Tyr's trial was over before it began, and the moment he became Estrid's betrothed he shared the privilege she had.
Tyr could now not be touched even by Salgard, he attained the highest possible rank for someone in his position and the wedding was planned already.
Rugalf was excited by this idea, he was glad that Estrid did what she did not because it saved Tyr but because it secured their Kingdom's future.
Estrid was to spend alone time with her husband to be in their private chambers.
This was not to have sex but rather to get accustomed to one another.
"You did not have to do what you did… I feel bad for taking away your chance at a happy married life," Tyr said and Estrid raised her brow.
"You plan to make my life miserable?" Estrid asked.
"No… That is not what I meant…" She could tell that Tyr did not like the circumstances in which they were getting married but it could not be helped.
"You know Tyr…" Estrid said with Tyr giving her his full attention.
"I do not think you would make the worst husband… You are strong, you protect your family, and you have risen in the world despite the odds. That is a man I can respect," Estrid said, trying her best to ease Tyr's unease.
"Pfft! So my speech did have an effect…" Tyr muttered and this only made Estrid regret every word that just left her mouth.
"You are such a dumbass!" Estrid fired and Tyr could not help but laugh.
He did not think much of Estrid when he came to Rogaland but he was certainly growing fond of her now.
He could not read her, she felt like a blank slate but he did not mind. He preferred it this way.
"Tyr, when we are married. I expect you to be committed to me alone… You must not love me but you must be faithful to me…" Estrid said firmly, Tyr understood the logic behind this and luckily for Estrid.
Even after puberty, Tyr did not show any intense interest in the opposite gender as he was too preoccupied with his personal goals.
"Why are you so easygoing about marriage?" Tyr asked, he expected her vision to be marrying some tall handsome warrior that could bend reality, seeing as she believed she deserves only the best of the best.
"Marriage has always been a political tool. I was going to stall for as long as possible because the men I have met so far did not feel genuine. They wore a mask to try and win me over. My Father is the best man in the world to me but I know I would hurt him if I told him I had no interest in marriage but then he brought you up. I have to admit, you are a lot worse in person than the stories he told. He spoke about how you sided with Erik only to kill him in the most gruesome manner…" Estrid said and Tyr was surprised that Rugalf told her all this because it could have easily been a deal breaker.
"I was fascinated and then I met you, the first person I spoke to that did not have on a mask…" Estrid said; Tyr was beginning to understand her.
"You are strange…" Tyr carelessly blurted out.
"And you are stupid. I want you to swear to me that you will uphold my honour and be faithful to just me…" Estrid reiterated her earlier message.
"I swear on my life, Estrid. I will honour you, and I certainly hope I do grow to love you…" Tyr said and he could tell how these words seemed to ease her worries.
"You say the silliest things, Tyr Ragnarsson," Estrid responded with a smile. Neither could see it at this time but they were bonding on a deeper level.
-
Salgard sat in his room, he did not look particularly disappointed by the outcome as he did consider this.
He just did not know his niece would do something so drastic but it was a welcomed development nonetheless.
Salgard knew the expedition to England would be a defining moment and he was not comfortable with someone not belonging to his family holding such authority over the expedition.
Tyr Ragnarsson was among the Vikings expected to go alongside a few of his brothers as Salgard was to remain in Rogaland to keep King Rugalf safe.
In hindsight, what he did could be regarded as reckless but a more neutral look made his actions justifiable.
Tyr was a stranger with a history of betrayal, most notably his father but Salgard also knew he took loyalty seriously hence why he did what he did with Nora.
But he discovered then that Tyr did not view Nora as a family, with emphasis on family.
This meant that Tyr did not care about anyone he did not deem family indirectly making him a threat.
This meant he could switch up on them at any time.
Something Salgard had no intention of having so he was about to make sure that Tyr would not raise a hand against them by quite literally taking away a hand.
But Tyr marrying his niece showed that his loyalty now belonged to their family seeing as she became his family the moment the proposal was made.
That and the speech he gave at the botched trial.
Salgard was brought back to reality by the loud banging on his door, they knew he did not like being disturbed so this had to be an emergency.
"What is it?" Salgard asked, he had no interest in attending to the door.
"Lord Salgard, I came to inform you that your brother, Grjötgard Gardsson. He has returned!" The man behind the door informed Salgard and Salgard's dull eyes came to life as his whole momentarily ceased.
"Grjötgard is back?" Salgard repeated, he quickly threw on something as he rushed outside to meet his brothers.
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