"You look beautiful." Helga said, as she put the last touches to her daughter's braids. (Y/n) standing and spinning around so that her mother could get a complete look at her.

Normally, the foundling didn't wear a dress. She much preferred to be clothed in pants and a shirt, ready to be able to practice with her weapons whenever she got the chance; but tonight, tonight she had decided that she would change that. Tonight, she was going to show Ivar what he had lost. Tonight, she was not going to make Ubbe regret asking her to the feast.

"Ivar will think that Freya herself has come to the feast, when he sees you.............."

"I don't care what Ivar does or doesn't think. I am not doing this for him, I am doing it for Ubbe. He is the one that asked me to join him............"

"Ubbe..........?" Helga questioned, as (Y/n) looked at herself in the highly polished, handheld metal mirror.

Floki had told his wife that something had happened between (Y/n) and Ivar. That the two had exchanged words; that Ubbe had come to find out where the foundling was, so that he could make sure that she was alright. But she had never thought that the older prince would be the one taking (Y/n) to the evenings feast. Helga positive that the child she believed had been given to her and Floki by Odin himself, only had eyes for one of the sons of Ragnar. But as long as her daughter was happy, Helga would leave (Y/n)'s fate to the allfather.

"Well, whoever it is, you should hurry along. Its already dark and you don't want to be too late." Helga replied, before (Y/n) kissed her on the cheek and made her way out of the cabin.

                                                      >>-----------------------------------<<

"Well..........what do you think?" Ubbe asked quietly, as he and Hvitserk made their way to the great hall. The two walking ahead of Sigurd and Ivar.

"I have no problem with getting closer to (Y/n). I always wondered what was hiding under those clothes of her. I bet she would moan beautifully if I got her on her own." Hvitserk smiled, as Ubbe explained his plan to his younger brother.

"Good, but don't go too far. This evening isn't so that you can get her drunk and take her to one of the cabins. (Y/n) is in love with Ivar, we both know that. And Ivar is in love with her, he's just too stubborn and stupid to tell her so. All we need to do is make him just jealous enough so he realises that if he doesn't say something to her, then he might just lose her forever........."

"Just jealous enough so that he doesn't try and kill us both for wanting to try and fuck her, you mean..............." Hvitserk interrupted; Ubbe having to nod in agreement.

"That too. Now all we have to hope is that (Y/n) and Ivar play their parts too......" Ubbe added, as he and Hvitserk made their way up the steps and into the large building.

                                                        >>-------------------------------------<<

(Y/n) quickly made her way through the streets, her long gown flowing behind her as she ran. Other residence watching in confusion as the normally much more practically clothed shieldmaiden, finally got to the hall. It was obvious that the festivities had already started. That given the sounds of music, laughter and shouting, that the night was in full swing. She hadn't wanted to get there too early; she had wanted to leave it long enough so that she could make an entrance. So that she could have all eyes turn to look at her, as she made her way into the celebration.

She had told her mother that she hadn't done this for Ivar; that she didn't care what he thought, but of course that was a lie. It had always only ever been Ivar, and it always only ever would be him. It was true to say that she liked Ubbe and Hvitserk, that she thought they were handsome, and cared about them a great deal; but there was only one son of Ragnar that held her heart. And even though he kept on trying to do his best to break it, Ivar was the one that it would forever belong to. Yet tonight, she was not going to let him know that. Tonight, she was going to have some fun. She was going to eat, drink and laugh. She was going to enjoy Ubbe and Hvitserk's company, and show Ivar, son of Ragnar, what kind of woman she could really be. Her hand gripping hold of the door for a moment, before she moved inside.

                                                        >>------------------------------------<<

"Do you think that she's coming?" Hvitserk asked his older brother from behind his latest tankard of mead. The two having watched Ivar sit, pout, sulk and stare daggers at a very smug looking Sigurd, since they had arrived there. Sigurd as always seeming to take great delight in enjoying his younger brother's misery. The blonde prince already having mentioned (Y/n) more than once; noting that perhaps she had found something, or someone else to be with. In reply to which, Ivar had banged his fist on the table and told Sigurd not to worry, that he doubted that the foundling would be with any of the men that Sigurd himself seemed to like to spend so much time with. The remarks already having caused one near fight that Ubbe had had to defuse as always.

"She'll be here. She said that she was happy to come. Perhaps Floki or Helga needed her for something............" Ubbe explained. The two older princes looking over as the door to the hall suddenly opened. Their eyes growing wide, as they caught sight of a very different looking (Y/n) making her way inside. Ubbe quickly getting to his feet and walking over to her.

"(Y/n)..........you look...............you look............"

"Its alright isn't it.............?" (Y/n) interrupted, as she brushed down her dress, before smiling up at the prince.

"Its more than alright. And you look beautiful." Ubbe assured her. The prince sure that despite how beautiful she always looked, here and now, (Y/n) looked perfect.

"Come. I have a chair between myself and Hvitserk waiting for you." The prince continued, before offering her his arm. Ubbe feeling himself puff out his chest as they made their way through the others. All the men staring at them, as Hvitserk got up and pulled out the chair for her.

"(Y/n)........you look...............you look.............."

"I already told her that." Ubbe chuckled at his brother, as (Y/n) sat down. Hvitserk really beginning to think that he didn't care about Ivar and wouldn't mind charming her for his own sake.

"Thank you Hvitserk." (Y/n) replied with a smile. The foundling choosing to completely ignore an opened mouthed, stunned Ivar, as Ubbe called for her cup to be filled with mead, and a plate of food put in front of her.