Evas Wish

VI

It had been two whole weeks since Ivar had left her room that night. Eva didn't want to admit it, but she definitely missed his presences even if he was annoying majority of the time. She couldn't help but feel lonely. Before Ivar had entered her life she was completely satisfied with being the introvert she was, or so she thought. 

She found herself exercising every day, taking long jogs around her neighbourhood. She tried to convince herself she was just trying to get fit, but she was never one for exercise. She knew she was just hoping to find her crippled Viking crawling around somewhere. 

Eva wasn't worried about Ivar, she knew he would be fine. He was very smart and lived in harsher conditions. He would figure something out to keep himself fed and well kept. She knew that he would come back eventually, and if not maybe his gods had called him somewhere else with a different mission. 

Though Eva wasn't worried about Ivar, she was very worried for anyone else who would cross his path. She had told him many times that he could not kill anyone, under any circumstances. She knew his temper too well and had witnessed many times what he could do with his axe. She hadn't read or heard on the news of a creepy, crawling murderer on the loose yet so she was a little relieved at that. 

Eva found herself outside in the backyard reading another paperback she bought off amazon. The sun was shining and she thought she'd work on her tan. 

"Miss me?" a familiar deep voice said.

Eva acted like she never heard anything, and kept acting like she was reading.

"Woman." 

Eva rolled her eyes. 

"Why did you kill your brother?" Eva said still focusing on the book.

"Many reasons and none at the same time," Ivar replied happy to hear her voice again. 

"Am I forgiven?" He said whilst admiring Eva's beauty. 

Ivar never liked brunettes and brown eyes, he preferred the blonde woman with blue eyes. Though he couldn't help his eyes from appreciating Eva's long soft curls framing her face. He had missed her immensely, it reminded him of the time when he missed his father when he had abandoned him. 

"Apologize to Joseph," she said finally looking at him, "and I'll think about it."

Eva noticed the fading bruise on Ivars left eye, she couldn't hide the smug look on her face.

"Already done," he said smiling. 

Eva felt the loneliness leave her body as she tried to stop herself from smiling back at him.

Eva noticed he was just about as dirty as the first time she had met him.  It made his ocean blue eyes stand out more. Something had changed in them, they seemed more calm, then when she first saw them. Not so much rage swirling in them, they had softened just a touch.

 "Am I welcome to sleep on your floor again?" 

"Only if you promise to shower every day"

"As you wish, sweet lady." 

"No pet names, Ivar."

She wasn't use to affectionate names, and it made her feel uncomfortable.

"As you wish, madam."

"Oh just shut up and get in the bathtub," Eva said with a sigh and an eye roll. 

........................................................................

That night Ivar and Eva were laying in their beds, both staring at the ceiling, both silently relishing in the comfort of each others presence. 

"Why do you not spend time with your family?" Ivar asked.

"It's a long story" Eva sighed.

"We have all the time in the world." 

"They hate me," she stated.

"They do not hate you, trust me," Ivar replied, "I know what hate is, and it isn't that."

"Maybe they don't hate me then, but they favour my sister over me."

"Ah, well I was the child who was favoured in my family," Ivar smiled a little to himself. 

"No wonder you're a brat!" she muttered.

"My mother doted on me more because of obvious reasons." 

"My brothers did not like it, especially Sigurd as you know," Ivar sighed.

"I did not mean to take up all her time, but my mother could not help it. Her child was crippled, how else could she keep him alive if she did not care for him more than a normal healthy child," Ivar had never sounded so vulnerable before.

Eva kept silent as she listened to Ivar openly speak of his demons.

"I was mocked for my curse, but it only made me stronger," Ivar said as he rolled to his right side, facing Eva's bed. 

"Sigurd did not only mock me, he tormented me," his voice hardened.

'Poor Ivar,' Eva couldn't help but think.

"I didn't mean to kill him" Ivar whispered, regret filling his voice.

"Many times I was close to killing him out of my anger," he sighed

"The time I finally did, I regretted it the moment my axe left my hand." 

"Sigurd hated me with a burning passion," Ivar felt a weight slowly lifting from his shoulders "But I loved him, despite everything we both put each other through."

"Without any of my family, I would have died a long time ago, no one would have known 'Ivar the boneless', no legacy, no nothing."

"I am only alive because of their sacrifice and  I am eternally grateful to them and to the gods."

Eva couldn't help the tears that rolled down her cheeks. Though she knew that Sigurd is dead because of Ivar, she couldn't help but be envious of him. Yes, Ivar killed him, but at least he loved him. Eva never admitted it, but all she wanted was to be loved and accepted by her family. 

Ivar could hear Eva sniffing. He didn't mean to make her cry, but he knew that the next time he would bring tears to her eyes, it would be tears of joy. Ivar felt as if he knew what the gods wanted him to do. He closed his eyes ready to sleep, tomorrow he would start his plan to accomplish the mission the gods had set before him. 

........................................................................

The next morning Ivar was not in his bed when Eva woke up. She went searching for him but he wasn't anywhere to be seen. Eva was disappointed but she carried on with her day like usual. 

At dinner time, when everyone was seated at the table the doorbell rang. 

'Strange' Eva thought, hardly anyone visited her family and everyone was aware of that. Eva's sister jumped up to get the door before anyone else could move.

'Most likely Elaine's friend anyways.'

"EVVVAA!" Elaine screamed, "It's for you!" 

'What?! who the heck would be visiting me?!' Eva thought as she got up.

As she got into the corridor Eva could see no one at the door next to her sister. 

It wasn't until she was close enough did she look down, to see a smiling Ivar sitting at Elaine's feet. 

Elaine' s face was scrunched up with a confused expression. Ivar was smiling at Eva as if nothing was wrong and Eva was about to have a panic attack.

'What the frick is this idiot up too!' Eva thought. 

Then Ivar looked behind Eva and Eva follow his eyes, not surprised to see her parents had followed. Of course, the whole family wanted to see who would possibly visit Eva. 

"Mr and Mrs Sorenson, it is a pleasure to finally meet you both," Ivar said with a glint in his eyes.