Realistic or Modern Of Crows and Omens

[decadent-rider]

She smiled and watched him a little, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “I love you.” She mumbled, starting to drift off again, managing to sleep through til morning, waking up and seeing Noah having some breakfast frowning some. “Everytime I wake up you’re eating without me.” She mumbled, pouting a little.

Ivar had woken up to silence in the house, managing to get himself up and sorted, heading downstairs and rolling his eyes a little at the lack of food on the table, sitting down and waiting for max to get up. It was only after a couple hours when Thomas came in that he was beginning to truly wonder about where she was.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Noah looked over with a face full of pancake and gave a small smile. He quickly swallowed his food and took her hand in his "Morning love, I gotta eat, or else you'll get mad at me. I can't help that it so happens you wake up every time I'm eating."

Thomas came into the house that morning and gave a small frown "Sir, she left this for you. Cameras show she left after you had gone to bed." He explained before handing him the letter Max had written for him. It explained her leaving and the reasoning for it. She also explained that this wasn't permanent and she would be back, once he got his shit together with how he acted towards her.

 

[decadent-rider]

She frowned and watched him for a minute. “Maybe if you didn’t chew so loud.” She muttered, making a face at him and just lay back frowning. “You wanna help me up? They’re gonna make me walk around before I can leave.” She mumbled, “you didn’t yell at Ben too much did you?” She asked.

Ivar frowned and read through it, immediately ripping the paper to shreds and got up, stumbling a little but brushed off Thomas’s help. “Get out.” He told him frowning, going to find his phone “I said get out!” He screamed at him

 

[Forever6A7X]

Noah gave a small sigh when she mentioned Ben and helped her up "At time it happened I layed into him....Ubbe did as well." He said softly while he went as slow as he needed to.

Max frowned deeply when she saw Ivar's name flash across her phone screen. She was honestly hesitant to answer, knowing it would just be screaming on the other end. After a few rings she finally answered and put it on speaker so she didn't have to hold the phone to her ear "Hello Ivar.."

 

[decadent-rider]

"Where the fuck are you?! You want to continue to play this stupid game?! See where it leads you huh?" He yelled down the line, "I will not tolerate this behaviour Maxine!" He yelled, unaware Hvitserk was sat not far from her and listening to the whole thing "I do you a favour by allowing another man's child into my home and this is how you repay me?!" He yelled again

She smiled tiredly at him, leaning heavily on his arms for her balance for the first thirty seconds before just holding him for support in case. Most of the beatings had taken place on her upper body but still her legs were bruised and sore. "It wasn't his fault.... You too would have thought going with him was safe." She mumbled "I will make sure he gets some time off.... He does keep talking about going on holiday with his girlfriend." She was rambling a little now and let him help her do a circuit around the room before sitting back down as her doctor was coming in for one last check before she could sign her discharge papers.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Max took a deep breath and gave a small nod "Yes Ivar, because right now you're treating me the same as Kalf...and I won't put up with it anymore." She said quietly before hanging up the phone looking at Hvitserk with sad eyes "Thats not the Ivar I know. He would have never talked to me like that."

Noah gave a small nod as he helped her around "Yeah I think that'll be good for him." He murmured before he got her to sit back down. He looked over when he saw the doctor come in "Hello sir, how is she looking?"

 

[decadent-rider]

-2 months-
Carmen stood shaking while she let Noah help her in the shower. The weight of the day along with how they had used water to torture her had caused extra problems for now but at the very least she knew he was there to help her. She was quiet as she got ready for the day after that, getting dressed in her more traditional attire, having had some bought for Noah as well. “We should get going.” She told him quietly once she was done. “I will never ask this again but you cannot look away. It will be difficult but this is ritual. Not for fun.” She told him

Ivar had had every intention to join his family for the ceremony today. They were finally getting rid of Leif after getting every scrap of information out of him but for the past few days Ivar had been slipping back again and to add to that the fact max still hadn’t come home was allowing his fury to fester. He’d vecome quite the recluse over the past couple months, only allowing his mother and hvitserk to visit and only when he would give in to their pleas of making sure he was okay. Today though he had agreed to join them all. Hee made it downstairs to wait for Thomas to get the car ready, feeling worse and worse as the time wore on.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Noah gave a nod as he helped her get dressed "I won't look away." He assured her before he got dressed as well. "Do uh....do we need to get anything before hand?" He asked quietly while he watched her. The recovery physically had thankfully gone well for her, but mentally she still wasn't completely herself. He was patient though, taking everything as slowly as she needed him to and being there for her. He was nervous though, he knew what was going to be done to Leif and it was one thing to hear about the Blood Eagle, but to see it? It had him a bit worried.

Max stood outside with Hvitserk in her traditional clothes giving a small sigh. She didn't want to see the Blood Eagle, she witnessed it once when she was a child by her uncle and she looked away only hearing the screams. She'd been of course told off by her father for not looking but she was always thankful that she had. Now with her being pregnant she felt this wasn't the place for her to be, but she was going for Carmen and Carmen alone.

 

[decadent-rider]

She shook her head and stepped closer to him, slipping her arms around his neck. “Just ourselves… I love you.” She murmured, standing on tiptoes to kiss him once. “We should head out.” She mumbled, leaving with him and having Ben drive them up to her fathers home, holding Noah’s hand the whole way.

He sighed quietly as he looked around “Hes not here. That’s at least one less thing to worry about.” He muttered. “Are you sure you want to be here? They’ve not arrived yet and I just don’t want you to end up sick or anything.” He sighed. Amma had had to leave to see her family for a few days which meant all of hvitserk attention had been on max during this time and he knew he often verged on the annoying side of attentive.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Noah kept her hand in his the entire ride over but said nothing. He took a deep breath as they arrived looking over at her and seeing how scared she looked "Hey....its going to be okay." He said quietly before kissing her hands repeatedly.

Max nodded and rubbed her bump gently "I'll be alright, I want to be there for Carmen." She said quietly, she'd been okay with Hvitserk's attentive side for the moment, she honestly needed it with Ivar being basically completely out of her life. She bit her lip as she thought about him and sighed "Did he say he would show?"

 

[decadent-rider]

He shook his head. “It would be unlike him to miss one of these though.” He muttered, heading inside right as the others had pulled up, taking a drink and following through the back of the house and sighed some. “Weird isn’t it, how you can grow up somewhere but every time you come home as an adult it doesn’t feel like home.” He muttered, frowning when she paused. “Hey, you alright?”

She nodded and frowned, getting out the car and slowly started making her way inside. “This isn’t really how I wanted to show you where I grew up.” She sighed a little, heading through to the back, holding his hand tightly.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Max gave a small nod and took a deep breath "Uh yeah, just braxton hicks." She murmured as she winced a bit "You think they'd let me sit?" She asked quietly as he helped her to the ritual area of the property.

Noah kept her hand tight in his as she led him inside "Its alright." He whispered before taking in the sight before him when they got to the back. The fire lighting the area, everyone dressed in their traditional clothes. It was alot to take it honestly.

 

[decadent-rider]

“I saw my first one when I was eight.” She told him frowning. “Mødir.” She said quietly as they reached where her mother stood, tilting her head down for a moment before continuing on to get them a drink. “You doing okay?” She awakes Noah gently. She knew that part of what made it difficult was the fact he’d worked with Leif for so long now and that it was her it had happened to.

He nodded and went to speak to a staff member, thanking them when they brought a chair. “Here, we stay at the back then we can leave if you need to okay?” He promised, “I can’t see Ivar anywhere.”

 

[Forever6A7X]

Noah gave a small nod and quickly downed the drink she had brought over "Yeah....I just....I like to think he was a friend. He deserves everything, but....I don't even know how to explain it." He admits quietly to her before kissing her forehead gently.

Max thanked him before she sat down and rubbed big circles on the bump to calm herself "Maybe he is running late.." she said quietly. She looked around at everyone and frowned when she saw Aslaug glaring at her "Your mother is killing me with her eyes." She murmured

 

[decadent-rider]

He chuckled a little. “She’s good at that.” He muttered but looked over when he finally saw Ivar heading in and he stood to go see him. He looked awful, not liking the way he appeared to be standing only with the help of Thomas. His way was soon blocked though as their mother cut him off and went to Ivar herself, returning to max to sit with her instead. “I’ll call him later.”

She frowned. “A friend? He was like a cousin to us all for so long but the moment he agreed to the job that was done.” She muttered, glancing over to see Jolly was coming to stand with Noah, giving his hand a squeeze before she left to go stand with Ragnar.

Jolly frowned a little at them both before standing next to his friend. “Did anyone explain the process to you?” He asked him frowning.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Max frowned deeply as she caught sight of Ivar. "Please let me know what he says." She said quietly as she kept her eyes on him. She worried about him every day, the fact he hadn't come back had hurt her, but she hoped soon enough he may come to her.

Noah gave a small nod and took a deep breath "Yeah she uh told me about it. I looked up on it as well." He murmured shaking his head some "You ever seen it done before?"

 

[decadent-rider]

He nodded and sighed a little "I just think there's more to it than him being an asshole because he's an asshole. Even Ivar has his limits." He muttered, "He looks like shit too." He muttered, shaking his head a little but glanced forward as the drums started, giving Max's shoulder a squeeze.

Jolly sighed quietly "It has changed much over the centuries but still remains in practice with some of the old families. But only those who live above the law as these do." He muttered "Once. A very long time ago." he muttered, looking over as the drums started and they brought Leif out, spitting on the ground and glaring at him while they waited for Bjorn to get him tied between the posts.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Max gave a nod and frowned deeply "Yeah he does." She murmured before turning her attention to the posts as the drums started. She spat at the ground as Leif walked by taking a deep breath once he was tied to the posts.

Noah watched as they walked him by feeling his anger start to rise finally seeing him. He took a deep breath as he did his best to not go after him. Once he was tied down he gulped quietly seeing Carmen come up behind him with Ragnar.

 

[decadent-rider]

once she had been handed the knife hvitserk carefully moved to half cover maxs view so she wouldn’t have to watch, the sounds alone were graphic enough and he had noticed that Ivar was only just able to keep his head up, as always choosing to save face over taking care of himself.

Jolly stood and watched once she’d been given the knife. The sound of flesh being sliced and bones being cracked not unfamiliar to him, just hoping his friend could understand why it was being done rather than focusing on the act itself. He knew full well Carmen was capable but he also knew that Noah had yet to see most of it himself what with the timing of him coming into the family.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Max took a deep and steadying breath when it all started. She gave Hvitserk's hand a small squeeze as a sign of appreciation when he blocked her view a bit. She couldn't help but steal looks at Ivar feeling her heart grow heavy with how awful he truly looked.

Noah felt his eyes widen a bit when it finally started but never looked away. He made sure to do his best to keep focus on Carmen more than the act itself but as the blood started to hit her face a bit because of the breaking of the ribs he was starting to see everything in a totally different light. He understood why Leif deserved this, he wouldn't argue it at all, but he thought he'd seen some fucked up shit in his life and nothing compared to this.

 

[decadent-rider]

By the end of it she was shaking, stepping back and just staring at the carnage in front of her until he finally stopped moving. Immediately she was looking for Noah in the crowd and caught his eye, trying to swallow the pit in her stomach at the look on his face, turning to go get washed up.

Hvitserk helped her up and sighed. “We should head out. You need to rest.” He told her frowning. He wanted to speak to his brother but there were still two of his men plus their mother around him and hvitserk wasn’t sure he had the strength to deal with that. “You still cramping?”

 

[Forever6A7X]

Noah stared at Carmen with almost a deer in the head lights look when it was all said and done. He snapped himself back when Jolly turned to face him "Can uh....can I go see her or is there more?" He asked.

Max took a deep breath as he helped her up and gave a nod "Yeah but its just braxton hicks....they're too far apart to be real contractions." She said quietly as he followed him looking towards Ivar "He looks terrible, I'm worried about him."

 

[decadent-rider]

He shook his head. “She’ll have gone to clean up. Go.” He told him, nodding in the direction she’d walked off in.

She had made it back to the house but felt someone grab her arm before she could step through the door, turning to see Noah stood there, reaching for him to come closer. “You did good. Ragnar will have noticed.” She told him quietly, leaning back into his arms for a moment. “I should go get cleaned up.”

He nodded and sighed. “I’m gonna head over whd see him tomorrow I think…. See if I can’t find out when he last saw his team.” He muttered, helping max out towards the car. “Ammas not back til tomorrow night, you wanna get pizza?” He asked her smiling some.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Noah gave a small nod and took a deep breath "That was....that was something else." He said quietly while he followed her "Want me to grab your bag from the car?" He asked quietly

Max nodded as she walked with him "Yeah cheesy bread sounds good." She murmured squeezing his arm tightly "Hold on, this one is hurting pretty good." She said as she gave him a pained expression.

 

[decadent-rider]

She shook her head and frowned. “We’ll go straight home in a minute.” She told him quietly, going to wipe her face and hands off at least before going to join him again. “You ready?” She asked, reaching for his hand.

He frowned and waited for her. “We should take you in and get you checked on. These are getting a little close together.” He pointed out.