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There’s a storm coming tonight (Alfhildr/Urd/Tore)

Fandom: Beforeigners

Timeperiod: Viking Age

Rating: General

Summary: On a stormy evening in 1019 Alfhildr, Urd and Tore are getting ready to seek cover for the night. Cuddling, bickering and Olaf bashing ensue

Warnings: Some swearing, mention of battles

Words: ~1300

AO3

There would be a storm later that night. It wasn’t visible yet in the clear air of evening dawn and the mirroring surface of the sea, but everyone in the village could feel it. They were trained in storm sensing after all. You didn’t survive at sea if you couldn’t tell the wind and waves approaching from miles away. They were also well versed in storm enduring, not every battle fought was one with swords and spears. Sometimes facing the natural forces was the battlefield the most warriors died on.

So, naturally, they had been preparing. The whole day they had been securing the ships at the docks, bringing the food and cattle to safe places that would stay dry when everything else was soaked already. Now they just had to barricade doors and windows, huddle together and hope for the best. There wasn’t anything else that could be done.

Therefore, Alfhildr had decided to take a short breather, walk out on the dock as long as it was still possible, look over the treacherously silent sea. She was surprisingly calm, despite Tore’s nervousness. Tore didn’t care for being at land, much more at home on the sea and he would have preferred to face Thor’s rage out there in the open instead of in their tiny houses on the shore.

“You can’t swim in a storm if you’re no boat” he had said to Alfhildr this afternoon when they had been manoeuvring the goats into the barn that stood a little higher than the rest. He had looked so grumpy it had almost been adorable if not for the real concern in his voice. “One big enough wave and we’re all gone.”

Alfhildr knew he was right, but she also knew they were no safer on their boat. At least on land you could run; on the water, you were sitting ducks for the big wave. But then, she had always been more of a land lass. Despite being a Viking with heart and soul, the sea had always scared her a bit. She loved her-who didn’t love the sea?- but she preferred to watch her from afar, not to get too close to those lighter spots that would whisper to her, call her to dive in, travel to a promised land. Whispers that she could only assume were the works of the death gods.

No, it was better to stay on land, safely away, watch the sea respectfully and feel it watch her back in waiting. Maybe this was why she was calm now, when the sea was preparing for an attack, because she always believed it to be and it felt good to have a reason for her suspicion for once.

The lighter spots shone especially bright tonight, bright enough that you could see them from the docks and Alfhildr wondered shortly if she should consider them a sign. She had just forced her gaze away from the glimmering watery surface up to the sky where the last birds were returning to shore, when strong arms wrapped around her from behind.

“Look at that: Enginnsdóttir lazing around while everybody’s trying to keep her safe from the storm” Urd drawled, pulling Alfhildr against her chest and putting her chin on her shoulder. “We should make you pay, maybe you can be on cooking duty tonight.”

She pressed a couple of light kisses against her neck while Alfhildr laughed and relaxed against her.

“You can talk” she shot back, covering Urds hands on her belly with her own, “When you’ve spent the day ogling Tore instead of helping.”

“Well, you weren’t ogling back” Urd complained, nuzzling against her shoulder, “Tore at least shot me a smile once in a while.”

“He did?” Alfhildr asked genuinely surprised. “He seemed so tense the whole day.”

“Mhmh” Urd hummed, “I’m good at relaxing people. Tell you what, I probably did more for our safety today by keeping Tore happy than you with your hard work and strategic planning.”

This made Alfhildr laugh again. “You’re a menace.”

“You love it” Urd claimed and Alfhildr could feel her smile against her back.

“Yes, I do” she murmured, interlacing their fingers. Both of their hands were rough from the work of the day and wrinkly from being dipped in the water while fastening boats and sails.

Urd put her chin onto her shoulder again, staring out onto the sea. “So, what do you see out there Enginnsdóttir?”

“Thor preparing to strike us down” she answered, gesturing to the clouds that had started gathering at the horizon. It was only a matter of minutes now before the storm would rise.

“Oh yeah?” Urd chuckled, “He can try.”

“Tore thinks he has a chance” Alfhildr murmured.

“Tore worries too much” Urd answered, swaying her lightly in the up-picking wind. “I just hope Thor will hit that idiot Olaf worse than us. I even made an offering earlier to sway him.”

“I doubt Olaf even knows how to predict a storm” Alfhildr mused and Urd laughed.

“I bet it’ll hit him unexpectedly and topple over his cute little army” she scoffed. “That would be a laugh.”

“That might be the only chance we have at beating him” Tore chimed in, appearing stealthily on Alfhildrs right side. He was looking grim and Alfhildr could basically hear Urd roll her eyes.

“Cheer up, Tore Hund” she said, twisting one of her hands free from Alfhildr’s grasp to patronisingly pat his beard. He glared at her. “We’ll brace the storm, Olaf will take a hit and in the next battle we will kick his arse.”

“Urd’s right” Alfhildr agreed, reaching for his sleeve to pull him closer, “We will make it through this. The storm and that nitwit Christian.”

She wrapped her hand around his arm tightly, smiling at him and could visibly see how some tension left his face.

“Thank you” he murmured, pressing two gentle kisses against their heads. “What would I do without you?”

“Be utterly lost and make your own dinner” Urd commented, letting go of Alfhildr and grasping Tore’s free hand instead to pull both of them with her towards the shore. “But you’re in luck tonight because Enginnsdóttir has agreed to cook.”

“I have not” Alfhildr snorted, following the two of them down the dock. The wind had picked up quite a bit, almost carrying them towards the dry land. It had started to get dark and most of the Vikings had left the pier, retreating into their houses. “In fact, I made dinner yesterday, so one of the two of you will have to provide.”

“Okay, sorry, Tore” Urd shrugged, “You will have to make dinner tonight.”

“I have been working hard all day” Tore grumbled, “While you were busy flirting at me. I think you can do the work for once.”

“You weren’t complaining earlier” Urd purred.

“And I won’t complain now if you do the cooking.”

“Maybe we can draw matches.”

“Maybe you can stop being lazy for once.”

“I’m not lazy, I’m resourceful with my efforts.”

“Lazy.”

“Grumpy.”

Alfhildr tuned out on their bickering, letting her gaze wander over the quiet village. It was almost peaceful now, safe for her squabbling partners and the wind, rushing through the grass.

She felt the first drops of rain landing on her skin and Tore’s warm hand in hers. Heard the howling of the wind increase and drown out the affectionate insults Urd was shooting at them. Saw the dark, bulky clouds gather over their heads, right before they entered their house, shutting the storm out. And knew that, whatever might happen that night, they were ready. Because they were together and that was all that mattered.

Thank you so much for reading!

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