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"Why are we going to York?" Althena demanded, pushing pasts the men whom guarded her entry with a glare.
Ivar seemed to role his eyes at the intrusion, sending a glance towards his older brother. "Brother, your pet Christian learned to talk." He answered sarcastically, dismissing her.
Of course, this made the princess's blood boil. "Why are we going to York?" She repeated, her tone harsher than before, an icy depth cutting through it.
Ubbe was the next to speak, watching the two interact was like watching flint and steel. "Your brother has promised his armies so that we can take control of York." He explained.
"Why?" She narrowed her eyes. "You already have land promised by King Egbert, is that not good enough?"
Before Ubbe could respond, Ivar spoke again. "No." He answered, making it clear that her presence was annoying him. "Why do you care, Christian? Are you scared?"
"No." She responded, chin up as Edith had always taught her but with her eyes slightly narrowed in a manner that meant she was ready to challenge him. In any game of wits, no matter the intellect of opponent, she was sure she could win. Though she could not fight as these men could with swords and axes, she could certainly stand her ground with words and ideas. Her mind was like few others. "Why do you care, cripple? Do you have something to prove?"
Ubbe watched the expression on his little brother's face, an expression that he'd seen many times - most recently being when Sigurd died. Before Althena could say anymore to enrage the youngest Ragnarsson, Ubbe walked over and took her arm. "Come with me." He spoke in exasperation. She was firey, she was fierce, she was clever... But all those things made her even more of a target from those around them. Reluctantly, Althena followed as he pulled her away and back towards their own tent. As she dug her feet into the ground, trying to pull herself away so that she might confront him too, the eldest son of Ragnar and Aslaug stopped in his tracks with a heavy sigh. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?" He asked.
"Is that a threat?" She rebutted stubbornly.
Again he sighed, trying to remain calm. "In case you hadn't noticed, princess, I'm the only person here trying to keep you alive."
At this she paused for a moment. Every day Ubbe seemed to pull her away from people and situations, everyday he'd quietly speak to anyone that had stared at her or threatened her and suddenly they'd disappear, everyday he'd tried to be kind to her - he'd given her privacy, offered her food, looked after her. For so long, she hadn't even fully realised what was going on, only that he didn't seem quite as bad as the others. But in that moment each situation - which nine times out of ten ended with her slapping him or refusing to speak to him - had been for her benefit. All this time, he'd been the only person there that actually seemed to give a damn about her.
As Althena grew silent, he quickly assumed that she was now refusing to speak to him again - and so the cycle would continue. But when her quiet voice came out, barely above a whisper, he could hardly believe his ears. "Thank you," She spoke gently, sincerity in her every feature. "I know I'm not the easiest to deal with."
"I've dealt with worse." He smiled slightly, making the girl laugh - for the first time that he'd heard, a genuine and almost happy laugh.
"What?" She chuckled. "Like Ivar?"
Again the Prince smiled. "Yes, like Ivar."
Silence slowly fell over them again, the soft ripples of pink sunset illuminating the horizon. Each dying ember of day told them to leave this moment, to go inside. But as Althena looked over, she didn't know if she wanted to leave this moment. At home, she had never had anyone look after. Edith tried but rarely succeeded. Few ever cared about her. And in this strange place that she now called home, she didn't even have Edith. She was alone. But in that singular moment, that soft second, however brief, she wasn't alone. And as she thought about each passing day she'd spent with her so-called husband, she couldn't help but wonder whether maybe they didn't have to be enemies. Perhaps one day, they could even be friends.
