During the night while everyone slept Bonnie sensed Lagertha's energy cross the veil. The loss of the once queen of Kattegat inflicted a blow for which she'd not been prepared. They'd never been the bosom buddies she'd pretended them to be in her head when she watched the show. Yet over the last solstice cycle they'd grown close. Now Lagertha's name dwelled among the long list of those who'd come and gone. Such an inexplicable truth threatened to raise the seas, shake the earth, and overrun lands with molten fire. For how else did a world mourn a fallen legend which shined brighter than a newborn sun during the entire span of her life? Goddess, she respected the hell out of that woman...shieldmaiden...mother...Earl...Queen!

"Agh!" Bjorn bolted upright from his resting place on the ship's floor.

Panic snatched his eyes wide, while anguish ripped carved furrows into his features. His head swung about as his stare darted around the ship until they landed upon her. Without being called, she utilized supernatural speed to close the distance between them. Once at his side, Bonnie buried herself in Bjorn's bone constricting embrace. Opening herself and giving to him in a way she hadn't since the first time he'd gutted her. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and took what she offered. In the tempest of confusion and pain they clung to each other, relying on the other as anchors of sorts.

"Lagertha," he whimpered into her hair. "My mother."

"I know," she whispered back, while stroking the weathered skin at the nape of his neck.

He pulled his face from her neck to stare into her eyes. "We have to get to Kattegat."

"We will," she promised, before pressing her lips to his, and then resting her forehead against his.

His grip around her tightened as she allowed her mystical energy to seep from her. Gilded sorcery wrenched the oars from the seamen unsuspecting grasp. A few startled shrieks met their ears along with crashes from a few scared shitless men hurling themselves to the center of the boat. Bonnie, however, ignored the extraness moving about the vessel to concentrate on managing the weather. Whipping winds rose at the rear of them. The burst of air aided them along in their journey home. Soon the ship soared at an impossible pace back to the shores of Kattegat.

****

Torvi allowed one of the seamen to help her unto the shore from the ship. Once on land her gaze drifted over Lagertha's homestead. In her former mother-in-law and lover's fleeting time of dwelling there, she'd managed to carve out a place which would likely sustain for summers to come. Lagertha not being there to witness the fruits of her efforts saddened her. For what would Midgard be if the greatest shieldmaiden no longer dwelled in it?

As the villagers began to gather, her youngest children rushed into her arms. They each attempted to embrace her as tight as her growing belly would allow. Gunnhild, Ingrid, and Ayanna watched from not even a half a pace away. As she held Asa and Hali close to her breasts, her gaze wandered over the gathering once more. The beat pounding at her chest faltered. Where was Guthrum?

"He was harmed during the final battle, but he shall thrive once recovered," Ayanna answered without allowing her the benefit to voice the question.

Relief nigh buckled Torvi's knees as an exhale galloped from the split of her lips.

"You've missed Lagertha," Hali said. "She left for Kattegat on her steed only the eve before."

A familiar burn stung the corners of her eyes again. She swallowed, and then uttered. "Lagertha's the reason I've come." Her stare swept from her children to Ayanna. "She's journeyed beyond the veil."

The beautiful woman nodded. Yet nothing which heralded shock disturbed her unique features.

"But she promised to teach me how to be a shieldmaiden," Asa whimpered.

She offered her daughter a closed lip smile. "I'm sorry that you'll have to make do with me Asa, but Lagertha taught me everything I know."

"What of Ronin?" Hali gripped her shoulder, while fear twisted his face about. "Where's Ronin? They traveled together."

"I know not of this warrior named Ronin." She gave her head a slow shake. "There was only one woman traveling with her and the slave made her way beyond the veil upon Lagertha's blade after she attempted to escape."

Hali tore himself from her arms and ran towards the forest. "Hali!"

"Leave him be. There's no relief other than time that'll aid in easing his suffering," Ayanna said, turning back toward the keep. "You should see to Guthrum, and then rest. For on the morrow we shall journey back to Kattegat."

****

"Hvitserk, why?" Ubbe demanded as he watched his brother prowl from one side of the locked room to the other. He'd place Hvitserk in a guarded area of the long house until he knew what to do with him. Something which he knew not. At least not until he understood his purpose for killing Lagertha. "Why did you do this?"

Hvitserk halted his prowling. He whirled about to glare at him. "Do you believe it to be my will which led me to this end? For the last several moons I've been at the mercy of the gods and my cups!" He jabbed a finger at him. "A verity you've seen for yourself many times afore. So why would last eve be different than any other?"

"Why would the gods lead you to kill Lagertha?" Ubbe moved to perch upon the round wooden table in the center of the near empty room.

Hvitserk collapsed upon the pile of bed furs at his feet. "Am I to feign to know the minds of our gods? Half the time I'm not even aware of my own actions!" He raised his hands to glare down at his now scrubbed clean palms. "The last thing I remember is speaking with Thora."

"Thora!" The senselessness spewing from his brother's mouth forced Ubbe's face to fold in on itself. "Your dead wife again?"

Hvitserk's head bobbed. "After that there was nothing more until I awakened to discover Lagertha dying in my arms."

"Then how can you be certain it was your blade that saw her to the gates of Valhalla?" Ubbe's question fell from his lips wrapped in a plea.

"Because I'm certain."

Defeat perched itself upon Ubbe's shoulders. For there would be no saving his once favored brother from his eldest if he'd indeed did this thing. "Bjorn will blood eagle you for this."

Hvitserk's shoulders rose and fell. "Then I welcome the peace which shall follow once he does."

Ubbe sucked in enough air to sate a stampeding army, before rising from the table. There would be no saving Hvitserk from his fate. Not when the path before him was a trail he longed to trek.

****

When they climbed from the ship the silence upon Kattegat's docks greeted them. The usual boisterous bustle of the harbor stood jarringly still. Not one stray animal moved about to offer proof of life for a city many had come to know as the pounding heart of Norway. For not only did Norway's heart not beat, but she also lay stagnate barely breathing. The once vibrant city mourned. Her grief for her former fallen queen thickened the air. Plunging all within its midst into the depths of her sorrow. Bjorn took hold of Bonnie's hand, and then pulled her into his side. Maintaining the silence which flourished about them, he led them toward the rear of town where the south inlet lay.

Soon they came upon a horde which lined the expanse of the southern shores. There beyond the crowd of Kattegat's citizens sat a ship upon waters which had long since frozen over. Bjorn's grip on her hand tightened as the full meaning of the gathering registered in both of their minds. They'd arrived in time for a funeral. As they descended the hill leading down to the inlet, the citizens split to allow them passage to the shore. Each passing face appeared more anguish ridden than the last.

When they finally reached the water's edge, Ubbe greeted them. His stare first moved to her and held for a moment, before reluctantly moving to Bjorn. "Bjorn, your mother-,"

"My mother is dead. I know," Bjorn muttered as he moved them pass Ubbe. "I know." At the shoreline, Bjorn sat, and then tugged her down to cradle her between his legs. He tossed his cloak around them both, before cuddling her close to his chest. After settling them, he leaned down to whisper next to her ear, "This truly has the feel of the change you always speak of, Mystical One."

He then buried his face in the crook of her neck. Moments after, drops of wetness rolled from her shoulder down to her chest, to pool at the cradle of her breasts. Her heart shuddered under the weight of his grief. She'd never seen him so broken, and the sight wrecked her damn near beyond repair. Bringing their interlaced fingers to her face she kissed the backs of his hands.

"I'd hoped the day would never come when I'd have to face Midgard without Lagertha in it," he uttered. "Yet despite my hopes, here we are. How do I say farewell to the greatest mother...woman to ever live? How am I to be strong when my strength is passing on beyond the veil?"

After losing so many people, you'd think she'd have the answer to each one of his questions. Yet even with the point of a blade to her chest, she couldn't tell him the unanswerable. So she offered him the advice Grams always gave her when life intended to continue on despite one's resolve to come to a screeching halt.

"By saying thank you for everything and farewell," she whispered back to him. "And as for being strong...you fake it. You fake it, until shit gets real." Bjorn lifted his face from her neck to study her profile. Tears rolled from her eyes as the lyrics from Beyonce's I Was Here split her lips. "I want to leave my footprints on the sands of time..."

As Hali and Asa came to join them, Torvi took over singing. Bonnie then directed the children over to a sturdy place on the ice. When they hurried over to look in the darkened depths of the sea, she pulled back the veil so they could witness the Valkyries come claim one of their own. Hali turned back to her. Wonderment beamed from his large sad eyes.

"I love you," Bjorn whispered next to her ear.

"And I love you more, Bjorn Ironside," she whispered back. "I always have."

Once Lagertha's flaming burial ship drifted towards the horizon, Bjorn pulled them to their feet. Ubbe, Torvi, Guthrum, Ingrid, Gunnhild, and Amma gathered around them. Her gaze fell to Guthrum. She wanted nothing more than to bury herself in his arms, but Bjorn needed her more at the moment. Understanding flared in Guthrum's eyes as he inclined his head. A breath she didn't realized she held crept from her mouth.

"What happened to my mother?" Bjorn pulled her closer into his side, while his reddened stare moved over each of the grieving faces before them. "Who did this?"

Her heart slammed against her chest. For if Hurst's script willed out, then she knew well who's blade forced Lagertha to the otherside. The creases and furrows which burrowed into Ubbe's face only confirmed her suspicions. She shook her head for him to remain silent. Bjorn's emotions were too raw at the moment to level judgement against Hvits.

"Bjorn, it's not-," Ubbe began.

"It was Hvitserk," Amma blurted out.

"Hvitserk?!" Bjorn roared.

The woman's head bobbed. "When he carried her into the hall his hands were still slickened with her blood."

"Bring him to me," Bjorn seethed as he tugged Bonnie toward the trail which led back to the longhouse.

Gunnhild hurried after him. "Bjorn, Hvitserk has not been himself. His mind is-,"

"Now!" Bjorn barked, before damn near half dragging and half carrying her back to the longhouse.

Once they arrived within the hall, he stomped to his throne, and then slammed himself down. After settling in, he pulled her on his lap. The heat pouring off of him came close to searing her to the essence. As much as she wanted to reason with him and plead Hvitserk's case she held her tongue. Attempting to speak up for his brother would only serve to piss Bjorn off more, leaving her pleas to fall on unconcerned ears and Hvits to barbecue that much sooner.

Several minutes later Hvitserk entered the hall flanked by the guards sent to retrieve him. One would've thought them to be his entourage because none among them either had the balls or inclination to lay paws on him. If tea were spilled, Hvits raised chin, straight back, and squared shoulders lent him the look of a righteous king.

Bjorn's mystical energy shot from nonexistent dormant to it's whatever active. The potent sorcery exploded from him exacting. Looking for smoke in the brightest part of day with a supersonic flashlight. Hvits, however, continued to watch him with a zero fucks to give demeanor. Which only incited Bjorn more. Hell, he damn near imploded on the spot. His face turned fifty-eleven shades of red. For a moment Bonnie believed his brains would erupt from the top of his head.

"Look at you!" Bjorn roared. "You're a disgrace to Ragnar, to the gods, and our Supreme!"

Hvitserk's stare flicked to her, and the anguish writhing in his ultra-blues snatched her heart inside out. "Bjorn-,"

"You've rotted your mind so with your excesses are you even aware of what you've done?" Bjorn demanded.

Hvits tore his eyes from hers to regard Bjorn. "I've killed your mother."

"Arg!" Bjorn lifted her from his lap and placed her on her feet next to his throne. He then shot from the seat and barreled down the stairs, halting when he stood booted toe to booted toe with Hvits. "You killed my mother!" Without a threat to the first of a warning Bjorn backhanded Hvitserk. Twice.

The hall on a whole sucked in a shit ton of air. Not lending thought to her movements Bonnie descended the steps leading up to the thrones two at a time. When she moved to intercede between the brothers someone took hold of her arm and held her in place. She cut her glare to the side only to have her stare collide with Guthrum's. His imploring gaze bore into hers as he gave his head a quick shake. After a silent back and forth she exhaled her frustration but nodded. Guthrum had the right of the beyond tilted situation. One misspoken word from her would send the entire contentious state of affairs tumbling down on Hvitserk.

"Yes I killed Lagertha," Hvits admitted, his stare unwavering in his confession. "Though I remember not, her blood still stained my hands just the same."

The corner of Bjorn's upper lip curled back. "You remember not," he hissed through the tight clench of his teeth.

"My last few moons have been riddled with much confusion and many uncertainties." A shadow crossed his stare as his jaw slackened just so. "My mind have not led my eyes well. Nothing I've sighted is as it seems." With a slight shake of the head his shoulders descended a bit. "The gods mean to level their judgment upon me and I fear your mother has become an unwitting partaker in my conclusion."

"By his own words Hvitserk is guilty of murdering my mother," Bjorn roared at the hall without tearing his gaze from the murderer in question. "The greatest shieldmaiden who ever lived. Next rising you shall know your fate for such an offense. Take him!"

The guards who'd escorted Hvitserk into the hall ushered him out. Mourners who'd filled the longhouse began seeking out their leave. Bonnie turned to Bjorn. More than anything, he probably wanted space to think about what judgement he'd level upon Hvitserk. She intended to allow him whatever time he needed.

"Bjorn-,"

"Will you remain with me this eve, Mystical One?" He asked, taking hold of her hand. "I don't want—I can't..."

Her head dipped once in agreement. "Of course, I'll remain as long as you need me."

Relief relaxed the tension in his features as he led them towards his personal quarters without a word to his family or the remaining mourners. Her gaze however drifted to Guthrum. Though disappointment tugged at the corners of his mouth understanding brimmed his stare.

That eve instead of deciding Hvitserk's fate Bjorn slept. All the hard knocks from the last few risings had near finished him. In the end the Iron King posed no match for the man of Sand. Once assured he wouldn't awaken she called out to the shit starter responsible for the entire shitty affair.

"Sil—shit," she growled. "Odin!" Nothing. "Odin I know you're there. I always know when you're there."

The air in front of her thickened, before ripping open to birth forth a smug Silas. "What can I do for you, Bennett?" He began to circle her.

"What can you do for me?" She forced a laugh. "Where would you even find the fucking time?" His stare bulged as his mouth formed an exaggerated 'O'. "What with all the shots you've been taking at Hvits lately." She glanced over her shoulder at a sleeping Bjorn once before saying, "You deceived him into killing Lagertha!"

His shoulders rose, and then dipped. "Two birds, one stone...What can I say, it was kind of a lose yourself moment for me, you know?"

"Miss me with the jokes," she whispered yelled as loud as she dared. "Hvitserk could very well die tomorrow because of you dicking around in his head."

He stopped his circling to tower over her. "And he'd still be deserving of a fate far worse. Has your year of breaking bad with your man baby robbed you of all the wrongs he committed against you...against Faith?" She opened her mouth to argue, but Faith's huge aqua stare filled her mind's eye. An old wound not completely healed fissured under his blistering condemnation. With a gentle hand that contradicted the severity in his glare he took hold of her upper arms. "Now it's his turn to know how it feels to be helpless; to be at the mercy of one who'd sooner see him burn."

With that said he faded until blurred nothingness remained. Salty wet shame slipped down her cheeks. Silas was right. She shouldn't care about what Fate decided to do with Hvits. Because three years ago when she found herself in a similar position, he'd given her his ass to kiss. So why the hell couldn't she return that energy? He hadn't lifted one finger to help fight for their daughter's life! Yet, for the unending life of her...

"Bonnie?" Bjorn sat up in the bed with his drooping stare trained on her. He held out a hand. "Come lie with me...please."

Without a word she returned to her protector's bed and arms.

****

The next morning Bjorn awoke with all of hell still burning in his stare. Even an informal breakfast with family in his private quarters couldn't cool the sweltering intensity radiating off of him. Yet the topic at hand did nothing to calm the waters either. The topic of discussion being, the events which led up to the rising before. As they did so, Bonnie paced the personal dining area. She couldn't shake the worry for Hvits that played in her head and chest nonstop. In the series she knew he didn't die, but a vibe bred of undiluted discord alluded that canon had definitely jumped the tracks. An element had shifted, and this new aspect would no doubt be what dragged Hvitserk to the gates of Helheim.