GREATNESS
— 13. Heartbreak

It was finally time for battle and Ylva walked with Bjorn over to their children. Gyda, Rorik, and Halig would be joining them in battle. Gyda and Rorik were surely old enough while Bjorn was hesitant to bring Halig. He was still young, barely even thirteen yet. However, it was Ylva's family's custom to start heading into battle at that age and Bjorn knew he'd just have to accept it. It was the way Ylva was raised and Sihtric and because of their way of life, they were two of the greatest warriors Bjorn had ever seen.

Bjorn smiled as he stood in front of his three eldest children. "It is a proud day when a father takes his children to their first battle," He commented and Rorik, Gyda, and Halig smiled proudly.

Ylva picked up Thyra, pressing a kiss to her cheek as she used her free arm to hug Erik. She watched as Bjorn turned, pressing a kiss to Erik and Thyra's heads before he walked away with their three eldest children.

Ylva sighed, watching as Rorik made his way over to Snaefrid, who had become his wife in the recent weeks. She couldn't believe her son was already married. She didn't know whether to be happy or sad that he was growing up.

She forced a smile onto her face and walked over to Margrethe, who was the only one who could watch over her youngest children and Torvi and Sihtric's son and daughter while everyone else was off to battle.

Margrethe took Thyra into her arms and Ylva bent down to meet Erik face to face. "I will come home to you soon, I promise," She assured her youngest son with a smile on her face.

"I want to be a warrior, just like you and Father," Erik insisted, smiling widely.

"Well, then..." She trailed off, cupping her face in his hands, "When I return, we shall begin your training."

Erik cheered happily and jumped up and down, causing Ylva to laugh. She hugged her son tightly, pressing a kiss to his head. She stood up and pressed a kiss to Thyra's cheek before looking directly at Margrethe.

"I don't trust you," Ylva admitted in a calm tone, "But I have no choice other than to leave my children in your care. Just remember..." She trailed off, leaning toward Margrethe as she spoke in a threatening tone, "If any harm befalls my children, I will hurt you in ways you don't even know exist."

"You and Freya are so much alike in your threats it's terrifying," Ubbe commented as he walked up to them and patted Ylva on the back, "Enough threats. It's time to go, Ylva."

Ylva turned to Ubbe and smiled. She nodded her head, beginning to walk away. Ubbe pressed a quick kiss to his wife's cheek before following Ylva over to the rest of the warriors.

She joined Sihtric, hugging him before they walked toward the boats together. "Are you ready, my brother?" She asked him with a large smile on her face.

"Of course," Sihtric replied without hesitation, "Are you, though?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Ylva frowned as she turned to look her brother in the eyes.

"You may have to fight against Freya," Sihtric reminded her and Ylva remained silent.

"She made it clear whose side she's on," Ylva replied in a low tone, trying to contain her sadness, "If it comes down to having to kill her, I will do what I must."

Sihtric nodded, but didn't respond, knowing the look on Ylva's face all too well. She was lying.

______

  Reaching the battlefield, Ylva sat on her horse beside Bjorn and Sihtric, looking straight ahead at Freya, who was on her horse beside Ivar. Ylva sighed and turned, exchanging an uneasy look with Sihtric, who immediately knew what she was thinking.

"This is not right," Lagertha suddenly spoke up and shook her head, "It is not right that the sons of Ragnar should try and slaughter each other. Nor is it right that a mother must fight against her own daughter," She confessed and looked directly at Ylva as she spoke the words, "We will send emissaries."

"I agree," Ylva spoke up and Bjorn and Ubbe ended up agreeing as well.

Bjorn and Halfdan ended up being the ones to ride forward as the emissaries. On Ivar's side, Harald and Hvitserk ended up being the ones to ride forward.

In the end, Halfdan ended up going to Ivar's camp with Harald while Hvitserk returned to Lagertha's with Bjorn.

_____

Once returning to their camp, Ylva sat underneath a tent with Bjorn, Torvi, Sihtric, Guthrum, Hvitserk, and Ubbe while Lagertha stood nearby.

"How is Ivar?" Ubbe suddenly asked Hvitserk, breaking the silence amongst the group.

Hvitserk scoffed, picking up his mug of mead before taking a large sip of his mead. "He is Ivar."

"What about Freya?" Ubbe asked and Ylva watched as that made Hvitserk freeze in place, "How is she?"

Hvitserk sighed, forcing himself to maintain composure before he answered. "As good as she can be while in the company of Ivar," He replied and Ylva eyed him suspiciously, knowing for a fact he was keeping something from them.

"It's a pity you jumped ship," Ubbe commented as he exchanged a look with Bjorn and Ylva, "I will never understand."

"No, you wouldn't," Hvitserk responded as he sighed deeply.

"No doubt you regret it now, though," Ubbe commented, a part of him hoping Hvitserk to agree.

"No," Hvitserk shook his head as he looked up at his brother, "What's the point of regret?"

"I saw a figure amongst your leaders. The Saxon we met in Æthelwulf's camp, Bishop Heahmund. Why is he here?" Ubbe asked, refusing to look Hvitserk in the eyes.

"Ivar captured him in battle. He is a great, great warrior. You would do well to stay out of his way," Hvitserk warned his brother, only to have Bjorn speak up.

"He would do well to stay out of my way," Bjorn commented, earning a smirk from Ylva.

Lagertha walked over to Hvitserk. She sat down on the table in front of him, looking the boy directly in the eyes. "We want to find a way of avoiding needless slaughter. Please help us, Hvitserk."

Hvitserk remained silent, staring at Lagertha closely.

____

  The following day, the peace accord occurred. Numerous warriors and shieldmaidens formed a circle around them as they held up flagged spears.

Chairs were placed in the middle. Lagertha, Ylva, Bjorn, Ubbe, Halfdan, Torvi, Sihtric, and Guthrum were on one side. Astrid, Freya, Hvitserk, Ivar, and Harald were on the other.

"We all know today we have so many shieldmaidens and warriors-at-arms that we must decide whether we fight or we reach an accommodation allowing us to go live our lives with integrity and honor," Bjorn announced loudly to the group before pointing at Hvitserk and Ivar, "I call upon my brothers, Ivar... Hvitserk. Let's put aside our differences, for the sake of our father. A civil war can only bring tragedy, weaken our family, and set in train a lifetime of revenge obligations for those who manage to survive! Is that really what you all want?"

"I want to speak up and support Bjorn, and his call for a peaceful resolution," Ubbe spoke up in a calm tone, "It is true I set my face against my brother. But if you can forgive me, Ivar, let us make an accord."

"We are going to war for the Kingdom of Kattegat," Lagertha spoke up in a stern tone, "The Kingdom of Kattegat was carved out by my husband, Ragnar Lothbrok, and then by me. I am its rightful Queen."

Lagertha stood up from her seat, beginning to walk around. "What we should be discussing is how we combine our great armies and direct them out towards new lands, new conquests, new opportunities. What a...Terrible pity to kill our young men for a piece of land which is already ours."

There was a long moment of silence amongst the group and Lagertha turned, noticing the way Ylva stared at Freya, who couldn't bring herself to look her mother in the eye.

"Freya!" Ylva suddenly spoke up, causing Freya to immediately turn to look at her, "What, too ashamed of your decision you can't even bear to look me in the eyes?" She asked and Freya remained silent, forcing herself not to look away from her mother, "Believe it or not, I'm happy to see you again. Whatever has happened, I don't want to fight you. You are my daughter, after all, and I love you. More than you could ever know."

Hearing her mother's words, Freya looked down at the ground. "Freya!" Ylva called out to her daughter again.

Freya inhaled sharply, a smile forming on her lips as she looked at her mother. She placed a hand on Ivar's thigh and continued to smile. "I am to be married now, to Ivar. If we win this war, I shall be Queen of Kattegat," She announced in a confident tone.

However, Ylva could see through Freya's mask. She could see the sadness and heartbreak in Freya's eyes. She watched as Ivar smiled, taking Freya's hand before pressing a kiss to it.

Ylva sighed softly and forced herself to look away, trying to contain her tears of betrayal. Bjorn placed a hand on Ylva's thigh and she turned to him. She looked heartbroken, but Bjorn could tell she was trying to hide it behind her forced smile.

"Brother, let's not fight," Halfdan suddenly spoke up, causing Freya to turn to look at the man, "What can we gain? Nothing."

"On the contrary. We will gain the world," Harald argued in a calm tone, "Join us and I will share it with you."

"It is really up to you, Ivar," Bjorn spoke up and looked directly at Ivar, who was smiling almost sadistically, "If you decide that you cannot fight against your brothers...That you do not want to fight against your brothers... Then we can find an accord. And King Harald can't stop us," He explained, angrily pointing his finger at Harald before looking back at Ivar.

"You have so much to lose, Ivar," Lagertha commented as she walked to stand directly in front of Ivar, who smiled up at her and showed no fear, "If you want war, then let's have war. But win or lose...You lose."

Lagertha turned away from Ivar and began to walk around, continuing to speak to him. "You gain over the other sons of Ragnar and people will say that you are an illegitimate ruler and a usurper. And if you lose, they will say it was by the will of the gods and the will of Ragnar, who now sups with them in Valhalla, and cries for us now."

"Do not do this, Ivar," Ubbe spoke up in an almost pleading tone, "We are the sons of Ragnar. Is that enough for any man?"

Ivar was silent for a long moment. He stared down at the ground and suddenly, he froze, his eyes filling up with sadness.

He walked to stand in front of Lagertha with the help of his crutch. "Bring horns of mead. We should celebrate. There will be no battle today. Nor tomorrow," He announced and Ylva frowned in confusion.

"What are you talking about?" Harald complained as he stood up and moved toward Ivar, "You cannot decide this!"

"I do not want to fight against my brothers," Ivar complained, but Ylva had the feeling he was lying, "I still hate myself for killing Sigurd. This would be ten times worse. I...I can't.

He was silent for a long moment, staring down at the ground. "I renounce my promise to kill Lagertha," Ivar announced and Ylva scoffed, not believing him, "She can have Kattegat. I don't want it."

"Ubbe, you're right," Ivar told his older brother timidly, "We are all the sons of Ragnar. Forgive me."

Ubbe nodded his head and stared up at Ivar in silence.

As everyone began to stand up, Ylva grabbed Sihtric's arm and pulled her brother toward her. He turned to her, a concerned look on his face. "He's lying," She whispered to him, causing Sihtric to frown.

"How do you know?" Sihtric asked in a hushed tone. He glanced around, just before moving closer to his sister.

"It is a game. He is playing the victim on purpose to fool you all. I know because it's a trick Freya used to use growing up," She explained to him in an uneasy tone, "They spent a lot of time together when they were younger, remember? Bjorn and I used to complain because it was so clear that they were teaching each other evil tricks that we all hated. He learned this trick from her without a doubt."

Sihtric sighed in defeat and looked down at the ground, a part of him knowing she was right. "I pray to the gods you are wrong," He spoke in a whisper.

"I am not and deep down, you know that," Ylva reminded him and Sihtric nodded his head at her.

Moments later, mead was brought to them and Lagertha had been the first to raise her cup and shout. "Skol!"

Everyone seemed to repeat after her, all but Freya. Ylva turned and watched as Freya poured the contents of her mug on the grass, causing her to sigh while Sihtric scoffed and rolled his eyes.

Ylva turned again, watching as the smallest of smirks appeared on Ivar's face as he stared at Freya.

After a moment, he turned to look back at Ubbe and threw the mead in his cup in Ubbe's face. "How blue are my eyes, huh?"

"What?" Ubbe asked, a puzzled look on his face as he wiped the mead from his face.

"How blue are my eyes!" Ivar shouted as he leaned closer to his older brother.

"Your eyes are very blue," Ubbe replied, trying to contain his annoyance.

Ivar hummed in response as he nodded his head. "You remember I had to ask you every single morning how blue the whites of my eyes. Because if they were very blue, I was in great danger of breaking a bone."

"Yes, I remember," Ubbe replied with an attitude, "It was a big part of my childhood, 'How blue are Ivar's eyes today?'"

"I might break a bone, but I can never break a promise," Ivar argued in a venomous tone as he shook his head, "I can never forgive Lagertha for murdering our mother. How can you? Hmm?" He asked and as Ubbe turned away from him, Ivar shoved his older brother and shouted, "Our mother! Of course, I'm going to kill her!"

Lagertha poured out her drink, looking directly at Ragnar. "You can try."

"Oh, I will," Ivar snapped at her as he let out a large scoff.

"You can't you would not fight your brothers," Ubbe reminded Ivar as both Bjorn and Ylva stood up from their seats, beginning to walk away.

"You are no longer my brother," Ivar replied in a stern tone, pressing the tip of his index finger against Ubbe's chest, "You were once my legs...But not anymore."

Bjorn and Ylva stood stopped walking. They turned to look at each other as their backs faced the groups.

Freya began to laugh in amusement alongside Harald while Ubbe threw his cup on the ground and began to walk past Lagertha. "This was a waste of time," He complained in an aggravated tone.

"No. Not at all," Ivar called out after his brother as he shook his head, "You can surrender Kattegat now. You've all been talking about how terrible the slaughter would be. How we will kill our nearest relations and members of our family. I don't want to do that. Let us not do it. You. Bjorn. Ylva. Lagertha. Just go away. Leave this place. Do not put your men to the test."

Bjorn and Ylva turned around and looked directly at Ubbe and Sihtric. The four of them nodded at each other and with that, they unsheathed their swords.

It led to Harald, Halfdan, and Freya unsheathing their swords as well, prepared to fight.

However, before Ubbe could react Ivar, Lagertha extended her arm out, stopping him. "Not now," Lagertha told the group in a hushed tone and Ubbe scoffed as he backed away.

As everyone began to walk away, Freya stood in place for a long moment, staring at her mother, who stared back at her.

Ivar was on the verge of walking away when he stopped. He turned to look at Freya, who sighed and followed after him as she walked away.

_____

    Later that day, it was finally time for battle. The drums pounded and alongside Bjorn, Ubbe, Harald, and Sihtric, Ylva pushed through the crowd to stand at the front.

Bjorn and Ylva stood beside each other, watching as after a moment, Ivar rode his chariot into the woods with Freya, Hvitserk, and a third of their forces.

Ylva smirked slightly in satisfaction, turning to exchange a look with Sihtric from afar.

Harald led his forces forward a bit, just before coming to a stop.

Bjorn took a deep breath, he and Ylva exchanging a look before he stepped forward. "In the name of Odin!" He shouted loudly at his men, "In the name of my father! Attack!"

While Bjorn stood in place to command the next group of men when it was time, the rest of them ran forward.

Ylva held a sword in one hand and an ax in the other, just as she always did. She ran forward, her sword immediately thrusting through the chest of the man she collided with.

She yelled out, shoving him to the ground as she pulled her sword out of him. She rose back up, slashing at another warrior with her ax and then soon after at another one with her sword.

Another man ran toward her and swung at her. She blocked his attack her with an ax before using her sword to stab him in the chest.

She whipped herself around and slashed another across the throat. She yelled out, blood splattering across her face.

Ylva made her way past numerous men, slashing them with both her sword and her ax. She turned her head, smirking at how her brother was cutting down men just as easily as she was.

Just then, as she went to stab the man in front of her, her sword was snatched from her grasp. It hit the ground, but she smirked, simply ducking at the man swung at her before she hacked into his back with her ax.

She smiled, cutting down a shieldmaiden who had gotten in her away before she picked up her sword in just enough time to kill a man moving toward her.

Another bulk of warriors from Harald's side charged toward them, but Ylva continued to cut down any in her path.

The last group came toward them and as they charged at them, it wasn't long before Lagertha's forces came out from the woods.

Ylva smiled slightly, watching as Gyda, Rorik, and Halig were among those rushing into battle with Lagertha.

She took a deep breath, just before she began to fight.

Gyda and Rorik exchanged a look with each other as they ran into battle. "Like Mother always says, for Glory or Valhalla," Halig commented and his older siblings nodded before they collided with Harald's forces.

A man charged at Gyda, who smiled and ducked before slashing him across the belly. She stabbed the next in the throat.

A shieldmaiden came in Halig's direction and he used his shield to dodge her form of attack. He shoved her with his shield and as she stumbled back, he drove his sword through her.

His eyes widened slightly, seeing as though that had been his first kill. He continued to fight any warriors in his path, keeping his shield up as his father's taught him to.

"With me! Charge!" Bjorn shouted and with that, the rest of their forces ran into battle, colliding with what remained of Harald's army.

Rorik knocked over a man who tried to knock him down, hacking him in the chest with his ax. He turned, punching a man in the face before ducking to another who was trying to slash at him.

He drove his sword through the man's belly, just before fixing the next warrior who came his way.

Ylva ducked as two men swung at her at once. She swung both her weapons in their directions, killing them at once.

She spun herself around, driving her sword through a man who was on the verge of trying to kill her from the back.

She bent down, slashing another man across the thigh before she bent down and stabbed him in the chest

Near her, Sihtric drove his sword through a man who came toward her before doing the same to the next one. As he blocked the attack of another, his sword slipped from his grasp.

He stepped back, avoiding the man swinging at him with his ax. The man swung back and Sihtric ducked. With that, he stood back up and grabbed ahold of the man's ax. The man attempted to pull it back, only to have Sihtric headbutt him twice before knocking him to the ground.

Sihtric grabbed ahold of the ax and with that, he slashed the man in the chest with the ax.

The war continued as a man was blowing the horn to summon Ivar, Rorik casually stabbed the man in the chest with his sword, killing him

The battle continued and it was so obvious that Harald and Ivar's forces were losing.

Blood covering her face, Ylva smiled as she continued to kill any warriors in her path while close to her, all three of her children were doing the same to others.

She felt proud of them, especially to know that just like their mother, they were already formidable warriors at such a young age. Especially Gyda, who before Ylva and Bjorn went to sail the Meditteranean, the girl seemed timid and afraid, especially of Freya.

Now, she was a great warrior and more courageous than Ylva, in truth, would have ever expected. She was proud.

Just then, Harald's forces began to retreat, causing Ylva to smile in satisfaction. Halig, Rorik, and Gyda made their way over to their mother, panting and covered in blood.

"You all did well today for your first battle. I am proud," She told the three young teenagers, smiling at them proudly.

Moments later, the group walked around the battlefield, which was left in blood and carnage. She and Bjorn watched as Lagertha crouched down in front of one of the bodies.

She picked up the man's sword, eying it intently. "Who is this?"

"He's a Saxon priest," Bjorn informed his mother as he pointed his sword at the man's body, which laid flat down.

Hearing the mention of the man being both a Saxon and a Christian, Sihtric made his way over as Lagertha turned Heahmund over to reveal him to still be alive.

Sihtric raised his ax and was about the kill the Christian man, only to have Lagertha grab his arm. "Don't," She demanded in a stern tone, "No! Save him. If it's possible."

"Why?" Sihtric scoffed, exchanging a puzzled look with Ylva.

"I don't know why," Lagertha admitted in a whisper as she looked down at the priest, "Maybe the gods know why. Save him!"

With that, Lagertha stood up, taking Bishop Heahmund's sword with her.

____

    A month had passed before a shieldmaiden arrived at their camp, announcing to the group that Frankish soldiers had arrived to fight for Ivar, Harald, and Freya.

Ylva sat Bjorn, Lagertha, and several others a table, trying to process what they had heard.

"You are sure they were Frankish soldiers?" Bjorn asked the woman in a stern tone.

"Yes, I'm sure," She replied truthfully as she nodded her head with an uneasy look on her face, "And there are lots of them. I saw many, many ships. Too many to count."

"Why would Rollo send soldiers to fight for Hvitserk, Freya, and Ivar?" Ubbe asked the group in confusion.

"I don't know," Bjorn replied, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Maybe he is there. Maybe I could go talk to him."

"I doubt it," Ylva remarked as she quietly scoffed.

"I'll go with you," Lagertha announced and Bjorn was quick to argue.

"No," He replied, shaking his head, "Ivar would kill you. I'll go alone. Maybe we can negotiate some sort of agreement. Perhaps King Harald and Rollo will see sense."

"I wouldn't count on it," Lagertha replied in a venomous tone, "They are in a position of strength now."

Ylva sighed, exchanging a look with Bjorn. She nodded at her husband, watching as he walked away without another word said.

______

Days had passed and Bjorn returned from visiting Ivar. He stood in a tent with the rest of the usual group, an aggravated look on his face. "They won't make a deal," He informed them in a calm tone.

"We have to fight," Ubbe stated and Ylva nodded in agreement.

"In the end, we are all fighting for my father's legacy. We've all believed in it, and we've all come to understand how a young farmer from Norway risked his life to explore the world so that our people could farm. That was his life's purpose," Bjorn explained to the group in a loud tone, "That was his life's ambitions. I want us to achieve that. If Ivar and Freya win, Ragnar's dreams are lost."

"Let us prepare," Ubbe announced and Ylva nodded in agreement, "There is something to be said for simple choices, no?"

"We cannot leave Kattegat and Ashton totally exposed. We don't know Ivar's plans. And if they take one of those cities, they will surely be able to take the other," Lagertha explained to the group, "I think we should send a significant number of warriors back to defend both towns."

"No, you don't know what I say," Bjorn argued as he shook his head in disapproval, "The number of Franks."

"The gods have already decided the outcome of this battle," Halfdan suddenly spoke up, causing Ylva to turn to look at him with an uneasy look on her face.