The Viking (closed)

[TooDamnCute4U]

Deleting all of my old stuff for a new beginning.

 

[HornyDog2017]

Just as the bitch of a Viking hadn't expected him to speak her language so well, William hadn't expected her to haul off and smack him in the face. His head smacked back against the stone wall, disorientating him. By the time he'd regained his composure, his assailant was already heading for the steps.

"And I thought I was being so helpful," he said as he pulled his hand back from him nose and upper lips to find his fingers dark with blood. He looked across to the cage, smiling to Helen as he added, "And charming."

He wiped at his nose and spit onto the floor. There was some conversation, after which he looked to Helen. "As far as your rather offensive question, m'lady ... no, I'm not a simpleton ... and while I've enjoyed more than my share of thumps to the head, my dear old grandfather was never the source of one of them."

He spit dark bloody spittle to the dirty stone floor again, continuing, "I'll have you know that I was tutored from almost the time I could walk ... I speak six languages--"

He greeted her in Frankish, Germanic, Gaelic, and Latin -- adding to his already proven English and Norse -- using various forms of Lady Helen before continuing, "I know my numbers and can perform enough basic geometric calculation to build a bridge upon which a loaded wagon can cross a stream ... I have knowledge of History, science--"

His smile widened, revealing teeth darkened with the continuing flow of blood as he finished, "And, as you can so clearly see ... I can explain even to the heathens of the north in there own language how to lock a cell door ... while feigning the relocking of my own shackles."

He glanced at the shield maidens, finding only one of them paying him any attention. He pointed to Helen in the cage and -- in Norse -- said, "She keeps a dagger strapped to her thigh. You should search her."

When the Viking turned toward the cage and repeated to her companions what William had said, he quickly pulled open the unlocked shackle around his ankle and sprinted quietly for the dungeon's open exit. He was already half way up the second set of steps before he heard an uproar down below that told him they'd detected his escape.

 

[SamanthaCa]

Lady Helen tried to mask her relief when the warrior said, “Astrid. Astrid of Hurstvik.” She said her name with pride and it rolled off her lips like honey poured on oatcakes. As a child, she spent early mornings in the kitchen, assisting - getting in the way - of the staff. The cook in charge of the kitchen, Ashlin, was childless and thought of Helen as her own.

Kings, Queens and Nobles would go out of their way to be a part of a feast in Briarwood and Ashlin learned volumes from them.

Helen would ask Ashlin what a name meant and she remembered her saying - “Astrid … It is composed of Àss (a god) and fridr (beautiful, fair) and is the Norse name from Divinely Beautiful, Divine Strength.”

The lady warrior was all of those.

The punch she witnessed was such a surprise and reminded her of her still tingly cheek. If she had been hit with such force, she would still be on the ground. The Lady smiled when she saw the blood, wishing it was her that had caused it, or that she had not thrown him in the dungeon but had him hung and quartered.

She knew the warriors orders would be obeyed and she knew she could and never would betray Astrid.

Helen was looking at the warrior when she suddenly glanced back. Her cheeks reddened and her eyes lowered slightly. As a noble Lady she only lowered her eyes to a superior, why would she do this to her … a Viking … a female.

“Yes, you are so gifted,” she responded to him. “All that talent and you are chained to a wall.”

‘Maybe he wasn’t the equal of a court jester,’ she thought as he unlocked his shackles, but then, where would he go?

How he knew she kept a dagger was a question she could not answer, but the dagger was now more a liability than an asset. She unstrapped it from her thigh, dropped it in the bucket and in a very un-Lady fashion, raised her dress and went pee in the bucket.

 

[HornyDog2017]

By the time Astrid had returned to the square, Briarwood was firmly in the hands of the Vikings: the hostages were secure in one house which had been secured and was guarded by half a dozen warriors; the last of the weapon wielding defenders had been rooted out, either surrendering their arms or their lives; guards were set on the wall -- more efficiently than had been before by Helen's unfortunately too small force -- and pairs of scouts with nearby assault teams were watching the three roads leading to Briarwood should there be a reaction from one of the neighboring towns.

The only items at hand not yet to be fully complete were the raping of the sacrificial lambs and the looting of the town. Eric couldn't have ceased the former if he'd wanted, of course. And allowing the men to do so in an organized fashion limited the damage to a smaller number of lambs, meaning -- hopefully -- creating fewer enemies within the English population that Eric was hoping to rule.

Which brought the conversation to the latter of the two tasks: the looting of Briarwood. Typically, the horde was in a rush to grab what they could and get out of town, literally and figuratively this time around. Seldom did a raid on a village not result in English forces riding in from all directions to run the Vikings off.

But Briarwood was different because Eric had no intention of leaving. He'd dreamed of establishing permanent Norse-speaking settlements throughout the English Isles since he'd partaken in his first raid of the area at just 11 years of age, sailing with his father and uncles who were each Earls of their own Danish towns at the time.

And now, Eric had captured a walled town intact! He had control of its defenses, its people, and it's resources. And because of this, the gold and other things his horde was pillaging now were not so much loot as they were simply funds to be invested in creating something no Viking had ever had before: a long term foothold in England.

"She is locked up?" Eric asked of Astrid when she approached. He got his answer, then told his most loyal and capable shield maiden, "Your unit goes to Olga."

Eric knew what Astrid's response would be to having her archers taken from her. She had personally trained most of the archers of Hurstvik, despite there having been older, more experienced archers amongst Eric's forces. And, of course, there had been the whole she's a slit argument made by some of the male warriors who had no problem whatsoever with fighting along side shield maidens yet didn't feel they should be leading forces in the stead of men.

But none of that mattered now. The discovery that Briarwood was led by a slit rather than a swinging dick changed Eric's needs. "You are responsible for this lady. You will stick to her like a tick bored into my dog's neck. You will watch her, and prevent her from escaping, or organizing any resistance to us. You will ensure that she is comfortable and has what she needs to become a friend of Hurstvik ... a friend of mine. I need her cooperation, and -- if necessary -- you will make her understand that without her cooperation, this ... Buh-riarwood is nothing more than rubble and ash."

Eric moved in closer, so as to only be heard by Astrid. "And you will ensure than no man amongst us touches her. Understand?" He gave her a hard look that he knew she would understand as his permission to do what was necessary before saying, "You will protect her life ... even if that means taking the life of one of your own. Under-stand?"

Once they were of the same mind, Eric was about to dismiss Astrid when a ruckus drew his attention. He turned to find three of his Vikings manhandling a kicking man his direction. When one of the horde stated that they caught him trying to escape, William argued with a desperate tone, "No! No! I wasn't trying to escape, m'lord! I was coming to find you."

Astrid made a comment about the man, whose face was covered in still leaking blood. The three Vikings forced the man to his knees before Eric, two blades coming to his neck and back. William continued quickly, "I am a friend of the North Man, m'lord--"

"He is your king!"

William nodded quickly, "My king. Your majesty."

He knew that that term, majesty, wasn't a common word used in the north to describe royals, but at the same time he hoped it would make the Viking think that William saw him in the same light as the English monarchs and less like a barbarous raider. "I am your friend. I can help you here, in Briarwood. I know the people. I speak the language. Six languages. I can translate, and help you negotiate ... trade ... conquer even if that is your wish."

He couldn't tell whether or not he was getting anywhere with this Viking, so he just kept rambling onward. "I am a friend of the Lady Helen of Briarwood. She trusts me, and you can trust me to help make her trust you. I can help you with whatever--"

In Norse, Eric told Astrid, "Put him in a cage, too ... just ... keep him away from Lady Helen." In English, he told the groveling man, "I will not kill you ... yet. Prove your service to me ... and you will keep your cock."

Eric shooed them all away with the simple turning of his back, and he returned to doing the other things needed to prepare for being the King of Briarwood.

 

[TooDamnCute4U]

Deleting all of my old stuff for a new beginning.

 

[HornyDog2017]

Once again, William found himself in Briarwood's dungeon. And while most people might think that being bound by rope wasn't nearly as secure as was being shackled by steel, they would have been wrong. The shield maidens wrapped his wrists tightly with a dozen loops of heavy rope, then tied his arms above his head to a ring sunk deep into the wall. His feet were bound as well, with a leash stretched out to yet another ring in the floor such that all he could do was sit there against the wall ... and wait.

"I have an itch," he said to one of the shield maidens in English, certain that they wouldn't understand him. He glanced toward his crotch, adding, "Right there ... between my belt and my balls. Maybe you could give it a scratch ... maybe a little tender loving care with your mouth...? No...? Well, it was worth a try."

He soon found himself sitting in the dark, head pounding, mouth still full of bloody spit, wondering how the hell he'd gone from sleeping with the daughters and wives of the richest men in London to sitting here in the dark with a rat chewing on the leather of his worn boots...

 

[SamanthaCa]

The air warmed as she was led up the steps and the smell changed from sweat, straw and waste to pure, fresh English air. She drew in her breath and was happy to see that awful man was going to smell that scent for a long time.

Seeing Astrid brought sunshine to the bleakness of the last night and day.

Astrid seemed troubled, possibly losing something she held dear and there was anger as well, perhaps somebody had let her down.

Thank goodness when she spoke, there was no signs of hostility towards her.

The language she had learned was similar, but the dialect was new to her. She did grasp the concept, “Yes, I understand you.”

As Astrid continued speaking, Lady Helen looked confused for a moment - ‘but I will not hesitate to eat you from slit to tit …”

To the Lady, cut was ‘Skera’ and eat was ‘Skoroa, their pronunciation somewhat similar, depending on dialect.

“Oh, yes … Skera… cut” and she pointed to your blade.

 

[TooDamnCute4U]

Deleting all of my old stuff for a new beginning.

 

[TooDamnCute4U]

Deleting all of my old stuff for a new beginning.

 

[SamanthaCa]

As she watched Astrid, Lady Helen was thinking of the hundreds of things that needed to be done. She had walk outside and make herself visible to her townspeople, she had to comfort them, assist them and assure them that the worst was over.

She was amused as Astrid wandered the room, looking like a child exploring their world.

She sighed when Astrid said, “I need your weapons.”

Lady Helen stepped closer to Astrid, hoping she would understand. “Astrid. Englishmen rape after a battle, but knowing it and seeing it are so horribly different. I keep a dagger here,” and she raised the hem of her dress to her knees, exposing the band where her dagger had been.

She walked to her wardrobe and took a dagger from between shoes and one under a skirt. She held the tip of the blades, holding out the handle to her.

“Please let me keep one. I can’t fight like you and I need to protect myself from those … those … men.”

Astrid didn’t refuse, but she didn’t offer a dagger to me either.

Unexpectedly, she asked Helen personal questions, which caused her eyes to moisten and tears began to fall.

She was about to answer, but held her tongue, instead she said, “Astrid, I need your help. Come with me.”

Lady Helen quickly took Astrid’s hand and led her down the stairs and into the kitchen. Nobody was there, but there were loaves of bread, vegetable and fruit. She grabbed a basket from the table, gave it to a surprised warrior and filled it to overflowing.

She smiled towards Astrid, finally able to do something to help her people. “Come,” she said in a tone that wasn’t a command but like equals … friends.

Astrid tried to keep up as Helen knocked on doors, opening them in hopes of finding people. Half of the food remained and Helen ran around a corner and crashed into the tallest of six bearded, mean looking Vikings.

The commotion brought a cry from the hostages in the house and turned, hoping to see Astrid

 

[TooDamnCute4U]

Deleting all of my old stuff for a new beginning.

 

[HornyDog2017]

Eric had been informed immediately of Lady Helen's charity walk about the town to her people. He hadn't initially been that excited about the town's ruling noble being out and about, but knowing that Astrid was at her side every moment was good enough for Eric to allow it to happen. Besides, he entire time that Helen was moving about the streets and buildings, Eric had an additional half dozen Vikings inconspicuously keeping an eye on her.

He'd been told just an hour after sunrise that Astrid had requested an audience for Helen, but he told her she would have to wait. Eric hadn't yet decided exactly what he wanted to do about her and her people yet, and until he'd made his decision, Eric was simply going to ignore her.



"Bring me the bleeder," Eric ordered just a couple of hours before sundown. "Clean him up."

William's face was clear of its dried blood when he arrived, which only made the bruising and swelling from Astrid's punch all more obvious. Eric had claimed Briarwood's Chapel as his Great Hall, openly flaunting his distaste for the English's religion. Anything Christian in nature was removed: the gold and other valuables were collected as booty and haphazardly tossed into a pile in a backroom, while the rest was burned in the square. Only one thing remained, one of the gowns worn by the former priest, who fortunately had been out of the town during the attack. When he arrived, William was told he would be Eric's translator and, as a sign of his station, would wear the priest's robes.

"I can't wear this ... your majesty," William countered with a cautious tone. He pointed out some of the more religious elements of the gown, explaining their purposes. Still cautiously, he said, "It is not appropriate. I am not a priest."

Eric stood and walked to the man. He jerked at the parts that identified the gown as being those of a Christian priest off with a horrific ripping sound. He removed the necklace he wore that quite prominently featured three claws from a bear he had killed with a spear in his late teens, the attack that had left three separate sets of ugly scars on his shoulders and chest.

"There!" Eric told him, "you are now a priest. A Viking priest."

William was still concerned about the gowns, primarily because he knew -- or at the least suspected -- how Lady Helen would react to seeing him in it. Eric was still under the impression that William and Helen were good friends ... because that was what William had told Eric in an effort to make his value seem indispensable.

"Impress me with your abilities," Eric said as he returned to his seat, "and you will retain your tongue."

And that was the end of the conversation.



Astrid was only told to bring Helen to the chapel just shortly before sundown. When she entered, Eric studied her reaction to the stripping of the church. His throne was the chair the elderly and frail priest had used during the portion of services in which his standing presence hadn't been required. Eric gestured her forward, knowing that Astrid -- who was right at Helen's side -- would urge her to bow ... as was appropriate when given an audience with a Royal...

 

[SamanthaCa]

The sky glowed a brilliant orange as the sun began to sink in the horizon. Her life had changed and the lives of the townspeople would be sadder and harder than before. She had to be strong, become the leader that she knew she could be.

Astrid was an enemy and a warrior, but she was the only Viking that showed compassion. I needed an ally among these crude people, not to challenge them, but to save her people from them. But, Astrid was not just a possible ally, the moment Helen leveled her arrow at her, she knew there was much more. What that was, she did not know.

As they walked, it was clear they were going to the church.

Growing up, Ashlin had told Helen of the Norse Gods and goddesses, but went silent when asked of her Nordic heritage. Ashlin would only say that there was Nordic blood in her family, but would say no more than that.

Ashlin spoke of Odin and Thor, but it was the Goddesses that captured Helen’s imagination - Snorta, Goddess of Wisdom .. Sif, Goddess of Harvest and Land .. Mimir, Goddess of Wisdom .. Lofn, Goddess of Love .. Eir, Goddess of Healing .. and Freya, Goddess of love and fertility and the symbol of sensuality.

A faerie must have sprinkled golden dust over Helen … why else would she have thought that Astrid may be a descendant of Freya.

Lady Helen went to church daily and although she deeply believed in God, she thought that the priests used God to challenge the rightful authority of the town … hers.

As they walked up the steps to the church, the smile from helping her people vanished and the mask of her position came down. When she entered the church, blood from her face drained, replaced by a ghostly white.

How could a people that had so many gods, destroy the house of the god she worshiped?

She understood the man’s gesture, but she stood fast, glaring at him with hate that she didn’t know she possessed.

Growing up, her mother told her what a fine Lady she had become, but heaven help the man that got on the wrong side of her.

Her fingers balled into fists and wetness made her realize that her nails had penetrated her skin.

 

[HornyDog2017]

Although he pretended he didn't detect Helen's rising fury, Eric knew better than to dismiss it. He studied her for a long moment, intentionally leaving her standing before him in silence until he thought she couldn't take another second.

"Would it be better if I killed her now?" Eric was looking at Helen, but he was speaking to Astrid, of course. The shield maiden gave Eric the answer he was expecting, no surprise. He studied Helen a moment more, then said as if just a casual decision, “Very well. She can live.”

Then he gave her the decision at which he'd finally arrived after half a day of contemplation.

"Briarwood belongs to the Northmen now ... Lady Helen," he said with a pleased expression on his face. "It will be called Erikenvik from this day forth. In our dialect, it simply means Of Eric of the North."

He rose and descended the two steps between the dais upon which he sat and the floor upon which she stood. He stood a full head taller than the Englishwoman and outweighed her by almost her weight again.

"Erikenvik will be a Northman town," he continued. His lips spread in a bit of a devilish smirk. "But ... I do not wish for you and your people to feel ... unwelcome ... in what is still their home ... so ... my warriors will take wives from your people..."

He looked to Astrid, adding, "...and my shield maidens will take husbands as well."

He looked back to Helen again, continuing, “I understand that not all will be happy with this … so … those who do not wish to follow this may instead be slaves … to work in the fields … to be sold, maybe to towns in Denmark … Norway … Russia … to be available at any moment to satisfy the carnal desires of the Northmen.”

He turned to ascend to his chair again, continuing, “Or two people will become one ... and we will have peace between us. And to show your people that you support this decision … you, Lady Helen … will become my wife … and bear me a legal and lasting heir to the lands of Erikenvik.”

 

[SamanthaCa]

Helen’s fury continued to rise and she stayed silent until she thought he could no longer stand it.

“Very well. She can live.” - Helen felt a momentary sense of relief and killing her would be a grave mistake.

She listened to his blustery words, assessing his wisdom or lack of it.

“my warriors will take wives from your people…” - With most of her men dead or maimed, the women would be pleased to have a husband for support, she thought and “my shield maidens will take husbands as well”. What man would not want to thrust their manhood into one of these shield maidens, she thought.

“I understand that not all will be happy with this…” Lady Helen finally spoke, “What you have said is reasonable and you have my word that my people will follow your wishes.

“Lady Helen … will become my wife…” - All the Vikings in the church hooted and hollered and the fury that had lessened exploded in fury.

She screamed at him, “argr.”

Stunned silence made the church sound like a crypt.

They all understood the word ‘arg’. In polite terms it means cowardly and its sexual meaning is emasculated, unmanned, womanish.

 

[TooDamnCute4U]

Deleting all of my old stuff for a new beginning.

 

[HornyDog2017]

Eric's immediate reaction surprised even himself: he had expected Helen to be not to content with his decision, but to react with a Norse word that in his culture could result in a body laying dead on the ground wasn't the response he'd expected.

He casted his glance about the hall, finding every pair of eyes watching for his response to the open and unmistakable denial of him as a husband. Then ... Eric began laughing ... first just a chuckle ... then a full out belly laugh. And throughout the newly established Great Hall, the anxious Vikings slowly joined in on the laugh.

They knew that something was coming, and while they may not have known what it was, they were certain that their king was going to make it plain and clear to the Englishwoman that he hadn't been asking her to marry him.

 

[SamanthaCa]

Helen had not even thought what reaction the word would bring, but if she had, laughing wouldn't have been one of them.

She turned to Astrid, seeking some type of clarification.

The look on Astrid's face chilled the Lady and self-preservation rushed over her and one thought slashed her mind ... fight or flight.

Fighting was out of the question and flight didn't seem much better.

Words were not necessary, just the look in her eyes were enough and Astrid could read them so well. ... 'what have I just done? Please don't risk your safety for me.'

 

[TooDamnCute4U]

Deleting all of my old stuff for a new beginning.

 

[HornyDog2017]

(OOC: Read it. Thanks.)

Eric might have contemplated the event now filling Astrid's mind ... if it weren't for the fact that he'd had so many such event in his life to pick and choose from as examples of treachery gone bad ... bad for the other, of course. Concerning that one event, Eric had thanked the Earl for at least contemplating the offer; then given him a purse heavy with coin to keep the secret; then -- as the Earl and his warriors pulled their long boats away from the Hurstvik docks to return home -- had his archers rain fire down upon the boats, then down upon the traitorous enemy fighters as they leaped into the sea seeking safety.

In the end, more than 60 valiant Vikings had been killed, by fire, by arrow, or -- if they'd reached the shore -- by blade. And yet, that day didn't even rate in the top five of dramatic events in Eric's rule as Earl and now King.



William had been hiding in the back behind a pair of gigantic Vikings, hoping to escape the night without ever being noticed by Lady Helen. But then Eric looked over his shoulder and gestured him forward. He felt ridiculous in his new clothes, the priest's black robes and the Viking's necklace of bear claws; and as he stepped up close to Eric he kept his gaze away from his former captor, not wanting to see her expressions as he spoke with his current one.

After a moment, though, he had no choice but to look to Helen ... or, at least, toward her, as he actually set his gaze on the distant wall behind her, unable to look her in the eyes. He took a step forward, composed himself, and -- as directed by the man who could, at any moment, drive a dagger into his back -- announced in better English than had Eric been speaking, "My king wishes me to ensure that you understood his words. King Eric..."

He hesitated to glance back at the Viking, hoping as he had when he'd been presented the robes that he was just being played with and didn't have to go through with this. But Eric's expression and message were undeniably clear. He looked back to Helen and continued, "King Eric offers you the ... the great privilege of becoming his wife ... of being his queen ... of, um..."

Fuck, really? his mind was screaming. Just say it so that you can keep your head on your shoulders where it feels so good and does you so much good also. He continued, "...of bearing him an heir. And ... he offers you the, um ... choice ... of ... of conceiving that child ... at a later time ... in an appropriate setting ... if only you fall to your knees ... here and now ... and declare your loyalty ... to Erikenvik ... and to him."

William took another deep breath, then -- finally looking into Helen's eyes as if to emphasize how important it was that she took the latter option -- he finished with, "...or ... if you prefer ... you can conceive the heir to Erikenvik here ... now ... before this assemblage of witnesses."

Willliam realized that his heart was racing and his pits were sopping wet. Someone was going to die here and now ... or someone was going to publically raped here and now ... or ... maybe even both!

 

[SamanthaCa]

A wave of relief rushed over Lady Helen as the Viking leader gestured towards another.

This afforded her to step next to Astrid and whisper in her ear, "I lost my baby at childbirth and I'm unable to bear children."

 

[TooDamnCute4U]

Deleting all of my old stuff for a new beginning.

 

[SamanthaCa]

Without Astrid’s advice, Helen would have spoke the truth, not realizing that by telling the truth, she would have become of no value.

Astrid’s grip was like iron and for days she would wear bruises with the outline of her fingers.

"Listen to your king's words, English!" Astrid said.

Lady Helen turned back to Astrid and in earnest, showed her obeisance, by lowering her head and upper body towards Astrid.

She raised her body and turned to the Viking leader and William.

She listened to William stumble over his words, wondering if he really was an imbecile or an actor who had lost his troupe.

The Vikings appeared to enjoy a good laugh and when William finished his words she gave out a hearty laugh, or as hearty as her soft voice would allow.

Looking from William to the leader, Helen bent her knees with one foot forward and lowered her body, hoping a simple curtsy would look close to kneeling.

Lady Helen rose and said “Af hverju er Pessi maour ao vera i Bridle's Scold's, although his current dress may be worse.”

The leader looked towards William, wondering why the Lady had asked why the man was not in a Scold’s Bridle.

”Vissir pu ekki ao pessi maour er glaepamaour?” Helen continued.

The leader was confused when Helen asked if he knew this man was a criminal, in fact William had told him that he was a friend of Lady Helen.


[Scold’s Bridle - a muzzle in an iron framework that would enclose his head]

 

[HornyDog2017]

William sensed that Helen was raising some concern in the Viking about his back story. He turned to face Eric directly, bowing his head forward and leaving it low as, in Norse, he said with a subordinate tone, "It is true, my king, that I have been accused of a crime. But I assure you that I am not guilty. I came from the South ... from London. The Lords..."

Still leaned over, he turned his head to look directly to Helen before looking back to Eric's feet, "...and Ladies of the North do not like those of us from the south. The tension and conflict between the North and South leads to innocent men such as myself being accused, charged, and convicted without--"

Eric cut in, "Is this true?"

He asked the question toward William though the question had been intended for Helen. He dismissed William with a wave of his hand, then looked to the lady before him. In a flash, his concern over presenting superiority over Helen was replaced with another thought. If William was correct about this North-South rivalry and wasn't just making it all up to keep from being put back in shackles, Eric could use this to his advantage.

After the fight last night, the Viking force numbered only 18 warriors and 8 shield maidens, and 2 of each had been injured to such an extent that they may never again be of value in a fight. Holding Erikenvik with Vikings alone was going to be difficult enough; but taking anything more of value from the neighboring lands was going to be near impossible until the arrival of the replacements from Hurstvik for which Eric would call soon.

"Clear the room," Eric said in a casual voice. Every pair of eyes looked to him, some with confusion, some with disappointment. Everyone wanted to see what was to come from Eric and Helen's confrontation; and some were even eager to see their king rape their future queen right there on the dais. He stood and said a bit more forcefully, "Get out."

He looked to Astrid, then to Helen: it was his way of saying you two stay. He also glanced to William and told him to remain as well. It took a long moment to get everyone out, with the last Viking in the Great Hall -- a loyal Earl named Horvik -- closing the doors behind him and standing before them, just in case Eric needed him.

The Viking descended the dais again, standing over Helen. He looked into her eyes for a long moment, then -- still presuming that William had told the truth -- asked her in English, "Do you hate the rulers in the south...? Do you hate them enough to..."

He turned to William and asked him to translate some words for him. He turned back to Helen and continued, "To be my partner ... rather than my prisoner?"

 

[TooDamnCute4U]

Deleting all of my old stuff for a new beginning.