IVAR, I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU

Chapter 12

"Hvitty." You exclaimed upon seeing him alone in the gardens. "I'm glad I found you."

Pleased to see you as well, he actually gave you a warm smile. Something he had been incapable of doing for some time now.

It was actually quite sad. With all the infighting, each of the brothers had changed. But none more than Hvitserk. Though the quietest, he was the Ragnarsson whose emotions ran the deepest. Ever since the death of Sigurd, you could tell that he was no longer himself.

But then again, none of you were.

"I hear you're leaving for your estate today. Why so sudden?"

"Though I wish it was not the case, I must attend my duties." He replied. Then with a gleam in his eyes, he looked away. When he said nothing further, you became annoyed and pushed his arm. With a chuckle, he gave you his attention again. "Does that expression mean you will you miss me?"

"Of course, I will miss you. In fact, I wish you would stay a while longer."

"I don't think Ivar would like that."

"It will be so quiet and lonesome with all of you gone."

Hvitserk nodded, knowing you were already feeling the absence of his brothers and their families. He also felt that emptiness, but far worse. After all, he was still unmarried. And though he enjoyed pleasing the women of Kattegat, he had grown bored of it.

Before you realized, Hvisterk placed a hand to your belly, his smile somewhat fading. Though it was a small protrusion, the roundness of you belly confirmed Ivar's words.

With a sigh, he looked at you.

"I wish it wasn't his." Hvitserk confessed. "Ivar does not deserve to be around anything so good and innocent."

"I know your brother is........well, I don't even know the right way to describe him. But even I cannot deny that he's been an amazing father. Even my nephew has grown attached to him."

"Y/N, Dahlia is still a baby and this one is still within your womb. Of course it seems like that right now. It's only because you're looking at him through a mother's eyes. But you and I both know he will destroy them as they get older."

You sighed inwardly as you mulled over his words.

It wasn't as if Hvitserk had no reason to think. After all, who would know Ivar better than someone who grew up alongside him?

"Do you really believe what you're saying?" You asked, trying to get a deeper understanding. "I know that he has treated me quite unfairly..........harshly since we married. However, when he is with Dahlia, I see in his eyes something I don't see when he looks at anyone else. It's as if he is two different people."

"Look, I wouldn't say something, if I didn't truly think it. My brother will destroy these children. Of that, you can be certain."

"But........but he loves them."

"And what does that mean? I hardly think he even knows what the words means." Hvitserk countered. His green eyes appeared to be lost in the memories of his tumultuous years with Ivar. "Ivar destroys everything he touches, intentionally or not. Just look at what happened to Sigurd. And that's not the first time he has killed someone by "unintentionally". I mean, does it look like Sigurd's death even bothers him?

"I know he and Siggy never saw eye-to-eye, but there had to be some love. They were brothers."

"Do you not see what is happening around you?" Hvitserk scoffed. "He's sent Ubbe away and has sworn war with Bjorn. All because of his crusade against Lagertha. Ivar never backs down, no matter who stands in his way. Rest assured, if you have a son, my brother will mold him into another version of himself."