Shield-maiden Within
Summary: Reader is a Saxon woman who doesn’t like the whole ‘a woman can’t do what men do’ thing and so she runs away… with the vikings, and Bjorn trains her.
Characters: Reader, Bjorn Ironside, Ragnar Lothrbrok, Floki
Fandom: Vikings
Word Count: 1936
Disney Movie Writing Challenge, @that-was-not-supposed-to-happen
AN: I think this is the longest thing I have ever written but I hope you guys still like it even thought the ending is crap...
I hate it!
I couldn’t do what I wanted because I was a woman and according to the men we shouldn’t diddle daddle in the ‘masculine area.” Bunch of nonsense if you ask me.
I walked into my room and slammed the door. I threw myself on my bed and lay there staring at the ceiling. If I can’t pursue what I want there’s no point in sticking around any longer.
I sat up at my realization. I ran to my closet and started pulling out a travel bag and filling it with clothes I might need. I quickly changed out of my dress and into some pants and a shirt. I slipped my boots on and then went to look at myself in the mirror.
Should I cut my hair? I shook my head and instead started to braid it. I looked out of my window and noticed it had gotten darker out, perfect.
I put my cloak on and grabbed my bag. I raised the hood and then very quietly left my room. I made sure to avoid the guards that were around.
I made it out of the castle and into the forest before it hit me that I had nowhere to go and no food. “Shit.” I looked around, “What the hell am I supposed to do now?”
“You should try being quieter for one,” I froze.
“Who are you?” I looked around.
“What are you doing out of your castle?” they questioned.
“I’m running away,” I respond.
“Without any food rations?” they sounded a little amused.
“Well I didn’t really plan it out, it was a last minute kind of thing,” I explained. “Wait! Why am I telling you any of this? I don’t even know who you are.”
I heard a branch breaking and turned around to see a very very tall man looking at me. With the moonlight I was able to see his features, he had blonde hair, a strong jawline and enchanting blue eyes. What can I say, I’m a sucker for blue eyes.
“My name is Bjorn,” he stepped a little closer to me, looking me up and down.
“Y/N,” I extend my hand for him to shake, he just stares at it and I pull my hand back. “So, you're one of the pagans?” I give him a once over. “I thought you vikings were supposed to be scarier.”
“Do I not frighten you?” He stalks towards me.
I walk backwards and stop when my back touches something. I jump away, bumping into Bjorn and looking behind me.
“It is just a tree,” he says with not so well hidden amusement.
“Yeah well for all I know it could have been something dangerous,” I say looking back at him. “Sorry,” I try to pull away but he grabs hold of me.
“Why were you running away?” he asks in complete seriousness.
“My father wouldn’t let me train with the guards, said it wasn’t a woman’s place to be around weapons or doing what men do,” I mimic his voice. “Anyway, he always said the same thing when I asked so I decided to leave,” I finish.
“Come on,” he says pulling me with him.
“Wait! Where are you taking me?” I start trying to get out of his hold.
He takes my bag and throws me over his shoulder, taking me to wherever it is he’s going. What have I gotten myself into?
I stare at the ground as we walk, we don’t say anything to each other.
I start to hear voices and I assume we’re getting closer to the place.
“What have you got there Bjorn?” I hear someone ask.
“A bear, what does it look like I have,” he retorts.
I smack his butt, “don’t you dare compare me to a bear again viking!” I yell at him.
“You weigh almost as much as one,” the amusement has returned.
“You look and smell like one!” I smack him again.
“Keep that up and I might just take you somewhere more private,” he smacks my butt in return.
“Why-why you-how dare you insinuate such a thing!” I yell and start hitting his back and squirming around.
“Bjorn what are you doing with Lord Y/L/N‘s daughter?” Bjorn sets me down and I look around and your eyes fall unto the sea blue eyes of one of the men. Such beauty.
“I found her in the woods alone,” Bjorn responds dropping my bag on the ground.
“Why didn’t you take her back to her home,” blue eyes looks at me. I feel like he’s looking into my soul. Oh great now I got chills.
“It is home I am running from,” I speak up.
“Why would you want to leave your home? You have everything you need there,” he scrutinizes me.
“I have everything but my freedom to do as I please,” I respond.
“And what is it you want to do?” another man asks.
“I want to learn to fight but my father never let me, he would say that the guards would protect me if it ever came to it but what will happen when they are all killed? Who will protect me then?” I confidently answer.
“Hmm,” he looks at Bjorn.
“Eg vil ad pjalfa hana,” (I want to train her) He says in his native tongue.
“Pu vilt hana ad koma med okkur eins vel ” (You want her to come with us as well)
“Ja” (yes)
I look around the camp and look at one the men, he seems unstable, I think as he fidgets not staying still for long.
“You will stay with Bjorn. He will look after you and train you,” I look back to the depth of those sea blue.
“I didn’t catch your name,” I blurt out.
“I am Ragnar,” he smiles a little.
“As in The Ragnar?” I look at him with wide eyes.
“You’ve heard of me,” he states, smile growing.
“Who hasn’t?! I mean you’re like one of the greatest fighters to ever live!” I start bouncing on my feet. “Wait! If you Ragnar and you're Bjorn that means… I’ll be trained by the legend's son,” I look between them and I start jumping up and down. I hug Bjorn and then run over and hug Ragnar. Both men are too startled to do anything.
“Sorry, I got really excited. This is exciting!” I say with a huge smile.
“You won’t be too excited after tomorrow,” Bjorn laughs.
“Shut it Legend Jr.,” I push him, with little to no effect.
“You should get some rest, tomorrow will be a long day,” Ragnar says looking at us.
Bjorn nods and I still have the huge smile on my face. He pulls me lightly by the arm and leads me to his tent. We get in and he gestures for me to take the bed.
“Where will you sleep?” I ask him.
“The floor will do just fine,” he answers.
“It’s your tent you should sleep in your bed and I’ll take the floor,” I step away from the bed.
“No. You’re sleeping in the bed,” he says with determination.
“Fine but you have to sleep with me,” I say. “No! Not like that, I meant we would share the bed… in a comrade way, fully clothed,” I finish awkwardly.
He looks at me for a bit and then burst out laughing.
“It’s not that funny,” I feel my face get hot. He just keeps laughing.
He sobers up and wipes away some stray tears. “We’ll share the bed,” he says.
He starts taking off some of his clothes and boots. When he takes his shirt off I turn around with cherry red cheeks. I take my cloak and boots off and then lay down on the bed. I scooted to the farther end so Bjorn could lay down.
Skip Awkward Night and now it’s Training Day
I was surprisingly very comfortable considering I was sleeping on a bed, on the floor. I snuggled closer to the warmth that was surrounding me.
At that moment, I felt something tighten around me, I froze. What do I do?! I opened my eyes only to be greeted by someone’s very naked chest. My eyes widened and I slowly moved my head up.
That is a mighty nice jawline. I think to myself. Wait! Bjorn has a very nice jawline… oh right duh I’m in his tent. I start to relax but then it hit me, Bjorn has his arms wrapped around me.
I try to wiggle my way out of his embrace but he only tightens his grip on me. I manage to get an arm out and I try to take his arms off but it doesn’t go as planned.
“Trying to get away I see,” I freeze at the sound of his voice.
“I was just-” he nuzzles my neck.
“You were what?” he keeps nuzzling.
“Training!” I blurt out. “We’re uh training today and I just wanted to uh go out and you know stretch.”
“Mmm,” is all I get in response but he does let go of me.
He lays back with his hands behind his head, smirking at me, Hel damn you Bjorn. I think to myself as I crawl over his body to get out of the bed. He wore that stupid smug grin on his face the whole while. I change into new clothes, I’ve never been one to be shy of my body because let’s be honest I am GORGEOUS!
Bjorn raises his eyebrows but looks away, how gentlemanly.
After I get dressed I go out of the tent but stop immediately, because I have no idea where I’m going. After a few minutes Bjorn comes out of the tent, walking past me so I follow hoping he’ll lead me to the food and he does.
Another Time Skip
Bjorn was teaching me the basics of fighting the ‘viking way’ and after that he handed me a shield and an axe.
I look at them and weigh them each in my hand, shield’s pretty heavy but I can do this, I tell myself.
I take the stance he showed me before and I look to him. He nods his head and lunges at me.
I hold my shield up to block his attack, he stops and backs away giving me the chance to attack him and I do. I’ve never fought before but I would watch the guards when they train so I had a slight advantage but that was nothing compared to how the vikings fight.
He blocks me with his shield and moves away from me. I charge at him and he holds his shield up so I duck under and cut him on his leg, nothing too serious, but he stumbles a little.
He looks at me with wide eyes. That’s right Legend Jr. I did just did that. I smirk at him and go back for more.
We keep this up until lunch time, by then we both have a bit of blood on us but they aren’t serious injuries so we’re fine.
“She did that to you?” I look up at the new voice, he’s the guy that wouldn’t stop fidgeting from last night.
“Eg lata hana gera petta vid mig,” (I let her do this to me) I narrow my eyes at Bjorn but he just laughs with the other man.
“Come on let’s eat,” Bjorn nudges me with his shoulder.
I follow him to the spot from this morning. I might not be one of them but I think I could fit in nicely, given time.
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