Gift Of The Sea//Ivar The Boneless Fanfic

Chapter Twenty-Three

"I was a foolish to ever doubt you, Nerida. You gave an eye to bring us sell swords and have fought honorably in battle beside us." Bjorn said as he kissed her once more, Nerida trailing kisses over his jaw and down his neck.

They had walked for ten miles before their messenger informed them that the King's army was less than a day away, which meant they were now on the eve of battle. "If I die tomorrow—"

"Please. Do not say that, Bjorn. You are Bjorn Ironside and I know that this battle will not be your last." She smiled, Bjorn moving his body fully over hers as they began to once again make love, neither of them wanting to sleep.

Hours later Nerida found herself unable to sleep, her mind restless as she thought about the plan set forth by Ivar. She did not trust him, and her heart was no longer his to break, Nerida grateful that she had allowed Bjorn to love her.

She carefully stood and slipped back into her clothes and armor, her mind anxious to see the battlefield, and her heart anxious to be back in Kattegat. Nerida stepped from the tent, the air cool and the camp filled with a thick fog that made it almost impossible to see through.

The camp was quiet almost too quiet for Nerida's liking. She knew that her men would be up and awaiting to hear the battleplan, her core still aching as she carefully walked through the fog and towards the pirate's encampment.

"Nerida?" Bjorn whispered as he rushed towards her, Nerida smiling as he pulled her close. "You should be resting." He said as he rested his hands on her hips.

"I am always anxious before a battle, and I worry that Ivar's plan will not work." She whispered as her hands rested on his chest, all her worries seeming to dissipate as her eyes locked with his.

"I know you want to be with your men, but I want you with me by my side. I also do not want to wait until we return to Kattegat. Before we go into battle, I wish for Floki to marry us. I do not want another day without you as my wife, Nerida." Bjorn whispered as he kissed her forehead, Nerida's heart racing as she felt a single tear run down her cheek.

"I do not deserve this, Bjorn. I do not deserve you." She said her words cut off as Bjorn kissed her lips passionately, his arms encircling her as he held her as tight as he could. Nerida broke the kiss to rest her head on his chest, a safe feeling coming over her, feeling she had never felt before.

"When the sun rises Bjorn, I will marry you."

                                                                            ***

"Thank you for your help Helga." Nerida smiled as she stood from the bed, her body clad in a white gown she had borrowed, her head fitted with a crown of wildflowers and her body void of armor. "All of this and yet I feel so naked, Helga. Were you this scared when you married Floki?" She asked as she looked to Helga's adopted daughter, a look in her eyes that worried Nerida.

"I was happy, and I have remained that way. Bjorn will protect you and you him and I know you will bring joy to each other." Helga smiled as she kissed Nerida's cheek, Nerida hugging her tight before leaving the tent. A blush went over her face as everyone turned to look at her, her body trembling as she walked towards Bjorn.

To her surprise Ivar looked calm, an almost kind smile on his face as he sat on the ground, his brothers standing beside him. Nerida stepped in front of Bjorn, his shaking hands taking hers as she wiped a tear from his cheek.

Nerida gasped as she saw that most of her men were in attendance, which shocked her since they had preferred to stay away from the Vikings. The moment Floki wrapped their hands in cloth, Nerida's heart began to race, a feeling she had not gotten when she had married Ivar.