“MY, HAVE YOU GROWN!”
Imagine: The Ragnarssons seeing you upon your return to Kattegat. You left as a child and are now an adult.
Your First Night Back:
Since your family kept your return a secret, you decide to surprise the Ragnarssons at their practice spot. Right when Ivar is about to let his arrow fly, you shoot his target from behind them, hitting it dead center. They all turn around, ready to verbally assault whomever the arrow belonged to. Of course, they are stunned to see you standing there. All five stare at you as if you were a ghost.
The years had definitely changed you, but they still knew who you were. Your face was now womanly and had lost it’s childhood plainness. As for your body, your ample curves and breasts catch their eyes immediately. Not many women in Kattegat had such a figure. Instantly, all the brothers become enthralled with you. As you hug and kiss each of them on the cheek, they are motionless. Each one looking petrified as they try to act nonchalant. When you inform them you have other people to visit, they all wave goodbye casually.
However, as soon as you are out of earshot, they glance at each other quickly. ”Y/N looks........well.” Ubbe says. Nodding, the others agree as they avoid looking at each other.
Your Trade:
Since you had not yet decided what you wanted to do as a trade in Kattegat, they all jump at the chance to guide you. Bjorn wants you to be a shield-maiden while Ivar thinks you should become an archer. Both offering to 'teach' you personally. As for Hvitserk, he thinks cooking would suit you while Ubbe argues the benefits of being a performer because of your unique features. The only one who shyly makes a suggestion when the others aren't around is Sigurd. "Y/N, you should do what your heart tells you." Like his brothers, he still takes the opportunity to gaze at your ample bosom and backside.
Your first Swim:
One day, when they find you undressing by the swimming hole you used as children, they stop and hide. As articles of your clothing hit the ground one by one, they stare and make comments to one another.
It doesn't take long before their whispers become bickering which then devolves to shoving and pushing. They’re so loud that you eventually catch on that you are being watched. "Tsk tsk tsk. How can all five of you be so bad at being stealthy?" You say over your shoulder before jumping into the waters naked. They are dumbfounded.
Your Love Life:
As you eat with the Ragnarssons, you announce that you have good news. All of them perk up and ask you to not keep them in suspense. "I may have a suitor. He asked to escort me to the Spring Harvest feast. Is that not exciting?" All their smiles fade and are quickly replaced by thinly veiled frowns. "Be careful Y/N, you only just returned." Ivar warns. "Agreed. He most likely just wants to bed you." Bjorn adds.
The others nod in agreement. Even sweet Sigurd agrees and states, "It is true Y/N." You become angry at their lack of support and leave the table.
Your Beau:
You had been secretly seeing a local leather merchant for over two months when he urges you to make things public. Agreeing, because you really cared about him, you and your beau make your first official appearance at a feast. Ivar is the first to spot you two and reports back to his brothers.
Your poor beau is invited to drink with them. When you try to go with him, they insist that it’s ‘men’s conversation’. They spend most of the night regaling him with tales of their war kills, in great detail until your poor beau loses his appetite, for both food and drink. Despite seeing his discomfort, they continue. The entire time, Ivar keeps flipping his axe close to the poor man’s face.
Your Wedding:
Since the Ragnarssons had proven to be an obstacle in your relationship, you decide to make things secret again. Whilst they are away raiding with their men, you and your beau decide to get married. Though he is afraid, his love proves greater than his fear. The ceremony is lovely and both families are pleased as the two of you settle into married life. As expected, the boys are stunned to hear the news upon their return.
They try to act as if they are happy for you but, of course, they are not. Wanting everyone to get to know each other better, you invite the Ragnarssons over to your marital home for a meal. As expected, they all hide their disdain as they enter. Even during supper, they glare at your new husband with disapproving looks but smile whenever you look around the table.
Sensing the tension, your husband excuses himself to bed early, stating he has to be up early to meet potential suppliers.
Your Widowhood:
One day, your husband takes longer than usual coming home from the leather-works. You walk to the shop but it is closed and there is no sign of him. Frantic you walk around asking friends and family if they have seen him. When you have no luck, you go to the Princes. "My husband is missing and I fear he may not be okay." You say to the five Ragnarssons as they look at you with concern. They comfort you and swear to have their men search for him. Three weeks pass and no sign of your husband can be found by the scouts.
You keep a positive outlook but the months turn into a year and even his family gives up. 'He might have been killed by a wild animal or fell off the cliff he liked to gaze from." Your father-in-law says. Soon, your in-laws give you permission to move on as a widow. Of course the first to console you are the Princes.
What you didn't know was that your husband was alive and well. However, he now resided in foreign lands. The Ragnarssons had cornered him that fateful day he disappeared and gave him two choices. Either leave Kattegat, never to return, or die then and there.
Your Future:
As they ate one day, the five of them celebrated. They were satisfied with ridding themselves of your poor husband. Of course they felt bad that you had to even spend time mourning the idiot, but they felt it was for your own good, and theirs.
Now, they could finally begin vying for whom would wed you next. "May the best man, win!" Ubbe says thinking he has the upper hand.
