"Miss Y/N, please will you tell us a story?" Esgar smiled, pulling on my dress. I smiled down to the young boy, who was in his sleeping tunic, and ran my hand through his ginger  hair, pushing a few curly locks off his face.
    "Of course I will, my darling." I gave him a warm smile and let him run off towards his and his brother's bedroom. My soon-to-be husband laughed from the dining table as I excused myself to follow his sons.
    "Have I told you the story of the boy who made friends with Fenrir?" I asked, as the younger son settled into his bed. They both shook their heads. I nodded and took my seat beside Cnut and waved Esgar over to sit on the other side of me on his brother's bed.
    "There once was this young boy names Leska who lived in the mountains with his mother and father and sister. One day, he went out into the mountains to go hunting for his family and he starting walking up the mountain path, the way he would normally go when it started snowing." I began the story, engaging the two boys. I was making the story up as I went, truthfully, but the boys didn't seem to notice.
    "The snow grew heavier and heavier and soon, he couldn't see the path at all."
    "But how did he get home?" Baby Cnut asked, looking me in the eye.
    "Well, I'll tell you." I giggled, pulling both of the boys close to me.
   I continued the tale until I heard shallow snoring next to me and looked to see both boys had fallen asleep. Using all my strength, I picked up Esgar before taking him over to his own bed and tucking him in. I placed a soft kiss upon his head and did the same for Cnut before leaving them and returning to my future husband.
    "I'm sorry it took so long, Lord but it took them longer to get to sleep." I gave the ginger man, who was now sat by the fire, a soft smile. He gave me a soft look and waved me over to sit beside him.
    "My sons so do adore you, it seems." He smiled, taking a sip of ale from his cup. "When we marry, I think it will be best for them to call you mother, don't you think."
   "If- if you should bid it, Lord." I said, shyly. I pushed a loose strand of my hair behind my ear and looked to him. He flashed me a rare, sweet smile.
    "My dear, we are to be married in just a few days and I would like it if they called you mother. You are going to be their mother and the mother of their brothers and sisters, are you not." He gave me a wink. Oh, how I was dying to get alone with him.
    "The next few days can't go fast enough." I muttered to myself, not thinking her heard. There was a bawdy laugh from next to me and I instantly blushed.
    "Making you that impatient, am I?" He smirked, looking around briefly before pulling me into a passionate kiss.
    We were not married and it was not proper for us to kiss, even if he was the leader of the camp and could do what he pleased. And, if one of his sons caught us, it would be very embarrassing.
    Cnut pulled away gave me a smirky look.
    "I'll save the rest for our wedding night." He took another sip of his ale and I sat at his side and we began talking about the plans he had made for the camp. Where we were going to next and the stronghold we were going to take was the biggest conversation starter.
    "The stronghold north of here is our best bet for we can-" he cut himself off, listening to the soft whimper that appeared behind us. The ginger man turned around and I followed suit, looking behind us to see one of his sons appearing. It was Esgar.
    "My boy, what's wrong?" Cnut asked, concerned. The young boy rubbed the tears off his face and stood there, awkwardly.
    "I- I had a scary dream." He admitted. I sighed and motioned for him to come over to where I was sat and I pulled him into a hug.
    "Don't be scared of dreams, my son- you are meant to be brave."
    "I am brave." The boy muttered to his father, pushing away from me and wiping his face. I sighed and brushed the small curls from the boy's face.
     "We know you are brave, Esgar. What your father means is that you have no reason to be scared of your dreams because that is all they are- dreams." I gave him an encouraging smile. "Everyone has bad dreams." I explained.
    "Everyone? Even you?" He asked, disbelievingly. I gave out a little giggle.
    "Yes, Esgar, even me. I used to have bad dreams when I was a child, just like you." I said. "And you know, no matter what happens in your dream that it's not real, don't you?" I asked. He nodded. "Good. Because you know neither of us," I motions to his father, "would ever let anything hurt you, don't you."
    "I know." He said, quietly. I am my hand through his flaming hair, the exact colour of his father's.
    "Your father is the bravest, strongest man I know and he loves you very much and wouldn't let anybody hurt you or your brother. Neither would I." I gave him a sweet smile. He nodded and hugged me.
    "Thank you." He breathed, tiredly. I smiled, audibly.
    "Don't worry my sweet boy." I placed him on my lap and looked to his father. "Would you like to hear the ending of the story?" He nodded. "Well, that was where the boy met Fenrir, during the snowstorm." I began. Soon, he was asleep on my lap and I was stroking his hair, peacefully.
    "Would you like me to lift him back to bed?" Cnut offered, placing his empty ale cup down. I shook my head.
    "I do not have the heart to wake him. Leave him just another minute to make sure he is sleeping." I pleaded, not looking up from the boy. The older man nodded and rested comfortably in his seat, looking at me and his son.
    "Those boys do adore you." He sighed, happily. "Almost as much as I do." He gave me a sweet smile I did not see very often.
    "I adore them, as I adore you, Lord. I do love them as if they were my own." I gave Esgar one last kiss on his head and motioned for his father to take him. On one, swift motion, the boy was lifted off my lap and into his father's arms. At this, I stood too.
    "It is late, my Lord and I should leave before people start to think something may be going on." He nodded.
    "Good night, my dear." I kissed him on the side of his cheek. "I shall see you tomorrow."
    "You shall, Lord."