LONG ASS A/N…PLEASE READ
Okay, let me get one thing straight. I love how much enthusiasm you guys have for this story. It's incredibly flattering and I love you all immensely for it, but reviewing over and over almost daily on guest reviews (and yeah it's obvious it was just the one person repeating themselves) that I have to update is nothing but annoyingly unhelpful and won't speed up my processes whatsoever. Actually it kinda makes it harder to focus on that story cuz I just get annoyed thinking about it.
Putting aside all the other WIPs I have, I also have a thing called a life which involves a nine year old nephew who I've been around since he was born, a pregnant sister who I am incredibly close to, planning a baby shower for said sister, getting ready to move across the country with said sister, attempting to write on a book I may actually publish one day, and my least favorite by far, my horrible job that has crazy hours. I don't always have time to work on my writing and when I do it's not guaranteed that I'll write for this story. I promise I will update, it just might take me a bit.
Also, I'm not a huge fan of people just telling me to update in reviews. Even just saying you love the chapter is better than demanding an update. It makes me feel like I'm dealing with children and definitely doesn't make me want to update. If you're worried I forgot about the story PM me and ask and I'll let you know when you can expect another chapter. Just try to be more polite and less overbearing guys, that's all I ask.
Now that all that's out of the way…
This chapter is embarrassingly short, especially considering how long of a wait I put you through (see above for why) but I wanted to get something out to tide you over. For the next couple of months at least, I probably won't get much of anything on any of my stories posted. I'm hella busy and sacrifices must be made. Please have patience with me and, again, don't hound me. Nothing will move faster that way.
I apologize for long waits and even longer A/Ns.
Lifa balanced precariously on the forefront of the ship, rocking back and forth with the rough surf as she watched the town she once called home grow larger and larger on the horizon. They were racing against the dark, heavy clouds slowly rolling in behind them. If they didn't reach the dock before the storm hit, they would have to wait for it to pass. Spending an extra night in close quarters with particularly smelly men was not something Lifa looked forward to. So she leaned against the front railing, ignoring the pain from the wood digging into her stomach as she willed the ship to move faster, praying to the Gods to send them their strongest winds.
Someone must have heard, as the ship moved far more swiftly than it had the whole trip. Soon they were pulling up beside the dock, men jumping out to secure the ropes so their vessel couldn't drift away with the tide. Lifa waited until they motioned for the others to follow before she flipped herself off the side of the ship, her boots hitting the wooden deck with an echoing thud. She had turned to see who had followed only to be scooped up and flung over a familiar lean shoulder. She huffed and rolled her eyes at her brother's antics while her lips spread into a smile involuntarily.
It wasn't until Floki had lugged her halfway through the milling crowd, some people stopping to call out a greeting to them, that she managed to catch a glimpse of a small terrified body amongst the masses. Temperance was huddled in on herself, standing as far to the edge of the crowd as she could while her eyes scanned the surrounding people like they'd attack at any moment. Guilt rushed through Lifa for half a second before Floki jarring her as he lept up onto a passing farmer's cart brought her back to reality. As much as she would like to, she can't constantly be there for the Englishwoman. Temperance had to learn her place amongst her new people and find comfort in Ragnar if they wanted this to work, to find happiness in their situation. Lifa could help, but only to an extent. So instead the blonde allowed her brother to dump her in a pile of crops in the back of the cart and be wheeled away to wherever her sister-in-law would be staying in town.
Temperance couldn't help but feel a little betrayed. She had hoped Lifa would stand beside her when they landed, but instead she was left on her own as her captors greeted the people waiting for them. She watched couples reunite much more publicly than was decent, children climbing their papas with huge grins, siblings and parents hugging the men with such fierceness, Temperance felt a pang of something she didn't recognize. Even when her brother, the family member she was closest to, was alive she had never had someone hold her that close, care for her like that. She had loved her parents, but they were King and Queen, meant to be distant and awe-inspiring. They could hardly do that while cuddling every child around them.
Unlike Ragnar.
As far as she could tell, he had no children of his own, and yet the children of his men gathered round him, hopping up and down eagerly as he teased them, gave the boys praises on hunts well done, and doted on the girls' beauty. He had a soft smile as a small bundle wrapped tightly in a blanket was dumped carefully into his arms to be blessed. The baby practically cooed at him as he bounced on the balls of his feet and Temperance couldn't help but melt a little inside. Such large, harsh men and yet they held children in a sort of reverence she had never seen at home. The two imagines clashed and yet melded so seamlessly, it left her more than a little confused and flustered.
Sharp blue eyes darted up, away from the baby now being passed back to his mother, and met her gaze. Part of her wanted to cringe away, find somewhere to hide from the penetrating gaze. Part of her wanted to stare back just as determinedly and show she felt no fear, even if that was a complete lie. The result was her eyes hesitantly looking away only to flick back to him a moment later. A smirk slowly formed on his face, making her blush embarrassingly red.
Suddenly he was there, pressed against her side, and his wide warm palm caressed her back through the thinning fabric of her gown. She shuddered at the feeling on his fingers slowly circling, bunching the cotton slightly and sending little tingles through her body she detested on principle alone. She curled into herself automatically, her arms wrapping around her in a tight hug when she noticed people's eyes locking onto her suspiciously. Ragnar shouted something to his people as his arm slipped around her, securing her against his side while his fingers gripped her side in a vice-like grip. Eyes widened as they darted from their leader to the woman at his side a second before cheers began to go up.
Temperance cringed as men stumbled forward, bowing slightly to her while woman followed suit, though they looked less than pleased. A small child ran up, large grin in place, and lifted a pretty yellow flower to her. She blinked at the little girl for a moment before a tiny smile formed on her face against her better judgment. She plucked the flower from the child's grasp and brought it up to her face to smell it, reveling in the sweet scent. She wasn't familiar with this kind of flower, but something inside of her stirred at the scent wafting through her lungs, something peaceful and warm. Something like home.