So been researching African characters in Arthuriana and interesting tidbit--Iseult is at least partially African in Strassburg's version!
I actually think this could be an interesting dynamic to add to her and Palamedes' relationship, with the pair of them bonding over being the children of immigrants.
Description: ivars “little princess’ wants to train so you help her out
you and ivar had 3 children together now. Uhtred age 10 and the twins Finan and Iselut age 7, and another one on to be born very soon. (or so the healers say.)
You were beginning to think that ivar was going to get you with child as many times as possible, just to prove he could.
Ivar took up training the boys, they were natural fighters already, they were skilled in there own ways just like him, but they just needed some tutoring to rein in there stubbornness and there egos that caused them to think they were better than each other.
every time they would train, iseult would sit close by, aimlessly picking at the threads and the seams of her dress or trying to build the confidence to ask to join. She didn’t know why she was frightened. She was her father ‘little princess’ who could do wrong, any harm done to her ivar would chuck the culprits into the water and hold their heads down until the bubbles stoped and then offer there corpse to the gods.
But in truth she was scared her brothers were going to embarrass her or she was going to embarrass herself infront of them.
you were a shield maiden for most of your life before you married ivar and you were a darn good fighter as well, you only stoped fighting when you got pregnant and ivar wanted to keep you safe. And iseult looked up to you.
you watched the boys train occasionally when you were bored of being confined to your chambers and you tried not to snicker as the boys fell sometimes, then your eye caught iseult, she was always sitting on on top of a barrel in the yard anxiously picking at the seams of her dress as she kept looking over to ivar and her brothers.
it broke your heart at her being nervous to ask to join, she was a good girl, shy, sweet but she had a temper like ivar and the rest of her family. she was just nervous and you wished ivar would notice that.
One day you had enough and walked over to her. “You know. If you want to join just ask them” you told her, making her jump.
“I-I can’t ask them, uhtred said I’m to small and won’t even be able to hold anything.” she pouted softly and glanced over to the pile of weapons in the yard.
“Uhtred also thinks he will grow up to marry a Valkyrie” you said matter of factly and iseult giggled. “Besides who said anything about a heavy weapon?” You asked her and she looked at you confused
You looked around and found a small bow and arrow on the table, you picked it up and gestured her to jump down.
She hopped down and you handed her the bow and slotted in the arrow for her. “Ok keep your hand here…and draw back to your cheek” you instructed and she did as you said.
You helped her position and aimed it at the barrel that was in the direction off ivar and the boys. “Ok…when You’re ready ok” you told her and she nodded nervously before letting go.
The arrow file past the ivar and the boys. Almost catching finan on the cheek as it hit the barrel.
And all the 3 boys turned to look at her and ivar let out a suprised laugh
