With a smile on her face, the young maiden was strolling down the path when she saw the youngest prince disappear behind one of the buildings, dragging himself through the mud.
"What is he up to?" she thought. Silently, she tiptoed through the mud to find the crippled prince peering through the slats of the barn. The young woman picked up her skirts and edged closer to the princes side.
Kneeling down, she whispered, "Ivar!"
The young prince jerked and rolled over, his ocean blue eyes wide. Rolling his eyes, he reached up and wrapped his hand around his friend's wrist. With a rough yank, he pulled her down into the hay beside him.
"Raneir!" he hissed. "Be quiet! They will hear."
Raneir sighed and muttered, "Who are you spying on this time, my prince?"
Ivar cocked an eyebrow as his tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip, "Have a look for yourself."
Raneir shook her head and peered through the slats. She stared at the two bodies lying in the hay, panting from their orgasms. With a small gasp, Raneir pulled back and looked at Ivar.
"That's Ubbe and Margrethe!" she quietly exclaimed. She wrinkled her nose and gave Ivar's shoulder quick shove.
"Why were you spying on Ubbe?" she hissed.
Ivar shrugged nonchalantly. "I was just curious as to where he has been disappearing to," he explained. "Now I know."
Raneir rolled her eyes. "Gods, help you" she huffed as she got back to her feet. As she brushed the hay off her dress, Ivar smiled and asked, "Will you come train with us tomorrow?"
"No", Raneir answered as the pair made their way back to the path. "Your mother let me have the next few days to help Mor and Fa put some finishing touches on the boats."
She paused and looked down to Ivar, "Are you and your brothers still fishing tomorrow?" Ivar noted a gleam in her hazel eyes as she continued, "Or do you have more spying to do?"
Ivar chuckled and hung his head. Before Raneir could continue walking, Ivar snaked his hand under her skirt, giving her calf a light pinch. The girl jumped and laughed, swatting at his hand and sticking her tongue out at him.
"Yes," he answered. "They will be fishing tomorrow. Will you join us?"
Raneir looked skyward as if pondering her answer. She looked back down at Ivar with a smirk and shrugged her shoulder before answering, "Possibly."
This time, the young woman saw Ivar's hand and jumped away before he could pinch her again. She turned and continued on her way back home, calling over her shoulder, "Try not to spy on anyone else!"
It wasn't long after breakfast the next day when the great Ragnar Lothbrook ambled out from the hut he was sleeping in. Blinking in the morning sun, he made his way to the table where Rainier sat tying some fresh herbs together. As Ragnar approached her, she looked up at him and smiled.
"Good morning, my king. I trust you slept well?" she asked. Ragnar grunted and scratched his stomach. He looked over to where Helga was working on some sails and Floki was busy hammering away.
Ragnar ran his hand over his head and yawned. "Why did you not wake me?" he muttered.
Rainier shrugged as she made a knot with her string. "There was no reason to," she answered.
Putting a hand on his belly, Ragnar inquired about breakfast. "Did I miss it?"
Rainier smiled and set aside the bundle of herbs. She nodded, "Yes." Ragnar's stomach chose that moment to growl. Sticking out his lower lip, Ragnar muttered, "That is reason enough."
Rainier gave a small laugh and handed Ragnar a bowl with some leftover breakfast. "If Hvitserk obtained his appetite from you," she pointed out, "I gathered you would be hungry."
Ragnar's lips curled into a small smile as he took the offered bowl. He cupped the back of her head and placed a kiss on her temple.
"Thank you, little one," he whispered.
Moments passed by in silence as the old king ate and the boat builder's daughter worked.
Ragnar wiped his fingers on his cloak and cleared his throat, breaking a comfortable silence.
"Rainier," he began, "I do not think I ever told you how truly sorry I am about your sister. You turned into a fine woman and I am sure she would have too."
Rainier nodded her head in thanks. "Thank you, my king," she assured. "Some people catch the sickness and are not destined to live. I believe that the gods had a plan for Angrboda."
"But with the help of the queen," she continued, "my fate did not turn out like hers."
Ragnar smiled, "You are most assuredly Flokisdottir with your belief in the gods." Raneir smiles as she continued trying herbs together.
Ragnar suddenly hit his thighs with his hands. "I have just had a thought," he said excitedly. Rainier paused in her gathering, waiting on Ragnar.
"Have you any interest in my sons?" he questioned. "It would be a good match, a son of Ragnar and a daughter of Floki." Raneir shook her head, laughing.
"There might be one, my king. But I do not think he is interested."
Later that evening, Raneir sat with Ivar on the beach while the other princes fished. At the sounds of Hvitserk's laughing and splashing water, Raneir smiled. She looked back down at her lap, focusing on the task of weaving a crown of grass and nearby flowers.
Raneir glanced at Ivar with a faraway look in his eyes. Sighing, Raneir paused in her weaving before breaking the silence, "Ivar?"
"Hmm?" the boy muttered.
"Why were you spying on your brother and Margrethe?" Raneir questioned.
Ivar kept his gaze on the horizon as he shrugged. "I was only curious", he answered.
Raneir shook her head, her nose wrinkling in disbelief. "Curious of what?" she wondered aloud. "Of two people having sex?" With a small laugh, she added, "That can be observed any time the raiders come home."
Ivar turned around, rolling his eyes at the young woman. "No, stupid," he smirked. "I am curious as to why it is the same girl with all my brothers."
"Ah, and I suppose you want her too?" Raneir chided.
"Yes. And why should I not?" Ivar challenged.
Before Raneir could answer, the three princes arrived with their lines full of fish. Hvitserk dropped down next to the girl, panting as he lay back on the sand.
"Tired, Hvit?" joked Raneir.
Hvitserk peered at the girl through his lashes. Cocking an eyebrow, the prince answered, "For you? Never." Raneir laughed and gave his knee a gentle shove.
As Ubbe and Sigurd prepared the fish and the fire, Ubbe questioned, "So what were you two talking about before we arrived?"
Raneir shook her head and placed the grass crown on Ivar's head. "Nothing," she answered as she stood up, brushing sand off her skirts. "Call for me when the fish are done? Mor asked for some shells while I was up here."
With a nod, the princes watched the boatbuilder's daughter amble along the shore.
"Ahh," Hvitserk sighed with a smile. "What I wouldn't give to have her in my bed."
Sigurd smirked, stoking the fire with a twig. "Then why don't you?" he goaded. "Surely Ivar has already."
Hvitserk laughed and tossed a pebble at his brother. "Because, if I do, Ivar would surely put an axe in my skull." Ivar shrugged his shoulders and lay back on the sand.
The brothers were silent before Ivar spoke up. "She's not the one I want."
Hvitserk shifted in the sand and asked, "Then who is it that you want, brother?"
Ivar placed his hand behind his head and smiled. With a gleam in his eye, he answered, "That servant girl. You know the one I am talking about."
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P.S. There might be a title change coming up. I'm not sure if I like this title.