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"You're quiet for once." I grinned over at Ivar. He'd been silent for hours, staring at the waves below is as if they were going to swallow the ship if he didn't. He seemed pensive, and I knew that there was a lot on his mind, but the silence was killing me. It didn't help that in the brief moments that Hvitserk wasn't asleep, he was avoiding his little brother. "Scared of sailing?"
"No." He scoffed, but the events from his first trip to England were everpresent in his mind. "I'm not scared of anything."
Of course, I contemplated this for a moment before a mischievous smile lit up my features again. "My father always used to call the ocean a graveyard." I spoke calmly, watching as he shifted uncomfortably - only making me want to annoy him more. I suppose it was the boredom of being trapped on a ship with nothing to do, but I felt the need to stir some kind of mayhem. "Because the sea floor is littered with the corpses of people who sailed the open ocean and sunk."
"Stop talking."
"You are scared!" I laughed, noting how pale his face had grown at the thought. "Ivar The Boneless is scared of the sea."
"Only when you start talking." He answered flatly, folding his arms like a grumpy child. I couldn't help but smile at his surliness, shaking my head at his attitude. "If we sink, it's not like I can swim."
At this declaration, my small smile turned into a sad frown as I slowly moved closer, sitting beside him, and gently looking up to meet his sapphire eyes. "What's wrong, Ivar?" I whispered, furrowed brows as I tried to see what he was thinking about. "Is it Lagertha?"
His eyes turned back towards the water, that stern but thoughtful expression returning to his face. Without at all answering my question, he gave a sigh and changed the subject. "You have to promise me that you won't go near the battle. No matter what happens."
"And if you're injured?" I folded my arms stubbornly, a frown set upon my face. "I should just leave you? Let you die?"
"If I die," He answered, calmly - as he knew the Gods were with them, that he wouldn't die. Not yet, at least. "You stay with Harald and Hvitserk. Don't go to Lagertha unless you have to - and if you do, don't say anything about me and you."
His words were so serious, so commanding, that I knew the closer we came to Norway, the more stressed he was becoming. It was nothing easy - being so young and commanding the greatest army in history and starting a civil war. And though I wanted to help bare such a burden, to ease his nerves as much as I could, I knew that Ivar was withdrawing from the world again. It's what he did.
"Ivar," I whispered gently, hazel eyes full of love. "Everything is going to be fine. Lagertha will get what she deserves for killing your mother, and you'll be king of Kattegat."
At this he gave a half hearted smile, the worry still clear in his ocean eyes, and he gently reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "And you'll be queen."
The rest of the journey was tiring. Every time I tried to row - to do my part on the ship - Ivar would send me a look to not even think about it. So, I remained at the back of the ship, watching the waves roll by softly.
It was fairly calm sailing, as would be expected in early summer. And it brought my mind back to the summer before. Of how this time last year, I was with my parents. I'd not even thought about falling love, of getting into a relationship. My whole life had been focused on school work. And this whole situation would've seemed utterly ridiculous to me back then.
When land began to near, the horizon filling with a bustling town, I could feel a sense of excitement consume me. Not just because I missed going for long walks on land, but because my historian brain was utterly thrilled by the idea of seeing a real Viking settlement. Norway in 867.
It was magnificent. Fishermen along the docks, nets in their small boats. The harbour was laden with traders selling and buying their goods. In the distance, I could already see the Great Hall - a sure sight to behold. Lord how her father would love it here. He'd have his camera on the ready, pointing out every minute detail and explaining the historical and cultural significance.
I couldn't help but smile fondly at the memory, recalling the times we'd shared together. I could tell my mouth was agape, eyes wide, by the way Ivar snorted a laugh upon looking at me. Quickly I composed myself, but the excitement was oh so real.
This was it.
This was the beginning of everything.
When we made it to the shore, I was quick to bound off the ship. I was almost jumping up and down, beaming with utter glee. I could tell that my excitement was amusing to the warriors, as everyone else seemed so stressed about any oncoming conflict, while I was bouncing with joy.
"Hvitserk and I are going to talk to King Harald," Ivar's voice made my smile grow, hazel eyes alight as I turned to look back at him. "I've ordered Whitehair to stay with you while we're not there."
I gave a small smirk, looking up at him innocently - even while leaning on his crutch, Ivar stood much taller than me, and I often had to crane my neck to look up at him. "Are you afraid I'll be too scary for King Harald?" I laughed, only smiling more as a small smile danced across his charming features.
"I thought you'd want to explore the town before we all start killing eachother." He answered flatly, that familiarly dry sense of humour present in his tone.
Again I smiled, nodding, and leaning up on the tips of my toes to place a short kiss against his lips. "I love you." And, before he could say another word, I'd run off to grab Whitehair's arm and skipped along the dock. When I glanced back over my shoulder, I could see him rolling his eyes and chuckling softly before looking back towards Hvitserk.
