Nerida awoke at the sound of the cage door closing, her body heavy as her eyes tried to focus. She knew she was in a dungeon, a place she had been as a child, a place she never wanted to see again. Her body tensed as she saw Aethelwulf step over her, Nerida finally able to see that she was chained up, her hands now holding the dry blood and blisters of her journey.

"I don't like you." She heard Aethelwulf confess as she saw him kneeling by a large cage, a cage her father had once been in. Nerida gasped as she saw the man in the cage was Ragnar, his face bloodied from a beating that Aethelwulf no doubt commanded.

"Ragnar!" Nerida whispered as both men turned to face her, Ragnar's eyes going wide as he turned his body towards hers. "Where is—" Her words cut off as Aethelwulf punched her cheek, blood spewing from her lips as she doubled over in pain.

"SHUT YOUR FILTHY MOUTH PIRATE! How does this pirate know you?" Aethelwulf asked Ragnar as Nerida wiped the blood from her mouth, more than ready to tear the head from the prince's body.

"Do not touch her, she is important to my son Ivar. She was with us when we landed, but we have been separated." Ragnar lied as Nerida shook her head yes as she looked up at Aethelwulf, a yell escaped her as he kicked her in the ribs, her body screaming in pain as he kicked her again and again until she felt all the air leave her lungs and her bones break.

"I-a-m not a PIRATE!" She whispered as blood burst from her mouth and onto the dirt ridden ground. "I renounced my life before sailing North." She breathed out as she laid on the ground clutching her pain ridden stomach as blood poured from her nose and mouth.

"She is no pirate, she is Viking and works as a Blacksmith." Ragnar spoke, his words making her thank the gods that he was near her, even if he was in a cage.

"I don't believe it was only you, your cripple son and this filth.

"I killed everyone else, you must have found their bodies too." Ragnar spoke, his voice low as Nerida knew he was in pain just as she was.

"Where—is Ivar? Nerida whispered out as she slowly sat up, her eyes clinching shut as she felt the pain in her ribs.

"Don't you worry about the person you love? Or your sons?" Ragnar whispered as Nerida desperately wanted to be by Ivar's side. She knew once she saw that he was safe most of her worries would melt away, but her heart ached to be near him.

"What do you know about my sons? If it was up to me, you and this animal would be locked in here until you turn to bone and ash." Aethelwulf said through gritted teeth as he slammed his hand against Ragnar's cage and stood. Nerida brought her knees closer to her chest as he stepped closer, a part of her fearing that he would kill her.

She moved her head as he spat at her before leaving, Nerida feeling her body relax somewhat as she kicked a rat from her with her foot. She looked all around her, knowing that she would never escape the shackles as she had in the past. Her hands had been smaller, and escaping had been almost too easy, but now she was a fully-grown woman with severe injuries.

"Nerida. What are you doing here? You are supposed to be in Frankia with Bjorn." Ragnar asked as he gripped the cage and stared at Nerida, her legs weak as she slowly scooted her bruised body closer to him.

"I awoke one night after we set sail. I knew that Ivar was in trouble, I felt it in my heart and in my soul. Bjorn gave me a small boat, and for three days I rowed until I found a beach covered in wood and broken weapons. Aethelwulf found me in the woods and brought me here." She whispered, each breath more painful than the last and each word making her voice grow hoarse as she needed water.

"You traveled, alone across an open sea to make sure Ivar was safe?" Ragnar said as Nerida finally reached the cage and slipped her sore and swollen hands over his. "You really are fated to my son—I did not believe it until I saw you sitting there chained to the wall." Ragnar said as he wiped some blood from Nerida's swollen cheek.

"Is Ivar okay?" She whispered as a single tear fell down her cheek stinging her wound and reminding her that she still had a lot of fight left in her. She rested her head against the cold rusted iron of the cage, Ragnar assuring her that Ivar was okay, but her mind and heart refused to stop worrying until she held him in her arms.

***

It was two days before the door to their rotting prison opened, Nerida's body tensing as King Ecbert walked in, his eyes fixated on Ragnar. She feared Ecbert, but she wanted to see him die in the worst of ways. He had beaten her and locked her in this same dungeon when she was only ten, her body still holding the scars of their last meeting.

"What took you so long?" Ecbert said as Nerida furrowed her brow at the smile that was rising on the kings wrinkled face. He looked almost the same as when she last saw him, but his hair was whiter, and his eyes bore the anguish of his life. "And you, Nerida, what took, you so long?" He said as he turned towards Nerida, her back and ribs screaming in pain as she rose to her feet.

"Bring them." King Ecbert said as he left, the guards removing Nerida from her shackles and pulling her from the dungeon. Her legs were weak and sore, and her body reeked of piss and shit, but Nerida felt a small hope that she might see Ivar. Nerida winced in pain as she was shoved down on a wooden chair, a plate of hot food placed in front of her as shackles were placed around her ankles and wrists once more.

Moments later Ragnar arrived in his cage, a plate of food placed in front of him as his gaze caught Nerida's. She wasn't going to eat until she had seen Ivar and knew that he was safe.

"Why haven't you touched your food?" The king asked as Nerida looked to Ragnar, her lip and jaw still too swollen for her to speak properly.

"Where is my son Ivar? I haven't seen him in days. We do not know if he is still alive." Ragnar said as he motioned to Nerida. She watched as King Ecbert motioned to his guards, Nerida turning the best she could as she watched two men disappear down a long corridor. Moments later they emerged with Ivar, his mouth dropping open as their eyes locked for the first time in almost 15 days.

"Nerida? Nerida, is that you? By the Allfather, how?" Ivar asked in her native tongue as he was placed in a chair beside her, his warm hands grasping hers as his brow furrowed. "What have they done to you?" He asked as he gently traced his finger over her wounds, his lips kissing her forehead as joyful tears silently made their way down her bruised and swollen face.

"I feared you were in danger." She whispered as Ivar wiped a tear from her cheek, her head jerking back as pain shot through her face. Moments later they tore into the food in front of them, Nerida eating slow as her stomach had not tasted food for almost four days.

"You are my guest, Ivar and Nerida." The king said as he motioned for the guards to remove her shackles, Ivar gently rubbing her red and aching wrists as Nerida smiled weakly. "No more harm will come to you Nerida. You paid for your crimes long ago and I will not allow any more harm to come to you." The King said as his tone became low and serious, Nerida not believing him for a mere second.

Moments later two guards scooped up Ivar, Nerida following closing behind as her gaze caught Ragnar's. A wary feeling growing inside as they shared a private moment, since she knew full well, she might never see him again.

***

"Here, step in." Ivar whispered as he held his hand out for Nerida, her naked body covered in red and black bruises, each one causing more pain than the next. She sank into the large bath, Ivar sitting on a stool next to her as he gently washed away the dirt from her face. "Those Christians will pay for touching you." He whispered as Nerida winced in pain from her broken ribs.

"I know." She whispered as Ivar saw the palms of her hands, the large cuts and blisters risking infection if they were not treated soon. After the long bath and a nurse tending to her many wounds, Nerida found herself in a small bed with Ivar, her head resting on the pillow next to his as they laid in the silence.

"How are you here?" He asked finally as Nerida knew she could not escape an explanation. She took his hand in hers and gently kissed the tips of his fingers, savoring every moment since she knew that the gods had brought them together again.

"I awoke in the middle of the night after seeing you and your father crashing into the ocean. I heard your screams, Ivar, I felt your fear. I could not be away from you any longer, so I convinced Bjorn to give me a boat and three days later I ran ashore. I tried to find you, Ivar, but Aethelwulf found me first." She admitted as she felt another searing pain shoot through her body.

"Sleep now, my love. You have had such a trying journey" Ivar insisted as he brushed some hair from her face, a small weak smile running over Nerida's face as she slowly closed her eyes. Nerida sank into sleep knowing that she would never again, leave Ivar's side.