Northumbria ✓

14

The quiet that surrounded them was peaceful, and it calmed his racing mind. As she always seemed to do. They laid next to each other, not touching. Just their breath mangling together above them brought him peace. Aethelthryth didn't have to say anything as reassurance. All she had to do was lay next to him. She sat up, bringing her knees to her chest but adjusting her skirt to make sure her feet didn't dirty them.

"Do you ever think that your Gods are wrong?" His brows furrowed at her words. Did he? He pushed his hand under his head, "Maybe, my father believed he could make his own Fate, but Irvina believes that everything is in the hands of Gods. Do you believe your God is wrong?" She gave him a sideways glance as if telling him that doesn't answer her question. All he did was grin, and she turned away.

She exhaled through her nose at the troubling question, "Sometimes. I mean God says to love all, yet the men that preach his word and are closest to him lie." She shook her head and looked at the beaming cross laying on her chest. "But then sometimes when I close my eyes and pray, I feel as if His love is there and he gives me strength." She just shook her head as if her thoughts were absurd. Then she shrugged her shoulders and turned to look at him.

"What will you do now?" He raised a brow at her fast change of subject. He huffed before also sitting up and leaning onto his knees, "We will concur Newcastle to get access to the river, and then we'll host your Lords."

"Still no word from Aethelred? Or Alfred?" Alfred was a year older than her, and she still hoped the marriage proposal was on the table. Ubbe shook his head, and a disappointed sigh left her. So the marriage to the younger brother of the King was off the table. She frowned once more. Should she tell him about the Lords?

"I guess all about that marriage is annulled, yes." She laughed at Ubbe's happy tone. Aethelthryth turned towards him, "It is not that I wanted to marry, but then at least somebody would care if I die." Ubbe shook his head.

He turned his body to face her and spoke with urgency, "Your friends would." She shook her head with a scoff, "They would care because they would die too." His hand laid softly on her neck, finger sliding over her jaw. He forced her head to turn. "I would care." Her eyes, like the nuts, held his. Her expression stayed solemn, so he kept any indication of nervousness from his face. The silence around them became almost defeating, and then her lips were on his.

As fast as those soft lips met his, they were gone. It was only a small peck that would haunt him in his dreams. His head followed after her lips, searching hers. He watched as she leaned as far away from him as she could. Ubbe almost expected her to fall on her back. Her eyes were wide and frightened. He reached for her with his hand, but she was shooting to her feet.

She opened her mouth as if ready to say something but then shook her head. Why was she so worked up over a simple peck was beyond him. Ubbe, on the other hand, wanted more. He never expected to see a woman in that dress to run, but she did. Ubbe watched with fascination as she picked up her skirt, bunching it in her arms like a child before taking off. She looked like prey running from a predator.

Ubbe sighed before standing up and packing their things. She didn't have many places to go to, so he knew the hunt would be easy. He returned the things he burrowed in the kitchen before making his way to her room. His thoughts occupied with the peck. He wanted to kiss much longer than that. And as that thought crossed his mind, a much needier part of him thought of his brother's words. Their women didn't sleep with men until marriage. But her friends that other brunette, Cyneburga, didn't follow that rule. So he could only hope it was about virtues, or maybe motivation, he thought with a smirk.

"Is Aethelthryth here?" He asked the blonde girl that opened the door. Elfreda gave him an unsure look. Ubbe smiled, she was hiding from him. She shook her head, "No," she straightened even more if that was even possible. He raised a brow at her, "Are you sure?"

She nodded before lowering her voice, "She was confused when she left. She said something about apologizing." He frowned at her words. Was she trying to find him as he, her? He thanked her, his forehead still wrinkled with confusion as he left. He walked to his room, head bent down. His thoughts still focused on her soft lips. He didn't even get to properly taste them. He passed Arne, the man assigned to protect Aethelthryth.

"Where did she go?" Arne only ever stayed a few feet away from her. After all, that was what he was commanded to do. He pointed to the two doors from Aethelthryth's door. His room. A room that he invaded after finding where her room was. He exhaled in relief. Ubbe nodded, dismissing him before opening his door. The woman of his desires was sitting on his bed. Her back was straight, and her hands intertwined in her lap. She was perfection on an unkempt bed. His bed had thrown furs, what he opted from his people, and pillows not in their designed place.

Her eyes snapped to him when he entered, startled. "Are you going to run again?" She shook her head, fidgeting.

Then she took the courage and held his eyes, "I Uhm... came to apologize. It was very uncalled of me to do that." He scowled before advancing.