Ivar carefully pushed the hair away from her face, as he and (Y/n) rested under the shade of the large tree by the lake. A smile coming to his lips, as she let out a gentle sigh.

"I like that............" She said, as his fingertips lingered on her cheek.

"Is that all you like.........?" Ivar's question making her slowly open her eyes. Her head shaking slightly, as she saw the smile on his face.

"You know that that is not the only thing I like. I like all of you Ivar Ragnarsson. Even the parts you hate about yourself the most, I love; for they make you who and what you are, and I would not change you, even if it were possible........" She replied, as she placed her hand on his naked chest and felt the muscles that had come from years of him having to drag his body along the floor.

Sometimes she had wished that he could walk like other men, more for him than anything else; so that the likes of Sigurd could not call him a cripple, so that others would stop thinking that he was less of a Viking......less of a man. (Y/n) hating to see the anger, the pain behind his eyes when others thought they could treat him as if he were lesser; lesser than them, lesser than his brothers. For she knew that that was not the case, and that despite what others may think, others may gossip and laugh about, Ivar........her Ivar was lesser to no man.

"You could have had any man you wanted, (Y/n). You could have had one of my brothers......Hvitserk......Ubbe.......I know they both like you; I see how they look at you, I have even heard them talk about you. So why............?"

"Because I love you, Ivar......that is why I am with you. And as nice as Hvitserk and Ubbe are, they are not you. They do not make me feel the things that you do. Do not make my heartbeat quicken, whenever they are close. The gods have brought us together, Ivar; and who are we to defy the gods........" She explained. A small smile coming to her lips, before she moved her hand to the back of his head and pulled him towards her; his lips moving with hers in a heated kiss.

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

If it wasn't bad enough seeing the way that Harald watched her; licking his lips as she lifted her skirt so that she could dance better. If it wasn't bad enough seeing the lust in the eyes of the man from Vestfold, as he spoke quietly to his brother who sat by his side. (Y/n) had added insult to injury, as she had moved to stand behind Sigurd, and pushed her back up against his; her head coming to lay on his shoulder. The gesture causing Sigurd to smile broadly, as he looked over at Ivar. The shieldmaiden continuing to dance with all the grace that she showed when she fought, as she moved to the front of the main table. Her body elegantly falling to the floor, as the last note played. The room becoming quiet, as the daughter of Lagertha slowly looked up, locking her eyes on the face of the man that would be king of all Norway. All around her cheering, as Harald got to his feet and clapped. The king making his way from the table and offering (Y/n) his hand.

"That was quite impressive, my dear. Tell me.......are you that energetic in everything you do........?" Harald asked, as he helped her to her feet. His eyes looking between her face and her heaving bosom.

"Perhaps if you are lucky enough, you may get to find out........my king......" (Y/n) whispering the last part into his ear. Harald letting out a hearty laugh. Sure, that he could never grow tired of the beautiful woman calling him that.

"Then I will pray to Odin for good fortune......." He replied. The king not hearing the guttural growl that came from Ivar, as his grip on the shieldmaiden, grew a little tighter.

"And I hope that the allfather is listening. But for now, I would like a little air. All of a sudden, it is very warm in here......" (Y/n) retorted. Harald nodding, before reluctantly letting her go. A broad smile on his lips, as she walked past all those at the main table and made her way outside.

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

Ubbe's eyes had never left Ivar as (Y/n) had begun to dance. He had noticed that his youngest brother had been drinking far more than he normally would, and given Ivar could become irate with little help as it was, adding copious amounts of alcohol to that slumbering inferno, could not be a good thing. Ubbe not sure what trouble it could lead to; but given how (Y/n) was interacting with not only Harald, but also Sigurd, he was sure that it wouldn't be good.

He still had no idea what had happened between Ivar and (Y/n); though the oldest son of Aslaug was sure that it was due to something his brother had said or done. Whatever it was, being bad enough that the shieldmaiden would forget about her usual dislike of Sigurd, and act as she had with him. Ubbe deciding to follow after (Y/n) as she left the hall, in hopes that she would not only be able to tell him what had gone on between her and his brother; but that somehow, he may be able to fix it.

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

Ubbe held up his hands, as (Y/n) pulled the dagger from her pocket when she heard someone come up behind her.

"Please (Y/n) I am not here to hurt you........what happened......what happened was between us and your mother...........I know that you are not to blame for anything Lagertha did. That you wouldn't want our mother to be killed......."

"Then perhaps you should have told Ivar that, Ubbe. For it appears that to his mind, my mother's actions are also mine. That I am as much to blame for Aslaug's death, as my mother.........." (Y/n) retorted, as she placed the blade back in the pocket of her skirt.

"Now.......what is it you want..........?"

"I want to know what has happened between you and Ivar. What was said or done that would cause you to burn your wedding dress. That would make two people that had been so in love, act like they hated one another........." Ubbe explained, as he moved to (Y/n)'s side. The two looking out over Kattegat.

"That is something that you should ask your brother. I am sure that I could not do justice to his venom filled words, if I were to tell you. All I will say is that I was informed that there was not going to be a wedding; that there was never going to be a wedding, so I felt no need to keep the dress. And now......now I that am free of Ivar, I am able to look to someone that may be able to love me. That may really wish to call me their wife........"

"But Harald..........."

"Why not Harald.......?" (Y/n) countered, as she turned to look at Ubbe.

"He is a man, not a boy. A real Viking. He is handsome enough, and I could become a queen. He could take me away and I would no longer have to deal with what is happening here. No longer have to look at Ivar. So why would I not turn my attentions to him? But perhaps......." Ubbe feeling his breath catch in his throat, as (Y/n) pushed her body up against his. Her hand coming to rest on his cheek.

"Perhaps you would prefer it if my eye fell on you, Ubbe. I know you've always liked me. I have seen the way you look at me, when you think that no one is watching. So, what do you say, Ubbe.......would you finally like to know what it is to have me..........?" The shieldmaiden queried. Ubbe catching her wrist, as her hand moved to make its way up to his hair.

"You should be careful what you say, (Y/n). And you should be careful what you wish for.............."

"I know exactly what I am saying, Ubbe; and what I am wishing for. So, maybe when you have decided what it is that you want, and are going to act like a man, you can come and find me........." (Y/n) placing a kiss to the corner of his lips, before she pulled her wrist from his grasp, and made her way back into the hall.