You knew everything changed on the moment Ubbe and Hvitserk returned from their so called deal with Aethelwulf. You knew it would be the end of the brothers when you looked to Ivar his face while the both of you were waiting for them. Ivar had mocked you, saying how unfaithful Hvitserk became, how you better looked for another husband to be with. But you didn't, because Hvitserk would always be the only one for you. Standing outside of this didn't made it any easier, you had to choose as much as Hvitserk and despite you feared for his life in that long time it didn't changed a thing about your thoughts in all of this. But Ivar ... Ivar was destroying every little part with his words, his ego and Hvitserk stood willingly up, siding with Ubbe on going home. Somewhere it was a relieve but when you looked to Hvitserk, your husband you only saw what Ubbe wanted to see, him following around. And was this how it supposed to be, one following the other because he had to? Wasn't he as free as every other person around

You found him late in the night, sitting on what supposed to be his bed, gathering his things together like he was planning on leaving right away. You laid your hand on his shoulder and slowly sat down aside him. He scratched his fingers through his hair, turning his eyes to you. You brought your face closer and softly kissed his lips. He reached out to your, stroking his fingers over your side, taking your kiss a little deeper. Even in this, always greedy Hvitserk, you could feel his struggle. He pulled back, resting his forehead against yours while breathing slowly out, touching your face softly.

'Is what you doing the right thing to do Hvitserk?' You asked him softly. He pulled his forehead away from you and you strangled your fingers through his hand. He looked down to it, shaking his head like he didn't had an answer.

'I don't know.' He said honestly. You were probably the only one he spoke so freely against, the only one he completely trusted to talk with about matters like this.

'I can't say Ubbe is wrong, I understand his desire to farm, to achieve what Ragnar achieved. But we know Ivar is right to and if we step on that boat tomorrow,' your words drifted away.

'There is no turning back.' He finished your sentence. You squeezed his hands and looked up to him.

'Ivar would do everything to crush you down, he would be your greatest enemy.'

'So I need to choose the winning side?' He asked confused, a little flat, struggling in his own feelings.

'No, I want you to follow your heart, what do you want the most?' You asked, pressing your fingers against his chest. He let his head hang and you softly rested your chin on his shoulder, giving him the time he needed.

'You follow me, right?' He asked, looking aside to you. You frowned your eyebrows, straightening your back.

'Why would you even ask that? I'm your wife, I love you, I would follow you everywhere.' You said breathless. Why was he even thinking that? You studied his face, grabbing his shoulder you pulled him to watch to you. 'Hvitserk, whatever you choose, I follow.' You promised him. He looked up to you, laying his hand in your neck before pulling your face closer. You grabbed his collar and pulled yourself closer to him, showing him your love in the best way possible you could.

You jumped on the boat, looking over your shoulder to Ivar sitting on that rock. Ubbe squeezed your shoulder and you looked up to his swollen painful face before looking back to Ivar. Ivar tilted his head, smiling to you before he started yelling and you looked over to Hvitserk. The bother switched look and looking from Ubbe to Hvitserk you saw the things change. Hvitserk looked down, shaking his head before he stepped on the edge of the boat and jumped off. You turned your head around, looking to Ubbe as he gazed at his brother before quickly following Hvitserk. You didn't dare to look around to Ubbe as you followed your husband to Ivar.

'You see, everybody is with me.' Ivar smiled, the three of you and his men looking how those lonely boats sailed away. This was it and if felt like a certain reassurance. You were afraid of what Ivar could do. You knew for sure he would find a way to let you pay and the last thing you wanted was getting in the eye of the storm, Ivar's storm.

It kept quiet for some days, you stayed around Hvitserk until it was time to go hunt, a better archer like you couldn't be missed so you left the brothers with a small group of hunters. It was always a place were you felt safe, at ease ... the forest. You grabbed the rabbit and threw it on the carriage that got pulled by a horse. It was a significant catch and you stroke the horse over his neck as the sound disturb the perfect silence. You looked over his shoulder to the other Vikings who stood there silently. But before you even could react they were there, Christian soldiers slaying there way of to the killed animals. Given you stood on the other side of the horse they didn't saw you right away. They killed all those Vikings and you knew where was only one option. Hvitserk learned you how to fight but this was even way ahead of your skills so you ran. You ran as hard as your legs could carry.

'Kill her!' It was a language you didn't recognize. An arrow hit the tree beside you for you smacked against the ground, feeling the stinging pain of an arrow in your shoulder. You felt the tears fill your eyes while you looked over your shoulder to the men running into you. You pushed up, running as long as you could until York his walls got into your eyesight and the Christians pulled back. You stumbled inside, hardly being able to catch a breath while you reached out to the church you knew Ivar and Hvitserk would be.

'Y/n!' Hvitserk yelled as he saw you drop on your knees. He fell before you and you grabbed his tunic, wrapping your good arm around his shoulder as you closed his eyes in his embrace. 'You are safe, you are safe.' Hvitserk kept stroking your head, whispering against your hair.

'What happened?' Ivar asked.

'We need to get that arrow out.' Hvitserk said, helping you up. You groaned in pain and sank down on the first best seat you could find. Hvitserk went to stand behind you, carefully taking that arrow in his hand while Ivar looked intrigued to the thrust between the both of you. He pulled it quickly out and you shivered, feeling warm blood sliding down from your back.

'They were waiting for us, for our food.' You started speaking, looking up to Ivar as Hvitserk cared for your wound.

'They want our food, why?' Hvitserk asked.

'To starve us out.' You answered, still looking to Ivar who chuckled amused.

'Let them.' He said, shrugging.

'What and all die here?' You asked.

'Tut tut, Y/n, you really think I would do that?' Ivar asked you with an enjoyable smile on his lips. You looked over your shoulder to where Hvitserk was helping you.

'I don't care Ivar, if they take our food you better come up with a plan and given you won't let your own brother in on it I hope at least it will be worth it. We didn't stayed to die out of hunger.' You warned him, giving Hvitserk a short look as he pushed some herbs against the wound. It hurt ... the adrenaline found his way out and you started feeling more.

'What Hvitserk misses in words your share plenty.' Ivar said critical, strangely low and Hvitserk immediately looked up.

'You changed a lot Y/n.' Ivar noticed. Hvitserk squeezed your good shoulder and you stood up, trying to move your arm in the ways possible.

'You would be surprised in what love can do.'

'I can imagine.' Ivar chuckled, looking at the both of you before he laughed softly and walked away. You slowly turned around to Hvitserk, he tenderly cupped your face and you looked up to him.

'You stay at my side, understood?' He asked you, looking you almost sternly in the eyes. You softly nodded, letting the fear a little in before he kissed you passionate and you grabbed for his wrist, letting him being touchy until you had no breath left. 'We are going in to a war, not only a Christian war but as much a war between brothers, I can't do this without you.'

'You won't Hvitserk.' You tightened your grip around his wrists. 'You know with they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and we, we are as strong as we can be.' You whispered. He kissed your cheek before carefully hugging you.

'Let's go to war then.' He muttered, taking in your sweet smell while the embrace took forever.