If there was anything he knew it was that being in her presence was beginning to make him sweat. Ragnar knew that well enough now as his body trembled as he stepped out just as it had the last time he was around her. It left him feeling unnerved. He wasn't like this before but believed it to be based on him anticipating whatever Millie would say or do next. Whether it was because he was seeking her approval or to hear her wish the worst upon him-once again, it did not matter. All that did was that she was beginning to have an affect on him and he could not tell whether he liked it or not.
The hand that touched her was curled up into a loose fist by his side. His fingers twitched as he remembered the feel of her skin. It was soft and he silently relished in the feel of the bumps that rose all along the back of her neck as her skin prickled. He also remembered the way she flinched away. It left a sour taste in his mouth as he thought on it but he knew he could do nothing about that. At least, not for a while.
He inhaled deeply before releasing his breath in a tiresome sigh as he was greeted by a biting look from Rollo. It was clear to him he could no longer step around his brother and abuse his power as Earl to walk away from the questions he knew he ached to ask. It was about time he addressed the one thing he would not be able to avoid as said thing was stowed away safely in his tent.
"What do you want to know?" His voice was strangely low. As if he were afraid of Millie overhearing anything he would have to say about her.
"You know exactly what I want to know." Rollo crossed his arms across his chest, mimicking the stance of Torstein who stood close by him.
Ragnar walked by hoping to lead the men away from the tent and away from any prying ears but his brother stood firm. He sighed once again before facing him, his arms stretched out. "Speak."
Rollo glared at the open-arm gesture seeing it as nothing but an insult. "She is a prisoner who will, undoubtedly, be sleeping amongst us tonight, no?"
"Yes."
His blatant honesty fueled his tepid anger forcing it to grow and filling his chest with heat needing to be released. "You will feed her." It was not a question. "You will nurture her and care for her." He could feel his nostrils flare as he worked his jaw. "Like your priest."
He knew where he was going with this yet at the same time he did not. Ragnar gave a slow nod, his brows rising as he answered again, "Yes."
Torstein pursed his lips as he looked between the tent and his friend. "You were serious then."
Ragnar responded with a questioning look.
"You plan on keeping her.**"
They stared at each other intently trying to ascertain the other's reaction. Ragnar did not seem perturbed by the slightest but he would not concede to the fact. It was not that he was afraid, but the reaction to his demand back at the kingdom was still fresh in his mind. No one was pleased. On the other hand, Torstein did not look to him with eyes of judgment but to say he too did not question Ragnar would be a lie.
Parting his lips with an answer, the man drew his attention away and over to the women to his far left. He gave one last look to Torstein and his brother before stalking off towards the other group.
"You can't walk away from everything."
Rollo's voice was loud in his ears and he pushed down the urge to turn back and scold him as if he were a child. He wasn't walking away. Not intentionally, at least. The unnerved feeling from before was prominent within him and he debated on whether he should ask Millie if she overheard anything that may have been said. Before she could have the chance to ask him.
The two men trailed behind him, his brother hot on his heels as Ragnar called for one of the women. "I need a favor to ask of you,**" he said but his tone left no room for argument. If there were to be.
The woman, Ylva, was silent in her manner. Always choosing to listen rather than speak and it was probably why he was choosing her for the task. As well as for her appearance. She had large doe eyes that were unlike any other. It screamed innocence as well as deceit. She could easily trick anyone into believing she was anything but one of the strongest women the tribe had. Despite being one of short stature as well. She would be enough to ease Millie's senses as she probably assumed all the women they had were as large and intimidating as Björg.
"I need a basin of water to be taken to my tent.**"
Ylva looked beyond him towards the direction of his tent, her lips pressed firmly together. It was no news by now of the Christian girl who would be staying under the care of the Earl. Björg filled them in on what she knew and what she believed was her right to say-going no farther than to admit a bargain had been made between the girl and Ragnar and that it would begin to take place tonight. What that bargain entailed, she did not know but knew it was not her business. But it did not stop the mild confusion she felt at the peculiarity of the situation.
"I assume it is for the girl?**"
"Yes.**"
She gave no indication that she would accept his "favor" at first, simply standing there staring at him as if she tried in discerning that peculiar look on his face just as Torstein had done. That look she was easily able to understand and knowing well that he was not in a good mood and would not tolerate any stupidity on her behalf. With that being in relation to her trying to hurt the Christian-in her mind, unknowingly to Ragnar. But she was no coward and he was no idiot. She would not hurt the prisoner simply because she would be of no threat to her. If they were to fight it would be a fair one.
"Anything else?**"
Ragnar shook his head before turning away into another direction.
A sound akin to a low growl emerged from Rollo as he quickly followed behind. "Are you going to continuously walk away from me as if we weren't talking just moments before?"
"We will finish talking after I am done with my duties."
"Your duties," he scoffed. "It seems I keep falling further down the list of things you claim to care for, brother."
How much he loathed the accusations that came from him. It was nearly too much. Ragnar stopped, turning around to face him head on but bit his tongue willing nothing but patience to flow through him.
"I want to be able to deal with what I have to now so that we can finish our talk without any interruptions."
"Or so you say." Rollo's jaw ached from the pressure of his teeth clenched alarmingly tight. It shot a sharp pain through his head but he did not relent.
He wanted to say more but could not form the words on his lips. Everything that sprung to the forefront of his mind was silenced by a darkness he was all too familiar with. One part of it being disappointment. Many forms of it and there was nothing more he wanted to do than to say it all, but he held silent. Choosing to swallow it down for the moment and waiting to speak his mind at the right time.
Ragnar wanted to engage him again for the sake of wiping that look off his face. He could see the way Rollo's eyes darkened with thoughts quiet to him but raging loudly within his brother. It hurt and angered him. And at times like this he wished the two of them could for once speak without tension filling the space between them.
"We will," he started in small hesitance. His eyes never leaving him. "Feed her and the others."
Rollo's chin jutted out in a way of small defiance before he looked away.
"As before." Torstein stated with his hands curling into fists from the discomfort he felt. He could never get used to the strain that formed between the brothers.
"As before." Ragnar nodded.
The blond took it upon himself to step away and seek to arrange something for the prisoners to eat. He saw it as not only his duty but an opportunity to breathe easily once he was at a reasonable distance from the two. That and the possibility of the brothers actually talking to each other once they had a bit of privacy.
They were so different yet so similar, but they could hardly see eye to eye. When had it become like this? That was not to say they did not have their moments. But those moments seemed to have been fleeting as the memories, though almost recent, were far beyond remembrance. Far too gone to bring a smile to either of the two's face.
"You know it is never my intention to make you feel as if you are anything less." The tension would not lessen for the night. No matter what Ragnar could say to try and relieve it.
"Yet your actions speak otherwise."
Ragnar nodded slow, almost imperceptible. He wanted to end their exchange now knowing nothing good will come out of it but he found he could not walk away this time. Not without Rollo by his side. Even despite the reactions he guessed would come from him for the remainder of their talk.
"If our bargain goes as planned, she will be staying for more than one night."
Around them, the air was still alive with people and the crackling of wood folding in from a small fire nearby. But neither were loud enough to mask the tired sigh that fell from Rollo.
"As I've guessed." The brothers began their way back towards Ragnar's tent. "What about the others?"
Shaking his head, Ragnar absentmindedly tapped his fingers against his thigh. "They will stay as they are."
"But they will eat as well."
"As I've promised."
"Hn." Rollo licked his lips before pressing his tongue against the roof of his mouth. It slipped its way down slowly before settling between his teeth where he bit it softly and released it in a small 'tsk.' "And she's coming back with us. To stay at Kattegat."
"I don't plan on leaving without her."
Rollo stopped short as his heart made a powerful leap. His ears burned with that temper of his flowing forcefully through him. It had never left him despite the calm others would think he and Ragnar were in but it was beginning to show once more as a dimple formed between his brows with the corner of his lips turning downward into a frown.
Ragnar continued forward before stopping by the entrance of his tent, his hand hovering just an inch away from the canvas. He thought of walking in but there was a force that kept him from going any further. She was in there doing only the gods knew what.
Bathing by now. He was sure.
A slither of temptation coursed through him and he could not help himself from sliding his fingers through and inching apart the entryway. Enough for only him to see through.
His eyes made little effort to find her as she was there, straight ahead from where he stood. His chest expanded as he took in a deep breath he was too afraid to release. Almost too afraid that she would hear him. There she was on her knees with her bare back towards him. She was in the midst of bathing-her trembling hands running the wet cloth over her marred skin. He was transfixed by the purple and brown that stretched across her back, the rest of the way around her arms and surely all along her front. From the bindings, from the fight and from whatever else she was subjected to. Despite it and despite the lack of food, Millie's body was taut. As far as he could see, besides a small reduction in size, Ragnar was able to trace with his eyes every dip he knew was there because of her muscles. With her armor she looked slim, but beneath it all there was another story to tell.
Millie slowed her movements before she began to make do with the strings of her trousers. Ragnar felt himself involuntarily draw back as his hand came back down to his side. The tent closed softly before him, his presence forever unknown to her and he could not figure out why he chose to shield himself of her view. It wasn't that he wasn't interested for that he could not deny, but he couldn't allow himself to watch her as she stripped herself down to nothing. She wasn't doing this for him. She was doing this for herself, he reasoned. But that only induced a series of thoughts and questions on why he'd ever think she'd strip down for him in the first place.
He was watching her and it made the anger inside of him too much to bear for the night. There was a haze hanging over Rollo as he parted his lips to speak. He could barely recognize his voice as he spoke heatedly.
"What would Lagertha think?"
Ragnar's jaw slackened with his lips parting by the slightest at the mention of her name. His head snapped in the direction of Rollo as his eyes matched his with a heated look.
"What would Lagertha think?" he asked in a harsh whisper. He stepped away from the tent knowing well Millie would hear them if he were to stay where he stood. "She has nothing to worry about. She did not care when Athelstan-"
"He has nothing to do with what we are talking about now." Ragnar's eye twitched at the interruption but Rollo continued without a care. "This girl has undeniably captured your attention. Far beyond what you may believe and your wife will see it. Maybe sooner than you will."
Rollo gave him one last look before turning away-his patience lost for the rest of the night. He would not stay despite his curiosity being left unfulfilled. There was always another time for questions to be asked, he told himself. For tonight, he will try to rest as easy as the gods would allow him to. With his thoughts as free of the Christians as he could manage.
Ragnar looked around him to see if anyone had been watching their exchange but none seemed to have been looking his way. He craned his neck in discomfort and for a moment, did not know what to do.
His brother's words continued to sound off in his head with every shift his eyes made. He would not ask himself what Rollo meant by them as there was something deep inside of him that claimed to know the answer. No. How foolish of Ragnar to believe he knew the answer when it was clear that he did not. But with the way his insides turned-no. His brother was angry with him and he let Rollo drag him down as he has let him do from time to time. But not tonight because there was too much to look forward to.
He set off to find Torstein knowing Millie was no where near done with her task. He'd give her some more time before he'd come to her with something to eat.
His shoulders trembled slightly in small anticipation. He was feeling a little anxious as he wondered if she would ultimately do that. If she would actually eat. Would she finally or will she wait to see her father swallow down every bit of crumb and down every single drop of water that would be presented to him? Ragnar knew that sooner or later she would cave in and would no longer be able to stand the pangs of hunger but he was wondering if he was beginning to underestimate her. She'd gone on long enough without food and yet still, she did not look to him with hungry eyes. She was slowly beginning to wither but she did not wilt. It brought a smile to his face and he silently accepted the challenge she unintentionally placed before him.
Soon enough the night air was filled with the smell of food from earlier as if it were being cooked for the first time. It did not whet his appetite as he was still full from before but surely it would Millie's. He could see Torstein's back as the man knelt gathering what he could in his arms. He spoke to another who nodded but did not look appeased by the task his friend had given him, but he did not care. They would obey Ragnar. They had to if they wanted what they came for in the end.
Ragnar closed in on the men and eyed one plate in particular that sat on the open palm of Torstein. The dish was dark in color like an ore and it resembled much like the one Floki broke back at the kingdom. He wondered for a moment if one of his men took it with them when no one was looking or if it had been raided from the Christians' camp. Without a second thought, he took it from Torstein who looked up hastily in small frustration. His look of agitation though, vanished as quickly as it came the moment he saw it was Ragnar who'd picked the plate from his hand.
"She'll need something to drink." Torstein briefly looked over the amount of food he and the others were set to take to the prisoners, wondering if it were too little or too much for them.
Ragnar shook his head. "She can have from my own."
The blond looked up, his brow raising in small interest. He would have the girl drink from his waterskin. And although he should have thought nothing of it, deep down he felt otherwise.
He cleared his throat. "I will have this given to the prisoners."
"Wait." Not yet. "I'll let you know when." Not until Millie had her fill. He would not give until he received.
Torstein sighed suddenly feeling all the more tired. But he could not argue unless he was given reason to and if that were the case... Well with Ragnar, everything was different.
He looked away with a nod. "As you wish then."
With a nod of his own, Ragnar departed the group. He refused to look the other men in the eye not out of fear of what he would see but because of the look he would have given to them. A look that would have been more than likely unprovoked but would have spoken volumes. They were to do as they were told. No questions asked.
It was times like this where the power from being an Earl was a blessing only the gods could give him and one he was grateful for.
He quickly bounded off and followed along the trail he'd taken back to where she was waiting for him. Waiting for his next move as he would be waiting for hers. He thought on some unanswered questions of his own wondering then, how long before she would give in? How long before the King would uphold his bargain? How long until Millie would break their little bargain? How long before she would come to realize that no matter what, she had no say on whether or not she were to stay or go? How long? When? He could not help but ponder on those thoughts as if the outcome of each would happen sooner than he could ever suspect. Far too soon before he would be able to enjoy himself.
A trek back was by far quicker than any other ever taken and yet again Ragnar found himself at a loss as he stood before his tent. Should he march in? It was she who was staying within his territory. Not the other way around. Yet why did he hesitate? He wondered if she were dressed by now, having finished bathing. Would she look different to him? Dirt now clean from her skin. Did it matter? His hand found its way between the flaps and before he could get another thought rolling, he entered as quick and as seemingly unperturbed as possible.
Millie's head turned swiftly as she looked behind her. Her heart made a painful leap at the sudden intrusion and she all but scowled when it was Ragnar that stood before her. She quickly looked away and wiped her eyes of any tears that clouded her vision. She would no longer be alone.
Ragnar hadn't known he'd been holding his breath until he released it slow and undetectable. She was dressed, sans her armor, and sat just barely off the edge of the blankets of where he slept. He looked around for the basin of water he knew she had only to find it in the farthest corner of the tent along with the shimmering plates that made up her defense. The leather cuffs that she'd worn over her wrists lied upon it and it was here that he understood she was defenseless. Sitting in nothing but her trousers, boots, and blouse. But that did not mean she would not fight if need be.
He stared at her again, her back to him, and the air he felt between them changed everything about him. The fight with Rollo was far from him and now it was just the two of them.
His footsteps were quiet but she could hear the direction he was going. His presence was overbearing and the tent felt smaller than when he was last in here with her. He came to a stop next to her, right on the folds that made his bed. He was close to her. She could see from the corner of her eye. It was here Millie chanced another look before she looked away again. She was starting to feel frustrated. She had met with his eyes that did nothing but bore into her and he did this in silence. She had guessed in her moment of solitude that he would come back to her with nothing but smart remarks regarding herself and the others but clearly it was the opposite. The outcome left her a little muddled.
He knelt, putting the plate in front of her before he began to shift around. The sound of leather and the light shuffling of metal forced Millie's shoulders to tense as he removed something from off himself. The sound of water sloshing around caught her attention and she watched from the corner of her eye as Ragnar sat down with a waterskin held tight in his grip.
For a moment longer there was nothing else but silence and Millie was almost too afraid to move. Too afraid to breathe. She turned to him unsure at first but she quickly reacted in anger as he did nothing else but stare at her.
"What?"
Ragnar's eyes traced over every part of her face as if looking for something specific. He could not tell what it was and put that thought to the side as he took in her eyes. The rim of them were a bright red. It matched the tip of her nose and he wondered if she'd been crying. There were no evidence of tears having streaked their way down her face and could only believe such an idea to be a figment of his imagination.
His eyes continued their search over her being before he looked at her hair. It was out of its braid and fell down her back in waves. It was much longer than what it appeared to be tied up and he couldn't help but reach out for a lock of it.
He splayed it out over his hand, taking in the color. It was much like her father's and he wondered if her mother's was like this as well or if she were fair-haired. His hand curled around it before he decidedly ran his fingers through the dampness of it and it was here he came to realize she'd wet her hair.
His eyes found her face again only to see she no longer looked at him. Her sight was cast somewhere else all the while discomfort rolled off of her in waves large enough for him to feel. He released the lock of her hair before he nodded in the direction of her food though she did not look his way.
"Eat." She was as still as a statue. Unresponsive to his demand. "Millie." He tried again.
"Where are my change of clothes?"
He frowned, not understanding her question.
She dared a look at him with a scowl as she inquired him again. "Where are my change of clothes? That and until my father eats will I do the same."
A subtle smirk formed on his lips before he wiped it clean in a blink of an eye. There was an understanding that came over him before he countered her demands with ones of his own.
"By a change of clothes I meant you changing out of yours and nothing more."
Her eyes widened by the slightest before her face took on a hue he'd only seen it turn once before. Her cheeks took to a shade of red and a small delight filled his chest at the idea of Millie being embarrassed once more.
"That," he continued. "And your father and the others will eat after you have eaten."
She snapped out of her state of vexation, her head shaking in protest.
"That was not what we originally agreed on."
"The basis of our original agreement was if you were to stay the first time. That is not the case," he criticized. "This time is different. You eat then they do."
Huffing like an indignant child, Millie eyed the meat. Venison more than likely and there was quite a bit of it on the plate Ragnar brought her. She picked up the dish scrutinizing it as if she would be able to spot any poison that may have been put in it. It smelled perfectly fine and it did catch her attention. As much as the plate that looked very much like one of the ones back at her uncle's feasting hall. She wouldn't be surprised if that were to be the case.
Thieves and Pagans are all the same, she thought.
She picked a small piece off and found herself struggling to eat it. She knew that if she did not do so then neither her father nor will the Christians eat. It was all up to her and she could not deny them food any longer for it was she who let a man die of starvation.
She brought the meat close to her lips, letting it hover there as she thought. Will there be any other changes to her and Ragnar's original agreement? Would he back down on his word? The one of her protection from the other men?
Hesitantly, she bit into the meat, chewing it slowly before swallowing it down. She did little to savor the flavor as all she wanted was for Ragnar to see she was willing to cooperate for the time being.
"There," she mumbled. "I ate."
A breathy laugh slipped from between Ragnar's lips. There was a subtleness to the way he rolled his eyes before he locked them on her again with a shrug.
"You have to eat more than that."
Millie ground her teeth as her nostrils flared. Of course he would not make this easy for her despite her knowing how well off she would be with something inside of her.
He inhaled deeply before releasing it slow-forever in wonderment of her peevish ways. Her eyes were hard as she dug her fingers deep into the meat, taking a larger piece this time. With little reluctance, she ate it and Ragnar found himself suppressing a smile.
Swallowing it down, Millie reached for another piece as she stiffened her hand that held the plate. Her fingers ached to curl as her stomach wrenched painfully. Though she thought that after all this time her body would react favorably to sustenance it was quite the opposite. She did well to hide her pain as she took in another mouthful only thinking of her father and all she she could do for him in this time of need.
She chewed in silence, trying to ignore his stares. It left her feeling irate with him. Something she'd been growing accustomed to feeling in his presence.
"Stop that."
Ragnar's brow rose in question just as she snapped her attention his way. "Stop what?"
"Staring at me."
He smiled crookedly as he tilted his head. "Does it bother you?"
Millie knew he was not daft. He simply played the role all the while knowing how troubled she was beginning to feel. "I don't like to be stared at while I eat," she griped.
"Well then," he placed his waterskin by her, his hand lightly brushing against her leg as he settled it against her. "I won't stare."
He lied back, resting his head against his pillow, with eyes shut and his hands folded onto his chest. Millie watched the way he stretched his legs out before crossing them at the ankles and she couldn't help but feel like this was the beginning of another session of him getting ready to mock her. Despite such a thought, she looked at his face and felt a slight calm now that his eyes were off of her. How eerie the blue of them were. It was something she'd never seen before and she remembered the way they almost seemed to glow in the night.
Looking at her plate and back to him, her eyes found their way to the side of his head where they traced over a strange design that wrapped around his ear. It looked to be a bird of sorts and she wondered what it meant to him and if he had any others like it. Some of the men of his tribe had some of their own that was visible for all to see. It gave them an intimidating look but there was a newness about them that piqued her curiosity.
Following along the contour of his face, she counted his visible scars and thought of the shallow one she had just below her ear. It had a story of its own and she wondered what the stories to his were. Looking beyond them she took in a closer look at the way he fashioned his hair, his beard and how he was dressed in general. Everything about him was so strange to her. Everything about his people. The way they dressed, the way the spoke and their mannerisms. All so strange.
She looked at his face again, her eyes immediately drawn to his lips. They were closed before but were now slightly apart. He looked almost peaceful as if he'd fallen asleep. His breathing was light and imperceptible to her ears and she was finding this particular quiet side of Ragnar to be more appealing than anything else he's ever done.
"For someone who doesn't like to be stared at," something inside of her jostled as he spoke so suddenly. "You do quite a lot of it."
Millie's vision blurred as she took to looking back at her plate. Her fingers pressed down onto the venison, feeling around the whole of it and noticing most of it had gone cool. She picked at, swallowing deeply all the while scolding herself of her own stupidity. She quickly masked it with a sour look as if the aftertaste of the meat was one of acerbity before placing the plate down and grabbing the waterskin as she suddenly ached for something to drink.
Gradually opening one eye, Ragnar looked her over. She was flustered to say the least. Something he couldn't help but admit that he enjoyed. He knew how angry he made her and while much of it was not misplaced that was not to say that some of it was not.
He closed his eye, taking in their privacy with much gusto knowing it would be over as soon as she finished and he would be left to share her for a moment longer with her father and the Christians. But after, it would be just be the two of them once again. Again and again as the days would come to pass. All until their stay in Northumbria would finally come to an end.
AN: Oh it's been so long. Here's to the new year and new Vikings season to which I have a lot to say about the first episode! But I'll keep it short. First though:
Fanfiction was giving me a little hassle to upload this chapter. I guess some rules were changed while I was gone or I don't know what but all of my saved docs for every single one of my stories have been erased. Luckily I have everything saved on a flashdrive. So far my published chapters look okay but if you guys see anything weird just let me , I'm so excited about the new season. I was smiling like an idiot throughout the whole first episode. Well except when I thought Torstein was going to get stabbed but I'm so glad Floki saved him. I don't know. If anything were to happen to Torstein... I will boycott the show. No, I'm kidding. But I would be really sad and after some things I've seen on the internet regarding future episodes, something tells me things are going to get ugly and fast especially for my favs. Also, I know some of you must have been bouncing in your seats with excitement when Ragnar didn't answer Aslaug's question on if he still loved her. I was laughing throughout the whole time. Man, when they said this show would have drama they weren't kidding. I love the idea of Þorunn and Björn becoming parents and I really do hope that she is pregnant and that NOTHING happens to her and the baby (I'm watching you History channel). There's so much more to say but I'll leave it at that.
Regarding the story now:
I've been feeling really crappy about my writing and I know it's beginning to show in my work. I really hope it doesn't show too much in this chapter. I've also been having troubles concentrating which is nothing new for me and because of it, it was a little hard to edit this. As of the latest chapters, they've been really long and I know this one isn't. Compared to the others I mean. Again, I hope it isn't bad and I hope you guys actually like it.
And I know it's been forever since you guys last heard from me. Not forever. It's been about 4 months now? But I mean, who's counting? *nervous laughter* Despite that though you guys have been giving this story (and my other ones) a lot of love and that's really heart warming. I'm glad you guys still have faith in me updating them. I always will but seeing all the follows, favs, and reviews tells me how many of you I will probably let down if I don't continue and I don't want that to happen. I'd be disappointed in myself if I were to ever stop for good.
Reviews:
Dalonega Noquisi: Thank you so much. I'll continue doing my best.
wabi-sabi1090: Ah thank you! I hope you liked this chapter as well. There's going to be some one sided intimate moments happening from time to time and I'm sure you already know who's going to be initiating them. Again, thank you.
NightlyRowenTree: No, thank you! Sorry it's been so long. I hope you enjoy!
Lady Ravanna: Thank you, thank you! Hopefully this update was just as good.
NL92: Oh you have nothing to apologize for! It's me who needs to apologize but thank you. Sometimes I think I know where I'm going with their relationship while other times I can confidently say that I do know but it always come out as a surprise to me every time I write them together. It's really fun and I hope it is for you as well.
25travelbabe: Yes they are! And it's going to be like this for a while. Hope you liked this update.
CantCatchTomorrow: Well first off, welcome! Second, I had to lie my head on the table for a moment to catch myself. Thank you so much for this review. I really try my best to keep all the characters as close as possible to how they are portrayed in the show and it's a bit of a challenge to do that with Millie considering that she isn't from Vikings. But for you to feel like she fits in with them is so great. It makes so happy. Slow burning relationships are the best and man it's going to get intense. Also, my recovery on one end has gone well. I still have some things to take care of but I'm confident that things will get better. And I hope that whatever it is or was that had you in and out of the hospital is over with. If not, I'm rooting for you! And I hope you didn't go too crazy waiting for the new update!
Fiona: Thank you! I really wanted people to see and feel how hard it is to make such a decision on such short notice because it isn't easy. To every pro is a con and I'm glad you caught on that. And yes, Ragnar is very realistic about how long it will take for her to accept him and he's loving every minute of it. But for how long? He has an idea of why he wants her but he keeps telling himself that he's wrong. That it isn't anything too serious even though his playful actions speaks otherwise. I'm going to let you in on something though. As of this update, clean Millie is Ragnar's favorite Millie and that's going to show quite a bit in the rest of the story ;) In the end, I really hope you like this update.
Guest: Ah! Sorry for the late update but thank you so much.
Littledot: I'm so sorry! I hope this chapter makes up for the long wait!
Guest: Thank you! That makes me so happy to know. I'm sorry it took so long and I hope you're still into the story!
Dreaming while awake: Thank you, thank you. And Yes! I'm still running with it. The only way I'll stop this story is because it's done. It's finished. Other than that, expect a lot more updates!
HermioneandMarcus: Thank you! Sorry for the wait. Hopefully this update makes up for it.
I had to bring myself down a bit because my ego might've gotten a bit too big reading all these reviews (kidding...well just a little bit). I'm back to normal now. In the end though you guys, I really really do hope you all liked this update. I still don't feel all that confident about it but I'll do my best next time. Also, I bite my knuckles every time because there is so much that I already have planned out and I can't wait for you guys to see what these plans are. It's going to be crazy. That's all I can say for now. I'll let you guys think on what I mean by that. And to everyone who has fav and followed the story and/or have fav and followed me because of it-thank you guys so much. Until next time!