Thank you for stumbling across my story. I am a bit of a Vikings fan and I have found I really enjoy Ivar as a character. Here is a little idea I had about Ivar and an Original Character. So obviously its set in an alternate universe. I do not own anything, I am merely a fan. Playing with the world that the History channel have created.
Hope you enjoy what I have come up with! Would love some reviews and follows.
~MortalMarquess~
Kadlin awoke earlier than usual that morning. Her brown hair matted at the back of her neck and covered in sweat, and the sunlight streamed in across her face. Kadlin was from a small village on the outskirts of Kattegat. They very rarely had visitors, but a few weeks earlier the son's of Ragnar Lothbrok had passed on their way to somewhere.
Ever since then, Kadlin had dreamed of one of the sons. She was haunted by him. It was not the son who was the most handsome or even the most kind (if there could be such a thing, when you were a viking that is.) The son who frequented her dreams was Ivar. The cruel, fierce, but crippled Ivar. Her dreams started just with flashes and snippets of him. All except last nights. After last nights dream, she was led to believe it was a prophecy. She herself had never really believed in people other than the seer having visions. Kadlin was from a simple family of farmers, why would she have been given the sight, she thought to herself.
Leaving her small bedroom and making way to the kitchen, she found her mother and younger sister. Her father had never returned from the last raid and now it was up to her to help her mother to take care of the family farm, along with helping with running of the household and keeping her sister well.
"Mother, have you ever had a dream you thought was real and then you woke?"
Her mother shook her head, "No, and I have no time to discuss such matters. If you need answers go to Kattegat and see the seer. But not today, we have much work to do"
Kadlin sat at the table in silence, eating her small meagre breakfast. Perhaps a trip into Kattegat might help her seek the answers she so desperately needed. Dreaming of Ivar was not something she wished to do much longer.
After breakfast, she started her duties outside. Farm life never had much down time. If they weren't sowing the field, they were picking the produce or heading off to try sell their excess to help provide more seeds and necessities for the future. When out in the fields Kadlin felt free. Her mother not close enough to tell her what to do, and her sister not near here to bother her. She spent more time in the field than needed, her mother thought she was just slow at picking the food or planting. However it was there she trained. Her father had left her a sword, she was no shield maiden like Lagertha but she knew she had slightly more talent than some of the local boys.
Whilst outside late that afternoon, it happened again. Only this time she was awake. Kadlin was standing in the dirt, when suddenly she dropped to her knees and her eyes rolled back into her head.
She stood on top of a hill with her blade in her hand. The crow's circling as bodies lie sprawled everywhere. Amongst the fallen were Viking and another's from where she did not know. Covered in blood, she looked down and saw Ivar. Bodies covering him, a smile on his face as he removed his bloody sword from the man that was buried in hilt deep into his neck. She ran to him, "My love are you hurt?" as she reached him. "I am not going to Valhalla today" as he took his hands and placed them on her face. Their foreheads now touching. "We did it, Mercia is ours. Shall we go see?" She nodded, and pulled the dead man off him, as Ivar led the way down the hill.
Moments or hours later she came to. She had no idea how much time had passed, although it was the same as this morning and every other morning too. She was covered in sweat and breathing heavily. Finding her feet again, she had decided enough was enough. These dreams were driving her insane, on her walk back inside she thought about the dream. She had dreamt not only of this moment, but of many more. The thought that there was more to this life was very enticing.
She had always wanted to be more than a farmer. Perhaps a merchant or even a server in Kattegat. Not that she didn't love her mother and sister she just wanted more. Never realising that more would be the "love" of Ivar. It seemed that nothing or no-one was good enough for Ivar, and from what she had seen and heard the idea that someone could love or be loved by him either was less likely.
That night Kadlin had supper with her mother and sister. She joined in the conversation as best she could but her mind was leagues away. This time tomorrow she hoped to be in Kattegat, speaking with Ivar. She did not have the heart or strength to tell her family that she was leaving. After her meal she returned to her bedroom, writing a simple letter to them explaining what she must do. She had to leave, one day she hoped to return to her family, and if not she would be with her father in Valhalla awaiting them both.
Before her mother woke that morning, Kadlin packed her small bag and left. Kissing goodbye her sister on the forehead and praying to odin that she would see her again, and that she would forgive her by leaving. Approaching Kattegat before midday, Kadlin didn't have much thought as to how she was going to reach out to Ivar. Would he even listen to her? She had to come up with a way to make him believe that what she had seen would be come to pass. She arrived at the great hall and went inside.
Queen Lagertha sat atop her throne, that she had long fought for. Killing Ivar's mother in the process, but as she sat down and took a drink that was handed to her she couldn't help but admire her. Lagertha had taken back what was her's and if her visions were anything to go by, one day Kadlin may be sitting on something similar in a country over the sea with Ivar by her side.
She sat and listened and heard nothing of interest until a slave girl sat down a few paces away from her.
"I couldn't do it, I told you. He could not pleasure me the way Ubbe did, not that I wanted his hands on me either"
Kadlin had heard there was a slave in Kattegat who pleasured all the son's of Ragnar, but she had never seen her before. Looking at the girl, she supposed she was beautiful. Blonde hair and bright eyes, but it was what she was saying that interested her.
"Excuse me, did you say you were with Ivar?" she asked the slave quietly.
The slave looked around, shocked that someone had heard her. "I did, and if you know what is good for you, you will not repeat what you have heard. If Ivar knew I had told someone, he would see me dead. Please, do not speak of this, it was not my place to even be saying such things of our prince"
"You words are safe with me, do not worry" Kadlin told the slave, trying to ensure her that she would not reveal this to anyone. Anyone except Ivar that is, for she had just found the leverage she needed to speak with Ivar.
She walked out of the great hall, now with an idea on what to say to Ivar but she had no idea where he was. She stopped a passing by merchant.
"Pardon me, do you know where I can find Ivar?"
The old man looked her up and down, "If you knew what was good for you, you would know not to seek out Ivar"
"Thank you for your advice, but I still wish to know where he is?"
The man took a step closer to her and forcefully placed his arm around her, pulling her in close so she could smell the stench of his breath on her neck.
"Why you looking for that crippled bastard when you could come and have some fun with me" He pulled her towards a darkened corner. Kadlin kicked against the strength of the man but it was useless she was not strong enough to fight against him.
Suddenly the man was punched in the jaw and landed flat on his ass in the mud.
In front of her stood Ubbe. He offered his hand, and pulled her to her feet.
"I heard what you said about my brother. I do not know why you wish to speak with him, but I would like to hear why. No one seeks out Ivar. People run from Ivar"
Kadlin tried to remove some of the mud from her dress. "Thank you Ubbe. My name is Kadlin"
Ubbe led the way towards a hut, she followed him inside and was met by the sons of Ragnar.
"Ivar, this women is here to see you"
Ivar was over in the back on the hut working on sharpening a sword. He looked up and saw Kadlin, in her mud stained dress.
"What do you want?" he abrubtly asked her.
"I would like to speak with you, privately" she answered as confidently as she could muster. The son's were deftinately intimidating, but none as much as the coldness of Ivar.
Hvitsverk came up and placed his arms around her, "You can have a private conversation with me?"
Trying as hard as she could, she slapped him in the face. "No, I am here to speak with Ivar, get your hands off me".
He was not happy at being slapped by a women, and one he obviously thought was a slave. "I will not be spoken to like that. I will have my way with you and then maybe I will let you speak with Ivar"
Just as he went to pull her away Ubbe stepped in. "Ivar, this women was defending you to a man about to rape her. The least you could do is hear her out. By the gods, no one ever speaks to you. Enjoy it whilst it lasts my brother" as he once again, pulled her from the clutches of a man.
Kadlin, nodded appreciatively towards Ubbe. Considering she had not actually defended him, she was grateful for him stepping in. Why couldn't her dreams be about him?
Ivar raised his arms in the air. "Fine, whatever. Follow me" As he dropped from the chair he was seated at and he head towards a room to the side. She was in awe at how much strength he had in his upper body. Even though his legs did not work, he certainly was not as cripped as people made it out to seem.
"What do you want?" he asked her again.
Taking a deep breathe she told him.
"I want you to take me raiding with you."
Ivar laughed, which was not something she thought she would hear. "And why would I take you? A small little girl from Kattegat covered in mud? All you are good for are things that my brother and that man wanted you for earlier"
"You will take me, because I know things that you wish to be answered."
"Oh, and what might they be?"
Kadlin explained to Ivar that she had seen a great many things that would be his, if she were there to help him. She also told him she had seen things that had happened in the past.
"I do not believe you. Is this some kind of joke?"
Realising she had to lay her cards out on the table she told him what she had learnt earlier today.
"Fine, you do not believe me. But trust me on this. I will help one of the son's of Ragnar to overthrow and unite the kingdoms over the sea. It does not have to be you. I know things about you Ivar things that no -one else know's"
She got up to stand and leave the room. Before she could make it to the door, Ivar had moved, grabbed her by the legs. She landed on the floor, suddenly Ivar was on top of her with a knife blade sat at her throat. His weight, making it hard for her to breathe..
"Oh, you think you know me? What is this secret you know?" as he traced the blade along her collarbone.
"I know since your mother left for Valhalla, that you have been lost." she swallowed as the cold steel touched her.
"I know that you wish to be more famous than your brothers, that you think you should lead the army not your brother Bjorn. I know that you need someone to help bear the burden that your father left you"
Ivar laughed his cold empty laugh again. "You think you will help lift this burden? I think not. You are nothing"
"If I was nothing you would not have listened to me this far. Since your mother's death I have dreamt of you Ivar. I believe your mothers gift has passed over to me. I can see the future and the past"
"I am sick of listening to you. You are wasting my time. Get out of here before I decide to end your life" He took the blade away from her throat.
"I will not. You say you don't believe me. How else would I know that you cannot pleasure a women? How else would I know how your father died. How else would I know these things"
Before she knew it the blade was back her throat, with his hand up at her neck. She wasn't sure if she was about to slit open ear to ear or strangled to death.
"Ivar, I am telling you the truth. Why else would I be here? I cannot defend myself against you and you shall find no weapons upon me to even try."
Letting her go, he pulled himself away from her. They sat in silence for a few minutes, before he broke the silence.
"I do not know if you are telling the truth. What do you want from this?"
"It would be a lie to say I want nothing. I want to sit beside you and rule with you." Kadlin crawled up next to Ivar. Trying not to show her fear of him. "Use me as your secret weapon. Send me to the beds of others to unlock their secrets. Let me help you. I can help you Ivar."
He looked at her intently, and she was still unsure if she was going to live or die by him.
"Fine, whatever. You can come. Can you even fight?"
Relief washed over her. " I can, but I am not a shield maiden. I still have much to learn. I had thought that you could teach me. You are the most savage and cruel of us all. Teach me to fight like you" she tried to sound as impressed and genuine as she could.
"So that you can kill me?"
"No Ivar, so that I can Kill for you."