Swords and shields collided from both sides as the sun finally rose to the skies. Screams came from both armies as they used their weapons to kill the other. Swords and axes collided with flesh; blood poured in midair before landing on the once beautiful grass. Ragnar and Itzvar had their weapons clash against one another. The clashes were so loud that they created small shock waves among themselves. Both men held blood lust and the determination to kill the other.

Ragnar had Fridleif in his mind; the image of his son having the arrow in his heart and dying before him was all he could think about. He held rage that he couldn't kill Itzvar sooner, but now, his enemy was before him, and this war would determine the future of the lands. Ragnar also noticed how many of the people of his old village were forced to fight; many didn't have experience in battle. He also saw how many were quickly killed, making him even more enraged.

Itzvar had never felt so much thrill in combat. He felt that his time to kill Ragnar was drawing near, and with Ragnar's death, he would have no one to stop him from controlling the lands. His name would be feared and revered. Itzvar dreamed of becoming a King and taking control of more of the land; his main goal was England. Trying to take over England was the dream of many Vikings since England had many riches that few could imagine. Not only that, he remembered that Sophia was in Ragnar's care.

The more the Viking thought about it, the more it made Itzvar question the possibility that they had consummated. "I see that Lagertha is not here! What happened!? Did she leave you!?" Ragnar didn't answer as he blocked Itzvar's attack against him. "You having my slave made her divorce you, did it not!? I knew that woman was cursed! She can always plague a man's mind!"

The two men separated and caught their breath. "It would seem that she had always plagued your mind, Itzvar. You obsess over Sophia because you could never tame her like others." Ragnar laughed as he tried to regain his breath. "Or is it because you are jealous of her." Itzvar suddenly attacked Ragnar, but his attack was blocked, and Ragnar lifted his shield, pushing Itzvar away. "I angered you? I knew it. You were always jealous that she had more strength than you did. She refused to cower in the face of death; she always stood tall and proud. You always tried to make her miserable and overpower her, but Sophia always found a way. Know this: you will never control her, and most of all, never have her."

The two men stood as their armies fought one another; their eyes were on the other. Then, Itzvar began to laugh; his laughs became louder and rougher, confusing Ragnar, but he still stood his ground. Itzvar eventually stopped laughing; his demeanor changed. "You make me laugh, Ragnar Lothbrok. You were always words, which is how I could take control of your home. All your homes will belong to me, and that wench will also belong to me. That is why I had my spy keep an eye on her."

This got Ragnar's attention; his theory of a traitor among them was true, but he didn't know who it was. "I knew it. I knew that you would go the cowardly way to send someone to do your dirty work."

"This person came to me unexpectedly and volunteered. My spy is quite informative and knowledgeable in their practice. How do you think we knew where to attack?"

At the corner of his eye, he saw Arne just finishing killing an enemy and saw the two men. His eyes were wide open since he had heard everything discussed between the two men. Arne then began to run away from the battle and ran toward where Sophia and the rest of the women were. Ragnar's eyes also widened, and he realized who it was all this time. He couldn't believe that he couldn't see it. The traitor was closer to Sophia than he would have thought. "ARNE! G-!" Ragnar was blocked by an enemy about to strike him but blocked the attack and killed the enemy.

Itzvar was also about to take advantage of the situation but was blocked. The two men began to fight against other fighters.

Meanwhile, a fire was made, and many men, elderly, and children were in the cave but watched as Sophia lay on a handmade cot, breathing heavily. The contractions were worsening for Sophia; the pain was so unbearable that she felt that her being wanted to give out. Her body was feeling warm, in pain and sweat. Estrid gave the infant Eric to an elderly woman while she helped Maja prepare for the birth. The woman was poured and warmed up; herbs were mixed to make a particular tea to help with the pain.

Maja gave the tea to Sophia, who drank small sips due to the heat but eventually drank all of it. She never would have imagined the pain excruciating, and she had the strong urge to push. "Sophia, take deep breaths, remember," said Estrid.

Sophia began to take deep breaths to control her heartbeat. The pressure was too immense, and the urge to push was intense. Maja was feeling her womb and stomach. "Alright, it seems that the child wants to be pushed out. Sophia, you need to push when you feel the first contraction."

The young woman nodded as she felt a powerful contraction; she pushed. Estrid counted as she had seen Sophia do it when helping Maja in birthing situations. Estrid felt so happy and proud that she would support a friend who helped her so much. Everyone in the cave prayed to the goddess Freyja to help Sophia have a prosperous birth.

Sophia groaned and screamed as she tried to give birth to her child; she felt her insides stretching like womanhood. The pain was so much that Sophia stopped pushing since her body was exhausted. "Sophia, you're bleeding!" yelled Estrid.

Blood was slowly gripping from her entrance; Maja looked worried. "Sophia, you need to push with all of your strength! If you do not, then we might lose you both! This child must live!"

Estrid sat behind her friend and motioned her to stand. Sophia was having a hard time, but a middle-aged woman helped Estrid to make Sophia stand. Sophia felt she had no strength left, but the angle was better as she thought it would help the unborn child be born. Other women helped keep Sophia standing and motivated her to push.

Sophia screamed and pushed as hard as she could. "I see the head! Keep on going!" announced Maja as she got out a cloth. The young woman pushed more and more and screamed when the child was finally born with the placenta. The newborn's cries echoed throughout the cave, and everyone cheered or cried tears of joy. Maja began to clean the child with a clean cloth and warm water while she used a clean knife to put the umbilical cord.

The women motioned Sophia down to the cot as she felt blood dripping from her entrance. Tears formed as she saw her child. She felt her heart stopped beating several times when she saw her child. Sophia was still processing the fact that she had just given birth to a new life; her love for her child was unexplainable. "Is it a boy or girl?" asked Estrid as she cried tears of joy.

"It is a boy."

Estrid and Sophia smiled as they watched Maja finish cleaning the child. "What will you name him?"

"R-Ragnar and I spoke of names before. He knew that it was going to be a boy. I wanted to name him Fridleif, but Ragnar didn't want to since it was his son's name and his alone. He also didn't want to be reminded of what happened to him. However, I thought of a name that Ragnar agreed with. His name is..." Sophia was about to speak but saw Maja standing while holding her son in her arms. "Maja, I want to carry my son."

"What a beautiful child that you have given life to. He has Lord Ragnar's eyes and face—a befitting look for a future King. Blood will be spilled, and lives will be lost in your name. However, through blood and loss, three great Kings will be born. Their names will be remembered throughout history and lore."

Sophia's eyes widened, but Estrid looked confused. "What are you talking about, Maja?"

"Y-You...You told me that prophecy before, but I thought you were asleep unless you are a..."

"A seer? Yes, I am. I was born with the gift of the gods as a child. I have had this prophecy since childhood and never understood it. However, I saw you in many of my dreams."

So many thoughts trailed in both the women's minds. They couldn't believe that Maja was a seer all this time. "You're a seer!? Why didn't you tell us!?" yelled Estrid.

"I wanted to see what my visions meant, but when Sophia arrived before me, the visions of her became frequent, and the two children and then Lord Ragnar. They will be the great Kings who will change history and finally bring peace. However..." Maja looked at Sophia, who was slowly standing up; blood had left a mark on her dress. "I saw you, Sophia, in blood and knew you had to die to make this prophecy come true."

Everyone in the cave was in shock, and the baby Eric and the newborn infant began to cry. "You were the traitor all this time. You were the one hidden in the cloak."

"It seems the gods were trying to tell you what was happening, but it was futile. You call me a traitor; I call myself of wanting peace. All my life, I have never known peace. Vikings divide and conquer. However, when I heard of Lord Ragnar and his good deeds, I knew he was our savior. He and his descendants will bring peace once again. I tricked Itzvar and Frode, saying I was on their side and against Ragnar. However, they were just pawns to make all of this happen. However, this war was for you because you tormented Itzvar's mind and made a fool of him. Blood was spilled for your name, and soon yours will be too." Maja walked back toward the exit, where five men walked toward the cave. 

"W-Wait, you said that three Kings will be born. Wh-Who is the third King?" asked Estrid, who held onto Sophia.

"I have seen Ragnar and his son grown, but I have seen another man in my dreams, but I cannot find out who it is. However, you are not in those visions, Sophia. You must die for the prophecy to commence. I am sorry it had to turn out this way, but the gods have deemed it."

Estrid and Sophia couldn't believe what they were hearing and couldn't believe that Maja was the traitor all this time. Not only that, they were all in danger.