King Ragnar had ventured out to meet his brother, Ulf.
He was surprised that his brother was not at home considering Ulf was reclusive but that came with the title of being a Commander, he had a lot more responsibilities.
But he helped himself inside his home regardless because Ulf and he both shared that sort of bond.
He was surprised by how mature his house looked compared to before, Ulf's house looked like a home.
Ragnar explored some more and he saw a book on the table, it was strange.
Ulf was never one for books so what was this about?
Ragnar picked it up and noticed it was a journal that highlighted Ulf's life but just before he could snoop through it, the door creaked open.
Ragnar cocked his head in that direction and a sheepish smile crept up on his face, he could not contain his excitement as he threw the book on the table and hugged his older brother.
Ulf felt an overwhelming sense of guilt but judging from Ragnar's reaction, he could discern that Lagertha had not told him just like he had predicted.
"It is good to see you brother!" Ragnar said, breaking the embrace as he looked him right in the eyes.
"The farmer who became a King! My brother! King Ragnar!" Ulf bragged, he was glad that his brother was here.
"We have a lot of catching up to do!" Ragnar shouted, he could not contain his excitement nor could Ulf.
Ulf hurriedly rushed to a cabinet, and there was a bottle of refined ale, not the normal rubbish you would see in a bar but this was one of actual quality.
Ragnar was back and Ulf knew it was time to bring out the big guns to celebrate his brother's arrival.
"I have a lot to tell you!" Ulf blurted out as he poured them both a drink.
-
[Four Years Ago]
Shortly after the exile of Tyr and Erik The Berserker.
Ulf returned with a rescued Liv, despite Birger virtually handing her over to him for this exact reason.
Ulf was hailed by everyone, he had gained the respect of his peers.
He not only killed Birger but rescued King Askild's wife, a woman Askild loved so deeply that he prioritized her rescue over everyone else.
Ulf was not seen as an ordinary warrior anymore but he was soon told about what Erik did to Lagertha and a sickening feeling shot through his body.
Ulf was angry and hated every moment of it, and he swore to himself that he would hunt down Erik and kill him himself.
Ulf was the one that found Erik's corpse and rumors started going around that he was the one that killed Erik The Berserker but these were just rumors.
The majority of them did not believe in this rumor because there was no way Ulf could defeat him but people still did only elevating his status.
Ulf was made a Commander shortly after, taking the status that Erik once held and his vacant spot.
Erik had no men under his command or his trial would have never been held as he led a bunch of psychopaths that were just as crazy as him.
This was how Ulf's status rose in Kattegat, but this was not the singular act that was his catapult to fame.
Ulf went on an expedition in a not-so-distant land and there he met a very famous man.
He met Thorvald, the very same Thorvald that had saved the life of Tyr but this encounter was before his exile.
A battle ensued that resulted in Ulf's victory and this was the loss that contributed to Thorvald's exile for his Kingdom scorned him for losing to the less renowned Lothbrok brothers.
Thorvald would eventually lose it and kill a few of the people that mocked him resulting in his exile.
Everyone underestimated Ulf, and Thorvald was surprised that no one knew just how strong Ulf was because if they did, his defeat would not come as a surprise.
Ulf has lived a comfortable life ever since then and all this happened in two weeks with the starting point being the day "The Berserkers" were exiled.
-
Ragnar was perplexed by his brother's tale and was even more surprised that he had defeated Thorvald because he knew that Thorvald was strong.
This was not an unfamiliar name in the Viking world, Ragnar was glad that his brother was getting everything he wanted from life.
He had finally gotten a name for himself that separated him from the title of "Ragnar's brother" and was gaining his individuality from being related to him.
And with Ragnar being King, Ulf was no longer just a regular warrior but the brother of a King further aiding on his quest up the ladder of his ambition.
The brothers laughed and told each other about smaller mundane tales and Ulf eventually asked his brother if he had been with any other woman ever since becoming King.
Of course, this was something Ragnar denied because he has been faithful to Lagertha but it did not mean his eyes did not wander.
Ragnar met a woman that had caught his interest, she was named Aslaug and was among the many visitors of status to come to Vestfold.
Her beauty was said to be unparalleled but she wore a veil to conceal that beauty because every man quite literally has paid an insurmountable amount of money to buy her hand in marriage but all attempts were rejected. Ragnar was curious about who she was like any other man but that was where his curiosity ended.
It was nothing sexual, but Ulf was surprised because this was the first time his brother had spoken about another woman that was not Lagertha.
"Brother, there is something I need to tell you…" Ulf's tone was serious and Ragnar's interest peaked.
"What is it?" Ragnar asked his brother.
"It is about your wife, it is about Lagertha, brother…"
