The Devil and The Snake

7. The First Blood

A month had pass. You had seen all the sides of the moon Kattegat could offer you. You'd said goodbye to two guards who, after seeing that you were safe, went back.

One guard stayed. Caroline also stayed. You didn't have the courage to ask her if she wanted to leave because you were afraid that one day the answer would be yes.

She would tend to most of your need and like Ivar had pointed out, she acted truly like the sun for the people of Kattegat. They adored her and she adored them. Some days you wondered if they didn't think that she was the queen instead of you. But Caroline didn't see it that way, the way she talked to you, always as If she admired you.

Your relationship grew and you started more and more to see her like your little sister. You cared, and that's why Hvitserk got on your nerves. You didn't hate him, no. You hated that he could hurt her and make her delusion about love stop.

As for Ivar, he was growing on you, his smiles and his laugh. You could hear them in your head whenever time was grey. But, something in you kept you from feeling more. You didn't faint at the site of him anymore but whenever you heard his tone get louder or his face turn serious you could feel your bowels turn and your head throb.

That's why you never got rid of the poison.

You didn't carry it around everywhere you went anymore, in fact you managed to hide it in Caroline's chamber without her noticing. Just in case Ivar would stumble upon it.

Today, Ivar had told you he had a surprise for you waiting in the field. He'd ask you to get there around midday and so you did.

When you arrived, there was Ubbe, Ivar and Hvitserk. All were armed. At first, the look of the blades made you hesitant. Maybe they had found the poison? Maybe they thought you were a criminal? Was it the end? But they smiled and so you got closer.

"Have I done something wrong?"

They laughed and Ivar pointed a sword at you.

"It is time (Y/N)! Time to learn." He turned the sword around and, handle first, pointed and you took it hesitantly.

The sword was heavy, and you almost fell forward. The brothers once again laughed but, probably because they could see you were embarrassed, they stopped. You managed to pull it up and look at Ivar with a smile.

"You want to train me?"

"Yes. You always tell me how defenceless you feel here. Now you won't."

"Thank you"

They probably didn't realize how foreign it was for you to hold a sword. You, a noble girl from Wessex. The sharpest thing that was ever put in between your finger were a pin and a needle. You felt powerful now, almost how you felt whenever you would touch the poison.

Hvitserk threw a shield at you that knocked your shoulder and made you drop the sword.

"OUCH! What was that for?"

"You have to take them both." You gave him a furious look. He was not going to be a great teacher. Ivar maybe wasn't aware of the war that was going on in between you two, about Caroline.

You took the shield, that too was heavy. Then the sword, awkwardly holding both with both hands.

"You have to take one in each hand."

Of course, you knew that, you had seen people fighting you weren't dumb. But the motions felt so unnatural to you.

"It is really heavy." You said as you dragged the sword on the ground, managing to keep the shield to your hip.