Her eyes closed and her mouth fell open as he continued to gently push her closer and closer to the edge; (Y/n) thanking the gods that the boy she was to wed was this good with his tongue. One hand gripping firmly to the furs beneath her naked body, while the other did the same to his hair. The shieldmaiden sure that she could hear Ivar chuckle as his fingers joined his tongue, and the room filled with her lewd moans. Her hips bucking as his fingers moved inside her with increased vigour. The sounds he made as he tasted her, the groans of pleasure that left him, the last thing that was needed to send her tumbling down into the abyss of bliss. Her body shaking as the knots in her belly finally came undone; flashes of light appearing before her eyes as she surrendered to joy that Ivar brought her. (Y/n) laying there, a smile making its way onto her lips, as she felt her lover move up her body, leaving sloppy kisses on her flesh in his wake. Her beautiful prince looking down at her, as he moved to her side; the shieldmaiden able to taste her own arousal, as he placed his lips on hers.

She couldn't wait to spend the rest of her days with Ivar. Yes, others would say that one of his older brothers would have been a better match; that they didn't have the same issues as he did. But, and as much as she enjoyed the company of Ubbe and Hvitserk, they were not what she wanted; and given Sigurd's treatment of Ivar, the notion of him laying even a hand on her, made her feel sick to the stomach. No, she wanted Ivar, she had always wanted Ivar; (Y/n) having seen his anger towards others, but he had never been anything but good to her. And as to the fact that he could not walk, well, it took more than working legs to make a man.

"You are beautiful..........." Ivar said, as he placed his forehead against hers.

"And soon you will be mine........."

"I am already yours, Ivar........I will always be yours......." She replied, pulling him in for one more kiss, before pushing him onto his back. The pair laughing as she climbed atop of him, his fingers gently gripping at her hips.

"And now its time for me to you show you how much I love you..........."

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

(Y/n) made her way back into Kattegat, her head held high as she walked slowly towards the great hall; not even giving the sons of Aslaug a glance, as she moved to where her brother sat on the steps. Björn getting to his feet as he saw her.

"Sister, where have you been.........?" He asked, as he took her hand. An air of concern in him tone.

"I went to your room this morning and you were not............."

"I needed a walk, Björn. I just needed to think........" (Y/n) replied, looking over her shoulder as her brother looked at the men behind her.

"What......did you think that Ubbe or Ivar had killed me, because they cannot kill our mother.....? Let them try, Björn; let them try........for I can promise that if they do, your father will find that he has company in Valhalla........I am our mother's daughter, after all......." She continued, before pushing herself up onto her toes, and placing a kiss to his cheek.

"Now, if you will excuse me......there is something I need to do........" Björn nodding before reluctantly letting her go. (Y/n) entering the hall and making her way to her room. The shieldmaiden opening the chest that sat at the foot of her bed and pulling out the gown that sat atop the others.

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

Ubbe, Hvitserk and Sigurd looked down at Ivar as (Y/n) passed, without even looking at them. Ivar's eyes cast down at the floor beneath him. The two older boys sure that even though Ubbe and Ivar had had every intention of killing her mother the day before, this was something more than that; that at some point, something more had happened between Ivar and (Y/n) that they were not aware of. Something that had broken the bond that the pair had shared.

The older sons of Aslaug would all admit that when the marriage between the beauteous daughter of Lagertha and Ivar had been announced, they had been taken aback. As the oldest, Ubbe had believed that the right was his, that a true alliance between Hedeby and Kattegat, between Earl and Queen and the two sides of a family, would be better, if the shieldmaiden and he were together; Ubbe, as with the others, not foolish enough to say no to a woman like (Y/n) if they had been given the chance. But he had seen Ivar and (Y/n) together; seen how they made one another smile, and how Ivar was more in control of himself when she was with him. And it was also apparent, that despite what some might insinuate about Ivar being boneless, he and (Y/n) were already lovers. Hvitserk even telling him that he had accidentally come across the pair as they were together by the lake. So, despite his jealousy, Ubbe had been happy for his youngest brother. Happy that he had found a woman that so obviously loved him. Yet now......now that seemed to have changed.

"Ivar......what.........?"

"It is none of your business........." Ivar replied harshly, as he looked up from the ground to Ubbe. All eyes turning to the doors of the great hall, as (Y/n) finally reappeared; a burning brand in one hand, and what looked like a white dress in the other. The shieldmaiden making her way down the steps to the ground in front of the hall. Casting her eyes to the gown one last time, before throwing it into the dirt.

"Is that............?"

"It's her wedding dress........" Sigurd said, interrupting Hvitserk. All of them continuing to watch her, as (Y/n) threw the burning piece of wood onto the gown. The material quickly being consumed by the flames; smoke making its way into the cool morning air, before without a word, she turned and made her way back into the hall.