“Eriik I know you think of Bjorn as part of your family but is your true family gone?”
“Aye, my mother died in childbirth with me. I was told she was beautiful and gentle. My father was a fierce warrior, taken to Valhalla fast and straight, bravely in battle as he went raiding. Valhalla is our heaven. Any warrior killed in battle is taken there, shown the way by our goddess, Freya.”
Lillian couldn’t help her curiosity, “Were you and your father close?”
“No. He was too busy drinking, coupling, and raiding to pay too much attention to me. I was left on my own from an early age.” His tone had become bitter.
“Eriik, I’m so sorry. Well, it seems you did quite well on your own.” She meant it as a compliment and saw that Eriik took it as such. “It sounds a bit like my mother, but for very different reasons.” She looked wistful.
“You had no loving relationship with her? Why?”
“She was too busy trying to acquire riches, land, and political power to have time for me except as a pawn, so that was the reason for the foul Lord Montfort being my betrothed.” She laughed sarcastically.
“I knew you could never have loved that pitiful excuse for a man, did ya now?”
“Oh bless the lord, no. He is a despicable and evil man, but my mother convinced my father that she was doing the right thing, as she always did.”
“Then I saved you.” He grinned from ear to ear.
“Oh, you, you, arrogant ass!” She couldn’t help but laugh.
He laughed too, but in a more serious tone added, “Aye, little one, I know the pain of missing the love of a parent, or both,” he said under his breath.
“My father made up for it though, he spoiled me terribly.”
“So that’s why you’re a spoiled brat, is it now?”
She started to sputter, but before she could get another word in, he kissed her with a scalding kiss, silencing her, if only temporarily. His body started to react, as it always did. It indeed had a mind of its own. After they made sweet, gentle love again, flesh against flesh, they lay holding each other silently. There was nothing to say, just feel. They fell asleep woven in each other’s arms.
Chapter 16
One particularly nice afternoon, Lillian decided to take Molly out for a ride. She had the groom saddle her and off they went. She came to the same crossroads she rode to every time and decided that today she would be a bit more adventurous and take the road untraveled. This trail was definitely more interesting, with strange plant life and the high mountains in the background, but after awhile, she began to wonder if she had chosen well. The ground brush was beginning to thicken and the trail had become nothing more than a thin passage between the thick copse of trees and thickets. This woodland was very dense and she was beginning to be apprehensive. She decided the only thing to do was turn around and go back to the crossroads. She tried something new and it was not the right choice. So, she turned Molly around and started back the way they came. Or was it the way they came? Everything looked exactly the same. She tried to find the sun but the dense timbers and the clouds blocked it out and the day had become quite dreary in this dense undergrowth. She rode until she felt quite certain she had come far enough to find the fork in the trail and when it had not come into view, she became concerned that she was riding in a big circle. Why in the world had she decided to go into unfamiliar territory by herself? Sometimes her choices were complete idiocy and this seemed to be one of them. Well no time for feminine vapors, she must get herself out of this. She yelled for help a couple of times and it echoed throughout the valley but no one answered. All of a sudden out of nowhere Molly reared up, unseating Lillian, turned and ran away. Molly was never out of control. What in the world? Lillian was thrown up against a tree and the breath was knocked right out of her. For a few minutes she couldn’t move. She started to explore her body for injuries and decided nothing was broken, at least she hoped not. She got up with the help of the tree behind her and hugged it for a few minutes. What a dilemma. She had no idea how to get home, and no way to do so. She started off so slowly it would take her an eternity. She still couldn’t figure out why Molly had acted so crazily. After a couple of steps, the why was answered. She came to a dead stop as she found herself at a precipice, looking over a steep cliff, the edge covered completely with thick brush and logs. She never saw it, but Molly did. Without Molly’s astute sense, they both would have found their deaths. Now to get herself out of there.
****
As the afternoon waned, dinner was getting underway and there was no sign of Lillian, Eriik started pacing and raging to the gods. Did she try to run away? Where in hell would she try to run to? Was she hurt? She was unfamiliar with these forests. She could have very easily run off a cliff. Why did he allow her to ride off by herself? That was a mistake he would not make again. His mind made up, he took a few men and rode off in search of her. As each mile went by, his trepidation grew, and he swore to the gods and to himself that if he ever felt her in his arms again, he would tell her his feelings. Fear stabbed Eriik in the heart as he saw Molly running straight for them, her saddle empty. Everyone looked at Eriik with sympathy in their eyes. He growled, “Don’t look at me that way, she’s fine. Now let’s find her!”
“Aye.” Everyone put their swords to the sky and rode hell bent.
Chapter 17
As the sun dipped lower in the sky and Lillian could hear the cries of wolves, she became more frightened by the minute. Why had she been so foolish to go off by herself on a path she was unfamiliar with? Surely Eriik would notice she was not home and come looking for her. Home. How strange that sounded, but it felt right. She felt at home with Eriik now. Right now was certainly not the time to be visiting that particular issue. How was she going to stay alive until he found her? Was he familiar with this area? She started yelling his name with no response. All she could hear were the howls of the wolf pack and it sounded closer. She was cold and sore and she was scared to death.
Lillian continued to scream Eriik’s name hoping he was near enough to hear her urgent call. She didn’t know whether she should stay in one place or try to find the fork in the road. Wandering around in this dense forest would most likely be quite dangerous and she felt like she would be going around in circles anyway. What if she had to spend the night here? Perhaps she should at least try to find some shelter before it became completely dark. She looked around for an overhang that would provide some sort of protection, hoping with all her might she would not need it. She knew in her heart that Eriik was out looking for her right now. It was just a matter of him being able to find her in the midst of all this woodland.
She set out slowly, not wanting to make any more bad decisions, when out of nowhere, she felt something grabbing her leg, taking her off her feet. Had a wolf snuck up on her and now she was his dinner?
“Good eve miss, now what a nice surprise, finding a pretty little wench way out here this time of the evening.”
Lillian was staring into the face of a man with long, unkempt hair looking every bit the brigand she would imagine a criminal would look like, and even though she was grateful it was not a wolf licking his chops, she was not the least bit at ease.
“Really sir, there was no reason to trip me.”
“Well couldn’t be real sure what was out here. Sure didn’t expect a pretty lady ta be wandering around out in these woods all by herself.”
“You see sir, my horse threw me and I’m trying to find my way home. I would be truly appreciative if you could assist me.”
“Well I might be persuaded. Pleased to meet you my lady. Rolf, come out and see what I found.”
An equally disheveled man with yellowed teeth, more missing than not, appeared and Lillian became even more concerned, “Eriik, I’m over here,” she shouted at the top of her voice. “You see I’m waiting for my husband to arrive. I’m sure he’ll reward you for finding me and making sure I’m safe while we wait.”
“Oh I’m sure we’ll get o
ur reward, but I don’t hear nobody out looking for ya.” He got so close she could smell the stale liquor on his breath and something else that reeked but she couldn’t quite put her finger on exactly what it was.
Rolf came around and took Lillian’s hand and she thought he was going to help her up, but instead, he held her down.
“What, what are doing?”
“Where are my manners? I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Olav and this is Rolf and we’re going to become real good friends tonight, uh until your husband gets here, that is.” They both laughed.
“I swear, my husband is looking for me at this moment. He is the Jarl of Jaedon, Eriik Thorennson. If you harm me, I don’t want to even think what he’ll do to you.”
“The Jarl, you say? What a little liar. He’s not even married. I think we’re gonna have a real good time tonight and you’ll be the center attraction, don’t ya think so Rolf?”
Rolf laughed again and tore Lilllian’s bodice from her shoulder to her waist while holding her hands above her head.
She screamed as loud as she could but seemingly to no avail.
Olav held her legs apart with his own and started to undo his breeches with a leering grin on his grimy face.
“Hey, by the look of this wench’s underthings, we got us a real highborn here. I never had me a real highborn before, have you Rolf?” Rolf snickered and shook his head no.
Lilllian was horrified, screaming and crying but fearing that there was no one to hear her and worse, no one to save her.
****
Eriik and his men held their torches high trying to see Molly’s tracks but it was getting increasingly difficult to see much of anything in the darkness. They were doing fine until they found tracks leading off the path, then the forest seemed to crowd in around them. As they rode in the tangled mass of dense thicket, Eriik knew the men thought this was hopeless, a woman alone out here with the wolves and no weapon. He couldn’t think of such a thing happening to his Lillian. What he wouldn’t admit to many people was staring him straight in the face. He was hopelessly in love with her and if something happened, he would be inconsolable. His heart was thundering as he spurred Kriger, his war horse, on faster. He had Molly running up ahead and he was hoping she could find Lillian before the wolves did. Molly started to make twists and turns and Eriik didn’t know whether she was taking them on a wild goose chase or knew where Lillian was, but followed her nonetheless. After a few moments, he heard a faint noise. He couldn’t make it out at first, but then he could swear he was hearing a scream. Bjorn looked at him, “I hear her! I hear her! The horse has found her!”
“Thank the gods! Lillian, we’re coming!” He bellowed in the loudest battle voice he could summon. After a few minutes he could hear her screams and crying plainly. The men spurred their horses on to as great a speed as possible in the dense copse. They had no idea what Lillian was facing. It didn’t sound like wolves, but more like the human variety of predator. Eriik rode like he never had before, prodding Kriger on. It sounded like Lillian’s life was very much in danger. When Eriik came upon the sight of Lillian being held down while a brute was pulling his trousers down to rape her, he couldn’t believe the emotions he felt. He jumped off his horse before Kriger had actually come to a complete stop, grabbed Olav away from Lillian and smashed his head into a tree trunk so hard, it was amazing the man’s head didn’t split in two. If Bjorn hadn’t stopped him, Eriik might have made that a reality. As Rolf saw this, he let Lillian go and raised his hands in defeat. Eriik spared both their lives, even though it took all the self-control he could manage. As he picked Lillian up, he shielded her in his arms, wrapping his cloak around her. She hid her face in his shoulder, but she was no longer crying tears of fear, but tears of joy. She had never felt so safe.
Eriik was sure these two were the cause of all the misdeeds going on of late, “I suppose these are the thieves that have been causing havoc on the farms over the ridge. Bjorn, can you take a few men and throw them in the oubliette. I imagine if they have any family, they will sentence them to death, but they will be the ones to dole out the punishment. If they forfeit the obligation, I shall be honored to do so in their stead. Thank you brothers. I know this was a lot to ask coming out here in the middle of nowhere and I thank you for myself as well as Lillian.”
“Yes, thank you all,” Lillian turned to all the men with a tearful but grateful gaze.
“Home then,” Eriik shouted with relief.
Eriik would not let Lillian ride Molly home, insisting on holding her in front of him, and Kriger carried two home instead of one. He didn’t want her to notice how thick and hard he had become, having her so close to him, especially after all she had endured that night. He was so thankful she was alright, he couldn’t control his body’s reaction. But at this moment he couldn’t be responsible for trying to hold his reactions at bay. Lillian was safe and in his arms, where if he had his way, she would stay for all time.
After finally entering their bedchamber, Eriik embraced Lillian with a gentleness she thought was impossible considering his huge, imposing frame, and she was touched. She loved him and started to say the words a hundred times but they stuck in her throat and were never heard.
Eriik also needed to voice his love but it remained unsaid. Why were those words so hard for him? He stroked her smooth cheek with his fingers and touched her lips with his gently. He had intended to do no more that night even though he wanted her so much to open for him as a rose bud opens for the morning sun so he could taste the sweet elixir of her delightful body. She tasted so sweet it was difficult not to stop. His body was telling him to remove her tattered clothes and slide inside of her but he commanded himself not to. She had been through quite an ordeal tonight and he was doubtful she would want him tonight. He would leave her alone, simply holding her through the night. That would be enough. He kissed her sweetly but to his surprise, she responded in kind, kissing him back ardently.
“My sweet, you’ve been through so much tonight, are you sure?”
She wanted him as much as he wanted her, “I’m never been more sure of anything in my life.”
He took his cloak from her shoulders and let the torn bodice fall away so he could taste the creamy flesh of her perfect breasts as he laved his tongue across the pink buds of her nipples. They hardened to his touch and she moaned with desire. She helped him take off the remainder of her riding habit as well as his tunic so the only clothing left between them was her delicate chemise and his trousers. She could see the huge bulge where his cock was straining for her and she suddenly decided to be daring and reached to free him of his breeches so she could grasp him, and was excited when she felt the velvety texture, so hard inside and so smooth outside. Eriik thought he would come apart but took a deep breath and as she was exploring that part of his body which she was not all that familiar with yet, he removed her chemise and she was naked for his hungry eyes. What a feast she was. Her gorgeous dark hair falling in wave after wave down her shoulders to her waist, and her unblemished thighs seemingly waiting for him to part and slide between them as nature always intended. He picked Lillian up, gently placing her on the bed. He wanted this moment to last forever but knew he didn’t have the patience. He placed himself atop her, ran his thumb gently across her breast lightly and then entered her slowly and tenderly until he heard an intake of breath.
“Am I hurting you sweet?”
“No, you feel wonderful inside of me.”
Hearing those words spurred him on as he continued until he was inside of her to his hilt. She reached down to feel where the female part of her met the male part of him and he brought his head down to meet her fiery lips while her tongue swept his mouth hard and wanting. She tightened her muscles time and again, she knew the ecstasy that was waiting, and she was almost there, but she stopped, she wanted to feel him fully first.
“Eriik, I want you to let go.”
“Don’t tease me sweet. I can’t hold on much longer.”
“I know. I want to see your face when you find your release. Please.”
“Oh by the gods!” His strokes became faster and harder and as his face tightened and he screamed what sounded like an oath in Norse, she knew his seed was spilling into her. It was the most amazing feeling she had ever experienced and then she closed her eyes and let herself find the cliff and began to fall.
The next morning came and went with no words of love, but each promising themselves that it would come sooner than later and were sated completely in the arms of the other.
Chapter 18
The previous evening, before the uproar with Lillian, Eriik had received word from Renouf that the people would support Lillian as his wife. She had won them over with her bright smile, her grasp of their language and her sweet disposition. With that, his path was steady, an after dinner stroll, the three very important words, and a proposal with his grandmother’s ring. He was so excited, he could hardly wait. He informed the chamber maids of some special instructions he wanted to be carried out in his suite tonight while dinner was being served. They giggled until a steely gaze put them running about their business once more.
A breathless Oliver came running through the door with exciting news, at least for him, Eriik thought. A band of traveling missionaries had arrived in town to spread the word of their god, and trade silk and spices. Would it be with Eriik’s favor to invite them to dine at Thorennson Manor tonight?
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