"Trust is a dangerous game."

Ecbert sat with his hands pressed together and held against his lips. He watched Aelle with inscrutable eyes and contemplated his plea.

Aelle had been rash, attacking Kattegat. The peace brokered between Ragnar Lothbrok and his Northmen was tenuous at best but it had held steady since the death of his wife seven years before. Ecbert had worked hard to keep Ragnar Lothbrok at bay. He was a formidable enemy and the Saxon organization had suffered enough at his hands.

Aelle's attack on Kattegat was foolish and had cost him. Yes, Ragnar Lothbrok suffered considerable financial damage, however, he made enough annually that it would be easy for him to recover the nearly five million dollars that he'd lost in Aelle's attack. If anything, Aelle lost more than Ragnar.

The attack itself had been rash but Aelle decided to send his brother Aethelwulf in as the lead on the attack. Many Saxon men died and Aethelwulf was missing. Ecbert was confident that Ragnar Lothbrok had him locked up somewhere to use as a bargaining chip. If Aelle was lucky, they would just leave him locked up but, if Ragnar did was Ecbert thought he would do, then, Aethelwulf was most likely in the hands of Ragnar's most brutal and unpredictable son.

Ecbert was well aware of Ivar Lothbrok's reputation. It was well earned, after all. The rumors that surrounded Ivar "the Boneless" were intriguing. Ecbert had been witness to some of Ivar's fights when he was a teenager. It was true that he appeared to dance inside the ring. If you looked close enough, it looked like he was moving and bending in ways that were impossible for the human body. His childhood nickname of "The Boneless" took on a whole new meaning.

Ecbert had heard whispers among his men of what Ivar Lothbrok was capable of. He was merciless when provoked. Fighting in the boxing ring was one thing but, when attacked, Ivar was ferocious. He stopped at nothing to get what he wanted or right whatever wrong he felt had been dealt against him. He was insane and yet, Ecbert had to admire the fierce loyalty that he maintained. He'd never turned his back on his family and Ecbert could only dream of such blind loyalty. His own son, coincidentally also named Aethelwulf, was loyal to a point.

Ecbert's men liked to talk. They spoke mostly of Ragnar's sons and their devotion to their father and his cause. They spoke of Björn's impenetrable fighting style. How he was untouchable and no man could mark him. They spoke of Ubbe and Hvitserk and Sigurd and how each brother fought with abandon, unafraid of death.

They mostly spoke of Ivar. A demon, they called him, with black eyes full of malicious intent. A smile that dripped of sin and waved you off as he sent you to meet your maker. They spoke of how his teeth dripped red with the blood of his enemies. The most popular claim was that he would take men home, still alive, and flay the skin from their bones before eating it raw.

Ecbert was not one to believe in rumors. He did not doubt that the youngest son of Ragnar Lothbrok was as savage as his men claimed but he very much doubted that he was a cannibal or a demon, for that matter. He was just a man and men had weaknesses.

"What is it you think I can do for you, Aelle?" Ecbert folded his hands and sat back in his chair. Aelle heaved a great sigh and shifted his girth in his chair. The legs creaked ominously beneath him and Ecbert arched an eyebrow, waiting. "I propose that we come together. My men and your men, as a single unit, would be too much for Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons."

Ecbert nodded in thought before he sat up. "I was not the one who attacked Ragnar Lothbrok. My brother is not the one currently behind enemy lines, probably being tortured for information. Ragnar Lothbrok is not after me. Why should I help you and break the peace that I have with Ragnar Lothbrok?"

Aelle looked irritated but must've been expecting the argument. He opened his mouth to continue. "It is no secret that the peace between you and Lothbrok has been unstable since the sudden death of his wife which," Aelle held his hand up to keep Ecbert from interrupting. "We both know had nothing to do with either of us. It was an unfortunate tragedy, yes, but neither of us was wise to the plot.

"All the same, Ragnar has not trusted us since that unfortunate incident and has steadily been trying to push us out. He's slowly bought out our clients, our storefronts. Just last week he made a deal with one of the top construction companies in the nation and is now a member of its board. He's trying to get rid of us as quietly as possible."

Ecbert narrowed his eyes and looked away from Aelle. He had had similar thoughts within the last few weeks. Lothbrok's reach was getting too long. He was beginning to control more territory that Ecbert and Aelle combined. Soon enough, he would have control of everything Ecbert held dear.

He turned back to Aelle. "What kind of deal did he make?" Aelle's smile widened and he leaned forward. "Ives Jensen was indebted to Lothbrok, owed him millions of dollars that he couldn't pay back. Now, Ives' only child is a daughter that he sent away after the death of her mother. Ragnar has five sons, all of whom are extremely devoted to their father, do whatever he asks.

"Now, Ives is a coward. He hasn't been running his company since his daughter graduated from Oxford. Ragnar has four sons that are already married and one son that is rumored to be uncontrollable."

Ecbert began to understand what kind of deal Ragnar Lothbrok had made. "These rumors have been hurting Ragnar's reputation. His own men have begun to discuss his inability to control Ivar and how it may be time for him to step down. Of course, this is unacceptable so, when Lothbrok goes to kill Ives Jensen and take back his money, Ives does what all cowards do and offers someone else in his place." Aelle's voice was quiet like he was sharing a secret. Ecbert couldn't help but smile as he listened.

"Ives offers his daughter as a wife for Ivar. He'll hand over his company, his assets, everything to his daughter and, as an extension, Ragnar, in exchange for his life." Aelle sat back, happy with the tale he just told.

"This is something that Ragnar cannot possibly pass up. One of the nations largest construction companies, virtual control over it, millions of dollars in revenue, and exhibiting his control over his youngest son. It works out wonderfully in his favor and gives him control of properties that have been in our territory for years."

Ecbert took a deep breath and licked his lips. He looked over at Aelle. "Well, if Ragnar Lothbrok can make deals of marriage, why can't we?" Aelle looked contemplative as Ecbert leaned forward, his hands pressed tightly against the desktop. "I have a son, you have a daughter. Let's discuss our options."

.

Aaline crept lightly down the stairs. The house was quiet and dark. Everyone else was asleep and Aaline didn't want to wake them.

It was after three in the morning and Aaline was heading to the kitchen. She had trouble getting to sleep so she decided to venture down to one of the kitchens and make herself something to eat.

She remembered as a child waking up in the middle of the night and going in search of her mother. She would always find her in the kitchen with a tall glass of milk filled with crushed Oreos that she would dig out with a spoon. It was heavy with sugar and numbed Aaline's mouth with the cold. She remembered giggling wildly with her mother during those late night snacks. It was one of the only memories she had of her mother before she died.

Aaline pulled the milk from the fridge and the Oreos from the cupboard. She poured herself and tall glass and then crumbled up each cookie individually before she dropped them into her glass. She closed her eyes as she took the first bite. It had been a long time since she'd last enjoyed this special treat. She hadn't done it since college and the flood of memories brought tears to her eyes.

In the back of her mind, she wondered if she and Ivar might ever share memories like this. She felt despair settle in her stomach at the thoughts and shook them away. She would be lucky if Ivar was tolerable.

She placed her dirty glass in the sink and made her way back around to the staircase and up to her room. On her way, she heard a soft rustling from the sitting room in the back of the house. She turned to investigate and saw a soft light coming from down the hall. She slowly made her way towards it and stopped in the doorway.

She'd seen enough pictures of Ragnar Lothbrok to know that he was sitting before her now. He had a newspaper from today, well, technically yesterday, unfolded in his hands. He had a pair of reading glasses pushed far down the end of his nose. He was bald but with a thick beard that obscured the lower half of his face. His face was lined with the experiences afforded to a man his age. The lines around his eyes trailed down his cheeks. There was a long scar on his right cheek that curved around his eye and up his forehead. She could tell, even from the doorway, that Ivar got his eyes from his father. They both held the same secrets and the same pain. Ivar's eyes were cold where Ragnar's were warm.

What surprised Aaline most about Ragnar's appearance were the tattoos on either side of his head. They touched at his temples and spanned the space of his head, trailing down around his ears and disappearing into the collar of his shirt at his neck.

She was surprised that a businessman like Ragnar would adorn himself with such obvious ink but she recalled where he started in life and it made sense.

He began his career as a businessman at the bottom of the totem pole. A lowly foot soldier taking orders from the man on top. He did the bidding of Earl Haraldson, the man that Ragnar would one day replace.

As a foot soldier, Ragnar tattooed his victories on his skin. They told the story of his strength and his independence. They told anyone who looked at them how he overcame Earl Haraldson for control of Kattegat and, eventually, the Northmen.

"You are welcome to join me, Miss Jensen. There is another seat." Aaline startled and blushed fiercely at being caught staring. She shuffled forward and sat on the edge of the chair next to Ragnar. He smiled at her and closed his paper, handing her an empty glass. She took it, confused, and watched as Ragnar unscrewed a flask and poured her two finger worth of whiskey. She smiled and took a careful sniff. Ragnar laughed when she burst into a coughing fit.

"My apologies. Floki makes his own whiskey and it is very potent." She nodded and set the glass down, deciding to leave it untouched. Ragnar shuffled his paper and went back to reading.

Aaline felt awkward, sitting in the dark with a man she barely knew. She opened her mouth to speak but Ragnar beat her to it. "We have not been formally introduced." He folded his paper and set it down on his lap. "I am Ragnar Lothbrok." He held his hand out for her to shake. "Aaline Jensen." She whispered.

He smiled and his eyes crinkled at the corners and she found she liked the way it changed his face. "It is nice to finally meet you, Aaline Jensen. I have heard a lot about you." She tensed and nodded once, looking away from him. She heard him hum. "I imagine it is hard for you, being here, alone, knowing no one."

There was an accent present in his voice. It was thick but he enunciated well, spoke clearly. She imagined a man like Ragnar Lothbrok was not stupid by any means. He had to be clever in order to get to where he is now.

She turned to look at him. "I'm adjusting." She said. He nodded, looking over her face. "The girls are lovely, very welcoming." She nodded and looked down at her hands. "At one time, they were all in your shoes. New to this world, the challenges of marrying a Lothbrok." She snorted and he quirked an eyebrow.

She sighed. "No offense, Mr. Lothbrok," He cut her off. "Call me Ragnar, please." She hesitated but nodded and continued. "No offense, Ragnar, but I don't think any of the other women who married into this family did so under duress." Ragnar smiled and nodded, humming his agreement. "No, I don't believe they did."

She looked at him and watched as he breathed deeply. "You remind me of my daughter, Gyda. She had a fire about her. She would not be told what to do. She followed her own path, made her own decisions." Aaline drew her eyebrows together. "I didn't know you had a daughter."

Ragnar looked sad then and nodded slowly. "She died, many years ago." Aaline closed her eyes and shook her head. Losing her mother had been hard on her but she couldn't imagine losing a child. "I'm sorry. That must've been very difficult for you." Ragnar grunted.

"There was nothing I wouldn't have done for her. She was the light of my life." Aaline felt tears burn her eyes and wished that her father held her in the same regard that Ragnar did his daughter. Her father had said a lot of pretty things to her but never had he displayed his affection in a way that meant anything.

"I love my sons, dearly. There is nothing I wouldn't do for them." She looked up at him then and his gaze was focused on her entirely. She felt trapped beneath his eyes. "But their wives, my new daughters, in all of them I see Gyda. I am reminded of how easily life can be taken and I vowed to protect them as I would my own daughter."

He picked up his own glass of whiskey and took a long drink. He placed it back down and smiled at her. "I know that this is not what you want. It is not what Ivar wants, either. I imagine none of us ever thought this would be a path life would lead us down but, alas, we are here." He shifted in his seat to face her fully, his eyes still locking her in place. "I want you to know, as much as you may not believe it now, you will always be protected under this house. You are my daughter now and you will always be safe here."

Aaline swallowed back the tears that threatened to fall. She wanted to speak, say anything to Ragnar Lothbrok but the lump in her throat was too thick and any words that she tried to force would lead her to tears. Ragnar must've sensed it because he tipped his head to her and gestured to the door.

"It is late, child. Go back to bed. There are many things to do in the morning."