Between Brothers

Authors note: Sorry for the short chapter! Next one will be longer. If you have read my prevoius stories you will know I am not one for hundreds of chapter fics. Thyra and Ubbe's tale will be ending soon. But fear not, there are still a few chapters to come.

HUGE thank you and shout out to all those reviewing with positive words, encouragement & actual constructive critism. Remember to focus on the good, dont let the haters bring you down in both writing and your everyday lives. You are all beautiful!

Sorry for any mistakes, I am writing on my Iphone as I am traveling without my laptop.

They had been sailing for three days stopping every now and then at Thyra's favourite places to hunt and trade. It also gave her a distraction from Ubbe. She had managed to avoid him holing herself up in the captains office and having Smithy keep him busy.

It was early afternoon on the fourth day and Thyra was once again in the office writing a ledger of her collected goods. El Sava had taught her somethings when he wasn't being a bastard.

But she had to stop. They were getting close to the land of the fantastic beasts, the elephants.

The air was hot, humid and stifling. Sweat was beading on her forehead and chest, she felt it dripping down her back. She ran the back of her hand across her forehead slushing off sweat before standing. She removed the heavy tunic she was wearing and switched it out for a light cotton one. She left the ties untied exposing the tops of her cleavage and she rolled up the sleeves to her elbows.

She stepped out onto deck. A very light breeze danced across her skin and the nearly abandoned deck. Most of the men were seeking solace from the sun in the dark, cool belly of the ship except Smithy manning the helm and a lone sailor looking out toward the sea. He was shirtless with a wide muscular back, as soon as Thyra's swept over the familiar form she swallowed the lump in her throat just as Ubbe turned around.

His eyes were bluer, the surrounding blue of the sea making them appear lighter. His delicate white skin had darkened from hours spent in the sun. He laughed at her when she told him to beware the sun.

He waited, silently beckoning her forward. She approached him, now was a good a time as any for them to discuss the things Ubbe wanted to.

'I have never felt heat like this before on my skin' Ubbe commented as his eyes skimmed across her cleavage. 'Well from the sun' he gave her a cheeky smirk. She rolled her eyes but a slow smile pulled gently on her lips. 'Why have you been avoiding me?'

Thyra turned to look at the still waters of the sea. 'I have not'.

She turned to see Ubbe quirk a brow, he did not believe her.

She sighed. 'I have been' she admitted.

'Why?'

'Because I did not know if I could face you. If I could face you after...'

'After you slept with my brother?' Ubbe said gently.

Thyra was unable to read his expression.

She gripped the wooden railing of the ship digging her nails painfully under the surface as splinters poked her fingertips drawing blood. Ubbe placed his large hand over hers stopping her. He slowly raised her hand to his face seeing the small droplets of blood dance across her delicate finger tips. He brought his lips to them, his tongue flicked out. Thyra gasped out partially surprised and very much aroused at the sensualness of the act.

'Well I was angry, I do not blame Bjorn' Ubbe said kissing her knuckles before dropping her hand. Her whole body was on fire, her finger tips tingling.

'Because if our places were switched, I would have done the same as he did'.

'I thought maybe I could forget you. Forget how you make my heart pound or my body burn. I was using Bjorn and I know he was using me. It was wrong but I couldnt have you then. I thought I was going to lose you' Thyra confessed feeling her heart ache at how close she had come to losing Ubbe.

He shook his head as his large hand wrapped around her neck, his fingers sprawling into her hair and against her skull. He gently pulled her forward so they were mere inches apart.

'You will never lose me. I will always be yours and you will always be mine' Ubbes voice came out a whisper, his tone laced with passion.

'There are some who believe the Gods do not favour us together. That the Gods control our destinies' Thyra said.

'Screw them and screw the gods'.

'Ubbe!'

Thyra was surprised before Ubbe's mouth came crashing down against hers. It was rough and passionate and a bit painful as Ubbe bit her lip punishing her lightly but it made her body burn hotter as she wrapped herself around him trying to get as close as possible.

'Land ahead!' Smithy's voice rang out.

The ship rumbled under their feet as the other men roused from their afternoon naps. Reluctantly they pulled apart. Both of their lips were sore and bruised as they both smiled sillily at each other drunk on love and lust.

'I cant wait to show you my favourite place, the land where the fantastic beasts live' Thyra took Ubbes hand as they turned to look at the approaching shore line.

Thyra spent the next few hours showing Ubbe around the foreign land. Soon evening approached and Thyra found herself in a familiar place. They were in a lush jungle by a heavy flowing water fall.

'This is where I killed El Sava' Thyra said as Ubbe looked around in wonder.

At that proclamation Ubbe turned to her. He closed the distance between them embracing her in his arms and kissing her.

'I would have loved to see that' his voice was husky.

Thyra smiled before pushing away from him and passing him, removing her clothing as she approached the pool of water.

She turned her head and smiled coyly over her shoulder at him. He was watching her every move. She jumped in to the clear, cool pool and relished the feeling of it on her hot, sweaty skin. She ducked under the surface and when she surfaced Ubbe was scrambling to remove his foot gear and pants. Once free of his clothing he dove in and surfaced behind Thyra pulling her flush against his naked body. She giggled as he nipped at her ear lobe and neck. For the first time in a long time, she felt free.

Ubbes hands sliding down her waist brought her back from her reverie. She turned and wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, teasing him with the position of their lower bodies.

'Make love to me Ubbe. Here and now' she purred.

She didn't need to ask twice.

Later they laid sprawled out on their backs in each others arms staring up into the inky black sky. Crickets chirped around them as the jungle came alive with a crescendo of sounds as a light breeze licked against their naked skin. Thyra felt complete.

Suddenly the noise came to a silent stand still. The ground was rumbling gently, trees crackled and swayed in the distance as a familiar sound echoed through the jungle. Ubbe was looking around on high alert having never heard a sound like that before but Thyra touched him gently just as a massive form emerged from the surrounding foliage followed by more massive bodies.

'What are they?!' Ubbe was awestruck as the giant gray beasts walked past them almost silently taking care to not get too close to Ubbe and Thyra.

'Elephants' Thyra breathed in wonderment as they passed on both sides of the couple.

They watched the beasts in silence until the last one disappeared.

'You don't see that in Kattegat' Ubbe stated.

'No you don't' Thyra smiled dreamily before patting Ubbe on the leg. 'We should get back to the ship'.

'Do we have to? I want to stay here with you forever' Ubbe grasped Thyra's chin gently placing a chaste kiss upon her lips.

'We can stay together forever but in Kattegat where we both belong' Thyra answered.

Ubbe considered her words for a moment. 'As long as I am with you, I don't care where I am'.

They dressed and wandered back to the ship hand in hand as the crew was loading the ship with animal pelts and the glittering rocks. This would be the last trip Thyra would take. She had amassed enough wealth to live comfortably for years.

She would give the ship to Smithy who had earned it after serving all those years under El Sava and then Thyra faithfully.

She said her final goodbye to the land of fantastic beasts as they cast off.

Ubbe kissed her shoulder once the island disappeared from sight, swallowed by the dark of night. 'Let us go to bed' Ubbe took her hand and Thyra allowed him to lead her to her quarters.

She laid awake in bed listening to Ubbe snoring gently beside her that night, She smiled, finally her and Ubbe would be together. And Aslaug would have no say, after all she owed Thyra her life now.

But perhaps it wasn't Aslaug that would be standing in their way.