#reader saves

Pairing: Ivar x reader

Warnings: mild language, mentions of poison and slavery, I think that's it?

Summary: Reader who's a slave tries to save the king before it's too late.

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Hello my loves! I've recently gotten back into Vikings and wanted to write a little something. Hope you guys like it😚

The great hall was full of life in celebration of some new lands that had been conquered. The ruthless king himself sat on his throne clapping and laughing loudly as the warrior beside him told a crude joke.

You wish you could join them at the table but you were no warrior. Nope life had given you the short end of the straw on that one.

You were just a slave, heck you weren't even an interesting one. Some of your slave friends had managed too woo their masters and be set free with their charming personalities but you weren't bold like them. The boldest thing you've done in your life was sneak some extra portions from the kitchen when no one was looking.

You made your way into the kitchens for the millionth time that night and grabbed some more ready dishes, those warriors ate like starving wolves. The delicious smell of chicken wafted through your nose and you resisted the urge to snatch one up. You hadn't eaten anything since the morning what with everything being so busy preparing and all.

You made your way back into the bustling hall. Setting the down the dishes close to where the king sat. By the gods he was handsome, those blue eyes were like sparkling oceans. Usually you were able to get away with a few glances without him noticing but you must've lingered too long because somehow those ocean eyes were now on you with an eyebrow slightly raised, "Is something on my face slave?"

Shit...

"N-no n-nothing, sorry my king.." you quickly bowed your head down in embarrassment and turned away. An warm hand pulled your arm back before you could run away,

"Make yourself useful and get us some more mead" he ordered.

"Yes my king" you scurried away back to the kitchens, cheeks on fire. Geez what were you?! 12?! If just a little contact made your heart beat so fast and stutter like that, how were you ever gonna get a man.

With a sigh you pushed open the curtain to the kitchen and searched for some bottles.

"Hmm that's strange, someone mustve taken it." You couldve sworn there was a full bottle just a moment ago when you got the dishes.

"Mira do you know where some more bottles of mead are?" You asked one of the other slaves in the kitchen.

"There's more in the back shed! Need help carrying them?" She asked setting down some dirty dishes.

"No I'll be alright!" You smiled and made your way outside. The cool air felt great on your heated skin. It was nice being away from all the noise.

You slid in the slightly open shed door and paused when you saw a brown haired girl standing with her back to you. You heard a quiet clanking noise, like a bottle being shaken, not wanting to startle her you opened the shed door more making a creaking sound.

She jumped visibly and shot around. Eyes slightly wide and a thin layer of sweat on her fore head. She looked panicked for some reason.

"Sorry didn't mean to scare you" you giggled trying to lighten the mood, "Are you alrig-"

"I-I'm f-fine.." The girl quickly turned around, gathered up what appeared to be a bottle, and rushed past you.

Okaaay that wasn't weird at all.. she must be a new slave from the conquerored lands. It wasnt uncommon for the new slaves to be scared at first, especially those taken from their homes. Thinking nothing more of it you quickly grabbed up some bottles, the last thing you wanted was Ivar to be angry at you for taking too long. You'd seen the king slap slaves for far less. You knew you shouldn't have been so infatuated with a man who could be so cruel but by the gods when he smiled your morals flew out the window. You wish you weren't a slave, that way you could've had a chance at least to be his friend. Maybe in another life you would be a powerful shield maiden and he would be enamored by your strength. There were so many scenarios that ran through your mind you could've written a book about them. Hell you could've filled a an entire library with all the situations you've dreamed up. Loneliness and a creative mind are a dangerous combination.

When you walked back into the hall you frowned noticing the girl had given Ivar the bottle instead of you.

Aw man I wanted to do that...with an internal sigh you set the mead at the other end where you noticed it was running low. You wondered how much mead these men could actually drink before they drowned themselves inside out. Speaking of drunk men, it might be helpful for you to try and calm the poor girl down. After all drunk men loved to prey on sacred skittish girls. At least knowing she had someone she could talk too and call a friend might help relax her nerves.

You scanned the room and soon spotted the familiar mop of brown curls hiding behind a pillar.

Poor thing must be terrified. Half her body was concealed and she held her fingers to her mouth, nervously chewing on them. You took a few steps towards her but stopped when you noticed she was staring at something like her life depended on it.

Following her line of vision your eyes landed on the kings laughing form. He was pouring from the new bottle and somehow that made the girl even more nervous. Somethings not right...

You were about to start walking towards her again when she suddenly darted off out of the hall.

You looked back at the king narrowing your eyes as he lifted the mug halfway.

The pieces began clicking like a puzzle in your mind

A new slave you've never seen before..

The clanking in the shed...

The nervousness...

Oh no...

It was like everything was in slow motion when you dashed across the room like a madman over to where the king was starting to drink. The cup was just barely grazing his lips when you dived onto his lap smacking away the cup onto the floor.

The commotion caught the entire halls attention and your heavy breaths were the only thing that could be heard in the silence.

You were frozen, completely terrified as the situation you were in dawned on you. All eyes were glued to you.

You turned slightly in his lap and met his very shocked and confused eyes. All 2 of your brain cells managed to squeeze out a single word in defense. "P-poison" you whispered and tried to shuffle off his lap, only for him to firmly grab your arms trapping you in place.

He was getting angry now, a dark look swimming across his eyes, "Poison? Explain yourself slave!".

"T-there was a girl- one I hadn't seen before getting your mead from the shed, before I came in she was doing something I couldn't see and she looked frightened, I didn't think anything of it until you were pouring your drink. She was hiding looking at you like her heart was gonna burst, before you lifted the cup she took off outside. I put two and two together and just reacted..it could be nothing but..." you looked over to where his brother ubbe lifted the fallen cup, carefull not to touch any of the fallen liquid. He held it up to his face and looked deeply inside the cup. His eyes narrowed when he spotted something collected at the bottom, "It's true" everyone gasped around the room, Ivar tensed under you. "Theres powder on the bottom".

"Where is this girl you speak of?" Ivar growled, you shivered even though his anger wasn't directed at you, lifting a finger you pointed towards a side entrance, "She ran that way, she was wearing a red dress and had brown curls." Ivar nodded to some guards and they quickly ran in the same direction. "Do not let that bitch escape!" he yelled after them.

You shifted uncomfortably, he still hadn't let you go.

Apparently the girl hadn't gotten far at all because only a few moments later 2 guards had brought the girl in kicking and screaming. "LET ME GO, PLEASE I DIDN'T DO IT" tears were rolling down her face like a waterfall.

Ivar smiled wickedly before loosening his grip.

You immediately got off and watched as he grabbed his crutch. The shaking girl watched in utter horror as he slowly walked towards her like a predator.

"Didnt do it? Didnt do what hmm? Didn't try to poison me?" He knelt down a few inches from her face grabbing her chin with his fingers.

"Shh shhh stop crying, I'm not going to kill you" he caressed her face in a calming motion. The girl started to calm down but you knew what was coming, with a smirk he leaned towards her ear, "I'm going to break you". She thrashed around once more as Ivar got up and ordered the guards to take her to a cell, she fainted and had to be carried out when he said he would be in later to interrogate her. Poor thing, you guessed someone had threatened her because she did not look like a killer. And slaves were an easy target for such schemes.

Once the guards dragged her away Ivar turned to the crowd, "My friends, I believe we were in the middle of a celebration were we not? Bring out fresh mead!" The men cheered and soon the silent hall was once again bustling. You stood there awkwardly by the throne not knowing if you should just leave and get back to work. While you were debating the king turned to you with an amused smile. "What is your name my little hero?" You felt heat rise to your cheeks at the nickname.

"Y/n my king" you bowed slightly.

"Y/n...I believe I owe you a thank you" he walked closer to you which made your heart do a little leap.

"That's not necessary my king I was only doing what anyone would". He laughed and you looked up at him slightly confused. What was funny?

"Believe me when I say there are many who would like nothing more than to see me dead" the thought of that made you very sad.

"Well in any case" he stopped until he was right in front of you, lifting your chin up with a finger "you deserve a reward don't you agree?" The feel of his fingers on you were too good and suddenly words evaded you. All you could do was stare into his devilish eyes and nod slowly.

The Cheshire cat could learn a thing or two from how he was smiling now. Leaning into your ear he whispered "Good, because by the way I've caught you looking at me the past few weeks, I think I know exactly what kind of reward you desire".

Gods help me...