Secrets unfold before strangers eyes--Aslaug Sigurdsdóttir

Ylva had spent a good amount of time with Prince Ivar durning the feast. She was enjoying his company, but she had also wondered where and what her father had been doing this whole time he had left her. She hadn't heard from him in hours, and Ylva would have thought he would have at least checked in on her once to see if she was okay. Sure she was an embarrassment to him because she was blind, but that didn't mean he needed to leave her alone all night. What if some other man other than Prince Ivar had been the person who talked to her. What if someone had tried to take her away somewhere, to do whatever they wanted to her? He would have had know idea at all, and would the knife that Hakon gave her be enough to protect her? Most likely not. While Ylva was thinking about all this and getting angry in her head, her father Halvor had been talking to the Queen behind her back. Trying to get some kind of arrangement done, without speaking to his daughter or letting her know what his plans were.

-------Halvor and Queen Aslaug--------

Halvor had spent the entire boat ride to Kattegat deciding if this was the best option for him. If he really should take the risk and make the offer he had on his heart to Queen Aslaug. He had been told by many people what she was very protective of her youngest born child. Some would even go as far to say that he was her favorite out of the four. So that could mean she would turn him down right away. The moment she found out that his daughter was blind. However the two children could do well together. Having someone who understood the other. Sure their defects were different. One could see and not walk, the other could walk and not see. However they were both treated differently. They were both viewed with some sort of distain from people outside of their families. Sure Halvor hadn't been the best father to Ylva, he often lost his temper and punished her for things she couldn't control, but he also wanted her to find a husband that would give her a good life. If they treated her right then that was a plus as well, but it was not something of great importance. She was use to being punished, so if the rumors about Prince Ivar's temper were true, she would at least be use to it in some sense from himself. Besides if he benefited from her marriage in more ways then simply having her out of his care then that was even better.

Walking over to the Queen after a few horns of ale Halvor finally felt like it was the right time to try and make his offer. He had seen the Prince was even speaking with his child at the moment as well. Something that pleased him very greatly. He would do well to praise her and reward her later."Hello Queen Aslaug. You have made such a wonderful feast for us all." he said first. Trying to stroke her ego. Get her to like the idea of speaking to him before he got down to the nitty gritty." I wondered if you had a moment of time to hear a proposition that could benefit us both greatly." he asked her next. He wouldn't get out his idea just yet. Not until he knew if she would even listen to him. That way he would not embarrass himself or angry her.

The Proposition

Aslaug was in a peaceful mood, the ale was warming her blood and making her head suitably fuzzy, enough to make hosting the feast a little more bearable. Since Kattegat had become the well established trade centre that it was, Aslaug found herself hosting these feasts more often, appeasing strangers she did not care one bit about. Without a husband by her side it was up to her to keep things in order in Kattegat, something she resented him for very much. She supposed she missed him, at least she missed not having these duties. She was tired.

Ubbe had been helping her today, keeping all of the slaves and hand maidens busy cleaning, decorating, cooking. Bjorn was mostly in charge though, much to Aslaug's distain.

There were candles lit on every table, animal fat melting onto the surfaces and flowers laid out everywhere possible. Aslaug had even done some of the cooking this time, preparing a lamb stew that her dearest mother had taught her to make and her sons loved. People would surely be impressed with a Queen that put such effort into an occasion and paid such attention to detail.

With her finest dress on she moved to sit on her throne. Shades of violet and golden thread covered her body and she wore her hair braided to one side - nothing too intricate but she felt beautiful. Sitting there, she observed the feast, watched everyone enjoying themselves greatly and she smiled at her potential success. Perhaps this will pull more people here, she thought to herself, Kattegat will be even more important.

A man emerged from the crowds of people and approached her confidently, smiling at her. Hello Queen Aslaug. You have made such a wonderful feast for us all, he said politely. She was used to the flattery and she smiled in return. Before she could also greet him and thank him for attending, he added- I wondered if you had a moment of time to hear a proposition that could benefit us both greatly. Oh good, she thought to herself, perhaps another trading opportunity.

“And what might that be, sir? You have my attention.” Aslaug said, leaning back in her chair. She pointed to a chair next to her, not Ragnar’s of course, inviting him to sit.

BY MITZI

@Ylva Halvorsdóttir

-------Halvor and Queen Aslaug--------

Halvor Smiled when he saw that the Queen was going to entertain the idea of taking with him. This was a very good start to getting his way. If she agreed with him and married her son to his daughter than he could move here, and away from Halfdan and his men. Something he wanted more than anything. He would simply sell it all and move. He would give his complete loyalty to Aslaug and her children. Maybe he could even get them to Raid again. It had been some time from their last. Now he just needed to figure out how to word it in a way that would make her want to agree and not upset her. Rumor was Ivar was her favorite child." Do me a small favor and look to your son Ivar." He said first. When he saw that she had done as he said and looked at Ivar he went on. " The beautiful girl sitting next to him is my daughter. Her name is Ylva and she is also Sixteen years old." Halvor said as he looked over at them talking. He had never been more proud of his crippled child as he was right now. "As you can see they can speak and get along already. Ivar had approached her all on his own as well" he made sure to add.

When Aslaug was looking at him again he smiled. She hadn't told him to spot speaking yet, and she had to know where he was going with this by now. At least he hoped so anyways. Halvor had made sure not to say that Ylva was bind just yet. Save that for the end, when he had her more interested." Ylva is smart, and as I said beautiful. I am here to offer her hand to young Ivar." he said before looking toward her to see how she was going to react. When she didn't stop him or tell him off her went on." If you take her hand for your son, I will move here as well. I will devote myself to your men and help you on your coming Raids. I was a Radningar for my old earl before Halfdan took over. So I am very good at what I do as you can see. I would do everything in my power to help you find riches, ones that a beauty such as you deserves." he said taking another step closer to her.

He hoped he wasn't over doing it. That the drinks he had drank weren't making him to bold. He just wanted her to say yes so badly. To get Ylva off his hands and to gain something in return. " The fact that they seem to get along well is just a plus. Most women and men aren't lucky in that way." He made sure to add. He didn't want to speak to much, and he was still hiding the fact that she wad blind. He just hoped Aslaug was at least a little interested. Then she would ask more about Ylva, and when she did he was make sure to slowly and simply drop it in like a normal everyday fact.