“Shall we eat, my lady?” Erik said as he rose to dress.
Gwyneth stretched lazily, not wishing for the day to end. She watched her husband closely, admiring his muscular build, a shape that took years to develop on the training field. She was fortunate that they had not been separated by warfare, and prayed they would survive the onslaught when the Norman Duke invaded Britannia’s shores.
“You will catch a chill if you are not clothed,” Erik told her when he opened the door to the adjourning room. “You must see the pastries.”
While Gwyneth dressed, Erik poured the sleeping potion into a flask of wine, filling Gwyneth’s goblet with the tainted liquid. He purposely filled his cup with water in case the goblets were switched inadvertently. He sat at the table, eating berries while glancing out the window as he looked for the storm that was to come. He did not want to say goodbye, but his love prevented him from doing otherwise. Their lives had been a miracle and for this grace of God, he was truly thankful. He realized he did not have her likeness, and he became distraught.
“Gwyneth, I would have a lock of your hair.”
Gwyneth ran towards the man she would love through eternity, almost knocking him off the bench when she hugged him.
“That is so romantic. The word means loving,” Gwyneth said. “I will fetch a dagger.”
Erik cut a piece of her hair, placing the cherished lock into a velvet pouch, which he would wear for the remainder of his days. He poured the wine, handing her the goblet as he sat beside her. At first, she just sipped on her drink, but as she ate her meal, she gulped the wine, finishing the heady beverage too fast.
“It would seem I need more,” Gwyneth told him, giggling as she was beginning to feel queasy.
Erik filled her cup, not once but twice, encouraging her to finish the wine each time she raised the goblet.
“My head spins,” Gwyneth said.
Gwyneth had trouble keeping her eyes open, and her sentences did not sound right when she spoke. She could not understand what she was saying, the words seemed foreign, as if they were being spoken by someone else. She looked at Erik questioningly, wondering if she was becoming ill. She was not inebriated, she knew the symptoms. No, this feeling was something different. Her body was not following her brain’s commands. Somehow, she had lost control of her senses. She tried to think what diseases caused such symptoms, but she was confused. She could not think, and she doubted her sanity. She felt Erik’s protective arms holding her firmly, and her heart swelled with love.
“What is wrong with me?” Gwyneth asked, her voice slurred.
Gwyneth tried to move her head, but her neck could not support its weight. She pressed her face into Erik’s chest, forcing herself to keep her eyes open. The howling wind sent shivers throughout her body, its loudness amplified by her altered perception. She tried to fight it, whatever it was, but her efforts were pointless. Her eyes were almost closed, her lashes flickering as she tried to keep them open. She could no longer see, and the darkness frightened her. She wanted to cry out, but she was incapable of speaking since she no longer had a voice, and she was unable to move. Gwyneth could not fight off whatever had taken over her body. She could not fight off...
Epilogue
14 October 2066. The thousand year anniversary of the Norman invasion was yet another milestone in British history. While the population celebrated the departure of the Romans, they did not rejoice in the arrival of William the Conqueror. His reign of terror had been felt throughout England, and its inhabitants mourned the passing of the Anglo-Saxons. The population at large, especially members of the lower class, blamed the infamous bastard for the inequities prevalent in their country. The nobility may not have a voice in the House of Commons, but that did not matter. Their wealth had increased during the centuries to the detriment of blue collar workers living in horrendous poverty, their wages insufficient to support their meager households. Duke William had instituted a feudal society, and the current government appeared to be acting in a similar fashion. While Charles Dickens might not recognize the modern city of London, he would certainly recognize the economic condition of the underprivileged.
To commemorate the one thousandth anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. English Heritage had established a Committee to oversee the celebrations, hiring actors on a grand scale to star in a reenactment on Senlac Hill. But East Sussex was not the only locale hosting such elaborate festivities. Mock battles would be taking place in many counties. Merchant stalls would dot the countryside, vendors selling their wares to the expected large crowds. The evening would culminate with massive firework displays, which appealed to every age, a single night to forget that the rift between rich and poor had yet to be addressed.
Edna Harris was disappointed by the lack of interest in visiting the ruins of one of King Alfred’s most notable citadels that had protected England’s coast when the Vikings had terrorized all of Christendom. While she did provide lodging for the occasional tourist, most of her income depended upon the archeologists that spent the season excavating the ancient relics. Even though the number of students had dwindled after Dr. Franger had gone missing, Dr. Malcolm Knýtlinga continued to reserve the same number of rooms each year. He also became a permanent lodger, choosing the quarters Dr. Franger had taken, and spending his weekends walking amid the rubble and on the beach, whenever it was deserted. And time passed.
***
Darkness. Smells of rotted wood and mildew. Eerily quiet except for the sound of the roaring surf. Gwyneth stirred, moving her limbs as she opened her eyes, taking time to adjust to the pitch black environment. At first, she thought she had been buried alive, but she dismissed that notion immediately when she started to remember. She understood why she had been given a sleeping potion, but that did not lessen the pain. There was only one location in the entire citadel that would have survived intact and that was where she had been placed - the concealed room in the old Roman tunnel. Sitting upright, her hands ran along the edges where the wooden planks had supported the mattress, which had long since deteriorated. She stood up, turned to her left, knowing the doorway was just a few feet away. Once she reached the opening, she again turned towards her left and started to walk in the direction of the sunlight, running her hand along the rocky wall as she did so, thinking of the last time she had been in the passageway. She kept a steady pace, suppressing the urge to run. As she inched closer to the light, her lungs filled with the sea air as the breaking waves broke upon the base of the cliff. She stopped at the cave’s entrance, shielding her eyes as she peered into the brightness. There were no fishing vessels nor sunbathers, and when she looked up, all she could see was the blue sky. There were no warriors walking along the wall. The timber and stone had not withstood the test of time and Gwyneth knew she had returned home, she was in her century.
As Gwyneth walked down the overgrown path, she kept looking behind, taking comfort when she saw the massive Keep that appeared to be watching her. When she reached the shoreline, she knelt near the rocks where she had left her cloak and shoes on the day Erik had feared she was drowning. The memory stirred her heart and soul as she approached the water’s edge, stopping where she had stopped hundreds of years ago. She sat on the warm sand, staring at the rolling waves and foaming bubbles washing ashore.
“The tide will soon be in,” he said as he rested his hand upon her shoulder.
Gwyneth placed her hand on top of his, her fingers rubbing the outline of the horseshoe ring.
“Please stay, it is still warm. Share this moment with me.”
He held Gwyneth in his arms as they watched the waves rolling onto the beach. The sea breeze was cold, which prompted him to lift Gwyneth to her feet. Their eyes locked briefly, whispering words of endearment, and their kiss was soft and gentle.
“The child you carry?” Malcolm asked.
“Our child is well ... our love has transcended time.”
###
Author’s Note
The Anglo-Sa
xon Chronicles records a wildfire occurring in 1032, which caused great damage in many places. While the exact locations were not stated, it is plausible that such a fire could have occurred in the locales mentioned in this story.
Glossary of Terms
Aachen: Charlemagne’s capital city (modern day Germany)
Abbess: Female administrator of monastery / abbey
Abbey: Monastic community
Abbott: Male administrator of monastery / abbey
Addled: Confused
Allah: Islamic term for God
Aller: Village where the Baptism of the Danish King Guthrum took place
Alms: Gifts of money / services / goods for the poor
Amulet / Talisman: Charm worn to protect against evil and bring good fortune
Angles: Germanic peoples who settled post Roman Britain
Anglo-Saxon Britain: 5th Century to Norman Invasion (1066)
Applewine: Cider
Bailey: Outer courtyard of a fortification
Banns (Bans): Announcement of forthcoming marriage
Battlements: Defensive structure along the outer edge of the wall-walk
Benedictine Order: Religious community founded by St. Benedictine
Bid: Ask
Bishop of Rome: The Pope
Bishopric: Territorial jurisdiction of a Bishop
Bow: Front of a ship
Breeches: Trousers
Britons: Ancient Celtic peoples from the island of Great Britain
Burh: Fortified town
Caliph: Head of state
Cast Rune: Psychic interpretation of runic alphabet symbols to tell the future
Cell: Single room in an abbey / monastery / nunnery
Chapter House: Religious community administrative center
Charlemagne: Charles I also called Charles the Great (742 AD – 814 AD); King of the Franks (from 768 AD) and Emperor of the Romans (from 800 AD)
Calling: Religious vocation
Celts: Dominated Great Britain from the Iron Age through the Early Middle Ages
Christendom: The Christian world
Ciborium: Chalice and paten set using during the celebration of the Christian Mass
Circus: Open arena for chariot races and other forms of entertainment (games)
Cloister: Enclosed inner courtyard in a monastery / abbey
Coddle: Pamper
Coffer: Chest
Comely: Beautiful
Compline: 9:00 pm prayer service
Confessor: Spiritual advisor
Contagion: Contagious disease
Cowl: Monk’s hooded cloak
Dane: People of Denmark
Denarius: Main silver coin of the Roman Empire
Diet: Parliamentary body
Diocese: District or See under the supervision of a Bishop that is divided into parishes
Dolt: Stupid person
Dragonship: Viking longship, longboat
Emir: Prince
Eucharist: Consecrated bread and wine that becomes the body and blood of Christ
Feign: Pretend
Fishmonger: Person who sells fish
Flameworker: Glassblower
Fealty: Swear loyalty and allegiance to an overlord / ruler
Forthwith: Immediately
Fortnight: Fourteen days
Frisians: Germanic people living in East & North Frisia, The Netherlands, Denmark
Garb: Clothing
Garderobe: latrines (toilet)
Gate: Heavy wood doors for entry
Gatehouse: Main entry with towers / barriers on each side of a wood gate
Give quarter: Spare life, take prisoners
God Speed: Safe travel
Gong Farmer: Cleans the latrines (toilet)
Grapple: Bind together
Great Hall: Main room for meetings / dining
Guffaw: Laugh
Habit: Clothing worn by members of the religious community
Harried: Raid / pillage / harass
Hispania: Spain
Holy Roman Emperor: Title conferred by the Pope; ruler of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire: Frankish Kingdom (present day Germany)
Holy See: Seat of the Pope’s office in Rome
Hull: Watertight body of a ship
Ignoble: Baseborn; illegitimate
Iliad: Homer’s ancient Greek poem set in the Trojan War
Ill-begotten: Illegitimate
Illumination: Artistically decorated manuscripts
Inner Bailey: Courtyard in the center of the fortification
Keep: Large tower
Knucklebones: Game similar to Jacks
Lauds: 3:00 am prayer service
Lunge: Quick thrust or jab by leaning forward
Lyre: Harp
Magnificat (Song of Mary): Ancient Christian Hymn, taken from the Gospel of St. Luke
Mantle: Cloak-like garment that can be richly decorated
Matins: Midnight prayer service
Mead: Intoxicating beverage made from water, honey, malt and yeast
Meddle: Interfere
Minstrel: Musician
Monastic Orders: Religious communities guided by a particular religious rule - e.g. Benedictine Order
Moor: A Muslim of mixed Berber and Arab descent. Invaders of Spain in the 8th C
Njord: Norse god of the sea
None: 3:00 pm prayer service
Northman: Viking or Norseman: Scandinavian seafaring warriors
Nunnery: Convent
Palace of Aachen: Charlemagne’s royal seat built in the late 8th century
Palfrey: Riding horse
Parapet: Wall rampart
Parry / Parried: Block / deflect a blow
Paten: Plate of precious metal used in church services
Patrimony of St. Peter: Papal States - territory in Italy ruled by the Pope
Pilgrim’s Staff: Walking stick
Plantain Leaves: Medicinal herb; reduces pain
Point: First and most exposed position in combat formation
Portico: Entrance
Posthaste: Immediately
Postern Gate: Secondary gate at the rear of a fortification
Poultice: Medicinal paste
Prime: 6:00 am prayer service
Prioress: Abbess
Priory: Abbey
Prow: Front of a ship
Psalter: Book of Psalms
Psalms: Sacred poems
Quill: Writing pen
Quiver: Case for carrying arrows
Rampart: Embankment that encircles the fortification
Recompense: Give compensation for an injury or loss
Reparation: Give satisfaction for a wrong or injury
Revels: Feasting
Revenant: Lost soul whose ghostly form walks amongst the living
Rope Pulling: Tug of war
Rucksack: Backpack
Runes: Ancient alphabet letters
Saracen: By the 12th century, synonymous with Muslim;
originally from the Roman Provence of Arabia, distinguished from the Arabs
Saxons: Germanic peoples who settled post Roman Britain
Scabbard: Sheath (case) for sword or dagger
Sconce: Mounted torch holders; Candlestick
See: Domain of authority of a Bishop
Sext: Noon prayer service
Shipwright: Boatmaker
Shriven: Free from guilt; sacrament of reconciliation (confession/penance)
Sjaund: Funeral ale ritual drinking celebrated seven days after a person’s death - Norse pagan custom
Smithy: Workplace of a smith or blacksmith
Solicitor: Attorney
Solstice: June 22 first day of summer; December 22 first day of winter
Stand: Halt / stop
Standard: Flag
Stern: Back of a ship
Sternpost: Upright structural post at the stern (back) of a wooden ship or boat
Succor: Refuge
Tabula: Board game similar to backgammon<
br />
Take the Cloth: Join a religious order
Take the Cowl: Become a monk / brother
Take the Veil: Become a nun
Talisman / Amulet: Charm worn to protect against evil and bring good fortune
Tarry: To delay
Terce: 9:00 am prayer service
Thurible: Metal censer suspended from chains in which incense is burned
Thrust: Push or drive with force
Tonsure: Head partially shaved prior to joining a religious order
Tryst: Rendezvous / assignation
Tumbler: Acrobat
Tunic: Simple knee length or longer garment
Turret: Small tower
Valerian Root: Medicinal herb; pain reliever and sedative
Vellum: Parchment made from animal skin, high quality
Vespers: 6:00 pm prayer service
Vestment: Liturgical garments, clerical clothing
Vicar of Christ: The Pope
Vie: Compete
Viking: Scandinavian warriors / seafarers
Villa: Roman styled house favored by the Roman Briton upper class
Wall-Walk: Walkway on top of a wall that encircles a fortification
Whetstone: Sharpening stone to grind and sharpen edges of steel tools, weapons
Wimple: Covering worn over the head and around the neck and chin; nun’s clothing
Yarrow: Medicinal herb; stops bleeding and reduces fever
Yield: Give up
About the Author
Mary Ann Bernal, author of The Briton and the Dane novels, is an avid history buff whose area of interest focuses on Ninth Century Anglo-Saxon Britain during the Viking Age. While pursuing a degree in business administration, she managed to fit creative writing classes and workshops into her busy schedule to learn the craft, but it would take decades before her “Erik the Viking” novel was ultimately published.
Mary Ann is also a passionate supporter of the United States military, having been involved with letter writing campaigns and other support programs since Operation Desert Storm. She has appeared on The Morning Blend television show hosted by KMTV, the CBS television affiliate in Omaha, and was interviewed by the Omaha World-Herald for her volunteer work. She has also been a featured author on Triangle Variety Radio, The Phil Naessens Show, and The Writers Showcase, and has been interviewed extensively by American and European bloggers.
The Briton and the Dane: Timeline Page 18
