NSFW ;)

The Hold was silent as a graveyard as Cullen and his family began moving out. Elena watched her warrior, a frown etched over her face as she took in the tight, tense lines of his back and shoulders. He held his head high, but she could feel the silent anger and humiliation rolling off of him. She wanted to go to him, to comfort him, but she could tell that wasn't what he needed. Cullen didn't want to appear weak before the Hold or Skinchanger.

Branson had appeared with a cart, and the girls quickly set about loading it up with the household goods they had managed to save from the fire. Elena was relieved to see her chest was among the items saved; perhaps they could use her jewels to trade for food later on. Though in truth she didn't know where they were going–to another hold? Further into the wilderness? Towards civilization? She shook her head, now was not the time to dwell on such things. Skinchanger had given them until sundown to leave, and they had better move before that if they didn't want to walk through the night. She simply had to trust that Cullen would take care of them.

She hurried over to Rose and Mia, and began arranging items in the cart. When Elena turned her attention back to their small pile of belongings, she could swear there was one more bag of potatoes that had previously been there. She glanced up, but all she could see was the villagers milling around, watching them surreptitiously, mindful of the Thane's guards. Some gave them sympathetic looks, but most studiously avoided making eye contact.

Elena returned to her task, surprised yet again to find a small parcel of salted meat.

"Mia, I think–" She began.

"You've said quite enough already," the other woman snapped, taking the parcel from Elena's hands.

Elena swallowed her words and clamped her mouth shut. She couldn't blame Mia for her anger, nor for directing it at her. But it still hurt to have the blame laid at her feet.

By the time they were finished, the wind had picked up, and the sun was low on the horizon. Their little party trudged to the edge of the Hold, Cullen up front with Branson leading the horse and cart behind the women. As they reached the boundaries of the village proper and the farm lands beyond, Skinchanger and a band of his men hurried forward from the Thane's hall.

"You're forgetting your payment, boy," the Thane snapped.

Cullen's jaw clenched, and he flexed his fingers into fists. Elena stilled, worried that he would lash out at the older man, and cause himself harm. Slowly, she slipped to his side, and placed a comforting hand on his forearm. Cullen jerked at her touch, but relaxed when he glanced down and saw her. With a stiff nod, he signaled to Branson to bring the helmet forward from the cart. Without ceremony, he thrust it into Skinchanger's hands.

"I'll be back for it, old man."

Skinchanger ignored the remark, his eyes sliding over Elena as if Cullen hadn't even spoken. "If you'd rather stay in comfort, girl, it can be arranged. All you needs do is to say so."

Cullen bristled next to her. and Elena narrowed her eyes. "I can't imagine your lady wife would agree."

With a shrug he replied. "Meredith is a reasonable woman."

"Well I'm not," she snapped. "I'd rather sleep in a hovel with Cullen then allow you to put your hands on me again."

Skinchanger's greasy smile never faltered, as if it didn't matter a whit to him, but animosity glinted in his hard eyes. "Suit yourself. You'll soon change your tune, and when you do, I'll be waiting."

It was fully dark by the time they stopped, the full moon fat and bright in the inky sky. Cullen had led them to an abandoned hunting shack. From what Elena could gather, it was occasionally used by the Avvar as a stopping point on raids or hunting excursions. It didn't belong to anyone, per se, but was open for anyone to use who needed it. As they settled in for the night, chewing silently on dried chunks of meat, Elena rubbed her feet. They were sore from walking on the uneven terrain.

"I'll take first watch," Cullen said, his low voice breaking the silence save for the crackling fire.

Elena watched from her place on the floor as he stood and strode out of the small building, pausing only to drape a cloak around his shoulders. She frowned, unsure if she should go to him; perhaps now that they were out of the Hold, he would be more amenable to her soft comforts. And she desperately could use some comfort of her own.

Elena glanced around, and catching Mia's disapproving look across the fire, she decided against following him.

With the heavy silence hanging over their heads, everyone quickly went to bed after supper. There was a long day ahead of them, if not many more. But Elena found it impossible to sleep. As the fire died down to embers, she lay on her bedroll, her eyes refusing to close. She needed Cullen–needed him beside her, not only for her own peace of mind, but so that she could make sure he too was alright. After what seemed like hours, she rose with a sigh, and, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders, left the hut in search of her man.

She found him sitting between the roots of a massive tree, his back resting against the trunk, one leg was drawn up, while the other stretched out before him. Moonlight glinted off of his golden curls, turning them silver. A frown worried his he gazed up at her, Elena was struck by just how lost he looked. She wished she could do more to comfort him, but all she had to give was herself.

She let the blanket drop from her shoulders, the fabric whispering down her body to the hard earth. She knelt before him, his eyes following her slow descent until she crouched between his wide-spread legs. Elena cupped his face, her thumbs tracing his eyes, down his cheeks, before swiping over his full lower lips.

"Cullen." His name was a whisper on the wind, the softest prayer.

It was all the encouragement he needed. Cullen surged forward, his lips crashing down upon her own. Their bodies rocked, tumbling backwards onto the hard, cold earth. Elena clung to him, her legs wrapped around his hips as she clutched his broad shoulders. His kiss was hard and hungry, seeking, demanding, until all she could do was take what he gave her, breath when he allowed her breath. She whimpered against him, desire spreading hot and insistent where she cradled him between her thighs. With a growl he scraped his teeth against her bottom lip, his mouth trailing scorching caresses down her jaw and throat.

Elena arched her back, begging him with her body to take comfort in her, to sink inside of her and bury his worries in her slick flesh. As he nibbled her throat, Cullen's hands smoothed down her body, squeezing her breasts, her hips, until he began pulling her skirts up. She was still sore from his loving earlier, but she didn't care; Elena opened her legs wider.

Cullen reached between them and fumbled with the ties on his trousers. A moment later she felt the hot, broad crown of his cock at her entrance. She shuddered, as a wave of pleasure so strong washed over her.

"Please," she begged, burying one hand in his hair and yanking his lips towards hers for a devouring kiss. "You need me."

Without ceremony, Cullen thrust into her. She gave a harsh gasp as her body parted for him, a pleasurable ache roaring to life deep in her center. With a groan, he hooked her legs over his arms and began pounding into her, driving her into the frozen earth beneath them. Elena worked her hands under his shirt so she could scratched her nails down his back, causing him to buck wildly. Each roll of his hips ground against her pearl, causing flares of pleasure to spark with each touch. She clenched, drawing him deep as her pleasure bloomed hot and bright. Her head fell back, her mouth open in a silent cry as she came undone.

"Elena!" He moaned her name like a plea as he stilled inside of her, his hot length pulsing as he found his release.

For a long moment, they stayed tangled together, their soft, heavy breaths mingling in the air. Eventually, the chill from the cold ground sank into her back, making her shiver. Cullen sat up slowly, tucking himself back together before offering her his hand. She took it, and he pulled her into his lap, pressing a chaste kiss to her forehead.

"I love you, woman. Never doubt that," he murmured.

She gazed up at him, hoping all her love and adoration shown bright on her face. He still looked troubled, but the sadness was gone from his eyes. She smiled, snuggling deeper into his embrace.

"Never."

The sharp wind off of the mountain bit into Elena's cheeks, making her numb skin smart like a thousand tiny needles were embedded in her flesh. Her feet were at the awful point of numb where they ached, and each footstep sent shooting pain up her calves. Head down, she trudged silently behind Mia and Rosalie, their small wooden cart of goods lumbered behind them. Cullen led them further into the mountain pass, the dying afternoon light reflecting off the snow and rocks like blood. Elena whimpered. At the sound, Rose reached back and squeezed her hand.

They had been walking for the last three days; the first day hadn't been bad, but the further away from the hold they got, the colder it became. She had no idea where they were headed or when they would finally stop, if ever. Though she wanted to ask Cullen where he was leading them, there had not been much time to do anything but shovel in a few mouthfuls of food before passing out when the stopped for the night.

After what felt like an eternity, the sun has disappeared behind the horizon, and their little party stopped. Branson had gone ahead scouting, and found a small, abandoned barn where they could hold up for the night. Elena was relieved for that, at least. The last two nights had found them sleeping under the stars, and the night before that, in a dank cave that did nothing to keep the chill out of their bones.

Mia paused from seeing to their horse, and glanced up at the clouded sky. "Perhaps we should stay here for a while. I don't like the looks of those clouds along the east. I think we might be in for a blizzard."

Cullen studied the eastern horizon with a frown. "You may be right." He paused, glancing back over his shoulder at the three women. "Unpack the wagon and bring everything into the barn including the horse."

Elena hurried to help Rose unpack, though it really didn't take long, as Cullen and Branson secured the perimeter and divided up the watch. Wanting to be helpful, Elena set off to gather firewood from the forest around them. Rose had said that if they went further up the mountains, they would eventually reach a point where no trees grew. Elena shivered thinking about such a barren place. Hopefully they would settle before reaching there.

As she moved throughout the nearby forest, bending to pluck sizable twigs and sticks off the ground, the wind whistled through the trees. It was a haunting sort of sound, a foreboding that sent shivers down her spine.

A twig snapped behind her, and Elena whirled around, heart pounding as her mind ran away with fears. She relaxed, however, when she saw Cullen leaning against a nearby tree, arms crossed over his chest as he surveyed her. She had no doubt that he had purposefully made the sound to alert her to his presence. He gave her a soft smile and pushed off the tree.

"We'll have to work on your senses, lass. A good shield-maiden is always listening to her surroundings. You should have heard me ten yards off," he said not unkindly as he approached her.

"I'm not a shield-maiden," she protested softly, a sigh leaving her lips as he cupped her jaw.

Cullen gave her a sad smile, bending his head so his lips hovered over hers, and the tip of his nose rubbed playfully against her own. "You will be. You're already as fierce as one."

Elena's eyes fluttered closed. Despite the cold and the miserable conditions, one kiss from Cullen made all her discontent melt away. He pressed his lips to hers, slow and gentle, his mouth moving to coax her's open. She dropped the bundle of sticks she was holding, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Cullen pulled her close, his hands settling at her waist. Slowly, he broke the kiss, and leaned his forehead against her own.

"I'm sorry I've put you in this situation, lass. I should provide better for you."

She shook her head. "It's not your fault; Skinchanger is the one to blame."

Cullen looked heartened by her words, but he still pulled away. "Come, lass. It's getting dark, best get that firewood to the barn, and settle in for the night."

He helped her gather more wood before they headed back to the barn. Branson was on watch for the first half of the night, then Cullen would take over. The inside of the building was long and narrow, with a low roof. At the center of the single room was a stone firepit, and low shelves lined the walls. The others had already set up their bedrolls and blankets along the wall, including a space for her and Cullen. Elena placed the wood in the firepit, and Cullen quickly began to build a fire.

Elena crossed over to where Rose and Mia crouched, going through their food supplies. Branson and Cullen had been hunting whenever possible, though dusk was falling earlier and earlier, making it difficult. The women had also been gathering various berries and roots as they went, but from the look on Mia's face, Elena could tell that their supplies were dwindling at an uncomfortably fast pace.

"Here," Mia said, thrusting a dagger and a large bowl of potatoes towards Elena. "Peel the potatoes."

With a nod, Elena sat near the fire and got to work. Next to her, Mia began cutting chunks of salted meat, while Rose ventured outside for some water to boil everything in. Over her time with Cullen and his family, she'd learned to help out with preparing food, but she still found herself slow, her hands were clumsy with the knife, and she was worried about cutting herself.

The room was relatively silent, save for the sounds of the women preparing dinner. Cullen had moved outside in order to chop some extra wood to keep the fire going while they slept. A few minutes later, Rose returned toting two buckets of water, as she entered, she gave Elena a quick smile, before making sure their horse was settled.

Elena finished her task, and dunked each potato in a bucket of water before turning to Mia. "Here you are, ready for dinner."

Mia turned to take the bowl from her, but paused when she caught site of the peelings on the ground, her face contorting in outrage. "You've left half them on the floor! How can you be so wasteful!? I know you grew up being pampered in a palace but for once in your life use your head!"

Elena sucked in a breath, the other woman's words slamming into her chest, paralyzing her. She knew Mia was upset, but she hadn't anticipated such hurtful words. She glanced down, trying to see where she went wrong. There were a few thicker chunks still left on the peels where the potato had been damaged.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to–I–I didn't think–"

"No! Of course you didn't think–" The other woman exploded.

"Mia!" Rose cut in.

"Hush Rose!" Mia snapped, glaring at her sister. "We both know she's useless, even if our brother won't see it." She turned her attention back to Elena. "You're nothing but burden. An extra mouth to feed. And a wasteful, frivolous one to boot!"

Elena felt tears prickle at the corners of her eyes, and she blinked rapidly to try to quell her tears. Her mind raced, trying to think of something say to make up for her blunder. She glanced down at the ground. There was nothing she could do. They were desperate and she had wasted their food.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, bending to pick up the peels and knife. "I'll try to cut some of the extra off…I can fix it, I'm sure."

"Forget it. Just get out of my sight; I don't want to look at you." Mia snapped ripping the knife out of Elena's hand, slicing open her palm in the process.

Elena cried out as pain engulfed her hand, spreading up her arm like wildfire.

"Mia!" Cullen's voice cracked from the doorway, the anger palatable in his voice.

A heartbeat later, Cullen was behind her, one arm wrapping around her waist curling her into his body, the other cradling her injured hand. The pain was beginning to subside, but the steady stream of blood made her feel light headed. Behind her, she could feel Cullen nearly vibrating with rage.

"What in Hakkon's name is wrong with you?" He demanded.

"What's wrong with me?" Mia shouted. "You're the idiot who decided a lowlander would make a good wife! Maybe if you thought with your head instead of your cock we wouldn't have been kicked out of the hold!"

Elena found herself thrust to the side, and she lost her balance, tumbling to the ground. She landed on her injured hand, wrenching a scream from her throat. Rose ran to her side, and helped her to stand just as a loud crack echoed in the room, and it took Elena a moment to realize Cullen had backhanded Mia. With a scathing look, Mia pulled her fist back and punched her brother in the jaw, snapping his head to the side.

"You're a fucking fool," she spat, arm pulled back to hit him again.

Cullen grabbed her hands, pulling her towards him and shaking her. "Get a hold of yourself, Mia. You may be the oldest, but I'm the head of this family, and if you ever hurt Elena again I'll abjure you."

Next to her, Rosalie gasped at Cullen's words.

Mia looked as if she had been slapped again. "You would choose that worthless lowlander over your own flesh and blood?"

He released her wrists, shoving her away. "I'm done with this nonsense. Apologize to my wife."

"She's not your wife, she's your whore," Mia sneered. "It's not the Avvar way to tie yourself to woman for life!"

A muscle ticked in Cullen's jaw, as he thundered, "I swear to the Mountain Father, Mia, do not test me right now.".

"Cullen," Elena didn't recognize her voice at first, it was so small and soft. Mia's words had hurt, and brought to bear all of Elena's anxieties about her place in Cullen's life, but she couldn't let such violence and anger fester between her man and his family because of her. It was the only way she could feel even worse about the situation.

Clearing her throat she took a step towards Cullen, placing her uninjured hand on his forearm. "Cullen I'm alright. Please…"

Tension crackled in the air, and for a moment she thought the siblings would begin hitting each other again. After a long moment, Mia sighed.

"I apologize, Elena, for cutting your hand. Ii was an accident," the other woman said stiffly, and Elena noticed that she clearly did not apologize for her cutting words. Still, she could live with it.

"Thank you, Mia."

Cullen relaxed, and shook his head. "Mia, Rose, finish making dinner. I'm going to see to Elena's hand," he ordered, drawing her towards the other side of the narrow space.

He sat her down along a low shelf built into the wall and began examining her cut. It would need to be cleaned from when she fell, but she didn't think it was serious. As he worked, she reflected on the hurtful, and clearly long simmering, words Mia had shouted. The most troubling thing was the statement that she was Cullen's whore. He had assured her just a few days ago that she was his woman–his wife–for life, but would anyone else see her that way? Would the Avvar ever accept her? Or would others forever try to push her out?

She gave herself a mental shake. Did she even belong here? She had said Cullen was her home, and truly she still felt that way, but would it be enough if she was forced to live forever as an outsider, untrusted and different.

As she pondered her heavy thoughts, Elena watched Cullen as he bent over her hand. She studied his face, memorizing each and every feature. Though his expression was still tight with rage, she couldn't help but find him breathtaking. Still, he hadn't contradicted Mia's words; perhaps he knew the truth of them, and couldn't bring himself to lie to her. She felt her tears well up anew at the thought, and she fought to keep them back.

She loved Cullen, and she knew he loved her. But was love enough?

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