Northumbria ✓

24

Gorm

He had a hunch why the messenger arrived that he had to return urgently. His Queen Irvina needed him. He knew that the anniversary of her mother's death was coming up. He hoped that the urgent matter had nothing to do with Halfdan. He did not want to neuter that man. Gorm also knew that Gunnar returned before that so he could restock. Irvina sending that messenger was a plea for help, which meant that her brother didn't show up. Her brother did that sometimes, and it pissed him off. When Irvina's mother died, which was years back, maybe nine or ten years ago now, the family fell apart.

And for Gunnar, not only his mother died but also his wife. He and Frod drank their brains away for two years. Gorm remembered how pity swallowed him, but also anger. His Queen had to pick herself up and stand against Jarls that did not want her on a seat that all of them wanted. He had to be her sword, and he still knew how hard it was for Irvina to deliver a sentence.

Then Gunnar seemed to move from drinking to bringing women into his bed. He wasn't sure what was worse. And by Irvina's disgusted face whenever she heard those noises from his room, she wasn't either. It always made Gorm swallow his words back. He wanted to call out the eldest brother for fucking up Irvina's life. But his point of view remained clouded. He knew that. He always thought of Irvina as a little sister. Now, these men of her family who were supposed to protect her bailed on her.

Gorm stared at the sea with a frown. The waves were reckless, and the ship was snaking through them with force.

Sometimes when Gunnar did not come, Gorm felt like he was doing it to punish Irvina. But he did not stay on those thoughts for long. He knew Gunnar did it because of him. The two last years Gunnar spent at Trondheim, Gorm seduced him quite smoothly and took his rage out on him, while the man was bent over. Gunnar avoided him after that, the man couldn't look at him without blushing, and then he left. A small part of Gorm still felt like it was his fault, even four years later.

When Gunnar didn't come to Trondheim, Irvina sent him. He always felt like going to deal with a bratty child. Whenever he arrived at the cabin the man was hiding at, he threw a tantrum. Then he practically begged Gorm to own his ass. Gorm scoffed, the little bratty male probably did it because he knew Gorm would come. And Gorm himself knew that he couldn't resist those green eyes that always stared at him with desire.

*

Aethelthryth watched the two boats sway away from her. Ivar and Ronja with their baby were in one of them, sailing from this Island to rest at Kattegat. She felt Ubbe's hands slide over her stomach, but she couldn't pull away from her thoughts. Gorm was with them, and she still did not understand why would Queen Irvina want him to return so swiftly. On the very same boat with Gorm was Hvitserk. He surprised his brothers when he told them he would be heading to Trondheim instead of Kattegat. But Aethelthryth guessed that he would rather swim than be in the same boat as Ivar.

A hand slid comfortingly over her stomach, and she grinned. Now all they had to do was wait for the men Bjorn sent. Aethelthryth learned later on from Ubbe that Bjorn was staying in Kattegat. Gunnhild was pregnant, and from what Ubbe said, they wanted to make sure this one was born. Whatever that meant. She could already picture Ivar and Bjorn at each other's throats because of the shared leadership. Lips pecked her chin, and she smiled.

Everything she and Ubbe did in the last week was all about relaxing. They cuddled, talked about Norway and Kattegat, where they would be traveling to, and kissed. They explored each other but did not go further. Ubbe was very much a gentleman, not that it surprised her.

She learned that Ubbe was even a bigger gentleman than she thought in the beginning. He always surprised her with breakfast. Her eyes focused on the couple by the archery field. Arne was teaching Elfreda how to shoot. By the week, she could see the two steadily growing closer, while the guard taught her how to fight. When she asked Elfreda where she wanted to go, her loyal friend cried. The small woman that used to be so fearful was going to be staying in England. Too far away for Aethelthryth's liking, but she did not try to convince her otherwise. She knew that one of the reasons was Arne, who was staying in Ubbe's stead. Aethelthryth did not want to know what relationship the two had.

She turned in Ubbe's arms, her hands going around his neck. She sent a small smile his way and could see his eyes brighten. Ubbe's lips landed on hers, and she gladly opened her mouth. His fingers slid over her waist, tickling her and making her swat him away. She glared mockingly. A small smirk pulled at his lips as he moved towards her. He always had this predator glint when she tried to run away from him. And then she felt his arms enclosing her, and soon she fell onto the bed. A bed they shared for the whole week. Something that still felt very much surreal for her.

He climbed over her, his arms supporting himself above her, "I adore you." They opted to say I adore you, or cherish you rather than I love you.

The word love could wait even though she already felt as if she would do anything for him, "I treasure you!" He grinned at her before his lips descended onto hers again. And Ubbe once again gave her many other reasons why to travel with him.