A/N: New story I felt like wasting my time on. Hopefully I can keep my muse around long enough to complete it.

This is an Ivar/OC story, and so will be relatively slowburn(ish) as this is Ivar we're talking about: We all know what he's like. Chapters will be relatively short so that I can post weekly.

Warnings: anything expected in Vikings. Ivar and the OC aren't actually the ones having the sex... yet ;). Undecided whether it will be explicit or not.

CHAPTER 1

Half the town is underground,

And half are halfway there,

And we're the only good ones left.

Kari paced into the Great Hall, the home of Queen Aslaug, on nimble feet. She shrugged the thick, orange mess of a ponytail from her shoulder as she readjusted her hold on the bucket of fresh fish that was slipping from her grasp.

The Hall was deserted aside from the Queen herself and her youngest son, Ivar. Both sat on the high-backed chairs and Kari approached them, bowing her head to Aslaug in respect without sparing a glance at the boy.

"Queen Aslaug," the girl greeted respectfully.

She placed the wooden bucket on the ground before her feet with a small thud.

"What brings you here today?" Aslaug smiled warmly.

"I come with a sample of carp breams that Calder netted earlier today." Kari answered politely. "He would love for his fish to be served at the feast tomorrow night if you approve."

Aslaug rose to her feet, descending the small set of stairs with an ethereal grace. She began to stoop for the bucket when Kari stopped her.

"Please Queen Aslaug, allow me," she interrupted, bending and retrieving a carp bream from amongst the ice. "I would not want for your hands to smell of seafood."

She held the fish out for Aslaug to see, turning the cold, scaly body slowly in her grasp so the woman before her could examine it.

"Each of the many fish he netted is either the same size or larger." Kari explained. "Should you decide they are to your liking, Calder has dozens of them on ice for you."

The Queen turned and ascended the stairs. Kari placed the fish gently back into the bucket and shifted some ice atop it to keep it fresh. She ignored the blatant stare she was receiving from Ivar the Boneless and brushed her icy hands against her simple brown dress, looking back to Aslaug for her verdict.

As Aslaug seated herself upon her throne she said, "Inform Calder that I am very pleased with his work and that the fish will be very much enjoyed at tomorrow night's feast. You may leave."

Hoisting the heavy bucket onto her hip, Kari bowed her head briefly and turned to leave.

"Wait." It was Ivar's voice that called to her. Kari turned around to face him on his absent father's throne.

"What is it, son?" asked Aslaug, the tender smile upon her face showing her willingness to please the boy.

"I am so tired after such a long day, mother." Ivar answered, not moving his unreadable stare from Kari. "I might need help from the girl to bathe tonight."

When Aslaug opened her mouth to disagree, he turned his gaze to her. "You do not wish for me to fall asleep in the tub and drown, do you?"

His words were soft and not unkind, but it was not lost on Kari that he was playing on his mother's worry for him in order to get what he pleased.

"Of course not, Ivar." Aslaug tenderly reached for his hand. "But why not have one of the slaves aid you? Surely they would be more experienced for the task?"

"There are no slaves in the room, mother, and the girl is standing right before us." Ivar reasoned. "It is much more convenient."

"Very well." Surrendered the Queen, releasing his hand.

Kari did not want to bathe Ivar, she had to get back to the fisherman with news from the Queen. She furrowed her brows at her lack of input on the matter. Did neither of them think that she might have had other plans for the night?

Ivar the Boneless slid from the grand chair, carrying himself on his hands as he slithered down the steps with well-practised ease.

"Come, girl." He ordered as he crawled past her.

Kari, being several years older than the boy, would have found him calling her 'girl' amusing in another situation. She was not impressed by his demanding tone, and did not make a move to tail him.

"Why are you not following?" Ivar asked, rolling onto over to sit upright with his legs stretched out before him, facing her. His tone was light, though it was laced with annoyance and impatience.

Kari subconsciously stood up slightly taller, looking down at his scowling face.

"I am no longer a slave." She told him, her voice neither resentful nor light, purely emotionless and factual. "I cannot be ordered around or possessed like an object anymore."

Ivar's scowled deepened immensely despite her politeness. "You will do as I say or there will be a price for you to pay."

"You cannot punish me for a disobedience that was not unlawful to commit."

The boy snarled up at her from his seated position, looking as though he were about to say or do something impetuous. There was suddenly a respectful yet firm hand upon her shoulder. She turned her head to see Aslaug coming to stand beside her.

The tall beauty sent a tight-lipped smile, one that did not reach her eyes, down at Kari. The grip on her shoulder was slightly tighter than what social etiquette might deem polite, but the girl did not mention it to the powerful woman faking a smile at her.

"You say that you cannot be ordered around, but Ivar is your prince, is he not?" Aslaug reminded her patronisingly. "Slave or not, a person must do as a prince commands."

Kari pursed her lips to stop herself protesting, instead choosing to nod in agreement to avoid conflict with the queen of her country.

"You are right, Queen Aslaug," She admitted without hesitation. "It was unwise of me not think my actions through. Please forgive me."

Aslaug grinned, struggling to hide the arrogance of it. "It is quite alright, you are forgiven. Go with my son now."

Kari eyed the bucket of fish on her hip. "How shall Calder learn of your decision?" She asked the Queen.

"Leave it there. I will have one of my slaves deliver the samples as well as my word."

Kari placed the bucket against the timber floor and bowed her head at the Queen one final time, not showing her acrimony at doing so after what the woman was forcing her to do.

"Thank you for your time and for your kindness." Kari spoke respectfully.

Kari then turned to Ivar the Boneless, who was smirking smugly at her. She waited with an unreadable expression for him to flip onto his stomach and crawl from the Hall before following after him.

As soon as the giant doors closed after her, she dropped her obedient façade and stalked past Ivar, overtaking him without a backwards glace to see him scowling dirtily at her yet again. Kari strode briskly to the large cabin several houses down from the Great Hall, ascending all three of the steps to the porch in a single stretch of her legs. There, she waited for the crippled boy to make his way down the dirt path; despite her annoyance at being burdened with a chore so unnecessary as bathing a fully grown boy, Kari was not so rude as to enter someone's house without their company or their invitation.

Shortly after, Ivar dragged himself up the steps -a task that Kari would never admit took impressive and immense strength. He unlatched the heavy wooden door with a sneer and did not wait up for her as he slithered inside. Kari followed, the door shutting out the rest of the town as she closed it behind her.

It was now only herself and the cripple, enclosed together by the cabin's solid walls.