It was the day of the inspection of the wall, but Audun was running late. Some of the newest squires had made a mess during their morning training, and he had needed to oversee the cleaning. Viggo had been by, asking if he should delay riding out, but Audun had told him to go ahead and that he would catch up.

Thus, Audun walked later than usual to get his horse. Though before he reached the stables, he stopped to stare.

They were rounding the corner of the castle, disappearing from view, but both Saga and Astrid were easily recognisable if for no other reason than that most walking the grounds were men.

Audun tilted his head while considering what it meant. The two of them seemed to get along just fine from their interactions at dinner, but he hadn't even seen them talking alone before. Less so sneaking off together.

Casting one glance at the stables, his feet moved to follow the pair. Curiosity having won.

He didn't see them as he rounded the castle, but he could faintly hear Astrid's voice coming from the forest. With a hunter's agility, he weaved through the trees without making a sound.

A bit into the forest, the trees made way for a little clearing, and in it were Saga and Astrid.

If Audun had been surprised by seeing the two of them walking off together, then he was shocked to his core by the sight which greeted him now.

The ever so gentle, the kind, the seemingly weak and fragile Saga with a knife in her hand.

"Yes," Astrid encouraged the Lady as she moved her hand forward to rest the knife against a spot on Astrid's armour by her shoulder. "Can you feel the gap in the armour there with the knife? Since it's so thin, the knife can easily slip through it to do damage."

Saga nodded, then pulled the knife away, and Astrid went on to show another weak point in the armour they all wore.

Though that had been enough for Audun to understand what was happening, he stayed to watch them a bit longer. Astrid was teaching Saga how to defend herself, and, judging by the ease in their interactions, it had been going on for a while. Judging by the naturalness with which Saga held the knife, she had been learning well.

After a couple of minutes studying them, Audun withdrew. Leaving as soundlessly as he had arrived, none of the two women had any idea of the intrusion. And as he got his horse to ride out to Viggo, a thought crossed him.

Did Viggo know?

Instincts and the fact that he knew Viggo better than himself told Audun that the answer was no. Because he couldn't see Viggo approving of it, considering how protective he was of Saga. Audun imagined Viggo would react with anger at the mere notion that she needed to learn to defend herself. Partly take it as a slight on his capabilities of keeping her safe, though really being terrified by the thought she would end up in danger.

But he couldn't be sure. Perhaps Viggo saw the benefits of Saga knowing some self-defence.

Viggo was already on his way back from one end of the wall when Audun caught up with him.

"Those boys are far too unruly. I can't imagine them ever making good knights," Audun complained, reaching his hand out to hold Viggo's for a second as a way of greeting.

"You said the same thing about Kai in the beginning, and look at him now," Viggo answered with a bemused smile and light squeeze of Audun's hand.

"I swear these are worse," Audun said, taking the horse's reins with both of his hands again. Though Audun knew what he had said didn't hold true. No one could compete with how unruly and scatterbrained Kai had been in the beginning. But a clear difference was that Kai had always still shown an unyielding ambition to learn, something these boys lacked.

They rode in silence for a moment. A question Audun had settled on while riding through the city pressed on him. One which would help him determine if Viggo knew about Saga's lessons with Astrid.

Taking a deep breath, Audun did what he could to make the question come out naturally. "Now that the garden is done, what is Saga keeping herself busy with? Or is she finally taking her deserved break?"

Viggo shook his head. "She really doesn't know how to rest."

"What more is there even for her to keep herself busy with?" Audun continued to probe.

"Preparations for winter," Viggo answered with a sigh. "By the sound of it, she's ensuring new winter clothes for all the knights."

"That will be most welcomed." Audun smiled, a softness spreading in his heart. She really was thoughtful and meticulous. Even if she had helped with such things at her father's estate, it was quite different doing it all on her own, but yet she was succeeding exceptionally well. Thought even of those things which had been neglected for quite some time.

"It must take up all of her time then," Audun continued his probing.

"It does. I'm worried she'll work herself sick again."

Audun steered his horse a bit closer to Viggo so he easily could hold his hand again. Though Viggo looked stoic, though his voice had sounded more exasperated than anything else, Audun heard the fear for Saga's wellbeing in it.

"I think she might be stronger than you believe," he told Viggo, but the latter only scoffed.

"You've not seen her when she breaks."

That was true. Viggo had told him some about the times Saga had broken down crying in his arms. Had told how small and fragile she had felt at those times.

From those retellings, Audun couldn't fault Viggo for thinking of her as weak, though he believed Viggo likely had a skewed picture of that weakness. Because she maybe hadn't looked strong like a knight while holding the knife, but she had certainly looked the strongest Audun had ever seen her.

From this conversation, though, Audun became certain Viggo had no idea about those lessons, causing new thoughts to simmer in him.

Should he tell Viggo about it?

"Race you to the middle?" Audun asked and urged his horse to go faster before receiving an answer. Tried to outrun the dilemma for a moment's time.

"How are things in Elsjo?" Audun picked up the conversation again once Viggo had won the race.

"They have managed to subdue the wyverns with the help of Nalmar. No more assistance needed."

Audun nodded, a small breath of relief escaping as well. But only a small one. Something was stirring in their country, that was certain by now. Too many of recent attacks had qualities which made them seem orchestrated. Like wyverns attacking a castle itself. Not the land around it, but specifically coming at night to tear into the stone of the castle.

"Has the King said anything?" Audun asked.

"No. But wouldn't surprise me if he will as soon as winter is over, but that he knows gathering an army now won't do any good. If luck is on our side, then the monsters will remain dormant during winter, anyway."

The way Viggo's lips tightened into a thin line spoke of other opinions.

"You think it might become the opposite? That more will attack during winter?" Audun guessed.

"Don't you?"

"If someone is behind it all, then yes, it would certainly be smart of them to use the winter to their advantage."

They grew quiet again. So far they had been blessed with that the attacks, apart from the one on Sinkbek, had been far away enough others had gone to aid instead. But they both knew luck rarely lasted. It was only a matter of time before somewhere closer to them was targeted and they would be forced to leave.

"I was, for once, looking forward to a calm winter," Viggo grumbled.

"As long as we're together, we can have a calm winter wherever we are," Audun answered.

"Yeah," Viggo smiled, but a flicker in his eyes told a different tale.

If Viggo was called away, he wouldn't be able to remain calm. The fact stung Audun. Made him long for the time before Viggo had become a lord. Then, even in the cold of winter and facing danger, nothing had ever bothered Viggo when they had been together. But those days were over, and Audun knew wishing for them to return wouldn't lead to anything good.

So instead he decided on wishing for when Viggo would see how capable Saga actually was.

Dinner that night was how it always was. Loud.

But in that loudness, Audun took time to observe Saga and Astrid's interactions more. Because he hadn't considered it, he hadn't before noticed the softened expression Astrid wore whenever she looked at Saga. Nor how Saga straightened herself whenever she spoke to Astrid. Observing closely, Audun also noted how Saga's habit of picking at her nails seemed gone and her laughs seemed freer. All clear signs she was gaining in confidence.

"I heard you are making new winter clothes for us, Lady Saga," he repeated what Viggo had told him earlier. As he did, she hunched a bit. "Thank you. It is definitely something that has been neglected," he continued, and she straightened herself again, giving him a certain smile.

"Are you complaining about the clothes I've provided?" Viggo huffed, though a glint in his eyes said he wasn't truly offended.

"I'm only saying having a lady around has its perks," Audun teased back, causing both Viggo and Saga to brighten even more.

"Ah, winter," Kare exclaimed. "The best season of them all."

"Why is that?" Saga asked, while Astrid rolled her eyes, Viggo sighed, and Audun groaned internally.

"Why, Lady Saga? Well, you see, everyone is cold during winter, seeking warmth," he winked.

"You really can't think of anything else?" Astrid mocked.

"Why would I when it is the best thing about being alive?" Kare laughed and then continued with a speech about it. One which even Saga had already heard.

"Did you mean it?" Viggo murmured to Audun while Astrid scolded Kare, bringing Audun's attention back to what he had said about Saga.

"Yes," Audun nodded. Because, though the changes to their relationship which had occurred with Saga entering their lives, he couldn't deny having her among them felt right now. Of course, if he could have decided himself, then Viggo would have never got married. But the turmoil of the start of the marriage had settled, and Saga was becoming not only an accepted but even welcomed addition to their midst.

Viggo's whole face lit up with a smile. One so genuine and bright, so proud Audun wasn't sure he had ever seen something as handsome before. And it was a smile which carried through the rest of the dinner and warmed Audun's heart while also making it ache with the decision he had taken.

"Astrid, can we have a word?" Audun asked when dinner was over.

She raised an eyebrow.

"The new squires are getting on my nerves," he gave as an excuse.

"That's why I keep telling you to let me loose on them," she laughed, but together they went off, away from the rest.

"You are training the Lady," Audun said as soon as they were without earshot from anyone else.

She halted. Stared at him with narrowed eyes, like an animal assessing danger. "How do you know?"

"I saw the two of you today," he informed. "For how long has it been going on?"

"She asked about it shortly after the attack. Asked Kai about it actually, but he said no. I overheard it, so I offered to teach her." Astrid's hand had landed on her sword. An instinctual reaction Audun knew most knights had when facing a potential threat.

"It looked like it's doing her good."

"It is," Astrid agreed, her tone carrying conviction. "She is gaining confidence each time."

"Be more careful, though. If I could easily find out, then Viggo can as well."

She blinked. "You won't tell him?"

"No," Audun answered, and Astrid's hand left her sword. "He wouldn't take it well. Wouldn't see it's good for her to learn, but likely forbid her from continuing."

The fool, he added in his head, for Viggo certainly was a bit of a fool in his desire to keep Saga safe.

"Though if he ever finds out, I'll deny knowing. Just so you know," Audun added with a smirk. "You'll have to take all his anger on your own."

"How very noble of you," Astrid teased back.

"Got to watch out for myself," he answered with a shrug, though he knew that the day Viggo found out, he would do all he could to make him see reason.