"Come at me."

Kari gripped the handle of her dagger tightly, looking suspiciously at the man in front of her. "Are you serious? I can't just attack you. What business do I have with a real blade?"

After he had forced her to finish her meal, he had pulled her aside to teach her the art of using a blade. Halfdan had gone off to take his pick of the loot yet somehow, Harald seemed hesitant to leave her side. She suspected it had something to do with the Ecbert incident.

While the sons of Ragnar spoke of what to do next and what to do with the senile king, everyone else was preoccupied with their own devices. For her, it was to learn how to use a dagger, no matter how dangerous it was.

"Do you want me to give you a wooden stick instead?" Harald crossed his arms over his chest, daring her to attack.

"No." She rolled her eyes, clenching her hand tighter around the weapon.

"Then attack me." He dared her, beckoning for her to come closer even when he did not have any of his weapons drawn.

"Alright, you asked for this." She said, trying to hide an internal grin. He may not know it but she had to learn how to defend herself from a very young age. Yes, she does not fully know how to brandish a knife but she knew well enough how to survive and how to maim.

She released a breath before running toward him at full speed and jabbing the blade near his middle. He dodged her blow, reaching around her to try at her dagger when she elbowed his torso and tried to attack him again.

He grunted in surprise then he easily caught her wrist, both of them struggling over the dagger. With his strength, he easily wrestled it out of her grip. He let out a triumphant laugh at his supposed victory.

However, it came as a surprise when she fell to the ground to sweep his leg harshly. He slipped on the ground, falling on his back painfully. The shock of the fall jostled him greatly that he was disoriented for a few seconds.

Kari took advantage of his state as she grabbed the dagger from him. Before she could stand up, his muscled arms reached around her to pull her to him. She emitted a loud yelp, dropping the dagger in surprise.

"Got you," Harald smirked, his hold on her waist placing their faces close to one another. His heart began to pound faster once he noticed the precariousness of their situation.

Her hands were on his chest yet it did nothing to increase the distance between them. After all, if either one of them were just to lean in a bit closer, they would be trapped in a kiss.

Kari's eyes widened before she thought quickly, grabbing the dagger that had fallen and pressing it against his neck. "Got you."

"Of course, you always seem to have a plan don't you, Trouble?" He chuckled, recovering quickly. Although, he still did not move his arms away from her, nothing in his mind prompted him to do so.

"I always do." She answered, a nervous grin on her face as one of his hands tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

She could see his eyes linger on her lips and she found herself doing the same. His lips were so close to hers. If she could just lean in slowly, she would be able to know how soft his lips were, perhaps taste them, taste him.

She may have said that she always had a plan. Especially before attacking. But this, this was something that she was completely unprepared for.

He lifted his head, his mouth mere breaths away from her. Unconsciously, her eyes began to flicker close and she could almost feel his soft lips against hers.

"Kari," That was when a voice called out her name and she found herself rolling away from Harald and landing on the soft mud beside him.

The two on the ground looked up to see Bjorn staring at them with an inscrutable expression. Kari and Harald looked at each other before scrambling to their feet, their faces pink.

"What do you want, Ironside?" Harald demanded angrily, his mood shifting from frustration and embarrassment, mostly frustration at having come so close to her.

Bjorn Ironside's gaze shifted from Harald to Kari. They were both covered in mud and were clearly in a compromising position. He had seen as much.

As much as he was surprised to find out that she was his sister by their father, he could not help but be more surprised by the sight of the two of them. Together. Of course, when he had seen King Harald return with a Saxon girl, he had thought that it would be to make her his slave.

Yet now, seeing them together. With her acting like his woman, Bjorn could not help but feel angry and protective over his sister.

"Kari, are you alright?" Bjorn asked the girl, stepping forward to pull her to his side.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Harald asked, stepping forward to get her behind him as he blocked the advancement of Bjorn.

Kari sighed, stepping out from behind Harald and putting a stop to the showdown happening between the two men. "I am perfectly well as you can see. Now, what did you come here for, Bjorn?"

"We need to talk. The two of us. Now." Bjorn replied, staring pointedly at the tense Viking in front of him.

"I-May I ask why?" Kari asked instead, forcing a friendly smile on her face. It was hard to do so when the two of them looked as if they were on the brink of pulling out their weapons and pummeling each other to the ground.

"No," Harald answered, not even giving her the chance to say anything. "I do not see what the two of you have to talk about."

"It's about Kari's father." Bjorn merely said, knowing that would get the point across.

Kari felt the breath get knocked from her chest. He knew. Somehow, he knew. She could see it in his eyes. There were questions but there was also interest.

Good. He did not seem to hate her. She did not know if she could say the same about Harald. He looked about ready to combust.

"What do you know about Kari's fathe-"

"Very well. Let us talk."

Harald whirled to look at Kari with a betrayed expression. His gaze shifted from her to Bjorn, before settling on Bjorn with a murderous expression.

"Come, Kari." Bjorn gestured, walking ahead.

Kari was just about to follow after him when Harald stopped her, stepping in her way. He was in his all imposing stance and she knew it would be difficult to get past him.

Harald shook his head at her. "Don't go. I told you about the sons of Ragnar. It's not worth the trouble."

Kari said, knowing that if she did not address this now then her brother might never trust her again. "I know. But it is about my father."

"He could be tricking you." He scoffed, trying to get her to change her mind.

"I do not think so." She replied, before allowing her hand to rest on his arm. "Harald, just let me handle this. Do you trust me?"

"I do." He said, forcing a smile onto his face.

"That's settled then." She grinned, reaching over to pull him into an embrace, surprising them both. "Save me a seat at the celebrations."

"Of course." He held on tightly before finally letting her go.

Kari hurriedly followed wherever Bjorn went, desperate to gain and perhaps give answers.

Maybe then, things might start falling into place.

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"Bjorn,"

Kari called out to the man who she first saw as a stranger. They were in the courtyard, a short distance away from everyone else. They would not be able to hear all that will be said between them which was good.

As much as she wanted to be a Viking, she did not think that she was ready for everyone to know of her parentage, especially when she was still reeling from everything that has happened.

"Your mother was a Saxon woman, was she not?" Bjorn asked, looking at her from his seat.

Kari sat across from him, nodding. "She was."

"What was her name?" He questioned, leaning forward. He did not look as if he were asking in aggression but in curiosity.

"Cenwynn. She was a farmer in Northumbria. Near the shores." She answered plainly. In another world, if her mother had lived elsewhere, it would have changed much plenty.

"And your father?" He raised a brow.

"My father was a Viking." She released a breath, knowing that whatever comes next would change everything.

Bjorn finally said, letting everything stand. "Your father was Ragnar Lothbrok."

Kari agreed. "You know."

He chuckled softly as if he could not believe that he missed something that was just in front of him. "Of course. Somehow, I knew. Your eyes, those were his eyes. I cannot believe Ecbert noticed before I did. But I know that you are my sister."

"You're not angry?" She hesitated, a concerned look entering her blue eyes.

"Why would I be angry?" He asked, not even considering that. He hadn't felt anger towards her at all, only surprised glee.

They had spoken for some days and have gotten closer through those conversations. If anything, Bjorn was glad that it was Kari who turned out to be his sister.

"I hid the truth from all of you." She mentioned, ashamed that she tried to do so when even a Saxon king could tell and distinguish the familiarity.

"Why? Did you feel unsafe?" He said, reaching out to hold her hand comfortingly.

"That is one of the reasons, yes. But it was mostly that I was afraid that I was destroying my new beginning by relying on my famous father." She admitted, squeezing his hand tightly.

He shook his head, releasing her hand and standing up."That won't happen. I am your brother and you are my sister. If it is a new beginning you want, it is one you will get. We are family and I am glad we found you here."

"Brother," She whispered, smiling softly at what he said. The word felt unfamiliar on her lips but it felt right. He was her brother.

For so long, she wondered how her remaining living family would react to finding out about her existence. It was the most heartwarming thing to find out that despite hiding the truth at first, he accepted her.

He clasped her on the shoulder fondly. "I will tell our brothers during the feast. You have no need to worry about that."

She beamed up at him. "Thank you."

"Of course, Kari. From here on, you decide your journey. Though I assume you would want to go with King Harald." He made a sound of short disapproval and pulled her to his side as they began to walk to the main courtyard where the feast was to be held.

Even now, the smells of meat and ale lingered in the air. Music was being played and cheers could be heard. Victory was achieved, after all. Ragnar Lothbrok had been avenged and no one would ever doubt the might of the Vikings.

What they didn't know was that from their conquest, they had just unknowingly unveiled a key player in all the events to come. Another victory, on its own.

"I-Huh?" Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion while her cheeks brightened at the sound of Harald's name.

"It would be foolish to think that you would stay away from him upon my word so all I can say is be careful, dear sister. Lest I might find myself in a match with King Harald." He ruffled her hair playfully.

"You only found out today. Besides, I can defend myself." She grumbled, pushing away from him to fix her hair.

"Yes, but as your brother, I have to protect you." Bjorn reminded her before grinning widely. "Now come, let us enjoy the feast."

Little do they know that somebody was watching them from afar, blue eyes that refused to look away as the siblings reunited and addressed the familial ties between them.

Their words and their mannerisms were that of siblings but from afar, that certainly did not look like the case. Especially to one who has suffered one heartbreak and refused to go through one again.

Harald may not know it but his heart had been felled by the golden-haired woman and seeing her with another brought out a rage that was not known to him before.

It was an emotion built on inaccurate information but a powerful one nonetheless.

He was a storm that was yet to be unleashed and who knows what chaos he would wreak for her.

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