Eriene Duskbane-Blackfire

Katheryn Winnick: Vikings: Season 5 Character Catch-Up - Lagertha [x] - Part 2 / Part 1

The Eyes Behind the Armor 

Grace Babcock © 2017

Day 3 

A bouquet of peaceblooms wrapped with scarlet paper and gold ribbon arrives at the Hall of Blood. There is a note enclosed; the handwriting is unfamiliar but formal and well-defined. 

Taken aback, Eriene blinked owlishly. Her widened eyes trailed downward to the bundle of peaceblooms, fingers first touching its golden ribbon and then examining the delicate petals. “I shall, captain. Thank you.” Warmth blossomed in her cheeks. The rare smile found on her lips was enough to pacify the captain’s ire, even.

Like always, Inaris resigned with a sigh. He watched as she hid that telltale smile behind her favorite blossoms. “My apologies,” he groaned. “It was not my intention to be so ill-tempered. I forget that a time for celebration will be upon us soon.”

He was so distracted with making amends that he did not recognize the sudden change in Eriene’s expression after she opened the small note attached. Her eyes narrowed sharply in suspicion, the felfire within them glowing brighter.

“Did you see who delivered these flowers?” Eriene asked. Her smile was gone.

“A courier. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

The sour turn in Eriene’s mood prompted the captain to stand closer to her side. He eyed the piece of paper held between her thumb and forefinger; more particularly, the intelligible handwriting that was unlike any report he ever received from Senes. He could actually read the letters this time.

That doesn’t belong to Blackfire.

“Interesting,” Inaris hummed, though his developing grin suggested mirth as the foundation of his statement. “Perhaps you have an admirer; a secret admir–”