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bouncehousedemons · 1 year

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All Too Eager

My entry for day four of @vikingsevents Valentine's week prompts. Day four is misunderstanding.

Pairing: Hvitserk x OFC. A cotinuation of this story - you don't need to have read it though. Warnings: Mentions of nudity. Word count: ~550

It has been three days since Avaldidida went on a hunt with a group from the Mi’kmaq tribe. While Hvitserk respects the ways of her people and understands there are some things she must simply do without him, it does not make him miss her any less.

She is due to return today. Hvitserk has been pacing the Mi’kmaq settlement most of the morning, awaiting her arrival like an overexcited hound loyally waiting for its master.

He bounces on the balls of his feet, a bright smile upturning the corners of his mouth as he sees her in the distance. Becoming impatient after a few moments of watching her approach on horseback with the rest of her hunting party, he breaks into a run in an effort to meet her halfway.

Hvtiserk's heart soars when he sees Avaldidida climb down from her horse, matching his pace, before jumping into his arms.

He spins her around, kissing her fiercely and threading his fingers into her long dark hair.

"Welcome home, Ava." He murmurs against her lips.

She closes her eyes, pressing her forehead to his. "I missed you."

Hvitserk hums appreciatively before pulling her into a tight hug, which squashes her face against his chest.

She huffs a laugh, pulling away and looking up at him. Her brown eyes glow almost amber in the bright sunshine. "I have to help get everything back to the settlement, there is much to unload." She explains. "Go and wait for me. I have a surprise for you."

Avaldidida pushes Hvitserk gently away by his chest with a smirk before turning back to her horse. Hvitserk watches her go with a dopey grin then heads back to her hut.

He ponders on what her surprise could be, then realisation hits. They have been apart for days, so of course she'll want to be intimate. That surely has to be the surprise.

All too eager and not wanting to waste any time when his beloved Ava returns, Hvitserk strips in haste until he is completely bare. Not knowing how he should wait for her, he attempts to position himself seductively for her on the bed, but feels silly and settles on standing at the end of it instead.

He clasps and unclasps his hands, positioning them behind his back and then in front of him as he fidgets nervously. What is taking her so long?

His heart jumps when Avaldidida eventually enters the hut. She is carrying a large pelt.

"I skinned this for you while I was away, I thought it would keep you wa-"

She stops dead in her tracks upon seeing Hvitserk stood naked at the foot of the bed, her eyes go wide.

"What are you doing?!"

"Waiting for my surprise." He says happily, clearly oblivious to her shock.

Avaldidida stifles a giggle behind her hand. "Your surprise was this deer pelt. Why are you naked?"

Hvitserk's eyebrows knit together in confusion. "We aren't going to have sex?"

Avaldidida rolls her eyes, placing the pelt on the bed. "I haven't bathed in three days and I have been hunting. Believe me when I say you would not want to."

Hvitserk grabs her by the wrist, pulling her to him. "Then allow me to help you bathe, it can be my repayment for your surprise."

#hvitserk #hvitserk x ofc #vikings #prompt: misunderstanding #vikingslove #valentines week #vikingsevents #vikings fan fiction #vikings history channel

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therealvikingstrash · 1 year

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This is the fourth entry for @vikingsevents Valentine's Week. The prompts were Misunderstanding and Best Friend. I'm a little bit late for it, but better late than never, right? xD Nothing worth of a warning in the fic, everything is just mentioned and not acted upon. Ragnar and his anger issues are its own warning lol. This really is just sort of a modern take of canon events with added spice. (1,4k fic under the cut)

"Jesus!" Ragnar exclaimed after entering the kitchen. He had a feeling that something wasn't right once he made it through the front door, but had been too tipsy to care. He swayed in place and then leaned against the wall near the door. When those taxing eyes took in his miserable state, Ragnar hid his face by rubbing it with both hands. Desperately willing the drunkenness away.

"Not quite," Floki responded belatedly and Ragnar could hear the slow smile forming on his friends lips. "Where have you been?" He asked and from the sounds of it, kicked the chair out from the kitchen table to invite Ragnar to sit. "I had to wait for hours."

Ragnar sucked on his teeth noisily and pushed himself off the wall, finally looking at his old friend properly. He was dressed in the same suit he wore when he got arrested. "No one asked you to," he told him and sat down opposite of him. "Why are you here?" Ragnar squinted his eyes in suspicion. He hadn't seen Floki since the trial and hadn't planned on changing that. Especially not on this particular day, but here Floki was sitting at his table, with his crossed arms leaning on the surface.

"You are my friend, Ragnar," Floki replied sincerely, his hands now folded in front of his face, hiding the lower part efficiently. "I worried." He added sincerely, causing Ragnar to slap his hand onto the table with force.

"Do not lie to me," he pointed at Floki, his voice raised. The alcohol always made it easier to tap into his anger. It was one of the reasons Aslaug had left him. The thought of her only worsened his rage. She'd gone and took the boys with her. It hadn't been her intention to prevent Ragnar from seeing them, but when a judge had to decide how to split the time, Ragnar had been drunk out of his mind. That day, Aslaug got full custody without another chance for him to explain.

Floki's high pitched giggle sounded haughty and his friend looked away from him. "Everything I did was for you," he told Ragnar. "Everything."

It had his blood boil further and without a second thought Ragnar threw the little decorative plastic flowers Ecbert had gotten off the table with an enraged shout, the ceramic pot breaking into a thousand pieces as he stood. "You came into my house, you threatened my family!" Ragnar yelled, his breathing heavy. "You did it for yourself."

"Athelstan was not your family," Floki replied, his brows furrowed in similar anger. He wasn't quite on Ragnar's level, but he would get there easy enough. "He was a whore at best, playing footsie with you at the dinner table you shared with your wife."

Ragnar scoffed in disagreement. "Since when do you care about Aslaug?" He asked. "You knew she was fine with it, you-" he broke off and rubbed his eyes tiredly. Why was Floki here on the anniversary of Athelstan's death? It didn't make sense to Ragnar. The Floki he knew had never trampled over his feelings like this. "Why are you here?" He asked again, this time Ragnar forced his voice to remain calm.

Slowly, his friend reached into the pocket of his jacket and then threw a silvery object onto the table. "It belongs to you." Floki told him and leaned back in the chair. So relaxed like he didn't kill the man Ragnar loved ten years ago. On further inspection he noticed that Floki had brought him the bracelet he'd given to Athelstan. He'd had a goldsmith make it shorter to stop it from falling off the other man's wrist. Ragnar would never be able to wear it again. Not that he wanted to.

With a slow nod Ragnar pushed the chair he'd sat on under the table. He needed to distance himself from Floki, or he would hurt him. "Thanks," he found himself saying. "Now fuck off," Ragnar added for good measure. "I don't want you here today."

Floki made no indication to move. He seemed to be oddly offended at Ragnar's dismissal. "Ten years is enough to grieve for a boy toy," he said and Ragnar knew he was deliberately cruel. His friend had been with him when he stumbled over Athelstan in their club. An anorexic little thing with daddy issues and a history of drug addiction. Ragnar later told Floki that Athelstan had been in a catholic school with many priests who had wandering hands. But he'd always lacked empathy where Athelstan was concerned and Ragnar knew that. Floki leaned forward to catch Ragnar's eyes. "I went to jail for you."

The sheer fury gleaming in Ragnar's eyes was too short a warning before he basically threw his hands onto the tabletop and towered over Floki. His breath was coming in short puffs. "I did not ask you to! You were supposed to tell the truth." Ragnar said the last bit through his teeth.

"Thirty years for you, or ten for me," Floki replied, "Easy choice." He said and Ragnar knew he was right. He'd already been on parole and if the cops had found his many, many firearms and not so small amounts of drugs at his house, he'd be locked away for most of his remaining life. So Floki admitted it was him who evaded the taxes of the club they owned and they found nothing at Floki's place– he was smart enough to stash it somewhere else entirely. Floki had gone to jail for fraud alone. His friend's eyes turned soft as he looked up at Ragnar, "I would do anything for you."

He was close to tears when he moved away from the table, only to round it and stand right in front of Floki. Ragnar hesitantly reached for his friend's face to hold it in both hands, gently stroking over his cheeks, "Then tell me why you killed Athelstan, hm?" He leaned down to press his forehead against Floki's temple and whispered, "Why?" Over and over before his hand moved up and got hold of Floki's almost hairless scalp, pulling it harshly back to force him to make eye contact. "Why?" Ragnar hollered at his friend who remained mute through it all.

"He was a junkie and overdosed," Floki told him calmly. Something that he had already heard from the police. "You knew it, I knew it– everyone! Not a single soul was shocked by it." He said, but his extensive blinking spoke against the truthfulness of his statement. Ragnar was aware of Athelstan's past, he'd even fucked with him on multiple occasions why they'd both been high.

Once more he invaded Floki's personal space, coming cheek to cheek with him. "I knew every part of his body, seen it all and I knew his mind," Ragnar said quietly, a strange threat lurking underneath. "He'd sworn off H months before his death… for me." Floki's eyes widened momentarily in realization. "He never would've overdosed."

It momentarily looked like his friend wanted to come clean, mumbling incomprehensibly until Ragnar moved away. "A misunderstanding, we fought," Floki said, the deranged giggle he let out sounded like he'd suppressed it for hours. "I hit him and he wanted to tell you."

"I don't believe you," Ragnar replied, once again urging Floki to tell the truth. "You lured him out of my house," and into a rundown place full of addicts. "I ask you one last time, why you did it." Ragnar tried again, but Floki shook his head, refusing to budge. "Was it jealousy?" He bluntly asked, causing Floki to become stock-still.

His friend exhaled a long breath before desperately inhaling. "You chose him," Floki said quietly, almost like he didn't want him to hear. "Over me," he added and met Ragnar's gaze steadily. "How could you?"

Something like sympathy creeped up inside Ragnar and he inclined his head a couple times in a slow and jerky movement. "You've been my best friend for all my life, Floki," he told him, the side of his face sticking to Floki's to speak directly into his ear. "You've known me longer than anyone else." He wished his friend had told him what he was going through, and maybe Athelstan would still be alive.

When he pressed a kiss to Floki's temple, his friend's hands pulled at the front of Ragnar's shirt and into an awkward hug. They lost ten years of their friendship, time they would never get back, but now he understood why Floki had lied for him, why he had hated Athelstan so much.

Envy was the death of all love.

#vikings #ragnar lothbrok #ragnar #floki vilgerðarson #floki #athelstan #prompt: misunderstanding #prompt: best friend #vtrash writes #vtrash edits #vikingslove #ragnar x athelstan #floki x ragnar #modern au #unrequited love #past relationships #mention of past drug addiction #vikingsevents

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vikingsevents · 1 year

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Hello Vikings and Vikings: Valhalla fandom! We want to announce a small event on this blog to spread some love within the fandoms.

We are doing a Valentine's Week from Feb 8th up until and including Feb 14th!

Two main rules:

Please tag us (@vikingsevents) in your posts and tag your creations with #vikingslove

Please mention the prompt(s) you have used at the beginning of your post, so our rebloggers can tag the post accordingly

Feel free to create anything you like for our fandoms, be it a fic or art or something else entirely. You can find the prompt list below. (Combining prompts is allowed!) Please try and post your creation on the day assigned to your prompt, so we can collect everything in a timely fashion. If you're late to post for a prompt, that is not the end of the world and we will still reblog. As long as you publish before we post our round up at the end of the month.

Happy creating, lovelies!

#vikings #vikings: valhalla #vikingslove #vikingsevents

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katia-tyrsdottir · 1 year

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Valentine's Week

Note: Prompt is "first date" for @vikingsevents. Thank you for making this possible. I had an idea to write after a long time! Please be nice, I have used google translate for writing.

Pairing: Ivar x F!reader

Summary: You need a date for your brothers wedding and Ivar answers to your ad.

Wordcount: 739

You have tried making friends with MeetUp but failed. Your brothers wedding was soon and you had not a plus one found.Just when you were about to give up and close your ad, you received a message. You set a time when he should be at church before the ceremony. Contrary to your expectations, this man who introduced himself as Ivar was not unattractive.You chose a pale blue dress and he said he would wear the same tie to match. Most of the guests were already inside the church when an unfamiliar car parked nearby. You almost tripped in your haste to see if this could be your date.

The passenger side window rolled down, revealing the bluest eyes you've ever seen. “Excuse me, are you Ivar?”, you ask, pushing your hair back from your face to get a better look at him.The driver of the car got out and walked around the car to the trunk. He then pulled something out before walking to the passenger side. "I'm Y/N!", you continued. The passenger door opened and you realized that your date might not be able to dance with you. You think he should have told you ahead of time that he needed a wheelchair, but kept that to yourself.

"Yes I'm Ivar.", he said and stood. You were confused and looked between the wheelchair and Ivar. "I don't need it always.", Ivar explained. He carefully sat down in the wheelchair and thanked the other person. When you asked who it was, Ivar replied that it was his older brother Ubbe. Ubbe drove away.Ivar is actually wearing a pale blue tie that matches your dress perfectly.

"Every one is in the church.", you say and offer to push him. He refuses. The church is silent inside when you come in. Your brother at the altar nods at you, and you walk forward. The ceremony is beautiful and you shed tears as your sister-in-law walked down the aisle.

“Do you want to marry some day?” you ask quietly and look at Ivar. His frown is sufficient response. It looks like he didn't want to go to the wedding. “Why did you answer to my ad?” you ask now Ivar looks like he'll think about it for a while. You’re undecided to ask another question.

“My brother Ubbe set this up.”, Ivar answered you. He looks like he wants to cross his arms to hide shame. You lay a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. You did not expect the muscles underneath his suit. “He said I need to be out more.” Your quiet conversation ends before the Newlyweds say yes.

You feel like you've known Ivar all your life. The thought that I won't see you again makes you sad. And so you decide to show your best side in the hope that he wants to see you again.

When you arrive at the banquet hall, find a quiet corner. Your brother won't be too angry with you for sitting so far away. He knows you have not been lucky with men. “Is it only you and your brother?” you ask and look at Ivar with interest.

“I have more brothers and a sister.”, Ivar said. “You don’t have to make me feel like you care.”, He said. “I’m a cripple. Noone wants me.”, He said with bad disguised anger. You see his fists tighten on his lap and you lay your hand over his to comfort him.

“But I care about you.”, you say to him. “I do not know you a lot but I like you.”, you say and smile at Ivar. His blue eyes capture your attention and you don’t hear his next words. “I'd like to get to know you better if you'll let me.” you say instead. Ivar raises one eyebrow.

His skepticism apparent he nodded. “We can try.”, Ivar said, his mouth forming a small smile. “Do you want to dance?” He asks out of the blue. You nod at him and he says he only needs his cane for security. You think that maybe Ivar wants this to be your first date too when he softly touches you.

You and Ivar talk a lot until late at night. You both take breaks between dances and when it is almost time to go home, he hesitantly kisses you as he softly sways you in his arms. You feel as if you are living a dream. “I think I am falling for you, Y/N.”

#vikings fanfiction #ivar the boneless #vikingslove #vikings fic #vikings #ivar fic #ivar x reader #ivar x f!reader #fanfic #reader insert #ivar #my first event fanfic

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thoridsgewandung · 1 year

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Auftragsarbeiten mach Kundenwunsch ✂️ Kleid aus reinem Leinen mit einem Trägerrock aus reiner Schurwolle ✂️ #thoridsgewandschneiderei #handgenäht #auftragsarbeit #vikingdress #vikingaprondress #vikingclothing #vikingwoman #vikinggirl #medievaldress #medievalclothes #vikingage #gewandung #mittelalterkleidung #wikingerfrau #wikingerkleidung #vikingslovers #vikingakläder #vikinga #vikingsofinstagram #paganclothing #paganstyle #vikingstyle #mittelalterlich #handmadecrafts (hier: Petersberg, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnY1WKvLSYM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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artworkmaestro · 1 year

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sanchezcolors · 8 months

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🔹️⚔️🔹️

Minhas cores na Ilustração de @fairytalehues

#sivovividcoloredpencils #cis #vikingsvalhalla #vikingwoman #vikingslovers #artoftheday

🔹️🔹️🔹️ Transformando o descanso da hora do almoço em treinos 🔹️🔹️🔹️

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A post shared by 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒂 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒛 / 𝑪𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂 (@catiasanz)

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#Instagram

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tyzerevans · 2 years

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Thank you to everyone who went and checked out the website or got something. I appreciate you. For those that didn’t, would love a follow @odinsruneclo and feedback on the site. Always looking to improve. Hope everyone has a great Sunday… give love today, we all need to help heal one another and stop hurting one another.❤️ ⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ #apparel #clothes #clothing #clothingbrand #clothingline #clothings #clothingstore #heathen #men #menfashion #mensfashion #mensstyle #menstyle #menswear #menwithclass #menwithstyle #norse #norsemythology #odin #onlineshopping #outfitoftheday #pagan #streetwear #tshirt #valhalla #viking #vikingslovers #vikingstyle #vikingtattoo #vikingwarrior (at Houston, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CfRN6-lrtCe/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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ramsaybolton0612 · 3 years

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Happy New Year 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

#picture #bild #fanart #vikings #vikingslovers #vikings show #vikings series #vikings spoilers #ivar the king #ivar lothbrok #ivar the boneless #hvitserk #ivar ragnarsson #vikingsedit #alex hoegh andersen #ragnar lothbrok #ragnar lodbrok #vikings final season

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bouncehousedemons · 1 year

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Valentine's Week Prompts Masterlist

In February 2023 I participated in the @vikingsevents Valentine's weel prompts event. Below you will find all the pieces I submitted.

Red Rose (Aslaug x Yidu)

Wine (Ragnar & Floki)

First Date (Rollo x Gisla)

Misunderstanding (Hvitserk x OFC)

Best Friend (Ubbe x OFC)

Hand Holding (Gunnhild x Ingrid)

Cuddles (Floki x Helga)

#vikings #aslaug #yidu #ragnar #floki #rollo #gisla #hvitserk #ubbe #gunnhild #ingrid #helga #vikingsevents #vikingslove #valentines week

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therealvikingstrash · 1 year

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Not Alone

My third entry for @vikingsevents Valentine's Week, with the prompt First Date. And also for the Blind Dates OC Fest 2023 hosted by @mercurygray! It's a canon divergent fic after Season 2. Freydis/OMC, no smut. (2,8k fic can be found under the cut)

With Olaf gone, the threat against her life disappeared as well. Freydis had found herself living in a hut near Kattegat. It was nothing that she had imagined for herself, but surely needed. Being a mother was exhausting, she soon realized. Her knowledge of children was not as vast as her knowledge of combat and Freydis tried to form a timid bond with the people living near her. The elders loved Harald, cooing at him and handing him toys to play with every so often. Small puppets with friendly smiles stitched onto their faces or wooden figurines smooth to the touch. Freydis imagined that her own parents would do the same; love Harald just as much and her heart grew heavy knowing they would likely never meet their grandchild.

She had yet to hear from her brother as well. The uncertainty of his whereabouts cruel to her lonely; for family yearning heart. Before her pregnancy Freydis had never felt this way, not so intensely. Her mother always said that a baby changes everything. It was only now, far away from home, that Freydis knew what she meant by that. From now on, she wasn’t the only one whose life was at stake when she was threatened, it was also her sons. A very different responsibility.

For the first time in months, Freydis went to the market without thinking of her son's father. Harald was less fussy than he’d been the days prior and Freydis was glad about it. This was like a sign from the Gods that she was finally allowed to breathe. The tentative alliance with Ælfgifu and her son Sweyn was possibly only a short lived arrangement. Nothing was set in stone after all.

The smell of properly roasted pork made her mouth water the closer she got to the booth. An open fire was bristling; the skilled cook turning the meat as the fat dripping down into the fire made a sizzling tone. Freydis looked at Harald’s little face– eyes closed and fast asleep and softly kissed his forehead as she moved towards the booth to acquire a piece of the pork that had been taxing her with its scent ever since she stepped onto the marketplace at the far side. She bumped against someone, which left her on momentarily unsteady feet. Usually people were considerate enough to give her room due to the child she was carrying.

When she looked at the person who’d thoughtlessly cut in front of her, Freydis felt heat rise up her face. Anger built up inside her while the man simply looked at her with a smile. The way it pulled at his lips reminded her of Harald and she quickly looked away; finding a new spot to purchase the food. “Where’s your husband?” the stranger asked amused after he noticed the baby fastened to her chest. “Shouldn’t he provide for his wife and child?”

Freydis decided to ignore him, even though everything inside her wanted to shove him into the fire pit in front of them. She quickly gave him a once over but couldn’t find a cross around his neck. Although that didn’t mean he wasn’t a Christian. Freydis had to admit that many people in Kattegat were praying to a false God and those who weren’t managed to pretend to be of Christian faith well enough. She knew Ælfgifu was a pagan at heart and didn’t think she would have to fear for her life while she was instructing Sweyn on how to rule.

With envy Freydis watched the man exchange a big amount of pork and stew for coin– two bowls full of food!– and for a moment she wondered if he was here to gather something for his own family. She hadn’t even thought to purchase stew as well, her wealth not vast enough for great expanses yet. When he turned around he made a point of standing right in front of her before handing the bigger bowl of pork and stew to Freydis who had trouble reacting so fast. Of all the things to imagine that might happen, this was not it. He was licking the fingers of his now free hand slowly where the pork had briefly touched him. “Enjoy,” he told her with a nod and stepped around Freydis to leave.

At a loss for words she looked down at her child, who was staring right back– awake and alert for the first time today. “What a strange man, hm?” she said to him, stroking his soft blond hair with her free hand before she found a place to sit and eat. Soon Harald would demand to feed– tiny fists balled and his face red from his effort to cry, she knew it well by now.

The only free table appeared to be the one where the stranger was seated. All alone. Freydis squinted at him momentarily, but he wasn’t even looking her way. Or so it seemed. She timidly walked towards his table and sat down as far away as possible. “You did not have to buy my meal,” Freydis let him know as she poked around her bowl. “I can take care of myself.” The stranger nodded slowly, humming in agreement. He continued to eat as if Freydis wasn’t there and soon she followed his example. No need to waste a warm meal.

Her craving for meat almost made her moan in pleasure when she tasted the well-roasted pork. The last time she’d eaten like this was at her hut with Harald. Deep in the woods and near the mountains where there was always game to hunt, but here in Kattegat where it was loud and full of people everywhere, she could not hunt the way she wanted. Not with her child strapped to her chest. “What is your name?” Freydis asked, not looking up from her bowl as she ate, appearing as disinterested as possible. Sitting on the opposite side of the table, she had a better view of this man and noticed a long but faint scar at the side of his face. It was oddly shaped like a cross, but that could be a coincidence.

Long moments went by that Freydis assumed he wouldn’t answer at all or hadn’t even heard her over the bustling people around them. “Tove,” he finally told her. With a sniff he leaned back and away from his almost empty bowl before he asserted Freydis carefully. “Tove the Wise.” he added, causing Freydis to frown. In turn Tove huffed amused. “It is true, you can ask around in the tavern.” When she didn’t respond right away, he finished off his plate, holding his cup up for a refill as soon as a servant walked by with their pitcher of ale.

“I’m Freydis,” she stated. Green eyes captured her attention, their locked gaze only broken by his deliberate wink.

Tove nodded sagely, “I know,” he replied, a smile forming on his lips. “Freydis Eriksdottir.” His knowledge of her should make her worry, but many people in Kattegat knew her or better said of her. Surely Tove didn’t plan to hurt her and Harald. Her sweet son who currently suckled on his own fist. “You’re a great warrior.”

Freydis quickly ate the rest of her meal so she could tend to Harald who was steadily growing fussy. “They should have called you Tove the Knowing,” she remarked. It was an intricate procedure to get the upper part of her dress moved to free her breast for Harald to feed while he was still fastened to her chest in the fabric wrapped around her. She carefully moved him around to lie comfortably in her arms as he immediately started suckling great gulps once he latched onto her. Freydis smiled proudly at her son and quietly addressed him, “There you go.”

When Tove stood, Freydis assumed he was leaving without another word, but he only changed his seat. With his back to the table, he sat down on the bench next to her, watching the people around them that Freydis couldn’t see. “That would be a great exaggeration,” Tove responded, sounding calm. “I don’t know everything, but my choices are wise.” he made a wide gesture with his hand as if to present something. It sounded true enough for Freydis to accept. “For one, I do not know if you are married,” Tove said after a while and then looked her straight in the eye, “But I’m wise enough to assume you might be.”

She absentmindedly caressed Harald as she thought of the events of the past year. Freydis broke their eye contact to look at her son. “He is not here.” she simply said, unwilling to give away too much. It implied that he might be at their hut, or that there even was a husband to begin with. Neither was true.

Out of the corner of her eye Freydis could see how Tove slowly nodded in understanding. He got up a second time, strategically placing his hand on her shoulder to make her look up at him. “You don’t have to be alone.” Tove said, squeezing her shoulder with care before he left her to her thoughts.

It felt like she had pushed him away too quickly and she turned around, “Wait,” Freydis called after him. “I wouldn’t mind company.” she admitted, absentmindedly caressing Harald’s cheek with her thumb. Tove appeared to be contemplating her invitation. He spared the marketplace a short look and then went back to lean against the table.

“Somewhere else, not here,” Tove said, nodding forward without telling Freydis which place he had in mind. “I need to wash. You can watch my belongings while we talk.” he said and Freydis knew this man could have ulterior motives of the worst kind. By leading her away from people, she could easily be ambushed. And yet, there was no fear inside her, no unease when she met his honest eyes. Perhaps she could trust him, if only for today.

Once Harald was satisfied with his meal, Freydis held him up to let him burp. She quickly rearranged her dress before she followed Tove. The longer they walked the less people were around. Freydis knew where he was going and was aware enough people would be at the riverbank to wash their clothes or themself. “Have you always lived in Kattegat?” Freydis asked, noticing how he casually leaned his hand over his sword as he looked around.

Tove shook his head, “Far up north,” he told her. His expression had changed miniscule and if Freydis hadn’t watched him carefully she wouldn’t have noticed. Something within her told Freydis she should let it rest for now. The silence must’ve grated on Tove just as much as on her. “Is it a son or a daughter?” he asked, indicating that he meant the small bundle attached to her.

She couldn’t help but smile, “A son,” Freydis answered, watching Tove nod in understanding. “His name is Harald,” she added without thinking and saw how her companion's eyebrow moved up in acknowledgement. She wondered if he knew that Freydis had been with Harald Sigurdsson and a small part of her wanted him to stay clueless.

“A strong name,” Tove commented as they got closer to the riverbank. “Was he named after someone in your family?” he asked, but Freydis could tell that he most likely knew the answer already. He dropped his sword, not waiting for her answer, and soon his fur and belt met the same fate. It took Freydis a moment to notice that she was basically watching him undress and averted her eyes to look at her son. There was no one else at the river though.

She licked her lips, suddenly dry after her meal. “His father,” Freydis answered and looked up without thinking. Tove’s chest and shoulders were adorned by swirls and runes on his skin. It derailed her attention from the silver cross he was wearing around his neck, but not for too long. “You’re a Christian?” Freydis asked, involuntarily taking a step back. She didn’t know when she started to react this way towards them, but she had no doubt that Olaf’s hunt for her played into the fact.

Tove let up from his breeches and reached for the cross. “Not always.” he told her, carefully taking the cross off and laying it on top of his tunic. “Not willingly.” Tove added much quieter. His eyes found hers and it was then that she knew he hadn’t gotten the scar on his face during battle. She had to look away due to the intensity with which she was met. His eyes told a story of great loss.

By the time she turned her gaze back to him, he had already shed the rest of his clothes and waded into the water. Freydis walked closer to the water and sat down on the little pebbles. “Will you go back home one day?” she asked, unwilling to believe he could be happy in Kattegat. “To your family?”

He’d been scrubbing at his face and hair with the piece of soap he’d taken with him, dunking his head into the river to rinse it out before lathering up his hands again to wash his beard. Against her better judgment, she let her thoughts drift as she watched him get out of the water eventually. Freydis came to the conclusion that she found Tove attractive, a jolt of want hitting the pit of her stomach. Something she hadn’t felt in Jomsborg, not ever after parting with Harald.

Every step he took was followed by her eyes, watching him closely as he sat down onto his fur to dry. With his knees up, he lay his arms on either of them and watched the water. “There is nowhere for me to go,” Tove told her, taking a deep breath before he looked up. “I was a pagan, viking.” he said and then reached for the cross to hold it up. “This is nothing but a piece of metal to me,” Tove explained. “It is armor against the Christians.”

Freydis furrowed her brow at the last bit, but Tove didn’t let her ask another question.

“I heard you were Jomsborg to hide?” he waited for her nod to confirm, “From what I know, the village I grew up in was much like it. Not visible for those who did not know where to look.” Tove explained and let the cross fall onto the tunic again. “One day they must have followed someone back to us.” he let his head fall forward, the water dripping from his wet strands. It was only when Tove righted himself that Freydis saw the tears. She kept silent, aware how painful it must have been for him. Not long after, he turned his attention towards her, his hand moving up to his face, softly following the scar. “A man named Gunnar cut me for I did not perish even after the third day of torture.”

Freydis perked up at the name and Tove noticed. “Was this Gunnar with Olaf?” she asked, her hands automatically balled into tight fists at the thought of him. She could feel herself start to shake and tried to stop it, but it was no use. When their gaze met, Freydis could see empathy as Tove nodded slowly. “He came to Greenland,” she said briskly, averting her eyes when she felt hot tears glaze over hers. “He-...” she didn’t want to say it while she had Harald in her arms and swallowed. “I killed him.” Freydis said instead and quickly wiped the tears away before she looked back at Tove. There was no need to tell him what Gunnar did, she knew he understood perfectly well.

“Good,” Tove replied to her last statement. He sounded delighted, something that had her warm up from the inside. Harald had never told her she’d done good, only Leif understood what she’d done and why. “I hated fighting alongside Olaf and him. I left and became part of Sweyn Forkbeard’s men.” He made a wide gesture as if to say and ended up with Olaf’s troops again. She could see how frustrating this must’ve been.

Tove was mostly dry when he started to dress again and Freydis got to her feet as well. He was closing the belt around his waist when she cleared her throat. “You are welcome to accompany me back to my home, if you like?” Freydis suggested, knowing full well that he was aware of her ulterior motive. She did not care. Harald was not likely to come back to her and she was so utterly alone in Kattegat. Freydis needed to change this.

There was a bashful smile Tove tried to hide, but he nodded in agreement. Maybe with him, she was not alone, even if it meant only for the time being.

#vikings: valhalla #freydis eriksdottir #Freydis x OMC #vtrash writes #vtrash edits #prompt: first date #vikingslove #blind dates of fest 2023 #vikingsevents #vikings: valhalla spoiler #this is also my 2.700th post on this blog xD

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