ever since ragnar had accepted him back into his good graces he
had not taken anything for himself. had not dared to indulge in the
pleasures of life as he had before. the gods were either rewarding
him for his good deeds, for saving the live of his brother’s new wife
and children, or they were testing him. because if temptation took a
form for him, that form would be Lagertha. and here she was, curled
in his bed, content as a cat. looking very much as if she belonged there.
( though maybe that was because
he had imagined here there so many times before? )
so that was the real question. was she a reward or a test of will?
either way he was doomed to fail. he wanted her, his entire
body ached with the need to touch, covet, claim her for his own,
he would either indulge himself in her and be rejected or not
and lose his only shot. he could see no other options.
but in his mind he knew that they were good for each other. that their
hurts had made them jagged, given their souls sharp edges that would
spurn most people away. they were both so broken that they could fit
together in a perfect connection. they were both sheaths and swords
both dangerous and useless if they did not come together.
her chuckle was intoxicating, no matter how brief and fleeting it was
on instinct he reached out to trace his finger over the curve of her
cheek,
“ you have a beautiful laugh. i wish i could hear it more.”
touch may spark fear in Lagertha, but it sparks confidence in rollo. he
never has felt more alive, more invigorated than as he is allowed to
reach out and caress Lagertha’s soft skin. his heart is beating like the
drums of war, heavy and steady. this is all he wants, fear will not stop
him tonight not as it has stopped him so many times before. so when
a slight hand presses against his chest he presses forward, encouraging
the gesture as his own own slides to the small of her back. wanting to
keep her close, refusing to let her slip through his fingers this time.
”then my job is complete.”
he teased. eyes crinkling in amusement.
cupping Lagertha’s cheek with one large hand, he rubs
his thumb against the curve of her cheek once more. a
soft sigh leaves his lips. he stops, contemplates and then
makes his decision.
his desire for her had always been as all consuming as the ocean
just as powerful. just as deadly. tonight he is going to allow himself
to drown in the depths of his desire for her. if he does not make his
way to the surface tomorrow, then he will accept it willingly. he will
submit himself to the churning depths, sacrifice himself willing to
his love for her.
dipping his head forward rollo’s mouth lingered just a hairs width from
her own. he stops, fear gripping at his heart for a moment before he
takes the p l u n g e.
their lips come together soft at first, tentative and exploratory
as his fingers slide into her hair and tangle in the flaxen locks
that he has desired under his fingertips for so long. he tries to
pour all of his unreleased passion into the kiss, all of the tenderness
and affection that he had been holding on to under the visage
of indifference and casual lust.
as the effects of what ale she consumed began to dissipate,
the clarity only serving to deepen temptation, a body awaken,
a soul finally lost to companionship. although not on her feet,
the room appeared to reel around her until it soon fell out of
view, the whirling panic of opaque darkness receded to allow
focus. chaos would fall to static the centre of her attention was
the man at her side but was her more than just the diversion to
escape the detrimental cage of her own psyche?
LONELINESS had become her, LOSS materializing to be the
shadow which lingers so near to claim whatever she has. for a
brief passing of time, Lagertha wished to not know the sting of
her reality, to dwell on the notion that she was to leave what made
her most happy, to release what had given her hope for what the
future might bring.
( happiness was evanescent but presently,
the warrior’s company was to ease her mind,
to lull it into a quiet slumber only to unveil
the thoughtless appetite of what was forced
into latency. )
circumstance would cause them to become one, two parts
of a hazardous whole. much to Rollo’s vexation, it was Lagertha’s
barriers which kept them from merging, from growing beyond
turbulent moments & words meant to create distance, continually
severing what ties he strove to fabricate. obstacles were but a remote
memory, walls of stone slowly eroded by the stark recognition of
what she was to sacrifice as well as the mead that warmed her
from the pits of her being.
❝ my belly has been empty of laughter until now … ❞
a faint murmur served as further confirmation of his success,
breath dancing across his skin as careful contemplation seized
him, awaiting his decision with bated breath, waiting for this
curse to be lifted. rejuvenation had begun even without what
the deafening silence suggested for them now, her mirth had
been evidence of that seconds prior. & with the touch of his lips
to her own, what was ajar burst open, reminiscent of gates flooded
with their people to raid, to possess whatever they could.
reinless eagerness was not conveyed as she expected, the
shieldmaiden was not devoured at first chance. instead, the
connection was tentative, precarious, careful to not squander
the opportunity. soon enough, passion began to trickle into
the expression, the blunt edge of her teeth teasing the flesh
of his bottom lip whilst the limb upon his chest disappeared
into the overabundance of dark hair, curling strands round her
slender fingers to tug just slightly. her arm ensnared him completely,
keeping him near, the final blockade annihilated, a sigh expelled
from her lungs into the lip-lock —- one she prolonged without,
hesitation diving in deeper to d r o w n .
( ——– what had she done ?
this was far beyond
simple comfort. )