"What are you thinking about..........?" (Y/n) asked, as she slowly opened her eyes to look at Ivar. The young prince reaching up his hand to carefully move some of her hair back behind her ear.

"I am thinking about you.........."

"Me...........?" She queried again, before snuggling a little closer to his side. Ivar's arms tightening around her, as she lay her head on his bare chest.

"I am thinking about how beautiful you are. How you should be a queen. How you could have any man you wanted; yet here you are with me......."

"And here is where I want to be, Ivar........." The shieldmaiden countered, as she pushed herself up into her elbow so that she could look at him.

"I don't want to be a queen; I have no desire for a throne or a crown. And there is no other man that I want or need, but you. So, here I will stay......." She countered, before leaning in to kiss him. Ivar's hand making its way into her hair as the kiss deepened.

"Lie down..........." He told her, as they moved apart. (Y/n) smiling at him, before turning onto her stomach, her legs opening to accommodate his body, as he came to lay on top of her.

"You might not want to be a queen; but I am going to worship you as if you were a goddess.........." Ivar whispered into her ear. Her hands gripping tightly to the straw filled mattress beneath her, as he slowly pushed himself inside her.

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

Ubbe had stayed outside a few moments longer, after (Y/n) had made her way back into the hall; his thoughts a jumble as he looked out over Kattegat. It was very true what she had said, he did like her; he would watch her when he thought no one would notice. And gods, he would so like to know what it was to not only see her body; but love it too. To feel her shake beneath him, as she came because of his touch. The oldest son of Aslaug shaking his head; no, he could not do that to Ivar. Despite what might have happened, what might have been said, he knew Ivar loved (Y/n) and he would never forgive him if he were to touch the shieldmaiden. Ubbe shaking his head again, before making his way back into the hall. But now, here he was, with Hvitserk, carrying a very drunk Ivar back to the cabin; both men looking at one another, as Ivar let out a pathetic whimper.

Upon his return to the hall, Ubbe had continued to watch Ivar and (Y/n). Ivar drinking himself more and more into a stupor; while (Y/n), well, she was allowing Harald to move closer and closer. She was laughing at his jokes and not pulling away, as the man from Tamdrup carefully touched her cheek. It obvious to even a blind man what Harald wanted, what his intentions were. Though he had been glad, for Ivar's sake, to see that when the shieldmaiden had left the hall, it had been alone.

"I love her........." Ivar slurred, as Hvitserk kicked open the door to the cabin and he and Ubbe threw their youngest brother onto the bed.

"I want her............."

"Well, it would seem that she doesn't want you, brother.........." Sigurd said from the doorway. Ubbe having done his best to stop him from following to the cabin; but it would seem that he was enjoying Ivar's misery far too much, to stay away.

"Sigurd......!"

"What.......its true.......whatever happened, Ivar obviously brought it on himself. (Y/n) has finally seen sense and realised that she can do better than a cripple. And Harald seemed more than happy to take advantage of the situation. Perhaps he will even want to take her away with him........" A smile making its way onto Sigurd's face, as Ivar screamed into the furs beneath him. The dark-haired prince trying to push himself up but failing abysmally; this just causing Ivar more frustration. The sounds of crying coming from the young man, as he buried his head in the pillow that still maintained the scent of his lover.

"Leave.........."

"What..........?" Sigurd asked, as Ubbe made his way over to him.

"I said, leave, Sigurd. Now is not the time for this. So, just get out........." Ubbe continued, as he moved to stand in front of his brother. Sigurd wanting to say something more, wanting to point out how friendly (Y/n) and Harald had actually been. But given the look on his oldest brother's face, he had thought better of it. Sigurd letting out a huff, before leaving Ubbe and Hvitserk to deal with Ivar.

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

(Y/n) stood on the docks, looking out over the fjord. There was a conflict raging inside her; a conflict that she never thought that she would face.

She had to admit that she had been enjoying Harald's attention. As she had told Ubbe, she believed the king to be handsome and there were worse men that she could have spent the evening talking with. Yet despite this, a part of her had wanted nothing more than to move to Ivar's side; wanted to take his hand and have him kiss her. To have him tell her that he loved her, before they would tease one another until they wanted, needed nothing more than to be alone. The pair of them spending the rest of the night making love. But she doubted that that would ever happen again; for she was not about to lower herself and crawl to Ivar, begging for his love. No, if he didn't want her, then that was fine. If he thought her little better than a whore, so be it. If every word that had ever passed his lips, had been a lie......then she was happy to move on with her life........

"My lady............." (Y/n) turning at the sound of a deep voice. Her heart beating a little quicker as she recognised Harald making his way towards her.

"I hope you don't mind if I join you..........?"

"Of course, not King Harald.........."

"Harald.......for you, it is just Harald........" Harald countered, as he came to stand with her. The man that would be king of all Norway taking her hand and bringing it too his lips, as she smiled at him.

"Kattegat is beautiful, is it not......but I swear that it pales in comparison to you......." Harald continued, as he moved a step closer. His tongue licking his lips, as he looked between her face and her rising and falling bosom. The eldest son of Halfdan the Elder, wanting nothing more than to see and feel what lay beneath the dress that she wore.

"You are too kind, Harald..........."

"Not at all. In fact, I believe you to be the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen. A woman that would make the perfect queen.......my perfect queen........." Harald told her, as he placed his hand on her cheek. Smiling at her, before his lips found hers.