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Ivar glared over at Alwin without reprieve for hours, Edith in the corner doing much the same. The young King sat in the centre of the room, his agitation increasing. He should've left her in the street to die and run to join Alfred. He should've stabbed her twice.
"For the love of God would you stop staring at me!" He roared finally, breaking the unbearable silence. "She's my sister and I'm being treated like a criminal! I love her!"
Ivar narrowed his gaze at the young fool, recalling the many things that Althena had told him about her brother and their relationship. Those were not words that he believed. Alwin was a known liar, and he didn't need proof to be able to see that. "I killed my brother." He spoke up finally, after hours of intimidating silence. "I know what guilt looks like." He continued, watching every flinch and minute reaction from Alwin that told him everything that he needed to know. "And you don't look guilty."
From the back of the room, Edith spoke up dryly, "He never is." And before she could stop herself, the words were already out.
The truth of the matter was, Ivar knew exactly why Alwin had tried to kill his sister. She'd found out about Leofgifu, and he was afraid that others would soon find out too. What he hadn't taken into account was the fact that the three brothers had been left looking after the girl. And, when people are afraid, the usually tend to talk. They knew everything. He was ruined either way.
Hvitserk walked inside the old church, sighing when he saw his big brother asleep beside Althena. He'd been there all night, simply watching her breathe and making sure that she didn't stop.
"Brother," Hvitserk spoke up, passing Ubbe a bowl of food as he woke up. "You should go and rest."
"I'm fine." Ubbe dismissed, looking back over towards Althena, who still had not moved a muscle.
"You won't be able to look after her if you're unconscious too." Hvitserk persisted in an attempt to help his brother, but it was to no avail.
"I'm not leaving her again." Ubbe responded resolutely, ending the conversation. As Hvitserk left, he glanced back towards Althena one final time, knowing that hoping for her to survive was likely a mistake. There was very little hope now.
Nevertheless, Ubbe remained beside her, telling himself that she was strong. She'd survive. She had to.
"I-" Althena began as they entered her tent, "I- I've never-"
"I'm not going to hurt you." Ubbe responded flatly, noticing how frightened she was. "I'll sleep on the floor."
"But- what about-" She began again, her cheeks red and her hands nervously fiddling with the hem of her sleeve.
"I won't make you do anything you don't want to do." He answered her reassuringly, making her worried face turn into the slightest of smiles. "I promise, you have nothing to be afraid of. I won't let anything happen to you."
For a moment, Ubbe wasn't quite sure whether he was seeing things or not. But after the third or fourth time, he began to realise that Althena was moving. Truly moving. Her hand twitched again, and a bright smile came over him as he took hold of it. She wasn't conscious, but it was something. Some sign of life at least.
In a strained whisper, she spoke. Her voice was hoarse, and it was clear that she was talking in her sleep. "Ubbe?" She asked into nothingness, as though she needed to know that he was there. He was all that had been on her mind in this agonizing state. She couldn't feel his touch or hear his voice, she couldn't sense anything that was happening around her. She simply wanted to see him again, to tell him how she felt. That was all.
As he heard his name, Ubbe sat up and looked over at the princess, his heart racing. "Althena?" He answered hopefully, watching as a tiny smile crept onto her lips. Her hand squeezed his own momentarily and, finally, with fluttered eyelids, he saw those bright blue eyes staring back at him oncemore.
When she opened her eyes, he couldn't help but smile. He couldn't help but look back at her with utter relief and joy. He knew that this was far from over, she still had to overcome her injuries and manage to not get a fever, but it was a step in the right direction. Everyone had said it would take a miracle to see her alive again, it would take intervention from the Gods. Perhaps she was blessed by them for some reason. But Althena knew the truth. It was no God that had saved her, no faith, not this time. This time it was something far more powerful than any God. It was love.
"Ubbe," She whispered oncemore, seeing him and smiling weakly. She felt the strain of her injury, her legs still motionless and without feeling, but she was here. She was alive. However, before she could tell him all that she wanted to say, before she could admit her feelings towards him finally, there was one small issue that she had to resolve. "Where is my brother?"
"With Ivar." He answered knowingly, watching as she dragged herself to sit up with a groan of agony. In Odin's name, she was stubborn. But she was here again, and that was all he could've asked for.
"I need to speak to him." She spoke coldly, eyes settling in the distance as her heart filled with an emotion that certainly was not love. No. It was hate.
