the land, the ships he leaves behind will be vulnerable."

"Yes," Halfdan replied as he nodded his head, "And once we engage with them, he will become very aware of that, and he will have to keep back a significant amount of his warriors, and my brother's warriors, to protect us outflanking them and reaching their ships first."

"I like that," Lagertha replied as she nodded her head in agreement, "The less warriors he commits to the field..."

"The greater our chances are of victory," Gyda spoke up, smiling at the thought.

"Though, on the other hand, our sister and Ivar may have anticipated all of this," Rorik pointed out as he looked directly at Gyda, who rolled her eyes when Rorik called Freya their sister.

"In which case?" Lagertha questioned as she raised a brow at the ground.

"In which case, he will attack Kattegat by sea after all and Ashton soon after it," Ubbe spoke up as Ylva looked uneasily, "And we won't be here. He will just take Kattegat without even a fight."

"We have to choose. And I think Bjorn and Ylva are right," Lagertha admitted, trying to hide her uneasiness.

Ylva and Bjorn turned to each other, nodding slightly.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Rorik and Gyda will now have a bigger role in this story (as you can see) and you'll soon realize that Rorik is such a mama's boy 😭😂