Thank you to KuroEngel_OG for the prompt for this story.

Not too long ago, she had been happy. She was to be married to the boy she loved; their nuptials not only creating a stronger alliance with Hedeby, but it would also bring back together an extended family.

(Y/n) was the daughter of Lagertha and a man that the fierce shieldmaiden would never name; her mother always telling her when she might ask about the man that helped create her, that she was not to worry, that she was a gift from the gods for not only her, but Björn too. (Y/n) always told about her older sister Gyda, about how she had died. The young woman always feeling that she had to be the best she could be, not just for her own sake, but to honour her sister's memory. And she had done that, for even at her still young age, her skills as a fighter were said to almost rival those of her mother. So perhaps that was why her mother had not been too happy when a marriage between (Y/n) and one of the sons of Aslaug had been spoken of; a marriage that was not to be to the queen's oldest son........but to her youngest, the cripple, Ivar. Lagertha seeming to see the match as an insult to her family, it not enough that Aslaug had bewitched Ragnar and taken him from her; now she had to offer her crippled son to marry her beautiful daughter. Yet the Earl had seemed to change her mind when she had seen her daughter and Ivar together; seen how they looked and smiled at one another, Lagertha finally relenting; her mother telling her that if Ivar made her happy, then cripple or not, she would celebrate the marriage.

Yet all that had been before the arrow. All notion of being happy, of being with the boy she loved; of the times that they would spend together, just talking, kissing and making love, promising to love one another even into the next life, had been taken away from her, as Lagertha had shot Aslaug in the back. (Y/n) aware that Ivar would never forgive her mother.......would never forgive her for her mother's actions. So, here she stood, next to her mother's throne, gripping at the hilt of her sword, as there was a sudden commotion on the great hall. The crowd parting to reveal not only Ubbe, but Ivar to. (Y/n)'s heart pounding in her chest, as she saw the look in the young Ragnarsson's eyes.

"Mother........" Lagertha saying nothing, as both women watched Ivar drag himself across the floor. The look he gave her, as he came to a stop and Lagertha rose, like a twisted knife in her guts. (Y/n) pulling her sword from its sheath as her mother picked up a sword of her own and made her way down the dais towards Ivar. Ubbe raising his axe, as (Y/n) slowly followed. Her heart about to beat from her chest as the oldest son of Aslaug moved behind them. (Y/n) knowing that Ubbe would be difficult to beat, if he were to attack.

Suddenly the doors to the hall were thrown open. Lagertha and (Y/n), along with everyone else, turning their attention to the men in the open doorway. A sense of relief crashing over the young shieldmaiden as her eyesight adjusted, and there she saw him.......her brother.......Björn.

"If you kill her......kill my sister, my brothers......you will have to kill me too." Björn told Ubbe and Ivar.

"Maybe we should........." Ivar countered, as he looked up at the bear of a man that stood over him. (Y/n) wishing, that just for once, Ivar would keep some things to himself.

"Shut up........." Ubbe simply said, thankfully being the voice of reason. (Y/n) sheathing her sword as he moved to her side. Sure, that he would no longer dare do anything now that their brother was stood before them, despite him still holding the axe.

"She killed our mother............" Ubbe continued, gesturing toward Lagertha.

"I know.....you want revenge, so would I.......so would (Y/n). But more importantly, we have to avenge our father......that is why I came back......." Björn replied, as he looked between Ubbe and his sister. (Y/n)'s eyes firmly set on Ivar who still refused to look at her.

"And that is what we are going to do........." Lagertha dropping the sword in front of Ivar at her son's words. Ubbe finally lowering his axe, before he slowly made his way from the hall. Ivar growling in frustration, before joining him. Björn making his way over to his mother and sister, smiling slightly at (Y/n) before leaning in to speak to Lagertha.

"So, you had your revenge........" He continued, just loud enough for his mother and sister to hear. Lagertha nodding slightly, before Björn made his way to his sister and embraced her.

                                                  >>---------------------------------------<<

Kattegat was finally quiet, yet sleep had not found her. (Y/n) wanting nothing more than to go and find Ivar after what had happened; yet she knew that it would be wrong to leave her mother's side, given what Ivar and Ubbe had done. She had to stand with her mother, her brother, even though she did not completely agree with what her mother had done. Yet this was her family, and now more than ever, they had to be united. But now......now she could think of nothing but Ivar. Of nothing but speaking to him and reminding him that she was not her mother, she was still the girl that he claimed to love; that her mother's actions, were not hers, and she still loved him. The young shieldmaiden pulling a hooded cloak around her shoulders before making her way from her room and onto the quiet streets of the town. Her feet instinctively leading her to the fjord; her heart fit to burst as she saw a familiar form sat on the dock. Her movements slow, as she approached him.

"Ivar.........."

"Go away.........." He retorted angrily, before throwing another stone into the water.

"Ivar please.......I know what my mother did was............I am still me, Ivar, and I still love you; I still want nothing more than to marry you. To have your children, and.............."

"I never loved you.........." Ivar countered, turning around and glaring at her.

"You are lying. I know you love me............." (Y/n) defied, as she took a step forward.

"Am I........that just shows how stupid you really are then, (Y/n). That you believed for one minute anything I said to you........I was using you. My brother's had Margarethe, and I wanted something too.......and I must say your legs opened far quicker than I could have hoped. You mean nothing more to me than any other whore that might warm my bed. All I had to do was tell you what you wanted to hear, and your mouth was around my cock......there was never going to be a wedding, (Y/n). Never anything more between us than the fact that you gave me what I wanted. But now I am done with you......I never want to see your face again. So, go back to your mother and Björn and leave me alone..........." Ivar told her. Each word filled with pure venom, as his blue eyes looked into hers. Blue eyes that had so often looked at her with what she had been sure was pure love; but now......now there was nothing but hate. Her heart shattering as she stood there for a moment longer; her pride refusing to let the tears that so desperately wanted to fall from leaving her eyes. The shieldmaiden wrapping her cloak a little tighter around her form, before she simply turned and left him.

                                                           >>------------------------------------<<

Run, that was all she could think of doing. The tears clouding her vision as she finally dropped to her knees in the woods. Ivar's words going around and around in her head. She was sure he was lying; that he was saying all those things to her, because he knew that it would hurt her, and now that he could not kill her mother, she was the easier target. But........but if it were true, and all those words of love, all the promises that he had made were just so that she would give herself to him, and nothing more, then what was the point in living any longer. Her love for him now crushing her; her heart so broken that she knew that it could never be fixed. Her hand reaching for the dagger in her belt. The moonlight that crept through the dark, leafy canopy overhead, catching the blade and making it shine. The thought of one day sitting in the Halls of Valhalla, gone, as she raised her blade to her heart.

"Forgive me, Odin............" She said softly, before closing her eyes. More tears making their way down her cheeks, as she moved to plunge the blade into her chest. Yet before she could strike the killer blow, she felt a hand over hers. Her eyes flying open, growing wide, as she saw the pale haired, one-eyed man in front of her.

"Odin..........?" She questioned, her voice barely above a whisper. The man just taking the dagger from her hands before helping her to her feet and wrapping his cloak around her, before leading her further into the woods.