Chapter Five

                                    

                                          
Your sisters danced and whooped around you as you all drank and laughed. Hvitserk watched you from his seat beside his brother, enjoying the happiness that flowed from you. Something rarely, if ever, spared for him.

                          
The music thumped through the ground and vibrated on the air, your whole body losing all resistance to the almost hypnotic rhythm. When you feet started to ache you went in search of more to drink.
                          
"You look like you're having fun." Bard muttered as you leant against the wall and sipped at your drink.
                          
"Should I not indulge in enjoying the festivities?" You quipped back with a smirk.
                          
"So you want to indulge yourself?" He asked as he stepped closer, one hand leaning against the wall and the other resting on your hip.
                          
"There are many things I want to indulge in that I cannot." You sighed and he smiled slightly.
                          
Hvitserk jogged round the corner with a laugh, having watched Ubbe trying to drunkenly handle three girls. His smile fell from his face as he watched Bard kiss you, his hands touching you in the way Hvitserk's craved to.
                          
The kiss deepened and Hvitserk found himself unable to look away. "Hvitserk!" Ubbe slurred as he looked for his brother. He hurried back to Ubbe who frowned and glanced over to where he saw you pushing away Bard.
                          
"I do not.... Why did I think she would love me, want to be with me?" Hvitserk asked but Ubbe was unable to find some sober part of him to put two and two together. It didn't occur to him that Hvitserk had seen you and Bard but not seen you pushing him away.
                          


                          
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"How did you find the celebration?" Ubbe asked as you walked back from your parents home to your own to find Ubbe and Hvitserk eating breakfast.
                          
"It was was...enjoyable." You muttered awkwardly as you sat down, accepting a bowl Hvitserk handed you.
                          
"How was Barred?" Hvitserk's eyes watched your every move.
                          
"He is well." You muttered without looking up from your food.
                          
"The two of you seemed to be enjoying yourselves, I was surprised that you did not want to spend the night with him." Hvitserk snapped and glared at you.
                          
"Is this what you do now, spy on people?" You asked and he rolled his eyes while Ubbe stayed silent.
                          
"Is it spying when it is my wife and another man I am watching?" Hvitserk snapped and slammed his hand on the table in an uncharacteristic outburst.
                          
"YES! I may be your wife Hvitserk but you do not own me and I do not love you, you can not just will away feelings I have for Bard when I was forced to marry you!" You shouted across the table.
                          
You flinch when he stood abruptly looking completely serious with you. Before you could question him he stormed out, slamming the cabin door as he weant.
                          
"Why not tell him you turned Bard away?" Ubbe asked as you stared into your bowl.
                          
"What good would it do?" You sighed grumpily.
                          
"Ease his heart, It would certainly lighten his mood to know you care for him... we both know it's more than Bard. You're growing fond of Hvitserk." Ubbe chuckled when you rolled your eyes.
                          
"I am not!" You objected and Ubbe nodded.
                          
"Keep pretending you do not like him, but at some point the gods will force you to admit it." Ubbe grinned as he stood. "I have to go but you should talk with Hvitserk.