Not Too Late

Trying Something New

Ivar's POV

I hobble into the training room where Yn is fighting warriors with a blind fold on. I lean up against the wall with Oleg and watch her. "She's really something isn't she" I look over to see Oleg admiring her. In a very seductive away. As if he were tearing her clothes away with his eyes. "How did she get to Kiev in the first place?" "She was attacking my people in a battle she was seven and because of how small she was, no one could touch her" My eyebrows knit together. "Seven?" I look back at Yn defeating the warriors. "Do you know anything about her? Where she came from?" "No she doesn't open up to anyone about her family"

"So you just decided to cut a deal with King Alfred?" "She gets to battle every day and every night she has a place to stay and she's protected when she isn't in battle. She doesn't drink or sleep or party because she wants to be on her game all the time" She doesn't drink. She's never opened up to him. Yet she aloud me to see her most vulnerable side. I watch her movements as she tries and finish off the last warrior. "You don't stand a chance with her, a woman who hasn't been loved can never love another" he pats my shoulder before leaving. I watch her defeat the last warrior before I slip away.

Yn's POV

I've been standing outside his bedroom door ever since training ended. Training was this morning. It's now dark outside and the stars are shining. I haven't gotten the courage to open the door. I don't hear him crying but I think he cried all his tears. The worst part is that he's in here because of me. I finally gather enough courage and open the door. I walk in and shut the door behind me. I see a small lump under under the sheets. I sit at the end of the bed and we sit in complete silence. I rack my brain in order to find words to say to him.

"I know I was cold towards you and I'm sorry. I wasn't mad at you I just was in my own head and I took my emotions out on you" He comes up from the covers and hugs me from behind. His head sits in the crook of my neck. "I want to go to your home" I turn around and face him. "But what about Kiev?" He shrugs. "I just want to be with you" I nod and hug him. "One day" I lay him down and tuck him in as he yawns. "Now you have a good rest and no more crying" he nods and shuts his eyes. I kiss his forehead before leaving the room. I quietly shut the door and walk down the hallway before seeing Ivar. Great. Now I have to bring up the most embarrassing night of my life.

"Ivar" "Yn" we stare at each other making eye contact. We stay like that for a few moments before I look to the floor. "I'm sorry about last night I'm usually not that open towards anyone and I just yea.. so if you could forget it ever happened-" "no" My eyes lift from the floor and meet with his again. "What?" "I won't forget the conversation we had" a smile plays on his lips. I open my mouth to say something but he cuts me off. "You won't be able to push me away if I know how vulnerable you can get" Asshole. He is such an Asshole. He's not going to outsmart me. I walk right up to him so there's only little to no space between us. "You think you can use my vulnerability as a way to get closer to me?"

"Yes" "well you can't" He leans into my ear and I start to breathe heavier. He's so close but I can't seem to move my hand to push him away. "I think I can.. because you haven't pushed me away yet" As he says that his tongue slides across and sucks a part of my neck. I start slowly melting under his touch. He sees that I haven't moved yet and starts attacking my neck. My body starts to take over as I pull him closer. His free arm wraps around my waist. He pulls away and looks at me with those blue eyes. "you're not going to get rid of me" I look at him as I remember my family. And the suffering that they had endured. All because of a viking and now here is a viking standing right in front of me. And I haven't killed him yet.

Instead here he is with his arm around my waist and talking to me like I'm a normal warrior. "I don't know how to do this" "you don't have to know, you just have to want to try" I bite my bottom lip as I'm contemplating opening up to him. He seems like a good guy at heart but he's still born a viking. "You're a viking Ivar.. I don't have good history with vikings and I can't just trust you" he nods and smiles down at me. "I know what King Harald did and I understand" "You do?" He nods his head. "You'll trust me one day" I roll my eyes and give him a playful smile. "we should get out of the hallway" "Come with me for a moment"

I narrow my eyes at him before he leads me away. He leads me to my room and we walk in. My mouth opens at the scenary. He decorated the balcony with pillows and blankets. "So we can stargaze together" I smile at the small gesture and head over to the balcony. He follows behind me and sits down first. "Come here" I don't know what this feeling is and I don't know whether I like it or not. But it seems to be what I needed. I sit beside him and we stare up at the stars together. For something very new, I feel safe. Which is a first for me and I don't know where this will take me but I pray to all my gods that he is speaking the truth to me.