I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this chapter. There are a bunch of ideas I wanted to explore in this hiatus between Ivar and Briet but I'm kind of unsure of how to piece them together so it reads well. Sorry if this seems a bit choppy.

Weeks had slipped by, turning into months since leaving York. In the last two months, I had made a true friend in Florian as well as Torvi. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was finally becoming my own person.

Torvi had spent some of her free time, when she wasn't around Ubbe, teaching me how to ride a horse. This instantly became my newest passion. Lagertha had seen my new love for riding and, being the overly generous one that she is, gifted me one. The animal was massive in stature and all black, including her wavy feathering at her legs.

Since being gifted Idunn, I made a point to become not only a skilled rider but also a skilled horseback archer. My mornings were spent riding through one of the training fields while shooting at the targets that were set up. Vidar also loved this new hobby, he would run along Idunn's side keeping pace as we rode. We would ride for about an hour before others started to show up for training and then head back.

Riding back into town, I put Idunn back in her stall and made sure to fill her trough with hay before I made my way to the great hall. This was also a part of my new morning routine, having breakfast with Lagertha, Torvi, Ubbe and Florian. Margrethe rarely came around us. She's not been right since we came back to Kattegat. Torvi was telling me that Margrethe thinks Lagertha is losing her ability to rule and keep the peoples of Kattegat safe. I scoffed when she told me this. If anyone was able to lead and keep the people of Kattegat safe it was Lagertha.

Pulling out the chair next to Florian, I sat down and poured myself some water and immediately chugged it. I filled my cup again and downed the water before filling my plate with as much food as could fit.

"Someone's ravenous..." Torvi laughed.

I shoveled some eggs into my mouth before I turned to see everyone at the table staring at me. Quickly swallowing my food, I cleared my throat and awkwardly smiled at them. When they all went back to their normal conversation, I leaned over towards Florian. "What was that all about?" I asked before taking another bite of food.

He chuckled. "You've barely eaten anything the past few weeks and now you're eating everything in sight." Florian paused while he watched me devour my food. "I'm glad you're feeling better."

I had been feeling awful physically since returning to Kattegat and today was the first day since that I actually felt like a human. I wasn't feeling nauseous, I wasn't overly tired or harboring a splitting headache.

"What are your plans for the day?" Florian asked, laying down his fork and knife on the table.

"Besting you at archery again." I quipped.

Racing through the woods on horseback was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. With Idunn being a draft breed, it amazed me at how nimble she was maneuvering through the woods. I was, however, not a fan of her jumping over fallen trees. I was still new to riding and whenever she jumped I found myself panicking and gripping the reins for safety.

Florian was close behind us on his stallion. Florian and one of his friends had set up a trail through the woods with random targets to shoot at as they rode. This was only my third time riding through the trail and I still wasn't quite sure which way I was supposed to go but I wasn't about to let him win. I had bested him the last two go's and I wanted to keep the winning streak going.

I tugged the reins hard to the left, nudging my heals into Idunn's sides signaling her to go faster still. We pulled away from Florian, making the gap between us bigger. A devious smile spread wide across my face while I quickly pulled an arrow from my quiver and nocked it on my bow string.

"Briet, stop!" Florian called from behind.

Whipping my head back I laughed at his silly attempt to slow me down. "Not a chance!"

Bringing the bow up around Idunn's neck I quickly took aim, bringing the string back so that at full draw my thumb was against my cheek. Before I could take my breath in Idunn frantically stopped mid gallop, sliding forward a few feet before she reared back on her hind legs.

My bow fell from my hands and I quickly went to grab around my horse's neck but it was too late. I could feel myself being thrown backwards off of the animal. The moment I landed on he ground the back of my skull collided with something hard. Everything went black instantly.

The commotion of clattering armor woke me from my sleep. It took me a moment for my eyes to adjust to the bright light coming in from the edge of my bed. When my eyes finally adjusted I found myself inside a tent. Confusion washed over me while I looked around, taking in my new surroundings. Wooden trunks were strewn about the tent as well as a table littered with plates, half burnt candles and a wooden pitcher, no doubt filled with mead. Looking down at the ground, I half expected to see the familiar lush fur pelts however I was met by patches of grass and dirt. The more I looked around, the more I noticed this wasn't the grand, elaborate tents I was used to which only made my confusion grow.

"You're awake, finally."

I sat up in bed, my eyes instantly darting to the foot of my bed. I knew that voice but how could it be?

"Sigurd?" My voice was a little more than a whisper.

"Who else would it be?" He asked sarcastically. That all too familiar smirk pulled at the corner of his lips.

Throwing off the scratchy wool blanket from my body, I scrambled to Sigurd and tackled him; wrapping my arms around him. Hot tears started to spill from behind my closed eyes which made me hug him tighter still. Despite how things were between us near the end, he was still my dearest friend and I was heart broken when he was taken from me.

How was this possible? The events played out clearly in my mind; Ivar's axe landing in Sigurds' chest, him getting up from his chair while pulling his knife from his sheath on his belt, Sigurd stumbling towards Ivar and then falling onto the ground, dead.

I pushed myself from Sigurd and looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. My hand cupped his cheek and my thumb started to rub his stubble mindlessly.

"How... how are you still alive?" I asked while looking him over.

Sigurd's one brow shot up in a questioning manner. "What are you talking about?"

What was going on? I saw his death, this can't be real. I pushed myself back on the bed and frantically looked around the tent. Where was I?

"Sigurd, where are we?"

"You must have hit your head harder than we thought." He chuckled, getting up off the bed and walking to the table to pour two cups of mead. "We're in Wessex."

"Wessex?" Sigurd handed me one of the cups and I tentatively took it from him. Had I been dreaming this whole time? It felt like the room had started to spin, my mind going into a spiral. Random images flashed in my head; of Sigurd's death, Ivar's decent into madness, him... raping me.

"Are you alright?" He asked, putting a gentle hand on my shin while I sat there trembling.

"Where's Vidar?"

Sigurd laughed and then took a long swig from his cup. "Probably wondering around one of the nine realms?"

My brows furrowed. "He hasn't come back from his hunt?"

"Briet, what are you talking about?"

"Vidar! He goes off every morning for a hunt and brings back a rabbit or a squirrel. Has he not come back?" I snapped, getting annoyed at Sigurd's game.

"You think our God, Vidar, goes out for a hunt every morning and brings you back an animal?" He laughed.

I rolled my eyes out of frustration. "No, Vidar my wolf!"

Sigurd stopped his laughing, his smile was replaced with a somewhat sorrowful look. "Ivar must have hit you harder than we thought."

I could feel my eyes widen at his comment. What happened?

"Come on, I'm sure he's going to want to see you now that you're awake. Get dressed and I'll take you to him." With that, he turned on his heal and left the tent, closing the fabric behind him so I was shielded from passers by.

I was certainly not happy about going to see Ivar, but between him and Sigurd, Ivar would be able to explain what exactly was going on. Going to one of the trunks I recognized as my own, I opened it and was about to reach in when I saw all of my belongings were replaced with strange, unfamiliar things.

Shuffling on my knees over to the other trunk, I opened it and found Ivar's clothes. Where had my things gone? Resting back on my haunches, I sighed. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a stained wool dress resting on the back of the chair that was situated at the table. Guess that would have to do. Taking it in my hands when I got to it, I looked it over. I remember this dress. This is what I wore when I was Ivar's slave.

Looking around the tent once more, I realized this was a slaves tent. Why was I in a slave's tent? If I had been hurt, then wouldn't Ivar want me in his so he could be with me while I was recovering?

Slipping the dress over my head, I walked out of the tent, not caring that I was barefoot and met with Sigurd. Sigurd led the way through the campsite to where he said Ivar would be.

The moment I had stepped outside of the tent, I smelled something awful. The further we walked, the stronger it became. The smell was something that I'd never experienced, a mix of burning metal, skin and hair. Turning down another row of tents, it all made sense.

There at the middle of the camp was two huge pyres with tall poles at the middle. The wood of the pyre was still smoldering, smoke rising from what must have been a huge fire. At the base of the two wooden poles were two heaps. When Sigurd and I were finally in front of the scene, there were two burnt, smoldering human bodies.

"Sigurd, what happened?" I asked quietly. "Who are they?"

Sigurd kept his eyes forward, walking around the pyres and then stopping. I stopped next to him and then followed his line of sight.

Before me was the same stage that we all sat at when Ivar had... had killed Sigurd. My heart started to race. What in Odin's name was going on and who were those people?

A few men behind me cheered, which made me jump out of my skin. My head shot around to try and see what they were cheering at but before I could even find the ones who cheered, I heard two loud thuds of metal hitting into wood followed by a scraping noise.

Ivar.

Slowly, I turned to him. My palms were starting to become clammy and my heart was racing within my chest. I took in a shaky breath through parted lips before looking up at him. He was clad in his normal dark colored leather armor. Strapped to his leg was his metal brace that kept his one leg straight while the other had movable braces at his ankle and knee. He was standing with the aid of his crutches that wrapped around his forearm and had a handle for him to hold onto.

Ivar stopped and stood in front of an elaborately decorated chair. The back rest had what looked like hundreds of antlers with bird skulls hanging from random points of the antlers. The seat itself was draped with dark colored animal pelts.

As he turned so his back was facing his throne, his eyes finally locked on mine. My heart dropped to my stomach and I felt like the weight of the world was on me. I'm sure my facial expression must have showed how scared I was because Ivar's lips turned up into his dangerous grin.

He dropped into his throne, moving his crutches from his arms to the side so they rested on his arm rest all while holding my gaze. The longer this silence lasted, the more scared I became. Out of the corner of my eyes I could see a crowd of people growing around us.

"You're awake, finally." Ivar finally spoke. His hand rose in front of him and with a curl of his index finger, he silently commanded me to him.

Still not knowing what was going on I stayed still and quiet. Sigurd put his hand on my back between my shoulders and pushed me towards the wooden stairs in front of Ivar. On shaking legs, I climbed the steps and stood as commanded in front of Ivar.

"I-Ivar, what's going on, who were those people?" I asked.

"Ivar?" He laughed, slapping his open palms against the arm rests of his chair. "It's master to you."

My brows furrowed. Why was he being so cruel? "Ivar, you are not my master anymore. You freed me before you left for England the first time. You asked me to marry you."

His laugh was a mix of disbelief and hysterics. "Marry you?! Why would I marry a slave?"

"Ivar, what are you talking about? Stop this!" I snapped, annoyed at whatever game he was playing at.

Ivar lurched forward, the back of his hand striking me across my face. The brute force of his strike had caused my head to snap in the direction of his blow which made me lose my balance and fall to my knees before him.

Gasping from the pain, I grabbed my cheek and looked up at him through locks of my blond hair that fell in front of my face. When I looked up, I saw a familiar blond sitting in a chair, similar to his, that had appeared out of nowhere. Freydis sat there, smiling down at me with her smug grin.

Tears immediately pooled in my eyes, spilling over to run down my stinging cheek.

"I ask you again, why would I marry a slave when I can have this beautiful goddess at my side?" Ivar's hand reached over to Freydis who slipped her delicate hand in his. He gently pulled it to his lips and kissed her knuckles tenderly. My breath caught in my lungs from both his harsh words and his acts of affection towards Freydis.

"Don't forget what this slave has done to you, my love." Freydis said, looking at me as she spit the word slave out.

Ivar dropped her hand from his, looking back to me. "How could I forget?" His hand clutched the hair at the crown of my head before he stood, unassisted.

Pain radiated over my head and down my neck as I was pulled up to my feet by my hair. I gripped at his leather covered hands to try and free myself but it only made him hold tighter still. He put his other hand on my shoulder and spun me around so that I was facing the crowd of warriors that had gathered.

"This slave," He shook my head as he spoke the words, "was a part of the plan to overthrow me as the rightful leader of the great heathen army!" Members of the audience started to boo and holler slurs at me while he explained my apparent crimes.

"She and my brother Ubbe as well as one of your own, Florian Arensson, planned to kill me so they could rule you! So that they could leave England, showing them that we are weak!" Ivar turned me back so that I was facing him. I looked up at him with tear filled eyes to see his blue eyes iced over in hate. He took his free hand and used the back of his fingers to gently brush the hair out of my face. When he spoke again, it was in a low voice, so that only I could hear. "I say we should give you the same fate as them."

"Ivar, please no, I love you!" I whispered through sobs.

"Light the fire!"

"Ivar, NO!" I screamed while foreign hands gripped my arms and pulled me off of the platform and away from him.

Cheers filled the air, making my begging to Ivar inaudible. I thrashed against whoever was dragging me away. I looked around the crowd remembering Sigurd. He wouldn't let this happen. I managed to kick my heal into the groin of the warrior who was taking me to my death. He let go instantly and I darted into the crowd, looking every which way for Sigurd.

I didn't have to look too hard. Sigurd emerged from the faceless warriors. I ran and wrapped my arms around his neck, letting out a sob of relief.

"Sigurd, please, you have to save me!" I begged.

Sigurd wrapped his arms around me, smiling down at me. My moment of relief was short lived. He spun me around while one arm wrapped around my neck, the other wrapped around my front, pinning my arms before he started to walk me back towards the pyre. I tried to scream out but his arm flexed around my neck, cutting off my air.

As soon as I was at the pyre, more hands came from nowhere, wrapping my hands in rope and pulling them above my head, tying them in place. I looked over to the other two pyres, at the heaps of burnt flesh. Every bit of their bodies were burnt except for their faces. They were completely intact and looking up at me. Their eyes half opened and their mouths slack jawed, blood still seeping from their eyes and mouth. I could feel the bile rise in the back of my throat but I didn't have time to expel it.

Looking up, I saw Ivar standing in front of the pyre holding a burning torch.

"Ivar, please, I love you, don't do this!" I begged.

His head dipped down slowly so that he was looking at me through his thick lashes. His smirk spread into his full on toothy grin. Before I could beg anymore, he through the lit torch onto the kindling.

The kindling burst into flames. I opened my mouth to scream but smoke instantly filled my lungs, choking me. My eyes were watering from the smoke and I felt the flames spread even closer still to me. My skin started to burn making my eyes screw shut in pain. I tried to scream again but I only choked more on the black smoke.

I opened my eyes and was instantly met by Ivar. I thought that maybe he realized what he was doing and was here to save me. He pulled his knife from its sheath on his belt and brought it up above his head. He was saving me! He was going to cut my bindings.

Ivar brought his blade down, plunging it into my racing heart.

"Ivar!" I screamed, jolting up in bed. My head was spinning, both from an intense pain at the back of my skull and from sitting up as quickly as I had. I clutched the sides of my head hoping that that would somehow release my pain while I slid back down into the blankets and mountain of pillows.

"You're awake, finally."

My eyes shot open as I felt my heart stop beating. I quickly scanned my surroundings and found Florian sitting in a chair at the hearth of my home. He let the wooden spoon fall from his hand mid stir, landing along the side of the cast iron pot that was hung above the fire and stood from his seat.

"How are you feelings?" He asked, sitting at the edge of my bed and placing a comforting hand on my shin.

"I-I... where am I?" I mumbled still unsure of where I was and if I had been dreaming.

Florian's face scrunched into a concerned look. "You're in your home, in Kattegat. Ivar is not here."

My eyes rolled back while my lids fluttered shut. I let out a sigh of relief and I could feel my body release itself from being tense. My head was throbbing and I had no clue why but I silently prayed to the Gods to ease my pain.

"You've been out for two days. We were all very concerned." He spoke, reaching over to the table for one of the cups. He brought it to my lips and I eagerly gulped down the water.

"Wh- what happened?"

"Target practice. We were racing through the woods, you and Idunn were about to best me again but you went off the course. Idunn reared up and you didn't have time to steady yourself. You fell off and hit your head against a rock. When I went over to you, I saw this massive snake that was hissing. It must have spooked your horse." He explained.

"I had this dream... that I was back in Wessex. Sigurd was there, I-Ivar hadn't killed him. Ivar killed you and Ubbe, thinking that you two were trying to over take him as the leader of the great army. He," I shut my eyes tight, trying to get the image out of my head, "burnt you and Ubbe alive. He was going to burn me too," Before I had the chance to continue, I felt my stomach churn and bile raise at the back of my throat. Florian must have seen the drastic change in my appearance because he quickly moved out of the way before I leaned over the side of my bead and hurled.

"I'm so sorry," I whined, wiping the tears from my eyes with the back of my hand.

"No need to be sorry. I am glad you're okay."

It had been a few days since my accident in the woods. My head still hurt from time to time and I did notice that I was having trouble remembering things but one thing I definitely didn't have to be reminded of was Ivar.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his face. Every time I walked through the great hall, I expected to see him turning a corner or coming from one of the rooms. There was no escape from him. Even with hundreds of miles between us, I could still feel his eyes on me. I thought I was getting better but after my accident and after that dream, the feeling came back even more intense.

I wanted nothing more than to be free from Ivar but the more time I spent around Lagertha and hearing her speak of Ragnar and everything that transpired between the two, I was slowly realizing that maybe I would be just like her. Pining over a man who no longer exists.

And it wasn't just Lagertha, it was Torvi and Bjorn. Torvi loved Bjorn, unconditionally. He had saved her from a terrible arranged marriage with a Jarl years ago. She gave him beautiful children and yet he lays with any woman who allows him.

I took my cup from the table at the great hall and downed the rest of the mead then reached over and filled my cup. I didn't want to be a shadow of a woman left behind by one of the whirlwinds of Ragnar. Taking another sip from my cup, I sloppily put it back down on the table and pushed my chair back.

Supper had been over for a while now, everyone had retired to the fire pit that was out back but I stayed, still trapped my thoughts. But enough was enough. Making my way through the hall to the back door, the door I used to escape through many times when I was Ivar's- No! I scolded myself mentally. Don't even say it.

I took up the open spot next to Florian on the massive logs that were set up around the fire. The mead I had during supper and during my self pity party now had my head buzzing. I could feel my drunken smile spread across my face as I looked up at Florian.

There was no denying that he was handsome. And I was slightly let down when he told me that he wasn't romantically interested in me. Maybe it was because I was with Ivar? My lip turned up in a scowl. Enough with him already!

Well I wasn't with him now. I was free and free to be with anyone I chose.

Florian laughed at something someone around the fire said before he glanced down at me. He did a double take when he saw me smiling up at him.

"And what are you smiling about?" He mused.

Without thinking, I brought my hand up behind his head, spreading my fingers through his auburn hair and brought his lips down on mine. His hands cupped my cheeks while he gently kissed me back.

Moving closer to him, I pressed my chest against him in a silent command to go further but he pulled away briefly to look at me. Frustrated, I pulled him back to me, trying to deepen our kiss again but he was still hesitant. I closed my eyes while I moaned out of frustration and in hopes that he would take it as me saying it's okay, I want this.

He finally deepened the kiss, opening his mouth so that our tongues connected. He growled lowly once he tasted me. One of his hands moved from my cheek down to my neck, his thumb dipping down so that he had his hand was around my neck. Florian's hand squeezed lightly.

As soon as I felt his hand squeeze, I saw Ivar's face, glaring in anger at me from behind my closed eyes. Panicking, my hands shot to his chest and I pushed him away from me. Tears immediately started to spill from my eyes.

Florian looked at me, hurt and confusion painted on his face. Before he could say anything to me, the sound of thundering hooves caught our attention.

Two riders came out from the edge of the woods. They pulled back on their reigns making their horses slide to a stop.

Lagertha already had her hand on the hilt of her sword and Ubbe was now standing, his axe drawn and ready for a possible attack.

One of the riders got down off of his horse, both arms raised as a sign that he meant no harm. "Please, my lady, we mean you no harm. My friend and I, we ride from King Harolds."

Lagertha's brows knit together, her hand still not leaving its place on her weapon. "Go on,"

"Astrid is with King Harold. She has married him and become his queen." The nameless rider continued.

I could see Lagertha's eyes widen in disbelief. Her shoulders hunched forward slightly and her lips parted. I could tell her heart was breaking. Before she let herself fall apart, she quickly righted herself, sniffing back her tears.

"There is more. Ivar and hvitserk have come back from England. They've joined forces. They plan to take over Kattegat."

I fell from my spot on the log onto the ground, bringing my legs up into my chest and wrapping my arms around them.

There was no escaping Ivar.