Hello everyone! here is yet another chapter, long and hopefully detailed well enough.
to answer a question I've recieved numerous times...the sex will come soon. probably by the next chapter.
I'm still working on my other fics with friends
please read and REVIEW. thank you!
Aine was sleeping against Eric's chest. They were almost home. He was sad she would only get a few more minutes sleep. He looked at Bjorn and caught his eye.
"I want you to take her to my room as soon as we hit the ground."
"Then what?"
"Just stay with her. I'm going to find my mother and tell her about my marriage. I want three days alone with her."
His men looked shocked.
"I'll ask you to bring us food. We won't be leaving our room" He paused. "If you are able, I'd appreciate you trying to manage the gossip about my marriage."
He didn't even need to ask. Without a doubt, Eric's best men would quell any unkind words. Some of the other men who were shocked and uninformed about most of what Eric did might begin to talk too freely and with too much speculation after imbibing too much mead, but most of his band would seek to protect him and his bride.
"Aine...Aine." He shook her gently.
She groaned softly. "What?"
She was never a morning person. Even though it wasn't morning she'd still just woken up.
"We're almost home. Bjorn is going to take you to our room and I'll be there shortly."
She tried to comprehend his words. Home, he said they were going home, but she didn't have a home. She was going to his home, a place she knew nothing of and a place where she had no friends. She wasn't very excited at the prospect of his man, as nice as he had been, escorting her to her room. She was beginning to know Eric and felt more comfortable with him than anyone else.
"Get Ready!" Yelled one of the men from the back.
Her head whipped around. Eric hoped the landing went smooth since his wife was still a little boat sick. Everyone on the boat began moving around and she could see the coastline getting closer and closer. Everyone was excited to be home once more.
Eric kept his arms around her as the boat rocked even more.
"It's almost over now. You'll have your feet on solid ground in a few moments." He comforted her.
She shut her eyes and before she knew it, the boat was docked and half the men were off. Eric nodded to Bjorn and began to push his wife to her feet. If sitting was difficult, standing was even worse. She swayed on her feet and thought she was going to regurgitate her lunch. Bjorn went to grab her arm but stopped himself. He left his hand extended. She forced her eyes open and took it.
"I'll see you soon." Eric waved them off.
It didn't take long for people to start running, screaming, cheering, and laughing gleefully for the men to be back early. Eric had a clear plan in his mind. He would send his wife and best friend to his room and find his mother. He began to make his way to the hall where she would be and didn't turn to look back as people called out his name.
Bjorn began to move fast. He was going to go around the back of the house and whisk her into the room as quickly as he could. With any luck, few people would even see them. He knew Eric wanted his parents informed first before it became public knowledge.
"Can you walk fast?" Bjorn asked her.
"I'm trying." She replied and began to move fast, now almost jogging.
They came around the house and she had no time to take in her surroundings before Bjorn paused, pulled her close, and began to practically run them inside. He pulled her through a corridor and pushed open a door. Pulling them both in, he turned and bolted it. She finally stood still. She look around at a room similar to her own, but larger. She realized this is where she would be staying. This was to be her room for now on - that room, the one at the house she grew up in, was no longer hers.
"You'll be happy. Eric has his own room."
Bjorn didn't explain how uncommon this was or how it came to pass that the room was built specially for Eric. He didn't tell her that her husband was a widow with his own farm being constructed through the woods and across the river. She was already getting used to moving from one place to another, she didn't need to know Eric was planning another permanent move very soon.
She nodded but didn't say anything.
"You don't have to worry," She looked at him. "Eric is just going to talk with his mother and everything will be fine."
He smiled reassuringly, but the smile didn't meet his eyes. He didn't know if everything would be fine.
Eric caught his mother by surprise.
"Mom."
"ERIC!" She turned and grabbed him. "You're early."
"I know. I have something to tell you." He said holding her arms.
She looked at him startled. She prayed no one was hurt.
"What is it?"
"Let's sit down." He led her to the chairs near the hearth.
She looked at him intently. He looked her. She was almost positive he carried no injuries. She wondered if maybe he didn't get enough goods on this trip, but that seemed unlikely since he was home early. If he didn't have, enough he'd be home late, not early.
"I got married."
That thought never even crossed her mind. Her jaw dropped.
"You...You did what?"
"Mother, listen." He waited for her to nod. "I married. I know it's shocking. Nevertheless, it's already done now. I think you'll like her."
She looked at the man in front of her, the man she raised since birth, and wondered how this happened. Eric was always analytical and if she worried about any of her children doing something extreme, he was always at the bottom of her list. She also knew of any of her children she could win an argument with, he was also at the bottom.
When she didn't say anything, Eric continued.
"That's not all..."
"Eric, what else is there?" She asked half scared to hear more and half-exasperated.
"We need three days in our room. I came home three days early. There is no loss," He paused to watch her face. "Mom, my first marriage was political and beneficial to everyone. I have a sister and many brothers who can make good marriages. There is no damage done to this family, this house, or this village. I like my wife."
She was shocked to hear him speak of his first wife. It was something he hadn't done since right after she and their babe passed. She was glad to hear he liked his wife and hoped this woman would make him happy. However, this was stunning information. She also knew nothing of this girl who was probably foreign. What did she look like? Was she a pauper? Was she well bred? What did she believe? Would she be a good wife and mother for her son and future grandchildren?
"Eric..." She began searching for words.
"Please, I need to bond with her. I need time. She needs to adjust."
Now his mother was shocked beyond belief. Eric didn't use the word 'please'. Eric commanded and others obeyed.
"All right. I'll do my best for you to have your three days, but then you have to tell me everything about her. I have to meet her."
"I've set it all up. Thank you, Mom."
"Where is she?" His mother stood peering around.
"In our room." He kissed his mother's cheek. "Thank you."
Eric left to finish preparing. His mom stood there stunned. She knew divorce was very possible in a marriage like this, but Eric's words rang true. 'It's done now' she would never talk her son out of his marriage.
Eric went to the small hut where the midwife, Bera, completely much of her preparation as a healer. He greeted her with smile and kindness shown across his face.
"May I have some of the cream you use on wounds?" He asked respectfully.
"Yes...who is hurt?" She asked worried. "Should I come attend to them?"
"No. I've got it under control." He said ignoring her first question. She handed him the small jar, which he slipped into his pocket.
"Thank you. I'll see you soon." He walked out, thinking about what he had to do next. He remembered his wife's hunger and made it back to the hall. Nearly everyone was at the shoreline hugging the men and helping to unload the boats. Many of the slaves and women were gathering food and drink with great speed for the returning warriors.
"Mom, we're going to need some food sent to our room."
"Of course, how much?" She asked.
Eric looked sheepish and his mother noticed it. "Eric?"
"A lot. We...She hasn't eaten much over the past day or two."
Her eyes widened. "Eric, I may not be happy about your marriage. However, you are married now. You can't starve the girl. You need to take care of your wife. What did you do, rush home instead of eat?"
What the hell is going on with him? She wondered.
"I know. We just had a lot happen in a short amount of time. I promise I'll do better by her." He said sincerely. He'd already felt like he many so many mistakes.
"Alright. Go. It will be there soon." She said, seeing the way her reprimand had affected her oldest child.
Eric turned and began to go toward his room. He stopped Sven with a young marriageable girl hanging all over him, giggling. Since before she had adorned herself with the hairstyle and garb of a woman, she had blushed and found excuses to be near to Sven. Now it seemed like her crush had traveled with her into adulthood. He had one more thing to tell him before he sequestered himself with his bride.
"Can I have a moment?"
Sven detangled himself from the girl and came close to Eric could speak to him without anyone hearing them.
"If anyone makes any comments, be sure to tell them I made good use of the hours I had alone with my bride." He instructed.
"You think someone will say something." Sven was surprised, but knew the idea of annulment and divorce wouldn't be far from everyone's minds.
"Already happened." Eric said solemnly.
"Who?"
"My darling wife." He said remembering their conversation in the morning after their marriage. He knew she wouldn't be given the chance to say anything damning, but figured she'd be wise enough to not endanger their marriage. She had no home to go back to. Although he hadn't meant to do so, he'd ensured they couldn't part from one another no matter what.
Sven looked shocked. This wasn't good. Did she truly not want to be married? And more importantly, was it Eric she disliked or marriage in general? That thought did jive well with the woman who, although drawn and abused, leaned against Eric and looked back at him as Bjorn lead her away.
"She's just scared."
Sven nodded, still not entirely convinced. "Go have your three days."
He hoped at the end of those days, that his friend's marriage would be on the right track. He truly did.
Eric walked into his room and smiled at his friend.
"I'll leave you now." Bjorn stood, patting his friend on his shoulder.
Eric took a seat and patted the bed next to him. She took the hint and sat down about three feet from him. He didn't ask her to move closer, he was about to ask a lot of her in a moment.
"We have three days in here. We won't be leaving this room - our room. It will give us time to get to know each other." He paused and she injected her question.
"Is that normal? Is that what your people do?"
"Not usually. But I think we need this, so we're going to have it." he said trying not to sound overly confident in his ability to get what he wanted.
She nodded. She wasn't sure if she liked this or not. She also realized she didn't know Eric's specific position. She knew he had command of the men, his men referred to her as Mistress, and he could arrange for three days of solitude even if it was not customary. She remember his words and hoped he'd tell her all the things, about their marriage and her future, that he didn't get to tell he before they left her home.
"Aine," he said pulling her from her thoughts. He reached for her hand and she didn't pull away, but didn't hold his either. "I have some cream that helps to heal wounds and relieves pain. I want to put it on you."
He looked at her intently. Did she understand? Would she agree? Was she afraid?
"Like...when we got married?" she asked, not really feeling comfortable with being nude.
"Yes. I'll give you privacy while you change and you can lie on the bed on your stomach. I won't look until you tell me you are ready."
Her breathing stopped for a moment. He wasn't going to leave the room. He was only going to turn away from her. She wasn't quite sure if she could do this. However, she knew his request was simple politeness - why he was being polite was beyond her, but she admitted it was appreciated - he would do this.
She didn't want to anger him. not only because she feared his wrath and how he might punish her, but because she hoped he'd wait another day...even a few more hours, before he laid claim to her body.
He watched her. He wasn't surprised that she agreed. He truthfully never even considered her refusing his request, so the thought of whether or not he'd force her to have her welts treated didn't occur to him. He knew some of his motivation was selfish. He wanted to touch her. He wanted to be prepared for her body, for her marks, enough that he could block them out and focus on how well she'd look once she healed. He remembered his initial thoughts about her at the market and her home. She was too skinny for his tastes, but still had nice breasts. He couldn't wait for her to gain some needed weight and watch them grow to a greater size.
Before either of them could speak, there was a knock at their door.
Eric rose and answered it. It was one of the serving girls carrying a tray of food. Eric took it from her and set it down. He re bolted the door. Aine stared at the food, remembering how hungry she was. Eric saw this.
"We should eat first."
He carefully sat the tray on the bed between them. Like most Norsemen, he made bathing a habit, but he also liked a relatively clean room. He hoped neither would spill food on the bed. This would probably be his only regret about being locked in a room for three days - they would eat most meals in bed. He wasn't bothered by tossing bones from meat on the floor in the hall for the dogs to gnaw on, which he suppose was a messy habit, but his bed was an entirely different thing to him than the floor. She once again tried not to eat like a pig, but being off the boat and her head only hurting slightly now, made her grab food and shovel it into her mouth. Eric felt no disgust, only regret, as she ate so quick she nearly choked.
He should never have let her get that hungry. He had to get them both back on schedule as well over these next three days. He knew she needed sleep soon. She felt better being off the boat and eating, but her body wouldn't be on keel until she slept.
She felt herself getting full. Her body like it was in knots. Her head didn't pound like it did earlier, but it there was a stiff, pressure that wouldn't go away. She remembered as a child filling her mouth with water until it she couldn't hold it anymore and laughing when it all rushed out. Right now, with laughter far from her thoughts, she wondered if her head would eventually buck from the pressure. She decided she hated boats and hoped she'd never have to set foot on to one again.
She was too busy eating to pay attention to the fact that Eric hadn't spoken a word to her. That horrible silence was back. It was becoming increasingly obnoxious, but she didn't know what to say. She briefly thought about groaning, screaming, or making some primal noise to get rid of the quiet while overstepping the problem of her having no words to say.
Eric saw that most of the food was gone and she had stopped taking more.
"Are you finished?"
"Yes." she nodded.
He stood grabbed the tray and left it near the door.
He reached and tossed her a rag to wipe her hands and mouth. He walked over and took it back from her to do the same. She thought she was a bit rude by wiping her mouth, but he did not seem to care as he used the clothe on himself.
Eric, who was learning quickly what worked best, didn't sit back down but walked back to the door.
"I'll be here with my back turned. Just tell me when you are ready." He stated calmly before spinning around.
This felt almost as bad as her wedding night. She reminded herself that she was lucky - luckier than she assumed she would be - so far in her marriage and that she'd already done this before. She peeled her clothes off and gently kicked them into the corner since she did not know what else to do with them herself, she turned away so her back faced his back. Her eyes kept darting to the side, over her shoulder to see if he really had his back turned still. She pushed the blanket back and slid on the bed. With a lot of moving and wiggling, she found herself adequately covered and laying on her front.
She took a deep breath. No matter what happened in the next few minutes, she knew her body would soon be no secret to him.
"I'm ready." This was a poor word choice. She wasn't 'ready'; she was only naked, on her stomach, and under the blankets - everything he asked for.
He turned and he began to reach for the small jar with the cream. He looked at the amount of room she left on the bed; on her side of the bed.
"Can you scoot over a bit for me?" He asked kindly.
She wiggled sideways as best she could and felt him sit beside her. He fingers were soft over her forehead as he moved her hair back and lifted her braid off her shoulder. She looked at him as he did so. He forced himself to smile slightly and made a showing of pulling the cream out. He wanted her aware of what he was doing. Maybe she'd be less fearful then.
He gently pulled the blanket down, bracing himself to see her marks. It was easier this time for him, but still hard. He didn't know if this was any easier for her...he assumed not.
"This might be a bit cold." He warned, dipping his fingers into the jar.
He had to be very careful. He still didn't know if she jerked her body in surprise or in pain when he touched the welt on her back the other night. The cream would remove all pain, but it might hurt to rub it on. His didn't know exactly how it was made, such creams being woman's work after all. However, he knew everyone, even the toughest warrior, was thankful for it after an injury. It accelerated healing and could numb your skin. It didn't always numb it though. He assumed that sometimes they didn't put enough of whatever ingredient fights pain.
He tentatively lowered his fingertips to her skin. She inhaled and arched her shoulders. He began to rub the cream gently into her skin.
"It is cold." she said
"I'm sorry. It will warm up."
He was glad she spoke. He found a rhythm of rubbing her back from shoulder to her waistline and back up again. He'd occasionally make circles with his fingers to ensure it was soaking into her skin. His hand eventually got to the bruise on her side. This mark bothered him most. He decided to bring it up to her.
"Where did this mark come from?"
"A kick." She said tersely.
He was correct.
"In my experience...people rarely get kicked just once."
She inhaled and didn't release her lungs for a moment. She had lied to him on their wedding night. She wasn't kicked just once. She lost count of how many times it happened, three or four maybe. The marks ran from the edge of her back, around her side, and the last on her abdomen. She wondered what would happen next.
"No...I was kicked more than once." She said, anxiously.
"On your stomach?'
"Yes."
He wasn't angry. He knew she was scared. She didn't want to risk him making her roll over so he could see the front of her body. He was sure he wouldn't have asked her to roll over. It would have been too much for her. He wouldn't make her do it now either.
She laid there not moving after admitting her dishonesty with him. She had no idea what he was going to do in the next few moments. He didn't sound angry. His fingers were still rubbing the cream into her back. She'd had more moments that are uncomfortable in the past day and a half that in her whole life it seemed.
"Are you angry?" She really didn't think not speaking could help her and she didn't think asking him this could hurt.
This was exactly the way Eric wanted it.
"No."
She briefly wondered if he was lying. If he was like the men from the tavern who said they weren't angry before a brawl, they just wanted to teach the other person a lesson. Eric rarely did anything she expected him to do. She didn't know if he was just odd, if it was because he was foreign, or if he was trying to mess with her mind.
She assumed it would be beneficial for him if she were loyal. She was always fearful and dependent on her father. However, she could never call herself loyal to him.
Eric finished with her back. He wasn't sure how well things were progressing with he and his wife. He decided to keep giving her opportunities to speak. In all honestly, they weren't truly opportunities as much as horrible moments of dead silence that would compel her to speak. He wondered if his methods were too harsh. He only had three days. He needed to not only have their marriage consummated and unbreakable, but he needed to be able to send her with the other women while he joined the men to work. He had to lay out some groundwork. Even if he'd have to go back later and repair anything, he'd done wrong.
"I'm going to pull the blanket down." He warned her.
He pulled it all the way down to her knees this time. He looked at her face. Her eyes were closed. He studied her body for a few seconds before dipping his fingers back in the cream. She wasn't sickly and had some flesh on her bones. However, compared to her corpulent father, he knew she wasn't fed as well as she could have been. Despite her bruises, he enjoyed her curved waist, the width of her hips, her fleshy bottom, and her legs that he was about to stroke. She wiggled a bit when his hand fist lay on her bottom. He moved in circles. She enjoyed it, strangely. Her face still reddened and uncertainty ran through her.
Eric was enjoying himself as best he could. He was rarely an ambivalent man. He accepted how things in life went and knew not everything was pleasant, much less ideal. In this moment he knew the word's meaning in and out, as well as he knew his own name. Her marks were not pretty. Anger rose inside him and shame for not making this easier on her.
Apart from those marks, her body was pleasing to him. It was hard to decipher them but he could see some beauty marks and freckles speckled all over her skin. He thought they made her look wonderful. He would be happy once he started her on a healthy diet. Women were supposed to be curvy and soft. She had most of the curves all ready, he just needed to soften and pad her body a bit more.
Her thighs were jammed together and when his fingers went over the junction between them, her body jerked. He waited. He wondered if she'd say anything. He also wondered - wished - she'd part her legs for him; just enough for him to peak at her.
She relaxed and tried to come up with an opinion on his touch. Did she like it? Was it nice? Shouldn't she like it? Did she want him to give her space and privacy, or to keep roaming her body with his hands?
She had no idea. However, when his fingers hit the dip between her two her legs, reality hit her. She was naked. She had a man she barely knew, husband or not, touching her in ways she'd never been touched before. She decided she wanted him to stop.
When she did nothing but tremble, he decided to start talking to her once more.
"Do you remember what I told you on the boat? About our duties?" He began and she nodded. "Has anyone told you how to be a wife?"
"No...Not really." She never had a mother and her father never bothered to talk to her. Both because he thought she was too worthless for anyone to want to marry her in the first place, and he honestly lacked the means for an acceptable dowry, and because marrying her would lose him the perfect servant. When Eric showed up, he was a mood where he saw her as more of a burden than a useful tool and he couldn't resist the Viking's money.
He figured she knew some. She hadn't lived in a cave. She'd seen people marry, she'd observe daily life of the adults around her, and she'd heard stories about the lives of other people.
"Why don't I tell you a little bit more tonight?" He paused and looked at her body. He could have been done already but he was taking his time. Soon, she'd have to figure that out. "There are no secrets between husbands and wives. Nothing we can't talk about to one another. And there can be no lies."
She shuddered. He was mad. He had hidden it from her. He had the ability to deceive her with ease. Now he would make her understand her error. These past few minutes had caused so much dissonance. At times, it was as though everything was normal and fine. Now, in the face of her lie and his displeasure, she was naked and locked in a room with no one who could or would aid her. She was completely at his mercy.
"This...dishonesty between us, "A willful omission was dishonest in his book, "is done and over with. For now on we'll have to handle our marriage correctly and be honest with one another."
She nodded, shocked. She truly didn't understand this man at all. She'd rather have him punish her than do whatever it was he was doing. He made her want to squirm and cry, and sigh with relief all at the same time.
He thought he handled this well so far. He was firm and used the only words she could understand - duty, orders, right/wrong, and a looming threat of what would happen if she failed or did the wrong thing. He knew in a way he was misleading her because he would never harm her and he knew that's what she believed. He was floundering. He had some plan, sure, but he didn't know if these three days would be enough. He didn't know if his wife would ever be truly being comfortable with him. However, he couldn't allow himself to think of that possibility.
"All finished." He said and pulled the blanket back over her. She immediately relaxed. He closed the jar and decided it was time for them to rest.
"I want you to put our shift on; I'll turn my back again."
She looked perplexed.
"What is it?"
"Why...why did you have me bring my night gowns if I'm not wearing them?" she asked.
He smiled.
"I'd prefer you naked. But I don't think you'd be comfortable like that."
She gulped. "My shift is fine."
He almost laughed.
He began to stand but stopped himself, still perched on the bed,
"I don't wear formal nightclothes. I won't sleep nude tonight," He assured her. "But you may not be used to the clothing I'm going to wear to bed. I'm going to change now too, get ready."
She listened to his words and was happy he wouldn't be naked. She figured this meant he wouldn't be sleeping with her anytime soon.
He walked around the bed to the other side of the room, with his back turned he began to rummage through his clothes looking for something to wear to bed.
She slowly stood and moved quickly to where her shift laid. She pulled it over her head and evened it out. She contemplated walking backwards so she wouldn't turn around and see him changing. She decided to treat him as he had treated her.
"Eric? Are you finished?"
"Almost." He sounded like he was moving.
She waited and a moment later, he spoke again.
"Done."
She turned and gasped. Eric was wearing only a loincloth. Little was left to her imagination. His blond hair hung down behind his shoulders, his shoulders and chest were bare, and she looked at his muscles. Her eyes darted to the little piece of fabric covering his essentials. She felt faint. She realized he looked good, even if he looked big and scary too.
Eric forced himself to not get hard when her eyes ran over his body. He looked at her as well. Her shift was too tight on her. He realized it was old and had probably fit better at another time. He needed to get into bed and under the blankets. He didn't think he could keep standing here, both of them staring at one another, with only the private parts of their bodies covered.
"Let's rest." He said moved toward the bed. His speed was increased and hers was slow, as they snuggled under the blankets.
"Does it hurt you, with or without the cream to lie on your back?" He asked curious.
"Not really. I'm almost all healed. I just lay on my side mostly." She said.
"Alright, get comfortable and let's get some sleep." He said, feeling tired himself.
She rolled and put her back to him.
"Can I take your braid down?" He asked.
"Sure." She agreed, wondering why he cared if her hair was braided or not.
He slowly touched her beautiful hair and began to unwind it. He ran his fingers through it gently. She'd need to brush it when she woke up. She sighed when the pressure was relaxed from her scalp and he smiled.
"Will it hurt you if I put my arm over your waist?"
"No." She said feeling small, even before his large body was wrapped around her.
He placed his arm over her and got cozy. He kept their bodies apart just in case her back still hurt at all. He nuzzled her hair that was spread out over their pillows and down her back. This was nice.
She began to relax and realized this was the most comfortable bed she'd ever been in. Her eyes closed and she was asleep in minutes.