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bumblesimagines · 11 months

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Under The Moonlight

Part 13

Request: Yes or No

A lil short! Chapters may come out a bit slower as I've got some stuff going on this week

~~~

"These are letters, not runes. When put together they create words and sentences, just like when we speak. These words are in English, see? And these-" Leif pulled his finger away from the page and reached for another book, setting it on his thigh and flipping it through it before stopping on a page with new letters on them. They appeared more fluid and had more shape to them than the English letters. "-are in Arabic. Mariam speaks this language. She's teaching me how to understand it."

"So these letters are different from the others because they are different languages?"

"Yes, very good."

Humming softly, (Y/N) took the leather book from Leif's hands and placed it on his own lap, finger running over the words on the page. "How many languages can Mariam speak?" He asked, lifting his head to look over at the woman. Leif had set up a rug from her some distance away so she could pray. He explained she had to pray at a certain hour while facing a certain direction. During prayer, she'd wrap her head in a cloth and chant softly under her breath before moving down to her knees and bowing her head.

"She speaks many languages. Greek and Latin among them." Leif answered, closing the book in Arabic and placing it among the others. He took out a round metal disk and showed it to him. (Y/N) had seen Leif fiddling with it a few times, holding it still and seeing where the small arrow pointed. (Y/N) gently pulled on the arrow with his fingertip, humming softly when it bobbed back into place. It always pointed in the same direction.

"I never thought of you as a scholar, Leif." Harald chuckled softly as he came to a stop beside them, curiously looking down at the disk in his hand. Leif offered it to Harald and smiled when the prince inspected it closely.

"I never thought of you as a fur trader, but here we are." Harald chuckled and handed it back to Leif, stepping back when the older Greenlander rose to his feet. He took the books and secured them in a bag before looking over the ropes keeping spare luggage and the sled tied to the boat. Harald extended his hand toward (Y/N), offering a small smile and helping him up. (Y/N) murmured thanks and took the bag from Leif, heading toward the ladder and climbing up onto the boat where Lord Vitomir, his servant, Kurya, and Gestr were at. Lord Vitomir's servant glared at Gestr, lips slightly curled back in disgust.

Suddenly, an odd sound echoed around them, sounding almost like an animal call and causing a soft rumbling. Kurya perked up at the sound of it and tensed, craning his neck to hear more closely as the others shared confused looks. The horses began to whine and tug lightly on their reins, shuffling around on their feet. (Y/N) stepped closer to the edge of the boat, looking down at the ice where the sound seemed to come from.

"What is that noise?"

"It is the ice talking," Kurya answered the servant as the rumbling got harder, shaking small rocks and snow on the ice. "It has begun to crack and melt. We must get moving." He urged, standing up with his wooden stick and tapping it lighting across the ground as he walked.

"Careful." (Y/N) whispered, watching Kurya step up and tuck his stick under his armpit, carefully grabbing the top of the ladder and making his way down. (Y/N) leaned over the edge and watched him use the stick to guide him, calling out to Harald and Leif. Taking an axe, Leif made some distance from the boat before hitting the ice to create a small hole.

"What are they doing?"

Glancing back at the servant, (Y/N) cleared his throat. "Checking how far the ice has melted. It will get thinner and thinner as time goes by. Even then, we must tread carefully. Some spots will grow thinner and weaker than others. Be careful where you step from now on." (Y/N) advised and the young man nodded repeatedly, nearly knocking his hat off his head.

"I will." He assured, face flushing lightly as he caught his hat in time. Some strands of blonde hair slipped out and he quickly tucked them back in, nose scrunching when Lord Vitomir called him back and lightly stomped his foot with raised brows. The servant hurried back to the man and appeared to get a scolding when Lord Vitomir leaned over toward his ear.

With the fright of the ice breaking and news of a dangerous ice dam, Harald got everyone situated back on the boat and they continued forward for the day until night began to fall and everyone unloaded to sleep on the bank of the river. (Y/N) could sense the fear and anticipation. (Y/N) didn't blame them. Getting on the boat with the knowledge it could break and slip into the water where they'd be unable to move it made him queasy. Even more so with the potential of a wall of ice descending upon them at any second. The next morning they got their belongings back on the ship and Harald agreed it'd be best for most to walk on foot to keep a load off the boat.

The snowy bank around them had drawn closer, making the river narrower. A sign they were getting closer to the lake, and with no signs of Pechenegs yet. Kaysan walked alongside the horses, guiding them whilst chatting with Cadlin. They shared smiles and lingering looks, glancing at the other often and laughing more. Luckily for the two, Gestr didn't appear to be the observant type. He'd been more interested in Lord Vitomir and his riches, constantly eyeing his chest of belongings and attempting to get on his good side.

"What did you say to me, boy?" (Y/N) turned his head in time to see Gestr slap Lord Vitomir's servant across the face, knocking the shorter man to the ground. Taking out his whip, Gestr raised it but before he could strike the servant with it, Lord Vitomir got in his way, hissing lowly at him and shoving him back. "Control your slave or I will teach him the lessons you have failed to!" Gestr spat, angrily sticking his whip away and grumbling under his breath. He lifted his head with a huff and made eye contact with the Greenlander, holding it when (Y/N) approached him.

"Threaten someone else again and I'll drown you myself." (Y/N) murmured lowly and Gestr swallowed. Any remarks died in his throat and when he looked away in defeat, (Y/N) turned around and walked away, nodding to the servant when he sent him a small smile despite his reddening cheek.

The peace didn't last long forever, as the boat suddenly lurched forward and then sunk slightly. The horses rose onto their back legs and whined, huffing and moving around as Kaysan tried calming them. A quick jog to the other side of the boat showed him the problem. Ice had broken, just as predicted, but luckily not enough to completely sink the boat. Harald assessed the problem and sighed, motioning to the bags tied to the sled.

"Kaysan and Batu, go get us logs. Dorn, Cadlin, mind the horses. Everyone else, try to lighten the load." Harald called out instructions and stepped forward, careful to avoid putting pressure on the side of the boat. He tossed bags back toward (Y/N) until only the sled remained below.

(Y/N) went through the items in the bags, tossing out anything they wouldn't need to survive while the others were sent off to collect wood. Once enough had been collected, they stuck the sturdy logs underneath the boat and into the water, hoping to elevate the boat enough to push it forward. With the logs secured, (Y/N) grabbed one of the logs and held onto it until Harald called out an order, pushing down on the log as hard as possible. Dorn and Cadlin pulled on the reins of the horses, encouraging them to pull the boat forward. Leif, Batu, Kaysan, and Harald pulled down on the logs while everyone else- minus Mariam and Kurya- pushed the sled forward. The boat began to rise but it proved futile with everyone exhausted. The boat collapsed back down and Harald groaned in displeasure.

"Again!"

"Harald, the horses need to rest." Batu objected.

"We cannot stop! Once night falls, the river will freeze again and the sled will be trapped. Let's try again!" Harald ordered and everyone begrudgingly tried again. The boat rose again and it almost worked, but one of the logs snapped in half. Harald and Leif nearly fell on the ground with their log and Harald cursed softly. "Kaysan, get us a new log-"

"We need to rest." Leif breathed, soft pants escaping him.

With Leif's order to rest, Batu checked on the horses and gave them fresh water. Harald stalked away, in both anger and disappointment, collapsing down on a small hill overlooking the bank. (Y/N) stared after him and sighed, rubbing a gloved finger on the bridge of his nose and stepping toward the sled to take a seat. Mariam approached him with a gentle smile, smoothing the underside of her dress as she sat beside him.

"I have seen the way Harald looks at you, looks for you." She said softly, folding her hands in her lap and looking toward the others when they sat down in front of the boat to rest.

"We have known each other for a while now. He just... respects me."

"He respects Leif, but he does not look at him the way he does you. I see it, (Y/N). There's something between you and him. A... A longing and much regret. Guilt. It is not my place nor my business, but I care for your brother and I've come to care for you. What has happened?" Mariam spoke softly and looked back at him, smiling and placing her hand over his. For a moment, (Y/N) felt as if he were speaking to his mother and a breathy chuckle escaped him.

"A lot... A lot has happened. I did not intend to become close to Harald when I first met him. He has betrayed the trust I put in him twice and even though it was with good intentions, I... I cannot bring myself to forget it. I was harsh last time we spoke in private and he has given me the space he believes I need which... counts for something, right? I do not know anymore. What I feel for him has not disappeared but it has changed. I trust him and I care for him. Though, I cannot say for certain he'll save me in exchange for the crown if it came to it. Even if he did, he'd hesitate. I do not want that love. I want someone who wouldn't think twice."

"Have you expressed this to him?"

"You've seen Harald. If it isn't something he wants to hear, he'll brush it off or stomp away like a child." (Y/N) murmured and lightly shook his head. Mariam laughed softly before cupping her hand over her mouth and coughing. (Y/N) frowned, watching her cough a bit more and regain her composure as if it hadn't happened.

"Yes, I've seen Harald and his childish nature. I've also seen him be a leader, a friend, and a kind man. Sometimes, men like him, need a push in the right direction. It is up to you whether you wish to push him or not. Because if you don't, there are plenty of others on this Earth who will give you the love you believe you deserve. Harald may be one of them, he just hasn't shown it in. But you shouldn't need to wait around for it to show itself. I've seen many people wait for their lovers to give them what they deserve and they've ended up waiting for years. You must think about yourself and your heart." Mariam wrapped her arm around his shoulder, pressing her cold lips to his temple and smiling sweetly. (Y/N) sighed and returned the smile.

They sat together in silence until Harald and Leif returned with more wood. This time, they slipped some logs near the side of the sled above the water before sticking another log into the ice. (Y/N) resumed his position by his log with Kaysan, waiting for Harald's order. When it came again, he pushed down on the log as hard as he could, hearing the others grunt and groan in effort. The boat creaked and the horses whined and they kept pushing until the boat slipped forward, sliding on the logs and out of the water. Excited cheers broke out and hugs were exchanged. Harald wrapped his arms around (Y/N), holding him tightly against his cheek and laughing.

"Come on, we should get ready," Harald called and grinned at (Y/N) before jogging forward to get things out of the way and put the leftover belongings on board.

(Y/N) licked his lips and hummed softly, moving his thoughts onto the task at hand and checking on the horses. He made his way to the boat where Leif set up the ladder, watching the Kurya and the girls head up onto the boat. (Y/N) paused when he heard a soft squish and looked down, noticing his wet boot. His eyes drifted onto the water slipping down, not from the boat or the hole but from a different direction. Leif and Kaysan followed his line of sight, brows furrowing and heads turning to identify where the water could be flowing from. But their unspoken questions were answered.

"The ice dam has broken!" Harald hollered, pulling everyone's attention toward the back. Water began rounding the corner, moving slow enough to give them some time but fast enough to get everyone rushing. "Release the horses! Cut the boat free!"

Running toward the horses, (Y/N) and Batu undid the reins and chains keeping the horses tethered to the boat as the others worked on getting the boat free of the sled. Pushing on the bums and clicking their tongues, they got the horses to move. Most of them headed toward the treeline and toward safety, a relief for Batu. Kaysan helped get the last few moving before a scream caught (Y/N)'s attention. He turned back and spotted Lord Vitomir attempting to pull his servant out of some broken ice. The dam fast approached them, carrying wood and chunks of snow along with the water.

"Harald!" (Y/N) called back to the prince and Harald snapped his head in his direction, eyes widening at the sight.

"I'll help them! Get on the boat!" He ordered, dropping some rope and running toward Lord Vitomir and the servant. (Y/N) ensured the others got onboard the boat first before climbing up the ladder, moving toward the back, and peering over to look for Harald. Harald picked up the drenched servant and moved toward the boat but the ice broke under Lord Vitomir, plunging him into the water. Harald stopped and looked back at the man but the calls for him made him continue forward. He reached the boat, lifting the servant- a young woman rather than a man- up to (Y/N) and Batu. Everyone got the oars into place and Leif secured the steering oar, glancing back as Harald was pulled onboard.

"Father!" The woman screamed and stared in horror as Lord Vitomir disappeared beneath the water and debris. The boat lurched forward from the force and she stumbled backward, falling into (Y/N)'s chest and grabbing tightly onto his arms when he held her steady. Once the boat stabilized against the rushing water, Brigtoc grabbed a fur blanket and brought it to her, handing it off to (Y/N) so he could wrap it around her.

"Come, you must sit and get warm." (Y/N) said quietly and took her away from the side of the boat. She slumped on the seat, tears filling her eyes and slipping down her cheeks. She stared forward, whether in shock or defeat, and sobbed softly, her body trembling. (Y/N) rubbed the sides of the sides of her arms, hoping the warmth and furs would get her dry before she could fall ill. Mariam stepped toward them and placed a hand on his back, waiting for him to get out of the way so she could sit with the girl and hold her comfortingly.

Moving to stand beside Harald, he glanced back at her. "You couldn't save them both, Harald."

"She called him father... Who knows if she has any family left." Harald whispered, looking down at the water, searching for a glimpse of Lord Vitomir. (Y/N) placed a hand on his arm and lightly squeezed it, offering Harald a small smile.

"She may have family in Constantinople. We must look out for her until then."

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lasaraconor · 1 year

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#hayat kamille #mariam #sam corlett #leif #vikings valhalla #vv #gif

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jens-holland · 1 year

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Some of my faves…

#sam corlett #vikings valhalla #valhalla spoilers #leo suter #harald hardrada #leif eriksson #kaysan valhalla #batu valhalla #dorn valhalla #mariam valhalla #cadlinn valhalla #brigtoc valhalla #pecheneg khan #kurya valhalla #romanos iv diogenes

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deputy-ajay-ghale · 1 year

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Leif Eriksson’s dick kills women.

#specifically dark haired ones #vikings valhalla #leif eriksson #leif x Mariam #Leif x liv #Liv #Mariam #original post

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wildwren · 1 year

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okay i am into the novgorod--constantinople plotline so far (episode 3). a motley crew of characters assembling for a dangerous quest, the himbo boyfriends fighting, MARIAM MY BELOVEDDD

#i know this is gonna be a leif x mariam thing #im not opposed if its good #but ive reeeally imprinted on her already so i hope they don't fuck it up massively #vikings valhalla #vikings valhalla spoilers

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ivarvikings · 1 year

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"Leif & Mariam | Hold On | Vikings : Valhalla S2" YouTube

youtube

I need to know why Mariam should die.

#Youtube #vikings #vikings valhalla #harald sigurdsson #freydis eriksdotter #Leif Erikson #leiferikson #mariam #Mariam x Leif

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handsome-edvard · 2 months

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When lifeing gets in the way of fic writing

#i just want to write about Leif and Mariam please god #what do you meannnn the chicken won’t marinate itself #the errands won’t run themselves either? 😔#venga va

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introverted-imagineer · 1 year

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The Heart is Crimson

Warnings: Descriptions of assault, abuse, slavery and extreme violence. Adult themes. Please avoid and protect your well-being if you suspect this work might not be for you.

(Part 18)

I impatiently paced across the ground as the boat sat stranded on the riverbank. A broken rudder…a bloody piece of useless material…one single part of the whole ship kept me from Twyla. ‘They will be back soon Y/N’ Mariam soothed…a tired smile on her face as she busied herself sorting the collection of books she lugged everywhere with her. What would she know about anything…books could only tell you so much.

Leif and Harald had trekked in search of a township by the name of ‘Kodak’ not too long ago in search of materials to fix the rudder. Each morning as the sun rose, and when it set in the evening it became harder and harder to clutch onto the hope of seeing my daughter again…my friend…my family. I stomped over to Kurya as he sat away from the rest of the group, listening, feeling and sensing the world around him. I didn’t even need to announce my presence as I slumped down next to him.

‘Tell me something good’ I whispered, watching the river flow gently to where I yearned to go. His shoulders rose and fell slowly as he inhaled deeply, the corner of his lips perking up and he readjusted his bandages.

‘You remind me of my wife sometimes Y/N’ he giggled slightly to himself. ‘Yesty was also very stubborn…but had a kind heart’ he said, his voice drifting into sadness. I lifted my hand from the grass, grasping onto his hand, and giving him a comforting squeeze. ‘How did you meet?’ I questioned gently. Kurya, of course, had mentioned his wife in passing, a story here or there, but never any specific details. He had never explicitly said she had died, but it wasn’t hard to figure out. Kurya walked around with a broken heart…

‘There had been strife between the tribes…her father presented her to my father as a peace offering, to unionise our tribes through a marital union’ Another inhale, fiddling with the bandages on his face pointlessly. I gently squeezed his hand again, prompting him to continue his story. His despair comically turned to laughter as he chuckled breathlessly to himself. ‘What?’ I questioned, my own lips raising into a smile at the ridiculousness of it. Kurya was always the sensible voice of reason, it was rare to see a relaxed side of him. ‘W..Wh’ he emitted through laughter. ‘When my father presented my brother and I…it was assumed, him being the older of us, that she would wed him…she took one look, and without hesitation said I’m not marrying him, but the younger one I might’. He lost himself in laughter, a radiant glow on his face that I had not seen…only when he ever talked about his wife. ‘My brother was furious’ he chuckled, clearly satisfied by the memory. ‘Her father was so mortified by her brazenness…within the week we were married’ he said, his laughter depleting, but the smile on his face remained the same. ‘Did you ever have children?’ I asked curiously. His head turned toward me, as he lifted his hand to the crown of my head and soothed my hair. ‘I have all the family I need’.

As I sat with Kurya, my thoughts were lost to memory as I stared at the river flowing down the bend, I barely noticed that everyone's attention had shifted elsewhere.

‘Something smells good!’ A foreign voice sounded. I turned around to find a strange man, decorated from head to toe in tattooed ink, cockily and confidently approaching the camp. He did not seem deterred by the number of people who stood to attention at the sight of his presence grasping onto weapons as he stepped forward. I stood, making my way back toward the camp as the stranger and Gestr greeted each other with enthusiasm. It was no secret, Gestr was an immoral being, but his hubris made him a total imbecile. The natural comradery between the pair however was frightening.

‘I see your boat is missing its rudder’ he noted, inspecting the vessel with great interest…and everything on it.

‘It is being repaired in Kodak’

‘So there are more of you?’ He questioned

‘Just two’ Gestr replied.

The energy shifted as everyone, but Gestr, tensed at the sudden reveal of information to the stranger. I clutched my fist tightly as I whipped my eyes around to see everyone else similarly on edge as the stranger seemed satisfied with this newfound information. I looked back to find his eyes locked on mine, his own eyes flicking up and down as he sauntered toward me.

He pressed his chest against mine, his rugged breath brushing against my head as he towered over me. ‘How much for this one?’ He yelled at Gestr, bringing his hand up to move the hairs that fell over my forehead. I brought my hands up, pressing my palms against his chest and pushing him a step back. ‘Not one of mine, unfortunately’ Gestr said, his voice seething in self-pity. The stranger's eyes did not leave mine as he took in every inch of my body. ‘My name is Baggi’ he introduced in a flirtatious tone. My stomach churned as an overwhelming sense of revulsion came over me. I glanced over at the boat behind Baggi, Gestr’s eyes intently watching my every move as his newfound friend directed his interests at me. ‘You are certainly a rare find in these parts’ he said in such a slimy tone, I could feel my spine shiver with discomfort.

‘Leave my wife alone’ Kurya’s voice sounded from behind me as he sat still where he had before. Even from a distance, Kurya could always sense when something was wrong with me. Baggi scoffed at his remark. ‘Your husband?’ He questioned. I simply nodded, taking a few steps away to put some distance between us. I could hear the enslaved girls giggling between themselves. Baggi’s face fell slightly in disappointment, his chest raising in slight anger at the public rejection. He strode forward slowly, his eyes locked on mine as he rounded me carefully, his chest poking against my shoulder…taking a whiff of my hair. I remained facing away as Baggi continued his stalking amongst the camp. It was tensely silent as everyone remained frozen in place. It felt like forever in the few minutes that passed. The silence was interrupted as he slowly stalked back toward me, his footsteps creeping up like a predator on a hunt…a chuckle emitting from his gut. ‘You don’t know who this is, do you?’ He triumphantly sounded as he wrapped his hand around the back of my neck. I stood frozen as his rough calloused fingertips stroked the skin on the back of my neck. A fury of anger washed over me as my breathing increased. I could feel my heels digging into the ground as everyone's attention was solely focused on me. Baggi laughed.

‘You are not this man’s wife…this man's wife is dead’.

I stood frozen, tense in fear, anger and confusion as this man so confidently narrated Kurya’s life to the group.

‘This man is the Khan’s brother, Kurya’ My stomach churned as Baggi so knowingly told the tale of Kurya’s wife, and the Khan’s brutal assault and murder of his fallen wife. It felt like the world was spinning around me as I didn’t know any such thing about Kurya’s past. I knew he had a brother, but I had never imagined he had been a brutal ruler. Maybe this was why Kurya rarely spoke of his life as a Pecheneg. All Kurya had said about it was that he had chosen a different path…but never would I have known the consequences of his old one were so severe.

‘Now the Khan drinks wine every night with a silver cup made from her skull’ he said as his fingers trailed up, grasping the hairs on my head as he forcefully craned my neck back. He inched his face so close, I could feel his chapped lips brush against my cheek.

‘And put a bounty on his missing brother's head’ he said, his raspy breath blowing into my ear, his fingers releasing. I breathlessly dropped to the ground, scuttling towards Kurya on my hands and knees, desperate to get away from Baggi. I clutched onto Kurya’s robes as he sat, frozen in place…as if he didn’t even realise I was there right in front of him.

‘He is worth money?’ Gestr questioned, striding down the board to Baggi. I quickly stood up, my fingernails cutting into my palms as fury took over. I was going to kill him. As I took a step forward, I was thrust back just as quickly as Kurya had grabbed onto the fabric of my dress, holding me back from perpetrating the extremely brutal violent attack I had spinning in my head as I watched Gestr. The rest of Baggi’s presence escaped me as I stood there, vowing with every inch in my body and soul to put an end to Gestr’s greedy, vile, degenerate, pathetic existence.

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In Kodak

‘Harald, Freydis is carrying your child’

Harald had endured many hardships in life. He had fought bravely in battles that left him forever scared, he had loved and lost people throughout his life, he had an enemy in his own brother, he had left the person he truly loved, and he had even battled his own demons and morals throughout his life…but nothing was as painful as hearing this.

‘How long have you known this?’

‘Since we left Norway. She made me promise not to tell you’

‘You Bastard. I thought you were my friend’

The shock was almost as powerful as when he saw Y/N again, after all that time. The person he truly longed for…he had spent days and nights wondering if Y/N was still alive, if Y/N thought about him, if he would ever lay eyes on Y/N again…A year yearning after someone he thought he had lost. Now he would likely spend a lifetime wondering about the child he had never known about. Had he known, things would have turned out differently. The immense love he thought he had felt for someone…an enigma, and now he felt a love so overwhelming he thought his heart might burst.

‘She understood that if you knew you were to be a father, you would not leave her’

‘and she’s right’

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Back at Camp

‘Don’t ask any questions, just follow my lead’ I whispered to the enslaved girls as they sat hopelessly on the boat, their hands bound in heavy chains that rubbed against their skin. ‘YOU’ Gestr yelled, charging back onto the boat, his axe in hand as he readied himself for a fight. What he didn’t realise was that I was just as ready for him.

Gestr stomped across the boat, he reached his arm out clutching onto the neck of my dress and threateningly pushing me harshly into the side of the boat. The look in his eyes was one of pure evil as he held his axe up ready to strike if needed. ‘I’VE TOLD YOU BEFORE AND I’LL TELL YOU AGAIN, YOU DO NOT ENGAGE WITH MY PROPERTY’ he spat angrily. A could hear a whimper let out from one of the girls as their eyes locked onto the scene in front of them. ‘You don’t have Harald to protect you now’ he taunted, bringing the blade of his axe right up against my neck. My throat bobbed as I took a deep gulp, my skin pressing into the blade, reminding me of my mortality at stake. ‘I don’t need Harald Siggurdson’ I whispered against his pressing blade’.

*BANG*

Within seconds, Gestr lay unconscious on the floor, a small rush of blood spilling from his temple. Elena dropped the heavy plank of wood by her side, shaking her arm to relieve the pain in her joints from the strike she had just delivered. I took in a deep breath, rubbing at the skin on my neck which luckily had only just been indented by the pressure of the blade leaving a red mark that would fade soon enough. I looked at Elena, as she looked back at me. We gave each other a knowing nod.

I reached down, whipping the belt from Gestr, sliding his ring of keys he so mockingly jingled day in, day out. I threw them to the girls as they sat there in disbelief. ‘You belong to no one but yourself…do you understand me?’ I spoke, watching as all their eyes stared at the keys in front of them. One of the girls nodded, her eyes watery. As Elena jangled the keys, jamming different keys into the locks, one by one a satisfying clang sounded as the metal cuffs hit the floor of the boat.

‘We must hide him’ Mariam sounded from behind me, as she boarded the boat with a handful of ropes. As quickly as they had been uncuffed, the girls knelt to the floor practically snatching the ropes out of Mariam’s grip and taking the opportunity to tie up the man who had kept their freedom from them for too long.

•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•

‘Welcome back! I see you have brought friends’ Batu called radiantly as the inevitable return of Baggi finally arrived. He dismounted his horse, trudging forward seemingly confused by the warm welcome, compared to before. I sat on the edge of the boat, my legs dangling over the edge, my skirt ridden up slightly in a flirtatious manner.

‘What is this?’ Baggi questioned, pointing to Kurya as he stood underneath the branches of the tree chained by his neck. It killed me to see him like this…a man whom I only now understood why he was so broken in so many ways. Why did it have to be him that these brutes wanted? Kurya deserved more.

Batu explained a fabricated story…how he killed Gestr (if only) and went crazy. That suddenly a group of people who disliked Baggi before, now welcomed his friends with open arms? This was too risky to play off I had argued, that he would never fall for such a ridiculously unrealistic story. But as their horses rounded the trees, there was no other option to decide on another plan. Gestr looked toward the boat, his greedy eyes hungrily fixated on me. I lifted my hand, fluttering my fingers in an amorous manner as if to say ‘It’s you I want’. But Baggi stopped in his tracks, clearly stumped particularly by my welcoming manner. He turned his head, making a halt sign to his friends. They instinctively grasped at their weapons, following Baggi’s lead as he began to question Batu aggressively. ‘What’s with my friend from earlier?’ He spat cautiously, with an aggressive tone. Batu stood there stumped, looking between Baggi and myself as I tried to sit effortlessly on the edge of the boat. ‘W..what do you mean?’ Batu coughed. Baggi lifted his fist, gripping onto Batu’s shirt. Metal clanged behind them as the men pulled their weapons from their hilts and belts. ‘We put something in her drink’ one of the enslaved girls, whose name I had learnt to be Cadlin, shouted as she cheerfully lifted her cup in a fictional drunken slumber.

I took her lead, slushing the cup around in my hand, downing it’s invisible contents, and letting out a satisfying ‘ahhh’ sound. The girls giggled along with Cadlin ‘Y/N is a bitch anyway’ they chuckled as they mockingly laughed as I pretended to sway on the edge of the boat. Mariam ran over, pretending to grip onto my body, as I leant my body back into her grip, falling back onto the boat.

I could hear Baggi laughing, his friends seeming to laugh alongside him, clearly relaxing amongst the environment, believing the story unfolding in front of them. ‘Well done’ Mariam whispered, a slight smile of relief on her face at the performance we had just delivered. I couldn’t help but smile back at her efforts too. Maybe she wasn’t so bad after all…

•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•

The Varangians slowly loosened up throughout the afternoon…Elena, Mariam and the girls pouring more drinks as quickly as the men consumed them. I spent the time continuously embarrassing myself, pretending to embrace the lustful suggestions of someone as horrid as Baggi. There was one thing these men liked, possibly even more than Gestr. Attention. It wasn’t hard to gage, but it’s all we had to work with to lower their guards. How powerful the Varangians were, how they were so skilled, and how they were talked about with great fear and respect in the cities. Luckily Baggi’s attentions were now more focused on hearing legendary tales of his people, rather than roughhousing me like his friends were the girls.

‘Well, well, well beautiful’ one of the men tutted as he boarded the boat, his eyes trained on me as his cup swished in his hands. Baggi sat rigidly, looking between me and his comrade, a seething jealousy evident on his face. I continued my facade, greeting him with a pitched giggle that washed a feeling of self decrepitation over me entirely. Batu clearly peaked at the sudden tenseness between the men as he grabbed another wine pitcher, filling Baggi’s cup. ‘I have more stories if that is of interest to you?’ He said cautiously. Baggi sat there, his eyes flicking between myself, his friend and Batu. He finally took a deep drink, wiping his mouth with the fabric of his shirt, satisfyingly turning to Batu to listen to another made-up story about the great Varangians. ‘You can come with me gorgeous’ the man said, holding his hand out so chivalrously. I reached down, grabbing another pitcher of wine as I clutched onto his hand, giggling more, being sure to stifle my balance as he lead me down the plank. ‘Don’t be long Engil!’ Baggi cried ‘I will be needing her soon enough’ he said with a laugh, Mariam and Batu following suit. But Mariam's eyes trailed on mine as she worryingly watched as Engil lead me off the boat…stalking away from camp out of sight.

•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•

‘No wonder Baggi was so eager to bring us all back after he found you this morning’ Engil moaned as his hands ran up and down my boat, his tongue swirling around in my mouth. We hadn’t had a plan past getting them drunk and assuring them Kurya was crazy…but after hours it seemed as though they were never going to leave and we were all but entertaining these creeps. I let out a fake moan as his stubble beard hair rubbed roughly against my chin. ‘Kiss my neck…I love neck kisses’ I moaned. He was ravenous for more…and I could only hope they would leave soon before he tried something else. His stubble grazed the skin on my neck, but it was much preferable to the tongue I had down my throat for the past half hour.

As he busied himself, biting at my neck, I couldn’t help but notice the silence in the distance. What was once chatter, laughing, and the clanking of cups was now utterly silent. My stomach dropped…this was not good. Had they all gone? Had someone else come? Had they taken Kurya?

I hardly realised my body went stiff as the gnawing on my neck disappeared, Engil’s hands no longer roaming over my body. He pulled away slightly, looking at my face questioningly. His head began to turn slowly as he noticed the silence too, his hands pulling away from the lustful distraction he was already lost in. Shit.

I reached down, grasping onto his hard cock that had been poking into my legs. He let out a loud moan at the sudden contact…the tenseness of sudden silence was replaced by satisfaction. I grabbed his face with my hands, shoving his face back into my neck as I fondled his groin over his pants, his body shaking eagerly as I busied myself trying to figure out why there was a sudden silence. However, it was not to last.

The clanging of metal sounded as the silence turned to shouts. I desperately held Engil against my neck, but he pulled away strongly, throwing me to the ground as grabbed his axe from his belt. He stalked around the bushes that hid us. I couldn’t see what was unfolding, but enough to know it was bad as he stalked back toward me, pulling me by the hair on my head and laying me on the ground. He mounted me, holding my body down with his heavyweight as he delivered a piercing slap to my face. ‘YOU BITCH’ he yelled, lowering his face, smashing his lips against mine, sinking his teeth painfully onto my bottom lip making me scream. ‘WHO ARE YOU? WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS HERE?’ He cried as he grasped onto my wrists as I tried so desperately to wrestle from beneath him…but even drunk he was much stronger than me.

He gripped the neckline of my dress, ripping it, pulling down my smock and exposing my breasts. I continued to wrestle beneath him, trying desperately to pull myself from the ravenous, raging man on top of me. He gripped onto my breast, squeezing it with all his might and twisting the skin. It was complete agony. His grip became slippery, however, as he pulled away to find the palm of his hand covered in a warm liquid. Only instead of being crimson ready as expected, his palm was doused in milky white. I began to cry as he let out a deep evil laugh, gripping again at my already tender breasts, torturously squeezing my pulsing nipples demanding answers to his questions.

‘Please…please s..st..stop’ I pleaded through cries of pain, but with every pleading, his grip tightened. ‘TELL ME’ he screamed. My eyesight began to blur at the sensation of unbearable pain. My head spun as his words began to slur, the world in front of me disappearing into blackness before my eyes. He delivered another slap, making me conscious again. But my body was weak and in excruciating pain and torture it wasn’t going to last.

‘I’LL FUCKING KILL Y…’

A metal arrow shot through his neck and he began to croak at the sudden impact. He gagged, blood pooling from his mouth into my eyes as his body shook, becoming even heavier. I screamed, crying at the sight in front of me. I had experienced violence, abuse, fear…childbirth…but nothing could compare to the dread of watching a person die right atop of you. Bleeding, eyes dilating, total and utter dread as his eyes locked on mine, his lips turning blue. My cries continued as he fell atop of me, the impact of our bodies pushing the arrow back out the other side of his neck, a sickening slushing sound-emitting. My cries continued and screams protruded from deep within my gut. The world around me was silent, the only sound being the final desperate breath from the man dying on top of me.

‘Y/N!’ A voice cried desperately. My rough rugged breathing had turned to hyperventilation as I cried out. ’T..tw…twyla’ I cried as the mans blood soaked my body. My sight was too blinded by my tears to see anything.

Suddenly the body shifted from me, a voice huffing as they practically threw the man's lifeless body away. Those familiar hands grasped my cheeks. ‘y/n’ he whispered worryingly, looking down at my almost naked, blood-stained body. He pulled my tunic up, covering my bruised chest carefully before tucking his arms under my limp body, pulling me into his embracing rocking me back and forth.

‘Harald…’ I whispered

‘Y/N’ he replied.

•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•

For hours he sat there with me, rocking me back and forth as I cried into his shoulder, too weak to hold my own body up. Nobody had dared come interrupt his act of tender care as I continued to cry, soaking his shirt.

By the time the moon had risen and the sky had turned black, only then had my eyes become too dry to let any more tears flow. Footsteps sounded behind faintly as I sat there, limply lying in Harald’s embrace. ‘Here…it’s one of mine’ Mariam sounded as she placed something on the ground next to us. Harald’s hand came up, soothing my hair down on my head. ‘Thank you’ he whispered back, her footsteps retreating back to wherever.

Harald gently leaned back, still being careful to hold my forearms as I was barely able to hold my own body up. ‘If I have your permission, I think we should clean you up?’ He questioned, trying to find my eyes. My throat was scratched and dry, my body was limp. It took all my energy just to give a single nod of my head.

Harald’s hands wearily went down to the bottom of my dress, gently clutching the stained fabric in his clutches. He trailed the fabric up my body, being careful not to touch my bruised skin. He gently bunched up the fabric, his hands accidentally brushing against my tender breasts, making me seethe, as he rolled the fabric over my head, leaving me totally naked. He took in a deep sigh, taking in the sight of what the moonlight allowed, his face wincing in pain as he looked at the state of my bruised neck and chest. I could feel his shoulders drop as he took in the sight of me. The way his eyes looked into mine, I could tell he was blaming himself.

•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•

Harald gently lifted my arms, wrapping them around his neck as our bare chests pressed against one another. His bands gently slotted underneath my legs as he lifted my body effortlessly, walking us into the chilly river. He walked deeper into the water until the water was up to his chest. I could feel his chest rising and falling quicker at the sudden cold temperature that took over his naked body. I barely registered it. He gently lowered himself into the water, taking the opportunity to slide his hands from underneath my legs, tucking his arm securely around my waist, making sure to keep a close hold on my weak body. I let my head drop into the crook of his shoulder, my arms still placed securely around his neck.

The sound of water splashing sounded gently as Harald took the time to carefully scoop handfuls of water into his palm, washing the blood off of my body. His hands danced carefully and gracefully over my body as he made sure to erase every single patch of red that stained my skin.

‘Lie back’ he whispered, placing his arms under my body, lying me back into the water. His fingers massaged my scalp as he washed the remnants from the day out of my hair. I closed my eyes, taking in the feeling…it was pleasant. The only sound being the swishing of water. I could now begin to feel the chill of the water.

Harald’s arms untucked from my legs, bringing me back into a standing position. This time our chests pressed against one another, instead of me being tucked into his side. I brought my arms up, weakly wrapping them around his neck, pulling our faces closer. Our foreheads pressed against one another, our eyes closed as the only sounds between us were the sounds of our breaths.

‘I’m sorry y/n’ he whispered, as his arms protectively wrapped around my waist.

‘I’m sorry for everything…I realised today there are things much more important than becoming King of Norway’ he breathlessly began to explain. But I simply kept my head pressed against his, taking in his words. ‘I learnt today that Freydis has carried my child’ he whispered, an utter saddened despair in his tone. I could feel my heart stop…

‘If ever someone put my child through the things I put you through…I would find that person to the ends of the earth’ he whispered, a sniffle sounding as he tried to hold back tears. But he did not, his tears fell as he mourned the past, the present, the future, the child he would probably never know. A shattered parent. A feeling I could empathise with all too well. It was a reaction I never expected.

I tilted my head back slightly, but our arms stayed wrapped around each other. I gently slid my hand from around the back of his neck, placing it gently on his cheek as his tears subsided, but the pain was still very much there.

I leant in, placing a single peck gently onto his lips, pulling myself back into an embrace as we clutched onto one another, him mourning his child he did know of, and me mourning the child of ours he didn’t.

#vikings #harald x reader #vikings valhalla #vikings x reader #harald sigurdsson #imagines #vikings imagine #x reader #valhalla

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phenomenal1500 · 10 months

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~Save From The Pechenegs~

Masterlist

A/N: This was requested by DEVILHORNS on wattpad, thank you! ♥️ I merged two requests of yours together since I thought it would make a fun longer one shot.

Summary: Reader is determined to save Harald from the Pechenegs and lets her get taken to them.

Timeline: Season 2

Pairing: Harald Sigurdsson x Fem!Reader

Warning: Angst, blood, violence, torture.

Looking at the shore and the forest behind it as she climbed out of the freezing water, Y/N noticed Harald wasn't with the surviving group. "Where's Harald?!" She yelled after them, watching everyone stare at their feet after they watched her drag her soaked dress over the sand.

"Y/N, Harald has been taken by the Pechenegs. He convinced them we were dead." Mariam gently took her hand into hers to calm her, knowing the news was going to scare and upset her. "He made sure we were safe to travel along without troubles." She continued and pointed in a certain direction before stroking her hair back, knowing it was tough to realise what happened to her lover.

"I'm not leaving without Harald." She hissed, staring at everyone who still tried to avoid her eye contact. "Are you all seriously considering leaving the prince behind without even trying? He's the one who got us this far. Without him we won't survive a day out there and it won't help us get the men we need from Constantinople."

"Y/N, it might already be too late for Harald." One of the other men whispered.

"No." She shook her head, denying the thought completely. The prince was a survivor, he was alive for sure. "He's not in Valhalla yet, the gods will give him more time."

"If we want to rescue him, we should have a plan first." Leif suggested, but once again she shook her head.

She didn't want to waste time on a stupid plan that was doomed to fail.

It always ended up with improvising eventually so why not do it right away?

"I'm not going to wait until we come up with a pathetic plan." She gathered her weapons they had pulled out of the water earlier and started walking the way Mariam had pointed in as she talked about Harald.

In no way was she going to let him die.

She knew she reacted unreasonable to her friends, but she just wanted her lover back, even if it meant her own journey to Valhalla.

She needed him safe as he would have kept her safe in a situation like this as well.

~~~

Sprinting through the dark trees, avoiding roots and sticks, she eventually found a meadow with the temporary Pecheneg camp. The colors the banners carried didn't mean much to her as she walked right up to the camp.

Was it stupid? Yes. Did she care? No.

Holding up her hands as she dropped her weapons, the men grabbed her by her hair, dragging her across the dusty floor until a man with black hair yelled after them to stop and bring her inside. 'The leader', she assumed since everyone stopped right away and carried her in, legs still dragging over the gravel.

It caused tears on her knees, but she didn't care anymore when her eyes finally landed on those of her lover's.

"Harald." She whispered, so relieved to see him mostly okay.

"Love? What are you doing here?" He looked confused as he eyed her up and down to see if she was mostly doing okay.

"Came to rescue you on my own." She flinched a bit when they forced her on her bleeding knees next to the prince. "Gods...."

"Yes, they're not very respectful and gentle." He watched her, hating the fact that he couldn't hold her hand or help her soothe the pain in her knees.

"Since the prince here survived his torture for the evening." The Khan began, standing up from his bone-made throne to walk up to the woman. "I want to find out what a female viking can endure." He lifted her chin to force her to look at him as a terrible grin crossed his face.

"You leave her alone." Harald growled, trying to get out of the Pechenegs' grip to break the Khan's hand for laying a finger on her.

Even though he knew she could defend herself, touching her even if it was only her chin was a no go for him.

"Torture...?" Y/N watched Harald and suddenly noticed the deep cuts in his chest. "What did they do to you...?"

"It's okay, sæta." He gave her a warm smile. "It'll heal strong again. They can't tear me down that fast."

"Why don't we start with strikes?" The Khan smirked and his men all laughed, immediately agreeing with their leider.

"Strikes...?" She repeated softly, narrowing her eyes as the men suddenly dragged her by her hair to the middle of the room. "Watch it!" She hissed, but of course they couldn't care less and ripped the top of her dress, exposing her to the whole room when it pooled around her waist and her breasts and stomach were bare.

"I will kill you if you hurt her!" Harald growled louder and groaned when they pressed into his cuts with a small hunters knife to silence him.

It didn't stop him however.

Harald instantly managed to grab the tall slender man behind him by his hair despite the pain and pulled him to the floor, taking over control of the knife and planting it into his neck as Y/N was hit by the first whiplash.

It got him absolutely furious.

She was in this mess because he got taken by the Pechenegs in the first place and now they were hurting and scarring her.

Y/N's entire back was bleeding from that one whiplash, but never did she make a sound and she wouldn't continue to do so for the ones to come either. She was going to be strong like Harald. She had to stay strong or he would lose focus and make mistakes.

Quietly watching the prince fight off whatever man came onto him, she could feel another strike hit her back and noticed the thick red blood drip down her sides and legs. Whoever was hitting her was too strong for Harald to take on by himself, but as long as she could keep him busy he would be okay. They could outrun the lasting men if they were being smart about it.

Harald got his hands on a nearby axe after slicing the rope he was tied with and then chopped another warrior's hand off before hurrying to Y/N and picking her up before the man could respond.

It cost him all of his energy to get her away from him and out of the tent, his chest muscles starting to give up and that's where she had to jump in. Carefully getting out of his arms, she supported him to the horses and cut them loose.

"Get up, Harald!" She yelled and he somehow managed to get onto the horse before she climbed on top too, kicking its side to make the horse run off thankfully in time. She couldn't care less what way the animal was running as well, as long as she and Harald were going to be safe and out of the Pechenegs' sight.

"I love you, sæta. Thank you." Harald panted as he rested his body against the Horse's back and neck, tired and in pain.

"I love you more, my prince. Now let's go find our group. Mariam can help us treat our wounds."

#harald sigurdsson #harald x reader #harald hardrada #Vikings #Vikings valhalla #angst #pechenegs rescue #season 2 Vikings #requests open

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sspellmen · 10 months

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Leif and Mariam 🤍

#sam corlett #Hayat Kamille #vikings valhalla

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ivarthebadbitch · 6 months

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vikings valhalla + religion

#vikings valhalla #emma of normandy #freydis eriksdotter #harald sigurdsson #mariam #leif eriksson #jarl haakon #godwin #jarl kare #gifs

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bumblesimagines · 11 months

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Under The Moonlight

Part 15

Request: Yes or No

Officially putting this on hiatus until season 3 comes out!

~~~

Cold.

Why did he feel so cold?

The noises around him sounded muffled and distant. His body moved on its own, swaying and floating... floating? He took in a breath and immediately regretted it as water invaded his mouth and throat. His eyes snapped open. Murky water surrounded him. His legs began kicking wildly under him, fear clutching his chest. His instinct overrode the fear and he looked up, following the light shimmering above him and breaking through the surface. The water continued to drag him as he attempted to stay above water until he reached a shallower part of the river, hands clumsily grabbing onto the smooth rocks under the water. His chest burned and his head ached.

"(Y/N)! (Y/N), are you alright?" He groaned in response, stumbling slightly as he got to his feet, the weight of his drenched clothes pulling him off balance. Hands grabbed his arms to keep him steady and he squinted through the pain, seeing the familiar face of Brigtoc. She seemed fine, just drenched from head to toe. She winced and released him, reaching down to the ends of her cream-colored dress and ripping off a piece.

"The others?"

"I am not sure." She answered, pressing the cloth against his temple. He hissed when it stung and leaned his head back, spotting the red spreading across the cloth.

"Are you two alright?" They turned to look at Batu making his way down the bank toward them with one of the oars in hand. Brigtoc exhaled in relief, shoulders slumping slightly at the sight of him alive and well. Batu swept his gaze around the area and frowned when he couldn't spot the others. His eyes settled on (Y/N)'s temple and he sucked his teeth, leaning forward to look at the injury. "You must've hit your head. Looks like a cut, nothin' serious."

"Good," (Y/N) sighed, taking the cloth from Brigtoc and keeping it pressed against his temple. "Come, we must head back to the falls. Everyone else will likely regroup there."

"The boat couldn't have gotten far either." Batu nodded, tucking the large oar under his armpit and marching forward, occasionally calling out for Kaysan. Their journey downstream led them to Eleana, Kaysan, and Kurya across the river.

"Have you seen the others?" Kaysan asked, standing up from his crouched position beside Kurya. Kurya seemed fine as well, apart from coughing up some water.

"No." Batu crossed the shallow river and dropped the oar on the ground before tossing his arms around his friend and chuckling. (Y/N) followed him, glancing back at Brigtoc when she nearly slipped and fell. The redhead paused for a moment, staring upstream at two figures approaching them.

"Dorn!" She called out and (Y/N) looked over his shoulders, spotting Leif and Dorn. The young girl had her arm around Leif's shoulders and she walked with a visible limp. Batu ran over to them, taking Dorn's other arm and helping them quicken the pace.

"Your head-"

"I'm fine, Eleana." (Y/N) murmured, touching her arm and smiling. With most of the group reunited, they were only missing three members. Cadlin, Mariam, and... Harald. Leif surveyed their surroundings before nodding for everyone to continue their trek downstream in search of the boat and the others. They were able to locate the boat and soon spotted Mariam collecting some rope.

Jogging forward, Leif called out, "Mariam!" The woman turned her head in his direction, a smile breaking out on her face. She stood up and opened her arms, embracing Leif when he got close enough.

"I am fine." She assured, looking over everyone as they gathered before frowning. "But the Pechenegs took Harald. He convinced them we were all dead."

"What colors did they wear?" Kurya asked, a slight panic in his voice.

"Red and white."

"It was not the Khan then. Probably a tribe from the east." Kurya breathed in relief. (Y/N) gazed into the forest and walked forward, spotting the horse tracks. Along with footprints that would turn into streaks and then back into footprints. They were dragging Harald back to their camp. (Y/N) took in a deep breath and turned to look at his brother. Leif nodded at him, securing his axe to his side and stepping forward.

"(Y/N) and I are going to find Harald."

"We'll go with you," Kaysan called.

"No. You are needed here to right the boat." Leif dismissed with a shake of his head. Eleana grabbed a quiver still containing arrows and slipped it around her shoulder. She met the gazes of Brigtoc and Dorn, nodding to the girls and looking back at Leif.

"Then we're going."

"And me too." Kurya chimed in. "I'm the only one who knows their camps. I'm your best hope of surviving."

With the crew divided, Batu handed Dorn his blade and Brigtoc took an axe from the weapon's barrel. Batu and Kaysan stayed behind with Mariam to get the boat water ready. Placing Kurya's hand on his shoulder, Leif set off with the others, following the tracks in the dirt. From the direction they were headed in, (Y/N) deducted the camp near the river had been the ones to take Harald. It seemed small enough but the Pechenegs were ruthless warriors. It didn't take long to find the camp with the sound of loud chatter, horses, and dogs echoing through the trees. Once close, they ducked down and climbed a small hill to observe the camp.

"I smell fire," Kurya whispered.

"There is a camp below us. Eight tents. Many horses and some dogs." Leif described for him.

"It is a raiding camp. Harald would be there. Can you see the Khan's main camp?" Kurya asked and they craned their necks to look past the sparse trees behind the camp. In the distance, they could see the start of a larger camp. More tents, more warriors.

"Yes." (Y/N) breathed, fingers anxiously digging into the dirt.

"(Y/N), Kurya, and I will bargain with the leader for Harald. If they don't bring us horses, it means we failed and they will know that there are others. You must get back to the boat and leave as soon as possible." Leif instructed the girls and took Kurya's hand once more, placing it on his shoulder. But Eleana shook her head.

"We won't leave without everyone."

"When the warlord sees me, he will be required to send for the Khan and my brother will return with many warriors," Kurya told her with a small frown. (Y/N) reached for Eleana's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. She met his gaze and shook her head again, placing her hand over his and wrapping her fingers around his palm.

"You must go if the plan fails. The others will rely on you to get them to Constantinople." (Y/N) spoke softly, lifting his brows at her. Eleana dug her teeth into her bottom lip and sighed in defeat. With the plan fresh on everyone's minds, (Y/N) and the other two men stood up and began heading down to the camp. They kept low to the ground to avoid being spotted, maneuvering through the trees.

"Hey," Kurya called out to them softly. "You must promise me something. The Khan will return with many men and they will catch you if you try to take me with you."

"We didn't come all this way to leave you behind, Kurya," Leif protested quietly.

"But I did." Kurya fished a necklace out of his shirt, holding it up for them to see. It contained a tiny container at the end of it. Realization settled on Leif's features when he noticed it. "Mariam gave this to me. By bringing me this far, you have given me the chance to redeem myself to Ulgen the Allfather of my faith. Now when I die, he will turn my spirit into a bird and I will fly to Ocmah, where my wife has been waiting for me for a long time."

Tucking the necklace back into Kurya's shirt, Leif lightly shook his head. "She's going to have to wait a little longer, my friend." Rising to their feet, (Y/N) slipped his dagger out of his sheath and wrapped his arm around Kurya's shoulders. Pressing the blade gently against Kurya's neck, they moved forward toward the entrance of the camp. The men there spoke in a language (Y/N) couldn't understand but he saw the way their eyes slightly widened at the sight of Kurya. They held their weapons tightly but made no move to stop them as they headed toward the warlord's tent.

And within the tent, (Y/N) saw Harald.

Hooks were impeded into Harald's chest muscles with ropes tied to them, holding Harald up in the air. His hands remained tied behind his back and a light sheen of sweat covered his body. Purple and red-coated Harald's neck, confirming (Y/N)'s suspicions. Harald had been dragged to the camp by rope. The way he'd been strung up nearly made bile rise up in (Y/N)'s throat. Harald panted and heaved, groaning in pain.

"Cut him down or we'll kill him," Leif ordered, widened eyes tearing away from Harald to look at the man sitting on the chair. The warlord held a skull in his hand which he appeared to drink from. The warlord set the skull down and slowly rose from his seat, staring at Kurya with a small sneer. "You know who this is? Do you?"

"This is the brother of the Khan." The warlord murmured.

"He has a bounty on his head, which we are willing to trade to you for the Norse and three horses," Leif explained and (Y/N) pressed the blade against Kurya's throat. The warlord's jaw tightened and he inhaled, nostrils flaring and hands curling into fists. He turned to look at one of his men, speaking in a foreign language before nodding to the other two holding the ropes that kept Harald up. The two men released the ropes and Harald fell down onto his knees with a grunt and pained groan. The first man glared them down, brushing past them and leaving the tent. The ropes were cut from Harald's hands and the hooks pulled out of his skin. Harald leaned over in pain and staggered onto his feet, blood seeping down from the holes in his chest.

"Never felt better." Harald strained quietly, attempting to be reassuring.

"Now, the horses." Leif turned back to the warlord but then swords pressed against his and (Y/N)'s necks, forcing (Y/N) to remove his dagger from Kurya's neck. The warlord smirked at them and slowly clapped his hands as laughter spread through the tent. (Y/N)'s arms were suddenly restrained, causing the dagger to fall to the ground with a clatter. The three were dragged out of the tent and toward some thin logs. (Y/N) was placed behind one of the sets, his legs kicked out from under him and arms pulled out to each side of him. His wrists were tightly bound and he looked out at Harald and Leif as the same was done to them.

"I hope you have another plan." Harald breathed, gaze flickering between the two brothers. The warlord stepped out from his tent, holding (Y/N)'s dagger in his hands. He inspected the blade thoroughly, the smirk still present on his face. He strode toward the middle and spoke out in his language. Whatever he said earned him some laughter and he smirked at the men, pointing the dagger at Harald then Leif, and then (Y/N). His smirk only widened and a man roughly pulled up the back of (Y/N)'s shirt. The warlord moved around (Y/N) and hummed quietly, dragging the tip of his sword softly across his skin.

"Let's see how sharp this blade of yours is, Viking."

The fire crackled loudly but through his tears, it only looked like a blur. The disgusting cackle of the Christian echoed in his ears, sending a shiver of fear down his back. His small hands bundled up the ends of his shirt and he stood up, stumbling around a bit. He had to run. He had to find his mother. (Y/N) didn't get a chance to step forward before a foot slammed against his back, sending him falling onto the grass. A soft grunt escaped him and he winced at the aching. Moving onto his back, he looked up at the Christian with wide eyes, soft sobs escaping him and making his shoulders shake.

"Pagan filth." The man sneered, slipping his sword out of its sheath. The tip of the blade pressed lightly against his forehead and he squeezed his eyes shut, praying that Allfather would allow him into Valhalla where he could wait for his mother. The pressure of the blade disappeared and he dared open his eyes. "I ought to teach you a lesson, boy." The man spat and he pressed the blade down into (Y/N) shoulder. Pain erupted through his body, only intensifying when the sword dragged down his chest. The tears spilled freely down his skin, incoherent pleas and babbles escaping his cracked lips. The pain wrapped around him like a snake, constricting him more and more until he could hardly breathe. Black spots began filling his vision but he was able to see the moment his attacker bled and his mother's soothing voice filled his ears.

He could still see it just as vividly as the day it happened. His home burning mere feet from him. He could still feel the warmth of the fire and how the smoke rose so high in the air he wondered which of the neighboring villages could see it. When the blade pierced into his back, he only shakily exhaled. His scar ached and burned with the memory. A memory he had tried so hard to bury. His fingers wrapped around the rope keeping him still, wrists wriggling wildly to get free. His teeth grinded together and his eyes squeezed shut, taking in deep breaths. He tried to ignore how the laughter of the warlord mixed with the echo of the Christian. Harald and Leif both squirmed in their restraints, sneering at the warlord and hurling insults but the warlord continued, slicing lines into (Y/N)'s back.

Until an arrow whizzed past his head and buried itself into a tent, the fire on its tips spreading rapidly. Another arrow flew by, hitting and covering another tent in flames. (Y/N) felt the rope burn into his wrists but he continued wriggling them until he slipped free from the restraints. Kicking out his foot, he hit the ankle of the panicked warlord, causing him to lose his footing and drop the dagger. (Y/N) didn't think twice before grabbing his dagger and forcing the warlord on his back. Lifting the dagger, he brought it down on the warlord's head repeatedly as chaos spread throughout the camp. Frightened horses ran wild, running over Pechenegs and disappearing into the forest. Eleana rode in on one, shooting arrows at any Pechenge that charged at her while Brigtoc and Dorn freed Leif and Harald.

"(Y/N), come on!" Leif called, freeing Kurya from his restraints but his words went in one ear and out the other. (Y/N) felt the blood spray on his face and clothes but didn't stop, even when the warlord became unrecognizable. It was only when strong arms wrapped around him and pulled him off the warlord that he finally saw something other than his attacker and his destroyed home. Harald heaved in pain, pulling (Y/N) along to a horse. (Y/N) panted softly and sheathed his dagger, noticing his stained hands as he got on the back of the horse. His arms tiredly wrapped around Harald's waist, face burying into Harald's back.

The horses raced through the forest and back to the boat where Batu and Kaysan had gotten it upright again. But it still needed to be pushed off the shallow bank. Brigtoc and Dorn slipped off their horses and raced over to help them. Eleana got off her horse and turned around, helping (Y/N) and Harald get off their horse. They immediately went toward the boat when Leif shouted that the Khan had followed them, helping push against it despite the pain. (Y/N)'s mind felt fuzzy and jumbled but he still pressed his wet hands against the boat and pushed, waves of stinging and pain shooting down his back.

"Kurya!" Dorn screamed for the man and (Y/N) looked over his shoulder, spotting him turn and walk back in the direction of the Khan. Despite everyone's protests, Kurya continued and disappeared into the forest. After more pushing, the boat finally slipped into deep enough water to float. Harald immediately wrapped his arms around (Y/N) and lifted him up, grunting when his wounds were pressed against. (Y/N) climbed into the boat and whimpered. With the adrenaline fading, (Y/N) now had to face a new world of pain. Everyone else scrambled to get on board and into positions, using the oars to push the boat further out. (Y/N) slumped down at the front, leaning against the side of the boat and gazing out into the forest for any sign of Kurya. Screams of agony came from the forest, but the voice sounded deeper than Kurya's.

"Oh, my love. My sweet love." Harald whispered quietly over the sound of instructions being shouted. His hand cupped (Y/N)'s face, wiping away at the blood and tears. He gently pushed (Y/N)'s head onto his shoulder, feeling (Y/N) allow himself to go limp against him in exhaustion. Men slipped out of the treeline with Kurya. His wrists were tied and held apart. The men began taking turns slicing and stabbing into Kurya. The crew onboard watched in horror and cried until Leif got a single arrow and took a bow, aiming for Kurya. He released and hit Kurya directly in the heart, giving him a merciful and quick death. The men hollered and shouted in anger but made no move to retaliate against them, letting the boat continue freely down the river.

"We must tend to you." Harald breathed, looking for Mariam. She collected some bandages from the storage and approached them, squeezing the last bits of water out of them. Tearing part of his shirt, Harald lifted the back of (Y/N)'s shirt and gently dabbed at the cuts, murmuring apologies and words of comfort.

"Harald, you are hurt as well." (Y/N) reminded him, taking Harald's hand and slipping the cloth from his fingers. Eleana approached them, taking a sit beside (Y/N) and getting some cloth for herself.

"You tend to Harald and I'll tend to you." She proposed, continuing to clean the cuts. (Y/N) winced slightly and turned to Harald, focusing on the four wounds on his chest. Once the cuts were cleaned up, Eleana carefully wrapped them around (Y/N)'s waist and chest before pressing a fleeting kiss to his shoulder and standing up. Harald watched her return to her seat, grimacing when (Y/N) ran a finger over one of the wounds.

"You should have left when you had the chance. You wouldn't be hurt." Harald murmured. "It's my fault. You shouldn't have come back for me."

"You are the reason we came, Harald."

"You could have gone on without me... You could have gone home." Harald winced and inhaled deeply, one hand coming to rest on (Y/N) hip while the other took the hand (Y/N) used to clean his wounds.

Smiling tiredly, (Y/N) gazed into Harald's eyes. "I care about you a great deal. You are part of my home. You are part of my heart. I would never leave you for dead."

➸ ➸ ➸ ➸ ➸ ➸

The passing days on the boat had allowed for Harald and (Y/N)'s wounds to slowly heal. The mood, however, remained somber. Kaysan had revealed not long after they escaped that they had found Cadlin's body after getting the boat upright. She'd likely been pinned under it and drowned. The news had devastated Dorn and Brigtoc, rendering them silent the following days. Mariam's condition had worsened as well. She coughed more often, her body trembled more noticeably, and she could hardly walk without help. The necklace she'd given Kurya had been meant for her to use on herself once the pain from her illness became unbearable. Still, she smiled and acted as if all were well. Leif tended to her frequently, keeping her warm with coats and comforting her. He hoped she'd be able to manage the last two remaining days left of their trip before they reached Constantinople.

They chose to stop at a beach nestled between two mountains. Further up the beach were stairs that led up onto the mountains where ruins stood. Stone pillars and floors. Mariam claimed it was the Pontic Olbia, a place that had once been sacred to the Greeks. (Y/N) found the ruins fascinating to look at while setting up camp. The stories Mariam told of Constantinople and the other places she had visited made them sound like tales his mother would tell him. Despite her death looming over them, Mariam told her stories with a smile and spoke of how she'd show them around Constantinople.

(Y/N) settled down as night fell and stories were exchanged over the fire. Batu told stories of his and Kaysan's adventures and close calls as con artists, most of which got a laugh out of everyone. (Y/N) found himself leaning against Harald, chuckling softly. Harald smiled, slipping his arm loosely around (Y/N)'s waist and nuzzling his nose against (Y/N)'s temple. The laughter slowly faded when they caught the pained look that appeared on Mariam's face. She smiled sadly, her eyes glittering with tears.

"I am sorry." She said faintly. "It is finally my time." She breathed. Her words brought a quietness to the air and for a moment, nobody moved or spoke. Batu inhaled deeply, gazing into the fire before standing up and walking forward toward her. He crouched down beside her and took her hand, sniffling softly.

"I miss you already." He whispered and she chuckled softly, giving his hand a comforting squeeze. When Batu stepped back, Brigtoc and Dorn moved closer, taking Mariam's hand and speaking softly to her. When it was Eleana's turn, Mariam leaned forward and sweetly cupped her face, smiling at her.

"You have a difficult road ahead."

"Help me, please." Eleana pleaded quietly, leaning into Mariam's touch.

"I cannot advise you. But your heart will." Mariam cooed, tucking strands of blonde hair behind Eleana's ear. Eleana pressed her forehead against Mariam's, wiping away her tears and leaning back. (Y/N) and Harald stood up, helping Mariam to her feet. She winced and wobbled slightly, holding tightly onto their arms.

"Thank you for everything, Mariam." (Y/N) said, smiling back at her.

"Remember what I told you, (Y/N)." Mariam touched his cheek, rubbing his skin with her thumb before looking at Harald. "Take care of these two for me. Please."

"Always," Harald assured and Leif scooped Mariam into his arms. She bid everyone one last goodbye and curled up in Leif's arms, resting her head against his shoulder as he walked into the forest to have one last private moment with his lover before her death. (Y/N) watched them disappear into the forest with a heaviness in his heart. Harald rubbed his back and offered a sad smile. "At least she spent her final moments surrounded by love."

"Yes..." (Y/N) let out a shakey sigh and sat back down, leaning back on the blankets on the ground and staring up at the stars in the night. Harald lied down beside him and looked up at the stars as well, his fingers finding (Y/N)'s and hooking around them. (Y/N) tilted his head to look at him, giving Harald's hand a gentle squeeze. Harald's lips twitched upward and he hummed softly, gazing back at the Greenlander.

"We always seem to find ourselves together like this... under the moonlight, don't we?" Releasing his hand, Harald reached over to touch his cheek and stroke it, a warm smile settling on his features. "I want to stay like this by your side... forever."

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