The camp is set up. Fires have started. Food has been spread out. As of right now Geir is setting up my tent and placing my stuff inside. I am leaning against a tree next to wear the horses are tied up. The horses look so calm, not even worrying about what is too come. They don't even know that they will die as well.

"Are you ready Alca?". I look to my side to see Hvitserk eating an apple and holding the hilt of his sword. "I do not think this will end well, no matter the outcome." He throws the core of the apple bu the horses and wipes his hands on his shirt. "Have you decided who you wanted to join?"

"No, but it looks like you haven't either. Hvitserk what do you plan to do if Ivar does win?" He stares at me not answering the question, but thinking about. " I just want to be free."

"Do you really think this is the way to achieve that?" There was no time to answer because Harald starts walking towards us, looking angry. "The talk between the two sides will begin soon. It is time to go. " I place my hand on Hvitserk's cheek. "Good luck." Hvitserk goes towards the horses to get his. I turn towards Harald but all he does is look at me, his expression getting worse. "What is wrong Harald?" He places a hand on shoulder and pushes me into a tree. Not going to lie it hurt when he did that. I winced and he noticed gripping my shoulder a little softer. "Ivar wants you to come with us." I was confused. He along with the rest told me not to come. "Why would be do that?"

He brushed my hair away from my face. " I do not know, but whatever happens stay behind me." I push him off of me and stumbles back a little. "I do not need your protection. If I am too see him then I will. There is no way going around it.

" I walk to my tent to grab my ax. Geir was still in there sutting on my bed, surprised when i grabbed it. " what are you doing?" He got up walking over to me. " Ivar told me I am to go. So I need some sort of protection just in case."

He slams his hand into a chest that contains my clothes. "Mother you are weak and are not even properly dressed, no armor, and all you have is an ax. What if you see father, what will you do then?" I walk over to him and hug him. "My son, my fate has been decided by the gods already. If I am to die then I shall die. I will not fight in this battle and for some reason Harald will protect me and he will protect you. My ax maybe small but I have done worse with my bare hands. Do not worry about me, think about yourself for right now." He squeezed me even tighter. "Guess we should get your horse ready." We let go of each other and walk out of the tent.

There in a rock the priest was sitting sharpening and looking over his sword. "Grab my horse I will meet you with everyone." Geir nods his head and I walk over to the priest. I do not speak his language and I'm not sure he understand ours. I sit down next to him crossed legged. He looks up from his sword and looked into my eyes. I motioned my hand to see his sword. He was very cation but handed it over looking at every move I make. I stand up and so does he quickly. There are words written on his sword, but I clearly don't know what they say. I grab the hilt with my hands and swing the sword into a tree next to us. The sword gets stuck into the tree, so I let go and turn towards him. He looks at me with wide eyes. I smile at him. I grab the sword from the tree and hand it back towards him. It is a good sword and must have value towards him. He grabs the sword from me and I place my hand on his forearm. We look into each others eyes. He starts to speak but I only understood one word, "death". The smile from my face disappears and his arm begins to shake. I let go and see Ivar coming towards us on his carriage. I walk away immediately not wanting to get in between their conversation and if Ivar does change his mind about me going.

IVAR AND HEADMUND

The Christian and and Ivar talk

" so Headmund what was that about?"

" There is so much power and strength inside such a small and fragile woman." Ivar laughed at this. "Well you should have seen her years ago, she was much scarier." Headmund never looked away from Alca but kept watching her every move. Ivar seemed to notice this.

" what is wrong priest. Did you let her get under your skin." He shook his head, " No in fact I got into her head. When I looked into her eyes, I could saw a black raven flying high. In your culture that resembles death correct?" Ivar too became very stern. He knew she was going to die soon, but now. What was to become of the only person who didn't see him as a weakling. "It is time to go priest."

ALCA

Everyone gets on their horses as we start to travel to the open field. My horse was behind Harald's just as he said. Geir was also in front of me but the two created a pyramid shape so I could still see ahead of me. Next to me was Hvitserk whose smiling face turned gloomy. No one talked as we all followed Ivar. The trees started to disappear and the field began to open up. The orange flags began to rise around us as we kept walking more into the open. My breath got caught in my throat. I couldn't breath and Hvitserk seemed to noticed. He rode his horse closer to me and reached for my hand. I extended hand and he grabbed. "I am worried too. These are our friends and family. It is okay." I do a small smile but it goes a way immediately. I let go and face forward. It has been a while hasn't it

Halfdan

LAGERTHA'S SIDE

On the other side of the field blue flags began to rise as lagertha walks ahead with Björn, Ubbe, and Halfdan. They stop as they come into view of the orange flags. Björn orders them to stop, but Halfdan walked a little closer and Björn didn't stop him because he knew he was trying to see Alca. Lagertha steps up, "This isn't right the sons of Ragnar should not be fighting. We must send ambassadors to the front." Halfdan wasn't paying any attention to what was said. He didn't see Alca anywhere, but lagertha did and was sadden by what she had seen. She was frail and looked like a skeleton. Halfdan hasn't seen Alca in so long which is why he can't recognize her. Björn hits Halfdan and the two start walking to the center.

Halfdan and Björn start walking towards us. I shrink further back and Geir starts to cover me more. Harald looks back at Ivar who points at Harald to go forward. He looks at me but then towards Hvitserk and tells him to go. The two walk towards the others and now my shield is gone I move forward as well, just to be beside Geir. Lagertha's eyes grew larger. Even though she was further away she could see how much Alca has changed now. Her once black eyeshadow now replaced by dark bags under her eyes. Her hair looking so thin and frail while in a long braid that reached her butt. Her clothes way too large for her body.

ALCA

I started to feel dizzy and so I got off my horse and leaned against it. Astrid did the same but only because if I fell she would have to catch me. The four began to talk. Halfdan out of my view but I could still see Björn and we made direct eye contact. He didn't look away from me which caused Harald to glance back at what he was staring at. Once he saw it was me he went back to talking. I couldn't hear what he said but Björn seemed to be angry now and pointed at me.

FOUR MEN

"Harald what has happened here?" Harald rolls his eyes. " we are not hear to talk about Alca. Last time I checked you two left her and she took it to heart. She is this way because of you two." Halfdan tried to glance around Hvitserk and Harald to see Alca but couldn't seem to find her. Björn point his finger at Alca. "This is not our fault. My friend would never let our ambitions put her down. She would fight to make herself happy."

Harald laughed at this, "well clearly you don't know your friend anymore." Harald finally moved his head for Halfdan to see but only saw a horse with no one on it and on the other side, out view, you could see the legs of a the rider. Was that her?

ALCA

I started to hide behind my horse now. For once I am afraid. I can't see Halfdan. I looked towards Geir. His jaw started to clench. I look back around to see Harald coming this way, but Hvitserk wasn't with him. It was Halfdan. Geir Jumps off his horse to come and help me onto mine.

" mother do not be afraid. You are still strong. I promise I won't tell him he his my father." He pushes my foot up and I jump up on the horse. I breathe in and out. My lungs starting to hurt. Geir gets back on his and we both turn around, not before I looked up to see Halfdan looking at me and confused. I don't think he believed it was me. We kept riding back and thankfully Halfdan stayed with Harald and came no where near me the whole trip. I'm scared for when we get back

HARALD AND HALFDAN

"Brother, I know we are not talking, but what happened?" Harald hummed, "you are talking about Alca? "

"Of course I am. That woman I saw. That pathetic, frail, weakling is not the Alca I know." "You're right Alca has changed much since you left for the Mediterranean. She is afraid of her own shadow. When A plate of food is in front of her, she starts to cry. You left her at the worst time possible."

Halfdan'd fist started to tighten around the reigns on his horse. "And what about Geir?" A sigh left Haralds mouth. "He realized that killing Alca with not solve anything. He has grown stronger, but worrying too much about Alca. He needed a father and yet all he got was a worthless mother."

Halfdan looked towards Harald angry that he said that but soon realized Harald didn't mean it. He followed his stare and saw that he was looking at Alca. "You could have been that father. I see the way you look at her. " Harald laughed at this. " No I couldn't have been brother. I tried but we both love you too much to ever hurt you. She didn't want to become my Queen because she is too far in love with you. And yet you hurt her right back by joining Lagertha's side. Siding with Björn, instead of me your brother and the only woman I have ever seen you love and care for."

Halfdan looks down at his hands. Has he really hurt Alca that much. She told him that she would always be with him and let him make his own choices and she would not be mad. Was she actually mad , was she hurt? The horses stopped moving and we heard people yelling. Halfdan looks back at Harald, "are we there yet?" Harald looks confused "we still have a way to go." The two brothers decided to ride up to the front to see what has happened. Astrid rode up to the two.

"Astrid what happened," asked Harald. Behind her Geir started to ride away fast and where he stood is an empty horse being tied to Ivar's chariot. "Where is Geir going? Where is Alca?" Halfdan asked but sort of yelled it.

Astrid looked up afraid to say anything. Harald places his hand on hers and looked into Halfdan's eyes and she looked afraid to tell him. "Astrid what happened," asked Harald rubbing her hand. She breathed in and out. "Halfdan, Alca just collapsed. We put her on Geir's horse to get her to healers at camp and..." Astrid looked down a tear dropped down from her eye.

"Astrid what else. What are you not saying?" Halfdan yelled causing everyone to turn and the look of sympathy was placed on many faces. Everyone knows the love Halfdan and Alca share. Astrid turned back towards him wiping the tears away. "Halfdan...

She wasn't breathing"