— 31. Siggy

On the shores of Kattegat, Tova was lying on her stomach on the ground alongside Ragnar and Athelstan. They had made a model of Paris in the sand, which Athelstan used to show them what lied around Paris and within it.

He ended up pouring a bucket of water around 'Paris', which formed a small stream that was supposed to represent the Seine.

"This is the River Seine," Athelstan informed Ragnar and Tova as Ragnar placed a small wooden stick into the water, which began to flow through the stream of water, "Now I don't know where it starts, but it arrives here and it widens. It widens around this island. And on this island...is Paris."

"Amazing," Tova muttered under her breath, looking astonished.

Athelstan smiled at Tova's words placed a piece of rock on the top of the mound that represented Paris, which earned a fascinated smile from Tova. "That isn't even the best part. They have these walls..." He began to tell them as he placed rocks around 'Paris' to show the walls and Ragnar and Tova were quick to help him, "All around. They are high and thick. And towers everywhere."

"How did they get into this city?" Ragnar asked Athelstan, a curious look on his face.

"There was a bridge, at least one," Athelstan responded as he placed down a piece of wood across the stream to 'Paris' to represent the bridge, "Like this."

"And what defenses did they have?"

"I was just a monk," Athelstan reminded Ragnar, smiling slightly, "I did not notice such things at the time."

Tova exhaled deeply. She turned to Athelstan, beginning to smile at him. "Well, what say you now?"

"Now, I would say this city is impregnable," Athelstan admitted, causing Ragnar and Tova to both smile widely as they felt intrigued by the thought of it all.

"Princess Tova! Princess Tova!" A servant suddenly called out and Tova rolled her eyes, hating when they called her a princess. She wasn't one, after all.

Sighing, Tova sat up before turning to the female servant. "Yes?"

"Queen Aslaug calls for you. Porunn is giving birth," She informed Tova, who sighed and nodded her head.

She stood up, wiping her dirty hands on the skirt of her dress before turning to Ragnar.

"Good luck," He told her, a sarcastic smile on her face.

"Thank you," She replied in a sarcastic tone, "I'll need it."

Ragnar smiled at Tova's words. He chuckled, shaking his head as he watched her walk away.

_____

Upon arriving at the room where Porunn was giving birth, Tova knelt before the screaming woman alongside Aslaug and Helga, who were also assisting with the birth.

She watched as Porunn screamed loudly at the top of her lungs, the pain agonizing to her. "There will be something wrong with it, I know!" She managed to get out and Tova stared at her in disbelief.

"Why do you say such things?" Tova asked Porunn, beginning to frown at her.

"Look at me," She growled, heaving for breath as she tightly clutched Aslaug and Helga's hands.

"That has nothing to do with the baby," Helga replied, shaking her head at Porunn.

Porunn pushed herself forward and got on all fours, continuing to scream out in agony.

"It won't be long now," Aslaug informed the women in the room and Tova sighed in response.

Just then, the door opened and Tova turned, her eyes widening at the sight of Bjorn walking in. She quickly stood up and walked over to Bjorn, an alarmed look on her face. "Go away, Bjorn!" She insisted as she tried to lightly push him back, "You shouldn't be here."

"No, I'm staying," Bjorn argued and Tova sighed in response as he walked past her.

"I don't want this child, I don't want this child!" Porunn cried out and Bjorn walked over to Porunn before kneeling in front of her, "I don't want this child."

He stared directly at her, a stern look on his face. "I do."

"It will be weak, deformed!" Porunn shouted out and Tova knelt before her, beginning to glare at her.

"Maybe you will love it all the same," She snapped at Porunn, an offended look on her face, "It is your child no matter what. You should be glad to be blessed with any child at all."

"It is coming," Helga informed the group and Bjorn stood up from kneeling on the ground.

Aslaug, Helga, and Tova exchanged a look with each other, just before they began to pray to Freya. Tova knelt behind Porunn, lifting the skirt of the woman's gown to prepare for the birth of the woman's child.

Just then, she turned her head, watching as Lagertha entering. She had only left briefly for deciding to return to Kattegat for Bjorn and Tova's sake, which was a relief to them both.

Porunn heaved and cried from the pain and Tova stared at the girl, smiling slightly. "One more," She told her and Porunn screamed loudly as she pushed as much as she could.

Tova's eyes widened as the child was born. She gasped softly and took the child into her arms. She smiled at the sight and quickly wrapped the crying child into a small cheek. She turned, watching as Bjorn knelt beside her, his eyes lit up at the sight of his daughter. "It is a girl," She informed Porunn, smiling widely at the sight of the baby.

"Don't show me. Get rid of it," Porunn demanded in a stern tone and Tova ignored her as she helped the midwives cut the umbilical cord.

"Give her to me," Bjorn insisted in a soft tone, smiling down at his daughter.

Tova smiled and turned to Bjorn. She handed him the child, smiling at the sight of tears welled in his eyes.

"I am a father," Bjorn spoke softly, a small gasp escaping his lips.

"You have a beautiful daughter," Tova told him, smiling up at him.

"She is the most beautiful child I have ever seen," He spoke up, laughing happily.

"You're lying," Porunn argued as she turned to frown at Bjorn, "It can't be. It's impossible."

"No," Bjorn responded as he shook his head, "She is. I'm not lying."

Tova began to smile at Bjorn as he doted on his daughter. She sighed, a part of her wishing she was the mother of the child. In a way, she didn't think Porunn deserved to be a mother with the way she was reacting to it all.

"She needs a name, your beautiful daughter," Lagertha spoke up in a calm tone.

"I have a name, if Porunn agrees," Bjorn replied as he turned to smile at his wife before looking back at his daughter, "I would like to call her Siggy," He admitted, causing Tova's eyes to widen before they began to fill with tears. He smiled and turned to Tova, who began to smile at him as well, "Siggy, who saved the sons of Ragnar. And Siggy, the mother of Tova."

Tova smiled sadly, watching as Bjorn sat down on the ground while holding his child.

"It is alright, sweet Siggy," Bjorn told his daughter softly as Lagertha made her way over to him, "And may the gods watch and protect you, my sweet daughter."

Tova let out a shaky breath and made her way over to him. She knelt beside him and Bjorn turned to smile at her. "May I..." She trailed off and sighed softly, "May I hold her?"

Bjorn turned to her and smiled. He nodded, wasting no time placing the child into Tova's arms as they both began to dote over her. "Thank you," He told her softly, causing Tova to turn to give him a puzzled look.

"For what?" She asked him, not knowing what he was getting at.

"For everything," He replied quietly as he smiled down at her, "You mean more to me than you could ever imagine and I am glad to have you here with me."

Tova smiled slightly and nodded at Bjorn. She turned to look down at the newborn she held, smiling at the sight. "Oh, sweet Siggy," She spoke softly and Siggy cooed softly, causing Bjorn to laugh happily, "Quite the family you've been born into, don't you think?" She commented, causing Helga, Aslaug, and Lagertha to chuckle softly at the accuracy of the statement.

_____

In the Great Hall, Ragnar sat asleep on a couch with Hvitserk and Ubbe sitting against him. Just then, hearing the voices of Floki and Tova calling out to him, Ragnar jolted awake, leading to Ubbe falling on the ground as Ragnar sighed and face palmed himself.

"Ragnar!" Tova called out again and Ragnar made his way into the room Tova stood in with Floki and an unknown man.

"This man is a farmer, and he has some news for you," Floki informed Ragnar as the man bowed to him.

"His name is Stender," Ragnar replied, immediately recognizing the man.

"His farm was in Wessex," Floki continued to tell Ragnar as Stender walked closer to Ragnar.

"I know, Floki," Ragnar responded in a frustrated tone, "Let the man speak."

"King Ecbert's son, Aethelwulf, came one day with his nobles and soldiers, and killed, burned, and destroyed all of our settlement," He explained and Ragnar sighed as he turned his back to the man, trying to process the news.

"All of it, Ragnar!" Floki exclaimed and Ragnar remained silent for a long moment, "Go on."

"The slaughter was great. All our men, their wives, and their children. Only a few of us survived. Somehow we reached the coast," He explained and Tova sighed, already knowing it must not have been a coincidence, "We stole a boat, and then we sailed through ice and fog. I just wanted to die, as my wife, my daughter, and my little boy had all died, but the gods refused," He continued on and Ragnar walked over to the man before wrapping an arm around him, "Our misfortune was never-ending. Storm blew us off course. At last, we reached a small frozen bay in Gotland. The ship foundered on the ice. I saw my eldest son die before my eyes. And here I am, my Lord, a broken man, who only wants to die and rejoin his family."

"Yes, I know," Ragnar replied, beginning to hug the weeping man.

"Do you see now, Ragnar?" Floki replied and Ragnar looked annoyed as he turned to glance at his friend, "This adventure was doomed from the start. We ignored the warnings of the gods. And so they refused to protect our farmers. And who can blame them, Ragnar?"

"Believe me, Floki," Ragnar responded in a low tone, "Aethelwulf and his father will feel the wrath of the gods and my revenge."

"And Athelstan?" Floki suddenly asked, causing Tova to turn and stare at Floki in disbelief.

"What about Athelstan?" Ragnar and Tova had questioned Floki in unison.

"Athelstan persuaded us to deal with Ecbert and the Christians. He persuaded us of their good faith," Floki explained and Ragnar began to glare at Floki with a look that could kill, "But now you must see the truth, Ragnar. It was all a trap."

"Athelstan is not to blame, Floki," Ragnar replied, slowly walking toward Floki as he pointed a finger at him, "If anyone is to blame, it is me. Do you understand? Me!"

"Look at what the gods are trying to tell us!" Floki exclaimed loudly and Ragnar shook his head.

"Me," Ragnar responded in a stern tone.

Unable to take it anymore, Floki shook his head at Ragnar. He stared at him in disbelief for a long moment before he left the hall.

Tova, on the other hand, remained in place. She watched Ragnar turn to glance at her, just before he turned to face the man. "Have you told anyone else about this?" Ragnar asked and Tova felt uneasy, knowing Ragnar was up to something.

"No one, Lord. No one," The man quickly answered as he frantically shook his head.

"Ragnar..." Tova trailed off uneasily, only to watch Ragnar raise his hand to tell her to be quiet.

"You are a courageous man, Stender," Ragnar told him, smiling slightly.

"Thank you, Lord," Stender responded as he bowed his head to Ragnar.

"No, thank you. You are beloved by the gods," Ragnar continued on as he walked over to Stender and placed a hand on the shoulder, "Yes..." He trailed off and glanced at Tova. He sighed and turned back to Stender, kissing the man on the forehead, "Now you can be with your family."

Just then, Tova watched in disbelief as Ragnar grabbed Stender into a chokehold before slamming him down on the table. She gasped and jumped in fright, witnessing as Ragnar climbed on top of the man's body while choking him to death.

Stender tried to fight back but was unable to do. It wasn't long before he gave up entirely and died soon thereafter.

Ragnar climbed off the table and turned to Tova, who was staring at him in silence, her expression unreadable.

"You understand why I had to do that," He told her in a calm tone and Tova remained silent, gradually nodding her head in response.

"It doesn't mean it was the right thing to do," Tova admitted softly. She shook her head at him and with that, Tova left the room.

Ragnar watched on and sighed in defeat, fearing that after what she had witnessed him do, Tova would never look at him the same way.

____

Two days had passed and Ragnar became concerned when he hadn't seen Tova anywhere. It was morning time one day and he was leaning against a table, his eyes widening in surprise at the sight of Tova suddenly entering.

She walked in, her expression unreadable as she carried a bag.

"What are you doing?" Ragnar asked, beginning to frown in concern, "Why are you carrying a bag?"

"I wish to go off on my own for a while. To find myself," She suddenly replied and Ragnar shook his head at her, continuing to frown.

"I don't understand," He complained, furrowing his eyebrows at her.

"I need to find myself other than being the adopted daughter of Ragnar Lothbrok. I need to find myself. I need to grow up. I wish to go to the mountains. For a time. I was going to wait until winter, but I've decided that now is the time," She explained, only to frown as she watched Ragnar's expression become consumed with fear and sadness.

"What do you mean?" He exclaimed loudly as he watched toward Tova and grabbed her by the arms, "You cannot leave. You cannot leave me!" He demanded, causing Tova to frown at her in confusion, "You're my daughter and I love you. And you're the only one I can truly trust around here so you must stay. I cannot do any of this without you."

Tova's lips parted as she stared up at Ragnar, shocked by his sudden outburst at the thought of her leaving. She didn't know her presence had meant so much to him. But as she began to think about it, she realized she had been at his side for ten years and never once during that time had they been parted. Every raid or journey he had gone on, she had been with him. When Bjorn and Lagertha left, she remained with him, despite having the choice of leaving as well. She had always been at his side and she now realized how much it meant to Ragnar. She was his only constant, the light of his dark, dark life.

"I am happy that you want to find yourself, but could you please just wait a little longer?" Ragnar asked her, looking almost pleading.

Tova sighed at Ragnar's words and nodded. He smiled and with that, she hugged her tightly. "There is no need to leave to go find yourself. You already have. You just haven't realized it yet. You are a leader. You are patient, clever, and cunning, just like me. Trust me, I would know. I know you better than I know myself."

"Ragnar, there is no need to be afraid of me leaving," Tova assured him as she pulled away from the hug to look him in the eyes, "It doesn't matter where I go. It matters where you're going, for I shall always be at your side, no matter what. It doesn't matter if I spent six months in the mountains, or even two years. I would always return. Wherever you go, I shall go, remember?" She explained to him and as she began to smile, Ragnar hugged her once more.

"Careful now," Tova spoke up as they pulled away from the hug after a long moment, "Keep acting like this and Bjorn might think I'm your favorite."

"You are my favorite. There's no doubt about that," Ragnar replied, causing Tova's eyes to widen in surprise, "What? It isn't a secret."

"When you have a favorite child, Ragnar, you don't admit it," She reminded him, beginning to laugh in amusement.

"I admitted it to you. It is different," Ragnar complained as he waved what she said off, "I tell you everything."

Tova hummed in response and playfully rolled her eyes at Ragnar.

I know I've probably said it like a million times but imma say it again😂

Yes, Bjorn and Tova are the romantic pairing for this story but you gotta admit, Ragnar and Tova's bond is sm more important to this story and I love them sm ❤️