Ease The Dawn

Part 2, Chapter 1

The meeting had droned on nearly an hour longer than necessary. Distracted for most of it, Ivar still gave the vague impression that he would entertain his advisor's recommendations. Of course, he would not. He would do what he had decided before the show of a gathering even started. After all, he was the King of Kattegat.

The room cleared and Hvitserk was last to rise from his seat making his way past Ivar toward the door.

"I need woman advice," Ivar said over his shoulder. Discomfort obvious in his posture.

"I am the man for the job." Hvitserk slapped his hand down on Ivar's shoulder.

"Do not touch me." Ivar spat.

Returning to his seat, Hvitserk pulled it forward to face his brother, a little closer than they had been previously sitting. It had been years since Ivar had spoken to him about anything unnecessary or not relating to strategy or battles or the army. And, one could hardly describe it as speaking. Ivar gave Hvitserk commands. For the most part, he followed them. It was simply easier, and he had made his choices long ago. As foolish as it had been. Nodding his head, Hvitserk was set. He was going to provide his brother the best and most earnest council he could.

Swallowing with difficulty, Ivar shifted in his seat, looking like he might about-face and leave.

"It is about Aethelswith." He swallowed again, looking into his cup. "Obviously." His eyes shot up to meet Hvitserk's. "I worry that I think about her too much. Far too much. And," he hesitated, "that I am crazed."

Nodding in understanding, Hvitserk inhaled loudly through his nose.

"Ivar," he exhaled, "this is natural. You care very much for her."

"I am sick with thoughts of her body," Ivar rushed, running a hand over his tight braids.

"She is a beautiful woman. It is also natural." Pressing his lips into a flat smile, Hvitserk took a long pull from his cup.

"Since bedding her, I can barely think of anything else."

Air rushed out from Hvitserk's nose and he coughed, spurting ale out onto the floor between his legs. "You fucked her?" His eyes were wide with shock.

Ivar grinned at his reaction. Boyish pride breaking through over his discomfort talking on such a personal topic.

"This is amazing. No wonder you cannot stop thinking of her." Hvitserk smiled genuinely pleased. "Congratulations, little brother. Ubbe would be so proud."

Ivar's expression dimmed at the mention of their older brother, but he said nothing.

"Did it start at the camp?" Hvitserk asked.

"No, not until we returned here. Well, we were together there but not together, together.... with our whole bodies together, until we returned here."

Pressing his tongue to the roof of his mouth, Hvitserk prevented himself from laughing at his little brother's dithering.

"All that time sleeping close to her in that tent." He raised one eyebrow, "Gods Ivar, you must have been in love."

"We are in love!" Ivar snapped but simmered quickly. Running his tongue back and forth over his lower lip, he fiddled with the cup in his hand. "At first it was once every several days." Ivar eyed Hvitserk as if assessing whether it was safe to continue.

With a slight bow of the head, Hvitserk indicated he was following.

"I was not able to.... more than that. Then it became every couple of nights and now it is every night and it still does not feel like enough. I think of nothing else!"