His Shieldmaiden *Vikings/Hvitserk Ragnarsson/Halfdan The Black*

tveir

"Mother, I'm nervous." Kara whispered as she leaned into her mother's chest, her hands holding onto her cloak tightly as she watched the birds flying over head. Lagertha straightened and glanced over at her son, who had also heard the words fall from his sister's mouth.

"Why are you nervous, sister?" Bjorn asked, watching as the girl played with her cloak.

"What if Ragnar doesn't like me?" She asked, glancing at her brother. He frowned and shook his head, a small tisk coming from their mother as she grabbed onto Kara's hand gently.

"I think that you should not worry, my little love. Besides, it is not like he can do anything." Lagertha smiled as she patted her daughter's leg gently, kissing her head before resting her head into Kara's neck. "Kara, do you know what I think?" She asked gently.

"What?" The young girl asked, smiling as she felt her mother's arms wrapping around her waist.

"You are an amazing girl, no one could hate you. Not even the great Ragnar Lothbrok." She told her daughter, kissing her ear before she nuzzled her face into Kara's neck, drawing a small giggle from her child's lips.

"Mother, Kara. Look." Both of the woman looked towards Bjorn, following his gaze to a farm. As they drew closer a man walked down the stone road, stopping as Lagertha's group of men came to a halt.

"It has been a long time." He called out towards Lagertha, taking in his ex wife's appearance.

"Hello, Ragnar." Lagertha greeted, her hand patting Kara's leg lightly as she watched Ragnar look over her daughter before he looked over at Bjorn. Lagertha dismounted and turned towards Kara, hands held out to grab onto her daughter before she helped the girl off the mare. Bjorn stepped behind his sister as she grabbed onto Lagertha's hand while Ragnar walked towards them. "I heard of your troubles. I brought these warriors to help you." She told him as she gestured at the line of warriors behind her.  Kara looked at her brother as he placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes locked on his father as he man stepped towards him.

"And you are?"

"I'm your so-" Ragnar pulled Bjorn to him before he could finish. "Father." Bjorn sighed, wrapping his arms around Ragnar as he returned the hug.

"I always knew in my heart that I would see you again. I never guessed it would be under such circumstances." The man said as he pulled away from his son, smiling as he looked up at the boy.

"Who can guess the plans and ways of the Gods?" Bjorn asked, looking between his father and mother with a smile. "But now they have contrived to bring us back together and I, for one, am glad for it." Ragnar grabbed Bjorn's arms and looked him over, nodding slowly.

"I do not need to ask if you have been fed well. You have grown so tall." Ragnar muttered, causing Kara to smile to herself as she looked at her brother. "When this is over, we shall have many stories to tell."

"You and I, father, are tied by memories and blood." Bjorn said to Ragnar, who grabbed the back of Bjorn's neck lightly and looked at Lagertha.

"It seems your mother and I have produced a son both strong and wise."

"And if my sister had lived she would have been the same." Bjorn whispered, his mind flickering back to how his sister Gyda used to be.

"Yes, and you are right to carry her memory, as do I." Kara straightened as Ragnar looked down at her, taking in how she squeezed Lagertha's hand. "And you are like her, I can feel it." He whispered as he ruffled Kara's hair gently, a small smile on Kara's face as Bjorn placed a hand on his sister's head.

"For a long time father, I feel as though I have carried nothing else but memories. But now, here in this place with you, my mother, and my sister I feel reborn. As if I have a life to lead." Lagertha pulled her daughter close to her as Ragnar pulled Bjorn into a hug, leading Bjorn towards the hut as Lagertha waved for the men to settle before the women followed Ragnar and Bjorn into the hut.

"Are you okay?" Kara asked her mother, squeezing Lagertha's hand as she looked down at her daughter.

"Yes love, I am alright." She kissed the top of Kara's head before they walked inside, Kara's shoulders tensing when a man stood and walked in front of them.

"Lagertha. You are the last person I expected to see here." He said lightly, smiling as he took Lagertha's hand. "You and your warriors are as welcome to us as Spring after a long and hard Winter."

"Rollo, my son, daughter, and I are all too glad to come to Ragnar's aid." The man called Rollo looked down at Kara, smiling as he knelt in front of her.

"Hello there." He said lightly, holding out his hand before Kara placed her hand in his own, shaking it before he stood, looking at her older brother. "Praying all the Gods, Bjorn. You're a big bastard now." Rollo laughed, hitting Bjorn in the gut as Lagertha laughed, stepping forwards and embraced a woman who walked towards them before the woman looked down at Kara.

"Siggy, this is my daughter. Kara." The woman cupped Kara's cheek, smiling as she looked over her face.

"Hello, dear. You look just like your mother." Kara smiled and patted the woman's hand before Siggy stood, looking over at Lagertha with a long, saddened expression.

"What?" Lagertha asked, watching Siggy hesitate before she turned.  A woman stood behind her, two children on either side of her and a baby in her arms. Lagertha walled towards her and Siggy placed a hand on Kara's shoulders, guiding her towards a table where a woman with long blonde hair sat.

"Sit here with me, dear Kara. Are you hungry?" Siggy asked, gesturing for the girl to sit.

"No, thank you." Kara stated, a small smile on her face before the woman beside her looked at her, smiling as she held out a hand.

"Hello there." Kara took her hand and shook it, her eyes looking over the woman's eyes that were covered with dark makeup.

"Helga, this is Lagertha's daughter." Siggy introduced, smiling as she watched Kara and Helga smiled at each other.

"My name is Kara, it is nice to meet you Helga." Helga greeted her and looked over her hair, running a hand over it before she started to play with it lightly.

"Kara. That is a lovely name." A voice suddenly said, making Kara jump as she looked over to see a tall man hopping down beside her, a small giggle leaving his lips as he looked over at Helga.

"Sister, this is Floki. He builds boats, and he is a little crazy." Bjorn said as he walked over, watching as Kara patted Floki's hand as he rested it on her head, a small smile on her face as she took in his appearance.

"Hello, Floki. It is nice to meet you. Bjorn has told me about you." Kara said as she watched him grab a lock of her hair, inspecting it before he leaned forwards, looking into her eyes. He nodded and poked Kara's nose, giggling as it scrunched lightly.

"She is like Lagertha, she has her mother's eyes." He mused, looking between Bjorn and Kara with a smile.

"Is that good?" Floki nodded at Bjorn's question.

"Very good." He replied, looking at the girl as he cupped her cheeks. "It is extremely good!" He said to her, a giggle leaving both Floki and Kara's lips as he tugged her ears before letting go of the girl. Helga watched the pair with a smile as Bjorn shook his head, patting Kara's head before he left her with Helga and Floki, walking to where his mother was. Helga was braiding and unbraiding Kara's hair as Kara watched Floki carve something into a piece of wood, a sense of safety and familiarity running through the girl as she sat between the two Vikings.