The Son Of Ragnar

Ulf had joined the fray, escaping being killed by Tyr as the younger Viking retracted his weapon.

Lagertha noticed the friction between both of them but right now, they needed to get out.

She knew that Ulf was no match for Birger, nor was Tyr and right now, Birger was nowhere to be seen. You do not go seeking the devil, you only prepare when he finds you.

Ulf kissed his teeth, scooping Lagertha's in his arms and instructing Tyr to guard them.

Tyr was equally irritated because he was certain that Birger was behind that door.

"TYR!" Ulf called and Tyr reluctantly complied as he swept the room, clearing and checking for threats he might have missed but they were the only ones there.

He opened the door and his eyes did not register anyone outside as he opened the door and the coast was clear.

Ulf carried Lagertha outside but the moment they stepped outside, they were surrounded.

Tyr assumed a ready-for-combat stance but Ulf could not because he was holding Lagertha, this was a trap and they had walked right into it.

"I can handle these small fries! Take mother away!" Tyr reassured his uncle, Ulf had no problems leaving him to die but he knew Lagertha would never forgive him if he did.

"Ulf Lothbrok…" A voice called out in the darkness, and Ulf stiffened up instantly, but he was not the only one that was panicked by this, Lagertha's body went numb.

"Where the hell are you!?" Tyr shouted, he did not know who he was talking to.

"Tyr, run…" Lagertha muttered, but Tyr was so pumped up on adrenaline that he did not hear his mother, all he wanted right now was blood.

"TYR! RUN!" Lagertha shouted, the urgency in her voice told Tyr all he needed to know about their current situation.

"What is wrong, mother?" Tyr asked.

"He is here! Birger is here!" Lagertha was hysterical, Tyr had never seen her this frightened before and this only reaffirmed his need to kill Birger.

"I am not the only one that is here…." Birger said; voice echoing in the darkness and Herfjötur's muffled screams could be heard.

"I found your little friend snooping around and I could only imagine how lonely she must have been without you, Lagertha. So I brought her to you," Birger said.

"I think she wants to say something…" Birger continued and everywhere fell silent.

"LAGERTHA! HE IS NOT AFTER YOU OR YOUR CHILDREN! HE IS AFTER RAGNAR!" Herfjötur screamed from the top of her lungs but silence once again shrouded the atmosphere.

"Hahaha! I think she might be onto something but I am afraid I can't have her spilling all my secrets." Birger said, no one knew where he was, that was the terrifying thing, and the capture of Herfjötur, made their escape all the more complicated.

"What do you want?" Lagertha was ready to negotiate but Ulf was against it because he knew they were playing right into Birger's hands.

Ulf realized the only way to beat Birger at his own game was to sacrifice a few pawns, they could not save them all.

"Lagertha, do not…. You have to let her go, she knows too much, and there is no way Birger would let her go with what she knows. She was condemned the moment she caught wind of this information." Ulf tried to make Lagertha realize that her attempts to save Herfjötur were in vain but Lagertha was not about to give up on her friend.

"I want you to return to that house and I will let everyone go, including your son and Ulf," Birger said. He chose for Lagertha to remain captive for the release of her friends.

It was an easy decision to make for her, Birger was not going to kill her or he would have done so already. With the information provided by Herfjötur, Lagertha made an educated guess that Birger planned to use her capture to lure Ragnar here but she had absolute faith in her husband.

There was no way Birger would best Ragnar, and with that faith, she knew everything would be alright in the end.

"Ulf... Put me down…" Lagertha instructed but Ulf did not comply, he was going to take her away by force. He did not care if she hated him for the rest of her life, at least she would have a life to hate him with.

"I am not sacrificing you for Herfjötur, and I am sure Herfjötur would want this as well. You will reunite with her in Valhalla," Ulf tried to show her a silver lining, one he hoped she would grab.

"Valhalla? I am afraid this is the last time you will see her both in this life and the afterlife," Birger was clear with his intentions for Herfjötur, he had no intentions of letting her into Valhalla.

This would not only condemn her but her soul, and Lagertha looked Ulf right in the eyes and said for the last time.

"Ulf... I said put me down," Ulf could no longer resist, Birger had his ways with words and managed to exploit Lagertha's vulnerability.

"Fuck!" Ulf cussed under his breath, dropping Lagertha down gently and Tyr was confused about what was happening.

"W-What are you doing?" Tyr knew what he risked coming here and he was not about to let his mother become a captive without a chain.

"It is fine, Tyr. I will be fine…" Lagertha tried to reassure him. She tried to smile but this only opened up her partially healed wounds.

"If you die, I will never forgive you!" Tyr said. Lagertha was one woman he could not oppose because of the love and respect he had for her. Like every child, he believed his mother knew best and submitted to her decision.

"I have not seen my Tyr grow into a man yet, of course, I will live!" Lagertha said and she struggled back into the house with Tyr trying his best to hold back his tears and his hatred shifted to Herfjötur, only if she died, none of this would have happened…. Only if she died.