Chapter Text
Ivar was curious about the girl, she appeared small and somewhat underfed but her eyes made her look older than time itself. Ivar watched as Ubbe had introduced them to the girl, almost laughing when she couldn’t pronounce Hvitserk’s name properly. Helga had invited them all inside and after Helga had served a meal the girl was digging around a drawer looking for something before running over to Helga and asking her to play. Helga had merely smiled before motioning to Ivar himself.
The girl had approached him almost cautiously before lifting the bag, “Ivar?”
Ivar had been so shocked that she had remembered his name that his tone came across sharp, “What?”
“Play?” she held the bag of pieces a little higher, a small glimmer of hope in her eyes that had Ivar rolling his eyes and nodding.
Ivar hadn’t expected much from her. He certainly hadn’t expected her to win any of their games but she had. And any game she didn’t win, she had dug her heels in and dragged it out to the bitter end. Ivar hadn’t been so entertained by a game of chess in ages. None of his brother’s were very good except Bjorn and even then, it was still an easy win. Neri, however, seemed to see the board like he did, calculating each move with care even when she knew she’s lose.
“What is your home like?” Bjorn had asked, trying to draw the girl away from the new round she and Ivar had just started.
“Home?” She hadn’t understood what Bjorn was asking, much to his dismay.
“She doesn’t understand Bjorn.” Ivar said, not liking that Bjorn was trying to take her attention.
“Calm down Ivar, Bjorn is only asking.” Ubbe had placated, not wanting to start a fight in front of the shy girl.
But as the afternoon rolled on, all the brother’s seemed to notice that the girl couldn’t care a wit if they got loud in a discussion or even when Hvitserk and Ubbe had gotten rowdy when recalling a hunt. Neri would look over and smile before turning back to the game and her slow conversation with Ivar.
“Do you have brothers?” Bjorn had asked, watching the girl not even flinch when Hvitserk and Sigurd had wrestled over a piece of fruit.
Neri had taken a moment before realizing that Bjorn was talking to her, nodding in response while giving Bjorn a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“How many?” Sigurd asked, curious enough to speak to the girl for the first time.
Ivar watched as Neri’s brow scrunched together before she heaved a small sigh and held up five fingers. Ivar could see the sadness in her eyes and could almost sympathize. He may claim to hate most of his brothers on any given day but to be separated from them and have no idea where they were would be horrific. They had departed not long after that and Ivar spent most of the journey back thinking about the strange little girl.
“Ivar, you are being awfully quiet.” His mother said as they sat for dinner that evening.
“Ivar got beaten in chess by Floki’s new daughter.” Sigurd supplied, meaning for the comment to drag Ivar into an argument by Ivar simply nodded, not really paying attention.
“Ivar?”
“Yes, mother?” Ivar responded, looking up from his plate.
“Are you alright?” she asked, looking very concerned.
“I am fine. I’m going back to Floki’s tomorrow.” Ivar said before resuming his meal.
If Ivar had been paying attention he would have noticed the look of shock on his mother’s face and the surprise of his brothers when he ignored Sigurd’s taunts. But he wasn’t, he was replaying their chess game in his head, trying to guess Neri’s strategy. The following morning Ivar was the first to the table, eating quickly before heading off, ignoring his brother's offers of help. He wanted to make it to Floki’s before it started raining.
Ivar greeted Helga and Floki upon arriving before sitting across from Neri at the table, almost laughing with Floki when she practically inhaled her breakfast before rushing to get the chess board. Neri had lost the first game when the first sounds of rain began and Ivar turned when the door opened, only to be shocked by the wolf from yesterday coming inside. Ivar watched as Neri looked at Floki, and Floki simply shrugged watching the animal.
It was during their first round of hnefatafl that the wolf first came over to her, nearly startling her out of her chair. The beast simply laid its head on her lap and after several moments Neri began to gently scratch behind its ears while listening to Ivar explain the game as best he could. Neri was quick to catch on and before long she was stumbling through a conversation with Ivar.
“I should name?” Neri asked, looking at Ivar as he made his next move
“What?” Ivar said, looking at her in confusion.
“Name?” Neri questioned again, this time pointing at the wolf who had wandered over to the corner to lay down again.
Ivar shrugged before nodding and Neri spent several turns thinking of a name for the wolf. Ivar could feel Floki watching them and he could feel Helga smiling from behind him. He had just finished his move when Neri broke out into a smile before quickly turning to look at the wolf, startling the others in the room.
“Sól!”
The wolf simply lifted his head up, seeming to acknowledge the girl before giving a soft bark. Neri turned around and began to contemplate her next move while Ivar watched her.
“Why Sól?” he asked, leaning his elbows on the table.
“Eyes like sun.” Neri replied, carefully moving a game piece before looking at him.
“Sól is a woman. That wolf is male.” Ivar pointed out.
Neri simply shrugged, and Ivar let it be, not knowing how much of what she understood.
Ivar knew his behavior was off, he knew that Floki was watching him with curiosity. He also knew that he had no interest in scaring the girl. And, she was the first person who didn’t seem to pity him. Ivar didn’t want her to leave should he lose his temper with her and what was odd is that nothing she did agitated him.
The storm was slowing down after they had lunch together and not long after Bjorn had walked through Floki’s doorway. Ivar could feel a bubbling of anger stir in his chest only to be soothed when Neri poked his hand, drawing his attention back to the game. Floki and Bjorn exchanged greetings and Bjorn questioned the wolf before sitting next to Floki. Ivar watched Neri rub the wolf’s ear, almost humming to herself as they finished the game.
“Come Ivar, your mother wants you home for dinner.” Bjorn had stood as soon as Ivar had announced his victory.
“Do we have to go now?” Ivar asked and watched as Bjorn looked at him in shock, never having heard Ivar so polite.
“Yes, we need to leave before the rain comes again.” Bjorn replied, tone still expressing his disbelief.
Ivar sighed, knowing that he would have to leave before turning to Neri, “You come tomorrow?”
“Come?” Neri asked and Ivar had to hold himself back from laughing.
“Yes, you come tomorrow. We will play.” Ivar had spoken slowly and softly watching Neri’s face to gauge her understanding.
Neri had whipped her head around to look at Floki, a pout forming, and Ivar was glad she wasn’t looking at him because he knew he would laugh, “Floki, I go to Ivar?”
Ivar knew that Floki could not deny that look so he wasn’t surprised when Floki agreed.
Ivar had said his goodbye to Neri and had allowed Bjorn to carry him on his back with complaint. They were half way home when Bjorn spoke.
“Did you have a good day?” Bjorn asked, glancing at Ivar out of the corner of his eye.
Ivar simply nodded.
“I am glad you have made a friend, Ivar.” Bjorn said after a moment of silence.
“But?” Ivar asked, tone almost angry.
“No buts Ivar, I am happy for you.” Bjorn replied, and he could feel the tension leave Ivar’s body.
Dinner that night was interesting. Bjorn had mentioned that the wolf was now inside Floki’s cabin and that Neri had given it a name.
“Sól is male. Neri said his eyes look like the sun.” Ivar offered when Ubbe had questioned if the wolf was female.
“Perhaps the wolf will come with her tomorrow.” Bjorn said, drawing Aslaug attention.
“Tomorrow? What’s happening tomorrow?” Aslaug asked, eyes going from Bjorn to Ivar.
“I invited Neri to come here tomorrow. Floki will bring her in the morning.” Ivar said, eyes narrowing when his mother frowned.
“Ivar, is that a good idea?” Aslaug asked, not wanting to deny her son but not knowing how she felt about the girl she hadn’t met.
“I think it is.” Sigurd spoke up before Ivar could, shooting his brother a glance that said for once he was on Ivar’s side.
“Sigurd-”
“Sigurd, perhaps you’ll join us, you always tell me that girls like music.” Ivar spoke to Sigurd without venom in his voice for the first time ever and Sigurd merely nodded before resuming his dinner.
“She could be dangerous.” Aslaug spoke, not knowing what to do in the situation.
“Mother the girl is not dangerous.” Hvitserk snorted between bits, almost laughing at the thought of the tiny girl being inherently dangerous.
Aslaug sighed, giving up for the moment and the rest of dinner passed quietly. Bjorn had gotten Ivar to agree to a chess game and Ubbe and Hvitserk had stuck around to talk and watch. Aslaug had excused herself when the meal finished and Sigurd claimed to want an early night before disappearing. Bjorn said nothing about Ivar’s strange behavior or Sigurd’s out of character moment, choosing to enjoy the calmness. Ubbe had asked Ivar about the wolf that had become attached to the girl but Ivar didn’t have all the answers he was looking for.
“I hope she brings the wolf tomorrow.” Ubbe sighed, nudging Hvitserk with his shoulder when he began to nod off.