The Viking Lunna Queen

Before I start telling my story. I have to first tell you about my people. About our Gods, beliefs, customs, and how we lived our lives. We were not the barbarians you believe us to be. We were fierce warriors but simple people. We believed that our fates were decided and sealed by the gods the day we are born. It is true that we love to battle and fight for the lands and possessions we claimed in other lands. If we were true to the gods and fought with valor and died in battle without fear in our hearts. We would earn our place in Odin's hall in Valhalla. We wanted and needed our settlements on other lands like England, Russia, Greenland, Iceland etc. Because Norway was more mountain terrain than farming land. We needed the lands we concord to grow food for our people. We once outnumbered most populations that surrounded us. Therefore, we needed to expand our lands. As for the riches that we took that was our spoils we would melt them down to craft things. We would stash and burry it to spend in our deaths when we entered Valhalla. Valhalla is where we go when we die in battle. It is the hall of the gods where all the fallen warriors are carried to by the Valkyries. Valkyries are the brave women those furies who men fear and desire. They were once the greatest and most beautiful women who died in battle handpicked by Odin and gifted wings to carry the chosen fallen warriors to Valhalla. Our gods were once human. They laughed, cried, and blead like any other person to walk the earth. Our gods are gods because they were once superhuman because of their abilities. Odin is the All Father. Keeper of the gods, bringer of knowledge, courage, and god of war. We call him All Father because we believe he is the first of all our gods. We have many Gods and I won't name them all just a few of the more major gods and goddesses. When you hear thunder and see lightening that is Thor beating his hammer on his anvil. Thor is the God of lightening and battle. Thor is the son of Odin. Freya is the Goddess of growth, fertility, and love. Njord is the god of the sea and wealth. Loki was the god of tricks and deception. and last but not least Vioarr the god of revenge. There are many others but these are the main gods that we worshiped and dedicated sacrifices to. As I have mentioned everything, we had we crafted by hand from stone wood and various metals. We had many different weapon designs but our greatest accomplishments were done by the legendary Floki the most famous boat builder. He created the designs of our ships that allowed us to travel to other places than our lands. They are called long boats. We could row them up and down rivers and once in the sea we could lift sails and sail to wherever the god Njord allowed us to go. Unless you are a slave All women were equal to men if not held above men. We were the first and only people to have free/equal women. Against popular beliefs Christianity wasn't our downfall. Yes, it is true that many of our people did convert to the one false god. This however was not our undoing. Our end was as our gods had foretold it would be Ragnarök. The earth began to shake and split open fire rained down from the skies the sea thrashed violently rising and flooding most of our ports and lands. Ragnarök was our end because it was the end of our gods. I know what your thinking if my gods are dead. Why do I wish to hand this knowledge down. Like our All Father gave his eye for all the knowledge in the world so it is my duty as the last of my people to pass down our history and beliefs so they don't die with me. We did not read or write our tales and history as time passed, we saw no need to do so. The only kind of writing we did was our runes and sigils. Ragnarök began in 1200 A.D marking the beginning of the end of our way of life. Now it is time I get to my life's story. My name is Vivica I am the granddaughter of the famous Ragnar Lothbrook and Lagertha. My mother was their only surviving daughter. Her sister and mother was slaughtered in battle by one of her brothers. My mother was not there for the fight for the throne. She was told that Ivar the boneless is the one who killed her. My mother was away raiding a faraway land she discovered and called Newfoundland. She did not fight over the matter she was not close to her sister, so she did not seek revenge. She did want revenge for her mother's death but died before she could seek it. When she returned, she was pregnant with me and would not risk her unborn child. I never got to know my mother she died in childbirth. From what I have been told she was a great shield maiden and warrior like her mother. No one knew of my father only that she returned with child and no man. I was raised by Bjorn Ironsides son and wife. I was technically a free woman but most people who did not know who I was treated me as if I was a slave. You see I had my mother's silken white hair and ocean blue eyes and facial features. But I had darkened skin which is not normal among our people. I wasn't known to be a Ragnarsson to all until a brave man decided to try and r**e me at the young age of 16. Hail the man to help raise me caught him before he could do so. "WHAT IS IT THAT YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO DO TO THIS YOUNG GIRL? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN HAVE YOUR WAY WITH HER?" He screamed at the man as he grabbed him by his throat dragging him off of me. The man was to stunned and confused by Hails reactions at first to speak. "She is a mere slave surely a king such as yourself wouldn't care about a slave girl" Hail's face remained emotionless he clicked his tongue on his teeth and took in a annoyed breath. "That is what you think? Hmmm that she is a slave?" The man just nodded yes. Hail looked amused and smiled. "How do you know if she is a slave or not?" now I know he is mocking the man, but the man doesn't know it yet. "By the color of her skin she is to dark to be Viking." Hails eyes shifted back and forth between me and the man. "Did you ask what her name is?" The man shook his head no. Hail nodded as if agreeing with the man. "I see" he said and offered the man his hand to help him to his feet. Playing along with the man's notion that I was a slave. "Come lets discus this over food and drink" he said patting the man's shoulder turning him away from me with a quick wink and nod telling me to fallow. So I did at a distance. As we entered people bowed their heads in Hail's direction, he is the king after all. With the flick of his hand the horn sounded to gather in the hall. He let the man sit at his table eat his food and drink his ale. Not noticing everyone gathering in the Hall. It was quickly brought to his attention when Hail spoke to the people. "I caught this man trying to r**e a young woman today. He believes her to be a slave girl." The man slowed his chewing on his food listening intently not sure of what is about to come. I could see worry creeping into his eyes, but his face remained emotionless. "However, slave or no slave r**e is not tolerated among my people. This man is not one of our people but a wanderer. His other mistake was not asking the girl what her name is only assuming she is a slave because she has darkened skin." everyone began to whisper and murmur looking at me because I am the only one with "darkened skin". I held my composure and remained unfazed and emotionless. Even though I was even wondering what was going on and going to happen. I felt Tara's arm lace through mine as she whispered in my ear "I told you to always carry a blade with you for your own protection." I nodded knowing that she was right. In a way it was my own fault for not being armed while in the town and outer village not everyone knew who I was. "Come here young one" he called to me I made my way around the room and stood by him sitting on his throne. "Go on tell them your name" I looked at him to make sure he wanted me to reveal my true name and not the false one that we sometimes use to hide me away. He just gave me a simple nod telling me that it was time to let it be known. I looked out amongst the people with a hardened face and narrow eyes like Tara does when she addresses the people. "I am Vivica Ragnarsson. The only granddaughter of Ragnar and Lagertha. My mother was their only surviving daughter Thorn." Hail was glaring at the man with a wicked smirk on his face confirming to not only him but the people that what I said was true. Like him I was a direct descendant of the greatest warriors and shield maidens of our sagas and tales. The man looked mortified some people looked shocked and others were cheering, stomping their feet and raising their cups and bowing their heads to me acknowledging my birth right. "As you see she has the snow-white hair and ocean blue eyes of Lagertha herself and is the spitting image of her mother Thorn. Yes she has darkened skin but she is Viking" Hail boomed over the people making them silence once more. Holding his cold deathly glare on the man. The man jumped to his feet and attempted to flee he didn't get far before he was detained by the men and women surrounding him. "Free woman, married women, slaves does not matter on my lands if they do not wish to share themselves that choice is theirs. I cannot blame you for not knowing of her or of my laws of my lands. But I cannot allow it to go unaddressed or punished however I'm going to leave the punishment up to her seeing how she is the one who was wronged." Tara came up on the other side of Hail "Take him to the cells to wait for her discission" She declared knowing I would need time to decide what to do with him. He was dragged out of the Hall by the people that had stopped him moments before. The people began to talk amongst themselves, and a woman stepped forward "May I suggest a feast and celebration for the announcement of princess Vivica?" Hail stood raising his hands silencing the people. "Let us feast drink and celebrate Vivica and wait for her decide the mans fate shall we?" He suggested to the people. Everyone cheered stomping their feet banging their cups to agree that a celebration in my name was to be made. As everyone began enjoying themselves eating and drinking telling tails of their triumphs and speaking of the gods and my mother and grandparents and the sons of Ragnar. I sat at the kings table by Tara listening to the tales that are being told trying to decide what I should do to the man that would have stolen my woman hood without given the choice of wanting to give it to the man. I looked at Tara "what would my mother do if she was in my position?" I asked her hoping it would help me decide. "Your mother was a vengeful but intelligent woman like her mother. I honestly do not know what she would have done. With so many options and possibilities it would mostly rely on her mood and mindset of the day on what she would do." I nodded in agreeance even though I was hoping for more of a incite to help me decide. People began to approach us giving me gifts and offerings. I received a few pieces of jewelry, many fine weapons, and trinkets. Along with offers to be trained in fighting and defense. Even a few marriage proposals to consider when I was a few years older. Then we all fell silent as we heard the horns blow signaling someone's arrival. The doors opened in flooded more people who walked right up to Infront of our seats and table. "King Hail I am Earl Haraldson son and I have come to ask for your help. One of my settlements has been destroyed and my people slaughtered by Christians" You could hear the hate and need for revenge for his people in his tone and the way he spat out the word Christians. "Most of my people in the settlement had converted to Christianity to help ease the peace between our people but were slaughtered anyway. I am here to ask for your help to seek revenge for their deaths many men, women, and children killed pointlessly they were farmers not warriors." I felt the sadness and urgency in his tone. I could see that Hail was considering what to do the answer was simple to me. I would have agreed and raised our armies in the spring and gone to seek our revenge. "I see. I understand your anger and hurt Haraldson but we cannot attack at the moment the matter will have to wait until the spring when we can gather the resources and appropriate forces to launch such a attack. But now isn't the time for discussion of such matters as you can see we are in the middle of a celebration and feast. Please feel free to join us. Eat drink enjoy the tales of the poets. We will discuss these matters at another time." Hail said dismissing the Earl. "We shall join you King Hail but if you don't mind me asking what is it you are celebrating?" Hail tightened his jaw unsure if he should tell the man about me not quite ready to share my identity with all of the lands yet just among our people for my safety. "We are celebrating the Princess Vivica Ragnarsson" Tara stated flatly before drinking from her cup. "Ragnarsson? How could there be another? Ragnar has been dead for a hundred years or more by now?" Tara's face went cold and angry that he would dare question the Queen. "You are right he is long dead however he had a surviving daughter whom never married and had a child. She died bringing her child into the world so naturally we raised her with her mother's last name as we don't know of the child's father. He is not of our people." The earl has now noticed me sitting beside Tara "I see now. You are the daughter of Thorn. Oh, how I wish your mother would have married me. You look like her but with your grandmother's hair. I can already tell you your mother chose your name do you know what it means?" I had never thought that my name had a meaning I thought it was just a name. I never even thought that she had named me that Tara had named me. I simply shook my head no. "Vivica means war my darling you are destined for great things. You have a greater fate ahead of you than your mother and even your grandparents. I truly hope that I get to witness it and be a part of it." He gave me a slight bow. "When I return I shall have a few gifts for you they belonged to your mother. I know she would rather you have them rather than my future wife." With a nod from me he sat on the other side of Hail and the celebrations continued. We drank and danced and sang with the poets as I had finally forgotten what had happened earlier and that a mans fate lies in my hands it is brought back to my attention. The hall fell silent bringing my attention back to King Hail "Vivica my darling have you decided the man's fate yet?" I walked over to his throne stopping in front of him and turning to face the people. "I have but all I will tell you is his punishment will be done publicly in a week's time when this harsh weather has passed. Any who want to witness the event are welcome to do so in the towns circle." I then raised my cup before drinking from it and taking my place by Taras side and watch and Hail nodded in agreement with my announcement. If he only knew that I had not yet decided. He would possibly be disappointed in me. How can the fate of a man lie in the hands of a 16-year-old? I forgot to mention that this day was in fact my birthday which is why I was in town looking for a new dress from the market. Everything we have is hand crafted even our clothes and we take great pride in the things we would craft for they were truly beautiful. Everything had great amounts of time and detail in them which is why we were prideful of our work. Everything was its own unique work of art. As I was thinking of the dress I was on my way to buy. Earl Haraldson presented me with a rather large white wolfs skin cloak and wrapped inside of it was the beautiful white and blue silken dress I had been on my way to buy. "Princess I hope this fine wolf pelt and the dress you were on your way to buy when you were assaulted will do as fine gifts until I can return." He was genuine and sweet tone I couldn't help but smile and hug the man I had never met before for the beautiful gifts he had given me. "Thank you" I murmured in his chest as I hugged him tightly to show my gratitude. When I released him he tucked my hair behind my ear and gave a low bow. "We must take our leave in the morning we will return to see the spectacle you have planed. I'm sure we will be pleased." I nodded as he turned to his men to go and find a place to sleep for me night. Soon after everyone made their way to their homes and shops. It was late at night and I was one of few who wasn't ready for bed even though I was tiered. Tara and Hail had gone to bed so I sat on Taras throne and continued to drink ale and think about what I was going to do. Soon I was all alone with my thoughts and all the ale I could drink. When all of a sudden the fires began to crackle and surge with energy slightly. I thought I was starting to get drunk and was seeing things. I soon realized that was not the case as the seer appeared before me on the other side of the fire pit. "Why have you come here?" I asked him. It is rare for the seer to come to you. Usually, you have to seek him out for answers. "I bring you a message from the beyond. Your mother wishes you not to be kind and forgiving. She wants you to be wrathful, vengeful, and merciless. She knows you are young and your heart still kind and soft but you must harden it if you hope to survive and be feared and respected." with that he was gone just as fast as he appeared.