(Y/n) watched silently as the sons of Ragnar, trained together in the clearing. She had to admit that they all fought well; whether it was with bow, sword or axe, each one of them, impressed. Yet there was one that impressed her more than the others, and that was Ivar. Even from his perch on the upright stump, even given the fact that he couldn't walk, the way that he moved was a privileged to watch. She not sure why anyone would dare say that he could not be a true Viking; that he would never be able to fight like his brothers. (Y/n) sure, that her father, if he could build boats that would take the great Ragnar over the water to new lands; that he could make something for Ivar where he would not have to worry about not being able to use his legs.

(Y/n) had grown up alongside Ivar; there when Aslaug had asked the boatbuilder to teach her youngest son how to be a Viking, to tell him about the gods. She there the day when Aslaug had asked her son if he wished to play, as (Y/n) and Ivar had watched the other children. There when Flóki had carried the little boy out to his wagon, with her close behind. (Y/n) sitting on the floor by her friend's side, as they had both watched the others throwing something to one another. Ivar calling out for them to pass it to him, yet none would listen. The little girl wishing that she could call out too. That she could get them to listen to Ivar; the gods though not bestowing on her the gift of a voice. Her father often telling her that it was because her voice would have been so perfect, that Bragi had kept it for his own; so that he could listen to it whenever it pleased him. That its music could play just for him. The little girl then not able to scream like the other children, to scream like Ivar, after the youngest son of Ragnar had crashed his axe into the head of the little boy, that had been trying to take the item, that her father had given Ivar, from his hands. She and her mother only able to look between the dead child and her father, as Aslaug had carried Ivar away. Yet despite this, she had never been scared of Ivar; Flóki telling his daughter, that just like her, Ivar was special to the gods, and that what he had done, had been Odin's will. And so, she had accepted it; continued to be the young prince's friend. She the only one that Ivar never seemed to be able to get angry with. (Y/n) the one that when he was in pain, had been teased mercilessly by Sigurd, or looked upon as if he would never be anything more than a cripple, would be there for him. Yet despite this, now that they were older, Ivar had taken to talking about her, as others would talk about him. And as she watched from her vantage point in the branch of the tree, high above where the sons of Aslaug trained, it would seem like today was going to be no different. (Y/n) cursing at herself for caring so much about the boy. For wishing that she was good enough for him.

"She was watching you again, last night." Ubbe said, as he handed Ivar a cup filled with ale.

"Who........?"

"(Y/n)..........If you ask me, she wants to be more than just friends." Ubbe explained with a smile. Ivar furrowing his brows, as Sigurd began to laugh at the remark.

"Of course she was watching him, who else would want a cripple other than a girl that cannot talk. She may as well be a cripple too. They are perfect for one another." Sigurd scoffed, as he took his own cup from Ubbe's hand.

"She can want to be more than friends, all she likes. I am not interested in her. What man would want a woman like her; she's boring, ignorant, ugly, and she can't talk..........."

"Some might say that that was a good thing, Ivar........" Hvitserk chimed in, as he joined his brothers.

"Ivar........don't talk about (Y/n) like that; she's been your friend since you were small.........."

"And that is perhaps why I am so utterly bored of her. I wish she would just stay away from me. I should get Flóki to say something to her........."

"You really think that you can go to Flóki and ask him to tell his daughter, after everything they have both done for you, that she needs to stay away from you?" Ubbe asked in disbelief, interrupting Ivar's interruption. The oldest boy staring at Ivar in shock.

"Have you lost your mind? (Y/n) was the only one that would play with you after you killed that boy. The one that would pull you around in your wagon. She even got hurt that time she tried to defend you from that bigger boy; mother had to clean her of all the blood, before I could take her home. She was so bad that she couldn't leave her bed for days. And now, because Sigurd has made fun of you about her, you want to turn your back on the girl that might be your only friend.......?" It obvious from the sound of Ubbe's voice, that he was far from pleased by what his brother had said

"And what do you mean, she's ugly? You must he blind Ivar; both you and Sigurd must be, if you think a girl like (Y/n) isn't worth your time. But if you're really not interest in her, I am. (Y/n) is just as fierce a fighter as Flóki, and the best archer in Kattegat. I can only imagine what she would be like in bed." Hvitserk chuckled, ignoring his youngest brother's glare, as he finished his drink. All the boys turning at the sound of something hitting one of the targets behind them. The sons of Ragnar staring in disbelief, as they saw an arrow splitting the one that Ivar had shot previously. Ubbe and Hvitserk looking to Ivar and Sigurd; Sigurd's right and Ivar's left cheeks, cut and bleeding. All of them knowing that only one person in Kattegat could have made that shot, and she had heard everything that had been said.