Chapter 5

Present Day

The Lothbrok's were pleased with my kill and that night we feasted, drank vast amounts of ale and joked with each other about anything and everything. Lagertha made me a silk ribbon as well after she learnt that I was going with the men. I assumed that it set you apart from the slaves. Signified you as a free woman - or man - I supposed.

After we had eaten and drank our full, we retired for bed. We knew we all had a big day ahead of us in the morning.

Morning came in the form of Ragnar shaking my shoulder. I groaned, not wanting to wake up so early.

"Come. It will be time to leave soon," he said. I opened my eyes and sighed.

"I will be ready in a moment," I rubbed my face and watched through the cracks between my fingers as Ragnar left, presumably to get Bjorn up. He wasn't really a morning person either but then again, who was?

I got up a minute later, pulling the blankets from my body and almost shrieking from the bite of the morning cold. In the kitchen, I could hear voices so after I dressed I joined the whole family and Lagertha handed me a bowl of mystery food, which was a little concerning but that was okay. As long as it tasted alright then I would have no problems with it.

"You look nice." Gyda said in passing as she darted behind me to the table.

"Oh. Thank you." I said with a wide smile. I hadn't really taken much notice to what I had put on but it was nice to be complimented none the less.

I was wearing a green dress that fell to my mid-calf. It had originally fell to my ankles but I had ripped and cut the bottom off so that it was easier to move in and gave me more flexibility. Over the top of the dress, there was a red apron like thing that also had had the bottom taken off and the sleeves had also been taken off. Overall, I just hated long dresses. On my feet where a pair of dark brown lace-up boots that came up to my knees but you couldn't see much of the top because the dress came down to just below my knees.

The next half an hour flew by. It seemed like only five minutes had passed. We all finished breakfast and I helped Lagertha do the dishes because Ragnar and Bjorn were not completely ready at that point.

"Are you ready, Kyra?" Bjorn asked, walking over with his sleeping bag on his shoulder.

"I am, yes," I answered, picking up my own pack which Lagertha had been kind enough to help me with.

Ragnar then appeared, his own pack strapped neatly to his back. He passed Bjorn and I our silk ribbons.

"Do not lose these," he said, stern expression plastered on his face. I thought the comment was more directed at his son but I didn't question it. I placed my ribbon around my wrist, wrapping it around twice just to make sure that it would stay.

"Do not treat me like a child. I am a man now," Bjorn replied to his father, a frown on his lips.

"Men forget things all the time, Bjorn and you are still a child for a while more," Ragnar smiled, kissing his sons forehead.

"Shall we go?" I asked, pointing to the door. Ragnar nodded and followed his young son out the door. I left the door open, knowing that Lagertha and Gyda would surely go back inside once we had left for Kattegat.

I walked to Gyda, stopping to kneel in front of her. I hugged her middle as tight as I could and I stood up again, but not before kissing her forehead.

"I will be back in a few days. Try not to get into too much trouble while I'm gone." I smiled, rubbing her cheek with my thumb. She smiled back.

"I'll try," she giggled, cheeks going a little red. I turned to Lagertha.

"We'll be back soon," I assured her with a consoling hug. She returned the gesture and I pulled away, following the two men down the path.

We walked for around an hour, making small talk as we went. Bjorn asked me things about myself and I answered them honestly.

"Why are you not married yet?" He had asked.

"I guess I just haven't met the right person," I replied with a shrug.

We continued for another while in silence. Occasionally Bjorn would ask Ragnar something or point something out that he thought was cool. I watched the scenery change as we travelled. One minute it would be heavy forest, crawling with animals and life and the next it would be rolling plains. There really is nothing like Scandinavian country. Not even the beautiful Wessex country could compare.

Eventually we reached a cliff. The cliff was covered in jagged rocks and boulders that stuck out at odd angles, promising death to those that might dare to jump off.

We made our way around and eventually came out at the bottom. The ground was covered in shrubs and small plants.

"Are you excited for tomorrow?" I asked Bjorn, breaking the silent spell. He nodded and turned to his father.

"What will happen at the ceremony?" Bjorn asked curiously, stumbling over a root that stuck out of the ground.

"The Earl will deal with some criminal offences and then we will discuss the summer raids," Ragnar replied, huffing from the strenuous trek.

"Speaking of the summer raids..." I trailed off, not sure how Ragnar would feel about what I was about to ask.

"Yes?" He prompted.

"Would I be able to come with you?" I hesitated but only slightly. Ragnar was quiet for a minute and I was afraid I had offended the strong man.

"Why?" He asked finally, jumping over a log.

"I am more than capable of handling myself and I want to count for something. To make a name for myself," I ranted, hoping that he would say yes.

"As I am not your guardian, I cannot tell you either to go or not go but if you would like to come and you believe you can handle it, then I see no issue with you coming along," he replied after a minute of thinking. I thanked him profusely and afterward fell silent. I was thinking about what I would be able to achieve now that I had more opportunities.

"And where will they send you?" Bjorn asked, intrigued by the topic.

"To the East, most likely. He owns the ships and he tells us where we can and can not raid. However, I want to know what is to the West. What riches and Gods lie in those uncharted waters," Ragnar explained.

Wait. To the West? No. That cannot be. My homeland is to the West. I had never told Ragnar and his wife that when they found me. I did not tell them I was from the West for they did not know that there were any lands to the West at all.

I kept my concerns to myself though because I did not know how the man would react if he knew where I was from. He'd probably want to know why I didn't tell them and I was not ready to give him or anyone the reason just yet. Even if it was four years ago.

Ragnar suddenly stopped, looking at the ground. He turned and smiled at his son.

"We shall camp here for the night," he said, throwing his pack to the ground. Bjorn and I followed his actions. My back felt so much lighter and I was very relieved for the weight of the pack had been giving me a backache.

I sat down on a small boulder that was conveniently placed behind me. I had no idea that Ragnar had planned on going West to raid this summer. If I had have known this, I would not have asked to accompany him.

There was still hope that he would end up not going West after all as the Earl is always set on going East because it's easy to get to and we've been there so many times before and as far as I knew, there has been no discovered way of going West and travelling over a body of water that big in the first place anyway.

The three of us spent the afternoon setting up our camp ground. Ragnar and Bjorn went about unrolling our sleeping quarters while I began looking at the goods we had brought. There wasn't much that we could eat without cooking it so I told the boys that I was going to find some firewood.

The woods are eerily silent when it gets dark. They make little sound, as though the soft swishing of the leaves in the trees might wake the sleeping animals in their branches and on their roots.

I walked for a while, collecting all of the dry twigs, sticks and leaves I could find. By the time I had collected enough, I had walked quite a way.

I walked back much slower than when I came. It gave me time to process the fact that Ragnar wanted to travel West this Summer. I guess it should not be such a big deal. I was probably making it out to be bigger than it needed to be but I was scared. Scared that my parents would find me for if my parents found me then they would surely tell the King and even if they did not tell him, the King has many informants. Word would get out very quickly and I would be in the same position as I was four years ago.

Eventually, I reached the camp. It was nearly completely dark now and the cold was starting to set in.

"Where were you? You were gone a long time," Ragnar said, sounding concerned. He rubbed his arm from the cold.

"I'm sorry. I needed to clear my head," I apologised, kneeling and beginning to start the fire. Within a few strikes of flint, the fire was roaring, the flames licking the air.

"No matter. As long as you are okay," he said finally, holding his hands over the fire.

"I am going to bed. I'm not hungry. Do you need me to make you something?" I asked. Ragnar shook his head.

"I am sure we can manage. Can't we, Bjorn."

I thanked him and headed over to my sleeping bag. I got under the covers but not before taking off my belt and weapons. I didn't think I would need them tonight.

I closed my eyes and let the sounds of the night and the quiet conversation of Bjorn and Ragnar lull me to sleep.

Authors note:
Hey guys. I know. I'm such a terrible person. I've left this story alone for way too long.

Anywhoozle, I'm back and ready to write. (Hopefully)

Let me know what you think. I'd love to know your thoughts. Also, if there's anything you want to see in this story, let me know. ;) xx

Updated on the 23rd of January, 2016.