"25,000? That is a lot, my whole kingdom is not that rich. This is not Gwynedd or Powys we are a small kingdom and make our living with trading." King Trahaearn stated shocked and still wide eyed. Ulf chuckled a bit by this statement. "I know where we are and where we are not. However, these are the demands of King Harald and he will not take kindly to those who do not give into those demands." "I-I cannot meet such demands; I have no way to do so. Even if I raised the taxes for my people it would still take time to even come up with half that." "I see, then I suppose we will simply have to take everything you and your people have as payment that should suffice I think." Ulf replied as he and his men began to smirk and chuckle a bit. King Trahaearn panicked he was frightened, and he did not even realize that he said the next statement until it was too late.
"I will offer my daughter along with the gold and silver that my kingdom has." Ulf stopped for a moment and looked to the frightened king and then realized why they were looking at the doors, they are hiding their second child. Ulf was shocked that he would offer such a thing, "And what use would we have for your daughter?" "An alliance formation between you and her." "Why not offer King Harald this?" Ulf questioned. He looked at the king as he thought of the question, surely he would want the princess to marry a king, duke, earl, lord, or someone of nobility. Never in his thoughts would he expect a king to offer someone like him a princess. "Ulf, the reason I do not offer your king this is because I have never met Harald Fairhair and know very little. However, you are another story, I have heard of the battles you have faced everywhere you go. I even heard of your recent excursion of heading to Paris, bold move I should say." Trahaearn replied sincerely as he looked into the dark eyes of this young Viking, and paused briefly, "I feel that with this unity between you and my daughter you and your king will have more then just payments of gold and silver, but trading goods and even some land if you so wish it." The king finished.
Ulf thought about it for a moment and realized that Trahaearn was right, not only is he willing to give him his daughter but also what they have in gold and silver. Even after this alliance they will be able to trade and live-in peace since he would be married to a Christian. "If I accept to this marriage as well as the payment to King Harald will you keep to your promise of giving us traded goods as well as the payments or land?" "Yes I will, and I will even ensure that my son Brioc, will continue with this agreement once he is king." "And you have an army, could King Harald call on you if he has to for war anywhere in Europe?" Ulf asked, he knew that most Christian kings lie and go back on their word. "I love my daughter with all my being as does her brother, we will not break this vow to you. However, if you accept I would only wish that the wedding take place here." "Very well, however it will be our tradition not yours." Ulf replied with a smirk believing the king would retract his offer. "It is settled then, yes? Do we have an agreement?" "Yes I will marry your daughter." Ulf stated smiling at the royal family. King Trahaearn smiled back and lifted his cup towards the Vikings. He could feel the steely glare from not only his wife but his son as well.