Ragnar was pleased to finally set eyes on the small cabin. He had set off from Kattegat before the sun had risen that morning, and now it was well in the sky. The pained warrior wishing that the mother of bears lived closer to town, especially when he was in the amount of pain he was, but he was there now. Yet he was still to get passed Loðinn, the Earl able to see the huge male bear sitting at the open door of his mother's home, happily making light work of some vegetables that she must have given him.

(Y/n), or the Mother of bears as she had been dubbed after her tendency of finding lost bear cubs and raising them as her own, when their real mothers could not be found; Loðinn being the latest and now the largest of her children; was a healer, the only healer that seemed to be able to bring Ragnar some relief from the pains that plagued him. The warrior, like everyone else, not overly keen on having to get passed a rather large, furry lump of sharp claws and teeth; but she had been the only thing he could think of when the pain had got to the point where he felt as though he could no longer move. So, at this moment, the notion of being mauled by a bear not being the worst thing in the world, did cross his mind. Though his heart was still racing, and his hand reaching for his sword, as Loðinn finally noticed him. The bear continuing to eat its food, while eyeing the approaching man.

"Hello Loðinn.........Do you remember me.......?" Ragnar asked. The bear letting out a huff in reply; never one to be impressed by anything, let alone the fact that the once simple farmer, was now an Earl. Ragnar deciding to press on, despite the fact that he felt slightly ridiculous, having a one-sided conversation with the animal.

"I have come to see your mother.......Is (Y/n) here..........?" Ragnar quickly moving backward and falling flat on his back. Letting out a pained yell, as Loðinn reacted to the sound of his mother's name. The bear standing up on his hind legs and coming towards the prone man.

"Loðinn.......what........?" Another voice came. Ragnar catching sight of (Y/n) as she came out of the cabin. The healer saying a few more words that he could not understand, before the bear dropped back down to all four paws, huffed at the visitor and then made his way to his mother's side. (Y/n) taking the bear's face in her hands.

"Is that any way to treat an old friend.......? And he is an Earl now, not just farmer Ragnar; so, you must show him that you have manners, Loðinn. That you can be well behaved. Now, go to the stream and wash........" (Y/n) told her huge child. The bear seeming to nod, before eyeing Ragnar one last time, then heading to the stream that lay behind the cabin.

"He is getting big.........."

"And you are getting old....your point is.......?" (Y/n) replied, as she came over to Ragnar and offered him her hand. Ragnar grunting and grimacing, as he allowed her to help him up.

"He still lives with you.........?"

"He comes and he goes; I am his mother, not his master. He is free to do as he wants. Comes to find me when he needs me, just like you, Ragnar Lothbrok..........I take it that you are in pain again........?" The healer continued. Shaking her head as Ragnar reluctantly nodded. (Y/n) placing his arm around her shoulder and helping him towards her home.

"Then we had better get you inside............"

                                                       >>------------------------------------<<

Ragnar let out a sigh of relief, as (Y/n) helped him into a chair. The familiar smells and sights surrounding him, bringing a smile to his lips. The room he found himself in was filled with many lit candles and a pot on the fire in the middle of the expanse, let off a white smoke that drifted up into the roof. The drying plants that hung from everywhere, making the inside, feel very similar to the outside. The Earl already sure that he felt better.

"I must have had a notion that you were coming.......I started something earlier, that should help........" (Y/n) said, as she made her way over to the pot on the fire, taking off the lid and spooning some of the contents into a cup before coming over and handing it to him. Ragnar scrunching up his nose, as he took a sniff.

"I didn't say that it was going to smell nice, just that it should help......." (Y/n) letting out a laugh, as Ragnar took a drink and nearly spat it out.

"I didn't say that it was going to taste nice either. Now drink it........." Ragnar begrudgingly doing as he was told. His eyes falling on Loðinn, as the bear retook his spot at the open door.

"He doesn't like me..........."

"Don't take it personally, Ragnar. Loðinn doesn't like most people, though Flóki is an exception. And anyway, he wouldn't really have bitten you........maybe nibbled a little..........."

"Oh, that makes me feel so much better........." The Earl retorted. Smiling up at her, as he handed her back the cup.

"You are such a baby, what is a lump of flesh between friends...... Now, how long have you been in pain......? And tell me the truth, before I do let Loðinn eat you........"

"Three......four days.........."

"Three.......three or four days.........and you have only thought to come and see me now? I swear that you get more stubborn and stupid with every passing year. How can you do what you need to do......protect your people if you are in pain? I swear Ragnar Loth..........." (Y/n) looking down, as Ragnar caught her arm.

"You are right, and I am sorry. I should know better. But I am here now, and I need you............" The pleading look in his eyes, making the healer let out a heavy sigh.

"Fine........but consider yourself lucky that I like you. Now, let me see what I can do............."