The Red Queen (Editing)

The Great Army

"Sigurd is right." Ivar said. "We call in favours. We do deals with Kings and Earls that we hate, whatever he have to promise them, we promise. And in the end, we assemble an army twice the size of the army that took our father to Paris."

"And we declare war on England." You finished

"No." Ubbe said.

"In the name of our dead father, in the name of Ragnar Lothbrok, the greatest hero of our country, and in the name of Odin and in the name of Loki, we declare war on the whole world." Ivar said, smirking

-

You stood in the blacksmiths shop, standing beside Ivar as he sharpened his axe. You placed a kiss on Ivar's cheek and another of his jaw when Sigurd walked in.

"I still have a bone to pick with you, Sigurd." Ivar said. "Why were you silent when I demanded justice from Lagertha?"

"We have different memories of Mother. She doted on you and she ignored me. She had eyes only for you and for Harbard and a small eye for Astrid. To me, she was cold and distant." Sigurd sighed

You felt pity for your friend as you walked past him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Sigurd smiled at you as he watched you sharpen a sword

"So you feel sorry for yourself?" Ivar asked. "Poor little Sigurd."

"You're wrong, Ivar. I don't feel sorry for myself." Sigurd replied

"Yeah. Right. No, of course not." Ivar mocked

"I'm telling you the truth." Sigurd said. "I have very good reason not to feel so angry with Lagertha."

"Then what kind of a son are you, hmm?" Ivar asked as he played with his sharpened axe. "What does it matter what your mother did to you? She was still your mother."

"You would say that, wouldn't you?" Sigurd scoffed

"What does that mean?" Ivar asked

Sensing a fight was about to start, you dropped your sword and began walking over.

"What do you think it means?"

"You tell me." Ivar grinned

"Alright, I will, Mommy's boy. Mommy's little favourite. Are you just really sad she can't breastfeed you anymore, is that it?" Sigurd asked

You got there just in time, catching Ivar's arm as he went to kill Sigurd with his axe.

"Whoever would have though you two were brothers?" You asked, taking the axe away.

"Leave, Sigurd. Your axe is sharpened so go." You snapped

Sigurd surprisingly did as told, leaving the hut. You sighed as you leaned against Ivar who began sharpening another tool.

-

You gasped as you watched the boats row closer and closer. The first arrivals of the great army.

"Our first arrivals, huh?" Ubbe asked

Turning, you saw him and Ivar standing together.

"For the greatest army ever assembled." Ivar answered

"And they will be our instruments." Ubbe said

"Our instruments of wrath." You chuckled

Looking to Ivar, you both laughed as you fell to sit on the dock beside him, resting your head in his lap.

"Are you really going to allow Lagertha to escape her punishment?" Ivar asked as he stroked your hair.

"No." Ubbe said