Part 3

Ivan’s parents never forgave Sigurd for that day but for Ernak it was hard for them not to. He was bullied and picked on despite their attempts to stop Ivan’s “games” and the letters engrained into his forehead acted as an constant reminder to what had happened. Despite this however and Ernak’s choice to grow a longer fringe to cover the marks Lagertha still wanted to see him and he too was head over heels for her. They spent a lot of time together and despite Erik’s anger at her “wasting her time” on Ernak he tolerated it, the only difference now was the growing rumours of an Order controlling and manipulating Clan, Sigurd was quick to deny this until one day all was going to be revealed.

The voices never did leave instead it continued to grow advising Ernak at every necessary step. His skin had started to toughen and his reflexes slightly sharper. The funniest thing to consider was how this voice provided flirtatious pick up lines but despite the amusing features he now possessed it became more of an burden when he was not around Torvi or Lagertha. Torvi would talk to him about where Lagertha ignored the voices but being summoned to the Longhouse, “I won’t be far behind Lagertha, just trimming my hair… I have some great news” Ernak cheered seeing his reflection in the water and hurriedly preparing himself for the cut muttered, “Perfect timing for our date later.”

Ernak smiled walking to the house grinning when he reached the doors and pulling them enthusiastically open saw Alfhild’s face lit up when she saw the marks were gone. “You had a haircut” Alfhild remarked and turning to face Lagertha, Lagertha’s face lit up seeing why he was happy, “They are gone!” he nodded and shrugging said, “Woke up today and they were healed” “And you were worrying about people seeing it at the celebration tonight” Lagertha joked to which he embarrassedly confessed, “I didn’t want to embarrass you at the celebrations” she chuckled taking his hand and smiling warmly at Ernak who was in love with the young woman Alfhild thought how charming it was that Ernak had found something but now groaning heard the doors open interrupting the moment and seeing the cloaked figures venture out next to Erik and Sigurd knew something had happened and by the look of it, it was something big.

“Ragnor thanks for joining us!” Sigurd spoke seeing Ragnor join the room and smiling to see Ernak’s marks were gone his face turned to regret and sadness seeing how Lagertha’s hand clasped in his and knowing what he had to do tried to stop this from being an issue with, “Ernak leave, I’ll meet you in the tavern later; I want to talk to you separately” “I want to hear this news. I have as much right to know as everyone else!” “I usually agree but in this case it better for you if you didn’t!” Ernak shook his head so in his usual prejudice Erik snapped, “MY daughter, Lagertha is to be engaged to Ragnor to strengthen the Clan and the Orders reach into the Clan, this will help the Clans growth!” Ernak stood there frozen next to Lagertha who was equally in shock, “You can’t be serious… you know how close we are!” Ernak retaliated and looking at Sigurd he meekly nodded to show they were, “Why? What brought this on? It’s never made any difference before?” “We must! Ernak this is why I wanted to talk to you separately, to help you understand!” Sigurd explained and summarising it Ernak growled, “Too make me understand that the only piece of happiness I have is being given to my brother to strengthen the Clan… I am part of the clan to you know!” “Ernak there is more to this then you know!” Alfhild tried to justify but not accepting it Ernak spat, “Fuck the Order. If you care about them more than your family then you don’t deserve one!” Ernak growled and Erik defending Sigurd’s actions replied, “You aren’t family; just an extension. Not a great loss” “And you vermin, no great loss if you end up dead!” Ernak growled, “There are things you will never understand, your mind is too simple to understand!” Erik growled and hearing the voice in Ernak’s head retaliate, “Coming from this piece of shit!” “Ernak think smart” Sigurd pleaded but ignoring the comment Ernak spat, “About what? You have taken the woman I love for your stupid secret group that see’s this Clan as an experiment, nothing more!” “Think before you act brother!” Ragnor proudly spoke knowing Ernak would respond but stopping any retaliation from Ernak Lagertha spat, “You think I loved you? I never did. I tolerated you so I could get closer to Ragnor; he will have the power in the future and you? some stables” “Lagertha I know what you are trying to do but it won’t work!” Ernak responded but ignoring his response she replied, “You need to accept it, like me my duty is to the Clan and mother to Ragnor’s child” Ragnor smirked knowing what she was saying, “Finally told him. I was having enough of having to cover it up. The thing is Ernak; we are both going to ascend this clan where you will bring it down to its knees with mud in its face like you were all those years ago. The only thing I wish is that I let Ivan finish the job; at least then it wouldn’t hurt Lagertha knowing that her pet will actually miss her” Lagertha focused on her task trying to not slap Ragnor for what he said but focusing on Ernak’s safety she replied, “Face it Ernak you are nothing and will always be it. Maybe we could find a **** for you to be with, it’s all your worth or maybe my pathetic sister!” Torvi growled attempting to swing for her but being met by Sigurd’s guards pushing her back Lagertha spat, “Definitely. Both your volatile personalities deserve each other! Maybe your children won’t be as barbarian as you!”

“It’s not worth it Ernak” the voice responded, “Why not?” Ernak replied and pointing out the number of guards the voice said, “I have an plan. To get **** on this “Order” but to do this we need to get out of here!” Ernak nodded as he ignored Lagertha’s orders to Torvi and looking at him she demanded, “Ernak your brutality can still be useful, come here and we can talk of your place in the Order!” he turned away and head bowed turned away Lagertha yelled, “Ernak I said come here! I will make sure you won’t be left out of this glorious future” and reaching for the handle almost desperately Lagertha cried out, “Ernak please!” “As Jarl I demand you stop!” Sigurd tried to enforce. Ernak turned around and looking at them stated, “It seems all I have left in this world is the voice in my head telling me to walk away. If that’s all I have caring for me then so be it. My madness could be the only thing stopping me from doing something stupid!” “Ernak don’t you dare open that door I order it!” Sigurd tried and glaring at him Ernak replied, “If only you were the one making the orders instead of being an puppet. I wonder what would happen if your strings were cut!” he pulled the door open and looking over to Lagertha who pleaded, “Please stop!” Ernak shrugged and said, “Should have left me to bleed broken against the tree all these years ago because what you have shown yourself to be here now has made me wish I never left the stables that day!” Alfhild tugged at his arm but pulling it free Ernak stated to her, “Should have left the baby freezing in your woods. If the wolves didn’t eat him at least the cold would have stopped this burden from getting in the way of your backstabbing.”

20 minutes later:

“We can now focus on our true objective with Lagertha together with Ragnor their genes could produce a Isu descendant” the cloaked man said, “With that child’s potential we could advance all over the world” Erik bragged and nodding Ragnor said, “Yes and when it does it will be thanks to our sacrifices” Sigurd nodded before shrugging said, “Just make sure our Clan gets a piece of the success Master Harald” he nodded shaking Sigurd’s hand but not really interested in what was really being said Lagertha muttered, “I hope he is okay” as she looked through the window hoping to see where he was going, “You were hard on him sister!” Torvi retaliated but growling at her Sigurd yelled, “You were meant to comfort him. You were meant to help him dust himself off” “You have got to be kidding me. You planned this?!” Lagertha challenged but shaking her head Torvi revealed, “Not exactly. Sigurd mentioned this would be happening so I was going to pull him away from the scene to stop him from finding out and potentially getting murdered by the Order. Sigurd said that he is going to be lonely so I could convince him to be with me. Soften the blow. I didn’t expect you to basically tell him that he is worth less than the dirt he was thrown in when he was getting bullied” “I had to… it was the only way I could help him. I didn’t want to hurt him!” Lagertha pleaded, “He doesn’t matter to any of this!” Erik spoke ignoring his daughter’s emotional state, “He didn’t deserve to be thrown to the curb like that, especially after everything he has been through” Alfhild responded but shrugging in response to it Erik replied, “He has no value so I see no interest in him” “It doesn’t have to be like this. If we explain some of the basics to him and apologise for what I said maybe he could help us in some capacity. He is a very capable warrior” Sigurd offered to Harald who uncaring towards the situation said, “Like Erik said he has no value but go if you must; we can’t have our Goddess distressed” Lagertha glared at him but heading to the door she replied, “I have to tell him that he does have worth. He will make some woman really happy and I hope he realises someone will cherish him” Lagertha stated and joining her side Alfhild replied, “I’ll go maybe I can help explain it to him.”

The pair walked down the slope towards the stables and hearing no human movement but instead a load squeal coming from within. “What on Earth is that?” Alfhild questioned rushing to the door, “It’s one of the horses… clearly upset. I remember Ernak telling me about the different sounds they make one time. A squeal is distress” Lagertha reached for the doors and be aided by Alfhild to open it saw how nothing was really out of place. “Seems fine…” Alfhild muttered picking the nearest candle up and walking closure to the sound of the distressed horse stopped when the horse they saw was none other than Skadi. “What’s wrong Skadi? Not enough love today?” Alfhild teased but knocking her hand away she continued to squeal, “Hungry?” Alfhild questioned but interrupting her list Lagertha claimed, “Skadi isn’t an ordinary horse, she’s smarter. Something to make her squeal like this is more serious than some basic feed issue” Lagertha looked around and venturing to Ernak’s bunk in the stables extension said, “Alfhild… did Ernak’s gear need replacing or repairing” “You know him, he never needs it fixing! He claimed the voice taught him how to fight and how to react. Why?” “It’s not here!” Lagertha muttered before kneeling to look for his cloak that she had given him saw it was still in its location with the bag she had given him and the dagger she had bought him for his last birthday. “All your stuff is still here” Alfhild replied joining in the searching both stopped when they heard the call from outside, “Hello anyone in here?” “Ulf, yes. Have you seen Ernak?” he nodded joining the duo and pointing out towards the village exit replied, “Yes. In his old cloak, he brought an basic dagger and a few provisions. From there he just walked away. Never talked to anyone or hinted where he was going. Just away! He didn’t even take Skadi and you know close they are; a deep lasting bond. It’s why she is distressed” “He would never leave the horses” “He hasn’t. A note here that tells Torvi to look after them and instructions on health conditions, feed and exercise routines” “He can’t just leave…” Alfhild replied and nodding Ulf said, “He can when he just walked away from a village who hated his kind” “But I never got to tell him the truth” Lagertha cried and shrugging Ulf replied, “The Order… they always ruin good things. Now if you excuse me this is Torvi’s property so get out!”

“Love what’s wrong?” Sigurd queried stopping his joking with Ragnor who now looking over to Lagertha stared at her confused by her reaction, “Answer me Alfhild, did you find Ernak?” “I… just wanted to apologise Alfhild!” Lagertha muttered but shaking her head Alfhild snapped, “Well like Sigurd said “he was just bad business,” I lost my son because you all! I hope you are happy!” reaching for something stiff to drink. “What happened?” Sigurd asked pushing Ragnor to the side, “Left… we don’t know where, left everything except his clothes on his back and weapons. We don’t even know where he went” Lagertha muttered still in shock from the recent event, “He’ll be fine, Skadi won’t let him get hurt. She would be lost without him!” Ragnor mocked but glaring over to him Alfhild yelled, “Skadi is squealing in the barn, nothing is calming her down” “He’ll be back! He has nowhere else to go and Lagertha is still here, like a good dog he’ll be back” Erik shrugged Alfhild glared at him and throwing the bottle at him shrieked, “Back?! Back! He should never have gone. He adored Lagertha but you let this Cult ruin it” “He is irrelevant. We will get what we need and then find this person if you really want” the Grandmaster spoke, “This PERSON is my SON. My son. I actually chose to raise him whilst that Bastard over there I had to birth and raise.”

“Mother!” Ragnor protested but slapping him she snapped, “Alfhild. You piece of shit doesn’t get the right to call me that” “It’s not his fault!” Sigurd protested and throwing her ring to the floor Alfhild snapped, “It’s over. I’m hope your happy. I will remain with the order to use it’s resources to find him then we are going. At least one of us still has their standards” she looked to Lagertha and pushing her out of the way stated, “Welcome to your “duty” a baby maker for foolish fantasies. I hope you enjoy throwing him to the curb because I won’t forgive what you said ever!”

The room fell silent after she left and sighing Sigurd stated, “I will talk to her in the morning, she is no use to anyone when she is like this!” he picked her ring up and stashing it away for safety Ragnor replied, “He will be back… to apologise for the way he acted towards Lagertha even if he had the right to be upset” Sigurd nodded but refusing to believe them Lagertha responded with, “Everything anyone has given him was left behind. His cloak that I bought him and he cherished…” “The nice red linen one?” Ragnor interrupted and nodding she finished, “That, the dagger and his bag was left behind. Perhaps he wants to forget the past” Sigurd looked down devastated at the newly learned facts, “Lagertha… do you need anything?” he asked and looking down she snapped, “You just better be right. I don’t want this to happen for nothing!” “You said you were unsure if you actually loved him” Ragnor challenged and nodding she said, “Since I was young it was always been The Order this, the Order that. Ernak was the only thing not Order based in my life. I don’t know if I loved him like a wife should but I definitely liked him more than a friend should!” “You know now you are together, you have men and resources at your disposal” Sigurd mentioned and nodding she said, “I don’t care how long it takes they will bring him back home, to our side!”

“Any luck?” Lagertha questioned seeing the townsfolk returning a few hours later and shaking their heads Alfhild glumly replied, “Found boot prints but we don’t any idea on if they are actually his. Went to some of the local rooms for the night places and popular areas to camp for the night but he wasn’t there. Asked the locals even offered a pretty sum as payment but no one has actually seen him. My only guess is he passed through but never stopped and instead carried on walking. We predict he had at least 3 days worth of rations before being **** to stop, however given his skill he will probably hunt and get supplies from the kill” Lagertha sighed sitting back on her seat and considered what she should do next said, “Search more. Spread the message that we are looking for him and get your sister to immediately pass a message directly to us when we she finds him. He has to go there. Surely!” Alfhild nodded ignoring her husband pleas to slow down and listen, “Please… Lagertha let’s not waste all our resources on finding him. I want him back as much as you but if we waste all our resources on this then it will have been really for nothing!” “You get “god babies” apparently. I get “freedom” apparently and with this supposed freedom I want Ernak back to make it better to the best of my abilities” “The Clan. The Order!” “I don’t care. He was right… all we ever worry about is the The Order and Clan. This is my way to prove otherwise. Now go and search. NOW!”

——————

“This is your plan?” Ernak grumbled trying to keep warm against the fire, “No, we wait. Whilst you were eyes deep in Lagertha’s… parts. I was eavesdropping on what some of the other members were saying. They were worried about the transition of a bow to the Clan. Claimed the Hidden Ones may try and steal it. They also believed it was Lagertha’s or Ragnors. I doubt this and I think it’s Artemis’, my mothers bow. If so it will help us find my home and therefore my armour!” “If it survived?” “It will have. Trust me. From that we retrieve my sword and it will complete my memories transfer. We will plan whilst this happens and take them all down and confront those who claim to be gods” Ernak nodded and clicking his knuckles said, “And there take out those who lied and called me family!”

Two weeks later and waiting for the time to strike, Ernak waited as the Hidden One’s attacked; fighting the vast number of Order members who not expecting Ernak’s attack watched as a fair amount of their people died but as the Hidden One’s started to falter Ernak took aim and fired an chemical mix taught to him by Logos. The explosion set the Order members on fire and helped balance the numbers for the Hidden One’s. “Ready? Now!” Ernak got up from hiding and firing quick shots at the Order members rushed up to carve his own path to the loot and taking cover quickly threw the treasure off the cart yearning to find his treasure.

“No. No. No!” Ernak growled until finding the bottom crate big enough to fit a bow but discrete to hide it from plain sight tore its lid off to reveal the glowing bow, “Is it?” Ernak asked and nodding Logos replied, “Yes. Let’s go!” Ernak nodded before stopping he heard a groan, “No witnesses!” Ernak muttered, “Wh…who are you?” the Hidden One coughed, “Don’t worry about it!” Ernak growled and ignoring the protests slit his knife across his throat, “Ernak wait…” Logos stated and freezing Logos pointed, “Look at the blade he had. It will be useful for us” “And lose my finger?” Logos groaned before pausing said, “Wear it on the outside!” Ernak nodded before grabbing another said, “Why not both wrists? Where next?” “I’ll guide you because for now we leave the island.”

Three weeks later:

“Latest update?” Lagertha ordered and shaking her head Alfhild replied, “Nothing. We have searched the region and can only assume he has left the island” her head dipped disappointed and nodding Lagertha asked, “Is there a way we could search for him offshore?” she nodded before growling snapped, “Yes but Sigurd has stopped all resources from doing so. It’s “too costly” apparently” she glared over to Sigurd who trying to explain Alfhild snapped, “Don’t bother trying. You have your bastard and your resources! I’m going for a drink. Lagertha coming before they ask you to open your legs?” Lagertha nodded before taking their leave, they were interrupted by Harald entering growled, “We have been robbed. Someone has stolen the bow! If we didn’t waste resources on finding this man we could have stopped it!” “If Ernak wasn’t driven away we could have used him to defend the artefact” Lagertha fired back and sighing Harald yelled, “Enough. We need to take the resources assigned to Ernak to try and track it down; by the look of it the Hidden One’s have it. A lot dead on both sides but still… start sending out scouts to explore potential Hidden One’s locations. Find one and they can tell us one way or another where it is or where to find it!” “Grandmaster what if the Hidden One’s aren’t the ones who have it? Let’s say scavengers have it or an enemy of us?” “Then we will find them. For now continue with the plan. I want a child conceived immediately” “*Sigh* at least let me get a drink down or two down me!” Lagertha replied and glaring at her for her defiance Alfhild interrupted his glare by belittling Ragnor with, “Look at him… it’s a massive difference from Ernak’s strong build to HIM! I can’t believe he of all people is apparently a god!” Ragnor tried to bite back but Harald raising his hand to stop his bite back nodded allowing Alfhild to escort Lagertha away, “The drunker you are the less you will remember!” Alfhild reassured Lagertha who nodded said, “Line them up” leaving Ragnor to look at Sigurd who nodding haunted by the phrase muttered, “The words her mother said her on our wedding night.”

“What?!” Ragnor asked and sighing Sigurd explained leaning over the table studying the reports relating to Ernak, “Alfhild has a strong reason to hate us all. Much like Lagertha she was sold into marriage for a “course”, where she loved another; a farmer from her clan. Our clans were enemies and the fighting had gotten our parents no where so a marriage was arranged between me and Alfhild; also explains why Estrid never visits; she still hates that she lives here at MY Clan. We didn’t really like each other and were **** together in a way that meant our lives were predetermined by someone else. She never did forgive her father and was hostile to mine. Our family’s believe we were never going to last and further more heard of how to even sit together we had to establish our own set of conditions for each other. So a solution was made; a child. We have a child and it solidifies the peace treaty. Alfhild hated the idea because she believed a child should only be made from love not as a deal; her mother said the following line to her, “The drunker you are the less you remember” and she was barely standing that night. From this you were born and a deal we made to never have a child again. Things did improve and we started to build our relationship up from the ground up.”

“Ernak?” Ragnor asked, “We were strolling through the woods as we always did, it allowed us to vent our frustrations out in private away from the Clan and there we heard him; a baby crying in the forest. It was freezing that day and yet he was just left there near some rocks crying. I wanted to leave it; to keep my promise to not have anymore children but she didn’t, she took him and said he was our son of our own will, not our family’s. Ernak was HER son; you were just living treaty and because of that it hurts seeing the same thing happen. Lagertha loves Ernak but is **** to marry you, to produce children for a set of ideals? Seem familiar. It’s worse because she by association is one of the people organising this and the man who misses out his her son; where the one getting the woman his the “tool” and Lagertha not fighting against it, hurts her more!”

Ragnor looked down and understanding it asked, “He was a great son for her. Look… if we can find him…” “We can’t, Harald doesn’t want to waste resources. It just makes me more concerned to be honest” “About?” Ragnor queried, “Ernak isn’t exactly the most calmest of people and was hurt by what happened; what if he listening to the voices from his head injury years ago and they told him to take the bow and kill them all. If that’s the case we will have to deal with him later on down the line; because there will be more ****.” “We would have to fight him!” Sigurd nodded before becoming even more thoughtful, “Apparently my family has all this god blood in us that we didn’t know we were special? What if the prophecy isn’t about our blood son but our adopted son…” “The man hearing voices in his head” Ragnor muttered and nodding Sigurd replied, “We would lose everything and Ernak, if found would want us dead. If this happens we need a back-up plan. Anyway… Lagertha is going to arrive barely awake, just… get the job done and leave; don’t make it anymore awkward then it has to be okay!”

As the next morning came the room was silent except the Grandmaster who proceeding with his orders and discussion of points relating to the child and the retrieval of the artefact before taking his leave left the four figures who really ought to not be in the same room, “Lagertha how are you?” Sigurd asked genuinely concerned for her but grabbing another bottle left to the stables hoping it was a sanctuary for her against everything else. “Alfhild?” she pushed past him and glaring at them both as she left Ragnor replied to his father, “Barely standing, barely even conscious. I did what was needed and left her. Tried to talk to her and ease the tension but she simply replied that she doesn’t want anything to do with me until the birth unless it’s todo with Ernak. Alfhild is going to see to her needs; act as a caretaker for her and demands she has her own home away from us all!” “I will find one immediately. What was Torvi’s reaction?” “She has left, took Skadi and walked away. Sources say she is going to Estrid’s. Considering her “unimportance” they have let her go” Sigurd nodded reflecting on the fact at least Torvi got away from this whole debacle, “I just hope they don’t need anymore. I don’t know how many pregnancies she would last!” “She will always have the best treatment for her!” Sigurd looked up and pointing to his head said, “Mentally. Like a warrior you need to worry about the mind as you do the body. This is traumatic to her and if finding Ernak is the key to stopping her from doing something unfortunate. For now; just do what they want… I’m going to get a few drinks before trying to talk to Alfhild; maybe coordinate some resources for his search.”