Always Be By My Side - Sequel to Always Return to Me (The Last Kingdom Fan Fic)

Chapter 32

Nadia

I welcomed the chill morning air I normally grumbled about. I closed my eyes, allowing my sense to take in the smells of bread baking, and the noise of Ragnar's household guard stirring beyond the great wooden doors of the hall. Home.

I cautiously stepped out into the frigid morning, pulling my cloak tighter around my shoulders. Rorik bowed his head at me as I approached the sparring ring. "Morning lady."

"Rorik," I nodded back. "Have you seen Ragnar?" My question was soon answered as a body flew into the ropes. I looked to the man's opponent and found a shirtless Ragnar grinning. "Don't take it easy on me," he laughed, motioning for the poor recovering soul to come at him again. "Ah," I chuckled, sharing a look with Rorik.

Ragnar's opponent took one more kick to the gut and breathed heavily that he yielded. "No more challengers?" Ragnar happily shouted to the ring of men. He took a large gulp of what I hoped was water, and not ale, before lowering his arms.  I saw behind him what I assumed were his already defeated opponents, pressing cloths to minor cuts.

"You all like to fight for silver. I'll raise it to 10 pieces of silver if you can beat me," Ragnar tried one more time.

"Prepare to lose 10 pieces of silver then," I smiled wickedly, handing a grinning Rorik my cloak.

Ragnar spun around briefly confused. He smiled, matching mine. "Ah Lady Ragnarson," he bowed mockingly. I rolled my eyes at him. "You are sure?" He asked, eyeing my non-sparing attire.

"Afraid of a woman in a skirt lord?" I shot back, earning some laughs. 

Ragnar raised his brow at me and shrugged. "As you wish."

"First to yield?" I asked. He nodded, studying my face, searching for a hint of whatever it was I was up to.

We took our ready stances, my skirts a potential hindrance, but I did not care. If I was to truly be ready for anything, I needed to practice in all forms of dress. Ragnar, acting too big for his breeches, lowered his defensive stance and opened his arms wide, inviting an attack. I knew my husband well enough to know he was trying to taunt me into action. I surprised him by imitating his movement. The crowd jeered and cheered. I noticed that Rorik had started a betting pool. "Get on with it!" Someone shouted. On cue, Ragnar moved in. I ducked his swing and landed a blow in his gut as I danced around him. It was a light blow, and he quickly recovered, smiling at me. "Cheap shot." 

"Lazy punch," I grinned, keeping my feet moving. Ragnar went on the offensive and threw blow after blow at my head and body. I managed to parry most of them, favoring the protection of my head. I felt a few blows hit my sides and winced, as he continued to maneuver around me. He was panting heavily, while aside from my sore arms, I was barely drawing breath. The next hook he aimed at my head I caught with both arms, shoving myself close into him. I wrapped his arm with my left, as my right elbow went into his face. As I was aiming my knee up into his gut, I felt my skirts catch on his foot. I growled in agitation as his free arm wrapped up my own and I soon found myself in a shoulder lock, my back pressed against his chest. He grinned at me. "Do you yield?"

I breathed out heavily before stamping down on his foot with mine. I heard him inhale sharply, and threw my head back into his chin. His grip loosened and I broke free, narrowly missing tripping on my skirts. Ragnar grinned at me as he spat out blood. "Do you yield?" I asked him.

"Never," he lunged taking us to the ground. I did not miss him protecting the back of my head with his hand, rolling us slightly as we thumped down on our sides hard. The crowd cheered and I could hear more bets being taken. Ragnar was quick to maneuver himself on top of me, but I met his momentum by locking his arm between my legs and turning over, pinning him. I could hear a muffled shout from somewhere in my skirts.