Ivar's eyes were devious as his finger slowly curled in towards himself begging me to come closer. The desire that had been slowly building in my belly swelled even more as he looked up at me through his eyelashes. I cursed Odin for letting me feel this way towards someone I should hate. I bit my lip as I whimpered softly before pushing myself forward. I felt Ivar's legs brush against my shins underwater and I froze, looking up at him to make sure I hadn't hurt him. Seeing that his facial expression hadn't changed I continued.

His calloused hands rested at the small of my back as I straddled his waist. His fingers gently traced shapes in my skin as he took in my image. I was nervous to sit lower, not wanting my sex to be so close to his but I didn't have much of a choice as Ivar's hands pushed me down further, forcing the contact. The heat of his body against me made me shiver. Ivar felt my body react from him and groaned, digging his fingers into my hips. My breasts were pressed against his chest, my hands resting on the wooden rim of the tub on either side of his head to hold myself up.

The feeling of his fingers digging into me caused my hips to rock back and forth, the friction only making my arousal even more evident. Ivar's hand traveled up my back until his fingers were again tangled in my hair. With a handful of my wet locks he brought my face closer to his until we were inches apart. My eyes were locked on his luscious lips, to scared to look him in the eyes. I could feel his heavy breaths coming from his parted lips just before they crashed against mine. His mouth dominated mine as he kissed me. His hand at my hip slid down until he had a handful of my ass, squeezing tightly.

I moaned into his kiss as my lips parted. Ivar waisted no time, as soon as he felt my lips part his tongue was inside and exploring my mouth. He tasted of ale as his tongue danced with my own.

Ivar pulled this lips from mine, breaking our kiss. My lips tried to follow his as he pulled back making him laugh at my desire for him. "Do you want to fuck me, Briet?" Ivar whispered, his voice thick with want.

Leaning forward I planted small kisses on his jaw and down to his neck, my hands roaming his muscular chest. "Mmm, Ivar," I moaned as he pulled my head back by my hair so I had no choice but to look him in his eyes.

"Answer me, girl." His hand at my hip moved slowly around to my front as his fingers slid in-between my legs to my entrance.

My eyes rolled back in my head as I felt the slightest pressure of the tip of his finger starting to invade me. "Ivar... you can't" I breathed out, wanting to feel him.

My breath caught in my throat but not from pleasure. Ivar's hand was like a vice around my neck, restricting my airway. My eyes shot open to meet his while my hands clung to his, desperately trying to pry his fingers away. His eyes held a madness in them that I'd never seen before, an evil that scared me to my core. My body was thrashing involuntarily against his making water slosh out of the tub and onto the ground around us. My lips moved but no sound came out as I silently begged him to release me. His lips were turned down in a scowl as he watched my struggle, his eyes blinking from the water that was splashing up in his face.

My vision was starting to blur at the corners as his grip grew tighter. I was lightheaded and becoming increasingly exhausted from fighting. With one final attempt I reached my hand out to his face, trying to claw at his eyes. Ivar moved out of the way of my assault, grabbing my wrist with his free hand and turning back to me with a demonic smile.

Whimpering softly my vision went black as my heart raced faster. I was dizzy now from lack of oxygen ... this was it. My fingers that tightly gripped his hand loosened before they fell into the water. My head bobbed backwards before my body slowly started to go limp. In this instance Ivar finally let go. With my release my body fell back into the water. Being completely submerged brought me back. The feeling of the water entering my burning lungs ripped me from the place before death. Rising from the water with such force I caused even more water to spill from the bath.

My jaw felt as though it was unhinged as I came up from the water and gasped for air with shrieking sounds. Gripping ahold of the wooden bath I held on for dear life because I was still dizzy from almost being choked.

"Get out." Ivar sneered, looking away from my heaving body.

Slowly turning, I glanced at him through teary eyes. "Ivar, I'm-"

The back of his hand had collided with my cheek making my head snap in the opposite direction from the force. I was stunned as the sting erupted on my cheek like fire. I clamored my way out of the bath like a newborn deer trying to walk for the first time. Snatching my now half soaked dress from the ground I hugged it again my body trying to hide my nakedness from the monster behind me.

Fumbling with the fabric I finally tossed it over my head, pushing my arms through the sleeves and covered myself. I'd never felt so awkward in my life, like I wanted to sink into myself and disappear. Hot tears were streaming down my face as I sat on the floor, my legs brought into my chest as my arms wrapped around them. My forehead was resting on my knees, hiding my face as I silently sobbed.

I listened as Ivar crawled out of the tub, water dripping onto the floor as he pulled his legs from the water and sat on the steps. I had no idea what to do; to leave, to stay... do I continue with my servant duties? I prayed that Thor would strike me down so I could be free from this tension.

Sucking in my bottom lip I bit down to stifle the sobs that were washing over me. The tingling in my cheek was finally starting to ebb though I could tell it would brush from how tender it felt.

Ivar's hand startled me as he gently laid it on my shoulder. I froze, hoping if I didn't move I'd somehow disappear. Ivar's hand moved across my back to the opposite shoulder and with one swift move he brought me into his chest. My forehead rested on his collar bone while my arms wrapped around his waist as I sobbed harder. His lips pressed against the top of my head as he left gentle kisses while his arms wrapped around me, holding me close.

"I'm sorry, little one." He whispered into my ear.

When my sobs had finally subsided Ivar tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear with gentle fingers. I looked up at him with dry and burning eyes from having cried as hard as I had. "I think you should go. I'll call on you in the morning." Ivar said softly.

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Sleep would not take me. Tossing and turning in the uncomfortable straw bed I was forced to sleep in with the other slaves only made me wish to be back in Ivar's. My thoughts were all over the place; from being made Ivar's personal slave, to his his hands around my neck, his fingers between my thighs and then to his assault. His constant change of emotion left me in a whirlwind and unable to silence my mind to sleep.

I'd left the barn with all of the sleeping thralls and walked back into the great hall where I found embers still glowing in the hearth. Crossing my ankles I sat down, adding more wood to the embers to start a bigger flame. I stared at the dancing flames as they flicked this wet and that. The longer I stared into the chaos to quieter my mind became, finally leaving me in peace.

My eyes were finally starting to become heavy when footsteps started to echo through the hall. They grew louder until they stopped behind me.

"Briet?" Sigurd towered over me as I turned and looked up at him. My eyelids felt like they weighed a ton from not sleeping as I stared. "Gods, what happened?!"

Sigurd kneeled down in front of me, tucking my messy hair behind my ear so he could see my cheek. My brows furrowed in confusion, how would he know Ivar struck me? "Did Ivar give you this bruise?"

My fingers felt like ice as the tips gently rubbed at my sore cheek. I looked passed the boy as my hand fell into my lap, nodding my head in response.

"I'm going to kill him!" Sigurd hissed, fist clenched as he shot up to his feet.

"Who are we killing, dear brother?" Ivar's sing-song voice startled the both of us as the youngest son slithered into view.

"You," Sigurd snapped. "Look what you've done to her, you monster!"

"Are you telling me how to punish my slave?" Ivar put extra emphasis on the word 'my', no doubt to cement the matter even further in my mind.

"You are acting like a child. She's not a toy, she's a human. Ivar you cannot fuck with someone's life just because it pleases you-"

Sigurd was cut off as the wooden doors of the hall opened with force. Sigurd, Ivar and myself all turned to the door to see who had made such a dramatic entrance. Standing in the doorway was the eldest Ragnarsson, Bjorn Ironside.

"Brothers," he greeted, walking further into the hall. He had grown into a man since the last I saw him. His long blond hair was pulled back into an intricate braid that cascaded down his back. His long and lanky limbs had filled out with muscles that were defined even under his thick tunic. I always thought Bjorn was handsome growing up and now that I see the man that he's become I felt that familiar childhood adoration coming back.

Bjorn looked down at me as I was still sitting by the fire and smiled. "I remember you," he smiled, holding out his hand for me to take. I placed my cold hand in his warm one as he tugged me to my feet. I came up just below his shoulders as I stood looking up into his familiar eyes. "Briet?"

I smelled and nodded my head, "Hello, Bjorn."

"You are a slave now?" He asked, looking over my clothes which signified my new social standing.

Ivar sucked on his teeth before he answered for me. "Yes, brother. My slave." Ivar pulled himself up onto a nearby chair, grunting as he did so. "Her punishment, as it was."

Bjorn cocked his head to the side in confusion as his eyes went from Ivar to myself. I saw Ivar's smile quickly turn to a scowl as he silently told me to keep quiet.

"Punishment?" Bjorn questioned. "For what?"

"Does it matter?" Ivar shot back. "Speaking of, you are late preparing breakfast." Ivar shooed me away with a wave of his hand.

Taking the silent hint I made my way away from the brothers and to the kitchen where I was met with Margrethe. I wanted to smack the smug grin right of her face as she looked at me from across the kitchen as she turned the eggs in the iron skillet. I could imagine the snide comments that were bouncing around in her head which only made me loath her more.

A/N:

Sorry this was such a shit chapter D: