Chapter 5: A Simple Kind of Man

Author's note: Caroline is a well-known archaeologist specializing in Norse settlements and believes she has made a career-defining discovery at a dig site in Norway. Klaus, a mysterious local, is about to teach her that the world is a far more mysterious place than she could ever imagine.

"And be a simple kind of man.
Be something you love and understand."

— Lynyrd Skynyrd

"Tell me, herdsman, sitting on the hill,
And watching all the ways,
How may I win a word with the maid
Past the hounds of Gymir here?"

"Art thou doomed to die or already dead,
Thou horseman that ridest hither?
Barred from speech shalt thou ever be
With Gymir's daughter good."

— Poetic Edda

The reassuring scrape of the dental pick was the only noise Caroline could hear as she crouched down on the hardened clay floor of the tomb. She could barely contain her excitement and she reminded herself to use a delicate touch as she removed the dirt from around the iron ax head that was partially embedded in the ground. Grumbling to herself, she felt like an overexcited freshman intern on her first dig site rather than a seasoned archaeologist and tenured professor. As she admired the sweeping inlays of silver and gold along the ax blade, she realized that her excitement was warranted — normally Viking axes were viewed as simple tools, crafted either for battle or farming, but the sumptuous decorations of this object signified that it was owned by a Viking warrior who had amassed great wealth and respect amongst his clan.

The ninth-century Viking tomb was carved into the Haukeli mountains, a find that was completely unheard of as normally the Vikings built mounds to honor their dead. When Caroline completed her findings, she would undoubtedly add to her already sterling reputation in academia as the foremost expert on Norse settlements. A noise at the tomb's narrow opening startled her, and she glanced up in irritation at being interrupted by one of her student interns until she saw who it was and immediately fought to hide the rosy blush that crept up her neck.

"My apologies for startling you," Klaus Mikaelson murmured as he stepped into the tomb. He seemed to notice her embarrassment and politely averted his eyes to gaze unnecessarily at the markings on the wall while Caroline composed herself. He was a local farmer who had appeared on the first day at the dig site to volunteer with excavations. At first, Caroline had been skeptical, and waved off his offer of assistance as she had an entire group of college students that would be in the way most of the time despite their best intentions, and she had no need to take on additional babysitting duties. However, he had surprised her with his vast knowledge of Norse settlements, a hobby of his, and he had grown up in the Norwegian mountain village below, so his grasp of local history and its natural landmarks had proven useful on more than one occasion.

She remembered how she had stammered through her consent to allow him to volunteer for the duration of the dig, taking in his ridiculously perfect visage of chiseled jaw, broad shoulders, and piercing, ice-blue eyes. Not to mention that delicious accent as he clipped off certain English words. His lips had twitched as though he was trying to hide a teasing smile, but he managed to maintain a respectful, professional demeanor throughout this first month at the dig site. She shook her head slightly, trying to settle the butterflies in her stomach and focus on the task at hand. "You didn't startle me, I was just admiring this latest find," she explained, letting out an adorable victory squeal as she managed to free the ax head from the ground.

Klaus chuckled at her obvious enthusiasm, and held out the tray of artifacts he had brought her. "Shall I add your new trophy to the items Jeremy needs to catalog?"

Caroline frowned slightly as she quickly counted the considerable number of items on the tray. "Seriously? That kid still hasn't photographed what Vicky's group uncovered from the north quadrant last week?" She clenched her fists as she added in exasperation, "He's wasting his scholarship getting stoned in the woods instead of learning something useful!"

He gave her an indulgent smile, putting down the wooden tray and settling on the floor near her. "The boy is what, 18? 19?" At her non-committal shrug, he chuckled, "He laments the drudgery of this work. He's fortunate not to have lived in the old days."

She giggled trying to picture her slacker student trying to survive in Viking society. "Depending upon the clan, he would have been counted as a man between the ages of 10 and 16 winters. He would have been expected to work and contribute to the betterment of the village."

Klaus snorted derisively. "I pity the mentor he would have been apprenticed under. I suspect teaching him trades in farming, navigation, building, or warfare would be quite the challenge."

Caroline nudged him playfully with her elbow, "If he had been fortunate enough to apprentice with the local smithy, he probably would have become a skilled bong maker."

They laughed together at the absurd image their words conjured. Caroline averted her gaze when she realized she had been staring far too long into his beautiful blue eyes. The light from the afternoon sun had filtered into the tomb's opening, glinting off of the circular silver amulet he wore around his neck. When she had admired the intricate design, he had told her it had been in his family for ages. She noticed he would touch it from time to time, a faraway look on his face. She could sense great sorrow in his past, but she didn't want to pry, so she kept her observations to herself. She hoped that he would open up to her in his own time.

"What about you," he asked, interrupting her thoughts. "I could see you doing more than running a Viking household. Your fierceness would have been greatly rewarded in a clan," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

She scoffed, tucking stray blonde strands back into her messy bun. "The life expectancy was 20 years. I doubt I would have done anything particularly remarkable in such a short time span."

He shook his head in disagreement. "Your strength and forceful will would have been noticed and nurtured by the elders. They would have taught you to wield a sword and then you would have been off exploring, having marvelous adventures discovering new territories for your clan to conquer."

The certainty in his voice that he could know her so well after only a month together touched her. "How do you think you would have fared in that world? I see you as a celebrated warrior," she said confidently, trying to avoid staring too long at the way his muscles were perfectly outlined against the simple cotton fabric of his gray pullover.

Klaus' blue eyes became hard as he said in a clipped tone, "That life would not be for me. I enjoy a simple, quiet life and would have done as I do now — farm the land."

Caroline felt guilty for bringing up a subject she knew was sensitive for him. A couple of weeks ago, she had asked about his family and she learned that they were soldiers that had been lost in battle years ago. She asked if he had taken part in his family's military tradition, and he had explained hesitantly that he had begun his life in that manner, but found violence distasteful. He chose a different way to live, embracing the peaceful, simple life of a farmer. She blushed when she recalled how she had embarrassed herself by telling him: You are far too fascinating to be considered simple.

She realized she was in danger of being caught staring at Klaus once again, so she hastily changed the subject with, "What are your thoughts on this tomb? Why was this Viking warrior singled out to be laid to rest in a manner that defied their burial customs?"

He shrugged, lowering his eyes to the floor. "Norsemen were not prone to overt demonstrations of their affections. Perhaps this was their way of honoring his life?" He lightly traced the packed clay floor with one finger. "After all, the dead just want to be remembered."

"I like that sentiment," Caroline said with a warm smile. "I suppose that's all any of us can hope for in the end — to leave this world knowing that others will keep our memories alive." She dusted off her knees and stood up, reaching for the tray at Klaus' feet and adding the intricately decorated ax head. "Come on — you can watch me yell at Jeremy for being lazy. Who knows? If we stand close enough, we may get a contact high."

Klaus chuckled as he shyly pulled a stray leaf out of her messy bun. "Let's not carry all of the contents out of the tomb today," he teased.

Laughing, she quickly patted her head to see if anything else would fall out to embarrass her in front of the inconveniently sexy farmer. As they headed outside, she pointed her chin behind them and said determinedly, "Tomorrow I want to reexamine the south wall. There was something about those carvings that I feel needs to be studied further. I keep thinking I'm missing something, but when I first looked at them, I was so excited to read about the heroic sagas of this unknown warrior, I think I may have overlooked other details. It's entirely possible that we'll find some clue as to where he's buried within the tomb. I don't want to bring the students in to break up the floor and blindly dig until absolutely necessary though."

He was quiet as he pondered her words. The look he finally gave her was thoughtful. "In that case, would you care to join me this evening at the lake? It might be nice to step away from your work briefly. Maybe you'll gain insight with a bit of peace."

She nodded eagerly, her heart leaping in her chest at his suggestion in that captivating accent of his. The lake he spoke of was a beautiful slice of heaven tucked away in the mountains. It was only a short walk from the dig site, and Klaus had been taking her there off and on since they met. At first, she convinced herself it was part of her job to familiarize herself with the local land formations, but as she realized how much she enjoyed his company, she tried to rationalize that it was important to solidify partnerships with the local community since the university had funded their dig for several years. But the last couple of visits had felt decidedly more date-like and she couldn't help but feel as though tonight's meeting held special meaning for him as well.

That evening, Caroline closed her eyes as she savored the sweet honey taste of the mead Klaus had brought to the lake. "This is delicious — is it Suttungs Mjød?"

Klaus wrinkled his nose in distaste. "You can buy that anywhere. This is from my private stores."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "I didn't know you made your own mead; color me impressed." She took another sip, finding the splash of spicy ginger delightful. She stretched her legs out on the large, flat rock they had claimed as their own whenever they spent time here. Lake Válað was just steps away, a beautiful, isolated stretch of dark water. Fog curled along the top, adding to its mysterious appearance. Its name meant "destiny" in Old Norse.

Klaus gave her a teasing smile as he drank from his ceramic mug. "Would you like me to impress you further, Caroline?"

She giggled, feeling the warmth of the mead soaking into her body. The alcohol was a welcome barrier against the cool Norwegian air. She had bundled up for their outing, but still felt the bite of the cold when she took a breath. "I don't know if your ego would survive any further praise," she said wryly.

"The spirit can survive all manner of things — if it has the strength," he said softly. Flicking his blue gaze to the water, he suddenly asked, "What do you know of the Norse goddess Hel?"

Caroline rested on her elbows, shrugging her shoulders slightly. "She was the daughter of Loki, ruler of the underworld and guardian of the graves. Why do you ask?"

He set down his mug, gesturing to the lake. "The myths say that Lake Válað was formed by Hel's tears when she lost her only love, the god Fenrir. One of her gifts was that of foresight, and the Vikings believed that drinking from these waters before battle would bestow visions upon them to help defeat their enemies."

Her eyes widened as she felt her fingers itch to find an ink pen and her field journal to scribble down Klaus' words. He had been a wealth of local legends, and she had compiled enough information that she could publish several journal articles when she returned to the university once the dig had run its course. She wondered if he would be interested in co-authoring; his rich voice enhanced his storytelling, and she found herself spellbound by his words. "Have you ever drank from the lake," she asked, hating how breathless she sounded as she noted how closely he had leaned into her during his story.

"That's between me and the lake," Klaus told her with a wistful smile.

Caroline's sarcastic reply was interrupted when she noticed movement near the spruce trees on the other side of the lake. A flock of wild reindeer had gathered near the water's edge. She held her breath, not wanting to make a sound and startle the majestic creatures. Their gray and white coats glinted silver in the starlight, and they seemed unconcerned by the two awestruck figures staring at them. They disappeared back into the forest with barely a rustle of leaves under their hooves after they drank their fill. "What a remarkable place," Caroline said in a hushed whisper. "I don't know that I've ever been to a place that has this feeling of peace and…" she trailed off, searching for the right words.

"Magic," Klaus offered with a grin full of mirth. "Legend also says that this lake is a gateway to the underworld. The living can wade in the water carrying something that belonged to a deceased loved one and they will find the Goddess Hel. If they bravely face her, she may be convinced to release the loved one from the underworld so that they may live again."

"I envy people that can inspire that level of devotion," she sighed sadly. "I can't even inspire my students to properly catalog artifacts." She took another sip of the warm mead, embarrassed that her voice sounded so vulnerable.

His gaze sharped as he studied her features with rapt attention. "So then you are not promised to another?"

She frowned slightly, toying with the chipped mug. "No, I don't have…there isn't anyone," she said quietly.

He took both of her hands in his, pulling her toward him. "Then the men in your life are utter fools. You are a fascinating creature whose beauty and intelligence are a stunning sight to behold." He dipped his head down shyly, unable to look at her as he continued his confession. "Forgive my boldness, but I never thought I'd find one such as you, and I cannot bear the thought of you believing yourself unworthy of devotion."

"Do you mean that," Caroline asked breathlessly, scarcely believing that this amazing, gorgeous man would be interested in her.

His head snapped up at her uncertain tone and his blue eyes darkened as he surged forward to kiss her with a sweet passion that left her a giddy mess. She tangled her fingers in his dirty blonde curls, tugging on the short strands at the nape of his neck as she sought his mouth for a more generous kiss. They reclined together against the cold rock, emitting small sighs as they gave into the tension that had been building from almost the moment they met. There seemed to be an unspoken agreement between them not to take things to far, and their careful exploration of each other's bodies didn't stray past gentle touches and deep kisses.

Sighing contentedly against his chest, she huffed, "It's getting late, and as much as I would like to continue this, we should probably head back. We have an early day tomorrow." She gave him a quick peck and asked hesitantly, "But perhaps we could come back tomorrow night?"

The sadness that crept into his eyes was unexpected. "I hope so," he replied softly.

The next morning, Caroline was pleased to see her excavators working in the north quadrant, carefully passing the buckets of dirt to the group of interns that were screening the sediment for small artifact pieces. She nodded in approval as she saw Jeremy finally photographing and cataloging the group of artifacts that had been collected in the past week. When she reached the opening of the tomb, her heart gave a little flutter as she found Klaus standing in the middle of the south wall, waiting patiently for her to arrive.

"Hi," she said, hating how small her voice sounded as she waited expectantly to see how Klaus would behave after those surprising kisses last night. Years ago, when she had been a starry-eyed student intern, she had allowed herself to get caught up in the romance of being far away from home and latched onto someone who had shown interest, only later to be brushed aside and harshly informed that she was meant to be a distraction and nothing more. She tossed and turned most of last night, hoping that this time it was real and that Klaus truly cared for her.

"Good morning Caroline," he said, greeting her warmly. He noticed the awkwardness of her stance and the way she couldn't quite meet his eyes. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" He stepped in front of her, clasping her hand in his as he gently brushed her knuckles with his thumb. "Is this regret I see? Was I was too forward last night?"

The uncertainty in his tone made her melt and she was finally able to look at him. "No, not at all," she began hesitantly. "It's just...I wasn't sure if what you said last night would be true today. I didn't want to assume…" she trailed off in embarrassment.

Klaus's lips were pressed into a grim line as though angry on her behalf of how she had been treated in the past. "Those previous suitors were unworthy of you, Caroline. Put aside your fears. I know what I feel for you, and it will be as true today as it was last night." He leaned in slowly, his piercing blue eyes studying her face carefully, as though wordlessly asking permission. At her slight nod, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips as though sealing in his beautiful words.

When they broke free, pressing their foreheads together and panting slightly, Caroline beamed at him. "You're a terrible distraction, you know."

"Then permit me to acquit myself," he said, backing away with a small bow. "I found some unusual markings that I can't quite decipher. Perhaps you are familiar with them?" He gestured toward the middle of the wall, where long lines had been deeply scored into the rock.

Caroline pulled out a small paintbrush, carefully swiping away sediment that had settled into the curious etchings. Peering closely at the markings, she muttered, "They don't appear to represent any of the 16 characters found in the Younger Futhark alphabet, most common in Scandinavian runestones." She consulted her field notebook and huffed impatiently when she found nothing useful.

Amused by the cute noises of aggravation she was making, Klaus took her hand and moved her several feet away from the carvings. At her questioning look, he said, "I sometimes find it helpful to step back and examine the entire problem at hand rather than poke at a small piece of it," he explained helpfully.

Forehead wrinkled in concentration, she did as he suggested and as her eyes swept across the entire expanse of runic carvings, her entire face lit up with excitement. "Pieces!" She bounced on her toes, gleefully kissing Klaus on the cheek as she continued enthusiastically, "That's it! Klaus, you're a genius!" She pulled him back toward the unusual markings, waving her hands wildly and pointing. "These scored etchings aren't runes; they're acting as camouflage to hide a door to an inner tomb!"

She pulled out a small chisel and carefully tapped at the seam of the hidden door. She let out a small squeal when the metal edge tripped an invisible latch that pushed the wall open several feet. Coughing at the dust that the small room released, she grabbed both of Klaus' hands, dancing around in a silly circle as she practically vibrated with excitement. "Do you know what this means? We just found the hidden resting place of the Viking warrior!" Unable to control herself, she pulled his handsome face to hers, kissing him soundly.

"You did it, sweetheart," Klaus said in a proud whisper as he broke their kiss.

"We did it," Caroline corrected. "And when the dig is over, I want you to return to the university with me to help curate the objects we find and co-author journal articles," she said in a rush, biting her lip hopefully as she waited for his response.

A curious sadness invaded Klaus' blue gaze once again before he blinked it away and smiled down at her. "It is my honor to be by your side, Caroline." He nodded toward the newly open door. "Fulfill your destiny. I will be with you."

Caroline crossed the threshold into the hidden room with Klaus behind her. She marveled at the artifacts she saw, amazingly preserved thanks to the Haukeli mountains experiencing such little humidity. It was clearly the tomb of a celebrated warrior, the beautifully carved knives, swords and axes were piled near the massive stone bier where a skeleton lay. She was flushed with excitement upon seeing such a site — the ceremonial stone bier was unheard of in a Viking burial. In addition, a bronze mask had been placed on the skeleton still partially shrouded in remnants of leather. This was an unprecedented find as funeral masks had never been a part of Viking death rituals until now.

As she stood over the body, she gasped at what she saw. The bronze mask was exquisitely carved, capturing the perfectly chiseled jawline, piercing eyes and curls that she immediately recognized. The cold air of the tomb seemed to seep into her soul as she shivered, casting her fearful eyes toward the threshold where Klaus should be standing, favoring her with that gentle smile of his. It was empty.

Tears welling, she took in the warrior before her, a sob escaping her as she saw the silver amulet resting upon his chest, the cord he would have worn it on disintegrated long ago. With trembling fingers, she traced the raised edges of the elaborate carvings, somehow finding comfort in the familiar pattern she had stared at for the past month. She clasped the small circle in her palm, hastily wiping away her tears. She straightened her spine and squared her shoulders before she marched out of the tomb. She had to be sure.

She found Jeremy still photographing artifacts outside and said urgently, "Can you tell me where Klaus went to?" She was proud of the way she kept her voice from shaking as she said his name.

Jeremy looked at her in confusion, scratching his brown locks. "Um, Klaus? Who's that?"

"A local farmer that's been helping out around here," she explained in a clipped tone, trying to keep her overwhelming sorrow at bay.

"But we haven't had any locals volunteer, remember? That's why the university extended our funding because we told them it would take us longer than we thought to fully excavate the area," Jeremy explained carefully, his eyes widening in surprise at the immense sadness he saw on his professor's face.

Caroline quickly schooled her features into something akin to indifference as she thanked her student and quietly walked away. Her mind was swirling with thoughts of Klaus as her heart was breaking. She wasn't even sure what she was mourning, only that the ache she felt was real even if nothing else was.

Before she realized what she was doing, she found herself standing on top of their rock, overlooking Lake Válað. Old Norse for destiny. Her tears had returned as she gazed upon the dark water. Klaus had said that the dead just want to be remembered. Was that true? Did Klaus only wish to be remembered? The sharp wind whipped her blonde waves around her face as she thought of his story last night. Perhaps he told her about the gateway to the underworld to give her a choice.

Caroline clutched the silver amulet in her sweaty palm, staring fiercely at the water. She didn't feel particularly brave at the thought of seeking out a Norse goddess, but she was willing to try.

Author's note: If you're interested, I also feature the Goddess Hel and Norse mythology in my Klaroline multi-chap work, Divine Intervention. I'd love to read your feedback on this work as well if you have time to review. Thanks!