Chapter Text
The return back to Fornburg on the early afternoon of the first of Sólmánuður after finding and rescuing her crew from Heillboer when she and her crew were caught by that bastard that killed her parents Kjotve the Cruel when she was eight winters, and the beating she got, as her face showed it with the blood on her lips, her bleeding nose, and also the blood on her arms. Oh, how she wanted to rip that bastard apart when he had the nerve to say how he 'warmed her loins'. That just made her sick. And then him taunting her with her father's axe, that was just low, as he aimed to have her sold into slavery in Ireland.
At least she got herself freed and after meeting up with her lieutenant Dag, she got the rest of her crew that was with her at the time saved, along with killing several of Kjotve's men, while also getting her father's axe back, as it rightfully belonged to her now. And even got her Raven Clan armor back, which she knew she needed to get upgraded at some point, just haven't bothered with it yet. With the longship sailing back home to Fornburg and her raven Synin flying above the longship while the blood on her was cleaned off, and what she wanted to do first after checking in with Randvi was to see and hold her son close to her. The thought of her actually being sold into slavery all the way to Ireland made her sick, as that meant she would never see her little wolf pup again.
The moment the longship docked into the Fornburg port, Eivor and the crew got off, where she saw Randvi at the docks. "We thought we had lost you, Eivor. For good this time."
"A warm welcome as always, Randvi." Giving her friend and the wife of her brother Sigurd a clasp on the arm.
Taking in on the newest scars and even the bruising Eivor received, "You look like reddened shit. What happened?"
"Nothing to crow about, except to say the men who delayed us are dead. And how are you?" Eivor changed the subject.
"Well enough." Randvi said back. "Though I have spent many tiresome days calming the rages of out king. He is not happy with you. Nor is your son. Who has been missing you heavily when you didn't get back home in time."
Folding her arms, "I expected as much. And what of Sigurd? Has he returned from his raids?" Now wanting her son in her arms more than ever to assure him his mama is home.
Looking out at the docks, "My husband should be home today. The last we heard, he was approaching Stavanger."
"Good to hear.. We have need of his courage."
That's when Dag walked past holding a wooden crate. "Sigurd will not save you from his father's wrath Eivor. You should know that by now."
Questioning Eivor, "Did your raid not go as planned?"
"They rarely go as planned, but we killed many of Kjotve's warriors. And there was this.." showing Randvi her father's axe, "my father's axe among the dead."
Seeing the axe, "Ah! After so many years. You should take it to Gunnar. He will give it back its edge."
Eivor immediately agreed. "A good idea. After I see our king and my son."
"Seeing our king. That I do not advise, not yet. He is meeting with a messenger from the North." Randvi told her. "Your son. No doubt he's running around with his friends. He'll be thrilled to see your back home."
Clipping the axe to her belt, "I can wait..." Then, when Eivor looked up to the sky, Randvi spoke again.
"A cloud hangs over you. Is something wrong?"
Answering, "Seeing my father's axe, after seventeen winters...it stirred something in me. A feeling I have not had since...since the day he was killed. Since the day I got this." Gesturing her wolf bite scar on her neck.
"Memories of past agonies. Of sadness and pain."
"I should speak with Valka. She could help me make sense of my...my feelings. After I see my son and speak to Gunnar." Eivor told Randvi.
"Take your time getting settled. I will see you at the longhouse." Followed by Randvi heading back to the longhouse, while Eivor made her way to see Gunnar, and to see if she could spot her son, then see Valka.
But first, Dag had to speak to her again. "I think you have lost your edge, Eivor, just like that axe. Maybe Gunnar can help you with both."
"I will let you know."
Heading up to Gunnar forge first, wanting to get her father's axe sharpened and when he saw her, he greeted her in joy upon seeing the woman he views as like a daughter to him. "Wolf-Kissed! Welcome back!"
In joy herself, "Gunnar. I have something here you might like to see." Then removed her father's axe from her belt to show the blacksmith.
And when he saw it, Gunnar had to let it known. "Thunderclap of Thor! IS that your father's axe? I have not seen this beauty since...well, for some time." As in, not seeing it since Kjotve attack on Eivor's village that killed her parents as he took the axe into his own hands. "I forged this weapon long ago. Still looks good. One of my finest, I think."
"It has a blunted blade, but it swings well." Eivor explained to him. "Can you sharpen it?"
"I can give it a better edge and enforce the handle to fit your hands." Gunnar told her. "And as luck would have it, I have one ingot left for the job."
"Are you sure?"
"The Fates have willed it so! But in future, bring your own metal ingots. I cannot forge them from empty air." With Gunnar using the carbon ingot he had, he upgraded Varin's axe so the blade was no longer blunt, but sharp, and also fixed the handle to better grip Eivor's smaller hands. And once complete, he then said, "That should do it." When handing the axe to her. "Anything else?"
Taking her father's axe onto her belt, she decided to talk to Gunnar a bit while she was here. "And how are you, Gunnar? Holding up?"
"Ja, work is good and my spirits are strong, but my nights are newly cold. My lady left me, if you had not heard." Sadness in Gunnar's voice.
Folding her arms across her chest, even Eivor spoke with sorrow for Gunnar in her voice. "I had. Sorry to hear it. You were together...how long?" For that she didn't know exactly how long the two were together.
"Ahh...Five weeks it was." Gunnar revealed. "Five beautiful, passionate weeks. But all that is done. Will I never find my Brunhilde?"
"Valkyries do not walk the world as they once did, Gunnar. Maybe set your sights a bit lower." Eivor told him, while she on the other hand with her son's father, the two were not exactly in a relationship when their son came to be.
"Lower? My friend, look at my wares, my weapons. I'm not a man to settle for less than the finest of anything!" When Gunnar gestured to his forge.
Seeing she didn't have much else, Eivor knew it was time to leave, to both see to her son and to speak with Valka. "That is all for now."
"Return anytime." Gunnar said back, watching Eivor leave, no doubt to see to her son.