"Where is she?" Halfdan spoke up curiously, breaking the silence that came with a cool foggy morning. 

Harald turned to his brother, his eyes bleary with lack of sleep. 

He had not had a wink of sleep the previous night as his thoughts always seemed to stray to the golden-haired maiden sleeping in his bed.

What she said to him just before she went to sleep, echoed in his mind the whole night, up until the moment the sun rose early that morning.

Halfdan would agree with him, that he was a fool to ever think that Ellisif would wait for him but Kari, she was the first one to ever tell him that it was not a mistake to beat himself over. It was a mistake, but it should not hinder him. 

Ellisif had been ingrained in his being for so long and he was sure that she would not leave him for a while. That much he knew.

But Kari. Kari was starting to creep upon him in the most unexpected of ways. He was drawn to her in a way that he did not understand. Perhaps he was interested in the woman because of her resemblance to the woman he had loved for so long.

After all, they had the same golden hair. But as far as likeness goes, it stopped at the similarity of the shade of their hair.

Harald shook his head, attempting to convince himself of this and almost succeeding when a melodious voice rang out, breaking the silence of the foggy morning.

"Good morning, Halfdan!" Kari greeted, sitting beside his brother and giving Halfdan a bright smile. 

Halfdan, the sly bastard, even had the audacity to wink at her. "Good morning, beautiful Kari. How was your sleep?"

"Good, very good. Slept like a baby." She replied, patting down her hair self-consciously. 

His brother was flirting. With her. With his Ka-

Shaking himself mentally, Harald glared at her, giving her a pointed look. Kari only returned the look before grabbing the bowl in front of him.

"Oh, thank you. I am starving." She said, spooning a bit of the gloop into her mouth. "Hmm, fish stew. That is delicious."

"Aren't you forgetting something?" He raised a brow, tapping his foot and plastering an expression of impatience on his face.

She shook her head, grinning. "No, I washed my hands before I went here."

He let out an unimpressed scoff. "A 'thank you."

Kari widened her eyes before quickly answering. "You're very welcome."

Harald tried to splutter out a response while Halfdan let out a loud cackle.

Finally, it seemed as if she took pity on him as she let out a tinkling laugh. "Oh, calm yourself, would you. I was only teasing you."

"Hilarious." He replied in a deadpan voice.

She rolled her eyes playfully. "If it is really that important to you. Thank you, Harald."

At that, he finally let a smile show. "For what?"

"Don't push it." She said, taking another bite of the fish stew. "But I will thank you for your generosity and for your stew."

They both cracked a smile, for the first time, no animosity between them. 

Halfdan released a loud burp, capturing the attention of both Harald and Kari.

"Don't mind me here. Just trying to enjoy a peaceful meal." He gave them both a knowing look. "Carry on. Don't let me interrupt you."

Harald slapped his brother over the head, making Kari duck her head laughing softly.

For a moment, things were easy. It was as if they had known each other for a long time. The three of them.

That was until something caught Harald's eye. A small figure with yellow hair wrapped up in her husband's arms.

"For Odin's sake, can those two stop?" Harald groaned, anger and frustration lacing his voice. It also did not help that he was sleep-deprived. Instead, his mood was infinitely worse than it usually was. 

Kari let out an understanding sigh. "I see. That's her, isn't it?"

Halfdan nodded at her, looking at his brother with a pitying expression. "Yes. That is her."

"She's beautiful, at least. However, it does not make up for her cruel decisions." She said, placing her hand on Harald's arm in a comforting manner. 

He met her eyes, seeing understanding and he wanted nothing more than to bask in it. Harald had half a mind to pull her closer and press his lips to hers but he knew that it would only earn him a blackened eye and a broken nose. 

"Excuse me." Harald stood up, grabbing his axe and walking towards Ellisif and her husband. He could at least try to forgive her.

Try to.

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Kari swallowed as she watched Harald walk towards the couple.

"Halfdan?" 

"Hmm?"

"He won't kill her, would he?" She trailed off, uncertain with what his answer would be.

Halfdan shook his head but even she could see that he was in denial. "I do not think he will. He loved her,"

"But?" Kari raised a brow.

"But I don't think she ever loved him. After all, being king of Norway is quite an impossible feat to accomplish. A few years ago, it was impossible. Now it is within reach. I do not think she ever thought he would succeed. " He remarked, facing her.

"Well, isn't that a good thing? He may have lost her, but he gains something no one ever has. Not even the great Ragnar Lothbrok." She answered, questioning.

He gave her a slight smile. "Yes, there is that but knowing my brother, he would always look for love. Even if he will get hurt by it. He has always relished being loved by his people and I think that he will always crave for love."

That was...sad.

Kari did not know what to say. She could not help but resonate with his need for love. She had thought she had wanted the same but the girl who wanted that had died the moment her mother killed herself for love.

Or whatever she thought love was. 

"I'm sure he will soon find what he is looking for. He seems like the type to relentlessly chase after something he wants. Perhaps he will meet that person soon." She smiled.

Halfdan smiled in response, before muttering. "I think he already has."

Before Kari could ask what he meant, a scream echoed in the air, making the two turn in the direction Harald went.

They turned to see the husband of Ellisif on the ground with an axe embedded in his skull, the blade cutting straight through his head like a piece of fruit. 

Kari's eyes widened in shock, before turning an accusing glare in Halfdan's direction.

Halfdan shrugged. "I said he would not kill her. I did not speak a word about what he would do to her husband."

She only shook her head. These damn vikings. Halfdan only smiled, sheepishly. Almost embarrassed. 

"Come. We have to go before his men attack our dear Harald." 

"Do I have a choice?"

"You always do."

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