Rollosdottir

The Same but Different

Those that had not chosen to join Princess Kwentrith left for home the following morning. Revna remained beside her father, seeing to him during the journey home. The disappointment of the defeat and her father's state made the journey home seem dreary. The sky did not seem as blue and the sea no longer seemed as wondrous.

Revna wasn't surprised when Athelstan chose to join them on their return. She had known he would from the moment they knew he was alive and the arm ring Ragnar had gifted him was given as proof. She had then seen the arm ring back in its place on his wrist when they had met with King Ecbert, a symbol she doubted Athelstan fully understood.

Many stood on the docks when they returned and most of the men were eager to greet their family's. The able bodied, unloaded the supplies and treasure, leaving the injured to be carried off last. Anxious family members eying those who were carried on the litters warily hopeful only for their hopes to be dashed when their loved one was not on any of them, but a burnt pyre out at sea so far away. Revna followed the men that carried Rollo, locking eyes with Siggy when she met them on the dock.

'How bad is it?' Siggy asked desperately, falling into step beside Revna.

'He was trampled by horses on the battlefield. Many of his ribs are broken, but he will heal.' Revna answered, her arm linking with Siggy's to comfort her as tears came to her eyes. Siggy's hands clutched Revna's arm as they followed the men carrying the litter to the healer. Bulsa and Siggy would be able to care for Rollo far better than Revna had been able to and could ease his pain in ways that Revna did not know or have available so far from home.

Revna regaled the healer with what she knew of Rollo's injuries and what they had been able to do for him. Bulsa hummed sourly and set to work, recruiting Siggy and Revna in helping her move Rollo as she evaluated him for herself. Bulsa had already made a concoction for Siggy to help Rollo drink while she readied her tools. Ragnar entered as Bulsa began to cut away at the rotting flesh of Rollo's wound. Ragnar grimaced as he entered the room but quickly composed his face as he moved to stand at Rollo's head.

Revna and Siggy silently complied with Bulsa's every command, doing their best to help her finish the excruciating tasks as quickly as possible. Revna managed to stay stoic through most of Bulsa's work till she set Rollo's leg. The sound that came from her father's leg made the bile in Revna's stomach lurch and she quickly fled the house, emptying her stomach onto the ground outside Bulsa's home.

Revna heard the door open as she was spitting to get the taste of the bile out of her mouth. A large hand rubbed her back for a moment till Revna could compose herself again.She wiped at her mouth before turning to face her uncle who was looking at her sympathetically.

'He's resting now.' He said and Revna nodded as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her back toward the hall. Revna took a rag that Ragnar handed her and wiped what blood she could from her hands and discarded it as they entered the hall.

'Revna!' A little voice called and Revna smiled and crouched as Ubbe and Hvitserk ran to her, intentionally trying to knock her over as they always did. Revna chuckled as she wobbled and clung to the boys. She grinned wider as she saw little Sigurd walk toward her on unsteady feet.

'It's so good to see you guys.' Hugging Ubbe and Hvitserk tightly and kissing their heads before letting them go and picking up Sigurd. Sigurd cooed at her as she picked him up, kissing his chubby cheek and making him giggle. Revna looked up as someone walked toward her and saw Aslaug, she silently passed Sigurd to Ragnar. The two women hugged shortly before Aslaug pulled away.

'I am grateful to see you back and well. After you all left I had a horrid vision of you being attacked from behind.' Revna's smile disappeared with Aslaug's words.