Thistle strode from the territory borders, her downy ears held erect and high. For there was a small body close next to her that she had to believe in and keep safe. She did not travel from the borders very often with her children in tow, but Tveir was being good thus far and she would protect him with her life. She was secretly hoping to see Sveinn, Ein was with Ragnar and Gyda was doing what it was she did best, and of that Thistle wasn’t yet certain. Her daughter was an interesting character all in her own right.
Thistle looked both ways, but she stayed near the beach and not far from the borders so that if she were to call someone could come quickly. Tveir kept pace with her easily.
Týr had on an impulsive decision decided to remain in free territory near Stavanger Bay after he had met his step mother, unaware of the drama going down within it's borders and that he now had not just one step mother but two of them. He had no tangible proof that Thistle would attempt to find him again though it was a suspicion he ran on. In reality, it was a front for the real reason he had chosen to linger nearer. He was hoping that Thistle might tell Ragnar of his re-appearance and that Ragnar himself would come out to reunite with him. Of course it was a vain hope the chocolate colored Rekkr knew for his father made no attempts to communicate and Týr was left with nothing but bitter disappointment and reconfirmation that his father had moved on to hiwith his new children. The jealousy was an ugly feeling that rose within the warrior's battle hardened heart as he stared coolly at the lands he knew to be Stavanger Bay in the distance.
Surprise flitted across Týr's face when he saw a wolf nearing him in the distance, though the shape of what he had assumed was one morphed into two as Thistle and one of his replacements drew nearer. He glimpsed to the lands that stretched from the shore line wondering if he had time to escape before they noticed him. Though he had spoken with amiability about meeting his half siblings (or so he thought anyway), as the situation came closer he felt a sharp pang in his chest that came bearing the heavy burden of uncertainty with it. However, Thistle and her child were drawing closer and it much to late for likely one of them had already seen him. Slowly, he glimpsed back at the approaching woman and child and swallowed against the metallic taste his jealousy had left in his mouth as they neared and put on a soft smile that did not quite touch his eyes. Hello Thistle Cloud,
Týr greeted her before his gaze flickered to the child near her. And what is your name?
It was painful but he would prove he was the bigger man.
a crime so old as the sky and bone
Thistle cloud smiled and dipped her muzzle hello Tyr. I’m sorry I wanted to find you and let you know that I haven’t spoken to your father yet, he and I are at the moment in a small disagreement and I have not approached him yet, by my own stubborn design. I will today though. I am sure he will be pleased though he won’t say it, I know he misses you, but he’s to stubborn to admit that he has feelings . she smiled again and looked down at Tveir and wondered what he would tell him. It was not a small disagreement it was a large huge disagreement, but she wasn’t going to sully her husbands name to his son nor was she going to make a scene it wasn’t fair and she wouldn’t do it.
She imagined that the youth felt jealousy at his brother, because she would. It was a natural response to something like this, and she briefly wondered if he had no reason to worry that he needn’t feel jealous of her own, since they were not technically his father’s by blood. She shook her head to dispel such terrible thoughts again.
Tveir looked up at him and smiled and spoke wondering if this brother preferred old norse like EIn he would try and see. "Ég er Gunnar, en allir kalla mig tveir. Þú bróðir minn Tyr? Ég er fús til að hitta þig"
Chocolate brown brow creased in confusion when Thistle admitted to him that the reason Ragnar hadn't visited him was because she had not told Ragnar that he was in the Valley, in one of the free territories near Stavanger Bay. I see,
He was not sure how exactly he was supposed to take that, though he appreciated her honesty on the subject. Even so he could not see how a small disagreement was being taken out on him by not informing Ragnar of his presence and leaving Týr with the thought that Ragnar didn't care. What happened?
The Ironside inquired figuring if it dealt with his father and his new step mother than it was his business even if he did not live in the Bay. Halló Tveir. Já ég er hálf bróðir þinn
The young Rekkr spoke to the child, offering a soft smile because it wasn't the child's fault. His jealousy was nothing more Týr's own demon that he had to face on his own.
a crime so old as the sky and bone
There was silence for a while, likely while Thistle debated if he had any right to know what family drama was happening within the borders of Stavanger Bay. He might not have been a member of the Bay but he had been a member of Ragnar's family longer than her by all technicalities and anything that was going on with Ragnar was Týr's business; however, the Rekkr did not feel like arguing with her over it. She blatantly told him that she refused to speak of it, and though it left him with a slight swell of irritation — if something happened to his father he had an equal right to know — he let it go out of cordial politeness. He offered her a smile though the corners of his lips were tight. Very well,
He would figure it out eventually, whether she told him or he had to step around her. He would approach his father if need be, or someone else that would know in Stavanger Bay.
Týr glimpsed down at Tveir when the boy pushed up against his chin, batting at his paws, body bowing with an open invitation to play. It had been quite some time since Týr had played and even with the boy glimpsing up at him with eager eyes he was not sure he remembered how to play. His mind was clouded with what was happening with Ragnar and he glimpsed up at Thistle Cloud for a moment before his eyes flickered down to Tveir. How old are you?
It could have been said that Týr was Ragnar's son but his obsession with proving himself to Ragnar and the Gods to remember what it was like to be a child.
a crime so old as the sky and bone
She looked at the boys and wondered if the older boy could play? Surely he could still play, is this the fate her own sons had coming that they couldn't even play?
Tveir panted after that long speech and then he looked at his mother's horrified expression and at his big brother. i'm puppy
It seemed that just because Thistle did not wish to speak of it did not mean her son would harbor the same restraint. Like most children he did not have the necessary filter to keep things hidden and informed Týr of what was happening that Thistle refused to speak to him of in their native tongue. Nerian?
Týr inquired, though he had heard Tveir very clearly. My father is in a polygamy relationship with you and the Priestess? I thought she had taken an oath of celibacy...,
Týr glimpsed down at Tveir wondeirng if the child knew what that word met. It was why she had refused his father so many times before, after all. To hear that she was now his second wife was mind blowing but his attention went back to his half brother when the boy began to explain that he didn't like it, that it made Thistle sad and that Nerian was afraid of them. He doubted that particular part, after all, why would the Priestess be afraid of harmless children? She had never been afraid of Týr and as far as he was concerned he could do much more damage than the child before him.
Why do you think the Priestess is afraid of you, hmm?
He inquired of the boy wanting to hear Tveir's theory. Tveir, things change. But it doesn't mean your family loves you any less, and just because our father has two wives does not mean that he loves Thistle any less. He loves you and your siblings but he also loves me. I am still his son even though he has you and Ein and Gyda, right? Change isn't bad,
Týr told his half brother softly, trying to make him understand. It was likely a futile attempt given the boy's age — though 'puppy' was obvious and not the specifics he'd been looking for; he looked to Thistle then for clarification of her children's age, but took a deep breath and spoke quietly, At least father loved you enough to not sneak around as he did with his other wives.
It probably wasn't much of a condolence but Týr found that he had none. He did not understand why she was so upset about it and did not like that it seemed as if she and her son before him were turning against Ragnar.
a crime so old as the sky and bone
Thistle stared at her second born embarrassment and pride on her face. He was knowledgable that was obvious. Her embarrassment was mostly born as she did not like everyone to know her feelings on the matter. I do not know what Nerian did before this, apparently she is in love with your father though and your father in love with her.
Thistle wanted to growl in frustration these two were so much alike it made her uncomfortable because she would not win and he would not see her side and she was tired of trying to explain herself to the males in her life, they were mean and hurtful at times and she was tired of it, just tired of it, but she kept herself calm and her expression neutral. Your brothers and sister are 10 weeks old. SHe stared at the ground then and looked back up He may love me, but clearly i am not enough at least that is how i feel and i am tired of broken promises. That is where my issue lies. I love your father, i will not do anything to hurt him never would never will. And this venom you hear is exactly why i didn't wish to speak of it, because i am hurt and I am upset, and when i am those things i tend to be harsher than i mean to be but I am trying to get over it, I am doing well so far I still have some emotions to plow through. I was not raised as you and Ragnar I was raised where you were in love with only one person and you never hurt them...or at least you tried not too. I have even asked for help from the gods to calm my ire, but I cannot help what I am feeling just as I am sure you cannot help feeling a little jealous of your brothers and sister. You can't help what you feel Tyr and I hope that you remember that. She sighed then adn shook her head This is terrible I meant for this day to be a good day, so you could meet at least one of your siblings. And it has already gotten off on the wrong foot, I am going to go over here away from the two of you so I don't mar this meeting anymore or perhaps make you dislike me I would not want that. She looked down at tveir and licked his downy head, I'll be right here son. She then moved away and sat down in the sand to watch.
Týr had no opinion on if Ragnar loved Nerian, or vice versa really because last time he had known Ragnar had wanted her only to sate his manly needs and the woman had hated him. Týr listened to Thistle's long winded rant, ears slicking back against his skull in veiled irritation at her assumption that Ragnar didn't give two shits about her when Týr, who as far as he was concerned knew Ragnar better than she did, wanted only to argue with her that it wasn't the case and since she considered that obviously did not know her husband as well as she liked to claim. If you were not enough for him he would have never spared you so much as a second glance,
Týr told her simply, tone stiff. He felt that she had grown irritated at him that he had not jumped to take her side but idly the heathen Rekkr couldn't help but wonder what it was she had wanted from him. He wasn't going to logically side with a woman he didn't even know, over his own father. My father is a man of his word,
He wanted to argue that Ragnar's ambition got in his way. He would always strive for more. How did she think Týr felt being pushed aside by his father's ambition? One son wasn't enough. He wanted more. Yet, Týr did not think of Ragnar as a bad man for it. It hurt, of course, but he could not change Ragnar. Even if he had a choice — which he didn't.
You do not know how I feel,
He told her harshly, eyes narrowing despite that she had hit the bullseye dead on. It was immature and not one of Týr's finer moments. The instant she turned from him and walked a good distance away leaving him alone with Gunnar the guilt began to roil in his stomach. Way to mess up whatever potential good relationship you had with her, as it was he felt a great shame swell in his breast for disrespecting her as a woman (a inkling of his past life). He did not understand what her gender had to do with anything and yet it was there like a festering wound nevertheless. Týr glimpsed down at Gunnar when the boy spoke why he thought that Nerian feared them. That isn't fear,
Týr told his young half brother simply. She is not used to children, is all.
When the child screamed at him that the change was too much, Týr let out a low warning growl at the boy's disrespect. It would be easy to kill him, Týr realized during a terrifying moment. He had the motive...the child was competition, and belonged to another woman. Why was he supposed to give two shits about him? He wasn't his brother — not really. The world is always changing, Gunnar. If you cannot adapt then perhaps you have no place in this world.
Týr spoke quietly to the child with narrowed eyes, before he turned stiffly and walked away without so much as a goodbye knowing that he needed to leave before he made a further mess of his step family, or worse yet hurt the child.
a crime so old as the sky and bone
Thistle watched him walk away and she wanted to rip him apart as she saw the dejected expression on her son’s face, how dare he take his anger out on her son. She hadn’t heard what was said, but clearly that was what it was, or Tveir would not be so sad and forlorn. Come Son we will go home. She spoke softly. And turning with Tveir at her heels with a smile on his face again, she went home.
He shook his head as his mother called and it was soon enough forgotten, being as young as he was. There was more important things to do throughout the day. He followed behind her happily playing.