Chapter 5 Bond
The churning of the North Sea was the first thing I noticed when I woke. That and the cold spray of salt water as the ship rocked dramatically. The smell of leather, men, blood and the sea was overwhelming. It was far more visceral than...than just a dream.
There were leather clad men and women around the no more that 40 foot boat and rowers were stationed on either side. There were two wounded men propped up against the side of the small boat, bound up and bleeding.
I got up and could just make out the rocky coast past the carved wooden dragon on the bow.
"Where are we?" I asked to the closest man.
He laughed and hit me hard on the back. "You took a bad hit to the head. That's England and we're having a time not to be smashed against the rocks. Those ones in the North gave us some trouble when we landed but your head will recover Jakob Bóndi."
He was speaking a foreign language, Norwegian I think...yet I could understand it just fine. And I was speaking English as far as I could tell but they could understand me just fine.
I looked out over the jagged coast line but I could not yet place it. I've sailed around this island with the navy many times yet this seemed different, the haze around everything was not just because of the stereotypical English weather. There was something else going on.
A man approached me thrusting a sword and shield in my hand as the other suddenly jumped overboard, hitting the surf and screaming bloody murder. I followed feeling the cold of the water seep through my leather clothing. Something tingled and was familiar about all this.
We rushed the beach with only a few people around yet there were horns in the distance. What was going on...this dream was both real and unreal at the same time.
Where was I before waking on this viking boat?
Those men that they did encounter were cut down quickly. I moved to side to go around the men who had come to defend the land. I climbed a small cliff and left the coast into the forest. Through the trees I could make out banners and I headed quietly toward the leaders encampment.
Within was a nervous looking runner who had just arrived. It was Tanner! He left his horse and I moved quietly towards the tethered animal. I accosted Tanner as he came back for his horse.
"Psst...Tanner!"
Tanner turned and his eyes widened in a panic as he drew his sword. "Tanner, it's me James."
"I don't know who you are Viking savage but the King will want to see you."
I lowered my sword so that Tanner could take me prisoner. I wanted answers and the King may be the appropriate place to start.
Tanner bound my hands and put me on a horse as he lead me away from the beach skirmish and towards what could be called civilization in the ninth century. The walled city we finally made it to was York. In my fascination with Vikings as a child I remembered that the Vikings took over Northumbria and took over and built York in the later half of the 800's. The last Saxon King of this region was Ælla and likely who Tanner was bringing me to see.
Tanner dragged me into the town and into the main building. There were people milling about as a large man sat on a raised dais on his throne. The man was snoring loudly with a wine goblet on the floor where he had let it drop.
Tanner looked around and asked a page to talk to the Queen. We moved from the main meeting hall down a corridor to a smaller room. The Queen, this could be promising.
"Who am I going to meet Tanner?"
"I don't know how you know our language pagan but you are lucky that wisdom will preside over your fate. The dowager Queen is far less likely to feed you to the dogs than either of her tumultuous sons."
"What is her name and that of her drunken son?"
"The King's mother is one of his trusted advisors as well as eoldermen Steed. Prince Osberht is in the far north gaining support for defence against you Pagan scum." Tanner pushed Bond to his knees as a woman entered from the corridor.
"M." I said looking at the woman hoping to hell that she recognised me.
"Mr. Tanner what have you brought me?" M did not seem at all scared of the fact that I was a vicious Viking raider, and merely appeared curious.
She was dressed in a long heavy gown that hid her shape from me. The only difference between this M the woman I knew, was that she was only in her forties. Her beautiful blonde hair was extremely long and coiled in plates in an up-do that I know she would hate.
All of this somehow tapped into some deep fantasy I've had of her in the past. I can tell by the shy way that she looked down and away from me that she could sense my desire.
"This one surrendered to me ma'am. He speaks our language and knew my name. I think he's a spy and brought him to your son for judgement but the king is indisposed."
M scoffed at this. "With a mistress or drunk?"
"The latter your majesty." The voice came from a tall man who swept from the direction of the meeting hall where we just met the passed out King.
I tense immediately. Fuck! Silva! Here. I stand up and put myself between M and him. He looked surprised at the move.
"I know you are from a savage tribe but I've done nothing to you...yet...to warrant this display."
Tanner pulled my tied hands and I sneered at Silva. "Stay away from her!"
The room got quiet and there was a sense of confusion at my protection of a woman I had supposedly just meet. Silva sneered back and moved around me to M. He bowed over her hand and kissed her on both cheeks. A move I could see that made M...not M...the King's mother uncomfortable. This was my dream...so why wasn't I suddenly free of my restraints so that I could strangle that man!
"My dearest majesty. How does this savage speak our tongue?" Silva purred in an accusing tone. "You do not know this savage do you?"
"No...of course not!"
"I was just coming to pay you court. Forgive me for saying in front of your man Tanner and this savage, who I can only assume has some limited knowledge of our language. But I could barely contain my excitement. I have asked your son for your hand in marriage. I know that it's not been long since my wife died but I have always been drawn to you."
"Your wife was killed by that marauder a month ago? I do not think it seemly that my son would permit such a fast wedding." M was upset I could tell. "I thought there was an ongoing investigation to the Lady Severine's death?"
"It has been completed and I will leave the plans for our nuptials to you."
"I would think that you were already in the most powerful position in Northumbria, why do you need a marriage to a former Queen? It will certainly not get you any closer to the throne. I would think you would be after my granddaughter once she's of age."
"I care nothing for your son's throne other than natural loyalty. In all honesty...I've dreamt of little but you for years."
"That sounds a tad obsessive...what if the lady does not want to marry you?" I said in M's defence.
"I know that you savages allow your women to fight and have say over you but that is not our way. If the King wishes it...I will marry his mother." With that Silva strode away back towards the meeting hall with the drunken King.
"Majesty, what will you do? I know you do not want this match." Tanner said to M in a whisper.
"There is not much I can do but go to a convent and live out the rest of my life in seclusion and contemplation." M said sadly.
"No…you will come with me and I will take you somewhere safe. I will take you north…" I suddenly realized that this was Skyfall happening all over again. It had haunted my dreams for months, why not add it to this bizarrely vivid nightmare.
Panic welled up inside me at the mere thought of it all happening again. Fear of a different dream, within a dream. That would be one to discuss with the psychologist in the future. Dreams don't usually last this long? Not to mention it follows a fairly steady linear progression.
"Come to my chambers, untie him Tanner and then...bring us wine and food." M ordered Tanner and he did as she commanded.
The Queen's apartments were at the far end of the compound with a view of a garden. A servant brought a bowl of water which Tanner washed the grime from the road from his face and hands. I did the same, pouring the water over my head to rinse all this hair I suddenly had. My actions made M's brows go up in surprise at my appearance once all the dirt and blood was removed.
"I don't think you are as you seem Sir?"
"Bond, James Bond. Or in the Norwegian language Jakob Bóndi your majesty." I bow low to her showing her respect and making her feel that I'm not the savage she believes me to be. "From London...Lundenwic, your majesty."
"That area is in Wessex, or is it Mercia now? It is very close to the border of those two lands and an old Roman settlement which each of those kings fights over. We've a recent treaty with the King of Wessex to help defeat you heathens. Yet, I no longer get the impression that you are a heathen. If you are Saxon as you claim...what were you doing with a Viking raiding party?"
I racked my brain trying desperately to remember my English history and not screw this up. I do not know what I can use as an excuse but I have to think of something because this M, was as lovely and intelligent as my own.
Maybe I can become part of her personal guard and household? I would have the luxury of being close to her like never before and again keep Silva away from her. Over the fireplace a reflection drew my attention. A metal orb sat...I've seen it before….before this dream took over.
M's office! Tanner and Eve were there...and the orb lit up and made a noise.
Tanner hit me upside the head as I just stared across the table at M with my mouth hanging open. I wondered if any other men, than Silva tried to gain her favour and entertain her in bed. Were affairs with younger men a thing in this day and age? Christ...with her...likely.
I suppose it could become me if this was all just my dream and I guided it there. We drink and eat, all the while sizing each other up. I can see that she was still disturbed by what Silva had said to her in the hall.
The Queen was as alert and inquisitive as my M. I don't think that women of this time were that involved in politics but I'm likely wrong. Knowing M, even as a Dowager Queen, she would be heavily involved with her country.
The wine warmed me as I become dizzy and then the world dissolved.
I awoke in a large bed with M beside me in nothing but a shift dress. Her long hair hung down as she brushed it out, while sitting propped up against the headboard beside me. The sun beaming through the drapes around the bed casting her in a golden light. It's morning? The entire evening was forgotten...or I just jumped in this lucid dream.
M was so beautiful that she took my breath away.
M looked amazing and sexy like this, but perhaps any chance to see close to me in the morning would move me so. I've made her younger in this dreamscape just to bring her closer to me but I thought her beyond intriguing when she was 60, seeing her as 40 made little difference about how I felt about her.
I realized that in this day and age she would have been a teen when she had married and gave birth to the princes. Silva or Steed...whatever his name was, wanted to marry her and I cannot let that happen. I wiped the sleep from my eyes as I continued to stare at her.
"Damn it...M...what happened?"
M smiled at me and laughed. Bloody hell...I really wanted to remember this! Better yet...I want to do it again...and again.
"How are they Dr. Ross?"
"Q what is going on? They should be awake. The drug has run its course but there is no sign of them coming out of this sleep trance. It has been over five hours of heavy deep REM sleep and that is not normal."
"I've been changing the frequency of the object to try to bring them out of it faster but the opposite seems to have happened. I don't think they are in too much risk but…"
"But what?"
"If their dreams are real enough and something happens…"
"Like a nightmare?"
"Yes exactly like that. If they should die...it may have repercussions. There have been times of distress in several of them. I will try some more and boost the signal but the dreams may become more and more lucid for them. I hope they can find a way to guide their dreams so that nothing horrible happens."
"Mallory would like an update. What do you want me to tell him?"
"Tell him your medical diagnosis. I will continue to work on the orb and hopefully they will wake up on their own."
The problem with dreams, was that they jumped around. Regardless of how stimulated you became with the object of your affection they tend to disappear or run away. M did that to me, never allowing me to quite catch her and she finally slipped out of bed. I reached for her but she slipped away before I could pull her into a kiss at least.
I suppose it made perfect sense. I've never captured M's lips in a proper kiss, nor made love to her in reality so there was no memory to draw upon in my dream. I instantly dread, that any erotic dream with her would make her turn into some other woman and that would not do.
A bell rang. "Come now James...hurry. My son has returned."
"Where was he? I thought him just drunk in the hall...or do you mean the other son? We will have time...M come back to bed...please." I sounded desperate even to my own ears. Even if I dreaded that M might became Vesper...it was well worth a shot to try to kiss her.
She slipped a dress over her shift and regarded me curiously as she pulled the belt and quickly fixed her hair. "M?"
"I mean Queen...Majesty. I don't know your proper name here." I plead, kneeling on the bed in front of her.
"Odelyn...but you must get up before Ælla find us together. He does not like…"
"I'm hardly the first then. Well I knew you were a widow but..."
"Do not slander me sir...I do not do this lightly but you implored me such voracity after insisting on more and more wine to be shared, that I could hardly stop you."
"Oh dear god...I didn't...did I?"
"Didn't what?"
"I didn't force you did I? M...Queen Odelyn please forgive my...clumsy drunk advances. I promise...I would never do that."
"You didn't force me but you were gloriously...voracious and forceful. Just as I would expect a Viking to be. But we must keep this from Ælla if possible." M hurried her toilette, trying to make it seem like she had not just been ravaged by a Viking under her son's roof.
M smiled at me as she busied herself about the room and it made my heart soar. She liked me!
By god but I wish I could remember having made passionate love to her. I got up and started to dress in some clean clothing that M's serving woman Alice had just brought in the room.
"Not yet James...take the dressing gown and go to the bathing room with Alice."
"Where did these clothes come from?"
"Mr. Tanner donated them for you and asked that you shave and have Alice cut your hair to appear more Saxon and less...Viking."
"I will have to thank Mr. Tanner when the three of us leave this place. You haven't seen Eve have you?"
"No James...this is not my dream and you would have to insert her into this situation." M suddenly became understanding of the root problem. She was not a conspirator in this dream, along with Tanner.
"Maybe we will find her on our way north."
"In all likelihood she could be in the village and will be wherever you want her to be...like me in bed with you this morning.
"I suppose that makes as much sense and suddenly becoming a Viking."
"James...why do you think must we leave?"
"We have to get away from Silva...the minister who wants to marry you."
"Why does he concern you so?"
"He wants to take you away from me and I can't...will not let that happen!" M looked taken aback at my sudden outburst.
"I'm not opposed to the idea...I hate the man. I'm positive he killed his wife just to marry me. It is unlikely that I can give him any children and he has three already so I don't understand why he murdered her for me."
"I'm sorry M...your majesty but he is absolutely obsessed with you. I will kill him before we leave so that we don't have to worry."
"No! If you do that James...my sons will insist you are killed and I cannot bear to think of such a thing." M's concern warmed my heart.
"Fine but you do not leave my side until we can depart. Have Tanner gather supplies and we will leave tonight."
"At night? No one leaves at night for fear of Viking raiders."
"You forget my love, I am a Viking raider." I realise suddenly that I just admitted to M that I love her...in my dream not to her but it was a truth to myself that I had never really wanted to admit before now.
"But you claim you are Saxon...from Londinium?"
"I am descended from Viking raiders, many Scots are. They raided and raped their way up and down the coasts for generations."
"We go to Scotland?"
"Yes for now...until Q can pull me out of this dream. I wonder if my real M is dreaming of me?"
"I'm sure I am. I mean; if the way we get along so well here is any indication we are lovers."
I cannot ask as Alice took me from M's chambers down a back narrow corridor that looked barely used.
It opened up to a room with a large pool. There are other servants her putting boiling water in the pool. Alice hands off the clothing to me and goes back to M. The door opened and a woman entered carrying some food for me.
I look up to see the face of our one mission player in this dream fiasco that we are living in. "Eve!"
"James...I'm ordered to get you ready. Bill said that your arrival has moved up the time table."
"Time table for what?" Now I'm getting confused. Eve is wearing a pencil skirt a blouse and high heels just as she was in London. She looked oddly out of place here in the dank of this underground pool.
"Hurray get clean and I will help you shave."
I did and within seconds of getting in the cool bathwater I cleaned myself. I got out and sat on a low stool as Eve worked her magic on my once more with a straight blade. Like before...I stared at her cleavage and smirked at her.
"This is a nice dream."
"I'll bet and where did you run through hidden corridors from James? Who's bed did you just climb out of? You know deep down...you may flirt with me but you have only ever wanted me as your friend. Your heart is lost to another."
Suddenly I cannot meet her eyes. "Yes. And Eve I enjoy having you as a trusted friend."
"I like that too James. I find it quite mature that you're openly admitting this to yourself. To add sex between us would take away from what you've always needed. A solid platonic relationship with a woman."
Tanner burst into the room wearing clothing of the period. "Hurray...get ready. The King want to see you now!"
I managed with help to get outfitted and follow Tanner to meet the King. "Will M be in attendance?"
"She will...and he knows what you did. Steed will want you dead for this Bond."
"Fine! I'll duel him for her."
"It may not be that simple if the King wants you dead too."
"Get horses and everything ready with Eve, Tanner we leave tonight for Scotland and Silva will be dead...again."
To be continued...