The sun was just peaking up over the mountain tops when I made it back into town. The rumbling in my stomach grew even more uncomfortable as the smells of smoked meats and spices wafted passed my nose. I looked down at Vidar who trotted next to me, panting happily. I wondered when it was the last time he had anything to eat. Sticking my hand into the coin pouch tied to my belt, I found two coins and hoped it would do to get enough for the both of us.

After some haggling, I managed to get two nice sized smoked fish as well as half a loaf fo bread. Escaping the now bustling market, I took Vidar to a quiet place by the sand and we both dug in. The pup hungrily devoured his food before I had a chance to even pick at my fish. When he finished, he licked at the crumbs around his mouth and then looked up at me with his striking amber eyes. I reached out a scratched at his ear, "That's enough, don't want to get an upset belly."

"Are you talking to that animal?" Ivar asked, his tone a teasing one as he crawled up next to me, moving his legs around to the front of him so he was sitting as comfortably as he could get.

The pups' tail stopped wagging as he saw Ivar next to me. I turned and watched Ivars' lips turn down for a moment in a scowl before he reached out to the wolf and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and brought him up so that the two were face to face. Ivar examined the animal, turning him from left to right before he finally put Vidar back onto the ground. "Hmm, so this is why you didn't come home last night."

Home? That word seemed like such a foreign concept to me. I haven't felt at home since the death of my father. And to hear Ivar imply that his home is mine and where I belong left me even more confused, particularly because of the events at the feast.

"Home?" I questioned.

Vidar nipped at Ivar's fingers as he reached out to me. He pushed the pup away from the two of us, angry that the animal had tried to bite him. "Yes, home. You know, where you live?" He spoke mockingly. "You did not return after the feast."

"To be honest with you, Ivar," I spat, "I didn't know if I was even welcome."

Ivar furrowed his brows. "And what makes you feel so unwelcome, hmm?"

"Don't play stupid with me. You and Ubbe planned your revenge on Lagertha and not only did you not speak to me for days before hand, you didn't bother to tell me. And when you had your men detain the ones you knew were loyal to Lagertha you had me captured as well!" My voice was loud as I yelled but I didn't care who heard. I was sick of his mind games.

"So you think that I don't trust you?"

In that moment, everything made sense. "I never once said that I thought you didn't trust me. You were the one who said it. And honestly, now I know that you don't." I sighed loudly in frustration, "Loki! I was an idiot to believe you the other night."

The fire lit behind his eyes and I knew that I must have struck a nerve. "Believe me about what, because I said a lot of things to you." Ivar moved so that he was almost on top of me. His chest was pressed against my shoulder as he looked down at me making me feel impossibly small beside him. My heart was racing in my chest and I could already feel my body tensing, waiting for whatever physical assault was about to take place.

Ivar's hand moved to the back of my neck, he used his fingers to move my head so that I was not only looking him in the eyes but also so that I couldn't escape. "You don't believe me when I said that I thought about you every day I was away from you? Or don't you believe that I love you?" His grip grew tighter and I moved uncomfortably under him. "Which is it, Briet?"

"I-I didn't mean that,"

"Well then what did you mean?" He snarled. Vidar started growling, his hair on the back of his neck standing at attention as he saw Ivar hurting me.

"I meant about you believing and trusting me when I said I didn't have any part in your mother's death!" I whimpered in a small voice.

Ivar grinned, his smile menacing as he loosened his grip slightly. "And how do you know that it is because I don't believe you that I had you held by one of my men? Did you stop and think that maybe it's because I didn't want you hurt should a fight break out?"

I looked up at him with wide eyes and I could feel my heart start to swell in my chest. Ivar's lips caught mine and I melted into him, wrapping my arms around his torso. For a moment, I felt stupid for having doubted him and his feelings towards me but it didn't last long. "Or maybe I had my men capture you because I didn't like how close Florian was getting to you..."

He had my head spinning and I couldn't get a grip. How did he know about Florian? Before I could say anything in my defense he quickly changed the subject. "I want you to come with me to see Floki."

"You should just leave him," Ivar yelled back at me. Floki had been carrying Ivar on his back for what felt like miles through the woods all the while I struggled to keep up. Not because I couldn't physically handle it but because Vidar was running off in all directions. After the first couple of times of him legitimately wandering it then turned into a game.

Floki giggled as he pushed on through the brush, carrying the youngest Ragnarson. "Hmph," I groaned before diving in the direction of the wolf. I finally caught him and pulled him into my chest to keep him from escaping and running again. I had no intention of letting him down for the rest of the hike. I rose to my feet and jogged to catch up with the two men.

"Why do you insist on keeping it?" Ivar rolled his eyes as I finally caught up. "You should have left it in the woods and saved yourself the trouble."

"Is that what Ragnar should have done with you?" Floki said in a faked serious tone.

Though I did not find it funny, I did have to hide my smile at Floki's quick-witted remark. I watched as Ivar, for the first time, struggled for a retort.

"The two of them are kindred spirits. Orphaned at a young age and now both kept in captivity."

Ivar looked down at me from his spot on Floki's back as he spoke. "Is that it? I have you as my captive?" Ivar teased.

I rolled my eyes in response which caused his smile to grow even wider. Floki stopped in a small clearing of trees. In the middle of the clearing was a white horse clad in beautiful almost all black armor around its body with a matching face plate. Attached to the sides of the horse were two wooden planks that led back to what looked like a cart that was cut in half, leaving only enough room for a single person.

"What is this?" Ivar questioned as he took in the sight before him.

Floki took in a deep breath, his smile pure and proud as he spoke, "It's your legs, Ivar. Your wings."

"Is... is it really for me?" His voice was like a child. Looking up into his eyes, I saw the tears welling in them.

Floki took Ivar to the chariot and helped him get situated inside and within moments of having been strapped in, he tugged at the reigns and the horse took off into the woods, its hooves filling the air with a thunderous sound.

"You've out done yourself, Floki." I complimented.

Floki giggled, turning on his heal to look at me. "Thank you, Briet Njalsdottir." Floki took a few lanky steps towards me until he was in front of me. His long fingers took a lock of my hair and twirled it around as he spoke. "You look so much like your mother, Helga misses her so."

I gave him a closed lip smile. I never knew my mother, but I knew that my parents were good friends with Floki, Helga, Ragnar and Lagertha and were among the first to sail west with Ragnar.

"Ivar seems happy," He noted, letting my hair fall from his fingers so he could pet Vidar who was trying to nip at his fingers playfully. Floki giggled as I pushed the dog into his arms.

"He does. I'm sure his chariot will aid him greatly in the coming battles."

Vidar licked at Floki's bearded chin which made the old carpenter snicker before he put the pup down. "I was talking about the two of you. He seems truly happy. The gods have a funny way of bring people together."

I couldn't stop the scoff as he came out of my lips. "A funny way of bringing people together?" I repeated. "Ivar stripped me of my freedom and made me a slave, his slave, to humiliate me for just being friends with Lagertha!"

"And yet here you are, a free woman again and tied to him."

"I don't even know why." I sighed. "He doesn't believe me that I had nothing to do with his mothers' death, that I am not in league with Lagertha and that I don't plot against him. He is cruel to me, plays mind games, ignores me for days and then acts as if nothing is wrong. I love him, Floki and though he was the first to say it, I don't even think he knows what love is." Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as I spilled out how I felt to Floki but I had no time to cry and he had no time to speak as the sounds of hoof beats drew near.

"We leave for England on the next full moon." Ivar spoke from his spot near the hearth. He was mindlessly sharpening the blade of his axe.

"That is next week," was all I could think to say in response as I poked at the food on my plate in front of me.

"I thought you would be more excited to sail." Ivar chuckled, still focused on his work.

"I... I didn't think you wanted me to go with you."

Ivar set his axe and sharpening stone down on his lap as he turned to look at me with a questioning look. "And why wouldn't I want you to come with me, hmm?"

I looked down at my plate of half eaten food, not at all in the mood to play his mind games. Ivar let the axe and stone fall to the floor while he turned and moved towards me, crawling up on the chair next to me. I saw his hand move towards me and I instinctively winced, waiting for him to grab my face or my hair and pull me harshly to him. Instead, his touch was gentle. The backs of fingers brushed down my cheek and under my chin to gently tilt my head up so that I was looking at him.

Ivar moved, closing the small distance between us and placed a long and gentle kiss on my lips. I breathed in shakily, nervous for the potential pain he would inflict but also just breathing in his scent.

"I left you once, Briet and it almost killed me. I do not wish to be away from you again."

I moved from my seat and onto his, straddling him while I wrapped my arms around his neck. My fingers spread out in his soft chestnut hair while I kissed him passionately. I waisted no time and pushed my tongue passed his lips and met his.

His hands were on my hips before they moved down to cup my ass. His fingers squeezed around my firm behind before his hands roamed up my back, pulling me closer still to his chest. Our kiss deepened more and I could feel that spark between my legs. I moaned as the feeling grew uncomfortable and I began to grind my hips against his.

My hand moved down to his crotch where I began to gently rub his soft cock. I knew Ivar had some troubles getting up, but I didn't care how long it would take. I kept at it until Ivar growled and pushed me from him. I landed on the floor with a yelp and looked up at him, confused.

He turned towards the table, his head snapping in the other direction with a sour look painted on his face. Getting up on my knees, I shuffled to him and placed my hand gently on his knee before I rested back on my haunches.

"Ivar, please. I do-"

"Don't." He snapped back.

"Ivar," I pressed but was unable to continue.

"I can't... I can't tonight." His voice cracked ever so slightly.

"I don't care, Ivar. I still love you..." I reached up and kissed his cheek but just as my lips met his cheek he pushed me away with his arm.

His silence tore at my heart but I kept telling myself that he was dealing with his own mental insecurities. I stood up and leaned over the back of his chair, wrapping my arms around him in a tight, reassuring hug. I wasn't lying, I knew about his problem and the insecurities it caused him but it didn't change the way I felt about him.

"Why did you think I wouldn't take you to England?" His voice was monotone as he spoke.

My arms loosened and I stood up, flattening the fabric of my dress with my palms. "I thought because you didn't trust me that you wouldn't want to take me with you."

Ivar spun in his chair, his eyes on fire as he glared at me. "That is precisely why I am taking you with me. I don't trust you and you've proven that I cannot leave you alone."

"So that bit earlier about you being so heartbroken without me was a lie?" I spat, stepping back from him.

My words seemed to strike something in him, maybe even hurt him. I watched his expression drop for just a moment before he sighed in frustration, turning back around to the table and poured himself a cup of ale. "Make sure your things are packed."