The Son Of Ragnar

Ragnar awaited his execution but there was nothing outside, he could hear the commotion.

Ragnar's face creased into a smirk, his sons were here.

King Ragnar was a man who could defeat Erik the Berserker unarmed, there was no way his equal existed in this world or at least this was the ideology that people had adopted.

This blurred the line between viewing him as just a man or as a god.

Ragnar didn't care much about his condition because he expected this outcome.

There is no way his sons would let him die and this was the key to the victory.

Tyr had demonstrated that he was a skilled warrior and tactician even though his actions ultimately ended up in his advisor losing his eyes but it was what won them the war.

The gates to his prison opened and Ragnar was ushered out, people watched him like he was some demon from the bible.

In no time, they began to throw dirt and mud at him, swearing and condemning him but all Ragnar did was smile.

"So these are the Christians?" He thought to himself, they were no different from any other person.

Ragnar didn't blame them for their reaction, he was their enemy and he expected to be treated as such but where were they taking him?

This was Ragnar's thought because something told him today wouldn't be the day he died.

But then he caught a glimpse of his son, Tyr and he understood what was happening.

Tyr had made some sort of bargain with the King but would this guarantee the release of Ragnar?

That was to be seen and Ragnar soon saw an exhausted person on horseback, running through the gates even though he didn't understand what was about to be said.

"King Ælla! I bring news!!!" The messenger barked and Ragnar instinctively knew his son was in danger.

Tyr stopped in his tracks the moment he saw the man on horseback and that was when his eyes caught a glimpse of his fathers'.

Ælla was already outside, waiting to welcome Tyr but instead, he saw his messenger.

He gestured for the guards to halt their advance and this allowed the horseman to come through.

"What is it?" Ælla asked, wanting to know why he was being stopped by a mere messenger.

"It is Ecgberht! Alf has found him!!" The messenger said, thankfully, Tyr had been around enough to know how his name sounded and Alf's name was called as well.

There was no denying that the news delivered was about the young man but what did it say?

Well, Tyr could figure it out by the way King Ælla's body language changed.

"It is just as I expected…" Tyr thought and before the archers could even let loose their bows, Tyr showed why he was feared for his speed and not strength.

He appeared right in front of King Ælla, everyone was shocked and Ragnar knew that Tyr couldn't kill this man.

This people didn't follow the Viking tradition, killing him wouldn't mean defeat because there was no telling what system they had in place and with them outnumbered, they couldn't win even if the King fell.

"You littl-!" King Ælla couldn't complete this sentence as Tyr grabbed his face and smashed his head right into the table behind him.

Tyr knew he had a limited timeframe but he understood the dangers of killing a King.

"Father, how long are you going to pretend?" Tyr asked Ragnar, no one could move because he had his axe pressed against King Ælla's neck.

The chains were rusty, this was Tyr's plan all along.

He knew that Alf might betray him and he also understood that the man he had just taken hostage never had any plans to negotiate with them.

No, he planned on stalling for time and the only reason he accepted for Tyr to come in alone was not only because he was a son of Ragnar, but also so he could seclude him from the rest of his army.

However, this was exactly what Tyr wanted and if the horseman had arrived a few minutes earlier.

Tyr would have been killed at the gate and this was why he tested this theory by walking forward despite the warning shot.

They would have slaughtered them all otherwise without hesitation like they were so keen on doing the night before.

Alf served his purpose even though he ultimately betrayed Tyr but that betrayal was what helped Tyr accomplish his goals.

The Christians were panicking and the warriors gritted their teeth, furiously looking at Tyr.

"Whew! If only looks could kill, am I right?" Tyr joked and that was when the rusty chains binding Ragnar broke apart.

The men around him quickly attempted to restrain him but Ragnar knocked them all out with a single blow each.

Ragnar walked towards his son and he could tell from the look in King Ælla's eyes that this man was more afraid of his son than he was of him.

They couldn't kill the King but they had managed to capture the most important hostage without spilling a single drop of blood that day.

King Ælla had once again overestimated his ability and underestimated that of the Vikings.

He thought Ragnar was the monster, but that wasn't the case because who was this soulless demon before him?

That was what he saw when he looked into his eyes and this paralyzed him in fear.

"Do you have this handled, father?" Tyr asked and Ragvar nodded but he noticed his son step forward with his axes unsheathed.

"What are you doing Tyr?" Ragnar asked, one would think capturing their King was enough.

"We cannot kill the King… No one said anything about these people," Tyr said and his eyes weren't even focused on the warriors but rather the citizens.

He noticed his father was covered in dirt and their hands as well which only meant that Tyr was going to kill them for that sole reason.

"Tyr… Stop," Ragnar commanded, hoping he still had any sort of control over his son.

"I'm afraid I will have to disobey you, father. Do they think us monsters? I'm about to show them exactly what monsters do," The look in his eyes changed and this was when Ragnar understood just what kind of danger his son posed but could he prevent the slaughter of Innocents?