The room was filled with chaos, Ubbe trying not to laugh as Hvitserk made the Saxon guards almost fall over one another, other guards rushing in to see what the commotions was. The older prince taking his opportunity to grab his cloak, before quietly slipping out of the room.

He headed down the corridor, looking round to make sure that he wasn't being followed, as he came to a set of stone steps. He and the others had not seen much of the English castle, having been taken straight from throne room to the rooms where they could be guarded. The prince pulling the hood a little further over his head, before making his way down the steps; hoping that it would take him somewhere close to where he wanted to be.

Ubbe had to admit that he had been taken aback by the woman that was to be his wife. From what he had seen and heard; Saxon women were different from the women that he was used to. Even those women that weren't shieldmaidens were still seen as stronger than the women of England; but this one, his bride, even from the little that he had seen, seemed to show no sign of weakness, no sign of fear.

Other women would probably have shied away from the men that could burn her father's kingdom to the ground; from the men that had killed so many of her countrymen. But she.........she had stood before them, stood before his father as if he were any other man, and demanded to know who she was to be bound to. She had walked around him, judging him; judging whether he was suitable, and he had to admit that in a strange way, he had liked it. He had liked the way that she had looked at him, how her eyes had wandered his body. He had liked the way that she had smiled at him slightly, before she had left the room. Ubbe now more than happy that he had received the honour of claiming her hand. Yet there was still so much that he wanted to know about her. So much that he wanted to ask her, before they were wed.

Suddenly, he found himself at the bottom of the spiral staircase and moving into yet another corridor, the way stretching out before him. The prince taking a chance and opening the door that was just to his side, hoping that it would lead him to his bride to be.

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

(Y/n) and Ardith sat on one of the old stone benches. The two women enjoying the sunlight and strange air of peace that had fallen over the city now that the king had formed an alliance with the invaders.

She was still thinking about him. Still thinking about the handsome prince. She had to admit that from the little that she had seen, he was more than pleasing. He appeared strong without being too broad, tall and healthy, with a look in his eyes that suggested to the lady that he wouldn't be cruel. Yet there were so many more things about him that she wanted to know. So many things that she would like to ask him before she found herself to be his wife. But that was easier said than done, especially given that the Northmen that had not returned to their camp, had been escorted to rooms where her father's men could keep them confined and under guard.

"Do you think that he is a good man?" The lady asked; Ardith taking her hand and squeezing it tight.

"He is a prince............."

"That means nothing..........A title does not make a man good. In fact, I have found that it can have the opposite effect. That, and he is a pagan, a Northman. From what I have seen and heard, they know of nothing other than plundering, pillaging, and worse." The princess countered, letting out a heavy sigh.

"That is true, but despite their beliefs, they are not all that different to us. They are not always off fighting; they have normal lives. They are farmers, blacksmiths, fishermen, traders. They are husbands and fathers, brothers and sons. They build their homes and make them their own. And tell me, my lady, if your father was given a chance to expand his realm, would he not do that? Would he not kill who he had to, to increase his power and fortune? Would villages not burn?" Ardith herself countered. The nursemaid smiling as (Y/n) slowly nodded in agreement.

"I suppose. I know that my father can be cruel when he wants to be. And you are right, he would happily rule all of England if he could........if he was given a chance. So, perhaps that is one of the reasons why he has sided with Ragnar Lothbrok, he hopes that Northmen will aid him in expanding his own reach." The lady sighed again, before closing her eyes and moving her head towards the sun. (Y/n) well aware that soon, the heat she felt against her skin would fall on her in a very different world to the one that she knew.

"What do you think their home looks like? Will it be much different to here........" The princess continued, as she turned back to look at her nurse. The older woman just about to speak, before she was interrupted.

"I can tell you about it.............." A voice said, both woman turning to see a cloaked and hooded figure standing behind them. A smile coming to the princess' lips, as the visitor removed the cowl, to reveal the man that she was to marry.