The boats cut through the water with ease, as the wind filled the sails. They were on their way home; admittedly they would probably not rest in Tamdrup long before Harald found another kingdom that he would have to conquer, to achieve his end. But however long that it was, it would be a welcome respite from being knee deep in mud, blood, shit and bodies. It would be a chance to sleep in their own beds, to see old friends and family that had had to stay behind; but most of all, it would be the opportunity to rest and grow strong again, before Harald gave them another chance, to get to see the halls of Valhalla.

"What is she doing............?" Harald asked, as the woman that was chained securely to the mast, moved to the prow of the ship. Her hand gripping firmly to the intricately carved wood, as she looked out over the waves. A small smile making its way across her features, as the spray of the sea kissed her skin.

Since that time at the river, she had once again gone back to not saying a word. No one wanting to go near her, other than Hálfdan, who had taken to just sitting with her in the tent and watching as she played with the black winged creatures that never seemed to leave her.

Her presence in the camp had been causing mixed opinions between those that stood with the older son of Hálfdan the Elder. Some had whispered that she was a curse sent by Odin; that Harald should have found some way of disposing of her, instead of keeping her with them. And then the others, they did agree that she was a curse, but that she had been Svein's curse; a Valkyrie sent to, in a strange way, ensure that Harald had been victorious; and that was why they were all still alive, why the brothers were still alive, and that Harald would continue to be victorious, as long as the female berserker was with them. But whatever the case, all agreed on one thing, that this unusual woman had been sent by the allfather.

"She does what she wants............" Hálfdan replied, as he placed the tip of his blade in the timber beneath his feet and spun the hilt between his hands.

"I can see that............" Harald continued. Hálfdan looking up from his sword to watch the beauty. Her arms open to the winds, as the brothers and the crew heard her begin to call out. All present unable to understand a word that she said, other than that of the name of God of the sea............ Njǫrd.

"She is praying for Njǫrd to send us an ill wind..........." A voice suddenly came. Hálfdan turning and glaring at the man that had spoken.

"If she wanted that, she could have done it before now. Yet the water has been good, and the winds kind since we left land. Since when have my brother's men begun to whine like children, at the presence of a woman...........? At a woman that prays to the gods.........." Hálfdan growled. The younger Hálfdansson, finding himself becoming more and more defensive of the woman. Finding himself more than ready to confront anyone that may say something against her.

"My mother told me.........someday I will buy................." A voice suddenly sang. The sound causing all on the ship to turn their eyes to the woman that still stood at the prow.

"Galley with good oars.........sail to distant shores............." She continued. The melodious tone sweeter than anything they had ever heard. As if she had been gifted her voice by Bragi, the god of music, himself.

"Stand up on the prow.........noble barque I steer.........steady course to the haven........hew many foe-men.........hew many foe-men............." The berserker added; Hálfdan getting to his feet and slowly making his way to the prow to join her, as she continued the song.

"How do you know that...............?" The svelte blonde enquired, his eyes taking in her already well-known features, as she carried on singing to the waves.

"Why would I not know it..............?" A reply finally came. Hálfdan having to admit that he was a little taken aback that she had actually replied. Her tone soft and sweet, as she looked at him. Her smile growing as he leaned in from the other side of the dragon headed prow.

"Why do you sing..............?"

"I sing for Njǫrd. My voice will reach his ears, and he will continue to give us good waves and wind. Winds that will carry this fleet to its home............" She explained, before she rested against the carved wood.

"What are you...............?"

"I am a slave...........your slave, Hálfdansson. Can you not see the chain that binds me to this ship........to you. To your future and that of your brother..............?" The female berserker said, before her eyes turned to the top of the mast, as her ever watchful ravens landed atop the billowing sail.

"Yet slave or not, I need to rest now. The sun will set soon, but Njǫrd and my eyes, will continue to watch over me and this fleet." She told Hálfdan, before she turned to make her way back to the mast.

"But.........if my master feels the need to join me in my rest, I promise to keep him warm as the night turns cold............." The female added. Hálfdan smiling to himself and giving the sea in front of the boat one last look, before returning to his own seat next to his older brother. The blonde warrior knowing that as soon as darkness fell, he would more than happily take the woman up on her offer.