Nerida stood proud as they all watched the boats arrive in the distance. Nerida nervous about meeting King Harald and his brother Halfdan, since she had heard rumors of their murderous and rapist ways. Men like them thought they needed to dominate others but Nerida would be very quick to show them otherwise.

"Without you, Nerida, this would not be possible." Bjorn said as he placed his hand on her shoulder, an ill feeling in her stomach as she feared her own demise closer than ever. It had been one year to the day since she had been found on the shore of Kattegat, and now she was about to embark on a journey back to the one place she vowed never to return to.

"That is my fear Bjorn." She said as she stepped from him and Torvi, not in the mood to be in their presence. She turned and walked quickly from the dock pushing through droves of people, who were eager for the celebrations and sacrifices of the night. Nerida had agreed to travel with Bjorn, something that made Ivar so enraged he refused to even speak to her for days.

Before she could stop herself, she walked into the home of the Great Seer. She had stayed as far from him as she could, but now she could no longer avoid him. Nerida nervously walked into the darkened home, her heart racing as she saw the Seer laying in his bed surrounded by candles.

"I have been waiting for you, Nerida, what question do you have?" He asked, his voice low and gruff something she had expected, but knew she would never get used to. Nerida sat in front of him, her heart continuing to race as her palms broke out in a cold sweat.

"Will I die sailing with Bjorn?" She asked without hesitation, the question something she needed answered before she could step foot on a ship with Bjorn. She sat there for what seemed like ages, her jaw clinched as she desperately needed to know the answer.

"You fear death, when you yourself have given death to innocents." The seer answered, a tear falling from Nerida's cheek a she remembered each person she killed, some deserving of it but most innocent.

"I know of my faults, and I know what I have done, but have the Vikings not also killed and taken? Have they not given death to innocents?" She asked as the seer looked down into the fire, Nerida feeling her patience thinning as she just wanted to know her fate.

"Part of you will die on that sea, but part of you will return." The seer said as he held his palm out to her, her mind still not at ease as she eagerly licked his palm and left his presence. Her mind trying to figure out the Seer's riddle for, a frustration building as she tried to push those thoughts from her mind. The only thing she wanted in that moment was to hold Ivar, but she feared his anger for her had not yet faltered.

****

"You are looking rather tense little Pirate." Floki said as Nerida jumped from his presence. The Great Hall was filled with people and yet Nerida felt as if she was standing alone, her heart aching as Ivar still refused to speak to her.

"Do not tease me Floki." She said as he offered her a cup of Ale, Nerida taking it eagerly. "If Ivar and I are fated, why is this happening?" She asked as she looked up at Floki, a kind and understanding smile on his face as he met her gaze.

"Did you know, that Helga once refused to speak to me?" He said as he looked adoringly at his wife Helga, the scars on her face and neck something that Nerida had never asked about. She did not want to pry into memories that clearly left a lasting mark.

"Why did she stop speaking to you?"

"It was for a far better reason than Ivar has for not speaking to you. Let me talk with him." Floki said as he walked from her side and over to Ivar, Nerida glancing away as she felt a pair of eyes locked onto her. King Harald had been staring at her since he had arrived, his gazes and smiles something that had been churning her stomach.

Her brow furrowed as she saw Margrethe speaking quickly to Sigurd before dashing away, her jaw clinching as she knew that bitch was about to reveal Ivar's impotence. Before she could sneak away and follow her, King Harald and his brother Halfdan cornered her, a smile on their faces as she felt uneasy in their presence.

"You must be the famed Nerida that I have heard so much about." The king spoke as he offered her some more ale, Nerida feeling frustration grow inside her as she saw Sigurd leave quickly.

"I beg your pardon King." She said as she pushed passed them and hurried out of the Great Hall, trying to stay in the shadows as she followed behind Sigurd making sure to stay out of sight. Nerida quickly climbed up onto the roof of a home, her movements slow as she crawled lightly over the mud and straw.

"Did he see you?" She heard Margrethe whispered, Nerida's eyes darkening as she knew that bitch was more cunning than she had thought. She listened as she spoke of not only a fear of Ivar, but a deep fear of Nerida, something that Nerida prided herself on.

"Nerida will kill me if she finds out that I told Ivar's secret."

"What secret?" Sigurd asked with a smile, Nerida wanting to slap his smile from his face, since she knew full well that he did not care for Ivar. He did not see him as a brother, but as a cripple who only got in his way.

"He cannot satisfy a woman." Margrethe's words slipped from her mouth as Nerida gripped her dagger wanting nothing more than to throw it deep into the whore's skull. She laid patient and watched as Margrethe allowed Sigurd to comfort her, Nerida's anger growing with each passing moment. Sigurd snuck away from Margrethe's side after what seemed like an eternity, Nerida seeing a smile on his face as she knew that he was going to tell his brothers.

Nerida slowly slipped down from the roof and landed with a thud behind Margrethe, her hand on the liar's throat immediately as she drew her dagger and held it tight to her face. "Liar, Liar you are, little slave." Nerida hissed as she shoved Margrethe against a wooden post, her hand gripping her throat tighter as she looked around for any eyes that might be upon her.

"P—Please!" Margrethe choked out as a devilish smile ran over Nerida's face as she tightened her grip watching as the blood rushed from Margrethe's face, her eyes desperately searching for hope as Nerida removed her hand and shoved her to the ground. "Are—you going to kill me?" Margrethe asked as she rubbed her throat, a red mark showing from where her fingers had been.

"Not yet. I will kill you Margrethe, but you will never know when it is coming. Just know that one day I will take this dagger and I will slice open your throat. I am sure the gods will thank me for removing a sore like you from this world." Nerida spoke as she kicked dirt at her with her boots. "If you speak of this to anyone, I will make you suffer in ways you never dreamed." Nerida said as she finally walked passed her and back into the Great Hall.

Everyone was starting to leave to prepare for the night of sacrifices, Nerida nervous as this would be her first time in the ritual. Many moons before she had renounced her Gods and accepted that Odin was the true Allfather.

"Nerida." Ivar's voice said knocking her from her thoughts and back into the moment, a smile on her face as she knelt to her knees to be eye to eye with him. "I am sorry." He whispered as he rested his hand to her face and pulled her lips to his, the kiss welcomed by her body and soul.

"I love you." She whispered as she hugged him tightly, his arms holding her close as his head rested on her bosom. "Come, the festivities will soon start." She smiled as she stood and walked alongside Ivar as he crawled from the Great Hall.

Nerida took her place with Ivar, his hand gripping hers as she watched Aslaug appear holding a great sword, a sword that reminded her of her fathers. Nerida stood and watched in fascination as they sacrificed a goat and other small animals, the drums and the smoke clouding her mind as she allowed the gods to bless her journey.

Nerida followed Ivar to the large bowl of blood, her body calm as she allowed him to run his blood covered fingers over her face. She dipped her fingers into the blood and did the same to him, their bond forever strengthened as they both drank from the large bowl moments later.

"My heart and my soul are yours Nerida, I vow my life to you." Ivar whispered as he kissed her blood-stained lips hungrily a fire igniting in her belly as she broke the kiss to stand, motioning for him to follow. They walked until they found themselves alone on the shore, the waves crashing in the distance. Nerida fell to the sand, laughing as Ivar threw his body onto hers, his lips gently grazing hers as a joyful giggle escaped her.

"Tomorrow I leave with Bjorn, and you will leave with your father to England." She said with a sadness as Ivar placed his finger over her trembling lips, a fear rising inside her as she feared she would never see him again.

"When you come back to me, we will marry." Ivar whispered as if he could read her thoughts, a smile curving over her lips as she nodded her head and pushed the feelings of doubt from her mind, hoping they would never return.

***

Nerida held Ivar tight as she said her final goodbyes, a tear falling past her cheek as Ivar wiped it away with his hand. She could sense his pain and his sadness but neither of them wanted this to be a sad moment.

"May the gods watch over you, my love. May you return to me as you left." Ivar whispered against her lips as he kissed her once more. "I love you, my Nerida." Ivar whispered as he broke the kiss, the intimate moment broken as the boys walked over to them, Aslaug joining them as she smiled at Nerida.

"Watch over my son Hvitserk." Aslaug smiled as she placed her hand on Ivar's shoulder, Nerida knowing full well that Aslaug wished for her swift death.

"Watch over my future husband, Queen Aslaug." Nerida smiled as she hugged the queen as tight as she could before turning to Ivar once more. She removed her golden necklace and placed it around his neck, kissing him once more as she felt her heart break.

"I have left plans of your legs with the blacksmith, go and see him my love." She whispered as she turned and walked from him, her lip quivering as she felt Hvitserk push her shoulder with his.

"Have no fear my friend I will protect you." Hvitserk spoke as he jumped onto the boat with his brother. Nerida stepped onto the boat and stood next to Floki who was smiling proudly as he looked at the open ocean in front of them.

"What a beautiful dragon you have made Floki." She said as she admired the dragon he had carved into the boat, her heart beating fast as she heard the ropes being cut, the rowers slowly moving them further out to see. Nerida hurried to the back of the boat, her eyes searching for Ivar as she saw him sitting on the edge of the dock, his arm raised up as he waved her off.

She placed her hand on her heart and then to her lips before waving her hand back at him, her heart swelling as she knew that when she saw him again, they would be married.