— 18. Blood Eagle

It wasn't long before Tova had learned the truth of why Finnr hadn't spoken to her in days. He had been avoiding her for a reason she so easily learned.

As she busted into the room Finnr was standing in, Tova picked up a nearby cup, growling as she threw it at him.

He quickly stepped back, smiling in amusement as he ducked to avoid getting hit with the next object she threw at him. "You bastard!" She yelled at him angrily, "Did you have sex with that slave girl?"

"Yes," Finnr answered in a calm tone, earning a glare from Tova, "I had sex with her."

Tova glared at Finnr hatefully, picking up another object before she threw it at him. "It was once," He answered truthfully but clearly, it didn't make it better in Tova's eyes.

Tova went to swing at Finnr, only to have him grab her wrist to stop her. He grabbed her by the arms next before pinning her to the wall. She growled, attempting to fight back but she found herself unable to. "Are you done?" He asked her in a calm tone and she hatefully glared at him.

"Not even close," She snapped at him in a low tone.

"I don't love her. I love you," He pointed out as he placed a hand on the side of her face, "I will always love you and no one else. It meant nothing. I swear it. And it will not happen again."

"I don't believe you," She growled at him lowly.

"How can I make you let this go?" He asked her in a calm tone.

"Stop cheating," She answered in an obvious tone, "Stop having wandering eyes. Stop doing what you do."

"Done," Finnr replied without hesitation and Tova sighed, having the feeling she shouldn't believe him. He grabbed her by the waist, picking her up before he brought her over to the bed.

He placed her down on the bed and climbed on top of her.

Tova stared up at him, a pleading look as she placed a hand on the side of her face. "Never again."

"Never again," He repeated after her before he began to kiss down her neck.

_____

It was afternoon time and outside, Bjorn walked up to Tova, who was sitting outside alone. He sat down beside her, a concerned look on his face. He removed his cloak and placed it over her shoulders, seeing as though she looked cold. "What is wrong? You look upset."

Tova turned to Bjorn, forcing a smile onto her face. "It's nothing," She assured him softly and Bjorn shook his head.

"It is clearly something," He complained, moving closer to her as he grabbed her hand, "What is troubling you?"

"I am not sure I love Finnr anymore," She admitted softly, sighing in defeat as tears formed in her eyes, "He is the only man I've ever been with and I am sure I loved him once. But I do not think I love him anymore."

"Then why stay with him?" Bjorn asked, a concerned look on his face.

"He is all I know. He was my friend first. The only friend I had my age for years after you left. I do not wish to see him go if I ended what I have with him," Tova admitted, her lips quivering, "I've lost so many people. I do not want to lose anyone else."

"Sometimes it's necessary," He reminded her in a calm tone and Tova lifted her head to give him an annoyed look.

"What would you know?" She asked him with an attitude.

"Nothing," Bjorn argued defensively, "But I can see that he causes you more pain than happiness. It's not healthy," He reminded her as he stood up from his seat, "You should end what you have with him. Before it breaks you beyond repair."

Bjorn briefly placed his hand on her shoulder, just before walking away without another word said.

______

That night, Tova was confused when Bjorn had walked up to her in the Great Hall. He had grabbed her hand and told her he wanted to show her something. With that, Bjorn had led Tova into his room, which previously used to be hers before he had arrived back in Kattegat with his mother.

Just then, feeling uneasy, Tova stopped, causing Bjorn to stop walking as well. He sighed and turned to her. "It is fine, come," He encouraged her and Tova looked hesitant.

"Why have you brought me here, Bjorn?" She asked him in a concerned tone as she hesitantly followed him into the room.

"You can sleep here," He informed her as he began to situate the bed for her.

"Why?" Tova replied, looking puzzled as to why he was doing such a thing for her.

"Ragnar told me that you gave up your room for me to have. It isn't fair. We can share it," He responded and Tova shook her head, looking uneasy.

"We can't share a room," She argued and shook her head in disapproval.

"Why not?" Bjorn asked as he turned to face her, "We did it as children."

Tova smiled at Bjorn's words, stepping closer to him. "We are not children anymore, Bjorn. Don't you realize that? You are a man grown, and I, a woman. It would not be right for us to share a room."

"It is just a room, Tova," Bjorn complained, looking annoyed, "It is not a big deal."

"It is to me," She replied in a soft tone and Bjorn sighed in defeat.

"I don't want to force you to do anything you don't want to do. I want you to choose to stay here. But I hope you don't refuse because I don't see any reason for you to do so," Bjorn explained as he walked closer to her.

Tova sighed in defeat. She remained silent and looked down at the ground for a long moment.

Just then, she lifted her hand and began to untie the front of her dress, causing Bjorn to frown in concern. "What are you doing?" He asked in confusion, only to have his eyes widen when Tova pulled down her dress until it entirely revealed her breasts.

"Is this what you want, Bjorn?" She asked him in a cold tone, refusing to look him in the eyes.

Bjorn sighed at Tova's words. He walked closer to her, refusing to look anywhere but her face. He grabbed the sleeves of her dress and pulled it back up to cover her naked front, tying it back up. "Just because I'm offering to share my room with you, it doesn't mean I want to have sex with you," He reminded her, causing Tova to frown up at him as if she didn't understand, "Is that what you think? That when a man is kind to you, it means he wants something from you?"

"Usually, that is how it is in this world of ours," Tova informed him and Bjorn sighed in response.

He stared down at her, a part of him feeling bad for her. It was just like when they were children. She might have been smart in some aspects but when it came to true human connection, she was naive and thought the worst.

"Well, that is not how I am," He replied, shaking his head in disapproval.

Embarrassed by her own actions, Tova remained silent and stared down at the ground in shame. "Oh," She replied softly, and gradually, Bjorn began to smile.

"Yes. Oh," He replied, causing them both to laugh, "If you still want to, we may share a bed tonight. And not for the reasons you thought it to be. I just don't believe it's fair you must sleep in the same bed as the man you don't even think you love anymore."

Tova lifted her head and stared up at Bjorn. She smiled, nodding her head in response.

Bjorn smiled back at her and removed his shoes. Tova did the same before they walked over to the bed. They both laid down and Tova smiled as she stared into Bjorn's eyes for a long moment while facing him. "Do you ever miss when we were children?" She found herself asking him curiously.

"All the time," Bjorn admitted and Tova smiled in response, "Things were so much easier."

"Tell me about it," Tova replied as she grabbed Bjorn's hand and held it, "We've lost so many people since then. Gyda, Arne, Erik, Leif, perhaps now even Athelstan."

"At least we have each other," Bjorn reminded her and Tova smiled sadly, nodding her head in response.

"Indeed," She agreed with him in a soft tone. She sent him a small smile, just before turning her back to him to sleep.

After a moment of reluctance, Bjorn moved closer to her, wrapping his arms around her. He closed his eyes and smiled, the two of them gradually beginning to fall asleep in each other's arms.

____

Days later, Tova stood on the docks of Kattegat beside Bjorn, Ragnar, and countless others, watching Jarl Borg's ships arrived.

Tova sighed and turned, exchanging a small smile with Ragnar. And so it would begin.

That evening, at the feast, Tova did what Ragnar taught her to do. She stood off to the side, studying her surroundings closely. She soon realized his advice had paid off. She witnessed as Bjorn pined after Porunn, the slave girl. She saw many other things, but what caught her eye the most was when she saw Horik make his way over to Siggy.

"Hah. Siggy. I never once for a moment imagined Ragnar would take my advice and invite Jarl Borg here to rejoin our alliance," He explained and Siggy smiled as she turned to face the man.

"As I told you, Ragnar is different. Whatever you think he will do, he will always do the opposite," She informed him and just as she was about to walk away, Horik spoke up.

"And I wanted to thank you for what you did for my son," Horik told Siggy, causing Tova to frown in concern, "You made him a man."

"Do not ask me to do it for your other sons," Siggy told Horik in a low tone, leading to Tova immediately realizing what they were talking about, "I am not a whore."

"No," Horik replied, smiling as he shook his head, "Just for me." He briefly placed his hand on Siggy's shoulder, just before walking away.

Siggy was on the verge of walking away as well, only to turn and have her eyes widen in alarm at the sight of Tova staring at her.

She sighed in defeat and walked over to her daughter, an uneasy look on her face. "How much did you hear?" She asked in a hushed tone.

"All of it," Tova replied, trying to contain her anger.

"Can you keep it a secret?" She asked her, a pleading look on her face.

Tova let out a loud laugh, smiling as she shook her head. "No," She replied, causing Siggy to look nervous as she watched Tova walk away.

_____

Later that night, holding a lit torch, Tova walked over to where Rollo, Torstein, and many other men loyal to Ragnar stood. She walked over to the barn where Jarl Borg's men slept and without hesitation, she lit the barn on fire.

The men inside began to scream and shout for help and with that, Tova ran off with the others.

Near the Great Hall, Tova soon found herself standing there with Torstein and Rollo, pacing. Just then, Floki ran by, but thinking it was one of Jarl Borg's men, they raised their weapons in defense.

However, the moment they saw it was Floki, they lowered their weapons and sighed in annoyance. "Floki!" Torstein snapped at the man in an aggravated tone, "Where have you been?"

"Here and there. Up and down," Floki replied jokingly and Tova sighed as she walked closer to him with a concerned look on her face.

"Where is Bjorn?" She asked, looking concerned, "He is supposed to be with you, Floki! Or did you forget the plan?"

Floki extended his arms out and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, Tova," He replied and Tova sighed in annoyance.

"Let's just go. I'm sure he's safe," Tova decided and the men nodded before following her as she walked in the direction of where Jarl Borg slept with his wife.

It wasn't long before they arrived at Jarl Borg's cabin, where Rollo busted open the door to find Jarl Borg's wife staring at them in fear while Jarl Borg stood before them. He held a sword in his hand and showed no fear toward them, prepared to fight to the death.

"Good evening, Jarl Borg," Rollo greeted the man in a calm tone. Jarl Borg lunged at the man, only to have Rollo unarmed him within seconds before pressing his own ax against the man's throat, "I told you, I always look for revenge."

Rollo smiled and stepped back, watching as Tova kicked Jarl Borg in the back of the leg.

The man grunted in pain and fell to the ground while his wife cried out in fear.

Torstein grabbed him up and Floki glanced at Torvi, just before grabbing the sides of Jarl Borg's face. He forced the man to glance at his wife and with that, another man began to walk toward Torvi with his ax raised.

The woman gasped in fright, but before she could be harmed, Tova stepped in front of the woman protectively. "No," She demanded in a stern tone, much to everyone's surprise, "It is not necessary. She is innocent. Not to mention, pregnant. Would you truly harm a pregnant woman?"

The men nodded and obeyed her, their attention turning back to Jarl Borg.

With that, Jarl Borg glanced back at Floki, who kissed him on the forehead before headbutting him. He struck him again and again as Torstein forced him to remain standing.

"Turn around," Tova told Torvi in a soft tone, "You do not want to see this."

Torvi fearfully nodded, tears in her eyes as she turned around to avoid the sight of her husband being beaten half to death.

____

In the Great Hall, King Horik busted into the large room with his son Erlendur. "What is all the commotion?" He asked in a loud tone, looking ahead to find Ubbe sitting on Ragnar's throne.

"I am sorry," Ragnar spoke up as he entered the room, "But the armies of Kattegat has awoken you."

"What is the cause of this?" Horik asked, a concerned look on his face.

"In here," The sound of Tova's voice was heard, causing everyone's head to turn. The doors were opened by Rollo and Tova, just before Jarl Borg was dragged in by two of Ragnar's men, beaten bloody.

He was dragged over to Ragnar, just before being dropped at his feet. "May I present to you, Jarl Borg," Tova spoke up in a taunting tone.

"Is he dead?" Horik asked, a concerned look appearing on his face as he stared down at Jarl Borg's body.

"Oh, no. He's not dead," Floki informed him, smiling slightly. "Yet."

Without a care in the world, Floki kicked Jarl Borg, causing the man to groan in pain.

"Why have you done this?" Horik complained as he stared up at Ragnar.

Tova walked up the steps to stand beside Ragnar, who placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Do you really think I could ever forgive this man? For threatening to kill my family?" Ragnar asked Horik in a low tone.

"So what will you do now?" Horik spoke up in a stern tone, trying to hide his uneasiness.

Ragnar patted Tova on the back, just before he walked over to Jarl Borg. He bent forward, flipping the man onto his back before leaning closer to him. "Since you consort with eagles, I will draw a blood eagle on your back."

"No!" Jarl Borg managed to get out, a fearful look on his face.

"And your ribcage will spring apart," Ragnar continued on and Jarl Borg lifted his hands to cup Ragnar's face.

"No!" He pleaded, a fearful look on his face.

"Yes," Ragnar answered calmly as he gently removed Jarl Borg's hands from his face before standing up, "Like wings!"