— 30. Corruptions

Inside the Great Hall, Lagertha was sitting with Helga and Floki when the doors opened. They turned, their eyes widening when Bjorn entered, beaten and bloody.

"Bjorn!" Lagertha exclaimed in concern as she immediately stood up from her seat and rushed over to her son worriedly.

"What?" Bjorn asked his brother in an aggravated tone as he made his way over to where the ale was kept.

"What do you mean, 'what'?" Lagertha retorted as she moved closer to him, "What happened to you?" She stared up at Bjorn, placing a hand on the side of his face.

"I got into a fight with Tova," He informed his mother in a calm tone as he removed her hand from his face.

"Little Tova did that to you?" Floki asked Bjorn, an astonished look on his face.

"I wanted to stop them from killing her. She is spiraling, ever since she learned about Siggy," Bjorn explained and Lagertha frowned in confusion since she didn't know that Tova and Siggy had gotten close to each other in the past year.

"I don't understand," Lagertha responded, beginning to frown at Bjorn.

"It doesn't matter," Bjorn replied, taking a large sip of his cup of ale. He was on the verge of walking away when Lagertha spoke up.

"Are you going to see Porunn?" Lagertha questioned and Bjorn sighed as he finished his ale.

"No," He answered in an aggravated tone, "She does not want to see me. If she needs me, she'll tell me. She's a woman, not a child."

_____

Hours had passed before Bjorn returned to the Great Hall. He decided to return to his old room there instead of going back to Porunn, who didn't seem to want him to be around her. She had been acting distant ever since she had been wounded.

Bjorn entered the room, only to have his eyes widen at the sight of Tova standing there. Even while sporting no bruises on her face, unlike Bjorn, she still looked worse than him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked her in an aggravated tone. He was in no mood to get into another fight with her.

"What am I doing here? It's my room. Why wouldn't I be here?" She retorted and sighed before standing up, "I'm sorry about earlier. I was not in my right mind."

"It is fine," He assured her as he shook his head.

"It is not fine. I hurt you," She complained, beginning to tear up, "I was angry after I heard about my mother. I blamed myself and I took it on you most of all."

Bjorn sighed and made his way over to Tova. He grabbed her hand, leading her over to the bed before they both sat down together. "I didn't know the two of you were so close," He confessed and Tova shook her head slightly.

"That is the problem, Bjorn,'" Tova replied as she sighed softly, "She died before I could truly have a bond with her. Just like my father."

"I'm sorry," Bjorn told her softly and Tova simply nodded.

She turned to him, gasping softly at the sight of his beaten face. It was her fault, after all. "I'm sorry, too," She replied, lifting her hand before she lightly ran his fingers over his bruises cheek.

Bjorn shut his eyes and sighed. He grabbed her hand, holding it with his own. He gradually opened his eyes and looked down at Tova, who stared up at him softly.

Tova sighed and went to retract her hand, knowing if she didn't, she'd do something she'd probably retract.

However, just then, Bjorn grabbed her hand and pulled it toward him, earning a curious look on her face. "What is it?" She asked, staring up at him, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Do you ever think it to be odd?" Bjorn asked as he looked away from Tova, "That my father and mother consider you their daughter. And you view them to be your parents. Yet despite that, you and I don't view each other to be siblings. We view ourselves to be something different."

Tova smiled and shook her head at Bjorn once hearing his words. "Sure, we were raised together for about three years as children, but we were never raised as siblings, Bjorn. You made that very clear when we were children. And I agreed. It didn't matter if I considered Ragnar my father. You and I...we were never brother and sister. We were something entirely different," She explained, smiling slightly as she placed her hand on his chest, "And everyone around us knows that. In a way, I dare say they all long for us to be with one another."

"You have a point. Floki and Helga encourage it constantly," Bjorn admitted, smiling slightly before they both laughed.

There was a moment of silence before Tova turned to Bjorn. She took a deep breath before moving closer to him. "I know you are with Porunn now and she is carrying your children, but I must tell you anyway," She began to say and Bjorn gave her a curious look, "I am in love with you, Bjorn. I suppose I always have. But it was only recently where I came to terms with it. And I understand that you don't feel the same way."

"Who says I don't?" Bjorn asked her, letting out a large scoff, "If you want to know the truth..." He trailed off and sighed, looking down at the ground, "I wish it was you who was carrying my child."

"Then we both feel the same way in that aspect," Tova muttered under her breath as she avoided eye contact with Bjorn, who looked surprised by her confession. She sighed and turned to him once more, "What?"

There was a moment of silence as Tova stared up at Bjorn, whose eyes were fixed on her. Her lips parted and she was about to ask him what was wrong, only to have her question answered when Bjorn leaned forward and kissed her.

She was shocked at first but gradually began to kiss back. She wrapped her arms around Bjorn's neck and Bjorn grabbed her by the waist, wasting no time with placing her in his lap.

He pulled away slightly, beginning to kiss down her neck and jaw. Tova gasped softly, arching her back in pleasure as she kept her eyes closed.

"Tova, I must speak with—" A voice suddenly spoke up, causing Tova to yelp in surprise as she jumped off of Bjorn. In the process, she fell off the bed and landed on the ground with a loud thud.

She quickly sat up, her eyes widening at the sight of Ragnar standing there. She watched as he glanced between her and Bjorn, a smile forming on his lips as he began to piece everything together. "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything," He spoke up in a sarcastic tone, earning a glare from Tova as he turned to look directly at her, "Come. There are matters we must discuss."

Tova sighed and nodded. She awkwardly exchanged a look with Bjorn, just before leaving with Ragnar. "Whatever you're thinking about saying, don't," Tova complained and Ragnar smiled, mocking lifting his hands in surrender.

____

In the Great Hall of Kattegat, it was evening time and Tova sat beside Bjorn, the two of them laughing when Ubbe and Hvitserk ran over, beginning to playfully fight with them.

"Stop! I don't want to fight you," Bjorn playfully told Ubbe, who repeatedly slapped him in the face, "Trust me, I've already gone through a fight with Tova today. I do not want to fight another."

Tova turned and shot him an annoyed look. She playfully slapped him on the arm and Bjorn laughed, wrapping an arm around her while Hvitserk was quick to climb into her lap.

Just then, the men in the room called for silence and Tova turned to see Ragnar sitting on his throne. "I have made up my mind. And this year, we shall attack Paris," He announced, causing Tova's eyes to widen in astonishment before she began to smile widely.

"Paris?" Rollo spoke up loudly, a puzzled look on his face, "What is...Paris?"

"That is a good question, brother," Ragnar replied as he leaned forward in his seat, "Paris is a city in a country called Frankia. Next?"

"Why haven't you told us all about this before?" Bjorn asked as he stood up from his seat.

Ragnar looked over at Bjorn and simply shrugged his shoulder. "Because I'm telling you now," He responded, causing the people in the hall to begin to laugh. He stood up from his seat and walked down the steps, "I understand that this...this will not be easy."

Ragnar smiled and climbed up onto the table, looking down at the people surrounding him. "By all accounts, Paris is a huge world, well-protected city," He explained enthusiastically, "This is something that our people have never attempted or dreamt of before," He paused and crouched down in front of Floki and Helga, "But I have begun to think and dream of it."

Ragnar smiled, stroking Floki's head before he turned to point at Athelstan, which caused Floki's smile to fade. "Athelstan, come," He called out, gesturing for the priest to walk closer to him once he moved away from Floki, "Athelstan has been to Paris and the wanderer who first told me about England, he too told me about this city. We must find him! Yes! For it is good to travel with hope and with courage. But it is still better to travel with knowledge!"

The people in the great hall cheered loudly and Tova smiled, turning to exchange a look with Bjorn. He stood near her, Ubbe sitting on his shoulders while Hvitserk sat in her lap.

Once Ragnar gestured for Tova to come with him and Athelstan, Tova placed Hvitserk down beside Aslaug. She stood up and walked over to Ragnar, who wrapped his arm around both Athelstan and Tova.

They began to walk together, only to suddenly have Lagertha block their path. "What about your promise?" She asked Ragnar in a stern tone.

"What promise?" Ragnar asked, a puzzled look on his face.

"To visit my earldom, to go to Hedeby," She informed him in an aggravated tone, "To speak to the usurper."

Ragnar laughed, turning to exchange a look with Tova. Tova knew at that moment that Ragnar was up to something.

____

Tova found it odd when Ragnar insisted she come with him and Lagertha to Hedeby. She wondered why he didn't just invite Bjorn, but she decided not to ask the man about it.

Lagertha walked ahead of the duo and busted through the doors of Hedeby's Great Hall, quick to confront Kalf about taking the earldom in her absence. He was, after all, a man she had trusted.

Kalf was beginning to walk toward Lagertha as she snapped at him. However, the moment Ragnar walked in alongside Tova, his attention went to them instead.

"Hello, Kalf," Ragnar greeted the man calmly once Lagertha was done with her rant, "Perhaps we might, uh, discuss these matters more privately."

Kalf turned to glance at Lagertha, who was staring at Ragnar in betrayal. He turned to look back at Ragnar and nodded. "As you wish, King Ragnar," He replied and Ragnar awkwardly turned to glance at Lagertha as she glared at him.

"Come, Tova," Ragnar told Tova, who turned to give Lagertha a sympathetic look before she followed after Ragnar and Kalf.

Moments later, Tova stood in the room with Ragnar and Kalf, listening closely to the conversation without taking part.

"Please, sit," Ragnar told Kalf when he saw the man pacing, "I would prefer the unnecessary loss of lives, fighting a civil war with you."

Ragnar walked closer, placing his cup of mead down. "Can I call you Earl Kalf?" He asked and Tova smirked slightly, knowing what Ragnar was doing and why. Kalf was about to speak up, only to have Ragnar cut him off, "Come this spring. I'll be invading a country called Frankia. And my daughter and I would like to invite you, your men, and your ships to join me on this expedition."

"And if I refuse?" Kalf asked and Ragnar smiled at him.

"You will lose everything," he answered in a calm tone.

"Even my earldom?" Kalf questioned, eying Ragnar suspiciously.

"You mean my earldom," Lagertha spoke up as she suddenly appeared behind Ragnar and Tova, causing the duo to jump and exchange an awkward look with each other before backing away from her.

"That is between you and my ex-wife," Ragnar suddenly spoke up as he walked toward the door, "And good luck with that."

Ragnar wrapped an arm around Tova and the duo began to walk out the door together.

"You didn't do what you said you'd come here to do," Tova complained as she gave Ragnar a puzzled look.

"I know," He answered in a calm tone and Tova frowned at him.

"Why?" She asked, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.

"His men are more important than Lagertha having an Earldom," He admitted, causing Tova to shake her head.

"Maybe to you, but not to her," She pointed out, and Ragnar in frustration.

"Whose side are you on?" He complained and Tova scoffed at him.

"Neither," She argued and Ragnar rolled his eyes at her.

"That is a first," He muttered under his breath, earning an annoyed look from Tova.

_____

Upon learning that Lagertha was leaving Kattegat after what happened with her earldom, Bjorn and Tova decided to go see her before she left. The duo walked over to the shieldmaiden, who was in the middle of preparing her horse.

"Where are you?" Bjorn found himself asking his mother in concern.

"I have no idea," Lagertha admitted as she let out a large sigh, "But your father will not fight for my honor or my property. I cannot stay here."

"It seems we have been here before," Bjorn commented and exchanged a look with Tova.

"Don't try to stop me," Lagertha snapped at Bjorn before turning to glance at Tova, "Either of you."

Tova gave Lagertha a raised brow look and raised her arms in surrender.

"You may if you like. You're a free woman," Bjorn responded in a calm tone, "But Ragnar has many other sons."

"What are you trying to say, Bjorn?" Lagertha asked as she and Tova stared at Bjorn in confusion.

"I'm saying if you leave and you show you do not care, who's to stop him from favoring his other sons?" He complained and Tova frowned in concern, "Her sons, above me?"

"Ragnar loves you," Lagertha argued in a stern tone.

"And I love him too. But I know him," Bjorn reminded his mother as he walked closer to her, "So I'm asking you to stay. Not for your sake, but for mine. But don't pretend to me that you don't want to go to Paris. I know you want to go to Paris. I have dreamed of the three of us and Tova going together," He explained, watching as his mother climbed onto her horse, "Do you understand? Do you understand that you are not leaving?"

"You're a man now, Bjorn," Lagertha replied, beginning to walk forward, "Act like one."

As Lagertha rode off, Tova turned to Bjorn and began to laugh. Bjorn immediately turned to her, shooting her an annoyed look. "Shut up," He snapped at her as he rolled his eyes at her.

"Is she wrong?" Tova asked jokingly, smiling at Bjorn as he walked off.