MADNESS
— 23. Secrets and Lies

In the Great Hall of Kattegat, a feast was being held and Hvitserk sat at one of the tables with Margrethe sitting beside him and King Harald across him. Hvitserk was in the middle of whispering something to Margrethe when his head turned to see Ivar entering the hall from his room alongside Freya.

Ivar smiled as he extended his hand out, allowing Freya to take hold of it as she smiled back at him.

Hvitserk began to glare, a part of him feeling jealous at the sight. He turned again, watching as a servant brought over a second chair to be placed beside Ivar's throne for Freya to sit on.

"My people! My dear people!" Ivar began to address the crowd in a loud tone, a large smile on his face, "As you already know, I have chosen this wonderful woman, Princess Freya, to be my new wife, but now it is official. You will now know her as your new Queen of Kattegat and Ashton!"

The crowd began to cheer loudly at the news, all but Hvitserk. His face fell and became consumed with anger, especially when he saw Freya smiling as well. She was happy about becoming queen.

Hvitserk watched as Ivar sat down on his throne while Freya sat beside him. They held hands as Ivar leaned closer to her, whispering something in her ear that made her laugh.

Harald noticed as well and turned to Hvitserk, who looked to be consumed with jealousy. "This is all about the kingship," He suddenly spoke up, causing Hvitserk to turn to look at him, "He takes a wife, produces an heir, and then, in his eyes, Kattegat is his forever."

"A good plan," Hvitserk replied sarcastically, "Except for one thing."

"What thing?" Harald asked, not knowing what the boy was getting at.

Hvitserk sighed, turning to Margrethe as he gestured for her to tell King Harald.

"He can't produce children. He is boneless," Margrethe informed Harald, beginning to laugh as Harald turned to Hvitserk for confirmation, "That is why he has married her. She is the only one who figured it out and still, kept his secret."

Hvitserk smiled slightly at Harald, nodding his head. "And if the past has proven anything, I believe Freya is barren."

"What makes you say that?" Harald asked Hvitserk, a confused look on his face.

Hvitserk glanced around, just before leaning closer to Harald. "You believe it's possible that Freya is able to have children, yet somehow spent years bedding myself, Ubbe, and Sigurd but never once became with child?" He explained, causing Harald and Margrethe to laugh while Hvitserk looked aggravated.

He turned and locked eyes on Ivar, who smiled and raised his drinking horn as a form of toast with his brother. Hvitserk knew the truth, though. Ivar was only doing it to piss him off.

_____

  Later that night, the celebrations soon came to an end, Harald and Hvitserk were the only ones left in the room with Ivar and Freya. Harald was eating the plate of food in front of him while Hvitserk was face down, fast asleep from all the mead he drank.

Ivar was sitting on the throne, his face close to Freya as he whispered things in her ear that made her laugh.

Deciding it was time to leave, Harald slammed his drink down before turning to Ivar. He walked closer to Ivar and Freya, who were both laughing at something Ivar said as he held her hand.

"May the gods smile on your happiness," Harald told Ivar and Freya, who smiled while Ivar mocking bowed his head to the king.

"You are very kind, King Harald," Freya replied and Harald sent her a fake smile before leaving. She turned her head to look at Hvitserk, who looked to be on the verge of falling off his seat.

"I think it's your bedtime, Hvitserk," Ivar spoke up in a mocking tone, causing Hvitserk to immediately sit up.

As he did so, he nearly knocked over a bucket of mead. He groaned, staggering as he looked around. "You know what? You insult the gods!" Hvitserk growled as he angrily pointed a finger at his younger brother.

"Here we go," Freya muttered under her breath as she rolled her eyes.

"What?" Ivar asked sarcastically as he laughed at his brother, "The gods love me! You know that."

Hvitserk hatefully glared at Ivar, knocking numerous objects off the table before he staggered toward the door, nearly falling as he did so.

"I should make sure he gets home, before he drunkenly picks a fight with someone and ends up killed," Freya spoke up as she stood up from her seat.

As he continued to hold her hand, Ivar frowned in concern, pulling her back closer to her once more.

Freya turned to Ivar, forcing a smile onto her face. "When I return..." She trailed off, leaning closer to him. She brushed her lips against his, beginning to speak to him in a whisper, "I want you, all of you."

Ivar smiled up at Freya, tilting his head as he hummed in response. He leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers.

With that, Freya pulled away from him and walked in the same direction that Hvitserk had.

Once making it outside, it wasn't long before she found Hvitserk, who was staggering through Kattegat in his drunken state.

"Let me take you home," She insisted as she grabbed him by the arm.

Before she could react, Hvitserk roughly pushed her away from him. "Get off me!" He shouted at her angrily.

"What's your problem?" She snapped at him, beginning to look offended by his actions.

"What's my problem?" He scoffed as he moved closer to her, "You're marrying him and you're happy about it."

"What makes you think I'm happy about it?" She complained, frowning up at Hvitserk.

"I know when you're forcing a smile and that smile wasn't forced. You enjoy the thought of being Queen," He ranted and Freya shook her head.

"You're wrong," She argued and let out a large scoff, "And what do you care if I'm with Ivar? You have Margrethe."

"Margrethe needs me. She's all alone. I had to help her," Hvitserk complained, but it was clear that Freya didn't believe him.

"Are you saying you're not fucking her?" She asked, only to laugh when he shook his head, "I don't believe you."

Reaching his cabin, they walked in, continuing to argue with each other. "Well then, don't. I'm telling the truth," He retorted, moving closer to him before he cupped her face in his hands, "I want you and only you. That hasn't changed and it never will."

Freya sighed, knowing as much as she wanted to be with Hvitserk at the moment, she couldn't. She grabbed his wrists, prying his hands away from her face. "I have to return to Ivar. He'll notice if I'm gone for too long."

"Just stay with me, even if it's just for a little longer," Hvitserk pleaded and Freya sighed, hesitantly nodding her head.

He placed a hand on the side of her face and pulled her closer, lightly pressing his lips against hers. The kiss began to deepen and Hvitserk pulled down her dress slightly, kissing her chest and exposed breasts. He was on the verge of pulling up her dress when she pulled away.

"I must go," She quickly told him, rushing to fix her dress. She was on the verge of walking toward the door when Hvitserk grabbed her arm, causing her to turn to him.

"Something's up with you," Hvitserk commented as he eyed her suspiciously, "There's something you're not telling me. I know it."

Freya forced a smile onto her face and shook her head, trying to hide her uneasiness. "It's nothing."

"Freya—" He began to argue, only to be cut off as Freya cupped his face in her hands.

"It's nothing. You'd be better off if you didn't know. Not yet, at least," She whispered to him softly, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before she walked away.

Hvitserk frowned in concern, trying to figure out what she meant as he watched her walk out the door.

_____

Upon returning to Ivar, Freya had rid herself of all her clothes and climbed into bed with Ivar. Ivar was sitting up slightly, his hands cupping Freya's face as they kissed. They were both naked and Freya was running her hand down Ivar's chest.

Freya moved her hand downwards, on the verge of moving it underneath the blanket when Ivar grabbed her hand.

"No," Ivar argued softly as he pulled away from kissing and shook his head, "Don't. You know better than anyone that I can't."

"You can do anything you put your mind to, Ivar," Freya replied calmly as she stared deeply into his eyes, "Trust me."

Ivar sighed deeply, avoiding eye contact with her. "Freya—"

"Ivar," Freya cut him off, cupping his face in her hands to force him to look her in the eyes, "Ivar, listen to me. To me, you are a god. Above all men. Above anyone. The gods made you what you are for a reason. They wanted you to stand out. Ivar..." She sighed softly, beginning to kiss down his chest before kissing him on the lips once more.

"Love me as I love you, and I swear to you, I will have your child," She vowed, causing Ivar to sigh in frustration as he leaned his head back, "I will have your child. I know I will."

"The gods never had children with humans," He reminded Freya as he stared down at her.

"That is where you're wrong, Ivar," She replied, smiling as she ran her fingers up and down his chest while she looked him the eyes, "Odin conceived a son with Rind. That son was Vala, who killed Hold to avenge the murder of Baldur, Odin's favorite son. Or have you forgotten that?"

She smiled, leaning her head against his chest as she reached down to grab her knife.

Ivar tensed up, a part of him feeling uneasy at the sight of her holding a knife. After all, out of everyone in Kattegat, she'd most likely be the one to have the most cause to kill him whether or not she admitted it.

She was disowned by the person she loved most because of him. Her mother. She lost any chance of returning to her family because of him. Why wouldn't she want to kill him?

Freya smirked slightly and lightly ran the tip of the blade up and down his chest. "A god, Ivar. All you have to is believe, my love, in yourself and in me."

Freya leaned forward, grabbing ahold of Ivar's hand. She lifted his hand, pressing a soft kiss to the palm of it.

She grabbed the knife once more and began to cut across his palm with it, causing Ivar to hiss in pain. "By your blood, I will bear you a child, a son and heir. And like you, he shall and will be a god. And he, the embodiments of my undying love for you, will always be by your side," She explained to Ivar, who smiled down at her as he placed his free hand on the side of her face, "In times of peace, war, and even in time of treachery. And remember, I shall be at your side through it all."

Ivar watched closely as Freya grabbed ahold of his hand once more. She licked a strip of the blood dripping down his hand.

Ivar closed his eyes, grasping at the feeling. After a long moment, Freya turned her head, blood staining her lips and her chin. He grabbed ahold of her throat, lightly squeezing it as she smirked at the feeling.

He leaned forward, roughly kissing her on the lips as Freya immediately began to kiss him back.

____

The following day, Freya found herself walking into an empty cabin with Hvitserk. She looked nervous as she turned to face him.

Hvitserk removed his cloak before moving closer to her, a smile on his face. "Take off your clothes," He told her, only to frown as after he removed his shirt, Freya was still standing in place and making no attempt to do anything.

"It is cold," She complained and Hvitserk began to smile in amusement.

"When has that ever stopped us?" He retorted, only to earn an eye roll from Freya, "If returning to Ivar is what you wish to do, then do it."

"I do not wish to return to Ivar," Freya argued in a soft tone. She sighed, trying to hide her uneasiness as she began to untie her dress. She pulled it down, revealing her belly and breasts, while she left her lower parts covered.

He moved toward her, stopping when he was standing in front of her. They began to kiss and Hvitserk ran his hand down her body, stopping at her breast. He squeezed it, only to suddenly pull away and frown.

"What's wrong?" Freya asked him, frowning as she watched him stare down at her breasts in confusion.

"Your breasts..." He trailed off, a puzzled look on his face, "They're bigger."

"And?" Freya frowned, giving Hvitserk a weird look since she didn't know what he trying to get at, "What of it?"

"Nothing, nevermind," Hvitserk quickly shrugged it off, beginning to kiss her neck and chest.

Freya wrapped her arms around Hvitserk as he began to kiss down her body. Her eyes opened and she looked nervous as he began to kiss down her belly.

Later on, Hvitserk and Freya were both sitting on the ground, naked and panting. Freya took a deep breath, uneasily running her hand over her flat belly while Hvitserk seemed to be staring at the ceiling.

"There's something you're keeping from me. You've been keeping it from me for days," Hvitserk complained and Freya sighed, turning to look him in the eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Freya argued as she shook her head at him.

"Is it about Ivar?" Hvitserk asked, moving closer to her. He watched as she sighed deeply and shook her head, "Then what is it?"

"I don't think you want to know," Freya replied as Hvitserk began to kiss down her chest.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Because it puts both our lives in jeopardy," She suddenly answered, causing Hvitserk to lift his head to give her a weird look.

"What do you mean?" He frowned in confusion.

"I can't tell you," She argued as she shook her head at him.

"Why?"

"I just told you why."

"Come on, it can't be bad," Hvitserk groaned loudly, only to begin to smile as he stared up at her with a playful look on his face, "It's not like you're pregnant. If you were able to get pregnant, my child would have been in you a long time ago."

Laughing at the thought, Hvitserk began to jokingly to run his hands over her belly and kiss it while Freya laughed nervously at his supposed joke.

Hvitserk sighed, grabbing her hand with one hand while placing the other on the side of her face. He looked up at her, a genuinely comforting look on his face. "Whatever it is, we can face it together. I know we can," He assured her and with an unreadable expression on her face, she shook her head.

Hvitserk's face became consumed with anger at her response and stood up, quick to get dressed. "Why must you be so difficult all the time?" He snapped at her with an attitude, "Can't it ever be easy?"

Freya remained silent, forcing herself not to beg him to stay as she watched him leave the room. It would be better if he was angry with her and kept his distance, given what was about to occur.

She sighed, uneasily placing a hand on her belly. She closed her eyes, trying to contain her uneasiness.