Ivar couldn't help but laugh, as he looked at his brother's face. Hvitserk had pushed his way back into the cabin and reached for anything, any alcohol that would take what he had just seen, from his mind. Doing his best to explain what had happened and why he looked so pale, to his younger brother. Yes, he would happily admit that he had found himself between the legs of a number of women. That he had been on his knees so that he could taste them, before having his way; but not once had he ever expected to see his little sister like that. Not once had he ever thought that he would find Harald sat on the floor before his throne, with (Y/n) calling out his name as she came.

All their lives, the brothers had done their best to protect her; more than one man warned off, when he had started to get too close. More than one boy having had his ardour thoroughly dampened when he had had the sons of Ragnar glaring at him. There not a man in Midgard that was worthy of (Y/n) in their minds. But now, all those years of making sure that no man took advantage of her, that no man used her, seemed for nothing; Ivar having himself used her to get Harald's assistance.

"See, I told you that it was what she wanted. If she hadn't, she would have taken a dagger to his throat. But now (Y/n) has the man she wants, we get Harald's army to help is with getting back Kattegat, and we will always have an ally here with our sister as queen........."

"And if she doesn't get killed.......do you think that she will stay in Kattegat when we have killed Lagertha, Björn......Ubbe? Do you believe that she will be able to look at us if our brothers die? Harald will bring her back here, with him when this is over; and if Björn and Ubbe die, she may never want to speak to us again. It was bad enough when Sigurd died. No, you have not thought about any of this, apart from what you want......what Ivar wants. Always what Ivar wants.........." Hvitserk retorted angrily, smashing his cup onto the floor before walking out. He needing some air before he said or did something that he would really regret.

                                                      >>------------------------------------<<

"Hvitserk........" Harald greeted nonchalantly. The king smiling as (Y/n) quickly pulled down her skirts. Sure.......that she was as pale as her brother was at the moment; she never having imagined that anyone, let alone her brother would walk in on such a moment. And to see her.......like that, parts of her body that should never be revealed to a brother there for all to see.....it no wonder he had been looking at her as he was. It no wonder that he hadn't been able to say a word to her before leaving as quickly as he had appeared.

All her life, she had loved her brothers; with her father having left, it was only to them, and others like Flóki that she could look to fill the space that Ragnar had left in his daughter's heart. She often blaming herself over the years for the king's abandonment of the family; believing that she was not a good enough daughter to make him want to stay. Ubbe and Hvitserk always telling her not to be so foolish, that Ragnar leaving, had nothing to do with her. And Björn, as the oldest, the one of them that knew their father better than any, would just take her into his arms and hold her tight; her oldest brother giving her the love that Ragnar hadn't. So, to see the look on Hvitserk's face; to see the shock in his eyes, when he had found her like that, she felt as though she had let him down, let them all down.

"(Y/n).........." Harald taking her face in his hands.

"Look at me.........."

"I should never have done this..........."

"Your brother should never have walked into this hall........."

"I have let him down, Harald. Let them all down.........."

"You are to be my wife, (Y/n). Hvitserk, all of your brothers have used women for what they wanted over the years, while having no intention of marrying them, so they can say nothing. I am going to wed you as soon as I can, you will be my queen; what we were doing has brought no dishonour on yourself or your family. You are still a maid, and I will not change that until we are joined before the gods. What we were doing, was only because I could not wait any longer ........." Harald continued. (Y/n) knowing that he was right; that her brothers, with perhaps the exception of Ivar, had always been able to have whatever woman they wanted. That they were not averse to using women to warm their beds and cocks for the night. So, why should she feel bad. She loved Harald, and he loved her. The man that she had happily agreed to marry, had done nothing more than give her a glimpse of what it was to be a woman; of the pleasure that she would experience when they were man and wife. And even though she loved Hvitserk, loved all of them, this was for her. Ivar could have Kattegat; all she wanted was the man in front of her. A smile coming to her lips, as she looked at Harald......her Harald, her painted king. The princess reaching up and placing her hands over his.

"Maybe we should go to your rooms, so that we can really be alone. And then.....then I can do something for you; because I can't wait any longer either......." (Y/n)'s comment making Harald laugh out loud, before he took her into his arms and carried his queen out of the great hall.