"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls. The most massive characters are seared with scars." ~ Khalil Gibran

"Aelle is going to retaliate. We can't kill his brother and not expect some kind of action." Björn sighed.

Ivar drew his eyebrows together, confused. "I don't remember hearing your voice protest to Aethelwulf's demise. If you were so against it, maybe you should've spoken up, brother." He drolled. Björn glared and straightened from his hunched position over the map of territories.

"I wasn't saying that I protested. Merely that we should have considered all options before sending his body back to Aelle." Björn huffed.

Ivar narrowed his eyes and his smile grew cold. "What are you saying, Björn? Leif and Torstein weren't worthy of immediate restitution? Their deaths meant nothing as long as Aethelwulf made it back to Aelle, alive? What exactly are you saying, brother?" Ivar enjoyed watching Björn's face go from pale to red to nearly purple as his rage mounted.

It had been several days since Aethelwulf's body had been sent back to Aelle rather unceremoniously. Ivar had been the one to push him out of the car as it screeched around Aelle's circle drive in their haste to return him. Other than a clipped obituary sent in a blank envelope two days ago, they hadn't heard anything from Aelle.

"Children, please, fighting will not solve anything. Aethelwulf is dead. We didn't kill him absent the knowledge that Aelle would retaliate. We know he's going to retaliate. We just need to act first."

Ragnar had been running them ragged since Aelle's attack. None of them had slept much in the last seven days or so. Ragnar often kept them late into the night and well into the early hours of the morning before they all retired to their respective rooms. Björn hadn't slept in his own bed beside his wife in almost a week which might explain his foul mood. Ivar didn't have such a problem.

He smirked thinking about his wife's body beside him at night. She was often asleep when he came to bed but would occasionally wake when he climbed in. She would turn to face him and curl her body against his front, burying her nose in his neck and tangling their legs together.

Ivar wasn't sure if she knew how deeply she tangled them together when he came to bed but he didn't mind admitting that he enjoyed it. He liked feeling her soft curves against his chest. Her hair splayed out on the bed behind her and Ivar liked to fall asleep stroking the long strands.

Once or twice, he'd woken her with his tongue pressed against her folds. She had gasped awake, her hands quickly moving to his hair and her hips rolling against the press of his tongue against her.

He liked to use those moments as a learning opportunity, using her body's unconscious reactions to learn what she liked. She hadn't protested and tried to take it further but Ivar was quick to quell her motions, content with just the taste of her to fall asleep to. Aaline never said anything the next morning but he noticed her secret smiles at dinner and her soft blushes when he came into a room she was already occupying.

In truth, he was waiting for a time when she wasn't half-asleep to take her for the first time. He wanted her to be awake when he first slipped inside her. He wanted her to watch as he claimed her.

The very thought brought blood rushing to his cock and he had to adjust in his seat to hide his sudden arousal from his brothers. Hvitserk gave him a brief look before smirking and turning back to their father.

"What do you suggest father?" He asked.

Ragnar sat at his desk with steepled fingers, his lips slightly pursed. "We wait. We don't act. We prepare for an attack but we don't attack. We've made our move. It's Aelle's turn."

Ivar snorted and all eyes swiveled to him. He shook his head and met his father's piercing blue gaze with one of his own. "We need to act first. If we wait, Aelle could attack and we'd take a more devastating blow than if we had acted.

"Ecbert and Aelle have a wedding coming up. Their son and daughter respectively. I say we strike there, where they're least expecting it. Their numbers will be severely impacted and they'll have to move closer to an alliance."

Ragnar watched his youngest son the entire time he spoke. It was a good idea but one Ragnar would refuse.

"I will not attack an innocent woman on her wedding day. We will afford the same courtesy to them as they did to us. The wedding will proceed without a disturbance."

Ivar sneered. "What courtesy are you referred because I seem to remember Ecbert and Aelle pulling you from the reception to discuss business. Aethelwulf the younger put his hands on my wife. Or did you attend a different ceremony?" Ivar gestured wildly as he spoke, his anger rising.

Ragnar continued to regard his youngest son with a collected eye. "It was the engagement party where Aethelwulf spoke to Aaline so she wasn't your wife yet." Ivar snorted and leaned back heavily in his chair, shaking his head.

"And I don't care if Ecbert and Aelle interrupted your party to discuss business. We will be the bigger man and leave their wedding uninterrupted. We will wait for any action and prepare for any attack. Do I make myself clear?"

All his other sons nodded and grunted their affirmation. He could tell they were unhappy with his decision but would not voice their displeasure quite as vehemently as Ivar. Ragnar gazed at his son until his own eyes stared back at him with barely contained rage.

"Ivar? Am I clear?"

Ivar heaved a deep sigh, his chest rising high before he gave one swift nod. "Crystal."

"It is late." Ragnar glanced down at his watch and grunted. He walked to the window and pushed the blinds open. All the men groaned when sunlight streamed in through the window.

"I stand corrected." He turned back to his family, hands on his hips, smiling.

"It is early. Go to bed. Sleep next to your wives for a few hours." He smirked and clapped his hands once, leaving his sons alone in the room.

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The sun was bright as it came in through the window. Aaline's eyes slowly blinked open, adjusting to the light. She closed her eyes again and sighed, turned onto her back and stretching her arms above her head. She reached out to the other side of the bed and frowned when she didn't feel her husband.

She turned her head and opened her eyes. The blankets were still neatly tucked around the edge of his side, his pillow still plump.

Ivar had not come to bed last night.

The last few days had been hectic. The men had been scrambling for a plan on how to move against Aelle. Every night for the last five or so days, Ragnar had kept his men busy. The boys were being pulled in all different directions, moving from warehouse to warehouse to Ragnar's war room to the dock where Leif and Torstein had been killed.

Aethelstan was working the case and had been attending as many meetings as he could. Between appearances at the police station and chasing down leads, Aethelstan wasn't around for as much of Ragnar's briefings as they had hoped.

Most mornings, Aaline would wake up to the movement of Ivar getting into bed. When she had checked the clock, it typically read anywhere from three to six o'clock in the morning. Ragnar was running his men ragged and it clearly wasn't going to get any better.

It was almost eight o'clock this particular morning and Ivar had yet to make it to bed.

Aaline sighed and shifted out of bed, swinging her legs over the side. Ever since that first night nearly a week ago, Aaline had taken to sleeping in Ivar's room. He didn't seem to mind. If anything, he preferred it.

The first night after their unfortunate interruption, Aaline had been waiting up for Ivar in his room, reading her novel with all the lights off except her small reading lamp. Ivar had trudged in, dragging his feet and slouching his shoulders, both actions bad for his hips, stripped himself down to his boxers and climbed into bed, wrapping his arm around her waist as he did it. When she had made a move to retreat to her own room, Ivar had grunted and tugged her sharply against him.

Aaline had taken it for the sign it was and settled herself into bed against him. Things continued much the same until one-night Aaline woke to the feeling of a hot tongue probing her weeping entrance and an orgasm rocking through her frame. She'd clutched tightly at Ivar's hair, her knuckles throbbing, as he continued to lap at her core.

Her second orgasm had startled her not only in its intensity but in the rapid way it assaulted her body. She'd arched high off the bed and bracket his head with her thighs, trembling against his tongue as he gently licked her. She was covered in sweat and shaking as she pulled him up her frame. When she tried to pull his stiff length from his sleep pants, he'd carefully pushed her hand away and curled up behind her, stroking her hair until she fell quickly back into a deep sleep.

Twice Ivar had done this and both times he hadn't let her pull him inside her body. She wasn't sure what his resistance was for. She knew he was eager enough for it and she was more than willing to take him inside her but for some reason, he wouldn't move beyond licking her to blinding orgasms.

It was almost a week ago since his nightly activities had stared and Ivar hadn't said anything to her about going back to her own room. She was tempted to move all her things in but she wasn't sure if they were there yet.

She pulled her hair up into a loose ponytail and ventured into the bathroom, turning the shower on as she went.

She was in the process of washing her face when she heard the bedroom door slam. She poked her head around the door and saw Ivar pacing the length of the room much like a caged animal. She tugged a towel from the rack and dried her face before exiting the bathroom.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

Ivar looked up at her and nearly lost his anger. She was dressed in the same thing she had worn to bed that night.

She had pulled her robe on over one of his gray t-shirts. Her feet were bare and if she lifted her arms he'd be able to see her panties. Her black robe hung down around her shoulders nearly brushing the floor. It was untied and the belt trailed behind her on the ground.

His anger almost melted away but his heart was still pounding and he could feel his blood rushing beneath his skin. His fingers were tingling and a sound similar to a jet engine was filling his ears. He couldn't think straight.

He continued to pace, growling low in his throat. Aaline narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Ivar, what's wrong?" She asked again. He snarled and rounded on her.

"Nothing. Nothing is wrong. Can't I just be angry?" He growled. Her eyebrows shot up and she dropped her arms, her palms slapping the sides of her legs.

"I suppose. Something's bothering you though. What happened?" She prodded. She could feel her own agitation building up in her chest but she knew that getting angry with Ivar wouldn't help the situation.

Ivar cried out, throwing his cell phone across the room. An ominous shatter was heard and Aaline stiffened, leaning back on her heels and pursing her lips. She was getting angry. Ivar was throwing a temper tantrum and she refused to acknowledge it.

"Are you quite finished?" She yelled. Ivar spun to face her, his chest heaving and his teeth bared like a rabid dog.

"Know that you've successfully destroyed your phone and thrown an epic tantrum, would you like to tell me what's bothering you or continue to be a child?" She snapped. Ivar glared at her and pointed an accusing finger.

"You have no idea what I'm dealing with. Don't call me a child!"

"Well, you're acting like a child! I asked you what was bothering you and you would rather throw a temper tantrum than speak to me!"

"It doesn't matter! No one agrees with me so it doesn't matter what's bothering me! Just leave it alone!"

"I'd rather not, Ivar, seeing as you've shattered your phone and created a rather large dent in the wall. I say again, are you finished acting like a child?"

"You're an insufferable woman, do you know that?"

"If I'm so insufferable why do you let me sleep here?"

"That's a good question!"

Ivar and Aaline had steadily gotten closer to each other as they argued. Both were breathing heavily and Aaline could feel the heat emanating from her face. Her eyes were wet with frustration and she scoffed at him.

"I don't know why I even tried." She shook her head and turned on her heel, back into the bathroom. She rummaged quickly through various drawers before she had all the necessary items.

Ivar was still standing where she'd left him and his eyes narrowed at the sight of her. "What are you doing?" He watched as she strolled past him, her toiletries spilling out of her arms.

"I'm leaving because you clearly don't want me here anymore." Ivar scoffed and rolled his eyes, moving towards her.

"Don't be ridiculous." He shot back when she spun violently to face him and pointed an accusing finger in front of his face. He held his hands up in surrender and sighed.

"I'm being ridiculous? Let me remind you that all I did was ask if you were alright. One little question and you blow up. Throwing things across the room and refusing to answer me. I'm your wife, Ivar, I'm allowed to be concerned but if you don't want to tell me what's bothering, fine, I'll go but don't expect me to come back just because you ask."

She whipped around and slammed the door behind her. Ivar scoffed and turned away from the door, already regretting his outburst.

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"They are going to retaliate. We need to be ready when they do." Aelle said, leaning into Ecbert. Ecbert smiled and raised his glass when his wife waved at him from her position on the dance floor.

Ecbert sighed and glanced at Aelle. "Must we discuss this here, Aelle? Our children just got married. It's a happy time." Ecbert waved at a passing guest and took a drink of his champagne.

"We need to be prepared, Ecbert. We need a plan of attack. We can't expect them to just wait around. They're planning something. I know they are."

Ecbert sighed and readjusted his weight in his seat, turning to face the other Saxon. "Aelle," He waited until the other man looked at him. "Killing Aethelwulf was their retaliation. The next thing they're going to do is wait for us to make a move so, yes, we'll make a plan." He turned back to the dance floor.

The DJ had begun playing some ridiculous song that had people flapping their arms and legs in a ridiculous imitation of dancing. "As soon as the wedding is over, we'll start planning."

He glanced over at his companion and sighed at the pensive expression on Aelle's face. "It's a wedding, Aelle. Loosen the collar a bit, have some fun." Ecbert stood and left his companion to his silence.

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I know it's been a while and I've been meaning to update for a long time but, for whatever reason, I haven't been in the writing spirit. I'm getting ready to go on vacation and I felt that you deserved an update. Not too much smut in this chapter but some plot development and relationship building. I hope you enjoy.