The Story of Brae Lothbrok

We were on our way back to Kattegat. Most of us survive on the boat, many died of their injuries and many cried and suffered from the lack of care they can receive. Ubbe should make a good recovery, but he needed to get home and fast. I removed myself as King and became a humble peasant to my people. Instead of sneering and shaming me, they praised me for my kindness. An old woman even kissed my cheek. 

I brought Ubbe some freshwater. He was laying down most of the trip, bandage from the chest to torso. He leaned up slightly only taking a few sips of water. He laid back down, gagging slightly while trying to swollow the water.

"Easy, Ubbe," I said, softly. He laid his head back down.

"Now...I know...what Ivar felt...always laying on his back." I chuckled, leaning over to him, "When we get to Kattegat you'll go home to London."

"I would like to stay with you, your mother would want that," Ubbe said.

"You are no good to me injured or wounded..." "Besides if Erik wants to take over the world, we are going to need London and Kattegat together." 

"You are still going to try to take him down after all this?" Ubbe asked, weakly. 

"If I allow him to take over the world, that would not leave any room for us now will it?" I said, rasing an eyebrow. Ubbe smiled weakly. 

"Get some rest now," I whispered. "I'm going to take care of everything." 

Ubbe closed his eyes. I got up and went over to one rower and traded places. It was a long row home. I needed to row though, it was the only way from keeping my thoughts of the painful idea of being a failure. It pained me a little but not as much if I wasn't rowing. I wanted revenge, I went stir crazy with the idea of it. An old man looked over to me and noticed my distressed behind my face covered in soot and ash. I glanced over to him and then back. I glanced back.

"Yes?"

"Long Live King Brae." 

--

We've reached Kattegat within a day, not normal for easy travel, but we had sick and wounded. We need to get help as fast as possible. Kattegat citizens rushed onto the barge and helping anyone who needed it. I picked up Ubbe and helped an old man down. Children were crying because they have no parents and people were to upset to even leave the boat. Some of the dead were carried off the boat, including a boy with freckles and brown hair along with his older brother and family.

"Papa!" I heard a familiar voice. "Papa!" Lilja came running down from the barge I quickly bent down and grasped her in my arms.

"My little flower," I said, feeling tears coming down my face. Ingrid then came rushing down the docks and towards me. She met me with tears in her eyes.

"Frankia?" She asked, desperately for an answer. 

"She's gone," I shook my head. 

"Home is gone!" Lilja cried out. "My bed, my chambers, and my school?" She asked, leaning her head on my shoulder.

 "Oh, shh, shh, darling, as long as we have each other we are the richest people in the world!" I let tears fall down my face. Ingrid grasped me in her arms and gave me a hug. She then looked at me and noticed the true distress on my face. I let Lilja down and just stared at her blankly. 

"I no longer have a kingdom, Ingrid will you be with me now?" I said, coldly. I took Lilja and brought her back to the Great Hall. Ubbe went home early that day, he did not like that, and I did appreciate his loyalty. I would not forgive myself if something happened to him. I know my mother would regret it as well, I hope she knows I'm giving her an opportunity. 

They had a small feast for those who haven't eaten. Ingrid and I sat in the back and began to think of a plan of how to stop King Erik.

"Do not blame yourself," Ingrid said, I sat and ate with haste. I was hungry. I never felt hunger like I do now. She was sympathetic and she did not find any fault in my defeat. I sighed looking up from my plate. 

"Kattegat is your home..." "It always has been, you can stay here with Lilja, she really likes it here," Ingrid said. 

"It'll be good for now...until Erik decides to burn it," I scoffed.

"Is that all this brute wants to do is burn homes?"

"Burn some, some places he likes, he makes himself comfortable!" 

"We shall burn Kattegat before Erik does!" Ingrid insisted, slamming her fist to the table.

"And where should we go?" I asked, softly, fearing Lilja in the next room might hear. "We roam like cattle until there is nowhere else to go?" 

"It's better than dying..." she said, gritting her teeth, a tear came down her cheek. She trembles slightly, indicating a hint of fear. 

"We will be dying if we don't stand up to him," I said, getting up and walking over to Lilja. I picked her up as I forced a smile on my face. It allowed her to smile back as I questioned what she has been doing since I've been gone. I walked into the longhouse and had her get ready for bed. The gray sky grew gloomy blue and the bitter breeze threatened rain.

I put Lilja to bed and pulled the covers over her, she stared at me intensely, and said, "What shall you do, Papa?" 

"I'm not sure."

"Do you think we'll ever return to Frankia?" She asked.

I sighed sadly, but to keeping a smirk on my face, "I'm sure we will, in the meanwhile...we are in Kattegat, she is safe and she is kind to us." She smiled, nodding in agreement as she rolled her to close her eyes.

Yes, Kattegat is safe, but how safe will she be? How long do I have left here? How long can I roam this Earth before Erik catches up to me? 

I'm ashamed of myself. I've let so many people down. Many have died, but many didn't have too. I felt powerless and defeated. I was powerless and defeated. I'm not a King in this city and I equal up to Ubbe's status. It brought tears to my eyes as I thought of all the people who cried out to the Gods for mercy. I can hear the weeping of children as they lose their parents and loved ones dying. The image of my kingdom in ruins will haunt me for years to come, and the worse part is, I'm right back to where I started.