Merciful || Ivar the Boneless

t h i r t e e n

The sun was up and shining as bright as the stars were shining in the night over Kattegat. People were busy on streets, kids were enjoying the weather playing by the water. Everyone seemed happy, living their life.

Except for those two souls that weren't. Eira, who made peace with endless sadness and Ivar, who thought happiness wasn't important.

Both were inside, preparing for what was coming. Ubbe was no longer with them, he left to get few men with bows and arrows. Just a backup plan. Eira persisted she was going to do it alone, but Ivar wouldn't let her. He didn't want her to get hurt.

"He is mine to kill. It is my revenge," she told him while sharpening her knife. Ivar understood because if he was in her place he would want to do it himself too.

"But I will be close, and I will step in if," he looked down and finished his sentence almost whispering, "if he hurts you." Ivar was avoiding Eira's look like a little boy.

Eira answered him with a stone-cold voice, her emotions absent. "No, you won't."

"I will do what I want, nobody tells me otherwise!" Ivar snapped, being his old self. She looked at him, still not showing any emotions. "I will kill him, or I will die trying. Gods already have a plan for me and it is not dying. Not yet," she added, cutting her finger while trying if her knife is sharp enough. A drop of blood showed up and she put her finger between her lips, sucking it. Ivar was staring at her, forgetting to breathe.

It felt so sensual to him, but at the same time, he was trying to stay uninterested, which was very hard. He was too proud to admit it, but he felt something for her.

"Stop it," it was like she read his mind. Ivar instantly looked somewhere else, feeling embarrassed from getting caught. "I have no idea, what you're talking about," the tone of his voice went little too up. He cleared his throat right away.

A smirk appeared on Eira's face. "Sure," she answered him playing his game. She stood up, coming towards Ivar, who was not moving, almost not breathing. She stopped right in front of him, reaching behind him. Ivar was frozen, waiting for her next move.

Eira just took a little cup standing behind him on the shelf. While reaching for it, their faces were so close, their noses almost touched. Her breath on Ivar's neck sent chills down his back. Once she held the cup, she returned to her spot, dipping her fingers in a dark substance. Ivar let out a breath. He took out his axe, sharping it, not showing the affection she had on him.

Eira pulled out her fingers from the cup, dark paint on them. She then closed her eyes, painting them with it. Once she was done, she looked fierce and dangerous.

"Can you," Ivar stopped not sure how to continue. Eira just nodded, knowing exactly what he was trying to ask. She came closer to him, dipping her fingers back in the dark paint. Ivar was watching her movement trying to not be distracted by her. She drew two stripes on both of his cheeks. With every touch her fingers made with his skin, Ivar wanted to shiver, but he was trying his best to keep still.

Eira dipped her thumb in the dark substance, her hand then reaching to his chin. She painted one stripe with her thumb from Ivar's bottom lip to the end of his chin. While her thumb was travelling, slowly painting the stripe, Ivar didn't realize but his lips parted, a little moan escaping his lips. His eyes widen in surprise.

Eira didn't notice because she was thinking about too many things. Ivar was relieved.

"Are you ready?" Ubbe came in quite surprised from the view he received. He looked at them both and raised his eyebrows.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"No," they said in unison. Eira straightened up, cleaning her fingers with a piece of cloth. She gave Ubbe look, nodding. "I am so ready," she said. Sparkles dancing in her eyes.