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bumblesimagines · 11 months

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Under The Moonlight

Part 11

Request: Yes or No

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Novgorod was what he expected and more. A fairly sized city protected by tall stone walls. Surrounding the exterior of the city sat ships on sleds, collecting snow as they waited to be used. (Y/N) noticed the tall buildings peeking out from beyond the walls with domes resting on top. Such an odd shape for a roof. Within the city were many merchants and traders, calling out offers and the services they provided.

(Y/N) stopped briefly, watching two men ride past him on a sled pulled by a bulky horse. Harald chuckled and patted his back before approaching one of the sellers and offering his silver ring in return for three bowls of broth. (Y/N) took the small wooden bowl into his hands and brought it to his face, letting the steam warm his face before he drank and chewed on the chunks of meat floating in the broth.

"What are they doing?" Leif asked and (Y/N) turned to look at him, following his line of sight toward two men in front of an old wooden building. One of the men sat on the snowy ground, slumped over and looking half-dead. The other man stumbled about before leaning back against the building and sliding down to the ground, head limply going from side to side.

"Opium," Harald answered, pitifully looking at the men and shaking his head. "They say its smoke enters your body and steals your soul."

"Why would they do it?"

"To escape this Earth. To talk to the dead." Harald shrugged lightly, finishing his broth and using his sleeve to wipe the snow and remains off his lips. (Y/N) hummed lightly, drinking the last of his broth and turning around at the sound of loud cheering coming from a large perched tent behind them. Harald grinned widely and nodded toward it, eagerly walking forward. The brothers followed him inside and (Y/N) took note of the multiple shirtless sweaty men of varying ages hanging about. Many with bruises. Wooden beams for lanterns and seating areas had been built within the tent. Toward the back of the tent, perched on a wooden stage of sorts, sat a middle-aged man drinking from his goblet. In the middle was an open area where two men connected at the wrist by rope swung at each other, blood dripping down their skin and bruises littering their bodies. Some men walked around the seating areas with bowls, taking coins from the spectators.

"That's him," Harald whispered to them, motioning to the middle-aged man (Y/N) had noticed minutes prior. Harald walked along the sidelines as the fight ended with one of the men roaring in victory. Before Harald could get to his uncle, two guards stepped in front of him, blocking his path. Frowning at them, Harald scoffed. "Let me by. I'm Prince Harald Sigurdsson. I'm here to see my uncle!" The guards refused to budge, even shoving Harald back when he got too close.

A gong sounded off and (Y/N) looked back at the middle, noticing two new shirtless men fighting each other. Suddenly, Harald handed Leif his sword and rushed forward, kicking the man holding the other down. The second man scrambled to his feet and stood up, only for Harald to whirl around and punch him. Turning to face his surprised uncle, Harald spoke despite being swarmed by guards, "What this fight needs is a Viking named Prince Harald Sigurdsson of Norway, great-grandson of Harald Finehair and blood relative of the esteemed Yaroslav the Wise!"

"Stop!" Yaroslav ordered, standing from his seat. He stopped and squinted down at Harald, hooking his fingers into the belt around his waist and raising a brow. "Harald?"

Shoving away the guards, Harald panted and greeted him. "Uncle."

"Look at you... What has brought you to Novgorod?" Yaroslav questioned curiously, eyeing the worn clothes on his body. Harald looked far from princely with his long snow-covered beard and messy hair. Unlike his nephew, Yaroslav appeared well-put together. He wore black clothes with gold designs embroidered on them. He had short curly black hair that swooped delicately over his forehead and a neatly trimmed beard. From everything Harald had told them, Yaroslav was a reasonable and hospitable man.

"It's a long story, Uncle. One told better over food and drink." Harald responded and a large smirk spread across Yaroslav's face.

Everything afterward passed by in a blur. They were taken to the finest inn in the city and given rooms where they bathed and changed into fresh clothes before being taken to a brightly lit room. Many colors covered the walls and the fabrics the people wore were eye-catching. (Y/N) supposed when one lived in a barren land, it was only natural to want to stand out. They sat at a long table with other guests, though Harald sat near his uncle. They were served a lot of food and given wine to drink. Harald spoke with his uncle and another man while Leif listened in on their conversation and (Y/N) occupied himself with the food.

"Greenlanders!" Yaroslav called out to them and (Y/N) paused mid-chew, turning his head toward the ruler. Yarslav grinned at them. (Y/N) wondered if everyone related to Harald was so friendly. "They have language at the edge of the world, don't they?"

"Last time I was there," Leif responded as chatter at the table ceased and eyes turned to look at them curiously. (Y/N) swallowed down his food and licked his lips, glancing at Harald. The prince smiled at him encouragingly.

"And tell us, what is it like to live so removed from civilization?"

"Greenland is quiet," Leif answered again and shrugged lightly. Yaroslav stared at him, slowly nodding as his gaze flickered between the brothers and then to Harald. Not a good enough reply to quench the ruler's curiosity.

"Quiet, and...?"

"Gives you time to think about things. At night, we would watch the norðurljós. Colors of all the heavens would light up the sky." Leif smiled, looking across the table at his brother, gaze turning fond as he spoke. The woman beside Leif watched him with a warm smile. "We heard stories when we were younger that they were the reflections of the Valkyries' armor. (Y/N)'s mother had a different story, though. When the moon is low, and the sea is sleeping, you can hear the songr of the hvlar swimming at the bottom of the ocean. And then, all at once, they explode from the darkness. Mouths open wide enough to swallow ships." (Y/N) smiled. He could still remember when his mother sat them outside to watch the dancing lights in the sky while she told them the story.

"I hated Greenland when I lived there," Leif confessed with a grimace, gaze falling onto the table. "Now I miss it. I miss the people I knew there."

"I understand that," Yaroslav said with a hint of longing in his voice. Reaching for his cup, he lifted it in the air and smiled widely. "Welcome to Novgorod, where, unfortunately, quiet does not exist." Laughter scattered across the table and the guests raised their cups in turn. (Y/N) sipped on his wine and returned to his food, finishing his plate, and then hearing Yaroslav raise his voice at Harald.

"I cannot risk upsetting him or his crazy father just so that you can fight for something you never had!" He shouted and Harald looked away from him with a frown, leaning back in his seat as silence fell over the table again. Never taking his green eyes off Harald, Yaroslav continued more calmly. "As I see it, beloved nephew, you have two options: return to Kattegat and swear fealty to Olaf-"

"No."

"-Or do what Vikings have always done. Reivent yourself." His words made Harald's brows furrow but an interest blossomed in his eyes.

Once Yaroslav finished eating, the dinner was considered finally over and most quests excused themselves to their lodgings. (Y/N) bid his brother goodnight and headed to his own lodgings, looking forward to sleeping in a proper bed that wouldn't make his muscles ache. Pushing open the door and stepping inside, he couldn't bring himself to be surprised when he noticed Harald sitting on the edge of the bed with his arms on his knees. With his gaze on the floor, (Y/N) couldn't get a clear view of his face. (Y/N) closed the door and stepped further into the room, slipping his dagger off his waist and setting it down on a chair before walking closer to Harald. He gently began running his fingers through Harald's soft locks, feeling Harald nuzzle against him and sigh heavily.

"My uncle is well within his rights to refuse me in favor of Canute. He claims the southern river trade route is blocked by a group of brutal nomadics called Pechenegs. Trade is what keeps Novgorod flourishing. He cannot risk going to war with Canute and losing his northern trade." Harald explained quietly, arms slowly slithering around (Y/N).

"What will you do then? Reinvent yourself?"

"Yes." Harald tilted his head upward, pressing his chin against (Y/N)'s stomach. Chuckling when (Y/N) gave him a puzzled look, he explained. "I cannot keep expecting others to help me. I need to work for it. I just need to find something that will sell for a good price."

"And what will you do then?"

"I will gather an army and take Norway," Harald answered confidently and (Y/N) hummed softly, tucking a brown strand behind Harald's ear. Harald smiled lovingly, leaning into (Y/N)'s hand and pressing a fluttery kiss to his wrist. (Y/N) shifted slightly, pressing the front of his feet to his ankles and carefully slipping out of his boots.

"I hope you have a proper plan this time, Harald. We do not need a repeat of Kattegat." (Y/N) murmured, shedding the first layer of clothes and stepping around the bed. Laying down, he moved under the many warm blankets and snuggled into the pillow, watching Harald take his boots off and get comfortable.

"I know, my love." Harald reached out and tugged him closer, rubbing his hands against the fabric of (Y/N)'s tunic.

"Harald, we should talk about what I said back in-"

"We've had a long day, love," Harald interrupted quietly, kissing his forehead and pulling him further against his chest. Resting his chin on top of his head, Harald stared forward at the dim lantern keeping the room lit as his mind desperately tried to scrub away the words that made his heart ache. He'd found a love that made him stronger. He couldn't lose that. Not after the betrayals from Canute and his own brother. "Get some rest."

➸ ➸ ➸ ➸ ➸ ➸

Stepping out into the cold, (Y/N) felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. For a split second, he could see the icy ocean in the distance and hear the roaring wind slipping between the sparse trees near their home. But those visions were replaced by bustling crowds and the sound of chatter. With a sigh, (Y/N) headed down a staircase, easily finding Harald amongst the crowd. He spoke with a man selling all sorts of furs. (Y/N)'s brows furrowed at the sight.

"Sleep well?" His brother asked as he approached, voice gruff and slightly shakey. His head turned back in the direction of the old building where opium was given, gaze lingering on it for far longer than (Y/N)'s liking. Taking Leif's arm gently, he pulled Leif's attention off the building and onto him but Leif averted his eyes upon seeing the frown on (Y/N)'s face.

"Leif-"

"What is Harald up to?" Leif cleared his throat, tugging his arm free and quickening his pace to greet the prince. (Y/N)'s frown only deepened and he followed after him, eyeing the furs bundled up and scattered across the tables. Harald grinned widely when he spotted them, stepping away from the seller and extending his arms to either side of him.

"I have a new plan!" He declared, slinging his arms around their shoulders and bringing them closer to the tables. "I must fund my own army since Yaroslav will not back one for me. I intend to buy as many furs as possible here and sell them in Constantinople."

"And how do you plan to get there?" Leif questioned, looking at his brother and quirking a brow in question. (Y/N) only shrugged in response.

"I will worry about that detail tomorrow, my friend." Harald chuckled rather sheepishly, tightening his hold on the brothers again and dragging them away from the table and toward the large fighting ring tent. (Y/N) grimaced, hearing an eruption of cheers slip out from the tent. "Today, we must make money doing what we're good at."

Just like the prior day, the tent had been packed with both spectators and fighters. The fighters all dressed similarly. They wore no armor and carried no weapons. The only article of clothing on them were loose pants, leaving the rest of their body exposed to their opponents. A quick way of painting one's body in purple and green. The next fighter had been the victorious one from the day before. He was a tall dark-skinned man with short dark hair braided back tightly against his skull. When he turned slightly under the lantern light, (Y/N) spotted the scars littering his body. He carried an air of confidence, searching the crowd for any fighter bold enough to step up to the challenge as another man, his partner most likely, stepped forward.

"Who wants to bet against Kaysan, the great African warrior?" His partner called out, cackling when no one stepped forward. Shorter than Kaysan and less muscled, the man had fair skin and big brown eyes filled with arrogance. His hair had been cut short and trimmed even shorter on the sides. He seemed particularly proud of Kaysan, exchanging smirks with him when the other fighters looked away. "No one wants to bet against Kaysan?"

When no fighters stepped up, the man looked toward one of his own, motioning for him to step forward. "Maybe some of you will bet against Kaysan now!"

"I'll bet against both of them!" (Y/N) blinked, head snapping in Harald's direction. The prince stepped forward, turning sideways to point back at Leif. (Y/N) scoffed softly. "Two against two."

"Harald," Leif called quietly, lightly shaking his head and glancing around as the crowd grew louder and tossed their coins into the bowls the collectors carried.

"Come on," Harald breathed, walking toward them and clapping his hands over Leif's arms. "We need the money."

"You need the money." Leif chided and frowned.

"We're not gonna fight for the entertainment of these people, Harald." (Y/N) told him, gaze hardening. Harald looked at him, taking in the disappointment on his face. Pursing his lips, Harald nodded and sighed, looking back toward the three men.

"I have a better idea!" Harald called and approached Kaysan's partner, smirking at him. "If this man accepts my bet of 100 hryvnya, I'll fight against both of his fighters." Harald looked back at the brothers, meeting (Y/N)'s eyes. His lover shook his head at him but Harald ignored it, giving him a small smile instead and looking back at the man. Kaysan chuckled softly under his breath as Harald and his partner shook hands. Harald walked off to get dressed and Kaysan powdered his hands, rubbing them together and walking by the two brothers.

"Don't worry," He smirked lazily. "I'll try not to kill your brother."

"I can't promise he'll return the favor," Leif murmured and Kaysan chuckled before strolling back toward the center. (Y/N) folded his arms over his chest, feeling every muscle in his body tense. The crowd shouted Kaysan's name and poured more coin into the bowls. If Kaysan had so many fans, it meant he fought pretty often. And won. Harald's carelessness would get him killed, (Y/N) just knew it would.

Harald returned and powdered his hands, looking at the brothers with a confident smile. When the gong sounded off, he reared up his fists and charged first, punching the second fighter in his stomach and then connecting his fist to Kaysan's jaw. Kaysan stumbled back from the hit and Harald turned, swinging at the second fighter who blocked most of his hits. Grabbing the man by the arms, Harald turned and threw him to the ground, causing Kaysan to trip over him. Taking advantage of the moment, Harald kicked Kaysan in the face and stepped back, waiting for the men to get back onto their feet.

Kaysan stood first, snarling as he swung at Harald. Harald dodged and blocked, landing a hit on Kaysan's side before pressing his forearm to Kaysan's chest and pushing him back against a support beam. Kaysan swung at Harald's stomach and Harald grunted, baring his teeth and punching Kaysan's cheek. He turned in time to see the other fighter close to him and ducked before the punch could land. Harald grabbed the man's leg and tossed himself onto the ground, rolling over and forcing the man to fall back. As he moved to stand, Kaysan charged, kneeing him in the stomach. Harald fell back, grunting softly and quickly moving onto his hands and knees. Kaysan grabbed his long hair and pulled him up onto his feet, grasping the sides of Harald's face and bringing his head down while also bringing his own knee up. (Y/N) grimaced when Kaysan's knee connected to Harald's face.

Breaking free of Kaysan's grip, Harald dodged the punches thrown by both fighters and caught Kaysan's forearm, tossing his leg up and nearly hitting Kaysan in the groin. He punched Kaysan's face again but before he could turn, the other fighter, wrapped his arms around his waist and heaved him up, tossing him down on the ground. The weight of Harald forced the fighter to fall as well and the two men took big gulps of air as they recovered from the fall. Once orientated again, Harald moved forward and got on top of the fighter but the fighter quickly rolled over, shoving Harald off of him and right next to Kaysan. Harald tried scrambling back but Kaysan loomed over him, large hands reaching for Harald's throat. (Y/N) wrapped his fingers around his necklace and winced, almost looking away when Harald was picked up by the throat and tossed back down on the ground. With that, the gong rang again, signaling the first round was over. Leif reached back, taking the cup of water someone offered him for Harald.

Harald staggered onto his feet, drenched in sweat. His hair stuck to his face and trickled down from his lips. Harald walked toward the brothers, panting heavily and chuckling breathlessly. "See what you're missing?" Harald laughed, taking the cup and drinking.

"You're gonna get yourself killed." (Y/N) muttered, running his thumb back and forth over the bones and listening to the hollers from the crowd. He didn't miss the way one spectator shouted for Harald's death.

Tugging at his own necklace, Harald's grin widened. "I've got my lucky charm." He reminded him, chugging back more of the water and cringing at the taste of metallic. Leif eyed the other two fighters as they drank and gathered themselves again.

"Watch the left of the big one. He's slow to defend." Leif quietly told him and Harald hummed, handing back the cup and taking in a big gulp of air before turning around and walking back toward the center.

Once the gong sounded off, Kaysan attacked first and Harald dodged his first punch, only for Kaysan to throw another punch at him with his other arm and hit the side of his face. Harald notably staggered more, the exhaustion of the first match beginning to take hold. Luckily, Harald recovered quickly and dodged the next punch, rearing up and repeatedly punching Kaysan in the face before shoving him back to have some space when he backhanded the other fighter. He turned back to Kaysan and attempted to throw another punch but Kaysan blocked it and shot his arm forward, grabbing Harald by the throat again and sneering down at him. The other fighter came up behind Harald, repeating his move of wrapping his arms around him and tossing him to the ground, only this time he landed on Harald. With the man on his back, Harald elbowed his side only to get kicked down by Kaysan. The other fighter moved fully onto Harald's back and slipped his arm around Harald's neck, forcing his face up for Kaysan to kick. But Harald used his weight to push back against the fighter on him, rolling over and causing Kaysan to miss. Before he could land some hits on the smaller fighter, Kaysan kicked his side again, hitting him hard enough to force him away and onto his back.

As Kaysan approached, Harald threw a punch at his groin and Kaysan instantly leaned over in pain, giving Harald a clear opportunity to punch his square on the nose. Kaysan fell back from the force and Harald rolled onto his belly but before he could get up the other fighter crawled toward him and grabbed his ankle. Harald easily kicked his face and got up, letting the two men gather themselves and stand. The other fighter moved first, stumbling forward with a bleeding nose. Harald wrapped his arm around the man and used it to hold himself up and kick Kaysan in the stomach with both feet. With his arms still around the fighter, he used his weight to turn and slam the man onto the ground. Getting on top of him, Harald punched him again and again until there was a sickening crack and Harald got off the heaving man.

With his fighters losing, Kaysan's partner looked at his last fighter and motioned for him to get into the fight. (Y/N) glanced toward the man at the gong but he remained still, even as the new fighter grabbed Harald from behind and tossed him toward a support beam. With the fight turning into three vs one, Leif shed his coat as Kaysan got on top of Harald. Harald raised his arms up to block Kaysan's repetitive punches while the new fighter checked on the other man.

"Fuck!" (Y/N) hissed when Leif charged, tackling Kaysan off bloody and bruised Harald. He got a punch in before standing to face the third fighter and grabbing his arms. Leif shoved him back against a support beam, taking the side of his face and slamming it against the beam again. When the man fell to the floor, Leif wrapped his arms around his neck and rolled onto the floor so the man was on top of him. Wrapping his legs around the man's body, he squeezed his forearm around the man's neck, and then seemingly out of instinct, he snapped it. Kaysan and his partner quickly fled the tent, whether out of fear or not wanting to pay, (Y/N) couldn't tell nor force himself to care. Harald scrambled onto his feet and pulled Leif up.

"We won, Leif!" Harald laughed, holding Leif by the shoulders and lightly shaking him. Leif panted, breath going in and out in short bursts. His widened eyes stared down at the dead man at his feet and (Y/N) picked up Leif's coats, approaching them and handing them off. Leif slipped them on and quickly walked away, looking disoriented and panicked.

"(Y/N)-" Harald began, reaching out toward him but (Y/N) ripped his arm away when Harald's fingers grazed it. One would've thought Harald had burned him. Harald's throat tightened when (Y/N) didn't even look back at him as he walked away from him and exited the tent.

(Y/N) caught up to his brother, his heart cracking when Leif flinched. "Come, Leif." (Y/N) whispered, rubbing his hands against Leif's arms and guiding him back toward the inn. Leif's breathing slowly returned to normal but his gaze remained distant. Guilt clouded his eyes. (Y/N) headed toward Leif's room, opening the door and closing it behind them.

"I... I killed a man." Leif breathed out, slumping down on his bed and burying his face in his hands.

"You saved Harald's life." (Y/N) pointed out softly, taking a seat beside his brother and rubbing circles along his back. But they both knew it hadn't been the act itself that had shaken Leif. It'd been the way he lost control of himself, just like their father did. For a man who spent most of his adulthood hoping to prove he wasn't like his father, flipping the switch so easily meant everything he worked toward was a mere mask. It meant a day would come when he'd fully lose himself to blind rage and bloodlust.

Inhaling deeply, Leif pulled his hands away from his face and (Y/N) noticed the unshed tears in his eyes. "I did not need to kill him... it-it just happened so quickly-"

"I know, Leif." (Y/N) cooed, wrapping his arms around Leif's shoulders and pulling him close. Placing a hand on the side of Leif's face, (Y/N) kissed the top of his head and murmured soft comforts into his ear. He sat still on the bed, allowing his brother to weep for as long as he wanted. For months, Leif had been swallowing his grief and letting it eat him up inside. (Y/N) waited until Leif grew tired before letting him have a moment alone.

Stepping out of Leif's room and heading toward his own, (Y/N) heard the distant clap of thunder. When he entered his room, he spotted Harald sitting on one of the chairs and tending to the countless bruises and cuts on his body. Harald gently dabbed at his skin with a piece of wet cloth, wiping away the dust and blood on his body. (Y/N) stared at him. No part of him wanted to help Harald with his injuries.

"A friend of my uncle's has given us two thousand hryvnya to get him to Constantinople. I've already bought the furs. All we must do now is-"

"Leif killed a man for you... and you're talking about furs?" (Y/N) remained rooted in his spot by the door, watching Harald pause his movements and look up at him. Harald swallowed, squeezing blood and water from the cloth before setting it on the table and standing up.

"I understand you're upset-"

"Upset? I'm exhausted, Harald. I've been away from home for almost a year, I've been forced into two wars, and my brother isn't well. You... You are so..." (Y/N) pressed his quivering lips together, tearing his eyes away from Harald and shakily exhaling. The disappointment and sadness washed away, becoming muddled with anger and exhaustion. A small chuckle escaped him. "You and your brother are the same, Harald. All you desire is power. You've spent your whole life wanting a throne that was never yours."

Clenching his jaw, Harald spoke, "My great-grandfather was Harald Finehair. My family has sat on the throne for many years. Olaf promised the throne would pass to me and it has been given to a boy instead. The throne belongs to my family, (Y/N). It does not belong to the son of an oathbreaker."

"It belongs to your family, yes. But not you. You were born too late. You never had a claim to it." (Y/N)'s tone turned icy and filled with irritation, teeth grinding together as his eyes shot back to look Harald in the face. The prince stared at him, disbelief settling on his face. "The throne would've been yours long ago if you had a proper claim."

"Not true."

"You think all this has happened for no reason? Canute's betrayal? Olaf's betrayal? Why else would the Gods stop you from sitting the throne? You were never meant to be king, Harald!" (Y/N) snapped abruptly and Harald flinched slightly, lips parting. His eyes flickered between (Y/N), his hands growing clammy and his throat tightened. Harald shook his head repetitively, collecting his shirt and coats. His gaze remained downcast when he walked forward, arm brushing against (Y/N)'s as he walked past him. The door slammed loudly behind him, nearly rattling the walls. (Y/N) felt himself deflate, staggering forward toward his bed and collapsing onto it. Curling into himself, he stared at the fireplace, listening to the fire crackle and the thunder grow closer. Pain and guilt flooded his veins like a wave. But he couldn't deny the trickle of relief.

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writersuffertwice · 2 years

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power of words

vikings: valhalla

harald sigurdsson x reader

The Great Hall was filled with warriors and notable rulers who had come to aid King Canute in his quest for vengeance. Everyone wanted their chance at claiming glory and earning a reputation that would outlive most men. I was seated on the left side of Jarl Haakon and Canute was seated to her right. Olaf sat next to Canute, who was more than happy to be rubbing elbows with another king. His brother, Harald, had been seated beside me, with their men stationed on either end of the table. Every now and then, I could feel Harald flick his eyes to look at me, though no words ever passed his lips.

"Are you enjoying yourself, princess?" Jarl Haakon asked.

"Of course," I feigned a smile. My words were intended for those seated around me, but my eyes were scanning the crowd for the familiar furs I had come to associate with the Greenlanders. "Kattegat holds a special place in my heart."

"Yes," Jarl Haakon agreed. "I know how important it is to your family."

I hummed at her words, spotting Leif Eriksson at the back of the Great Hall. He was leaning against one of the pillars, his eyes scanning over the growing crowd.

"Forgive me, princess," Harald began slowly. I gave him my attention, unwilling to draw attention to Leif or his friends that would get them into trouble. "But I wasn't aware your family had any connections to Kattegat."

"Of course, you didn't, Prince Harald. It's not something I often tell. Especially not to a man whose family stole it from mine."

Harald's brows knit together. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."

"I heard your words the other night," I began, ignoring his comment. "You're quite a speaker."

"Did I impress you? Clearly, my fighting skills did not."

I laughed, recalling the mockery I'd made of his sparring session a few hours ago. "You're not a bad fighter. Leif Eriksson is simply better than you," I argued. "But I've never heard someone diffuse a crowd so quickly. Not with tensions so high. You should consider diffusing all of the world's problems. We'd be grateful to you for it."

"Didn't realize you thought so highly of me, princess," Harald gloated.

"You would have no way of knowing, Prince Harald," I smiled. "I wouldn't expect to hear positive comments from me again. They are few and far between."

Harald scoffed. "Noted."

I caught Leif's body moving through the crowd and nodded my head to him subtly. To cover whatever act he and the other Greenlanders were about to do, I averted my attention back to Harald.

"Do you know much about me, Prince Harald?"

My question piqued his interest and he adjusted his posture accordingly. He turned to face me, a curious but intrigued look on his face.

"I do not know nearly as much as I wish I did," Harald admitted with a sly smile. "What would I have to do to change that?"

Harald Sigurdsson had a reputation of being a massive flirt. It wasn't hard to capture his attention and at the moment, I was grateful for it. When the Greenlanders came to Kiev and asked for help finding a man that had done one of their own wrong, I was hesitant to lend a hand. They weren't forthcoming with many details about what had happened or who they were looking for, only that he would turn up to help King Canute's army.

Leif eventually told me who his father was and that they needed a cover to get into Kattegat. The only reason I had agreed to their plan was because of the information Freydís had given me.

Freydís showed me the scarred cross on her back, marking her assailant as a Christian. My own distaste for the Christians was no secret, given what they had done to my great-grandfather ages ago. On our voyage to Kattegat, Freydís painted the entire picture of what had happened to her several years ago. She said that a man had come into their village while her father and brother were away, assaulting her, and leaving a horrible scar to remember him by.

When we arrived in Kattegat, Freydís had no trouble pointing out her attacker as one of the trusted men under the servitude of King Olaf, the Christian Saint. He'd terrorized my cousin before and any chance to make him suffer, even the slightest bit, was well worth it. I knew he and Harald didn't get along as well as they wanted everyone to believe, and I knew I could use that to distract them both long enough for Freydís and Leif to strike.

Phase one was grabbing Harald's attention during his and Leif's sparring session, and the second was during the feist, where I'd boost his ego.

Over Harald's shoulder, I noticed that the target, and Olaf's henchman Gunnar, had become interested in Harald and I's conversation. Over his shoulder was Freydís, biding her time to carry out her justice.

I eyed the cross around Harald’s neck and lightly tugged it between my fingers. Harald’s body gave into the action, his eyes focused only on my face.

“What does your Christian God say about your chances?”

“I don’t think it works that way, Princess.”

“Hm, forgive me, Prince Harald. The ways of your Christian God are still lost on me.”

“Isn’t your father a Christian?” Gunner asked, inserting himself in our conversation.

“He is,” I nodded, keeping my gaze on Harald. “But I’m not. So I don’t know the ways. I don’t understand them.”

“Why ask me and not him?” Harald asked, his voice low. He didn’t seem to appreciate Gunnar’s intrusion anymore than I did.

“Because I know you’ll tell me the truth. You have no reason to lie. Besides, I’m not sure I’ll like what I find.”

“Fear is never a good reason to avoid things. It’s all the more reason to explore.”

Harald’s words didn’t linger in the air for more than a few seconds before Freydís crept up behind Gunnar and slit his throat. The action was so fast that had Olaf not sprung up from the table, I wouldn’t have been sure that it actually happened. I thought that maybe I had somehow lept forward in time, watching his death happening before it actually had. The clamoring of the Great Hall and Olaf’s booming voice was the only realizations that revealed that what I had seen was real.

“Grab her!” Olaf shouted, anger clinging to each syllable. “Don’t let her leave.”

Canute and Jarl Haakon were on their feet, eyes trained on the woman in front of them. Harald remained seated, his arm outstretched in front of me as if I were the one in any danger. I rolled my eyes at his heroic willingness to protect me, and shifted in my seat rather than standing.

Leif quickly came to his sister’s side and my eyes locked on him. What no one at this table understood was that there was a just reason for Gunnar’s death. No matter what Leif, Freydís, or the other Greenlanders said, they’d never listen to them. It was I they needed to advocate for them.

“She must be held accountable for her crimes,” Olaf yelled, earning several cries in agreement.

“I will decide the judgment in my Hall,” Jarl Haakon argued.

“If I may, Jarl Haakon,” I began slowly, rising from my chair. She offered a nod to grant her permission. “Do not punish her. He was a cruel man who took advantage of what he thought were vulnerable women unable to defend themselves. He had to pay for his crimes the hard way. I ask that you not punish her for his mistakes.”

“What do you know of this?” she asked.

“Enough.”

“That’s not enough,” Olaf insisted. “There is no proof of whatever it is you speak of.”

“Olaf is right,” Jarl Haakon agreed. “We need more than that before we decide what to do with her.”

“It is not my story to tell,” I reasoned. “But a lot of people in this hall are women. All of you men have a mother. Many of you have sisters. Some of you have wives and daughters. What would you do to protect her honor? To ensure that justice is achieved?”

Many people in the hall began murmuring amongst themselves. Leif and Freydís gazed at me curiously, but Leif wasn’t nearly as confused as his sister.

“Tell me, King Olaf. What would you do if a man rode into your home and harmed your wife while you were away? Would you tell her to forget? Try to convince her that it didn’t happen? Or would you travel to the ends of the world to make sure he paid for his crimes?”

Olaf gripped the edge of the table, his knuckles growing pale.

“She can prove it,” one of the other Greenlanders had offered, hoping it would prove the point I was trying to make on their behalf. “Show them, Freydís.”

She hesitated, eyes cutting the room coldly. I knew how she could prove her story to be true but I also knew there would be someone that would try to excuse it. Her skeptical gaze crossed mine and I did the best I could to comfort her. I nodded softly in her direction, hoping that if my actions hadn’t already proved it, that she would understand I was still on her side.

She took a few steps forward, tugging at the furs that clad the upper half of her body. Once they gave way, she peeled at the hem of her shirt and hoisted the back of it to her shoulders. The skin of her back was exposed to every set of eyes in the Great Hall and no one dared to question what the Greenlander could have been referring to when he said Freydís could prove it. Etched into her skin was the flesh-colored cross she’d shown me days prior.

“That’s enough,” I reasoned, goading her to put her shirt back the way it was. “A Chrisitan did this.”

“How do we know it wasn’t a Pagan wanting to frame someone else?” Olaf bit back. “Extinction is what you people want, isn’t it? Eradicating our beliefs?”

“I think you have us confused, King Olaf. That is what you seek.”

“We will hold them until we’ve made up our minds on their punishment,” Jarl Haakon announced. “I’ll announce my ruling in the morning. Take them away.”

Before I could turn to her, Harald’s palm clasped around my wrist. His fingers were gentle despite the warning undertones of the gesture. His shoulder brushed my back as he rose to his feet behind me. “You’ve got a way with words yourself, Princess,” he muttered. “Take it from me. You might not want to poke the bear just yet. Tomorrow, you’ll speak your piece.”

“And if I don’t want to wait until tomorrow?” I asked, watching as Leif and Freydís were dragged through the crowd and out of sight.

“Trust me, Princess. Your pleas will fall on deaf ears here. In private, people are much more willing to listen. There, they can change their mind without their men thinking less of them. Here, they’ll forever be remembered as a coward who didn’t stand his ground.”

I turned over my shoulder, facing Harald entirely. “Did you just use your power of words on me?”

Harald smiled softly. “Depends,” he answered smugly. “Did it work?”

#harald sigurdsson imagine #harald sigurdsson #vikings valhalla #vikings valhalla imagine

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aikaterini-drag · 10 months

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Eternal bros 🩵 Harald and Leif, the dynamic duo that makes Vikings: Valhalla an epic saga of friendship and showcases the bonds that can be forged even amidst the chaos of war.

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therealvikingstrash · 2 years

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Title: Tradition Rating: Teen and Up Audiences Pairing: Freydis/Harald A/N: My entry for the Prompt Flower Crown for the Summer Solstice event of @vikingsevents Words: 1,2k

Read on AO3:

#trashy queue #vikings valhalla #vikingssummer #flower crown #vtrash writes #vtrash edits #freydis x harald #freydis eriksdotter #prince harald sigurdsson

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indisden · 1 year

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Leo Suter as Harald Sigurdsson (Vikings Valhalla Season 2)

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lordxbebbanburg · 1 year

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Introducing Harald Sigurdsson

Norwegian | Prince of Norway | Warrior | Future husband of Leif Eriksson

( ╳┊❝ Int: Harald Sigurdsson ❞. ) ( ╳┊❝ Photo: Harald Sigurdsson ❞. ) ( ╳┊❝ Musing: Harald Sigurdsson ❞. ) ( ╳┊❝ Headcanon: Harald Sigurdsson ❞. ) ( ╳┊❝ Crush: Harald Sigurdsson ❞. ) ( ╳┊❝ About: Harald Sigurdsson ❞. ) ( ╳┊❝ Pairing: Harald & Leif ❞. )

#( ╳┊❝ Int: Harald Sigurdsson ❞. )#( ╳┊❝ Pairing: Harald & Leif ❞. )#( ╳┊❝ Photo: Harald Sigurdsson ❞. )#( ╳┊❝ Musing: Harald Sigurdsson ❞. )#( ╳┊❝ Headcanon: Harald Sigurdsson ❞. )#( ╳┊❝ Crush: Harald Sigurdsson ❞. )#( ╳┊❝ About: Harald Sigurdsson ❞. )

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miss-madness67 · 1 year

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Warm Welcome (Harald Sigurdsson)

You are the welcome committee for Prince Harald.

You dreaded being the designated welcome committee for Prince Harald. Jarl Haakon, your mother, was too busy playing hostess for the rest of the travelers to care for a man with no crown. And thus, it became your duty to wait for the Prince’s arrival. You briefly remember meeting him a few years back when you were a kid, but your memories are hazy and indescribable. If you are not mistaken, he was a cocky kid, not that you blame him considering his social status. Nevertheless, he was too high up his horse that he never noticed the rumors going on about him. Not even now, as people talk about him and the unlikeliness of his brother giving the throne to him after his death. Most of the time, you rather not involve yourself in such matters. You are comfortable enough being a shieldmaiden and staying away from political schemes. It does not help, however, that your mother is the Jarl of Kattegat.

When the boat from Ringerike finally docks, you are chilled to the bone from the harsh winds. All you want to do is curl up in your bed after a long day of training. So, it is not surprising to say that you are angsty at the Prince for unknowingly forcing you to give up on your comforts. He does not come alone, but with a small fleet at his side. There is a clear air of royalty coming off him as he approaches you. Harald looks at you up and down, that cocky smile you remember too well adorning his face. He is handsome, and you can openly admit it; his face is masculine and pretty in an almost painful way to watch.

Once he is a few feet away from you, he greets you happily. You give it to him, Harald is charming. “Prince Harald, it is a pleasure to see you after all these years. I take that you are well?” You try to muster your best smile, but it is not an ounce like his.

His response is smooth as ever. “It has been a while indeed. You look as beautiful as ever.” You are surprised he recognizes you.

“My mother has asked me to accompany you to your lodging, she is quite busy at the moment, but she will greet you as soon as she is free.” You want to get this over with as fast as you can.

Apparently, you are not as good at pretending as you think you are, because Harald sees right through you.

“Very well, I thank you a lot for your hospitality.” Instead of sounding angry, though, he seems amused. “I will follow you to my chambers… and perhaps after we can both rest, you look tired. I have heard a warm bath always helps.” That is probably not the first time he has used that line, but you have to admit the look in his eyes makes you consider the proposal.

This was likewise my first Vikings Valhalla writing. Would you like me to write more of that fandom?

#vikings valhalla fanfiction #vikings valhalla #harald sigurdsson #harald sigurdsson x you #harald sigurdsson x reader #fanfiction #vikings #harald hardrada #harald hardrada x you #harald hardrada x reader #fanfic #vikings fanfiction #flirting #kattegat #jarl haakon

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all-is-fair-in-love-and-war · 2 years

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Okay...here is the intersting thing about Harald Sigurdsson and why I think I like him so much.

He is a prince, obviously well born and probably wanted for nothing. I mean he is the great grandson of Harald Finehair. But he is kind, he is humble and he genuinely cares about those around him.

BUT, now I don't mean this in a bad way, but he does have a princely arrogance about him. From the way, he holds himself, to how he talks. He throws his princely status around a bit but not in a bad way. Not to build himself up, or to bring others down but to give a sense of his honor, that he can be trusted. He feels responsible for the people and the land and its well-being.

You usually have the character who is royal or highborn and doesn't want it, sees it as a burden and looks down on his blood, or something like that, and tries to be better and good and is kind. Then you have the opposite, someone who is proud of their heritage and is arrogant because of it, rude, and using his power against others. Their power or royal status becomes their whole personality or something to that effect. (These are like extreme examples but you get it)

I think Harald is the perfect in-between

He wears the furs and fine clothes, he doesn’t shy away from the royal blood, and he embraces it. Not because he wants the power, not because he wants to shove it in people's faces and use it against them, but because he respects what his blood means, he respects the weight on his shoulders and wants to be worthy of it. Yeah, he is arrogant, but he isn't ignorant. He's proud of his heritage and he wants to be worthy of it.

#I have feelings #headcanon #viknigs headcanon #harald sigurdsson #leo suter #a medici and an orsini #rp #humble and penitent be damned #mun thoughts #ooc

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theopulenthq · 1 month

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Welcome to The Opulent HQ, Rawr and Nix! Please review the checklist and send in your account within 24 hours!

{jordan fisher, 29, cis man, he/him} We are so glad to see you safe, PRINCE CYRUS BADI of EGYPT! It’s dangerous out in the world these days, but I hear that you are VALIANT and FAITHFUL enough to handle it. Just don’t let your UNPREDICTABILITY bring you down! Stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOUR BIRTH FAMILY VALUED MONEY OVER YOU. {nix, 23, est, she/they, none!}

adopted, joanna stuart’s ex wc

{yu shuxin/esther yu, 27, demi woman, she/they} We are so glad to see you safe, PRINCESS QING XIAN LI of CHINA! It’s dangerous out in the world these days, but I hear that you are PERCEPTIVE and DILIGENT enough to handle it. Just don’t let your RESTLESSNESS bring you down! Stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out EVERY SO OFTEN YOU SEND BITS OF YOUR FAMILY’S MONEY TO YOUR CHILDHOOD FRIEND OUT OF GUILT. {nix x2}

{Mads Mikkelsen, 58, he/him} We are so glad to see you safe, REGENT RULER EIRIK SIGURDSSON of NORWAY! It’s dangerous out in the world these days, but I hear that you are PERCEPTIVE and RESOURCEFUL enough to handle it. Just don’t let your REMORSE bring you down! Stay on your guard, because with your secret being at risk for exposure, you wouldn’t want everyone to find out YOU WERE BLINDLY INFATUATED WITH KING HARALD, AND KILLED A MAN FOR HIM TO PRESERVE HIS REIGN. {rawr, 28, GMT+1, she/her, no triggers}

#theopulent.accepted

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phenomenal1500 · 11 months

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~Wake Up, My Love~

Masterlist

A/N: This was requested by DEVILHORNS on wattpad, thank you so much for the request. I hope it's okay. ♥️ I changed it a bit so it wouldn't look too much like the last one.

Summary: Reader is injured after the waterfall incident and Harald helps save her.

Timeline: Season 2, after the waterfall scene.

Pairing: Harald Sigurdsson x Fem!Reader Warning: Angst.

"Y/N!" Harald pulled himself out of the calm river and coughed up the water stuck in his lungs as he crawled onto the shore. The impact of the boat hitting the water really struck his head, headache now pounding and making the man feel dizzy. "Y/N! Call out to me!"

"She's over here!" Mariam yelled back when the woman spotted her unconsciously floating by the wreckage. Still swimming to shore herself however, the prince helped her the last part and together they rushed over to the wreckage that was left of the boat. "Oh, poor dear." She whispered, lifting her out of the river with Harald.

Y/N had multiple cuts on her body, but her broken legs were their biggest concern. If she woke up, that would be something that could hold them back for real. It didn't look too good and an injury like that wasn't something they could fix easily. He was lucky with Marian alive and well since she had most knowledge of the group, but even she seemed concerned for a moment.

"You think she'll be alright?" Harald whispered, carefully laying the woman down on the sand. They couldn't move her too much and as long as she was out of the water it was good enough.

"Yes, but I need some long thin sticks and some rope. Can you look for those, Harald?" She questioned calmly, trying to see where her legs were broken and where it needed help the most.

"Yeah, I will start searching right away. Is that everything or is anything else needed?"

"That's everything for now. Please hurry." She smiled sweetly despite the stress they were in, just to give him a bit of hope and comfort.

They both knew Y/N needed to wake up soon or she could drown from the water in her lungs and her leg had to be put back into place or the damage could worsen so they needed to think and act fast. Those were important reasons for Mariam to ask Harald to be sharp and quick so a bit of hope couldn't hurt him. It only motivated him to be fast.

Harald rushed to the forest side of the shore and found some long thin, but also strong sticks and brought them back to Mariam within a few minutes. He then also climbed onto the wreck to grab the spare ropes they had brought in case the sail ropes snapped and tossed them to her as well. There was no time to waste.

"Are those strong enough?"

"They're perfect, now I need you to position yourself right beside her and put your hands here and here." The woman quickly pointed out to Harald to hold Y/N by her shin and thigh and explained to him what way to move her leg to put it back in place. He had more strength so he was the one who had to do so, also because Mariam was still busy building her structures.

"In this way...?" He followed her instructions carefully because even though she was unconscious, he couldn't live with himself if he hurt her more than was absolutely necessary. He really didn't want to mess anything up.

"Yes, now move to her other leg. They both need to heal correctly if she wants to be able to walk again." He watched her, quietly hating this. He didn't want her to die or end up with an everlasting injury, but he was terrified of hurting her as well. "It's okay, Harald. It's best for her." She reassured him and he slowly nodded, repeating the action with her other leg too before he let Mariam tend to her legs any further.

It was clear she knew what she was doing as she put together two support structures for her legs to stay straight.

"Will those help her heal?" Harald just watched for a moment, finding it fascinating.

"Yes, and most importantly it will give her some relief. It prevents her from moving her legs too much and will keep them straight." She cleared up what she was doing and he nodded, holding the still unconscious woman's hand gently.

"That's amazing news. Now all you have to do is wake up, my love." He whispered against her forehead before giving it a long lasting, but soft kiss. "All you have to do is open those gorgeous eyes and tell me you're okay."

Nothing happened though and her breathing even lessened.

"I think she has too much water in her lungs." She looked at Harald and he suddenly noticed her chest rising and falling quicker.... She needed air and fast.

He checked her pulse and waited for Mariam to finish putting on her structures before moving the woman to her side carefully, lightly tapping on her back and working from top to bottom to get the water out of her lungs. It worked as a small warm stream of water started to leak from her mouth.

"Where did you learn that?"

"My father once taught me at sea the first time we sailed to England." He spoke proudly and watched the woman cough up more water, a sign she was getting air and she was waking up. "Y/N?"

"Harald...?" She groaned, the pain of the fall just now hitting her.

"I'm right here, love." He held her hand close to his heart. "We'll get you out of here safely."

"You promise...?" She mumbled, eyes trying to focus on Harald's.

"I promise. You're safe."

#vikings imagine #vikings #vikings valhalla #harald hardrada #harald sigurdsson #Harald sigurdsson x reader #x reader #mariam vikiings #angst #requests open #wake up my love

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