#| let it queue

                               It had not been a long journey. Being the only child left alive of King Frederik had given her the responsibility to sail overseas with her father, meeting all kinds of people, constantly watching men pulling up war strategies and keeping all that locked on her mind. Someday it would be of great use, and the day had come before she could even notice. When Queen Helga greeted her with that usual kindness she had greeted Ingrid other times, a lump formed on the flame-haired’s throat. “I believe I have arrived before the news...” Ingrid cleared her throat, suddenly feeling too weak to speak that out loud again so soon. “Father is dead. I am Queen Ingrid now.” A small shrug was her only reaction, as she tried to search for the right words when people started whispering. “He was poisoned, which means there was a traitor in my court...”

                                 Blood drained from her face when her uncle’s words filled her mind, Ingrid instantly felt dizzy, and betrayed. She could still remember her cousin’s amusement and her aunt’s defeated sigh at her husband’s stubbornness. It all had been planned even before King Ragnar left, her uncle told her. When she was only a child. And when the King returned to Kattegat, he was still determined to make their agreement happen, to somehow benefit all of them. Ingrid almost screamed when she was told who would be her husband, and even if she was now an Earl, her uncle still had the right to pick her a husband, someone he trusted and that would make those who threatened her to fear her, for a son of Ragnar Lothbrok as her husband could only be a good thing.

                   How the fuck marrying that unstable spoiled brat would be a good thing? The memory of him craving his axe on that little boy’s skull was still quite vivid on her mind. Ivar was chosen to be her husband, and Ingrid was not happy. On that tragic day, Ingrid had decided she would stay as far away as possible from Ivar, and that she would play alone if she had to, scared that he would do the same to her. Now, as she waited next to her uncle to properly know her future husband, Ingrid ignored every word the man said. They did not wait for too long, as they walked into the great hall, Ingrid’s hands were sweating and she could feel the heat on her cheeks. Heat of anger. She was ready to vomit when King Ragnar announced her as his wife to be.

                     If things were not already hard enough for her to deal with, Ivar’s reaction was even worst than hers. His anger was obviously something that made her take a step back, but she would not, at least not this time. Ragnar lost his battle with his own son’s stubbornness, and pulling her uncle with him, they were left alone. Ingrid suddenly wondered what was Aslaug’s opinion on that, but she kept the thought for her. “You listen, Ivar.” Ingrid started, jaws clenched as her narrowed eyes were locked on his. “I do not like this at all, and I am sure you are smart enough to know that. The last thing I ever wanted was to be forced to marry someone I do not even know - not entirely.” She shook her head, trying to push back the memory of Ivar killing that boy. “But if we are being forced to do it, I do not want to make this harder than it already is. So please, agree with me, for if you make my life unbearable I will make sure to do the same with yours.”

                                 All she could do when those stupid words left his mouth was to roll her eyes and let an annoyed groan, mixed with a long frustrated sigh to slip through her lips. There he was again with that marriage talk, and clearly amused by that, with that stupid and ridiculous grin on his face. She could hit him right now, she could hit him hard even if regret would instantly grow inside her after that - not only because that could make him kill her, but because she respected him too much for that. 

                  “I want to know why you are so interested and almost desperate to get me a fucking husband. Not even my uncle, who is responsible on replacing my father, is doing that. Say it.” Ingrid leaned closer, her features clearly annoyed for dealing with that again. “Are you trying to get some fun out of it? Because I am not. There is no fun on marrying someone I do not even know, unless the bastard is someone I know. I just hope you are not thinking about marrying me to Sigurd or I swear by all the Gods that I will kill you in your sleep.”

                          When one of Ingrid’s shieldmaidens told her there were boats approaching her lands, and that Ivar’s banner was visible, it was the first time Ingrid felt her heart pound so hard against her chest. Though she had been in Aarhus for less than six moons, it felt like they had been apart for an entire life. She missed him, even with all the things that kept her busy, Ivar’s presence was deeply missed on every little thing she did. Anxiety was even stronger when he walked into her great hall standing on his crutches, something she was still not entirely used with, as she was definitely much smaller than him.

            “If you are here to remind me of a childhood challenge then I am on the winning side, am I not?” Eyes narrowed at him, as the usual teasing tone on her voice was back after all this time. It only took her a glance and a nod to her servants so they could be alone on her Great Hall, and that she could finally wrap her arms around him in a tight embrace, making that a private moment. “Gods, I have missed you so much. How is that even possible?” Still holding him, Ingrid glanced up to him, a teasingly smile tugging on the corners of her lips. “You are the most annoying creature in Midgard, and still I have missed you.” A loud giggle parted her lips, and though she could stay that way for the rest of the day, she let him go. It was when she took her time to see that he looked different - Ingrid had never seen such confidence in his features, his hair was longer, braided in a different way than she had last seen, but his smile was still the same. “I am happy to see you here, but I am curious to what brings you to Aarhus. It is not because you have missed me, is it?”

                                          Anxiety and adrenaline were spreading through her body the moment she set her eyes on the place she was born, the place that belonged to her family for many generations until her father’s trust was betrayed by someone who had always shown nothing but loyalty. Earl Frederik had his throat slit, he knew what was coming his way the moment he believed on the Seer’s prophecy. Ingrid was there again, on the place she left still a baby, to give her father what he deserved. He would finally be avenged. She could only pay full attention to Ivar’s words because she was standing right next to him, next to his chariot.

                      Her heart was pounding so hard on her chest that she could barely breathe in excitement. Hers and Ivar’s boats were surrounding the city as Rognvald’s army prepared to attack, not even knowing they would also be attacked by land. Ingrid took a few steps forward, eyes taking a good look on the men and women who joined her cause - it felt even better when she caught her uncle’s proud gaze. “I do not have to repeat that there are allies in the village and that they can not be killed, do I? And whoever kills children and innocent women will face the consequences. If any of them surrender, do not kill them. I will deal with them after.” After she killed the usurper.

                                             The little time Ingrid had spent with King Harald was only when they were raiding, but many stories were whispered, though she did not need to hear any of them to know he indeed was ruthless, and mercy was probably a word that did not exist for him. His behaviour was mostly like other viking men, and almost like her own when she was in Algeciras. There was no mercy, and they went there to kill, among other things. She took a deep breath when Ehrlana asked about his ambitions. “He wants to be King of all Norway, and Kattegat is the only place left for him to become that. I heard that this ambition came from a promise he made to a woman who rejected him. She… died. But I am sure he will mention her to you at some point.” Ingrid would never tell what happened, it was not something she had the right to tell.