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Ubbe took off his ruddy leather vest and gave it to her, the small extra layer added a myriad of warmth to her as they half-ran to wherever their destination was. The sky started to putter rain at them slowly, it would stop then start again, teasing them mercilessly. If Lhyrie wasn't lost before, she certainly was now and thanked the Gods that Ubbe was with her. Lightening cracked between the clouds and sent shivers down her spine.

By the time they had found the cabin, night had fallen on them. The wind had torn through every part of Lhyrie's being and soaked her through the bone. She didn't feel that she would ever be truly warm again. It felt like winter had pressed her bones and it was much farther than Ubbe thought it was. They were high into the mountains now. Perhaps they had been climbing all day and she didn't notice but she was pleased when she saw the faint outline of a cabin built into the side the valley.

Ubbe pushed past a simply made fence and into the small cabin. He left the door ajar for a moment as Lhyrie stood shivering in its shadow. "There is a chest in the corner with dry clothes," he said, pointing just past her as he fumbled in another corner, searching for lint.

Lhyrie stumbled over to where she thought he was pointing. She couldn't see anything yet as her eyes hadn't adjusted. A crack of lightening in the sky illuminated the tiny room for a moment so that she saw the wooden trunk a few yards from her. She blindly felt for it as the light faded and she found the lip of the trunk and swung it wide. She hesitantly groped down, hoping not to feel any dead creature hiding there for warmth. Eventually she reached a single tunic laying upon the bottom.

"There's only one!" She called back to him, hearing him strike the flint and saw sparks fly.

"You take that one," he said, finally getting a good strike on the flint, as fire grew in the little hearth in the middle of the room. He tore off his tunic and stripped it over his head, placing the soaked fabric over the back of a chair to dry against the fire. Lhyrie caught herself staring at his bare chest and her eyes lingered over the scar on his lower abdomen. She quickly turned away to hide the red creeping up her face and pulled the lone tunic out of the chest.

She turned her back to Ubbe, making sure he was occupied doing something other than staring at her, before quickly throwing off his vest and her own soaked tunic. She threw the blue long sleeved dry one over her shoulders and cursed that it didn't hit longer on her legs like she hoped it to. It hit midthigh instead of longer so that she could remove her soaked trousers. She scrunched her nose in contemplation before turning her head back to Ubbe to see if he was looking. Seeing he was fumbling in the opposite corner, she quickly slid her trousers off, trying not to lose her balance as they stuck to her legs. She pulled down the edges of the tunic as far as she could stretch them before noticing a fur on what seemed to be the bed next to the chest. Throwing it over her shoulders, it covered her completely to the floor and she reviled in its warmth.

"I knew there was ale here," Ubbe exclaimed, filling a glass for her.

"It's not like that Chinese ale, is it?" She asked hesitantly.

"No," he laughed.

"Good," she said, downing the glass in a single gulp. She hadn't realized how hungry or thirsty she had become on their journey to the cabin. Her stomach grumbled as the ale hit it.

"I seem to have lost a fish in the run," he told her, holding up the single fish still caught in his net. "We have one fish, a crate of ale and mushrooms."

"Then I think it will be a good night," she said with a laugh, raising her glass in his direction. "At least we're warm."

He took her glass and refilled it, as well as his own. Lhyrie wrung out her hair and combed it through her fingers so it could dry in the heat of the fire. Sitting down on the bench with Ubbe she grabbed her cup and took another long sip. He began scaling the fish and set it over the fire. "The mushrooms are over there," he said, pointing with his knife toward a counter.

"I haven't had mushrooms since... do you remember the night Ivar went into Torvi's bed and laid with her? How she screamed so loud we thought the sky would crack?"

Ubbe nearly spit out his ale. "I thought she was going to step on him so much she would kill him, like beating out a mouse." He grunted hard and took a deep sip, "You left later that month."

She sipped her ale in silence, but went and grabbed the tray of mushrooms to bring to the bench. Tasting one, she let it fall over her and let her mind wander slightly. "That was also the night we laid out by the fire."

The fish had little meat on it, but they shared it anyway. Ubbe reached for a mushroom and ate it cautiously. He moved the crate closer to them, seeming their dinner had little sustenance and ale was best alternative and refilled their glasses. Lhyrie couldn't remember if this was her fourth or fifth glass, but it tasted good.

They spent several hours talking, laughing, and almost reminiscing about life in Kattegat when they were younger. They avoided the year leading up to her leaving Kattegat but their childhood remained a lively topic. The bench was uncomfortable, but her head felt light and joyful; she felt like she could talk for ages. She turned so that she curled one leg upon the bench to rest, her lap covered by the warm fur to face Ubbe.

The fire began to dwindle down and the weight of ale being drunk seemed to pool under their eyes. Lhyrie tried to suppress a yawn.

"Are you a Valkyrie?" He asked almost at a whisper, setting down his glass on the near empty crate and leaned forward toward her.

"No," she scoffed, playing with a curl that poked by her face.

"I had a dream about you a few months ago," he said, taking her hand from her curl and running his fingers through it. "You were in a field with dying men. Going to some, but not to others. Like you were choosing their fates." His fingers caressed the curl and then the side of her face and cheekbone.

"Only the Gods can choose someone's fate," she answered, suddenly aware of her breath slowing.

"See, the Valkyries follow Odin – my father is said to be a son of Odin. You heal people and choose their fates," she opened her mouth in protest, but his hand moved slowly over it. "and they are extremely beautiful... So, are you a Valkyrie?" His hand moved softly around her jaw.

"I am not a Valkyrie." She watched as the fire cast a golden glow over his face and watched it dwell in his wide blue eyes. His breathing slowed just as hers had. She felt a warmth start to grow in her and felt her leg curled up on bench start to ease open a little more.

"I also thought, that when my father returned I might kill him." Lhyrie became increasingly aware of his hand that was now trailing down her neck.

"And... when I returned?" She asked with a gulp.

"I loved you..." His fingers wrapped around her neck and she began to breathe heavier. She didn't think he would kill her – that's something Ivar would do, not Ubbe. His grip on her neck tightened, but not choking her. He pulled her into a deep kiss and lessened the grip on her throat to run down her back. He leaned further in toward her kissed her harder, more desperate like he needed her to stay warm.

Lhyrie let her leg fall so that she straddled the bench and cupped her hands around Ubbe's face, circling her fingers in his braid. She pushed against him, toward him, frantic to get closer. He wrapped his hands around her waist and moved her sit on his lap. She felt his warmth pulse through her. They broke apart for a moment as Ubbe tried to remove the fur that was sitting on her lap and had pushed its way between them. He threw it close to fire and Lhyrie gasped and chuckled as it almost went aflame. He eyes turned back to her and smiled. She pulled his lips to hers and breathed in the smell of ash and ale on him.

As her hands pulled his face toward hers, his wrapped around her back and began picking at the edges of her tunic. He ran his hands underneath it onto her bare skin; however cold his hands were, she was instantly warmed by the fire raging just behind her. She traced the edges of his chest and down to feel the fresh scar on his stomach; Ubbe exhaled slowly before pulling her closer and standing, wrapping her legs around his waist.

"Don't trip," she told him as he shuffled around the fire.

"Shut up," and he kissed her again.

Slowly he walked her over to the bed in the corner of the small cabin and gently set her down on the bed of hay and feathers, softly lifting her tunic over her shoulders. Lhyrie felt the smooth fur covering the bed and dug her fingers into it as Ubbe wedged his knee between her thighs and kissed her neck. She gasped and arched her back as his hands explored further, like when they did when they were teenagers. She hoped they didn't need to be high every time this happened. After entirely too long, her hands found the laces of his trousers and pulled them loose with his help. She giggled as he did a sort of shimmy to loosen them more, which he interrupted with a kiss and thrust. Moans lingered on both their lips as they spent the rest of the night curled up as one.

"Ubbe..." She shook him gently.

"Nmmfph." He swatted an arm at her and rolled on his side.

"Ubbe," she said once again, for the tenth time already this morning. She rolled over and pressed against his back, rubbing his strong shoulders in an effort to wake him. He smelled like sweet sugared ale and morning dew. "We need to move soon if we wish to make it back to Kattegat before nightfall."

He peeked his eyes open slightly to look at her over his shoulder. Wrapping his arms around hers, he pulled her closer to him and his kissed her hand. "I don't wish to make it back to Kattegat. We can stay here."

"Oh, we can stay here?" She asked with a raised brow.

"And continue from last night..."

"And continue from last night..." she repeated as he rolled over the face her. His arms encircled her and rubbed her back as she did his. His fingers groped lower as his morning beard scuffed her cheek and her lips found his. He tasted like morning and his warmth filled her as they continued their act from the previous night.

Ubbe was asleep as soon as he closed his eyes; his snores shook her awake as her eyes started to droop to follow his lead. Lhyrie groaned as she shifted her weight and curled her legs that felt weighted with bricks into her chest. She peeked over at Ubbe to see if her movement woke him, but his snores confirmed he was still sleeping. It seemed like her entire body ached as she tried to stretch out the knots in her back and legs. She was glad she didn't need to ride a horse today. She became painfully aware of the burden horses endure from a long day's ride.

About to shake Ubbe awake again, she stopped with her hand on his shoulder. They were not in a hurry. Like he said a few weeks ago, there was nothing in Kattegat for them anymore. She rubbed his shoulder gently, feeling the tense muscles beneath her palm. She wondered if he was as sore as she was, as her eyes found a few new bruises and scratches on his back.

Softly, she propped herself on her elbows and moved a fur to partially cover Ubbe. As she rose, she threw a smaller soft fur around her bare shoulders and tiptoed on the cold wood floor over to the smoking fire. Poking it with a stick, she cursed the sun for not warming the small cabin yet and the fire for diminishing through the night. She fumbled through a table near her, trying to find the flint to strike a new fire until her fingers felt the smooth stone. It ragged a mere minutes later, but she wished it would warm her faster as she tried to pull her fur closer to her skin and curled her knees into her chest.

Looking over at the sleeping figure a few feet from her, Lhyrie watched as his bare chest rose with each breath. She felt a mild rush of embarrassment fill her cheeks as she gazed at his body, but allowed herself to linger, reviewing the many kisses she planted on his chest and crevices she grazed. She felt her cheeks grow hot and pink, and buried her face in her knees childishly. They were adults and she was a free woman. The only thing hallowing the events of the last night was Jagar.

So why did she feel so guilty? She had known and loved Ubbe the 20 years she had known him and this final reunion after 5 years should be a celebratory thing, not one that was making her cower and blush. But she also knew she had feelings, not quite love – more the infatuation that love could exist – toward Jagar and that was making her feeling guilty. But it shouldn't, she tried to argue with herself. Ubbe was a prince of Kattegat, former prince now, the son of Ragnar Lothbrok. Not that Ubbe took any advantage in his father's fame – Ragnar did abandon them when he was 14. Though being raised in Kattegat and the oldest of Aslaug's children, he was well liked and well-loved and could use that to win the people to his liking. Not for fame, but to gain political respect and position. He could be a great leader, a great ruler. Although that was something Lhyrie couldn't picture herself supporting, she could picture herself raiding and healing troops. But the income of silver and goods wasn't inveterate.

But Jagar was a farmer. And he didn't hold a grudge with her for weeks over something out of her hands – for leaving Kattegat when she was 15 with her family. Jagar also didn't have a slave he was having sex with and only the God's knew if Ubbe would go back to Margarethe, and if this was a one-night drunken occurrence. And she had only known him a handful of days before he left for England. Lhyrie shook her head, trying overlook the questions propping in her mind. She would answer them when the time came. For now, she could try to enjoy Ubbe's presence without feeling guilt over Jagar and not feeling self-conscious over sleeping with a man.

Feeling the thirst of having too much ale, she longed for a cold sip of water. She wondered if they had a rain barrel outside to collect water, but doubted men to think of something as simple for a hunting cabin. She quietly slipped the fur off her shoulders and traded it for the longer one she placed on Ubbe, the one that completely covered her naked body to the floor, careful not to disturb his still sleeping figure. Furtively, she crept out of the door, holding it so it wouldn't slam and wake him. Had she seen a creek or lake nearby as they ran in? The cabin was positioned between valleys so there must be, she thought. She scoured the troughs and peaks that built the mountains around her for any sign of flowing water. On the horizon, she saw a peep of brilliant blue hide between a mass of green, though it seemed to dive into a valley hundreds of feet deep. That must be the fjord and Kattegat, far too far.

She peered her eyes over the landscape, blocking the sun rising above the hills from her eyes, until she saw a small lake, almost a pond, nestled into the side of a mountain; it barely produced a reflection. Lhyrie looked back at the cabin and snuck back inside. She found Ubbe's tunic draped over a chair and threw the cloth over her shoulders. It fit her like an old dress that she had outgrown, hitting at her calves. She grabbed the fur she wore earlier and headed out the door to grab water. In the small fenced yard of the cabin she found an overturned bucket and made her way over the soggy grass and mud to the lake, making sure to stay in view of the cabin and sleeping Ubbe.

It didn't take long to reach. The water was surprisingly warm despite Lhyrie being chilled to the bone, like a fire was warming it from below. She wondered if they knew it was a hot spring. She grabbed a handful of water and slurped nosily, allowing it to quench her fully. Savoring in its warmth, she sat and dipped her toes in the water and thought for a moment to bathe. She bit the inside of her cheek in thought and looked around her. Not that anyone was around – the cabin was in the middle of nowhere. Slipping off Ubbe's tunic, she slid into the steamy bath and gave an exalted sigh.

The lake was small but it was deep – there was no beach and just after a step she could not feel the bottom. The water was somewhat buoyant so little effort was needed to stay afloat. She could enjoy the warmth even more, not having to struggle or stand on the rocky bottom. She swam to the middle of the pool, trying to feel where the spring was, but could not locate it. Dipping under the water, she let her hair soak and untangled it in the water and scrubbed her skin clean. She wished she was worn shoes to walk from the cabin, as her feet would get dirty again. Watching as her fingers effortlessly floated upon the surface of the water, Lhyrie let them prune until the sun was above the mountains. They wouldn't make it back to Kattegat tonight, but she didn't care. She was happy, full of warmth and luculent that she wouldn't get too attached to Ubbe until Jagar returned from England. She had decided that as she was floating in silence. Until then, why not enjoy his presence? And she would continue her white Hellebore so she couldn't get with child.

Lhyrie's once warmth turned ice cold where she swam. She had been facing the mountain rising from the lake and not on the green valleys behind her. Not that she had a weapon on her, she walked here barely dressed apart from Ubbe's tunic and a wolfs fur, and in the water, obviously completely bare.

"Good thing you didn't take my trousers too." Lhyrie recognized the voice as it came closer, his figure moving into sight as he crossed a hill.

"That would have been embarrassing," she said, as she swam closer to the lake's edge.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" He asked as he kneeled in front of her.

"I originally came for fresh water, but it felt wonderful so I needed to swim. Will you join me?"

Ubbe gave her curious look and flicked some water at her. She scrunched her nose and fought an urge to splash back. "Did we not get sopping wet yesterday?"

"But this is warm," she said, twirling in the water and making ripples.

"You had me worried when you weren't in the cabin."

"You should've awoke when I tried earlier," she smirked at him. "And now you've found me."

He gave her that same look and stood. "Sigurd always thought there were giant eels in here."

"I have not been eaten yet," Lhyrie teased and treaded water away from him so she was back into the center of the pool. Ubbe still stood hesitantly on the edge. "Don't tell me you're scared."

That's what got him. Pursing his lips in challenge, he stripped his pants down to his ankles and gave a running start to the pool. He dived smoothly into its black water, sending waves and Lhyrie bobbing against its edges. Emerging from the water, he shook his head so that water sprayed from his hair and braid and shot water in her direction. He gave her a defiant, cocky smile and swam toward her. "See."

"After inducement." She splashed water at him and he closed his eyes shut to face its blow. He pushed water back and they giggled like children, splashing water at one another, forming a tempest in the small pool. They moved closer together, like planets pulled by orbit, forcing water to ripple around them until they were united. Ubbe clasped her hands together to keep her from splashing him. Still smiling, he lowered his lips to hers and they kissed until Ubbe suddenly placed his hand on her shoulders and forced her under the water. By instinct she gulped as he shoved her down and coughed when she broke the surface to see Ubbe swimming devilishly away, laughing. "The eels will get you now, Ragnarsson," she cursed him, coughing.

"There is only one eel in this pool," he called from the opposite side. He leaned on the edge of the grass and smiled at her.

"That line cannot possibly work," she half-asked, swimming over toward him.

"We'll see," he smirked as he pulled her close and she wrapped her legs around him. The water made it difficult and slippery to hold on to him, so Lhyrie had to lock her ankles around his back and press hard against him. She pulled him down to kiss her and tasted the fresh water on his lips. The edge of the pool was a sharp drop from grass to the depths of the water and Ubbe pressed her against it.

"I don't think your eel is an eel anymore," she laughed when she broke from him. She could feel him hard against her.

"Perhaps not," he said and kissed her again. Lhyrie shifted against the muddy backdrop and he moved inside her.

A few minutes later, out of breath with sweat pooling on their already flushed brows, Ubbe lifted himself up to sit on the water's edge, his feet dangling into the water. The sun illuminated his messy blonde hair from behind as it dripped dry. Lhyrie flipped to float on her back and stare at the blue sky and clouds above.

"I think you're a fish," Ubbe commented, smiling.

She flashed her legs together and down, moving like the mermaids in the fables. Water rained down around her and she felt happy. The first real time she'd been happy in weeks – since her mother's passing.

"I haven't felt this warm all summer," she told him, swimming toward the shore.

"The sun is hot today," he said, stretching out on his back to suntan.

"Yes, but the water warms my bones."

"You will be as wrinkled as The Seer if you stay in there any longer," he teased.

The sun was starting to dip lower between the mountain passes, but it held on to the day's warmth nevertheless. Her stomach rumbled in hunger and she realized she hadn't eaten today. They had no food at the cabin from yesterday's adventures. "I wish there was fish in here," she said, leaning on the shoreline and tickled Ubbe's toes. He flinched and drew his feet away from her.

"I caught a rabbit earlier," he peeked at her.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I could eat a horse."

"We were busy and you are enjoying yourself."

"I would much rather eat than swim," she told him.

"Come on then," he said, pulling on his trousers and grabbing his tunic, moving to put in on.

"Ahem," Lhyrie cleared her throat, as she would have nothing to wear back to the cabin. "I need that."

"Ehh –, "he shrugged, pulling the tunic on. "You look better without it."

"Ubbe..." She held out her hand, begging for the tunic.

"He is right... you look better without the clothing," a voice said from behind Ubbe. He turned sharp on his heel when he heard the man, and Lhyrie sheepishly covered herself with one hand as she hung onto the small lake's edge. Ubbe instinctly reached for the nonexistent sword on his hip and groped at thin air, his eyes never faltering from the man now walking down the hill, his sword drawn toward them. He had a raggedly thick beard and long, matted and unbraided hair of what used to be blonde under a mess of mud. His sword looked freshly sharpened and it was the cleanest thing on him as it shone in the high sun. Some ways behind him, two more men appeared at the top of the hill, looking just as disheveled and outlawed as the first man. He paused a few feet from Ubbe, his sword unwavering at his throat. "Don't try anything, boy," he said as Ubbe shifted his feet.

"We don't have anything," Lhyrie quipped. The man peeked around Ubbe to look at her and formed a thin smile on his cracked lips. She stirred uneasily under his glare.

"Oh, you have plenty, girl," he said as his comrades joined him; they cackled as they joined his side. "Out of the water," he demanded, the thin smile cracking to reveal half-missing teeth.

Lhyrie hesitantly lifted out of the water, awkwardly trying to cover herself with her hands as she stood on the shoreline. She bowed her head to ignore the drooling looks on the three men standing before her. Ubbe tugged on his tunic, moving to take it off.

"Oh, no," the front man said, edging his sword closer to Ubbe.

Ubbe pursed his lips and, without taking his eyes off the man pointing his sword as his throat, peeled the tunic away and over his head. He tossed it to Lhyrie who grabbed it quickly like candy. One of the men moved to peel it away from her hands, and she wrestled with him swiftly, freeing it from his grasp. She had just enough time to slip it overhead as the man grabbed her from behind the waist and she fought, trying to wiggle away from his hold. The man holding her laughed at her feeble attempt and bent down to sniff her hair. Lhyrie grunted and flung her head back at him, hoping to collide with his, but missed and hit his unmoving shoulder. She saw stars floating above Ubbe's head.

"Let her go," he threatened to the man presuming to be their leader.

"She would make a good slave... or a good lay," the man jeered. That got another snicker from his partners and the man holding Lhyrie moved one of his dirt caked fingers to her tunic's hem. She got just enough leverage to whack his hand away. He was a portly man and she could feel his sweaty belly on her back. He smelled like a pig's pen and shit. One arm encircled her around her waist, pinning her one arm flat against her and he held the other with that same hand. His other hand was no longer touching her tunic, but hung at his side. She wondered if she could get enough force to kick up behind her in-between his legs.

"That is a son of Ragnar Lothbrok," Lhyrie spat at the man. "I wouldn't cross him."

"I don't care who you are," he said to Ubbe but moved toward her. "Ragnar is no longer King, and you no longer matter." He grabbed Lhyrie under the chin and lifted her head to examine her. She fought back, jerking her head and Ubbe took a step toward them. The other man raised his sword at him in warning. "You are prettier when you keep your mouth shut."

"You look like a pig's ass either way," she retorted back.

He scoffed at her and turned his attention back to Ubbe, who was shifting uncomfortably in his place. Lhyrie could feel the wheels in his mind turning, trying to reason out one-against-three without a sword or axe. His fingers were twitching slightly at his side, plotting.

"I should kill you," the fore-man said to Ubbe, raising his sword again at him. "But we should have a go at her before that happens."

He motioned to the man holding Lhyrie and he flicked her tunic up to expose her bare back. She struggled against his grip and tried to elbow him in the gut. His loose hand pulled at the strings of his pants and Ubbe stood frozen with two swords on him. The man behind her laughed as he fumbled with his strings, too eager for his own good. He seemed to get aggravated, unable to free himself and let his grip on her slacken. Lhyrie was able to peel herself away enough to swing her arm back at him and collide with his own hand, as her other elbow rammed into his gut, sending him with a groan a few steps back.

The two other men stepped toward them, trying to help their hurt friend. Ubbe, unwatched, stepped behind one of the men and punched him hard on the head. The man buckled onto his knees and the leader of the group turned to look at him instead of Lhyrie and the fat man struggling. Uncertain of who to go to, the hesitation allowed Ubbe to kick the sword out of the hand of the man on the grass. In a single movement, Ubbe picked up the sword and sliced the throat of the kneeling man, from ear to ear.