Video: un ragnarsdottir; filtered to Floki and Ivar

[like_quicksilver]

[The feed shows Gyda in the barn, idly petting one of the goats that's come to rest in the shade. Her expression is numb, and when she tries to speak, her voice comes out quiet, almost like it's a matter of effort to even form out words.]

Father and Athelstan are gone.

[That's as much as she could get out before choking back a sob.]

Comments

Video @the.boneless

[ragnarsson]

[Ivar looks grim when he answers, but it's more a carefully-managed facade than anything else. His eyes tell the real truth. He's just as heartbroken as Gyda is.]

I know. I talked to them just before they left.

video un:floki

[boats_n_hoes]

[ Floki knew the two were here, Gyda had told him so, yet he had been too busy building his home to take the time to visit.

Something he now truly regretted. ]

Oh, Gyda. I am sorry that your father has gone.

[ Couldn't give two shits about the Christian though. *Spits* Good riddance. ]

Is there anything you need? Anything at all, I shall get it for you.

Re: Video @the.boneless

[like_quicksilver]

[Her eyes sting, but in truth, a part of her's not surprised. Her father was terrible with goodbyes and after last time, perhaps it was too painful-that didn't explain Athelstan though.] Did they say why they left? Do they plan on returning-is there a way for them to come back?

[She heard such things were possible. Perhaps she was foolish for hoping, but she still hoped.]

Timed to after the link with Ivar

[like_quicksilver]

[She knows him enough to read what he's not saying, but she appreciates his words.] I need help. The farm house is too large for me to live on my own, and Jenna says I need to find a guardian to move in with or move into one of the smaller assigned homes.

[The thought isn't as frightening as it should've been.] I'm moving in with Ivar, Winter and Lola..but..I need help moving my things there.

[She frowned and turned to look behind her, then back.] And it's suggested we rent out the farm house. Let people live here in exchange for payment.

[ragnarsson]

You know Father. He hungers for more, always.

[He'd yet to become king. That still lay ahead in his future, so he was bound to go back and fulfill that destiny.]

And Athelstan would never leave his side.

[Much as Ivar would have liked the priest to stay, he was ridiculously loyal to Ragnar, and would follow him wherever he went. His voice then takes on an uncharacteristically gentle tone.]

I don't think he wanted to tell you because he already had to lose you once.

[It had gouged wounds very deep into Ragnar's soul not to be there when Gyda died. Ivar, at least, had already lost his father to death once. He could bear it a bit easier.]

[like_quicksilver]

[She couldn't deny the truth in his words. Even here, in a place with so many worlds, peoples and creatures, her father likely wouldn't be happy in one place.

And Athelstan, he was her father's shadow. He could never leave his side even if he wanted to.] Then, we should just be grateful for the time granted to us.

[She can't be sure if she's only saying it to reassure him or herself-perhaps both.] Could I move in with you and Lola? With father and Athelstan gone, I can't live in the Big house by myself..the council wouldn't allow it and I...I don't know if I could.

[This was the home her father built, and though she wanted to remember him, it was also too big and too empty now.]

[ragnarsson]

The gods were good to us.

[They'd sent his family to him, and even if it hadn't been for nearly as long as Ivar would have liked, he'd been able to see his father in his prime, not as the old, broken-down man he'd become.]

Of course you can. You need someone to protect you.

[That was Ivar's job now that their father was gone. He was going to make sure Gyda got a chance to grow up here safe and sound.]

[like_quicksilver]

What does it say when I need a cripple as a bodyguard. [She allowed herself a small grin as she said this-they were well aware that he was dangerous for being underestimated.]

What about the animals? Is there room or will we just give them to the farm?

[ragnarsson]

That you're a very smart girl. [Anyone who so much as harmed a hair on Gyda's head was subsequently losing a hand.]

We can put them in the backyard if you'd like.

[like_quicksilver]

There will need to be a fence and shelter to keep them from running off and to keep them safe. [She had spent nearly all of her life as a farmer's daughter; she knew how to take care of goats.]

What about the home and buildings? Father built them himself and I don't want them to become run down.

[ragnarsson]

We can do that easily. [Ivar's never been much of a domestic farmer, but he knows enough of the basics to help out.]

We can keep them for now and figure out what to do with them. Maybe we can keep them as an alternative home.

[He could only handle one thing at a time right now.]