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Alfild didn't want to watch the brothers leave. In recent months, she'd grown rather close to the pair. But she also didn't want to be absent when they left.
With full armour and a shaky breath, she made her way towards the boats. Already people were gathering, and she noticed Ivar sat upon the shore watching and taunting. She didn't step closer.
Even so, she seemed to catch Hvitserk's eye and soon he was bounding over. Ubbe waited at the boat, a small smile as he nodded towards the girl. She smiled back.
"Hvitserk." She pulled him into a tight hug, lifting her head up onto his shoulder so that her feet barely touched the ground. He hugged back, arms tight around her waist as though he didn't wish to let go. Slowly she pulled back, stray tears welling in her eyes that she forced back as best she could. "Is this what you want?" She asked gently. "Do you want to leave?"
For a moment the boy looked shocked. He looked slowly back to his older brother, who gave him a firm nod from the distance. Though Ubbe couldn't hear the two, he saw the look on his brother's face and decided to try and reassure him. But then Hvitserk's gaze moved over to Ivar. He looked back at the girl, snapping his eyes from his two brothers. "I don't know." Was all he said.
She smiled sympathetically, reaching her hand out to his. "I hope you make the right choice, and that the gods protect you." Slowly she looked to the ground. "In selfish honesty, I will tell you that I don't want you to go."
"Me and Ubbe?" He asked.
"Both." She nodded, eyes shifting back to him. "But especially you."
In the time they had spent together, Alfild felt she'd found something far more valuable than love in Hvitserk. He didn't make butterflies rise into her chest, she didn't watch him with awe struck eyes, he didn't make her feel things that she'd never felt before. She wasn't in love. No, that was far too common a feeling. Instead, she felt as though he was the only one in the world that she could trust implicitly. And, though he didn't make her world turn upside down, he offered her something worth just as much to her. He was the closest thing she had to family.
"Did Ivar tell you to try and get me to stay?" He asked.
She shook her head slowly, "I do no one else's bidding, and neither should you. Our lives are our own, Hvitserk. So live it!"
He nodded, and they embraced eachother once more before he ran back towards the boat. By now, not only was Ubbe waiting as Ivar mercilessly taunted, but those ocean eyes firmly glared at his other brother and Alfild.
Time seemed to slow down as Alfild watched the scene play out. It felt selfish, but she prayed this was all some sort of joke. She wished for neither brother to leave, as she cared for them both. And yet, that option was nowhere in sight. Just as all hope seemed lost, Hvitserk turned to look between Alfild and Ivar. Ubbe seemed to quickly gather what was happening, but there was nothing he could do. All he could do was watch as his closest friend and brother abandoned him.
A well of guilt swelled in Alfild's chest as she listened the cruelty spewing out of Ivar as his elder brother left. She wished she could see him, tell him that it wasn't true. But it was too late. Ubbe was gone.
Sorry for the confusion in the last chapter. I hadn't realized that I'd made it seem like they were married. Just to clarify, Alfild and Ivar are not married because they've just admitted their feelings for one another. Don't worry, there's still time for their relationship to progress but it's quite a slow burn.
P.s have y'all watched the season 6 trailer? BRUH I'M HYPED. IT LOOKS SO GOOD!!
