The Devil and The Snake

12. The Second Mark

Ser Thomas wasn't death yet, but he looked in so much pain, at night you prayed to the gods he was. Caroline got better, physically, but every time you talked, you wondered if it was really her inside still.

The plan you had about earl Waller had to be scratched down and redone. Now you needed him alive to find who wrote for them, the letter told you that it was probably someone from the east, somewhere near Wessex, if it wasn't someone from Wessex.

You and Ivar took the decision to send some men, led on by Ivar, to get to the Earl and confront him, kidnap him if needs be, kill him if it came to that, the important thing was to find the truth, in order to protect you. The night before, Ivar was reckless, he couldn't even look at you.

"Tell me what's wrong my love."

"It was your name written behind the cross."

You nodded.

"Then this attack is on you. What is they come while I am not here? I can't leave knowing you are alone."

"You're not leaving with everyone in Kattegat, they'll still be a lot of people who will protect me."

"Yes, but... I'm scared for you; I don't want to leave you alone here"

You were scared for him too. Someone willing to nail a man to a cross in order to send a message wasn't a man you wanted to send your husband to.

"Leave one of your brothers." You didn't want to admit it but the idea that someone was going to come murder you or try to murder Caroline again terrified you. Knowing that someone would stay wasn't better than knowing that Ivar was safe, but It will have to do.

Ivar decided the next day that Hvitserk would stay and that they were leaving early in order to get to the earl's village by nightfall. The last night before their departure you held him in your arms and looked at his face, trying to picture your vengeance through his eyes. Part of you was jealous that you weren't going to be the one to kill earl Waller but then, you didn't know if you could kill. You'd never even hunt an animal. Even then, he sights of death didn't make you flinch, when you held the head of the man that left that mark on your hand, it even felt good.

But killing. Killing, watching the life leave out of someone's eyes, that was something else.

Ivar's steady breath was a comfort that would soon go away, and you fought your own sleepiness in order to listen to it longer. In the morning you woke up and Ivar was almost out the door.

"I love you. Be careful." You tried to give him a smile, but fear must've pierced trough your eyes. Ivar came closer to you and took your face in his hand for you to look him in the eyes.

"They're the one who should be careful (Y/N)." he kissed you and went away.

You touched your lips trying your hardest to feel him longer.

You visited Caroline during the day and asked her to take a walk with you in order to keep your thoughts out. She was very quiet, always looking around with a scared look. This was the norm now.

"Do you think Ser Thomas will survive?"

"I don't know Caroline, let's not talk about it too much." You didn't want to upset her; she went to see him often and Ren told you that when you weren't there, she would weep for him all day. In truth, Ser Thomas looked closer to death everyday. And unlike Caroline he would refuse to drink when he woke up and forcing one to drink didn't lead to much improvement.

"But I want to talk about it."

You hesitated and bit your lips but continued.

"No, I don't think he will. I'm sorry."