𝑴𝑨𝑵𝑵𝑨-𝑯𝑬𝑰𝑴

dependent blog for ninerealmshq. by maric.

[konvngr]

veidhimadhur​

eirik speaks before she can, making her pause and blink instead of launching into her usual routine of caring for him.  she recovers quickly, moving to take his hands and pull him further into the room, towards the bed and the fire.  “need to talk indeed,” she replies, stopping and turning to face him.  ever the forthright woman who hated small talk and niceties, she immediately sets about pushing his cloak off his shoulders.  “as long as you end this conversation with a belly full of food and i’ve tucked you in so you can sleep,” she states.  it’s easy for her to be blunt.  pretend like her worry over him isn’t eating her alive.  “do you want to go first, or shall i?” she asks, finally meeting his eyes.

he follows where she leads, sitting as she commands it. how could he deny her when he knows he is about to break her heart?

“I WILL EAT. AND SLEEP. YOU WILL HEAR NO ARGUMENT FROM ME.” she pushes his cloak off, and he raises a brow before stripping further. he strips and pulls on clothing for sleep. he will play nice for the time being. he sits and grabs a plate of food from the table. good that all had been pre-prepared.

"I WILL GO FIRST. MY NEWS IS... MOST DIRE, INDEED. AND YOU WILL NOT LIKE IT.” he puts away some of the food before sitting the plate down again. he looks up at her, serious as the grave.

“I WILL BE HEADING FOR THE FRONT LINES. MY CHILD WILL LEAD WHILE I AM GONE. THEY ARE READY FOR IT, AND I... I WILL NOT BE THE KIND OF KING WHO SITS BACK AND LETS HIS WARRIORS FIGHT FOR HIM. I WILL SHED BLOOD AND HAVE MY BLOOD SHED BESIDE THEM. THEIR WOUNDS WILL BE MY WOUNDS. I WILL NOT BE MOVED FROM THIS. IT IS MY DECREE. AS KING.” he hated using his authority. hated it. especially with her.

[konvngr]

veidhimadhur​

“only three times?  what if i wish to wear it more than three times?” he teases, willingly following his wife into their room and to the trunk.  skrymir loves his wife so much, and it shows in his eyes when he lights up upon seeing the sweater.  “oh, my love, but i cannot tell you how much i love it if you want me to lie,” he replies, before sweeping her up in his arms and kissing her with as much love as he can muster.  “would you prefer me to follow the first or second directive, my dear gnissa?  tell me, and i shall follow, for you have full command of my heart.” 

“THEN, YOU MAY. I SUPPOSE I CAN ALLOW IT.” she laughs as he expresses his love over the sweater, allowing him to sweep her up. the most magnificent feeling lights up in her soul when he holds her. when he kisses her. her smile only grows wider with each kiss and kind word.

“TELL ME HOW MUCH YOU LOVE ME, FOR I NEVER TIRE OF HEARING IT.” she returns every kiss, every word of love. she only hopes he can feel how much she adores him.

“I AM GLAD YOU LIKE THE SWEATER THOUGH. EXPECT MORE IN YOUR FUTURE.” she will fill his wardrobe with hand made gifts.

[konvngr]

hcppinn​

“my apologies, gnissa.”  he rolls his shoulders back as a sigh falls from parted lips, rage dissipating and falling back to the pit of his stomach once more.

a moment passes between them before he shakes his head, brows furrowing. “i can’t abandon my people, not now. and my leaving could cause you all more danger anyway, the humans are determined for my death and i refuse to allow my cowardice to get others killed instead.”

“NO APOLOGY NECESSARY.” she smiles, kind and sweet when he softens.

“IT WOULDN’T BE ABANDONING YOUR PEOPLE. LIVING AND ALLOWING YOURSELF TO REGROUP MIGHT HELP. YOUR MOTHER WOULDN’T WANT YOU GETTING HURT. AND AS SILLY AS THAT MIGHT SEEM, YOU ARE THE HEIR. YOUR SURVIVAL IN ALL OF THIS IS IMPORTANT.”

she goes to him, slow and sure. she places a hand, small but powerful, on his shoulder. “WE ARE ALWAYS IN DANGER. AS LONG AS THE WORLD CONTINUES TO EXIST. AS LONG AS WE MAY MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS. YOUR PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS BE IN DANGER. AND HELPING THEM... PULLING THEM OUT OF DANGER DOES NOT ALWAYS LOOK THE WAY WE THINK IT DOES.”

she ducks her head. “STILL, THIS IS ONLY ADVICE. AND AS A FUTURE RULER, I WOULD ADVISE YOU,” she laughs; “— NOT TO TAKE EVERY PIECE YOU HEAR. NOT ALL WHO OFFER ADVICE ARE SINCERE. HOWEVER, TRUST THAT I WILL ALWAYS BE SINCERE WITH YOU. I LOVE YOUR MOTHER. I WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR THESE PEOPLE — YOUR PEOPLE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”

[konvngr]

hcppinn​

open starter          -          Giant’s base camp, exterior

        He was falling deeper into the despair of his mind, the guilt ate away at his jovial attitude leaving behind the husk of anger and frustration, which he was currently using to fuel his aim as he throws the handaxes towards a group of marked trees. The sweat on his brow shone under the midday sun as a grunt passes his lips, an axe slipping from his grasp and pinning to the log of a tree. Narrowly missing a passer.

          “If you wanted me to amputate your limbs, you could’a just asked.” It sounded more of a threat than a joke as he huffs, stalking towards the tree to yank out the axes previously thrown. The prince was visibly distressed.

“I’M MORE THAN CAPABLE OF DODGING A FEW HANDAXES.” gnissa smirked and turned to the prince.

“I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU. WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE SIEGE. AND YOUR PART IN IT. I THINK YOU SHOULD GO HOME.”

[konvngr]

hrelling​​

He thinks he sees a flash of silver-like hair as he turns down the hall leading to the training grounds of the Utgard castle. “Thyra?” he blurts out, then immediately dismisses it. Despite living in the palace, he doesn’t like to keep track of court affairs or the jötunns who come and go, but has made it a habit to protect the princess. If Thyra has actually returned, then he would’ve known. Should have known. They were once friends, a long time ago. Some would even mistake them to be siblings, looking at the lack of pigmentation in their hair, and had treated each other as such.

“LEFT. LEFT. ASK HIM TO STEP TO THE LFET.” she is impatient as she walks along the grounds of the castle. she had seen him today. the old friend. the memory from a long time past. memories. thórunn and thyra had played with him. thórunn had been older. not by much. 

she had seen the training grounds. the arrow, launched from a child who had no sense holding a weapon. not lethal, but she did not wish to see him harmed at all. if she could help it.

his voice. his voice! like a lark on the wind! she turned. “DO NOT STAND THERE! STEP TO THE LEFT! NOW!” she marched towards him, prepared to push him if she had to. 

[konvngr]

veidhimadhur​

there was so little cheer in the hall these days.  sága knows part of being king is having to deal with unexpected issues, but seeing eirik have to contend not only with the bloodbath the night of the festival, but now with the siege at alrekstad…she worries about him.  she worries about him getting any sleep, about him eating, about him surviving.  she does what she can.  she has one of his servants call him back to his quarters- it’s late, and he needs his sleep.  so she sits on the edge of his bed and waits for him, picking nervously at a loose thread on her sleeve.

eirik is so tired. he cannot sleep. can barely eat. he is busy. busy busy busy, plotting troop movements. coordinating with the other jarls for his armies. gods, why him? why did it have to be during his rule. could it not have happened during his father’s? eirik would rather he be fighting and dying alongside great warriors, joining them in valhalla.

not making decisions on top of that. for, he did plan to fight. he only waited for the time he would tell sága, for he knew she would attempt to persuide him NOT to. 

he pushed through the door of his room, looking at her. “JUST WHO I NEEDED TO SEE. WE NEED TO TALK.”

[konvngr]

runadottir​

  “i wonder… sometimes if we’re cursed. all of us by something larger to continue this cycle of destruction. how many books are filled with tails of horrid times than books of peaceful times? those pages are brief in a large picture.“ gnissa she felt was safe to hear her words, her mother had so much on her plate she couldn’t bring herself to say the heavy things like this. “she does, but in a different way. in fact i pretty much am being held as far from the battles as possible and i was put on another task… some kind of hopeful distraction i suppose.”

  “well i can never say no to a meal from you.”

“NO, MY DEAR. NOT CURSED. THIS IS SIMPLY THE CYCLE OF LIFE. WE FIGHT. WE DIE. OUR CHILDREN PICK UP OUR MANTLE. IT IS THE WAY OF THINGS, BUT THE WAY OF THINGS CAN ALWAYS BE CHANGED, I THINK.”

gnissa guides the young woman towards the kitchens and begins to gather up what food she can. she might make something of a charcuterie board! some meats and cheeses. some fruit. a vegetable here and there to keep them healthy.

“THEN, I WILL HAVE TO SUGGEST MEALS MORE OFTEN. I DO LOVE TO EAT, AS EVIDENCED BY MY HEAVY STATURE THESE DAYS.” gnissa never minded the extra weight. nor did skrymir. 

[konvngr]

veidhimadhur​

“oh, can they?” she hums teasingly, one thumb tracing the curve of his smile.  “give me one example of how a lover mended a man.”  she knows what he will tell her.  she doesn’t mind.  “perhaps you should what?” the shieldmaiden asks, thumb moving from his lips to stroke his cheek in gentle sweeps.  a sigh.  “i do not know how to calm him.  perhaps taking him under your wing?  unless he would take that as a sign of distrust in his skill.  it’s difficult to say, my love.”

he looks up at her, amazement on his face. “YOU, MY LOVE. YOU HAVE MENDED MY HEART IN WAYS ONLY ONE OTHER EVER COULD.” he sighed but leaned up to kiss her again. “I DON’T KNOW. FORGET THAT I EVER SAY ANYTHING.”

he kisses her one more time before resting his face against her soft neck. “I CAN TRY TAKING HIM UNDER MY WING. NOT TO TEST THE NORNS, BUT THERE IS NO WAY THIS WAR CAN GET WORSE.”

[konvngr]

veidhimadhur​

he kisses her back, one warm hand cupping her cheek as he gazes at his beautiful wife.  how had he been so lucky, to be wed to a woman like her?  “perhaps after my next project,” he teases, wrapping his arms around her waist and swaying with her along to some music he’s remembering from long ago.  “well, then save your four letter words for those things,” he hums, stealing another kiss.  “now tell me.  what have you been up to these days?”

“OH, YOU KNOW. ATTEMPTING TO KEEP TWO KINGDOMS FROM WARRING. I’VE GOTTEN BETTER AT KNITTING.” she pauses.

“SPEAKING OF, I’VE KNITTED YOU A SWEATER. YOU WILL BE FORCED TO WEAR IT ONLY THREE TIMES. THEN YOU MAY THROW IT AWAY AS YOU WISH.” she hums and takes his hand, guiding him back towards their chambers.

this could also serve her well if she wanted time with her husband. then again, she always wanted time with her husband. sweet man that he was.

she leads him to a trunk in their room, opening it and pulling out a dark purple sweater that would no doubt make his eyes pop. “HERE. NOW, LIE TO ME AND TELL ME HOW MUCH YOU LOVE IT.”

[konvngr]

runadottir​

   “i can’t see the win in this as a ruler… i listen to mothers whispers and your words and i struggle to see anyones mindset in this. there will be no victor just death.” runa felt she might have rambled on the subject but there were people trying to state this was for the better, the only solution. it wasn’t. someone simply wanted to fight, didn’t their armies see the needlessness in this?

   “you’re an advisor, that’s a title almost as high as mine. i am sure mother would turn to you before myself, it’s the point of the role.” she stated, unable to help the brief squeeze of gnissa while she stood in her arms.  “fruit trees and desserts? you make my mouth water with such fantasy words.”

“THERE IS NEVER A VICTOR IN WAR, MY DEAR. YOU’RE RIGHT. DEATH IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, TRAGICALLY.”

gnissa takes a look at the young woman, and she nods. “SHE TRUSTS YOU TOO, MY DEAR. BUT I WILL SPEAK TO HER. WORRY NOT.”

then, gnissa nods her head, guiding her back towards the kitchens she knew would have fruit, at the very least. “LET ME FEED YOU THEN. YOU NEED YOUR STRENGTH.”

[konvngr]

“I LOVE YOU. IF IT IS ANY CONSOLATION, I LOVE YOU WITH EVERYTHING IN ME.”

[konvngr]

veidhimadhur​

“i’ll be sure to keep an eye out for any enviers, then,” she replies, settling quickly into his lap and wrapping an arm around his neck to gently stroke through his hair.  sága can see the moment his walls come down, and she leans to press her lips to the top of his head.  “you cannot abandon alrekstad,” she murmurs, still playing with his hair.  “but there’s a balance to be struck between defending your people and destroying another.  perhaps there’s another form of justice prince vakri could face instead of death?”  she sighs.  “but you must calm the new jarl first.  he’s hotheaded, and distraught, and now his land is under attack.”  the shieldmaiden leans back just enough to cup his face in both her hands, tilting his head to meet eyes.  “one step at a time, my love.  only the nornir know where our paths may lead, no one else.”

“THANK YOU, MY LOVE.”

he looks up at her, listening to her words. she is more wise than anyone gives her credit for. he gently rubs her waist, comforted by the sturdiness of her. 

there were a thousand things he could do. if he did make peace, baldr would no doubt throw a fit. and for good reason. if he went to war, there was a very real chance he, and all he loved, would die.

part of him wanted to throw the new jarl in the sea when it was presented that way. “HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST I CALM HIM? HE HAS A LOVER. AND, BY VALHALLA, A LOVER CAN MEND MEN IN WAYS THEY NEVER KNEW.” he gives sága a smile, knowing all she had done for him.

“PERHAPS, I...” but he pauses. perhaps i should make sága my queen. she is more wise than i some days.

[konvngr]

veidhimadhur​

even after the centuries spent together, her laugh still delights him.  especially when he makes her laugh.  “perhaps my next project will be to invent my darling wife a new four letter word,” he teases, reaching up to tap her nose as she tucks against his side.  “oh, my darling, we both know you can’t promise that.  especially when i get excited.”  the memory of a certain…explosive project gone awry in his basement workshop comes to mind.

“PERHAPS YOUR NEXT PROJECT SHOULD BE TAKING YOUR WIFE ON HOLIDAY,” she muses, knowing it’s next to impossible but loving the idea either way. she teasingly nips at his finger before laughing and leaning up to kiss him. it’s a sweet kiss, brief but filled with years of love.

“NO, NO, NO, MY LOVE. I ONLY GET ANGRY AT THE THINGS THAT GET IN YOUR WAY.” she winks. 

[konvngr]

runadottir​

  she felt some relief by the mere sound of gnissas voice, something old and familiar. home was missed after the time away, she never really thought she’d miss it perhaps it was really that she missed the people within it. “i think midgard would see taking vakri as some sort of win…i…i try not to think of what they do with bodies of those that have scorned a family.” runa bobbed her head along with the words from gnissa, wise and honest she always seemed to be. 

   “i will, but i can’t claim the idea, how could i? you are the brilliant one in these halls. although i still hear what i need too, don’t worry over my place.”

“NO DOUBT THEY SEE US AS BARBARIC AS WE SEE THEM, DEAR. I AM SURE THE SIMLARITIES BETWEEN OUR PEOPLE OUTNUMBER OUR DIFFERENCES. I STILL HOLD OUT HOPE THAT OUR SIDES MAY COME TOGETHER. THAT ACCIDENTS CAN BE PUT ASIDE.” a fat chance, though.

“YOU CAN CLAIM THE IDEA. CLAIM THEM, PLEASE. YOU ARE IMPORTANT IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND. I AM MERELY AN ADVISOR.” she smiles and brings runa closer to hug her. she kisses the top of her forehead, affectionate. “WE SHOULD TALK OF HAPPIER THINGS. LIKE FRUIT TREES. AND GOOD DESSERTS.”

[konvngr]

fenrisvlfr​

“If you invent one, let me know. I need something else I can use when I vent to Magnus after a war council.” Laufey takes a long drink from her glass, wishing desperately that it was something stronger than Branhjemme wine. “Gnissa…” She goes uncharacteristically quiet for a moment. “Am I doing the right thing?”

“IS THAT YOUR COMMAND, MY QUEEN?” gnissa teases lightly, winking at laufey before taking a drink of her own wine.

there’s a moment of silence before laufey speaks in the tone that the sorceress knows so well. “I CANNOT KNOW. I DO NOT WANT WAR. NO ONE WANTS WAR. THAT MUCH IS CERTAIN. THERE’S NOT MUCH I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU DON’T ALREADY KNOW.”

she reaches over to touch her friend’s hand. “LISTEN TO YOUR HEART. BUT KNOW THAT COMMON FOLK DO NOT PRAY FOR WAR. THEY PRAY FOR PEACE AND FAT, HAPPY RULERS. IT IS NOT AN EASY CHOICE, AND I DO NOT ENVY YOU.”

[konvngr]

fenrisvlfr​

“Clever, I may have to steal that.” Sirikr’s lopsided smile hides the furtive tension he’s felt ever since crossing the border. Getting around whole platoons of armored jötnar is a little easier when you’re relatively smaller than them, but no less nerve-wracking. “Who knows, there may be plenty of funerals ahead for us all. You’ll always be dressed appropriately.”

“NOT YOURS, THOUGH,” she says quickly, smiling at him and taking his hand. “I’VE SEEN IT. I SAW YOU RETURNING TO ME TOO. I KNEW YOU WOULD BE SAFE. JUST... DON’T GO TO THE RESTROOM TONIGHT. FIND ANOTHER PLACE. THERE WILL BE A PATROL OUT DRINKING, AND I’D HATE TO SEE YOU CHASED AWAY.”

her smile cracks just a touch, nervous only because it was rare she had friends. or people she gave a damn about anymore. sirikr’s presence was a comforting yet terrifying one. “WOULD THAT I COULD GO BACK TO MIDGARD WITH YOU. DO YOU THINK I COULD PASS FOR AN INCREDIBLY TALL HUMAN GIRL?”

[konvngr]

fenrisvlfr​

“Or any compassion at all, it seems.” Bran stands rigidly at attention, hands clasped behind his back. “But… I want to thank you, sire. Your presence and support in the mountains was invaluable. I know my brother appreciates what you did for us, too. And the people in the area haven’t seen any evidence of the worm since.”

“YOU’RE MORE THAN WELCOME, BRAN, MY BOY.” he would do anything for his people, but as his jarl’s got younger and younger... well, he knew his wisdom would be needed more and more. for whatever it was worth.

“I DO NOT THINK IT WILL BE THE LAST THAT WE SEE OF THE BEAST. CREATURES OF FATE HAVE A WAY OF SHOWING UP AGAIN WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT.”