The Story of Brae Lothbrok

"Lilja..." Ingrid said, leaning over to her, "Your father and I have a special surprise for you!" She tapped her nose.

"Send them in!" Ingrid called. A large group of men entered, holding an unknown flag at the beginning. There were so many that they could not fit in the hall. 

"This shall be the army of Lady Lilja for on her eighteen birthday she shall receive along with her own house and kingdom!" Ingrid called out. 

"The flag is the mark of Lilja, the white color representing the flower for what she is named for, and the colors of Ragnar Lothbrok, Ivar the Boneless, and Prince Hvitserk all intertwined..." "For she carries them in her heart!"  

Lilja got up and began to expect each and every one of them. I watched her closely. She looked at each man for they looked like the last one. 

"Well..." she cleared her throat. "They are wonderful."

She stopped at one soilder and gestured him to bend down to her, "You sir, what is your name?" 

"Arne, Lady Lilja." 

"It means Eagle!" I called out. 

"I know very well, Father..." "Arne, would you protect me at all costs and defend me as my father's men defends him? Will you be willing to die for our beliefs?" 

"For the love of Odin, our father, and for my future Queen, I pledge my life to you." Lilja nodded nervously then turned back to me. She seemed rather nervous as if she was harboring a dark secret.

"Father, must my journey be the same as yours and Ivar's?" She asked.

"What do you mean, my child?" I asked.

"Will my life be nothing but raiding and claiming land? What land will there be for me when you have already conqured it?" She asked.

I nodded in agreement, "With my blessings you may do whatever you want with your life as long as it makes you happy..." "I still ask you to take your gift." I dismissed them. 

Lilja ran back to her seat to feast on mutton leg and cabbage. She has a healthy appetite and she can eat an entire leg. It is the only time where she is quiet is when she eatting. Other then that she has a firey tongue. Sometimes some things she might say are deemed a little inappropriate for her age. 

"Lilja, how old are you dear?" Ingrid asked.

"I'm going to be six soon," Lilja said.

"Much to mature for your age," Ingrid said.

"Father says I take after great-uncle Ubbe, he says it's more of a curse then a blessing, I cannot be a child and be stupid." 

Ingrid and I laughed together, "She can charm happy tears from bats," said Ingrid, holding her cup. She brought it to her lips and took a sip. She looked over to me and smiled, leading the cup down.

"I don't know where she gets it from," I said, glaring at her. "Must be from your side," Ingrid nodded.

"My side has many colorful characteristics..." I laughed. "Skol..." I said. 

"Your character carries much charm..." Ingrid said. "To charm only the most beautiful..." I said, gently caressing her cheek. I knew I was playing with hot water, but I couldn't help but to love the burn. 

"Lilja, how would you feel about visiting Kattegat?" I asked. She nodded as she slurp a piece of fat into her mouth. 

"When can we?" She asked.

"We set sail...tomorrow!" I said widening my eyes.

"TOMORROW?" She cried out. Her eyes bugged from her face. 

"Tomorrow, we are going to do some tradings there, and we'll be gone most of the winter..." I said.

"Who will look after Frankia?" She asked.

I chuckled softly, "Thorun and Sarah will look after it..." "They are smart and strong they will be good semi-rulers." 

"What about Belcheft, my horse?" She asked.

"Belcheft is coming with us," Ingrid said. "A young princess needs to ride into Kattegat in style!" 

"SKOL!!!" Thourn shouted, he stood on the table and annouced, "My beautiful wife Sarah has just told me she is with child, I could never be more of a happy man!" 

"Alright!" I said clapping my hands. 

Lilja rushed upstairs to pack her things. Ingrid and me stayed downstairs and enjoyed each other's company. Once the celebration died down, I walked her to her bedroom as we quietly chatted.

"Do you think you are ready to return to Kattegat?" She asked. I gripped her hand in mine.

"I truly do think my thoughts are at peace and most of the tragic events from Ivar and Hvitserk have been taken away by my fatherly duties." 

Ingrid smiled, "I'm happy you are finally at peace, anymore and you would've gone mad." We stopped at her bedroom. She looked at me tenderly as she took my hand away from hers gently. 

"Brae, I do believe you are interested in me..." she said.

I cleared my throat nervously, trying not to make eye contact with her, "And what if I'm?" 

She sighed softly, "It takes more then your cheap charm tricks to muster me, I'm Queen of Kattegat, and my heart is devoted to her." She opened her bedroom door and walked inside.

"Don't worry I got all special tricks for you..." I gave her a smart grin as she smiled sadisitically back at me. She closed the door as I went to my chambers.

I sleep much soundly now. I find it's a combination of my fatherly duties and being a King that drains me. I refuse to believe age is catching up to me. While I do sleep soundly my dreams are still vivid. I do not dream of my childhood anymore. It is a long memory and I've practice more to carve Ivar and Hvitserk into my memory more then any other memory. Although there are two dear, fond memories I hold to me that allows me to see both fathers clearly. 

Some nights I don't dream allowing me to wake up the morning clear and refreshed. Other times I see the sea in my mind; doing as it should. I see things that I would see in the day. The gift my mother gave of forsight works better when I sleep. That is how I make allies. I see the ones who are willing and those who aren't willing. There have been many who have not been willing. I do not waste my time with them.

Tonight I dreamed of fire, wind, and blood. I looked around to see people, but not faces; running and screaming for help. Others ready to be murdered are screaming for mercy. I then noticed it was Frankia set ablaze. I see my wife's tombstone has not been touched among the few things. A giant that stands above my burnt castle with a club in his hand, laughs and prays upon my people. I hear Lilja screaming, but I could not see her anywhere. I try to call for her, but I felt powerless even with my voice. 

Brae, wake up!  

I rose from my bed sweating and heaving from the intensty of the dream. I feared for Frankia's safety. Everything I worked for would turn into dust if I should leave for Kattegat tomorrow. Lilja stood at the foot of my bed. Her hair slightly tied up as the rest reach the middle of her back. Her skin reminds me so much of her mother's milky, soft skin.

"You saw it too?" She quietly asked.

"Did I see what?" 

"You saw Frankia burn to the ground by a God?" She asked.

I sighed sharply, "That was no God, Lilja, that was merely a man." I suddenly realized my gift that was passed onto me is now passed down to my child. With her gift she will most certainly be the most powerful ruler next to me. If not a ruler, whatever she intends to be.

"It scared me, papa..." she said.

I opened my arms to her allowing her to run into them and grasp me. I kissed the top of her forehead and said,

"I will burn for you."