A/N : Hi, I am back with a new chapter I hope you guys like it...Thank you for your reviews, faves and follows.
A Broken Vow
Her life amongst the Danes was rather eventful to say the least. Her presumptions and impressions regarding them had turned out to be misplaced and mistaken. Throughout her childhood and then youth she had been taught that they were lawless and wild, akin to animals. The hate that had been bred was gradually seeping out. The warriors were ruthless and merciless yes, but they too loved their families and revered their Gods.
Did courage and valor made one an animal? No, rather it made one more human and honourable. Perhaps the hatred and animosity had grown because her people feared Danes' mettle and bravery or mayhaps it stemmed from not knowing them at all as fear of unknown was often more powerful then any other thing.
She had fashioned a small journal wherein she was chronicling her days here amongst her enemies who had now gained a soft corner in her heart.
Caroline sat in her corner of Niklaus's tent and waited for him to return from yet another battle. It infuriated her that he was out there slaughtering her people but she wasn't strong enough to take on an entire Danish clan.
Her courage was altogether another matter which she certainly did not lack.
Suddenly she heard loud noises outside the tent. Two men entered with an injured Niklaus, she felt her heart jump in her throat. Worried she rushed to his side. Niklaus was unconscious with a large gash on his left cheek. One of the men undressed his upper half.
"No. What happened to him?" she felt tears threaten, an unfamiliar ache built around her heart. Seeing Niklaus lay cold and unconscious was breaking her heart a thousand times over, she did not know why nor she wished to assess her heart, not now not when she needed him to open his mesmerising blue eyes.
"The bastard attacked from behind, like the shit-eating coward he is." She recognised one of the men as Niklaus's friend Dagfin. "Bjorn fetch the healer." And the other man left.
Her hands were shaking, helplessness and fear for his life at the forefront. A nasty stab wound on his back marred with blood and dirt. His face pallid.
"Lady. Will you fetch a clean cloth and water?" He asked Caroline to which she immediately complied. "Yes. Water and clothes." She laid a hesitant hand on his forehead, it was clammy and cold, her concern mounted.
The healer, a beautiful woman named Tilda arrived. Tilda mixed some herbs and made a paste. She also brewed a tonic. Then she placed a salve on his wound and gave him tonic to bring down the fever.
"Lady will you put new salve on his wound with these leaves when the leaves change color? I will bring him more tonic at night."
"I will." Caroline volunteered. It was better she took care of him rather than lose her mind worrying.
"Tilda. Our commander must not die!" Dagfin demanded.
"I only bring cure. If the gods want him in Valhalla I will not stand between that." Her answer quieted the warrior but sank Caroline's heart. Surely the Gods shan't want him just yet. She pushed a stray lock of his hair away from his forehead.
Tilda gathered her things and left. Dagfin stood quietly on one corner of the tent. Caroline gently removed the leaves applied the salve and covered Klaus's wounds.
"Do you wish to stay here till he fares well?" her question had Dagfin approach her but he kept his distance, as had been ordered by Niklaus. None of his men were to touch the Saxon woman. She sure was beautiful.
"What's to stop you from killing him?"
"Whilst he is wounded?" she was thoroughly offended her tone conveyed that effectively as Dagfin visibly squirmed at her reply. "I am a believer of a God that preaches mercy even in war. And I am no coward to kill a man when he is already down."
"But my Gods don't. So if you do him any harm, make no mistake all of his men will take turns with you. I am sure you Saxon witches ride hard." Dagfin threatened but Caroline was not one to back down.
"And if you do me any harm your commander certainly shall take turns with each of you, as none of you are a match for when he wields a sword. Also if you do not leave I swear he shall find out that you disobeyed hhm and then you shall wish that your Gods did preach mercy for Niklaus won't have any for you." Caroline's threat worked. Dagfin reluctantly left, however he detailed two more men outside Niklaus's tent for his protection.
Caroline did not take offence to Dagfin's loyalty for his commander, she however was displeased at his remark about her attempting to kill Niklaus. She would never say it out loud but Niklaus had become someone significant to her and she could not even in her dreams contemplate of hurting him.
She tended to him, cleaned his wounds and applied the medicinal herbs and leaves. And when she knew no one was looking she prayed for him. Prayed that he came back to her. If the priests at the monastery in her kingdom knew she was praying for a heathens life they might order her execution but her heart urged her to.
A few tears spilled as her gaze fell on the ghastly wound again. Niklaus stirred but when she called to him he didn't respond. Hope plummeted soon as it had reared. Hence she then covered him with the fur that had been left for her and lay by his side.
Something hurt like a bitch. He couldn't open his fucking eyes and he couldn't move his body. His head heavier than an ox. He faded in and out of consciousness.
Once his eyelids flickered and he saw her praying or rather heard her praying for him or maybe he was still out cold and was dreaming.
Her voice sweet and soothing , "Lord have mercy on his soul. Lord though he may have wronged and he may have killed but you are all that is good and all merciful. God bestow upon him health in body and righteousness in his soul."
His eyes opened another moment and he saw her crying. He wanted to wipe her tears but his arms didn't move. This time he heard her praying and he wanted to laugh. "God please grant him health. I know he is at times of a stubborn mind and ill in manners but he is of a kind heart and this world needs kind hearts." Perhaps staying awake took its toll so he passed out and missed her last words, "I need him."
Then once he saw her cleaning his wounds and covering him with her fur. He wanted to say she will get cold but keeping his eyes open still was a feat.
It had been eight torturous days and seven tormenting nights that Niklaus Mikaelson the warrior of the Danes had been wounded and unconscious. Caroline was desperately holding onto hope. From prayers to pleas, and even to enraged commands she tried everything but it was futile.
She was dressing his wound. Tilda claimed the wound was healing but if twas why was he not waking up? When she was done she turned away from him to gather the furs, she felt his hand on her arm. She twisted around to see him awake and for heaven's sake smiling, she shall beg forgiveness for swearing later she decided, as she found herself hurling into his arms.
"Thank the merciful Lord. You are awake." Caroline exclaimed. Klaus gladly caught her soft form as he sat up.
"I shall rather thank you Min skat." His hoarse reply had her back away. He regretfully let her go.
She brought him water. He downed it in one large swig. "Tell me min skat was I dreaming or were you tending my wounds and praying for my stubborn soul?" he teased and wished she came closer. Her God or maybe his Gods heard his desire she came and sat in front of him.
"You were unconscious for eight days and still you jest?" she rolled her eyes and it shot heat to his loins.
"What do you suggest I do?" he tapped the place by his side wanting her to sit even closer.
"Pray perhaps, be grateful to the Lord or maybe your Gods." She scooted closer but to his regret still maintained a little distance.
"I had other rather intriguing ideas but you shall not appreciate them."
"Clearly I would not appreciate you wanting to return to battle." He laughed when she misunderstood.
Just then Dagfin and his folks entered. All of them overjoyed and relieved at Klaus's recovery.
Later that night she helped him dress his wounds and tucked his furs around him. He was besotted with her, one golden lock fell on her face as she tied the bandage and he tenderly brushed it away. Her eyes met his, something flashed in her aquamarine eyes but he didn't recognize it. Whenever she was close the overwhelming need to claim her was huge. Niklaus knew he will never be able to let her go.
He continued to unabashedly gaze at her, it arose unnamed and unfamiliar stirrings. Caroline struggled with her body's reaction to his and with her own yearning to be close to him.
When his bandage was knotted she got up to lay in her own corner, he stalled her by grasping her arm.
"Min skat would you not lie beside me tonight?" Klaus questioned and she blushed.
She had been sleeping by his side in his wounded state convinced he shall not know as he had been almost comatose but she was astounded that he was aware.
Klaus saw her hesitate and immediately with a very innocent face added before she found her resolve to refuse. "I still am not fully recovered, I might catch a cold. You will be doing an ill man a favor by keeping him warm. Your Lord shall be pleased with you for tending to the sick."
Caroline sidled closer to his side slightly plagued by her beliefs, he was in the right God would want her to tend to him and since she was fully clothed, it would be no sin to lie by his side.
She was a little anxious. Lying by his side when he was unconscious was entirely contrary to now when he was awake and looking at her with an odd yet beautiful smile. The air shifted between them.
"Tell me min skat how you got rid of Dagfin? He would have insisted to stay at my side?"
"I invoked the fear of God in him." She smiled.
When Klaus didn't seem convinced she continued, "I invoked the fear of the most feared Danish warrior and told him that he shall not take it light if Dagfin did not leave the tent as you did order him to keep his distance from me." Klaus then barked out a hearty laugh and snatched her in his arms, gratefully she did not resist.
"You threatened my own warrior with my own orders, you are a woman after my heart." Caroline felt at peace in his arms, God would be displeased but this was another thing she shall ask forgiveness for.
Her soft curvaceous body tucked against his hard one was a pleasurable contrast. He was tempted to hump her there and then but he needed her consent. He satisfied himself with tracing her cheek and lifting her face. In her gaze he saw his own passion reflected. Blood rushed his groin, the urge to take those pink lips and her beautiful pale body growing monstrous with each passing moment that she sat in his lap.
"It is killing me not to kiss you but..."
"But you would not take me against my will." She cupped his face and he closed his eyes for a few precious beats soaking in the pleasure her touch imparted. "You are kind and gentle my Lord." She remarked with a saucy smile. Her use of the word my Lord had him pouting and her laughing. Klaus knew she was teasing.
"You know if Dagfin had threatened you, you could have threatened him to take me against my wishes while I was unconscious. Although that would not have been against my wishes."
She blushed again, a gorgeous red colour in pale cheeks. "That seems entirely illogical for two reasons." She primly responded and now he cracked up. "Why would it be illogical?"
"Firstly it would be my own loss."
"Oh min skat it shall never be your loss." He traced a finger down her arm and winked all the while struggling to keep a straight face, "And what's the second one?" Klaus prompted.
"It's more of a query." Caroline was now beetroot red. "I apologise for being so forward."
"Ask." He gently prompted.
She made a cross sign on her body before voicing her query. She looked utterly adorable. "I ... I doubt your...your... manhood would function properly while you were ..." she had not completed her sentence when erupted into another fit of laughter. He kept laughing for a few moments, Caroline felt embarrassed and offended. She tried to get off of his lap.
"Min skat don't go. I assure you my manhood has no functioning problems."
"Good for you." She was still irked at him and wasn't looking at him.
He grasped her chin. "I am sorry if I insulted you." The genuinity in his eyes appeased her.
"I have never been with any man, nor kissed one so I am not informed in such matters." Her almost whispered confession stole the air from his lungs. It was a dual edged sword, Gods have mercy on him she was totally untouched. It was tempting and terrifying at the same time.
He had vowed he shall possess her but now it seemed he shall have to break the oath he made to himself. She deserved to belong to someone as pure and as guileless as she was and Niklaus knew he was far from both. Though the thought of some other man even touching her burned his insides, he knew he will have to let her go.
Hence he shifted her from his lap onto the fur with a slight nod. And when she lay beside him, he put some distance between him and rolled on his side away from her.
Please review if you like it.