Aslaug held (Y/n) close, as yet another Earl and his entourage rode away, with all speed from Kattegat. This was becoming the norm now; some Earl or Jarl would journey to the kingdom of Ragnar Lothbrok in order to meet the young woman that the queen called her daughter, in hopes of being able to claim her hand. Yet with in a day or so, said hopeful suitor would make their excuses and leave Kattegat; not even bidding farewell or looking at the princess before they made their way out of town.

They called (Y/n), princess, for no other reason than Aslaug had claimed her as her daughter, and had raised her as such, since Ragnar arrived home with the baby girl after one of his trips. The former farmer turned king handing his wife the beautiful, yet weeping little bundle, whom the queen quickly declared was her own, when the tiny girl instantly stopped crying as she held her to her breast. The princess growing to become more exquisite than anyone could have thought. Claims that the reason that Ragnar had even brought back the child to give to Aslaug, was because she had been sent by the gods, certainly making the princess even more prized. Yet despite all that, and no matter what she did or said when a perspective suitor came to call, the same thing would always happen........

"What did I do? What is wrong with me.........?" (Y/n) enquired tearily, as Aslaug pulled her close, doing her best to comfort the girl.

"There is nothing wrong with you, my sweet child; and you did nothing wrong at all. He was not good enough for you anyway. He would not have loved you as you deserved. I know that there is a man out there that will love you as you need to be loved. And once you find him, all this will become nothing but a distant memory. Now, come, do not concern yourself any longer with him." The queen replied, as she escorted (Y/n) to the great hall. The boys continuing to watch as the Earl disappeared into the distance.

"We can't keep doing this......." Hvitserk said, as the two women disappeared into the large building, and were now out of earshot.

"What do you mean, we can't keep doing this. I don't remember you doing anything, brother. I was the one that sent this one away with his tail between his legs........" Ivar declared. The youngest prince more than happy that he had sent another unsuitable suitor, running for his life.

"It doesn't matter who did what; what matters is that if (Y/n) and mother find out that we have threatened every suitor that has come to Kattegat for (Y/n)'s hand, we may not live to see the next moon......" Hvitserk continued. Giving Ivar a look, to with Ivar just smirked, before they and Sigurd turned their attention to a very quiet Ubbe.

"Well, if he would say something to her, we wouldn't have to keep doing it. If he would just be a man and claim her..........."

"Oh, and you would know all about being a man, wouldn't you...........cripple." Sigurd scoffed, as he looked down at Ivar. Hvitserk looking to their older brother for support, as it seemed that there would be yet another fight between Ivar and Sigurd; but it was obvious that Ubbe's mind was anywhere else but there.

Claim her.......Ivar was right, he should have claimed her. If he was any kind of man, he would have confessed his feelings for (Y/n) some time ago, and neither Kattegat nor (Y/n) would have had to deal with this procession of men that did not deserve her. But instead of doing that, instead of coming to terms with the fact that even though the beautiful (Y/n) had been raised as their sister, there was no shared blood between them, he had made his brothers agree to help him by running off any suitor that might dare to try and come and claim the princess' hand. Yet he knew that he had to do something. He knew that he had to stand up and ask her to be his, before some man came along, that would not be threatened.

"Ivar is right.......!" Ubbe suddenly announced. The argument that was just catching momentum, stopping at Ubbe's words. Sigurd rolling his eyes and crossing his arms as Ivar grinned at him.

"Even though (Y/n) has been raised as our sister, she is not our blood, which means that I have as much right as any to ask her to be my wife. Perhaps more so, as we are the only ones that truly understand her........."

"So, what are you going to do..........?" Sigurd enquired. Not about to admit it out loud, but he too had thought that Ivar, for once, was right, and that Ubbe should just get on with it, and tell (Y/n) that he loved her. For if he didn't, he might just have to say something, himself. Sigurd knowing that his brother would not be happy, but at least then it would mean that (Y/n) would not have to leave Kattegat, would have to leave him. She the only one that had shown him any care when they were growing up. Who, in a strange way, had been a mother to him, when all his real mother could think about was Ivar.

"There is the celebration for (Y/n)'s birthday in three days' time. Mother said that there were more suitors that would be coming to town for the festivities. So, what better time to ask her to be my wife, than when all those men are there. Then they will spread the word that there is no point in anyone else coming to try and claim her." Ubbe replied, before turning and leaving his brothers. The oldest son of Aslaug knowing that he had much to do between now and the celebration, to make his declaration of love as perfect as possible.