It was still dark when Astrid felt a gentle but insistent shake on her shoulder.

  "Astrid! Sigrida, wake up," Rannveig's hushed voice carried a note of urgency. "It's time."

  Blinking away the remnants of sleep, Astrid sat up to find Rannveig bent over her, her face a mask of anticipation.

  "Hurry," Rannveig urged, shaking Sigrida’s shoulder. "Gudrun the v?lva has read the omens. We sail against Gunnar today." The mention of Gudrun, the clan's revered seeress, banished the last traces of drowsiness from Astrid's mind. If Gudrun had interpreted the signs from the gods, then the tide of fate was now in their favor.

  Astrid and Sigrida donned their armor, the familiar weight both comforting and daunting. Sigrida reached into her pouch and withdrew Freya's golden arm rings. She passed one to Astrid, their eyes meeting in silent understanding. They slipped the rings over their bracers, the gold gleaming against the leather and steel - a final bond before paths diverged.

  No words passed between them; the gravity of what lay ahead filled the air with a charged silence.

  As they emerged from the longhouse, they found themselves swept up in a stream of warriors heading towards the military port. The morning sky was bright and clear, with just a few scattered clouds drifting overhead. Astrid felt grateful the gods had blessed them with such fine weather for their departure.

  Before they could join the flow of warriors, Rannveig's voice cut through the murmur of the crowd. She rushed towards them, her eyes bright with emotion. "You can't leave without saying farewell."

  She turned to Sigrida, embracing her fiercely, her voice dropping to a solemn whisper. "May Odin grant you courage and Freya bless your blades. I'll make offerings for your safe return."

  "We'll return victorious," Sigrida promised, squeezing Rannveig's hand. Their eyes met in shared understanding – how far they'd come from their first wary encounters.

  "There are the twins," Astrid nodded ahead where Hilde and Hervor stood with their hounds. "We should join them now."

  Rannveig stepped back, her face a mixture of pride and concern. "Go. Fight with honor."

  Astrid and Sigrida caught up with Hilde and Hervor, who greeted them with grim smiles.

  "Ready to make Gunnar rue the day he threatened your clan?" Hilde asked, her voice carrying a hint of eagerness beneath its steely resolve.

  Hervor nodded in agreement. "He'll learn the folly of his ambition soon enough."

  Astrid felt her stomach tighten, but the twins' fierce energy steadied her nerves. "I'm grateful to have warriors like you fighting beside us."

  Sigrida smiled, her gaze drawn to the pale halo encircling the early morning sun. The still air held a hint of things to come.

  As they crested the hill, the harbor spread out before them, a hive of activity as ships were loaded and crews made ready. The sight drove home the reality of what was to come, and Astrid felt her heart beat faster with a mixture of fear and anticipation.

  When Astrid and Sigrida reached the bustling port, they were greeted by the assembled might of Magnus's fleet. The deep blue sails of Fjell?rn's vessels stood proudly in the still morning air, their serpentine prow decorations worked with the fine detail that marked their craftsmen's skill.

  "There's Brandr's drakkar," Hilde said, her eyes alight with anticipation. "That's our vessel." She glanced at Sigrida. "I mean..."

  Sigrida smiled, though her eyes drifted toward Helga's ships.

  Turning away from her friend's bittersweet expression, Astrid focused on Brandr's vessel ahead. The rocky port stretched before her, calm waters lapping gently against the shore. Brandr stood on the deck, a commanding presence among the warriors. Erik flanked him, his familiar face a comfort amidst the chaos. Fifty warriors bustled about, their armor catching the pale morning light as they made final preparations.

  Beside it loomed Jarl Magnus's formidable vessel, its woad-dyed sail a symbol of wealth and power. The Jarl himself overseeing preparations with a keen eye. Hrothgar stood at his side, an island of calm in the sea of activity. Kjell, Magnus's brother and stellari, moved about the deck with the confidence of a seasoned warrior, his presence drawing immediate attention from the crew as he assessed their readiness.

  Further down, Helga's fleet of swift karves waited in formation, their unremarkable appearance masking their crews' exceptional skill. Helga herself stood tall on her lead vessel, her large frame adorned with gleaming armor as she scanned the horizon with practiced eyes.

  As they neared Brandr's drakkar, Hilde and Hervor stopped and stood by Sigrida, their loyal hounds Liv and Luna wagging their tails in excitement.

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  Hervor let out a low whistle. "By Thor's hammer, those are beautiful warships!"

  A familiar booming voice sounded behind them. "Did somebody say my name?"

  Before Hervor could turn, she found herself lifted off the ground by Thor, the giant Viking who had become their steadfast friend and sparring partner. He playfully tussled her brown hair, his eyes twinkling with mirth and admiration.

  "You weren't planning on sailing into battle without your favorite sparring partner, were you, little shield-maiden?" Thor grinned. "I've learned my lesson about underestimating you two."

  Hilde's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Leave without you, Thor? Why, the battle would hardly be worth fighting!" She exchanged a sly glance with her sister. "Or half as entertaining, for that matter."

  Thor's laughter boomed across the dock, startling nearby seabirds into flight. In one fluid motion, he scooped up Hilde too, easily carrying both petite women under his massive arms.

  "Then allow me to escort you aboard, my fearsome friends!" he bellowed, lumbering down the dock with long, jovial steps. His deep voice rang out in a boisterous sailing song, drawing amused glances from the other warriors.

  "Thor, put me down!" Hervor protested, her legs dangling uselessly.

  "Yah, Thor, we can walk ourselves!" Hilde chimed in, though her giggles betrayed her amusement.

  Their protests fell on deaf ears as Thor continued his merry march up the gangplank, still singing. Liv and Lina bounded after them, tails wagging furiously, their excited barks adding to the cheerful cacophony.

  Astrid and Sigrida exchanged bemused glances, caught between laughter and astonishment at the spectacle unfolding before them. As the echoes of Thor's boisterous song faded, the reality of their impending separation settled over them with sudden weight.

  They walked away from the commotion, the port's frenzied preparations contrasted with the quiet understanding passing between the two friends. Their steps slowed as they approached Brandr's ship, where they spotted Erik on the dock, engrossed in conversation with a fellow crewman.

  Noticing their approach, Erik excused himself and walked to meet them, his expression softening as he drew near.

  "Sigrida," Erik said, his usually stoic face warming with genuine regard. "I wanted to wish you well on Helga's ship. You're a fierce warrior, and I know you'll bring honor to our clan."

  Sigrida smiled, touched by his words. "Thank you, Erik. I'll fight with all I have."

  Erik embraced her firmly, holding the hug a moment longer than usual. "Stay safe out there," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. Turning to Astrid, his expression became more guarded. "Ready to board?"

  Astrid glanced at Sigrida, a flicker of sadness in her eyes. "Almost. Could you give us a few more minutes?"

  Erik nodded, understanding. "Of course. I'll finish up some preparations and meet you on board." He gave Astrid's hand a gentle squeeze before heading up the gangplank.

  Once Erik was out of earshot, Astrid turned to Sigrida, her emotions plain on her face. She forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.

  "Isn't it ironic?" Astrid said, a hint of bitterness in her tone. "A few months ago, we fled because Father insisted I marry into Gunnar's clan. Now he's hiding in the mountains with our people, and we're sailing to defend him."

  Sigrida let out a short, humorless laugh. "The gods do have a strange sense of humor," she said, shaking her head. She reached out, giving Astrid's hand a comforting squeeze.

  Suddenly, Astrid pulled Sigrida into a tight embrace, her composure finally cracking.

  "I love you, Sigrida," Astrid whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You're like a sister to me now."

  Sigrida hugged her back fiercely, blinking back tears. "You're a sister to me too, Astrid," she murmured. "I love you."

  They held each other for a long moment, neither wanting to let go. So much had changed since that fateful day they decided to run away together. Then, they were just two scared girls trying to escape their fates. Now, they stood as shieldmaidens prepared for battle.

  With great reluctance, Astrid slowly pulled back from the embrace. She looked into Sigrida's eyes, seeing her own swirling mix of fear, excitement, and sadness reflected back.

  "I guess this is it," Astrid said, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Sigrida nodded, willing herself to remain steady. "Only for a while."

  Astrid gave Sigrida's hand one last squeeze. Then, squaring her shoulders, she turned and walked up the gangplank onto Brandr's waiting ship.

  As Astrid disappeared onto the deck, Sigrida let out a shaky breath, willing herself not to shed tears.

  Her eyes drifted upward, meeting Brandr's gaze as he stood on the deck of his warship. Even from a distance, she could see the complex emotions etched on his face - a mixture of understanding, regret, and acceptance that she would not be joining him on this journey.

  Sigrida raised her hand in a feeble wave, the gesture feeling inadequate to convey the depth of her feelings. Brandr had been there for her during some of her darkest moments, offering support when she needed it most. Though their relationship had been complicated, they had managed to forge a deeper understanding of one another.

  Brandr returned her wave, his expression softening as he watched her. After a moment, a familiar glint of mischief crept into his eyes. Sigrida cocked her head, puzzled by the change.

  He simply smiled at her, then winked playfully. Sigrida felt a small, involuntary smile tug at her lips in response.

  Emboldened by her reaction, Brandr blew her a kiss, his eyes twinkling with mirth. Heat rushed to Sigrida's cheeks, coloring them a deep crimson. She felt flustered, caught off guard by her body's betrayal. Even after everything, he could still make her blush so easily.

  Before Brandr could derive too much satisfaction from her reaction, Sigrida whirled around, her heart pounding. Up ahead, Helga's fleet waited, their crews making final preparations. The Sea Queen herself stood tall at the helm, calling orders to her experienced sailors.

  Sigrida walked toward Helga's ship, trying to steady her racing pulse. At the foot of the gangplank, she couldn't help but steal one final glance back. Brandr had already turned away, focused on readying his own crew for departure. A warmth bloomed in her chest - a mixture of embarrassment, anticipation, and something deeper she wasn't quite ready to name. Drawing a deep breath, she climbed aboard to join her new crew.