Blót: ON: a sacrifice (y'all probably already knew that one)
There was feast the night before Björn's raiding party left and once Harald Hårfagre* and Halfdan's men had arrived. The hall was hot and crowded and filled with drunk men. Ivar sat in his usual place while Unnr sat next to him. He had an arm on her back, pulling her close so that she was practically on his lap anyway. This was how they usually were. Once they had admitted their feelings, they seemed unable to keep their hands off of each other.
Björn brought two men over to the table, one of whom Unnr recognized as King Harald based on Björn's earlier description. "Meet Ubbe, Hvitserk, Sigurd, and Ivar," the eldest introduced them. "Hvitserk will be coming with us. So is Unnr there."
"I remember you!" Harald said. "You've all grown so tall."
"I am so much taller when I stand up," Ivar said.
"I'm sure you wish you could come with us," Halfdan said gently, but not without noticing the pretty woman that sat with the boy on the side opposite from Queen Áslaug and couldn't help but wonder what arrangement had her sitting so close to the cripple.
That was the pity that Ivar hated and Unnr wondered if Ivar's temper would have him attack a king's brother.
"Go to hell," Ivar grinned and raised his cup.
The pair of brothers laughed and the Ragnarssons tried to laugh along with them, but in truth still feared an outlash from Ivar.
"I like him!" Halfdan declared.
Unnr sighed out of relief and gently touched Ivar's cheek, turning him to her so she could kiss him. For once it was an innocent kiss that lasted no more than a second. The brothers had grown used to this by now, but Halfdan still frowned in confusion. Across the room Lagertha saw this and wondered why she had not been informed of Unnr's choice. She approached the table to see that in those mere moments, Áslaug had disappeared.
"Earl Ingstad," Ivar sneered, his grip tightening on Unnr's back.
Unnr tried not to grin at his possessiveness. "It is good to see you, Lagertha."
"You too, Unnr. May I have a word?"
Unnr stood and kissed Ivar's forehead. She couldn't help smile as she pried his hand away so that she could walk with Lagertha. Lagertha waited until they were outside of the hall before speaking
"You have picked a husband, then," Lagertha said. "I am glad, but am I the last to know?"
Unnr frowned. "Áslaug has not given her consent. I think she hoped I would pick Hvitserk."
"So did I. Or Ubbe," Lagertha admitted. In fact she had been counting on Unnr being married already and hopefully staying behind in Kattegat like a proper wife. Though perhaps it was for the best Unnr was leaving; if she had chosen Ivar it was out of love and not ambition; another hope of Lagertha's. "But what matters is that you're happy. Do not worry about Áslaug. We had an agreement and it will be honored." She embraced Unnr.
Unnr hugged her in return as tight as she could manage. "Thank you, Lagertha, for everything you have ever done for me."
When they returned, Áslaug had already begun the blót. The goats had been sacrificed and the blood was being sprinkled on the travelers. Unnr frowned when Ivar was not in his seat, but found him quickly next to the hautbolli. She watched him put his hands into the bowl, expecting him to taste some of it. Instead he streaked it onto his face and then brought the bowl to his mouth to drink. He looked up at her and smiled, blood coating his teeth and lips, and dribbling down his chin.
Unnr felt heat pooling between her legs and wondered if there was something wrong with her. She quickly dismissed the thought; it didn't matter because it meant she matched with Ivar. She knelt next to him and kissed him deeply, her hands moving from his face down to his chest. "Ivar, I need you to fuck me."
He grinned and brought her to the room at the back of the hall, now deserted because of the feast. Within moments they had undressed each other and Ivar's lips were on every inch of skin he could touch. Settled between her thighs, he pushed into her without the help of his fingers or tongue, causing her to cry out. He paused, still inside of her until she panted for him to go on. He pushed deeper, nipping at her breasts while her nails dragged across his back. She bucked her hips in rhythm to him, begging for more. He put his hand to her throat, but then with a wicked grin, changed his mind. He turned her over so she was on her stomach and took her from behind. He leaned on her upper back, pushing her into the ground as he thrust into her over and over again. She whimpered and gasped his name. Her face was pressed into the furs, she couldn't see Ivar. "Fuck, Unnr," Ivar moaned, but otherwise Unnr had no way of knowing who was fucking her. The sex was impersonal, fucking for the sake of fucking and the thought of being used this way made her tremble. With the next thrust of his pulsing cock, she came. Ivar growled as she did and after several more deep thrusts, pulled out of her, cuming on her back. He rolled to the side of her to see her grinning.
Unnr kissed him and snuggled closer. "I'm going to miss you," she said.
"I will be right here when you get back," he said, gently tracing his fingers over her shoulders and then her breasts. He bent his head down and took her nipple in his mouth.
Unnr moaned and begged him to keep touching her as she reached between his legs. His cock was already hard again and she grinned. "How long do you think we have?"
"No one is coming to sleep tonight," Ivar answered. "Nights like this, they pass out wherever they were standing when they had the drink that was one too many."
*This is the modern Norwegian spelling because I can't remember it in Old Norse and my modern Icelandic is shit. But I think this is fine because, well, he's Norwegian.
