"I have something for you......" Ivar said, as she joined him on the bed.

"What..........?"

"Close your eyes......."

"Ivar..........."

"Close your eyes......" The prince said again, raising his hand and using his fingertips to lower her eyelids.

"Fine........" She chuckled, before letting out a soft sigh, as Ivar's fingers rested on her cheek for a moment longer. Even his slightest touch always filling her with a happiness that only he could instill.

"Open..........." (Y/n) doing as she was told, to find Ivar holding something wrapped in a simple cloth. Ivar's smile widening as he handed it to her, and she pulled back the plain, dark material to reveal the bodice of a white dress.

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

"It......it's a wedding dress. I had it made for you........" Ivar explained, as (Y/n) moved her gift so that she could see it better. The gown more beautiful than she could have hoped for; the embroidery around the neckline, hem and sleeves, the finest she had ever seen.

"Ivar....it..........."

"I know you might have wanted to make one yourself; but mother said that as the wife of a prince, you should have only the best for our wedding day......." The youngest son of Ragnar continued, as he reached for her hand.

"Do you like it..........?"

"Like it.........? I love it Ivar; just as I love you........" She replied, before pulling him into a kiss.

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

The sons of Aslaug watched as (Y/n) made her way back into the hall, with Björn close behind her. The remnant of the dress still smouldering in the dirt. Ivar able to remember the evening that he had presented it to her; able to recall the smile on her face, before she kissed him then stood up and held the dress close to her body as she spun around. The dark prince knowing how beautiful she would look; how every man in Kattegat would be jealous that he, Ivar the crippled son of Ragnar was able to call such a wonderous woman, his wife. The prince counting down the days until he would be able to see her in it; until he could then take it from her body, and make love to her, as his bride. But it was obvious now that the gods had other ideas; that he would never get to see her in the dress, nor get to call her his wife.

"Ivar what happened........?" Hvitserk asked, as the attention of his older brothers turned to him.

"Nothing has happened........."

"So (Y/n) just burns her wedding dress for no reason.........?" Ubbe continued, also wanting to know why a sensible woman like her, would do such a thing. This definitely something more than the fact that he and Ivar had had every intention of avenging their mother, before Björn had arrived.

"Who knows what women think. Anyway, I don't care. Let her do what she wants, it is no longer my concern........." Ivar retorted, before dragging himself away, leaving his brothers to just look at one another.

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

"(Y/n)........" Björn, taking her arm and turning her around to look at him.

"What was that........?"

"What? I was just disposing of something I do not have any use for. You should not worry so much, brother; I am not a little girl any longer, I can look after myself............" She retorted, as she placed her hand on his cheek.

"But that was your wedding dress.........."

"Was, yes. But as I said, I had no further use of it. There will be no wedding, Björn, not now. And I would have thought that you and mother would be happy about it. I know that despite what she might have come to say, and how you acted, neither of you wished for me to marry your brother, especially not that brother. I have finally realised how foolish I was in caring for Ivar for even a moment.......how blind I was to the real man that he is. But now.....now I have seen my mistakes; now my eyes are open, and I have every intention of moving on to better things. So, as I am sure that mother will wish for a feast in honour of your return to us, alive and well, I should go and prepare.........." (Y/n) explained, before pushing herself up onto her tiptoes and kissing him on the nose.

"I will see you this evening, big bear.........." The shieldmaiden smiling up at her older brother who had protected her for as long as she could remember. Who had kept her from all harm as she had grown. (Y/n) fighting back the tears, as Björn pulled her into his arms.

"I will see you this evening, little bear..........."

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

"Are you coming or not......?" Ubbe asked, as he looked at Ivar who was sat quietly on the chair.

Ivar had said nothing more to his brothers after that morning's incident, ignoring all the questions that Ubbe and Hvitserk, in particular, had asked. The older boys sure that Ivar had let his anger at Lagertha get the better of him and taken it out on (Y/n); that he had said something that could not be taken back. The burning of her dress a way to show Ivar that she no longer cared.

"You would eat with that woman after what she did to our mother..........?"

"Leave him, Ubbe. Let him sit here and mope like a spoilt child. I do not want to have to look at his miserable face all evening. And it is obvious that (Y/n) doesn't want to either........." Ivar's grip on the arms of the chair tightened, at Sigurd's words. Ubbe shaking his head, knowing that he had to step in, before this turned into yet another fight.

"We are not doing this for Lagertha, Ivar. We have other things to think about now. We have to avenge our father, and when that is done, we can once more turn our attention to her. But for now, we......all of us including Björn, must come together. We are all the sons of Ragnar, no matter what has happened between our mothers. Now, get changed and join us......join your brothers........" Ubbe said, as he placed his hand on Ivar's shoulder. Ivar reluctantly nodding, before moving himself from the chair.