He's just a babe. {{Drabble}}

The black of night shaded the lone rider through the surrounding Torrhen's Square. The only thing guiding him was the notion of purpose. He had to make it there, he had to. There was no room for failure. Sliding from his horse just outside the castle walls Ivar scanned the forest. There wouldn’t be many guards on tonight, he had nearly known their schedule by this point, having snuck his way in past them numerous times before. The only difference now was that he didn’t care to be subtle. He didn’t care for discretion. He had one purpose and one purpose only. To save her.

Skillfully and silently Ivar made his way towards the main gate, two lone guards, easy enough. Quickly he was able to slit their throats before making his way inside. The halls were silent, no movement other than the soft scurrying of rats. Panic began to set in with each passing of empty halls. Had he been too late? Had they exiled her as stated in her raven? Shaking his head he pushed himself to keep going, continue one until he found himself in the only remaining hall of the house. His appearance no longer hidden as the light from candles flickered their awakening. He was too late.

Jaw clenching Ivar stood up straight, walking towards the glowing embers before him to find Ser Helman alongside a few members of his guard. The man stoic in nature, a cold demeanor even Ivar couldn’t quite comprehend. “So it was you then?” Helman questioned as he moved to sit in the lone chair gracing the hall. Ivar’s brow rose as he walked forward, noting the guards movement to grip their swords did nothing to halt his movements forward. “I am certain...I do not know of what you are asking.” Ivar began, continuing with his steps forward.

Helmans gaze bore through Ivar as if to burn him from the inside out. “Don’t toy with me boy, you know exactly what I speak. It was you who put that bastard in my daughter!” His words echoing off the empty walls. Ivar stopped in his tracks. Confusion washing over his face. She...was with child? The notion which clearly did not go unnoticed by Ser Helman. In that moment everything began to click. They had been close friends throughout the majority of his life. He would have done anything for her, and she knew that, she knew that when she had sent that raven. That raven that told him of her fathers plot to rid himself of her though the one aspect of that that she failed to mention was the reasoning behind such a outcast.

Ivar shook his head as if to break himself from the memories that began to flood him. “Where is she?” The question soft yet full of purpose. The arrogant smirk-like laugh which echoed in his ears one that confused him. “After she had a bastard babe with another man you’re still here to rush to her aid? How heroic.” Ser Helman sneered while leaning forward, resting his elbows along his thighs, “She is dead,” he began. Ivar stood in silence, a pain unfeeling of him before grumbled within his stomach. He was lying. He had to be lying. “Eddara had disgraced the nobility of the house she was born into, so I had to eliminate her from it.” With each word that passed passed his lips the rage within Ivar grew. “She is your daughter...your only daughter.” “Was. But is no longer,” he straightened upright in the stone throne, “now the only thing to be rid of is the boy.”

“He’s just a babe.” “A bastard babe.” Ivars face washed over with a new found purpose as he unshielded an ax from the strap along his waist, gaining a similar action from the guards as he spoke, “I am not leaving without that boy.” Ser Helman stood before the throne, watching as his guards moved to circle the lone Forrester man. ”Then you will not be leaving.” With those words the guards began there attack. Little did they know that Ivar had always been a bit unhinged, even as a boy he took pride in the sadistic torturing of those around him. This fight would be short.

With each swig of his ax blood spilled, scattering all around him as he watched the life begin to ever so slowly slip from their eyes. It wasn’t until his ax pierced the flesh of the final guards neck did he realize Ser Helman scurrying from the hall, clearly this bloodthirsty fever one he hadn’t planned on. Ivar smeared the blood on his face as he followed the man. Watching as the terror in his eyes grew with each step closer. They played their little game of cat and mouse until they ended in a lone room, a bloodied feather bed at its center and a screaming babe in a basket.

Ser Helman moved towards the babe only to have an ax directed at his throat as Ivar stepped between them. ”Take him...just take him and leave.” Helman stuttered as he held his hands up defensively. Ivar lowered his ax a mere moment turning towards the screaming babe as if to take him up on his offer, only to quickly turn on his heels, smashing the blade of the ax through his skull. He allowed himself to watch with pleasure as the man before him began to die. The choking sound he committed to memory. That man had taken the one person in the world who he had truly held dear. He deserved exactly what he got.

Pulling the blade from his head Ivar resheilded it, blood and all before moving slowly towards the babe. Slowly he scooped the babe up in his arms, wrapping him carefully in the small cloth blanket he had sat atop of, shushing him gently. ”You’re alright now young one...I’ve got you.”