After Ivar lost the battle for Kattegat, he found himself roaming around kingdom of Kieavan Rus where he meets a beautiful, but mysterious princess of Kiev.
This is the story of war they fought together, and the love they shared.
(Timeline is set i...
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Ivar and Daria were sitting next to each other, leaning on the wall surrounded by the light and warmness and the light of the candles with a bottle of wine and a cup for each of them because the wine was making it easier to speak about such a heavy subjects, and show the emotional and a human side to a complete stranger that Ivar boneless was to hear despite knowing so much about him, and hearing about what he had done to his wife and child. Maybe she would have done the same, but maybe it was too hard and painful to put herself in his position.
"Your husband, is he a saint for your people?" Ivar asked. Daria almost laughed at his question.
"No Ivar, he was a worst psychopath I ever meet in my entire life, but of course, we speak only the best about our dead, especially if they were noble." She answered making Ivar laugh slightly.
"Skol princess." Ivar said raising his cup of wine
"За здоровье." Daria replied.
They both drank from their cups as the sweet taste of wine was making them slowly intoxicated.
"I married Prince Oleg when I was only 15 years old. It was arranged marriage but he was a good husband, I had everything I wanted and even more, he was a really powerful man. And most importantly, he respected me. I got used to him and his presence so quickly, I was even happy for a short period of time. I was interested in reading, about the war tactics, about using a sword, and he even agreed to teach me everything he knew. Of course, he cheated on me from time to time, and I knew about that but I choose to ignore it, it's something that happen in every marriage, just some people are better then hiding it then others." Daria began speaking and took another sip of her wine while Ivar was watching her, listening carefully to every word he said. He was certain that, their previous partners left them both a twisted and toxic vision of how love and marriage should look.
"How did he die?"
"One night, after he came back from Constantinopole, he made a feast for his soldiers, and other noble man. He was so confident after he won the battle that he spoke about how he could be immortal but I told him it wasn't possible, because I had a dream about his death. He then asked how is he going to die, and he swore to me in front of everyone, that if my prophecy turns out to be true, that he will leave this kingdom and everything that he has to me. " Daria began her story, and Ivar was getting more and more curious as she spoke.
"I told him that he will be killed by his beloved stallion. Oleg wanted to defy my prophecy so he decided to kill his horse and bury it. But the prophecy was making him worried so one day he asked to see its remains and was taken to the place where the bones lay. When he touched the horse's skull with his boot a snake slithered from the skull and bit him. That is how my husband had died, fulfilling the prophecy, and that is how I became a prophet and how I became the ruler of Kiev. Because of that nobody has dared to question my right to rule or to attack me." Daria finally finished her story.
"That was more then an year ago, we were married almost two years. Unfortunately, we weren't able to have a child for that time, I suffered two miscarriages. I guess it just wasn't meant to be." Daria smiled once again and drank the rest of the wine that was in her cup, then she grabbed the bottle again, but Ivar touched her hand.
"I think you are an amazing woman Daria." Ivar softly said.
"It's princess Daria for you, Ivar."
"Princess Daria, I believe you are a good ruler to this kingdom and you truly are a prophet." Ivar said.
"I am a prophet as much as you are a god." She answered and chuckled.
"You still don't believe me?" Ivar asked smiling down at her.
"Not a single word."
"Then I will try to prove it to you someday."
"What are really your plans here Ivar?" Daria asked.
"I told you, I have no plans. For now I am simply your guest, until I decide what am I going to do next." Ivar answered
"And what if I already decided?" Daria asked, because she did have plan in her head for some time but she was still unsure of it. Her husband was planning on attacking the Norway while he was still alive so she wanted to follow his steps.
"Then I will listen to you."
"I was planning on attacking the Kattegat, but for now that is just a thought. Because who could help me with that more then a son of Ragnar Lothbrok?" Daria asked and Ivar seemed surprised by her decision.
"I knew there was a good reason I ended up here. I will help you in every way possible because I want to revenge on my brothers." Ivar answered.
"But I need some time to think of a plan and gather an army. We will see...For now, you could be my adviser on such a matter." Daria said pouring some more wine into her cup and slowly bringing the cup to her lips as Ivar couldn't take his eyes of her
"It would be my honor to do that princess." Ivar answered.
The light, produced by the candles was slowly fading away, and they were left in the darkness that was swallowing them, and protecting their insecurities from each other. Only the blue eyes were glowing in the darkness observing the man beside her as much as she could and he was so beautiful in some out-of-this world way.
The comfortable silence continued, and Daria allowed herself to lean her head on his shoulder. They remained together like that, for some time, enjoying the sweet taste of Russian wine, warmness, and a good company they provided for each other.
За здоровье (za zadorvie) -Cheers
Again thank you for reading, and I wish you a really nice day :)
