Falling For The Gods

Ivar's Request

Chapter 10

Brandt -

After I laid Isla down in the bed I decided to go meet Ivar in my office. I slowly opened my office doors, seeing Ivar sitting in front of my desk. He didn’t turn or acknowledge me, I could feel the rage build in me. I went around the side of the desk and sat, staring at him the entire time, willing him to break. 

“So, you got my message” his smug little voice said.

“What exactly was your message? That you could burn a defenseless plant?” I growled back at him.

Ivar laughed, throwing his head back, “no, but did it spark rage within the walls, chaos maybe?”

“What is your plan? You never go anywhere with a plan.” I said, shifting my position.

“I want your wife” he smirked at me.

“My wife!” I shouted, the rage was unstoppable now.The blood within me was boiling like lava.

“Listen before you go all macho on me” he said putting his hands up, “I know the people will never respect the next queen to be of Tera descent, your children would never be legitimate. Give her to me and spare her the heartache of living with a monster.” he said.

“You will never get my wife!” I growled, clenching my teeth together.

“Then I will take her, by force” he barked back.

“By force?” I laughed, “I’m the God of War what could you possibly do to me.”

“I will revolt your people against you!” he shouted now standing.

“I will dismantle my village and my throne before I let you take my wife” I said standing, towering over him.

“You have till the night of the royal banquet to hand her over,” he said, turning to leave. I put my head down trying to steady my breath to keep my rage from spilling over. I kept thinking about Isla in the arms of Ivar. I would let nobody touch what was mine, before I realized my fists where in the air and slammed down on my desk. Snapping it in two. I stormed out of my office and headed home.

I walked in slamming doors, fuming from the encounter with my cousin. I saw Isla peer from around the corner, wiping sleep from her eyes still.

“Sorry I woke you” I hissed.

“It’s okay, did you see Ivar?” she asked. She began walking towards me and took a seat on the counter, almost right in front of me.

“Yes, I saw him” I was trying to get my emotions in check, but I was becoming more angry as I replayed the conversation in my head. Just then Isla outstretched her hand and placed it on my balled up fist. As soon as her skin made contact with I felt a wave of relief wash over me, as if someone had dunked me in an ice bath. I looked up at her in confusion.

“What is it?” she whispered.

“Can you feel that?” I said looking down at her hand.

“I can feel the heat from your skin, but that’s it” she looked at me with a quizzical expression on her face.

“It’s nothing,” I said, clearing my throat. I pulled my hand out from under hers and began rubbing them together. “Ivar wants to take you from me.”

“What!” she exclaimed, jumping from the counter. I watched her frantically pace the small living room. 

“I will next let him take you!” I said, trying to calm her down. I grabbed her arm and pulled her against my chest. I could feel her small body shake out of fear. “I will never let him get to you baby, trust me.” I could feel her shift against me, I looked down to see her beautiful eyes looking up at me. They were filled with tears. My body and heart broke knowing she was hurting from all this, but I couldn’t think of what to say. I blurted out “I love you Isla.” Her eyes reached up, I began searching them for the reaction. A small smile played on her lips.

“I love you too” she said before pulling me in for a kiss.

Isla - 

The next day, I made my way to the garden, still thinking about the conversation I had with Brandt. I couldn’t believe Ivar wanted me, why would he. My heart broke all over again as I saw the aftermath of the garden, it had all been ripped up now. There were large holes everywhere from them taking out the salted dirt. My heart was still heavy from this whole situation.

I walked over the garden and got on my knees, I opened the cloth bag near me filled with fresh dirt and started to fill the holes. As I was filling holes I felt a familiar presence behind me, I turned my head to Father kneeling down beside me.

“Father! Where have you been!” I said excitedly, I twisted my body and wrapped him in a hug. 

“Hello my dear” he said as he patted my head. “I have been spending time with my Seer, I have many questions nowadays.” I withdrew and looked up at him, his eyes looking around at the devastation of his wifes garden.

“I’m sorry you lost your wifes garden” I said in a small voice. He looked at me with a smile.

“They are just plants, my dear” he said. I stood up and went to stand next to him, I could hear his raspy breath and he struggled to inhale.

“How long have you been sick?” I asked.

“A very long time, but it seems to be worsening with each day” he said, giving me a tight smile. “I heard it was Ivar who did this”

“You must be disappointed in your son,” I said, saddened for him.

“My son?” he chuckled.

“Well isn’t he your son?” I asked, turning my head towards him. 

“No, Ivar isn’t mine, Ivar is the result of two demi-gods coming together and creating a full God. Ivar is a God but not a true one. He is to be respected, but is weak and a stain in the bloodline of Gods” Father said with anger. I was shocked that the most passive person I had met was filled with so much rage towards a single person.

“Then why invite him to banquets and gatherings?”

“Because we will respect all the Gods, whether they are true or not. He may be weak, but he’s cunning. It's better to keep him close so you at least can see him coming with the knife” I nodded my head. In truth I had nothing to say, I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that he was a fake god. I wasn’t aware fake gods existed till now.

“I must be going, Isla. Before I go, I heard a villager in town had a new litter of pups, maybe you could talk Brandt into getting you one?” he said with a smile. I nodded my head with a huge smile on my face. I always wanted a puppy.

-

I stood outside Brandt's office door waiting patiently for him to let me in. The doors swung open wide and I saw him sitting at his desk with a loving grin. I walked over to him and gave him a peck on the cheek. Before I could walk away his large arms reached down and pulled me onto his lap, taking me in for a proper kiss.

“What can I do for you, my queen?” he asked, while I adjusted myself on him.

“Father came and told me there are pups in the village,” I said, giving him the best version of puppy dog eyes that I could.

“Hmm, and you would like one?” he asked with an eyebrow raised. I nodded my head and began twirling the strains of chest hair popping out of his shirt. “I think we could make that happen,” he said. I looked up to see him smiling down on me, his honey brown eyes were sparkling. I pulled him towards me and gave him a gentle kiss. He pushed his mouth hard against mine. I opened my lips making way for my tongue to meet his. He pulled away panting, I could feel his member beneath my legs.

“We should go get that puppy,” I said nervously. Brandt smiled and brought my chin up with his finger planting one more kiss on my lips.

“Direct any messages for me to Asmund, I’m going to spend the day with my wife” he told the guards.