Virago - Ivar The Boneless

Show and Tell

She listened to the battle plans that were bounced around between the brothers. She didn't care much about what happened as long as it happened soon. She sat on at the edge of the docks, her eyes watching and her ears listening to the people who were in the circle speaking of the battle plans. Ivar had a lot to say, Bjorn opposing his ideas every time. Ubbe, Hvitserk and Sigurd listened, trying to making sense of what was being suggested. Halfdan and Harold listened and put in their own views, agreeing somewhat with Ivar. 

Kicking her legs over the edge, she laid back on the wooden docks as she looked at the skies. 

"Sister," Bjorn's voice was loud as he called out for her. 

Rolling her eyes, she got to her feet, walking towards the group of men. "Yes?" She stood in the space between Ubbe and Hvitserk as she looked at Bjorn. All eyes were on her, the men in the circle watched her as she crossed her arms under her fur coat. "What do you require?"

"Have you been listening?" Bjorn asked her as he tilted his head up. 

"It's pretty hard not to hear you all," her tone was spiteful. "You are all so loud and all think you are right." She looked around at each of the men before looking back to her brother. "Why do you ask?"

"What do you think?" He asked her. 

This got her attention, "I don't care."

"I told you," Ivar spoke up getting her attention. "She is nothing more than a woman. She does not think like us." 

Looking in his direction, she narrowed her eyes. "Because I am a woman it does not mean that I cannot think the same as men." Little Bear sat in the space as she kept her eyes on the young lad. Turning her head back to her brother, she decided to go with her gut. "Ivar's idea is worth a shot. It's a good idea," she didn't want to admit it out loud. 

Sigurd let out a laugh, "You have won no wars brother. Do not change the way we do things."

"Shut your mouth!" 

Iona turned her head quickly to look at Ivar, the way he spoke to Sigurd was chilling. There was an authority in his voice, there was something about it which made her question what she thought she knew. 

The silence was deafening, everyone looked between the two youngest brothers, only Iona was the one who kept her eyes focused on one person, Ivar. His eyes lingered on Sigurd before he looked at the young blonde woman. 

"Let me show you," Ivar turned his head to Bjorn. "I can show you the land we can use."

Bjorn held his hand up, "It seems we are going with your idea. Take my sister, she believes in your plan, show her the land." She shook her head at the idea before Bjorn snapped, "Go."

Getting to her feet, she looked over at Ivar who looked at her. He got up from the rock he sat on, using his crutch he walked over to his new chariot. She watched him as he climbed on, Floki quickly getting to his feet and arranging in the horse for Ivar. 

"Take my horse," Bjorn told his sister as he motioned with his hands to the white born standing alone. 

The eyes of the young woman glanced at the horse, she walked slowly towards it before climbing onto it's back. She followed Ivar, Bjorn watching her leave unsure of what he had just done. 

When they arrived at the field, they stopped in the middle. "You see all the space," Ivar told her as he waved his arm around. "We have enough people in the great army to attack from all directions, to surprise them." He told her his plans, speaking of all the places they could attack from as she climbed down from the horse. "Why are you here?"

"Bjorn sent me," she answered as she raised her eyebrows. 

He watched her, her blue eyes shined in the setting sun as she stared up at him. He looked at the way she looked. Every light she stood in she looked like her mother. He could easily kill her right now, there was no one around to stop him. This wasn't about Iona or her mother right now though, it was about his father, about Kind Aethelwulf. 

There was a sound in the distance which spooked the horse, it ran away quickly leaving Iona in disbelief. She balled her fists together as she looked around. 

"We should return," Ivar told her. 

She raised her eyebrows, "I have no horse." She shook her head as she looked up at him. 

The young Ragnarsson shrugged his shoulders as he smirked at her. "Then you must walk back, Iona." She wrinkled her nose at the use of her first name. 

He turned his chariot around, getting his horse to start his journey. Little Bear turned and watched as Ivar headed off. Starting to walk, she followed in the same direction. She looked up and noticed the chariot had stopped not too far in the distance. 

When she caught up, she noticed Ivar laughing as he waited comfortably for her to catch up. "It's a long journey," he reminded her. "Just this once, you can stand up here with me."

The blonde awkwardly looked at the chariot, she didn't know what to say in response to his offer. She stepped up, holding the front of the chariot, her hips moving over Ivar's right hand as she got comfortable. 

She felt his fingers reach out, slightly touching her hips in the same place again. Turning her head to look at him, her eyes were wide. "What are you doing, Ivar?"

He took his hands back but it didn't stop him staring at her. "I can't help but wonder what it is like to touch you," he was honest with her. His reasoning behind wanting to feel her skin was different from what she was thinking though.