fernweh.
ivar x reader
word count: 967
synopsis: ivar wants nothing more than to feel the rush of discovering distant places, especially when he feels as though he doesn’t belong in kattegat; so he offers her a proposition
(credit to owner of gif)
—
“Run away with me.”
It was a simple statement, one that he didn’t regret saying in the slightest as they both lay down in the meadows above their village. He was of the age, now, where he felt he knew what he wanted; and he wanted freedom. To have a life where he could roam free from the burdens set upon him by his family and people. And to finally live his life with her by his side.
“Why are you saying this?” (Y/N) questioned, turning her body so that she was facing him. “You can’t run away now, you’ve got important things to do.”
“Like what, (y/n)? All my jobs have been given to my brothers as have yours to your fellow thralls. I say that we have nothing to do.” He smirked, copying her movement so he was facing her.
“As a matter of fact, I have many tasks that need doing. I have to look after you, don’t I, and I’d say that’s a pretty trying task.” She laughed.
He groaned, “you know what I mean. I just mean we have no real need to be here and no one would miss us if we left. So, why not leave now?”
“One, you are an anointed prince, son of Ragnar and Aslaug, and you have many duties that you must uphold to your people. Two, there are plenty of people who would miss you, the most important being your mother. And three, we have nowhere to go and I am not prepared to let you die in the wilderness when I am certain that your future is far greater than death from exposure.”
She was right. Not only had the seer muttered for-telling’s of his great future but his mother as well and he was not one to ever doubt his mother’s prophecies. He had done that once and made himself look like a fool and he wasn’t prepared to do that again.
“Why do you always do what’s right?” He groaned, “you saving my skin has become a reoccurring thing in these past few years.”
“That is because I am clever and you give me much less credit than I deserve.” She giggled, moving closer to him.
Ivar sighed, “if I stay, I can’t be sure what is to happen of me- or us for that matter- I will be whisked away by mother and kept safely packaged under her wing like she always wanted.”
“You won’t.”
“And why do you say that?”
“Because I won’t let her.” (Y/N smiled, “not as easily as you think, anyway. I want to watch you grow up into the person you always talk about. I want to raid and pillage with you and advise you in battle against the Christians. I want to ride with you, wind coursing through my hair, and end up in some unknown English land that has never been sung about.” She looked at him for a moment before carrying on, “let me be the one to help you, Ivar. I know at the moment I am of no use, but I will get stronger. Please, let me become a shield maiden and fight alongside you. If you train me, I know I can be the best I can be!”
Ivar thought for a moment. Was it true that if he let Kattegat so soon that he would fall into nothing? He was sure he wouldn’t, but (y/n) was right about one thing. He did want to conquer English soils and have songs sung about him in his later days.
“If that is what you wish, then I shall allow it,” he said, watching as her smile burst into an array of colour. “But on one condition.”
She looked shocked, but replied quickly, “and what would that be?”
“You let me sort out the regime and what practice we are to do.” He smirked, knowing that she was expecting him to say something else.
(Y/N) punched him playfully, “you’re so annoying! I thought you were going to say something meaningful, like ‘as long as I have you by my side when we take on the world’ or something like that!”
“Why should I bother telling you something that we both know will happen anyway?” He watched as her eyes traced his own, knowing she was trying to figure out what he was thinking. “You have been by my side for so long, now, I almost think you’ll never leave.”
They both laughed as (y/n) rested her face on his chest. It was true. They had been together for so long, now; defending each other from people’s beliefs and assumptions about their friend. Ivar had almost lost count how many times (y/n) stuck up for him over the years.
He remembered the day he first met her, she was a slave then, a petite girl of only six and he of the same age. He had found her in the meadow, the same meadow they laid in now, wildflowers trapped between her teeth in a tight bouquet for his mother. She was hers then. Bound to do anything Aslaug set her to do and that day she was to gather flowers to decorate the table with for the great summer feast.
They had both gotten along quickly, despite his stubbornness to accept her friendship, and there they were now. Ten years down the line with nothing changing.
“I don’t think I could image myself anywhere else but here.” She said quietly but he still heard.
“Oh? But I thought you wanted to travel to many places?”
“I do, but, in the long run, I can only see myself here with you.” She said looking at the clouds above them.
“Well then, I suppose we shall have to put our travel plans on hold.”
