The Norseman

Chapter 8

"But what is he trying to hide?" I asked quietly.

"That is what we should find out first be for doing anything." Ivar placed his hand on my cheek.

"Lir." Aleena said from the doorway.

"Yes Aleena?" I loomed towards her.

"Angus is asking for you."

"Who is Angus?" Ivar asked curiously.

"My grandfather." I smiled as I stood up.

"Oh." Ivar nodded with a small smile. "Go then. We will finish this discussion later. I need to find Oluf anyway." Ivar slowly stood up.

I nodded and followed Aleena to where my grandfather waited. "Grandfather!" I hugged him.

"Hello my dear!" He hugged me back. "I swear you seem to grow more and more into a beautiful young woman every time I see you. Now then, where is Midir?"

I looked down slightly. "He is dead..." I said quietly.

"What happened?" Angus sat down.

"It is a long story grandfather." I looked him in the eyes.

"I'm listening." He said calmly.

I sat down. "Father was having meetings with Remus... He had plans to destroy this entire kingdom and it's people. I was told father would be made a co ruler next to Remus... When I learned of these meetings though, father at first locked me away in the dungeon."

"How did you get out?" Angus raised his brows. "I cannot believe this..."

"I-Ivar helped me... That's when father planned to ship me to Rome to marry Aries." I looked down.

"Ivar?" Angus repeated. "I-Ivar Lothbrok?" Angus stood up.

I looked up at him. "Grandfather, he helped me... He saved this kingdom." I stood up. "I know he is a northman... But..."

"You have feelings for him?" Angus said sternly.

"Yes I do." I glared. "Didn't my mother ever fall for someone different from us?" I asked sternly.

"No! She was never with a northman. I would never allow it." Angus tuned slightly.

I stepped in front of him as I glared more. "Ivar prevented me from going to marry a Roman and he helped me defend this kingdom. I don't care if you don't accept him or not. It is my choice and no one will tell me othwrwise and am I clear?"

Angus remained silent as he looked down at me sternly. "Stubborn, just like your mother when she fell in love with Midir."

"I didn't want to have to be so cold grandfather... But, I need you to understand that I care about Ivar very much."

"But, does he care about you just as much as you care about him?"

"Yes, I do." Ivar said as he walked in.

"What is that?" I pointed to the parchment in his hand.

"Take a look." He handed it to me. He looked to Angus for a moment.

"So, you are Ivar Lothbrok... Why are you here anyway?" Angus asked.

"I was planning on settling here for the winter then go raid, but I was asked for help." Ivar said quietly.

"Who is Rune?" I asked as I looked at my grandfather.

"Never heard of a man named Rune." Angus looked at me.

"From what Oluf gathered he wanted this kingdom destroyed to make this man they call Rune weak. He had an attachment here... Why would this northman be attache to this place?" Ivar asked.

"Someone or something was here..." I said.

"I never met the man! I don't even know what could possibly be here that he would have an attachment to." Angus hissed. "My daughter never knew any northmen..."

"Well, then I guess we will go talk with this man Rune instead..." Ivar looked at at me.

"How? We don't know where to find him?"

"Oluf said that at the bottom of that they were planning to go to Sweden. So, we are going to go to Sweden." Ivar said then looked to Angus. "We are going to find out exactly why he wanted this kingdom destroyed and how Rune plays a part in this."

"Do what you must... Just take care of my granddaughter... If anything should happen to her heathen, I will have your head..." Angus threatened.

"I will gaurd her with my life." Ivar said sternly as he glared.

"Enough! When do we leave Ivar?"

"Now..." Ivar clenched his jaw as he kept his eyes locked on my grandfather.

"Go..." I placed my hand on his chest. Ivar slowly turned to leave. I looked back at my grandfather. "While I am away, learn to accept him, because Ivar is going to be here for a long time." I said then walked out of the room to gather my things.

I then my way towards the docks. I looked around and saw a small group of warriors. "Shouldn't we have more warriors and ships?"

"No, we aren't going to fight. We are only there to talk to Rune and that's it." Ivar said.

"What if they don't see it that way and attack us?" I asked.

"We have enough to at least defend our sleeves and get back to the ship." Ivar got on the ship.

I followed him and sat down in the back. "I guess you really aren't too happy about going to Sweden?"

"Not really... It is nearby my homeland. I never thought I would come back or even closeby it ever again." Ivar said as we set sail.

"Why?" I asked

"There is nothing left for me there..." Ivar looked at me.

I nodded in response as I looked down slightly. "Can I ask you something?" I looked in his blue eyes.

"I'm listening." Ivar nodded.

"Did you ever avenge your mother?" I asked.

"Of course I did." Ivar said quietly.

"So, you killed..."

"Yes, I killed Lagertha." Ivar cut me off. "Why?"

"I was curious." I said softly.

"Are you afraid?" Ivar tilted his head slightly.

"Of what you are capable of, possibly... Of you? No." I said.

Ivar remained silent as he kept his eyes on mine. He looked down as he held his hand out to me. I looked down at his hand as I softly placed mine in his. He brought my hand up and softly kissed the top of it.