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GLORY OR VALHALLA
— 1. The Aftermath

 It had been about three days since Bjorn Ironside and Ylva the Dread had won the kingdom of Kattegat, but it still came with many great losses

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It had been about three days since Bjorn Ironside and Ylva the Dread had won the kingdom of Kattegat, but it still came with many great losses. The worst losses of all were losing the child had Ylva carried inside her and their eldest daughter, Freya.

Bjorn had found Ylva, lying in the woods of Ashton where he knew Freya and Ylva used to spend a few nights every summer to have some time away from everyone. He had found her there, lying on the ground after lighting Freya's pyre. She had been wearing no pants and her legs had been covered in blood. She had miscarried.

It broke both their hearts, to know the Seer was right. Her belly would swell with children, but Ylva would give birth to no more children.

Ylva had been in a depressive state and confessed that she didn't want to live anymore. But Bjorn assured her that everything would be okay for them and that he'd make sure all would be well from now on. He had promised to be her strength and with that, he had brought her into his arms, allowing her to grieve.

He had carried her to the horse they'd ride back to Kattegat and when they did arrive in Kattegat, Bjorn carried his wife to their new room in the Great Hall. He had the servants fill her bath up before sending them away.

He had helped Ylva climb in before he sat down beside the metal tub. He had taken a small rag and began to assist her in washing the dirt and blood off her body. Ylva was thankful for that. She needed his help, she needed her husband's comfort and touch at that moment more than anything. She just didn't know how to tell him. She had no way of expressing it.

She was surrounded by people, but still, she felt alone. She had lost two children in one day.

Her heart was in pieces.

It felt worse than the time she lost Sihtric and thought she lost Halig. Halig was back now but he wasn't the same innocent sweet boy he once had been.

Bjorn sighed as he ran the wet rag over her arms. They were covered in dirt and she even had some under her fingers. He had no idea how that could have happened unless she had been digging.

"We have won the kingdom of Kattegat, but we have lost two children in the process," Ylva spoke up in a whisper as she turned to Bjorn with tears in her eyes, "Was it worth it?"

Bjorn didn't answer. He pulled away from Ylva and looked down at the ground. He knew her eyes were on him, waiting for his answer. He slowly lifted his head as he finally brought himself to look her in the eye. "Nothing is worth losing a child, not even my father's kingdom."

"History is repeating itself," Ylva admitted, trying not to cry, "When my uncle Henrik tried to take Ashton from me all those years ago, I fought him and in the process, I lost the child I carried in my belly. Then again, we nearly lost Halig when I allowed him to fight in battle when he was only twelve. This is my fault..." She trailed off, beginning to cry, "This is all my fault!"

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