You stood against the wall, looking over to that one throne, that one throne that belonged to king Harald Finehair. As a king he conquered a lot of things, lands, women, titles, but he wouldn't be able to do it without his brother. Your eyes grew a little concerned when you saw Halfdan shift his weight against the pillar, rubbing his hand over his chest while a shield maiden defensed herself against Harald for a crime she didn't commit. You hardly paid attention, ever since Harald was back he wanted to clench the village so only the best of the best were remaining. You weren't a fighter, you were Halfdan his wife, the only thing that kept your safe from the ruthlessness those brothers showed to their own people. Halfdan caught you starring and he stroke his hand away from his chest. You knew what was underneath there, the wounds of battle, the scars of the past. But he hardly let you look at it, he hardly let you take care of those wounds. You just knew it was there. You had to tell him something but since the pain started to burden him you took his health before your own news. The shield maiden rambled something and you looked down, moving your body out of the shadows towards the door.

'Y/n.' You froze on the sound of your name and slowly turned around to the king.

'Yes, my king?' You asked him polite, looking how the shield maiden walked back out. Harald gestured you with his fingers to come closer and so you did, standing still before his throne.

'Tend my brother his wound.' He commanded. You looked aside to Halfdan and smiled softly.

'He doesn't want me to tend his wounds.'

'The only thing he doesn't want to do is tell you how he got it, clearly the healer doesn't make it better, are you even going to a healer?' He felt silence and looked over to Halfdan. 'Maybe your wife at least can.' He pointed out. You had to bite your tongue to not agree with Harald.

'I don't need fixing.' Halfdan protested short. He was stubborn like that, in the good way, he didn't want you to worry.

'Brother.'

'Find yourself someone else. Y/n, come.' He barked. You bowed for Harald and followed Halfdan home. His hand was already on his chest again and you tried not to stare.

When the walls surrounded you both and there wasn't somebody around to see his expressions he relaxed a little, growling while he unstrapped the leather of his armor. You walked over to him, laying your fingers over his and took his job over, unstrapping it so he was free from the pressure. You looked up to him and he looked down to you in a moment, his eyes as dark and dominant as always ... but even that couldn't hide the pain.

'I won't ask.' You whispered, getting him out of the armor only to see the red stain on his tunic. 'You know the torture or seeing somebody you love live in pain without having the change to do something?' You asked, slowly looking up from the red stain to his face.

'No, the only person I love will never has to suffer pain.' His knuckles stroke your cheek and you smiled weak.

'Maybe one day you will.' You just said, knowing there was more ways to suffer pain except for battle wounds. 'Let me Halfdan, I can't watch to this anymore.' You begged softly. His hand fell from your face before he softly nodded. You thanked him and assembled whatever you had in house to treat him. He had already pulled of his tunic so your eyes dropped immediately to the wound, the swollen red edges. When he came back he was fine, better then fine, you made love, he was happy to see you, this seemed a lot worse than the morning you woke up aside him all satisfied and glomming. 'It's infected.' You responded on the sight of that wound.

'I know.'

'And you just let it happen? How,'

'You weren't planning on asking.' He softly said, looking up to you. You signed and went to work, carefully cleaning the half closed wound before smearing a strong ointment on it. 'You can tell me whatever you want Halfdan, I'm your wife, not a slave that gossips.' You whispered while caring a bandage around his shoulder and over his chest. He laid his hand at the back of your leg and tugged you closer.

'You know why I do it.'

'To keep me safe I know. Stories can't harm me.'

'I can.' He protested. You finished before laying your hand against his jaw, scouring your finger over his beard.

'I am proud of you, I love you.' You promised him.

'That is only because I don't tell. You would hate me.'

'You don't know that.'

'My love, don't.' He asked you kindly. He stood up, carefully and kissed your forehead before leaving for bed. You looked to his red stained tunic and to the way he positioned himself in bed. You had to be glad he was alive, nothing else mattered, right?

When you woke up he was still there, sleeping. It was a rare occasion, having him around when you woke up. His arm heavy resting on your waist. He laid on his good side, the bandage was still clean and you looked up to his face finding him peaceful. He hardly looked so quiet and good as this. Your eyes lowered back to his bare chest, counting the scars from which he didn't want to tell their stories. You knew at least one ... the arrow he took in Paris, the one you would never forget for you almost lost him. You lifted your finger and touched that round edgy scar just above his heart, remembering how it felt. Your finger traced down, to a large slice mark over his stomach. He captured your finger lazy and you looked up to his face.

'Don't.' He murmured hoarse, you loved his morning voice. He was still so sleepy it was almost cute. He stroke your face, tangling his fingers through your hair before kissing you. You hummed, smiling in that kiss while stroking his blond hair out of the way.

'How do you feel?' You asked concerned.

'Better, thanks to my amazing wife.' He placed another kiss against your lips and you chuckled, feeling all happy by his mood.

'Can I tend your wounds from now on?' You looked up to him, to the slow smile spreading over his face as his finger scoured your lips.

'Maybe.' He admitted, rolling slowly to his back. You scooped closer to him, laying your hand carefully on his stomach as he embraced you with his arm.

'Maybe I wouldn't leave you all scared like this.' You said, stroking that one scar again.

'I don't mind to bare the scars, as long as your skin is smooth and you are around they can run as long as they want.' He reacted, stroking his fingers over your naked back. You rested your head against his chest, kissing his skin while enjoying his touch.

'So I can't have any scar?' You asked, lifting your head to look up to him. He squeezed your ass and you jumped a little, giggling as he turned you on your back and kissed your neck.

'The only scar you can bare is that of childbirth.' He explained.

'Lucky me, I wouldn't know how to explain it otherwise.' You said innocent. He held still before pulling back and studying your face.

'What are you saying?'

'That you will have to see me suffer pain within this and seven months, give or take.' You confessed your pregnancy. He looked stunned, shocked, his mouth hanging slightly open.

'How long did you knew already?'

'Is that your concern? For a month I think, didn't want to bother you for you are in pain.'

'Didn't want to bother me, Y/n,'

'Halfdan, I'm telling you I'm pregnant and you are angry because I didn't tell?' You interrupted him. His shook his head wildly, crashing his lips down to yours so you had to gasp for breath. You felt the warmth spread through your body as he flattened his hand over your stomach.

'I'm not angry.' He whispered. Both of you panting before he squeezed his eyes in pain and shifted his weigh so he was near your belly. You pushed up on your elbows, looking how his fingertips traveled over your belly. 'Guess who is getting my undivided attention.' He said with a small smile before kissing your skin there. You head to bite your lip to not let your smile burst your face.

'Leave something for me to.' You smiled to him. He pulled himself more up again, stroking your hair out of your face.

'You will wish you weren't pregnant.'

'Why?'

'I'm not leaving you out of my sight. Nobody is gonna talk to you without me knowing,' he placed a kiss on your neck. 'Nobody is gonna touch you without me knowing it,' a kiss against cheek. 'nobody is gonna care for you without me knowing it.' He placed a kiss against the corner of your lips, hardly pulling back. 'The fact I have scars is the mercy of the gods for letting me come home to you, every single time again.'

'Then we should thank them for gifting you with a child.' You replied. He kissed you gentle and you melted. He was already so protective, what would the next month's then be?