Thank you for following and reading my story! Am having fun writing it, Ivar is certainly an interesting character. Welcome to those of you who are new to the story! Feedback is always welcome, but please constructive crit. I am not a professional, just a fan :)

Thank you to those of who you have reviewed!

BlueEyedPisces - They are getting closer together yes, its fun to write about them in this way. We may see some more development later on ;)

Guest - I am glad to hear you are enjoying my story, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Hopefully you enjoy this next instalment, I am so excited to be already at 46 followers and 23 favourites, It means a lot you like my story. Now without further ado, the chapter awaits!.

~MortalMarquess~

Kadlin stood shocked and surprised by the thoughtfulness of Ivar's gift. The brothers rushed past her to see what Ivar where he sat, upon his chariot.

"Ivar! the is great. Now you can keep up with us eh?" Ubbe slapped him on the back. Ivar rolled his eyes.

"Well come on, who wants to come for a ride?" Ivar asked them. One by one the brothers were taken around in Ivar's chariot. He clearly was enjoying himself. Kadlin smiled, and left them outside.

She sat down at the table and looked at her knife again. It was made very well, and she was glad to have it. Perhaps Ivar had started to develop feelings for her she thought? They had certainly been spending much more time with each other, so it seemed only natural that, it was starting to happen.

Not knowing when the boys were going to return in, she set to work on dinner.

At full dark they returned inside, laughing with each other. Kadlin was glad to notice that Ivar and Sigurd seemed to be getting along rather well. They sat down and started to eat dinner.

Ivar played with his food, rather than eating it. Kadlin noticed he looked like he was deep in thought.

"My brothers, I want to ask you something? Who will lead our great army?"

The three of them looked up from their food , and studied Ivar. Sigurd laughed, "You think it should be you?"

"Well why should it not be? I was the one who went with father. He chose to take me" Ivar said seriously to his brothers.

"He did not choose you , you were the only one left Ivar. Bjorn and myself went to Spain, Ubbe and Sigurd wanted to stay here. He didn't choose you because you were special, he chose you because there was no one else" Hvitserk sneered.

Ivar glared up at him. Picking up his knife, he ran his thumb along the blade.

"Put it down Ivar" Ubbe told him.

Glaring at Ubbe for telling him what to do. "Anyway, father told me he wanted to learn their ways. The buildings, landscape and their defences. It would be useful to know this, father told me" Ivar said with a casual confidence.

"Are you saying you want to be the leader?" Ubbe asked him seriously.

"Brother you are crazy, Bjorn should lead. He is the oldest." Hvisterk added.

Ivar looked over at Kadlin, she shook her head. He rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever"

Kadlin leaves the table and excuses herself to bed. It has been a long day. Just as she changes into her nightgown, she hears a creek of the door. Turning to see who it is, there is no one there. Walking towards the door, she opens it to see Ivar seated just on the other side.

"Ivar what is wrong?" she asks him concerned.

Waving his hand, "It is nothing" he replied

Kadlin stepped aside and gestures for him to follow. He crawls into the room and pull's himself up on the bed.

"It is something, what is it?"

"All my brothers are home tonight" Ivar states.

"Yes, I know that. I just served dinner" she replies, slightly confused.

"It is, ah. Just that, with them all home, there is no where for me to sleep"

Kadlin had forgotten that the past few weeks, the room she stayed in actually belonged to someone. She couldn't believe she had basically forced Ivar to sleep elsewhere every night since her arrival.

"Ivar, I am sorry. You are welcome to sleep here. I will sleep out there" Kadlin picked up her things, and head towards the door.

"You don't have to. There is room for us both?" he said quietly.

Turning around Kadlin faced Ivar. "Are you sure?"

Ivar nodded. "I just need help with something, if you don't mind."

"What is it"

"I need to bathe, and since I cannot stand it is quite hard as I am sure you can imagine. Can you help me?" he asked just as quietly as he had before.

Kadlin knew that Ivar very rarely asked for help, he didn't want to show any signs of weakness.

"Of course Ivar. I will go get the water" She left the room, the brothers were still up, thank fully.

"Ubbe, can you help me please?"

Ubbe stood and followed Kadlin outdoors. "What is it?" he asked.

"Ivar would like a bath, so I need some water, and frankly I can't carry it all myself." she said nervously.

"Are you alright?" he asked her. Ubbe was definitely the most caring son of Ragnar and Aslaug.

"I, I don't know."

"You are still afraid of him?"

"No, and yes."

"That's is probably best. Mother used to help him bathe before. Him asking you obviously means he feel comfortable with you. Just don't look at his legs to much" he added.

Kadlin was grateful for the advice, and went in feeling a little more confident than she had done before. What she hadn't told Ubbe, was not that she was afraid of Ivar as such. She was afraid of the feelings she was starting to have for him, that and she had never seen a naked man before in her life.

After Ubbe had left and the bath was full, Ivar pulled himself in. Kadlin turned away so she didn't have to see him get in. Even though she was slightly curious, she faced the other direction.

She helped him bathe, and tried her hardest to remain calm and not appear as nervous as she actually was. Ivar didn't seem to need that much help, but she didn't complain. It was just another thing she was happy to do for him.

Whilst Ivar got him self re dressed for bed, Kadlin tried to occupy herself over near the tub. She couldn't help herself, though. Even though she had just seen him in the bath, there wasn't much light. Now him seated on the bed, he was lit up from the torch next to the bed. She saw for the first time, the muscle in his arms and chest. His shoulders were just as broad as she had imagined, and then there was his stomach. It looked like a washboard that they used to wash the clothes with.

Kadlin noticed Ivar looking at her, as she stood there staring at him.

"Sorry"

"By all means, look at the cripple" he said frustrated.

"I wasn't even looking at your legs Ivar"

He rolled his eyes, and laid back on the bed. "So are you going to tell me more about your visions?"

Kadlin sat down on the bed and began to speak. "What do you want to know?"

"Who leads the army?"

"Ivar I have already told you this. Bjorn will lead, he is the natural leader and people want to follow him."

"Well I don't"

"However, Bjorn will listen to you. He knows you are smart, he may lead the army but it is you he listens to. He knows Ragnar took you for a reason, so you will still be heard, You just won't be the face of this war" Kadlin went over and put out the torches.

Laying his head back, Ivar closed his eyes. "Thankyou Kadlin"

Kadlin smiled to herself in the dark as she lay down on the bed and waited for sleep to come. When her eyes closed, she couldn't stop the visions of Ivar shirtless from her eyes. For one of the first times she welcomed her visions that night.

She woke in the morning, once again covered in sweat. Last night seemed more intense than before, she thought to herself. Wondering if it had something to do with being close to Ivar? Not wanting to admit out loud that she hoped tonight Ivar and she would share a bed, for the visons sake. It had nothing to do with the feelings she was developing she lied to herself.

Looking next to her Ivar still lay asleep, she decided to leave him be and quietly left the bedroom. Surprised to be met by Margarethe who was in the eating area.

"Good morning Kadlin"

"Good morning" she replied with a odd smile. Kadlin had no idea why she was here. Usually the girls the brothers had over night left before morning, they certainly didn't break their fast together.

Kadlin took the bowl offered to her by Margarethe and sat down to eat. "So, you and Ivar?" she questioned.

"What about me and Ivar?" Kadlin tried to avoid the question.

"I saw you come out from his room, so what happened?"

"Margarethe I don't ask what happens between you and Ubbe or Hvisterk for that matter, so please don't ask about Ivar and me" She wanted to add, not that she needed to ask what happens between her and the brothers . Kadlin was sure all of Kattegat could hear what was happening in the room.

"Well, aren't you as happy as pie in the morning, I suppose it is still true about Ivar he cannot please a woman" she laughed to her self

Kadlin glared at Margarethe with a stare so cold she was impressed the girl didn't get up and leave. "I suggest you stop speaking about Ivar that way, or even both your lovers will not be able to save you"

Just as Kadlin finished her sentence, Ivar came out of the bedroom. She wasn't sure how much he had heard. She stood up and took breakfast to Ivar. Ivar looked shocked at the gesture, but took the bowl none the less. After Ivar finished he told Kadlin, that it was time to commence more of her training and that they would be headed to the clearing. Putting the bowls down, they head to the chariot and made way towards the clearing.

Whilst they rode Kadlin was lost in thought. She did not understand women, why did the feel the need to speak of such things? She supposed that it would be nice to have a female friend, but she wasn't here to make friends though.

"Are you listening?" Ivar said.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought"

"I noticed. Thank you for what you said"

Kadlin shrugged, "Well it is no one else's business. As long as people assume I am your companion that is all that matters" Kadlin tried to make it sound as if she believed that. The truth was, what Margarethe had said did bother her. It bothered her that she had been with Ivar in some way and Kadlin had not.

"Not for that. For, Never mind." he ended the conversation abrubtly.

Wanting to move on from such topics, Kadlin steered the conversation elsewhere. "So what training are we doing today?"

"It is time for you to use a weapon, more than the dagger"

When they arrived at the clearing the weapons were all there like usual. This time though there was no brothers, it was just she and Ivar.

"Pick one"

Walking up and down along the selection Kadlin looked at them all. She liked the look of some of them but she didn't think she would have the strength to wield them. Finally deciding on a blade, similar to what they had used when they first started, all those weeks ago.

As Kadlin swung her sword she noticed that she moved a lot easier this time. The blows which Ivar struck against her weren't as hard to block. She still tired easily but was glad she was able to hold her own a little more.

"Much better, you seem to have improved since we last practised"

Breathing hard, she responded "Yes, I have been watching you all quite intently"

"Now it is time to choose another weapon. It is good to be practised in a few different sorts of battle. But first, throw your dagger at the board"

Kadlin slipped her hand into her shirt, pulling out the dagger. She looked at the target, and threw.

The dagger landed in the centre of the target. It did not fall to the ground, it stayed embedded into the wood.

Turning to behind her to see Ivar hide a smile. "Better"

She looked at the weapons again. Picking up a bow and arrow.

Standing to the side, Kadlin tried to string the bow. The arrow kept falling from the bow. Frustrated with herself, she tried again. This time the arrow did not slip. Drawing the string back, she brought her hand up and got ready to let the arrow fly.

"Stop stop" Ivar called to her. "Come here"

Kadlin took a few steps back towards Ivar. "In front of me" he directed.

When Kadlin was standing in front he pulled her back and got her to stand closer. "Your form is wrong. String you arrow"

Slightly shocked, Kadlin strung the arrow again. She felt Ivar's hand on her, slightly turning her to the side. Pulling her arm back like she did earlier. Once again, Ivar placed his hand on her elbow and lifted it up higher. Her hand rested on her cheek. She felt him close behind her and she tried not to think about it too much.

Without realising it she let go of the arrow. The arrow flew past the target and hit a nearby tree.

"Again" he told her, passing her another arrow.

Getting herself ready again, she could feel her heart rate pulsing. Ivar's hand on her hip keeping her steady, and his other hand on her elbow keeping it higher.

"Take a deep breathe, close your eyes" Kadlin did as she was told.

Ivar continued. "When you open your eyes, let go of the arrow"

Kadlin stood there, eyes closed. Not thinking about the arrow in her hand, but rather Ivar's hand on her. She opened her eyes and let the arrow fly. It landed on the target. Not in the centre, but at least on the board this time.

"Better, do you want to try again"

Nodding in response, he handed her another arrow. Ivar didn't place his hands on her this time, and she drew back the arrow herself.

The arrow hit the target, closer than the previous one. Feeling very proud of her self she turned to Ivar, a smile upon her face.

The smile leaving her face when she stood face to face with Ivar. He looked very serious. Scared almost, Kadlin thought to herself.

Before she had time to say anything, Ivar looked up at her, his eyes meeting hers.

Kadlin took a step further, closing the gap between them. Closing her eyes, she gently pressed her lips onto his. Kissing him softly. Ivar seemed shocked, he didn't kiss her back.

Sensing that it was the wrong thing to do, Kadlin broke the kiss and turned her head away from him. Before she could step away though, he had his hand on her chin turning her face back towards him.

His lips crushing hers, she quickly recovered and returned his kiss. Her hand dropping the bow she was still holding, and placing her hand on his neck. Pulling him closer to deepen the kiss.

"Ivar, Brother are you here?"

Kadlin broke away again, and quickly picked up her bow and returning it to the stand with the other weapons. Ivar still on the tree when his brothers approached.

"You two are out nice and early" Ubbe smiled a cheeky grin towards them.

Kadlin rolled her eyes. "I will leave you to your training Ivar. See you later boys" with that Kadlin left and head back towards Kattegat for the day. Her mind still reeling and in shock from her first kiss with Ivar.