The Stranger Came In A Boat

Chapter One

"Mother you have to be joking!" You gasped as you trailed after her.

Your shrill disagreement lifted through the air where Hvitserk, and his brothers were lounged on the front porch of the main hall. "(Y/N), please hush your objections."

You made a noise of irritation as she continued to hurry through the slowly busying streets. "You expect me to simply let myself be sold as chattel, I am unlike you mother I hold some value on myself, above baring sons and waiting for a husband I do not like to return from overseas." Your objection caused many people to look over at the two of you, but you couldn't care less.

The older woman fell silent and you were rather aware that your outburst may have pushed your luck to the brink. "Will you stop complaining? You are to marry a prince." Your mother chided but you simply scoffed.

Shaking your head as you came to a stop, you made sure to turn your back on the main hall so as to avoid catching Hvitserk's eye. "Ah, so his being a prince makes up for the fact that I am the only one who was not consulted on this, Gods, he shall be so full when he reaches Valhalla he will be unable to feast!" You sighed out.

The silence that followed next held the air of danger. You had argued to the point of having no more faults with Hvitserk, and your mother knew it, looking at you as if she dared you to continue challenging her.

A growl of objection left you as she continued to walk away and the argument was lost. Hvitserk's gaze practically burnt into you. There was no doubt in your mind he had heard the entire argument and you couldn't care less.

"Sure she is the one you want brother?" Ubbe chuckled, slapping a hand on Hvitserk's leg as you turned and went the long way home just so you wouldn't look at him.

Sigurd laughed as Hvitserk looked at the food in his hands, before shrugging and slicing a piece of meat away from the bone. "You are just as stubborn as she is." He muttered which was answered only with a sly smirk.

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The weeks leading up to your wedding had been difficult. You refused to utter a word to Hvitserk and told no one to talk to you about a wedding of any kind. Hvitserk, in turn, did the same and for a short gleeful moment you assumed you had offended him with your outburst.

A habit emerged that meant wherever your went your husband to be was your shadow. He would trail after you in stubborn silence, waiting for you to break first. From the moment your feet hit the floor in the morning, to the moment you went to bed, he was next to you but you were far to stubborn to say a word.

You sat at the edge of the docks, leaning against a pillar as your fingers trailed in the water, the almost peaceful silence and the rare lack of Hvitserk had you humming peacefully to yourself. It wasn't until Ivar slumped himself onto one of the barrels opposite you that you broke out of your daze, eyes rolling as Hvitserk leant next to Ivar's feet, smiling to himself.

Ivar's grin split wide as he watched the way you forced yourself to become ridged and irritated, a quick look passed between the two of you and for a moment you thought he might out your secret. "So, how is my soon to be sister-in-law?" He hummed out, amusement ringing through his tone.

When you didn't answer Ivar ignored you, chatting to Hvitserk while his brother watched you closely. When you leant over the edge of the docks he moved so he could grab you should you lean too far and fall, or if Ivar decided it would amuse him to see you in the water.

When you mumbled something under your breath he frowned, realising your gaze had not returned to the water but was in fact staring off, to where an unfamiliar boat was approaching, at an alarming speed.

He had you grasped around the waist and on your feet before you could do much more than jab him in the ribs as an insistance to put you down. "Hvitserk." Bjorn muttered, slapping a weapon into his hand as the boat docked and several men climbed out.

Unlike Hvitserk the man, who was clearly the leader, was only a little taller than you and looked as if he had simply hopped up from his chair moments before. "Please, my apologies I did not mean to startle you." His soft voice had you looking between Hvitserk and Ubbe to the small war party that had gathered around Bjorn.

Ivar clucked his tongue and scrunched his face as he inspected the men that had arrived with the stranger. "You arrive here and bring men who are armed and yet expect us to welcome you?" Ivar jabbed his knife in the man's direction as he spoke.

The Man smiled, catching your eye which made you blush a little. "Forgive me, I have travelled down from further north in search of some piece from my siblings." He chuckled when Ivar rolled his eyes as the men lowered their weapons and each explained why they were there.

When the gathering of people thinned out the stranger approached you and smiled. "If I had known the beauties of Kattegat were anything like you, I would have made my journey sooner." When your response to his words was to simply blush profusely, Hvitserk made in irritated noise.

A warm hand slid under your cloak and around your stomach, resting gently at your front as his hand spread as if to hide you from sight. "I am sure you will find a beauty in our town but, it would be wise to choose one who does not already belong to someone else." His tone had the hairs on the back of your neck standing on ends as the man stepped closer and grabbed your chin despite, Hvitserk's grip on you.

"You do not look as if you belong to him." The man's voice was almost hypnotic and you found yourself leaning into him until Hvitserk turned you and pressed a harsh kiss to your lips.

You shoved him away and a sharp echo of a slap sang through the air as your hand flashed against his cheek, stunning him enough to let you hurry away. "Perhaps you should not claim women that are not yours? I'm Bard, by the way... " Bard chuckled as Hvitserk stayed in stunned silence, his cheek reddening in a faint hand mark.