Join the #ShieldGeeks for #FaveDeadViking Friday! #SIGGY and #GYDA

By elithanathile on Tumblr

The Shieldmaidens of History (Protecting the Innocent from Anachronisms) welcome you back to our series on the History Channel show Vikings. 

Historical fiction author Sandi Layne is with me again to discuss the historical aspects of the show. Sandi has written her own series on Vikings, both well-written and carefully researched. (You can read my review of the third book in the trilogy, Éire's Devil King, here.)

.¸¸•.¸¸.•´¯`• (¯`•ღ•´¯)•´¯`•.¸¸.•.¸¸.

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.

Follow us on twitter, #ShieldGeeks, at 8pm Eastern for the next seventeen days as we talk about the main characters of the show, including special features for Thorsdays, er, Thursdays, as well as We Ship It day on the 14th and even a Favorite Dead Character feature.

Then, on February 18th, VIKINGS, Season Four will begin and Sandi and I will be live-tweeting during each episode, as has been our custom since Season One. We’ll follow up with a more detailed discussion on our websites the following day.

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

On this, our second Favorite Dead Viking Friday, we’ve got two ladies to spotlight. First, a most amazing woman:

SIGGY

We met Siggy when she was the wife of Earl Haraldson.

Courtesy of greyjoyss on Tumblr

Played with beautiful flexibility by Jessalyn Gilsig, Siggy was the supportive wife of the region’s most powerful man.

After the earl’s death, though, Siggy came into her own. As soon as her husband fell in single combat with Ragnar, Siggy called out these words:

Courtesy of historyvikings on Tumblr

She was the first to kneel to Ragnar as jarl.

Lagertha was kind to the new widow. Siggy feared she was going to be turned into a slave, but Lagertha promised she would never treat Siggy that way. She took Siggy and her daughter, Thyri, under her protection.

Courtesy of elodieyungs on Tumblr

When the young Bjőrn objected, Lagertha used the situation to teach a lesson in compassion to her son. She reminded Bjőrn Haraldson could have won.

Courtesy of glorfindels on Tumblr

But despite the kindness she was shown an the acceptance she eventually earned within the community, Siggy struggled with resentment over what had happened to her.

Courtesy of elodieyungs on Tumblr

She allied herself to the new earl’s brother, Rollo.

Courtesy of greyjoyss on Tumblr

She hoped to regain her standing, but with more influence than she had had before. Did she and the mercurial Rollo love one another or was it a relationship of convenience?

Courtesy of greyjoyss on Tumblr

Despite the difficulties of her situation, Siggy showed herself to be incredibly brave. When Kattegat was attacked, she picked up a sword and shield and rushed out to defend her new home.

Courtesy of vikinggifs on Tumblr

Rollo gave her the task of protecting Princess Asluag and Siggy did it with aplomb.

Courtesy of ganseysmagicians on Tumblr

She and Aslaug became good friends.

Courtesy of besidethewall on Tumblr

 and eventually was one entrusted with the safety and well-being of Ragnar’s sons.

Courtesy of stairway-to-metal-land on Tumblr

 This provided her life with happiness, but also led to her death. Siggy died nobly, saving the boys’ lives, in what was one of the most beautifully cinematic deaths in television history.

Courtesy of sikanapanele on Tumblr

And her face, when she met her end, was at peace. She earned her place in the halls of her fathers in Valhalla.

ღ

Now, a girl who died all too soon:

GYDA

Sandi confesses that Gyda is her one great disappointment in this series (other than the intermittent boot-sole issues).

Courtesy of barricadeur on Tumblr

Played charmingly by Ruby O’Leary, Ragnar’s only daughter bade fair to grow into a strong Viking woman.

Courtesy of holloywoodgonzalez on Tumblr

She seemed more nurturing, perhaps, than her mother, but she was much loved and protected by her entire family.

Courtesy of complicatedcookie on Tumblr

It was bittersweet for Lagertha to watch Gyda grow into a woman. She was so proud of her, but it was a harsh reminder of the passage of time, and that she was getting older, too.

Courtesy of vikingshistory on Tumblr

Gyda was adored by Athelstan, the Christian priest Ragnar took as a slave to help care for his children.

Courtesy of hazel-makes-gifs on Tumblr

Lagertha was a little concerned at first.

Courtesy of ecomenellegrandistorie on Wordpress

She needn't have worried. Athelstan was beloved by the children, and he protected them just as fiercely as Lagertha did.

Courtesy of incarsandthroughtime on Tumblr

Gyda loved him, too. As she lay dying of the plague, she asked her mother to pray for Athelstan, who was also ill.

Courtesy of ediness on Tumblr

Ragnar never forgot his only little girl. He spent time alone more than once mourning her, and there was a very touching scene indeed where he spoke to her memory (or spirit?) with great affection. His goodbye to her deserves to be repeated in full:

"Gyda, I have come to say goodbye to you, properly. I’ve been thinking about you, about when you were small. You were so lively you could run as swiftly as the wind. You were like a quick-silver. But then, before I knew it, you stopped running here and there and everywhere, and you became still. At 12 years old you had the stillness and the calm of a fine woman. What children you would have produced! What joy that would have brought to all of us!

Dear child, Gyda, you are not gone because you are always in my heart. They say that a man must love his sons more, but a man can be jealous of his sons and his daughter can always be the light in his life.

I know very well that you are with the Gods. But I will wait here, a while, and if you wanna come and talk to me, then come and talk., and I will gently stroke your long and beautiful hair once again with my peasant hands.”

Text of Ragnar's goodbye and gifs by amebuschaos on Tumblr

Alas, today, Gyda’s character can only be seen to grow into womanhood in fan fiction.

.¸¸•.¸¸.•´¯`• (¯`•ღ•´¯)•´¯`•.¸¸.•.¸¸.

What are your thoughts? Join Sandi and me, Lissa Bryan, tonight as we chat at 8PM EST on Twitter about our favorite dead Vikings. Use the hashtag #ShieldGeeks and #FaveDeadViking to join in the fun!