Ragnar returned to his throne and he wondered one thing, that was if Aslaug was among those naked ladies.
Ragnar found himself growing increasingly curious about this woman and he knew it was not a healthy hobby he was developing.
She was a lady of renown and he knew how his men treated her was a direct representation of Vestfold but there would be no sane man that would not spare such beautiful women a glance.
"Ragnar, you should head to bed…." Skarde advised his friend but Ragnar was too preoccupied with his thoughts that he did not hear him.
Skarde had just walked in and Ragnar was completely oblivious to his surroundings.
"Ragnar…" Skarde called out and only then did Ragnar respond to him.
"Ah! Skarde, what are you doing here, old friend?" Ragnar asked him.
"Is something worrying you, King Ragnar?" Skarde asked, even though Ragnar did not like it when he used honorifics with him.
He knew it was custom and could not fault Skarde for that.
"There is nothing Skarde…." Ragnar denied it and a silence followed that told Skarde something was indeed worrying Ragnar.
"Say Skarde…." Ragnar started and Skarde gave his King his full attention.
"What do you think of Lady Aslaug?" Ragnar asked out of the blue, this took Skarde by surprise but he knew if he pressed it, it might dissuade Ragnar from continuing with the conversation.
"Lady Aslaug is an interesting lady, to say the least, she protects her beauty from the eyes of men so she may not tempt them, it is honourable in a way," Skarde said, he was blind so it mattered little if she protected her beauty or not because he could not see her either way.
But were Ragnar's eyes wandering?
Skarde knew that if Ragnar did marry Aslaug, it will boost Vestfold tremendously but Ragnar was already a married man and he loved Lagertha with all his heart as distance only strengthened their love.
"I do wonder the kind of woman that is behind that veil…" Ragnar carelessly blurted out.
"I DID NOT MEAN IT LIKE THAT!" Ragnar quickly declared as he knew what he said could have an alternate meaning.
Skarde understood Ragnar might be married but he was still a man when it came to it.
Something like this would surely intrigue him and from what he has heard, there was nothing perverse about Ragnar's curiosity, just a genuine interest in another person.
Even after all these years, Ragnar has not changed.
"It is fine King Ragnar, I do understand," Skarde reassured his friend but their conversation was cut short soon after.
The door to the throne room sprung open.
"Speak of the devil…" Skarde muttered under his breath and in came Aslaug with a few of her maidens.
Ragnar cleared his throat nervously, as Skarde just shook his head.
Ragnar was so awkward, and Skarde knew it might be up to him to find out why they are here in the first place.
"What brings you here?" Skarde asked, considering the time it was strange that they would come here if it was not for something urgent.
"I am sorry to bother you, King Ragnar and his right hand, Skarde but we have something that distressed my lady," The answered as usual for Aslaug.
Ragnar spared Skarde a glance, non-verbally giving him permission to continue the conversation in his stead instead, an idea that Skarde supported.
"I apologize in advance for whatever it was that distressed lady Aslaug but how can we help?" Skarde requested, it was obvious by his tone that he was addressing a lady that had a higher standing than him.
"Men were watching us bathe, Lord Skarde. I do not know why but we did not think the men of Vestfold were such…." The maiden controlled her tongue but everyone knew what she wanted to say without her even completing it.
"They were watching you bathing? In your home?" Skarde questioned, he was fairly confused because there was no way they would not be watched if they bathed outside and he wanted to hear it directly from her mouth so maybe she too could see how ridiculous it sounded.
The maiden gave what she was about to say a second thought but before she could open her mouth.
"We were washing ourselves in the stream that is prohibited from being visited once I am there. This has always been the rule of Vestfold, King Ragnar. I want your word that it will not happen again," Aslaug spoke and everyone was stunned in the room, including the maiden with her.
"My lady!" She exclaimed as Aslaug had just broken a taboo, her voice was soft and tender, oozing divinity.
Ragnar was whipped and he found himself wanting to hear her speak some more but he had to compose himself because he was King and could not lose face.
"I will make sure it does not happen again, you have my word," Ragnar said, for her to speak he knew that this was of great importance to her but Ragnar had no idea how he would do this, if it was done before then it could be done again.
The ladies left and Skarde noticed that Ragnar's interest in Aslaug just might not be innocent. freewebnov(e)l.com
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"Lady Aslaug! Why did you speak?" The maiden asked her as she refrained from speaking all this time, what was so different now?
"You were instructed by your father not to speak, my lady. That is why your maidens are here!" The maiden said, sounding genuinely concerned because if word got out of this, then Aslaug's "value" might plummet.
"You have nothing to worry about, King Ragnar is not the kind of man to speak of such things…" Aslaug said and the maiden was confused, she spoke like she knew Ragnar.
"What do you mean my lady?" The maiden questioned, wanting to satisfy her curiosity.
"I have chosen him to be the man I wed," Aslaug responded and that was why she spoke in his presence. Aslaug knew exactly what she was doing.
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