Faint Of Heart [Ivar x Reader]

Chapter 16

You didn't know you could feel that peaceful in Kattegat, but the warmth of the room, softness of the bed and the small waves of sleep along with the sunlight showering the room in gold felt as peaceful as it could get. You rested your head on Ivar's chest while he was sitting up straight with his back against the headboard of the bed, his attention on the wooden rune sticks Bjorn and Ubbe had given him last night with one hand almost lazily playing with your hair while you kept your gaze on the pages of your book. The falcon was flying in the room as she wished and the sound of her wings almost felt like a soothing song to you at this point.

"Ivar?"

"Hm?"

"I think I got the translation wrong-what does this word mean?" You pointed at the line and Ivar turned his head, then leaned in closer.

"Auga?"

"Yes."

"It means eye."

You gawked at the page, frowning, "Wait-" You read the line again, then frowned, "Then it says here- Odin took out his own eye."

"To gain wisdom of the world, yes."

"In return of water from a well- this means a well, does it not?"

"Mm hm. The water of Mimir's Well contained knowledge."

"He took out his own eye?" You repeated, making a face and he chuckled.

"You're getting good at this," he nodded at the book, and you smiled softly, running your fingertip on the yellow page.

"Still not fast enough, though."

"How come you know so many languages and no one taught you anything about ours?"

"When I was growing up?" You asked, then shrugged, "I think that- they expected to marry me off to one of those kings whose language I could speak- or at least close to it, when I grew up. No one really thought about Viking kings and their huge armies."

Ivar scoffed, "They should have," he muttered into your hair, resting his nose on top of your head while you played with your necklace.

"They should have," you repeated "That would surely be more beneficial than other things I've learned."

"Such as?"

"Sewing, for example. I hated it, I was terrible at it and I kept poking my finger."

Ivar scoffed, "What is it with you and sharp objects?"

"And now that I think of it, they should have thought me how to use a sword instead. Nobody taught us anything of the sort, and now I see all these shieldmaidens, they're very good with swords."

"They can surely raise a sword indeed, I think you should start from that."

You elbowed him, making him chuckle silently,

"You will learn. Not even those shieldmaidens you seem to adore so much learned it quickly."

You clicked your tongue and stole a look at the sticks he was holding. "What are you reading?"

"Something much less entertaining than story of Odin's eye."

You reached out to grab one from him "Is this what Ubbe gave you?"

"Yes. Merchants and their monthly incomes when we're on a raid."

You looked at the lines, but the language was more complex than your book's language. Ivar's grip around your waist tightened as he pressed his lips to your shoulder, making your cheeks burn as you sat up straighter.