when Halfdan the Black finds love in an unexpected being, and when he goes against the odds of all his people. the gods are with him, just as they are with his brother, and with the power they give him- he won't let his life, or his love, go to wast...
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After leaving the Great Hall, Halfdan let A'Tanasey lead him off through the city, weaving between houses and closed market stands as her soft laughs echoed through the cold night's air. He tightened his grip around her hand as the group trailed further away from the now roaring feast, only slowing down when he heard Harald yelling behind him.
He wasn't quick to stop his sprint with A'Tanasey and her family, but he eventually did when he saw Harald come into sight. He knew that she had stopped with him, but he also knew that she had to have been hungry.
"Go, elskan mín," he rasped, flicking his eyes up towards her waiting family by the edge of the wood. "I will find you." He softly kissed her forehead as he slowly released her from his grasp but when he was about to let go, he felt her hold tighten on him.
"I can wait, b'iyo," he heard her speak, seeing her signal to the others to go on without them. It made him smile, soft and relaxed as he leaned down to press his lips to hers. He slowly pulled away when his keen ears heard Harald approaching, his cold blue eyes snapping up to stop Harald in his tracks.
"Brother," the older greeted, reaching out to take hold of Halfdan's shoulder, his gaze flicking down to meet that of A'Tanasey. "My Lady," he bowed his head. Now Halfdan knew of her tradition, her people's' tradition, but the two of them also knew that Harald did not know. So Halfdan let it slide and watched quietly as she tilted and bowed her head, tightening his arm around her waist.
"Brother," Halfdan answered, doing the same. "What seems to be the matter that caused you to run after me and my love," he questioned, feeling her long arms slip around his torso. "Can it wait until after she has eaten?"
Halfdan could see the thoughts racing through Harald's mind through the unguarded look in his eyes, and he could faintly hear the rapid beating of his brother's heart. The younger would normally grow protective over him, but now it was different, now he had A'Tanasey to protect.
When Harald looked down, Halfdan stepped forward and trailed his hand up to hold the back of his head, the brothers locking eyes completely as he still kept his hand wrapped around hers. After glancing back to his mate, he looked back to Harald and softly smiled, bumping his forehead against the older's before letting go and turning away.
"I will be back, brother," Halfdan called, walking to the treeline before slightly turning to look back to Harald. "I do not know when, but I will be back." Halfdan let a gentle smile take over his lips as he stared at his brother, and when he saw the slightest appear on Harald's, he turned around knowing he had the older's trust.
When they made their way through the dense forest of tall trees and thick grass and bushes, Halfdan quietly burrowed himself beneath a thicket, softly kissing A'Tanasey's neck before he let go of her. "I'll be here, elskan mín," he whispered, reluctantly dropping her hand.
