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Chapter 54

~X~


Kara was stunned, and in no small way afraid that they had been discovered. Surely the next words from the king's lips would have them all led to the stockade. They had been so very careful, done everything they could to go unnoticed, and yet…were they now caught?

"Uummm, certainly…My King," Kara stammered, instantly dipping in a low curtsy, lowering her gaze in reverence. "I am your servant, command me as you will."

"Nay, Lady, there is no need for such offers of servitude," Cedric smiled, stepping forward and gently taking her by the arm to pull her back to an upright position. "I only wish to inquire what you plan to do with the slave you have just purchased."

"My…my slave?" Kara repeated, turning back to give Fili a look of panic. "Is there something wrong? Does the fact that I purchased him offend you somehow?"

"Again, you misunderstand," the king chuckled. "I do not object to you buying him, for in fact it was my desire that someone did. I only wish to know for what purpose you did so." He then let his eyes fall upon the Viking in question, noticing that he appeared quite a bit more wounded then he had been the day before. His brows furrowed momentarily, as if finding the sight both odd and irritating. "Though I fear that in the shape he is in, he can't be of much use to you."

"I share your thoughts on that matter," Kara informed him, also doing her best to appear disgruntled by the state of her purchase. "Yet, I was able to get him at a very reasonable cost, thus making him a bargain. He will serve me well as an oarsman for my ship. For I hear these savages are used to such things and has the strength of a horse…usually."

"That pleases me to hear that he will be conscripted into hard labor, My Lady," Cedric told her with a nod of satisfaction. "For this man has offended me greatly, stealing something that might have become very dear to me, thus I wish to see him pay for his crimes."

"Then you may rest assured, Your Majesty," Kara assured him with a thoroughly false smile. "I will see that he gets exactly what's coming to him…and more."

"Might I inquire your name, Lady…." Here he left his words hanging, offering her the opportunity to supply the answer.

Kara had not been prepared for anyone, let alone the king, to inquire after her name, and since she could not give out her own…she said the first thing that came to her mind.

"Lady Ælfwyn, of Mercia," Kara quickly supplied, figuring she was already wearing the woman's clothes, might as well borrow her name as well. "My ship made port just yesterday, coming ashore for supplies and another slave to take the place of one who had perished during the journey. We intend to continue on as soon as possible."

"Might you be persuaded to delay your departure another day and consent to join me for dinner this evening?" Cedric offered, reaching out and taking Kara's hand, kissing it gently as he stared up into her eyes hopefully. "It is so rare to find a dining partner as lovely as yourself. I might be king, but even I am often lacking interesting company, or stimulating conversation."

"My Lord, I am beyond flattered by your offer, truly I am," Kara said with a forced blush and look of modesty. "Yet, I fear that I must decline. I am anxious to return to my home…and my betrothed. I am not a free woman, nor one who deserves to be flattered by a king of your great renown."

"That is indeed both disappointing, and most assuredly wrong, for I could stand here all day and recount your great virtues, Lady Ælfwyn," the king informed her. "And yet, I will not insult you by attempting to sway your affections from your betrothed, the fortunate man that he is."

"My thanks, Your Highness," Kara said once more, giving a curtsy. "Now, if you will allow us to be on our way, I must get my newly acquired slave to the ship. Otherwise, he might expire from exhaustion and then where would I be?"

"By all means," Cedric agreed, stepping aside and extending his arm for them all to proceed. Thankfully, Tauriel and Thorin had the presence of mind to nod in deference to the king as they passed, with Bofur and Nori following suit. Fili however did no such thing, instead giving Cedric a glare of hatred, one that was returned with full force.

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Once they reached the coach at last, with Gloin nearly hopping around anxiously, they felt that they could release their pent up breaths. Thorin quickly handed Kara and Tauriel up into the cab and shut the door, waving for Fili to be tethered to the back, forced to walk behind it as they went. Next, the four of them mounted their horses, eager to get out of there before anyone else stopped them. Gloin climbed back onto the buckboard, gently touching the reins so as not to make the horses take off with a start and jerk the rope Fili was tied to and make him stumble.

It was a relatively short trip through the village and out onto the road, but for all involved, it couldn't have come fast enough. The moment they were deep within the woods and out of sight from any prying eyes, they brought the coach to a halt, with Kara leaping out before it had even stopped.

"FILI!" she cried, rushing to him as Thorin and Dwalin dismounted and untied the exhausted man, allowing him to lean on them for support. "Oh, my love…I'm so happy you're alive!" She wanted to hug him, to hold him in her arms and hear his steady heartbeat, but she was afraid to touch him for fear she might injure him further. Fili, however, had no such reservations, pulling Kara to him gently as he ignored the pain in favor of having his wife near him. Yet, when he saw Tauriel exit the coach as well, his concern shifted.

"What happened to Kili? How is my brother…does he live?" Fili asked desperately, having been more than worried for his sibling.

"Yes, he made it home and is being tended by Olane," Tauriel assured him. "Your diversion did the trick…you saved us all."

"And paid dearly for it, by the looks of you," Thorin growled, not at all pleased with his nephew's condition."

"I'll live," Fili assured them all, noticing the fear and concern in each one's eyes. "I'm just a bit…well, beat up is all."

"Quick, get him inside the coach and let me see to his wounds," Kara demanded, reluctant to leave his embrace, but knowing they also needed to get back on the road if they were going to make it to the longboat.

"Looks like more than fists have been at your flesh, Lad," Gloin growled, noticing the burns and knife wounds that riddled his chest and belly.

"Who's responsible for this? Give me his name and I will see him gutted and fed to the ravens!" Dwalin snarled.

"Some came from random soldiers," Fili told them as they helped him to the cab. "Yet most came from Edmond Morgenstern, of all people."

"WHAT?" Kara gasped, turning around from the door of the coach, where she had just climbed in, offering Fili her hand. "How…why? Did he find out who you were?"

"He knew that I was the one who captured you," he continued, flinching as he took her hand and climbed up into the cab, with Thorin and Dwalin right behind him, offering assistance to the unsteady man. "Thanks to that chatty Sir Hunwald."

"Sir Hunwald?" Well there was a name Kara hadn't thought to hear again. "He's here…and alive?"

"You mean the loudmouth man from that ship of yours?" Bofur questioned, recalling having heard his name mentioned during the attack. "The one taken by Halsten?"

"Aye," Fili nodded, giving a sigh of relief as he settled onto the padded bench next to Kara, leaning back so that his head rested against the wall. "But that's not even the strangest part of this whole story."

"Which will have to wait until we are out of reach of being caught," Thorin insisted, he and Tauriel climbing in the cab as well, before shutting the door and ordering the others to mount up.

When they were safely back on their way, Fili couldn't help but stare at his uncle, hardly able to recognize the stern yet caring man who had practically raised him. When Thorin's eyes drifted from where he was watching Kara fuss over Fili's wounds, catching his nephews look of wonder, he frowned.

"What are you staring at?" he asked in a gruff voice, knowing full well what held the blond man's attention.

"You, Uncle," Fili answered, a wide grin spreading over his bruised face. "What in the name of Odin happened to your whiskers?"

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By the time they reached the spot they had left the rest of their men, as well as the Saxon prisoners, Fili had been filled in on much of what had transpired during their attempt to find and rescue him. Kara added in a piece or two here and there, but mostly she had been concentrating on smearing a salve over each cut and bruise, wrapping his chest in clean cloth bandages in hopes of staving off infection on their return trip.

Gloin had tried to make the ride smooth, but more than once he heard his passengers cry out in either pain or anger, forcing him to slow the horses down even further. Still, they managed to reach the spot they left the others within the hour. The other warriors were glad to see not only their Jarl return safely, but with the prisoner they had gone after as well. Once out of the coach, Fili was quick to thank each one of them for being willing to come back for him, promising that he would never forget their kindness.

"Did the prisoners give you any trouble?" Thorin questioned, eyeing the still tied up captives.

"None…though we didn't exactly give them any opportunity to," one of the Vikings named Knut laughed. He then pointed at the woman who had hit Dwalin with her shoe. "That one over there has been squirming and squealing like a stuck pig for the past hour, but we figured it was easiest to just ignore her."

"What if she's in pain?" Kara questioned, standing at Fili's side as she allowed him to lean on her for support. "Or perhaps has need of the chamber pot?"

"The what?" the tall man asked, not familiar with that word.

"What if she has to piss?" Fili supplied, grinning slightly at how his wife still managed to blush over that word.

"Never thought of that," Knut admitted, stroking his beard thoughtfully…an action he quickly halted when he noticed his Jarl eyeing his chin with a scowl. "Should I go check?"

"We need to get them all back into the coach and send them on their way," Kara instructed, not even waiting for Thorin to weigh in on the idea.

"We're just letting them go?" Gloin questioned, looking scandalized by this. "I've yet to wet my axe with Saxon blood on this trip!"

"And since there is no need to do so, your axe will remain dry!" Kara insisted, giving him a stern glare.

"Kara…" Fili said in a warning tone, noticing the way his uncle's eyebrows furrowed at her demanding tone. "Wouldn't it be best if your Jarl gave the orders?"

Kars stopped and looked over at Thorin, both shame and horror on her face at how brazenly she had acted.

"Forgive me, Jarl Thorin…I…I spoke out of turn," she admitted, lowering her eyes.

"Perhaps, but I will not sanction you this time," he told her, his tone stern, but his expression softening. "You are in distress, as is my nephew, thus we will do as you suggest, and then be gone." He turned to Dwalin, giving orders to load the prisoners, into the coach, keeping them bound and gagged. Once that was done, they gave the two horses pulling it a swat on the rump, sending them back down the road towards the village at a leisurely pace.

"They should reach it sometime before nightfall, assuming the horses don't stop and nibble at the grass along the way," Nori laughed, just imagining the state they would be in by the time they got there.

"Do not concern yourself with them any longer," Thorin commanded. "Now, help Fili mount one of these horses, otherwise he won't be able to keep up. Dwalin, you ride behind him, keep him steady and in the saddle." He then ordered Kara and Tauriel to get on another one, while the rest of them would make good time on foot. Tauriel would have objected, being very fast and light on her feet, but she also knew that Kara was not exactly an expert on a horse, so it was wise of Thorin to suggest they ride together.

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The trip back to the boat took far less time due to the Jarl's instructions, and soon they were loading up as the men began to shove the shallow craft back out into the water. Once they were all aboard, out came the oars and they swiftly distanced themselves from the shore, eager to get out into the open sea. The motion of the water beneath him, and the smell of the salt air, did wonders for Fili's disposition, having never thought he would experience such things again as a free man. The fact that he was lying on a pile of furs, resting his head on his pretty wife's lap was a gift as well. And Fili swore that he would never take another day of his life for granted, knowing that at the turn of a moment, it could all be taken away from him. Of course that didn't mean he wouldn't go raiding or sail to unknown places…but he would do so with a greater amount of care and appreciation.

"Fili, will you take a bit of food and drink?" Kara urged, holding a water skin up to his dry and split lips. "I can't imagine they fed you very well while a prisoner."

"No they did not," he agreed, nearly draining the container of its contents, before reaching for the piece of cheese Kara held in her hand. "By the third day I would have given anything for one of your roasted pheasants." He quickly devoured the cheese, as well as some dried meat and a hunk of bread before he wisely stopped, not wishing to make himself sick. "Will you promise to cook me one when we get back home?"

"Of course," Kara smiled, leaning down to kiss his lips, nearly in tears over the fact that she could do so, when over the last few days she feared she might never get the chance again. "However…now that you are my slave, perhaps I should be ordering you to cook dinners for me."

"Your what?" Fili asked, his expression turning to one of confusion.

"Well…I did buy you," she reminded him. "For one silver coin, and honestly I say I overpaid."

"Why you little…" he never finished his sentence because he couldn't hold back his laughter, completely finding the humor in the whole turn of events.

"I'm just saying, you ordered me around when I was your thrall," she continued. "Thus it is only fair that you now assume the role of my slave now."

"And what would my kind, beautiful, gentle mistress request of me?" Fili inquired, at last able to hold back his mirth.

"First of all, flattery will not save you from what I will require of you," Kara said with an indignant huff. "It does however please me to hear such things, so feel free to say them as often as you like."

"Yes, my mistress," Fili grinned.

"And second, I hereby order you get well as quickly as you can, so that I can use you as I fully intend," she finished.

"Oh…and how is that?" Though Fili felt he knew the answer.

"As my bed slave, of course," Kara reasoned, acting as if it were obvious. "After all, King Cedric insinuated that I should get my money's worth out of you, did he not?"

"I could care less what that pompous arse said," Fili scowled. "And yet, if I were to follow any of his orders…this would be the one. And I assure you, the moment I am able to move without pain, I will fulfill all my duties to you, my little raven. And do them gladly."

"Now, that's what I like to hear," and though they had been bantering lightly with each other, she could hold it in no longer and her face crumbled as she began to sob openly. "Oh, Fili…I…I was so afraid." Here she leaned over, kissing his forehead, cheek, and any other place her lips could reach as her tears fell. "When the ship returned without you, I thought I might never see you again!"

"To be honest…there were a few moments I thought I might never see you again either," Fili admitted. "Yet, when you stepped out of the crowd, like a beautiful, brave Valkyrie, and saved me from a life of shame and servitude…I couldn't believe what I was seeing. You shouldn't have come, Kara…what if something had happened to you?"

"To me?" she balked. "You were the one who had been captured! I had to come! There was no way they could have forced me to stay."

"My brave little wife," Fili smiled, reaching up and caressing her cheek in admiration. "Odin only knows what I might have done to deserve you."

"Oh, something completely awful, I'm sure," she teased. "Now, before it gets too dark, I want to check your wounds again. And perhaps this time it can be done without you being jerked around as Gloin hit every pothole and rock imaginable."

"Oi!" came the disgruntled voice of the red-haired Viking. "I'm a sea fairing man, not a landlubber! I don't travel well over ground!" And turning up his nose, he headed for the back of the boat, grumbling all the while over what his wife was going to say about his lack of a beard.

Thorin and Dwalin approached just then, the Jarl taking a seat next to the couple and the war chief standing there with is burly arms crossed over his chest. It still made Fili do a double take to see the two without beards or mustaches, and it touched him greatly that the five of them had been willing to sacrifice their whiskers in order to rescue him.

"Are you certain you are not injured too severely?" Thorin prodded, flinching just a bit as Kara opened the remains of Fili's shirt in order to check his wounds.

"I don't think so," Fili assured him. "I would say I've experienced worse, but I believe that would be a lie. Still, I'll survive, Uncle."

"Good, for I was not looking forward to returning to your mother empty handed," he huffed.

"However, she won't be pleased when she sees this," here Dwalin waved his hand at the multitude of cuts and burns littering Fili's chest. "Kili's wound already has her on her ear, I can only imagine what this will do to her."

"She'll just be happy you're home," Kara quickly assured Fili, not wanting to heap guilt on top of his already painful experience. "And didn't you once tell me that scars were nothing to be ashamed of? That it only means you were stronger than whoever tried to hurt you?"

"Yes, I did say that, my little raven," Fili said with a smile, remembering how she had once worried over the one Detlef had given her down her back. "And I stand by my words…just as long as you can stand the sight of me now."

"I can, and will," she assured him. "That is never something you need worry about, my love. I will never tire of looking at you. You are my husband and the love of my life, I would slay dragons if it meant keeping you at my side."

"She speaks the truth," Dwalin interjected. "She stood up to Thorin and the rest of us, insisting that she be allowed to come along."

"Not that I disagreed with her request," Thorin was quick to point out, giving Kara a look of pride. "Your wife is brave, and was the one who thought up the plan we used to rescue you."

"True," Dwalin confirmed. "We probably would have tried to storm the gates and just mucked everything up, getting both us and you killed at the same time."

"I have never doubted my wife's bravery, or her intelligence," Fili smiled, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "For a beautiful woman is a beautiful woman…but a beautiful woman with a keen mind is truly a lethal combination." Here Kara lowered her eyes and blushed with embarrassment over the compliments.

"She also brought out a very good point," Thorin continued. "That she was the only one who understood the Saxon language…something I'm beginning to believe we all need to be at least a little familiar with."

"It would be useful," Fili nodded. "For knowing some of their words allowed me to spy on them, right under their noses. Learning quite a few things of interest."

"Oh, and what might that be?" Thorin was all ears, eager to hear any information that might help him defeat his enemies.

"While the king was mainly concerned about learning information of Kara's fate and location, not to mention anything I could supply on the strengths of our warriors…Edmond Morgenstern was not," he revealed, glancing over at his wife with sympathetic eyes. "In fact, he had his interpreter lie directly to the king's face, saying that I took you by force and then sold you off to another when I grew tired of you. The king now believes that you have been defiled and disgraced, passed among many, and possibly dead."

"Edmond made him believe that?" Kara was shocked. "What could his motives possibly be? I had once believed he arranged this marriage to ingratiate himself to the king…but to now claim that I am a ruined woman, what could that gain him? For I am certain that Cedric now sees me unworthy to ever be his queen."

"Not necessarily," Fili was forced to admit, having found the king's response to Edmond's disparaging comment about her quite unexpected. "Though I believe your former uncle is using your capture as a way to align himself with the king, through pity and guilt, Cedric did not agree with his assessment of your lack of worth. For all his faults, and I saw many, his way of thinking is different from Edmond's."

"Well, then he is a far better man than I had always assumed," Kara mused. "Having imagined that he was in league with Edmond all along in pursuit of the crown."

"That still might be the case…but that was not the impression I got," Fili acknowledged. "Especially when Edmond let it slip that he still plans on securing the kingship for himself…how, he never said, but I'm pretty sure Cedric is unaware of his treachery."

"It is said that the enemy of my enemy is my friend," Dwalin pointed out. "Perhaps we let them destroy themselves from the inside, saving us the trouble?"

"That is a fair point," Thorin deliberated, reaching up to stroke his beard like he always did when thinking – yet pulled his hand back when he only felt his bare chin. He then looked directly at Fili, his eyes cold and resolute. "Still, I refuse to wait that long, nor are we assured it will even happen. Thus, I fully intend on seeking revenge for the harm that they have done to you, to Kili, and for the deaths of Tolbar and Siegfried. Upon Thór's hammer, I swear that they will all pay with their lives!"

And while Thorin, Dwalin, and Fili looked pleased by this vow…Kara was anything but.


Oh dear...more trouble ahead for Vikings verses Saxons.

Well, are you all happy now? Fili is safe and on his way home and they didn't have to poke anyone full of holes to do it. However, I wouldn't hold out much hope for Edmond to make it out of this story alive...he's got ALL the Vikings mad at him now!

So, looks like Cedric might have wanted to spend some time with Kara after all...just think how happy he would have been if she HAD arrived to marry him in the first place. But too bad, so sad, Fili got her first.

Well, now we wait till Wednesday to see what happens next...


Guest Reviews:

abc: Yep, shaved them clean off! I'm pretty sure they would have all cut off a limb for him if needs be. Yep, Kara has her very own thrall...and a cute one at that! Oh, I'm sure when he is healed and back home he won't mind being her bed slave at all. ha ha. Yep, Cedric stopped them but as you read, he had no idea who is was confronting...but he still thought she was pretty. ha ha. Oh, if he only knew.