A/N - Trigger-warning is still active.
Her breathing was jagged, her neck smarted, it had been years since someone had tried choking the life out of Agi. Briefly she reflected on who that had been, scarcely aware of Ivar speaking. "But you listen close Agi," Ivar huffed, grabbing her chin and turning her head to the left. She felt his lips press upon his ear, his calm cold voice reverberating against her earlobe. "You will do as I have said, for if you don't, I will kill the part of you most revered.." His hand jumped from her chin to below her pelvis, causing Agi to squawk in surprise, as Ivar's fingers enclosing around her womanhood. "While you sleep, I will crawl beneath your sheets and I will bite off your precious bud.." Grimacing, Agi's hands sought out his elbows, trying to wrench Ivar off of her, but he was heavier than he looked. "Perhaps you will bleed to death, or perhaps I would have to mangle you further before the bloodflow would consume you.." A chill rattled up Agi's spine, and Ivar smiled. He lowered his head parallel to her throat, inhaling deeply, brushing his mouth beneath her jaw. The sudden contact startled Agi, causing her rigid body to teeter in surprise. "We understand each other?" he finished.
"Yes Ivar, I understand.." Agi stated hoarsely. Much to her relief, his hand between her legs slid free. Ivar placed both palms on either side of her head, pushing himself up so he loomed above her. "I understand," Agi echoed, drawing in a deep breath, as she rolled her hem above her knees. She licked her lips and smiled. "But that doesn't mean I will comply." Agi's hands clutched around Ivar's temples, her thumbs sinking into his eyes. Agi wrapped her legs atop his lifeless ones, and hurriedly flung herself sideways. Ivar's grunts were loud and irritated as Agi rocked atop him, trying to steady herself. His nails ate into her wrists, and before Agi could retract her thumbs, Ivar yanked her palms free of his skull.
"Having trouble?" piped the voice of Ubbe, from the doorway.
A relieved laugh jumbled from Agi's mouth, but when she glanced at Ubbe, she noticed he was looking solely at his brother.
"Ubbe.." Agi murmured cautiously, attempting to wrangle her wrists free of Ivar's grasp.
Ubbe's gaze met hers briefly, crossing his arms over his chest, as his eyes flicked back onto Ivar. "I told you I should've handled her." he muttered.
Agi's shoulders crumbled in shock. Staring wordlessly at Ubbe, Agi was unaware of Ivar releasing her.
"Why? I have her right where I wanted her.." Ivar responded, and suddenly Agi heard the click of a knife leaving its sheathe. One of Ivar's palms straddled her waist, the other slipped a dagger beneath the tented hem of her dress. Panicking Agi's fingers, locked down upon his forearm, but it was clear from his range of movement, Ivar wasn't trying to do harm. Keeping the blade flat, Ivar gently pressed it against her bud.
"Get it over with then." Agi hissed. Ivar crooked his head, and an audible chortle rutted from Ubbe. "I will not lie to your father, I will not mislead him so you can kill Lagertha. Do what you will to me."
"That is a dangerous thing to say to my brother, Agi." Ubbe said, striding leisurely into her room. Agi reluctantly glanced at the elder Lothbrok. "Answer us this, what loyalty do you have to Lagertha? She kept Father from being yours, didn't she?"
"Ragnar was never going to be mine alone. I was a slave, not a shieldmaiden. I had no delusions...unlike a certain princess." Agi retorted. Ivar pressed the tip of the blade toward her opening, causing Agi to hiss. "Even if I did not have loyalty to Lagertha, I do hold true to your father. I cannot trick him again."
"You've done so in the past. Eagerly, so we've heard.." Ubbe said, as Agi revolved her gaze from Ivar to him.
Agi glowered, mentally fuming at the dead woman who had put her in this situation. "I cannot. Again." Agi repeated. "Ragnar swore to the Gods if I did, he would be done with me."
"So what? You've never been more than a glorified concubine to him." Ivar sneered.
Ivar's remark made Agi, bar he teeth. "Of course that is what Aslaug raised you to believe, but that is not true." Agi replied, slow yet firm as she stared down at Ivar.
Ivar tilted his head. "Why then did he never marry you?" he asked.
"It was my choice not to marry him." Agi answered bitterly.
"Why?"
"Does that matter?"
"Enough." Ubbe sighed, lurking beside Agi with his arms still crossed. "None of us want to betray Father, but we must avenge Mother." he began, sitting on his haunches. "And you Agi, must decide your own fate.." Ubbe paused, as Hvitserk and Sigurd materialized at the doorway. "Ivar can skewer you now, or my brothers can provide you time to rethink your refusal.."
Agi studied the blank faces and lustful stares of the men at her door, then her head slowly turned to Ubbe. "You wouldn't."
"How well do you truly know us, Agi?" Ubbe challenged with the makings of a smile.
"Ragnar did not raise rapists!" Agi snapped.
"Ragnar missed a lot of our upbringing." Sigurd stated, stepping foot inside the room.
"Or did you forget?" Hvitserk added, darkly.
A fear long dormant, blistered fresh across Agi's heart. Agi closed her eyes, steadying her voice. "I'll do it.." she grumbled. Ivar withdrew the steel between her legs and sat up, coupling both his palms upon her waist. Agi flinched at his breath upon her cheek. "Want to hear you say it." Ivar told her.
"I will lead Ragnar astray.." Agi swore, her gaze drifting from Ubbe to Sigurd and Hvitserk.
Ivar tsked with a shake of his head. "No, not that."
Swallowing a lump in her throat, Agi looked deep into Ivar's eyes. "I will help you avenge Aslaug." she said stoically.
"Good." Ubbe said, standing straight. "Mid-morning is when we will strike." Ubbe clapped either hand atop Sigurd and Hvitserk's shoulders, spinning them around, and linking his arms around their necks, as he led them away.
Agi watched them leave tersely, before reverting her attention to Ivar who hadn't shifted an inch. Scowling Agi shoved him onto the floor; he fell with a laugh. "Get out." she spat, stumbling onto her feet, her calves partially asleep.
"Are you going to sulk? They wouldn't have raped you." Ivar said, interlocking his fingers on his stomach. "I'd have killed you first, so that I was the only one who touched you.."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?!" Agi growled.
Ivar lifted his head. "It doesn't?"
Tentatively touching her bruised neck, Agi glared. "I told you to get out."
Ivar sprang up with a smirk. "Make me." he stated. Both their eyes darted to the dagger Ivar had left on the floor. His nimble fingers grabbed the blade, and tossed it straight into the air. The blade embedded itself in a beam of the ceiling. Ivar's smirk grew, studying Agi's exasperated expression. "I'm waiting." he baited, in a falsely innocent tone.
A/N - I'm aware this might get flames and such. Smut will be next chapter, and next chapter will hopefully be the end...because my muse is dangerously smitten with Ivar.
