#ubbe fic

He had a beautiful wife. A beautiful, kind, loving, sweet wife, sitting at home all alone whilst he was sat in the great hall with a woman sitting on his lap, one hand disappearing under her skirts as the other one cupped her face whilst his tongue was practically down her throat.

Ubbe was having to bite his tongue to keep himself quiet as Margrethe sat tense beside him, her normally bright blue eyes turned darker when the woman sat upon Hvitserks lap began moaning softly, Ubbe knew exactly why his wife was tense, she was jealous. Jealous of the woman who was sitting on her married brother in laws lap, jealous of the woman that would be warming her married brother in laws bed that night and not her.

He knew that his wife warmed more than just his brothers bed, of course he did, he was there most times, but ever since Hvisterk married the woman who now sat in their small cottage all alone - those moments were now rare. Not knowing that his wife and brother were now meeting up in secret. In all truth, he thought that his brother wouldn’t be seeking other skirts to chase, not when he had such a beautiful wife awaiting him at home every night.

The woman’s unabashed loud moans had Ubbe slamming down his knife and fork on the table. “Do you really have to do that here whilst we are trying to eat?”

“What’s your problem?” Hvisterk asked amused as he finally pulled himself away from the woman’s neck where he was decorating it in marks.

Choosing to ignore his brother he turned to the woman. “You do know he is married, right?”

“So?” She giggled in a breathless moan. “I don’t see her here, do you?”

Without saying another word to anyone he stood up and walked out of the hall. His brothers wife, so sweet and caring didn’t deserve a husband like the one she was given, Ubbe thought as he walked away from his brothers and wife, ignoring their calls for him to come back.

The first time he saw the woman who was going to marry his brother was nearly two years prior, her father was an Earl from the neighbouring village who had fought alongside Ragnar in every battle his father had. Ubbe stood by his nervous brother laughing lightly at Sigurds and Ivars taunts as the longboat came to a halt next to the docks, the young woman was accompanied only by her older brother as her father had died three years earlier, the first thing he had noticed was that her body was bigger than the women in Kattegat - filling out the pretty dress better than anyone else who would have worn it. As she got closer he couldn’t remove his eyes away from her face, it truly was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen, her wide, bright eyes were kept on the queen as introductions were made. His feet wanted to step forward when Aslaug said. “This is my son, the one you’ll marry.” But unfortunately his name wasn’t called, no, no it was Hvisterk, the one that had scratch marks on his back given to him by the farmers wife, knowing that fact had acid burning in his throat.

That night after everyone had gone to bed, the four brothers gathered around the hearth with cups of mead. “I can’t marry her.”

“Why?” Sigurd questioned.

“She’s fat!” His favourite out of his brothers cried. “I can’t have a fat wife!”

“She’s pretty.” Ivar spoke quietly from his spot next to Ubbe. “And she has wide hips, great for bearing children.”

Hvisterk laughed, a cold and cruel laugh. “I will not be giving her my seed! I don’t want a fat pig like her having my children.”

Sigurd looked towards the hallway with a sad smile on his lips as Ubbe tried to make his brother see sense. “You’ll need to have a child or two with her, you’ll grow to love her Hvit.”

“No I don’t and I won’t. I’d rather have bastards than give that fat woman my seed.”

Even Ivar, the one that was the heartless out of them sighed in disappointment. “She seems nice.”

“You marry her then!” Hvitserk snapped.

“I would if I could.” The youngest shrugged. “But unfortunately for her she’s been promised to you.”

“Why unfortunately? She should be lucky.”

Ubbe blanked out the rest of the conversation turned argument between his brothers, gulping down the rest of his drink he stood up and bid his goodbyes, only slowing down when Sigurd called out his name. “She heard.”

“What?”

“Lady Y/n, she heard what our idiot brother was saying about her.”

“How-”

“I saw her Ubbe, she looked like she was going to cry. I mean I would too if I was her.”

“Hopefully it’s just the mead talking. Goodnight brother.”

In the three weeks that Lady Y/n and her brother was in Kattegat Hvitserk spent hardly any time with her, Ubbe watched as the brightness of her eyes dim with each day. On her wedding day she hardly smiled and when she did he could tell it was forced, that night he watched as his brother drank more and more then clumsily dragged his new wife towards his bedroom.

Margrethe giggled as she told him that Hvitserk had told her that he called his wife by the former thralls name as he emptied his seed inside her.

She wouldn’t have been giggling as if she had heard the funniest joke if she had known that her own husband was thinking of his brother’s new wife whilst he was inside of her.

He knew it was wrong, he was lucky to have married a woman he loved unlike his brother, he had always thought that Margrethe was beautiful from the moment he laid eyes on her - but Y/n, Y/n’s beauty would have made Freyja herself jealous. Every time he saw her give a genuine smile he wanted more, most preferably aimed at him. Her eyes would light up each time the children of Kattegat would come and speak to her, shyly handing her a flower they had plucked themselves from near the woods or gifting her a nice smooth pebble they had found - it always warmed his heart, unlike his wife’s attitude towards the innocent little ones, always turning her nose up at them and dismissing them as if they were nothing. He wanted nothing more than to be able to call Y/n his wife, to be able to feel her smooth skin under his rough hands - the thought of being able to feel her curves and plumb skin always had his length swell. And most importantly he wanted nothing more to do the very thing that Hvitserk was denying himself of - starting a family.

“Ah! P-Prince Ubbe.” Hearing her startled voice had him snapping out of his memories, shaking his head in confusion he didn’t realise that his feet had led him to his brother and sister in laws cottage. “You scared me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Blue, normally bright but now dark due to the night sky, eyes noticed the red and purple stains on her apron, a small smile appeared on his lips knowing that she was probably making her infamous cake that he and Ivar loved so much. In her arms held several pieces of chopped wood. “What are you doing?”

“Dropping these off to the neighbour, her husband has died recently and she’s been left with three children, one being a newborn,” lifting the logs higher. “and I chopped way to many this morning so I’m giving them to her.”

Always thoughtful, always generous. He thought to himself. “Here, let me help you.”

“Thank you.” Handing over the logs carefully she turned and picked up a basket. “I have filled it with some food and some clothes I had made for the babe.”

His heart ached in his chest. He knew for fact that she didn’t make those clothes for her neighbours newborn babe, but for her own. Despite hearing Hvitserk’s words that night she thought that maybe the gods would have allowed the seed he had planted in her womb to take place after their wedding night even when he was rough as he took her maidenhood, fucking her as if she meant nothing to him, spilling his seed with another woman’s name falling from his lips - but it never did, but that didn’t stop her from making them, she had hoped that the words she heard from her soon to be husband would have just been that, words, that maybe he would have grown to love her and that they could be happy. Now over a year into their marriage she was only touched once by her husband, she gave up that hope, that dream of having her own children, the basket beside the fireplace that began filling up with baby clothes was left abandoned, just as she was.

“Y/n-”

“It’s fine.” She smiled softly up at him. Guiding him towards the neighbour, Ubbe couldn’t force his wandering eyes away from the sway of her hips, smiling warmly at the neighbour as she profusely thanked Y/n for everything. “Would you like come in?”

He hadn’t even realised that they were back at her cottage. “Yes please.” The warmth of her home she shared with his brother was so different from his own home, how? he couldn’t really explain, maybe it was because she did everything in the home, she no longer had any thralls freeing them after she walked in on Hvitserk having sex with one of them in their marital bed. Or maybe it was the way her home was always so inviting and cosy or maybe it was just because it was her home. But what ever the reason was, he knew that he was happier being in her home than he was at his own cottage that he shared with his wife.

“Would you like something to eat?”

Despite him already having something to eat, his stomach growled, he didn’t even get to finish his meal in the hall. Nodding with a soft smile on his face he looked up at her from the seat he was occupying at the table. “Thank you.”

“It’s okay.” Gently placing the plate in front of him, she grabbed her own and sat down across from him. “It would have gone to waste anyway.”

“You did this for him?”

“Of course, he is my husband.” Dropping her knife and fork she stood up and rushed over to the counter and grabbed the jug full of mead and a cup. “I forgot to offer this for you, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry. Now sit and eat, I can fill my own cup.” Pouring his drink his eyebrows pulled together when he noticed that she didn’t have a cup too. “Do you not want a drink?”

“Oh no, thank you though.”

As they ate in comfortable silence, the only sound coming from inside the cottage was the crackling from the fireplace and Ubbe sighing with each bite in satisfaction at the taste of her cooking. “That was delicious Y/n.”

Her cheeks turned red at his compliment. “Thank you.” Standing up once more, she took his plate and hers away from the table.

“You haven’t finish your food?”

“It is fine, I’m not hungry anymore.” He nodded though he was skeptical. “He isn’t coming back tonight, is he?”

Gulping down the rest of his drink, he tried to think of something to say. “I-I’m not sure.”

“He probably won’t.” She shrugged as she washed the plates. “He only comes back when he needs clean clothes, leaving me with his dirty ones that I have to clean and sow.”

There was no malice in her voice as she spoke, to him it sounded as she had just given up. “I’m sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about prince Ubbe.”

“He is my brother, I have to apologise for his behaviour and actions towards you and your marriage.”

“He’s not bad.” She sighed as he pulled a face. “He doesn’t hit me, he doesn’t force me to lay with him, he gives me enough coin for each month, so no, he isn’t a bad husband.”

“Just because he doesn’t hit you or rape you doesn’t make him a good husband, he’s left you alone whilst he chases after other women.”

“Your wife being one of them.” She says softly. “He is happy, that’s all that matters.”

It was his turn to sigh, he couldn’t argue with her, but he truly thought that after his brother married that the agreement of sharing Margrethe would have come to an end. “And what of your happiness?”

“It does not matter.”

“Yes it does.”

“I am happy.” It was a lie, she knew that and so did he. “I would like you to leave now please, I’m tired.” Another lie but she didn’t want to keep having this conversation.

“Very well, goodnight princess.”

Three months later Ubbe spent most of his time with Y/n, helping her with everything ranging from: chopping wood, hunting, cooking, cleaning and she had even taught him how to correctly sow. He truly enjoyed every second he spent with her - even when she did laugh at him when he somehow managed to trip over the broom he was using to sweep up.

He loved just sitting in front of the fireplace with her and talk about everything and anything, he learned so much about her - things that he doubted his brother even knew. His muscles would finally relax whenever he was with her, she became a home to him, he was able to be himself and talk about his dreams of being a simple farmer - he remembered the time he told Margrethe about his dream, she just laughed at him, but not Y/n, no she smiled softly at him and told him that he would be an amazing farmer with so many cute animals.

It was easy being with Y/n, it was easy for him to fall in love with her.

The brothers had decided to go into the woods where they could practice, Ubbe listened as Ivar and Sigurd argued about whose arrow had hit the target in the eye - both claiming it was their own, when only one was correct and of course it was Ivars but he kept quiet. His bright blue eyes searched for Hvitserk, rolling them when he found him, he was kissing a woman who Ubbe had never seen before.

The youngest two of them pulled a face when Hvitserk came jogging up to them. “I’m going to the cabin.” Without waiting for a response he jogged back over to the woman and took her by the hand and lead them away towards where the cabin sat.

“I’m going to go.” Ubbe said interrupting his two brothers who carried on their argument. “And Sigurd it was Ivars.”

The blond groaned whilst the youngest laughed. “Are you going to see Y/n?”

“What?” Ivar just smirked at him. “How do you know?”

“I know everything brother.” Tapping the side of his head. “And plus you brought me a slice of cake, knowing I only like the ones that Y/n makes.”

“Don’t say anything.” Ubbe pointed to his brothers. “It’s nothing, okay? I’m just spending time with her because she’s lonely.”

“And because you love her.” Sigurd laughed whilst Ivar nodded in agreement. “I think this will be the only time that me and the cripple will ever agree on anything, but we promise not to say anything.”

“Yes, snakey here is right. You deserve to be happy Ubbe.”

Ubbe couldn’t believe what he was hearing honestly, all four of them would argue and even fight with each other but Ivar and Sigurd, never ever got on, never really had anything nice to say about the other. Y/n wasn’t going to believe him when he told her. “You won’t tell Hvitserk?”

“Why would we tell him? He’s been a terrible husband to her.”

“Right. Okay, well I’m going to go, please don’t kill each other whilst I’m gone.”

Plucking a flower from the ground he held it carefully in his hand as he made his way towards the cottage, with a smile on his face he knocked twice on the wooden door. His eyebrows pulled together with worry and confusion as she had yet to answer, he only relaxed when he heard her sweet voice. “Hi-” he cut himself off as her face came into view. Her pretty face was bruised. A cut on her cheek and across her chin. Her left eye slightly swollen. And when he looked down his fists clenched even tighter, a dark bruise was covering her neck. “Who did this?”

“I-it doesn’t matter.” Her voice hoarse and not soft like it always is.

“Who, Y/n?”

“I-I don’t know.”

Gently pushing her back so he could step inside, he kicked the door shut behind him. From the corner of his eye he caught the sight of her table on its side and several chairs had been destroyed, her things had been thrown around the room - his heart clenched when he saw the small jewellery box that her father had made for her a few months before he passed away, on the floor and broken. “Who?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Hvitserk?”

“No! No it wasn’t him.” Sitting down on the only chair that hadn’t been broken, she sighed. “A man, he knocked on the door last night and I thought it was you, bu-but it wasn’t. Anyway he was angry because the woman he was supposed to marry was caught in the barn with Hvitserk, he said he doesn’t want to marry the prince’s whore.”

“What is his name?”

“I don’t know and that’s the truth.”

“What about her name?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “He has loads of women so it could be anyone.”

It was his brother’s fault. It was all Hvitserk’s fault. If he had just been faithful to his wife then a man wouldn’t have taken his anger out on sweet, kind, beautiful Y/n. She didn’t deserve it, she didn’t deserve a husband as cowardly as the one she got, she didn’t deserve to have her delicate skin damaged by a man who was angry, she didn’t deserve this man’s anger since it was aimed at the wrong person. She deserved better, a better life, a better husband. She deserved nothing but love, respect, happiness and devotion.

Ubbe wanted nothing more than to run up to the cabin where Hvitserk was currently fucking a woman that wasn’t his wife and beat some sense into him, then he would find the man who dared to put his dirty hands on his Y/n and make sure that this man didn’t have a seat at Odin’s table.

But then he looked down at her where she still sat on the chair, nervously twisting a bit of her dress in her hands. His brother and unknown man was going to have to wait for his anger. “Let me clean your wounds, okay?”

“You don’t-”

“I know.” Leaning down he pressed a kiss to her forehead and gathered everything he needed. Slowly and gently he cleaned the cuts on her cheek and chin, as he concentrated he could feel her eyes on him which caused his cheeks to tint red.

“What are you doing?”

“Cleaning up.”

“I can do that.”

“I know you can but I’m here.” Putting down the broom he was using he gently pushed her to sit back down on the chair. “Just sit and relax.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” He smiled softly at her before continuing his work, gently scolding her every time she tried to help and he even refused her help with turning the table on all fours. When he was finished he looked around the cottage and hated how much emptier it now seemed without her trinkets and jars. “I promise I’ll get you some new chairs and some new jars, oh I saw a really nice one yesterday on the market - I’ll go and see if it’s still there tomorrow.”

Cutting his rambling off. “You don’t need to do that Ubbe.”

“I know-”

“I know you know but it is not your responsibility to take care of this.”

“You’re right, it’s Hvitserks but do you really think he would?”

“No.” She sighed softly. “No he wouldn’t but it isn’t his responsibility either, it’s mine.”

His thin eyebrows pulled together and downwards as his face scrunched up in disgust. “You really think that? You are his wife! This is his home, he should be here taking care of you and not-”

“With another woman?” She cut him off. “He does not care for me, Ubbe. The only reason why that man didn’t kill me last night was because I begged him, I begged him to kill me, I begged and begged and unfortunately he didn’t.”

Taking a step back from her as if she had burnt him, the blue in his eyes went brighter due to the tears that wanted to fall. “W-what? Why? Why would you beg such a thing?”

“So I can be free, so that Hvitserk will be free. With me gone he’d be able to marry someone he truly loves, someone worthy of his time and love.” Stepping closer to him she slowly raised her hand to cup his face. “All I have ever wanted was to be loved, to be respected, to be able to share my life with someone but that won’t happen in this life and I’ve accepted that.”

“And that’s your reason to want to die? To leave me?” One of his hands went to her waist as the other held her hand that was still resting on his face. “My brother is a fool, but so am I. I thought I married someone for love but I didn’t know what love was until I met you. You don’t need to accept being lonely or being unloved because I’m here, I’m here to be by your side, I’m here to love you until my time comes and even then I will still love you.”

Tears streamed down her face freely as he spoke, through blurred vision she searched his eyes for any indication of him being untruthful with his words when she didn’t find any she did something that shocked not only herself but the man in front of her. She stood up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. Her cheeks went bright red with embarrassment because just like Hvitserk on their wedding day, Ubbe didn’t kiss her back. “I-I’m s-sorry.” She stuttered in a whisper, feeling like the biggest idiot ever she began to pull away from him, frowning slightly when she realised that he wasn’t letting her go. Before she could say anything Ubbe smiled softly then he kissed her, it was slow at first which she was grateful for as this was the second time she had kissed someone but as it turned more heated she happily followed his lead.

He smiled to himself when he felt her hands beginning to tug on his clothes, he was more than happy to comply with her unspoken wishes and stood proudly before her naked as the day as he was born. Laying her down gently on the softest of furs in front of the lit fireplace, he couldn’t tear his lips away from hers as his hands roamed her frame - when he finally removed her dress off his eyes turned even darker with lust, with admiration, with love. Moving ever so slowly down her naked body he left a trail of wet kisses, repeating his actions when he thought he had left a spot untouched by his lips, licking his lips he locked eyes with hers as he began devouring her just like the meaning of his name, he was truly a wolf as her limbs became weak and floppy. He couldn’t wait no longer, he needed to feel her around him, kissing her passionately, he smiled softly at her, never have I ever seen more of a beautiful sight he thought to himself as he began pushing his hardness into her, both sighing in content at the feeling of them joining as one.

Keeping himself buried deep inside her as they came down from their peaks praises of how well she did and how amazing she is fell from his lips in between kissing every inch of her face. A shocked gasp came from her when he picked her body up from off the ground he promised her that she was fine, carrying her in his arms he walked the both of them into her bedroom where he placed her gently on the bed that she shared with his brother. Her scent filled his senses as he slid into the comfy bed, no traces of his brother was present as his wrapped his arms around her, he fell asleep not long after she did, falling asleep before whispering I love you into her braided hair, falling asleep happily with her wrapped up in his strong arms.

For a whole two weeks none of Ubbes family saw him and Margrethe hadn’t even realised as she was too busy with Hvitserk. And what Ubbe didn’t know was that Ivar and Sigurd were actually covering for him whenever Aslaug questioned his whereabouts.

But unfortunately the boys were running out of excuses, so they made their way towards Y/n’s cottage. “Knock then.”

“No you do it.”

“I’m a cripple!”

“And that means that you can’t knock on a door?”

“Yes.”

“It’s your legs that don’t work, not your arms.” Sigurd huffed as his brother smiled up at him sarcastically. “Fine.”

Neither one of them realising that Ubbe and Y/n were struggling to hold back their laughter behind the door at hearing the brothers little argument. Opening the door just as Sigurd was about to knock Ubbe cocked his head to the side. “What can we do for you two?”

“Mother keeps asking for you and we are now running out of excuses.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t worry, we haven’t told anyone where you have been really.”

“Thanks.” Facing Y/n he cupped her face gently. “Are you ready?”

In all the time Sigurd and Ivar had known Y/n they had never seen her have a genuine smile on her face, but they see it as she looks up at their older brother. “I’m ready.”

Ivar looked up at Sigurd giving him a questioning look, the blond shrugged and asked. “What’s going on?”

“I’m going to ask mother to grant me and Y/n a divorce from Margrethe and Hvitserk.” Tucking in a piece of hair behind Y/n’s ear, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “And then we will get married.”

Sigurd smiled. “I’m sure she will.”

“And I’m sure the thrall and the fool will be angry.” Ivar smiled.

All four of them made their way towards the great hall, Ubbes hand gently holding Y/n’s, squeezing softly when he felt her tense up as they got closer to the building. Aslaug was sat upon her throne, squinting slightly when she saw the two holding hands, a subtle grin on her lips. “Sons, Y/n.”

“Mother.” As Ubbe took a step forward towards his mother Hvitserk and Margrethe came around the corner, the prince with his arm around the former thralls waist, both giggling. “Queen Aslaug I’m here to ask you to grant me a divorce from my wife.”

That got the pair to stop giggling. Hvitserks arm slipping slowly from Margrethe’s waist.

“What?” The blonde woman stuttered.

Aslaug nodded, not letting Ubbe answer. “Divorce granted.”

“Thank you.”

“You can’t do this!” Margrethe shouted. “On what grounds? Y-you need a reason!”

“He is a prince, he doesn’t need a reason.” Aslaug responded. “I assume you wish for a divorce too, Y/n.”

She could feel Hvitserks green eyes burning the side of her face, she tried to ignore it as best as she could as she took a deep breath. “Yes please.”

“Divorce granted.”

“No! No she’s my wife!” Y/n flinched at his shouting causing Ubbe and Sigurd to stand protectively in front of her. “Mother you can’t do this, she’s my wife.”

Ubbe went to speak but Aslaug held her hand up to silence him, standing up she made her way down the steps and stood in front of her second son. “Your wife? I have seen the way you have treated her, I have heard the whispers about the countless of women who you have decided to spend your time with.” Cupping his face in her hands. “She should never have been your wife Hvitserk.”

“But-”

“No. No buts. You never deserved her.” Walking up to Ubbe and Y/n, she smiled warmly. “He does, and he will be a better husband to her than you ever was and they will have the life they have always wanted.” Her grey-blue eyes went to Y/n’s stomach, a warm smile on her lips. Aslaug knew, she knew because she had a dream, a dream of her oldest son and his wife living on a farm surrounded by animals that Y/n had named even against Ubbes advice not to, her daughter in law was heavily pregnant and her son couldn’t take his hands off of her. She had never seen her son so happy before. When Aslaug woke up she was confused because she didn’t know the woman in her dream, not until a few hours later when the ship carrying the woman Hvitserk was to marry pulled up to the docks.

“But she’s mine!” Her second son shouted.

“If she was truly yours then you would have looked after her better.” She remarked. “Ubbe, Y/n you both have my blessing to marry.”

“Thank you mother.”

A month later the two got married, Hvitserk refused to show up to the wedding whilst Margrethe was held back by the queens guards. Two days before the wedding Y/n found out that she was with child when she told Ubbe, he fell to his knees and pressed several kisses to her covered stomach, promises falling from his lips of how he was going to love the babe and protect them no matter what. Aslaug had a knowing smile on her face before they even had the chance to tell her.

Hvitserk was beyond angry when he found out that Y/n was pregnant, to him she had betrayed him, and he wanted justice. Showing up at the cottage he was given by his mother as a wedding gift he was shocked to find the place completely empty. “She’s not here.” He practically jumped out of his skin at hearing a voice behind him.

“Where is she?”

“With her husband.”

“I’m her husband.” Turning around he saw Ivar sitting upon an empty crate. “She’s my wife and yet I don’t see her anywhere, do you?”

“Ah but you’re not her husband anymore, are you? No, our big brother is.”

“She belongs to me!”

“Nope, not anymore she doesn’t.”

“Where are they?”

“Did you know that Ubbe killed the man who attacked Y/n?” Ivar asked instead. “You probably didn’t, me and Sigurd was there and I do have to say that Ubbe didn’t go easy on the guy.”

Frowning and shaking his head. “What are you talking about?”

“See you later.”

“Wait, where are you going? You didn’t tell me what happened.”

“I’m going?” Ivar laughed. “Did you not hear me?”

“Ivar stop playing games! What happened to Y/n?”

“When?”

“Don’t-”

“She was attacked.”

“What? When? Who did it?”

Ivar laughed again. “Don’t act like you actually care because you never did before. It happened when you were busy fucking another woman. It was done by a guy who caught you and his fiancé fucking in a barn.”

“I-I-”

“I-I-I don’t want to hear it and neither would Y/n and Ubbe.” Settling himself onto the ground Ivar looked up at his brother. “Whatever the reason you had when you came here just leave them alone Hvitserk. You had your chance and lost it because you couldn’t keep it in your trousers.”

Hvitserk went inside the cottage that Y/n had made a home for the two of them and the children he swore he would never give her, sitting down on the cold wooden flooring, he pulled his knees up to his chest and cried. The reality and realisation of what he once had and what he had lost had finally caught up to him.

“Ubbe!”

“Yes my love?”

“Lady Penelope has given birth!”

Walking over to where Y/n was resting against the fence, he wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder. “Twelve piglets, not bad.”

“She did so well.”

A few days after Ubbe and Y/n was married, they moved to the farm house that had been abandoned for a couple of years, after several weeks of fixing up the house with the help of Sigurd and Ivar - it became a warm and welcoming home.

Hvitserk came to visit once, he apologised to Y/n for the way he treated her during their marriage and gave her and Ubbe his blessing for them to marry - which left Ubbe unable to control his laughter seen as though they were already married and he didn’t need his brothers so called blessing.

Aslaug watched from her spot on the bench with Sigurd sitting next to her and Ivar sitting on the floor as Ubbe kept his hand on Y/n’s back, from where she was sat she couldn’t hear what the two were saying but she could see genuine smiles and hear their laughter. Looking down at Aesir who was using Ivar as a climbing frame she smiled softly. “I think he likes you.”

“Of course he does, I’m his favourite.” Ivar chuckled. “Aren’t I Aesir?” The two year old just giggled and put his little hand into Ivars mouth.

“I’m going to be the next ones favourite.” Sigurd commented. “It shouldn’t be long now before the babe comes.” Aslaug sighed and blocked out the bickering between her two sons, and kept watching Ubbe and Y/n.

Ubbe placed his hands on his wife’s large bump, absolutely loving the feeling of their child move around, pressing his forehead against hers. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Hvitserk was a fool who lost the best thing he would ever have, and for that Ubbe was forever thankful.

There were stories, warning tales that floated from village to village the closer you got to the channel about men who came from strange lands and pillaged whatever they could. You were not as unfamiliar with the idea as some of the villagers who repeated the stories told to them. This place was foreign to you too, though perhaps not as foreign as you’d heard their land was. You’d never known anyone who’d gone there and back again or knew anyone who knew anyone who had. It was all speculation, each time growing darker, with sharper teeth and more villainous endeavors. They didn’t just kill, they slaughtered. They didn’t just steal, they burned whole villages to the ground. As if the devil this village feared had possessed them, sent them up from hell to do his bidding on the good, true christians that had stolen you from your home and sold you to the family you lived with for a price you could never hope to pay off.  

“There are more of you?” You spoke saxon, hoping he knew something of the language you’d been forced to adopt. It wasn’t yours and you realized that he knew that when he tilted his head. Eyebrow quirked and for a split second you forgot how tall and demonic and out of place he was because he looked as bewildered as the little boy you kept watch over when you tried to explain the phenomena of the universe.  

Finally he nodded. He didn’t seem afraid at all and you didn’t blame him. Who were you to inspire fear in anyone? You let go of the hilt of your knife, chancing a step toward him. The only thing he could be doing, by not yet killing you, was biding his time. If he assumed that you were faster than he was, that you knew the woods better than he did, then he could assume that you would reach the closest village sooner than he and his men would. And if you did, it could give them chance to run, though you could assume that running was in vain. This man looked the very part of death and it was an inevitable fact of his existence that wherever he went, so did it. Even if you ran, even if you warned whoever you had to warn, he and his people would find you and kill you and it would mean nothing.  

Though you life so far had meant nothing anyway. “I’m not going to run away,” you continued speaking. He had understood you before. “I’m not afraid of you.” That was a lie and the little half smile that he gave you told you that he knew it was a lie.  

“No?” He took a step closer to you, leaves crunching beneath his boots.  

You swallowed the nerves that bubbled up into your throat, keeping your gaze on him and your stance relaxed. You weren’t afraid. What was the worst he could do to you? Kill you and put you out of the abject misery that your life had equated to since you had been brought to this village? Leave you alive and take you back across the sea to wherever he was from so that you could live exactly as you lived here somewhere else? You had no alliance to the people in the village where you lived.  

The closer he got to you, the better you could see him and you were struck with the odd thought that he was incredibly attractive. There was something about the way he moved that vaguely reminded you of something you once knew in another life. You could see also, as the rain began to lessen, that there was a series of small markings tattooed into his skin, parallel to his eye. You hadn’t seen anything like that in a decade, maybe longer. Sometimes it felt like the place you were before this village was an imagination of yours, just a daydream that you invented. Other times, like this one, it felt like you had just been standing in the doorway of your little house watching your father sharpen a sword.  

“Perhaps you aren’t afraid,” he teased when you reached your hand out and touched the side of his face where the tattoo was.  

Just as quickly as he’d felt the roughness of your fingers against his cheek they were gone, your hand clutched to your stomach as if you’d been burned. “You’re going to kill them?” You asked, not daring to look away. He could devour you if you even blinked and you knew he would not hesitate to do so.  

“We are already on our way.” 

Ubbe had split from his brother at the sound of a brook, eager for water after the long journey to shore. When it’d begun to rain he had abandoned the expedition, heading back towards the encampment to rejoin his brother and his army. It was then that he’d seen you, standing in the middle of the forest and staring at him as though he were some apparition sent by the gods. He’d been on shores like these before, had seen other saxons. They were nothing inspiring, if not for the wealth of land and riches that were offered in the raids, they offered little that peaked his interest. But there was something in your eyes, even through the dense rain he knew you were different. And when you spoke, the accent that carried your words was nothing like the saxon ones he had grown accustomed to. You were no christian.  

You wondered what repayment of a debt entailed for his people? Would these supposed heathens be as brutal as your christians had? Surely not. “Would you take me back with you? Is it foolish...to beg for my life?”  

“Are you begging?” The way he asked was almost teasing. As if he was saying ‘weren’t you the one who said you weren’t afraid’. When you squared your shoulders, the hand that had caressed his face going back to your knife, he smiled. You were positively enticing.  

“No.” You replied, forcing yourself to keep yours eyes locked with his. They were blue like the ocean. Like the stream by the house that you vaguely remembered living in as a child.  

“What about your people?” Ubbe asked, looking passed you as he spoke. Unlike you, unsurprisingly, he wasn’t afraid to look away. What could you really do to him. You doubted your knife would do more than tickle him. “You’ll let them die?” He’d encountered plenty of saxons and while he had little respect for them, he didn’t know them to abandon each other.  

“They’re not my people.” You explained, “they are nothing to me.” It would be beyond your ability in saxon to tell him exactly what they were. To explain the pain and anguish that you’d suffered all these years though you suspected he knew by the way his eyes softened at your words. Still tall and intimidating and yet, his eyes made you doubt that he could be as terrible as the stories you’d heard. No one with eyes that soft could kill the way these men supposedly did. Or maybe he could, but you couldn’t believe that he would kill you that way.  

“What should you have me do?” He asked, though he had already made up his mind. Possibly when he first saw you. Bjorn had told him once of a person he’d taken back to camp with him as a sort of trophy and he’d heard stories of Athelstan from men who’d travelled with his father. Whether it was some hereditary thing in him, a need to possess something beautiful and different, or whether it was something about you and the way you stood so unafraid in the middle of the woods and refused to cave to him, he knew that he was already planning to take you home with him.  

“I could work...if you gave me passage. I could work to pay you back.” You offered.  

Ubbe frowned in thought, reaching his hand out and running muddy fingers against your hairline. The caress felt almost intimate and for the first time since you saw him in the clearing you let yourself lose focus, closing your eyes for a moment as you leaned against his touch. When he pulled away, you opened your eyes, tensing again as if you had never let yourself relax.

“What would you do?” He asked, blue eyes shining as they met yours again.  

“Anything.” You promised, “I have nowhere to return and I will not die.” 

“You refuse it?” 

“Ready and waiting for me. I like this. Let me warm up first and I will be right there with you. You look beautiful.” The sound of his voice within your home. How you’ve longed for it. Him within you, though, is something you have understandably longed for more. A man of Ubbe’s talents will always cause that, though, the dull ache of longing for him.  

“Hurry up.” Is your simple instruction.  

“I shall, I shall. Believe me, you do not want these freezing hands all over you right now, and believe me, they will be all over you.”

“Well, until yours are, I shall have to settle for my own.” Running your fingers in a delicate glide over your flesh, your touch settles at your breasts while you maintain eye contact with him.  

“Temptress.” He chides, his deep voice rich with amusement and arousal. He always likes it when you play with him a little. Remaining by the fire, he begins to shed more layers as he warms up, his body revealed to you in stages, until he is just a bare as you.  

“Warm enough now?”

Walking over to the bed, he pushes you back, grasping your thighs and yanking them apart as he leans in close, kissing the side of your neck. “I could stand to be a lot warmer.”  

“I think I can assist with that.” Gripping his waist, you pull his toned, lean body down to cover yours, turning to kiss him, your being alight with thirst for him as your bodies mould together in heated embrace. He’s all coiled muscles, scars and tattoos, and he feels perfect against you, his hands grasping and sliding, his mouth pressed to yours in heated exchange before moving to your neck once more, your hips undulating against him, desperate for some kind of friction.  

How you’ve craved him, and Ubbe knows it, his strong hands reaching beneath you, kneading your bum, his teeth sharp suddenly at your throat, gliding to give your nipples much the same attention, his glorious cock hardening against your sex.  

Beneath his kisses, ever lowering, you bloom, like a flower in the morning sunrise, your body awakened by your lover, your hands trailing over the shaven sides of his head as he moves lower, sparks of anticipation skipping through you.  

The sweeping flush of pleasure is immediate and intense when his explorative mouth finally reaches its destination, his tongue gliding into your slit with the firmest of licks, your scent like a heady perfume to him, your taste bathing his tongue like a fine mead.  

The blade of his tongue stiffens against you, your body rolling up against his mouth, your clit starting to harden as it’s covered in the hot wet of incessant circles, forcing gasps and mewls from your mouth. It’s the sound he’s played in his head on the nights he’s spent alone, without you next to him, beneath him, atop him, however you choose to give yourself to your Viking.  

He groans, pure and guttural around a mouthful of your cunt, eyes like blue fire opening to find yours over the rise of your breasts, staring at you intently before like the feathers of a crow wing, those thick, dark lashes flutter to conceal the intensity within, closing as his cheeks hollow and he sucks at you with aplomb.  

You stray from him slightly, the pleasure making you wiggle away, body wracked with oversensitivity. His hands grip your thighs, holding you still as his mouth buries into your slick heat again, so firm and consuming, feasting upon you with zeal.  

Each lick conjures the most ardent divinity, tingles and swells of heat prickling your clit as he rolls his tongue up and down, lazy and soft, alternated with firm quickening, your soft moans helpless and sweet, pattering the air with his heavy grunts of lust.  

He coaxes deep grits from your throat, your sweet demeanour giving way to a woman of coarseness, as only he can. But your soft little voice gritting out the word fuck again and again as you tighten and quake as always, makes him so foggy with arousal he cannot bear not to be inside you a moment longer.  

Pleasure falls like a shooting star within the vast sky that is your body, his thumb taking over what his tongue has so skilfully conjured as he moves to kneel before you, the thick head of his hardness intruding, parting your quivering walls as you come undone, shaking, your body twitching violently, Ubbe grinning at your reaction. Your loss of control is very much to his satisfaction.  

The heat of his cock radiates within you, his once bright eyes darkened with lust, pupils blown as he fixates upon you, watching your breasts heave and shake with the force he thrusts into you with, your molten core alight, the petals of your cunt opened like a flower around the thick intrusion of him.

He glides against your tender walls, pushing your thighs further apart as he lowers to kiss the column of your throat, your veins warmed by unrelenting, sharp waves of pleasure throbbing through you from your core.  

His hands wrap around you, pulling you up with him as he rests back on his heels, cock slipping just a little deeper within you, pleasure daggering you deep as you move in sync with each upward roll of his hips, a whine spilling from your lips, muted by his mouth upon yours once more as his hands flex at your shoulders, running in a sumptuous glide down your sweat beaded back.  

While the snow plummets outside, within your cabin the heat does nothing but ascend, Ubbe’s thighs tensing beneath you as he moves with more purpose, teeth at your lip, his groan an explosion of sound as the bonfire of lust burns unrelentingly through his loins. He is both heavy and sharp within you, cock nudging your depths and driving skitters through you, your spine alight with tingles.  

It crackles through you, pleasure seared as his hand reaches between your bodies, stretching to stroke his thumb over your clit, his other arm snaked up your back, hand grasping the hair at your nape to pull your head back, your throat exposes to the ravenous ravages of his mouth as he kisses and bites at you hungrily.  

“Cum hard for me, my beauty.” 

Your slick heat begins fluttering around him, both of you chasing your releases, the violent twitching of his cock beginning to spill deep within you as you cry out until you’re hoarse, clasping him to you, aware of nothing else but the blaze he evoked between your legs and the hard bulk of him, steadying in the blazing aftermath.  

From your spot, close to one of the great walls alongside with your mother, Judith, and your brother, Aethelred, you took it upon yourself to analyze all of them as you tried to calm down your heart, that was beating incredibly fast inside your chest. 

It had been like that ever since the moment Alfred had gone to your chambers, to tell you that he had made a decision regarding the Northmen and that he had a plan. He knew what to do. Although in fear, you trusted your brother. More than anything or anyone in the whole world. 

And also, your grandfather had prepared him to make tough decisions like that one. He had given Alfred his every ruling knowledge, the wisdom of a great King. If someone could ensure your family prevailed, that person was Alfred. 

"I am aware of who you are" Alfred's voice filled the great hall. On the throne, with Bishop Heahmund standing by his side he looked a lot like Ecbert, when he used to make announcements with Bishop Edmund's Christian council. "I'm not foolish enough to not recognize your potential for my kingdom" just like you, he ran his eyes through the four of the Northmen as he spoke. Not in threat, but respect. "If you were willing to fight with us against the armies of your countrymen"

After hearing your twin brother's words, the men who was closest to where you were standing, Ubbe, the son of Ragnar, smiled and looked at the ground with a silent laugh escaping his lips. That disturbed you, made you feel even more worried about what Alfred would try to do, what agreement he would propose to them. 

As if he had sensed your intense stare, the man, Ubbe, turned his head slightly and fixed his eyes right back at yours, in retribution for your own gaze. His eyes were blue. So deeply blue. 

"We may" Bjorn Ironside spoke for the first time at the other edge of the group and that broke the eye contact you and his brother were exchanging. You swallowed hard because of how nervous that look had made you feel. "On the condition, that you allow us to settle in the part of East Anglia King Ecbert gave to us" 

Aethelred huffed, and you wished to hit him for that, having a second reason to apologize for afterwards. Bjorn Ironside's tone was already threatening enough and worthy of caution. You all did not need him to think he was being disrespected. 

Luckily enough, the Northmen did not notice that. 

"I have every intention of honoring my grandfather's pledges" Alfred made that very clear to the blond man, clenching at the throne's arms like they were his support. You admired him. To have such coldness and calmness to deal with the same people who had killed thousands of Englishmen before, that was something worthy of admiration. "But first you must demonstrate your worth and your loyalty to our cause in battle" 

Exactly like Ubbe had done before, Bjorn Ironside laughed and looked down at his feet, licking his lips in something that came close to amusement. Again, it made you worried. More than you already were. If they did not accept the deal Alfred was offering, their fate would be prison or death. And even though the sons of Ragnar were at war, you doubted that absolutely no one would seek revenge for them. That was the way with them. 

"We have the legal right to that land" Bjorn raised his eyes again and they pierced Alfred like blades, such was the ferocity in them. 

You knew what your grandfather had done in the past to his people. How he had killed all the people in the settlement he had gave them to live in peace. How he betrayed Ragnar and Lagertha's, the older woman who now stood in that hall, trust. You knew that in the verge of his death, your grandfather was not proud of that decision. Perhaps he did not regret it, but he for sure resented it. So, as much as it cost you to admit, you understood Bjorn Ironside's clear doubt in your brother's words. 

"We accept your offer" Lagertha surprised everyone by saying it. 

Instantly all the eyes in the hall were on her. Bjorn Ironside and Ubbe turned their heads to her and Bjorn mostly, seemed angry by her jumping to decisions, especially one that seemed too reckless as to trust again, a King of Wessex. And although they clearly did not agree with her, both of the men did not argue and she did not pay them any attention. She made the decision and they accepted it. You could not help but admire her determination and influence over them. 

"I am glad" Alfred sighted, in relief. You knew very much your brother was not someone who supported violence or the wrongs of people in the past. Although he had been raised by your grandfather, he was not Ecbert. He would not make the same mistakes or break his promises. And although you did resent Ragnar's sons for your grandfather's death, you felt relief as well for that deal. They had wanted to avenge their father, that you could understand. But still, the pain of your loss made it difficult to acknowledge it out loud. "It was Bishop Heahmund who proposed this solution which seemed to me wise" 

Slowly and respectfully, Heahmund turned his head a bit and nodded in Lagertha's direction, a sign of respect and duty. She did the same to him. And even though their movements were stern and cold, you could swear you saw a spark in both of their eyes. Something hidden there, carefully. 

"So" Alfred regained his speech and that made you stop paying attention to the woman and the Bishop. "As long as we are allies and friends you are free to use the royal villa as you wish" at the back of the hall, you saw some of the Lords who were a part of the Witan, exchanging horrified looks. "My servants are also your servants. My kitchens and cellars are there for your use. I believe you have two young children with you" 

That, made you turn your head completely and focus on your twin. He had not told you about that. The thought of young children in the cells of the palace, cold and hungry, made your stomach twist and shame take the whole of your being. 

The other woman, the one who had not spoken at all since they had been brought before the King, nodded her head confirming his words. Instantly, for the look in her eyes, you knew she was the children's mother. 

"Let us have a care for them also" Alfred stated and the woman's face seemed to light up gratefully like she had just received the best news in the world. 

"Thank you, Lord King" she said with the utter most respect. 

Alfred turned his head to the corner of the room and with one of his hands, made a sign for one of the guards to step forward. "We have fought against you and now we shall fight together, with you" he said as the guard started to take out the Northmen's chains and release them. "I know my grandfather King Ecbert would approve for I know the love he bore King Ragnar" 

At your grandfather's mention, you could not help but feel a sharp emotion run through your whole being. Your eyes got blurry and a tear streamed down your face. Your mother looked at you discretely but did not say a word, just smiled tenderly. You looked down at your feet and cleaned the tear with your fingertips, taking a deep breath to regain your posture. When you looked up, you saw that Ubbe was looking at you again. He had clearly seen you crying and it angered you. 

You did not want to seem weak in front of them. 

Without any other words, the Northmen were dismissed and left the great hall. Alfred watched them leave, getting up from his throne and taking a few steps forward. All the eyes were on him. 

"Can I trust them?" Alfred asked as soon as the Northmen left the hall and the doors were closed behind them. 

"You can trust Lagertha" the Bishop answered almost instantly, because he knew the question had been made to him. 

Alfred nodded and started to walk away. Before he could though, Heahmund called for him to solve one more matter. As they discussed it, you felt your mind slip further away by every instant passed. 

"If you would excuse me, my King" you bowed to your brother and only after he nodded, giving you permission to leave, you turned away and did so. 

  ─━─━─「⊱✠⊰」─━━─━─━─「⊱✠⊰━─━─

You walked through the corridors of the palace, one long corridor after the other, looking for Alfred. You had just met his soon to be wife and she seemed to be a good person, so it gave you some joy. At your mother's request, you had the responsibility to take Alfred to meet her as soon as possible. 

You had already searched his chambers and others rooms, but did not have any luck. So, your feet got you to the corridor on the south side of the palace, which lead to a room you knew Alfred liked to be in sometimes. The view from the windows calmed him, he always said. 

"Brother, are you here?" you opened the doors and entered the room. As soon as you did so, you regretted it. Alfred was there, but not alone. Bjorn Ironside and Ubbe were with him and the tension in there was anything but calm. All their eyes fell upon you and you sighted for your own stupidity. You should have assumed he would be settling matters with them regarding the new alliance. "I am sorry to interrupt"

"(Y/N), what is it?" Alfred interrupted the matter to give you attention. To him, there was nothing more important than you. 

"The Lady is here" you said and he understood of whom you were talking about. Ubbe and Bjorn Ironside just stayed silent, both of them with their eyes still on you. You did not stare back to any of them. 

"If you just wait for a moment, sister, I will accompany you and go meet her" he suggested and pointed to an empty chair on the other side of the table, across from him. You nodded and just when you sat down at that chair, he looked at Ubbe. "Please, continue" 

It took a moment for the son of Ragnar to speak and risking a quick glance, you saw that he was looking at you. As soon as your eyes met his though, he averted his quickly like you were intimidating. That made you frown. 

"Now, you are the King" Ubbe slapped Alfred in the arm with a forced smile on his lips and walked towards a near smaller table, grabbed a writing quill and ink and placed it in front of Alfred, next to a document you assumed to be the one that 'proved' the Northmen's claim to East Anglia's lands. You knew that was a lie, also. Your grandfather had already given the crown to your father, Aethelwulf, when he signed the document and therefore, had no legal right to give them those lands. "So, you can sign it over to us and you can grant us those lands right now"

You noticed how Alfred sighted heavily. "In theory, yes, I could" 

"What does that mean?" Bjorn Ironside raised his hands in the air, exasperated. You had to admit that he scared you. A simple word said in a higher tone by him made your heart beat faster. 

Alfred placed one of his elbows on the table and leaned towards the blond. "There are important people here who do not want me to grant lands to those who in the past, have attacked and raided us"

"So why would we fight for you when everything you say is just a lie?" Ubbe placed his hands on the table between his brother and Alfred, the expression on his face made you wish to tell your brother to have caution. 

"I am not lying" Alfred turned to him with a expression as serious as the Northmen's. "I am being more honest with you than you have any right to expect!" he looked at Bjorn and then back at Ubbe. He seemed so strong, facing the older men as an equal in strength, that you felt a burst of proud run through you. "You have thrown yourself upon my mercy. So, do not presume anymore upon my charity" he got up from his chair and you instantly did the same. "When I can, I will grant you that land. In the meantime, I must go and meet my future wife" 

So together, you and Alfred left the room. The both of you could sense the Northmen's eyes burning holes in your backs. 

 ─━─━━─「⊱✠⊰」─━━─━─「⊱✠⊰」─━─━─

"I think what troubles Bjorn Ironside the most is that he lost the war against his younger brothers" with arms crossed over your chest and your back against the wall behind you, yours eyes were on the ground beneath your feet as you thought deeply about the last few days where everything had changed. 

"Yes, I can see that. But I suppose we cannot blame him for having suspicions about us. Our grandfather betrayed them in the past" Alfred had his eyes sat on the fireplace, thoughts lost in the flames. "I really wish this alliance to work, my dear sister" 

"Me too" you said but noticed that Alfred had fixed his eyes on your face and searched for something hidden in there. "What is it?" 

"I thought you would not want them here. Because of grandfather and what the sons of Ragnar did. Honestly, I wondered if you would support Aethelred if he suggested we should punish them" he admitted, and the supposition made you shrug. 

"I thought about it" the fire, crackling, was the second sound in the room behind your voice. You could feel the cold of stones in your back through the thin cloth of your dress. "But our grandfather was not perfect like I thought when we were just children. He made mistakes. He should not have handed Ragnar Lothbrok to King Aelle. He should not have killed those poeple in the settlement he promised to leave in peace. How can I blame Ragnar's sons for seeking revenge for such things?"

"I am glad you think so. I share your opinion on the matter and that is why I wanted you to be here, not mother or our brother" Alfred opened up a smile to you. 

His statement made you frown. "Why would you want me to be here?" 

"We are expecting a visitor right now. I sent one of my men to bring him here. You are very wise, my sister, so I will need to hear your advice on this as much as he wil" Alfred's eyes went back to the flames. 

"What visitor, Alfred?" 

Before he could answer, the doors of the room were opened and Ubbe walked in, seeming unsure if he should keep on walking or not. He looked around, saw no one but you and your brother and the confusion and uncertainty on his face seemed to grow by the instant. 

But he walked towards you both anyway, stood a few feet away as Alfred turned around and like you, placed your eyes on the Northmen. You found yourself struggling to look away from the son of Ragnar. Again. 

During the earlier feast, your eyes had met his many times, for no reason at all. When you would look, he would already be looking. When you were looking and he would notice, you turned away quickly to try to distract yourself. There was just something about him. He was not like Bjorn Ironside, with all his anger. Nor like Ivar, whom you had met when you were just a little girl. There was something different and intriguing about him. Captivating, even. Not that it did make you trust him, though. 

"You asked to see me" he frowned at Alfred, joining his hands in the front of his body casually. 

"Yes" Alfred quickly agreed. "Please, sit" he pulled the chair at the table a little back and motioned for Ubbe to sit. Still suspicious, the Northmen did not move, just sighted. Alfred accepted the defeat by clearing his throat. "Some wine?" he poured some into a cup and helding it in hand, turned back at Ubbe. You just stayed still and waited as you did not know what was happening. "I think your brother Bjorn has set his heart against me"

"He feels..." Ubbe started, thinking about it for a moment. Then shrugged. "betrayed" 

"I understand that. But what can I do? It was not of my doing" Alfred averted his eyes for a moment and sighted. "And for the time being it is not easy for me to grant you those lands. Many are against it"

"So what are we supposed to do?" Ubbe questioned, still not seeming to see the point of that private reunion of the three of you. 

"A consilium" you spoke, having finally understood where Alfred was going with that sudden meeting. It made sense. He knew that alone, against the two of you, Ubbe would more easily see reason. Ubbe's eyes were on you in that moment, and your arms fell to the sides of your body graciously as you walked closer to the both of them. "You could publicly renounce your pagan gods and be baptized as a christian" 

Ubbe seemed shocked, by the way his gaze kept holding yours until the point he averted his eyes and sighted. "I can't imagine Bjorn would ever agree to that" he turned away to leave, but Alfred stopped him. 

"I am not talking about Bjorn, but about you" Alfred's tone was stern enough to make Ubbe turn back around and stare at the both of you. Motioning for the wine, he came closer. Alfred poured a second and third cup. One he gave to Ubbe and the other, to you. "You do that for me, Ubbe, and a part of my burden is lifted. Ragnar talked to me and my sister when we were children. He talked about your people and my people sharing the land"

"And we think that of all of his sons, you are the closest to him" you said and you saw Ubbe swallow hard, as if the comparison made him proud about himself. 

Alfred nodded in agreement to your words. "He told our grandfather that he no longer believed in your gods"

The expression in Ubbe's face changed, and he raised his cup in the air and towards your brother's face. "That is not true" 

"Our grandfather told us everything" you spoke again, wanting to take that dangerous attention away from Alfred. "He wanted to prepare us, especially my brother, for times such as this" as the words left your mouth Ubbe put the cup down, and a calmer expression took a hold of his features. "He loved your father, we know that. Your father's death broke him" 

"Destroyed him" Alfred completed and in that moment as in many others, you two were working in perfect sinchrony. 

Ubbe took a deep breath and leaving his cup at the table, got up and came closer to Alfred and stared deep into his eyes. Afterwards, he did the same thing to you. Stepped so close you could almost feel his hot breath on your skin. But you did not look away or step back, no. You looked up to meet his eyes and held his gaze for as long as he wished to. 

"I will need time" he finally stepped back, and only then you allowed yourself to breathe again. Your heart was racing inside your chest like the most scared of horses. "to think about what you have told me"

"Of course. And (Y/N), please will you take Ubbe to the chambers the servants have prepared for him and his people?" Alfred suggested and it surprised both you and the son of Ragnar a lot. Your bother smiled reassuringly at you, he had indeed, told you earlier where he would place the small group of the Northmen. And then, he turned to Ubbe. "Your wife Torvi and the others will already be there, I also asked for some extra food to be delivered, for the children" 

"Thank you" Ubbe motioned his head towards Alfred to show his gratitude, then turned to you. "My Lady" it was the first time he spoke directly to you and the respectful tone of his voice, actually made you give him a little smile. 

"Please, follow me" you took the front and walked out of the room, Ubbe following you closely behind.

Once in the corridors, you two walked side by side in completele silence. Honestly, you did not know what you could say. You were certain Alfred had made you do this because he wanted you to see if Ubbe would probably accept the consilium, or if he would deny it. You had always been good in reading people. But still... how should you question such a man? 

"Can I trust Alfred's word?" Ubbe said, speaking so suddenly that you stopped walking in surprise. The torches lit the corridor just enough to cast shadows on his face and when he also stopped walking and turned to fix his gaze on you, you suddenly realized that you two were completely alone in there. Just you and him. 

"Yes, of course" you stated, surprised by the sudden question. You thought the way to his chambers was going to be totally made in silence. 

You motioned to start walking again, but he stepped in your way, keeping you from going. Before you could say anything, the Northman's hands were closed around your forearms. Your eyes widened, but you were so shocked that no words left your mouth. His grip was not tight or bruising. It was almost gentle, as his fingetips just laid in your dress, not clenched at it. 

Holding you, Ubbe got closer and closer until your chests were almost touching. He looked down at you, as you had to look up to meet his eyes. There was a real question in his expression, hesitation that he seemed to wish to let go. "King Ecbert said my father could trust him and he was lying. So I am asking you, my Lady, if I can trust Alfred. If I do this, become a Christian, will he grant me those lands and let my people live in peace?"

"My brother is not my grandfather" you said a few moments later, when you finally were able to regain your voice. His proximity gave you chills. You saw the doubt in his eyes. "I promise you, this settlement will not end as the other did"

He must have seen the honesty in your expression. The urgency in your voice. His hands slowly let go of your arms and for some reason you missed the warmth of his hands upon your dress.

You did not exchange more words, you just led the way to his chambers and wished him and his family a goodnight of sleep.

In your chambers, later, you felt extremely tired.

Before you fell asleep, the last thing you thought about were Ubbe's eyes. Intense blue eyes. So alive, so captivating.

UBBE RAGNARSON

25th of December (1) (2) (MILITARY AU):   😭

When Ubbe’s gone, the only thing you have left is hope. (ON GOING)

Dance Teacher (1):   💕

Ubbe’s Friday is not going as well as he would have liked it. Yet meeting his daughter’s dance teacher is going to change that. (ON GOING)

First time being a dad (MODERN AU)  🎈

Heartbeat AU (1) (2) :   💕 😭

Your heart doesn’t allow you to have a normal life, but it does beat faster when you meet your new doctor. (COMPLETE) 

Imagine 1

Imagine 2

Imagine 3

Imagine 4

⭐  I’m with you:  😭

 Ubbe wants to make peace with the Saxons. He doesn’t care what it takes, but when you decided to follow him in the middle of the night, he’s not so sure anymore. 

⭐ Lagertha’s Daughter (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) :   😭

Lagertha plans on attacking Kattegat, soon, and you, her daughter and Ubbe’s lover, just ask her to make you a promise (COMPLETE) 

My Viking Prince (1) (2) (3) :   💕  💋

You’re Alfred sister, princess Y/N. All your life, you have believed that love is all about pleasing your husband and making him happy or that’s what your mother told you. Now, prince Ubbe is making you see things differently. (COMPLETE)

Once upon a fairy tale: (Preface)

Ubbe Ragnarson knew three things: that he would inherit the throne when his father died, that he should get married soon to assure that throne, and that he hated Y/N Ealhmunding. And those three facts were related. Because your hand had been promised to him since you were young kids, and now it’s time to fulfill that promise.

As princess of king Ecbert Ealhmunding, you also knew three things: that the laws for a kingdom ruler weren’t fair, that your father had done everything he could for you and your future, and that you hated Ubbe Ragnarson. Not only you hated that they had decided your future without you, or that you were expected to leave every braincell behind once you married, but also that the same boy who you had hated since childhood would be your husband.

Every summer, Mercia and Wessex try to make you both fall in love. And they fail.

But this summer is different, because a series of tragic and unfortunate events brings you closer to Ubbe than ever.

You’re no longer mischievous kids pulling pranks on each other, but responsible adults looking for what’s best for your country. And trying to survive in the meantime.

Say that again:  

Ivar has never liked you, Ubbe Christian lover, and he makes that very clear.

⭐ The sweet baker and the bad biker (1) (2) (3) (4) (5): (vikings x SOA crossover)   😭

Ubbe, as the new president of SAMCRO, goes to the new bakery to see who is the owner and if he or she is a threat for Charming. He finds you, a sweet, cute and innocent girl who doesn’t hesitate to make him fall in love (COMPLETE)  

🥇  They learn about periods  🎈

Together:   😭

Sigurd’s death threaten to tear not only your world but your relationship apart. 

What you deserve (1):  😭

Ubbe knows that you’re pregnant with his son or daughter and that he needs to leave Kattegat if he wants to protect you. What he doesn’t know is if you’re going to make it. (ON GOING)

Winner’s prize :  💕 😭

Ubbe has put his life again at risk, but this time there are things in between that makes it different

Your daughter’s first boyfriend  🎈

HVITSERK RAGNARSON

⭐ Angst Alphabet (Tattoo Artist!Hvitserk) (1)  😭

- N for Nothing  😭

- O for Offended  😭

- P for Pressure  😭

- Q for Quake  😭

- R for Rob  😭

- S for Surgery  😭

- T for Time  😭

- X for Xx  😭

Crush AU (1) (2):  💕  💋

Shitty job, shitty life, too much stress. What’s better to solve those problems that your hot, handsome and funny roommate’s brother? (COMPLETE)

⭐  First time being a dad (MODERN AU)

  🎈

Him (MODERN AU):  😭

Hvitserk and you are seeing each other behind your boyfriend’s back, his half-brother Magnus. And leaving the latest isn’t easy.  

His lady:   😭

You’re his lady, he’s your prince. 

Home:   😭

What do you call home when you have lost everything? You come back to Kattegat to fight Ivar, but it’s hard to know that Hvitserk will be there too.  

Imagine 2

NSFW Alphabet  💋

Octopus:  💕

Hvitserk is sick and just wants cuddles. (can be read as the second part of him)  

Rewrite the stars (Song inspired)  💕

Soon to be husband:   😭

Hvitserk’s back from raiding only to find you promised to another man. It’s up to him do something or not about it. 

Taken :  😭

You are taken by the saxons, along with your soon to be husband, Hvitserk. And you do not hesitate in protecting him, not caring about the consequences 

🥇 ⭐  They learn about periods   🎈

They don’t know about us  💕

You know that Kattegat will never approve of your relationship with Hvitserk, not matter how hard you try. But you love him anyway.

⭐  Your daughter’s first boyfriend   🎈

IVAR RAGNARSON

Angst Alphabet  😭

Checkmate:  😭 💕

Ivar hasn’t always been the murderous king we know. There was a spark initiating the fire.   

First time being a dad (MODERN AU)   🎈

Quiet days:  💕 💋

Ivar is in a bad mood and it seems like only you can fix that  

🥇  They learn about periods   🎈

Your daughter’s first boyfriend   🎈

BJORN RAGNARSON

Angst Alphabet  😭

First time being a dad (MODERN AU)

  🎈

Imagine 1

🥇  They learn about periods   🎈

Your daughter’s first boyfriend   🎈

ALFRED

You buried the truth along with the envy of his wife deep down in the darkest hollow of your thoughts to ensure the words would never slip out from your mouth and into the revealing daylight. It weighed heavily in your heart, like an iron anchor docking a ship near the shores of the most beautiful and fruitful island. You’d rather let that ship sink to the depths of that island than depart from it out of fear of never seeing the divine land again.

It was that very loyalty that led you to join the great army. You would be damned if you’d let Ubbe face a battle without you beside him. Ubbe was a strong young man now; he didn’t really need anyone to fight his battles for him. That never stopped you from keeping an eye on him on the battlefield, making sure he was safe and sometimes saving his life.  

Even before the city of York had been successfully seized and occupied by the Viking army, no one could deny the tension that had been growing between the brothers since the forming of the great army. Sigurd’s death at the hands of the youngest brother was only a bucket of oil tossed over a flame. Ivar still felt the urge to quench his bloodthirst; Ubbe, on the other hand, felt as if he had had his fill. The fact that he wanted to make peace wasn’t strange to you. Not only was it part of his mediating nature, but he already confessed to you after the execution of his father’s murderers. He believed the debt had been paid in blood yet not sufficiently in land, so when Ivar suggested they continue and extend the battle to York, he followed reluctantly with the thought of peace and Sigurd’s death haunting his mind constantly.  

Within moments into the celebratory feast, your eyes scanned subtly over the crowd in search of his familiar blue eyes. If he wasn’t drinking or celebrating, you knew better than anyone something was weighing on his mind.  

Instinctively, you sought him out in his quarters as you’d usually done when you felt something was off. The genuine intention was to make sure he was alright, but it usually ended up in a long heart-to-heart conversation. Things he needed to speak aloud to someone he trusted to never repeat them with harmful intent.

“I knew you would come looking for me.”

“It’s not like you make much of an effort to hide.” You chuckled. Of course, he’d be in his room. Usually, he would go for a walk in the woods of Kattegat but it was far from his reach now.

“I’m fine.”

“I didn’t say you weren’t, but I know too well to know your thoughts are far.”

“I can’t let you carry my burdens all the time, y/n.”

“You say that as if you force them on me. I choose to carry them freely. That’s what friends are for, after all.”

He chuckled in agreement, sat in a fur-covered chair by the fireplace; its’ heat and glow radiating the room in warm dark shadows. Ubbe’s eyes moved to fix on you for a moment, hoping he could find it in himself to lie to you. He couldn’t, not to you. The mental debate in his head settled as his gaze dropped to the wooden floorboards on the room, defeated and vulnerable. You moved step by step as the hearth invited you closer until your shoulder found a place to lean against the mantle.

“Tell me what is it the matter with you, Ubbe. I won’t force it out of you, but we have always been honest to each other.”  

He knew you were right. There was never a way to hide from you. He also knew you would be too happy with the truth.

“Hvitserk and I are riding out tomorrow night to meet secretly with the Saxons and negotiate.”

You sighed and closed your eyes as your head tilted back. No, this didn’t please you in the slightest as expected. You were smart enough to know how this would end.  

“I know what you are thinking, but those lands are rightfully ours. They were promised to my father, stolen and slathered with the blood of our people.”

You watched him speak with passion in his hushed tone, like someone could’ve been listening on the other side of the door. Silently falling into thought with every possible outcome flashing through your mind, you knew which was probable to take life and you dreaded just thinking about it.  

“Ubbe, I understand and I agree with you. But I’m afraid I have to disagree with your method.”

“My method?” He asked almost insulted.

“Do you really expect to just walk into the Saxon camp after slaughtering almost their entire army and ask for peace? Entirely rely on their mercy?”

“Trust has to go both ways, doesn’t it?”

“You’re a smart man. You know that would be stupid, Ubbe. What makes you think they will even want to negotiate with us?”

“If they don’t, we continue attacking them until they agree. Their army has already been defeated; they know our forces are much stronger than theirs.”

“We may have won battles, yes. But they weren’t the only one who lost soldiers. We are in their territory; their numbers can be easily replenished. Ours would take much longer to be rebuilt for war since they would travel by sea.”

“Which is why I strongly believe it would be wiser to make an agreement now instead of causing more unnecessary bloodshed. My father has already been avenged. Now we can fulfill his dream, his original dream. A safe, peaceful life for our people on soil healthy enough to farm so we don’t have to do this anymore.”

“I respect that and I agree. We cannot fight forever. But you know just as well asI if any Viking sets foot on their camp, they will cut their head off and send it back as a message.”

“But I am not just any Viking. I am a son of Ragnar.”

“Then they won’t send your head back. They’ll sew to a dead wolf or mount it on a spike.”

“I’m not asking you to come with me, y/n. You don’t have to worry about your life.” 

“It’s not my life I’m concerned about.”  

A silence fell between you as his gaze met yours. He knew he didn’t have to ask you to do anything for him; you’d do it willingly and proudly in his honor. Your extreme loyalty to him had never gone unnoticed.Not by him and certainly not by his new wife either. He was never blind to the truth or how you felt about him, but forcing an unwilling confession out of you was far worse in his eyes. He would never put you in that position.  

“Y/n, you don’t have to worry about me.”

“Saying that won’t make me stop... What if you don’t come back alive?”

“Then at least I can tell my father in Valhalla that I tried.” You sighed at his stubbornness.  

“This does not sound like a good idea. In fact, it sounds like a stupid idea. A very stupid idea.”

“Maybe it is,” he chuckled “but I have to try.”

“There is really nothing I can say to convince you otherwise, is there?”  

He just smirked and shook his head.

“What time do we leave?”

“We? We are not going. Hvitserk and I are.”

“Now you’re telling jokes too? I’m going with you whether you like it or not. You won’t leave me behind.”

“Never, y/n. You know you mean far too much to me.” A mixture anguish and pride filled your chest. Happy to know Ubbe valued your friendship just as much as you did, but that was all you could be for him right now. Just a friend.  

“Tomorrow night then.” You nodded stubbornly before making your way out of his room.  

Little did you know that he had felt the same concoction of emotion in his chest. He wished he could’ve had the courage to express how he truly felt over all those years; that he cared for you more than a friend should; that jealously haunted his mind just as much as it taunted yours. He wished he could tell you that his marriage was a way to encourage himself to move on and forget about the love he believed he would do anything to protect. That included lying to you about the fact that he and Hvitserk had plans to leave on that very night and not the night after as he had told you. He needed you to believe his lie and you fell right into his trap.

If it hadn’t been for the injuries already inflicted by the Saxons, you would’ve punched him yourself for lying to you after you awoke to learn Ubbe and his younger brother left without you not too long after your talk. The consequences of his failed attempt to negotiate were already in action. The brothers were officially divided; Hvitserk abandoned Ubbe to stay and raid with Ivar and his followers. You could see Ubbe’s heart shatter in his eyes as you sat with the wooden oar heavy in your hands. Your heart would break for him; share his pain though Hvitserk was not your brother. You hung your head low, filled with grief. However, there was no doubt or regret in your heart even after the ship took sail to return to Kattegat. But he lied to you. He never lied to you before. You avoided Ubbe and ignored his few attempts to talk to you. It was obvious to him that you were hurt, but the fact that you were still on his side reassured him of your never-ending loyalty. Something that would never go unnoticed. The guilt, on the other hand, had been swelling in the form of a heavy lump in his throat. A stone he couldn’t swallow until he apologized or at least got some reaction from you. The silent treatment was always the worst form of punishment.

He sat in silence for most of the time, glaring back towards the shrinking land until it disappeared from view. Biting your tongue, you focused on rowing in sync with the fellow Vikings; forcing yourself to ignore the soreness amplifying with every rotation of your arms. Usually sitting in the front row never bothered you until you suddenly felt his eyes on you.  

“Don’t look at him. Just keep rowing,” you thought to yourself. The leather of your protective gloves squeaked against the wood as your grip tightened. “Just ignore that lying bastard. He got what he deserved for lying like t- No. Don’t come over here! Please don’t si- Fuck. He sat down.”

Plotting himself in front of you, he sat silent hoping you’d at least acknowledge his presence. But you wouldn’t dare give him that slight satisfaction. Just because you’d chosen to go home did not mean you would forgive him. It wasn’t like he lied to one of his men. He lied to you, the closest friend either of you ever had. At this point, lack of honesty was a lack of respect towards all the years, the time, the work, the thought and care invested into your friendship. You simply expected the same honesty you had always given him. Well... Almost always, at least.  

“You’ll have to talk to me eventually. Can’t ignore me forever.”

His first attempt to seek out a reply from you failed. You clenched your jaw, locking your watchful gaze on your oar.  

“Y/n, I had no choice but to lie to you. I was only trying to keep you safe.”

“I don’t need anyone to keep me safe.”  

Your tone was sharp and cold as a blade. Partially because of the situation; partially because he got what he was trying to provoke you for. A reaction, a word, a look of any kind. Just something to finally break the silence.

“No, you don’t. You never did, y/n, and I’ve always admired that about you.”  

“Not enough to tell me the truth. We were supposed to go together. I could’ve helped you.”

“There was nothing you could do that wouldn’t lead to your death.”

“So? I faced that same risk for you before. Wouldn’t have been the first.”

“No, but it could’ve been the last.”

“Then I would’ve joined our fathers in Valhalla.”

“I can live with blood on my hands, y/n. But not yours.”

You sighed as your arms lowered, resting the oar back on your lap. Would you have lied to him if you knew it would protect him? Yes. There was nothing you would’ve done differently. Realizing that was beginning to hurt more the previous cause for hurt. He had suffered enough already. With his eye swollen shut, his face half bruised and beat, all the physical pain could never have matched the pain of Hvitserk leaving him. That knive certainly cut the deepest without even touching his flesh. It cut far deeper that that. It cut into his very soul, rendering a wound that wound not even time would heal.

He paid a heavy price for betraying Ivar and the consequences were merciless on him. The least you could do now is ease them a bit with your forgiveness. 

“I did warn you it was a stupid idea. Hopefully, once your eye heals, you’ll be able to see I’m right more often.”

He chuckled and nodded.