A/N : Hello guys. Thank you so much for your lovely reviews.I am thinking about ending the story in a chapter or two.(I hope Lol although I am enjoying writing this one ;p )

A New Life

Life at his side was nothing short of heaven. Her days were often adventurous and her nights were passionate. On her insistence Niklaus had begun training her in combat and sword skill.

He was gentle and patient, kind and generous and to her surprise he was rather intuitive and appreciated novelty. He often sought her advice in matters of leadership. She taught him the value of mercy and kindness and he taught her the significance of ferocity.

He had wedded her on the night of full moon some six months ago, but it still seemed like yesterday. She proudly wore the necklace with an opal gemstone, he had given her as a wedding present. It was a very unique and enchanting piece and especially close to her heart since her pagan had gifted it to her.

As his wife some welcomed her when she participated in their clan affairs and some still resented the Saxon whore who had their commander wrapped around her finger. It truly upset her when some of them mocked and taunted her, but she did not share such trivial matters with Niklaus. He had other more pressing matters to deal with as a commander.

He entered the tent and instantly went to her. Caroline was busy folding their clothes so she did not see him enter. Klaus lifted her in his arms bridal style and greeted her with a mind numbing kiss.

"How is my min skat?"

"Absolutely happy. How are you my Lord?"

He chuckled at her use of the word Lord. "Must you insist upon calling me Lord?"

"Yes as you still haven't told me what it means. What's worse is our people also refuse to tell me since you threatened to cut off their ears if anyone told me."

"I told you it means my rat."

She narrowed her eyes, "You told wrong."

"Are you calling your husband a liar?"

"Yes. Since I can see him lying through his white teeth." He kissed her then and nipped her ear playfully. "You are right I should not lie, I should rather bite you through these teeth."

"God have mercy on me." She replied dramatically even she shuddered deliciously. He smiled at her quip and felt his own desire run rampant. He lay her on their pelt and began kissing her as if his life depended on it.

She lay in his arms sated and spent. Niklaus could not believe his fate that he had found her. She was everything good and more. It had been a struggle for her to see him practice his pagan ways but she had never imposed her own God on him, even though she was a staunch believer.

When she thought he slept she still prayed that he find the right path which did not bother him much. All he cared about was his own glory in Valhalla as a warrior and her. Caroline had taught him many things that he had been unaware of. She had united his people, helped them with rearing their children and taught them morals.

She had even taught him to read which be pretended was a little tedious and often remarked he was only learning so he can read her journal, but as a matter of fact he found himself eager to learn.

It was all splendid as long as she did not interfere in matters of warfare. It was a rocky territory for them both as they belonged to opposing sides of war.

But more often then not he was worried about her, if anything were to happen to him. He had all but alienated her from her people. If he died many of his people would disown her and the Saxons, he was not sure how they might treat her.

He hugged her closer and she mumbled, "What is the matter?"

"I have decided to tell you what min skat means." He remarked hoping to distract her. He was not ready to share his concerns just yet.

"Really." At once excited she sat and the covers fell off her leaving her upper body bare. Lust rose and he ran one teasing finger from her shoulder down to her right breast.

She swatted his hand away. "You just mean to distract me." Then covered herself.

"It is of no use I can simply tear it off." He smirked.

"I know. But first tell me. Please." An idea struck her she ran one nail down his chest. He felt himself getting turned on. She pressed one kiss on his neck and he quivered.

"Tell me pagan." She moaned. Klaus cupped her face and kissed her passionately. His hands touching and stroking. Caroline desperately tried to hold onto her sanity as she helplessly responded. When he deepened the kiss she moved away.

"Ugh. I can not get information from you this way. No more." He couldn't bear the distance so he pulled her closer. "No this..."

"This. What's this?" He laughed he knew she was shy and was hesitant saying the word.

"You know me and you, together." Caroline made a gesture with her hands and then clapping them together. He barked out a hearty laugh.

"Is that a challenge?" A devilish twinkle in his eye. He had her in his arms and gently caressed her, her treacherous body instantly responded. "Min skat you shall lose." She pushed his hand away reluctantly and made a pout.

"I know..." the reluctant agreement had him chortle.

"Then I won't talk to you."

"Finally. Some rest for my ears." He quipped and she smacked him. Klaus laughed again. She made him feel light.

"Oh I got it. I shall ask clansfolk to call you Lord."

"No. You will not." He scowled and she laughed. He let her win. The innocent yet self satisfied smile was what he lived for. He became sombre as the thought struck again, what would happen if he lost her.

"Nik." He absolutely adored her when she called him Nik. "Do not keep it to yourself anymore. I can see it burdens you."

"I want to keep you away from matters of war." He meant out of concern but she misconstrued it, "Because I am a Saxon?" it hurt to say it out loud but sometimes she wondered if it was because he did not trust her. He saw the pain in her eyes, it pained him just as much.

"No. I trust you with my life. I would not want you take my worries."

"Your happiness is my happiness and your worries are my worries. I am yours you stubborn brave warrior. Can you not see it hurts me more to see you upset? Would you not want me to share my problems with you?"

"What problem? Is there something wrong?" he questioned in turn.

"Nothing that I can not handle. But I meant if I were to have problems you would wish me to voice them to you would you not, my love?"

Klaus nodded and kissed her back when she laid her lips on his. When he slid off her covers and palmed her breasts she knew he needed her. He needed to make love to her. He rolled her over and she did not protest.

"Caroline." He groaned, her compassion had rendered him speechless. Her ability to give unconditionally astounded him. He yearned for her. His mouth replaced his hands and he suckled on one nipple. Then he lavished the other with the same attention and she arched beneath him. He kissed her again. She pushed up wanting him to claim her but he didn't, wanting to prolong her pleasure.

"Min skat?" he called. She opened her eyes and he combed his fingers with hers. "I love you." He said those words and slid inside her. She saw the love and truth in his passion misted eyes. He touched her core and she came crashing down. Klaus swallowed her moan when she came. Then he repeated those three words and began pistoning inside her hot path. It was pure bliss. Caroline was everything, his home, his haven and his paradise.

"The Saxons in the East are planning to attack. My army is outnumbered." He confessed later that night. "It weighs on me. There is a difference between bravery and foolishness." He put on a robe and stood with his hands on the makeshift table in their tent.

His shoulders bent she could see his distress. "Women and children, they should not have to pay the price for men's greed."

It had been more than a few months since she had been his wife but his kindness always touched her. She wrapped herself in her night gown and hugged him from behind. Placing a kiss on his shoulder she sighed, " They won't. You can ask Marcellus to give them refuge."

"He has not enough grain to house our people and who knows how long the battle might last."

"Then send them with provisions. Offer him silver or horses. Negotiate with him. He owes you for the battle he won."

His wife was one of the smartest creatures. He had not thought of it this way. He could send his people to safety with their own food and grain. He lifted her hand and kissed it. "You are a shrewd one, Min skat."

"And you are a stubborn one. Pagan." She kissed his cheek from behind then walked over to study the small map he had made for the coming battle. Klaus had never made one before.

"What is this?"

"You told me Saxon's study their enemies weaknesses I was attempting to do the same." Another thing he had learnt from Caroline.

He pointed to a small part which seemed like a valley. "This is where the battle is expected to occur. We shall be surrounded from all sides and with their number. The only way I can defeat them is by taking the war somewhere else."

"Then do that." She urged.

"You're right. This high ground and the small ditch here. I now know what to do." He walked over and then kissed her. An odd expression coloured his handsome face. He should have been ecstatic, rather he seemed dejected. Then he carried her to their pelt and slept with her tightly coiled in his arms.

"Commander. My lady shall refuse." Dagfin answered when he heard what Niklaus had ordered him to do.

"I received another message from Albert. He insists on marching on us the next moon. I need her safe." Niklaus announced his tone firm leaving no room for arguments.

"Also make sure the clansfolk reach Lynridge at Marcellus's estate safely."

Dagfin nodded in assent and left.

Niklaus knew he had no other option then to send his wife to King Alfred's estate at Bettlehelm. But he shall not make the mistake of sending her alone. This time he will make all the arrangements in fact he will take her there himself.

Lately his wife had been acting rather strangely. She cried at things he did not understand and often got anxious for his safety. He had asked Tilda and she had told her perhaps the lady missed her family.

He himself had often caught Caroline day dreaming, he knew she missed her parents and her own people. Once or twice she had mentioned how her mother braid her hair and how her father had taught her horse riding.

And with the looming threat of an oncoming battle he thought that taking her to Bettlehelm would be killing two birds with one stone.

He left the meeting place with his warriors and went to look for her. He found her sitting at the stream staring in space. He crouched beside her and pushed her hair behind her ears. She titled her face towards him and he saw she was crying.

"What happened?" instantly concerned.

"I ..." She jumped in his arms. "I love you. You know that right." She whispered.

He pulled her back a little, "Yes." And wiped her tears away.

"I am with child." She exclaimed and he felt joy suffuse his entire body. His face lit up. "Are you sure? Did Tilda tell you?"

"Not really. My monthly is delayed and Tilda said it will be confirmed after few more weeks. But I know I am."

"Of course you know." He laughed and pulled her in his lap. He couldn't stop himself from kissing her. His hand wandered over to her abdomen unconsciously as if protecting his child.

"I mean I do not wish to eat. I vomit everything out. And I ..." she had stopped crying now and again huddled in his arms.

"I what?"

"I can not say it out loud." Then she leaned up and whispered in his ear. "I want to make love to you all the time." He cracked up really hard at the last part. "Min skat. You can make love to me any time you want. So that is why you were so wild last night." He joked and she clamped his mouth with her hand.

"Anyone can hear you."

"Me? Not me. But I sure think our neighbours heard you last night."

"Nik.." she whined. He kissed her again. He could not stop himself from caressing and kissing her. The possessiveness that he usually felt for her, doubled. His child, their child grew inside her. He palmed her abdomen and with a playful smile added, "I can not wait to see you grow and waddle like a duck."

"Huhhh." She gasped and shoved him away. "I am not talking to you. And I am leaving." After walking a few steps she turned around and said, "And do not follow me."

"I thought you decided not to talk to me." He sniggered.

"Yes. Starting after this." Caroline piped as she hurriedly walked away but he soon fell in step with her. "I told you not to follow me."

"You also told me you won't talk to me." He chuckled when she made a face. It was utterly endearing. "At least give me a time frame which I am to follow regarding your silence." He added and she growled.

"So now you really are not talking?" Klaus quipped with each step and she just huffed.

"Wait." He put a hand on her arm when she stopped he added, "Do you hear that?"

Instantly alert she asked, "What?"

"The ringing sounds from all the sudden silence." He joked and she smacked his shoulder. "You are heartless." Caroline took a step away from him but he grabbed her from her waist.

"Yes because you stole it." He lifted her in his arms. "I love you." He confessed and it melted her heart.

"Are you happy?" he suddenly asked when he put her down once they were in their tent. Behind the teasing light in his eyes, she recognized nerves. She could see that he was joyous but was anxious about her.

"Beyond happy." She cupped his face.

"I mean..." he paced a few steps. "Do you want the child?" it cost him to ask the question but he had not taken into account her feelings earlier. His own elation knew no bounds thus he had not thought that she might be upset about being with child.

Two contrary emotions rose, fierce protectiveness and anger at her husband for even suggesting she might not want the child. "What made you surmise I did not want the child?" she was now truly offended.

"I do not presume to know your heart Caroline regarding this matter. But earlier you were crying when you were sitting at the pond. If you think you can not confess something to me then do not." He came close lifted both of her hands in his. "I love you and your happiness shall always come before my own."

Her heart shattered into a million pieces and fell at his feet. Anger forgotten, she knew what he was saying. Tears fell uncontrollably but she smiled at her own good fortune at having found him. He was giving her the choice regarding her pregnancy. She loved him and shall always love him.

"How can I not want the babe, Nik? It is us. Half of you and half of me." He did not know he was holding his breath then she added, "Although I wish less you and more me." And he was reeling with laughter. He snatched her in his arms and kissed her head.

"And as for me crying. It is out my control. I even want to cry when I am happy. Oh no." She gasped at the last part.

"What?" he pulled back a little to glance at her radiant face.

"What if I start crying in the middle of you know..." she alluded to crying during sex.

He chuckled and then laughed, "It would certainly be not very appealing with your snot all over me." Klaus teased and she gently pushed him before she started laughing herself.

Later that night he convinced himself that she and his child's safety rested in sending her to her parents. If anything were to happen to either one during this battle he would not be able to forgive himself.

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