Ships We Sail on VIKINGS

Found on Huffington Post. Possibly dating to Early 9th Century (like mine in Éire’s Viking), this says: Kiss me. 

Heillir! We—Lissa Bryan and Sandi Layne—are two historical fiction authors with a serious thing for Vikings. And for VIKINGS, the amazing series that is going to begin its fourth season on HISTORY CHANNEL.

We are SO excited! So, Warriors and Shieldmaidens all, get your weapons and armor ready, because it’s going to be an amazing season!
Fave VIKINGS ‘Ships We Sail

We’re not talking skipniu, here, Readers. The longboats of our favorite Vikings are not the ‘ships of the day. These ‘ships are “relationships” that may or may not be supported by “canon” – the story as given to us by the authors/screenwriters/playwrights who entertain us with their wonderful labors.

Courtesy of mountshire on Tumblr

In History Channel’s VIKINGS series, we have our favorite relationships. Some of them are predictable, some might be considered questionable or secondary, but still, we hold them.

EVERYONE’S favorite ‘ship is Ragnar and Lagertha. 

Courtsesy of valkyras on Tumblr

Two powerful, intelligent people who seem absolutely made for one another.

Courtesy of mrscharliehunnam on Tumblr

Their passion and mutual respect were both beautiful to behold.

Courtesy of radosiewka on Tumblr

But Ragnar destroyed their relationship because of his desire for sons. (Sound like any other king you know? – Lissa)

Courtesy of byaseashore on Tumblr

Lagertha went off to forge her own destiny.

She’s had a husband and several lovers since, but everyone keeps hoping her destiny will lead her back into Ragnar’s arms. Even though years have come between them, the chemistry is there for anyone to see, any time they share screen time.

Courtesy of stairway-to-metal-land on Tumblr

Our next favorite “ship” is Floki and Helga. 

Courtesy of alcntara on Tumblr

In the beginning, they seemed so perfectly compatible, but Floki’s “issues” kept increasing.

Courtesy of lecterlannister on Tumblr

The arrival of their daughter seems to have only made things worse.

Courtesy of alcntara on Tumblr

Floki was genuinely frightened at how happy he was with his little family.

Courtesy of holynorse on Tumblr

He seems to have thought it was a challenge to the gods, or some sort of set up in order to rip the rug from under his feet.

Courtesy of violaobanion on Tumblr

Patient Helga helped him as much as she could and tried to fight for their relationship, but it now seems Floki may have crossed the line for her.

Courtesy of gifchannel on Tumblr

Sandi is less invested, but she feels just dreadfully for Helga, even as she sees Floki fall apart before everyone’s eyes.

Courtesy of lecterlannister on Tumblr

We both confess we hoped that Gyda would grow up to marry Athelstan. This would be an example of a non-canon ‘ship.

And apparently, we’re not the only ones. Courtesy of talktotheseer on Tumblr

The monk’s personality seemed to mesh so well with Ragnar’s daughter’s. She was sweet and gentle and nurturing – just what the Tiny Viking needed.

I know that by the time she had grown up, she would have been a princess and her hand would have been valuable for forging alliances for the new King Ragnar, but I think he would have been delighted to have his beloved Athelstan as a son-in-law.

Courtesy of  The History Channel

And, too, there was the possibility of introducing the Christianization of the Vikings into the timeline, albeit a bit earlier perhaps than it happened in history.

Courtesy of gydalothbrook on Tumblr

There are a lot of people out there who loved Siggy and Rollo as a couple. Their relationship seems to have started as an alliance, nothing more. Siggy was lost in the world and needed a protector, and Rollo, brother of the jarl, seemed a perfect step up in the world.

Courtesy of greyjoyss on Tumblr

For a time, she egged him on in his desires to overthrow Ragnar.

Courtesy of giphy.com

But it seems that love grew between them, and Siggy would stop at nothing to protect him.

Courtesy of greyjoyss on Tumblr

Rollo seemed to care for her, too, after his disappointment with Lagertha (yes! another ship!) but in the end, Rollo pursued his own interests, as did Siggy.

Will there be new ships to sail in Season Four?​

What are your thoughts? Join Lissa Bryan and me, Sandi,  tonight as we chat at 8PM EST on Twitter about our favorite ‘ships and what the series might have in store for them. Use the hashtag #ShieldGeeks to join in the fun!