Sorry for the delay in updating! Thank you to those of you that reviewed. They certainly help keep me on track!
ShadowSpears - I think Ivar needed to feel something, so I am glad you liked it!
SamanthaJane13 - Thank you for following, I am touched that you think its a great story. Hope the update is soon enough for you!
Also, just wanted to let you know. I will be stopping in a few chapters to have a brainstorm on where I want my story to go once the show is finished. There are still a few chapters left though, so don't stress!
Kadlin woke the next morning in a tent that was not familiar. Rubbing her eyes further she then rolled to her side and saw the torso of a half naked man. Tracing her fingers across his muscled back, she knew at once it was Ivar. There was no one else for her, she had seen it in her visions and felt it again last night. She had very rarely seen him shirtless, but the pure muscle and definition in his torso was mesmerizing. Her finger tracing along his back, until it made its way up to his hipbone. Peering up over his shoulder, Kadlin saw that Ivar was still asleep. Slowly moving her hand down towards his abdomen. Stirring slightly, Ivar rolled so he was flat on his back.
When he had stopped moving, Kadlin continued to look and feel his body. Her hand stopping at the base of his dick, she glanced up again to see his eyes still closed. Wondering if last night was as much of a shock to him, as it was to her when she first dreamt it. Placing her hand at the base of him, she slid it up slightly. He still did not move, so she continued. Her hand getting slightly sticky as she moved it up and down.
Kadlin wondered how he was still asleep, she was more awake than ever. Deciding that perhaps he wasn't able to feel what was happening, she took her hand away.
"What are you doing?" he asked her.
Caught off guard, she jolted backwards and nearly fell off the bed, it was only his arms that reached out and caught her. Stopping her from falling the short distance to the ground.
"Sorry" she laughed to him.
"Sorry for falling, or stopping?" Ivar questioned her.
"Um, both?" as she climbed up on top of him. Her lips crushing his as he pulled her in closer. Her naked body hovering closely over the top of his. She wondered whether she should lean down on him and place her weight on him. If she did that though, she wasn't sure if she would want to get off. Without realising it she let out a sigh.
"Something the matter?" he asked her.
"No, but I am afraid if we continue that I will never want to leave this tent, and we have much to discuss before the battle commences."
"Maybe I don't want to leave this tent" Ivar teased her, pulling her back down to kiss him. Her arms weaving their way around his neck. "But, you are right. This must wait for now. Besides, I would much rather not be in a tent. When it happens, I don't want other people to hear your moans of pleasure. I want them all to myself"
Kadlin was surprised and touched by his comment. "I would like that too" she said to him. With that she slid off from him and hunted through the small tent for her clothing. After locating everything, she attempted to help Ivar tie up his leg braces.
"I do not need your help" as he turned to the side with his back towards her.
Kadlin stood up and walked over to the other side of him. "Well I am helping get used to it." as she sat down and took the buckles from him. " You can be your cruel usual self with everyone else Ivar. But with me, you don't have to put on a front. I want to help, the same way you will help me. You think getting in and out of these dresses are easy?"
Ivar rolled his eyes at her, "Gods it has started already"
With a smirk on her lips. "Oh yes it has, and believe me. It gets better" Crawling up his legs until her crotch sat ontop of his, she pushed him back so that he landed with a thump on the ground.
Laughing at her response, "Get off me. Lets go"
Throwing her hands up in defeat. "Fine, fine"
Once they were both ready, the made way to the fires to find some food. They found a fire that was yet to be occupied. Kadlin looked around but could not see any of the other brothers. She assumed they were still asleep, who knows how long they had stayed out drinking last night. The two of them sat there in a comfortable silence, eating their breakfast. After a few moments, it was Ivar who broke it.
"So, in your vision. Where are you?" he asked her quietly.
"I am by your side" she replied simply.
Kadlin was sure she heard him sigh. "Well, would you consider being elsewhere?"
"Why?" she asked, spooning another mouthful into her mouth. She knew exactly where he was going with this, but she would make him say it.
"You know why. I do not want to worry about you"
"Oh please Ivar. I can see the bloody future. Nothing happens to me, I am by your side the entire battle. As it so happens, we don't even get much fight time as it is. The plan you have concocted works very well, and soon we will march on Wessex and you will have your vengeance against Ecbert."
"I do not think you are ready" he said quietly.
"Well, I disagree Ivar. You may fight better than I do, but I will be fine. Besides, I trust you to keep me safe"
Kadlin was surprised when Ivar dropped the subject so quickly. She had expected it to go on a little longer, but she did not want to argue. Not long after they had finished, Floki arrived. Eager to speak with Ivar about the change in tactics.
"I assume it is because of you we are changing?" he he. Floki asked Kadlin.
Kadlin smiled warmly back at him. "Perhaps, Ivar came up with most of it. I just helped him along the way"
"Well let us see if it will work, he he" Floki winked at her.
"Floki, do you know where I could find Helga? I must speak with her"
Floki told Kadlin that her and Tanaruz where in the tent, not too far from where they were now. Kadlin excused her self and went to find her. Running into Ubbe and Hvitserk on the way.
"Kadlin, Good morning" Ubbe beamed at her.
"Morning" she smiled back.
"I see you found your way to Ivar's tent last night?" Hvisterk joked to her.
Ignorning Hvisterks comment, she asked them both. "You have spoken to Bjorn?"
It was Ubbe who responded. Saying that last night Bjorn had spoken with them and informed them of the change in battle. They seemed hesitant at first, but Bjorn was confident it was going to work so the brothers accepted the change. After a few more pleasantries, Kadlin excused herself and found her way to Helga.
"Helga" she called out, as she opened the tent. Finding her sitting there trying to get Tanaruz to eat. The girl never seemed to eat anything, she rarely spoke and she seemed miserable and upset all the time.
"Kadlin, Good morning" she smiled at her. "What can I do for you?"
"It is a delicate matter on which I come to speak with you. I have no one else to ask you must forgive my bluntness"
"Of course, what is troubling you?" she patted on the spot next to her, inviting Kadlin to sit down.
Sitting down on the spot next to Helga, she took a deep breath. Helga must have sensed her nervousness as she took her hand and smiled. The kind of smile you got from your mother. Feeling more comfortable, she began to speak.
"It is Ivar and I. I do not know how to say this, so I will just spit it out. How do I not fall pregnant? I am not ready to have a child"
Helga looked a little surprised at what she had been asked, but recovered quickly.
"Kadlin, are you sure Ivar is even able to do something like that? Not meaning any disrespect towards him of course. But I like others have heard the rumours"
"Lets just say it could be possible. What do I do?"
Helga sat there in silence for a few minutes, and Kadlin started to regret speaking of this to anyone. She should have kept her mouth shut and not spoken of such things, they had not even slept together yet.
"Kadlin, if it is possible for Ivar to father a child. I think it is a gift from the Gods for you to carry it. Do not try to take away something that the Gods are offering. We loose so much life on a daily basis that when life is freely given it is a blessing. The child Floki and I had together was my whole world. There is nothing I wouldn't do to have her back here with us. Children are gifts" When she finished talking, Kadlin noticed a tear fall from Helga's eye.
Taking her hand she squeezed it lightly. "Thank you Helga. If you will excuse me. I have much to do before the battle"
"You are going?" Helga asked surprised.
"I am. My place is by Ivar's side. I will see you later my friend" With that Kadlin left and made way back to her tent. If she was to share Ivar's she had things that needed to be moved. After gathering up her belonging she moved them into Ivar's tent. Hearing some commotion outside the tent, she stepped out to see that they were preparing to leave soon. It was time for her to find her shield and weapons and to dress in something more suitable for battle.
Finding her pants, over garment and boots she dressed quickly. Securing her dagger in her inner thigh just in case. Picking up her shield and sword she made way towards Ivar's chariot. It was easy to find him, sat up top his chariot he was higher than the others.
"Kadlin, I have thought on it. I think you are more suited to using a bow. Your hand to hand combat is not yet perfect. I think you are better at the bow" he told her after she approached him.
"Ivar, I have not ridden and used the bow before. You know that"
"You will not be riding your own horse. If you must come, you will sit in my chariot and aim from here. If that is agreeable to you?"
Kadlin nodded. "Thank you"
He passed her a bow and arrow which she had not used before. "Who's is this?" she questioned him.
"It is your's. I had it made for you, when I noticed your natural talent and ease with the bow. I hope it serves you well"
"Ivar, I have nothing to give you. I cannot take this" trying to hand it back to him.
He lent down so only she could hear him. " You already gave me something. Now take the bow, and let us go kill some Saxon's".
The army left the camp and made way towards where the battle would commence. Kadlin rode on the back of Ivar's chariot, her bow strung and ready for when they arrived.
Nerves started to flicker in her stomach, she had never been in a battle before but was confident enough in her visions that she would be fine. The small talk of the men around her filled the air.
When they reached the clearing they spotted the Saxons. Led by who Prince Aethulwulf, they approached many of them on horseback. With a sound of the horn the Viking army turned and rode towards an alternate direction.
Aethulwulf and his men spurred there horses on, but by the time they had reached the top of the clearing Kadlin and the army were gone.
Kadlin held on to the chariot as it tore through the woods, men at either side running to keep up to the chariot. When they reached the next checkpoint, Aethulwulf spotted them yet again. Chasing after them, but Ivar turned the army around once more and they fled. Bjorn and his men shot arrows at the Saxons as the tried to catch us but they were too far behind. They were concealed in the woods and caught Aethulwulf and the army by surprise, they were able to shoot down a few men.
This continued two more times, until finally the Vikings stood down the bottom of the clearing and the saxons up the top. The men around Kadlin were breathing heavily and she had to admit she was glad to be seated in the chariot. Ivar laughed as Aethulwulf seemed to be considering his options, instead of charging down to meet them once more, he turned his army and they rode away.
"Where are they going?" Floki called to Ivar. Who seemed to be stuggling just like every one else.
"To Repton I imagine" Ivar answered casually.
"Repton! my boats, our boats!" he exclaimed. Next minute Floki appeared at the side of the chariot, pulling himself up.
"Ivar you crippled bastard. you are mad genius! You were right!" he he floki laughed.
Ivar joined in the laughter, followed by the rest of the men.
"Come, let us meet them!" Ivar called.
The chariot set off again, this time not as fast as before, it was now Bjorns turn to lead.
As they rode towards the boat, Ivar pulled Kadlin up so she stood infront of him.
"It worked, just like you said it would" he spoke to her, quiet enough so no one could hear.
Kadlin stood before him and smiled in response. "Now to defeat Aethulwulf" she replied back to him.
Not being able to hold her bow at this angle, Kadlin shifted back behind Ivar. Her bow once again ready, she had taken the time earlier today to admire it. It was very well made and had perfect balance to it.
They heard the battle up ahead before it came into sight. The sound of metal clanging, men screaming in agony and others calling out in triumph was everywhere. The nerves had returned but Kadlin pushed them down. This was her destiny to fight besides Ivar and thier people. Bjorn and his army were already fighting Aethulwulf and beside them was King Harald and his brothers men, swinging their axes, swords and shields against the Saxons. Ubbe was fighting along side Hvitserk with such ferocity, Kadlin was grateful they were on her side. Sigurd stood a few feet away, fighting with an axe in one hand, and sword in the other. Bjorn cutting down all those in his path, with such a hatred and anger that none before him stood a chance.
Ivar spurred his horse forward and was met with men almost instantly. His horse rode down the men in their path, whilst Ivar swung his blade slicing through those he could. Kadlin let loose her arrow's to those who came into her sight. Each one hitting the intended target. She even shot men who were on the ground already, ensuring that they wouldn't be attacked from behind. She wanted to make sure the wounded men were dead.
Kadlin saw Aethulwulf on the ground, up before them. He looked to be weighing up his options. His men falling around him at rapid speed, he was outnumbered and he knew it.
"Save yourselves" he called, to his remaining men.
Kadlin saw an opportunity, Add to dictionary was in range and was unprotected. She did not want to kill him, just injure him so that the boys could finish him off. Drawing her arrow back she lined it up to hit him the leg. Just as she was about to let the arrow go, Ivar's chariot hit a ditch in the road and Kadlin lost her footing and tumbled out. Ivar so caught up in the battle didn't notice her fall. Kadlin tumbled and got stepped on by some of the warriors behind her. Landing face down in the mud, Kadlin tried to lift up her head. Feeling dazed from the fall, she tried to steady herself as she stood.
Out of nowhere she was slammed back into the ground, face first. Trying to lift her head up to see what was happening, she had her arms pulled back behind her and tied.
"What the hell?" she called out.
Her mouth was then gagged and she was dragged away from the battle. Kicking as much as she could she tried to break free of who ever had hold of her. She saw a flash of yellow and then worked out she had been captured by a Saxon. How the hell had this happened, she had seen the future and in it was not her being captured by bloody Saxons.
Kadlin was dragged up the top of a hill, and kicked until she stopped calling out. Eventually she lie there, trying to show her captor she had given up. A second Saxon came by not long after and she was thrown on the back of a horse. How her army had not noticed her absence she had no idea, surely Ivar would have noticed her being gone. The motion from the horse making her feel sick, or perhaps it was being kicked repeatedly, she did not know. However she passed out.
When Kadlin woke watched from the side of the horse, fields going past until a castle came into view. She had no idea what was going to happen now, her vision had not shown her this. Perhaps they had changed, her and Ivar must have done something different than what she had seen to make this happen. Kadlin prayed to the gods for a way to be able to communicate to the Saxons, for how was she able to live long enough if she could not speak with them.
Arriving at the castle which Kadlin assumed to be Wessex she was pulled down off the horse and taken to a cell. She was stripped down to her under garments and thrown inside. Luckily for her , her dagger had gone unnoticed, and they had also left her necklace on.
"Who's the bitch?" she heard someone say.
Kadlin tried not to make any sudden movements, her prayers from the Gods had been answered. She was able to hear their tounge and understand language.
"I'm not sure, but she sat with the cripple. So I thought Aethulwulf would want to question her." the Saxon that had captured her spoke to the other.
They left her in the cell, and departed not long after. Closing her eyes and resting her head on the metal bars, she prayed for a vision to come.