The Promise -Pt 8- (Iceland x Reader)

The Promise -Pt 8-
Viking!Iceland x Viking!Reader





You looked back behind you, the blurry figures of the three oldest siblings barely recognizable from that distance, but you knew it was them. You could practically feel an aura of pure rage heading your way, but you weren't sure who it was from...

No, that's a lie. You knew very well who it was from, and you were actually surprised. You briefly glanced back at the figures again, but you paid them no mind.

"We're in big trouble now." you heard the Icelander tell you, which made you glance up at him. Your eyes widen at the sight of his grin.

"Um.... You okay?" you asked him, making his gaze tear away from the elder brothers to focus on yours. He nodded, that big smile still not wiping away from his features. "......Em?"

He glanced back at the shore, and he gave a light chuckle, making you even more confused. "Feels nice to rebel for once" he admitted, looking back at you.

Your eyes widen as you stared at him. "You.... never did before?"

He shook his head. "I had better things to do, well... I had too many things to do, too much worries to even think about it..." he admitted once more as his head dropped a little, his embarrassed featured hidden by his bangs as he was opening up to you a little bit more. "It was really hard to make ends meet...."

Sure, you two had spent a lot of time together just talking, but he never truly opened up... He just beat around the bush and often fell silent when it got too detailed, while you had no problem talking about your past, no matter how unpleasant the event might have been. You just wanted to share, and you didn't mind since you trusted him and he seemed to care.

He just skimmed over most of his personal stories, and you could tell that he was often lying when he said he couldn't remember some things; he simply didn't feel like talking about it. For him to be talking about his past like that was something you weren't used to, and it would be an understatement to say that you were curious to know it.


*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*


I watched as min lillebror and that.... girl sailed away from us. No matter how much I tried to keep it inside... No, I had to try and bring him back. Emil isn't strong enough; he isn't ready for that kind of thing. Yes, I must bring him back. He's still a kid, he can--

"Hey, relax."

"Shut it, Dane. Your brother didn't stupidly run off." I blankly snapped at Mathias, my fists curled into tight balls as anger boiled in my veins. How could he have been so stupid?!

"Listen to me, he's okay. He might be your brother, but let him fly, bro." he immediately replied.

Next to me, Tino sighed. "There's no point in going after them...."

"Nei, det er." I mumbled to myself as I was heading towards my ship only to have my sleeve tugged back, which prevented me to do so. I looked at who was holding me back against my will, and was actually surprised to see it was Berwald.

"You should let them go. They won't go far, I can even promise it." he explained.

I thought about it. They're only two, and the ship they took mostly sails with the wind. I hope they were smart enough to get provisions before they left.... They won't last long alone either way; they'll be back soon.

As if it knew its master had gone away, I heard min lillebror's bird fly away towards the shrinking figure.

All I could do was pray Odin to keep him safe....


*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*


The boat's steady and gentle rocking was pretty calming, and the salty breeze wasn't messing too much with your hair. Comfortably propped up against its wooden railing, you and Emil sat a few inches away from each other. The young man still couldn't believe that he actually had gone through with it, and he stole a glance in your direction.

He was wondering why he felt funny around you, as if he'd known you all his life.

He softly sighed, hoping that it was just a passing moment, but you heard it. It made you worry. You'd never voice it, no way, but you really did feel funny around the purple-eyed Viking as well. Sure, you loved to tackle-hug your brothers, but for Emil, you just wanted to snuggle your head against his shoulder, to listen to his steady heartbeat, to feel his arm around you while you were sitting like this, that we would be holding you close to him from your waist.

But....
You were worried that he regretted his decision.  

Glancing up at him, you saw that his head was resting against the wood, his eyes closed as he seemed to be thinking something through. You thought he was trying to find a gentle way to tell you that you should go back. To be honest, you thought it had been a stupid move, since you now thought that his elder brother now hated your guts. He'd never trust you again, so you did want to exploit this chance to the fullest.

Still, you were worried. "You want to go back, do you?" you asked him, making his head straighten and his eyes snap open to look at you.

"What makes you say that?" he asked, which was a mere question, confusing you.

You blinked. "Well... You seemed to be thinking seriously and all..." you trailed off, your gaze following the same example.

"Oh... Well it wasn't about that..." he replied, giving a little chuckle afterwards. "I'm glad I did, remember?"

Your gaze snapped back to look at him, a small smile painted across your lips. "You could have regretted it."

"Nei, I don't. But....." he trailed off, his gaze shifting to his hands. "Takk"

You have him a confused smile. ".....I don't follow"

He glanced at you, but he then kept staring at his hands. "About my past... Thanks for not asking too many details..."

"So that's what you were thinking about?" you asked with a relieved smile. "Well... You're welcome"

He slightly lifted his head, making you notice the small smile on his face. It actually made yours widen. Mr. Puffin, who had been soundly asleep on your lap, woke up and flew up the mast while uttering a few cries. A sound which made you giggle and the Icelander silently chuckle as he stood up.

"We should stop at a nearby island...." he suggested as he gave you a hand so he could help you stand up.

Usually, you would brush it off and stand up on your own but.... You still took his hand, thanking him after. "Ja, just to be safe." you agreed. After all, you were still just two, plus the cute little bird.

You kept hoping that the wind would keep the shoreline in view, and oh were you glad it did! You both decided on an island that wasn't too far when twilight was about to give in to dusk. You were trying to cover as much distance as possible before you would turn in for the night, possibly even stay own that same plot of land for the next few days.

You knew winter was just around the corner, and you wouldn't be able to forgive yourself it your trip took too long; you knew Lukas had someone waiting for him back at his village. You were glad you didn't have to stay in your village; it was way more fun to be out on sea than on land, even if you appreciated coming back.

Anyways, you both brought the small drekar over to the beach, it's hull secured in the golden, but then grayish, sand. The moon was hovering above the both of you but so were the few remaining rays of sunlight, which painted the sky of a light aqua tint as the surrounding nature seemed to be in different shades of dark blue.

"Hey Em? Why don't we sleep under the stars tonight?" you asked, panting a little from your recent exercise to secure the longship. To be honest, you really didn't feel like setting up the tent, and the sky looked really pretty that night.

"Ja, let's." he agreed, after he had seemed to have thought it through. He had actually drawn to the same conclusion, and he inhaled a good puff of air before he set down a pelt he had brought with him. He plopped down on it as he exhaled.

You giggled at the adorable sight.

"Hva?" he asked, confused. What was so funny?

"Ingenting~" you teasingly replied.

He huffed by your dismissive response, but he just ended up in shaking his head with a small smile as he looked back up at the stars. He truly felt like he could be himself around you, a feeling he had only experienced around his brother. He closed his eyes, lost in his thoughts again.

He did notice during his peacful thinking that you had laid down next to him on a pelt too. You stared as his peaceful features for a while, heart strangely beating faster as you forced your gaze towards the twinkling precious stones in the sky.

"[Name]?"

"Uh-mmh?" you replied, curious.

"I thought about what you said.... You know, about what could have happened?" he told you as his head turned to look at you.

You blinked a few times, confused, but you then remembered what you had once asked him out of curiosity. You nodded with a quick grunt of approval. You kept silent, since you wanted to know where he was going with this.

"And... I think the same thing." he continued, with a small smile. "Bad things happen, but... Just..." he added with a sigh. He didn't know how to phrase what he wanted to say. "I just think of everyone we've helped, and... In the end, it was all worth it." he completed. "Well, it's not.. ugh... He looked back at the night sky and sighed as a shiver ran down his spine. It was really getting colder.

"It's okay, I get it. I agree..." you replied, your gaze following suit. "I'll go get some dry driftwood" you said, standing up as you stifled a small yawn. You had grown cold too.

"I'll light the fire, then" volunteered in turn the purple-eyed Viking. You nodded as you set off, gently rubbing your forearms to make a bit of heat as you hummed a little melody.

You didn't notice the pair of lilac orbs shyly glued on you.