A/N: Is that a collective gasp I hear? Yes, I'm updating in less than a week! Thank you all again for all of your reviews, alerts, and support for this story. I wish I could reply to each and every one of you, but I try to at least get to a few of you to answer questions when I can (without spoiling of course!). I'm glad you all enjoyed your history lesson, and the little interlude. Things are going to be ramping up once again.

Thanks, as ever, to Kristin and Gallathea for their fantastic beta skills. Even armed with spell check and grammar check, I manage to murder the English language at times.

To all my friends at the Sookieverse and the LTEA thread on the wiki, thank you so much for your support, your humor, and the fact checking when I can't remember a book detail. You guys are an endless source of fun!

Oh yes! Finally I remembered! I posted a couple of links in my profile to the hotel and room I used as inspiration for the hotel they are staying at in Trondheim. Go check it out!

Chapter 28

I woke up a little after two in the afternoon. Eric had fallen into his daytime slumber with the early light. Trondheim was not above the Arctic Circle, so the sun did actually set, but not for very long. When it rose, I discovered why Eric had chosen this suite. The bedrooms could be made light proof, and with the push of a button, heavy metal shutters closed over the windows. I stretched and turned, looking at the sleeping form of my lover.

I couldn't help but wonder, and not for the first time, how my life had brought me to this point. I was a poor barmaid from a speck-of-dirt town, with little more than a high school education; yet here I was sleeping in the arms of the man who discovered North America, who had lived a thousand years, and was a powerful vampire, both physically and politically. Sure, I was telepathic and part fairy, but I still could not wrap my head around what it was that drew him to me so strongly. He could have anyone he wanted, but he chose me. I reached out, and brushed back the hair that had fallen over his face. My fingers traced the planes of his cheeks, and the gentle slope of his lips, before I lifted his arm from my stomach and got out of the bed.

As I walked to the bathroom, I thought back to the night before, and replayed our lovemaking in my mind. He was so careful the first time, so gentle, always making sure I was comfortable. I think he believed I was going to bolt at his touch. I can't say that I blamed him. Before I left, I could not stand to be touched at all. Even when Eric tenderly touched me and brought me pleasure, there were times when I thought of Craig, and I hated him all the more for tainting my time with Eric. I hoped that, eventually, those thoughts would stop, just as I'd stopped thinking of Uncle Bartlett every time Bill touched me, except that what Uncle Bartlett had done, horrible as it was, was not as violent as Craig's torture, and unlike Craig, Uncle Bartlett had never actually raped me. Perhaps it was because Bill had killed Uncle Bartlett, that I was able to put him out of my mind. Or, perhaps it was simply because I finally believed I was loved, and safe. I don't know. Either way, that was not the case now. Craig was still alive, and while Eric loved me, I knew that I was not safe, not really. If the last few years had taught me anything, it was that I was fragile, and I could be broken, and that no matter how good the security, I would always be at risk.

I showered and dressed, then went into the main living area of the suite. Batanya and Clovache were waiting for me, and Clovache smiled knowingly at me. I blushed lightly, but didn't rise to the bait. Instead, we all went to eat in one of the hotel's restaurants. While we were there, I outlined my plan to them. I knew they weren't going to like it, and they didn't. They argued with me for over an hour, and they made sure to remind me just how much Eric wasn't going to like it. Honestly, I was a bit surprised at their attitude.

I was going after Craig. I was not planning on doing so alone, however—I fully intended to take Eric and the two Britlingens with me. I reasoned that if I couldn't use my abilities against them, neither could Craig. If they could physically subdue him, and if he was hurt, I would be able to take him out mentally. They challenged the soundness of my plan. They wanted me to lead them there, and allow them to simply kill him. They were very matter of fact when they pointed out that there was no guarantee that I could take Craig on. They also told me it was a foolish risk to have Eric come, pointing out that if Craig was able to incapacitate him again, he could use that leverage against me. Finally, they noted that it was quite possible that just because I couldn't read them, it did not mean Craig couldn't. In which case, I would be handing myself to him on a platter.

I spent some time explaining to them why I thought I could take Craig on. With their help, I told them, I had been able to hone my gift, and yes, I was finally seeing it as a gift. When I went inside someone's head, I could see the way things worked. I'd always seen things in people's heads, other than their thoughts, but I just never knew how to read the map before. Having watched Craig muck around in my head, I saw how it all worked. I knew I could dispense pain, or pleasure, with relative ease. Again, once I knew where to apply the pressure, so to speak, the process was not too difficult. I had to admit, however, that I had never actually inflicted much pain on anyone, other than the occasional poorly behaved mother, and that I could not be sure I could, or would, do what was necessary. I also told them that I had worked on my shields, and that I'd been able to keep Craig out of my head while I slept, for a couple of weeks now. Of course, when my shields were up I had no real way of knowing whether he was trying to get in, but I just couldn't imagine that he hadn't tried in that time. Finally, I told them that I was certain I knew how to contain his power, although I had to concede that since I had not been able to practice that particular technique, my knowledge was only theoretical. Still, for the first time in my life, I had confidence in my abilities.

While the Britlingens were not completely sold on my skills, they did understand my need to confront Craig, and I think that was the only thing that finally turned them in my favor. As for Eric, I did some pointing out of my own, and asked them if they really thought I could stop Eric from going with me. In the end, they came up with a slightly altered version of my plan, to which I agreed. Of course, we still had to convince Eric. In the meantime, I spent the day acquiring the things we needed.

Have you ever heard a lion roar? I mean real up close and personal? When Jason and I were little, Gran once drove us out to the zoo in Alexandria. Jason dared me to go up close to the lion exhibit. I remember hearing a low rumble coming from the creature's chest, just before it let loose a loud roar. It scared me so badly, I screamed bloody murder, and cried for half an hour. I'd never seen Gran so mad at Jason. When we got home, she striped his behind with my grandfather's belt, and Jason spent the entire week doing my chores as well as his. Well, let me tell you, a furious, thousand year old Viking vampire sounds an awful lot like an African lion, only louder.

"Absolutely not!" he thundered. "I forbid it."

Oh no he didn't! "What did you just say?" I felt fury rising from the pit of my stomach, and it wasn't being helped by the flood of anger coming across the bond. "Did you just forbid me? I am not one of your assets, Eric! I am not your subject, either! I . . ."

"No, you are not, you are more important than that, you infuriating, stubborn woman! For once, would you stop putting yourself in danger, and let someone else handle the problem?"

Suddenly I realized that I wasn't just feeling his anger through the bond, but his fear. Fear for me, and what could happen to me. Fear of losing me.

I took a deep breath, and tried to set aside my anger. "Eric," I said, as I walked to him and put my arms around his waist, pressing my cheek to his chest. At first I felt him stiffen, but then he softened and wrapped me in his arms. "I have to do this." I looked up at him. "I need this, Eric." I pulled away slightly. "He's still here," I said pointing at my head. "And he's still here," I continued, pointing at my heart. "He touches everything I do, sullies everything, and I have to get rid of him myself. I have to do this, Eric," I repeated, and I buried my head in his chest. "Please, tell me you understand," I whispered.

I felt Eric's arms tighten around me, and he lowered his face to the top of my head, nuzzling me and inhaling my scent in that way vampires do. "I understand, lover, but I do not like it. I just got you back," and he paused. I looked up at him once more, and saw pain and fear, and tiredness, etched into his face. "When you were gone, when he had you . . . Sookie, I cannot bear that again."

"You won't have to," I whispered, and reached up to pull his head to mine, kissing him softly, and sealing my promise in the most basic way I knew how. He lifted me and carried me to our room, and we ...[EDIT] SEE CHAPTER 1 NOTE

When we were spent, and lying entwined, he said, "Promise me one thing."

"Anything," I replied, knowing he was going to give in.

"You will not risk yourself for me. No matter what he says, or does. I will not approve of this 'plan' unless you promise me that. He's already used me against you before, I cannot allow it again."

"I promise," I replied, and I meant it at the time.

We did not have much time before the sun rose again, and arrangements had to be made for us to travel via Anubis Air. We would be leaving during daylight, so we would need them to transport Eric from the hotel as well. We also had to contact Barton, to inform him that we would be in his territory again. He was gracious as ever, and since we were hunting a human, not a vampire, he had no intention of interfering. While I was on the phone, I heard Eric talking to the Britlingens. He was trying to renegotiate the terms of their contract, as it had never included making an assault, only protection duty, but they refused. It seemed they were going willingly: they wanted to go. I felt a hitch in my throat at their loyalty.

"You support this insanity?" Eric asked them.

"We support Sookie," Batanya replied.

"She must do this, Viking," Clovache added. "He took something from her, and she must take it back. You should understand this."

I could sense the frustration rolling off of him in waves, but to his credit, he said nothing. He just kept rechecking our bags, until I finally snapped at him in irritation. He was at my side in an instant, staring down at me, his eyes sparking with anger. "Unless you plan on telling me you have changed your mind about this 'plan' of yours, I will continue to ensure that everything is prepared for us. Is that clear?"

I felt suitably abashed. He was going along with this for me. He didn't like it, but he was doing it anyway. I shouldn't have snapped at him, and I told him so. "I'm sorry, Eric. I'm just nervous." He pulled me into a hug, kissed the top of my head and said, "I know, my love, but we'll get through this." I squeezed him a little tighter, and heard him chuckle. "It's good I don't need to breathe." I laughed a little as well, and just like that, some of the tension left the room. Soon after, the sun began to rise, and Eric went to his daytime rest.

I managed a few fitful hours of sleep before the alarm went off. Eric was already in a coffin, and Batanya and Clovache were awake and waiting for me when I stepped out of the room. I'd long since given up trying to figure out when, or if, they slept. The trip was uneventful, and about half an hour before we arrived, Eric rose and joined us in the cabin. He sat next to me, and took my hand. I wove my fingers into his, and leaned my head on his shoulder, drawing strength from him, and allowing him to calm me through the bond.

When we arrived, we found that Barton had set aside a car for our use, saving us the hassle of renting one. We settled in, and began driving. With only eight more hours until sunrise, we had no time to waste. As we approached the area I'd seen in Craig's head, I felt my heart begin to race, and a small trace of panic set in. Suddenly, I began to doubt myself. What if I hadn't protected my thoughts as well as I believed? What if Craig knew we were coming? What if this was a trap?

Sensing my growing doubt, Eric reached across the car and brushed his hand across my cheek. "We can still turn back. You don't have to do this, Sookie."

I took a deep breath, and began the meditative techniques Clovache and Batanya taught me. "No, Eric. I have to do this."

After another thirty minutes, I opened up my mind and searched for Craig. It was a risk, as it was possible he could as easily locate me. I was just hoping that since it was late, he might be sleeping. It took about ten minutes, but I located him, and soon we were pulling off the road near the farmhouse I'd seen in his head.

We all got out of the car. Batanya and Clovache were going in first, each armed with a hypodermic needle partially filled with a sedative. I needed him down, but not out. The two Britlingens ghosted ahead of us. I turned to Eric and said, "I love you." He pulled me to him and kissed me with everything he had. When he finished, I was breathless. He leaned his forehead against mine and said, "Just make sure you come back to me, min älskare."

Then we turned, and headed toward the house. The only warning I had was a tingling near the base of my neck, and then everything went black.


A/N: Did you really think I'd given up on the cliffies? What do you think of the plan? LOL!