Bab 14: Chapter 14

[A/N: I wrote this for fun please just read it to pass time.]

Thor's POV

It was interesting to see Jarl Bjarni arguing with Ragnar over Thyri's marriage which was soon nulled and in return, Jarl wanted to accompany us to the west.I didn't particularly care about how the Jarl died he is related to King Horik so Ragnar cannot decline him.

It didn't take long as Val, and Sig both sharpening their swords,also Lagertha was not going with us since she was appointed as regent by Ragnar to look after Kattegat. We all got ready for the next raid on the west which was so as I knew this was when King Alle tries to attack us which is obviously going to fail.

As we set sail to the West with the other I sighed and thought "I must make sure to avoid going with Ragnar to visit King Horik it will be good for me to not meet Asluag."

It took some time to reach Northumbria as we soon started to camp with defenses set like the wooden spiked barricade against the cavalry as I saw Ragnar talking with Rollo"How soon will they come."Ragnar smiled and replied, "Soon enough."

With Jarl Bijarni saying "I can't wait for Valhalla."I heard Sig snort hearing that and mutter "You will probably go to Fólkvangr."I was having a hard time keeping a straight face although I decided the guy may be strong who knows.

3rd POV (Kattegat)

In Kattegat, Lagertha hated just sitting and hearing other people's problems while Thor and others were off raiding also Frigga helped her when she had more problematic cases but thanks to Frigga things moved smoothly she still hated just sitting around. While Frigga who was next to her whispered "You have to do your duty I know you are not used to it."Frigga who smiled while looking at Lagertha mentally thought "If from what Brunhilde said about your attraction to Thor also If my assumptions are true you are more likely to get a more important role in the future, my dear."

Lagertha sighed and called the next case she saw as she saw a woman who was carrying a child while crying with a man next to her which by the looks of it was her husband. Lagertha greeted "Good day to you, folk. What is the problem here?"

The man's name is Hrothgar said in anger "The problem is her."Lagertha was slightly confused questioned, "What has she done."

Hrothgar in irritation looked at his wife Mara and the child in her arms and said "She has had a child, the boy in her arms."Lagertha now looked at Hrothgar and questioned "What of it."

Hrothgar in anger replied "He is not my child.We tried for many years to have children without success and then just over a year ago, a young man came to the door.I remember the day.I was making a loom the young man said his name was Rig. He gave us some good advice on our work and stayed at our house. after three days he left, and nine months later she gave birth to a son."The crowd was laughing.

Lagertha kept a stoic face while questioned Mara "Whose child is it." in her mind she knew the man here seemed impotent and Lady Frigga who is right by her side did not bless them if she did she would have spoken.

Mara who was in tears replied, "I do not know, my lady we were all in the same bed I was too scared."Hrothgar pitched in " You see? She is not an honest woman. She had sex with Rig could not bring herself to tell me the truth!"

Lagetrha questioned, "Do you know who this Rig was."Mara shook her head and replied, "No, he was just a young man.

While Frigga who heard this knew this Rig was a seidr since the child basically had some magic in him even if it is just a little it is there as Frigga muttered "These seidr's are ruining Heimdall's name."Lagertha also heard Frigga which made her grimace since the time she heard about the Seidr's going around pretending like gods she hated them since Frigga told her these Seidr's are fooling people with sorcery. Lagertha knew for a fact Frigga can easily bless the couple to have a child while seidr's went and seduced men or women.

Lagertha normally would have said the man was Hemidal since from the ancient stories Rig was another name for Heimdal and the child was a gift but she knew for the fact this was seidr normally If the Vikings believed someone committed a crime, they had to stand a trial. Women had to pick hot stones out of boiling water and men carried red, hot, burning iron for a short distance. If they dropped the stones or the iron they were accused to be guilty. If you achieved your task you had your wounds cleaned up and dressed. When a week passed, their wounds were examined, and if they were healing they were innocent and if they weren't then they were guilty. Their fate was decided by the thing. The thing was a meeting where their punishment would be decided. The criminal would have to pay a mulct, degraded to be a slave, or could even be banished from the land. If you were an outlaw, anyone could kill you without the risk of being prosecuted. Vikings believed they were worth money, some more than others. They were called Wergelg. The higher rank Vikings were worth more than peasants

So Lagertha keeping a poker face said "The child is innocent and cannot be punished for the crime of the mother.So this child will not be harmed as for the punishment is she will stand trial."

Lagertha looked at Hrothgar and continued "You will not harm this child even if she is found guilty am I clear ."Hrothgar reluctantly nodded and both went away.

Athelstan knew what is going to happen to the women as he questioned "Lady Frigga is the child really not Hrothgar's."Frigga sighed and replied, "No the child is not his."

Frigga explained about the seidr's to Athelstan who looked mollified at the fact these people are going around pretending to be gods and fooling the people while he asked "So the child is from seidr."Frigga just gave a nod.