SHE WOLF
— 28. Mind Games

The Viking army ended up getting the boats onto land and when they did, they began to roll them through the woods.

Hours had passed before they finally took a break. Ylva was walking through the camp to find numerous men singing after returning from raiding a nearby village.

As she walked near Harald, Erlendur, and Halfdan, she could hear them speaking about the village they raided. "The farmer was a generous man."

"Yes, with all his goods and chattels," Halfdan replied with a smile on his face, "We enjoyed their company."

Ylva bent down, picking up a cup of mead she had left there earlier on that day. "Did you kill them?" She asked them calmly.

The men noticed how she sounded unhappy, but it wasn't because they had raided and slaughtered innocent people, including women and children. It was for another reason. A reason Harald and Halfdan hadn't expected Ylva to learn about.

"Of course we killed them," Harald answered casually, "They could have ridden off and told the Franks all about us. You would have done the same."

"I never said I wouldn't have," She replied with an attitude, "But I heard you brought my daughter with you and that is something I will not stand for. You will not let that happen again. Do you understand?"

Noticing the threatening look on Ylva's face, Harald smiled and lifted his hands in surrender. "I will remember that next time, she-wolf."

"Good because next time, I won't be as forgiving," She told him sternly as she moved closer to him, "She might not act like it, but she is not even thirteen yet. She is still a child. She doesn't need to be watching you lot rape women and slaughter children at her age."

She shot the men a cold glare, just before storming off. Harald smiled, turning to exchange an amused look with Halfdan.

_____

  Later that day, Erlendur was walking alone through the woods when Freya appeared in front of him. He jumped slightly, not expecting the girl to pop out of nowhere.

Once overcoming his shock, he sighed and rolled his eyes. "What do you want?" He asked the girl with an attitude.

  "I know you're planning to get Torvi to help you kill Bjorn and Ylva," Freya responded in a calm tone as she crossed her arms over her chest. She waited for him to reply, but instead, he remained silent, "Torvi is incapable of such a thing."

"What do you know?" Erlendur snapped at Freya with an attitude.

"I know that I'm the only one who can get close enough to kill those two without anyone expecting it. They know about Torvi. They're not stupid. They'll see her coming before she can even attempt to kill them. They would not expect that out of me," She explained to him in a confident tone and Erlendur began to laugh.

"You would never help me. You're out for no one but yourself," Erlendur complained as he walked closer to her, looking down at her as he placed a hand on the side of her face, "You love Bjorn Ironside and Ylva Sigefridsdottir. You'd never kill them."

Freya rolled his eyes, roughly shoving Erlendur's hand away from her face. "I don't love Bjorn nor do I love Ylva. Bjorn is nothing to me and Ylva killed my father. How could I ever love her? It is all an act. I would rather be living in the Great Hall of Ashton with her than living on the streets."

"You're saying you'd kill them for me?" Erlendur asked and Freya nodded her head, a determined look on her face, "What would you want in return?"

  "I want the Earldom of Ashton for myself. To do so, Torvi will need to distract Sihtric long enough for me to kill him. He will come after me if I kill Ylva. He already hates me and he might not seem like it, but he is almost as good of a warrior as Ylva," She explained and Erlendur frowned as he looked down at Freya.

"That is all you want?" He asked her, clearly expecting her to want something bigger.

"Yes. I can kill Bjorn Ironside and Ylva, but you must swear by all the Gods that you will help me take the Earldom of Ashton," Freya explained and Erlendur stared down at her suspiciously.

"How do I know you're not tricking me?" He asked her curiously and Freya began to smile at him, "How do I know you will not kill me?"

"If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead. You're not, though, are you?" She pointed out and Erlendur sighed in frustration.

"Fine. I swear by all the Gods I will help you take your Earldom," He promised her and just as he was about to speak up once more, Freya had walked away without another word said.

____

The work continued until Harald had suddenly called for everyone to follow him. Bjorn and Ylva had exchanged a look before following after him, finding the water to be nearer than they had expected. They were so close.

Ylva turned to Bjorn, smiling widely as he wrapped an arm around her.

From afar, Erlendur stood alone, his eyes on Bjorn and Ylva. He turned, watching as Freya walked to stand beside him and nodded.

From the corner of her eye, Ylva had noticed Freya and Erlendur standing together, causing her to frown. What was that girl up to?

___

That night, Bjorn and Ylva laid together outside, moaning in their moment of passion. As she was on top of Bjorn, Ylva had gasped softly and arched her back in pleasure. She leaned forward, kissing him one last time before she laid back down next to him, her head rested on his chest.

She traced her fingers along his tattooed chest, smiling up at him as he lifted the blanket to cover their lower regions.

"You are a mystery to me, Ylva, even after all these years," Bjorn confessed as he looked up at the sight as sighed deeply, "Though I believe that is one of the many reasons I fell in love with you in the first place. We have been married for more than three years now, but there is still so much I don't know about you. Yet you know everything about me."

Ylva smiled, pressing a kiss to his chest before she looked him in the eyes. "Well, ask away. What is it that you want to know about me?"

"What is it about Freya that draws you to her so much?" Bjorn suddenly asked and Ylva sighed at the question that everyone seemed to wonder about her, "You have a connection with her I do not understand. You killed her father. When you took her in, you hated her, but within months, you grew to love her and call her daughter. And she loves you, no matter what she says."

"It's simple. I see my younger self in her," Ylva admitted as she shrugged her shoulders, "The young girl I used to be. The wild, fearless she-wolf. The one who had to fight for everything I had. People view her to be mad, just as they did with me when I was younger. Yet I amounted to greatness and I know she will too. I know the Seer says she will betray me, but that will not happen for many years. Perhaps in the meantime, fate will decide otherwise."

Bjorn smiled and nodded at her words. It made sense. It might not have seemed like it at first, but Ylva and Freya were a lot alike. However, Freya was more open about her ferocity and thirst for blood to the point that people called her mad.

"Now, it is my turn to ask a question," Ylva spoke up as she smiled up at Bjorn.

"Ask away," Bjorn encouraged his wife, smiling back at her.

"What made you fall in love with me?" She asked, a curious look on her face.

"Isn't it obvious? You're wild, fearless, and stronger than any person I have ever met. You get knocked down, but you get right back up. Nothing stops you from doing whatever you put your mind to. You're protective of those you care about and your loyalty to the people around you is unwavering," Bjorn explained with a soft smile on his face, "You can be so ruthless and cold at times, but then there is a part of you that is so soft, so caring. A part of you that I only see around my brothers, your own brother, and our children. That is what I love most about you."

"Really?" Ylva asked softly, not expecting such an answer out of him.

"Of course. You are my wife. I had been with women before you but unlike them, my being the son of Ragnar Lothbrok meant nothing to you. You would love me, even if I weren't his son. I love that about you," Bjorn explained, and just as Ylva was about to speak up, she heard branches snap nearby.

If she hadn't been taught by Erik as a girl to always be on guard, she wouldn't have even noticed it. Something wasn't right. But in the darkness, she could see nothing.

She glanced around, only to suddenly spot Erlendur hidden near some bushes. Next to him was Freya, who held a crossbow. She knew she might have been just hoping for it to be true, but she felt as though Freya had purposely made noise, knowing their training would have made Ylva aware of it.

Ylva gasped softly and climbed on top of Bjorn, earning a smile from him. She brushed her lips against his, trying to distract him. "Why do you say such things now?" She asked him as she briefly kissed him on the lips before kissing down his chest, "You had many years to do so."

"Would you rather me take it back?" He teased her and Ylva smiled down at him.

"Of course not," She replied, and on purposely, she laid back down on the opposite side of him, making it impossible for Freya to get a clear shot of Bjorn. And even if Ylva was wrong and Freya wanted to kill her too, Ylva knew Freya well enough she'd kill Bjorn first, not Ylva.

____

The following morning, Erlendur was sitting alone, making a sacrifice to the gods. He slit the animal's throat, allowing the blood to spill into the cup in front of him. "In your name, All-Father, and in your son, mighty Thor, this sacrifice is dedicated."

Just then, Freya down sat beside Erlendur and smiled. "Today is the day I will kill Ylva. Bjorn shall come later," She decided and Erlendur rolled his eyes as he turned to her.

"Who are you to decide?" He asked the girl with an attitude.

"Because I am the one doing it, you fool," She snapped at the boy as she glared at him coldly, "Do you want my help or not?"

"Yes!" Erlendur suddenly exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he found himself consumed by the thought of revenge as Freya expected him to.

He quickly scrambled over to his crossbow, picking it up before he brought it over to Freya. "You are right, Freya! Today is the day. You have to kill him," He insisted as he grabbed her hand and Freya smiled, "The Gods want you to do it, not me."

He picked up the drinking horn, which happened to be filled with blood, and handed it to Freya. "I've dedicated this sacrificial offering to them. Now, you must drink."

Freya nodded without hesitation. She took the drinking horn from his grasp and wasted no time drinking most of the blood. She did it without a care in the world, which Erlendur took note of.

She left some still in the drinking horn and after bringing it away from her lips, she dipped her fingers inside the blood. She lifted her bloody fingers, running them down her face.

A small gasp escaped her lips and she turned to Erlendur, smiling. She stood in place, allowing him to place his crossbow in her hands. "Here is my crossbow. No one expects a young girl like you to be able to fire it properly, but I know better," He explained to her in a hushed tone, "Look, here is a bolt, it goes here. All you have to do is pull the trigger."

Freya nodded and Erlendur cupped her face in his hands. She remained still, not moving as he wiped the blood streaming down her chin. "If you do this, I will do anything you want, Freya, even after we take back your Earldom. I swear by all the Gods," He promised her and Freya remained silent, nodding her head once more.

Further away from the camp, Ylva was standing with Bjorn, working on some tools, having no idea about what was yet to occur.

Freya walked through the camp, blood streaming down her face. Numerous people turned to look at her, including Sihtric and Torvi, who frowned in concern.

Erlendur stood from afar, watching Freya closely as she traveled toward Bjorn and Ylva without any fear.

Just then, Ylva turned her head and locked eyes on Freya. She sighed and looked down, noticing the girl held Erlendur's crossbow and she had blood on her face.

Bjorn noticed as well and was about to step forward, only to have Ylva use her hand to push him back. "I can handle this," She told him softly and walked toward Freya, showing no fear.

"Freya," Ylva greeted her daughter calmly, sighing as she glanced down at the crossbow before looking the girl directly in the eyes.

"Erlendur has told me to kill you," Freya informed her mother in a calm tone, "To avenge the death of his father."

However, several moments had passed and still, Freya remained in place, doing nothing. "Go right ahead. Kill me," She encouraged Freya in a calm tone, "Prove to everyone around me that I was a fool and that they were right. That you have wanted to kill me all along. Do it. Look me in the eye and kill me, Freya," She demanded, and still, Freya did nothing, causing her to scream, "Do it!"

As if on cue, Freya whipped herself around, and shot Erlendur, who was standing several feet behind her.

Erlendur grunted and dropped to the ground. A small gasp escaped Freya's lips as her lips curled upwards into a smirk.

Everyone around them fell silent, shocked by what Freya had done. Ylva watched on, beginning to smile as well.

Freya slowly turned to Ylva, a genuine look on her face. "I was never going to tell you. I was only leading him on, to kill him. Mother, I swear, I'm—" She began to Ylva, but before she could finish, Ylva roughly pulled the girl toward her and engulfed her in a hug.

Bjorn walked closer to them and Freya turned. He smiled softly, briefly placing a hand on the side of the girl's face before he walked toward where Erlendur laid dying.

Ylva and Freya followed him, watching as Bjorn crouched down. He looked down at Erlendur's body, placing King Horik's ring on the crossbow bolt.

"Freya will come with us to Paris," Bjorn suddenly declared as he stood up and turned to face Ylva and Freya, "She is ready. More than ready. Even you must see that by now."

Freya sighed in defeat. She turned, giving Ylva a pleading look. The woman smiled, wrapping an arm around Freya as she nodded in agreement.

______

On the ships to Paris, Ylva stood beside Bjorn, her hand on Freya's shoulders. She squinted her eyes, only to notice something. She turned, nudging Bjorn. "Look," She whispered to him and Bjorn turned, "Upriver."

Bjorn turned again, immediately the Frankish ships moving toward them. He soon noticed Rollo and the couple exchanged a look with each other.

"Sound the horns!" Bjorn shouted and it wasn't long before the horns were sounded.

The men began to cheer and Yva took a deep breath. She turned to Freya, who didn't look frightened in the slightest. She looked excited as if the thought of her first battle exhilarated her.

"Remember everything I taught you," Ylva insisted and Freya nodded her in understanding.

"Remind me again who saved your life during the Battle of the Succession and killed two dozen men all on my own?" She commented and Ylva smiled, playfully rolling her eyes at her daughter.

The Franks became closer and closer to them and Bjorn and Ylva were quick to give orders. "Bowmen to your stations!" Bjorn ordered in a loud tone and the men immediately obeyed her.

"Ready! First rank! Loose!" Ylva shouted and the men wasted no time releasing the lit arrows.

Crossbow bolts came back toward them and a few people were shot before Bjorn ordered the second, third, and fourth rank to be let loose.

It wasn't before Franks became ever closer to them, using hooks to attach their boats to theirs before climbing over.

A fight began on the wooden walls of the platform Floki set up. Ylva glanced around at her men, locking eyes on her brother briefly before they both shouted. "Charge!"

Bjorn and Ylva fought side by side, slashing at any man that came toward them.

A man jumped over the wall, only to end up being slashed with an ax on the head by Freya. Drops of blood splattered on Freya's head and she pulled the axehead out of the man before stepping back.

She killed three other men, who seemed afraid of attacking the girl since she looked to be only a child. It annoyed her that she wasn't being taken seriously by the Franks, but it also delighted her that she was able to pull her own weight and killed dozens of them at ease.

She ended up stabbing a man with the sword she held in her non-dominant hand before she threw him before the ledge, into the water. She laughed and turned, swinging at a few other men.

Ylva grabbed ahold of one of the men, yelling out as she slit his throat. She shoved him into another man, which led to him being pushed toward Bjorn, who instantly killed him.

Freya swung her ax, killing two men who were trying to get over. She whipped herself around in enough time to drive her sword through the man who was on the verge of stabbing her.

Just then, the men retreated and Ylva's people began to cheer. However, she did not, knowing it was only the beginning.

The men began to laugh loudly at something, causing Ylva to turn. She rolled her eyes, however, when she saw they were laughing because Freya had thrown a man who was still alive over the ledge and into the water. The girl laughed as well, utterly amused by what she had done and the reaction she got because of it.

Moments had passed and the Franks began to sail back toward them. Bjorn and Ylva stood together, watching the boats closely.

"What is he going to do?" Bjorn asked his father, who stood behind him and Ylva.

They turned to face him, giving him a questioning look. "He'll do what he always does," Ragnar replied in a calm tone. He panted and the couple frowned, watching as Ragnar desperately shoved some herbs into his mouth, "Attack."

Ylva turned and exchange a look with Bjorn. They looked back at Ragnar, who noticed the look he was getting and tossed the pouch that had held the herbs on the ground.

"Good," Bjorn answered in a calm tone as he nodded his head, "Let them try. We are ready."

"Ragnar, what else can be done?" Lagertha asked as she walked closer to the trio.

"There is nothing else to be done," Ragnar answered, groaning as he was bent forward.

Lagertha walked until she was standing in front of Ragnar, looking down at him. "Do the Gods favor us?" She asked, looking concerned.

"Of course they favor us," Bjorn answered for his father, causing Lagertha to turn to look at her son, "How could they favor Rollo after he renounced them?"

"I just need to hear it from your father's mouth," Lagertha admitted and Bjorn sighed as Ragnar straightened his back and stood straight.

Together, the two walked closer to the walls, where Bjorn ended up picking up a bow. He knocked an arrow before releasing it. Ylva watched it glide through the air and miss Rollo by only an inch.

"You purposely missed," She complained as she turned to Bjorn.

"I did," Bjorn replied before he walked in another direction.

Ylva sighed in defeat, just before following after him.

It wasn't long before the Franks' ships breached the walls of where they stood. Ylva stood with Ragnar, Lagertha, and Freya, steadying herself as the platform shook.

"Be ready," Ylva told Freya in a stern tone, "Don't make stupid decisions. Think before you attack. Don't die stupidly."

"I know," Freya snapped at Ylva in a cold tone and wasted no time walking forward.

She swung at one of the men, ducking as he swung at her before she stabbed him in the belly. She swung at a few others, a smile forming on her lips.

Ylva swung at one of the men, roughly pushing him against a pillar before she stabbed him in the chest.

A man came at Freya and she ducked. She stood back up and slashed him across the throat. She whipped herself around and slashed the next across the back.

Blood covered her face as she yelled out, killing several others as if it were nothing.

Just then, a man shoved her against the wooden wall and he tried to stab her. However, Freya lifted the dagger from her belt and as the man lunged at her, the blade went through his throat. She shoved him off of her and turned, watching as her mother tackled a man to the ground before killing him, blood covering her face.

Ylva turned, stabbing two other men with her sword and ax. She continued slashing at any in her way. However, as she turned, a man suddenly shot a crossbow at her and the bolt ended up shooting right into her shoulder.

"Ylva!" Bjorn shouted as he rushed in her direction. He killed two men who were coming her way, allowing her the time to get back on her seat.

He moved closer to Ylva, the two of them standing back to back as they fought the Frankish soldiers who came their way. It didn't matter if she had been shot in her left shoulder, Ylva continued to fight on and instead just used her right.

A man came running toward Bjorn and Ylva, but before he could reach them, an ax suddenly glided through the air and found its way into the man's chest.

The couple turned, noticing that it had been Freya, who smiled at them as blood covered her face.

Freya moved closer to them, the three of them fighting together. However, they froze briefly, watching as a man drove his sword through Lagertha's chest.

They moved toward Lagertha, but before anyone could even think of attacking Lagertha, four shieldmaidens rushed to defend her from attackers.

Torvi stood nearby, shooting men with her crossbow. Though it wasn't long before the favor was returned and she herself was shot with one as well.

Sihtric ran toward her and Ragnar turned, seeing that Lagertha, Torvi, and Ylva were all wounded. "Get them to the boat!" Bjorn shouted at Freya and Bjorn loudly, "Get them out of here!"

Bjorn nodded and while Sihtric carried Torvi, Bjorn carried his mother. Ylva was able to stand upright though and with her arm wrapped around Freya for support, they traveled toward the boat.

"Cut the ropes!" Ragnar yelled at Bjorn, who was quick to obey, "Get them out of here!"

Ragnar went to attack Rollo again, only to be pulled onto the boat and Sihtric and Bjorn. "No! No! Leave me!" He shouted angrily, wanting to finish Rollo off.

Bjorn stood up and glared at Rollo, who looked shameful as his men cheered. Freya hatefully glared at the men before turning and moved closer to Ylva, who was in a seated position.

Freya stared down at Ylva, a deeply concerned look on her face. "I am fine, Freya," Ylva assured the girl, smiling as she placed a hand on the side of Freya's face, "No need to worry. You did well today, especially for your first battle. I am so proud of you."

Bjorn walked over to the duo, placing a hand on Freya's shoulder. "As am I," He agreed and Freya turned, feeling proud of herself as she glanced between Bjorn and Ylva, "You will be a great warrior in the future. One of the best."

"By the way..." Ylva trailed off as she turned to Bjorn uneasily, "I believe I'm pregnant."

"What?!" Bjorn exclaimed loudly as he stared at Ylva as if she were mad.

Freya chuckled and shook her head, making her way away from the duo as Bjorn began to scold Ylva for going into battle pregnant while Ylva pointed out that she was still alive.

She looked up and sighed, her smile fading as she began to wonder if the gods were no longer on their side. And was it Ragnar's fault?

She glanced around, finding Lagertha laying unconscious, Sihtric examining Torvi's wound, and Bjorn gradually beginning to smile as he placed a hand on Ylva's belly.

All the while, Ragnar sat alone, beaten, and bloody as he looked to be filled with shame. He looked hopeless and Freya felt uneasy by the sight. Ragnar would surely never be the same and Freya knew it would not end well. People viewed Ragnar as a god. Now, it was obvious that he was as flawed and broken as the rest of them. That could never end well.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I posted the cast list for Madness! Go check it out. It'll be the book that follows Freya in season 4B until season 6. I suggest you to read it along with the sequel to this book (which will be called greatness) bc they DEFINITELY tie in with each other.

After all, they both take place at the same time but at two different places (most of the time).

The only reason I'm posting this one now is because the next chapter of this book (which is the last chapter) take places at the same exact time as the first chapter of Madness.

So the first chapter of madness will be posted tomorrow, as will the last chapter of this book!

Go check it out!