Faint Of Heart [Ivar x Reader]

Chapter 13

The fear you had felt when you first stepped into Kattegat was nothing compared to that night. Ivar walked into the room about two hours after Bjorn had left but you stayed curled up at the edge of the bed, with your back turned to him, knees pulled up to your chest and kept your eyes closed, which was the most difficult part, seeing that the images of him performing a blood eagle on that man kept flashing behind your closed eyelids.

"What happens if we don't like each other?"

Your brother groaned and rolled his eyes. It was very clear that your mother had invited you and him to her chambers to make everything less tense between you two, -seeing that you both were there and she was nowhere to be seen- but it was also very clear that both you and your brother were still very angry.

"What?"

"What happens if we don't like each other?" You asked again, "He- um-" You gulped, "Ivar and I."

He crossed his arms, "Make him like you then."

You pinched your lips, turning your gaze to the fireplace, "Is that what Rowan told you?"

"Unlike you, sister, Rowan is actually smart and knows what's best for our country."

You turned your head to look at his bored expression, narrowing your eyes.

"Do you think mother and father liked each other?" he asked you "When they first met? Or ever?"

You frowned slightly, "Yes?"

"Oh God, I hope you can survive with this naivety in there," he said "I should pray for you. Do you think the Queen and I like each other?"

"It's beyond me why anyone would dislike you, brother." You said, your voice dripping with poison and of course he saw right through it.

"I should hope your marriage will be as successful as mine, sister."

You cleared your throat, "I keep thinking what-" You heaved a shaky sigh, "What father would think."

He scoffed, "He'd understand the importance of this decision. I think you would still be the only one who is clueless."

"You're not very worried about me, are you?" You asked slowly and he tilted his head to the right, eyes fixated on you.

"Everyone keeps telling you how beautiful you are, don't they?" he leaned in, "You should be glad you're of royal blood and not a commoner, Y/N. Beauty without wit can be very unfortunate."

You gritted your teeth, keeping your gaze on him and he smiled softly.

"Everyone in this family had to do something for power." He said, "You know what father did-"

"That's merely a cruel rumor-"

"What mother did,"

"She didn't-"

"It's about time you made a sacrifice."

You tried to keep your anger in check, "And what sacrifice have you made? You're a part of this family."

"I'm the king."

"And I shall be a queen." You said, "Ivar does have a very big army, does he not? Bigger than ours, biggest in the world. How fortunate of me."

Veiled threats were a tradition in your family, after all.

He raised his cup in a mock of toast, "How fortunate indeed," he said, "That he will marry you before he has any idea about what you are really like. As beautiful as a painting, with lack of wit. Sort of like a statue, wouldn't you say?"