"Are you going to wake up or will we have to leave the two of you to get reacquainted?"

Halfdan's voice pierced through Kari's sleepy state as she blinked herself awake. Her hand reached out, clutching at the blanket to pull it higher.

She had always been someone who was easily cold. Her mother had teased her whenever she would take all the blankets in the house to curl up in her corner of warmth.

Even as a child, she ran to where she would be kept warm. Not in the arms of her frail mother but resting in the comfort that she provided herself. Alone but not lonely. Far from it, in fact.

However, in this case, it did not seem as if she was alone.

"Go away, brother." A deep voice, husky with sleep, sounded from beneath her.

That couldn't be, could it? Allowing her eyes to open just a bit, she was more than shocked to be met with the sight of Harald's muscled body underneath her. Her heart jumped in her chest before she realized what was happening.

When it finally registered, Kari let out a shriek as she tried to untangle herself from his body, the blanket on top of them not helping in the slightest. In her struggle, she accidentally bumped their heads together, eliciting a pained groan from them as Halfdan watched on with an amused smile.

Shoving at him as hard as she can, Kari ended up falling to the floor, still stuck to the blanket. "What's wrong with you?"

"With me? You were the one on top of me!" Harald exclaimed, standing up from the bed, still in his clothes from the previous night.

Both of them looked at each other with wide eyes, their disbelief reflecting back at them. They gazed at each other before looking at themselves.

"Oh please." Kari scoffed, recovering from her initial shock.

"You saw that, brother. She was on top of me." Harald defended, pointing at her.

She slapped his hand away as she turned away from him to recount the events of the previous night. "Oh gods, what happened last night? We were drinking ale and talking."

He corrected hastily, the words just slipping from his lips. "I was singing."

She glared at him furiously, not at all entertained by his useless piece of information. "And after that, nothing. I don't remember anything."

He added helpfully, remembering how he had stumbled against her as they returned the night before. "I know we went back to the tent."

She continued, peeking up at him suspiciously. "Right. I made you sleep on the floor. So how did you get on the bed?"

"Look on the bright side, at least you still have your clothes on." Halfdan pointed out.

"Halfdan!" Both of them turned to glare at the third person in their tent who seemed all too entertained to watch the two of them banter.

"Alright! I'll let myself out while the two of you compose yourselves." Halfdan raised his hands in surrender and left the tent with a smile on his face.

The two stared after him as he left, unwilling to face each other. The sound of clanking metal directed Kari's attention back to Harald.

"What are you doing?" She asked, watching as he pulled his armor from underneath a pile of other things. It was as if he was content to sleep in a pigsty.

"We're leaving soon. I need to put on my armor." He shrugged as he began to change out of his clothes without any warning.

"Ugh! You are disgusting." She scrunched her nose, turning away from him. Behind her, she could hear him struggling to fasten his armor.

He asked sheepishly, making her turn back around. "Do you mind? I would do it but the clasp-"

"Let me." She sighed, stepping toward him and fastening all the clasps that needed to be tightened.

"Thank you." He muttered, grabbing each one of his weapons. His sword and his axe, his trusted companions in battle.

It was silent between the two, both of them stubborn enough to avoid meeting the other's eyes. Without Halfdan acting as a buffer between the two of them, there was nothing to mask the tension in the tent.

Clearing her throat, Kari finally looked at him. His blue eyes drifted to her, a hopeful gleam in them.

"I know I haven't said it before today but I hope you don't die." She said, patting his back in what she hoped was a comforting manner.

"Why not? It is a great honor to die on the battlefield. To fall with my brothers and be greeted in Valhalla, to feast and drink for all eternity." He grinned, looking at her and seeing the dream reflecting back at him.

"Of course. But not yet, alright?" She advised, pouring herself some water and taking a long sip as she tried to come to terms with the battle.

His eyes crinkled with mirth, a smirk appearing on his lips. It was easy to fall back into their teasing and banters, too easy. "Why? Will you miss me that much, Trouble?"

She hit his arm though a smile was also on her face. "You are not yet king of Norway. You could at least achieve that first, hmm?"

He held out his hand for her and in an odd move of fate, she placed her hand in his. "You're right. No use in making that half of my life be a waste."

"It is not a waste. No regrets." She chastised softly as his grip tightened on her hand.

"No regrets." He agreed, holding her hand as he pressed his own to his chest. "I will return. I promise."

"For Norway? And for Halfdan, of course." Kari added, her cheeks tingeing pink as she finally came to her senses.

She took a step back, reestablishing the space between them that continued to ring louder than the bells of the Christian cities.

Kari made a vow not to repeat her mother's mistakes. She would not break that vow. Not even for the viking in front of her who continued to make her heart beat furiously, constantly reminding her that she was alive.

"Yes, Halfdan and Norway. Of course." Harald hesitated for a second before he allowed his hand to brush her hair gently, like a soft breeze.

"I'll see you after the battle." She breathed, not mentioning the intimacy of his action. Perhaps if she ignored it, they could both soon forget about it, deny its existence.

He smirked, already imagining the piles of gold and jewels that they would ravage after the victory. "Would you like a pick of the spoils?"

She laughed, not caring for all that. "Jewelry? I don't think I'm made for those."

He gestured for them to leave the tent and as they did, he found himself offering. "Very well. A sword then?"

She shook her head, looking dismayed despite the smile on her face. "I don't know how to use one."

He uttered, that self-righteous smile lingering on his face. "Simple. Then I will teach you."

She frowned, crossing her arms over her chest, giving him a critical look. "Why? What have you to gain from that? From me?"

"Nothing. Maybe I want to go to battle with a clear head instead of having to worry about how you will do back at camp." He answered honestly, surprising even himself.

Kari's breath caught, replying. "I didn't ask you to worry about me."

Harald grinned. She made it sound so easy. But in truth, it wasn't. He had found himself worrying and caring for the girl. He couldn't stop, not that he wanted to.

"I know. I still do anyway."

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