An hour after Saga and Viggo's confrontation the whole castle knew about it. The maids had told each other and the rest of the staff, followed by the event being gossiped about to the knights as well, many of whom wished they had been present to watch their imposing commander being yelled at by their timid lady.

But while the others sniggered about the ordeal, Audun sighed. Viggo was acting like such a fool. Audun understood why. Knew that fear, especially fear of losing someone he cared about, wasn't an emotion Viggo had ever learnt to handle. But the man was old enough it was time for him to stop displacing his feelings and deal with them instead.

And he really hoped Viggo would soon realise it as well. Audun felt empty, as though all in him had been made grey through Viggo's absence from his life. Even so, Audun would not let Viggo back in before he admitted to his mistakes, owned them, and showed willingness to do better. He could not walk with Viggo before that had happened.

But it seemed like Viggo needed a firmer push to do it.

It prompted him to go to Saga and Viggo's bedroom as soon as he had heard about the argument. To seek out the one other person within the castle who suffered in a similar way as he did because of Viggo's change. And to hopefully find a way to give Viggo that firm push.

"Is the Lady inside?" he asked the maid who stood outside the door.

"Y-yes," the maid stammered, wringing her hands. "But she asked to be left alone."

Audun marvelled for a bit. All the maids were terrified of what Viggo would do if they failed at keeping watch over Saga. That one had anyway left Saga alone spoke volumes about how frightening she had to have been in that moment.

"I'll take my chance," Audun told the maid and knocked. Though he didn't wait to be welcomed inside. If Saga wanted to be alone, he guessed he would stand outside waiting forever.

She sat by the window, her eyes fixed on the blue sky.

"I told you I want to be alone," she said without turning around, probably assuming it was the maid returning to check on her.

"So the maid told me," Audun said and closed the door. "But I hope the Lady can spare me a bit of her time."

Saga's head turned to him with a wrinkle between her eyes. She studied him, her eyes wandering over all of him, then to the closed door. Like a wary cat.

"I can," she finally answered.

Audun took a few steps forward, but still remained at quite a distance. Allowing her space.

"I heard about your argument with him. Well, the whole castle has heard about it," he started the conversation and saw her cheeks turn slightly pink. "You want to come to the capital with us," he continued. "And then to where possible fighting will ensue."

"Yes," she nodded and bit her lip. The wrinkle between her eyes had deepened.

"But he won't allow you."

"No."

"Is the Lady certain she wants to come along? It was not only a request in the heat of the moment after finding out we would be leaving?"

Though the wariness didn't leave her, her voice was strong as she answered. "I am certain."

Audun nodded. "I will not be able to convince him to allow you to come to the place fighting might happen. But if the Lady wants, I can do my best to convince him to bring you to the capital."

Her expression eased as she raised her eyebrows instead. "You can? Why would you do that?"

"Because how he has treated the Lady lately isn't right," he answered as his annoyance at Viggo simmered to the surface. "You should be allowed to make decisions on your own, like the rest of us. You are not a child to be handled."

The surprise disappeared to be replaced by a warm smile. "Thank you, Audun."

He returned her smile, something he would have thought impossible a few months earlier. His view of her had certainly changed. From the woman who had taken his place by his lover's side to a woman whose side he took over his lover's.

"I'll wait a day or two before talking to him. Give him some space to calm down and reflect on his own." He hesitated for a moment, then continued, "He does care a lot for you. And though I'm certain his recent actions have hurt you, I know that is among the last things he wants."

Saga hung her head. "I'm not so sure anymore."

"I understand that, but I hope, with time, he can earn your trust again."

Saga nodded, though the sadness in her eyes said she didn't believe it possible, and Audun left without pressing the matter more. That was something for Viggo to prove, after all. Not something Audun could convince her of.

~~~~~

As he had told Saga, he waited a little over a day to allow Viggo time to calm down and reflect. But then he went to his office during dinner time. Viggo opened the door with raised eyebrows.

"We need to talk," Audun said and then walked in before Viggo could answer. His eyes swept over the office. Sighed at how the broken furniture was still there. Smiled inwardly over that even in his rage, Viggo had spared the couch, the furniture in there which they had spent many evenings on. Then he turned to Viggo. "You are to allow Saga to come to the capital with us."

Not a suggestion, but an order, a demand.

Viggo's eyes narrowed. "Is that why you're here? Then you can leave."

"Yes, that is why I'm here. And you will listen, and you will do as I say." Audun's words continued to be demands. Calm and steady ones, but demands which would not yield.

"Why? What will happen if I don't?" Viggo huffed and glared.

"I will remain here with her."

Silence followed. Thick and dense. The type of silence which made Audun's words echo and scream in the room.

That Viggo would end up picking his wife over Audun had been a constant fear of Audun's ever since the King had ordered Viggo to marry. But here it was, one of them picking Viggo's wife over the other, just that Audun was the one threatening to leave and not the other way around.

Though as firm as Audun made himself be as he said it, he hoped Viggo wouldn't be stubborn enough to test the truth of the threat. If time came for Viggo to leave and he still had Saga locked away, Audun wasn't certain he could follow through with his threat. Viggo was an idiot, but Audun had loved that idiot for close to half his life. To watch him leave for danger would maybe prove to be more than Audun's convictions could handle.

"You will what?" Viggo asked with a blank stare as if the words had been too much for him to process.

"I'll remain in Sinkbek if Saga does," Audun repeated.

"Why?"

"We've been through this. You are not acting like yourself. Allowing her to come will prove you are trying to make a change. Refuse, and I'll know you won't, no matter what. It is as simple as that, Viggo."

"You can't do this to me." Viggo shook his head, his eyes closed.

"I'm not. You're the one doing this to yourself."

"I... I can't lose you."

"Then change to win both me and Saga back."

Audun turned to leave, but Viggo grabbed his wrist. As Audun's eyes landed on Viggo again, he noticed how he trembled. The strong and unyielding Viggo, who ran to danger instead of away from it, trembled before Audun.

"What if she gets hurt?" Viggo whispered, eyes on the floor.

"There are no ifs about that. Can't you see? The way you've treated her is hurting her," Audun answered and took half a step closer.

"I'm terrified," Viggo whispered next.

"I know. But you need to choose to be brave instead of letting fear rule over you."

Viggo's hold on Audun's wrist lessened, and in return Audun took hold of Viggo's hand.

"What if she dies?" came Viggo's next question.

"What if she grows to become even stronger than you are?"

Viggo looked up from the floor. A faint smile played on his lips. Audun reached out, dragged his hand through Viggo's hair, felt how Viggo pressed his head closer to Audun's hand.

"Sleep now and then talk to her tomorrow. And please, try to listen to her, talk with her, and not at her." Audun pressed his lips against Viggo's cheek before retreating, while hoping Viggo would wake up the next day and do the right thing.