I chose the prompt: "Is it possible to love too much?".

Warnings: none

When you had grown up under the rule of Ragnar Lothbrok Kattegat had been a much more beautiful and much less dangerous place than it was now, under the rule of his youngest son.

From a young age you had had the same passion, which was your love for reading and writing.

When you had been young you would have been seen running around Kattegat, carving runes into anything that would give way for the runes.

You could be caught carving into sticks, stones, the ground, or evening the walls of the small houses you lived in.

The children your age didn't understand your obsession with it, but they admired you rather than looking down at you for being different.

It was what you were known for, writing, and it was no wonder that Ivar the Boneless, King of Kattegat, one day requested your presence in the great hall.

When you arrived there, slightly scared and certainly curious to know what the Boneless wanted with you he was alone in the hall, sitting at one of the tables instead of on his throne and motioning for you to come closer.

As you did so you saw things laid out on the table in front of him, but you focused your eyes on him as not to offend him.

When you reached him he nodded and you took it as a cue to stop walking, still in a safe distance from him.

"You are the writing girl?", he asked, his voice forming the words like a disturbing melody, and you nodded gently.

"You are more beautiful than I remember", he told you, and your breath caught in your throat at his compliment.

It was true, you had grown quite tall for a girl with long light brown hair and hazel eyes, but your height only made you rather extraordinary and beautiful in the eyes of most viking men.

You had gained the name 'writing girl' just as he had been given the name 'the Boneless', or his brother Bjorn had earned his 'Ironside', it was just a name people added to the one you were given, and you actually liked it.

"I want you to write for me", he said as he moved his hand for you to sit down in front of him, which you did.

"Do you know this? It's Saxon, but I took it from there when I came back from my raid. It's quill, ink, and paper, and it's easier to write on than wood or stone", he explained as you took a look at the paper in front of you.

It drew you in like honey drew in bears, you were fascinated and reached out to look at it.

"I want you to work with me, writing girl", he said as he cocked his head, looking at you in the daunting and intense way he usually watched people.

"Since I am now King, a very successful one, I want you to write some of my life's story, and my accomplishments, so far and the ones in the future", he said and you nodded, looking back down at the paper he wanted to write you on.

"Why me?", you asked and he grinned at you cockily.

"Because you're the writing girl. And because I like you", he said and you didn't feel comfortable enough to look at him.

He was married, but Ivar the Boneless was unpredictable.

You spent the days with the King, writing what he told you, be it war strategies or his 'chronicle' as he called it.

When you were once again listening to Ivar someone entered the great hall and Ivar looked up, interrupting his story as he greeted the man.

"Hello brother", he said and you looked up fron your scriptures, for the first time in a long while taking a look at Prince Hvitserk.

Once you looked at him you couldn't keep your eyes off of him, and he seemed as mesmerized as you were.

He was watching you as you turned around, his eyes staying on you even when his brother talked to him, and it seemed like he had forgotten what he wanted to say.

After a far too long moment of locked eyes between you two he ripped his eyes from you, looking at his little brother.

"I came to inform you that our spies in England confirmed that Bjorn, Ubbe and Lagertha have been sighted", he said and when you looked at Ivar his jaw was clenched angrily.

After seconds he shook off his angry look to give his brother one of his signature grins, as he saw Hvitserk's eyes once again wandering off to you.

"Right, Hvitserk. This is my little writer. And the woman I spend most of my time with these days", he said as he gestured towards you with his gloved hand.

When you looked back at Hvitserk he was staring at you and you smiled slightly, to which he nodded.

"It's nice to meet you", he said as he sent you a small sheepish smirk, still keeping eye contact with you.

When Hvitserk left your mind was occupied with him, the way he had looked and the way he had looked at you.

When you from then on walked through Kattegat you saw him more often, and whenever you saw him he already had his eyes following you.

He came into the great hall more often from then on as well, much to his brother's annoyance.

When you had an extraordinarily long session with Ivar it was already dark outside, and Hvitserk offered to bring you home.

You accepted, and he did so.

"I really like you, you know", he said as you exited the great hall, Ivar's angry glare following you until the door shut closed behind you.

You chuckled as you looked at Hvitserk, even though your cheeks blushed crimsoned red.

"You don't know me", you said, which was the reason why he chuckled as well.

"Well... then I'd like to get to know you? Go out with me and you'll see that I really like you anyways", he grinned at you, and you laughed as you started walking.

You hadn't answered yet and Hvitserk realized that you had started walking and hurried to catch up with you.

"Wait, what is it now? Will you go out with me, beautiful one?", he asked and you laughed again before you turned to face him.

"Alright, I will", you smiled and Hvitserk grinned happier than you had ever seen him.

And he was the perfect partner.

You hadn't thought so when you had been younger, he had seen his fair share of women after all, but Hvitserk seemed so serious and happy with you, and you were entirely happy as well.

You tried to keep your relationship from the public, mostly because you didn't want to be bothered by people's stares because Hvitserk was still with Ivar the mad King, but also because you were scared of the Boneless as well.

He was relatively friendly towards you, but as soon as Hvitserk entered the room the icy angry glare returned to his face, and he seemed more cruel than before.

One evening you were working late with Ivar when he told you to stay for the feast that would take place in the great hall.

You agreed reluctantly, but only because you thought that you would have to agree to whatever Ivar asked of you.

When the feast started you were sat next to the Queen to Ivar's left, and to his right sat Hvitserk.

The two of you smiled at each other over your meal, catching each other staring at one another every once in a while.

You were happy with it, until Ivar caught you in the act.

He glared at his brother before looking at you, a devious smile settling on his face.

"Come here", he said as he patted his hand on his lap and you stood up.

The people in the great hall were watching you as you stood in front of Ivar.

"Well now, come sit", he hissed and you glanced at Hvitserk shortly before you sat down on Ivar's lap, not able to look in his eyes.

Ivar put his hand on your thigh possessively, grinning at his brother, who looked just as angry as Ivar often seemed.

"You like her, brother?", he asked and Hvitserk didn't answer as he only stared at Ivar, not able to look at you.

"You like my little writer, Hvitserk?", he taunted and you looked at Ivar's gloved arm on your thigh, not able to look into either brother's eyes.

"You know what?", Ivar asked as he lifted his hand off your thigh to point at Hvitserk, whose eyes shot towards Ivar.

"I'll let you have her. I'll let you have my little toy, if you want her that much. Go on", he said the last part to you, gesturing for you to get off his lap and as you did so you felt Ivar's hand slap your ass, and you heard the men's chuckle as he did so.

You were red in the face of humiliation and anger as you made your way towards Hvitserk who immediately got up as you reached him, taking your hand and quickly leading you outside of the hall.

Neither of you said anything before you reached his hut, and as soon as you did Hvitserk pulled you to the bed, cradling you to his chest and hugging you close, burying his face in your hair.

"I'm so sorry", he said softly and you shook your head, burying your head in his chest.

You weren't really angry anymore, you just felt humiliated.

You weren't a thing men could own, but Ivar was so unpredictable that you couldn't speak up against him.

"Is it possible to love too much?", you heard Hvitserk ask and you lifted your head to look at him, his hand moving to your hip to hold you.

"I'm afraid of Ivar", he said and you nodded, to which he smiled.

"But it's not because of me. I'm scared that he will use you, hurt you... because I love you far more than I have ever loved anyone", he said softly and you felt your eyes starting to fill with tears even though you tried to fight it.

"I know it's dangerous, but he knows about us anyways and... please be mine? Officially. So that at least everyone else but Ivar is scared enough to stay away from you", he said softly, reaching a hand up to your face to pull some hair behind your ear, and you nodded immediately.

"Yes, I love you", you said softly and he smiled widely, before he moved in for a kiss.

If you were lucky Ivar would leave you be, and you desperately hoped for it.

Hvitserk was the perfect man for you, and you loved him more than you had ever loved anyone.