The Cripple and The Shieldmaiden III

// 4 //

IVAR P.O.V

He had found four men that traveled with him back to Kattegat. Ivar embraced the wooden front of the ship while he gazed over to the flat line at the horizon. Despite he should keep his head in the game, his mind often wandered back to Torhild who was all alone, in the cold of a castle with two children to take care of. He asked himself if he made the right choice on leaving her behind. The imagine of his just born daughter was graved on his eyes, made him smile a little in the lonely days on this boat. But coming closer to Kattegat he knew he had to change his thoughts. How much he wanted Torhild aside him, she wasn't here. She had send him to Kattegat to protect her claim, to take back what was hers and Ivar couldn't ease his mind on that, certainly not when he saw the black flags standing on the docks, marking Lagertha territory in somebodies else. Ivar pushed a little up, gazing his eyes to the surroundings but as soon as that arrow hit his boat he knew that there wasn't an turning back and he better surrendered now he still had a beating heart.

Black shields escorted him in to what used to be the streets of Kattegat. But it all seemed so empty, people lurking from their home to who the soldiers were escorting. He still stroke fear down, even after all that time he wasn't a person that people loved to see come, not even now. For everywhere Ivar went he brought destruction. He hoped on seeing familiar faces, if it was only a child of one of his brothers he would be even happy. But there was nothing but an empty cold path that leaded to the great hall. He knew the odds weren't really in his favor, not when he saw the black flags dangling down, flags that should mark Lagertha her colors. Whoever took this village knew what he was doing and Ivar more than anybody else knew it was hard to beat Lagertha. Only that thought brought a confident smile on his lips, knowing she wasn't entirely beatable. The doors pushed open and Ivar dragged his body in between the people, like they already expected him. With every blunt slap of his hand against the wooden floor some sound died away. Looks went over to the middle, people started whispering and Ivar his ice-cold blue eyes focused on whoever was sitting on that throne ... a woman. A small smile spread his lips while he studied her pale skin, blond hair, the heavy black crown on her head.
'Well well well.' Her voice as smooth as a breeze when she stood up from her throne. Her dress was as deadly elegant as her features were.
'Brother?' Ivar shifted his eyes, looking to both Hvitserk and Ubbe that sat kneeled down in the front row. Hvitserk immediately looked to the door, looking for the one person he would always love ... his Torhild, still his wife by rank.
'Ivar the Boneless.' She almost sang his name and Ivar stopped moving, nonchalant bringing his feet up front so he sat easier.
'You know me,' he leaned a little forward, squeezing his eyes a little together. 'but I don't know you.' He pointed out. He had did his name honor, not knowing her said the opposite.
'While you so glorious fought your battles in England Norway was all for the taken. I'm your queen now, you can call me Reyna.' She so gracefully introduced herself before sitting down again. Ivar lifted his chin, scratching his hair while chuckling so brightly.
'I bow for one queen only and it isn't you.' He said with a deadly sharp attitude that seemed to fascinate her. She opened her lips slightly, cold long fingers stroking her face before she softly smiled. She showed the room, like she expected a queen to step forward.
'Where is that queen now?'
'Assembling an army you possible can't defeat.' Ivar whispered joyful. Nothing in his face stated he was lying. Reyna studied his face for a very long time, admiring the confident he showed even in this kind of a situation and he just looked back, waiting for her to pass judgement. He hoped Torhild would be smarter than this, using her instinct like she always did. The thought of Raynor and Ase landing in this kind of danger made his confident almost break on the surface.
'We will see, if your queen wants to attack her own village she can do as she pleases.' Reyna smiled. Ivar knew Torhild wasn't about brute force, she wouldn't do it, not in a million years when she could reach for a more peaceful solution first. 'There are many tales going around about you, Ivar the Boneless, commander of the great heathen army, yet you stand here alone, with a queen you serve I don't even can recall.' Reyna stated lightly. His teeth sunk together a little, trying on temping his anger for he wasn't gonna show her anything.
'She doesn't exactly leaves anybody alive to tell the tale.'
'I'm looking forward on meeting her.' That dark smile spread over her lips and Ivar recognized it as one of the ways he used to leave an impression. He wasn't impressed by her, it was more the other way around, in the time he was here she couldn't look away from him. That meant he did something good, something he could manipulate. She nodded to her guards and they pulled Hvitserk and Ubbe up before two grabbed Ivar under his arms. 'I think you have a lot of catching up to do, it has been a while since you last were here, isn't it.' She nodded before her man turned Ivar around and dragged him out. The only thing he did was throwing his head back and softly laughing, knowing he was still the hunter in a game of prey.