Brotherly hunt [Hvitserk]

He remembered last night with a smile, just he and his brothers in the great hall, drinking and catching up on the things. It was a long time that they had so much fun in a simple night as this one, he could remember detail of it, how he laid on a bench with his cup on his forehead while Sigurd and Ivar were challenging each other, he and Hvitserk just laughing about it. It was a good night, one to remember. Getting out of bed the morning after was a little tougher, he looked aside to Hvitserk who was still sleeping before he rolled himself out, groaning while he walked outside to get some water into his face, getting the proper clothes on before he walked out of the little house towards the great hall. Ivar sat on Ragnar his throne and Ubbe ignored it, sitting down at the table to get some food in his system. He would go hunting today with Hvitserk, that meant they had to travel to the hunting cabin before getting into the forest. So his brother better woke up any moment now or there wouldn’t be a rabbit left before dark.

Ubbe sat with his back against the table, listening to the villagers complaining against Aslaug about what they needed or wanted. His mother seemed annoyed after two hours of listening and she was glad that the last one left. Seeing her he wasn’t sure about her attentions for Kattegat, not as Ragnar was. He always admired his father and his way for ruling, something he maybe one day also had to do. ‘Weren’t you planning on hunting with Hvitserk?’ Ivar asked from behind him. Ubbe turned around and just nodded. Ivar chuckled, turning his attention back to his dinner. They all know Hvitserk had a lot of fun last night, so did Ubbe but he at least was already awake, not entirely with his mind but awake. If Hvitserk was still sleeping he didn’t know but what else could he brother be doing in the past two hours in this morning. Ubbe pushed away from the table and pushed Ivar his head almost in his food before walking out, hearing Ivar mutter something what should be an assault.

‘Brother.’ Ubbe began when he arrived at the house. He grabbed a piece of wood and threw it towards Hvitserk his bed. But it was empty so at least he was awake? Ubbe turned around in the house looking for his brother with that amused smile on his face. ‘Hvitserk?’ He walked back out, looking over the different people walking over the street. Did he really have to search for that idiot? Ubbe slowly turned back around to the great hall, he probably would show up there anyway, or unless he was already half on the way to the hunting cabin, in that case he was being the one to late.

Ubbe, with his hand against the door he looked to the empty bed of his brother, scratching his hair in the meantime. He signed, looking over his shoulder back to the street before he just shrugged and walked over to the stables to at least ready a horse or two to get to the hunting cabin. It was a while, getting there and they didn’t always did it on foot. And given they drank a little to much yesterday Hvitserk wouldn’t complain for taking a horse. He petted both horses on their necks after he saddled them and walked back out to go to the great hall. The fur tight around his body for it was still on the early side, especially after a night of drinking. He could bet shooting straight would be a problem, for the both of them.

When he arrived back at the great hall Hvitserk was there, shoving food in his mouth like it was the last time he could eat. It wasn’t something rare, Hvitserk loved his food more than he loved his brothers probably. He looked aside, swiping his mouth while accusing Ubbe from being late. ‘Finding you.’ He answered. When he came to where Hvitserk sat he kicked his hand against Hvitserk his braid. ‘Where have you been?’ He asked it right back. ‘Sitting here waiting for you stupid.’ Ivar reacted. Ubbe rolled his eyes to his youngest brother and sat on the table, feet at the seat, looking aside to Hvitserk. ‘Eat, you won’t be complaining all the time on an empty stomach.’ Ubbe joked, remembering how much fun last night was even Ivar was in a good mood. ‘You shouldn’t let him eat that much. He is a better hunter when he is hungry.’ Ivar reacted, pulling his eye brows up to Hvitserk before he pulled himself from the table onto the ground. ‘Bring something good brothers, I’m counting on it!’ Ivar yelled when he was almost out. Ubbe pulled his eyebrows up and looked back aside to Hvitserk. ‘You ready? We lost already time by your lazy ass still sleeping, soon the deer while be all gone in the time we get to the hunting cabin.’ He smacked his brother almost harshly against the shoulder, grinning as he jumped from the table and walked outside, stretching his hands towards the sunlight. It was a good day to go hunt.

Looking how much Hvitserk could eat Ubbe asked himself always how skinny that brother of his could keep. Ivar clearly though the same thing because he shook his head before leaving the great hall, asking them to bring something good from out of the forest. Hvitserk was just as much as Ubbe the one who joked around most of the time. Except for conversations that went about father there wasn’t much seriously talk between the two of them. They had they part already in their lives, making them tighter than the other brothers. They drown together, if it wasn’t for Siggy bot Hvitserk and Ubbe wouldn’t be sitting here. And they accompanied their father to Paris, where they were attacked. It was all very vivid but in the end the same, he did it with Hvitserk and Hvitserk did it with him. They were close for that, being boys but deep down being real brothers.

When he joked about complaining Ubbe only chuckled over it, seeing how hurt Hvitserk for a second watched before grinning again. And the comments not far after that where just typical Hvitserk to say. ‘Not as good as I am!’ He taunted his brother, getting away from the table. He really wanted to shove that piece of breath into his brothers mouth but he didn’t do it, for the peace. Otherwise that whole hunt would be the both of them teasing the other.

The two horses stood awaiting and Ubbe and Hvitserk leaded them out, his brother got up without any hesitation while Ubbe took a relook on the saddle before he pulled himself into the saddle as well. His brother turned around, with his mouth full and said he would meet him there. Ubbe grinned, grabbing the reins before he kicked his legs into the animal and it started following that of Hvitserk. He loved to be outside, with only his brother and a hopefully good hunt ahead. Even when he drank a little to much yesterday, it was still good to be outside now. When they arrived they placed their horses somewhere secure before walking to the hunting cabin. Ubbe looked around on the question. He opened his mouth but Hvitserk was father. ‘I knew you would say that.’ He joked, pushing the door open to the hunting cabin. It was filled with all kinds of things, their bows, some weapons. ‘One way to find out.’ He said with a promising look while grabbing an bow and sow arrows. ‘I’m not planning on going home empty handed anyway. You better make use of those,’ he felt silent, giving his brother a good look. ‘skills.’ He chuckled.

That whole ride over to the hunting cabin made his head as clear as it possible could be. He had little of a hangover earlier but it all cleared away in the nature they were surrounded with. The days became colder, he wore a fury coat and his breath seemed white as he breathed out, his horse snorting as it followed Hvitserk through the fields and the forest. Ubbe looked around, letting his blue eyes scan every bit of nature, looking for marks on the ground even when they were going a little faster than a walk. He wasn’t planning on going empty handed back to Kattegat, if that meant he had to spend a whole day out with his brother, not that he was complaining. They grew tighter, ever since Ragnar left. Ubbe always thought that the departure of Ragnar had at least one good thing left.

While he was studying the arrows he saw Hvitserk in the corner of his eyes doing the same. What made him smile slightly as he picked the best arrows he could find. He was here often, making weapons, gazing over the field, clearing his mind. But this place remembered him mostly of his father in a way, how much he learned in the process. The smile quirked up as Hvitserk determined it was a good plan. ‘I only have good plans.’ He stated, walking his way out of the cabin, looking over the forest.

He was walking beside his brother as Hvitserk asked if there would be deer’s out here, or even rabbits. Ubbe stood still and looked aside to him, judgmental. ‘I don’t know brother,’ he paused for a minute, gesturing around him to the forest. ‘Why don’t you ask the trees, they will maybe answer you more clearly then I can.’ He followed, pushing Hvitserk against his head while laughing, shaking his head as he started walking again. He looked over the ground, spotting all kinds of trails, for which there were deer prints to. ‘They can’t just hide under the ground.’ He noticed, nodding towards the prints. He stood still and crouched down, pushing his fingers in the cold earth before looking around again. It was a cold trail but it was a trail, what meant they were here but not immediately around. He stood up and looked shortly aside to his brother. ‘There was a thegn asking for you yesterday.’ He started one of their probably favorite conversations.