**I do NOT own True Blood! All rights go to Charlaine Harris and Alan Ball! This is for recreational purposes only! Please read and review!**

(908AD)

"Go away, Eric," said his father.

The small boy turned and ran from the house. He ran down the hill that his home sat on and down to the beaches. He picked up a few stones and tossed them into the sea. He was a mere boy of eight and he already wished he was older.

"Do not fret, my son," said a blonde woman. "He is busy with the council."

"I wish I were older, and then I could go on hunting parties," he said tossing a rock. "I would kill the biggest dear for you, mother."

The woman smile as she guided her son back up to their home.

(915AD)

"What is it husband?"

"The neighboring village has been attacked," he replied. "They request help."

The woman nodded as her husband left the house. She could hear footsteps running across the floor before her son appeared at the door.

"I can help, father," he said.

"No Eric. I need you to stay and protect your mother and the village," replied his father. "I trust them to you alone."

The older man turned and hurried down the hillside leaving his wife and son behind. Eric turned to his mother and smiled.

"No need to fear, mother. You are safe as long as I am around."

"Thank the gods for that," she smiled back at him. "Now it's time for bed."

"I can't protect you if I'm asleep," said Eric.

"Yes, but you can't do your chores tomorrow if you haven't slept, either," she said.

Eric sighed as he put his sword away.

"When you are older, then you can dictate your life," she said.

"But I am older," he retorted.

"Fifteen is not old enough," replied his mother. "Now, off to bed."

"Eric, your father returns," said his mother.

Eric jumped up from the table and headed to the beaches, his mother following behind him. The whole village was standing on the beach looking for people. Ulfrik, Eric's father, disembarked from the ship and walked over to his wife. He whispered something to her before he headed to the main meeting house.

"Eric, come with me," she said.

Eric followed her to the ship and onto it. She walked into the bottom of it. She walked over to a small bed and knelt beside it.

"Mother?" said Eric.

"Child? Can you hear me?" said his mother. "Child?"

Eric watched as the body on the bed moved. It was a girl. His mother brushed the hair from the girl's face and sighed.

"Come Eric," said his mother as she stood.

Eric followed his mother off the boat. She whispered a few things to the men left on the beach. Eric practically ran to keep up with his mother. Once they returned to their house she set about cleaning and preparing a new bed.

"Eric, tell your father that everything is ready," she said.

Eric frowned at his mother but did as he was told.

(920AD)

"Up, up. Get up," said Astrid, Eric's mother, walking into the room. "You too, Eric."

Eric groaned and rolled away from the light that was left in the room. Eric was almost asleep when he felt someone climb into the bed with him. He kept his eyes closed and tried to ignore the new body.

"Come, Eric. Tis morning," said a soft voice.

"No, Ret," said Eric.

"Fine. I will go riding by myself then," said the girl leaving his bed.

Eric could hear her getting dressed and the leave the room. His "sister" could be stubborn if she wanted to be. Eric groaned as he, too, got up for the day. He dressed and walked into the main room of the house. His mother was by the fire cooking breakfast.

"Where is Maharet?" he asked.

"She went to the horses," said his mother.

Eric nodded and disappeared out the door. He walked down to the fenced in area that held the horses. He noticed that her horse was gone. He shouted for her but didn't receive a reply. He sighed and mounted his horse. He sped off into the woods in search of her.

Maharet sat on the edge of the beach. She was miles from her village, but she was home. She looked at the remnants of the homes that surrounded her. She goaded her horse down a faded path. She had been gone for the whole day. Eric had probably given up on looking for her or a pretty maid had caught his eye. She sighed as she turned her horse back towards her village. She was going to be in trouble.

It was past midnight when she walked into the house. Her "parents" had long since retired for the evening. Maharet quietly made her way to the room she shared with Eric. She was expecting to find him asleep, but he was sitting in a chair glaring at the door.

"Where did you go?" he practically shouted.

"Unless you want to wake father, I suggest you keep quiet," she said.

"Maybe I should wake him," threatened Eric.

"You were supposed to keep an eye on me," she said. "You would be in trouble too."

Eric glared at her but didn't say anything else.

"As for your question, I went to the village," she said.

"Alone?" he asked.

"Yes," she said.

"Why?"
"Because you wouldn't ride with me," she replied.

"Why go back?"

"Because it's where I'm from," she said. "Where I belong."

"You belong here," said Eric standing up.

At his full height, at age twenty, he stood six foot four. Maharet came up to about his chest, standing a mere five foot five. Eric stepped towards her. She could tell he was upset.

"I am fine, Eric," she said touching his arm. "I promise."

Eric watched her as she turned away from him. "You are not allowed to go off riding by yourself anymore."

"You cannot tell me what to do, brother," she said.

Eric frowned slightly. She only called him "brother" when she was mad at him.

"What is there?" he asked. "What's there that you have to ride up there?"

"My life," she replied.

"Your life is here," he said.

"Yes, but my real family is there," she said. "My mother. My father. My family."

"Are we not your family?" he asked slightly hurt.

Maharet turned away from him. She wouldn't let him see her cry. She took a deep breath but didn't turn around.

"Ret," he said placing his hands on her shoulders. "Look at me, Ret."

Maharet turned around and looked into his beautiful blue eyes.

"I love you, Ret," said Eric.

"And I you," she said. "But I'm not supposed to."

"Why not?" asked Eric confused.

"Because the love I have for you is not a familial love," she said. "It's what your mother feels for your father."

Eric looked at her for a moment before he spoke. "Then I am not sorry for this."

Maharet looked confused and then he kissed her. It was alight peck. He started to pull away but she gripped his arms tighter. Eric wrapped his arms around her as he pushed her towards the bed.

"I love you, Maharet."

Eric awoke the next morning to shouts. He dressed quickly and ran out to the house. The village was under attack. He grabbed his sword and looked at his mother.

"Where is Maharet?" he shouted.

"She went down to the village," said his mother with fear.

Eric ran out of the house, his father seconds behind him. He searched for her as he fought his way through the village. He thought he saw her auburn hair but it was gone in an instant. He heard her scream. He turned on the spot. She was being dragged off by two men. He charged them but was stopped by a third. As Eric fought the large man Maharet was taken aboard a nearby ship.

The townspeople gathered and surveyed the damage. Eric searched frantically for his "sister." He was heading to the beach when his father stopped him.

"She is gone," said Ulfrik.

"Then we must go after her," said Eric.

"And we will. When we are ready," replied his father.

"They could be miles away by then!" shouted Eric.

"We will find her, my son," said Ulfrik.

Eric didn't know it then, but that would be the last time he saw Maharet for a very long time.

Here is chapter 1! I was reading a few TB FF and felt the plot bunnies at work! Review and let me know what you think! ~Kat