[i]collab between Igraine, idlehands, and RoadRash[/i]
[i] The Hall, Mid Morning[/i]

Dagny picked up a handful of snow in her chubby fist, putting it to her mouth experimentally before recoiling at the cold bite on her lips. She shook it out and giggled at the clump falling, repeating the gesture as she tossed bits of snow toward the makeshift shrine Sigrid had put in the middle of the ash grove at the top of the slight hill behind the Hall. Ranulf stood with her, watching that she did not wander off. 

In the bare limbs of the snow covered trees a raven cawed, distracting the toddler who looked up with wide blue eyes, pointing at it. Sigrid looked up from the rune cup of mead she had set out next to the honey loaf in the offering to the powerful secretive beings that could bring prosperity or misery to their lives. The black bird called again, twitching its head and he seemed to look right at her with bright dark eyes. 

[i][b] ‘Odin...”[/i][/b], Sigrid whispered, watching as another landed next to the first, both cawing in turn. [b] “Huginn...Muninn...carry our message to your master.”[/b]

Her heart leapt as the birds pecked at one another for a moment before suddenly taking flight. Dagny pointed again and chortled with amusement, her eyes following the birds as they flew toward inner Trelleborg. Ranulf’s grey gaze followed the birds, a chill going through him as he watched the black wings against the overcast sky. Odin’s messengers or simple carrion birds, he knew not which. 

Sigrid bent and scooped up the little girl, kissing her rosy cheek and adjusted the rabbit fur hood to cover her ears again. Her long skirt brushed the snow as she walked back, spotting Ragnar where he stood watching them. 

She was about to speak when she caught the sound every mother recognizes in a heartbeat, the sound of a child in need, desperation in the high pitched voice. She could not make out the words, only the urgency and Sigrid hurried down the hill, Dagny bouncing on her ample hip and spotted Raudr and Eyja hurrying toward them. 

[b] “Madir! Fadir!,” [/b] Raudr cried out in relief when he saw his parents. 

Without thinking he ran to her, throwing his arms around her waist as he had done not long ago when he was just a boy. It was not manly behavior but at the moment, Ragnar the Younger cared not and only wanted to feel her arms around him. Sigrid hugged him close with one arm and looked at Eyja’s pallid face. 

Her grey green eyes sparked with concern, [b] “What has happened?” [/b]

[b]”Draugr,”[/b] the little girl replied simply, softly, as if that one word explained all that had happened, beginning to end - but of course it did not. Eyja let the fingers of one hand run over the animals she could feel etched into the shining bronze of Loker’s ring, as if it were a touchstone of promise, and took another deep breath.

[b]“There are draugr in the healing house… Madir sent me here, to Mister Loker.”[/b] Eyja’s pale blue eyes turned to Raudr, hugging his own mother so tightly, and then swiftly looked to the ground, blinking away the pricking start of tears all over again.[b] “Raudr stayed with me the whole way. There was a draugr on the road too, from one of the long house.”[/b] The tiniest hint of a smile might have begun on her face as she looked back up to Sigrid. [b]“He saved me from it.”[/b]

Raudr pulled back, looking over at Eyja and his hand touched the long knife on his belt. He looked down at the ground when he saw Ragnar heading over to them. Ranulf looked at his brother, surprised to see a humility there, certainly if he had saved Eyja he would be bragging about it. He slipped up beside her, noticing the bronze arm ring, a warrior’s ring that she wore on her arm.

Sigrid closed her eyes for a moment, her jaw tightening. She reached for Eyja, taking her hand and pulling her close. 

[b] “You both did very well,” [/b] she assured them, her gaze snapping to Ragnar.

Raudr hoped his father would not notice his missing shield and clean knife, [b] “Fadir, Loker calls for your sword and those of your men. He is gathering the guards as we speak to head to the healing house.”[/b] 

Ragnar was all business in an instant, any trace of laughter and contentment gone from his face. In its place was the war mask, the cold, expressionless face he wore when there was killing to be done. He strode purposefully past his son and Eyja, pausing only long enough to pat the former on the shoulder as he passed, moving swiftly to the front of the hall where Loker and the other guards were gathering. He trusted his wife to know what the situation called for, and to make her own decisions regarding the safety of herself and the children. He had his own business to attend to.

[b] “Loker, [/b] he called, spotting the housecarl and heading towards him. [b] My son told me you’ve called for my sword. I need a shield from one of your men. [/b]

Raudr felt his father’s brief pat and breathed out, not realizing he had been holding his breath. He had worried Ragnar would read on his face that he had been frightened and had not even drawn his blade against the foe. Sigrid eyed her son and said nothing, watching Ragnar depart. Ranulf peered at his brother, but decided to wait and instead turned to Eyja. 

He could see the tears clinging to her ginger lashes and he reached up to touch the ring on her arm, [b] “That’s a warrior’s ring, someone pledged an oath to you?”[/b]

Loker looked up and nodded grimly at Ragnar, shouting an order to his second in command, a short stocky man called Ebbe. 

[b] “Bring them Thegn a shield and anything else he needs.”[/b]

He looked at Ragnar, [b] “Our worst fear, draugr in the walls, we’re nearly ready and must hurry. Gods protect those in there.” [/b] 

Loker paused as he slipped on his goggled helm, his long auburn hair tied back, [b] “Do you think your friend Harald will show up for this fight?” [/b]

[b] “Probably,” [/b] Ragnar grunted, reaching out to take the shield offered to him by Ebbe. He looked briefly at the coat of mail the man had brought as well, then shook his head, waving it away. With draugr in the walls, the men would need inspiration. He knew nothing inspired warriors like having a Thegn around who laughed at danger. 

[b] “Keep the mail,” [/b] he said, grinning and winking at the man. [b] “This is my good tunic. Sigrid would flay me if I tore it up with a mail shirt.” [/b]

Loker flashed a grin beneath the steel mesh of the aventail that was attached to the helm, disappearing almost as soon as it had appeared. His chainmail shirt was belted in the middle, where his long sword and saex hung and on his back was his red and white quarter painted shield. 

[b] “Nothing beats a woman with fire,” [/b] he replied before turning to the guards and the rest of the able bodied men that could lift a weapon were among them, bringing their number to nearly forty. 

[b] “We leave the Hall without protection,” [/b] he sighed, glancing at Ragnar. [b] “Gods I hope Harald is distracted with the draugr as we will be.” [/b] 

The men formed up, Loker leading them out at a jog, calling out for them to be alert for any stray draugr in the village. The chainmail chinked with each step, the leather of his boots squelching in the snow slush and mud. He could hear his men behind him and he remembered his promise to little Eyja, to bring back Hallerna and Svala. Loker set his teeth and his hand was on his sword, ready to cut down any of the dark creatures should they rise in their path. 

Ragnar jogged at the head of the group with Loker and Ivarr, moving easily despite his bulk. Though his love of rich food and good mead had given him a belly as he aged, he was still a fighting-fit Viking Thegn, and keeping up with the men wasn’t taxing by any means. Especially considering he wore none of the armor he normally would carry into battle. 

[b] “If I know that dog, he’s probably already there.” [/b] Ragnar grumbled, his eyes sweeping the area for movement as the column of men moved out. [b] “I only hope we can stop him before he does anything foolish.” [/b]