Chapter One: Kattegat

A/N: Hello everyone, and welcome to the first chapter of our Vikings story! We only own our OCs, Ylva and Karena. The pairings in this story will be Rollo/OC and Bjorn/OC. Please let us know what you think - there aren't too many stories in the Vikings community so it would be nice to hear some opinions!

Karena was not entirely sure what she thought of Kattegat, she surmised as she made her arrival with her father, King Horik, and two older brothers, Erlendur and Ari. It was far smaller than the city she was from, although it did sit right on the ocean. Her dark green eyes raked over the people moving around the town. This was a place of prosperity, as Horik had rightly informed them. Perhaps she would like Kattegat more than she had first assumed.

At first, it had been a mystery to Karena as to why she had been brought along in the first place. But her eldest brother Erlendur had quickly put her mind at ease – she was sixteen years old now, and the only one of Horik's daughters ripe for marriage. The next youngest daughter was ten, still too young to be wed. Karena had experienced her first bleeding two years past, so she was certainly a woman. It seemed that Horik was intent on finding her a husband – although why in Kattegat? It had baffled Karena, but she was not one to question her father's intentions.

"What will I do when you raid, Father?" Karena questioned, but Horik waved her away. Clearly he was more focused on other matters rather than his eldest daughter's questions. Instead, Karena turned her questioning gaze upon her brothers. Erlendur was nineteen now, and certainly a man. Ari was seventeen, although he would be eighteen soon enough.

"You will stay here, of course," Ari replied, ruffling his younger sister's hair affectionately. He was one of the few of her siblings who shared her hair colour – dark instead of blonde like Erlendur. They were the closest two in age, and so Karena had always been close with Ari. They shared a teasing relationship, far different to the seriousness between Karena and Erlendur.

"And do what?" Karena protested. Sometimes she wondered what her purpose was, although it seemed she had none aside from being around to marry off to secure an alliance. There was little she could do about Kattegat. "I can't farm, and I am not a shield-maiden like our mother."

"We know that very well," Erlendur said with no lack of disdain, his critical blue gaze sweeping over his younger sister. She was a little thing still – barely over five feet tall. She had barely grown at all in the past few years, and what growth she had was not upwards, but rather the tell-tale curves of her hips and breasts. The thought of her even holding a sword was ridiculous. Karena was much too small and delicate to be a shield-maiden like their mother Gunnhild.

Karena bristled. "I am good at other things."

"Such as?" Erlendur raised his eyebrows, as though he could not possibly believe she might be good at anything at all.

"Mending clothes," Karena admitted defensively, before she reconsidered this. "Although Mother says that's for servants."

"It is for servants," Erlendur pointed out, and even Ari nodded in agreement.

"I know which plants are poisonous and which are good for healing," Karena said proudly. It was not a typical royal occupation, however since childhood she had a fascination with watching the local healer apply pastes and poultices to her older brother's wounds whenever they were being silly in swordplay. "Not all women are shield-maidens. Aslaug is not."

"She's good at bearing children," Erlendur stated, which was evident by the fact that she had given Ragnar two sons and was pregnant again with what was thought to be a third. Karena had heard many things about Ragnar's second wife, both good and bad. However, she did not think childbearing was something to be marvelled at.

"Aren't most women?"

"You are reluctant to spread your legs for a man," Erlendur said bluntly, causing Ari to laugh as his younger sister turned bright red. Karena knew about sex – how could she not with two older brothers? – but it was something she had never experienced herself.

"I am barely sixteen," Karena reminded her brothers, glaring between them.

"Old enough to have children." Erlendur shrugged his shoulders. Their own mother had been only a little older than Karena was now when he had been born, and Lagertha had been of an age when Ragnar's eldest son Bjorn had been born.

"You are three years older, darling brother." Karena adopted a saccharine sweet tone, tilting her head to the side. "Where are your wife and children?"

"I do not have to marry as young as you," Erlendur stated.

"Who knows?" Karena tossed her dark curls over her shoulders. "I am our father's eldest daughter. Perhaps he will want a marriage to cement this alliance to Ragnar Lothbrok."

Ylva raked her dark hair back as she followed her Jakob through Kattegat. This was the reason she hated bringing him with her on her errands, but her Aunt had been persistent in saying he needed to start learning more about the town and its people. She sighed heavily as she watched him take off again.

"I'm sorry!" Jakob yelped as he cannoned into someone, backing up and looking up at him.

Ylva hurried over, grabbing his arm to stop him from running again. "Jakob! I'm sorry about my son."

Rollo chuckled, watching as Jakob tried to run again. "That's alright. I'm used to worse."

Ylva kept a tight grip on his wrist, looking down at him. "Did you apologise?"

"Yes, mother." Jakob nodded, scowling at his failed attempt to escape.

"How old is he?" Rollo questioned, seeing that he was only young.

Jakob grinned up at him. "I'm seven."

"Ah, I see. I don't think I've seen you around Kattegat before." Rollo directed at Ylva. He had met many people within the town but had never met her before.

"I live on a farm on the outskirts." She explained, relinquishing her hold on Jakob's arm.

"What is your name?" He questioned, watching as Jakob looked around, shifting slightly.

"Ylva and this is Jakob." She introduced herself, glancing down at Jakob.

"What's your name?" Jakob looked up at Rollo, his eyes bright with interest.

"Rollo." He answered, watching as Jakob nearly slipped away from his mother again.

"Nice to meet you." Ylva smiled, keeping an eye on Jakob. He was a curious child and while many saw it as a good thing, she couldn't help but think that one day his curiosity was going to get him into some danger.

"You wouldn't say that if you knew me." Rollo told her; obviously she was one of the few people in Kattegat who knew about his past mistakes. That or she feigned ignorance.

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow but was answered with a shrug. She didn't press the matter, instead turned to Jakob and tugged him back hard when he tried to get away. "Stop running around."

"Where is his father?" Rollo glanced around, noticing that Ylva was alone. He thought it strange; especially that she was the one who had come into Kattegat to run errands.

"He died before he was born." She informed him, letting go of Jakob as he stopped trying to get away.

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." Rollo crossed his arms over his chest.

Ylva smiled slightly as she thought on her dead husband. She missed him, but she had not let her grief stop her from living her life. "He would've been a good father."

"You seem to be a good mother." Rollo had only seen a small amount of her interaction with her son, but she seemed to have a good relationship with him. "He is an only child?"

Ylva nodded, running her fingers through Jakob's hair as he held onto her skirt tightly. "Yes, he is."

"I have a brother. It can get lonely without him."

Ylva smiled tightly. "I had three brothers. They've all died over the years. I think myself lucky for having my son.'

There was a huge feast to celebrate the arrival of Horik and his children, although Erlendur noted that the great hall was not anywhere near as big as the one at home. Ari was drinking up at the table, clearly making friends with ease. That was just his personality type – outgoing and easy to talk to. Erlendur's eyes sought out his younger sister, and found Karena flitting around with a bright smile about her face.

Erlendur could not help but marvel at how beautiful his sister was. Any man would be lucky to marry her. He approached Karena, watching as she spun around to face him with a bright smile across her face. There was something so enthralling about her, like he was a moth and she was the flame. But Karena didn't even seem to realise it.

"Sister. You look wonderful tonight."

"Thank you." Karena positively beamed, her excited gaze darting around the hall. "I wanted to meet Ragnar. Will you introduce me?"

"Alright," Erlendur agreed, leading his sister over to where their father was talking with Ragnar. The younger man noticed their approach and offered the pair of them an indulgent smile as they stopped before him.

"Ah, Erlendur." Ragnar glanced at Horik as he noticed Karena. "And is this another of your children?"

"This is Karena, my eldest daughter," Horik said, as the dark-haired girl appeared to have gone a bit shy and was uncertain how to respond.

"She is a pretty one," Ragnar said thoughtfully, taking in Karena's small stature, pretty face and doll-like features. "Are you married, girl?"

Karena shook her head fervently. "No."

"Not yet anyway." Horik inspected his daughter closely. "I have been looking for someone for her."

Ragnar shrugged his shoulders. "She is still young."

"Yet old enough to marry," Horik reminded him. It was about time Karena started having some children of her own. He did not have anyone in mind for his eldest daughter, but it would not take him long to find someone.

"I am going to go and dance." Karena offered Ragnar a small smile. "It was nice to meet you, Ragnar."

Erlendur watched as his younger sister picked up her goblet of wine and took a gulp. Everything she did was energetic and full of life. He watched as she briefly teased Ari, before twirling and laughing with some of the other young women her age. The more Erlendur watched her, the more captivating Karena seemed to become.

Aslaug glanced at the woman who had been led into her room. She had dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. She was pretty, but not overly so in Aslaug's opinion. "You must be Ylva."

Ylva nodded, remaining just by the door. "Yes, I am."

"Come." Aslaug gestured for her to move forward with a smile. "You are young."

Ylva smiled warmly, wanting to make a good impression. "As are you."

"Not as young as you. How many years are you?" Aslaug looked over her, still unable to determine her age. She didn't look above thirty years, nor did she look below twenty.

"Twenty five." Ylva answered, sitting down beside Aslaug as she gestured her to.

Aslaug nodded. She had heard things about Ylva from Ragnar, who had known her husband before he had died in battle alongside Ragnar. "And a mother."

"Yes." She nodded in confirmation. Part of her wished for more children, but another part of her said that Jakob was enough.

"Tell me about yourself." Aslaug glanced at her own children that were about the place.

"My parents are dead, as are my three brothers and husband. I live on a farm on the outskirts of town with my Aunt and Uncle. My Aunt, like myself, is a shield-maiden. I have a son who is seven years, his name being Jakob." Ylva told her. The story between her family was much more complex, but she didn't feel the need to deepen then explanation.

"Does it get lonely?" Aslaug asked after Ylva finished her explanation. She had always has people to surround her and keep her from becoming lonely, but as she looked at the other woman, she couldn't help but see that she did look somewhat lonely. Ylva nodded and Aslaug took it as a signal to move from the topic.

Ylva nodded. "Sometimes."