Shrugging off his cloak and easing his sword out of it’s sheath, Eirik stood looking down at her. He could see and smell the difference she’d made to the room, and felt proud that this fragile looking beautiful woman should care enough to try and make a home for him. Lying down beside her fully clothed, he ran a hand over her cheek and as her eyes opened she smiled at him causing his heart to leap in his chest. She raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck lifting her mouth up for a kiss and he obliged, kissing her passionately and possessively.
Finally he broke away and still leaning over her asked “Have you eaten? I couldn’t get away any sooner, the city is in chaos; most of the slaves are dead or run away, and some of the city walls needed repairing.”
“Yes, Alta and I ate some of the bread and cheese and drank some spiced wine. Why don’t you undress and join me?” she grinned invitingly at him.
“Much as the idea appeals to me, I’m afraid I have to go out again. I must move my treasure and bury it in case we have to leave quickly.”
“Can I help?”
Eirik thought about it “I intend to bury it in the wood beyond the stream. Do you feel up to walking that far?”
Sophie sat up “Yes of course, I’ll get dressed,” and she pushed the furs aside, revealing her beautiful firm body, and causing Eirik to suck in a breath.
“Frige’s eyes,” he muttered, “dress quickly or I will forget about my treasure and bend you over the table.”
Sophie grinned and grabbed her clothes “That you can do once the treasure is safe, Master.”
Muttering at the cheekiness of a bed slave, his eyes glinting with the promise of what would come later, Eirik flung on his cloak and pushed his sword into its sheath as Sophie flung on her clothes and boots. Picking up her cloak she nodded at him and he opened the door and looked out, the rain had stopped and the night was clear and likely to become frosty. All was quiet and Eirik led the way to the side of the city well away from Ubbe’s hall “Leif is on duty by a break in the defences,” Eirik said, “I arranged it and he is expecting me.”
Pausing to listen occasionally, he led the way through the dark shadows to the barn where his loot was stored. Lifting the cross brace he opened the door and they slipped inside. As he closed the door pitch black descended and he reached for a torch hanging by the door. Striking a flint he lit the torch and carrying it aloft moved further into the barn. It was filled mostly with dry goods, looted clothing, furs and leather as well as dried grain, cheese and wine, but in the furthermost corner was piled the treasure. Many swords and belt buckles as well as gold and copper goblets and platters. A few of the gold items had been broken up into Dane gilt and this Eirik put into small pouches which he hung from his belt. He handed two pouches to Sophie saying she may have need of it in the future and she fastened them to her belt. Then they put all of the gold and silver items into three sacks and a lot of the copper and brass items into two others. When all the treasure was collected, Sophie picked up an old fur that had been covering it.
“Can I take this back for Alta? It is freezing now at night and she has been faithful to you.”
Eirik frowned “If you can manage it as well as a sack.”
“I’ll manage,” Sophie said picking up some rope and wrapping it around the fur, then she tied it across her shoulders and picked up two sacks. “See this is fine.”
Taking the heaviest sack off her Eirik handed her a lighter one “Take these, I don’t want you falling over when I hump you against the table later.”
Grinning at the look on her face he led the way to the door and doused the torch, carefully opening the door a crack he peered out. He stood listening for a while then stepped out beckoning her after him, She stood silently in the shadows as he replaced the door brace then followed him, keeping in the shadows.
At the city wall Leif was standing watching the dark shadows in the distance, Eirik nodded to him then, Sophie close behind, he slipped over the wooden palisade and slid down the bank into the large ditch that surrounded the city.
Keeping tight to the city wall Eirik made his way to a slightly lower bank and they crawled away from the ditch and the city defences. Then they were into a part of the surrounding village that Sophie didn’t know and heading for the stream, keeping well away from the stock field.As soon as they were across the stream Eirik moved more freely and Sophie hurried to keep up.
“Where are we going to bury it?” she asked.
“I thought in Caena’s den, if anyone found the entrance and crawled in, it would just look like a child’s den. The ground is mostly pine needles and dried leaves, so won’t look as if it’s been dug up.”
Sophie was disorientated in the deep blackness but Eirik’s eyes were sharp and he easily led her to the right bramble thicket. The tunnel was rather small for Eirik but he managed to slide through and Sophie passed the sacks through to him before she too crawled into Caena’s den. A large log had been placed in one corner, it must have been quite a feat for the small boy to roll it into his hideaway, and Eirik rolled it aside and taking his small sword from his side cleared the debris, which was inches thick, away. When all the pine needles and dry leaves were pushed aside he started to dig into the dry soil, his sword easily chopping into the loamy ground, leaving chunks which he pulled away with his hands, until he was satisfied at the depth of the hole. Then he placed the sacks carefully in the bottom and covered them over with the soil. Sophie helped him brush the pine needles and leaves over the packed earth and he rolled the log back into place.
Checking that the ground looked undisturbed Eirik led the way out of the thicket, and as Sophie crawled free he reached over and pulled some of the branches back into place over the tunnel. They got back into the city undetected, apart from Leif, and followed the shadows back to the house. Sophie took the fur out to Alta, who was dozing and laid it over her, then she returned to Eirik.
He’d removed his cloak and sword belt and was pouring them both some ale. As she removed her cloak and took the tankard of ale from him he smiled and said “Thank you for your help today. Once again you have done all you could for me.”
Taking a step closer to him she said “I will always do all I can for you. You mean everything to me.”
Putting down his tankard he reached out and pulled her into his arms. Taking her tankard from her he put it on the table then he kissed her gently and sweetly. She responded as she always did and his kiss deepened, showing his desire for her. Lifting his head he grinned at her and releasing her belt then the cords that kept her trousers up he pushed them down. With his hands on her hips he lifted her around to face the table and bent her over it. Releasing his breeches he shook them off and freed his rampant erection, his hand found her sex and stroked her labia while his other hand pressed her mons and a finger found her nub causing her to draw in a breath as her sex clenched over it. Within seconds she was hot and wet for him, the feeling of being held in place exciting her. She was captive to a much greater strength and although she trusted him completely not to hurt her, a primal fear passed through her. When he stroked her sex with the velvet smooth head of his shaft, her body arched towards him, inviting him in. Growling with satisfaction, with one smooth thrust he penetrated her to her core. She squealed and grabbing the side of the table with both hands held herself steady.
Growling “So you like that” Eirik withdrew and thrust again, drawing in a deep breath and calling on all his self control he set about bringing her to orgasm. As her body sucked him in and pulsed around his thrusting shaft he rode her orgasm and pushed her onto another before he allowed himself release.
Collapsing onto the table as he withdrew from her, Sophie found herself picked up and carried to the furs. Pulling off her tunic Eirik then shrugged off his own and putting his arms around her kissed her, once again gently and sweetly.
“You have become important to me, too, So
phie. The pleasure you give me, in your company as well as your body, is beyond anything I have ever known. I will never abandon you and promise to look after you as long as I live.”
“I love you Eirik, that you could love me too is all I dream of.”
“I want to protect you and make you happy, that is all I know. It is more than I’ve ever felt for anyone.”
“Then I’ll settle for that.” Sophie said as she collapsed once again into a sated sleep.
Chapter 18
Over the next few days she didn’t see much of Eirik. Up at first light and not returning, exhausted, until late at night his love making was sweet and gentle and she grew to love him more and more.
She wasn’t allowed to leave the city but was permitted to visit Eirik’s store house and take anything that might make her life easier and more comfortable. As well as more clothes for herself she took warm items for Alta and the two women sat companionably by the fire, unpicking things that were too big and altering them to fit. To her delight she found sacks of dried lavender, rosemary and marigold petals, so she made some lavender oil and balm and spread some of the dried herbs under and around their mattress, and in Eirik’s trunk to keep the lice and fleas at bay.
On ‘Laurday’ they bathed together as usual, and ate their porridge together then Eirik left her to go back to supervising the renewal of the city’s defences. For once it wasn’t raining and she was sitting by the meal fire with Alta helping to make a new batch of horse chestnut soap, smelling of lavender, when they heard cries from the lookouts stationed along the walls. Fearing that it was another attack she jumped to her feet and ran out into the road; slaves from the other houses had come out too and they clustered together peering towards the gates of the city.
Then there was a cheer and she realised that the sentries were calling greetings in Norse so she knew that it was the reinforcements from Ubbe’s father. With the other women she hurried towards the city gates in time to see it swing open, and marching towards them a long column of men horses and wagons. Standing in the crowd she saw Ubbe, Eirik and some of their guards ride out to greet them. When they reached the column Ubbe swung down from his horse and the warrior riding at the head of the men did the same. The two men flung their arms around each other and thumped the other’s back, to the sound of cheering from their men.
“Who is it?” Sophie asked a warrior standing in front of her.
“It is one of our greatest leaders, Jarl Ivar Lothbrook, brother to Ubbe,” the Dane told her.
Eirik too had dismounted and going forward offered his arm to Ivar, who clasped it in the Viking way, then the three men turned, and leading their horses, walked back into the city, Ubbe and Ivar deep in conversation.
Realising that this part of the city was about to be filled with strange warriors, ready for some fun and relaxation after their forced march, Sophie and Alta hastened back to Eirik’s house, all the other Saxon slaves following their lead. At the house she ushered Alta and Geri inside and closed the door, putting the door brace firmly into place.
Eirik didn’t return that night and the two women huddled by the fire all night, afraid to sleep. The sounds of roistering warriors, screams of women foolish enough not to have hidden away, and the occasional thump on the door as an inebriated man fell against it made sleep impossible. However no one attempted to get into the house and Sophie was grateful that the door bore the sign of Eirik’s rank.
The celebrations went on until the early hours, but finally all fell quiet and eventually Sophie and Alta lay down on the furs, Geri lying against the door, and fell asleep. When they woke the city was quiet and Sophie dared to open the door and look out. No one was about so Alta took herself off to her meal fire to prepare the porridge and it being a dry, crisp, sunny day Sophie took the furs outside to beat them. She had them hung over the rail in front of the house and was using a flat piece of wood to get the dust out when a voice drawled “So you are the Saxon whore Eirik has taken to warm his furs.”
Turning around sharply Sophie was confronted by an elaborately coifed woman, face painted in elaborate patterns and dressed in thick leather tunic and breeches. The silver armlets and fine sword and war axe, denoted a high ranking shield maiden.
“Yes I’m Sophie and Thegn Eirik is my master.”
The woman nodded her head “So. That is a fine collar you have around your neck, where’s your sigil slave?”
Sophie patted her collar “This is Eirik’s sigil.”
“Mmph. that’s no sigil, it’s a fine necklace which by rights should be mine. I have laid claim to Eirik Eirikson. Away from his fat wife and mewling get, he is mine!”
Slowly it sank into Sophie’s brain that this woman thought she had a claim on Eirik, and she was a killer. Perhaps he’d had sex with her at some time, and she knew how good at that he was. It was understandable that a woman would want more of him, plus she was a Dane and Sophie was a slave. At that moment Geri, who had been sitting watching her beat the furs, understood the threat in the woman’s voice and his hackles went up and he growled as he placed himself in front of Sophie.
“Call your dog off or I will gut him.”
“He’s Eirik’s war dog and not easy to gut.” Sophie said, taking hold of his collar, “stand down Geri,” she ordered as she pulled him back.
He sat by her side, hackles still raised and watching the Dane intently.
“You are an insolent slut and I will see you punished.”
Sophie bit her lip, knowing that she shouldn’t answer back but hating to back down.
The woman grimaced “Remember me slut, I am Hilde and one day soon I will kill you.”
Then she backed up, turned and walked away. Geri stood and watched her go, then he turned to Sophie and nuzzled his head into her hand.
“Yes boy, that wasn’t pleasant. I think we’ll both have to watch our backs.”
Alta’s head peered round the side of the house “You want to watch out for her, looks a nasty piece of work,” she muttered.
“Yes I think you’re right, I wouldn’t like to meet her on a dark night.” Sophie said as she went back to beating the furs.
“Porridge is ready, leave them and come and eat. Looks like you’ve got a battle on your hands with that one.”
Going to join Alta by the meal fire, Sophie wondered if she should tell Eirik. Would he take Hilde’s side, had he slept with her and did he like her? After all she was a Dane and from what she’d heard about shield maidens, a brave dangerous killer.
***
Sophie spent the rest of the morning cutting the cooling soap into bars and wrapping them with squares of linen cut from the old clothes they had altered. The soap smelled slightly of lavender as did Sophie and she was pleased with the way it had turned out.
She was just putting the last of the furs back onto the mattress when she heard Geri’s woof of welcome and then Eirik walked in, looking and smelling a great deal the worse for wear! Leaving the furs she turned to him and smiled saying “Do you feel as bad as you look?”
Grimacing he said “No, a good deal worse. I swear my head is going to go bang and my stomach wants to leave my body.”
“Oh dear would you like some hot water to wash and some willow tree bark tea? I think that will help your head and a slice of bread would help your stomach.”
“Please” he said sitting on the bench and putting his head in his hands.
Sophie fetched him a bowl of hot water from the cauldron that always hung over the meal fire and gave him one of her new bars of soap. Then as he stripped and washed himself she searched in his trunk for a bottle of fennel and dill seed infusion that Ceolwen had given her for wind and griping pains in the stomach. Pouring a dose into a tiny bowl she put it on the table along with a bowl of the willow bark tea, and cut him a chunk of bread which she covered with the Dane’s equivalent of cre
am cheese. As he rinsed off the soap Eirik was watching her, he had noticed the pleasant smell that came off it, and the way she had busied herself to care for him and marvelled at the way she had taken him to her heart. Not many women would have been as forgiving as her.
Fetching him a clean tunic and breeches Sophie took his dirty clothes, smelling of sour ale, greasy food and sweat, but thankfully not of sex, out to Alta to wash. Leaving the old woman complaining happily over the fussiness of Danes she rejoined Eirik grinning at what Alta had said.
Eirik was sitting at the table eating the bread, he’d drunk the infusion and the willow bark tea and was looking more like himself.
“Is there anything else you want?” she asked him.
Crooking his finger and beckoning her over he said “Only you, come sit on my knee and tell me you’ve missed me.”
She obliged and sitting on his knee wrapped her arm around his neck, but she said “Missed you? Have you been away?” Then she laughed as he put his arms tight around her and said “Perhaps I have not shown you often enough what there is to miss when I’m not here.?”
“Perhaps you haven’t,” she murmured as she lifted her mouth to be kissed.
Standing up he carried her to the furs and showed her what she should have been missing, his clever mouth and fingers driving her wild long before he joined with her and took his release.
Lying naked and happy on his chest, she was dozing and Eirik had slipped into a deep sleep, when the door flew open and a man strode into the room. Sophie screamed, finding herself suddenly flung to one side as Eirik surged up off the furs.
“Whoah there Eirik. After the ale and wine you sank last night I wouldn’t have thought you’d be fit to rut.”
Standing naked and ready to fight it took Eirik a moment to realise who was there, then he said “Jarl Ivar, welcome to my home. I wasn’t aware that you wanted me.”
Sophie had knelt ready to run or fight, she didn’t know which, and Ivar’s eyes were drawn to her. He took in the beauty before him and licked his lips. “A thought just came to me so instead of sending for you I came to you. However my interest is piqued, who is this goddess before me? Have you lured Frige herself from Valhalla?”
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