The Game of Predators and Prey

Token

Trigger warning! Mention of sexual assault.

Braiding the last piece of hair, I dusted the skirt of my dress. My face still warm from the encounter with Ivar. He was being nice to me today. Well as nice as he gets. But I didn't understand why. His close proximity made my heart beat. But I did not know if that was fear or lust. And the fact I even needed to contemplate the later scared me. Ivar was indeed good looking. He held himself at a higher standard, much different then the burly ape of men my father had tried matching me with before. But the idea of being with Ivar, sounded like me writing my own death certificate. I mean he slayed his previous wife for as little as adultery. It terrified me even suggesting the possibility.

"Lady Melti?" A voice spoke from behind the door. One to which I did not recognize. I opened the door slowly and a young boy stood on the other side. His small stature last lean and cloaked in ripped fabric.
"Can I help you?" I asked with a concerned tone. He handed me a small pendant. The metal cold in my palm, but as fast as he delivered the message he was gone. I tried to catch him on his retreat but to no avail. Rolling the pendant in my hand, I furrowed my brows. But the engraved marking on the one side, etched into a specific shape told me everything. Calder was calling me home.

I stocked into the hall, my dress swaying behind me. And as soon as I rounded the corner. Ivar's eyes caught me, a brief second of shock then his same bored face resorted itself. Waltzing up the Ivar, I waved the pendant in the air.
"I need to go back to Windvymere," I claimed and Ivar leaned forward in his throne, his piercing eyes watching down at me. The smell of alcohol still lingering on his breath.
"And why would I let you do that?" He asked and I handed him the pendant. His finger gently took the token and he looked at it briefly. "And why does a trinket mean you need to sail in the middle of winter?" I hopped up the last two steps and Ivar looked up at me as I stood beside him.
"That mark on the token," I gently rolled the pendant over and showed Ivar the engravement," he brought it up the the sky, one eye closed as the other studied it.
"My brothers and I use to hear all the stories of the gods. One of the ways they left messages was through symbols. Calder is trying to tell me something is wrong," I whispered to him, dropping to my knees beside him and leaning into him. In hopes he would see what I seen in the token. My gut was telling me something was wrong. And I couldn't understand why. I gently place the token in Ivar's palm and he briefly glanced around the hall. People had interrupted there celebrations and stared at our exchange. Ivar's palm closed around the token. His fingernails buried in his hand.
"I think your brain froze a little too much," he snickered and I stood quickly. Pulling away from Ivar. A few men around him chuckled and clanked cups together.
"I think you are too blind to see what's in front of you," I seethed and Ivar tossed the pendant across the room. The ringing of metal echoing across the hall. Standing, he grabbed my face, my cheeks squished between his grip.
"Watch your tongue little fawn. I'm only so nice," I swatted his hands off my face.
"I do not ask much for being your prisoner here." I breathed, steadying my thoughts, "all I want was to check in with my brothers. If they are well, I shall return back to Kattegat." He glared back at me. The Ivar behind closed doors was nothing like the man he was in front of his people.
"I said no," he pointed to the seat in front of his throne. "Now sit and drink" I glared daggers back at him and against my better judgement. I turned from him and marched between people and to the back of the hall. Hvitserk following my retreat,
"Melti!" He called and I smacked square into someone. The brute of a man stopping my fall by catching my forearms steadying me. Looking up, Ubbe stared down at me. A glint of pity in his eyes, I huffed and pushed passed him to the fire outside. I needed out of this suffocating hall. Ivar made my skin boil and I couldn't believe I thought he was maybe a misunderstood man. True colors show eventually.
"Melti," Hvitserk had caught up to me and grabbed my wrist. Spinning me around to face him.
"Don't leave this hall," he instructed and I glared daggers at him.
"And why not? It's not like I can leave without a ship," Hvitserk carefully gazed over his shoulder.
"Just don't, stay inside and I can offer a drink. We can ignore Ivar together." Sighing and realizing I did have to listen to him to an extent. I agreed to feast at the other end of the table away from Ivar. Hvitserk stole a pitcher of ale from a man that had sauntered by and offered me his drink.
"You aren't the only one who can barely deal with Ivar sober." He chuckled as he whispered to me.
"I know where the good ale is kept," I reluctantly took a swig. Any sort of escape was better then nothing.