Ragnar had been following his Queen Wife at a distance, observing how she was settling into her new role as Drottning. He would have made his presence known to her, eventually, but he understood that she still desired her space from him, which put something of a damper on his ability to enjoy having her in leadership with him. He was not able to converse with her about different situations, and basically was just like he was still leading by himself on as far as the discussions he expected them to have went. He had his doubts about promoting her, not because he did not think she could do it but simply because she was young and sometimes rash and tended to let her emotions get the better of her at times. He only worried that her irritation might cause a similar disaster to what had happened with Bragi. It had lost him not on what he suspected would be a valuable member but also his only true born son. He had not stopped the boy, figuring that he, himself, was to blame for his departure just as much as Thistle was and it was far too late for restarting. As a leader, Ragnar had found, that it was important to disconnect emotions from making important decisions and first impressions. They were the core of the pack, and their subordinates looked to them for guidance, to make the best decisions possible.
It was no different than Ragnar choosing to relocate instead of storming Wheeling Gull Isle and chasing them form their home, or killing them all until the sea ran red with their hot life blood. He had wanted to fight with every fiber of his being. He had wanted and could not help the feeling that choosing the high road made him look weak and like a coward and yet he had to set aside his own desires and emotions and do what was best for the family that was Stavanger Bay. He was their Jarl, and to them he gave direction, set an example. He loved her as she was and didn't want her to change even if half the time all they did was fight, make up and then fight again but he admitted to himself that she needed to work on that or he would have to demote her until she could prove that she could sever the two.
It was when Thistle had approached the borders that Ragnar had made a wide loop, intending to check on her once more before he returned to his Priestess Wife and the children with dinner, intending to leave the best part for Thistle for when she returned to the Jarl's den only to stop when he caught the scent of the lone she wolf outside of his borders at the same time as Thistle appeared to approach her. Providing dinner for his family was temporarily put on hold as he pushed through the tree line, sliding his body against Thistle's as he moved past her, body placed to her right but between her and the dark woman, staring at her with eyes of caribbean ice.