#ivar is often understood as immature

[peaceisadirtyword]

Good for YN. She did the right thing. I hurt for her, but I’m also wishing the best for her in England (I’m assuming she’ll go). I’m so sorry she even has to do all this. I wish she could’ve had the relationship with Ivar she deserved and wanted. All the pain she’s been through seems so senseless. Which angers me even more. And I wish it wasn’t like this But I hope in England she finds happiness. And I also hope she finds someone new. I think she has a beautiful heart and way of loving. And I hope in England, she finds the one for her. It would be even more satisfying if after a couple years she returns home, Ivar is still there waiting for her and gets a much deserved disappointment. See how he feels having his time and hopes dashed, wasted and pointless. But I do hope Hvitserk goes to visit her often! And Alfred.

“The weight of your absence washed over him for the first time. Freydis was gone, and now you had gone too. For months, he hadn’t been with you but he knew you were there, that if he called you’d come, you’d be back to him and everything would be okay. Freydis made him feel so many things at the same time, but there was something missing, something that didn’t fit. He did feel special, blessed by the Gods and important. And he did love Freydis, a lot, but then he saw you again. It would have been easier if you hated him, if you insulted and yelled at him, but you didn’t. He had understood that during the wedding, that the only thing that he missed was you, he missed your relationship and how normal he felt with you. “ Is...is that it? That’s his big realization of love? 🙄 YN made him feel...“normal”? Meanwhile he loved Freydis. She made him feel blessed, special, and important. And YN made him feel...normal. This is so weak. He is so stupid and I just want to hit him 😐 I don’t even feel bad for him after reading that letter. He’s a child and needs to grow up. And maybe one day he’ll be a decent partner for someone. But not YN.

“The thing he thought he had seen in Freydis too” K.

If he was so easily able to throw YN away, and treat her the way he did the second he saw something “similar” in another woman, I don’t care how much he “learns” from this situation, he never deserves to be with YN again.

My heart broke and I teared up reading her letter 😔 but I feel really proud of her and I’m excited to see what comes next for her. Another amazing and emotional update and I can’t wait for the next one!!! ♥️

Aw I always love your comments!🥰

She did the right think by taking some time for herself. She might go to England or maybe something will happen and she will stay👀 who knows (we’ll know soon) I really wanted to write a morning after scene in which the both of them confessed they love each other and will make it work no matter what, but it wouldn’t be realistic :( Ivar fucked up really bad, and he needs to pay and understand he can’t treat people like that... But don’t worry! Hvitserk and Alfred will be there for her no matter what!☺️

I think that what Ivar mean with his thoughts about Y/N and Freydis was that after an entire life feeling rejected, with people always treating him differently (his mother and Ubbe overprotecting and suffocating him, Ragnar leaving, Sigurd hating him... I think only Floki and Hvitserk treated him equally), Y/N treated him like she’d treat anyone else, so he finally felt accepted, equal and “normal” in some way. But Ivar has a giant ego and that ego needs feeding too💀 so when Freydis came with the whole discourse of “you’re better than anyone else, you’re special, you’re a God”, he bought it because he actually believes that he needs to be better than anyone else to receive some kind of praise or admiration... So with Y/N he felt good, loved and “normal” in that sense, but he chose feeling praised by Freydis and ended up regretting it (idk if I’m making any sense sorry😭). But yeah, he’s still very immature in that sense and needs to grow up a bit!

I think he chose Freydis because she was the new girl in his life, maybe he felt attracted to her the same way he felt attracted to Y/N when they first met, and maybe underestimated his relationship with her and his own feelings. But obviously he still felt something for her because he thought about her and was bothered when she was with someone else. Ivar, being a self-centered asshole, probably thought she’d always be there for him and if he wanted to get together again, she would run back to him... 

So yeah, conclusion: Ivar please grow up and stop being an idiot. 

Thank you so much love! I’m glad you liked it🥰 (and sorry for the ranting lol)

a very hot selfish idiot 

[tilltheendwilliwrite]

Warrior Daughter

Chapter Sixteen

Master List  |  Steve Rogers Master List  | Series Master List

Previous Chapter

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader  |  Word Count: 5149 Warnings: language, slight angst

Song: Give Me A Sign by The Sweeplings (for the end of the chapter)

Eira stood in the kitchen area out of the way of her sisters returning to the feast with fresh platters of meat and gently wiped the blood from her cheek. Her heart thumped in her chest. Every time Bucky touched her, she felt it all the way to her soul.

She hadn’t noticed him on Midgard, too concerned with Loki and making sure Y/N knew she’d objected to the treatment of the God, but before the steps of Asgard, she’d looked up, and he’d been standing at her queen’s side. Tall. Dark. Commanding. 

Something inside her had leapt at seeing him. Her whole body felt as if it bent toward him in that instant. She’d had to look away before she did something crazy, like jump on him. Then the confrontation had escalated, forcing her to prioritize the Queen’s return over her muddled up feelings.

Later that night when she’d tried to sort them out again, she’d embarrassed herself at the feast instead. Loki had created a stunning dress, different but beautiful, and she’d felt so strong. So confident and powerful, and after finally working up the courage to ask him to dance, she’d successfully stuck her foot right in her mouth.

Narrow-minded and näive. That’s what she’d been. Bucky had been right to scold her for it, but dancing with him, being that close, looking into those amazing blue-grey eyes, the yearning to stay in his embrace forever had been so intense. Then, she’d played herself a fool.

It had been evident by his warning words he wasn’t interested in anything other than making sure Y/N stayed safe and protected. He thought Eira a child and immature in his eyes.

It had hurt so much. He was such a warrior, one she would be proud to name hers, but the implied rejection stung. She was a Valkyrie, one many a male had tried to entice to their knee, but none had caught her attention until him. Bucky.

James. Y/N had called him James more than once.

To make matters worse, Eira had let her hurt get the best of her when they’d flown together, making an even bigger fool of herself, and topping it off with a reprimand by the queen. 

She just kept making mistakes.

She’d thought she’d impressed him, maybe, during the mock fights today, but when he’d flirted with Magret at lunch...

Off to the side in the kitchen Eira hid her eyes behind the rag, feeling them burn with tears she’d thought she’d finished shedding earlier in the day. An extra long bath had been required when she’d cried so hard she’d reddened her eyes. So many times she’d thought about stepping back, letting go, but her heart wouldn’t let her. Her soul ached at the thought of it. Pain tore at her body and tears flooded her eyes.

She didn’t know how to tell him. She’d tired before dinner. Before they were interrupted, and Eira was grateful for that. After all, she wasn’t even sure he was her sjelevenn. It wasn’t as if she could ask many people. Only Gunborg, who she didn’t dare, not with how the woman was at odds with the queen, or Y/N.

Y/N who’d made it clear Bucky had one job. He was her guard. He was to keep his knees together. He was her protector and didn’t need outside distractions.

Eira understood that. She did. It didn’t stop her heart from leaping every time Bucky entered a room, or touched her hand, or smiled at her.

Is this what it’s like? A never-ending desire to be with him? By his side? To protect him from any and all harm?

“Eira!”

She snapped her head up at the cook’s yell.

“If you’re going to spend your off time in the kitchens, you may as well be serving. Out with you!”

She scurried out, taking the damp cloth with her, but slipped into an alcove off to one side where she was out of the way but couldn’t yet see the hall. Couldn’t see the table where the man who’s touched she longed for sat waiting for her to return so he could remove the blood from his hands. Blood he’d spilled in her defence.

Drumbeats fill the air, and Eira sighed. The entertainment was beginning. Entertainment she would take no pleasure in now.

Her heart and mind were too full of worries.

***

You looked up when the drums began and grinned. “Oh, fun!”

“What?” Steve asked.

“It’s the dancers tonight,” you said before drinking deeply from your cup. Valhalla mead tasted as good as you remembered.

Bjorn and Hvitserk returned to the table at a quick clip when two-thirds of the lights in the hall went out. They sat with their backs to the meal, as did Ragnar, Ivar, and Floki. Steve pulled you back into his lap, allowing Bucky to shift closer.

“What’s going on?” Bucky asked, propping his knee up on the bench when his gaze returned to the doorway Eira had disappeared through.

“Dancers. You’ll like this.” Valkyries rushed to clear much of the food from the tables. More could be requested at any time, but for the moment the space would be needed.

“What kind of dancers?” Steve asked.

“You’ll see!” you snickered, leaning into Steve’s broad chest.

He was warm, and the mead was potent. The music was sultry, building a beat which stirred the blood and subtly aroused the body. They came in ones and twos from the far side of the room, drifting through the hall in skirts of gossamer and silk. Bejewelled and beaded, what fabric encased and supported their breasts threw off sparkles when the candlelight caught them. The drums went silent, allowing the sound of the tiny bells wrapped around their ankles to chime in concert as they walked. It felt as if the room held its breath while the dancers got in position, spread out evenly amongst the tables.

The Valkyrie closest to you caught your eye. She was gorgeous. Ebony hair and skin the colour of caramels. Muscles rippled in her abdomen causing the jewel in her belly button to wink and sparkle. Her eyes were darkly lined and exotic looking. Her hands lifted with the others but contained an extra bit of grace. She pointed her toe and the strips of her skirt to fell to either side of her long bare limb. You knew in an instant she was talented beyond measure.

Too bad her soul was as tainted as Gunborg’s.

Steve made a quiet noise of disgust and chose to nuzzle into your neck rather than pay attention. “Can you dance?”

“Of course,” you chuckled. “I’m a Valkyrie.”

“Maybe you should give me a private one later.”

“Maybe I will,” you agreed, tilting your head to make room for his lips on your throat.

A crash of the drums and the women were off, leaping from the floor to the top of the closest table. They jumped and twirled, making their way through the hall. Each had a set of five tables to entertain, spending just enough time on each to give them men a show before leaping the heads of the warriors seated there to land lightly on the next.

The dark-haired Valkyrie landed on yours with barely a thump, showing off her skill. She spun and dipped and smiled. Her attention returned over and over too Bucky who seemed mostly immune to her charms, even when she dipped down and caressed his cheek. Then she was gone, moving on to entertain the next table, leaving Ragnar and his sons howling after her, cheering her on.

“I don’t like it,” Steve said in your ear. “She’s got something wrong with her, doesn’t she?”

You nodded slowly, watching her spin and move and laugh. She made the circuit three more times before you knew the dancing would come to an end. Often a dancer would choose a partner for the evening once they finished. A lucky man whose knee she’d warm. Those willing to make a choice, stepped from the table for the last part of the dance, weaving and spinning their way around the hall until she came upon the knee she wanted. Those who chose to refrain finished the dance on the tables.

“Sengali!” Bjorn shouted when she landed on the floor. “Let me warm your bed!”

“No, me!” bellowed Hvitserk.

Ivar shoved him from the bench. “She will join me!”

“Why not join a real man?” enticed Ragnar.

Sengali, the dancer, smiled as she dipped and twirled and shook her breasts, putting on a show as she made her way around the table only to drop down on Bucky’s bent knee. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hummed in pleasure. “Tonight I chose this one.”

Bucky sat there with his mouth open, momentarily stunned into immobility. “Uh, what?”

With his hands raised up and outward and how he leaned away from her, he reminded you so strongly of Steve when the woman plopped herself in his lap in Asgard; you snorted a giggle into the silence after the drums ended. “You have the right of refus-”

A jolt of awareness streaked your spine a split second before the rage-filled snarl ripped through the silent hall.

***

With the dancing nearly done, Eira took a deep breath and headed for the hall. It would be rude to return to her seat while they were performing, but she could watch from the bridge as those who wanted a companion for the night made their choices.

When she saw Sengali dancing around the table, her breath froze in her lungs. The Ragnarsons all cheered and called for her attention, but she passed them by. The most elegant of the Valkyrie, when Sengali danced, she had her pick of the warriors of Valhalla. Her body was a walking temptation no man could resist.

Eira’s heart leapt to her throat when she noted the way Bucky was sitting. No, technically it wasn’t an offer. His knee was bent up on the bench so he could lean closer and speak with Steve and Y/N over the noise most likely, but it was an opening. One Sengali seized on as she spun around and planted herself in his lap.

Pain screamed through Eira’s soul. “No.” She denied what her eyes were telling her when Sengali wrapped her arms around Bucky’s neck and leaned into him. When he made no move to dismiss the Valkyrie, Eira’s heart cracked, but his raised hands and slightly panicked look spoke more assuredly than his silence.

He didn’t want her. Sengali’s advance was as unwelcome as Ubbe’s had been.

Something feral unfurled within her. Someone was touching her sjelevenn. Hers!

She didn’t realize the snarl came from her throat. All she saw was red when she cleared the distance between herself and the table in a leap. Eira grabbed a fistful of Sengali’s hair, yanked her head back until she was forced to release Bucky, and jabbed a dagger pulled from his boot against the other woman's throat.

“Hvordan våger du å berøre min sjelevenn!” she spat at the woman whose eyes went wide in surprise.

“Eira?” Y/N gasped.

Her head snapped up, gaze colliding with that of her queen. “M-majesty…” Eira stuttered. “I-I…” She shot a glance at Bucky, staring at her with an unreadable expression and released Sengali who fell to the floor. “I’m sorry,” Eira whispered, looking from Y/N to Bucky. “I’m sorry.” His dagger slipped from her numb fingers as she began to back away. 

Bucky caught it before it hit the ground.

The silence of the hall had her looking around and cringing at the way everyone was staring at her. “I’m s-sorry!” Turning on her heel, Eira fled for the tree at the end of the room.

***

Bucky’s hard eyes cut to yours. “Did she say sjelevenn? As in the same as you and Steve?”

“How dare you touch my sjelevenn, yes.” You pushed from Steve’s embrace to go after Eira the same time Bucky did. “Sit down.”

“I don’t think so,” he growled. “I wanna know what the fuck just happened!”

“So do I!” you whisper hissed. “She should have declared it the moment you met.”

“So why didn’t she!?”

“I don’t know!” you snapped, making to step over the bench only to realize Sengali was still laying on the floor. “Find a different warrior for the night.”

“Yes, my queen,” she grumbled but stood gracefully. “Your loss, warrior. Burdened as you are with such a… maiden Valkyrie.”

Bucky’s hand shot out, wrapped around her throat, and dragged her toward him. “Say that again, and I’ll snap your neck.”

“Bucky!” you snapped. He released her, but not before fear wafted from Sengali. “Sit down. Eria won’t leave the hall without permission. Let me see if I can sort this out before you go snarl at her.”

“Wasn’t gonna snarl,” he grumbled as he sat beside Steve.

You picked the rag Eira had brought with her off the floor and thrust it at him. “Clean your hands.”

“Darlin’? You want me to go with you?” Steve asked.

“It’s Valhalla and Odin is present. No one would be stupid enough to try it,” you said as you walked away.

The festivities of the hall had been interrupted, and already Sengali was making a stink, pouting and gaining sympathy for Eira’s rude treatment. It wasn’t any different than what you'd done in Asgard, but Eira had not declared for Bucky. It could have been handled better.

Restless mutterings were growing when Thor clapped his hands and called for the next round of entertainment. A new group hurried in, but the damage was already done. Not even the fire dancers with their twirling batons could halt the slow descent of the hall into grumblings. You needed to find Eira and figure this out quickly so you could regain control of Valhalla.

With your gifts, it wasn’t difficult to find her curled among the roots back in the shadows with her arms wrapped around her knees. “Eira?”

She flinched away. “Please… please don’t hate me.”

The shock had you falling down beside her instead of sitting. “Hate you? Why would I hate you? You’re sister-kin, and this is something to be celebrated.”

“But…” she sniffled as she lifted her head. “You told him to keep his knees together. You made it clear. I thought you wanted him to remain undistracted.”

“Oh, Eira!” You reached for her and hugged her tight. “No, I’m so sorry. I was teasing him. This, all of it, it’s so different from what they are used too. Our ways, Valhalla, the way Valkyries do things when it comes to men, even how open we are about sex, it’s all so new to them. I had to explain things before we came here. One of those things was an offered knee. It surprised Bucky, and I’ve been teasing him about it ever since.”

“Oh…” she whispered, her heart slowing from the fast beat of a hummingbird’s wings to that of a running rabbit.  “It doesn’t matter anyway. He doesn’t want me.”

For the moment, you ignored that bit of foolishness. “Eira. Why didn’t you declare for him when you met in Asgard?”

She thrust the heel of her hand beneath her eye and smeared paint across her cheek. “I was just so… surprised. I’ve never felt anything like it before. Like all of me cried out and reached for him. But things moved so fast, and you made me your right hand, and then I was in a room with you and Thor and Loki… it was overwhelming. Then I was second guessing myself. What if I was wrong? It’s not like I could ask Gunborg.”

“And you thought I’d be upset,” you sighed. “And here I was worried you’d hurt each other if you found your sjelevenn with someone else after being with Bucky.”

“You were?” Her eyes were huge when she gaped at you.

“Eira, you’re family. Of course I’m going to worry about you. Bucky’s been family for a long time. I didn’t want to see either of you get hurt.”

She snuffled again. “Think it’s too late for that. He looked so angry.”

“Nah, that’s just a Barnes’ special. We call it ‘bitchy resting face,’ but he can pull it off when he’s surprised and doesn’t want to show it. Though I think he’s a little pissed you didn’t tell him sooner.”

“I tried before dinner tonight. We got interrupted.”

By you and Steve. “Crap. Sorry about that.”

“He won’t be happy about it anyway.” She brushed away more tears. “He thinks I’m young and foolish, and he’s right. I am. He deserves better than me.”

“And right there is where I call bullshit.”

“What?”

Pushing to your feet, you pulled her up with you and led her to the part of the tree where a slightly heavier stream of water ran. “Wash your face. You’ve smeared your paint. Might as well take it off.” She cupped her hands to collect the water. “The Norns know I’m no one to talk about relationships. Steve and me, we had a rocky start. Granted, it was caused by someone else meddling in the middle, but if I had just talked to Steve, it never would have gotten so far out of hand I ended up blind.”

She paused in her washing to peer at you curiously. “But you are here now, and your relationship is the strongest I’ve ever seen.”

“Yes, now. Because we talk to each other. Fear can only live in the shadows. If you take it out and expose it to the light, it’s not so scary anymore. The same goes for truth, love, feelings. Eira, if you know Bucky is your sjelevenn, you can’t let fear stand in your way. You’re meant to be together, and thinking he doesn’t want you,” you breathed out a harsh breath, “that can hurt a lot. But a lot of the time, it’s all in your head. I see the way he looks at you when you’re not watching.”

“Really? How?”

“Ask him.” You turned to walk away but paused and looked back. “You do not have my permission to leave the hall until you’ve worked things out with your sjelevenn. That means talk, Eira. Figure it out. I won’t begrudge you your happiness and Norn granted soulmate because he’s my guard. I’m pretty sure you’re both responsible enough to keep your personal and professional lives separate.”

“Yes, my queen.” She bowed deeply.

“I’ll send him to you.” Striding away, you paused at the opening to the hall and frowned. It was getting loud and rowdy and not in a good way.

“Father would like to know what you are going to do about this, sister dear, seeing as how it was your Valkyries who started it.”

You rolled your eyes but looked up at Loki. “I need two things from you and one from Thor.”

“Always happy to help, sweet Sváfa. Are you going to do something naughty?” he grinned wickedly.

“Only a little tricky, Loki.” You winked at him. “Only a little tricky.”

***

Steve stared at Bucky, as did everyone else at the table. “Buck…”

“Don't start, punk.”

“But, Bucky, this is great!” Steve couldn't be happier for him.

“Yeah. Great,” he muttered. “So great she ran outta here like her tail was on fire.” Bucky used the damp rag to clean the blood from his hand.

“No wonder you beat the hell out of Ubbe,” Ivar chuckled.

“Ivar,” Ragnar huffed. “Shut up.” He turned his intense eyes to Bucky. “Eira is sweet but unsure of herself. She has struggled to fit in as a Valkyrie. To still be a maiden at her age?” He clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“You're talking about stuff you don't have all the information for,” Bucky grumbled.

Steve kicked Bucky under the table. “You two have either been snarling at each other or flirting since we got here. Poor girl is probably so confused she doesn't know what you want. Especially after this afternoon and that whole show you put on with Magret.”

“Didn't mean nothing.” Bucky shrugged.

“I know that, but your girl likely took it hard.”

“She's not my girl.”

“Yet!” all the men around the table laughed. All except the one called Floki.

“You’re a strange fellow,” he murmured, peering closely at Bucky and ignoring the movement of the dancers around him. “Such darkness in you, but it is so… light. An evil once corrupt, now used only for good. It is… interesting. But a man who doesn’t want a Valkyrie as a mate? Now there is a true oddity.”

“I never said that.”

Steve watched Bucky play with his cup. “You like her, which is good. You’re supposed to like her.”

“Shut up!” he scoffed. “Doesn’t matter how I feel if she’s runnin’ like a scared rabbit.”

“Bucky.” Steve dropped his hand on Buck’s shoulder. “She’s your soulmate. You’re meant to be together!”

“Then why did she run?”

There was such a wealth of hurt and uncertainty in the depths of Bucky’s eyes Steve felt for him.

“Maybe you should ask her yourself, Sergeant,” Loki said as he walked by. “Y/N requests you join your Valkyrie beneath the roots.”

Bucky was up and gone before Steve could say anything. “And Y/N?” he called after Loki.

“She will return in a moment.”

“That was helpful,” Steve snorted into his cup.

“The God of Mischief is like that,” Floki snickered, his eyes following the woman throwing flaming batons into the air.

The others were all caught up in the dancer twirling and spinning between tables, except Ragnar who stood and moved around the end to sit again beside Steve.

“Now, tell me. What happens with Sváfa? She is here, but she has not been, and I am confused.”

“Look, Ragnar,” Steve sighed. “She trusts you, clearly, but I don’t know you.”

“Steven, son of Rogers, she is the queen I would follow into battle. The one I would lay down my undead life for. There is no other but Odin for whom I would make such a claim.”

“And your sons?” Steve nodded toward the others, catcalling loudly.

“She brought Ivar home and Floki. They would hold a shield wall for her. Bjorn was chosen by another, as were Hvitserk and Ubbe, but each has nothing but respect for her. She used to come to the fields and fight among the men, laughing and smiling, a kind word for all. Her presence has been missed.”

Steve could find nothing false in his words. No hint of deception. Y/N wouldn’t trust him without reason. “She was born on Midgard.”

“A quiet life. She seems to have had many.”

“Only because someone here has made sure of it. They locked her soul out of Asgard. We don’t know why yet.”

Ragnar’s eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in anger as he leaned forward. “What? Who?”

“Don’t know that either. She ended up with us, my team, on Earth and we fell in love, but there was a guy, Garry. His purpose was to fuck things up between us. Unfortunately,” Steve sighed, “he succeeded. Y/N ran away. He convinced her I’d been unfaithful, then kidnapped her. Our enemies are called Hydra. Specifically the Hounds of Hydra. They’re evil. I’ve fought their kind before. The experimented on her.” When Ragnar frowned, Steve murmured, “Like magic. They did spells on her. Painful ones, trying to break her back to her first life. Make her Sváfa again. They tried to erase who she was to use her connection to the Valkyrjur. They failed, but not before damaging her sight.”

“She is blind?” Ragnar asked, nodding slowly. “I wondered. Her eyes are beautiful but haunting. So different from the past.”

“Partially, yeah. She had a teacher, a friend of ours who taught her to fight without them. If you didn’t know she was blind, you never would. Her abilities are incredible.”

“Says the man who is her husband.”

Steve chuckled. “Yeah, well, doesn't mean I'm wrong. After she killed the ljå, we knew we’d have to come here. Our souls are out of sync, and according to Freyja, Y/N should have been reborn as Queen over and over. She’s the one Freyja wanted ruling here. She’s meant to sit on the throne.”

Another slow nod came from Ragnar. “Yes. Yes, I can see that. The… feel of Valhalla has been changing.”

“How do you mean?”

“What was once a joy, has become… a burden. Valhalla is full of men who seem confused to be here. Some, far from fitting to be Einherjar.” He brought his fist down on the table. “It makes no sense!”

“I know. She knows. We’re figuring it out.”

“Tell me what I can do to assist?”

Steve frowned as he looked around, the noise was growing into rowdy bouts of shoving and anger. “We need to know more of the Einherjar. Of the people. Y/N is going to visit tomorrow with Bucky while I’m off doing… that.” He motioned toward Odin with his head.

“It’s an honour to ride with Odin. Just… stay on your horse,” Ragnar chuckled.

“Roger that,” Steve snickered.

A crack of thunder deafened all of them, causing the room to fall into silence, and all to look toward Thor covered in lightning. “Friends! Something special for your enjoyment. The lovely Sváfa.”

Steve’s heart jumped. If she was gonna dance, he might have to kill a few people, but when she walked out of the shadows beneath the tree, she was packing a… guitar?

“Let the songbird sing!” bellowed Ragnar.

***

You chuckled at Ragnar’s yell and lightly strummed the strings of the guitar. No, you hadn’t known how to play or sing or dance in this life, but in others, you'd accomplished all three, and as a Valkyrie, singing had been your forte. Even in this life, you’d loved to sing. Music was an essential part of your world; had been since the very beginning.

Loki had done as you’d requested, creating a guitar, a non-traditional instrument for Valhalla but one you could play and sing with unaccompanied. He’d then retrieved Bucky, who’d glanced at you curiously before stomping into the shadows. And finally, you���d asked him to ask Thor to get everyone’s attention.

In the interim, you’d been watching the hall and Gunborg’s group in particular. She held court. There was no other way to describe what was taking place in her section of the room.

Men of the Einherjar came and paid their respects, fawned and flirted - to her sjelevenn’s displeasure. The Valkyrie who supported her laughed and drank with the men, each one using their bodies as weapons to seduce and entice.

It sickened you, but it was clear where the darkness in the heart of the Valkyrjur was coming from. But why? How? For what purpose? No Valkyrie had ever been unhappy with their existence before. Not as far as you knew anyway. What had happened to Gunborg to turn her mind like this?

Now wasn’t the time to contemplate Gunborg’s life choices. Not when every eye in Valhalla was upon you. The Einherjar needed a distraction, so you’d give them one.

It had been a while, but the feel of the strings and stretch of your fingers around the neck of the guitar, pressing down and sliding over the fretboard came back quickly as you stepped up on a bench and out onto the tabletop to make your way down the center of the hall. “I can hear your voice, across the night. Calling me by name, giving me a sign. There's never been a sound that could bring me to my feet, shake my bones, awaken me.”

You smiled left and right, nodding here and there when you came across faces you recognized, or ones you didn’t but who stared up at you in awe. “I feel it from inside I'll come running, through the dark to get to you. Every step's alive getting closer. There's nothing that I wouldn't do.”

It almost made you laugh when at each crossing, two or three would bend and brace their hands on their knees, offering you their back as a bridge for your bare feet rather than make you jump. “I can almost see it all. The fog has cleared. The echo of your voice, in my ears. I could leave you footprints in the snow.” You smiled when snowflakes began drifting down around you and shot a wink at Loki. “Or a blazing fire, to lead you home.”

Dead center of the hall, you slowed to a stop where all good see you. “I feel it from inside I'll come running, through the dark to get to you. Every step's alive getting closer. There's nothing that I wouldn't do.”

You lifted your hand from the strings to keep time against the body. Loki’s snow which had swirled and curled around you, dancing through your hair and around your feet, became a quiet downfall. “La dum, la dum. La dum, la dum. I'll come running, give me a sign. La dum, la dum. La dum, la dum. Just come home dear, not far behind.”

You felt him long before he moved, but when Steve stood slowly from the table not far to your right, you turned toward him and laid your hand against the guitar to sing out into the silence.

“I can feel it in the air, you're almost here,” he harmonized with you, his voice so pure, ringing through the hall like magic. “Pulling me forward, drawing near.”

You laughed, and the snow swirled when you strummed your fingers over the strings. “I feel it from inside I'll come running, through the dark to get to you.” Steve’s pace matched the beat, bringing him closer with each swaggering stride. “Every step's alive getting closer. There's nothing that I wouldn't do.”

He came to a stop at the end of the table where he held out his hand. You slung the guitar around to your back, took his hand and stepped to the ground. There you stood, hand in his with the other resting on his chest. His free one wrapped around your waist and pulled you closer.

“I can hear your voice, across the night. Calling me by name, giving me a sign.”

Steve smiled, ducked his head, and kissed you hard, sending the Einherjar into a frenzy of approval.

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