"Where's Ivar?"

"How would I know where that handicap is?" Elaine snapped

"Calm down, it's just a question," Eva retorted.

Eva grabbed her hoodie from the couch and walked out the door. Eva hadn't seen Ivar in a few days and she was getting anxious. She didn't want to come off clingy, but she had a weird feeling that something wasn't right.

Since the ball, things between the two stayed normal except for the fact that Ivar was flirty and more affectionate than usual. Ivar never failed to ask permission to sleep in Eva's bed nightly, but Ivar was learning just how stubborn she could be. Eva wasn't willing to ever test the waters, she knew what sharing a bed could potentially lead to and teenage pregnancy was not on her bucket list.

Eva had her future planned out, once she was to graduate she would move out of home and into her own apartment. She was going to take a gap year to work and travel. Then after a year, she would attend a university to study to become a psychologist, during that period of time she was to adopt a kitten to keep her company. That was her original plan but now she couldn't see her life without Ivar in it, and she was going to squish him into her plans somehow if he was willing to go with.

Eva was happy to say that they hadn't had a single argument since before the ball, which was a mission in its self. She was definitely enjoying the peace while it lasted, despite having to listen to Ivar and Elaine bickering all the time. Some things just wouldn't change and Eva had just accepted it.

As Eva was walking up to Nicks apartment, Avery walked out of his.

"Hey Eve's," Ivar hated that Avery had decided to give his girl a nickname.

When Ivar heard about their 'date' that Avery had pressured Eva into, Avery learnt that night to keep his feelings at bay. Eva had told Joseph to keep it to himself because she knew that Ivar would make a big deal out of nothing. But Joseph could hardly keep a secret to save his life. The night before Eva was going to 'hangout' with Avery, he made it his priority to visit him.

"Keep your filthy hands off Eva, if I find out you tried to make a move on my woman," Ivar sneered, "this dagger won't be sitting at your neck... it will be buried deep inside your chest!"

Avery took the warning very seriously, but his desire to get to know Eva didn't let Ivar's threats stop him.

"Hey Avery, Ivar isn't at Nicks is he?"

"Oh no, they're having training sessions at the farm," he replied.

"What farm?"

"Come, I'll show you."

<><><><><><>

Avery parked the car, they were on private property, that much Eva knew.

"Who the heck owns this land? and how did Ivar manage to pay for it?" her voice full of unbelief.

"This is Nicks uncles land, he's some rich dude I forgot his name," he replied.

"He's rich alright," she muttered.

'First Ivars, flash as sui generis wheelchair and now this?' she thought 'who the heck is this man?'

"Follow me, just over this hill they'll be training," he pointed over his shoulder. "His uncle even has massive stadium lights put in, just for the classes Ivar does."

Eva was about to question him when she heard clashing of mental on mental. Curiosity got to her and she ran the short hill to see what was going on. Just after the hill, it led down into a little valley of paddocks. On the first paddock, there were men who definitely looked like warriors training for war.

Eva watched in fascination and as she slowly moved down the hill to get closer.

"How did you know about this?" she questioned Avery.

"I've been taking classes too," he shrugged, "Ivar's a brilliant teacher, he's very skilled with weapons."

"You have no idea," she muttered under her breath.

As they moved closer she could see Nick fighting with some old guy, and Joseph was shooting arrows at dead hanging possums. Eva realised that Joseph was right, Ivar was making good money because there had to be more than over a hundred men here 'training' to become Vikings. Eva just hoped that this was purely recreational like they all thought, but she knew deep in her heart that Ivar was really remaking his 'heathen army' out of her local town men.

Eva knew she had to speak to Ivar, just as she was about to find him the sound of a horn resonated throughout the paddocks. That caused all the fighting to stop and a dead silence to fill the air. Eva followed all the other heads that turned to attention and sure enough, the one person she was looking for was sitting on a carriage, bridled to a beautiful black mare.

'You've got to be kidding me' Eva thought, mentally slapping herself.

"MEN! THE GODS ARE WATCHING OVER US!" he yelled from his chariot "WE HAVE IMPROVED IN A SHORT SPAN OF TIME, YOU ARE ALL NOW WARRIORS READY TO BECOME VIKINGS!"

"YEAH!" all the men replied.

Eva looked around in shock at the response Ivar was getting.

"WHO WILL FOLLOW ME, TO RECLAIM WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE!" his voice echoed, "FOR THE LOVE OF FAME AND THE LOVE OF ODIN OUR FATHER!!"

All the men lifted their weapons in response agreeing with vigour, Eva turned to see Nick and Josephs reactions. Joseph was getting into it, screaming along with his shield and sword raised to the heavens. Nick just stood there with a mocked expression on his face, clearly trying not to laugh at all these people and Ivar.

Eva shook her head in disappointment, these men thought it was all a joke and their response was giving Ivar more drive. She knew that Ivar had been suppressing his urge to raid and plunder and part of it was because of her. But this whole time he had been preparing his army so that he could properly raid Kattegat and get his home back. Eva knew this was ridiculous but she knew this was the true and real Ivar.

Eva ran to Nick whilst the men kept cheering, she pulled on his arm to get his full attention. Nicks' face fell in shock to see Eva standing among hundreds of men all geared up in the middle of his uncles private land. Ivar had told him to keep it hidden from her, which he did so he was confused as to how she got there.

"Eva?"

"Don't you Eva me!" she screeched, "are you freaking serious right now? Why would you let Ivar get this carried away?"

"Hey, calm down..." he tried to soothe,

"NICK! SHUT! UP!" she yelled in his face, "this isn't freaking method acting alright, whatever comes out of Ivars mouth is basically doctrine! Haven't you learnt how insane and ridiculous he is? he's planning on taking Kattegat back and he wants to use all these men as his army!"

"That's why he asked for a boat maker?" realization sparking in his eyes.

"Yeah, he's a little old school like that!" she cried.

"He really is insane! he must have thought it would be cheaper than flying," he laughed.

"UGH! you idiot, you don't understand!" she pulled at her hair in frustration.

"Eva?" she heard her cripple call.

Slowly she turned to face the man in a chariot, much like the design 'Floki' had made in Vikings.

"Yes great heathen army leader," sarcasm dripping from her voice, "come home tonight Ivar."

With that, she turned and left. Eva stormed back to Avery's car, thank goodness the keys were still in the ignition. Eva was so pissed that she hi-jacked Avery's car to get home. She knew he would catch a ride with someone else.

Eva had a long shower to calm herself down, her emotions were all over the place and she just needed to settle down before her talk with Ivar. Much to her delight, he was seated on her bed, back rested against the headboard. Ivars blue irises were swirling up a storm, she couldn't read him and that was making her edgier than she already was.

"Hi," was his simple icebreaker.

Eva exhaled deeply before taking a seat next time him, she turned to face towards him and sighed, "Hi."

"So you do not approve of my army?" Ivar straight to the point.

Eva's eyes lids slowly closed as she tried to sort her thought out. When she opened them again, his blue pools were staring right at her.

"Ivar, why didn't you tell me?" she demanded.

"Because I knew you would react like this."

"Ivar, those are not Vikings," she sighed, "I've told you, we don't raid in this day and age."

"Did you not see the response of all those men? They are willing."

"Ivar please will you just listen to me. My people, we don't raid or plunder. Stealing, killing or any violence and sexual assault is looked down upon here!" she cried "I will tell you right now! None of those men will leave their family to travel halfway across this world to do all that just to end up in jail and their families fatherless."

"It is an honor..."

Eva quickly cut him off, "Those things are not honourable Ivar! They are cruel, vicious and disgusting!" she snapped.

That caused Ivar to stay silent, his eyes just piercing through hers as if he was reading her soul.

"Ivar, do you really mean it when you say, you love me?" she questioned.

"What kind of question is that?" 

"Then please," she pleaded, "please just let this 'army to take back to Kattegat' drop."

Eva couldn't help the tears that were welling in her eyes.

"Eva..."

"Ivar, I love you too! and if this was the right era, I would have chosen to be a shield maiden to make sure I was always with you," sincerity pouring out of her. "But it's not and I don't want to force you but I would hope that you would choose to fit into my era so that we can always be together."

Ivar searched her hazel eyes, trying to find anything that could give him a reason to not quit all those months of training he put into building an army. As usual, he could only see her vulnerable heart reaching out to him.

"Eva, I do love you with all my heart. I will give up my army and Vikings ways just for you," he sighed, holding her hand in his, "but know this that there will never be another woman, nor here or in Valhalla that could ever make me do such a thing."

Eva smiled and wrapped him in a warm embrace. He kissed her forehead and stroked her hair.

"I missed you!" she chuckled, "you were too busy preparing an army, that you forgot about me."

"I like hearing you say that," he said as he drew slow circular motions on her shoulder, "I missed you too, love."

Eva's heart swelled at the pet name but kept quiet.

"I have one request" he whispered into her ear.

"Yeah?" she said as her lids fluttered shut.

"Come to Kattegat with me, I want to show you my home where I grew up in," he replied.

A small smile stretched across her face.

"Anything for you," she whispers as sleep consumed her.