"By touch, by smell. I would know him blind. I would know him in death."

chapter VII, act II ✧ 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏𝒆

⓲

Nero woke up rather early. A small whine left her lips as she realized she would have to leave the comfortable bed.

Her eyes soon adjusted to the light that shone through the door and she grinned, looking down at the arms that were wrapped around her stomach. She cuddled in further into the touch. Her hips 'accidentally' rubbing against his own.

The boy huffed. One of his arms leaving her so he could rub his eyes. She shifted, turning to look at him, Odin, how could one look so dangerously handsome so early?

His disheveled hair and dark eyes made heat pool in between her legs. He was truly, the most beautiful being she had ever laid eyes on, "Wife."

Hearing him call her that woke something in the girl as wild as an untamed beast.

She pushed him onto his back and crawled on top of him, each of her legs on the sides of his. Amusement clear on his face as he noticed her change in demeanor, she bent down to grab his bottom lip in between hers, her hips rolling down on his as she did.

He responded to her kiss fervently but his happiness was short-lived. She trailed kisses over the soft fabric of his shirt, she had guessed the boy had taken off his armor at some point in the night. Her small kisses suddenly stopped, reaching his v-line, he almost whimpered at the loss of contact.

She looked up at him, fondling with the hem of his pants and he nodded.

The wolf's smile widened, her canines showing on the edges of her lips and he licked his own lips at the sight, she unceremoniously pulled down his bottoms and quickly brought his sex into the warmth of her mouth. Her hands playing along with her tongue.

Ivar growled, not expecting that from the girl, the woman. His hands enlaced themselves on her hair, pushing her down on his privates, she gagged but didn't stop, Hel-bent on bringing as much pleasure as she could to her husband.

She looked up at him and he knew he had never seen her eyes so dark, so brown. He had decided at that moment that brown was his favorite color. Her eyes gleamed with playful malice, and a small moan left his lips, she would never forget that sound, she hummed in approval of his sounds, sending vibrations over him.

Ivar threw his head back on the pillow, his grip on her hair tightening as, with expertise, she allowed him to ride out his end. Pulling away from his sex, she smiled, wiping her lips with the back of her hand before crawling back onto the bed and cuddling away from him.

Her mind barely processed her movements. Ivar was breathing in and out with extreme struggle, a smug smile on his face as he had proven Margarethe wrong. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to bask in the pleasure only she could promote to him.

He sighed in happiness and pulled up his pants before cuddling with her, bringing her back flush against his chest. She smiled at his act, and closed her eyes tiredly before a sigh left her lips, "I don't want to get up."

"Who said we had to, huh?" He questioned and she laughed slightly, the boy's voice rough from sleep as he pecked the back of her head, smiling. Nero hid her face in her hands, shuffling closer to him before breathing out and regaining control over herself.

"Ivar! We planned... to see York." She tried speaking, but yawned halfway through her sentence, making the boy let out a breathless chuckle.

"That is for later." Nero rubbed her eyes and nodded weakly, earning for sleep as she convinced herself that Ivar was right, that was for later.

⓲

left the bed as soon as the girl blacked out. He was still moonstruck by the girl. His thoughts were messy and he couldn't be bothered about anything, his heart didn't hurt anymore.

With a familiar scowl on his face, he made his way to the blacksmith in their settlement and the man looked completely unamused by his presence, knowing that he would probably wish for a way to walk.

"No," the boy murmured, noticing the knowing glance as he climbed on a chair and quickly settling, staring the man down, he knew the man and Nero had a great relationship, no one could deny she was probably the girl who most bought weapons, "I want a ring."

The rude calmness in his voice made the blacksmith shudder and nod. The man decided not to question his reasons, instead, simply asked what type of ring he would want.

Ivar sat quietly, watching the man work with a boyish smile on his face, his body beaming with energy and happiness as his mind recalled what had happened in the morning. She was such a good girl for him.

Once the man was done, Ivar collected his new belongings and climbed onto his chariot, riding towards the mountain which had the view of the beautiful town they would soon conquer. He would soon conquer.

The boy crawled towards the sight, settling in the tall grass, far enough to not be spotted, close enough to come up with a plan. His thoughts were stained with the blood of Saxons.

"All I am saying is — it sounds stupid to me that their God thinks war is bad," Nero's sigh boomed from behind Ivar. The girl, articulating with her hands, as Ubbe and Hvitserk shared amused smiles, they loved how the girl completely despised Christians, and they knew how it was completely induced by Floki, "when we are usually fighting to defend our gods."

"Well, Nero..." Hvitserk began, but she was no longer listening, her eyes trained on the man who had turned his neck to look at the approaching trio. His eyes gleamed with mischief, a perfect reflection of hers, she smirked. Hvitserk was not yet done speaking, "I mean— Ivar, you got here early."

The boy nodded, his stare leaving the girl for a mere second to look at her companions.

His gaze hardened slightly at the image of his brothers next to the wolf. They soon all set beside each other, looking at the same direction Ivar had been gazing before his greater love came into sight.

"York!" Ivar exclaimed, happiness evident in his tone, they all laid facing the town they wished to raid and call their own.

It was small, but it would serve them perfectly. Nero smiled at the thought of war, at the thought of killing, her body beamed with the idea.

She laid in between Ivar and Hvitserk, the four thinking of how they would approach the town, "Look at her. So ripe for plucking!"

Ivar wasn't in a good mood. Ivar was in a great mood, and to see him so happy made the other two boys wary. Hvitserk, however, let his guard down, content that for the first time in a while, his youngest brother was not... murderously mad, "And they don't even know that we're here."

"I say we attack tomorrow before they find out," Ivar settled and Nero grinned at him, her sharp canines peaking from the corners of her lips, almost ready to dive in a dangerous bite. The sooner, the better.

"Wait..." Ubbe began and the couple knew he would propose something, something that would most likely make them wait. They sighed simultaneously, earning confused glances from the other two, "I remember something our father said. It was always better to attack an English town when they are celebrating one of their Saint's Days. On those days, most of the people will either be in church or they will be drunk."

Nero smiled even wider at the thought of easy prey. She wasn't one for chasing. Hvitserk nodded, enjoying the way his older brother was calculating their steps towards victory, "So how do we find out?"

"We'll find a way," he simply stated, standing up and bringing Hvitserk with him.

Just as the wolf crouched to stand up, she was brought down once again by two large, strong hands, she sighed once again, but a content smile was splattered across her features.

The two watched as the brothers walked away, leaving them alone.

She turned her head to her man as soon as the brothers were out of sight, trying her best to keep her face neutral even when she couldn't help but notice how his once stormy eyes looked rather peaceful, "Odin, Ivar! We have things to do, it is not like I can stay in your arms all day."

"Fine. But tonight, you'll sleep in my bed, with me, huh?" deep down she knew it wasn't a question — it was an order.

"I am to be your wife. Did you ex—" she was brutally interrupted by his lips.

He couldn't believe the girl had accepted him. He couldn't believe the girl had chosen him over all the men she could have. He couldn't believe the girl had called herself his in the most serious of ways.

She pulled away, her hands on his chest as he gripped her waist tightly. Untangling herself from him, she stood up and glared at the boy, the boyish smile she loved so much and was beginning to see more and more of clear over his features.

"Ivar!" Nero screamed, opening the door to their shared cabin and jumping upon his sleeping body. He quickly shot up, his arms instinctively lacing around the girl and bringing her into him as she thrashed against his grip, "Let me go! I've got you something!"

She kept complaining against his grip before feeling his soft, shirtless chest under her punching hands. Her moves froze immediately and she licked her lips, causing the boy to smirk which was enough for her to shake her head and focus on what she had done.

The wolf pulled out a knife from its sheath on her waist, bringing it up to both of their eye levels as she laced her legs around his waist, smiling.

She had just finished carving and forging it, all thanks to Floki's mentoring. She had spent days on the little dagger, but it turned out to be as perfect as possible.

Ivar and her barely saw each other before the attack on York, too entranced in the spoils of war to socialize, they loved each other, and they loved war, there were times for both. And they knew that soon after they conquered it, they would have time for their love.

When she spent nights by the fire, pulling and shaping iron, Ivar spent nights planning his new legs. And when they met at their cabins, one was already fast asleep by the time the other arrived. Mornings went by similarly. To say war brought them apart would be a lie because they both knew that war would ensure their forever in Valhalla, but it needed work and no distractions.

She spent her time wisely, partially training, partially working on the weapon, so it could be done just around the time of the invasion.

He looked at her in confusion, a small smile crossing his lips, she pulled one of his hands away from her waist, and placed the weapon into his hold, closing his grip around it. She hated carving wood, and she hated forging iron, but she loved Ivar.

The handle of the dagger was shaped into a sheep. His smile soon became a grin as he gazed at the details on the gift, he couldn't remember the last time someone had given him something out of their own will, without expecting anything in return.

"It is carved as a lamb so you can kill every single one of the lambs of that Christian God, I heard that is what they call themselves," she yapped happily and prideful of her work, at the moment his eyes looked up from the blade and at her, she had decided that she would love carving and forging, she would love anything that would bring such happiness to the cripple.

His gaze trailed back to the weapon in his hand, analyzing the engravings, "Ulv?" he questioned referring to the word she had carefully placed just above the handle, causing her to nod wildly.

"So I can always be with you in war and so that Odin's trustworthy wolves will fight for us as well!" she gushed and he could swear he would cry at how happy she was, he hoped he could always make her this happy.

Ivar put the dagger to the side, his insides bubbling with happiness and pride for his girl's work and thoughtfulness. He grabbed her by the cheeks and placed a soft his on her forehead before resting his on hers, she smiled at the touch.

He breathed out shakily and Nero suddenly knew he would give her bad news, or tell her something she didn't want to hear, she knew him too well, "You will not be in the front line when we attack York."

She pulled away from him, but he grabbed her wrists before she could go any further, her eyes squinted in annoyance.

She spent days carving him a gift, and this was the thanks she would receive? Her once annoyed eyes became filled with rage, was he doubting her capacities? Before she could voice her thoughts, he spoke once again.

"We will marry, Nero. I cannot have you go to the front line and get injured," his tone was challenging as he cocked his head from one side to the other, his jaw clenched, and the way he looked reminded her of the way he spoke with Björn.

She cursed his bare chest before breathing in and sitting up straight on his legs.

"Ivar, you will have to forgive me, but if you are looking for a lady I will not be able to help you. I am a warrior." she explained, pointing to the scarring wound on her stomach, then the beauty across her eye, and many other small injuries scattered across her body, "I know I am not the prettiest because of my scars, but I am not going to stand down when they need me on the front lines with Ubbe."

"You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Heh?" his tone was still challenging, daring her to say she wasn't beautiful once again, daring her to say she wasn't godly, ethereal.

She tilted her head to the side, questioning him, her eyes gleamed and some would say she looked like a lost puppy.

The girl never questioned her beauty, but never validated it either, she never had to, she didn't need her beauty, she was meant to fight, not to marry, and to hear she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, made her absolutely giddy.

"Ivar, I am still going to front line," Nero demanded, shaking her head and pulling away from his grip to cross her arms over her chest. She would not fall into his trap.

His eyes became dark with anger at the thought of her getting hurt, at the thought of another man touching her even with the intent to harm her.

⓲

He leaned forward, capturing her lips, and though she was mad, she couldn't stop being eager for his touch. She untied her arms from each other and tangled her hands in his hair, pulling him even closer than possible. Ivar sighed contently in their kiss, smiling slightly.

His hands trailed down her body, stopping at her ass to lift her and pull her body completely flush against his own, a moan escaped her lips before she could stop it. For the first time in forever, the girl was wearing a dress, deeming it more comfortable to spend her last hours carving, he tugged at it and, in the kiss, she hummed approvingly.

In a quick move, he pulled away the soft, thin, fabric of her dress, throwing it somewhere on the floor. She almost gasped at the feel of the cold air on her now bare body, pressing against him and reconnecting their lips, looking for his warmth.

If he wasn't so fully focused on the intense pleasure he was feeling, and if it wasn't for the fact that he was completely entranced in their act, he would have stopped to admire her curves.

Gradually, Ivar leaned back on the bed, her body following his, at that moment, she could swear they were immortal, they were nearly gods, they had to be.

She brought her hips down on his, grinding and earning a groan from the boy. Suddenly enough, he took charge, his hands firmly on her waist, inducing her to pull away from a moment, their lips didn't leave each other as he pulled down his pants, his sex immediately pushing against hers.

Teasingly, she rocked her hips back and forth over him, he groaned once again, this time in annoyance before he pulled away from the kiss and his fingers found her entrance.

He slipped one inside and causing her to moan out his name, he grinned, slipping in yet another, "So wet, huh? I should prohibit you from doing what you love more often."

"Shut u—" before she could even finish, he pulled away his fingers, making the girl pout at him.

He smiled and brushed his thumb over her lip, but she had other plans in mind, she brought her lips around it, her tongue curling around his finger. He hated teasing, and he knew she only teased him because she would enjoy what happened after.

Without warning, he pulled the girl down on him, completely filling her, "Well... fuck." she grunted, knowing she would be sore and knowing she wouldn't be able to complain since they were conquering York in the following morning.

Her head fell to his neck as he guided her hips against him. Soon she caught the pace, and his hands moved to play with her breasts, his lips went back to hers.

She kissed and bruised his neck, biting his earlobe and under his jaw, her nails marking his back with each time she pushed down on him.

Nero swore he was her Valhalla, she didn't need anything else but him. She pulled away from the crook of his neck, her hazel eyes completely brown, staring at the man she had loved since she was a child.

Upon seeing her eyes, his hands were brought back to her waist, grabbing with bruising force, making the girl moan and his acts to become even rougher, he basked in her sounds, for once his cynical-self was gone, and he was no longer bitter about... well, he was no longer bitter.

He pulled away and spun the two around, his hand holding onto the headboard and hoisting himself up. The girl immediately wrapped her legs around the boy's waist and he slipped back inside her. She was a moaning mess, and she wondered why in Hel Margarethe would say he couldn't bring pleasure to a woman.

He breathed out at the view, the girl's hair fell to the sides of her face, framing it perfectly. He was entirely sure she was a goddess. Her healing wound, her multiple, beautifully dangerous scars. Her plump lips, red, red from all the closeness and her once very light eyes dark with need and love and lust. And love.

As his name left her lips, she was overcome by immeasurable pleasure, her back arched and her body trembled, she closed her eyes and pressed her head against the bed. She reached her end and brought him along as her sex clenched against him.

He brought his lips to hers, riding out both of their ends, she replied with as much eagerness as she could.

When they were finally done, they pulled away as rested their foreheads against each other, smiling, Nero' legs still trembled slightly.

"I still will fight in my own position," she sighed, her eyes gleaming with pure satisfaction as he spun off her, he chuckled slightly and pulled her body into his. He was the best she has ever had, she was his first and only.

⓲