Erik was all bandaged up, moving about despite his wounds. These injuries would have been fatal for an average man, but Erik's abnormal constitution allowed him to endure far more, which was why he was still alive.
"Are you okay?" The lady looking after him asked and Erik did not answer.
"Come here," Erik commanded, but she was not a slave and refused to comply. Every woman in Kattegat knew about Erik's perverse reputation; it was no secret.
"No, your wounds need to heal. It is a miracle you are still alive. The lady said, but Erik was not paying attention but instead eyeing her up and down. If he could undress her with his eyes, he woul, he was a Viking and accustomed to taking what he wanted..
Erik stood up from his seated position despite the protest of the caretaker and walked towards her.
"I asked you to come closer," Erik repeated and the look in his eyes reeked of death.
"I come to see you, and this is what I find?" a voice interrupted from behind. It was Ulf, and he had just stopped Erik from assaulting the woman.
"Ulf Lothbrok, what are you doing here?" Erik asked and the lady used this opportunity to scurry away but he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her back.
"Erik, she is not a bounty of one of your raids, let her go or even you could get into trouble." Ulf said, but Erik was not having any of it.
"She is just a woman," Erik said before trying to rip off her dress despite her screaming and begging. Ulf looked unbothered by what was happening.
"Herfjötur is back in Kattegat, Erik," Ulf said calmly. At the mention of her name, Erik's grip loosened, allowing the woman to escape.
"I saw her on her way to see Askild, the war with Vestfold is going to be an interesting one, don't you think?" Ulf said, but Erik was not listening, he stopped listening the moment Herfjötur's name was mentioned.
"That bitch... I will kill her this time!" Erik spat with anger. The campaign Ragnar was meant to lead was no longer relevant thanks to the upcoming war with Vestfold.
-
"Mother, where is father?" Bjorn asked as he devoured the piece of meat in front of him.
"Yes mother, where is he? Father is rarely at home these days," Tyr followed up his brother's question because since the spar, Ragnar was scarce at home for obvious reasons.
Reasons Lagertha did not feel it was in her place to tell them because they were just kids and she trusted her husband's judgement.
"Your father is busy with King Askild. Something tells me you boys will soon receive your arm rings," Lagertha said, cleverly shifting the subject. Her children took the bait eagerly.
Viking leaders and warriors used arm rings to swear allegiance and loyalty to each other until death. During this oath, leaders would give their warriors arm rings as a binding factor of the oath. The exchange of arm rings created an unbreakable bond that both sides respected at all costs.
This was something that Bjorn and Tyr wanted because it would show their own maturity as it was only given to those recognized by the king, for he was the one they all owed their loyalty to.
They could not hide their excitement and began to smile uncontrollably.
"You boys did not hear it from me," Lagertha said with a finger on her lips and both boys nodded like they had taken an oath of secrecy.
Lagertha was fully aware of the looming war. It was no secret among the adults, as she herself would participate. Despite wanting her children to avoid it, she knew they couldn't. They were Vikings, and denying them a chance at Valhalla would be unforgivable.
"Mother, I heard you were a famous shield maiden, why did you stop?" Tyr asked Lagertha, breaking her out from her own inner thoughts. Bjorn looked equally curious.
"I fell in love with your father, my son." Lagertha said with a broad smile but the response she got from both her sons was expected, they cringed dramatically when she used the word love.
"I am never falling in love!" Tyr responded with disgust.
"Me too, brother! Me too!" Bjorn shared the same support with his brother and all Lagertha could do was laugh. She loved Tyr just as much as she loved Bjorn, he brought out a side of Bjorn that she liked.
She has been trying to conceive a child ever since she gave birth to Bjorn but to no avail and this was why she did not oppose the idea when Ragnar brought it up.
Bjorn had a brother now and their relationship was healthy, but this war threatened to tear it all away. This was even more reason why they must win it, for she could not lose this life she has grown accustomed to. Everyone in Kattegat knew of the death of Egil the moment King Askild came back, as he had no more reason to keep a gag order on it, but the attempt on Ragnar's life was known only between both men. Lagertha was not aware of it.
"I saw an enormous man! I want to be like him! He had jagged teeth." Tyr said with Lagertha smiling, but the more he described the man, the less of a smile was on Lagertha's face. The moment she realized he was describing Erik The Berserker, she interrupted him.
"Stop Tyr! You do not know what you are saying. How can you say you want to be like him!?" Lagertha scolded and this took Tyr and Bjorn by surprise as both boys just kept quiet, the atmosphere turning awkward.
"I am sorry boys, your mother needs to get some rest," Lagertha said as she carried the dishes and excused herself.