Start the song. It's Løyndomsriss by Wardruna.

***Warning: An animal will be killed in this chapter.***

The snow was thick and heavy as Tyler followed Josva further inland. They'd left the fjord and the village behind them, trekking through snow and wind to reach where Jenna had demanded they go today.

Rasmus was bundled up tightly in both furs and Tyler's arms. Josva was carrying a sheep, ignoring its cries to be released. Einar insisted on carrying a similarly bundled Ellinor, and it was fortunate that he was large for his age. At six years old, he shouldn't have been able to carry the toddler with such ease.

It seemed like ages before they reached a stone altar in the woods. Tyler was amazed that they'd even managed to find it. The trees were knotted up around it, forming something of a natural chapel. Josva had found it easily though.

He set the sheep down atop the altar, tying it there with thick cords that he'd tucked into his leather belt. The sheep squealed fearfully, but Josva didn't seem to notice.

"Set them down," Josva encouraged Tyler and Einar.

They both complied without hesitation. Ellinor immediately toddled over to her papa, wrapping her arms around his leg as she looked up at the sheep. Her eyes were wide with fascination.

"Papa, is he gonna die?" She asked quietly.

Josva stroked her blonde hair softly as he pulled his axe out of his belt. "He is. The gods need him more than we do."

That was enough of an explanation for her. Unlike Saxon children would've been, she was completely at ease with that thought. "The Æsir or the Vanir, Papa?"

"The Æsir," Josva replied patiently. "Odin and Frigg need this sheep so they can keep protecting you, just like they always do."

Einar drew his sister away from Josva so he could actually use his axe. Lifting her up once again, Einar spoke calmly to the youngest Dun child. "Ellinor, we have to be quiet now. The gods need to hear the sheep as he leaves Midgard. Otherwise they will not know where to come to collect him."

She nodded her understanding, resting her head on her brother's shoulder patiently. Rasmus scooted back so he could hug Tyler's leg as he watched his father in mute anticipation. Just like Josva had done with Ellinor, Tyler soothed his fingers through the small boy's dark curls. Rasmus calmed slightly, but didn't release Tyler, or Onkel Tyler, as the little children called him. It had been explained to the Dun children that Tyler wasn't their uncle like Josva's brother was. He was special.

Josva mumbled something before bringing the axe down hard on the sheep's throat, separating the head from the body. Blood poured down the altar, and Josva caught some of it in one hand as it dropped off before walking over to his children.

Einar immediately closed his eyes when his papa got to him, and Tyler didn't have time to wonder why before Josva dipped his fingers in the blood and splashed some of it onto Einar's face, leaving specks of blood clinging to his fair skin and pale eyelashes. His eyes opened when Josva moved on to Ellinor.

"Close your eyes, kitten," he told her softly.

Instantly, the toddler's eyes closed, and she was splashed as well. Her nose scrunched up, but she didn't complain. Then it was Rasmus's turn.

The timid boy hid his face against Tyler's leg. "Papa, I do not want to," he said quietly.

Josva smiled softly. "It will only take a second, Rasmus. I need you to be brave. The gods will protect you if you let me do this. Can you be brave for just a second so you will not have to be scared later?"

Rasmus shook his head, clinging to Tyler. Tyler and Josva glanced at each other before Tyler carefully crouched down to look Rasmus in the eye.

"What are you scared of?" He asked Rasmus in English, allowing the small boy to confess his fears without having to tell them to his father as well.

Rasmus looked nervously at Josva before meeting Tyler's eyes. "I do not want to be dirty."

Tyler smiled at that. "No?" The small boy shook his head. "What if I promise you that when we get home, you can take a warm bath and get clean again?"

The small boy considered that. "Okay." He reached his hands up to Tyler, and the man picked him up easily. After one more encouraging smile from Tyler, he turned his face to his father and closed his eyes.

"Ready?" Josva asked in Danish, and the small boy nodded.

Rasmus didn't flinch as the blood splattered across his gentle face. Tyler wondered if that was part of the tradition for a sacrifice though. Maybe it wouldn't work if you flinched, sort of like how you couldn't enter Valhalla if you showed weakness before death.

"Good job," Tyler told Rasmus in English, and the small boy smiled before resting his head on Tyler's shoulder.

"Tak," he whispered, reestablishing the habit of speaking Danish when they were all here together. [Thank you.]

Josva washed the blood off of his hands in the snow, but didn't wash his children's faces. Tyler wondered if he'd made a promise he couldn't keep to Rasmus. Did the blood have to stay on? He wasn't sure.

He watched quietly as Josva removed the cords from around the sheep's feet, but didn't move the creature. Instead, he went to Einar and took Ellinor carefully into his arms. She seemed content to be held by her father, still not fazed by the blood on her face.

Josva smiled at Tyler then. "We must get them home," he decided. "Jenna will want to see the blood before she will let this fight end for certain."

Tyler smiled. "You didn't end it last night after I fell asleep?"

The Viking chuckled as he started off for the village again, taking Einar's hand in the one he wasn't using to hold his daughter. "No, my love. Not yet."

Tyler smiled as he followed Josva, bouncing Rasmus just enough to make him smile. The small boy beamed at him before allowing himself to be moved to Tyler's back. He rested his chin atop Tyler's shoulder.

"I love you, Onkel Tyler," Rasmus told him quietly.

Tyler smiled. "I love you too, Rasmus."

Josva smiled back at them fondly. Tyler smiled back easily. He really had grown to love this family, and he was grateful to be a part of it.

"Papa?" Rasmus asked.

"Yes, my little prince," Josva replied, looking back at Rasmus as he helped Einar over a fallen log.

"Is Onkel Tyler still going to be our uncle after he marries you and mama?" He asked curiously.

Josva hummed. "I am not sure what you will call him then, Rasmus. I guess that would make him your papa too."

The small boy nuzzled Tyler's shoulder. "You are my favourite papa," he told him in a whisper.

Tyler chuckled. "Am I?" He asked. "Why is that?"

"Because you are nice," Rasmus decided. "And you smell better than Papa."

Josva laughed. "Careful, little prince. I do have the power to make you sleep in the barn."

"I would never allow that," Tyler said with a smirk. "Maybe that's why I'm his favourite."

Josva laughed again. "You are a second mama is what you are. He is a strong boy. He would love the barn. You are just worried about his comfort over his strength. You, little one, are a mama."

Tyler laughed, and Einar smiled back at him. "Well if that means being anything like Jenna, that's a compliment."

"Absolutely," Josva confirmed through a grin.

"You are not my favourite mama," Rasmus admitted to Tyler. "My mama is of the goddess, Freya. No one can replace my mama. She is perfect."

"Yes, she is," Tyler replied easily. Josva nodded in agreement.

Ellinor looked at Tyler over her papa's shoulder. She was wrapped up in Josva's bear pelt, making her look even more tiny than usual. "Do you love our mama?"

"I do," Tyler confirmed.

"Do you love our papa?" Einar asked curiously.

Josva wiggled his eyebrows at Tyler, making him laugh. "Unfortunately," he replied, making Josva laugh as well.

"Do you love us?" Rasmus inquired hopefully.

Tyler grinned. "Of course I do. You're my family."

The Duns all seemed to be content with that response. Josva smiled at him so lovingly that it made him a bit weak in the knees. Still, he continued walking, excitement growing inside of him with each step closer to Jenna they took.

-----

Satisfaction and relief both flooded Jenna's features when her children entered the throne room. "Thank the gods," she muttered as she hurried down the steps and ran to hug her children each one by one.

Ellinor was fast asleep in Josva's arms though, so she just received a kiss on her blood-splattered forehead. The sun was starting to sink below the horizon, meaning it was already past her bedtime.

"Alright. Beds. Now. All of you," Jenna told the children.

"I need a bath first," Rasmus told her, sounding a bit anxious.

She smiled. "Do you? You do not like to be dirty, do you, my baby?"

He shook his head, hiding behind Tyler slightly. "Mama, can Onkel Tyler give me my bath instead of you?"

Tyler's eyebrows raised in surprise, but Jenna's eyes twinkled. Jenna always bathed Rasmus. He refused to let anyone else do it. He claimed Josva was too rough and the servants rushed him too much. What made Tyler so special?

"Of course, darling. If that is okay with Tyler, it is okay with me," she told the small boy, before looking at Tyler softly. "You do not have to."

"I don't mind," Tyler assured her. "Rasmus and I have been buddies all day, especially after he decided I'm his favourite papa."

Jenna laughed, pinching Josva's bearded cheeks when he pretended to be disappointed. "You will always be Ellinor's favourite."

"What about you?" Josva asked Einar, making his oldest son smile.

"You are my favourite person," Einar assured him, just as stoic as always.

Josva cheered, ruffling his son's hair and making him grin at his father. "I thought so!"

Jenna laughed, kissing Josva softly before turning to Tyler. She touched his cheek tenderly. "I will have the servants heat him some water. His clothes are in our room."

"Thank you," he told her, smiling when a kiss was pressed to his lips.

"I can see why Rasmus loves you. You are a good papa," she assured him sweetly.

He smiled at her. "Thank you again. He's right about you too. You are a goddess."

Jenna laughed as she took both of his cheeks in her hands and kissed him over and over. "You just became my favourite husband." She pecked his lips once more as Josva's eyes narrowed at her. "We will get the other kids to bed. Will you be okay to tuck Rasmus in after his bath?"

Tyler nodded. "Of course."

-----

Rasmus was quiet as Tyler washed the blood from his face carefully. His dark eyes watched Tyler trustingly. Every now and then, Rasmus would take Tyler's hand and turn it over thoughtfully.

"I look more like you than I do my mama," Rasmus told Tyler as the soap was soothed off of his rosy cheeks. "Maybe I was supposed to be born in England with you."

Tyler smiled fondly at the small boy. "But you look just like your papa."

The tiny boy smiled back at him. "I do?"

"You do. You look more like him than Einar and Ellinor do," Tyler told him calmly.

There was still soap in Rasmus's hair when he started to climb out of the tub in an attempt to climb into Tyler's lap. He pouted when Tyler slid him back into the tub.

"Can I sleep with you, mama, and papa?" Rasmus asked hopefully.

Tyler chuckled. "No, buddy. If you sleep with us, Einar will have to look after Ellinor all by himself. He needs you in there. You're strong and brave like your papa too."

A proud grin spread across Rasmus's face as he allowed Tyler to rinse the soap out of his hair. "I love you, Onkel Tyler."

Tyler chuckled. "I love you too."

Rasmus looked peaceful as he was lifted out of the tub. Tyler wrapped him up in thick cloth and kissed his cheeks, making him giggle. He carried him through the hall to the children's room. It was adjacent to the other bedroom, and contained one large bed that all three of the little children shared. Einar and Ellinor were already fast asleep, having been tucked into bed by their mama and papa. Blood still stained their rosy cheeks.

Tyler helped Rasmus into pajamas before tucking him into bed. He pressed a kiss to the tiny boy's forehead, smoothing his dark curls off of his forehead. Ever-protective, Einar wrapped an arm around Rasmus in his sleep. Rasmus snuggled up against his big brother before reaching a hand out for Tyler to hold. Tyler took it gently.

"Goodnight, Papa Tyler," Rasmus whispered sleepily.

Tyler smiled. "Goodnight, sweetheart."

"I love you."

"I love you too. Sweet dreams, Rasmus," Tyler whispered as he smoothed his fingers through Rasmus's hair.

The smile on Tyler's lips didn't leave him the whole time he was walking to the other bedroom. He really did love the Dun children, and not just Rasmus. Maybe be should've corrected Rasmus when he called him Papa Tyler, but how could he? It would be an honour to be Rasmus's papa.

The servants who passed him on his way to the main bedroom all bowed, whispering praises to him in Danish, Norse, Norwegian, and a variety of other foreign languages. He smiled at each of them, feeling a bit uncomfortable with being treated as royalty. His family had been the lowest of the low for his entire life. It felt strange to change that now.

His smile dropped off of his face and onto the floor when he opened the bedroom door. Words failed him as he tried get his brain to function properly again, but ultimately failed. This was something he'd never seen before in his life. This...this wasn't at all what his life was like in England.