Sorry, I couldn't wait :o)

Chapter 7

Ellrik poked his head into the tent. He cleared his throat, then a bit louder. Anna stirred, and nudged Catherine, who opened her eyes wide and smiled with delight when she saw his blonde head and wide smile, 'Ladies, I bring glad tidings. Today we shall arrive at our steading.' He spoke with his usual formality, obviously still a source of mirth for him. Catherine's smile was there but as she looked over to Anna, it faded slightly. She had never felt so relaxed in her life, but squeezing her sister's hand realised how hard this was for her. 'Come out and look at the beautiful Scandinavian scenery,' Ellrik offered a hand to each girl and pulling themselves up against his tensed arms, left the tent.

Anna gasped. It was beautiful, and nothing like she had ever seen before. The channel felt as if it had been carved by the ancient gods themselves; the high cliffs, leading to green farmland in the distance. She felt a hand on each shoulder. 'Are you well?' She sighed. She wasn't sure. 'You will be made welcome on my father's land. And after these four days on the open sea, you will appreciate the hospitality offered there. There is a lot more comfort there than on this boat.'

He rubbed her shoulders, cupping his hands over their small curves. She closed her eyes and sighed in appreciation at the touch, 'I suppose you are right.' Throwing back his sharp words of nearly a sennight ago, 'I must smell like a sea cow.'

'You do not now, and you didn't then. I was angry and most rude.' Kristr had to concede that he had been horrid to her, but that was before he saw her spirit, and her frustrations with life, and choices made for her. In effect, he had taken another choice from her, but he had done so. Kristr felt empty when he mused on the choice she would make when the time came for her to return to Donegal.

'Tis a beautiful country. Is it all like this?' She craned her neck, looking up at the sheer grey cliffs, topped with the warm green of the evergreen firs, before peering over the edge of the boat looking into the deep blue of the water.

'Ja. Of course it is not all fjords, but sailing down them makes me feel like my homeland is welcoming me back to my steading. My father Kerik Greysteinn is Jarl, and Gertrude, his wife is the woman of the house. She is a fine Jarl's wife.'

There was no time like the present. 'But how did your mother live as a second woman in the household?'

'When Kerik brought my mother back to the steading, she was so scared that her husband would come after her, or that my father would give her back to him. Gertrude took care of her and protected her as if she were a sister. Although she was my father's second woman, he loved both equally. I know to your Christian sensibilities it seems wrong, but how you judge one society by another one's rules?'

He was right. To her mind it was wrong; she was brought up to believe that a marriage was between a man and a woman for life. That was before she realised how complicated and ugly life could be. Trying to change the conversation, she lightened her tone. 'Fjords. Fjords. Tis my second Norse word,'

'And what was the first?'

'Kristr. Christian. That was my first word.' She paused. 'Did you know that today was to be my wedding day?' She thought of her father and how believed he had made a good match. She would have been packed up now, her belongings and herself on the way to Dubh Linn to be with MacHyde.

'I knew your wedding feast would have been soon.' Everything was making his soul feel black today, the memory of the twin pain of his mother's death and Anna's abduction, in contrast to the twin beauties of Scandinavia and Anna of Rathsteele that were before him today. Anna may never forgive him, but he could try to provide her with some answers. 'I could not let MacHyde win. He is corrupt, duplicitious and sneaky in the extreme. Now that I have met you I know he would have used one as exquisite as you. He would have shared your body with any trader who would have given him more coin.' Anna gulped with fear and repulsion as she listened to Kristr's words. 'And now,' he whispered, 'I don't regret taking you from him.' He did not deserve her affections after his actions of the previous week, but to know that he had saved her from the claws of his sworn enemy gave him some comfort.

She turned from the grey cliffs to look up into his grey eyes. 'What will happen to us at your steading?'

He ran his hand through his hair before tracing his finger over the pattern of her braid. 'You will be safe, you will be cared for, you will be protected from mauraders.' She snorted in disgust, pulling her plait from his fingers.

'That's what my father thought at RathSteele, and look what happened there!' She couldn't contain the bitterness in her voice. 'If you were going to take me hostage for another man's crimes, you could have least have let me say goodbye to my father. Until MacHyde arrived for the wedding, he will not know what has become of me.' Kristr could not argue with that. Hostage taking in Ireland had been in place since the dawn of time, and he had not obeyed the Irish rules, but he was not an Irishman. Any link to his mother's line ended when he was eleven summers old.

'The deed is done now, and each day may bring you closer to your father.' She tried not to tremble. Each day brought her closer to her fate, and now she was confused as to whether her fate laid with this handsome Viking or with her own in Ireland.

The cliffs slowly gave way to land, still a dull winter green and brown, but no less majestic. They were dotted with small tidy steadings, the men in the fields stopping the work to bellow barely heard greetings to the vessel, returned just as noisily by the men on the boat. In the distance she could see the crowd forming at the side of the water. As Kristr, Ellrik and the men readied the boat to dock, Anna sought out Catherine, who could barely contain her joy at seeing Ellrik's homestead. They could make out a number of long, low buildings similar to those at the Jarlshof on Shetland, as well as barns and stables. The Greysteinn homestead spoke of wealth, prosperity and security.

Ellrik disembarked first, followed by Kristr. As Taylr lowered Catherine into Ellrik's arms, and herself into Kristr's, the indication of ownership wasn't lost on Anna. She looked around at the crowd, who were led by a giant of a man, and followed by a woman; her head was covered by a kerchief, and she was bearing two horns of ale.

'Hej, Fadir,' Ellrik greeted the brown haired man, whose bushy beard was beginning to show strands of silver. He walked to the woman, who was obviously his mother by the features they shared. 'Madir,' he smiled as he took the horn of ale from her, before she passed the second to Kristr. Anna observed the ritual with interest. Kristr may have led the raid leading to her abduction, but here he was most definitely the second son. The blonde woman beamed with pride as only a mother could when looking at her children. She hugged Ellrik, spilling his ale. Kristr smiled at the exchange, and drained his horn.

Kerik clasped his son's forearm, clapping him on the back he said 'By Thor, we shall feast tonight, my sons have arrived home, and justice has been done for MacHyde's dishonourable actions!'

Kristr looked at Ellrik and then at their father. 'It did not go quite as expected. MacHyde, true to his cheating nature, refused to give me my silver, so I took something much more precious in kind.' He nodded to the women, and as Ellrik walked over to lead them to his parents, Kerik's eyes narrowed. Anna paled. She did not understand a word that had been said so far, but it did not take a scholar to know that Kerik was furious. Ellrik squeezed her hand, not looking at her; he only had eyes for Catherine, but she tried to calm her fears at his reassuring touch.

'Son, what is the meaning of this?' Kerik bellowed, ignoring his wife's hand on his arm. 'We do not deal in thralls! I shall not allow you to keep slaves on this steading!'

'Fadir, Anna and Catherine are not thralls.' Kristr took Anna's hand from Ellrik. 'Anna was betrothed to MacHyde, due to marry him today, of all days. Her father was deceived by his coin and his promises to make an honourable husband.' He held his hand up asking his father to let him finish, as he continued with his tale, Ellrik nodding in agreement with Kristr's retelling. 'However, my problem is...' Ellrik interrupted with a cough, '... our problem is that we are not sure we ever want these women to go back to Ireland.'

'What of the ransom? You say MacHyde will not pay, but what if her father comes with coin?'

'If she choses to go with her father, I will let her go. Until then I offer her my protection.'

'And what is your plan if her father does not arrive?' Kerik knew his son, and his dislike of unfinished business.

Kristr closed his eyes, trying to shut the decision out of his mind, 'Then I shall take her back to her father, if she wishes it.'

Kerik pursed his lips, and addressing his other son, he said, 'and what of you, Jarl apparent? Do you give the same promise?

'I do not.' Ellrik smiled at Catherine, who shyly returned his gesture. 'I wish to take this maiden as my bride.'

Ellrik's parents looked at each other. At twenty four winters, he was not old, but as a Jarl should be seeking a mate. 'We shall talk of this further my son.'

Gertrude held out her hands to the women, gesturing that they should follow her. She pointed to herself. 'Gertrude.' Then touching each girl's cheek, 'Cat-ter-ine, An-na.' She took them to the bath house where, under Gertrude's direction, they were tended to by women of the steading. Anna still blushed at being nude in front of others, but this time their gentle ministrations helped her to relax her tense muscles. She still was not sure of what had happened between Kristr and his father, the tone of the language sounding abrasive, even when it was obvious they were happy. She sat quietly in the tub as her hair was rinsed with a fragrant water, and combed though.

Wrapped in a clean linen, Gertrude returned with some clothes. She helped Anna to dress in a soft, clean, white undershift, and a green dress. She looked down at her new attire, rubbing the smooth spun wool between her fingers. It was much finer than what she had been dressed in by Helgena. 'An-na.' Gertrude gently raised her chin with a finger and smiled. She added the last piece of Anna's clothes, an apron dress, pinned into place with two silver brooches. As Gertrude and the women made sounds of approval, Anna bit her lip and looked at the brooches. Silver. It was silver that was keeping her here. Gertrude touched the brooches. 'Kristr.' Anna assumed it meant they were from him. Torn between acceptance of the gift and the symbol of her price to her father, Anna shook her head. 'Nei.' Gertrude nodded. 'Ja.' Anna had to concede. She was the stranger here. Catherine twirled in her new outfit. She looked like she belonged, that she was home.

Kerik and his sons went to the main hall. Kristr felt like a boy of eight again. 'Well, do you care to explain your plans further, my sons?' Kristr may have felt like a boy, but Kerik felt like time had turned back twenty four summers, when he had first taken Grainne. Her grey eyes were filled with fear when he had found her crouching behind the church. She had cried out in pain when he had gone to bind her, and on seeing the bruises and welts on her arms, his heart had melted and all he wanted to do was rescue this beautiful woman and take away her pain. He crooned in her ear as he scooped her up in his arms. She did not fight him, but at least she had stopped trembling. He would never let another man hurt her again. That was until he had agreed to her Christian pilgrimage to Ireland, when his world was split apart.

'With your permission, Fadir, I should like Anna to live in my hall.' I will give her a chamber of her own. I will not take her to bed unless she is willing.

Kristr scratched his beard. 'Is she willing?'

'Nei, not at the moment. Fadir, I will not force her. You know I have more coin stored under the ground and in the sea to last three lifetimes. This started as a means to teach MacHyde a lesson, and my plan did not go as I expected. I did not expect Anna to be the proud, strong maiden that she is.'

Turning to his eldest son and heir, 'Well Ellrik. Tell me of your intention. Does your bride come to you willingly?'

'She does. She was with Anna when we found her. I am as guilty as my brother in the kidnapping of these women, but when I laid eyes on her, I knew I wanted her. She is betrothed to Anna's brother, but it is not a love match.'

'If she is betrothed to another, I will not permit you to marry her until four seasons have passed.' When Ellrik moved to protest, Kerik cut him short. 'I am Jarl, and until the terms of the ransom demand are complete, you may not wed. However, if she is willing, and only if she is willing, you may take her as your woman.'

'As you wish Fadir.'

Gertrude led Anna and Catherine into the hall. Standing to greet them, Kristr smiled in pride. 'You look beautiful.' He took her hands and planted a chaste kiss on her cheek.

'Thank you for the brooches,' Anna tried desperately not to sound so formal, but in the unfamiliar clothes she did not feel herself. 'Can you please thank Gertrude for me, and ask her what chores I may do to earn my keep? We cannot stay here without contributing to the steading.'

'You will not be working today, as I wish to show you to my hall, but I shall talk with Gertrude and we can come to an arrangement.'

Taking their leave, Kristr walked Anna to his hall. 'I am the second son, but I like having my own privacy, and during times of feasting, 'tis good to have somewhere else to be.' Anna's cheeks reddened, believing he was talking about coupling. When they entered from the bright light, it took Anna's eyes time to adjust to the dark. He led her to the side of the hall and, pulling back a cowskin curtain, pointed into the chamber. There was a bed, piled with furs, a chest and a fish-oil lamp. 'This will be your chamber. I will be on the other side of the wall to you. Now, that I have spoken with my father, I need to bathe and dress for tonight's feast.' Kissing her cheek again, he took his leave.

Watching him leave the hall, she touched her cheek where he had planted the delicate kiss, and brought her fingers to her lips. She looked at the hall, her chamber, her clothes and fell on the bed, sobbing with emotions that had been closed off for the past week.