Aslaug Meme → [2/4] Alternate Storylines: “The wicked witch of Kattegat” ↳ {Insp: Gesta Danorum Book 5 // Kraka and Erik’s relationship }
After the failed raid on Paris, Aslaug knows that she is in a precarious position, her sons are still young and her husband has fled in disgrace, but she is unwilling to give up her position or any of her power. So she approaches Bjorn with an offer. Aslaug offers her own magical abilities, promising that she would ensure success in any venture Bjorn wished to pursue and that she would turn the tides against his enemies. She even swears to him that, if he were ever in great danger, all he would have to do is call on her name and he would find aid. In exchange, Aslaug asks that Bjorn allow her to remain Queen of Kattegat in Ragnar’s absence and she also asks him to vow that he will always look after his brothers and never go against any of them.
It suits Bjorn well enough to leave someone else in charge for the time being. After all, his father might return to Kattegat any day now and Bjorn is more interested in raiding and exploring than in Kingship. And if one day the throne seems more appealing to him, as the favorite son of the King and warrior with a great reputation in his own right, he could easily take it. He doubts that his stepmother is actually as powerful as she claims, but at the very least, it can’t be useless to have a volva at one’s beck and call. Bjorn thinks nothing of the oath to look after his brothers, perhaps his Uncle Rollo was a traitor, but his brothers are young still, what cause would he have to go against them?
But then the weeks turn to months and the months turn to years and Ragnar still hasn’t returned. The throne seems more and more appealing, but Bjorn is still mostly content with raiding. Then one day he is cornered by the enemy, in a moment of madness and desperation, he calls out his stepmother’s name. Perhaps it isn’t magic, perhaps it is just pure luck or the Gods’ madness that allows him to survive, but now he finds himself doubting his original assessment of Aslaug’s magic. And his brothers are grown now, Ivar especially is growing angrier and more rebellious every day, Bjorn wonders if it was Ivar that Aslaug was thinking of when she asked him to swear not to fight his brothers. Aslaug, meanwhile, has grown more in more comfortable in power, dreading the day that Bjorn might ask her to give it up. Especially as she now wishes to give Kattegat to her own sons.
Then Ragnar returns, and both Bjorn and Aslaug could cry, knowing that the deal that kept Aslaug in power is done. But just as quickly as he returns, Ragnar leaves again, this time to die in England. Ivar returns claiming that Ragnar named him his heir and Bjorn knows war is inevitable, but how can he avoid any Aslaug’s wrath when the time comes? Aslaug meanwhile, seeing the army her sons have gathered, finds an opportunity to solidify her own power. While the Ragnarssons are away in England, she claims Kattegat in her own right, hoping that her sons will support her and that Bjorn will be wary of breaking his vows. After all, she can offer curses just as easily as blessings.
Yet, in all her schemes and spells, she had not considered that Bjorn’s mother might protest against the situation. Lagertha sees that her son is being robbed of his inheritance and knows the he is kept from fighting back by oaths and bonds of blood. So, she takes it upon herself to save her son’s future and protect her legacy.