A New Viking Tale-Closed for Homerun2611

[Perplexia]

Although she knew his answer she still felt as if she needed to give him the choice. As he looked in her eyes he said "If I do leave, it will be with you, and I only would to ensure you and I had the time I hope we have, and the children we will make and grow together and the ability to grow old in each other's arms. However, that is not you, that is not me. We are not ones to run from duty, service or fear. Let's talk to the priest, let us be wed, and let us create a unified country where its citizens are free from tyranny!"

"Yes mi Lord" she replied half blushing with tears welling in her eyes from pride.

As they rode toward the church she kept her eyes peeled. Something was coming she could feel it. It was if something had to ruin the happiness and wholeness that she felt with him around. As if it were too good to be true. Her people were recovering from their losses and now full of a new hope for the future.

Walking into the church the priest came up to meet them. "I present to you the certificate of my purity as witnessed." she said placing it on the podium. "We are asking for a special license to get married today. It has reached us that the new King may be in route to eradicate Gods new mission that was brought to us in the form of my fiancé. He and others are willing to be baptized this moment in order to promise themselves to our Lord and create a new England with you at the head of the movement."

She knew that appealing to his vanity would play in their favor. "Forgive me mi Lord for speaking out of turn" she said looking up through her lids to Erick. It was important that they portray the typical English subservient relationship the church was so fond of. If it could appear that Erick had tamed her it too would serve in their favor.

 

[Homerun2611]

Erik stayed quiet as he listened to Lady Anne explain their situation to the priest and he saw the natural skepticism in the older man's eyes. Erik was not sure whether he could really trust the man, or if he held any unnatural alliances to the new and evil king, but he hoped not and really had very little choice.

He came forward and extended his hand, and then knelt and kissed the ring of the priest, a gesture he knew had significant meaning in his pledged allegiance to Rome. "Father, I hope you know mi Lady for the faithful woman of the church that she is. I hope you will take that into consideration in allowing our request. I want to expound on one thing she said. I was and still would be a faithful follower of the deceased King, I once was a guest of his court, and he treated me like a son. It sickens me to see how his own son has so fully rejected and retreated from the ideals and pledges of his father. To the extent I have to bring my troops to bear against the throne, it is only to restore the realm as you once knew and to allow it to flourish once again under safe and thoughtful rule."

The older man took his time, and took full measure of all Erik had said. Erik stood his ground and patiently waited, unsure but hopeful. Finally a smile emerged. "So you are Erik, I have heard of you, believe it or not. You have a strong reputation as a valiant warrior and good man, a testament to your father the King. Although I know your father is not of our faith, he leads a Christian life, and that is something. If you are earnest and you pledge your willingness to adopt our faith, I will attend your marriage today, shall we plan on 6:00, that will leave plenty of time before sundown. Lady Anne, will that time work for you?"