"Reyher, its time," Helga called from her place in the boat as she accepted a couple of baskets from Floki.

Reyher stared at Bonnie with big sad brown eyes. Over the past year, they'd become inseparable. It still amazed Bonnie, Reyher chose to remain with Floki and Helga rather than sailing back to the Mediterranean with Bjorn. Yet Marvel's Odin's sentiment said it best, home wasn't a place, but the people who filled it. Over time, Helga and Floki had become Reyher's people. Her home. Not that she could ever replace her parents, but sometimes one had to build a bridge in order to survive a flood. Arm in arm, Bonnie walked her to the boat.

"I shall miss you, Bonnie," she said, stopping next to Helga.

Bonnie grinned, and then pinched her cheek. "No, what you'll miss is my LA Banks' Vampire Huntress stories."

"I'll long for those as well, but overall I shall grieve for you more," she said, while glancing down at her feet.

A grin twitched at the corners of her mouth as she dragged Reyher into a hug. "Don't worry, Captain Marvel. You and I will see each other again. On that you have my word." She whispered next to her ear. After she released her, she pulled Helga into a hug.

"Something deep within speaks of my place being in the ground, but a stronger voice says I've been given a rare gift by my Supreme and I'd do well not to squander such a fortune," Helga uttered next to her ear. "And I won't. Floki, Reyher, and I will discover this new land in the name of the gods. We shall restore faith where hope no longer dwells."

"All of my faith is in you, Helga. I have no doubts that you'll make the Goddess proud," she said, before releasing her and stepping back.

Floki wrapped up his goodbyes with the brother's, and then moved to stand in front of her. He smiled down at her, before releasing a high pitched tinkle of a laugh. Without warning he snatched her in a hug.

"You're the best of us all, Bonnie Bennett of Mystic Falls." He tightened his hold around her. "Not only has it been a pleasure knowing you, but it has also been my privilege. There's not a day that passes, pride for you doesn't light me up as your sage and even more as your grandfather."

Tears distorted her field of vision. "Your Abbey's dad." She nodded as she sniffled through a laugh. So many times over the passing years she'd sensed the truth, but she'd always give her suspicions to the impending rising to solve. Now there were no more impending tomorrows for them for a long while to come. Only the here and now which would soon slip away with the departing tide. "I knew that...I knew that. I also know you're the one who gave Ivar the root that helped him steal me from Bjorn."

"Ack," he scoffed as he waved her off. "And you're better off for it. You never wanted to return to the Mediterranean. Besides, your place is at Ivar's side, not Bjorn's." With that said he kissed her forehead and turned to climb in the boat.

"Be like Damali, Bonnie," Reyher said as Floki helped her unto the boat. "Always stand for what you believe in even if it places you at risk of standing alone. Just as it did when you defended and freed the chosen women of Algeciras. For that Allah is with you," she said as her chocolate browns bore into hers. Bonnie nodded. "He told me to tell you so."

This snatched Bonnie's attention, but before she could question Reyher of her meaning, Floki had begun to row away from the shore. She cast a quick spell of protection over them and said a silent prayer to the Goddess they'd soon meet again.

****

"Give me two more," Bonnie demanded.

Ivar took two more assisted lunges, before he lowered himself back to the ground. "He spoke to me as if I were no more than an idiot. Right there before you, Hvitserk, and members of my guard."

"You can't take it as a slight against you," she tossed him a towel to dab the sweat from his face, and then kneeled next to the sports bag at her feet. "Ubbe is only tired of fighting. At this point, all he wants is some land to farm and a family to raise. War mongering for fame doesn't interest him."

"You speak as if you and his interests align," he snapped.

She rolled her eyes as she began packing up his make shift PT bag. "Would you care if they did?" She asked without sparing him a glance.

"Of course I'd have a care. You are My-,"

She raised a hand to halt his words. "Just stop, please! If I were your love, then you'd treat me as such. I'm only a factor for you when it's time for your physical therapy. Other than that, you forget I'm alive." Slinging the duffle bag over her arm, she stood.

"That's not so," he said watching her with a thrown expression. "You're the reason becoming somewhat whole is of great import to me. For even if I'm only part whole, then at least I'm able to somewhat justify my claim to you. People won't believe us as unmatched as Sigurd declared us to be before one and all."

She dropped the bag back to the ground and knelt beside him near the boulder. "Babe, Sigurd was only being an ass in defense of me. He knows better than anyone how well matched we are."

He turned to stare into her eyes as he placed a hand on her thigh. She smiled and kissed his cheek. His mystical blues rolled away. "Yes, but you still do not desire me." With that he flipped himself over and slithered off.

She watched him go, wondering how the hell he scaled her attitude and beat her getting mad? What the hell did he mean she didn't desire him? She did...didn't she? Well probably not in the way she lusted for Ubbe or the same primal chemistry that overtook her at the oddest times with Hvits. Yet, she wanted him, right? Maybe the whole Madonna/Whore complex had gender swapped on her and dropped kicked her in the back of the head. Did she elevate Ivar as some type of paragon, because she saw him as her young innocent mate? Even worse, did she sexually objectify Ubbe, Hvits, and Bjorn because she saw them only as good times waiting to be had? Oh, Goddess! How sick! When did she become the sleazy producer whose most cast role was, stud muffin doing push overs on the casting couch?

"Bonnie, are you well?" Hvitserk paused in his trek across the camp to study her. His gaze trailed over her face down to her Nike tee, before coming to a hard stop at the crotch of her spandex tights. "C-Can I make you an offering?"

Her good-good practically leapt in her La Perla's for the possibility of some sexual healing. Holy testimonial hell! She squeezed her eyes closed. See! Why couldn't her body react this way to Ivar? "N-No, maybe when we get closer to York, Hvits."

He nodded before continuing on in his trek. Her head dropped back against the boulder as a sigh dropped her shoulders. Over the past year the urges for him that had always gnawed at the back of her mind now steadily approached full grown. Just looking at him these days made her nipples hard and her clit throb. It had been a year since she and Sigurd had given unto each other. How the hell would she survive their separation?

****

Bonnie's stomach flipped. Everywhere she turned each scene flashed before her sight worse than the last. Torment, torture, rivers of blood, and death. On repeat it played until York and Algeciras morphed into one. She had to physically stop Hvitserk from literally dragging a nun to her own raping. Yet Ivar loomed a bigger nightmare than him. He actually put a priest to death by melted gold. Melted gold! Had she not interceded and blocked the priest's mind, he would've known a living agony even the Christian hell wouldn't have been able to afford him.

After it was all fought and conquered, she'd felt filthy. Her lingering feelings of disgust had nothing to do with the dirt, grime, and blood caked upon her battle leather. No, the unclean she felt dwelled beneath the surface of her skin and stained the depths of her soul. Oh Goddess how was this her path? Those people were innocent.

She staggered from the church. The distant trickle of water collided with her ears. Salvation beckoned to her just beyond the blood stained gates of York. She followed the undeniable pull into the forest. A short while later she came upon a brook concealed by a canopy of trees. Without command her sorcery oozed from her. The golden mystical energy entered the brook in thick fog like billows. In mere minutes, the water shone like a CGI master piece. The surface sparkled as if it basked in direct sunlight. While the crystal clarity of the brook allowed her to see all the way to the bottom. Wisps of steam rose from its depths, extending an invitation she'd gladly lose a hand to accept. Damn near ripping away her battle attire, she rushed into the water. Immediately, calm descended upon her.

"How do you always manage to discover flowing water wherever you go?" Ubbe questioned as he stepped from the dense brush of the forest. He began to undress as his sky blue gaze remained trained on her.

She turned to float on her back. "Because it calls to me."

"I saw your face during the battle," Ubbe entered the water, bare, ripped, and hard just as she always preferred him to be. "Admit it, his deeds this rising sickened you as well."

"No, I didn't care for the brutality inflicted upon the people of York," she said, her gaze fixed on the gray overcast clinging to the sky. "But Ivar's still young with a lot to learn. A lot I do in fact intend to teach him. You just need to have more patience with him, Ubbe. Your anger and lashing out at him will solve nothing."

"Yes, but how many will perish before he understands wars aren't ones claim to fame. Battles should only ever be fought in the pursuit of peace or the maintenance of it," He said, with so much passion the veins in his neck and forehead rose.

"Oh," she rolled in an upright position, so she could peer at Ubbe full on. "Look who's gone and went left on me. What happened to the selfish Ubbe who believed he deserved everything simply because he was the second eldest son of Ragnar?" He scoffed. She swam over to him to search his features. "Hmm, at some point I must've blinked, because now before me floats a man." A sad smile claimed her mouth. Timing was everything and theirs had always been a second or two out of sync, making almost their running theme. "This is the Ubbe I should've given my heart to, I honestly believe he wouldn't have broken it."

He cradled her face in his hands and pulled her to him. "This Ubbe is more than capable of searching out and securing every one of those million dreams for you, Valkyrie."

"You're married, Ubbe," she whispered as he rested is forehead on hers. "I can't disrupt the covenant you created with another. It goes against everything I stand for as a woman and your Supreme."

His deep penetrating stare punctured every barrier or inhibition she thought to hold up against him. "In the name of the All-Father and on my sacred arm ring,"

"Ubbe, no!" She snapped, placing a hand over his mouth.

He removed her hand. "I renounce my matrimonial vows to Margrethe, former witch and slave of Kattegat. From this day forth, she shall no longer be known as my wife." Bonnie felt the covenant between he and the Hollow's impotent vessel break. "There it's done. Now, will you bathe and groom me?"

****

"This is it, Bonnie! Come," Ubbe said, grabbing her by the hand and damn near dragging her across the courtyard. She glanced back at Hvits, who just shrugged. "He cannot continue to make decisions without consulting us first. Especially, these sorts of decisions which affect the lives of everyone here."

"He's angry and hurting, Ubbe," she said, practically jogging to keep up with his long strides. What the hell did he expect Ivar would do when he found out about them? Wish them well? Throw them a damn engagement party? No he did what Ivar did best. He shut them down and froze them the hell out? Now the only thing left for them to do was put on a damn coat and wait his ass out. "We've blindsided him and I warned you this would happen. So, now we should give him time to blow himself out."

"Valkyrie, we can't give him even a second and well you know. English soldiers have been sighted sailing up river. They'll be here in a matter of a rising's time." He raised her hand to his lips and placed a kiss to the back of it.

"I don't fault Ivar," Hvitserk said, giving her another one of his hateful looks. "You led him to believe he was the sole keeper of your heart. Yet, your base actions proved you as a falsehood teller. For you have no heart!" He spit at her leather Louboutin's combat boots and she had to count to five to keep from going apeshit on his dizzy ass.

She pinched the bridge of her nose to offset the pounding in her temples. "Ubbe, you better get him!"

"Not now you two. Let us settle Ivar, and then we'll correct whatever the conflict is between you both," he said with a distracted raise of the hand.

As they attempted to approach Ivar's quarters a line of warriors with shields stepped in their way. A frown buckled her brows. "Move."

The warriors glanced at each other, then stepped back to let them pass. As they entered a blast of intoxicating pheromones dipped in the most potent untapped mystical energy she'd ever encountered slapped slob from her senses. The sorcery even surpassed Ragnar's by leaps and bounds. It slithered around her and tugged her toward the source. Ivar sat in a chair bare chested leaned over a table while receiving an old school back tat. He appeared more man than she'd ever seen him, and he dehydrated her on the spot.

He glared up at them. "Ubbe, Hvitserk, and Bonnie," he spit her name from the clench of his teeth. "What do you think of the fortifications I've made to the city?"

"I think if you are to make decisions such as these which affects us all, we should all be included from the beginning," Ubbe said, pulling her towards a bench to the right. "And why do you need personal warriors? They appeared minded to halt our advancement had Bonnie not accompanied us."

She tuned out Ubbe when Hvitserk brushed pass her. He bypassed Ivar to go make nice with a tankard of ale. Bonnie's eyes rolled. Oh good Goddess! Al-Anon here she comes. "Isn't it a bit early in the rising to start turning up bottoms, Hvits?"

"And isn't it a bit late to feign as if you have a care?" He asked before turning up his cup.

She once again pinched the bridge of her nose as Ivar and Ubbe argued about Ivar's inability to play well with others. The pounding in her head had reached an all-time high. She hadn't had an offering in months. Not since Hvitserk discovered she'd decided to give Ubbe another chance. Although, Ubbe would be more than willing to sustain her, she didn't want to jump back in with him. This time they'd both agreed to a slow courtship. They barely even kissed because she didn't want to get swept away by the physical. She needed to rebuild her trust in him again and she couldn't do so if thigh shaking orgasms clouded her brain.

Yet looking at Ivar and drowning in his untapped sorcery was like putting a shit ton of red in front of a raging Spanish bull. She had to have him! Oh Goddess she had to have him! Her gaze drifted from the beautifully chiseled cut of his face to his ripped to perfection lean muscled arms. She sank her teeth into her bottom lip.

"Bonnie!" Ubbe bellowed at her back.

"Hmm, what?!" She blinked once, and then twice.

When awareness reinstated itself, she noticed Ivar watched her with a pensive narrowed stare.

"Come, we must prepare for the approaching army," Ubbe held out his hand to her, reluctantly she took it and started to follow him out.

"Bonnie?" Ivar called after them. She paused to turn and look at him. "Forgive me for missing our last two gatherings. I'm over my anger, will you consider helping me once more?"

Her head bobbed. "Of course."

"Thank you, My-," he raised a hand and smiled, while even chuckling a bit. "Bonnie, Thank you."

As they walked out Ubbe wrapped an arm about her waist. "What do you think? Do you believe him?"

"Yes, he never lied once," she said, while allowing her gaze to drift over the bustle of activity. "But make no mistake, he doesn't see you and Hvits as his equals either. There can only be one HVIC and he's clearly distinguishing himself as such before the sight of the warriors."

"HVIC?" Hvitserk questioned as he fell into place at her side.

"Head Viking In Charge," she said without sparing him a glance. "See if you would've spent more time learning with Ivar, Guthrum, and Hali and devoted less time into running up in Margrethe, letters from the alphabet would be familiar to you."

Hvits' face crumpled as his mouth opened.

"Then what should I do?" Ubbe asked guiding her into the main hall away from Hvitserk. He more than likely attempted to avoid another one of their verbal knock down drag sessions.

"Ubbe, being leader of this army is not what you want," she pulled him further into a quiet corner away from a still lurking Hvitserk and a throng of others milling about. "Why're you attempting to remain responsible for something that is only going to keep you from doing what you really wanna do."

"Ivar has the mind of a babe. Abandoning an entire army in his charge will provoke consequences I'll not have on either of our head." He palmed her cheek and rested his forehead on hers. "Soon as I can disband this army the sooner we can journey away from these lands and discover our place in this world, together."

****

Bonnie glanced around the early century bedroom. She dropped the duffle bag she carried in a chair as she tried to understand why Ivar had one of his personal warriors lead her to his private quarters. For the last three sessions they'd trained in the courtyard. So, why the change? A moment later the door opened and he slithered in.

"What's this about, Ivar?" She questioned, while dropping down on the foot of the mattress. "Why'd you wanna meet here instead of the courtyard?"

He slithered over to climb on the bed. "When did you accept your last offering?"

"Why is that important?" She shifted in her seat. The thought of accepting an offering from him incited her magic. Every nerve ending in her body sparked like gunplay on New Year's Eve.

He dragged his index finger up her arm. "Because when you don't receive offerings as deities should it weakens you, My Love. I'll not have you harmed for being too exhausted to lift a sword. This may not worry Ubbe, but as we both know I am not Ubbe." He placed a hand on her thigh. Her breath caught. "Allow me to make an offer."

"I-no," she shook her head, before jumping up and running from the room.

For the next few days she went out of her way to avoid the temptation she'd come to know as Ivar. Initially, it worked. She was able to get around running into him. That was until the Blacksmith informed her he'd completed the hardware she'd designed for Ivar's legs. Though he damn near sent her hormones straight back to puberty with all the feels, grabs, and squeezes he'd copped, her pride at seeing him stand for the first time overshadowed her instinctive urge to mount him. And not just mount him but ride his boneless ass like a horse that refused to be broken.