Chapter 24

                                    

                                          
Quick question, before we get started, I just wanted to ask... 
Who do YOU want Aneira to end up with? Comment and tell me. Would you rather she nurtured a relationship with the damaged, insane, but somehow still vulnerable and caring Ivar?
Or would you rather her and the smol ball of sunshine that is Hvitserk sweeped her off her feet?
                          
OR 
                          
Have you taken a liking to one of her other dynamics?
Let's see... 
                          
YOU DECIDE
                          
Please comment and tell me who you would prefer. 
I love them both soooo much. 
                          
-Rhiannon





                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
                          
The sun rose over England, shining brightly upon the rooftops of each house. Today was the day that Bjorn, and whichever men chose to go with him, joined him on his voyage back to the Mediterranean. Hilda and Halfdan would be leaving with him today. Though, I would mainly only miss Bjorn. In fact, I wasn't even sure if I'd manage here in England without him. I no longer wanted any part in Ivar's plan, I wanted to sail back to Kattegat and rejoin Lagertha and Torvi and Astrid. I didn't want to be in this hell hole any longer. I knew being in England would bring back awful memories... I did not realise that I would create so many new tragedies while here. 
Then I remembered York. I remembered the idea of seeing the faces of those who had watched and laughed as I was branded and humiliated for all to see. 
I was homesick no longer. The fact I had to stand beside Ivar was no longer an issue either. All I wanted was plain sweet revenge. 
                          
I walked outside, making my way to the river. Sunlight danced along the vibrant green surroundings. Boats stacked up with burly Viking soldiers filled the calm waters. I walked over, noticing Bjorn as he hugged his brothers goodbye. 
His blue eyes noticed me making my way over to him and a smile appeared on the tall man's face. Bjorn always looked rather terrifying. However, to me, he was the kindest person in the world. 
I ran over, jumping up into his arms to hug him. I was much shorter than him. For an English woman, I was average height. For a shieldmaiden, I was only a little short. Compared with Bjorn and most of the men here... I was tiny. So, it was rather a leap to hug him. Bjorn hugged me back tightly with a smile before placing me back down on the soil. 
                          
"Safe travels." I said with a worried smile. 
                          
Bjorn smiled back at me, "And good luck with you and my brothers. I believe that next time I see you, I will likely be meeting your child also."
                          
I beamed, "You'll be the first to meet them." 
                          
"Look after her." Bjorn called over to Ubbe and Hvitserk who were by now in a conversation of their own. They nodded at their half-brother, the son of Lagertha and Ragnar. Bjorn roughed up my hair like I was his younger brother and gave me another smile. 
                          
"Goodbye Bjorn, may the Gods bless your journey. I will see you soon. I love you big brother." I hugged him again, feeling a little teary eyed like I never had done before when Bjorn had gone off on raids. 
                          
"So now I am your brother?" He chuckled, raising a brow quizzically. 
                          
"You always were." I answered. 
                          
I watched as Bjorn walked onto the boat, standing beside his new friend Halfdan. I walked over to Ubbe and Hvitserk, standing beside the two princes as we waved Bjorn off. 
                          
It is said that Bjorn once had a sister, long before Ragnar became king. Before Aslaug fell pregnant with Ubbe and Lagertha divorced her love, leaving Kattegat with young Bjorn. Before Ragnar earned his Fame and sailed West, he and Lagertha lived as farmers outside Kattegat with Bjorn and Gyda. Gyda was Bjorn's younger sister and Lagertha had told me a fair amount about her, as had Bjorn. She fell ill while Ragnar was Earl, after the death of Lagertha's unborn son. Gyda died of a fever. Perhaps that's what broke Ragnar and drove him to choose Aslaug over Lagertha. Perhaps that's why Bjorn was so fond of me. It was like a second chance. 
I would've liked to have known Gyda. She would've been much older than me as she died at thirteen and even that was before Ubbe was born. Ubbe was four years older than me, Sigurd and I being of the same age. Gyda would've been nearest to Bjorn in age. I suppose I just would've liked to have known her. Although, who knows, perhaps if she had lived... Hvitserk, Sigurd and Ivar would've never been born. 
                          
The boats wandered into the horizon, disappearing slowly from my line of sight. 
                          
"We leave for York tomorrow." Ubbe told me. 
                          
"But you do not wish to go. Why do you not go to farm in the land that King Ecbert gave us?" I questioned. 
                          
"All our men are with Ivar." Ubbe answered bluntly.
                          
"Well, I would rather farm with you than do anything by Ivar's side." I smiled at Ubbe. It was true. I did not want to farm but Ubbe was honest, trustworthy and, a good person. 
                          
"We are not at his side anymore, Aneira. We are at his command." Ubbe sighed before leaving. 
                          
He was right. Ivar was in charge now.