Chapter 17
It was almost nightfall before Rika stirred and opened her eyes. Finn was there and spoke to her. She reached out and touched his arm and tried to smile.
"Are you in pain?" he asked.
"I feel like I fell into a river and was bashed about on some rocks," she murmured, trying to amuse him.
"So, you are quite sore."
"Definitely. I really, really need to use the privy," she said. She had been unconscious for a long time.
There was a pot in the house that was used whenever someone needed to empty his or her bladder and didn't want to go outside. The one who used it the most was Rebekah, but now Esther suggested the young woman use it rather than try to go out and around to the privy. There was not much privacy in the longhouse, but Rika didn't care. Finn and his mother helped her out of bed. In a couple of minutes she was back in bed with relief.
Rika's family, who had come several times to check on her, were pleased to see her alert and even hungry. One person who did not visit her was Celesta from the other end of the house. As far as anyone could tell, that person had had no part in Rika's river accident.
Within a week, much was almost normal again. Finn's arm wound healed, although he had an ugly scar that would last the rest of his normal life. He had no idea, of course, that he would endure for centuries and the scar would eventually disappear. Rika recovered from her river disaster and was happy with her husband. Eventually, she told him she was sure she was expecting their first child. Finn and his family were thrilled.
Mikael, Elijah and the large group that had gone to the boats finally returned. They were welcomed home with cheers, food and drink. Elijah congratulated his brother on his marriage. Mikael did not. He was furious and would not speak a welcome to the young woman. However, Esther convinced him not to be so hard on his son and his bride. Nevertheless, the father told his son that he would have to move out of the longhouse before the expected child was born.
"I won't have a wolf cub in my house!" he yelled.
Both Esther and Finn looked at him stonily, but said nothing. Her secret about Niklaus was kept, and Finn already had some idea about what he and Rika would do. Rika was hurt by the man's attitude, but she had been trying to prepare herself before he ever returned to the village.
Celesta seemed to accept the situation although she rarely even spoke to Rika. Four months after the wedding, Celesta disappeared. As with Rika's disappearance, a search was organized. Even one of the nearby native tribes was questioned. They said that a more northern tribe's war party had passed through, although the Vikings had been unaware. There had been a clash between the two tribes and the intruders had taken two natives, one a woman and one a boy.
It was suspected that Celesta, who had been hunting medicinal herbs some distance to the south of the village, also had been captured. The search followed a trail of human tracks into the mountains a short way to the west. Then heavy rain washed away most signs and the discouraged Norsemen returned to the village. Celesta was not the first villager to be taken by natives, but it had been several years since the last one.
This event was sobering to the community, not only because the war party had been within a mile of the village, but also because the children guarding the stock could have been discovered and kidnapped. Luckily, that had not occurred. Even Kol, who loved adventure, was nervous about what could have happened.
Esther, Ayanna and Grace tried two location spells two separate times to see if they could find where she was at the moment. The results were not very clear, but showed that she was moving, going north and was well into the mountains. No one knew how large the war party was, although the friendly tribe had suggested it was fairly large. The Viking warriors were not afraid to face an enemy, but they decided not to venture too far and leave the settlement vulnerable, at least until the group at the ships returned.
Although not spoken, there was a feeling among many of the people that the village was better off without the girl. It was known that in subtle ways she had caused trouble to people other than to Finn and Rika. The Bennett family knew this also, but they certainly had not wanted the girl to be taken by savages.
Mikael, Elijah and the large group that had gone to the boats finally returned. They were welcomed home with cheers, food and drink. Finn, glad to see his brother returned, asked Elijah how he had liked being on the longboat at sea.
"I was amazed to see the open bay and the ocean. So vast! Quite remarkable! And sea creatures. We saw whales, Finn! Such giant fish. And although we all have been told of the power of the wind to move a boat, I was amazed to witness it pushing against the sail. But like the other men, I was expected to row the ship when not under sail. I did not like that at all. Or some of the other shipboard chores. I believe I am basically a person who likes his feet on the land."
"Did the motion of the boat on the waves make you sick?" the older brother asked with a smile.
Somewhat embarrassed, Elijah admitted that it had at first. "But look at you! A married man now. Congratulations! You are braver than I to go against Father's wishes."
Mikael did not off congratulations. He was furious and would not speak a welcome to the young woman. However, Esther convinced him not to be so hard on his son and his bride. Nevertheless, the father told his son that he would have to move out of the longhouse before the expected child was born.
"I won't have a wolf cub in my house!" he yelled.
Both Esther and Finn looked at him stonily, but said nothing. Her secret about Niklaus was kept, and Finn already had some idea about what he and Rika would do. Rika was hurt by the man's attitude, but she had been trying to prepare herself before he ever returned to the village
To everyone's surprise Celesta's sister Grace married. The shy red-headed carpenter Nels Arneson managed to find the courage to ask for Grace's hand in marriage. With little prospect of having another offer, she gladly accepted. Her father and his wife were very pleased. As with Finn and Rika, the couple stayed with her family in the longhouse for a while, but then
they moved to Nels' improved small single house. Despite the marriage, she continued to be called Grace Bennettsdottir. Ayanna and her daughters were the first of the "Bennett" witches.
The community went back to normal daily lives. They did not try to find and rescue Celesta, especially since Ayanna could no longer locate her. This saddened the mother, but she decided that perhaps it was meant to be.
"Niklaus, you are growing taller," Elijah observed one day.
"I think I am," the boy grinned. "Mother will make the sleeves of my shirt longer." Unfortunately, this did not mean he was more agile and skilled when it came to sparring with a weapon against his father. And Mikael only gave a disparaging snort when told that the boy had faced the angry bear. Niklaus, who had hoped his father would be impressed by his bravery, was again disappointed. He wondered what he would ever do that could draw real praise from Mikael. Perhaps when his time came to go on the ship he would prove to be a capable seaman.
By the time Rika was into the sixth month of her pregnancy, a proper house had been built for Finn and his wife. It was furnished with things provided by both his family and hers. Even Mikael did some work toward the place, eager to get the potential werewolf out of his own home. Now Rika could cook and clean her own place, although she and Finn often ate at Mikael's house or that of her parents. She was looking forward to being a mother and trusted that she would survive the baby's birth. Esther was an accomplished midwife and had helped bring many babies into the community.
Infants had a good chance of surviving because there was almost no sickness in the village. The settlers had been a healthy lot when they had arrived. This was also good for the native peoples who had no immunity toward the European diseases. Five hundred years into the future, many European explorers, soldiers, missionaries and colonists would come to the Americas and bring devastating diseases with them.
When Finn and Rika moved out, the sleeping arrangements for the rest of his siblings changed. Elijah now had a bed of his own, as did Niklaus. Kol, now six years old, remained with his little sister.
A day come when the villagers heard from a native man that one of the northern tribes now had a pale female spiritual leader. A medicine woman, rather than a medicine man. It was said she could do strong magic and communicate with various spirits. The people of the Viking community had no doubts that this person was Celesta. Bennett and his family were relieved to know she was still alive and apparently respected. And probably feared, many thought.
Finn and Rika were glad Celesta was nowhere near them when Rika gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Everyone, especially Mikael, was relieved that the infant was female and unlikely to ever transform into a werewolf. It was a proud moment for the new parents. Finn, son of Mikael, was a father. He named the baby Freya after his supposedly dead older sister. This seemed to soften Mikael's heart and he actually held the infant.
"You're my first grandchild, little lady," he told the baby.
Finn looked at his father and then at the smiling Rika, and a broad smile came to Finn's face. He was happy.
A/N I think I will stop Finn's story here and leave him happy. Thanks to those of you who read the story. I don't know what I will write next. I miss Elijah. I'm hoping to self-publish a book soon that has nothing to do with vampires. Wish me luck.