A week had passed since Ubbe had brought Jarl Einar into the great hall in hopes of ruffling Lagertha's feathers. And it had worked. She was agitated. She had stolen his entire life from him. He wanted her to suffer and if a night of wild party goers upset her, all the better. It was a small price for killing his mother.
Dahlia had been distant from him, more than usual since that night. Though he met her each day after her training, she was quiet and tight, like the string of his hunting bows. Anytime he tried to make conversation she replied with short, one worded answers. Something was different. She had not been training with Lagertha either. She had been meeting with a smaller select group of shieldmaidens. Lagertha had started on her project of increasing the fortification of Kattegat, leaving her unable to continue in their private training. It also left many of the women too busy to meet. Now only a dozen or so women met during their midday break to wield their swords and axes.
'They wanted to continue in their training.' Dahlia had mumbled when Ubbe prodded her about the change in numbers. It made him smile even though her answer was terse. Maybe she was listening to his advice. She needed good people surrounding her, especially if he and his brothers were to overthrow Lagertha after returning from England. They would need the support from the people of Kattegat. Ubbe thought these woman might be the ones most loyal to his wife, the way they laughed and joked around each other made it seem to be true. He rarely saw her out in public without at least one of these shieldmaidens close at her side.
He had been so busy with his brothers trying to assemble an army that he rarely saw her. He had been making time in the evening to travel to the edge of town so that he could walk her home, just so he could spend a few moments alone with her, away from his obnoxious brothers and their never ending arguing. He had never informed her, or even himself of his plan, to escort her back to their cottage, it just happened. He could not forget the way Tyr hovered over Dahlia with the dedication of man deep in love. Men like Tyr would stop at nothing to get the things they desired. Ubbe would not let it be easy for him. On their walks back to their cottage he could swear that Dahlia was softening to him but the moment the sounds of his brother's quarreling reached her ears she stiffened like a plank board.
So each day Ubbe arrived, waiting patiently, optimistic of the new day, under a tall spruce pine that overlooked the grassy trainging field. Hidden away from prying eyes, he would watch with interest as Dahlia fought, steadily improving with practice.
That day she had the women split into groups of two, taking their turns in attacking her. She fought them off with ease, and though they fought their hardest they were no match for her skill.
It made his mouth twist into a smile at her quiet prowess, the one that drew people to her without her knowledge. She did not seek out their attention or beg for their acceptance but instead was kind and willing to listen. They respected her, that was very clear to Ubbe
It was only as the sky dimmed did Dahlia bid her fellow shieldmaidens farewell. Three followed after her, laughing amongst themselves as they headed with her to his pine tree. Her head was bent in concentration of her own feet, following their movement as if she did not know if she could trust them or not. She would have walked right past Ubbe, who was leaning against the trunk, had it not been for his singing whistle that startled her. She had been so lost in her own thoughts that she forgot to take in her own surroundings.
'Are you spying on me?' Dahlia demanded when she spotted him, her hip popping and her hand resting on the curve.
Eda, one of Dahlia's more ardent supporters, crashed into her backside. Her arms wrapping around her waist, she playfully grinned up at Ubbe, her chin resting on Dahlia's shoulder.
'I want a word with you! We are waiting patiently, day after day, for our fiery princess to inform us that she is with child but still nothing.' Eda jested, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. 'Why is that? Do you not want to fuck this beauty?'
Dahlia laughed heartily at her friend's blunt words, eyes darting to Ubbe, who had a smile twisting on his mouth, trying to hide his humor. It felt like the first time in a long time that she had made honest eye contact with him. His grin grew at her green eyes bright with shared humor. He could not take his gaze away, he wanted to drown in her happiness.
'Eda!' Her blonde haired sister exclaimed. Elin blushed deeply, she bobbed her head apologetically in Ubbe's direction. She tugged at Eda's arm untangling her from Dahlia. 'Please excuse my sister's behavior.'
Ubbe clicked his tongue, ignoring Elin's plea and a playful smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he offered Dahlia a skin of barley wine.
'The gods have not yet blessed us. Though it is not without lack of trying.' Ubbe cockily replied, he grasped at Dahlia's waistline pulling her in closer.
She smiled, snatching the skin out of his free hand, trading him with her sword and its belt, uncorking it to take a deep swig. Liquid dribbled down her chin and she wiped at it as she handed back the skin. Ubbe copied her actions, taking a large sip of his own, a loud sigh of satisfaction escaped out of his throat. He offered the skin to Eda who happily enjoyed the drink before passing it around.
Ubbe moved into Dahlia a little closer. For once she was not so tense and he took advantage of her good attitude. Fingers tucked into the waistband of her pants he tugged her in crashing against his chest. His lips landing for a grinding kiss. She gasped for breath afterwards, her eyes lit with surprise.
Elin and the third shieldmaiden, Heid, giggled to each other, heads tilted into one another. Eda rolled her eyes at the bashful women she called friends. She tugged at the sleeves of their arms, turning back to town. 'Let's go. We will leave these love birds to their marital duty.'
Ubbe watched for a moment as the women disappeared over the hill. He was thankful that they had left his wife in a rare mood, happy.
He leaned his head in touching his forehead to hers.
'Come little fish, to the waters we go.' He grinned, turning to walk away, he tugged at her waist, pulling her along. 'I want to fuck you there as a tribute to Rán for a safe passage to England and when you bear me a daughter I will name her after one of the spirits of the waves.'
Dahlia protested as she tumbled into Ubbe's back when he released his grip. 'Daughter! The seer said nothing about a daughter.' She defensively crossed her arms over her chest.
'Yes.' Ubbe purred, prowling around her so that she led the way down the single track path, nudging her forward when she stuttered at him with a gaping mouth. 'A daughter. I am greedy, I want many children.' Ubbe finally replied, eyes wide with intent. His fingers nimbly untied the leathers at her wrists, tossing them aside, uncaring where they landed, he would find them later. He was only worried about one thing, Dahlia.
She craned her head around, giving him a disbelieving look. He ignored her, his lips crashing against hers pulling her in tight, letting her feel his need. She wiggled out of his grip, laughing at his proclamation.
'If you want daughters, you will have to catch me first.'
With that Dahlia took off at a sprint, clothes fluttering in the air briefly as she stealthily undressed. She was waist deep in the water by the time Ubbe caught up, tugging his boots off before diving in after her. They swam and splashed playfully after each other. He eventually towed her back to the shallow water, and Dahlia let him, at first acting like she wouldn't go, loudly and obnoxiously protesting, until she settled against his slippery wet form. Gently, he lowered her on the sandy shore, the water curling at their toes. He laid down next to her kissing and sucking at her neck and bare chest, soft and sweet and Dahlia melted under his steadfast touch. They made love in the lapping waves, his thrusts slow and steady, like the incoming tide, timely and unwavering until he spilled his seed deep within her womb and he whispered that he would name their daughter Bylgja, like the waves trying to pull them under with each tug.
Ubbe watched as the tide receded with each lapping wave in turn with the setting sun. The rays caught in his eyes as he lost himself to the motion of the water. He had left Dahlia fast asleep in his father's cabin, warm and cozy near the fire, so that he could have a moment alone to think.
His arms crossed tight over his chest, cloak pulled in around his arms as he thought about the path he had set his wife on by allowing her to kill Lagertha. He regretted it now. It had been made in a fit of anger, before he had found out about Ragnar being murdered by the Saxons. Now everything was different, and with Ivar back, hell bent on his own revenge, he doubted that he would ever allow Dahlia the glory of killing the most famous shieldmaiden of their time. He had tried to use Dahlia to selfishly accomplish his own goal, he now felt foolish and weak for even suggesting it. If Ivar knew his plan he was sure that he would call him soft.
He jumped as arms encircled his waist, having not heard Dahlia approach, her bare feet quiet on the sand.
'Why did you let me sleep?' She mewled, burying her nose in his back as she yawned.
'You seemed so peaceful. I could not wake you.' He replied huskily, his voice rough from the lack of speech. He had been lost in his thoughts longer than he realized.
He peered down at the soft eyed woman that held on to him so tenderly.
'You must miss your home?' He pondered mindlessly.
'I miss my family mostly.' She conceded.
Ubbe watched as the dark blue waves crashed and twisted just beyond their bare feet. 'I have only known Kattegat to be my home. Though I grew up here she is foreign to me now. It is strange.' Ubbe shook his head in disappointment. Dahlia held on tighter to her husband, clutching at his tunic, feeling the weight of his words. She watched him talk with a wild fascination. They had been married for almost a year but rarely shared pieces of their hearts so openly to one another. She guarded hers with a steel shield, only allowing a glimpse when her tongue slipped without her permission.
'When my father left for Francia the first time I was five or six years of age. I pleaded with him to stay, telling him I would be sad without him.' Ubbe's mouth twisted in humor at the thought. Ragnar was too drawn to the potential glory to ever consider staying. Ubbe understood the pull now more than ever. He too had a growing itch to explore the unknown world.
'He said to me that I would never be alone among the stars, for that is where the gods lived.'
Dahlia lifted her gaze up to the sky, only a few of the brightest shone for her to see.
'I have to leave in a few days with Sigurd. We will start collecting our first recruits for the army.'
Ubbe tipped his nose down at her. 'I am going to ask you to stay, though I know it is a painful request. You are in a unique position to keep an eye on Lagertha, better than I could. You will help me in this way?' He quizzed.
Dahlia sighed heavily through her nose, eyes never pulling away from the sky, watching intently as each new star pop up as it grew darker. 'I will be sad without you.' She joked with a twisting smile. He smirked, playfully tugging her around, bringing her back crashing against his chest, arms holding tight around her shoulders.
'I will be gone but you are never without me, not when you look at the stars. For our gods love us too much to keep us apart.'
They held onto one another, hypnotized by the lull of the darkening sky, unable to break from its clutches. Ubbe's fingers mindlessly stroked the fine bones of her hands resting on her stomach.
Dahlia cleared her throat, grabbing Ubbe's attention. He quirked a brow at her, peering over her shoulder.
'Lagertha wants me to oversee the production of the palisade walls.' She announced, mumbling her speech in a nervous gesture.
'No.' Ubbe growled without hesitation.
'This is my chance. I could kill her.' Dahlia asserted, her brows furrowed in frustration. She turned to look him in his eyes, to try to understand his hesitation.
'I'll release you from your promise. She only wants you to serve her so she can have you as her little pet.' Ubbe snapped. Dahlia bristled at his accusation.
'It was foolish of me to agree to such a plan. I should never have put you in harm's way. I made a promise to protect you.' Ubbe continued. 'And anyway, Ivar would never let you have the glory. If he found out that I assigned my wife to assassinate Lagertha, he would-'
'He would what?' Dahlia interrupted. 'Call you a coward?'
His eyes dragged up and down in a calculating stare, lip twitching in agitation. She was alive and fiery now. The once sleepy eyed girl that had held onto him so tenderly transformed to raging wildfire before his eyes.
'I did not think you could do it anyway.' He speculated, lips frowning in doubt.
She was fuming fist clenched at her sides.
'I am so tired of being used as a pawn. You are no different than her. You have tried to control me since the moment you met me.' Dahlia accused, finger pointing in his face. 'I will not be tamed.'
'I know.' Ubbe growled, his eyes growing wide in irritation. He pushed his face closer into her finger. Her jaw was clenched tight but her green orbs were watery, threatening to spill tears. He saw the weight of the world on her shoulders, heavy and burdensome. He took a step back taking her in fully. She was just a girl. The same frightened girl he had married all those months ago. She still needed help finding her footing amongst the chaos that the gods had created for her. The fiery visage she displayed was the armor that kept her safe.
'I do not think I can do this anymore.' She surprisingly admitted, chest deflating, hand falling to her sides.
Ubbe frowned. Brows furrowed, he opened and closed his mouth a few times as he took in her words.
Reaching out, his fingers intertwined in her dark hair. Tipping his head into hers, their foreheads touched tenderly.
'You do not have to do it alone.' He whispered. The first tear escaped her eyes running hot down her face, leaving dirty streaks along her cheeks, and then another and another until it was a waterfall of emotion. She blinked rapidly as if she could not believe her own body. She moved to step away so that she might hide her face and brush away the evidence of her weakness. He would not let her go, pulling her so that he held her crushed against his chest. She stood rigid in his arms but the tears kept flowing so she let herself relax and feel all the emotions she loved to keep bottled up.
Ubbe hummed, hands running comforting along her back. 'I know there is little love that flows between us. One day we may grow to love each other but until then know that I respect you, Dahlia. You have my respect.' He murmured. He pulled away searching her tear stained face. Her eyes were rimmed red and watery. Tears slipped out silently, she looked sad and tired, her red lips pouting.
'If you truly respected me, I would not have to watch as you parade that whore around Kattegat with no regard to my honor.' She slowly growled, her voice shaking in tune with her lower lip. A fresh wave of tears gushed down her cheeks. She squeezed her lids shut, trying to slow the flow. When she opened them her green eyes were bright with the fire that she kept stoked with her.
He kissed at his teeth, knowing who she referred to, Margrethe. She was right, not that he was going to tell her that right away, but he had a duty to be loyal to his wife. He should have ended things with Margrethe long ago but each time he had tried, he failed. It would be different this time, he would have motivation to stay true to his wife.
He timidly caught Dahlia's gaze, giving her a shy smile. He reached out, to confess that he had done her wrong, but she skirted around his touch.
'I don't even know why I care!' She shouted, throwing her arms in the air. 'You are right, I do not love you and how could I? You are a coward and you are selfish. No better than your father.' She sneered at him, her cold gaze dragging along him in disgust.
'I am going home.' She choked out with a shake of her head, green eyes glaring in his direction.
'Stay.' He demanded. 'You're all I see.' Ubbe faltered, brows furrowed as he grasped for her arm. He would not plead with her but he longed to be near her. If she would just stay he could show her how much he needed her and maybe she would see how she needed him too. He felt alone with out her by his side. Margrethe was only a fixture to help with alleviate the pain of losing everything. Dahlia and her flighty nature left him wanting more. He would tell her that, just not yet, it would give her a power over him he did not want to admit to.
'Just stay with me. If you would stop flying away and talk to me I could understand you better. We could create something between us that was unstoppable.' His eyes searched hers, looking for the answers he desired. He had learned to read every movement of her face. It transformed so quickly that if he was a less observant man he might not catch on the subtle details. 'We need each other, there could be a love-'
'No!' Dahlia snapped, retreating away from his hands. She sighed heavily through her nose. 'No, I cannot stand the sight of you at the moment. I need time alone.'
It was a crisp morning and mist rose in mystical hue as Dahlia moved across the field. She had a small skip in her step as she left the inner city, headed to the training site, to meet with Torvi, who was going to show her how to use a crossbow. The thought of working the powerful weapon made her excited and jittery, forgetting her argument with Ubbe, of her disappointment with a man she was growing to admire. He was gathering one of the largest armies their people had ever seen, just him, Sigurd, and Ivar. He was working tirelessly to accomplish a great goal. He did not hide from his destiny but embraced it so naturally, like breathing air, making her lust after him a little bit more. She appreciated the power he exuded, the spinners had made her a good match, she could not deny that. Ubbe was going to be a great leader. She would have been proud to be by his side. She wished vehemently that he would leave that slave girl be. She did not need him to devote his entire heart to her but simply show her the respect she thought she deserved. She refused to be the laughing stock of Kattegat.
Her hands shook at her sides in anticipation as she approached the grassy field, a large grin plastered on her face as her eyes searched the open area. No immediate sign of Torvi. Dahlia walked to the middle, where the grass had been plastered down from all the recent activity. Her eyes caught sight of movement in the trees near the creek, they burned with effort as she strained to make it out.
A chill ran along her spine. She called out, her voice echoing in the quiet valley. 'Torvi! Are you near?'
She approached the grove of trees, eyes squinting, inspecting the dark entrance, trying to see further than her sight allowed. Her hand rested on the rough bark of a tall tree, hesitant to enter.
Silence echoed around her. No birds were chirping. No squirrels scurried about her feet. Not even the wind made itself known.
Dahlia inhaled through her nose, calming her nerves. There was nothing to be frightened of, but the silence made her take a cautious step back.
The soft squishing noise of wet grass underfoot made Dahlia rigid, her hand went to the hilt of the hunting knife at her hip. As her fingers brushed its hilt, a large hand slammed her head into the trunk of the tree. Her neck reverberated at the force of the hit. Her first instinct was to cradle her crushed nose, blood flowing freely over her lips but she ignored the pain. Her elbow whipped up and back finding the edge of a cheekbone, she spun on the soles of her feet, fist connecting with a fleshy cheek, then lower to the stiff abdomen. Her assailant keeled over in pain grasping at his belly. Dahlia grasped him by his neat blonde hair ripping his neck back, ready to plant another punch on his face. Her fist pulled back, poised to land on his eye but she hesitated. Those eyes, so dark and adrift. Dahlia found herself drowning in the sight of them. Tyr. She snarled in anger letting her fist collide with his eye.
Tyr's head lashed back but he recovered quickly tackling Dahlia, head first in her belly, arms wrapped around her as they fell together to the ground. Dahlia used her legs to leverage her weight to flip herself on top of Tyr. He had his hands on her hips ready to throw her back on the ground but she already had him by the sides of his head slamming it into the ground, disorienting him briefly. Her hand fell to the knife at her thigh and she pulled it out bringing it to Tyr's exposed throat. He groaned at the pain radiating from in his head and his face. Dahlia constrained him by the blade of knife, curious to know his motive.
Was he trying to kill her? Rape her? Take her for his own?
She needed to know. Her moment of weakness, she would realize later, would be her downfall. She should have killed him right then but instead she had let her guard down briefly, to know the truth.
A blunt object crashed against Dahlia's head as she opened her mouth to question Tyr's motives. Her world went dark and when she came to, she was laying flat on the cool grass staring up at the bolt of a crossbow. She swallowed the dry lump in her throat as she tried to sit up on her elbows. The strength of one arm went out and she crumbled back on to the grass. Torvi prodded the crossbow in her direction. Dahlia stayed laying flat as she looked up at Torvi with sad wide eyes.
'Why?' Dahlia asked, her voice strained. She felt like crying and she didn't know why. She had plans to kill Lagertha. Torvi was not truly her friend, she could never be. Dahlia glanced over at Tyr who was sitting up, wiping the blood dripping down from the cut on his cheek. His dark eyes met hers in a glare but Dahlia could not hold his gaze, dark spots were blurring her vision. Her eyes fluttered closed as the darkness took over her world once again.
Sigurd panted, out of breath, bursting into the small cabin Margrethe called home. He clutched onto the amber stone necklace Dahlia was never seen without, the leather cord wrapped around his hand, keeping it safe. He had been searching high and low for his older brother since mid morning with no luck. Ubbe had told him that he was going to end things with Margrethe, commit himself to Dahlia. I do not want to be like father, Ubbe had confided in him that morning as they broke their fast. Dahlia had been hiding since the night before but that was typical behavior of his flighty sister-in-law.
Sigurd agreed with Ubbe. Ragnar's infidelity was the reason Lagertha sought revenge on Aslaug. All of this madness could have been avoided if his father had just kept it in his pants. Maybe that meant that he would not be who he was but he doubted it. The gods had a plan for him, he was destined for something, he just hadn't figured out what it was.
He liked Dahlia and her heated looks. He liked her for his older brother too. She pushed Ubbe's buttons, making him act out, and not always in a rational way. Ubbe not being the perfect brother, for once, was a reprieve. She did not make it easy for him. It was good for his older brother, to not always get what he wanted. Ubbe had always been able to obtain any girl he set his eyes on. It was frustrating beyond belief. Dahlia forced Ubbe to appreciate the little things, to actually have to try for once. And if that meant freeing up time for Margrethe to be with him, all the better.
Sigurd had searched for Ubbe at their private training site, at their father's old fishing cabin, at the stables, and nothing. Finally running out of ideas he went to Margrethe's place. He did not expect to find him there. Ubbe had gone to end things with Margrethe early in the morning, surely they could not still be talking it over.
He entered the tiny cabin without knocking. Ivar had enthusiastically agreed to help him, which Sigurd found unusual, but still allowed him to come. He wondered if his younger brother knew all along where Ubbe would be and just enjoyed watching him run around frantically in search of him.
Ubbe was mid thrust into Margrethe when Sigurd entered, unannounced. Startled, he flipped over simultaneously reaching for his sword on the nightstand, ready for an attack. He visibly relaxed at the sight of Sigurd.
'It's you.' Ubbe breathed out in relief. Sigurd halted, stunned in the doorway, hand resting on the knob, taking in the scene before him. Here was his brother, the supposedly perfect son, the man who could do no wrong in their mother's eyes, failing, miserably because of a woman. And not just any woman, a slave. Margrethe was pretty to look and soft to the touch but she was no Dahlia. Ubbe had this perfectly beautiful woman, rumored to be the daughter of the goddess of love and fertility, and he actively sought out another. Unbelievable.
Sigurd glared heartily at Ubbe, hoping he understood his frustration but his older brother just returned it with a bashful smile. Rolling his eyes he stepped into the threshold of the cabin. Ivar crawled in after him, having finally caught up with his long strides.
'What is it?' Ubbe questioned, pulling the bed covers over Margrethe to hide her modesty, a useless gesture as they had all seen her naked. Ivar pulled himself on top of a wooden chest, quietly chuckling as he took in his eldest brother and the slave. Ubbe gave them both a quizzical look, wide eyes wondering why they were both here.
'Should you tell him or should I?' Ivar pondered, a large grin on his dark face. He could not be more excited to have found their perfect brother in such a demeaning position.
'What?' Ubbe hissed, his patience running thin. Sigurd shifted on his feet, wondering if he should just leave him to find out the news on his own, at this moment he thought he might deserve it.
'He seems very content here. Why bother him with useless information?' Ivar pondered, peering up at Sigurd, his blue eyes bright with excitement. Sigurd tilted his head down toward his younger brother sharing his smile. He would at least take a moment to revel in Ubbe's stupidity.
'Not sure if he deserves to hear our words, precious as they are.' Sigurd replied coyly, crossing his arms over his chest.
'Sigurd.' Ubbe growled in irritation. Ivar shot Sigurd a warning look, pleading with him to keep up their facade. The hard rock of the necklace pressed into the soft palm of his hand reminding him of his urgency. Sigurd shook his head lightly. Ubbe should be thankful he liked him more than Ivar.
'They took her, Ubbe.' Sigurd admitted hurriedly.
'They took who?' Ubbe croaked, his voice full of emotion. He was throwing the furs covering his body off, leaning over to pull on his trousers. Ubbe thought he knew who Sigurd was referring to but wanted to hear it out of his mouth before he reacted.
The leather necklace unraveled from his hand, amber stone hanging in the air, proof of the crime committed.
'Lagertha, she has Dahlia.' Sigurd stated, watching Ubbe's face carefully. He wanted to know if he had wasted his time running all over Kattegat in search of him. Ubbe's lip pulled into a snarl, shaking his head angrily, he hurried to pull on his boots. That was it, in true perfect brother fashion that was the reaction that he would get, it said all, Ubbe was pissed. How his anger would manifest would unfold in time but Sigurd was pleased to know his brother did care about the state of his wife.
The doors of the great hall burst open with a loud slam.
'Where is she?!' Ubbe shouted, his voice echoed snuffing out all the others. He stalked the length of the hall, his long ax drawn and pointed at Lagertha who sat grandly on her throne, crown twisted in her polished hair. She was utterly undisturbed by the wild prince, waiting patiently for him to explain himself. Sigurd followed his older brother but a few paces behind as if he was not really a part of his brother's poorly thought out plan.
Lagertha cocked her head to the side at his tone, a whisper of a smile present on her lips as she looked down at him from her seat.
'Where is my wife?' Ubbe demanded gesturing with the blade of his ax at Lagertha. He was swiftly blocked by shields, axes and swords pushing up against him. He raised his hands in a mocking gesture, rolling his eyes as he took a few steps back before tucking his ax away at his waist.
'She is gone, Ubbe, to Hedeby.' Lagertha replied as Ubbe's face transformed from some semblance of calm to enraged.
'Why?' Ubbe growled through gritted teeth.
'I have taken her as a hostage.' Lagertha shrugged, drumming her fingers on the throne's armrest. 'Kattegat deserves order and peace. As long as you do not disrupt my peace then your wife will be safe.'
Ubbe's eyes grew wide and wild as Lagertha spoke. His nostrils flared and his fist clenched and unclenched at his sides, thinking about reaching for his ax. He wanted to throw it, knowing it would embed itself perfectly between Lagertha's brows if he did.
'You are angry and you probably are thinking about killing me right now.' Lagertha stood up as she spoke in a soft calming voice, which only enraged Ubbe more, she was being so dismissive to his fury. His teeth gnashed and his breath hitched in his chest as she stepped down the dais to meet him face to face. How he longed to kill her, but he reserved himself, trying to reason that it made no logical sense to kill her now when in turn he would be slaughtered. His sense of honor wanted him to react but reason kept him collected. He gripped at the shoulder of his ax to calm his nerves, finding solace in the curve where smooth wood met cold metal. Dahlia had accused him of being a coward the night before and he wondered if he was deserving of the title. Ivar would certainly agree.
'I have told my people that if you kill me then they are to slit your wife's throat.' Lagertha prowled around him, confident and smirking. 'It would be a pity to have to kill your wife and your unborn child, who is innocent in all of this, because you were rash and blinded by anger.'
Lagertha stopped short of Ubbe's shoulder facing the large oak doors speaking out into the quiet hall, ignoring Sigurd's concerned looks, ignoring the scattered unsettled townspeople, waiting patiently for a reaction from the oldest son of Aslaug.
'Dahlia is with child?' Ubbe slowly voiced, gravely and low. His head turned, searching Lagertha's face for deceivery. She gave him a curt nod in response, her face stoic and somber.
A growl emitted from his chest, his fingers curling into a tight fist breaking the skin of his palm. He breathed in and out of his nose loud and heated a few times, trying to calm his ire, trying to reason with himself to not kill her right then.
He turned on his heel, leaning in on the sole of his boot to whisper in her ear, not daring to lift a finger in her direction, he was unsure if he could control his actions if he did. He licked at his lips trying to steady his voice.
'This is not over, shieldmaiden. You have murdered my mother and now you have taken my pregnant wife. If you think that I will roll over like a dog…'
'If you want to see your child born then you do not have much of a choice.' Lagertha's tone was stern and left no option for discussion.
Sigurd grabbed a hold of Ubbe's shoulder, yanking him away from the new queen. Ubbe's chest was tight with anger and he felt blinded by the rage that boiled in him. He let his younger brother steer him out of the great hall unable to think for himself. He had been with Margrethe, too distracted by her soft touch to wonder about the whereabouts of Dahlia. He regretted his actions now. His stomach lurched at the thought of Margrethe mewling at him to stay with her. Had she tricked him once again? No. The fault was his own. A pretty face could bring him to his knees if he was not careful and Margrethe was the tempting bait dangling before him. The gods had given him Dahlia to care for and to provide him with sons and he had so easily brushed her aside. He would know their fury. They had taken her away from him and there was no one to blame but himself.
Outside the sky was grey and thick, clouds rolled in waves, ready to pour down on the residence of Kattegat. Ubbe let out a roar of frustration that he was sure would rival Thor's beating hammer.