The Saxon princess Vanya is forced by her family to marry Ivar as a peace offering. She slowly turns from a meek girl to a confident woman and falls for him.
Ever since the sacrifice to Freyja, Vanya had no dreams of Silas or the stranger. If it was thanks to the goddess or her newfound courage, Vanya had no clue. But she didn't care either way. She was no eight months pregnant and more pressing matter to worry about then why she is finally getting sleep.
A fisherman spotted ships on the horizon bearing the red sun of Slegia. Which meant Silas is nearly here, so she must be ready. Brynja and Margrethe helped Vanya dress and did her hair to greet her brother at the shore. "The pink one or the red one?"
"Pink." Margrethe nodded at the order and laid the dress out on Ivar's and Vanya's bed as Brynja helped her out of her sleeping gown. Ivar was already in the Great Hall talking to his brothers and mother about the precautions against Silas.
Vanya stared out of the window of their chambers to watch people pass by in a hurry. She exhaled loudly and stood up from the chair with great difficulty. Nowadays, the ginger needed help getting up and rested her legs a lot. Sigurd joked to her that she is now equal to Ivar, the heavily pregnant one and the cripple. What a pair they are.
"Are you sure? You could stay in bed and rest; we could tell him you are ill." Brynja asked, worried, seeing the pale complexion her princess spotted. But the said girl only shook her head and pushed her shoulders back with her head held high.
"It is alright. I just have to do what Sigurd told me. Walk proudly with death in my eyes." Brynja and Margrethe raised both an eyebrow at the tidbit of information, thinking of Ivar and his angry expression all the time.
Brynja chuckled at the fierce look in Vanya's eyes. "You have been practicing, Vanya. You already look terrifying for someone with a heart as big as yours."
Vanya beamed at the compliment, turning from a scary Viking Princess into a ray of sunshine. The two girls laughed at the sudden change and led Vanya to the Great Hall to join the others. Together Aslaug, Vanya, and the Ragnarssons arrived at the shore where Silas would reach within an hour.
"It will all be alright, Lillemor (Little mother). And before you know it, he will return to his kingdom, and you will forget all about him." Hvitserk whispered into her ear, making Vanya smile in thanks. They agreed not to kill Silas and endure his presence till he left. As long as Silas behaved, he wouldn't be beheaded or harmed.
The ships drew nearer with the help of the good wind, Vanya thought about her monster of a brother. "You are a waste of space! Unthankful, filthy, and stupid. Aren't you?" "You will do as I say. Or I will let the heathen army have their way with you in the middle of the streets." "The cattle in the barn has more intelligence than you. Maybe I should let you live with them to learn a thing or two." "I should have smothered you in your crib like I wanted to!" He was cruel and cared about nobody but himself and the throne.
By the time Vanya snapped out of her thoughts, the ships were docked, and Silas looked at them with a smirk on his face. The King got off the boat, flanked with his knights.
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