Ingrid pulled her cloak tighter around her as the chilled wind blew. She ignored the whispers they carried, not wanting to hear the information the wind wanted to share. Ingrid was not ready to welcome the power – the responsibility back into her life. Eventually she knew she would, but for now she simply allowed herself to breathe.

Ingrid picked up the basket of items she needed for a spell. She promised a woman she would assist with her infertility and since Ingrid did not wish to toy with the Web, she must lean on her magic. Besides, her magic has never failed her in the past so there was no reason for it to start now. A part of her wondered if she was about to help bring one of the most creatures into this world. Not knowing, once again, gave her a thrill.

She was about to go on her way when Hvitserk approached her. The way he smiled always made Ingrid smile in return. That was something about Hvitserk that reminded her of her past husband – his smile. "Hello, Hvitserk."

"Hello, Ingrid. What are you doing?" Hvitserk was taking his time getting to what he really wished to discuss with her.

"I am helping a citizen with a fertility spell," Ingrid answered honestly, leaving out the detail of who the woman was out of respect.

"So you are not only a Weaver but a Sorceress?" Hvitserk asked in an impressed tone.

Ingrid laughed lightly, "Oh, I am a great many things."

Hvitserk told her genuinely, "I know."

There was something about the way he said it that made Ingrid ask, "Is there something you wish to say to me, Hvitserk?"

"Yes," he admitted and got right to it. "I love you, Ingrid. Since the moment I first saw you I have loved you. I understand Ubbe has first claim and I will respect that. I will leave you be. I just – I needed you to know."

Ingrid cared for Hvitserk deeply, as she did for Ubbe, Bjorn, and Ivar in different ways. To hear him say that he loved her ignited something in her heart, almost as if she was feeling it mend somehow. She set the basket down beside her and placed her hand gently on Hvitserk's face. "I feel deeply for you as well. Thank you for telling me." She leaned forward and kissed him before taking her basket and walking away.

Ubbe's words of how he was willing to share her with his brothers echoed through her mind but she was not sure if she would be able to pursue Hvitserk like that again. Ingrid terribly wanted to, but she believed being with him would put a wedge between those two brothers. Ingrid realized she couldn't hurt them like that, something she would have had no qualms with in the past. Her feelings were changing – she was changing – whether or not she realized it. The only question was...How long would it last?


The day of Ingrid's wedding to Ubbe had arrived. Ingrid stood in the forest near the wedding sight as Torvi did some finishing touches to her hair. "Thank you for your assistance." Ingrid doubted if Torvi knew about her times with Bjorn that she would have been so generous.

"You do not seem to have many women friends," Torvi pointed out as she placed the flower crown on Ingrid's head. "That makes it my pleasure, Ingrid. Now, are you ready? Everyone else is."

Ingrid nodded. "I will be there in just a moment."

Torvi went off to join the others, leaving Ingrid to have a moment with her thoughts.

Ingrid closed her eyes and smiled softly as images of her past husband flashed through her mind. They were so happy together until he was ripped away from her because she went against Odin's wishes. Ingrid was not going to let that happen again. She was pulled from her thoughts and vows when she heard Bjorn's voice speak to her.

"You look beautiful Ingrid." Bjorn was a bit jealous of his younger brother for marrying her and his face showed it.

"That is not the first time I have been told such a thing." Ingrid went over to Bjorn and softly kissed his lips. Without saying a word, she walked away to take her place with Ubbe.

Bjorn watched her go for a moment before he, too, joined the others. He stood at the back of the small crowd and watched the ceremony commence.

"Who gives this woman away to her new husband?" the Priestess asked the group.

"I do," Hvitserk answered as he stepped forward and handed over the ring while not once looking away from Ingrid.

Ingrid smiled at him with laughter in her eyes when Ubbe had gesture to Hvitserk to step back. Hvitserk finally got the hint and returned to his spot next to Sigurd with a grin upon his face.

The Priestess dipped the ring in blood before placing it in Ubbe's hand. After Ubbe slid the ring onto Ingrid's finger and took her hands in his, she said, "And so I name you man and wife. And may the Gods bless you," she flicked the blood upon both their faces, "and give you children, and may they keep the wolf from your door."

Ubbe smiled wide as he pulled Ingrid closer to him. He was not certain if she truly felt anything for him until that moment. There was something in her eyes – a look resembling love – and that meant the world to him. Ubbe cupped her face and kissed her deeply to seal their union.

When their lips parted, she didn't take her eyes away from his. She felt as if she was marrying a piece of her past husband and that feeling was something she was going to hold onto for eternity. Odin would not be able to take her husband away from her as easily as before. This time she would be prepared – Odin would never take anyone away from her again.

The Priestess was pleased to see their silent exchange because it was clear how much this pair meant to one another. So now with a joyous tone, she called out, "And now, the Bridal Race!"

Ingrid laughed as Hvitserk took off running with Ubbe right behind him. She went with the others to watch as they ran over the obstacles, stop to drink some ale, and proceed again with the obstacles. Ingrid clapped in enjoyment and cheered when Ubbe won.

When Ubbe left the finish line, Ingrid threw her arms around him and kissed him. "Congratulations, husband," she beamed then teased Hvitserk, saying, "Congratulations to you as well – You must serve the feast."

If anyone else said that to him he would have been annoyed, but since it came from Ingrid, all Hvitserk could do was smile. This was something which was not missed by Ubbe for certain, which made him think he would have to share the knowledge of the terms with his brother to ensure Ingrid would not stray beyond with those he had knowledge of.


Ingrid talked and laughed with their guests as they sat at their feast as Hvitserk served them. His brothers teased him about the responsibility while Ingrid watched and smiled whenever he came to fill her cup with more ale.

Ingrid hadn't felt this…happy in a very long time. If only her brother had been there to see it. Then again, perhaps it was for the best that he was not. Not that it was for the best he was dead, just that he was not present at the wedding. Ingrid doubted her brother would have allowed the union and if he was still alive, she doubted she would have agreed at all.

Ubbe noticed the change of expression on her face and asked across the table, "Something on your mind, wife?"

Ingrid returned a smile on her face as she joked, "I was trying to come up with a way to tease your brother but I cannot think of a thing."

Sigurd jumped in there, saying, "She must be thinking about your marriage night too much." A comment which resulted in both Ingrid and Ubbe throwing pieces of food at him while the others laughed.

Hvitserk wasn't laughing, though. He believed that he would never be with Ingrid in the way they once had been again. Going after his brother's wife was something he would never do and he would just have to accept it. But if Ingrid kept smiling and looking at him the way she does, he would find it very hard to do so.

This was something Hvitserk thought about through the feast and long after it was over. With only Ubbe, himself, and Ingrid remaining in the quarters, he sat down at the table with Ingrid while Ubbe relaxed on the bed. "You are a married woman now. How does it feel?"

"About the same as it did the first time," Ingrid answered honestly, knowing that the brothers already knew she was wed before and he was killed. "I enjoyed it then and I very much enjoy it now." She smiled as she raised her cup to him and took a final sip.

"I do not think any other bride will ever be as beautiful as you are." Hvitserk knew he should have watched his tongue, but he couldn't help it.

"There is far more to me than my beauty," Ingrid retorted. "I have a mind as well."

"A well known fact," Ubbe interjected as he moved off the bed and sat down on a chair near them, raising his cup as he did so. "To my brother and my wife." He drank his ale and looked at the two of them with suggestion upon his face.

Hvitserk didn't understand his brother's face. "Why are you looking at us like that?"

Ubbe let his head fall back before answering. "Ingrid and I have an arrangement. It is not in her nature to be bound to one man only, so it is not fair for me to keep her all to myself. We all wanted her, we have all had her, but since I am the oldest I have the honor of being wed to her. But this does not mean I am not willing to share her."

"If Ingrid agrees," Hvitserk smiled at her, "then so do I."

Ingrid already knew all this, but there was something she did not know. She set her cup aside as she asked, "There is one thing we did not discuss, husband. What is to keep you from getting jealous, hm?" She looked to Hvitserk, "Or you?"

Ubbe was the one who answered. "Were we jealous before?"

"I was not your wife before," Ingrid countered, wanting to see if Ubbe meant his word or merely said it as a means for her to marry him.

Ubbe had to give her that she he said something else. "Because we are Vikings."

"Oh, Vikings," Ingrid jokingly mocked with a teasing grin. "Let us see if that is true." She leaned closer to Hvitserk, grabbed hold of his shirt and pulled him close. Ingrid kissed him with fiery passion and looked to see how Ubbe was reacting – All he did was smile.

Ingrid pulled away from Hvitserk and walked over to Ubbe. When he stood, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with deep passion, looking to Hvitserk to see his reaction as well. This action seemed to around him and he chuckled so.

Now that Ingrid had seen all she needed to, she moved over to the bed with a sultry smile upon her face. "Well, come along then. After all, this is my marriage night and I want to go to bed." She slipped out of her dress and let it fall to the floor, waiting for the brothers to make their move.

Ingrid watched as Hvitserk and Ubbe exchanged silent looks with each other. She giggled in anticipation and excitement when the brothers finally moved towards her to take her to bed.


A lot of preparations were made for the sacrifice to the Gods to bless the Great Army. Ingrid always hated sacrifices. She could never understand why the other Gods thrived when they were made – Ingrid could not see the point. Dying on the battlefield to honor the Gods was one thing but to take a defenseless life to honor them was entirely different. At least, it was to Ingrid. One thing was certain, however, dealing with taking souls to the afterlife was something she did not miss.

Just before the sacrifice was about to commence, the crowd gasped as they looked up to see what looked like a large star moving across the sky. Ingrid's eyes went to the sky as well, until she felt a pair of them upon her. Ingrid saw Bjorn's attention focused solely on her from across the crowd, and it made her breathing ragged because she wanted him so terribly. Since Ubbe and the others were so fixated on the night sky and the miracle above, she took that moment to sneak away with Bjorn soon to follow.

They didn't venture too far before Bjorn pulled Ingrid into a building and removed her dress soon after. "How do you enjoy being married to my brother?" he asked as he pushed her back against the wall.

"Very much," Ingrid answered a bit breathlessly.

"And yet you are here with me?" Bjorn asked in a 'hm?' tone as he slowly moved his hand up her leg to her chest.

"We have an understanding," Ingrid answered. "Ubbe understands my nature."

"Lucky for me." Bjorn kissed Ingrid hard and proceeded to do everything Ingrid would allow him to.


When Ingrid returned to her and Ubbe's quarters, she found him waiting for her. "Where were you?" he asked as soon as she entered. "I looked to my side and you were no longer there."

"I did not want to watch," Ingrid answered as she started undoing the braids in her hair. "My brother died by a blade. I couldn't watch another." She only told Ubbe half truths and left out quite a lot as she spoke to him. Ingrid couldn't fathom why she didn't just tell him the truth about where she was and what she was doing since they had an agreement. Perhaps it was because things were different where Bjorn was concerned – the dynamic between them was different than with Ubbe's other brothers. Or perhaps it was because she had a secret and secrets were thrilling.

Ubbe believed her words because he had no reason to doubt her. "I am sorry, Ingrid. I did not think of that when I asked you to come."

"I never told you how my brother died," Ingrid retorted. "It is not your fault." She didn't wish to speak of this any further and turned to face him. "Shall we go to bed?"

Ubbe smiled a bit as he asked, "To sleep?"

Ingrid chuckled in an 'oh, no' manner as she slid off her dress and let it drop to the floor. "Absolutely not."

Ubbe grunted a bit as he pulled her close and kissed her. "Good."


The day finally arrived for the Great Army to leave. Ingrid stood on the docks with Ubbe and rested her forehead against his as she whispered, "If you die, I will kill you."

"I knew you loved me," Ubbe teased before kissing her then got serious as he said, "I will do everything in my power to come back to you. If the Gods will it, then it shall be done."

"I will it," Ingrid firmly stated. "I will not lose another husband. Do you understand me?"

Ubbe answered by kissing her deeply then saying, "I will see you again."

Ingrid went against her decision to look upon the Web in that moment to ensure that Ubbe would survive. She knew what it would cost to ensure who she wanted to live would live, but she did not care. The Gods were not going to take Ubbe or the others away from her. Especially not Ivar, but only because she had plans for him. Her brother used to say that Ivar was her pet, her favorite, but that was not true - Not anymore. Ivar was Odin's pet, his favorite among men, and if Ingrid could not take her revenge out upon Odin himself then she would have to go after the next best thing no matter the cost to her feelings - If there was any.

Pulling herself from her thoughts, she placed her hands on the sides of Ubbe's face and told him, "Yes, you will see me again, my husband. You will."

They shared one last kiss before Ubbe went onto the boat and it was Hvitserk's turn to bid her farewell. "We seem to make a habit of this, don't we?" he asked jokingly before kissing her goodbye. "Goodbye, Ingrid."

"Goodbye, Hvitserk." She kissed his cheek and said, "I will see you again."

Hvitserk hoped they would see one another again as he touched her face before departing down the dock.

Ingrid thought they were the only ones to wish farewell to, but Bjorn changed that thinking. "Are you expecting a farewell kiss?" she asked, looking up at him.

Bjorn shook his head and hugged her instead since Ubbe was watching. "I have a favor to ask, Ingrid."

She was intrigued by this statement. As their embrace ended, she asked, "And what might that be?"

"Get close to my mother. Give counsel if she needs it. Weave for her if necessary." Bjorn knew this was a lot to ask of her but he had to at least try. "Will you do this for me?"

Ingrid shook her head. "I bow down to no one, Bjorn. Not even a Queen."

"I am not asking you to bow," Bjorn retorted. "I am asking you to be there."

Ingrid sighed heavily, not sure which path to take and decided not to decided yet. "I will see. That is all I will promise."

Bjorn was willing to accept that answer and hugged her again before joining his brothers on the boat.

Ingrid waved a last farewell to them before turning away and not looking back. If she did look back she may have ran down the dock and jumped aboard to go with them. After all, war was a part of her too – a part of her that hasn't been satiated for a very long time.


End Episode 7