Chapter Text
Introduction
He watched with a vehemence and fierce concentration that made his brothers slightly uncomfortable. A tall, voluptuous figure roamed the great hall with precision and evading the attention of many of the men there. Her long golden hair fell to her full waist and lightly tanned skin shimmer with a golden hue in the morning sun. Envy is present in almost every woman in Kattegat because of her features. Ocean blue eyes that emitted a tranquility that seemed otherworldly, but held an intensity that is fierce and ironclad in its strength.
His own blue eyes sought her out with a vengeance daily and without fail. For weeks now since she had been captured as a slave and sold into the Queen’s household. Many wanted her in their beds, but she never paid them any mind. A soul-piercing stare full of ice-fire is all it took for them to move onto another slave. They felt intimidated by her, slaves and men alike. Well, most men that is. His own brothers wanted her in addition to having Margrethe, but he will not let them. She is his.
They never saw beyond her exotic beauty. They did not see the slight limp in her gait, the slight discomfort when she shifts her stance, the slight embarrassment when she had to shift her seating position, or the slight rigidness in her lower back to keep it active and concentrated on keeping her central balance. They did not see how hard she pushed herself to grow stronger to combat the hindrance. How she is shadowed over by the smaller, more delicate, slave girls because of her taller stature. Slaves like that blasted bitch Margrethe.
Ivar knew what she went through more than most would know. For his own crippled legs caused him grief on a daily basis for himself and those around him. Even his own brothers cannot fully comprehend it. But she did. She did not once look upon him with contempt, disgust, fear, or pity. His legs were useless. Practically dead weight because he could not use them, but she didn’t seem to care. Always looking him in the eyes as his face drew more attention than his crippled legs did. She never once asked or said anything about them. However, she would look at his legs with a thoughtful and curious expression more often than not. He did not understand her at times. This slave woman catching his attention like it was effortless and without consequence.
At first, Ivar was angry at her for it. Angry that she unintentionally and indirectly demanded his attention. Distracting him from most other things whenever she was nearby. There were times when he found himself heading towards her before turning back the way he had intended on going in the first place. It made him angry at himself for being so distracted by a new woman. Especially when his brothers had been the same when Margrethe appeared in their lives. It disgusted and confused him immensely. To think that a gorgeous woman such as she would have ever paid any attention to a cripple like him. Ha! Just the thought of it was hilarious!
Now, however, it only made him both curious and cautious. Curious enough that Ivar found himself feeling a pull in her direction and observing her every move, taking in her every expression, and hearing what bit of her voice he could make out in the rambunctious noises in the Great Hall. He wanted to get to know the thrall more and have her undivided attention. Even more so than his mothers. It both awed and frightened him. But that’s also why he is being cautious. To have such a strong pull towards a woman that he had only made eye contact with several times in the past. Because of this, he felt like a wolf on the prowl and she is his prize to a possible successful hunt.
Ivar wanted her to be his personal thrall. Just so he could keep her close and all to himself. He is a very selfish man and did not share what is his ever. What he wanted is what he will get. It is only a matter of time before it happened.