WRATH OF THE NORTH [BJÖRN IRONSIDE]

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

When they returned to Kattegat the grey sky hovered above them. Vál couldn't believe how good the day had turned out. They had all shared stories from their hunts, her home as they remembered it and their different missions as assassins. They had showed scares, Ulvar bragged as he showed his larger ones. Vál had been thankful for the occupation, as they got closer to Kattegat the memories got back. The miscarriage, Björn, Ubbe, Hvitserk and Sigurd plus her new life.

She had frowned when they all came to a halt, not to far from Kattegat. They had gotten off their horses and before they continued their journey back they had all turned to her. Vidar had given them all a nob before looking her in the eyes. He cleared his throat.

"We have sad news Vál, at least for you." He began and she frowned. "As you heard before our home has been attacked and our stay is forced to get shortened. I know that I promised you that we wouldn't leave without you but we have to leave tonight." He continued and she only looked at them.

"I thought you wanted me with you." She said, feeling herself getting angry.

"We do. Yet we've seen how attached you had gotten here and we don't want to risk more of us to get killed when we're waisting time on someone who might not want to join us in the end." Vidar said and her eyes widen.

"But what if that someone might had chosen you in the end?" She asked rhetorically. Vidar looked at her in the eyes, seeing how her cold eyes seemed. The icy eyes almost shining in the darkness.

"Then she's more than welcome to join us, she knows where to find us." He said before nodding for them to continue to Kattegat.

"But—!" Vál said and Vidar turned to look at her.

"We're leaving when Kattegat sleeps, you are more then welcome to join us then. We'll wait for you here and if you haven't arrived before the last torch is out we're heading home." Vidar said and she opened her moth to speak but he didn't let her. "The decision is yours." He said before walking walking out form the forest. A sad sigh left her lips and she closed her eyes, feeling like she had gotten herself into a mess she couldn't sort out.

If she stayed in Kattegat she would have to face Björn with her miscarriage and miss the opportunity to be together with her people, the people she had been longing to be with since her parents died. If she left Kattegat she would be retuned with her people, embrace her true nature, not have to tell Björn what had happened but leave the person who meant more than anything to her. To leave someone who had made her feel a lot she didn't know she could, see things she couldn't dream of and meet people who she would never forget. She was too much of a coward.

Vál walked past Vidar and his brothers as they tied their horses and towards the great hall where people had gathered for a feast. Björn sat next to Ubbe, an empty spot between him and his father with Ivar where she walked up to occupy. She greeted everyone with a smile.

"Where have you been?" Björn asked and she shrugged.

"Everywhere." She said and Ragnar smiled. Then she went on, telling them everything they had done and what she had been taught. How she had been thought more about the body, techniques how to make people get unconscious with just the hands. Björn had a natural expression through her story as Ragnar smiled and asked questions. The younger sons of Ragnar with wide eyes as well. Björn soon engaged in a conversation with Harald that was seated a few chairs away.