Chapter 19.
˝Brother you seem doing that a lot lately˝
˝Sitting?˝
˝Watching the fire˝
˝It is snowing outside, isn't it?˝
˝It is˝
˝Fire is warmth˝
˝So it is˝- Ivar leaned back in his chair. He sipped on ale and watched the flames dance. Sighing he turned his head to Ubbe. ˝You're still here?˝- there was clear annoyance in his voice.
˝Yes, I am expecting another child˝- Ubbe's voice filled with pride.
˝What is that third? Fourth?˝- Disbelief followed a whistle.
˝Third˝
˝Mhmm and who's the father? I assume you at least know that, right?˝- Ivar snickered. Ubbe shot him daggers.
˝She is well aware and wants our...agreement. I am her husband so the children are mine˝
˝What about Hvitserk then? Is he not allowed to be a father? He just „loves"˝- He rolled his eyes at the absurdity. Ivar couldn't share a woman like that. She would be his and his alone. But apparently Margarethe didn't have any problems with that. Two Ragnarssons just for her. Yipee.
˝He knows this and loves the children as do I and Margarethe. There is no one being left out˝
˝And me? Meee˝- Ivar cooed. Ubbe rolled his eyes.
˝I did show the children all of their uncles and that does include you little brother˝
˝But I don't like little children˝- Ivar said with his upper lip lifted in disgust. Ubbe sighed. He lifted his mug and emptied it in one swing. ˝Now, why do you tell me about another brat?˝
˝One of the family˝
˝If you say so˝
˝If he's mine or Hvitserk, he is family. But Margarethe is having problems with this child. This pregnancy is hard on her˝
˝It must be the changing of Ragnarsson dick, too much to handle˝- Ivar snickered. The mug collided with his face and he laughed out loud. An axe was on his neck instantly - ˝Now you can't even take a joke?˝
˝Her well being is not a joke, Ivar. I do not care that you fucked over the only woman wanting to have anything with you but I won't allow you to fuck up Margarethe, especially since you didn't manage to fuck her in the first place˝ - Ubbe's blue eyes blazed with fire as he spoke each word slowly, emphasizing their meaning.
˝Fine, forgive me..big brother, but what do you want from me? I am not midwife? Nor a vulva˝˝
˝Do you know one?˝
˝...no? Do I look like I make children with wenches?˝
˝No you sit all day sulk, drink and wage battles because you broke your own heart.˝
˝Cruel brother˝
˝It is the truth˝- Ubbe sat down, axe in his lap. He turned his gaze to the fire. ˝There should be a healer close by˝
˝Mhmm and why don't you saddle a horse and go find this healer, it's your child not mine, or Hvitserk's˝- Ubbe shot him another dark glare ˝Fine, the family's child? Why waste time talking to me?˝
˝The Seer said something suspicious˝
˝Oh? Do I birth the child?˝
˝Gods help me no˝
˝Then what?˝
˝He said you'd help with the child but in your way, as you know Ivar you like killing and I don't want you to kill my child, if you do I'd might have to retaliate, little brother˝
˝And what would I get out of that, hmm? You'd be angry the whole village would be angry, England would be angry ,Sweden and Denmark, why'd I kill this child? You got two more to spare, Sigurd has two even Bjorn has a few, if I really feared for my seat in this hall, as you make it out, I'd be killing every single one of them but as you said it yourself, I'm sitting here drinking, so big brother, piss off would you?˝- Ivar finished with a smile showing teeth and filled his mug. Ubbe chuckled.
˝Things change little brother, just remember what family is˝- He said standing up- ˝Or I will˝- Ivar dismissed him with a hand. He was already face in his mug, mind elsewhere.
The fires in Valhalla burned bright and warm, illuminating the grand hall in it's golden splendor. The never ending table filled with honor full men and women, boasting and drinking waiting for the next round. They'd fight and die and dine at the end of each day. The gods sat with them, cheering and drinking. Until all eternity.
For a God from the South, lives filled with sorrow and joy it seemed rather crude and simple.
˝What welcomes your fire inside my halls?˝- A deep man's voice said. The man was dressed in a grey cloak, reaching the flood. He was one eyed with a serene face, no doubt the ale and mead they were drinking.
˝I must talk to you All father˝- The woman said, her fiery hair shining. She wore the simple dress and her hair down. The fires inside the hall illuminated the strands giving them the appearance of the fire itself living inside them.
˝Oh? Do tell, come drink with me˝- He laughed loudly and ushered her to the table. The woman smiled and walked with him.
˝One of my souls, my child is within the North˝ - she said slowly. Odin nodded.
˝I know, one of my children has its fate intertwined with her˝
˝Then you know what I came to ask for˝- She smiled. Drinking out of a golden horn she chocked on the mead, it was strong and sweet, the Goddess was not used to such. The sacrifices given to her were simple and pure.
˝Fates are bitches, my dear. They like to weave at their own pace and liking, they don't give a horse shit about me and my wishes, all we can do is wait, fate has a ...a special way of unfolding it's sheet.˝
˝My powers are too weak to make a difference but yours surely...˝- Odin shook his head slowly.
˝A mother's love is strong but in the end, they come here˝- He mentioned at his warriors ˝On their own path and wishes˝
˝You haven't given up on them?˝
˝If I had would I watch over them so closely? A lively pair of souls, they are. Drink my dear, all will be well˝
˝And that is the truth˝- The Goddess said. Odin laughed loudly.
˝Yes, yes it is˝- His eye twinkled with life, the pale blue shining brighter than the North star.
˝Now what do you want?˝- Ivar said irritated. He didn't even have to turn to feel her presence. And the lumpy shadow she casted.
˝My I ask of you a favor Prince Ivar?˝- Margarethe asked. Ivar whistled.
˝It's prince now? Don't you already have two Ragnarssons, please, don't take me too˝- He snickered.
˝I am not doing that˝
˝Oh look she got some teeth, the hell you want from me?˝- He turned to the wife of Ubbe, lover of Hvitserk and the first woman he saw naked. She met him with a sternful gaze. The stomach of her was round like a full moon.
˝I need help with this child, the gods…I feel they're punishing me for loving two men˝
˝And how do I help here? I can't birth babies, I battle and I kill simple.˝
˝But you can ask for help, they'd listen to you, they fear you˝
˝That they do˝
˝I've heard of a piece of land where women live alone, they heal and they do not marry. It's behind the forests of the Denmark, on the tip˝
˝You know a lot about them, why not join them?˝- Ivar smiled maliciously.
˝I am happily married but I fear for my child, you must understand me˝
˝Why?˝
˝Because of your Mother…˝
˝Oh so now I'm the mother's boy and you want to appeal to me as that? Because you gave birth? Why would anyone think I'd have pity or understanding for mothers?˝
˝I only thought..˝
˝What you saw me naked and you think giving me pity will help you? Foolish little girl, stupid little slave˝
˝I see you're still filled with anger and sadness˝
˝No I'm filled with disgust and ale˝- Ivar moved around and dropped himself onto his stomach. ˝And now I'm going to take a piss˝- He mock winked and dragged himself outside. It was already spring, the snow had mostly melted and there were youngs of any kind everywhere, crying and babbling and wailing.
His new favorite pissing spot was behind the pigs, where he'd lean on a big boulder and finish his business. It was also a place where he could spy on a small hut behind Kattekat, but primarily a pissing spot. Used to pissing only, he told himself.
He finished his business and sat on the boulder, leaning on his arms. Something clinked with the stone. His eyes traced the sound to a golden bracelet around his wrist. So he still had this? Hadn't she taken it with her?
Closing his eyes Ivar swallowed back a yell. What gave her the right to forget about him? She didn't even fight back when he accused her, not even a word.
He dreamt of her eyes for months and the hollowness inside, remembered the words he said to her, sharp as knives and still she had been silent. The once loud slave mute as a fish. She infuriated him like no other and she wasn't even here!
Where the Hel did she go?
To Hedeby? No, he had men scout and they hadn't seen her there. She wasn't in Sweden either.
Maybe she went back?
To her homeland, that stupid Empire of hers?
Maybe he should invade it and seize it, take her as a slave again. Start over…
˝There is my little cripple!˝- Floki laughed. He grinned widely as Ivar approached him on his stomach. A door opened and he crawled inside Floki's house. Helga wasn't inside. He'd greet her later.
˝What do you want? A new ship? A new carriage?˝- Floki sat next to him, relaxing on the furs.
˝I need to ask you something˝ - Floki moved his hands in impatience.
˝It has been two years since we went to England..and two years since they tried to sieze Kattekat˝
˝Yes, already two full Summers˝˝
˝Have you..˝
˝No I, they gods never spoke about her, I think you should ask them yourself Ivar, you're a big boy now, they won't hesitate to talk with the cripple man that brought so much glory to the Vikings˝
˝I just did as my Father said˝
˝And that was enough?˝
˝No, I want more but more…what I want more is not here˝
˝I know Ivar˝
˝If I wasn't a cripple…˝
˝The fates wouldn't make you meet then.˝
˝How can you be so sure? You're carpenter˝
˝And you're a cripple and the son of the greatest warriors of our people, the gods decide not us Ivar˝
˝Where's Helga?˝
˝She went to Medikin, some healer women where there˝- Floki said. Ivar's stomach did a flip inside itself.
˝Say that name slowly˝
˝Meeee diii kiiii neeee˝- His eyes widened. He heard that somewhere.
˝When is she coming back?˝
˝Should be back in a few days, it's behind the forests at the tip of Demark. Ivar your eyes will pop out˝
˝IMMIDIETLY CALL ME WHEN SHE COMES BACK˝
˝I though you didn't care about Ubbe's children?˝
˝I don't˝- Ivar yelled. He was already on his stomach dragging himself out of the wooden house. His heart was beating erratically and he needed a drink and time to think. What was this feeling in his stomach?
A/N 1 : This chapter was planned out and all I had to do was type it out and check. But noo I had to fight it to the end. It's wonky, I don't know how to fix it A bit more and we're at the end, my dear readers and reviewers. Also spoilers so many spoilers about theee eeeeeeendddd
Many of the tribes often nurtured groups of wise women, witches or priestesses. Unmarried, these women, were called the völur, singular völva, which literally translates to Wand-wed
**Vedbend**
The wind was strong, howling like a dazed beast ready to pounce. Truthfully Ivar had it best crawling on the dirt, the wind wasn't as strong as it would be if he was walking. He still felt the cold of the soil under him and the sharpness of the occasional stone.
He spent the last three hours crawling slowly to the place his father brought him the first time. The place where he had buried those chests filled with gold and nick knacks. He smiled at the memory of bickering.
He lived his life without him mostly, relying on his mother, Floki and Helga. Mostly on himself and his mind to keep him company. An outsider within Kattekat left him with plenty of time to observe and watch life go past him.
Soon he'd grown up and his Father had shown up.
The famous Ragnar Lodbrok. He was an old man, bald and grey bearded. He came in tatters and smelling of dirt and ale. His face was covered in scars and tattoos adorned his bald skull. What would really make him stand out from a mere beggar were the eyes.
The same icy blues he shared with his sons.
He greeted his sons with love, even his crippled son. He talked to them asked them to raid and in the end he was raiding with the cripple.
As soon was he was fully in Ivar's life he lost him again. Dead to the world and to him, abandoned by both of his parents.
All he had was revenge, and that was fulfilled.
The woman he had found had left him as well.
So what did he have?
Grumbling he made his way towards the assembly of rocks. He wanted to lie down and think everything over. ˝Fuckk˝- pain prickling like needles shot his palms. He stopped crawling and examined his hands. The exposed flesh of his palm and underside of his fingers was getting swollen and tender to the touch, reddish in color. Under his body were wines of poison ivy, a plant snake.
˝I hate poison ivy˝
a/n 2 : Vedbend is poison ivy in danish, an omage to the actor playing Ivar in the series.