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Bruises of different colors danced along his skin, darker in areas where the skin was split. The man's body was a mirage of blood, dirt, and bile. The dark hair in his head was wet and stuck to his skin, a mixture of what I did not wish to know. It seemed as though the twins were beginning to have fun with taking off small limbs, but stopped at our arrival. I only hoped I could leave quickly enough to not hear his screams.

His unwavering eyes, or eye I should say as one was swelled shut, watched me carefully as I finally stepped further into the darkened chamber.

"Hallo," I spoke softly, taking in the man's blood and sweat soaked face.

"Britta Dahlsten," Terje acknowledged with a small dip of his head.

My eyes narrowed with distaste as his respectful nod only to soothe over the urge to twist my lips in a harsh sneer.

"Terje, we need to talk."

His lips, though caked with dark dried blood, twisted in what would be a half smile. I could faintly trace the blood that covered his teeth. The twins really did enjoy making this man miserable in his captivity. The sight made my nose pinch and my mouth to turn into a grimace at the sight. I had a feeling Terje would be looking and feeling much worse if Aderick had tortured him rather than spend time with me.

"Oh? And why would we do that, prinsesse?" He drawled.

Aderick lunged suddenly at my side, his extended fist connecting to Terje's jaw with a loud crack which sent his face whipping to the side with the force.

Terje groaned lowly at the hit while keeping his head to the side. I assumed it was from shock and to gather himself before facing us once more. More blood pooled out from the corner of his lips as he coughed raggedly. I watched silently. I attempted to feel sorry for him, reaching for some feeling of sympathy within me yet I felt nothing. Nothing but wallowing grief, anger, and hungering curiosity. I needed to get answers, anything that would help Aderick and myself to rid us of Sven from our lives.

But the issue lied with Terje and his own loyalty. And also how much information he would be willing to give. Especially at what price. My mind raced to think of ways I could convince him to even deluge information about his leader to us...to me.

If roles were reversed, I would never under any conditions or bribes give away information of my people or my leader. Thinking of this lead my small glimmer of hope within me wither away into almost nothing. But I had to try.

"I need answers, Terje," I commanded quietly yet firmly as I wrapped my palms around Aderick's arm, pulling him back towards my side.

I could feel Aderick's chest heaving at the fury radiating through his body and I gave a small squeeze of my hands in silent comfort. I stared at the chained man, waiting, preparing myself for another retort that would make Aderick go into another fit of rage. I would rather not see him lose his temper now. We had to go into this with level minds and hidden hearts, no matter how much we hated this man, he had information we could use. Time was not on our side with the snow sticking to the ground, especially according to Eir's prediction. And we have had enough of Sven and his toying with us.

It was time to end all of this. Bring the fight to him. Eliminate the threat on our lives and our people.

And it started with talking to Terje.

His head slowly turned our way at my voice and his blue eyes narrowed as he processed my words. Jaw ticking, he pursed his lips and slightly shook his head. My stomach sank while my eyes narrowed at him.

Stubborn Norwegian.

"I will not say anything against Sven with these heathens in the room. But you.." Terje tapered

off thoughtfully, calculating his next words.

"You, I will talk to. Alone."

He grins manically at the both of us standing in front of him in the cold and foul-smelling cell.

"Never!" My husband snarls viciously, his arms binding themselves around me as he not so gently shoved me behind his looming frame.

I let out a quiet gasp of surprise at the sudden motion and my head spun slightly at Aderick's quick movements. I tightly gripped Aderick's tunic with both fists as I pulled out of his protective grasp and stepped stubbornly beside him, glaring hotly at his face. He was not focused on me, but rather the man in front of us who could not move or stand due to the chains and his injuries brought on by the twins and my brother.

I was too irritated to even roll my eyes at him. I understood his concern for me and my safety and that was only him to consider. Kare and the twins were also people I knew cared for my safe being in the presence of the enemy. I needed to do this on my own, however. If I was careful, I could extract some useful information from Terje in order to help Aderick and the men.

"Everyone leave. Please," I spoke loudly to those in the room, carefully avoiding Aderick's outraged choked response and his blistering glare that was now turned onto me.

I faintly heard Kare grumble something underneath his breath behind me and I could not bring myself to look at him. I continued concentrating on Terje and his body posture, studying anything about him really to get a grasp on who he was as a person. As a warrior.

But most importantly, who he was as second in command to Sven.

Aderick's dark obsidian eyes glowered down at me, particularly at my demand, yet I held firm in my decision to make them leave. A lone eyebrow rose in question to his presence still beside me after my request. His own brows furrowed angrily yet I did not care. I had to do this. And if it meant being alone with Terje to do so, then so be it.

I cleared my throat loudly before looking back at the door behind me then to Aderick. After repeating this motion several times, never wavering, and finally, Aderick swore under his breath and reluctantly nodded to me. I could see the war within his eyes as the others began making their way out.

Aderick stood silently watching me before his hand extended towards me and when I looked to see what was in his hand, my eyes widened in surprise. In his grasp was an old dagger, one that I had seen often on his waist. The handle was worn and smooth, the metal held by numerous hands and covered, at times I would assume, in blood by those slained by previous owners. At times throughout our relationship, I noticed Aderick absentmindedly stroking the dagger at his hip when talking to others. A habit I am sure that he himself was not aware of but it was something small that I noticed about him.

Whatever value the dagger was to him to consistently keep it at his side, I knew he trusted me to use it carefully.

"To keep yourself protected," He grunted out to me before placing the dagger in my waiting hands. He swooped down to place a quick kiss on my lips before turning away to leave.

I turned my head slightly to watch him leave out of the corner of my eye while still keeping Terje in my line of sight. Even though he was chained against the wall and little to no chance of escaping those binds, I could not drop my guard around him. The door of the hut finally shut, letting the soft sunlight that entered the room with the men leaving shutter out. Leaving the both of us in shadows and murky light.

We were finally alone, away from immediate eyes and ears, before I fully turned my attention to Terje. His eyes were guarded and calculating, as I assumed mine were as well. Not a word was spoken for several long moments as we assessed one another.

"You really are as beautiful as they say," He mused quietly with a tilt of his head.

"How long have you known him?" I asked sternly and rather vaguely, ignoring his statement on my beauty and focusing on what was important.

"Who?" He replied with a curl of his lips.

My grasp on the dagger tightened into a white-knuckled grip as frustration rushed through me. His coyness and evasiveness would only delay what I really wanted from him. And he knew that.

My eyes narrowed and I simply waited. Moving my feet apart slightly to remain balanced and ready for anything. My brows rose at him and a small smirk graced my lips as I toyed with the dagger in one hand, careful in avoiding knicking my skin. More bloodshed of mine would make Aderick go ballistic.

Terje's dark blue eye, the one that was not swollen shut from the beatings, followed my movements with the dagger for several breaths before looking back up at my face.

Our eyes locked and did not leave one another. This connected pathway continued on for several long moments before I began studying him further. I studied the wrinkles around his eyes, the cuts on his cheeks and eyebrow. The fresh bruise that my husband laid on him, a dark angry red that was blossoming into a deep purple amongst the others that adorned his face. His clothes were threadbare and torn to reveal parts of his flesh and the cuts that marked his skin.

I would grant him I could do this all night if I truly wanted to, although Aderick would protest to it, I had no doubt. I had a feeling in my gut that he could do the same.

Terje eventually rolled his eyes and let out a ragged breath that led to a hoarse fit of coughing. He shifted his body slightly before slumping back against the wall. His posture screamed carelessness, ironic in his bond position.

I decided then to quit with the nonsense. This man would drag this on if I would let him.

"You know who I am talking about. Your leader, Sven? What does he truly want, Terje?"

He clucked his teeth together. "What any man in this country truly desires. To gain land and ownership. And to do that is to conquer lands, rid of previous leadership. Establish dominance over all. To rule Norway as rightful ruler and lord."

I watched him carefully. "Nei, that is not all. Why Aderick? Why his land? Why me?"

"Ah, prinsesse, so many questions. I cannot remember all of them..." He drawled with a pained moan.

I caught the look in his eye as it flickered over me to the wall by my side. The twins had not done enough to him to make him all forgetful. He was a terrible liar. Dually noted for later.

"Aderick. Why him? Of all the clans to attack...why him?" I pressed.

Terje shook his head. "Anything but that, my prinsesse."

I huffed, the slick grooves on the dagger making an imprint on my palm from my tight grasp. "Then why me? I am but a traditional maiden. Only a daughter of a Jarl."

"Precisely, Britta. Daughter of a Jarl. Jarl Dirk Haraldsson. A maiden rumored to be the most beautiful and graceful throughout the land. A woman to be coveted by all men who see a glimpse of the blonde-haired beauty."

"That is not enough to simply want to attack a man's clan. Not enough. Nei. I am not enough! There are plenty of beautiful maidens in the country to take as a bride. There must be more!" I nearly screeched.

So much for level minded talks.

I began pacing, not caring at the moment for losing my temper and resolve around the prisoner. He knew. In my gut, nei, in my heart he knew about the attack. The attack on my home. The murder of my family. My people. But how? My mind raced and yet the connection from Terje and Sven to myself and Aderick failed me.

I spun around suddenly to watch him as a new thought occurred to me.

"Did you know that I was with child when Marit came to see me? Was that his plan too?"

"Marit? She came to see you by herself? That stupid whore..." Terje muttered the last part to himself, shaking his head in disbelief before continuing.

"No, I did not. We did not. She escaped Sven's grasp several moons ago. We did not know where she went and we did not care. She was not that important to him other than a quick fuck and a thrall to beat around. I am sorry to hear about your babe, Britta. I am not heartless to understand the loss of a young one."

My heart stuttered at his last words and a moment of understanding showed momentarily between us before it was smothered out. I let out a breath, not wanting to break down in front of a stranger who was my enemy. I refused to linger on those emotions now.

"She said Sven was to make a trade. A trade of me and Aderick. For her, she would be with Aderick as his wife. And I would be Sven's."

"There was no such deal. All was talk for Sven to get that thrall to do what he wanted. He has other plans for you."

I had a feeling it was as such. I nodded absently.

"She is dead. I killed her." I murmured quietly, looking down at the dagger.

Although I loathed the woman, it was difficult to admit to an individual that I killed someone. Extinguished a life. Even hers as a lowly thrall. But I knew it either her life or mine. And I had too much to live for. Too much to do and love in my life; with my brother, new family, and of course, Aderick.

"Impressive," Terje said with a raised brow.

I scoffed before finally flinging the dagger with a flick on my wrist, the knife implanting itself right next to his head in the wall. The loud thud rang out in the quiet hut and a slow smirk crawled on my lips. I had a feeling Aderick would be entering at any moment due to the noise.

He craned his neck just slightly to peer at the dagger slowly before turning to look at me. A wolfish grin cracked across his face, displaying the swelling of his jaw and the blood within his gum area.

"I like you, Britta Dahlsten. You are more than just beauty and temper." His fists clenched against his chains, making a low rattle.

Just before I could retort, mouth open, the door of the hut reared its way open as a deep familiar voice rang out, "Your time is up, kæreste."

A warm hand slid around my hip as Aderick pulled me away from Terje and our talk. His one eye peered up at me and caught as I looked back, the blue popping out amongst the angry red and purple in his face. I felt Aderick's grip tighten as we made our way out of the isolated hut. One of the twins followed him in and retrieved the dagger by Terje's head while dishing out a kick to his ribs.

A low muffled moan lingered with us on the way out.

Once I heard the door shut, he whirled on me, eyeing me from the top of my head to the tips of my slippers that barely peeked from the bottom of my gown and cloak. His hands ghosted over my figure, his obsidian eyes following his palms. I could make out the worry and agitation in those dark depths that I loved so much.

"I am fine. Really. We talked. I threw the dagger when I wanted to intimidate him. Missed him by a hairsbreadth." I let out a sigh in a fake whine, hiding my smile.

"Missed? Nei, min kjære, I doubt you missed. You simply toyed with him, did you not?" A smile pulled to his mouth to one side.

The careless smirk that sent thrills throughout my body was brought out on his ruggedly handsome face and I could myself smiling back at him. I shrugged my shoulders innocently, neither denying it nor admitting it.

My brother snorted to the side of us, intently watching. "Of course she did, she did that quite often back home. Loved to tease and toy with our siblings and the young ones in the clan, especially with my children and the rest of her nieces and nephews."

My breath caught in my throat at his words. The eyes so similar to my own shimmered with grief and bittersweet joy for a breath before it vanished. But I saw it clearly. Flashes of my fallen family's faces raced in my mind and I flinched externally at the pain in my chest that came with their beloved faces. It was like a slow-burning poison curled deep inside that flared every so often, a reminder of what I had lost on that night.

Kare looked away at my wince and the teasing mood drifted away as Aderick caught onto our exchanged glance. He cleared his throat and grabbed my hand, intertwining our hands and placed a gentle kiss on my knuckles.

Though his expression was now void of any emotion, his eyes showed me what he felt inside. For me. Our love. For Kare. For our kindred loss.

A small squeeze of my hand was all I could offer him.

He turned our bodies away from the prisoner's hut and back towards home, tugging me with our connected hands. "Let us enjoy the walk back to the manor, hmm? Now, how about you tell me your talk with the prisoner? What did he say?"

I inhaled deeply before letting it out with a sigh, ready to finally divulge in what I learned. Inwardly I was thankful for Aderick's distraction. I nodded before letting him match my pace back the manor.

"Terje is a smart and calculating man, yet a horrid liar. He would not tell me everything, but what he did say lead me to believe that Sven and his men are behind far more than what we all believe..."

I continued telling Aderick of our talk, including the details and signs I remembered and ensured to tell Aderick. He listened carefully with his eyes downcast, only interrupting my telling when only necessary for understanding.

Although I did not have much to offer Aderick, we were closer to him than we were before. Close enough that the forthcoming melted snow from the trees and ground would not need to meet us for the battle and fight for our lives.

Nei, we would make this happen sooner.

And we would bring it to him.

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