Activity at Fjell?rn intensified with each passing day. Warriors arrived in steady streams, their weapons glinting in the summer sun as they filled the courtyards. The clash of steel rang out from dawn to dusk as men trained, while inside the fortress, endless councils plotted strategy and reviewed resources.

  Amid this martial chaos, Astrid and Sigrida found themselves swept along different currents. Erik spent long hours in war councils, his conversations with Astrid growing briefer and more distant. Sigrida felt increasingly awkward among the nobles and warriors filling the fortress, unsure of her place in this formal hierarchy. With Brandr constantly occupied by military preparations, she had no one to help her navigate this unfamiliar world.

  On a rare quiet afternoon, they walked behind the longhouses, grateful for a moment alone.

  "How are you holding up?" Astrid asked, studying her friend's face.

  Sigrida was quiet for a moment. "I miss the openness of Honningdal. Everything here feels... confined."

  "I found a spot where we can see past the palisades," Astrid said, a hint of mischief in her voice. "There's an old barrel behind the smithy that—"

  Two enormous hounds came bounding around the corner of the longhouse, tongues lolling and tails wagging furiously. Astrid barely had time to brace herself before they barreled into her, nearly knocking her off her feet. Sigrida, equally surprised, took a quick step back to maintain her balance.

  "Liv! Lina!" a female voice called out sharply. The dogs skidded to a stop several paces away and turned to face the voice, tails wagging eagerly. They were huge, with long legs, muscular bodies, and thick gray fur, making them difficult to distinguish.

  Astrid turned to see two identical shieldmaidens approaching, both small and lithe with mousy brown braids and faces dusted with freckles. They moved with the same fluid grace, matching each other step for step.

  "Sorry about that," one of them said, giving a sharp whistle. The dogs immediately trotted to her side. "I'm Hilde, and this is my sister Hervor. These troublemakers are Liv and Lina."

  "We're kin to Jarl Magnus." Hervor added with a grin. "Our father's... second cousin's... grandson's... oh, bother. What was it again, Hilde?"

  "Third cousin twice removed on our mother's side, or something..." Hilde laughed. "Point is, we're kin!"

  "Distant enough to be interesting, close enough to join the fight," Hervor said with a wink.

  "Your dogs are beautiful," Astrid said warmly, while Sigrida kept a cautious eye on the massive hounds, still startled by their sudden appearance.

  "We've heard talk about you in the war halls," Hervor said, her gaze settling on Astrid. "You're Chief Torbjorn's daughter, aren't you?"

  Astrid nodded. "I am. And this is my friend, Sigrida."

  Sigrida nodded. "You two are shieldmaidens?"

  Hilde and Hervor laughed in unison, the sound light and musical.

  "We've seen some skirmishes here and there," Hilde said, her voice brimming with enthusiasm, "but this will be our first major battle."

  Hervor's gray eyes sparkled with excitement. "We can't wait to prove ourselves as fierce shieldmaidens against Gunnar's forces."

  Their unbridled enthusiasm was contagious. Astrid felt a spark of hope ignite within her, momentarily lifting the weight of her recent troubles. She glanced at Sigrida, noticing a similar shift in her friend's demeanor. Sigrida's eyes, so often clouded with worry lately, now held a glimmer of their old light.

  The twins exchanged curious glances, their interest piqued by these newcomers.

  "So, how did you both become interested in the shieldmaiden's path?" Hervor asked, leaning forward slightly. "Did you train with your father's warriors?"

  Astrid smiled, recalling her journey. "Actually, no. My combat training is more recent, from a stay in Honningdal."

  The twins' eyes widened in awe. "Honningdal?" Hilde echoed. "Isn't that where the famous shieldmaiden Freya lives?"

  As Astrid nodded, a gentle breeze swept through the area, carrying with it the scent of pine and distant sea salt. The wind rustled the twins' tawny braids, momentarily distracting Liv and Lina. The hounds' ears perked up, their noses twitching as they caught new scents on the air.

  "By the gods, you were trained by Freya herself?" Hervor asked, her voice filled with reverence.

  "What was it like?" Hilde pressed eagerly. "Is her skill with a spear truly legendary?"

  Astrid laughed, the sound light and melodious. "Even more so! She was an incredible teacher - patient, insightful, and encouraging. We learned more in a few weeks than we ever hoped."

  As Astrid spoke, Sigrida's eyes softened, lost in her own memories of their time in Honningdal. The sun, now higher in the sky, cast dappled shadows through nearby tree branches, creating an ever-shifting pattern on the ground around them.

  The twins exchanged another glance, their eyes alight with curiosity and a hint of mischief. Wheels were clearly turning in their minds.

  "Say," Hervor began, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, "we were planning to practice our fighting techniques..."

  Hilde jumped in, "We thought it'd be quieter behind the longhouses. Didn't expect to stumble upon anyone else here."

  "But since you are," Hervor continued, her voice lilting with excitement, "would you care to join us?"

  Astrid and Sigrida exchanged glances, a silent agreement passing between them. The chance to train with these vivacious shieldmaidens was too tempting to pass up.

  "We'd love to," Astrid said, a genuine smile forming on her lips for the first time in days. Sigrida nodded, her eyes bright with renewed purpose.

  The twins grinned. "Excellent!" Hilde said. "Fresh opponents are always welcome."

  Hervor clicked her tongue and gave a hand signal, prompting the dogs to stand at attention. "Let's get started then."

  After a brief warm-up, Astrid took her position in the center of the packed earth yard, her boots leaving slight impressions in the soft dirt. Sigrida watched from the side, eyes wide with anticipation. Liv and Lina rested nearby, panting lightly as they observed the four women.

  "Ready?" Hilde asked, a playful grin on her face.

  Before Astrid could respond, the twins sprang into action with astonishing speed. Hilde darted to Astrid's left while Hervor circled behind her right. Astrid spun, trying to keep both shieldmaidens in sight.

  Suddenly, Hilde let out a sharp whistle and clicked her tongue twice in rapid succession. Though the sounds seemed meaningless to Astrid, Hervor reacted instantly, feigning an attack from the left which forced Astrid to turn away from Hilde. As soon as her back was exposed, Hilde rushed in, tapping Astrid on the shoulder with her practice sword.

  "Dead," she pronounced with a laugh, dancing lightly out of range.

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  The twins continued their assault, using an array of whistles, tongue clicks, and hand signals to coordinate their movements. Astrid struggled to track them, often finding a practice blade at her throat or back a mere second after turning away. They were so fast, weaving around her attacks and combining their strikes.

  After several more successful "kills," Astrid was breathing hard, sweat beading on her brow. But despite the difficulty, she smiled, impressed by Hilde and Hervor's flawless teamwork. They moved in sync, anticipating each other's actions and strategies without needing to speak.

  Sigrida watched the twins dance around her friend with growing concern. Their coordination was impressive, but two against one hardly seemed sporting. As Astrid took another "fatal" blow, Sigrida straightened her shoulders and stepped forward.

  "Mind if I join in?" she asked, a determined look in her eyes. "It'll make the fight more fair—two against two."

  Hilde and Hervor exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement.

  "Alright," Hilde said with a grin. "Let's see what you've got."

  Sigrida took her place beside Astrid, and they both faced off against the twins. But even with Sigrida's addition, the twins remained a blur, using their private language of signals to maximize their coordination. Astrid and Sigrida soon found themselves outmatched, their lack of a coordinating strategy evident. They kept bumping into each other, slowing each other down and getting in each other's way.

  Eventually, Hilde called for a break, noting the exhaustion on Astrid's and Sigrida's faces. They regrouped under the shade of a large oak to rest. Astrid sat with a groan, every muscle in her body aching, while Sigrida collapsed beside her, winded but energized by their progress.

  As they caught their breath, both girls realized the vigorous workout had lifted their spirits. The recent events that had weighed so heavily on their minds seemed distant now, replaced by a newfound energy and sense of purpose.

  Astrid leaned back against the sturdy oak, letting her tired muscles relax. The twins sat across from them, absently scratching the ears of Liv and Lina, who sprawled contentedly on the grass.

  "That was amazing," Astrid said, still catching her breath. "The way you two move together, it's like you share one mind."

  Hilde and Hervor exchanged amused glances. "Just takes practice," Hervor said. "Lots and lots of practice."

  "You should see us when Liv and Lina join in," Hilde said with a grin. "Then we're really a force to be reckoned with."

  The dogs' ears perked up at the sound of their names, tails thumping happily against the ground.

  "Wait—the dogs actually fight with you?" Astrid asked, intrigued. "I've never seen anything like that before."

  Sigrida leaned forward. "Did you train them for battle?"

  "We had to," Hervor said, her expression growing more serious. "When you're our size, you don't stand a chance in single combat against the big warriors. So, we had to learn other ways to fight."

  Hilde nodded. "The only advantage we have is being quick and working together. Liv and Lina give us the edge we need. Alone, we're easy targets. But united..." She trailed off meaningfully.

  Sigrida, catching her breath, looked at Astrid and then back at the twins. "We need to work on that, Astrid. We're slowing each other down because we're not on the same page."

  Astrid nodded in agreement, determination in her eyes. "Yes, we do."

  The four young women rested in the shade, discussing the upcoming Blót ceremony. Astrid described the ceremonies she'd witnessed at Skogstrand, while the twins shared stories of past celebrations at Fjell?rn. The peaceful moment was interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps and boisterous laughter. A group of burly Vikings rounded the corner of the longhouse, their jovial conversation cutting off abruptly as they spotted them.

  A mountain of a man stepped forward from the group. "Well, what do we have here?" he rumbled mockingly. "A group of girls playing at war?"

  Astrid tensed, color rising in her cheeks, while Sigrida's eyes narrowed at the insult. But the twins remained remarkably calm.

  "Oh, just having a bit of fun with some sparring," Hervor said lightly, brushing dirt from her tunic.

  The men exchanged amused glances, their laughter echoing against the longhouse walls. Thor's deep chuckle carried above the rest.

  Hilde's eyes suddenly lit up. "Say... you must be Thor!" she exclaimed. "Is it true you once took down three raiders with a single swing of your war hammer?"

  The big man's chest swelled visibly, his earlier mockery softening under the warmth of flattery. "Four raiders, actually. Though such feats require real warrior's strength, not these dainty games you're playing at."

  "Oh, we'd love to learn from a warrior of your reputation," Hervor added, eyes wide with feigned innocence. "Would you show us a few techniques?"

  "Though it hardly seems fair," Hilde chimed in thoughtfully, "for you to face just one of us. Perhaps you'd allow both of us to spar with you? A mighty warrior like yourself shouldn't be bothered by two small girls."

  "After all," Hervor added sweetly, "we need all the help we can get."

  Thor stroked his beard, chuckling at their apparent naivety. "Well now, it's refreshing to see young ones who know to appreciate real battle skill." He rolled his massive shoulders. "Very well - I'll show you both what true warrior's strength looks like."

  The twins moved into position with fluid grace, their own practice weapons appearing in their hands as if by magic. Liv and Lina flanked them, hackles slightly raised, sensing the impending action.

  "Now remember girls," Thor called out with a smirk, "those aren't cooking spoons you're holding." His companions roared with laughter.

  "Mmhmm," Hilde hummed softly, exchanging a quick glance with her sister.

  Sigrida and Astrid retreated to the sidelines, their eyes fixed on the unfolding scene. The air seemed to thicken with anticipation as Thor squared his shoulders, towering over the twins.

  "Whenever you're ready," Thor said, his voice low and challenging.

  Hilde's eyes narrowed, and she let out a sharp whistle. In a blur, she and Hervor darted forward, feinting strikes at Thor's legs. He swung at them, but they nimbly evaded his blows, using their smaller size to maximum advantage.

  Liv and Lina snapped at Thor's ankles, providing additional distraction. The big man's expression shifted from confidence to bewilderment as he tried to fend off their coordinated attacks.

  "By Odin's beard!" Thor exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise as the twins continued dancing around him.

  Sweat beaded on Thor's brow as his swings grew wilder. Hilde and Hervor remained composed, communicating with subtle gestures and whistles. Just when it seemed Thor would collapse from exhaustion, they moved in for the finish.

  With a piercing whistle from Hilde, Hervor rolled between Thor's legs, slashing at the back of his knees. The big man stumbled. Before he could react, Liv and Lina sprang forward, knocking his legs out from under him. He crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.

  Hilde placed her foot on Thor's heaving chest, practice sword leveled at his throat. Hervor stood over him, blade poised. Liv and Lina sat obediently nearby, tongues lolling. The sudden silence was broken only by Thor's labored breathing.

  Sigrida's eyes sparkled with admiration for the twins' seamless teamwork, while Astrid looked on in awe. The spectacle had left everyone present speechless.

  Thor stared up at the twins, his mouth agape. Then suddenly, his booming laugh echoed across the courtyard. "By the gods!" he roared, slapping his thigh. "A pair of sparrows brought down the mighty Thor!" He shook his head, genuine admiration replacing his earlier derision. "I sorely underestimated you both. Never seen fighting like that in all my days."

  Hilde and Hervor exchanged a look of satisfaction before helping Thor to his feet. As they did, Astrid glanced at Sigrida, who gave a delighted smile. The twins' display had clearly left a profound impression on all who witnessed it.

  "It was an honor to spar with you," Hervor said warmly. Her sister nodded in agreement while Liv and Lina sat contentedly beside them, tongues lolling.

  Still processing what had transpired, Thor turned to the other warriors standing by. "Did you see their flawless coordination?" he asked, his voice filled with wonder. "The way they used their smaller size and speed to outmaneuver me?"

  The men nodded, murmuring in agreement as Thor brushed dirt from his tunic. One of the warriors, a burly man with a thick beard, let out a hearty laugh. "They made you look like a fool, Thor! Dancing circles around you while you flailed about like a newborn calf!"

  The group erupted in laughter, Thor included, though his cheeks flushed slightly. Despite the blow to his pride, he gave Hilde and Hervor an approving nod, acknowledging their exceptional skill. The twins stood tall, basking in the hard-earned respect of the seasoned warriors.

  With final nods of admiration to the sisters, Thor and his companions turned and made their way back towards the training grounds, their boisterous laughter fading as they disappeared around the corner of the longhouse.

  As the men's voices faded, Astrid and Sigrida rose to their feet, their recent troubles momentarily forgotten in the wake of the twins' impressive display. A newfound energy coursed through them, born of admiration and possibility.

  "That was absolutely amazing," Astrid said, her eyes alight with excitement. She turned to the twins, unable to contain her enthusiasm. "Do you think you could show us some of your techniques?"

  Sigrida nodded eagerly, her usual reserve giving way to genuine admiration. "We'd be so grateful to learn from you both."

  Hilde and Hervor exchanged pleased glances, clearly delighted by the request.

  "Of course!" Hervor beamed. "We'd be happy to share what we know."

  Hilde grinned, adding, "Though we can't give away all our secrets."

  "Otherwise, they wouldn’t be secrets!" Hervor smiled.

  Astrid and Sigrida exchanged glances, their eyes alight with excitement and anticipation. The prospect of learning from Hilde and Hervor filled them with a renewed sense of purpose, momentarily lifting the weight of recent events from their shoulders.

  As the afternoon sun arced across the sky, the four young women dedicated themselves to training. The air filled with the sound of clashing practice swords, sharp whistles, and occasional laughter. By the time the sun began to dip towards the horizon, Astrid and Sigrida had begun to grasp the fundamentals of the twins' fighting style.

  Exhausted but exhilarated, they made their way back to the longhouse. For the first time since fleeing Skogstrand, thoughts of Torbjorn's judgment had lifted from their shoulders, replaced by the simple joy of friendship and the twins' infectious spirit