Signe Ragnfidr

The Story

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  Translation

  Hengilás Og við horfumst í ókunn augu Samt höfum þekkst alla tíð Undir vökulum augnaráðum létumst Stöndum nú tvístíga Reyni að grafa upp og hjartgæsku og raun Reyni að brjótast inn Reyni að bora á, og saga hengilásinn En allt kemur fyrir ekki neitt Kominn í niðurlot Veit ekki hvað plan skal taka Kominn í ráðaþrot Reyni að grafa upp og hjartgæsku og raun Reyni að brjótast inn Reyni að bora á, og saga hengilásinn

  Padlock We look into foreign eyes Yet we have always known each other We passed away under a watchful eye Now we stand hesitantly Try to dig out warmth and trials Try to break in Try to drill, and saw the padlock But all for nothing I have lost Don't know what plan to take I don't know what to do Try to dig out warmth and trials Try to break in Try to drill, and saw the padlock
• Signe was the eldest child of Gunnar and Dagny. The two warriors, Gunnar a brave, wise, and well respected north man and Dagny, a well known shieldmaiden, had four children in all. Sadly, when their fifth child came, Dagny and the babe did not survive.
  
  Upon Dagny's death, Gunnar withdrew from his children, leaving twelve year old Signe to look after her three siblings; ten year old Floki, five year old Bram, and one year old Thyra. Gunnar, unable to handle his depression, left them to go raiding far and wide. Barely ever returning for more than a week between absences of months, sometimes even a year.
  
  Thankfully, the men and women who lived on their land helped the young girl and her family. Other shieldmaidens continued her mother's work, training Signe to fight in their fashion while the men taught her brothers to fight. Together, the community taught the children how to take care of the land. Signe and her siblings learned everything that could be taught about farming, animal husbandry, fishing, house keeping, etc. It took a small village to raise a family.
  
  When Gunnar finally returned, with the idea of settling back down. He found a young woman who looked too much like his Dagny, and was far too bitter with him to have a happy home. None of his children wanted him at first, though the youngest three relented. It was really, though, the disgust he saw in the eyes of the men and women who had taken up his responsibilities when he was too weak. Eventually, he withdrew again, deep into the woods on their land, becoming a recluse. He was never to be seen in public again, only by his sons and youngest daughter, but never Signe. She could not forgive the man that had abandoned her and her siblings.
  
  Signe's relationship with her siblings is very strong. Though they are two years apart, Floki and Signe are so connected that they could practically be twins. Her relationship with Bram isn't quite the same, but more mother and son. Their seven year age difference does not seem like much, but as Bram was only five when Dagny died he can barely remember her. Signe filled the role of mother for him, more so for Thyra. The youngest of the Ragnfidr siblings was only one when her mother died, Signe is all she knows. She paints the idea of Dagny over her older sister, carefully edited with memories shared with her by their friends... but that is how it is.
  
  Most of Signe's life has been difficult. It has shaped her into a tough and capable young woman. Older now, she handles the farm on her own and watches over Thyra. Floki, married, moved a distance and Bram moved to the closest city to be nearer to the Jarl and the other young men fighting to be in the leading raiding parties. It suits Signe, who though may be a well taught fighter, really doesn't have a desire to go far from her home. That isn't to say that she doesn't have a few notches in her belt. Unfortunate deaths resulting from fights over land feuds, one raid that was compulsory for her official coming of age, and a couple of attempts of dishonest people to break fair trade agreements. She doesn't bully, she only defends.
  
  More likely to be found caring for farm animals or plants, Signe doesn't go into the larger city or towns unless she absolutely has to. Mainly for sacrifice seasons or meetings the Jarl calls. So far, she has resisted marriage because of her father's issues. She has little desire for a man in her life, though she has yet come across one that could change her mind. She is simply content to work her farm, tend her animals, and look after her sister and the people living on her land.

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