by Terry Spear
Robard said, “With no thought of reward, Gunnolf rescued my daughter from Seamus after one of his men had struck her with an arrow. Gunnolf rid us of a mistake of my own making when I brought Seamus into the clan. I am no’ about to make another with recommending my nephew take my place. No’ when he has never proved himself loyal or capable of leading our men.”
Gunnolf still couldn’t believe that Robard had known so much about him, as if he’d admired him all these years after wanting to kill him when Gunnolf, as a lad, had been lying wounded on his lands.
“Brina will continue to manage the household staff?” one of the men asked.
“Aye. She has been trained, knows everyone, and knows how to make things work the best for everyone concerned.” Robard looked like he was about ready to give out, he appeared so exhausted.
“Mayhap we can discuss this further later. The hour is late.” Gunnolf didn’t want to comment on Robard’s health and make him feel like less of a man.
“We will make our decision on the morrow,” Lorn said.
“And we will have a celebration on the morrow with regard to Brina’s marrying Gunnolf,” Robard announced.
“I have wed as well,” Christophe said as if he suddenly remembered it.
“And you have no doubt been celebrating in my absence. ‘Tis time for me to celebrate my daughter’s marriage.”
“They said you had commanded Gunnolf to wed Brina. Was it because he had forced himself on her?” Christophe asked.
“Did you force yourself on the lass you wed?” Gunnolf asked.
One of the elders chuckled.
“Of course no’. But I wasna commanded to marry her either.”
Robard gave Christophe a steely-eyed glower. “I wished it because he had protected my daughter when no one else would. And I knew it would be a way to unite our clan with James’s.”
“I had the utmost respect for the lady,” Gunnolf clarified, just in case anyone had assumed otherwise. Because the elders would now be involved in deciding who would be chief and it was between Gunnolf and Christophe, he didn’t think Christophe would make an attempt on Robard’s life. Unless out of vengeance for his uncle suggesting that the elders choose Gunnolf over his nephew.
“Who would be your choice to be your second?” Lorn asked Gunnolf, before they left.
“Rory, because all this time he and Cadel and his wife have kept Robard alive and safe. He was loyal to the chief when no one else had come to his aid.”
That seemed to satisfy the elders who nodded, most likely pleased to hear he would have someone from the clan at his side and not someone from James’s clan instead.
“Rest, Robard. We will inform you of our decision on the morrow,” Lorn said.
Men were posted as guards for Robard as he slept in his own chamber while Christophe had to move to another and Gunnolf retired with Brina to her chamber. He had never imagined sleeping with the lass in her own chamber. He wondered if she had.
He ran his hand over the pale blue curtains hanging from the bed rails as she sat on the mattress and leaned down to untie her shoes.
“Allow me,” Gunnolf said, crouching in front of her.
She ran her hand over Gunnolf’s windswept hair. “I canna believe Seamus was my half brother and intended to wed me. Knowing who he was, I am sorry with the way things ended.”
“I am too. But it was a good thing that I rescued you.” Gunnolf removed her other shoe, then slid his hands up her leg to pull down her sock.
A knock at the door sounded. He instantly rose and unsheathed his sword. “Ja?”
“Robard ordered a bath for you and the lady,” Lorn called out.
“Ja.”
Brina was up on her feet in an instant and had her bow and an arrow readied just in case someone had other notions.
Gunnolf was ready likewise and opened the door.
Lorn smiled a little at them. “Just a bath. No battle here.”
Then men hauled in a tub and more came with hot water. When they were done, both Brina and Gunnolf thanked them.
A maid asked if she could help them, but Gunnolf declined. She handed him cloths and soap. Then he shut the door and bolted it.
“I feel badly that we thought we were going to have trouble. I hate for my people to think we dinna trust them.”
“’Tis better to expect trouble than to be surprised by it.”
“Aye, which is why you will make a great leader.”
“For now, I only want to be a dutiful husband.” He sheathed his sword and removed his belt, then set them aside. He lifted her face to his and kissed her.
“Thank you for bringing my da home.”
“You helped just as much.” Then he began to pull off her clothes and when she was standing only in her chemise, he jerked off each article of his own clothing until he stood fully naked before her. And aroused. And wanting her in the worst way, desire filling him with need. But he wanted to make love to her like she deserved, after they both bathed. He pulled off her chemise and helped her into the tub.
Brina sighed as she sank into the hot water, glad to be home, and having a bath, but if Christophe was chosen over Gunnolf, she knew she could be happy with James’s clan too. As long as Gunnolf was there. “This feels so good.”
“You look so good,” Gunnolf said, crouching down next to her with the cloth in hand.
She thought he was going to hand her the cloth, and couldn’t believe it when he ran the soft material over her body. Not just the cloth, but his large hand, massaging her back and neck, and then lower, her breasts, waist, and even lower. Never had she envisioned her husband washing her. The other way around, maybe, but not this.
When he moved the cloth between her legs, then dispensed with the fabric and began to fondle her into a fevered pitch, need burned deep inside her. She couldn’t believe a bath could turn into something so deliciously special, so hot and blissful. Arching against his fingers, she held onto the tub with a fierce grip. Feeling as though she could melt into the silky water with his stroking her into rapture, she tightened her hold. Every caress took her higher, made her want to go even farther.
Though the water was cooling, he was making her feel delightfully hot. She wanted him inside her then, wanted to be in the bed giving him pleasure too, but he leaned over and kissed her mouth, and she forgot everything but his touching her.
Sparks of excitement skittered across her skin as she let go of the tub and clasped his face in her hands and kissed him back. His tongue stroked hers as she felt as if she were soaring into the heavens. He kissed the water droplets on her cheek, then licked her neck and she didn’t think she’d ever felt anything so wildly passionate in her life.
Pleasure blossomed deep inside her and her world tilted. She cried out, overwhelmed.
He kissed her, his mouth on hers, pressuring and eager. She noted he was ready for her, his staff steel hard, if she wished it. But she wanted to bathe him first.
He finished washing her legs and feet, his expression intense.
“Let us switch places.” She was tired and ready to fall asleep in Gunnolf’s arms.
“You can retire to bed and I will join you as soon as I am clean.”
“Nay. I will wash you, my husband, as you have washed me.”
He helped her out of the tub and then was eagerly drying her, kissing her again, and she didn’t think he would have time enough to bathe himself before the night was through. Not the way he was caressing her skin gently with the cloth, licking droplets he’d missed, and kissing off others, making bathing a true pleasure.
Then she said, “Now your turn.”
He climbed into the tub, and she began to wash him, but he wasn’t playing fair as he reached up to caress her naked breasts, and he kept kissing her on the mouth and shoulder. She loved the way he made the bath time fun and sexy.
She washed his chest and lower, amused at how his staff jumped in her hand beneath the cloth when she stroked it.
“Do that an
ymore and I will not make it inside you, if you are able to accept me again so soon,” he said, his voice ragged.
She chuckled, and finished cleaning his legs and feet. Before she knew what he was up to, he pulled her into the tub on top of him. She squealed out in surprise, her heart beating wildly, and then she laughed.
“Are you able to accept me?”
“How?” She couldn’t imagine making love in the tub.
He kissed her neck and said, “Like this. But if you are too uncomfortable, we can wait. Just stop me if you need to.”
He penetrated her tight sheath and she rocked on top of him, creating waves in the water, some splashing over the side. But she was getting used to him, loving the feel of him inside her, loving the way he made love to her.
He was gentle and passionate. She was glad that she had met him again and that they had become husband and wife. She had never truly imagined what it would be like to make love to Gunnolf in the privacy of her chamber. What she didn’t expect was for him to place his hand between her legs and as he was pumping into her, he began to stroke her again. She couldn’t imagine coming apart in his hands like this, and yet she did, felt the excitement all over again, the thrill of reaching the pinnacle, and the final feeling of total elation as she collapsed in his arms and kissed his mouth hard, then soft.
She didn’t think she could climb out of the tub the way she was feeling so satiated and sleepy.
He smiled at her and assisted her to stand, then quickly climbed out of the tub and helped her out. They began drying each other and she smiled as his staff began to take on a life of its own again.
He just smiled at her and kissed her. “You make that happen.” And then he lifted her in his arms and carried her to bed. “I bet you never considered you would have a man in your bed.”
She laughed. “Nay. Never. My da would have killed him. About tomorrow, should the elders choose Christophe over you, we will leave. Take Da with us if he wishes, or leave him if he feels he will be safe.”
“You will not miss your people too much?”
“My home is with you, a new beginning, a new life.”
“We will worry about it after we learn what the elders decide.”
Brina snuggled against Gunnolf that night, trying to sleep, but sleep would not come. Not when she was so unsure of the elder’s decision.
Early the next morning, Lorn knocked on their door, saying, “The decision has been made. Gunnolf, if you will come with me, we will meet with the elders in Robard’s chamber.”
Gunnolf noted Lorn didn’t call Robard the chief.
Brina looked worried. He knew she wanted to stay here, and maybe they would even if Christophe was in charge. If she found him and his wife intolerable, they could still leave.
“I will be but a moment.” Gunnolf turned to grab his clothes and dress.
Brina was already hurrying to dress and he helped her on with her socks and shoes. “No worries,” he said. “Whatever way this goes will be the best for us.”
“Aye.” She kissed Gunnolf and then he finished getting dressed.
“While I am in there, what will you do?” he asked.
“I will go downstairs as I usually do and take charge of managing the household staff.”
He was glad she had not given up on her duties in anticipation that they would be leaving.
He gave her a sound hug, kissed her just as soundly, wishing already they were back in bed and he had time to make love to his lovely wife again, then he opened the door. Lynette was standing just outside, waiting for him to leave, he suspected.
“I thought I would stay with Brina.”
“Good,” Brina said. “Come. We have much work to do.” She led Lynette down the stairs to get to work on the morning meal.
Gunnolf went to Robard’s chamber where the elders and Christophe had assembled. Robard was seated, looking tired.
“We understand the way Robard feels about you being in charge, Gunnolf,” one of the elders said. “Like Robard, we have heard of your successes and your failures. But we havena seen you lead our people.”
Christophe was quiet, smug.
Robard listened quietly.
“We have had good campaigns and bad under Robard’s leadership. For the most part, he has led us well. By his own admission, he needs time to recover before he can lead us again,” Lorn said.
“Christophe was Robard’s first choice, but his leaving the clan as he did for no good reason and not protecting our people from the likes of Seamus when we learned of his deception, didna bode well. Would he lead our people to meet the challenge head on? Or would he always close the gates and hide within?”
Christophe’s face reddened, but he wisely didn’t speak.
“We canna hand over the clan to a man whose family has been fighting ours for years“–Lorn raised his hand to stop Robard’s objection--“until he has proven himself worthy. The best way that we can see this happening is for Robard to continue to lead. Gunnolf will be his second-in-command and as such, he will do everything Robard asks of him. If this means Gunnolf will lead our men into battle, so be it. If he can handle alliances with other clans until Robard has recovered enough, he will do so. Is this acceptable?” the elder asked Robard.
He looked to Gunnolf for his consent. Gunnolf bowed his head, thinking it was the best of options. He would prove his worth while Robard recovered and if someday Robard no longer wished to rule and his people trusted in Gunnolf’s leadership, he would lead.
“Nay, this isna acceptable,” Christophe said, his face red with anger.
“’Tis the lot you chose when you abandoned the clan,” Robard said. “If we are done here, I wish to get on with the feasting.”
Gunnolf thought Robard needed to rest further, but he realized this was important to Robard and the news would be shared with the clan then.
It turned out to be a grand feast, with alliances made between Robard and James, the elders knowing the only reason for it that Gunnolf was staying on to help lead the clan. Even though the celebration was about Brina’s marriage to Gunnolf, everyone seemed to be celebrating the fact she was in charge of the management of the staff and made the feast happen.
Christophe and his wife attended, Guennola, angry at the world. Gunnolf had overheard her pitching a fit. But Christophe assured her that Gunnolf would never earn the clan’s favor and as long as they remained here, he would prove his own worth.
Gunnolf wondered how long that would last. Would they really stay and see if Gunnolf couldn’t sway the elders to his cause and hope to still take his uncle’s place? Maybe his wife would learn how to manage the staff in the meantime. Or would he leave like he’d done in the past?
In any event, Gunnolf was delighted that his Highland lass was so excited to be home among her people, singing, dancing, and enjoying the revelry as much as anyone else. And he was caught up in the moment just as much as she.
James spoke to Gunnolf as they watched Brina and Lynette dancing with several others.
“This was the best thing that could have come out of the situation, dinna you agree?” James asked.
Robard joined them. “Aye. I finally have my son.” He smiled darkly at Gunnolf.
James laughed.
Smiling, Gunnolf inclined his head toward Robard in concurrence. He’d never expected Brina’s father to call him son. And he would do what he could to prove to him his support was fully warranted.
“But what I really want to know is when I will have my first grandson to bounce on my knee.”
“That is something we are working hard at,” Gunnolf said.
Just then, Brina joined him and pulled him out to dance. “Working hard at what?”
“Loving you.”
Epilogue
A Year Later, Anfa Castle
* * *
Gunnolf held his infant son in his hands as Brina smiled up at him. She lay on the mattress, the covers pulled up to her waist, exhausted but happy. “He is beautiful, is he no
’?”
Beowulf was eager to see the baby too, his paws on Gunnolf’s leg, his tail whipping back and forth.
Gunnolf smiled down at Brina. “As beautiful as his mother.”
Lynette brushed Brina’s hair and said, “Aye, Hagen is.”
Brina couldn’t have been happier to have a son, that Gunnolf was now chief of the clan, having proved that he had what it took to lead them, and that Lynette had decided to stay and everyone knew her as Brina’s sister. And her da—
“Where is my grandson?” Robard asked, stalking into the room. “Are you going to hold him and no’ let anyone else see him? We must show him to the gathered clan at once.” He reached out his hands to hold their son.
“Hold him close to you,” Gunnolf said, like a midwife teaching Brina’s father how to do it right.
“I have done this with my daughter, your wife, I might add,” Robard said, and took the bairn and admired him. “He has my eyes.”
Everyone laughed.
But she loved how close she’d become to her da who had worried enough for all of them that she would survive the pregnancy and that her son would too. “Bring him back soon,” Brina said.
“I will go with them to ensure they dinna lose him in the crowd.” Lynette kissed her cheek. “He is beautiful, Brina.”
Gunnolf kissed Brina before he left. “Will you be all right?”
“Aye, I will sleep for a while. I know you will wish to celebrate. Enjoy yourself. You and my da have been so worried about this bairn—“
“And you.”
“Aye, that it is time for you to celebrate.”
“I will return soon.”
And she knew he would, because when other men would rather drink and celebrate good news, he’d rather be with her, and now the bairn, to enjoy them as a family.
Gunnolf couldn’t have been more pleased at how things had worked out. Some still grumbled about his leading the clan, but for the most part, the clan members knew he was doing the best he could. Inga had even married the man who had confronted Gunnolf and they’d had peace for this past year between Brina’s clan and theirs.
