But this was my final fuck-you to Aethelbald in a sense, ruling the kingdom he wanted and desecrating every room with my beloved in his family’s home.
Looking over the mountains and into the sea, I see Viking ships sailing toward the docks. With my ruling, we accept the Danes on the proviso that they live in harmony.
I am sick of war.
The church sees that under my rule, England prospers, and war is quiet—for now.
But Skarth and I are not stupid. I know that appointing a Viking to an English throne will eventually lead to warfare. And when that time comes, we’ll be ready.
The kingdoms are stronger than ever before because on the thrones sit powerful, loyal, and honorable men.
Loki sits in a tree, his legs swinging in the wind. Skarth rubs my arm. “He will be all right, my love. The gods have chosen him for a reason.”
“And that is what frightens me.”
“Time will tell what they have planned, but Sune and Loki, once they become men, will change history…just as you have.”
“I wish to protect them for the past we had.”
“We cannot protect them from life. All we can do is guide them and hope they make the right choices.”
Skarth places his lips to my belly and whispers in Norse to our unborn child.
His hair has grown long and is now peppered with gray. I suppose we both have aged, but I still feel like a youngster whenever in his arms.
Life is somewhat perfect, which troubles me as I am continuously waiting for the other shoe to drop. But perhaps after all the hardships we’ve endured, this is our happily ever after.
Our baby kicks, cementing my thoughts.
Skarth shoots up, eyes wide in astonishment. “She understands me.”
“Of course she does, my love. You are her father. Your blood is hers.”
“And yours,” he counters, interlocking our fingers.
He turns nostalgic.
“What’s the matter?”
He skims his thumb over the back of my knuckles. “I’m not used to being this happy. I feel like I need to stab someone.”
I burst into laughter because that is simply hilarious. “Do not question it. We deserve it.”
“Aye, you are right. But I would still like to stab someone.”
King or no king, Skarth is still a Viking at heart.
During his reign over Wessex, he tries to unite the Vikings, but some remain resistant, and we both know that a war with both Christians and Vikings is likely.
We will always be seen as traitors to some, and someone will always attempt to challenge my throne.
But we’ll be ready when that happens because for the first time, Skarth sits on the throne beside me.
All seems well, but there is one missing factor.
Ulf.
In typical Ulf fashion, he fled the moment things settled. He doesn’t do happily ever afters, it seems. But that’s all right. He will always have a home here.
