rise to the rush

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Ragnar could not help how he felt about Nerian any more than the Priestess could help that she had fallen in love with him. It was some horrific case of Stockholm Syndrome if Ragnar would have known what it was but he did known and believe in the Norns. He understood that Fate was a driving force and that everything that happened was because of it. It was Fate. Fate that he had fallen in love with and had given Thistle his heart, and fate that Nerian had found him here, that she loved him. He wanted both women. It was that simple of a desire. He could never relinquish his control over Nerian until she was his and he knew she wouldn't breed with any other man, though he masqueraded that desire as not wanting another man to touch her or, accordingly, hurt her. And if he could convince Thistle to consent to it he knew Nerian would go into heat again within the year and he could have his technically third litter of children (the first had been born stillborn and premature and the second was Bragi) and in that way the children would not be bastards, unlike Dagrun. The swell of excitement in his chest was beaten down and contained swiftly as it came to his attention that Thistle, as far as Ragnar was aware, still didn't like Nerian and he had vowed that he wouldn't take another woman...but in Ragnar's mind this didn't fall under that particular category. It wasn't as if he was seeking Nerian for pleasure ...he could get that easily enough from Thistle. He truly did, in some warped way care for the Priestess and he wasn't sneaking behind his wife's back, either. If and when he broached the subject of it she would either be willing to give it a try, to invite Nerian into their home, family, and bed or she would be disgusted and angry with him. Not angry enough to leave him he assumed if only because he would only be suggesting it. A suggestion was not the same thing as actually doing it. If she refused him his polygamy desires he supposed he would have no other option then to drop it for once and for all. As Thistle approached he was relieved to see that none of the children trailed behind her for this conversation would not be meant for children's ears whether it went well or they ended up having a fight over it. He almost asked about Junior's welfare but stopped himself with a pang in his chest. Junior had been returned to her family and though it had been his intention to return her he was saddened knowing that she had chosen to go back home though he understood, and was filled with the painful realization that he missed his little Shield Maiden in training. However, for the moment he tucked that away to focus on the reason why he had called Thistle to him. "Have you and Nerian been able to work out your problems, my love?" He asked her not skirting around the bush, leaning into her touch when she tugged at his scruff and watched her with studious eyes as she reclined a little bit away. For the moment that was the biggest and most important question he had for her.