The Son Of Ragnar

Ulrik was distraught as he had just lost the most important person to him right after getting her; this left an emptiness in his heart that could not be described.

He could do nothing as he returned home; he recalled something Lagertha had told him. If whoever took Garda was after him, there would be demands, and for that to happen, they would have to contact Ulrik.

Ulrik blamed himself; naturally, he thought about what would have happened if he had stayed home. He could still smell her in his home, her scent was prominent, and this made him realize how this stranger had become so important in his life.

Ulrik was not about to lose her and ordered Kattegat to be on lockdown. This was a strange decision considering Garda was no one important; her only importance was being his wife.

Liv allowed him to act as a de facto King despite her holding the real power, but she knew it was best if she let Vikings handle Viking problems.

She knew Askild killed her brother, but she was a girl that believed in people having redeemable features, and she did not give up on Askild.

Eventually, she fell in love with him when he showed her his vulnerable side and despite him being known as a man that ruled with fear, he never once put his hands on Liv nor has he ever been violent towards her.

Liv visited Ulrik's house that night, not because of his missing woman but because of his order to lockdown Kattegat without her approval. She understood his anger, but a kingdom should not be ruled by emotion, and he was no King.

Ulrik welcomed her in his home, he had no choice and Liv came alone despite her high-ranking status in Kattegat because no one dared touch her as they understood not only was her father an influential man but her husband was the King of Kattegat.

"Greetings, my lady," Ulrik greeted with a bow, but Liv tapped him on the shoulder before making her way into his home.

"You do not need to bow your head to me, Ulrik," Liv said, making herself comfortable as she sat on a chair tucked into a table.

"I apologize for my tardiness! I was not expecting you." Ulrik quickly began putting things away, but Liv did not mind.

"You know why I am here, don't you, Ulrik?" Liv questioned in a motherly tone, to which Ulrik nodded, sitting down as he was mentally prepared for a conversation.

"Why did you decide without my knowledge?" Liv got straight to the point, and Ulrik could feel his shoulders tense.

Liv had always been understanding, but doing this directly undermined her authority, something she knew her father would not take lightly.

Ulrik could do nothing but apologize. He did notice something strange; it felt like Liv was looking over her shoulder for some reason, and she was uncomfortable.

"Are you alright?" Ulrik asked. Liv looked at him, but her eyes softened.

"I am sorry, Ulrik…." Liv apologized and just then, two hefty men barged into his home.

These were men he had never seen before, but they had on the crest of the Vilfulf, and he immediately knew that this was not a casual visit. Still, they were others making their way into Ulrik's home, and this was Liv's father, one of the most powerful men in Kattegat.

He walked with a golden cane to support his fragile body, his height was nothing to write home about, but there was something that could not be mimicked, and that was the sheer feeling of supremacy Ulrik felt beneath him with just a glance.

"We have not met, but I think you already know who I am. You must excuse me but I have to put a stop to this act of treason." The older man said. He was well in his fifties, with his silky white hair swaying as he abruptly stopped.

"Treason? What are you talking about?" Ulrik asked; he was confused and did not understand what was going on, to begin with. All he did was execute an order for Kattegat to be locked down because someone had been taken. There was no need for such a drastic label to be plastered on his name because he knew the implication of treason.

"Hahaha! There must be some mistake…." Ulrik tried to downplay the allegations, but the two men with Fredrik Vilfulf drew their swords.

Ulrik shot Liv a helpless glance because she had the power.

Her father could not decide independently, but Liv was a lady her father loomed over; she did everything to please her father, as his approval was like oxygen.

Despite finding the redeeming qualities in Askild, she would never have married the man that killed her brother without her father's push.

Ulrik realized he could do nothing the moment Liv avoided his gaze.

At that moment, it briefly crossed his mind to resist, but he knew it would look bad if he were going to appeal this.

"T-There is no need for violence. I will come along willingly…' Ulrik raised his hands to show his surrender, but he had every right to know why he was being taken.

"Can I ask why I am being taken?" Ulrik asked, walking forward with his hands still held up.

"Ulrik, you tried to take control of Kattegat…." Liv said as she flashed her father a glance, and he gave her the go-ahead nod.

"You decided, without my knowledge, one that put the whole city of Kattegat at stake, and you will now be taken in for questioning and tried based on the result of the questioning." Liv finalized her dialogue, and Ulrik knew all this was a big misunderstanding, but he complied as he had no reason to. He maintained his silence as he was taken away, but in the distance, a cloaked figure smirked upon this revelation, muttering under their breath in a raspy voice.

"It is time..."