#Ivar Lothbrock

[itsgeniuskay]

I don't know what I'll do when Cobra Kai ends, I'm not ready to lose another one of my blondies

[bluemargotrobbie]

CHARACTER & ACTRESS | FANFIC EDIT| LIZ 💞🫶😍

La belleza de Elizabeth se ve muy bien plasmada por la actriz elegida Bridget Reagan.

Belleza que hizo que el vikingo Ragnar Lothbrock cayera rendido a sus pies, que Bjorn Ironside se enamorará perdidamente y que otros hombres deslumbrarán su belleza.

📚: 𝙈𝘼𝙎 𝘼𝙇𝙇𝘼 𝘿𝙀𝙇 𝘿𝙀𝙎𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙊 (publicado)

🖋: Sol_Andersen93 (wattpad)

🌎: vikings

💌: Ragnar Lothbrock & Bjorn Ironside

👤: Elizabeth

[hecohansen31]

‘Big Ivar’ Meet ‘Little Ivar’

Vet! Ivar x Animal Volunteer! Reader (Modern AU)

(A/N): Hello there, lovelies!

Long time no see... so I am sorry if this honestly sucks, since I do have to say that it is the first finished writing that I am able to post on here, still I hope that you’ll enjoy it.

This was prompted by @rosepetals-flyingbirds​ who not too long ago bought me a coffee and let me tell you I am truly grateful for it, although it has taken me quite some time to come up with this and I hope you’ll enjoy it.

I do also hope that you won’t mind that I used your beautiful story for the this small drabble it just inspired me that I had to put it on here, and I hope you won’t mind, in case you do, don’t hesitate to let me know!

I also have decided to start over, both through the fact that I won’t post the whole drabble on here, but there’ll be a link to the AO3 post, and also I have chosen not to use the old taglist, I just felt like it kind of... felt like a bother to the people on it.

Still, if you’d like to take part in it, just let me know!

(I am just going to tag @apocalypsebarbiee​! I hope you won’t mind)

Have a lovely day!

SUMMARY:  After a run in one night, Ivar, a grumpy vet, is left completely enthralled with the cute volunteer who shares his passion for saving animals' lives.

And well... a little furryball might just help them get together.

WORDS: 5, 4K

WARNINGS: Animal Cruelty, Animal Abuse, Modern AU (also I am not an expert so sadly I am sorry if anything is inaccurate).

Ivar’s job as a vet was honestly better than many thought most of the time.

And he was better at it than many had foreseen, since he could barely tolerate humans.

But with animals it was different.

They knew how to cherish humans in their own way and they were damnably beautiful in each of their different shapes, making every imperfection a mark of beauty and he just had the time of his life having wounded animals come in his ambulatory in the worst of shapes and exiting it as healthy and strong animals.

Always looking at Ivar happily.

And although his brothers called it a ‘god complex’, he loved the way it felt to help those animals.

And it got him in a few interesting situations.

A few weeks ago, he had been almost hit by a volunteer of a nearby animal shelter, on his way to the reception, since he had been called by the animal shelter about an emergence, eventually discovering that it had been a dog being stabbed and left to die.

He honestly hated humankind indistinctly.

But those who hurt animals deserved the worst.

He had moved outside of the surgical room, meanwhile Hvitserk’s girlfriend, Thora, set up the surgical room, so that he could have a quick check up on the dog, before choosing what to do, since he had heard that at the animal shelter the volunteers had been able to stop the blood loss, but infections might still get in the way.

The volunteer had resulted being you, a pretty young lady with a smile that made him feel fuzzy inside and a passion for animals that matched if not went further than his.

You had looked positively shaken as Ivar raised himself quickly, able to stand on his feet, meanwhile you had been knocked behind, cradling softly a leg with your hands, since it must have clashed with one of his braces, hurting you.

He had once kicked his brother Sigurd with one of them when he was younger and it had resulted in a broken bone, so he knew it was extremely painful and had it been anybody else, he would have ignored, focusing on the animal, but as he took a quick look at you, he couldn’t help but blush.

And dig up the few manners his mother had taught him.

You must have been pretty new, because he hadn’t seen you, yet, and as he reached out an hand to help you up, you had gently smiled at him, a ‘sorry’ on your lips, as both your head were soon turned to a sad growl, the dog needing Ivar’s cares.

So, as he told the nurses to bring him in, he tried to mutter a quick ‘no worries’, moving inside to operate on the dog, discovering that a few stitches wouldn’t have been enough for this case and looking at the state of the dog’s mane he would have needed to make a few shots to avoid any infections.

Whoever did this, deserved to suffer.

Painfully.

The operation had taken two hours, and he had exited it only after Thora had moved onto proceeding to give the dog a few shots, since the poor animal was completely exhausted and he wouldn’t let Ivar come closer to him, although he had tried to calm him down with soft ‘down, good boy’ and ‘at ease, sweet one’, but in the end, he had reacted better towards Thora.

And he had let her.

He hadn’t expected anybody to be in the waiting room after the operation had finished, not only because it was pretty late, but volunteers wouldn’t stick around for much longer than to leave the wounded animal.

And he couldn’t hate them, because most of the time they were very busy and in many cases they had either school or job to be at, so he didn’t blame them.

But the cute volunteer had still been there, clearly at unease and stressed with the way she gently played with her hands, biting her thumbnails, nervously before moving onto drumming her fingers on her thigh.

And as soon as you had seen him, you had raised up from the small chair you were sat on.

Making Ivar wonder what he could say, at the moment.

‘… maybe stick to the dog, Ivar’ he told to himself.

Find the complete piece on AO3!

[sugarcoatedlies616]

I’m watching Vikings season 4 and I know Ragnar is gonna die soon and it’s so nice the writers gave him all these episodes to say goodbye but the part that gets me the most is when he tells Floki he loves him and walks away,, the look on Floki’s face, his joy after so many years without seeing Ragnar and oh the “I LOVE YOU TOO, RAGNAR LOTHBROK” it’s just so so good, Ragnar and Floki’s relationship is one of the best out of the whole show

[danyka-fendyr]

MASTERLIST

Series:

Kingdom of Gold (based off of Faint of Heart and Crown of Hearts by @dreamwritesimagines):

KoG Part 1

KoG Part 2

KoG Part 3

KoG Part 4

Remind Me (based off of Once a Year by @dreamwritesimagines. complete.):

Part 1

Part 2 

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

As the Raven Flies (on hiatus)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Absence of Good: Spencer Reid series

Chapter 1

Oneshots: 

Billy Russo:

Go Fish

Spencer Reid:

Closer

Unknown Subject

Tommy Shelby:

A Bit of a Scrape

Ships:

Kastle (Frank Castle x Karen Paige):

Stay?

Poetry:

Dichotomy

[thewrittingworldofeva]

GOGDIM MASTERLIST

"GOD OR GODS DOES IT MATTER?" - a

(GOGDIM)

The base of the story :

“York is envied by the Vikings and during the battle, Ivar sees a Saxon girl fight with one of his warriors. The protagonist has a brother with the same disease as Ivar.”

Part One - Part Two - Part Three - Part Four - Part Five - Part Six - Part Seven - Part Eight - Part Nine - Part Ten - Part Eleven - Part Twelve - Part Thirteen - Part Fourteen - Part Fifteen - Part Sixteen - Part Seventeen - Part Eighteen - Part Nineteen -

[cosamanda]

Things that don't irritate me:

Hey, I took this cool culture/mythology/figure and used them as an inspiration for my fantasy world. I've reimagined these historic/mythological characters in a different setting and given them personalities based of the myths/to fit my story. I also used some words/concepts from religions/myths in my plot.

Things that do irritate me:

Hi! I took this super stereotyped version of a myth/religion/culture and used for my story. I did absolutely no research into this religion/historic culture beyond Wikipedia so I use all the names/characters/concepts based on my own preconceptions.

Example 1: the characters and plot in HBO Vikings tv show

Example 2: litterally everything else (including clothes, culture, social structure, religion, religious practices, mythology, hairstyles, weapons, armor, and the völvas) in HBO Vikings tv show

[buckyeah]

The fact that Vinkings had a Crack House™ haunts me

[tv-movie-things]

Vikings is one if my favorite TV Shows and I really wanted to edit a video of them I really hope you enjoy and like it ❤😍 Please dont reblog or use without credit~

[i-n-d-e-c-i-s-i-v-e-b-i-t-c-h]

[itsgeniuskay]

Me with Jim Kirk & Dean & Eddie & Aegon & Johnny & Gwaine & Ivar

[bluemargotrobbie]

Si las ois debidamente entenderán realmente que a pesar que Lagertha se vengo y mató a Aslaug y ganar la batalla, Aslaug ganó la guerra .

En el ataque hacia Kattegat , que Lagertha hizo fácilmente por bajas defensas, hubo varias víctimas mortales entre ellas, Elizabeth, esposa de Bjorn Ironside, a manos de Astrid, una de las escuderas de confianza de Lagertha.

¿Será que la reina Aslaug no mejoró las defensas de Kattegat por vio el final de Elizabeth, así Lagertha ganase el resentimiento de Bjorn?

ESTO DEMUESTRA LA INTELIGENCIA DE ASLAUG HACIENDO ESTE MOVIMIENTO, PUEDE QUE LAGERTHA SE HAYA VENGADO Y GANADO LA BATALLA, PERO ASLAUG SUPO GANAR LA GUERRA.

AUNQUE ELLA HAYA PERDIDO LA VIDA, SU ENEMIGO PERDERÁ AYN MÁS, LO QUE MÁS LE IMPORTA, SU FAMILIA... BJORN Y SUS NIETOS 💔

📚: 𝙈𝘼𝙎 𝘼𝙇𝙇𝘼 𝘿𝙀𝙇 𝘿𝙀𝙎𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙊 (publicado)

🖋: Sol_Andersen93 (wattpad)

🎵: sol_anderssen (tik tok)

🌎: vikings

💌: Ragnar Lothbrock & Bjorn Ironside

👤: Elizabeth

[hecohansen31]

Royally Savage

Ivar x Princess! Reader (Modern AU)

(A/N): Hello there, lovelies!

It’s been a long time I know, and this is... kind of... not the best that I could come up with... but I have been slowly coming up with more and more ideas (I have one half-written, although I am probably going to involve a few new characters).

But I wrote this for @youbloodymadgenius​, since she was nice enough to buy me a few ko-fis and I felt like this is just the least that I could do to return the favor!

I hope you’ll like this!

And if anybody is wondering: this is indeed a continuation to ‘Royally Screwed’!

As always, if you like/want to see more content, don’t forget to share your feedback through either comments or writing something in the reblog option.

SUMMARY: Galas can be insidious shits for sure.

WORDS: 1,9 K

WARNINGS: Incorrect Royal Etiquette, Ableist Insults, People Being Stuck Up, Slight Dirty Talk (do not read it at work...).

Life as the soon-to-be-prince of a small country wasn’t as easy as all those princess movies made it seem.

Even more when your legs weren’t properly working.

A way that (Y/N) had to say that he was ‘a fucking pathetic cripple’.

Not that he even thought that his princess was able to say and utter those words.

She wasn’t certainly completely unknowing of all the curse words of the world, and in fact, she could probably curse in five different languages, but he doubted that she had enough cruelty to properly do it.

But that night she had proved him wrong.

That same night when he was boring himself to death, straining his new braces, to stand up and welcome the guests at the charity ball her father had organized a month before their wedding, suggesting they took this as a ‘way to warm up before the marriage, understanding what a public marriage might entail’.

Which was a way to get Ivar to understand that he wasn’t just made for all of this.

And that he should have left his sole daughter and heir to the throne, alone.

Except he was stubborn but (Y/N) was even more stubborn.

But she was still standing beside him, smiling at the thousandth guest with an unfaltering smile in some kind of horrid nightmare of organza that felt too heavy to carry around and Ivar had a few doubts that she would have been able to properly sat down in a chair.

And that sight never failed to remind him that it was all worth it.

That his princess was definitely worth it and her father could just go to hell, alongside everybody who said that they just wouldn’t have made it.

“… we have just a few more” muttered softly (Y/N), as she finally noticed the death stare with which Ivar had welcomed the sleazy guest that had dared to send a slight look at your cleavage, quite more conservative but yet…

… creeps were everywhere.

“… hold on, sweetheart”.

He felt himself melt inside so deeply that he couldn’t help but shiver lightly and when she backed up her soft look with a smile, he felt his heart speeding up in a way that he wouldn’t have thought possible a long time ago.

But now it happened daily.

“Believe me, I could stand another thousandth more” he shot back, as he puffed his chest, making her laugh loudly, a bit snoring in that adorable way that was completely and utterly not-princessy like.

The side that he had helped you develop, before they had both chosen to go back to her native country.

“… but that doesn’t mean that you should” she mumbled, before lightly raising the monstrosity she called ‘gala dress’, scandalously showing him her beautiful ankles and the pointy high heels she was wearing “… and also I just want to personally sit down, these traps are killing me”.

“I’ll massage your feet if we manage to get through the next five guests” he promised her, making her smirk softly, as she pushed the dress down and turned with a bright and renewed smirk on her face, gently linking their arms at the elbows and leaning in for what looked like a chaste kiss, but appeared to be more.

“… or I could keep them on for a little bit more…” she mumbled deviously and for somebody who knew the perfect and utter etiquette, she dared on continuing deviously “… meanwhile we are in bed… together”.

“Don’t give me these suggestions, if you want to get some sleep tonight”.

“… oh I am trembling already…” she shot back with a fake higher pitch, but moved a bit further away from him to welcome softly an older couples which called her by a sweet nickname, and although she was extremely polite, Ivar knew that by her glance…

… she had no clue who they truly were.

And he couldn’t blame her.

On his first social outings there he had been introduced to more people than he could ever remember…

But who truly seemed to trouble his princess was the man that came forward after the older couple, in an elegant smoking that suited him like a second skin, bringing out the perfectness of his healthy body and he had something royal just to look at.

An obvious show of dominance in his movements, as he puffed his chest forward as if he was some kind of bird trying to court ‘his princess’.

He was used to boys swooning onto her in America, with her pretty accent and the elegant touch you always had even in your club clothes.

But she just had that melting look for him and he never felt like she might change him for a cooler version of himself.

And neither should have this dude.

And yet the slight light of recognition in (Y/N)’s eyes was bright.

“… (Y/N)” he didn’t mutter her title and with the way her eyes reciprocated the glint in his eyes, although with a more casual and calmer note, he didn’t need to.

“… it has been a long time since I last saw you. You went to America and… poof you disappeared”.

His English was perfect and tasted of many schools spent to make it perfect till he managed to sound like he came straight from Oxford.

“I just lost the sense of time, there” her words were cordial, although cheerful and with the way your whole pose tightened itself in the ‘pretty princess’ ‘ one matched with a look of pure cordial coldness “… too much fun and too many programs”.

And Ivar knew that she wasn’t in the slightest at ease.

“I wonder why” his tone instead was a calculated cheerfulness that reeked of royal fakeness.

He definitely didn’t like this guy.

“… when I went there, I just saw badly-dressed people with horrible manners” and he shot Ivar a look as if to say that he should have taken offense to what he said.

And he wasn’t in the slightest sorry for making him feel that way.

Honestly, Ivar wouldn’t have felt sorry for throwing a punch on his way.

“Are you sure that you visited the right part of America?” (Y/N)’s tone was politely saying ‘fuck you’ and the beautiful royally looking man seemed to take it personally with a light scoff that he matched with a smaller smile “… I found it quite interesting and very useful to understand many things”.

And with ‘many things’ she turned to look to Ivar, with those love-sick eyes that he knew he returned whenever they were together and he felt the need to hold her close, gently cuddling her to his chest.

She had discovered that America was interesting, meanwhile he had started believing in love.

The gesture of turning to Ivar, brought him immediately in the conversation which meant that he had to also endure his fakest smirk towards the royally scorned man and gently offered him his hand.

It wasn’t proper etiquette but as (Y/N) had explained to him, charity galas, even more the ones that were opened to celebrities all over the world, were more relaxed occasions, allowing for less formal etiquettes.

But the stuck-up idiot ignored it.

Well, he was definitely being ruder.

And (Y/N) bumped in.

“Might I present you my fiancé, Ivar Lothbrock?” she presented him softly, as she moved to hold onto his arm to make even clear their relationship, which Ivar enjoyed immensely, since he was a little touch-starved…

… just a tad.

“… this is Reginald III Montwald, he is a duke of my kingdom” everything in her words was meant to undermine him.

To keep that pure male arrogance in check.

“I actually… I actually have to say that I am far more than a duke, owning a few lands all over the world…” he was fighting and trying to attract somehow Ivar’s princess’ attention, not that she even was tempted to fall in it.

Honestly (Y/N) looked bored, but she didn’t hold back.

“I thought that you had been prohibited from using those possessions, since they belong to another side of your family”.

She had managed to hit a sore point and Ivar had to hide a small smirk in your neck as he gently moved to give it a small kiss, to give her a bit of his own courage and to thank her for the exciting show.

It was scandalously wrong for them to be so all over each other in public, but he honestly couldn’t care less.

It made him feel damnably good to know that she’d choose him over and over again.

And then Reginald Mont-I-Have-Something-Up-My-Ass hit a sore point as well.

“I also didn’t think that you’d dump me for a cripple”.

Ivar was kind of used to the whole ‘cripple’ thing.

It wasn’t anything that he could hide, and he had collected quite a few annoying nicknames over the course of the years that he had passed in his wheelchair and later on in his braces and crutches.

He had a few favorites.

Certainly, because in the end there wasn’t much that he could do, aside from letting it pass through him.

The bad taste in his mouth still lingered.

But with (Y/N) by his side, he felt like it was just an aftertaste.

And her lips always had a better taste.

Aside from punching people.

Not in front of (Y/N), still.

Also because she honestly looked like she might punch Reginald in the face.

The royally asshole was looking at them both with a smirk that expressed how much satisfaction he felt at the ignorant statement he had just muttered, as if he should have been proud of his idiotic humor.

And (Y/N) wasn’t pleased with it.

Maybe pissed even more than Ivar who was used to it.

“… I dumped you because you were a fucktard who couldn’t even move his ass to pour himself a glass of water without asking for his ‘servants’, as if we are back in Victorian England and not in fucking 1998”.

Her tone was meant not to attract anybody, but it cut right into whatever little dignity Reginald still held up.

“… and there are a few million reasons that I am sure that the medias would love to pick onto, wouldn’t they?” and she turned to the reporter that was basically waiting for her time to shine, a bit bored in a small gala where everything was going ‘oh so well’.

She would have been happy to have an excuse to talk about the drama that was slowly unfolding.

Reginald did try to hold up and say something to fight back.

But (Y/N) disregarded him completely turning away from him, as her hold onto Ivar’s arm became tighter and her soon-to-be-princess swore that he stood taller with the renewed pride he felt at his beloved’s fierce behavior.

Her father had had a million doubts about them, and Ivar would be lying if he said that he didn’t share a few, because (Y/N) was out of this world.

A damn princess.

And he wanted him, a pathetic idiot with anger issues.

But he’d be damned if he didn’t say how much all her love was starting to convince that maybe… just maybe he was worth of her grace.

In any other occasion he wouldn’t have been happy of having been babied like that.

But right now, he felt like he was on top of the world.

And he was definitely going to make (Y/N) keep those pretty pumps in bed.

And use that smart tongue onto him.

 ---

Taglist:

@guiltyfiend​

[profoundtyrantharmony]

Hi everyone !! I’ve got some fics idea in store and I would like for you to tell me which one of those you wish for me to write first and what is/are your favorite trope ?! I will put the link of both straw poll at the end.

Series :

A Touch of Affection : Modern!Ivar x Reader. Roommate to Bestfriend to Lover. I headcanoned 20 chapters just need to write. Plot : y/n is a young journalist who decide to quit her job to pursue her travel vlogger/blogger ambitions. Ivar works for the family business an wants to leave the family house. They will have to share a house, maybe more than friendship will arise. Will contain Fluff, Angst and Smut.

What’s Underneath (rewrite of We’re All Naked Underneath) : Poly!Avengers (original six + Loki, Bucky, Sam and Wanda) x reader. I headcanoned 8 chapters for now but will have more to come. Plot : y/n is an acheologist working for the avengers an shield and is also a nude model at night. What’s gonna happen when they’ll learn the truth about her ? Will contain Fluff, Angst, Smut and a bit of Dark.

Oneshots or Multi-Parts  :

Fire Breathing Lady : Ivar x Reader or Hvitserk x Reader or Ivar x Reader x Hvitserk. Plot : y/n is Oleg’s slave and is able to resist fire temperature. He shows her as an attraction. One day she performs in front of the ragnarssons and became infatuated by her. Will they help her getting free ? Will contain Fluff and Smut.

Podium : Modern!Ragnarssons x Reader. Plot : y/n is a gymnast newly neighbors with the Lothbrock. They keep seeing you leave your house everyday but don’t know where you go. Curiosity as the best of them and they follow you. Will contain fluff Smut an maybe slight Angst.

Fighter by Heart : Modern!Ragnar x Reader (platonic). Maybe Multi-Part with a Ragnarsson ship whit Reader. Plot : y/n is the personnal assistant of Ragnar Lothbrock and is really close to him. She is strong minded and is not easily impressed. One day Ragnar discovers why and is all the more impressed to learn she fights in a sort of “fight club”. Will contain Fluff and maybe Smut.

Chilly : Chris Hemsworth x Reader. Plot : y/n and chris are working together on a film located in the codest city of Canada. Y/n is the touchhy feey kind of girl but i also very chilly. Chris offers to share a bed to help get warmer... Will contain Fluff and Smut.

Woud you Rather : Loki x Reader. Plot : A game of would you rather with the god of mischielf turn into something more as the time pass. Will contain Fluff and Smut.

Spin the Bottle : Poly!Avengers cast (original six + Tom Hiddleston, Sebastian, Anthonie, Elisabeth and Brie) x Reader. Plot : A game of spin the bottle where y/n finds herself french kissing the female of the cast which renders the men envious as they find themselves french kissing the male of the cast. y/n has to offers her service to the male cast to see if she is that good of a kisser. Will contain Fluff and Smut.

What a Game : Avengers (original six + Loki, Bucky, Sam, Wanda and Vision) x Reader. I don’t have a ship in mind yet, if you want to offer one it would be great. Plot : A game of fuc* marry of kiss with alcool lead the avengers to admit some hidden feelings deep inside of them. Will contain Fluff an maybe Smut.

I really hope you’ll be interested in those fic. Don’t hesitate to comment and reblog or fill this straw poll. Thanks in advance.

What fic Should I Write First ? https://strawpoll.com/oyrorsh6q

What is/are your favorite trope ? https://strawpoll.com/xzdqb89x9

[danyka-fendyr]

Kingdom of Gold: Part 6

That’s right everyone, it took me way way way too long, but I have finally caught up to Dream in the writing of this series. (I think. This post has not been fact-checked.) My nails are too long, my polish is not my favorite color and I don’t know why I chose it, I’m watching a movie I have so far flawlessly predicted the characters and plot points of as I write this, and my body is revolting against me in the same fashion it always does, but I’m still here. Oh also I move out on Monday and that’s deeply unsettling to me but now ask me if I’d rather not. Anyway, I guess we’ll start the angst hours now.

Edit: I moved out! It was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. So far so good.

Disclaimer: This series is based off of the lovely Faint of Heart series by @dreamwritesimagines and it’s sequel series, Crown of Hearts. I would highly recommend both series!

Taglist:@dreamwritesimagines @rhabakoli @finnickfoxes

Wordcount: 2763

Chapter Six: The girl was a whirlwind of anger and bitterness, her rage consuming her. She could hear no reason and no advice over the roaring fury in her ears. And when you have a storm inside of you, you also have a choice to make. You can let it destroy you, or you can let it out, and the girl had come too far to be destroyed now.

Isolde did not want to get out of bed today. In fact, she never wanted to leave it again. This time though, it was not because she’d had too much liquor the night before. She was never having a drop of that ever again. Clearly, it made her make mistakes, made her too trusting. Silly girl.

“My lady,” Dagny said, interrupting her wallowing.

“Yes, Dagny?” Isolde rolled over under the heavy furs protecting her from Kattegat’s morning chill.

“Her Majesty the Queen requests your presence.”

“I don’t suppose royalty takes rainchecks, do they?”

“Not that I am aware of.” Dagny smirked slightly.

Isolde groaned but got up out of bed anyway, a slow, reluctant thing. There were dark circles under her eyes from all the unfortunate realizations of the day before, but largely, she did not look half as bad as she felt on the inside. And another plus, she didn’t appear to actually have any large, gaping wounds, despite how she might have felt. By the time she finished getting dressed, she almost looked like she might have been fit to see the queen. 

Snapdragon was in her chambers, cradling her son in her arms and cooing Viking lullabies to him. The sound might have been soothing before, but right now it just made Isolde want to break something. Preferably the earl’s face. Beside the bed was a woman with bright red hair, and part of a smile began to grow on Isolde’s face when she realized who it was.

“Bree?”

The redhead smiled infectiously, rushing over to hug her. “Oh, my darling. It’s been too long.”

“Where were you? They told me you betryaed the king and took a Viking lover and all sorts of wild things, but when I got here there was no you to ask about it, and I didn’t get word from anyone else-”

“Oh little love,” Bree said, “I was on a raid. I’m so terribly sorry that none of these fools told you.”

Isolde stiffened, the smile dropping off her face at the word raid. “You...went on a raid.”

“Yes, yes, I know it’s unconventional for women to fight in wars back home, but come now, you’re more progressive than that-”

“I am not so progressive that I support the slaughter of an innocent people.” Isolde’s voice had gone cold.

“Isolde...what has happened to you?”

“A war, Bree. Did they not tell you?” 

“Tell me what?” There was a hint of something in her voice that was not confusion or curiosity, but fear.

“Beatrice is dead.”

Bree let out a sharp breath. “...Beatrice. Our Beatrice?”

“Yes. But I suppose it doesn’t matter when it’s not your cousin, does it? It doesn’t matter when it’s just war, just a raid. If you don’t know who’s dead then why care?”

“I did mean...” 

“Of course you didn’t. Was there anything else you’ll be needing your majesty, or did you merely wish to inform me my cousin had returned?”

Snapdragon squinted at her in a very sharp way.

“No. Sit.”

Isolde grit her teeth but sat anyway.

“What has happened? Something has happened to upset you. To change your mind.”

“Change my mind on what? As far as I’m concerned my mind has returned to its original state. The truth.”

“You know, some of the poets say that no one actually knows the truth. I would argue you certainly don’t. You’ve hardly given these people a chance.”

Isolde’s eyes flashed. “I gave them more than a chance. I gave them my trust, and they broke that. When were you going to tell me what the earl was really like?”

“Well, it seemed as though you knew. A kind, caring man who would do anything to protect what he loves. That is usually how he presents himself, isn’t it? Or am I just remarkably good at reading people?” 

Isolde scoffed. 

“What? What terrible, horrible thing happened? Tell me, my dear, and I’m sure we can right it.”

“Can you right the fact that your precious Earl Eric is just another Viking warlord who comes home covered in blood rejoicing in the spoil of his kills and bedding every maiden who bats her eyelashes at him?”

Snapdragon stared at her a moment before nodding. “Oh. Well, I see what this is about.”

“You...you do?”

“Yes. I believe I do. But first, allow me to assuage your fears. The only people Earl Eric has ever hurt, to my knowledge, are the sort of men you would condone the harm of. The very sort of men who did all those unspeakable things back at your home are the sorts of men the Earl fights. He has a code of honor, you know. Never women, never children. Only those trying to harm him and those he has seen harm others.”

Isolde did not like whatever she was feeling now. Largely because she didn’t know what she was feeling now. Should she feel lied to still, but by an entirely different person? Should she still feel angry with the earl? It was...confusing. She felt confused, and that was all that she knew.

“...oh. Well, it doesn’t matter. He’s still a...a...a floozy.”

“A floozy?” The queen arched a brow. “Hardly. The girls make their best attempts, but I have yet to see him actually take one up on their offer. Not since you came around, anyhow. Even before then he was far less...active than most of the warriors coming home.”

“What...what do you mean not since I came around??

“Oh, you know. He’s been far too busy with his duties with you to think of anyone else. I suspect he hardly thinks even of himself anymore.”

“I....I said horrible things to him,” Isolde whispered.

“Did you call him a floozy?” Snapdragon wasn’t even pretending not to be amused.

Isolde winced. “Much worse.”

“Might I suggest you swallow your pride and apologize now instead of being mad at each other for months on end and miserable?” 

“That was...specific.”

The look Snapdragon gave her told her not to ask any further questions.

“Go. Go now. And you can talk to Bree later. Earl Eric won’t know what to do without you around. I expect he’s just running around like a chicken with his head cut off.”

Isolde smiled softly. “I expect he is. He tends to do that.”

“You’re stalling.”

“Fine. I’m going.”

Isolde was only slightly ashamed to admit that she dragged her feet down the halls of the castle and deliberately took the long way to any location that Earl Eric could possibly be, starting with the ones he was least likely to be at. Alas, this strategy could only work for so long, and eventually, she came upon him. 

He cut a downtrodden figure, sitting in a back corner of the blacksmith’s workshop studying his work. His eyes seemed to be transfixed by the flames, so much so that he didn’t even notice her until she sat by his feet. She figured if she was going to apologize she had best do it well, and if that involved groveling at his feet, she deserved it.

“I’m sorry.” She spoke quietly, hesitant to disrupt the orderly din of the blacksmith’s workshop as he forged what looked like a battle axe, perhaps. “You did not deserve any of the things I said to you, and there is no excuse for my behavior last night. I hope that someday you may be able to forgive me.”

She was not brave enough to look at him as she said this, and so she did not see the softening of the pain on his face.

“Why? You say there is no excuse, but that does not mean there was no reason. What did I do to provoke such fury?”

He sounded so hurt that Isolde had to shut her eyes against the sharp, stinging wetness building in them.

“It was...it was nothing you did. It was something someone said about you that I was foolish enough to believe, that is all.”

“What did they say? And who said it?”

“A friend of mine. He...he painted a very brutal picture of you coming back from raids, I’m afraid. I don’t believe he knew you had any sort of code of honor, and neither did I until this morning. He also gave a very...detailed idea of your prowess with women.” Isolde hated how bitter she sounded on that last part.

To her surprise, the earl’s next words dared to sound amused.

“Oh? Is that what made you so mad, little icicle?”

She turned her head to look at him, a steady glare on her face from being mocked.

“Worry not. My attention is far too devoted to you now to worry about anyone else. I have a job to do, you know.” He sounded like he was about to laugh.

“I despise you.” There was no malice in it this time.

“A shame. I adore you.”

Her cheeks pinkened quickly, but she told herself it was just the heat of the forges.

“Come on now. We have to go show the queen we made up. She’ll be quite pleased.”

“...the Queen sent you?”

“No. Well, yes, but that’s neither here nor there. I would have come myself, the Queen simply sped up the process a bit. I’m a horrible coward and was too afraid to face you, but I was more afraid of what she would do to me if I didn’t. She has that hawk you know.” Isolde shuddered.

“I would never let Eitr hurt you.” He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.

“You’ll have to excuse me for not taking any chances.” 

Was she even saying anything, or was she just pushing air out of her mouth? Because she might as well have been doing the latter for how breathy that was.

“Come now. You’ll keep us here forever if we don’t start walking,” she huffed.

Then, before she could second guess it, she took his hand to pull him along. He was so surprised that he followed easily, despite being a good foot taller than her. She smirked to herself. Two could play at this game.

“So who is this friend of yours who has such a bad opinion of me?”

And there she was blushing again. “No one.”

“No one?” That was not a happy tone of voice.

“No one at all. Just a friend.”

“Well, she seems to dislike me.”

“I’m sure he has nothing against you. Just rumors and all.” She prayed he would be distracted by the rest of the conversation and not notice the he.

“It is a man then.” The Earl didn’t sound surprised, but he also sounded solidly, definitely unhappy.

Isolde looked back at him to see the frown settling into his face, jaw working hard. Even when he was conflicted and angry he was attractive. She supposed.

“Yes. But no matter. We shouldn’t speak of it anymore.”

“Why not?” He raised a brow.

Well, she couldn’t exactly say because she didn’t want to.

“Because it’s making you moody, Earl. I much prefer your smiles.” 

That wasn’t entirely true. She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t at least a little intrigued by this different side to the man. But that was neither here nor there.

“Then coax one out of me,” he challenged.

She did love a good challenge. “Alright then. Floki in one of my old dresses.”

Immediately he was laughing, and so was she. The picture was so comical it was hard not to. The triumphant grin on her face revealed how pleased she was with herself.

“You do not fight fair little icicle.” He was, of course, smiling as she continued to drag him through the halls of the castle.

“I can’t afford to. I’m rather small. I have to use my wits, or else I’d be dead by now.”

“Do not worry about that. I will protect you.”

She stopped, frowning. “You know you don’t have to, right?”

“What?” He stopped dead, causing her body to lurch back when she did not stop with him and their hands remained intertwined.

“You don’t have to protect me just because your queen ordered it. You don’t have to...follow me, or be nice to me, or whatever it is you’re doing, just because she says so. If you don’t-If you would rather not be around me, I can arrange for that.”

He stared at her for a long moment.

“I would very much like to be assigned to care for you for the rest of my life. It is my favorite of all my duties, and the only one I never tire of.”

Oh. That was...bold.

“Oh. Well.” She looked up at him with wide eyes. “I suppose this is ideal then.”

He smiled. “Yes, I suppose that it is.” 

Gently, he raised her hand, his breath brushing across her knuckles and then his lips. Gosh, she wished he wouldn’t do that. She would never be able to walk anywhere if her legs turned to pudding first.

“Right then. On our way.” Just keep walking, just keep walking.

As Isolde had discovered at a very early age, all roads lead back to the great hall. The path they were currently on was no exception, and sooner rather than later they stumbled upon her royal majesty.

Isolde dropped the earl’s hand like it had burned her as soon as they were in the presence of others. She still felt though that everyone was watching them, or that someone had seen. That was one part of the court you never grew out of. The feeling of everyone’s eyes being on you. She wondered if farmers and merchants ever got that feeling or if they were just able to live in peace. She suspected the latter was the case.

“Your majesty.” Isolde curtsied even as Snapdragon rolled her eyes.

“I see you two made up.” She had a knowing grin on her face.

“Yes. We are on much better terms now.” It hurt Isolde to admit it, seeing that smug look on Snapdragon’s face.

“I knew you two wouldn’t be able to stay mad at each other for long.”

“Yes, yes, and you were right.” Isolde rolled her eyes.

Ivar sat by his queen’s side, not saying a word. Instead, he chose to glare at the earl, who was looking a bit gloomy himself.

“What troubles you, Earl Eric?” Snapdragon asked.

Ivar’s frown deepened.

“Oh, nothing your majesty.” He pulled up a forced smile.

“You are a terrible liar.”

“I assure you, there is nothing that you need to be worried about.”

“I suppose I will have to take you at your word. I cannot very well let my husband torture information out of you in the great hall.” 

She half-laughed at herself, clearly very oblivious to how pleased her husband looked at the suggestion. Isolde still could not puzzle out how they were together. Other than the arranged marriage bit, of course.

For a moment, she was just as confused as the queen to the earl’s mood. Just a moment ago he had been more than cheerful enough. Now, he was frowning. She found her answer though looking down to his hands, where one was noticeably empty where it had not been before, fingers fidgeting. Oh. Was that what he was worried about?

Well, she couldn’t very well hold his hand in the great hall in front of everyone where someone could see it and take it the wrong way. Then again, she found herself wishing to see him smile again. So, mustering up what cleverness she had, she managed a compromise. She smiled at him, hoping to wipe away that frown, and gently placed her hand on his arm. It wasn’t there long, only a moment or two. No one else would notice.

It would have worked flawlessly if Bree hadn’t walked in at that moment and had the uncanny ability to see through Isolde’s every move. She had been doing that since they were children and it never got less irritating or nervewracking. So of course, the moment she approached the table she gave Isolde a smile that, if you didn’t know her, might make you think she was planning on murdering you and dumping the body at the bottom of the lake. 

On the bright side though, the Earl was smiling again.

Isolde supposed that she would have to take the small victories and her cousin could wait until tomorrow.

[whencyclopedia]

THIS documentary on the history of the Vikings covers the beginning of the Viking Age, the Norse and Viking Culture, Norse Mythology and Religion, Ships, Trade, Famous Vikings such as Ragnar Lothbrock, Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn Ironside and Lagertha, and the Legacy of the Vikings.