Viggo felt a certain calm settle in him as he watched Saga interact with the others. She didn't say much, and some of her nervous habits, like the fidgeting and bent head, were present. But she didn't shrink back, and with every second, the habits disappeared a bit more.

Astrid and Kare also seemed to have taken an instant liking to her. Astrid put food on Saga's plate as soon as it began to run low and looked at her with a softness impossible to hide with her general roughness. Kare acted more respectful than normal, though their banter still contained the usual gore and sex jokes. But he clearly held back, and when a joke went a little far, he would glance at Saga with a simmering worry.

It seemed to Viggo that Saga would fit in well with them all.

There was something else which worried him, however.

Audun was always reserved, never engaged in the cruder banter. But his back was straighter than normal. He was quieter than normal.

When the first few knights began leaving the room, Viggo cast Audun a meaningful look, while extending his leg to press against Audun's under the table. The other man had looked off to the side, but turned his head to smile at him. It was supposed to be a reassuring smile, though to Viggo it looked more like a grimace.

Without hesitating, Viggo leaned in to Saga a bit. "Saga. Will you be alright if I leave for a moment?" he asked.

Her eyes widened a bit, and her fidgeting started again. "Yes," she nodded, though Viggo knew she felt differently. But with how both Astrid and Kare had a soft spot for her already, he felt certain she would be looked after. And Kai having joined them was another reassurance she wouldn't be put in any uncomfortable situation.

"I won't be long," he told her, and then looked at Audun as he stood.

Audun rose from his seat as well, and together they left the room. They walked down the corridor, deeper into it and away from where everyone else was.

They came to a door, leading to a room which was unused. Viggo opened it and together they stepped inside. The room was both small and cold, with only a little window to give any light.

No sooner had the door closed before Viggo found himself pressed up against the wall with Audun's lips feverishly kissing his. Demands, possessiveness, and jealousy all conveyed from the hardness, the biting of his lips, the tongue tasting everything, and it was enough for Viggo to know he had made the right decision to take this moment just for them. Knew that it would likely be longer than he had anticipated, and hoped Saga would be fine with Astrid, Kare, and Kai as company.

Viggo tried to get his arms around Audun, to hold him and press him closer. But Audun didn't let him. Instead, he grabbed hold of his hands and pinned them against the wall over his head with one hand. The other hand found its way under Viggo's shirt, grabbing hold of his flesh in an iron grip. It was hard enough to cause a jolt of pain through Viggo's body, but that only spurred him on. Made his tongue and lips work harder against Audun's. Made him press their hips together, so their growing bulges rubbed against each other.

A mix of a groan and moan left Audun as his lips left Viggo's and travelled across his jaw, down his neck. Teeth scraping against skin, digging in, and potentially leaving marks. Something they had together decided they couldn't do anymore. Something neither of them cared about at the moment.

Audun let go of Viggo's hands to pull the shirt over his head. Viggo responded by pulling Audun's off as fast. Then their hands and lips felt and tasted all they could of the other. Muscles twitched and clenched at the touches. Their breaths and moans became a song between them. And all the while pressure built in them. Pressure they tried to elevate by moving against each other, but it did nothing to soothe. It only increased the itch.

It was Audun who stepped back. Audun who opened both of their pants so their cocks could spring free. Who spit in his hands, and then pressed them together while moving his hands up and down their shafts.

And Viggo let him have it. Let him take all the control because he knew that was what the other man needed with how he had little control over the rest of their relationship.

One of Viggo's hands took hold of the other man's hip, dug his fingers into his flesh. The other hand fisted his hair and pulled him in. Kissed him as fiercely as he had. Kisses which swallowed both of their moans as their cocks twitched and pulsed against one another. Together swelling and growing with pleasure under Audun's hands. Precum dripped and mixed, and when all muscles tightened in both of them, when they together found their release, their messes mixed where it landed on their bodies.

Their foreheads pressed together as they breathed heavily. Slowly coming down together.

Audun reached his fingers out, and Viggo's muscles clenched as the fingers scraped off the evidence of their intimacy from his stomach. Then he watched transfixed as Audun licked his fingers clean with closed eyes, as if he was savouring every last drop.

A groan left Viggo. "If you continue like that, you'll have to be ready to fuck me as well.

Audun smirked and opened his eyes. They were dark and filled with mischief, but slowly they cleared, until he took a step away from Viggo, leaving both of them colder than moments before.

"I apologise. I... I don't know what came over me," Audun mumbled and looked to the floor in shame.

Viggo placed a hand on his love's cheek and brushed his lips against the other.

"Did it seem like I minded?

"No. But I shouldn't have. Not like this. It's just that seeing you next to her... I just feel..." Audun shook his head.

"Possessive? Jealous? Hurt?"

A small smile entered Audun's face, but it fell away as fast as it had arrived. "Yeah."

"I know, love. I know." Viggo pressed their foreheads together again, and wished he knew what words to say to make all the negative emotions disappear from the love of his life. But he hadn't ever been the best with words. He had been forced to improve since words were easier to pass between them during quick moments they had together. But physical things had always come more natural to him.

That was how their relationship had evolved as well. From fighting side by side, always having the other's back, and cutting down everything between them. To bandaging wounds with care and gentleness, and sharing food and water depending on who needed it most. To laying side by side in the forest to sleep, but moving closer and closer until there was nothing between them.

Their bodies had said everything before either had found the right words.

So he gave Audun a kiss. One much more gentle and tender than the earlier ones and hope his love and devotion could be felt through the kiss.

"I know I haven't been welcoming to her," Audun said as they pulled away again. "I promise I'll do my best to be."

"And I promise to find more moments like this for us," Viggo answered in return. "Should be easier now that we are back home."

One last gentle kiss, then Audun pulled away completely. He bent down and picked up both of their shirts. Handed Viggo's over.

"You should return to her before Astrid and Kare have scared her off," he said with a forced smile.

Viggo brushed Audun's cheek. "I can stay a bit longer if you want me to."

But Audun shook his head. "It's her first evening here. She needs you more than I do."

Audun's smile became slightly less forced, but reluctance still simmered in his eyes. But Viggo didn't push it, and besides, Audun had been right, Saga needed him more. She was the weaker of the two.

When he was fully dressed, Viggo exited the room with one last look at the person he loved most. And as the door closed, he felt as if his heart was left on the other side.

Taking a deep breath and pushing away his own pained feelings over the situation, he walked back to the dining room. As he entered, he stopped at a bit of a distance to observe Saga. It wasn't with Astrid and Kare that she was conversing, though the two of them still sat opposite her. But she was fully immersed in conversation with Kai seated next to her. Or conversation maybe was the wrong word as it didn't seem as if Saga got many words in between whatever Kai was telling her about with enthusiasm.

Viggo was glad that the worries Kai had felt after the dire wolf attack had settled, and glad Saga had someone around who was more her own age. And Kai was a good kid, a sweet kid, who Viggo felt secure entrusting her safety to.

When he first had, while they had still been at her father's estate, he had done it for two reasons, both of them related to who unintimidating the boy looked. He had hoped Saga would feel more comfortable in his presence compared to the other knights, and that her father wouldn't view him as a threat and therefore potentially lower his guard more. That Kai was someone you could lower your guard around was, however, a very faulty assumption. The boy had trained hard for many years with both Viggo himself and Astrid as his main teachers, and the boy had easily picked up both of their strengths. Viggo's approach which was more about sheer strength and Astrid's which was rather about fighting smart and agile. And of course, he had picked up both of his teachers' stubbornness and tendency to run to danger in a fight.

Studying Kai now, Viggo knew the boy's order would always be to protect Saga first and foremost if she was around when danger came. At first, Viggo hadn't made much of it, but now it was clear that Kai's eyes sparkled a bit more than usual when he was around her, the admiration he felt for her unquestionable, and Viggo felt certain the boy would always do everything he could to keep her safe.

He made his way over and took note of another thing. Generally, it seemed like Saga intuitively was aware when he was present, and would seek his eyes out for reassurance. But it wasn't until he was right by them that she noticed him, that her eyes left Kai.

"I think it's time for bed," he said and held his hand out to her.

She looked back at Kai. "I'll try to come by to watch you train tomorrow."

"And even if you can't tomorrow you have plenty of other opportunities. We train almost every day," Kai answered her with his pure enthusiasm.

She smiled at the boy. One of her genuine smiles before she stood and let herself be led away.

"I hope everything was fine?" Viggo asked as they exited the room.

"Yes," she answered, and for once, Viggo believed her yes was completely truthful.