Arc Two: Ragnar's War
They ran, for nearly a day, nothing but one foot in front of the other. Then their progress began to flag, especially Ragnar's.
With the sun high above them, he finally collapsed, his Jotunn skidding to a halt on its stomach. Totally limp and lifeless. And yet he didn't emerge from the nape of the neck. Suttungr motioned for her to get him while he kept watch, holding his family in his hands.
Annie rushed over to him, reaching down and tenderly extracting his body from its fleshy prison.
It looked like he'd been through a fire, his clothes a tattered ruin. As she lifted him, his shirt fell away, revealing massive burning all across his skin. She had to get down to him…
Please be okay, Ragnar.
Her titan sagged, following Ragnar's into oblivion, and she lurched towards him. Her heart felt strange, the icy shell seeming to melt, and concern flowed through her, a fiery need to help him.
His skin was hot, incredibly so, and she noted his chest was not moving. Her eyes bulged, watering as she noted the way his eyes looked to the sky, blankly.
Tears flowed down her face as she sobbed into his chest, sprawled out next to him.
"Don't you die you bastard," She yelled, pounding his chest, "You promised to take me home! You said you loved me! Is this how you prove you love me, by dying? I'll never forgive you!"
She felt a pair of arms around her, Suttungr had dropped his family to assist her, seeing the distress she was in. Griselda was holding her, dragging her back from Ragnar's body, while Arnora looked over Ragnar's body. She struggled until Griselda whispered in her ear.
"Just let Arnora look at him, Annie. It will be okay. She's an excellent healer."
Annie turned, looking into the older woman's eyes. They all looked out of place, standing over the remains of Ragnar, all dressed as if for a dinner party… But their clothes were dirty, faces stained with tears, and they all looked somber as one is at a funeral…
How can she say things are going to be okay? Annie thought to herself, as Arnora began to look over Ragnar's body.
Annie lurched forward angrily, her mouth opening for a scream as Arnora suddenly drew a knife, held it above her head and stabbed downwards through Ragnar's heart.
Light erupted from him, followed closely by heat and steam.
She held her breathe, waiting for some sign.
Ragnar roared. An inarticulate roar that couldn't have been produced by human vocal cords. The roar died, and she heard him struggle with Arnora from behind the curtain of haze.
"Annie! Where is she, is she okay?"
He was just brought back from the dead, she thought to herself, and the first thing he thinks of is me. How amazing. Her thoughts drifted to her father, his constant striving for her to do more… for her to become a warrior like himself, to serve the Council, to carry out its missions…
She'd found a man who wished nothing for her but happiness, although she doubted that his mind didn't stray at least a little towards other subjects
Her shoulders slumped, and her knees gave out. Griselda caught her, but still let her sink to the ground. Throat dry, she hoarsely tried to call out to him.
"Ragnar…"
She smiled. Even as tears streamed down, her lips quirked up, as her heart felt relief.
The one constant in this insane world, is still alive. The one part of humanity that I cannot hate.
Arnora came out of the cloud, the bloody knife in hand. Nodding to Annie, she went over to where the children were looking on.
Standing, Annie stumbled into the cloud, falling and dragging herself the final few feet to where Ragnar lay.
"Thank goodness you're okay, Annie…"
He was cut off as she hugged him, tightly. His grunt of pain was followed by a laugh. His arms weakly returned the hug.
"Where are we? The last thing I remember was climbing out of the canyon and then… Oh, my body hurts."
His chest was still covered in burns, the thick muscle underneath quivering as he attempted to move.
"Ragnar, stop trying to move."
She smacked the side of his head, and he winced.
"Listen… I'm not good at this… but I want you to be my man, and I'll be your woman."
"Do you love me?"
"No," I wish I knew what love was, I have only ever hated, so it's something I've never experienced… except with you, "But, we can be… partners. Companions."
"By the sky, woman," Ragnar sounded exasperated, "What must I do to prove my love for you!"
Annoyed, she smacked him again.
"You've proven your love for me a dozen times! But I am not worthy of it! Noone has ever loved me, free of contempt, and without ulterior motives! Why, why me Ragnar. You are a Prince, you must have thousands of options that are better than me!"
Silence lingered for several moments between them, until Ragnar's hand swept her hair back out of her eyes so he could look nto her eyes.
"The reason is simple, Annie, I don't know. I just do."
And then their lips met.
A seeming eternity passed before they separated. Annie looked away, embarrassed at what had just happened.
"Um…"
"So, we're partners now, right?"
She looked into those eyes of his, so caring and honest, and nodded. She smiled once again, looking down at him.
"Partners."
They looked up as someone coughed, and Annie scrambled off of him. The smoke cloud had disappeared, revealing them for all to see. Suttungr was standing above them, a strange glint shining in his eyes. He lowered his right hand, and the eight of them loaded up.
Daylight waned once again, and Ragnar slept.
Distantly, he could hear the children and Arnora and Griselda speaking, while Annie sat quietly near him.
He dreamed of many things, of Annie… of their kiss. Her small frame pressed against his…
But, she stepped back, and her figure changed, and he was looking into the eyes of his mother.
"Why did you kill me, baby boy?"
He closed his eyes, but when he opened them, he was looking at his Jotunn.
"Join me, let us kill!"
He awoke with a start, and he looked over at Annie.
"Water?"
She passed him a canteen, and he nearly drained it. Then flopped back down.
"Ragnar, how are you feeling?"
Arnora was holding Fridrek, her dark eyes curious. He sat up on his elbows, pain coursing throughout his body with each little movement. Annie watched him closely, almost seeming to worry.
"Better, thank you for saving my life," He touched the half healed scar in the center of his chest, "Where did you learn that?"
"My father, Jorge, once had something similar happen to him. You pushed yourself far over the limit, and your body couldn't handle it. Even with your improved healing ability. Which by the way, is much faster than any I have ever seen." She paused, watching him, "You must show me how you're doing that."
He had closed his eyes, concentrating on his wounds, and before their very eyes they began to narrow, to shrink, until finally most of them were gone.
"It seems I can heal them within minutes," He muttered, feeling dizzy, "But, the pain still lingers as if the wounds hadn't disappeared. It's strange…"
Silence fell over them for several miles, and no one moved as Suttungr carried them through a small stream. Fredrik broke the silence.
"Uncle Ragnar, where is my mama?"
Annie froze, her jaw locking.
His fiery red hear must mean that he was Fastvi's son. And come to think of it, Ragnar hadn't seen Fastvi.
"Annie, did you see where Fastvi went?"
"She jumped off of your back and attacked those pursuing us. I didn't see what happened to her."
Fredrik began to cry.
"I want my Mommy! Why did she have to go, Aunt Annie?"
"I'm not…"
Ragnar reached out and grasped her hand, his eyes looking meaningfully into her own.
"…sure. She said she wanted to protect you."
The little boy looked up at that, tears still clinging to his cheeks.
"She did?"
"Yes."
The rest of the children each had a sad look on their face, but he guessed that Fredrick was Fastvi's only child, for none of the older children cried. They instead sat near the two other mothers, periodically looking out at the darkened landscape around them, or over at Ragnar and Annie.
Hours passed. They all slept in fits and starts, as the jarring motion of Suttungr's jogging was not conducive to the sleep of anyone but the recently deceased. The sun rose, and tracked across the sky once again, and on the twelfth hour of the second day they crested the hill that lay above Vanirberg.
Ragnar stood shakily, looking up at his brother.
"Put us down and get out," He called up, "We'll have to walk the rest of the way! Pull up your hoods."
Someone must have spotted them when they came over the hill, for a number of riders exited the city and made a beeline for them. Luigi and Eleanor were in lead!
"Oh thank the sky, you're okay my Prince!"
They were off their horses and each wrapped Ragnar in a hug.
"What happened," Luigi inquired, looking at the now hooded Suttungr and his family, "Once we were able to fend off the Surtr we came looking for you… but… we lost some people. Philipson and seven others."
"Damn," Ragnar remembered the man's constant snickering rebukes from his childhood, "But as to what happened, we must all speak in private. Immediately. Convene at Vanirhaus."
They walked the final few hundred feet into the city. Men and woman looked out from the street, and many opened the windows on the second and third floors, watching them. Seeming to not recognize the Prince in his tattered clothing. Then a cry went up from all around.
"The Prince is alive!"
It became a very different arrival after that, people flooded into the streets, attempting to catch a glimpse of their Prince.
He looked back to where Annie was walking behind him, he gestured for her to come to the front of the procession with him. They walked side by side by side. He could see her cheeks heating as people began to look and discuss her. She looked sharply at Ragnar.
"Why did you bring me up here?"
"Everyone needs to understand that we are partners… and in Jotunheim, the best way to do that is, to show people."
He reached down and took her hand in his, and it was likely holding hands with a grizzly bear, her hand was tiny within his paw like grip. She almost withdrew her hand, but the noise of the crowd redoubled, a veritable wall of sound.
"See," Ragnar said to her, "They like you! Just don't scowl at them."
She snorted, but endured the embarrassment.
Vanirhaus was Ragnar's personal estate, a large house within the city center, surrounded by a gate. A pair of guards let them through the gate, then quickly closed it as the crowd attempted to follow.
An older gentleman, long waxed mustachios hanging to his chest, stepped out of the door.
"Ragnar! My boy, you are looking rather worse for wear!"
"Hello Afi," He said to his housekeeper, "It's been a long journey."
"And you've brought guests," The old man turned his blue eyes down upon Annie, who looked away, then at the hooded figures. He squinted at the figure of Suttungr, "I shall make preparations for lunch then, and prepare a few spare rooms."
And he shuffled off, opening the large glass doors and disappearing towards the kitchen.
Ragnar led the now much shorter procession into the main room, where he turned to Luigi and Eleanor.
"Listen closely, I'm going to tell the short and dirty of the past few days. Brother, you can remove your hood now."
Blades were drawn, and glinted menacingly as the Traitor Prince drew back his hood.
"Hold!"
Ragnar moved between his brother and his two guards. As they stood there, he began to speak of their time in Muspelheim, of all that had happened.
At the end of it, Suttungr's family also removed their cowls.
"Arnora?"
"Hello sister."
Eleanor jaw dropped as her sister, who she had thought lost, revealed herself. With that, the situation resolved itself, Luigi and Eleanor sheathing their swords.
But Ragnar noted that Luigi did not relax in the slightest.
"The King must be informed of these events, come, we will ride for Yggadrasil immediately…"
"No."
Annie stepped forward, glaring at Luigi.
"What did you say?"
"Look at us, we just fought a battle," Her fists were clenched, "Ragnar died. We were lucky enough that Arnora was there to bring them back. We need rest."
Luigi's eyes were cold as he looked at her, and his voice was nearly as cold.
"This is information that could be of vital importance to the Kingdom. We have no time to dally…"
Ragnar puffed out his chest, feeling pain course up from the recently healed burns and wounds. Then he exhaled as the pain grew too great.
"No, Annie is right. We shall take three days," He gestured vaguely towards the door, "Please Luigi, I have grown weary. We all need this. Send a pair of couriers to announce our impending visit, but do not reveal what the visit is for. We shall have to sneak you in, Brother."
Suttungr nodded from where he was sitting, his bronze eyes serious. He looked like he was about to say something, but instead turned to Griselda and began to speak to her.
"Ragnar…" Luigi looked towards his young prince with eyes that pleaded for a bit of sanity, but he found only the tired eyes of a man who had been broken many times, "Alright. I'll send the message."
He let himself out a side door, and Ragnar collapsed into a chair, exhausted. Everyone was spread about the large room, Eleanor and Arnora were conversing, the children played with a number of knick-nacks from around the room, Suttungr was sitting on a couch with Griselda, who was weeping. And Annie, Annie stood near his chair.
Reaching out his hand, he gripped her hand, and squeezed. She looked down at him, her eyes full of concern as she noted his pallor and sunken eyes.
"We made it, Annie."
She squeezed back. But something nagged at the back of her mind.
"I know, but… with all that's happened, won't there be war?"
"Most likely, without my brother at the helm… I have a feeling we're going to see increased raiding and pillaging. We'll have to deal with them. But, not for a few days. We can have some time to ourselves..." He looked away, scanning the room, then his eyes lit up, "Oh yeah, I forgot… Eleanor!"
His guard looked up, ending her conversation with her sister with a nod, and sauntered over to them. She eyed Annie with suspicion as she usually did. He smiled a tight smile when she presented herself before him.
"I've decided," He began, preparing himself for the verbal tirade he was about to endure, "That you shall become Annie's Guardian from this moment forward."
The look on her face was incredulous, as she scrambled for words. But Ragnar saw a gap in her defenses and took the chance. His eyes bored into Eleanor's with an intensity that belied his physical state as he cut her off.
"She is my favored companion, and may one day be my wife. Treat her as such," They both looked at him, Annie silently mouthing the word while Eleanor was taken aback. Anne flicked his ear after a moment, "Ow! Okay, you can start tomorrow morning. Take her shopping for clothing and anything else she pleases. Ask Afi for enough money for the outing. Make sure she has court clothing, since we'll likely have to see my father soon."
He looked down, then reddened as he noted that he didn't have a shirt.
"Um, did I walk through the streets without a shirt on? Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Eleanor chuckled.
"We thought you were dead, My Prince. The fact that you didn't have a shirt on didn't ring important to us. And at least, you gave the ladies of Vanirberg quite an eyeful…"
Annie tensed next to him, her hand squeezing his much harder than should have been possible, and Eleanor chuckled again.
"Well …my lady, what time would you like to leave in the morning?"
"When do places open around here?"
"Usually around eight in the morning or so."
"Then I would like to leave then," Annie looked down at Ragnar once again, "Would you accompany us?"
"I think it would be good for you two to bond, I think I'm just going to spend the day… recuperating."
He winked and kissed her hand, before standing and stretching.
"Speaking of recuperating… I'm going to…"
And then he passed out, falling back into the chair he had just vacated.
Annie had reached for him out of concern, but her hand stopped as the first snore sounded.
Eleanor reached past her and grabbed one of his arms.
"Comeon, let's get him to bed," She paused for a moment before adding, "My lady."
"Well, Annie, where do you want to start?"
Walking down the crowded streets of Vanirberg was a totally different experience from walking down the streets of one of the towns or villages within the wall. The people here were incredibly friendly, and many recognized her. She'd already received a number of flowers, 'for the Prince's beautiful young girlfriend'.
It had taken quite a bit of effort not to throw them all away.
At Eleanor's goading, they'd made their way to a series of small shops that seemed to cater to higher class woman. She felt incredibly out of place in her oversized clothes which Eleanor had lent her.
Her mind flashed back to the night before, when they had finally gotten Ragnar into his bed. Eleanor had looked down at the sleeping Prince, while Annie took a seat near him.
"Girl," She had begun, her voice hard, "Listen to me very carefully. The job that Ragnar has just given me is to be your Guardian. I will protect you no matter where you go, what you do. I am now honor bound to do whatever you order, that will not darken my own conscious. I have one request, my lady."
"Please, call me Annie. And… um, go ahead."
"The Prince is very precious to both myself and Luigi… We were tasked with being his Guardian's since he was two. When his father exiled him. For all intents and purposes we have been his parents."
Annie felt uncomfortable as the woman turned her gaze from the Prince to herself.
"Please, please don't hurt him any worse than he's already been hurt. You see that he loves you, and from what he told us, and what he didn't tell us, you have feelings for him. So, stay with him tonight, and every night you are able. You must become the island in his stream, the roots to his tree. Or else… We will lose him."
"How so?"
Her eyes looked down again.
"As you've found out, he is the Death Prince," She paused, collecting her thoughts, Annie waited, but felt her patience wearing thin, "He also happens to be one of the most powerful Jotunn in history. We've noted that his form is prone to… changes. Such as his four arms. When he transformed as an infant… he didn't have those extra arms, however it still took the entirety of the Royal Guard to subdue him, after twelve hours of constant fighting. His Jotunn is evolving… and growing more powerful. It may subvert him in the future."
"He is an intelligent, kind, caring young man… But when his second personality takes over, he truly is a monster, cold and ruthless. He becomes a fiery beast out of legend, which spreads terror. He's had at least a single incident every year, one of the reasons for his exile to Vanirberg. I need to know, did he… change during your escape from the Surtr?"
Annie remembered it, when he had thrown himself into the canyon… the lines of light that appeared on his skin, the fire that had run all over his limbs… The rage that filled his eyes. But she also remembered the tenderness of his touch, and the way his gaze softened when his eyes fell upon her.
"You think that my presence is keeping him from losing control?"
Eleanor nodded.
"My, you are the observant one."
Annie would have put her statement down to snark, but Eleanor seemed to be studying her with interest.
"So, Annie… Can you do that for Ragnar? Can you be there?"
Flashing back to Eleanor's question about where she wanted to go, Annie looked at one little shop that had a number of dresses that she guessed were nice.
"Let's go there."
It was a tiny store, barely a dozen feet by a dozen feet, and only a single young woman sat inside.
"Hello there! Welcome to Sophie's! What can I do for you?"
Eleanor took the initiative from Annie, who didn't even know where to start… she'd never really had to pick out her own clothes…
"We need to get this young lady fitted for several pairs of clothing, and at least a pair of dresses. And a pair of riding clothes. In the livery of Prince Ragnar."
Sophie's eyes widened and she clapped her hands.
"Oh! You must be the Prince's new wife!"
Annie hated how much she had blushed lately… It was just getting ridiculous. But she was able to grind out a response.
"We are not married."
"Oh, well then you must be seeing each-"
She cut off as Eleanor swelled up to her massive height and locked her gaze on Sophie. The younger woman took a step back, like a pigeon that has just met a hawk.
"L-let me get my measuring tape."
And so
began Annie's personal trial… she was treated to an interrogation as the girl seemed to ask her a dozen questions a minute, while deftly taking her measurements.
The young tailor even took measurements for her hands and feet, promising that she'd run over to the neighboring leather shop and get her a few pairs of boots, and sandals made.
When they left, an hour after arriving, Annie was exhausted, and Eleanor took notice of this.
"Why are you so tired, Annie? Did you and Ragnar…."
Her eyebrows wiggled suggestively, and…
I'm going to cut my cheeks off!
"No! We're just partners," Even as she said the last part she knew it didn't sound any better, "We're just… I don't know. Companions I guess."
The night before had ended as it had started, Annie sitting to the side, sleeping in a chair with feet propped up on the bed. When she'd awoken, Ragnar had still been sleeping, so she had let herself out and roamed the grounds until Eleanor found her.
Eleanor chuckled in her infuriating way.
"So, I'm thinking it's time for some food. Let's go to Arnolf's, he's got the best-"
Anne followed behind her, attempting to keep up with her conversation, but her mind was on Ragnar.
I hope you're having more fun than I am.
"Damn it Luigi, what the hell was that for!"
Ragnar looked up at Luigi, who was standing menacingly next to his bed. He'd just brought his bladed hand down on his forehead, snapping him awake in a second.
"That's for running off and getting captured, and this," He brought his hand up again, "Is for worrying me!"
Anticipating such a thing would happen, Ragnar rolled out of the bed, blankets twirling about him as he thudded to the floor. He struggled to get out of the blankets, thinking that Luigi would try to complete his attack. But as he stood he saw that Luigi had retreated towards the door. He looked back at Ragnar, a smile quirking his lips slightly.
"Now that I got that out of the way, I'm happy you've come home Ragnar. When I thought you'd died… Well, none of that now, get washed up and dressed, there are people who want to see you! And we have a few things to take care of."
So, after bathing and dressing. Luigi lead him out to the barracks on the outskirts of town, where his twenty seven remaining guards stood waiting for him in their full uniforms, standing in formation in the black and gold uniforms.
Nick and Tyr stood at the front of the formation, a pair of young men not much younger than himself standing next to him.
Nick stepped forward, sweeping a bow.
"My Prince, I beg to report the loss of Brock Philipson," His voice was serious, totally unlike him, "He died during the ambush at the Muspell Valley, when we failed to protect you. He was ripped from his Jotunn and dashed against the ground. We were too late to save him."
A somber silence fell over them, as Ragnar looked into the faces of each of the men and women who had pledged to die for him. Tyr was the only one who looked directly back at him instead of locking their eyes forward, but Tyr was one of his original guards, and a good friend.
They waited for Ragnar to fulfill his part of the ceremony.
"I hereby turn out Brock Philipson with honors. He died doing his duty, and shall take a place of honor in the sky! I pledge my heart to you!"
All thirty one of the people present slammed their right fists into their opposing shoulder, in the salute that was used throughout the kingdom.
He paused as they held the salute, then continued.
"Times are changing, war is upon us," Most of them seemed to express shock at this, a few of them didn't, "War, and pestilence, and death. Brock Philipson was the first death in a war that will change the face of our world. You know where we just went, to the Wall of Mankind. Once we have won this war, I aim to return to the Wall and go beyond! I shall not compel any of you to follow me, but the journey shall be made. I have made promise to my… favored Companion to return her to her home beyond the Walls! I pledge my heart to you!"
He looked out across the formation, seeking any eyes that turned away from his own. None did. Nick stepped forward a half step, with the rest of the formation following.
"For your Glory! Our lives are yours!"
When Ragnar broke the salute, he bowed. And it broke the somber mood that had fallen over them. The formation broke up, with most of the guards hanging back, waiting for what would happen next.
Nick came forward, with the two young men.
"This is Trainee Jurgenson," He gestured to the taller of the two, lanky in his youth, "And this is Trainee Larson," The shorter, much darker one, "They've both applied to become part of your Guard."
Ragnar looked at each of them in turn, studying their faces, which seemed to exude nervousness from both of them.
"Alright, demonstrate your abilities."
For a half hour, he watched the two spar, with every weapon he could think of. Then they transformed into Jotunn and fought. They were evenly matched, and as they panted on the ground in front of him, Ragnar nodded to Nick.
"Accept them both. Get them everything they'll need."
Nodding, Nick ran over to the two newly accepted Guard recruits.
"Well, Ragnar, you're looking hungry."
Tyr, oh loyal Tyr, was standing beside him, towering next to his Prince.
"Yeah, Luigi sort of dragged me out of bed!" His chief Guard snickered.
"We had to get that out of the way, damnit! Now comeon, I'll treat you both too lunch," He turned to where Nick was and yelled, "Hey, Arnolf's in twenty minutes!"
They set off down the street, which was luckily mostly deserted, towards the little restaurant.
"So, how are you liking Vanirheim?"
Annie looked up from her plate of… whatever this was. She put down her fork and looked up into Eleanor's face.
"It's different from my home, much different," She thought for a moment, deciding that if she were to ever go home, truly home, than she needed them to understand… "Listen Eleanor… I've only told Ragnar so far, but, my home isn't within the walls. It's outside of the walls, far to the south from here."
Eleanor nodded, but her face softened from its usual hardness.
"That's… a good thing, Annie. That means that we didn't totally break the King's Decree," She paused, "Now what is your home like?"
"It is… open, like Vanirberg. We have no walls, the high concentration of Titan shifters… Jotunn, keeps most other titans away."
Eleanor nodded for her to go on.
"We, are not like you people though," Annie looked down, "We are ruled by a Council of Elders, who direct the Warriors such as myself. And rule over the Helots."
"Helots?"
"Slaves."
Silence hung between them so thickly that you could cut a knife with it.
"Annie… your people keep slaves? Annie, did you or your family keep any slaves? Oh lord, Ragnar…"
Her response unsettled Annie.
What about Ragnar?
She turned to see Ragnar standing in the doorway to the restaurant, with the giant of a man, Luigi and another brown haired man.
Arnolf, the fat old man who ran the place bounced up, nearly crying in his excitement.
"Now Annie, answer me."
Eleanor had chosen their dining place well, it was an enclosed booth, with a pair of blinds that could be drawn across and a door that closed. She reached out and closed the door quietly, lowering the blinds at the same time.
Annie watched through the cracks as old man Arnolf, who Eleanor had given a few gold pieces to keep him from telling anyone they were here, led Ragnar to the table adjacent to theirs. Then she looked at Eleanor.
"I don't really see how it's relevant… but yes, my family owned a few slaves, mainly house slaves. So that we could train as long as we wished."
"You can never breathe a word of this to Ragnar."
Taken aback, Annie made an inquisitive noise.
"I'll tell you a story," Eleanor whispered, as the voices of Ragnar and his guards swelled in the room next to them, "When Ragnar turned thirteen and officially came of age, there were many lordly farmers who used non-Jotunn as indentured servants. I don't know the reason why, but Ragnar hates slavery. He abolished having indentured servants, but a hardcore group disregarded him, and when he led a force to free all their slaves, they ambushed him."
Annie began to understand, and saw where Eleanor was going.
"He lost control," A look of long remembered terror crossing her face, "Killed all eleven of the attackers single handedly and then proceeded to destroy their homes, freeing their servants. It was after that loss of control that his Jotunn acquired its extra set of arms… I, don't like to remember that night. So don't ever speak a word of it."
Do his passions run so deep? Just when I feel like I have everything figured out, Ragnar throws something else at me.
Laughter erupted from the booth Ragnar had taken, and both she and Eleanor peeked through the blinds. Ragnar was sitting next to Tyr, who seemed to be having a fit, the table in front of them covered in what looked like beer. Luigi and who she now recognized was Nick, laughed much more reservedly across from them.
"By the sky, Ragnar! You've known the girl for nearly a month and you haven't got into her skivvies! I thought you said you loved her!"
Tyr dissolved into another bellowing laugh.
It took a moment for Annie to figure out what they were talking about, but her eyes widened and her cheeks flared, and she exchanged looks with Eleanor, whose eyes seemed to be laughing.
"It only took me a week to get there with Eleanor! And look, we've been married happily for five years! Well, I'm happy at least, I can't tell with that old plow horse of mine."
Annie nearly laughed, as Eleanor's face contorted through confusion, to shock and then settling on anger. It took the majority of Annie's strength to hold her back, from going around and clobbering her silly man.
"I need to hear this, Eleanor. Now please…"
They settled back down into their seats, and Annie was able to listen in again just as Ragnar began to speak.
"Well, I haven't seen her in her skivvies you malingering oaf," He began, taking a sip from his beer, "But she did kiss me, right after Arnora brought me back to life… Oh no, I hope I don't have to die for each and every kiss!"
They all laughed at that, and even though she was the subject, even Annie felt her lips quirking slightly.
"Well, Ragnar, what are your intentions with her?" Nick said, wiping his beard where beer had spilled on it.
"I… I don't know," Ragnar said, staring down at his beer, "She's the most beautiful and interesting girl I've ever met, and from the moment I saw her, knew I wanted to be with her… But there are times I doubt she feels the same for me. She's even said that she doesn't love me. But… my intentions are the same either way. I will take her to her home beyond the Walls."
The three older men nodded, appraising their Prince with eyes filled with respect. Until Tyr ruined the moment.
"Hey, maybe then she'll let you into her skivvies!"
Booming laughter sounded once again, as Annie felt a stirring in her heart.
She promised herself that she would make herself worthy of this man's affection, no matter the cost to her status as a Warrior.
I will protect you, even if I must defend you from yourself.
Jotunn- 'Yo-Ton'- A Titan Shifter, also a citizen of Jotunheim. In Norse Mythology the Jotunn (Some say Jotnar) are the giants that serve as the primary antagonists. Loki, in both the Marvel universe and actual mythology, is a Jotunn.
Surtr- 'Sir-Ter'- Name bestowed upon the rebels by the King. In Norse mythology, Surtr is a fire giant who at Ragnarok (Apocalypse) will rise up and slay the Asgardians.
Mosher- 'Mow-sure' Means "From the Marshes" or "Of the Marshes". And yes, my screenname is pronounced the same way and means the same thing.
Suttungr- 'Soot-ung-er'- A Jotunn in Norse mythology