_{the smile that illuminated features weary from her
        journey felt almost foreign. its genuine nature, the
        thought that there was no tyrant to strangle what little
        life or spark of enjoyment it contained; all began to
        sink into the recesses of her psyche. it was imperative
        to remember that what was felt was to be fleeting, for
        the moment Kattegat was Ragnar’s once more she
        would have to return.} 

                                                                    _{( there were moments she damned
                                                                      her honour & the shackles of obligation.
                                                                      although the moment she would see
                                                                      Aslaug the dull sting of humiliation
                                                                      & memory would emerge. )}

        _{greeting those she had parted with years ago was
        never an obligation, it was done out of joy sprouting
        from seeing them again after living with the burdens
        of longing.}

                                                  _{❝ —- Hello, Floki. ❞}

        _{such words were the meager warning to her impending
        embrace, arms ensnaring his slender frame of the man
        she had considered family.}