"You dare to speak to a prince in such a fashion? To a prince that I am to wed.........?" The princess demanded to know, as she stepped forward and looked up at the captain. Ubbe not understanding a word that was being said; but given how his bride to be was standing her ground, the tone of her voice, it was obvious that the Saxon lady was actually more like a woman that he might find by his side on a battlefield, than he would have thought.

"My lady..............."

"No! You finally realise that the young Northman has made a fool you and your men; that another has escaped his room, so you come charging down here trying to make it appear as though you are not completely incompetent. Perhaps if you had made the same noise, and expelled the same kind of energy on the battlefield, as you just did coming to find this man, my father would not have had to make a deal with Ragnar Lothbrok in the first place; and I would not be having to marry this man. Now, you will return my husband to be, to his room; but, if I am informed that you have harmed even a hair on his head, I will ensure that you meet God, sooner rather than later..........do I make myself clear...........?" The princess interrupted. The older man not shocked by the demeanour or words of the lady; despite the fact she was a lady. All those that lived in the castle, well aware that the princess acted quite differently to other women of the court; to most other women in England. That she had been raised by her unusual nursemaid, to never back down, to never allow her voice to be silenced; to fight if the moment called for it. The captain sure that if she had been born a man, she would have made the greatest of kings; that he would be proud to stand by her side on the field of battle. And given all that, the seasoned warrior couldn't help but believe her words.

"Yes, my lady............" The captain replied, before (Y/n) finally turned back to look at a still very confused Ubbe.

"They have come to take you back to your room." The princess began to explain; the prince happy that he could understand what was being said.

"I have told them that they are not to touch you. If they do, you are to tell me............" (Y/n) continued, as she took Ubbe's hand and smiled.

"I will see you again when we wed.........." She added. Giving his hand a small squeeze, before allowing the Northman to move passed her. Ardith moving to the princess' side and taking her arm, as the two women watched the blonde prince be led away.

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

Ubbe watched, as the door to the room closed. The smile never leaving his lips, as he turned to look at his grinning brother. The room quite a state. It obvious that Hvitserk had been having fun while he had been with his princess.

"Well, did you find her..........?" Hvitserk enquired, as he righted one of the chairs and took a seat. The younger prince propping his feet up on the table.

"Yes..........." Came a simple reply. Ubbe sighing happily, before making his way around the room. The older Ragnarsson wondering whether there was any ale left in one of the still standing jugs.

"And............?"

"She wanted to know about Kattegat, if it was much different to here. I told her about the fjord, and the hills, about where we would live, and the great hall. About the summers and the winters. I promised to buy her the finest furs to keep her warm, when we get home..............."

"You really want to marry her..............!" Hvitserk interrupted. A little shocked that his older brother actually did appear to be quite happy at the notion of having to marry a Saxon woman. That whatever had happened between Ubbe and the princess, was all that his brother had needed to truly make up his mind about this situation.

"And why not? She is a princess, she is beautiful, and she makes me smile. It is true that (Y/n) is no shieldmaiden, that she is no Northwoman; but from how she appeared to stand up to her father's men when they came looking for me, she most certainly has the heart of one..............."

"And what do you think others will say when you take her back home...............?"

"Let them think, let them say what they like. She will be my wife. This match was agreed to by our father, and will help all of us. Her father's kingdom is rich in good, fertile land, and we can have our people move here. (Y/n) speaks our language, she already knows many of our customs; and those she does not, she is willing to learn. That, and given what I just saw, I don't think that she will let anyone disrespect her, not even Ivar." Ubbe countered, his smile growing once more, as he finally found a full jug, picking up two cups from the floor.

"Now, are you going to drink to my marriage with me, or do I have to drink alone.............?" Ubbe continued, as he offered Hvitserk a cup; the younger Ragnarsson never one to turn down a drink. Happily taking the offered cup, before the pair offered them up and toasted the wedding to come.

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

(Y/n) and Ardith watched, as the king's guards surrounded the Northman, before escorting him out of the gardens. Ubbe sending his princess a small wink before the door closed behind him. It was true what she had said, despite the fact that she respected the older captain of the guard, she would have no harm come to the man that was to be her husband. For even though they barely knew one another, she had believed him when he had promised to be a good and loyal husband. She had believed him when he had told her that he would get her the finest furs, so that she would not get cold in the harsh winters; that he would care for her when they returned to Kattegat. And given her previous fears concerning what she might find herself matched to, Ubbe was undoubtedly handsome and kind; a far better man than she could have dreamed of.

"Well.........?" The nursemaid finally enquired, as she looked at the younger woman to her side.

"Well.................I think that I am actually looking forward to this wedding ceremony. The only thing that I will miss about England when Ubbe takes me to Kattegat, is you.........." The princess replied, before kissing the older woman on the cheek. The pair smiling at one another, before going to find the lady's other maids. Determined to spend all the time they could together, before the son of Ragnar took her from her home.