Shieldmaiden tells the story of Hengest's daughter, Rowena, from her early adventures as a shieldmaiden on a Viking raid, to her arranged marriage with King Vortigern of England, which frustrates her hope of marrying her childhood sweetheart, Wulfric. Rowena's story is interwoven with the story of another famous shieldmaiden of Nordic legend, Hervor of the Hervarasaga. The story is Part 1 of the Shieldmaiden Saga, which is one of a series of stories about England's founding father, Hengest.