a/n: obviously taking a lot of liberties with the show's chronology as well as the customs. and i only got the vague sense of where floki lived in season 1-3, im thinking maybe he had a second house nearer to ivar in s4 but eh, went with a cool riverhut. also; at the use of the word 'girlfriend', im not a fan of it being used in this time period, but the show used the word 'boyfriend' so i thought, ah hell, i'll go with it.
Chapter 3: Fathers
Halfdan took great pleasure in waking Svana up, pushing her off the bed when she didn't respond to him shaking her. The night before had been important and for her to disappear long before the sacrifice was not only bad manners, it could bring bad luck on the voyage.
"Ah, you fucking bastard," she growled, slowly dragging herself up. He let himself admire the entire length of her as she often liked to sleep naked if the bed had enough furs to keep her warm. Halfdan admitted to himself that he was an incredibly fortunate man to have a woman like her waiting for him and a lot of the other warriors at the feast had also told him as such. But the marriage was still a dark mark upon both their lives, neither having wished for it, neither feeling a true pull to be together at all times like Harald wanted them to be. He had talked with his brother about the needlessness of these appearances but the man was King and was close to realising his dream. All he could see was the end goal and the alliances and loyalties he'd need to get there. His mind was set upon both of them getting wives that showed their standing, to have families that continued their family's legacy.
Svana had not taken with child yet, had confessed to him that she thought she couldn't for she'd been having sex with various men since she was sixteen. Halfdan, personally, considered this a blessing from the Gods, for he had no interest in having a child. Svana herself was already too much for him but at least she had her uses.
She dragged a simple dress over her head to cover herself from the chilly air and glared expectantly, "What!?"
"Why did you leave early last night?"
She scoffed, "I was drunk and horny. I thought I was doing my father a favor by leaving alone."
Halfdan sighed, understanding her reasoning and wishing he could just let her go free as they'd first discussed so he wouldn't have to deal with this angry, frustrated woman before him. Sometimes he thought Harald had arranged this on purpose as revenge for all the times Halfdan had bullied him for being so easily duped by women he fell in love with, as well as falling for every beauty he met.
"You missed the sacrifice," he pointed out, starting to get dressed. His own sleep had been brief since the night's festivities had continued until the sun's first appearance.
"Sacrifice? That also happened last night?"
He turned in disbelief but no, her shock seemed sincere.
"We talked about it on the way here as well as with Bjorn and everyone back at the Hall. That was the entire reason for the big feast!"
"Uh... I tend to not... listen to you," she shrugged and then sat on the bed with a grimace of apprehension, "Ah shit, I missed the sacrifice for our voyage. Is Harald pissed?"
"Yes. And so am I and your shieldmaidens were also looking for you, they wanted to celebrate with you. Since when can you not hold your drink?"
"I can hold my drink just fine if I'm allowed to act on what the mead tells me to do. Like kiss the nearest handsome fellow or sneak out with a Ragnarsson."
He nodded in acceptance, knowing he and the others had held nothing back last night, satisfying every lust that arose, whether it was for drink, blood or sex. Halfdan decided to let the matter go for now, Harald would no doubt torture her further about this, so he changed the subject.
"That's the second time you've mentioned them, I guess they left an impression?"
"Mm," she replied, looking away from him.
"Something wrong?" He came to stand before her so she couldn't hide her face from his gaze.
"I just... One of them... Interests me. But nothing can ever happen so I feel buried under your brother's expectations of me."
He crouched down, hands resting on her thighs and leant against her legs to look up at her earnestly, "I'd set you free from this if I could."
"Why can't you?" Svana asked quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"Why can't you tell your brother to just go to Hel? You don't want to be married to me either, just divorce me and tell Harald it's what you want."
"He is my King, Svana. And you..." He chuckled, bemused by her, "You're just a woman. He'll always be my brother. In everything, I will always pick him over you. This marriage doesn't bury me as it buries you and for that I'm sorry. But nothing will change so just try to accept it and try to be happy with it." He stood up and caressed her hair softly, ignoring the silent tear that had escaped one of the eyes currently glaring at him. "I promise to treat you well and with respect. It's better than some women get."
Figuring he'd done all he could to make her see sense, he left to find his brother. The preparations for their trip continued and soon they would be off to the distant shores he'd always dreamed about. And perhaps some conquest and blood would settle Svana further into her role in the kingdom Harald had built.
With a tousled loosely-tied braid, red-rimmed eyes and a pounding head she made her way to the Great Hall. Svana felt absolutely mortified. The whole day before she had been so obsessed over her hardships, her hunger for sex and her thirst for mead, she had forgotten a sacred act and hadn't gotten a blessing for the voyage. If Odin hadn't already forsaken her, he surely would now. She was incredibly nervous about meeting with King Harald so she decided not to. Someone else was also waiting for her and she was eager for a distraction from her embarrassment.
Right before the entrance, she patted at the simple farmer's dress she wore on warmer days when she didn't feel like pulling on her leathers and checked the knot on her cloak's neck to make sure it wouldn't fall. The realisation that she was acting as if meeting a suitor made her stop fussing and head in.
Three of the brothers were there along with the Queen. Bjorn and Hvitserk were standing before Aslaug, discussing something with her in low tones while Ivar lounged in the tall chair next to hers, looking bored.
"I'm sorry to bother you, Queen Aslaug," she interrupted their conversation, hoping Ivar would just quickly crawl to her and they'd leave but instead they all stared at her with varying degrees of judgement.
She guessed by now even if they hadn't noticed her absence, the rumor of it would be flowing freely from the mouths of Harald's men. Her shieldmaidens she trusted to keep their silence about Svana's affairs.
"Svana, we were sad to see you absent during the sacrifice, did you feel unwell?"
She grasped at the Queen's peace offering, "Yes, your mead is a lot stronger than Rogaland's. I'm afraid I felt sick and had to retire earlier than planned." There, that sounded much better than 'oh I completely forgot that was even happening now that my love life is in shambles'.
Aslaug smiled at her kindly and the other three relaxed as well. Hvitserk even came towards her with an eager grin so wide, it almost closed his eyes shut.
"I'm heading out with Ubbe and Sigurd for more training before our journey, would you like to come? I'm sure you could teach me something they haven't."
His enthusiasm caused her to smile even as she turned him down, "I'm afraid my day is already spoken for, I would've loved to otherwise. But since we're journeying together, I can teach you things on the way."
He deflated a little, "Oh. Well, I guess that's true. Just thought that I'd give Ubbe a nice surprise."
Svana shook her head at his sly wink, "Go play matchmaker with someone who's not married, Hvitserk."
Bjorn came to stand next to his brother, curious, "So who is blessed with your company today, if I may ask?" The word 'blessed' almost sounded like a jab at her having missed the sacrifice, although the interest in his face looked sincere so Svana decided to just ignore it.
She glanced through the space between the two at Ivar who was still sitting, staring straight ahead at nothing, appearing disinterested in their conversation. But she knew he was listening from the slight upturn of his lips. He wanted her to say it, to approach him. It was another game for the men, another way to show her off but this time she found herself not minding it so much. She'd be Ivar's trophy for the day, at least he let her make the choice on her own.
Svana smiled at the brothers secretively before walking around them to stand before Ivar.
"I'm sorry that I'm late."
He didn't immediately respond, making her wonder if he hadn't expected her to actually apologize.
"It is alright," he finally said with a shrug. "I imagine your head must be hurting," he smirked, knowing exactly the state she'd went to bed in.
"I'm ready to go now if you are?"
"I've been ready since the sun hit its peak," he bragged, dragging himself to the floor. Queen Aslaug smiled at them both encouragingly, drinking from the goblet that Svana was beginning to think was forever attached to her hand. As she settled her pace to match his crawling, they headed for the entrance, taking in the expressions on Hvitserk and Bjorn's faces on the way.
"Ivar, you dog!" Hvitserk shouted, leaning down to thump his crawling brother on the back.
Svana gave a friendly shove in return, Ivar resting on one hip to watch, "It's not like that!" She laughed as Hvitserk threw an arm around her neck. "For the last time, I'll remind you that I'm married," she grunted out, elbowing him in the stomach. Hvitserk let out a loud 'oof', releasing her immediately. "It'll be a day spent among friends," she finished and smiled triumphantly when Hvitserk raised his hands in surrender.
"Ivar doesn't have friends," Bjorn's voice cut through the cheerful mood.
"Bjorn," Aslaug warned softly.
She quickly took in the sudden tension in the room, Bjorn looking unapologetic, Hvitserk uncomfortable and Ivar... Ivar wasn't looking at anyone, was staring at the ground with a grin that chilled her as it screamed for blood. There was so much anger in him, she wondered how no one else could see the darkness it would bring if not reigned in.
"Perhaps you're right and he doesn't have friends," her voice boldly cut through the silence. Ivar's grin turned into a clenched expression of shame. "But as of now, he does have one." She rewarded Ivar with a smile when he finally looked up to stare at her in wonder.
He quickly hid the emotion, regaining the confident swagger she'd seen the night before and smirked at his brothers before crawling away.
Bjorn's eyebrows were raised but he didn't seem all that bothered by her response while Hvitserk was looking at her differently, with suspicion. Svana was starting to get the idea that Hvitserk most likely did care for Ivar, for all his brothers, but he still couldn't see why she would want to spend time with a cripple. She frowned at him for thinking she had ulterior motives and followed Ivar.
Ivar was leading so she'd expected to be moving rather slowly, yet his fierce crawling dragged him smoothly along the rocks and uneven ground while Svana kept stopping to pull her dress out of bushes, unused to travelling in a forest without her leathers.
At one point he turned to rest for a bit against a large rock, breathlessly laughing at her hiking up her dress in frustration.
Svana saw his smile turn thoughtful as his eyes wandered down to the bare skin she was showing.
"Hmm."
"Ivar, my eyes are up here," she chastised but not seriously, enjoying his interest.
"Yes, way, way up there, while your legs are down here," he waved his hand at the space between them, "Much easier for my neck to look straight ahead, yes?" Mischievously, he continued to stare at her even as she quickly walked towards him. When she stepped up to place her feet on either side of his legs, he finally looked up. Svana cursed the Gods for giving him those eyes, for giving him that mouth and she cursed them for making her so weak. She gave into her desires and crouched down to bring her face closer, to see his features soften in want.
"There, now my eyes are at your level," she smiled at him wickedly, glad to see him return it.
"I'd rather you stay down here with me, teach me more things about women," he quipped, eyes wide as he took in the effect he had on her, because she knew he could see it, she wasn't even trying to hide it.
Svana wet her lips, gaze flicking down to see his tongue peeking out from his parted mouth. Her resolve was weakening and Ivar's grin was growing, as the fight was no doubt clearly shown on her face.
She cursed everyone and everything and hissed at him sharply, standing up to walk backwards a few paces, "Don't tempt me, Ivar."
He laughed fully and the sound of it made her flush in appreciation, "Am I that tempting?"
"You are to me," she admitted and he grew somber, that familiar thoughtful look upon his face as blue eyes stared into nothing.
"Mm."
Wanting to get him out of his head, she kicked a rock towards his legs, causing him to flinch and look at her in surprise.
"How far is your father? Where are we even going?"
"To Floki's."
"Ah, and is it far?"
"Thank you," he looked as if he regretted saying it as soon as it was past his lips.
Svana was unsettled at the sudden change in their conversation, "Whatever for?"
Ivar flexed his shoulders, looking anywhere but at her, "For saying what you did back there. My brothers... they did not believe me."
A chill crawled up along her spine. "Believe you about what? What did you tell them?"
"Not about your unfaithfulness or anything about your marriage." Ivar glared at her with a mocking smile
She relaxed, nodding in appreciation, "Alright. Then what?"
"That I was your favorite," his arrogance reappeared as he met her eyes, daring her to deny it.
Svana laughed at his confidence and also at herself for she truly had made it all too clear in just one night who she favored among them. She could accuse the mead, or put the blame on the Gods but in the end, it was just her weakness for strength. And despite what many believed, Ivar was obviously strong, stronger than many of the warriors getting ready to sail to the Mediterranean.
"I do not deny it but you shouldn't brag about it so," she cautioned.
"Why? You are a beautiful woman, free in their eyes. Your interest gives me honor," he said, gesturing with his head as he grew agitated.
"Because these are dangerous times, Ivar. Harald's ambitions are great and I am tangled up in them. Being my favorite in any way might not be a good thing right now."
"I don't care about your King," he scoffed. "And one day I will get you released from your prison."
Svana drew in a sharp breath, "You shouldn't be-"
"I promise," he finished, glare and jaw set.
She considered arguing but didn't see the point. Ivar was too caught up in his own world, probably didn't realise how important of a man Harald truly was or how easily his respect for King Ragnar's legacy could disappear if it hindered him in achieving his goal.
"But we've wasted enough time, come, Floki's house is close." With that, he turned to start crawling again, Svana staring after him with raised brows; she hadn't been the one to drag on the conversation after all. Sighing, she gathered up her dress and followed him.
Floki's home resided further from Kattegat than she'd thought, down by the river where she guessed he could build his boats and catch his own fish in peace. As they neared, a blonde-haired woman greeted Ivar with a wave and then turned to shout, "Ragnar! Floki! Ivar's here!"
The two men on the docks turned as one and Svana stumbled at her first sight of Ragnar Lothbrok, the legendary viking to lead them all west.
"Don't fall for my father now," Ivar shot over his shoulder and Svana leant down to swat at him, laughing when he grabbed a leg in retaliation and tried to pull it out from under her.
"Svana! What brings you?" Floki yelled as he ran up to them, interrupting their struggle. She straightened and grasped his arm in greeting. They had met briefly when Harald had presented her the ships Floki had built and she had great respect for him since his craftsmanship was unmatched.
Behind him came Ragnar with a swagger she recognised as wariness rather than arrogance.
"I've brought her to meet father," Ivar explained, sending a smug look towards Ragnar, who took all of them in with his brows raised high.
"Who is this then? Your girlfriend? If so, I approve," he leered and Ivar smiled but turned his head downwards, obviously unhappy that his father's guess wasn't the truth.
She stepped forward and offered out her arm, introducing herself formally, "I am Svana, the shieldmaiden of Rogaland and the wife of Halfdan the Black, brother of King Harald."
Ragnar didn't immediately return her greeting, smirking thoughtfully, "That's a lot of big names. You sound important."
"She is, Ragnar. She leads a hundred of Harald's finest shieldmaidens." Floki giggled suddenly, pointing at her with a limp wrist, "She's like a young Lagertha!"
It irked her to hear her warriors be claimed by Harald in such a way, when before they were her father's, but she hid it. "I am honored by the comparison."
Ragnar seemed to be disarmed by Floki's respect for her, finally grasping her arm. But he suddenly pulled her up against him and gazed at her face up close. In the back of her mind she was amazed that she was taller than the man who claimed to be a descendant of Odin, but she quickly chastised herself; for height mattered not in the might of men.
"You're very beautiful as well, Svana, just like my first wife. I agree with Floki," he declared proudly.
She flushed at seeing those blue eyes so close to her own but pulled back respectfully. "Again, I'm honored."
"Would you stop being such a lecherous old man?"
She gasped at the insult, glancing at Ivar's disapproving frown. But Floki and Ragnar didn't seem to take it seriously, the first bursting into peels of giggles and the latter staring at his son in amazement.
"Oh have you set your sights upon a married woman, my son?" He crouched down to mess up Ivar's hair, who tolerated it with a grimace. "You should set your sights lower, cripple boy."
"Much lower," Floki added with a grin.
Svana steeled herself, sure that Ivar's anger would flow like the river at such insults but she was surprised to see him grinning wryly at them both. His arm shot out to push his father away from him, Ragnar falling onto his ass with a soft 'oof' and then he addressed Floki, "At least I'm not an old knock-kneed fool like you."
She let out a soft sigh, realising that Ivar wasn't as sensitive about his legs as she'd thought. He could obviously tell the difference between good-natured banter and someone using those insults just for the sake of being mean.
Ragnar chuckled softly, accepting Floki's offer to pull him up.
"So really, Ivar," Floki spoke up, "Why did you bring her here?"
Seems like she wasn't the only one who couldn't see Ivar being kind for no reason.
He tilted his head, putting on an air of indifference, "I thought you might like to ask her to come to England with you."
Svana's breath left her in surprise, while Floki grew somber, shaking his head in sadness.
Ragnar, however, seemed intrigued. "You think Harald would let her come with me?"
"I think if you offered her father protection under your name, she could do anything she wanted to. Including divorcing her husband." Ivar said all of this lightly, as if he wasn't speaking of dangerous treachery.
Ragnar's eyes missed nothing as they took in her reaction, "I don't think my name holds as much power as you think it does." He smiled in thought, pointing at her as he remembered, "Of Rogaland, you said."
"Yes," she confirmed quietly.
She could see him come to understand everything, why she wanted a divorce, why she was loyal to Harald, why Ivar had mentioned her father. Floki connected the dots anyway by saying, "She's the former King's daughter."
Ragnar nodded with pity in his eyes. Svana felt stripped bare and very much wanted to swat at Ivar with all her strength this time for bringing her here and revealing her life to this man without her consent.
"Will you not even try?" Ivar prompted, deeply set on this idea no matter how much Floki shook his head at him.
Ragnar aimed his pity at his son and Svana could immediately tell from Ivar's thunderous expression that it was the wrong thing to do, "I left, Ivar. As soon as I left, I lost the power to-"
"Then what good are you!?" Ivar shouted, throwing a patch of dirt at his father. "Why did you even bother coming back!?"
"Ivar, please," she stressed. "I am thankful you thought of trying to help me, but it is not in your power to do so-"
"You don't know what is in my power!" He gestured at her angrily. He quickly deflated at her plain unease and looked down, breathing deeply. With a growl of frustration, he turned and crawled back the way they'd came.
Svana was left standing there to tolerate the pity aimed at her.
"I'm sorry, Svana. I can try-"
"No," she interrupted Ragnar. "You can't protect my father. Only I can." She nodded at them both in farewell and left.
She quickly caught up to Ivar because of her angry strides but she didn't move in front of him to block his path until they were out of eyesight from Floki's.
Ivar snarled at her and she ignored it, moving swiftly as she grabbed him by his collar and threw him onto his back, straddling his waist harshly enough that his breath left him before grasping his neck and leaning down over his face.
"You do not tell other people, of my life, without my permission," she whispered, squeezing down. Ivar glared back, stubborn, but his arms remained at his sides, not retaliating in any way.
As soon as she realised he was letting her harm him without a fight she let go, growling. She'd wanted a fight, not a victim. Svana sat up, resting her full weight on his stomach, enjoying his discomfort.
"It was worth a try," he said, tone light and apologetic, most likely the only form of an apology she'd get from him.
"Was it?" She asked, voice full of the tears she was holding back. "I used to feel like I was in charge of everything in my life. I used to make my own decisions and now, when I'm a puppet to the man who invaded my homeland, you want to take away what little control I have left!" Suddenly furious, she lifted a hand to strike him but he caught it and used it to pull himself up so they were pressed together.
Fury left her as suddenly as it came, morphing into a familiar hunger. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her and for a moment she responded with passion.
Disappointed at her own weakness, she violently pushed him down again, fleetingly feeling guilty at his grimace of pain. "Don't try to distract me from my anger."
"Isn't that what you do to me?"
Her violent thoughts halted, hearing the truth in those words. She slumped over him, hands resting beside his head, as he continued talking.
"I am so angry, all the time. And sometimes I wish I wasn't, because I can see that it makes it hard for people to love me."
"Justified anger cannot be rid of so easily," she whispered, liking the way his features softened at her acknowledging all of the unspoken reasons for his rage.
"But it's hard to live with. It burns." His voice was quiet, high and gentle like she hadn't heard it before. His face showed the struggle on his mind, doubting his decision to reveal this side of himself.
Svana nodded, her heart aching for him, "My anger is usually gone before night falls," she admitted, sharing something of herself in return even though it held no equal value to the insight into his mind she'd just received.
"Oh good, I'll be your favorite again soon enough," his grin looked too sharp to be sincere but she appreciated the attempt and laughed, sitting up and shaking away the tension in her arms.
This time, when he followed her up to hold her, she returned his embrace but turned her head to touch their cheeks together, fearing the eroding power his kisses would have over her constraint.
"You walk in here, showering me with all this attention and I'm just supposed to let you go again? Can you see why I had to try?" He spoke softly, hands trailing along her hair.
"I can. But letting me go is exactly what you have to do."
Ivar dropped his hands behind him so he could lean back and see her face, "Why? I don't want to."
The laugh that escaped her was grim, humorless, "The world doesn't care what we want. The world revolves around Kings and Queens and their ambitions and desires."
"Then I'll make you Queen one day," he grinned and she groaned at his insistence to be aggravating, trying to pull away but once again stopped by arms wrapping around her waist.
"I don't want to be Queen, Ivar. I want to be free," she pointed out to him, leaning her head back when he tried to steal a kiss.
"Who is freer than a Queen?" He asked, sincerely confused at her reluctance.
"Someone who isn't weighed down by other people's expectations of her," she replied smartly, removing his arms with force so she could stand up.
Ivar seemed to mull over her answer before his head swayed in agreement, "Huh."
"I'm going to go see my King now," this made him look up at her in obvious disapproval but she continued before he could say anything snide, "I have to and you have to accept that. I'll see you again tomorrow." When he cast his eyes away in disbelief, she softly added, "I promise." His shoulders tensed before he nodded.
With a heavier heart than she woke up with, she headed back towards the town, unsettled from everything that had just happened.
Halfdan could barely look her in the eye when she approached the men shouting out instructions on the docks. He quickly intercepted her path to Harald, grasping her arm and pulling her towards a man she immediately recognised.
"Endre!"
His father's oldest slave stood straighter at the sight of her and laughed in surprise as she embraced him warmly.
"What news of my father?" She asked, already having figured out his reason for being there. She sent a grateful nod at Halfdan but to her confusion, her husband just shook his head and left them to talk.
"I bring a message from your father and he hopes to receive one in return."
Svana gestured at Endre to relay the message. The slave looked around them fearfully, before stepping closer and whispering, "Your father begs you to heed Harald's orders. He's surrounded by the King's men day and night and has been made aware that one misstep from you would mean the loss of his life. The people are unsettled by this, but the man in charge of the guards told your father that they would pull back once Harald was assured of your loyalty."
The words were nothing new, nothing she didn't know or couldn't guess but knowing they came straight from her own father made them feel like chains wrapping around her lungs.
Endre was staring at her, his wrinkled old face scared and expectant.
"Tell my father..." She laughed scornfully at herself, at how much hope she'd somehow still stored away in her mind. It was time to let all of it go, for good. "I will do whatever it takes to prove my loyalty and to ensure his life will continue untroubled by the new order."
Endre smiled wanly, touching a gentle hand to her elbow before leaving her, obviously hasty to return back home, far away from Harald and his men.
Because of the hollow feeling in her chest, it took her longer to notice the change in the air than it should've. Svana turned around to see people staring in various degrees of awe, respect and judgement at the figure swaggering over towards King Harald.
She made a soft sound of dismay as Ragnar greeted her King and quickly hurried over to them.
"-you've taken everyone else, good King, including my own sons. Wouldn't you allow me this one favor, as a sign of friendship between us."
Too late.
Harald's eyes were a quiet fury, Halfdan beside him met Svana's wide-eyed gaze with one of pure alarm.
"Svana, glad you could join us," Harald's laughter was dry, joyless. "King Ragnar here is asking for my permission to let you go to England with him, with half of your warriors as well."
"I-"
"It makes me wonder why he would even consider you as an option, my dear Svana. Surely you want to go where your husband goes."
She didn't know how to reply so she glanced at Ragnar and was broken by the absolute lack of concern on his cunning face. This man didn't care about her plight, didn't even care that his son had made this request, he was clearly seeking out an opportunity for his own gains; warriors to join his raid. He further proved this with his next words.
"If Svana can't come, I understand. Perhaps some of her shieldmaidens then, I've heard great things about them and would be honored to have even a few join my crew."
Harald was grinning cruelly at them both, enjoying his position of power, "I'm afraid, dear King, I will have to refuse your request. We are sailing into unknown lands and every free woman and man is a welcome addition. If you'd wait for us to return, I'm sure more than half of us would gladly join you in your raid to England."
Ragnar's eyes closed as he smiled wryly, "I'm not that patient," he admitted.
"And Svana of course cannot sail anywhere now," Harald continued as if Ragnar wasn't even there.
She frowned, "Anywhere?"
"You would be by my side, by my brother's side and you'd be leading a hundred fine warriors. All without the Gods' blessing. No, dear Svana, you're staying here. I've already talked with Queen Aslaug and she welcomes you to help defend her kingdom alongside her son Ubbe."
It was an irrational reason, a ridiculous one. People had never been left behind before just for missing out on the sacrificial bloodletting. But his reasoning would stand for it was a slight in everyone's eyes, a slight towards the Gods and it might invite their punishment upon her. The risk was small, but if the King said it shouldn't be taken then no one would argue.
She met Halfdan's apologetic stare. Not even her husband.
Her father's message still ringing in her ears, she swallowed her protests and nodded. "I understand, King."
Harald seemed surprised at her quick acquiescence but accepted it with a smile. "You'll help us bring our two kingdoms closer together, isn't that right, King Ragnar?"
Ragnar was glancing between them, eyes slitted with suspicion but he forced a smile in return, "Of course, King Harald. Shieldmaidens are always welcome in Kattegat," he winked at her as he turned to walk away and she forced down the urge to spit at his feet.
"Svana, it's late. Go to our bed, I'll join you soon."
She glared at Halfdan for his betrayal. Never had he ordered her around like this. She took in Harald's gloating and the men's quiet disapproval of her around them and she tore her pride down as low as it would go.
"Yes, husband," she enjoyed his obvious distaste at the word as a small victory before obeying his command.
In their bed, mind swirling too fast for her to sleep, she found a small amount of comfort at the fact that at least she'd have more time to spend with Ivar.
a/n: except we know better, hah! since svana obviously sees lagertha as the best woman she knows, as a hero and a role model, i need her to see the upcoming events with her own eyes, otherwise it would make no sense for her to support ivar's rage against lagertha. writing is starting to feel a little smoother, although when i re-read what i've written, it still sounds pretty rough. to those, that are reading and following, i thank you for joining me on this journey, hopefully i'll be getting better with each chapter.
