Chapter Twelve

Kattagat was a far cry from Hedeby, the rolling hills of farmland that was her home was replaced by a bustling of people and ships. How anyone walked through the muddy walkways was a miracle. Skadi followed her father closely, afraid to lose him in the crowd, what she couldn't lose was the eyes that followed her or more accurately, Ragnar. Then again when she and him had a rocky start, but now her loyalty lay with him, though that may have come on fast.

A man started to follow the pair, attempting to egg on the older man with a slew of cowardly words, only to flinch when Ragnar turned to him even slightly.

"You're a coward."

The old king strode forward silently.

"Did you hear me old m-"

Skadi had enough of him, sticking her foot out, causing him to face plant into the mud. The scrawny man scrambled up, turning to the young girl, starting towards when Freki rounded her side.

Silently begging him to come at his owner, the man was quick to back away.

When she began walking again, Ragnar chuckled, pulling her into his side, kissing her head.

No one else bothered the party on the way to the main hall. The thought of her brother's closeness made her step faster. She doesn't see them nearly as much as she would like too.

Hvitsick was the first she saw, he was talking to a woman, who seemed to blush harder with his every word. Ubbe had walked out of the main doors, noticing first his father then Skadi.

He nudged Hvitsick, gesturing towards her, she was already running towards them. She flung herself into Ubbes arms, he happily obliged his favorite sister.

He squeezed tight, making her breath ragged for a moment but she didn't mind. "Ah haha, oh I've missed you little one."

Skadi and Ubbe were far closer then her and Bjorn, as her eldest brother seemed to treat her more of a child than a sibling. Ubbe kept her safe, he who she'd run to if she had a nightmare.

Hvitsick on the other hand had deemed Skadi his partner in crime. Whether messing with they're brothers, Hvitsick was sneaky and taught her all he knew. Though in recent visits he seemed more inclined by the women of Kattegat, his little sister. Nonetheless he squeezed just as tight as Ubbe.

Ubbe greeted they're father with a nod, a far grander gesture than Hvitsick, who did nothing, even glaring slightly.

"Where's Sigurd?"

Sigurd was her favorite, it wasn't a secret. From when she was a baby they always seemed to understand each other. And no matter what Ivar said, to either of them, they would calm each other.

Ivar on the other hand seemed to make it his life goal to make his sister miserable. At more than one point he had her in tears, begging for Bjorn to bring her home.

"He inside, why are we not enough-"

Skadi was already off towards the blonde brother she loved so much. He was sitting at the long table fiddling with something, Ivar sat back with Aslaug.

The woman made her stop, she hadn't ever known how to feel about the queen. She had stolen Ragnar from her mother, but Lagertha had gotten the last laugh when she was born. The older woman was always kind to her, whether or not it was heartily true or not, she was four of her brothers mother, she was a part of her like whether Skadi really wanted it or not.

The queen was to first to notice the child. "Skadi, child, what a lovely surprise." She smiled warmly.

Sigurds attention shifted to her little sister, a smile breaking across his face. Standing quickly and striding to the girl who did the same.

He hadn't picked her up like Ubbe, but held her close to his chest. "I've missed you," his voice had gotten deeper, though he dropped to a whisper saying, "Ivar has been more annoying than ever."

Skadi laughed into his arm, pulling back to smile towards the youngest son. Ivar smiled lightly nodding at her, "you should not fill her mind with lies brother, I am not that bad am I Skadi."

No matter his faults, he was her brother, and she loved him even if she didn't like him.

"You have a few good moments where I don't want to hit you." Skadi poked.

"With a hammer." Sigurd murmured.

Nonetheless Skadi trotted over time Ivar and engulfed him in a hug, which was returned.

"I've missed you too little sister, no matter how annoying you are."

Ragnar and the two older men were soon to join them. Sitting together, Hvitsick was telling her of his and Bjorn's expedition.

Although she had heard the plans a dozen times from Bjorn, she sat and listened. More interested in the food that'd been placed in front of her.

Dinner had been uneventful, yet when Ragnar brought up England she perked up.

She was sure Ubbe would object to her going, ever the protector, and she was dreading telling Bjorn.

"We leave in two days, be sure you're ready. Skadi" he turned his head from Ivar. "Come."

"Are you not staying in the hall with us?" Ubbe asked.

Skadi had never thought to ask, but she could sense her father's unease at the notion.

"No, I can tell when I'm not wanted." It hurt a bit, to think that his own children didn't want to be around him.

"Skadi?, surely you'd rather stay here?" She could never tell whether Aslaug was truthful or not.

"I'd rather stay with my father, thank you." Skadi didn't wait for they're reactions, following Ragnar closely.

All through the streets, past a few taverns where drunk men whistled at the only girl they saw. Skadi just walked faster, staying close to her father who seemed very alert towards the men who yelled in their direction. Foul things Skadi didn't even want to imagine.

The night air chilled her, and the breeze off the water made her shiver slightly.

"We're almost there."

"Where is 'they're'?" A small house came into they're view, close to the water. Light from the setting sun blanketed it with a warm glow. As well as giving Skadi a look at the owner. A tall thin, scraggly looking man with crazy hair-

"Floki!"

If anyone loved Floki more than Ragnar, it was Geri who was all but on top of him in his best attempt to lick him to death. Floki laughed scratching at the beast's neck, making Geri's lips curl like a smile.

"Little lothbrok," Floki giggled at her musing her hair. "Big lothbrok." He copies his motion with Ragnar who playfully swayed at his hand.

As the night dragged on Skadi was asleep on Ragnar's shoulder, who didn't seem to mind.

"Right," he picked her up like she weighed nothing. "I think maybe it's time for you to sleep."

Helga has gone to sleep already, and Floki didn't seem too far behind her.

He stooped down pulling the blanket over them both. Ragnar was nearly asleep when an overgrown ball of fur flopped on him.

Geri likes to cuddle.

Freki however wrapped himself on the other side of Skadi, placing his head strategically to see the whole room.

"G'night papa."

By gods it nearly melted his heart, "goodnight sweet girl." Kissing her head and settling down.

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Hey she's alive. I'm sorry, I've had to hardest time writing this chapter. I had no ideas so it's kinda a filler. But also Skadi and Ragnar cuteness so...