The Red Queen (Editing)

Kill the Queen

"I don't blame you, Astrid." Ragnar said as you looked back up at him. "It was a brave thing to do, freeing your father."

"Floki loves you." Helga spoke up

"He only loves himself." Ragnar joked. Helga chuckled before her smile slowly dropped from her face as you looked down at your baby sister.

"You know that better then anyone." He spoke again as he looked to Helga. "Winter is coming. Whatever will happen, you will all need to eat." Ragnar said, reaching behind him and holding out a big bag, filled with god knows what.

"It's food."

Instantly, you dig into the bag and pulled out fresh bread. You were starving, having not eaten for days. You broke the bread into pieces and shared with your family, eating hungrily as Ragnar stroked your hair, placing a kiss on your forehead before he stood with a pained grunt.

Just like Lagertha, you helped fill the hole in his heart after his daughter's death. He cared for you like he does with his own children.

"Thank you, Uncle Ragnar." You said

He turned and nodded with a smile before he left the room.

-

Ubbe and Hvitserk returned with the hunting party, your father tied as they dragged him. People shouted in victory or shouted insults at Floki.

You and Helga rushed towards the scene, pushing past the crowd. There your father was. You had failed to free him.

"The great Floki... captured by mere children." Ragnar chuckled. "Why didn't the Gods protect you? Why didn't they hide you better from such innocent eyes?"

Floki remained silent as Ragnar addressed the crowd.

"Could it be that the Gods were not interested in saving him? Because they are angry at you, Floki?"

Silence.

"Is there anything you want to say to that?" Ragnar asked

Your shivering father looked to you and Helga before looking back up at Ragnar. "I've said it all."

Ragnar scoffed as he leaned back in his chair before he stared down at you and Helga's pleading eyes. "Bring him forward, please."

Floki was forced forward until Ragnar thought it was close enough.

"You made me suffer... and now, I shall make you suffer. And I've got such a wonderful punishment for you." Ragnar said. "You'll probably appreciate it, too. See, I borrowed it from the Gods. It's very imaginative. And it goes on and on and on. Nothing heroic. No chance to impress the Gods."

With that, Floki was taken away to be locked in a cell until it was time for his punishment. Helga held you back as you went after your father again but she refused to let you go.

Soon enough, after you calmed down, Helga went to talk to Floki as you glared at Ubbe who sat nearby, staring at you in guilt.

Sighing, he stood and walked over to you. You instantly stood and went to leave but he grabbed your wrist and pulled you back into his chest, wanting nothing more then to speak again.

"Astrid-"

You cut him off as you pushed him away, smacking him across the face. The boy barely reacted as his head swung to the side. Slowly, he brought a hand up to rub the now red spot.

"You hunted my father like an animal, Ubbe." You growled, pushing him away again. "I hate you."

-

Angrboda had gotten sick with a terrible fever. Nothing helped your sister. Nothing at all. No medicine or amount of warmth.

She died days after the start of Floki's punishment.

At the moment, you were digging a hole, in the middle of the woods, in the freezing snow while Helga sobbed behind you, holding your sister's body. You had wrapped Angrboda in a tarp and ever since, Helga would not stop sobbing. Not that you could blame her. The loss of a child caused great pain to everyone close.

"What are you two doing up here?!" You heard Ragnar ask. Looking up, you saw him wrapped in furs as he shouted over the chilly wind.

Angrboda had died in your home, deep in the woods. Nobody knew yet.

"I'm trying to dig a grave! Can't you see?!" You cried, tears falling like a waterfall from both you and your mother. "For my sister!"

Helga sobbed louder as you let out a frustrated cry, falling to sit beside her. "First, you arrest my father and have him hunted like an animal. Then, you punish him like the Gods punished Loki. Now, Angrboda died from a terrible fever!" You exclaimed, throwing a rock at a nearby tree

You stood and tried to continue digging the grave until Ragnar grabbed the shovel. "Have either of you told Floki?" Ragnar asked

"No." You answered for your mother. Helga had been in a depressive state ever since Angrboda took her last breath. She never stopped crying and refused to eat anything. You had hand feed her so she didn't die either. You had no time to visit Floki.

Ragnar remained silent as he took the shovel from your hands. He took off his cloak and wrapped you and Helga in it before he took over digging the grave.

When he finished, both you and Helga cried as you carried her body towards the hole. Shivering, you handed her to Ragnar who gently placed her into the ground.

With that, all of you stared at the small body.

How were you to tell Floki that his youngest daughter died?