Kari did not know what to do.

It would come as a surprise but this was to be the first time in months where she was in an actual bed. After sleeping inside makeshift beds in tents, boats, and prisons, it was almost uncomfortable for her to sleep in a real bed.

Not that she could. After being in the hall, being cheered on by Harald's people as she sat on the throne beside him, her mind began to whir uncontrollably. Every word he said ran through her thoughts, making her doubt.

Surely, he wouldn't. Yet she could not help the underlying feeling settling at the pit of her stomach at what he said. What his people believed. She wasn't stupid, she knew better but it was Harald.

By gods, she trusted him. She could even go so far as to say that she cared for him. A knock sounded upon the door and without waiting for a response, women entered her room carrying various things.

They carried a chest of different golden trinkets, jewelry, and beautiful gowns made of silks that she never had dreamed she could ever wear. She wanted to be grateful and happy to see such gifts but it had been instilled in her that people normally gave her things if they wanted something in return.

Knowing that her window of opportunity was closing, she stopped one of the women from leaving. It was the same woman who had brought her from the great hall to her current room. "Wait, I need to ask you something."

"I'm afraid I do not know anything, my lady." The woman looked down, almost afraid to meet her eyes. The woman was older than her yet she seemed to be one of the servants who worked in this household.

"It is just a few questions. I am sure you could grant me that, erm, what is your name?" Kari asked, hoping that the woman would not just leave her with even more questions.

"Revna, my lady." The woman answered curtly, before nodding slowly. "I will try to answer what I can but I do not know much."

Kari pointed at the trinkets and gowns, questioning. "What are all these for?"

Revna responded, looking towards the items with admiration. "There is to be a feast to welcome you to Tamdrup."

Narrowing her eyes, Kari squinted suspiciously. "Surely I only need one gown. What are all these gold for?"

Revna said, patting her arm comfortingly as an older woman does. "Gifts from King Harald. I must say that you are very lucky to have such a man vying for your hand."

"My hand?! For marriage?" Kari's eyes bugged out in surprise, almost choking on air after what she heard.

"Yes? I thought that he was courting you. It would make sense that he would want the daughter of Ragnar to be his queen." Revna thought aloud, her head bobbing up and down as she thought about it.

Kari would have destroyed everything in her sight if it weren't for the woman in front of her. Harald was exactly what she thought of him before. A madman and a bastard. He was using her. Just like all the ones who showed interest in her before.

He probably didn't want her until he found out about her father. If she was a normal woman with normal parentage, he would have never looked twice at her. He was an ambitious man and he needed her to further his plans.

She was just a pawn. Nothing else. All those things he said, all these gifts, were only to soften her up. The sweet words and the affectionate actions were all acts to ensure that she would comply with his plans.

He had only begun acting in such a way with her ever since she admitted the truth to him in that boat. Before that, he had only treated her with playful friendliness. He did not care about her, not really.

After Ellisif, he had told her that maybe he was not meant for love. She had swept that fact aside but perhaps he kept it close to her heart and went for the next best thing. Power.

Closing her eyes, Kari tried to compose herself. Pulling out a gold necklace, she handed it to the other woman. "For your troubles, Revna."

The older woman shook her head, pushing it back into her hands. "My lady, I cannot take this."

Kari insisted, holding on to the woman's hand and placing the gold necklace in it. She could not bear to look at it for a second longer and the older woman would have more use for it. "You will. Take it with my gratitude."

Revna clasped her hand gratefully, her eyes tearing up. She cleared her throat, wiping her tears. "Do I inform King Harald of your arrival at the feast?"

Kari thought about it for a moment. She could choose not to attend, irritating him. But then, she was never one to run away from something. "Tell him that I will join him soon."

"I will. Thank you, my lady. You would make a good queen for him." Revna said one last time before leaving.

Turning around, Kari picked up one of the gowns, her fingers running over the soft silk. It was a beautiful dress. Too bad it was gifted with other intentions. She ought to set all of it on fire.

Her hands reached out to rip it to shreds until a thought entered her mind. What good would ripping it do? If she faked a smile and wore it, she could coax the truth from Harald.

Even after all of this, Kari knew that there would always be something lingering at the edge of her mind. She needed to hear this from his own lips.

Maybe Revna could be wrong. Maybe his people had just assumed the wrong things. Even now, she was still looking for the good in him.

But she was wrong and she was only leading herself into a path with more heartbreak.

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Harald looked up to see someone enter the hall.

His face fell as the person who entered was not the person he was expecting. He had been waiting for Kari all evening. The feast was already in full swing and drinks were being passed around generously.

If she did not arrive soon, he would be too intoxicated to enjoy her presence. He gestured for one of the servants to approach him, asking gruffly. He was too impatient to worry about being polite. "Where is she?"

The woman opened her mouth to reply but Harald let his emotions get the better of him as he stood up to go get her himself. Just then, the doors to the great hall opened to reveal Kari.

She was dressed in one of the beautiful silk gowns he had procured just for her. Her hair was done up with an elaborate style, a small circlet placed atop her head.

Everyone quieted upon seeing her as if the sight of her beauty sucked out all air from the room. All eyes turned to gaze at her with awe and he could say that he felt the same way. His feet were planted upon where he stood as she slowly neared him.

He reached his hand out toward her and she placed her hand in his once she got close enough. A smile crept upon his lips and almost as if the same thoughts ran in their heads, they raised their goblets together toward the crowd.

"Skål!" Harald called out, bringing the goblet to his lips. The crowd responded in turn, drinking from their own cups. "Serve the food! Everyone is starving! Eat!"

He allowed himself to sit beside Kari, smiling at her as she drank from her own cup. He placed a soft kiss upon her palm but instead of blushing as she usually did, she cleared her throat, looking away.

Before he could ask if she was alright, she pulled her hand away, saying. "Forgive me for taking so long. I was trying to figure out how to put on this dress."

"For you, Trouble, I would wait as long as it takes." He mused, tearing a piece of meat from the plate in front of them.

She grinned at that, eating alongside him. Music streamed by as steady conversation flowed around the great hall. Harald laughed with everyone from all the stories being shared around the hall.

He kept looking over at Kari to see her seemingly lost in thought. However, whenever he would think about asking her about it she would look at him with an assuring smile and utter out an opinion about one of the stories to show that she was listening.

After some time, when he was distracted, Kari tried to slip away. Noticing quickly what she had been planning to do, he looped his arm around her waist to tug her back into her seat.

"Harald, I'm exhausted. I'm going to bed." Kari sighed, pushing away from him and standing up once again.

He followed after her, concerned. She had been acting strange all night. "But-"

"The feast was lovely. Thank you." She smiled, turning from him to go back to her room.

Harald stared after her, his lips tilting downward as he brought the goblet to his lips. The people in the hall began to voice their dismay at their king not being able to follow after the girl.

Giving in to their hoots and hollers, he raised his hands, roaring in glee. He moved towards where he knew her room was, his footsteps slowing as he neared. He blew out a breath, preparing himself.

Without another thought as to what will happen next, he pushed open the door. Kari was sitting on the bed, fiddling with one of the items in the chest he had delivered.

She looked up at him, smiling softly as she pushed the chest behind her.

"You look very beautiful." Harald sat beside her, murmuring the following words. "Very beautiful."

In the spur of the moment, Harald leaned forward to press his lips against Kari's. His hand reached out to take hers as her other hand cradled his face. When he sought to deepen the kiss, he felt cold metal against his neck.

Opening his eyes, he came face to face with Kari. Her subdued eyes were now fiery as she had a small dagger digging into his neck.

"Have you got anything to say to me?" Kari asked, an eerie calm on her face.

"Kari, what on earth is this?!" Harald demanded an answer, attempting to move away.

She said, removing the dagger from his neck before she stood up. "You lied to me, Harald. You've been lying to me since we left Wessex."

He shook his head. She could not know. She couldn't possibly know. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"You mean you are not giving me all of these things, parading me in front of all your people, and making me sit on that throne so I would be your queen? Not even me as Kari! But as Ragnar Lothbrok's daughter!" Her voice rose with each word, hurt brimming in each statement.

His eyes widened as the realization sat in. "I-How did you-"

She threw out her hands, tossing the dagger away. "Of course you are! I was such a fool!"

He went toward her, his hands raised as if to calm her. "Kari, it's not like that."

She laughed bitterly, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. "Isn't it?"

"No, I care. Believe me, I do." Harald reached her, cupping her face with his large hands as he tried to make her understand.

"Liar. You lied to me. You hurt me and I actually believed that you would care beyond who my father was. But of course, your ambition to be king of all Norway took precedence." Kari gritted her teeth, pushing him away and trying to put as much distance between them as she could.

"Please listen." He pleaded with her.

"No, you listen! I have been surrounded by men trying to use me all my life. I thought you were different. I thought you were better. Yet you are just like them." She didn't give him a chance to say anything more.

"Kari-"

"Get out."

Kari opened the door to her room, gesturing for him to leave. Harald's eyes met hers and though she could see the regret shining through them, it was not her job to make him feel better.

She gave him a chance and all he did with it was hurt her. That may not have been his intention but it was what his actions resulted in. Making her queen might have been a twisted sort of gift but she had been right.

He wanted to marry Ragnar Lothbrok's daughter. Not Kari, the woman he knew before that. Maybe she never should have told him the truth. Things would probably be different.

"Know that I never wanted to hurt you."

"But you did."

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Hello everyone! Harald is a jerk, yes I know! Kari won't forgive him easily but there is more of the story to come, so who knows what will happen next :))