— 12. Four Years Later

Four years ended up passing since the day Bjorn had left with his mother and Tova had met Finnr. A lot had changed since then.

What ended up starting as a friendship between Tova and Finnr had soon turned into a relationship when they both became older.

Tova was happy being with Finnr while also being a shieldmaiden in training and the adopted daughter of Ragnar Lothbrok. Ragnar Lothbrok found himself unable to find true happiness with Lagertha and Bjorn absent from his life. In a way, he did find happiness while spending time with Tova. She was his daughter in his eyes and she filled the void in his heart left by Bjorn and Lagertha.

He hadn't heard from them since they had left and it had been four years. He now had two sons, Ubbe and Hvitserk, and Aslaug was pregnant with yet another child.

Tova felt empty without that part of her family as well, and she tried her hardest to fill that void. In a way, she did, but deep down, she knew she longed to see Lagertha and most of all, Bjorn again. And soon enough, she would.

It was snowing outside and Tova was standing across from Finnr, laughing as he threw a ball of snow in her direction.

She let out a large laugh and ducked, just before picking up some snow from the ground. She threw it, laughing loudly when it hit him in the face.

"Oh, you're going to pay for that," Finnr commented in a low tone and Tova chuckled as Finnr began to chase after her.

Soon enough, he caught up to her and wrapped his arms around her from the back. She smiled and he let go of her. She turned to face him, slowly backing up until her back was leaning against a nearby cabin.

She smiled up at him as he walked over to her. He cupped her face in his hands, just before they began to kiss. They kissed for a long while until Tova pulled away, letting out a large sigh as she smiled softly. "I must go," She told him in a soft tone, "Ragnar is expecting me. I must train."

"But you train every day," Finnr pouted as he stared down at her, placing his hand on the side of her face, "Can't you skip today and spend the day with me?"

Tova laughed in amusement and shook her head. "You wish," She replied as she leaned closer, kissing him once more.

Slowly, she pulled away, on the verge of walking away when Finnr grabbed her hand. She smiled, playfully rolling her eyes as she turned to him. They briefly kissed once more, only to immediately pull away from each other when Ragnar appeared in front of them.

They sighed, exchanging an annoyed look with each other before turning to Ragnar. "Are you two finished?" He asked them in an annoyed tone.

Tova smiled at Ragnar in amusement and shook her head. She exchanged a look with Finnr, just before beginning to walk away with Ragnar. "That wasn't nice."

"I know," Ragnar replied without a care in the world as he turned to give her a knowing look, "I don't like him."

"Why?" Tova asked, a puzzled look on her face.

"You're too good for him," He answered as if it were obvious.

"And how would you know?" She found herself asking Ragnar, a smile forming on her lips.

"He is the son of a Jarl. You are the daughter of Ragnar Lothbrok," He reminded her and Tova playfully rolled her eyes, "Enough talk. We must train."

____

That night, at the feast in the Great Hall, Tova entered the Great Hall and everyone cheered when they saw her enter with Finnr's arm wrapped around her.

Torstein immediately stood up and made his way over to them. He laughed, wasting no time hugging Tova. "I was wondering if you were coming."

"Of course I'm coming. How could I ever refuse the opportunity of having free food and as much ale as I wish?" She commented, causing them both to laugh.

Torstein turned to Finnr, the two of them beginning to make conversation as Tova began to walk in the direction of Athelstan.

"Tova!" A voice suddenly spoke up, causing Tova to turn and smile at the sight of Hvitserk running in her direction.

"Hvitserk!" She exclaimed happily, lifting the boy off the ground before spinning him. She pressed a kiss to his cheek, just before walking over to Athelstan.

She sat down beside Athelstan and Hvitserk immediately took a seat in her lap. "Athelstan," She greeted the man with a smile on her face, "I hear Ragnar has been training you. He said you're getting better by the day."

"Not good enough," Torstein scoffed as he walked over with Finnr, "You were better than him when you were twelve."

"We were just debating whether the ax or the sword is better," Athelstan spoke up in a stern tone, purposely changing the subject, "I think the ax is better."

"How?" Finnr asked, frowning in confusion.

"The range!" Athelstan answered as if it were obvious.

Just then, the door opened and Tova smiled at the sight of Floki. She placed Hvitserk back down on the ground, allowing him to run off while she turned to face Floki.

"Hello, Floki," Tova smiled happily, wasting no time hugging the man, "You made it."

"It is good to see you, Tova. It's as though you grow bigger as each day passes," Floki commented and Tova smiled at the thought.

"Well, I am sixteen now. I should hope to be growing," Tova commented before turning to hug Helga, "Hello, Helga."

"It is good to see you, Tova," Helga replied, smiling kindly at the girl as they hugged.

"Torstein, you're standing in the way of the fire. As usual," Floki complained, earning an amused look from Tova as she and Torstein stepped out of the way.

"Hello, Priest," Floki greeted Athelstan, staring down at him with a tauntingly.

Athelstan stared up at Floki, cursing at him in Old Norse.

"Ooh!" Tova laughed, exchanging an amused look with Finnr.

"Why do you still say such things?" Athelstan asked, smiling as he wrapped an arm around Helga.

"So where is he?" Floki found himself asking the group curiously, "Where is our earl?"

"Behind you," Torstein replied, causing Floki to turn.

Ragnar was standing there, holding Ubbe in his arms.

"Hey, Ubbe!" Floki greeted the young boy with a large smile on his face.

"Hello, Floki," Ubbe replied and Tova smiled up at the young boy.

She had grown fond of Ubbe and Hvitserk. They were practically her brothers and she loved them both dearly. She'd do anything to protect them. Though it did sadden her to know Ubbe's conception was the reason Lagertha and Bjorn left Ragnar. However, she knew not to blame Ubbe. He didn't ask for his mother to become pregnant with him.

"We've kind of missed you," Ragnar commented as he smiled slightly at Floki.

"Well, I've been busy like a dwarf, building your new boats, Ragnar Lothbrok, even in the ice and the snow," Floki explained in a confident tone.

"So, yet he still has so much time to complain," Ragnar commented, turning to exchange an amused look with Tova.

"The boats are nearly finished. I think we all want to know where we'll be raiding this summer," Floki confessed as he gave Ragnar a knowing look.

"Every year, all your people wonder when you will order another raid West, and every year, you disappoint them," Torstein pointed out, clearly trying to gesture for Ragnar to do something about it.

"I've even heard some people say that Earl Ragnar is becoming like Earl Haraldson," Floki commented, causing Tova to let out a loud scoff.

"I think it's time you put their minds at ease. Don't you think, Ragnar?" Tova spoke up, causing Ragnar to smile as he turned to her.

"I do," He replied as he nodded his head, "Let me put their minds at ease."

The group watched as Ragnar walked up the steps. He turned, standing in front of his throne as he held Ubbe's hand. "Welcome, everyone. As you all know, it has taken a long time to prepare ourselves. To build our ships, and to replace the young men that we lost to the plague. But now, now we are ready, and this summer we shall finally go west again."

Tova smiled, lifting her cup of mead as she cheered alongside the rest of the people in the Great Hall.

"We will return to England, for that land was so generous to us the last time," Ragnar explained with a smile on his face, "But this time, we shall not go alone. For King Horik and Jarl Borg have agreed to join us."

Hearing his words, Tova turned, exchanging an uneasy look with Finnr. They both knew there wasn't a chance in hell that Horik and Jarl Borg would agree to go together.

"And perhaps we will not have to return so quickly, but stay in their land for a while, explore it, maybe even winter there. Who knows?" Ragnar explained as he walked around the hall, "But, I tell you, these are interesting times. The world is changing and we must change with it. We must act together, for everyone's sake. And now that I have put your minds to rest, who is hungry?"

Tova laughed and cheered at Ragnar's words, smiling as she turned to Finnr.

____

Later on, at the feast, Tova was sitting with Finnr at a table, smiling as they both drank together. It wasn't long before a slave girl walked over, placing two plates of food in front of them.

"Thank you," Finnr told the girl politely, staring at her intently.

Tova turned her head, watching Finnr in confusion.

"I've never seen you around here before. What is your name?" He asked her and Tova rolled her eyes, realizing what he was doing.

"My name is Astra, lord," She informed him in a polite tone.

"Where are you from?" He asked her curiously as he continued to stare up at her.

"I don't know. I came here as a young girl," She informed him and Finnr nodded in understanding.

"Thank you," He told her and the girl smiled before walking away.

Finnr began to eat, only to turn to see the look Tova was giving him. "What?"

"What?" She mimicked him before beginning to speak to him in a cold tone, "You know what."

"I was being friendly," He complained and Tova rolled her eyes before turning away from him.

_____

The following morning, Tova groaned as she found herself waking up. She rubbed her eyes, just before sitting up from where she laid beside Finnr in his bed. She quickly stood up, picking up her clothes off the ground before she got dressed.

She bent down on the bed slightly, pressing a kiss to Finnr's cheek before she left the cabin.

Once making it outside, it wasn't long before Ragnar approached her, a large smile on his face. "What are you so happy about?" Tova asked him, an amused look on her face.

"Nothing. The Seer spoke to me of my son's future, but he also spoke of you," He informed her in a confident tone.

"And what did he say?" Tova questioned, beginning to look curious.

"He said you'd marry the son of a king," He responded, beginning to speak in a sarcastic tone, "As I recall, Finnr is not the son of a king."

"I understand, Ragnar," Tova groaned, rolling her eyes at the man, "You don't like him, but you're not the one courting him. I am."

"It won't last," He reminded her, causing her to turn to face him, "And I hope on that day, you do decide to leave him. He doesn't deserve you and I'm sure I'm not the only one who sees he has wandering eyes," He admitted, only to have Tova shook him a glare

"You're the last person who can tell me what to decide in that aspect. Or do you not remember what happened with Lagertha?" She asked him with an attitude.

"Do not speak of it," Ragnar demanded in a stern tone as he pointed his finger at Tova.

"I won't. It brings me as much pain as it does for you when I think about how I may never see Bjorn and Lagertha again," She explained and Ragnar sighed, staring down at the ground in shame.

"I think of them often," Ragnar admitted in a whisper, looking disappointed.

"I do as well," Tova whispered as she placed a hand on Ragnar's shoulder.

____

On the floor of the Great Hall, Tova was playing around with Ubbe alongside Ragnar while Aslaug sat nearby with Hvitserk.

"Ragnar," Aslaug suddenly called out, causing Ragnar and Tova to turn to see Siggy entering with Rollo.

Ragnar and Tova exchanged a look with each other, just before climbing off the floor. "You should all leave."

"Come on, boys," Aslaug insisted and with that, she left the room with her sons and Tova began to follow.

It wasn't long before Ragnar walked over to Siggy, demanding that she leave as well.

As she was walking out of the room, it wasn't long before Siggy joined her.

"What are you up to?" Tova had asked the woman as she turned to look at her.

"Rollo has been shunned long enough. It is time he rekindles with Ragnar and joins him in England," Siggy explained, earning a puzzled look from Tova.

"I don't understand why you choose to remain at his side," Tova complained as she shook her head at Siggy.

"He is all I have left," Siggy confessed, a saddened look on her face.

"You have me," Tova admitted softly, causing Siggy's eyes to soften.

"I want to believe that, but I don't. For a year after Lagertha left, we grew closer but within the blink of an eye, you shunned me once more. Why?" Siggy explained, a disappointed look on her face.

"I don't know," Tova confessed in a whisper as she shook her head.

"Deep down, you do," Siggy argued. She sighed in defeat, briefly placing a hand on the side of Tova's face before she walked away.

____

On the beach at Kattegat, Tova stood in front of Ragnar. They held an ax in one hand and a sword in the other. Shieldmaidens and warriors sparred around them, practicing their skills for England.

Ragnar swung at Tova, who was quick to duck and avoid his form of attack. They continued to deliver forms of attack to each other.

Ragnar slashed his sword at her and Tova smiled, quick to block his attack with her ax. She shoved him back, swinging at him but Ragnar quickly ducked.

Their weapons soon became deadlocked and Tova smiled, only to have Ragnar roughly shove her back.

She stumbled but was quick to steady herself as Ragnar smiled. "Not bad for a shieldmaiden," He complimented her.

They began to walk around each other and Ragnar tossed his ax down on the sand while Tova did the same with her sword.

Tova raised her ax slightly, preparing herself for Ragnar's next attack on her. They walked around each other, Ragnar tilting his head as he eyed her closely. "Do you ever miss England?" He asked her curiously.

Tova scoffed, giving the man a weird look. "How could I ever miss that place? It was hell. The scars on my back just prove that."

Ragnar nodded and he swung at her, but Tova was quick to duck and avoid his form of attack.

"I want you to come with me," Ragnar confessed in a calm tone.

"Of course. Did you really think I would stay here with the children and the old people?" She asked him, letting out a large scoff, "Do you truly believe I'm ready, though?"

"You're more than ready. In fact, I am proud of how much you've improved,' Ragnar explained, a proud look on his face, "I suppose if Bjorn were to arrive tomorrow, you'd be able to best him at ease."

Ragnar swung at Tova once more, but her axe blocked his sword at ease.

She slashed at him and Ragnar quickly jumped back, the sword nearly slashed him across the stomach.

He stepped forward and slashed at her, but she quickly jumped back. However, soon enough, he gripped onto her arm and forced her forward. He placed his sword against the back of her neck while Tova pressed the blade of her ax against his belly.

She sighed in defeat, however, when he snatched the ax from her at ease, meaning he had won.

She stood up and Ragnar pressed the tip of his sword against her throat, staring at her closely. "It is one thing to use a weapon, Tova, it is another to kill."

He roughly grabbed her by the arm before knocking her to the ground. He threw his sword downwards, the blade embedding itself in the ground next to her head.

"Never hesitate," He told her in a stern tone and Tova nodded, a determined look on her face.

"Never," She assured him and Ragnar smiled, grabbing her by the hand before he helped her up.