The Cripple and The Shieldmaiden III

// 6 //

'Bow.' Reyna asked, smiling from up on her throne like there was no way she was planning on taking no for an answer. But Torhild wasn't here to obey, she was here to take back what was hers. She softly rose her chin to the queen, shaking her head slowly.
'I don't bow for a queen, not when I'm a queen myself.' Torhild answered her honestly. She didn't dare to look to Ivar, she didn't dare to look down to Raynor who clamped on her hand. He was afraid, she knew it. Even when Ivar looked at them this way she couldn't push away the feeling that this wasn't right. That he so easily sided with a queen that was here to throw her down like a piece of chess. Raynor never saw his father on opposed side of Torhild, not like this. Reyna smiled behind her fingers, showing her hand airy around in the room.
'Where are you a queen of?' She asked. 'England? From people that are miles away, they can't come help you.' She said, looking aside to Ivar for a second. 'You know why I came here?' Reyna asked, pushing herself slowly up. Torhild took a strong back, not flinching on the strong impression she showed, the elegant way of her walk. 'I came here because your rule is shattered, a part of your army is following Björn Ironside, another part is with King Harald and his brother. I took everything because you were away,' she felt silence, standing still before Torhild. She lifted her hand, pushing her nail against Torhild her chest. 'you neglected your people and I just came to collect the price.' Reyna smiled. 'And I'm clearly not the only one thinking that way.' She followed with a whisper, stroking her fingers under Torhild her chin as she turned away and walked over to Ivar. Torhild pulled Raynor against her and he hide his head in her legs as Reyna lowered her head and kissed him. The intimacy broke her heart, asking herself how many times this already happened. But it wasn't on her face to read, she avoided Ivar as she followed Reyna. 'Bow.' The queen asked again.
'No.' Torhild said. Reyna smiled, nodding to her guards as they grabbed Torhild at her shoulders, pushing her down on her knees.
'I'm your queen now, no need to get disrespectful if you want to be a mother for a little while further.' Reyna her voice kept so light but the thread lingered underneath. Raynor looked in panic to his mother before turning his eyes back to Reyna.
'Let her go.' He said.
'Little man,' Reyna started sweetly, walking over to him and crouching down. On the moment she touched his shoulder Torhild her eyes went in fear to Ivar. 'you can become a king one day, a king to rule these lands. But for that you have to obey my rule now, your father his rule, can you do that?' She asked him.
'Raynor.' Torhild whispered. The boy looked over to his mother before he looked to his mother.
'My mother will always be a queen.' He protested, his blue eyes fired up in his fear and doubt. Reyna stood up, stroking her fingers over her dress as she respectfully nodded to the little boy.
'Maybe separation does some good.' She smiled, nodding again to one of her men.
'If you touch him,' Ivar said so lowly even Torhild shivered under it. Reyna turned around, looking at him in consideration.
'What then my king?' Reyna asked him. A sound outside shifted all the attention away and Raynor ran away from the guard to his father. Torhild felt the cold steel against her neck and lifted her chin on the movements of it.
'You really think it would be this easy?' Ivar asked, pushing himself up on his crutch, clenching his teeth as he stepped away from that that throne. Another sound outside and Reyna took a step back, looking from Torhild to Ivar. 'You really stepped into it, her coming here with her son, being all vulnerable to you. Me coming here, to please you, to be your king. Do stories not tell you,' he chuckled so dark that Torhild felt the hands of those men aside her weaken a little. 'Torhild never comes without a plan. I never come without a plan.' Ivar ended with a smile. It would be the best time for Halfdan to breach but it didn't happen for quite some time so Reyna just started laughing.
'The gods are watching, there is no way you can over throw me with nothing.'
'Who says she has nothing?' A voice from behind Reyna asked. Torhild saw the blade before she even saw Halfdan. Ivar reacted in an instant, throwing one of his knifes to the men threatening Torhild. She ducked from underneath, grabbing the knife out of the body to kill the other one. And then Halfdan his men stormed in and Torhild just embraced Raynor as he ran over to her.