The Red Queen (Editing)

The Prisoner

You and Ivar both laughed at the sight as more Vikings ran into the circle only to be killed by Heahmend again.

The man of god went as far as trampling one of your shield maidens with his horse.

You chuckled as you watch his horse go down after being killed, taking Heahmend with it.

"STOP FIGHTING!" Ivar shouted in Norse as Heahmend jumped to his sword and swung at the men while Ivar repeated himself.

Heahmend stared up at you and Ivar, sword drawn, face covered in blood.

"Give him my horse." Ivar said, repeating himself again as Heahmend fell to his knees, breathing heavily, his sword stabbed into the dirt. "He is to great a warrior to fight on foot."

Looking to your lover in confusion, he said nothing as he pulled you closer, watching as his horse was brought out for the Bishop.

As the man of god stood, he began to laugh quietly, mock-bowing to you and Ivar.

You both bowed back, grins on your faces.

Heahmend got on his horse, nodding to Ivar.

Ivar raised his knife, swinging it down within seconds.

Now, the fight was starting again as everyone continued to kill each other.

Heahmend was soon dragged off the horse, causing you to laugh as you followed Ivar down to the battlefield.

You both walked through the crowd, the people making a path as you soon stood in front of Heahmend. You handed your sword to Ivar who pointed it at Heahmend's chest.

"HEATHENS!" The Bishop shouted in his language

You and Ivar laughed at this, your people joining in.

"Christian." Ivar replied with a grin

You signalled for Heahmend to be taken away as you and Ivar walked away as well.

-

Now, you were all gathered in the church, a weak and shivering Heahmend laying on the floor as the storm outside grew worse.

Ivar slithered in like a snake as he quickly moved toward you. He rested his head on your lap for a small moment, checking the wound on your side. During the battle, you hadn't noticed that you had been injured due to the rush and adrenaline of it all.

After seeing that it was healing nicely, Ivar placed a small kiss on your hand.

"Are you alright? How do you feel? Do you need to rest?" He asked

"I'm alright for now, my love. Just sore." You promised

He nodded and smiled at you before slithering toward Heahmend.

Your lover grinned, the lightening making him scarier then he normally was to everyone.

-

Sitting with Ivar, his bodyguard came over as you ate.
"The Saxon army, or what remains of it, has abandoned their camp and left." The guard said

Ivar nodded and dismissed him as you sighed

"If you two would like to, we can pursue them and destroy them." Ivar offered to you and Hvitserk.

"I think we have more important things to do." Hvitserk sighed as you nodded.

"I agree, darling." You told Ivar

"Yes. We must look to Kattegat." Hvitserk said. "What if Ubbe kills Lagertha, or persuades her to crown him King? The loss of our home base would be a devastating blow. We need to sort things out. We must kill Ubbe and Lagertha, and you must be crowned King of Kattegat, and make Astrid your Queen."

At this, your eyes widened. Queen? No. You were just the daughter of a carpenter nothing more. Ivar smirked at the thought of marrying you. How happy life would be when he would be able to call you 'wife'.

"You are making more and more sense, my brother!" Ivar smirked, deciding to wait until later to mention you being his Queen. "Good man. I remember also that King Harald has an ambition of invading Kattegat. In the short term, we should make an alliance and work with him."

"So, this time, we will truly quit York?" You asked

"Yes, my little dove. Though we will leave a big enough garrison to keep it safe until our return. Hmm?" Ivar said with a chuckle

"And What of our prisoner? This Bishop." Hvitserk sighed

"Well, what do you propose, Hvitserk?" Ivar asked

"He seems like an important man, we could offer him back to the Saxons for a great ransom."

"Or we could crucify him. That would be fun." You laughed

And this, both men chuckled as you all continued to eat.

-

You sat upon Ivar's lap as you all sailed back to Kattegat. Ivar had brought along Bishop Heahmend, surprisingly. You listened to his praying and scoffed before looking back out to sea.

"So, is this an interruption of your journey? Or is it a part of it?" Ivar asked Heahmend. "What do you think?"

You turned Ivar away from the praying Bishop with a sigh.

"My love." He hummed. "What if we were to marry? Would that make you happy?"

"So happy, Ivar. More then you would ever understand." You replied as you laid your head on his shoulder

"Then marry me." Ivar whispered to you

"Of course, my darling." You replied with a smile nearly as big as Ivar's.