Until the bitter end
Chapter four
Warnings: Mostly angst. A lot of angst. Dark Halfdan makes an appearance. Harald also comes into play.
Song mood and This one
Disclaimer: gif isn't mine, it belongs to
Then
The great hall roared with noise. Mugs clanging together, children screaming and laughing as they ran around and so many voices intermingling. It was a festive night so all were merry. A couple that you knew had married, the woman being one of your longtime friends and sparring partners.
You lovingly looked on as the mentioned couple made a toast. A hearty round of "Skol!" Being echoed around the large room. Your mug was raised as the words cheered from your lips, a wide smile on your face.
The hall was decorated for the occasion, king Harald had generously lent his finest and most savvy slaves to help. Garlands of fir dangled from the ceiling rafters. Fur pelts lay on the tables as covers. Candles were placed everywhere to give the place a more cheery atmosphere.
The ceremony had been simple and small but the love that radiated off of the pair was the secret to a perfect wedding. Idunn was a picturesque bride with long flowing auburn hair and bright blue eyes. Her new husband, Ulf, was a fantastically tall, wide, beast of a man. His light brown hair was cut short but the long beard that grew from his face complimented such short locks.
Halfdan had been with you at the ceremony, looking utterly ravishing in his black tunic and breeches, a light color of fur had hung from his shoulders. He wasn't that into it but had agreed to accompany you nevertheless. Where he was now though you hadn't a clue.
"Ah, Y/N!" A deep voice bellowed from across the way, Harald looking to you as he crossed the threshold. You still had some misgivings about the shorter of the brothers, something predatory that rubbed you wrong. But tonight was special, let the king be jolly.
"Hello, king Harald." You smile to the man, tipping your mug to his when he reaches your side. "This is quite the party." You commend and he beams with pride, "It was the least I could do. Please though, tonight at least we can drop the titles." Harald's hand takes yours and brings it to his lips, beard and mustache scratching the skin lightly. "If that is what you wish, Harald." You nod and he lets your hand go, dropping it back to rest on your side.
"Perchance have you seen Halfdan?" He had been missing since the end of the ceremony and you knew he was off with Bjorn. As much as you enjoyed Bjorn's company and respected him as a warrior, you also knew that where he went women followed.
Harald, not caring anyways, looks around, "Well he isn't here." The king says stating the obvious, completely drunk. You bite the inside of your cheek before excusing yourself. Harald makes a show of bowing to you as you take your leave.
Outside the sun is setting fully and you grab your gown and take it up over your ankles, descending the steps. Everywhere you look neither viking can be found until one woman points to a small house. "I saw them enter there." She points a gnarly finger in that direction.
Before you even step foot inside you can here Halfdan's unmistakable moans, the usual sling of curses and a smack. Jealousy wasn't in your bag but you were sick of the sneaking. Sick of the lies. Sick of him.
You fling the door open to discover not just Halfdan, but Bjorn as well, balls deep in two slave women. Both men turn and Halfdan barely stops rutting the woman from behind, his fingers tangled in her mess of brown hair. The women, of course, were not to blame. Had they said no would have been unfortunate for their fate. You wanted to blame Bjorn but Halfdan was a free man. What he chose to do was entirely up to only to himself.
"Alright." You state, nodding your head solemnly. Turning on your heel you leave, already plotting your next move. It was a dangerous option but it was time to pull out all the stops. Give Halfdan a dose of his own nasty medicine.
---------- Later ---------
Halfdan steps into the great hall in a much more casual outfit than he had worn to the wedding. A simple loose fitting beige tunic covers his upper body, light grey pants on the lower half. He's all smiles and content while he grasps hands with guests, joining in the merriment.
From up where you're sitting you can see him, your attention falling back to the man whose lap you're sitting on. Harald's eyes shine up at your face as his hand rests on the very lowest part of your back, two fingers toying with the red fabric of your gown. He's even more lively now that he has you.
For a split second Halfdan doesn't register what he sees. A slave woman was one thing but for your revenge to be so intimately close to his brother stabs him sharply in the back. His hands curl into fists and his head cocks to the side.
Harald spots Halfdan at that particular point and the king looks at you, his hand squeezing your back as if to protect you, or claim you. "I know he's there." You offer lightly and Harald isn't sure whether to be amused, turned on or mad. His head is too foggy to consider any option, but he does know he'd been played.
Halfdan watches the two of you talking and once you begin to laugh after a whisper into your ear from Harald, he snaps. Beginning the walk towards you, Harald keeps his head in your direction but his eyes are darting back and forth from you to his brother. The game you're playing is a twisted one of cat and mouse.
"Y/N." Harald warns as Halfdan gets closer, by this point pushing people out of his way. The mood in the room changes quickly, voices quieting. The bride and groom's smiles falter as they watch Halfdan reach you.
"Halfdan-" you begin but immediately you're taken from Harald's lap. The younger brother simply throws you over his shoulder, your drink spilling on your gown as he lifts you. Harald grinds his teeth as Halfdan again claims what the king thinks is his prize. You were his tonight, he was banking on it. How did his younger brother continue to win you over?
People part like the sea and only then does Bjorn make his appearance. "Halfdan, what do you think you are doing with Y/N?" He asks but Halfdan pushes past the tall blonde and doesn't stop until he's taken you outside.
Far from the comforts of the great hall he finally sets you down. You had been slamming your fists onto his back the entire way, not liking the grip he had on you.
"And just what the hell was that, Y/N?" Halfdan is seething, an absolute bomb ready to go off. His breathing is rapid and his eyes are pure anger. You feel small then but you refuse to back down. He continues, voice raising, "Acting like a common whore! With my own brother!" His fist pounds into his chest with the last statement. He's in your face and you're unsure of what his next possible action could be.
Taking a step back you grit your teeth. "So you can fuck whoever pleases you. Whenever it pleases you. You can sneak behind my back, but me? I'm the whore? And a common one at that!" Your hand goes to your chest, placing it on your heart, "When all I did was sit with him, I'm the whore?"
Nodding his head Halfdan laughs sickeningly. "You are common. A slave woman means nothing, a quick fuck and that's all, but to run straight to my brother? I thought I knew you to be better than that. I thought you were better than that."
"And I thought you had a brain!" You scream, "I give myself to you night and day but still you sleep around! You, Halfdan. It is you who's the common whore!" Your finger pokes into his chest, pushing him back with what little strength you held in a single digit.
His hand flies up and you're almost sure it's going to connect with your cheek and you're ready. Ready to kill him should one finger even graze your face. Halfdan had never put a hand on you like that before but tonight you weren't sure what else he was capable of.
Then he lowers his hand and looks up. Sucking his tongue to his teeth he then yells to the gods. A shout so loud it startles you and you fall back even further. The veins in his neck pop out with the effort and you're scared.
"Y/N." Halfdan finally says after his outburst, looking at you with wet eyes. "My brother?" His voice is a hoarse whisper.
Only then does the gravity of his feelings hit you. You wanted Halfdan to hurt and your mission was successful. Now you feel the weight of your decisions and only now do you see a single tear shed from his eyes.
"Nothing even happened, Halfdan." You mutter, not wanting his tears to sway you over.
"Y/N..." His voice breaks and he takes your face into his hands, resting his smooth forehead against you own. "You do know I love you, right?" He is crying silently. You shake your head, his hands moving with it, "No actually. I don't know."
Eyes closing, Halfdan shudders before he steps back, more vulnerable than you had ever seen him. Wiping his nose on his sleeve, a sad laugh slips out. He shrugs his shoulders and pats his thighs. "Y/N," he takes your hand, "I love you. More than there are stars in the sky. More than grains of sand on a beach. I'm not my brother, I'm not charming or open to others like he is. But this?" Halfdan places your hand on his chest, "This is for you and only you."
You swallow hard and meet his eyes, sighing deeply. You had both been wrong tonight, both of you failing the tests the gods had given. Halfdan had never said "I love you", he just assumed you would know. Harald had been right all along, his brother was horrible with women.
"Please... say it back." Halfdan pleads with you and you can no longer take seeing him cry. In fact, tonight was the first time he ever had around you. An emotional virginity had been broken. That cherry had popped.
"Halfdan the Black you are terrible," you begin, statement not yet finished and his shoulders shake more. "Terrible at sneaking. Terrible at lying. Harald may be right about many things he says about you..."
"But...?" Hope returns to his eyes and he takes you into his arms, kissing the top of your head as a hand smoothes your hair down.
"But nothing you oaf, I love you."
In the background, far enough away, Harald watched the scene unfold before him.
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Tags: @naaladareia
