Chapter 14

Ylva woke early the next morning, warm in Halfdan's embrace. She stretched a bit and moaned quietly as his member slid out of her. She laughed softly amazed that the two of them had moved so little through the night that he remained inside her the whole duration. She gently disentangled herself from his arms and smiled down at his face. His tattoos often made his face look harsh and intimidating, but he looks calm and peaceful as he slept.

Ylva slipped into her clothes and quietly poked her head out of their chamber door. As a servant walked by, she politely asked if a bath could be brought and drawn in their chamber, to which the servant politely nodded and scurried away to fetch the bath.

Once the servant was out of sight, Ylva slipped down the hallway. She had been here four times before for tasks Father had given her. She was trained to memorize a map with having only seen it once, so having been there so many times before meant she knew her way around, probably better than some who have worked and lived there for years.

She slid down the hallways quickly and quietly without being seen. She clung to the walls, using their shadows to avoid detection. Ylva continued down the corridors until she came to a simple wooden door. She knocked once, paused, and then three times before entering. SHe was greeted by a familiar face.

"Brother," Ylva greeted the man before her.

He flashed her a smile, his white teeth a stark contrast to his tanned skin, "hello sister." He strode across the room to wrap her in a warm embrace. "I've missed you, you left your post so suddenly and without notice." He looked at her sharply then, "I don't believe Father was pleased with your actions."

Ylva pulled herself out of his embrace, "Aeneus, I know he was not pleased, but I assume you are here for more than reminding me of my defiance."

Aeneus chuckle, "you're right, I am here with a task for you. Come, sit." Aeneus gestured to a pair of chairs in the corner of the room.

Ylva joined him as he sat down, "what is my task?" She did not waste any time and wanted the details so she could begin and get her task over with.

"Two English kings killed Ragnar Lothbrok," he began. "King Aelle and King Ecbert. Aelle officially ordered the execution, so we know the Vikings will kill him for revenge. Father needs you to ensure that Ecbert dies as well. Make sure your heathens kill him as well. Father has collected a large sum in order to guarantee his death."

Ylva stood then, "it shall be done," and left.

She quickly made her way back to the chamber she shared with Halfdan. She smiled when she saw he was still sleeping, holding her pillow against his chest. She slipped out of her clothing and rejoined him in the bed. Snuggling against his back and enjoying his warmth. He rolled in his sleep to take her in his arms once more. They laid like that for several moments before they were interrupted by a knock on the door before the servants entered with the bath Ylva requested.

"What is this," Halfdan murmured groggily as he woke.

Ylva placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, "it is a bath for us." She turned to the servants, "thank you, that will be all." They nodded and left without a word.

Ylva stood from the bed, offering her hand for Halfdan to take. He groaned loudly before taking her hand and pulling her roughly towards him, "please do not make me get out of bed. Just a few more minutes," he pleaded, "then we can rie for the day."

Ylva shook her head in disbelief. "Such a lazy man," she said with a laugh, but ceded to his wishes and allowed him to wrap his arms around her once more.

Halfdan held her for quite a time before he briefly pressed her tightly against his chest before sitting up in the bed, "very well, let's take our bath." Halfdan stood up from the bed and scooped Ylva up in his arms, bridal style. He carried her over to the large tub full of steaming, scented water. He placed a gentle kiss onto the top of her hair before whispering, "forgive me, my love." Halfdan released he then, to splash into the water below.

Ylva's entire body went under the water's surface. She quickly sat up, her soaked raven locks clinging to her back and shoulders. Halfdan, on the site if her, threw his head back and laughed. Ylva shot him a deadly glare in return.

Halfdan slowly ceased his laughing and shrugged his shoulders as response to the knives Ylva was shooting at him. He knelt beside the tub, "come now, my Ylva, I thought you wanted a bath."

Ylva had half a mind to drown him in the bath, but settled on splashing him instead. "Get in, before I drown you," she ordered.

Halfdan simply laughed in response and stepped into the tub behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her. She leaned back against his chest enjoying both the warmth of the water and Halfdan behind her. "Grab the cloth," she ordered.

Halfdan obeyed with a small chuckle and began making small circles as he washed her. He took his time and paid special attention when washing her breasts. Make sure that each nipple got cleansed. He massaged each breast with the cloth before moving further down. He released the cloth and snaked his hand down between her thighs.

Ylva leaned further back against his chest as she enjoyed his touch and Halfdan placed soft, gentle kisses along her shoulders, "my sweet Ylva, I cannot keep my hands off of you."

Ylva chuckled softly and turned her head to place a kiss upon his lips, but just as the kiss deepened, Harald walked in.

Halfdan growled at his brother's interruption, to which Harald only laughed and ask, "enjoying your morning so far?"

Upon Harald's interruption, Halfdan wrapped his arms protectively around Ylva, pulling her closer against his chest, "yes, I am. Did you need something?"

Harald laughed in response and sauntered over to the bed and sat down on its edge, his eyes never leaving the two in the tub, eyes hungry as he took in the site. "I came to let you know we will be leaving the dock in a few hours and that Rollo has had breakfast prepared for everyone." A dark smirk crossed his face then, "his Christian wife will be pleased to see everyone again, I'm sure."

"We'll be ready shortly," Halfdan said curtly to dismiss his brother, but Harald did not move, he only proceeded to lay back on the bed with a loud sigh. This caused Halfdan to click his jaw in irritation as he shot daggers at his brother.

Ylva, tired of whatever exchange was happening between the brothers pulled away from Halfdan and stood up, the water beading and rolling of of her skin. Without a word she stepped out of the tub and began drying herself with one of the clean cloths the servants had brought with the bath. She heard Harald sit up from the bed and could feel his eyes raking the backside of her body, but paid no heed. Once she was thoroughly dried, she pulled on her clothes and braided her hair tightly back. Looking back at the two brothers, both of them had their eyes trained on her like hawks to prey. She threw another clean cloth at Halfdan, indicating that he too should dry off and get dressed.

The cloth hitting his face stirred Halfdan from his intense gaze, and he turned to address his brother, "brother," he said angrily, "out. We'll join you shortly."

Harald looked towards his brother and nodded with a breathy laugh. Before walking out the door, Harald threw one last glance at Ylva and shut the door behind him.

Halfdan dried himself in an angry silence, his movements jerking and his body tense. Ylva came up beside him and held out his clothes. Instead of taking them, Halfdan grabbed her wrist and jerked her towards him, his clothes falling to the floor. "Do not expose yourself like that to any man," he ordered, "especially to my brother."

Ylva's eyes went cold at his tone and she pulled her hand free, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind him in the process. She pulled a dagger out and held it to his throat, "do not give me orders, Halfdan," she said calmly in his ear, "I do not take orders from you." She then placed a gentle kiss against the side of his neck and released him.

Halfdan turned and watched in silence as Ylva bent to retrieve his clothes and held them out to him once more. "Thank you," he murmured, gently taking the clothes from her hand and began dressing himself.

Ylva sat on a chair in the room and began lacing her boots, stopping when Halfdan kneeled in front of her. He took her face in his hands, "I'm sorry, my love," he began, "but I will not stand aside when you act that way in front of other men. I want you as my own, and you cannot be mine if you do these things. I cannot stand it." He gave her a pleading look and placed a kiss on her forehead.

Ylva rested her forehead against his as he continued to hold her face, "do not give me talk to me like that again," she warned. Taking a breathe she began, "I was not raised in a way that nudity was frowned upon. We were told to be completely comfortable and calm in our bare skin. I am sorry if you do not agree with that, but," she paused and placed a quick peck on his lips, "for you I will try to behave."

Halfdan smiled and gave her a quick, rough kiss before standing, "let's join the others before my brother comes in again."

Ylva nodded in agreement, taking his outstretched hand as they exited their chambers.