"Kare!"

I felt Aderick's warm hand slide around my waist as I took another step forward, pulling me back into his chest as my brother approached from the treeline. I looked up at my husband, noticing the frown and the dark look in his eyes at our unexpected guest.

This was my family, not the enemy.

Kare strode forward into the mass of frazzled people, many of them scurrying away from his deadly aura and furious hazel eyes. His clothes were dirty and threadbare, his brown hair thrown up in a messy bun, and he looked to have lost weight. But he still towered over everyone with confidence as he passed them, his eyes on us. His lip was curled at Aderick; disgust, and hatred rolling off him in waves.

A low grumble vibrated my back as Aderick returned the glare and snarled at my eldest sibling. I swatted at his chest, glaring up at him to behave. He shot me a look.

"Aderick, it is fine. 'Tis only my brother, Kare. He will not hurt me." I whispered to him to comfort his nerves, running my fingers up his arm. He mashed his lips together in frustration, keeping quiet.

Gently, I began to pull out of his hold. He squeezed my waist in warning before finally letting go.

"I understand that...but I shall not let him take you away from me, Britta. I already have someone else trying to do so." He murmured, keeping contact with my skin as he tangled his fingers with mine.

I turned to face him while taking a look over my shoulder at my brother who stormed our way, rage lighting his eyes as he took in our embrace.

"That shall not happen. It'll be fine." I responded, looking up at Aderick before completely pulling away.

I rose on my toes to place a gentle kiss on his lips, dancing out of his wandering hands. Once free, I quickly ran towards Kare before jumping into his arms with happiness in my heart. His face that was contorted with fury slackened in surprise and a hint of happiness as he caught me effortlessly.

I heard surprised gasps from the crowd, but I did not care. I cherished this moment, as I had believed all of my family were dead. Now Kare stood before me, his arms wrapped around my middle as we hugged.

"Kare! Oh, how I have missed you! I thought you dead and I-" My words broke off as my dry sobs overruled my speech. I tightened my hold around his neck from the overwhelming emotions rushing through me.

My brother was here. Alive. In the flesh. How could this be? Was anyone else alive?

"Britta, lille søster, I cannot believe it is you," Kare whispered roughly in my ear.

Pulling back to look at him, my palm cupped his cheek, not caring that I was sprinkled with blood. "How?" I murmured, warm tears rushing to my eyes.

I felt as though I was looking at a spirit, almost not wanting to believe it was him. For me to be suddenly ripped away from this moment or that I would wake up from this most wonderful dream...it would crush me beyond recognition.

But Kare felt the same, smell a bit different I shall admit, but how I had missed his big hugs. He set me down carefully and pressed a kiss to my forehead before looking me in the eye.

"I am not sure...I was fighting those Dahlsten scum and I was pierced in the shoulder and the leg with a sword and I fell, thinking I was headed to Valhalla to join Ran and Pappa. But when I awoke, alive but weak, everything was burnt to the ground, not a living soul around. Everything we had was gone, burned, or killed. By them," Kare spat, daggers in his eyes as he stared past me.

"I buried our family, those closest to us, and our best warriors. I began to travel north to find better shelter for the winter...but here I am."

I knew exactly who he was glaring at, and I had an inkling that my new husband was copying the same actions.

Those eyes similar to my own took in my bridal kransen to my gown and fur. Disbelief and confusion tore through his eyes, making him plead with me. "My eyes must fool me...please, Britta, tell me what my eyes see is wrong. That what I stumbled upon is not, in fact, a wedding...your wedding."

I shook my head. "Nei, they do not, Kare. Today is my wedding day...I am Aderick's wife."

"Aderick?" Kare sneered. "Jarl Aderick? You are married to the bastard that killed our family and raided our home, and you are happily married to him? Are you daft, Britta? How could you do this to our family? To our parents?!"

I shook my head, this time frantically. I was afraid of this. "Nei, Kare, it is not as it seems. His men did not attack our home. It was an imposter, 'tis confusing but I can explain it all to you. I love him, Kare, I-"

My brother was beyond listening, already making up his mind as he set me down, roughly grabbed my hand and began tugging me toward the trees. "He has obviously brainwashed you to believe this nonsense, Britta! Enough of this madness. We are leaving."

Kare began pulling me with an intensity and strength that I could not prevent. Everyone began jumping out of Kare's way, but a few began shouting at him in protest. I began digging my heels into the frozen ground, slapping at his upper arm to let me go.

"No! Kare, stop!" I yelled at him as I attempted to break his tight hold on my palm. I swung my head around to gaze worriedly at Aderick, pleading to him with my eyes.

With that simple look, Aderick took off from the altar and charged toward us, his black eyes blazing as he quickly caught up to us.

"Lay your hand off of my wife," Aderick seethed, grabbing onto my upper arm and pulling my body to a stop, making Kare halt his marching.

Kare swung around and faced Aderick, his face reddening with rage and hatred. "Keep your dastardly fingers off of her. She is not your wife and shall never be."

Aderick laughed humorlessly, his comforting touch heating my skin. "You are too late. We have already spoken our vows to the gods and to our people. She loves me and I love her. It does not matter what you think or believe."

Both men pulled away from me and stood close to one of another without touching, staring each other hard in the eye, neither intimidated by the other. They were sons of powerful Jarls, one already protecting his people and the other preparing to do so when we were attacked. This was like a match to see who would fall first. A challenge of the highest testosterone, I thought as I crossed my arms and huffed in annoyance. Of all days, Aderick and my brother would be challenging one another on our wedding day.

I wanted to roll my eyes. By all the gods and goddesses, this was absurd.

It was completely silent as they continued to stare at one another. I had no idea of when this would end, but I already had had enough of this. This was my wedding day, my brother was alive, and they wanted to intimidate and threaten one another like a bunch of imbeciles.

I worriedly glanced around, thankfully Ragnar and Ingrid were making the crowd leave to give us privacy. I mouthed a grateful "thank you" to her and Ragnar, they simply nodded and smiled before leaving the grove together.

Turning back to the most important men in my life, they still had not spoken one word. Finally, I groaned in frustration and shoved them apart; unsuccessfully, but I had gotten their attention.

"Enough!" I yelled loudly at the two brutes, my fists clenched tightly at my sides.

Their heads snapped towards me, a different range of emotions within their eyes.

"Kare, I love you, but you cannot do this to me today. You must hear me out and let me explain. I understand how this may look, but please, brother, let us talk to you before you go into a rage." I said firmly.

He let out a breath before nodding slowly, crossing his arms across his chest. "I shall listen to you, lille søster, but not him." He gestured toward Aderick with his chin and shot him another glare.

I ran a careful hand over my kransen and my loose hair, not sure whether to pull my hair or scream with frustration. Great Odin, this could take some time. And everyone was waiting for us back at the hall. I trusted that Ingrid was keeping them entertained.

I let out a sigh before leaning against Aderick, who in turn wrapped his arms fully around me, my back to his warm front. I shivered from the chill only for a few moments before Aderick pulled off his cloak and covered my shaking body with it.

I began to describe everything that had happened once our home went up in flames; to Aderick finding me, my escape, to the man in the mountains almost raping me. Kare's body began shaking and his multicolored orbs hardened like frigid ice when I told him about Aderick and his men saving me. His eyes flickered towards Aderick who watched me carefully as I talked, his chin resting carefully on my head. I explained to my brother the truth of that fateful night - that Aderick did not raid us. Instead, our suspicions were pointed towards the stranger from the mountains. I gave him all the information I knew, including Marit, and what all had happened while my stay at the Dahlsten manor, skipping over the intimate parts between Aderick and me.

My brother did not need to hear about that.

Once I had finished, Kare stood there silently as he processed everything. I realized it was quite a lot, but he needed to know.

After several long moments, Kare looked back up to us from his pointed stare on the ground. He watched me carefully, sliding his gaze up to Aderick, then back to me. I was waiting for him to say something, but he remained quiet as he scrutinized us.

"Kare?" I whispered.

He gave a tight lipped smile before looking at Aderick seriously. "I shall help you with finding this man...he does not deserve to live after what he did to Britta. But I am sorry that I jumped to conclusions before asking you to explain. I see now how much you care for my youngest sister, and how she cares for you the same way. Much like my wife Linnea and I, and how our parents were."

I swallowed thickly as he mentioned our family, those closest to us that was gone. But we were here, together, to remember our lost loved ones.

Kare sent a wobbly smile before standing tall, straightening his shoulders and rising up to his full height. "I did not mean to interrupt you on your most important day, forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive, Kare. I am happy that you are here in the flesh, alive." I responded with a watery smile.

Aderick began pulling away, murmuring aloud that he would give us alone time and he was more than likely needed at the hall. I turned around and smiled at him before giving him a light kiss.

"I shall meet you at the hall, please hurry," Aderick whispered hotly in my ear, breathing in the smell at my throat. He growled in what seemed like pleasure as he took in the fragrance of my skin.

He pulled away and left quietly, leaving me with his cloak and the warmth lingering from his body. I had a small smile on my face as I watched his figure disappear into the trees.

"Never in my dreams did I think you and Aderick Dahlsten would meet and eventually marry Bri. I thought he was a lovestruck boy that had a weird infatuation with you ten summers ago, but now I see how that has transformed into love. Real love. Like what we all shared with our significant others. I wish that our family could see you this happy."

I swung my gaze over to Kare who watched me with a smile on his face, the tired look in his eyes mixing with amusement.

"I do too," I replied with a smile of my own.

I reached out a hand to him, ready to be on our way back to the manor. It was getting colder as we stood here in the grove, and I desired the warmth of my new home. I could show Kare the bigger and more elaborate food hall where everyone, including my husband, was waiting for us. Hopefully, Kare would regain his strength back soon and stay with Aderick and me after our issues with the man were over. I did not want to think about him leaving me again.

Kare grabbed onto my hand and we carefully made our way out of the grove and walked back to the manor in silence. I could smell the baked bread and cooked meat from a distance, making my belly growl with hunger and partially excitement.

There was still so much left to do with our wedding ceremony, but yet I wished to be in my chambers, alone, with Aderick.

Kare and I talked as we entered the manor, the warmth within the structured walls making my toes curl in delight at the heat running back into my limbs. He looked around as we made our way to the loud rumble of voices and music from the hall doors.

I paused outside of the hall, listening to laughter, singing and voices chattering away.

"I shall wait until you cross the threshold, I do not believe Aderick would enjoy carrying me across it. I would not like it, either." Kare jested with me, earning a giggle from me.

Leaning up on my toes, I pressed a kiss to his cheek before grasping the door handle and pulling it open. I remained just outside of the hall, waiting for Aderick to assist me.

The hall full of people went silent as Aderick strode forward and reached for my hand. Smiling wide, he helped me walk over the sword laid at my feet - the symbol for leaving my life as a maiden and entering as a new wife, with my husband by my side.

As soon as we entered, loud booming cheers erupted as Aderick stooped low to pick up the sword, raising it proudly before thrusting it into the nearby pillar of the room, the handle close the raw wood. Aderick's warm eyes met mine as we smiled with joy. This tested the security of our new marriage and the depth of the scar along the pillar transcribed the good fortune we shall have together.

Aderick carefully tugged the sword out of the pillar and pulled me along to our table that was placed at the front, where everyone could see us. We stood before our people as they raised their cups to us. Just before we filled our own, I quickly walked around the table to grab the vessel that held the bridal ale to present to my new husband as my first duty as a wife. Carefully walking back to him, I smiled shyly up at him before handing over the jug.

Aderick turned and faced his awaiting people before quietly making a toast to Odin and took a long drink. Swiping his tongue over his lips, he winked at me as he passed it back to me.

Murmuring a toast to Freyja, I drank the ale mixed with a few drops of blood from the sacrifice, though I did not taste it as I swallowed. The hall thundered loudly with whoops and cheers from everyone. Men and women raised their cups to us and drank, children that had other liquids in their cups raised their little cups as well to feel included.

Walking to our seats, I sat next to Aderick's left on the comfortable fur-covered thrones that overlooked the hall. The long tables that seated all of the clan's people were covered in dishes of bread, smoked meat, fruits and sweets to cease the hunger for a week. Our own small table was full of food, barely any space for our utensils to put our food and drink.

Aderick filled my platter with food before piling bread and meat high on his. The vessel that contained the bridal ale was placed between us, though we had more to last us in the next few weeks. Aderick began to bring a piece of meat to his mouth but I smacked his arm, making him freeze with his mouth open and the meat just a fingerbreadth away.

We had one last thing to do.

The gyðja from our ceremony stepped forward with a handmade version of Thor's hammer in her wrinkled hands, mumbling underneath her breath as she carefully placed the weapon on my lap, making me spread my legs under my dress as the metal laid right over my pelvis. This was the last part in ensuring being blessed by the gods, mainly Freyja, with numerous children as the hammer blessed my womanhood to carry many strong children in my womb.

I turned and glared at Aderick, who's eyes were wide with forgetting the last part of the ceremony. He sheepishly shrugged before eating once more.

The night continued on with dancing, feasting, and overall merriment as we celebrated the union. I noticed that Kare stood alone with a cup of ale in his hands, observing the foreign people and atmosphere.

Many engaging hours later, I felt Aderick squeeze my upper thigh as he leaned close to murmur in my ear. "'Tis time, Britta."

I looked up to see Ingrid, Rita, Inger and the other married women waiting to escort me back into our chambers. Then they would make the final preparations for the wedding night before staying me to wait.

Aderick would be escorted by torch-light by other married men to our chambers, ensuring that we were the only two in there for the full consummation.

His dark eyes glittered dangerously with want as I waited for the gyðja to take the hammer off my lap. I stood from my chair once she left and walked towards the women. Just before I left the hall, I looked towards my husband, my body flushing with heat and my lower body quivering from his stare that was glued to my body.

Letting out a shaky breath before following the women down the walkway towards our chambers, I tried to control my feverish body and shut my mind from over thinking of what would soon happen.

I was nervous, scared, yet ready to complete the marriage process. From our previous trysts, I knew Aderick would make this night one to remember. The way we came together with passion and fire between us was addicting and I knew it would be greater than ever as we finally joined together as one.

Now I was walking into my chambers, my palms beginning to sweat as I faced everyone. Ingrid moved quietly behind me to help unlace my constricting dress and placed it within a trunk. The other women were placing lighted candles around the room, getting out my night clothes for this eventide and tending to the fire. Undressing quickly, I pulled on my thin intricately stitched shift.

Once I was done, I pulled back the furs on the bed and laid against the decorated headboard. Now I had to wait.

The women and I talked quietly, about the food, dancing, and unimportant gossip happening within the clan. Thankfully they were distracting me for what was to come.

I played with the simple strings on my shift as I listened to their voices, but before Ingrid could respond, we heard a brief knock, making everyone hush instantly.

Aderick strode proudly through the doorway, followed by a few men that carried torches. Ragnar was one of them, the others I could not remember their names. But that was not crucial at the moment.

Aderick locked eyes with mine as he silently walked towards me. He raised a hand to caress my cheek, his thumb rubbing sensuously against my lower lip. Not paying any attention to the others that stood to watch us, he bent down and pressed a kiss to my waiting lips. I closed my eyes briefly before I reminded myself that we were not alone.

Delicately taking off my kransen with his fingertips, Aderick placed it on the desk before turning towards the group watching us, deliberately placing himself in front of me.