PLEASE READ
If you haven't noticed the rating has been changed to M. So please if you can't read this…leave now. This story will now feature: Gruesome violence, language, intimate relationships between two women. If it's illegal or you're underage…bye.
There has also been a big time jump. For several reasons:
-Germans married around the age of early 20s…so our ladies are now of marriageable age
-I wanted to get into the midst of the historical aspect of the story…so now we are around the time of events leading up to the Battle of the Cataluain Plains.
This means I need a disclaimer: I don't own anyone from the TV Show Rizzoli and Isles, or from history. This is a fictional take on historical events and not meant to offend anyone of German, Celtic, Roman or Hunnic heritage.
Please feel free to google or read up on the battle. Interesting story.
Historical Note:
"They therefore live in a state of chastity well secured; corrupted by no seducing shows and public diversions, by no irritations from banqueting. Of learning and of any secret intercourse by letters, they are all equally ignorant, men and women"- Tacitus
Germanic cultures were crazily celibate until marriage. No one was to have "intimate" knowledge until the wedding night. This included sexual dances or gestures. They were to be completely ignorant of sex. This was due to the fact it was believed a warrior was able to focus more on gaining knowledge of warfare without a woman. Those who held out on marriage the longest were the lauded. To have an intimate relationship before marriage or at a young age was frowned upon.
"Their wounds and maims they carry on to their mothers or to their wives...To their husbands and sons whilst engaged in battle they administer mean and encouragement" - Tacitus
Women were held in high regard. They often waited at the sidelines of battle cheering on their men, and afterwards tended to their husband's or son's wounds. A woman was a warrior's helper, sharpening his swords and knew her place at his side. She would bring him weapons upon their wedding day. He often paid a dowry for her hand….cattle, swords, shields, spears etc...basically he gave weapons galore for her.
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Chapter Six
449 A.D.
Open Plain
West of the Wesser River
The metallic flavor was on her tongue before Jane even felt the blood pouring down face. She dry heaved as she picked herself off the ground, and the pain radiated from her nose to her temple as she righted herself on the battle field. This brute was twice her size, and while he couldn't chase her, that last hit felt like three warriors made contact with their head.
The men had begun to encroach upon their territory with no warning, and Radulf gathered up his army to stave off the invasion. The plains they battled on was just east of their village, and there was no obvious identity as to who their attackers were. It wasn't often, but sometimes rouge clan members formed their own comitatus outside of traditional clan boundaries. With no identifying marks, Jane couldn't only guess this was the case.
There was no direct evidence as to why the man attacked her directly, but she knew he must have felt insulted by having a woman on his battle field. He was the biggest fighter she'd seen since this battle started and he ignored Radulf, the one who should have been the first target. Within seconds his forearm was across her face, and her nose made an audible cracking sound.
Jane quickly dropped back down and rolled to the left, dodging a foot that was definitely meant finish what the warrior's forearm started. She jumped up, ignoring the pain, and managed to catch his sword's strike with her own. Her shield was no where to be seen, and another strike like the first and she would be down for good.
"Son of a…" she muttered, as the man pressed harder with his sword, a smirk on his face. He grinned as the pressure against her sword increased and her own blade was fast approaching her neck. The well practiced parrying of swords and quick stab to the gut were out of the question. She couldn't even get close to the hulking warrior. His biceps were as big as her head and he dwarfed her.
He reeled back read to stab at her again, and Jane dropped to the ground, sliding between the giant's legs and came up around the back. Thoughts jumbled as she searched for a weak spot, but her own stomach curled at the obvious choice. A candle went on as she remembered a conversation from earlier that week. Reaching around, Jane gave two quick, deep, angled slashes to the both upper thighs before kicking out the giant's knees.
She let out a howl of victory as the giant man collapsed to his knees, blood draining from his thighs like the Wesser. Maura hadn't been exaggerating about the amount of blood lost in a few seconds. Jane wasted no time and quickly drew her blade across the warrior's throat before moving on to find her next victim.
Radulfs war cry could be heard across the distance as he rallied his men in the battle. This was Jane's second battle as a one who shared that closeComitatus relationship with the man, and he was fierce. The mercy he'd shown in practice and training, was long gone, and only the drive of one protecting his clan remained. She glanced off to the side, seeing her mother and Maura among the women watching the battle. The presence of women at wartime hadn't made sense for her until now. For some reason the sight of the blonde cheering sent a surge of determination through her veins. She was protecting her home, and her family.
Jane could feel the smirk breaking out on her face as she ran headlong into the battle, her blade clashing against her unknown opponent. She twisted around and landed a clean strike against the soldier's back. The deep gash drew blood, and with a single blow she finished him. Her father was also somewhere on the battlefield and Jane prayed that Teiwaz would take care of him as she sliced her way through another one the enemy members.
A howl of victory caught the battered woman's attention, as a dismembered head was raised in the air upon a framm.
"Behold, your leader!" Radulf's voice range out. The usual honor Radulf showed for an opponent was gone without reason. Cowardice ran rampant as some of the enemy men broke their vow and began to turn away from what was obviously a losing battle. Others did their duty and fell upon their own framms with the death of their leader.
"Jane!" she could hear her father's voice behind her as she pulled her sword from the body in front of her. The warriors were all returning to their women along the sidelines and Jane was no different. She glanced among the crowd of women holding water and meat, searching for the dark blonde head. She looked and saw her father approaching her mother, but Maura was not where she'd been.
"I was worried there for a moment," a silky voice with a Greek accent said from behind the female warrior. Jane grinned and thanked Oden internally as she turned around to see the blond holding a stone jug with water.
"About?" Jane said as she drank from the jug and sat down on the grass in front of the smaller woman, dropping her sword and shield onto the ground.
"That man was three times bigger than you." Jane just shrugged as the blonde ran a wet cloth across her face, trying to get a clear picture of the damage. The dark warrior didn't flinch as the healer steadied her face and gently touched her nose. Jane was no stranger to facial damage, and dark spots along the edge of her eyes were becoming common place.
"One of these days you are going to have to explain to me how you do that."
"Do what?" the warrior gritted out as Maura snapped her nose back into place.
"Manage to not get killed," the blond sighed. "I may need that skill one day."
"Naw, no you won't. That's what I'm here for. To make sure you don't get killed." Jane sat still as Maura rubbed salve on her hands. The same steady hands that rearranged her nose, were now just as gentle as they ran across open wounds along her knuckles and cracked skin on her palm.
"I see," Maura said with an arched eyebrow, pulling clean bandages from a sack.
Even several meters over, Jane could hear her mother nagging her father about the dangers he was in and how it was going to kill her.
"Thanks for saving me form that," Jane pointed at her parents. "I think the risk of one of her rants is worse than that giant that attacked me."
Maura giggled as she put her medicines in her bag. She did what she could at the battle site, but nothing more was going to be done till they were back at the village. After Jane's last battle, she'd asked Maura to step in to her mother's place on the battlelines. Typically it was a mother or a wife to perform those duties, but Jane wasn't like most warriors in that she didn't have a wife, and anyone who knew Angela could feel sympathy for the warrior. With Maura almost always treating Jane's wounds resulting from practice, she could find no reason now to help. This was no different, except that she had to deal with watching her best friend get attacked by warriors three-times her size and with real intention to cause harm.
She handed Jane a small sack filled with meat and cheese as they joined the group that was on their way back to the village.
"Jane, Maura," the blonde heard a voice she was all too familiar with and looked up to see Casey and Crowe heading in their direction. Casey waved as he called over, apparently not noticing Crowe's foul mood as he was within Jane's immediate presence.
"Nice work Janie," Casey said siding up to the woman. "That lug looked like he could pick you up and use you for a toothpick.
"Why would he want to use another person to clean his teeth?" Maura asked in all seriousness, "Not that he'd be able to, but even if he could she was covered in blood and dirt and would obviously…"
"Maura…Really?" Jane cut her off with a raised eyebrow and a laugh. Maura simply stared back and Jane knew she was going to have to explain. "I'll explain later."
"When did you two get married?" Crowe asked with a glare before either woman could address Casey's statement. "This my first time hearing about it."
"Married?" Maura asked.
"Ignore him, lets go," Jane grabbed Maura's arm and tugged her along, away from the two warriors.
"Are you saying you aren't married, because if not, why is she out here with the rest of the women. Last time I checked your mother is perfectly capable of handling your injuries and hunger."
"Oh that," Maura said with a smile, "No. Jane just doesn't want to deal with her mother, so I figured I could step in and…"
"…And what, play her wife? That is highly inappropriate. You two up to something? Something the rest of us should no about? Something Radulf should know about?" Jane stopped walking at the mention of Radulf and turned abruptly, dropping Maura's arm and replacing it with the front of Crowe's bloodied tunic.
"You got something you wanna accuse me of Crowe, because if you do, act like a real warrior and do it in the council," she spat, pulling the other warrior within a centimeter of her face. "Otherwise shut your mouth or learn to use a spear. I'm surprised you've lasted as long as you have, and you wouldn't dare last in a battle for honor against me."
"Hey, no need for this," Casey said placing his hand on Jane's, which still had a death grip on Crowe's tunic. "Crowe leave her alone. Jane, he is just being Crowe, you know how it is."
"Yeah," she said darkly, dropping her grip. "I know." Jane turned back around, grabbed Maura's arm again and walked back to the village.
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Maura watched Jane's eating and pacing as she and Angela prepared the meat Franco had brought in from hunting. The blonde had noticed the woman's rapidly increasing irritation since yesterday's return from battle and wasn't sure of the cause.
She studied the female warrior as she cut what little vegetables she had, to cook along with the meat. Every time she bothered to help Angela in meal preparation, she was sure to add something green among the various meats, breads and cheeses that made up the larger portion of the meal.
"Dear God, would you stop pacing like that! What is wrong with you?" Maura suddenly yelled from her position on the ground.
"Can you believe him? He…He had the nerve to accuse me of being improper. As if I would do something to dishonor Radulf. A man who went out of his way to train me. To give me a chance to be a warrior. How could that cowardly…"
"Jane. Why are you still upset about that? He said it. Its over with. Everyone who knows you, knows that you would not engage in any shameful acts."
"Besides we all know you are going to marry Casey," Angela added while slicing meats.
"Casey? Ma what are you talking about?"
"What? I'm just saying. I just wish you would hurry up with it. I swear Tommy will be married before you."
"I'm not old ma. I just have things I have to do before I decide to get married."
"Well you're not doing them. I swear Maura has only been here what….5 winters and she can shine a sword, and prepare a meal better than I've ever seen. How do you expect to care for a warrior if you won't take that the time too…"
"Ma! I am a warrior," Jane said pointing at herself. "What makes you think that I plan on not attending battle if I'm married?" Maura herself turned around to glance when she heard the level of agitation in Jane's voice. If Jane had been upset at Crowe's comments, she was now furious at her mother's.
"Jane, please," Maura pleaded. "I'm sure Angela didn't mean it like that. Perhaps Casey shall be the one to shine your sword and heal your wounds after battle." Maura giggled at her own comment. The thought of Casey performing such duties brought several chuckles. Unfortunately the chuckles were all form her.
"Not funny Maura," Jane fumed.
"What do you mean you'll be attending battle?" Angela practically yelled. "How will you carry children while risking your life? Such a thing is an affront. Life is sacred and you will not risk harm to an unborn in a war!"
"Well then I guess I won't be having any children."
"How dare you say such a thing? To a man more descendants mean more honor. Shall you dishonor your own father by not producing heirs?!"
Maura could see Jane's jaw visibly tighten at the mention of her father. It was no secret that Jane worshiped the ground Franco walked on. It was also no secret that as the oldest, Jane was expected to marry and have children first.
Franco walked in on the tense scene, only to have Jane hurry out past him the moment he entered.
"What happened?" he said.
Maura jumped up from the spot she had been occupying and placed a gentle hand on Angela's shoulder.
"I'll go talk to her," she said and rushed out the door.
There was no secret as to where Jane would be. As Maura made her way across the field that was behind Radulf's dwelling she could see Jane practicing her movements with her sword. The blonde paused for a moment to watch in awe as the warrior enacted deadly movements with nothing but a dancer's grace. Jane was beautiful with and without a sword, but with it she exuded a sense of power along with that beauty. It was no wonder Casey was smitten with her. It seemed Jane was the only one who didn't know about the man's feelings.
"Jane!" she yelled so as not to startle her as she got closer. "I'd ask if you were ok but…I prefer for you to keep thinking of me as smart."
"Hmmm," Jane said with a slight laugh. "I'm alright. I just had to get away. All that talk or marriage and children….I just couldn't handle it."
"I bet. But we are of that age. People will begin expecting us to..."
"But why?" Jane cut her off with a yell and thrust of her sword into the ground. "I don't understand why. I'm happy just the way I am. I bring honor to my family by fighting beside our clan leader; by protecting this village."
"I know Jane," Maura softened her voice. "And no one is telling you that you have to stop fighting right now. I'm sure Casey will wait for a long…."
"Casey!" the warrior yelled throwing her hands up in the air. "Why does everyone expect me to marry him?"
"Because next to you he is the best unmarried warrior in the clan," Maura said incredulously. "Your children would be strong, skilled…no doubt excellent warriors themselves. It is only natural to expected that two strong skilled warriors would produce strong skilled children. Not to mention that he is nothing but obvious in his affections toward you."
"What?"
"Have you not looked in his eyes when he is near you? His pupils are dilated, his speech is rapid and unclear. Not to mention he defends you to his best friend."
"Goddess Fraujō, why have you done this to me?" Jane's face was crestfallen as if someone had told her a close friend died. She knelled on the grass and covered her face, shaking her head back and forth as if doing so what make Maura take back what she had said.
"Are you not happy that he is interested?"
"Do I look happy to you?"
"Well not really. I mean you look as if you're going to be sick, but I've known that sometimes excitement can cause stomach issues…"
"No Maur, I'm not happy," she said answering her own question. "Do you honestly think I want to be that man's wife? To sit and wait for him at the side of the battle. To clean and sharpen his weapons, knowing I shall never wield one again. How could you think that I want to be with him?" Maura wanted to cry at the look that Jane gave her. Jane rarely became upset at anything. Her foremost emotions were irritation and anger, typically coming to the forefront in the form of sarcasm and violence respectively. Maura had only been the object of sarcasm and teasing.
"I didn't know," the blond said. "I know you never mentioned it, but so many people just said it I thought it was a foregone conclusion."
"Well its not," Jane nearly whispered. "I can't…I just…I can't…I…"
Maura quickly dropped down to the ground beside Jane, not even thinking of her clothes, and wrapped an arm around her friend. She placed her head on the thin shoulder. It was a rare occasion to lean her head on Jane without the bulk of armor that usually covered her.
"I'm sorry," she whispered directly into the long wild hair that tickled her nose. "I should have known better to assume anything when it comes to you."
Jane didn't respond, but Maura could see the woman's calloused right hand running up and down her left arm, scratching at the still visible scar. She exhaled deeply and then turned around so that she was sitting face to face with Jane on the grass. She grimaced briefly at the thought of washing the stains out of her peplos, but disregarded the thought immediately. This was not time to be thinking about her clothes.
"Tell me Jane, what's bothering you. What do you want?"
"I want to be who I am. I want to be a warrior."
"You are a warrior honey. You are the best there is…next to Radulf of course."
"But I want to stay a warrior Maura!" Jane said looking up into the hazel eyes for the first time. "I don't want to have to change who I am just to honor my father. I definitely don't want to marry Casey. I don't want to….I don't want to marry a warrior. And I don't want to marry some stupid coward of a man who was too weak to pick up a framm in the first place."
"Well that certainly limits your options," Maura said.
"I know. I just…I know Ma is counting on me to get married and have kids. And everyone expects it. I'm 22 winters Maura. If I don't…don't have a family… I'll be a disgrace." Jane stuttered out, her eyes falling to the ground.
"Hey," Maura said lifting her face again, staring into the dark eyes. "If it comes to it, I will marry you."
"Huh...w-what?"
"I said I'll marry you."
"Funny," Jane said with a snort.
"What…you saying I'm not a good enough wife," Maura asked, getting indignant. "I'll have you know your mother and Constance say that I am an excellent cook and seamstress, not to mention I already sharpen your blades when you can't."
"No, No, No. I'm not insulting you. I believe you would be an excellent wife to someone. Just…nothing."
"What? Tell me."
"We'd be married."
"Okay? That's the point. I mean, sure children might be an issue, but Radulf took me in, I see no reason why we couldn't do that same…"
"No. I know that, but like….we'd…we'd….be together…ya know…together. Are you ok with that?"
Maura frowned for a moment before a sly grin erupted on her face.
"Why Jane…are you asking me about sex?"
"Maura," the warrior yelled, putting her hand on the blonde's mouth. "Don't say that. It's not proper. But yes that is what I meant."
"Of course I am," Maura laughed. She wiggled her eyebrows with a grin and leaned in to whisper, her eyes bright, but intensely focused as she looked Jane directly in the eyes. "Contrary to you all, we Greeks know all about that. There is nothing between two women that wouldn't be pleasurable and fullf-"
"Whoa!" Jane cut her off. "Great Maur,...great." Jane quickly stood up and pulled her sword from where it was stuck in the grass.
"What?" Maura said with a head tilt.
"I'm feeling a lot better now," Jane said with a large, but obviously fake smile. "Let's just forget this conversation even happened. I'll find a great man someday and you will…well we know you have options for days. No need for us to even talk about this."
"But I thought…,"Maura started standing up and dusting off her peplos.
"Nope, no thinking. Were fine. You're fine. I'm fine." Jane put her arm around Maura and started leading her back to the house. "Everything is fine."
Neither woman noticed the warrior standing at the edge of the field watching the two women laugh and lean into each other as they walked.
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Jane twisted her neck left and right as she sat on the edge of her bed. Maura had been raving about deep breathing, relaxation and stretching before sleep. While Jane had initially discarded the idea, she'd tried it and it worked for helping her sleep. No, she didn't go through all the rituals Maura had mentioned, but it was enough to leave her limber and ready to rest.
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Jane stared at the ceiling. Her breathing exercises weren't working tonight, which was usual in itself. It had to be the stress of the recent battles, the numerous marriages that were happening right after each other, and the fact that Casey kept trying to get her alone to talk. She wiggled her fingers and toes, hoping to release the excess energy.
The sound of footsteps alerted her to someone outside her door. She looked down to see the shadows moving under the door, illuminated easily by the moonlight. She reached over for her sword, grasping the hilt as the shadow moved closer to her door. No one would be stupid enough to come into her room directly…would they?
The door creaked open and Jane couldn't exhale as confusion assaulted her.
"Maura what are you doing sneaking in here in the middle of the night?," Jane asked in a whisper as the blonde shut the door and made her way over to where she had sat up straight in the bed. "Not to mention I want to know how you even got out of your house without anyone seeing you. Do you know how much trouble you could be in sneaking out…"Jane stopped talking as Maura placed a finger on her lips and smiled. That strange smile with a head tilt that she would give when she was thinking something mischievous.
"What?" Jane whispered.
Maura didn't say anything but bent her head so that she was mere breaths away form Jane, her hazel eyes more intense and focused than Jane had ever seen. The brunette didn't say anything, but swallowed hard as she could guess where this was going. Somewhere it definitely shouldn't.
"Maura I think…," Jane couldn't finish her sentence as Maura closed the distance, pressing her lips lightly at first but with ever increasing pressure. The blond never said a word as she used her light weight to press Jane back into the barely there mattress that made up her bed. The smaller woman's lips were insistent as the massaged Jane's, taking control. Small, gentle hands moved up to thread into the wild black hair, lifting Jane's head off the mattress and closer to hers. Jane felt it once, then twice as the blonde's tongue ran along the edge of her lips. The warrior hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth, letting the tongue slid inside and against her own.
She hadn't felt anything like this before. As Maura moved her tongue against Jane's it was if it was moving inside a lower region of her body. Each stroke of Maura's tongue, stoked a fire that was burning at the pit of her stomach and seemed to be traveling lower. She could feel an odd sort of energy begin to make its way around her body, concentrating at her breasts and between her thighs where she felt empty, as if she needed something to complete her. She just couldn't identify what the something was.
Maura slowly drew her lips away from Jane, and along the side of her face and down her neck. Small kisses were peppered at the bottom of the neck, where it met her shoulder and Jane's breathing deepened. She glanced at the door, surprised that no one came to check on her with how loud her breathing was.
She pulled Maura back up, crushing her lips against the blonde's again, before using her own body weight to turn them over. She found her own hands wandering, sliding up the barely there strophion and across the breasts that were easily felt beneath the fabric.
"By Oden Maura…you are beautiful," she whispered. The woman didn't speak, but smiled as she pulled Jane back down, kissing her deeply. There was no wait or hesitation this time as their tongues dance within Maura's mouth.
Jane wasn't sure where it was coming from, but she found her hips moving of her own accord as she kissed the blonde. With each thrust, an almost painful pleasure shot through her body, and she craved more. Her hips sped up, and she didn't know how, but that fire that was stoked was now burning full blast.
"Maura…what are you doing to me?" she moaned as the last thrust of her hips seemed to go straight to the base of her spine. Maura's hands moved up Jane's back and into her hair, pulling the brunette down so that their bodies touched fulled. Jane could feel kisses being places on her neck, cheek and up towards her ear.
"Please," she heard Maura whisper. "Please….Jane." At the sound of those words, the sensations that had been moving through her body seemed to increase ten-fold, to a point where she felt she'd die. That empty ache she felt inside seem to get bigger, and burn with a need she couldn't explain.
"Please Jane…I love you."
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Jane opened her eyes, confused and disoriented as she looked around her bed for her best friend. She wasn't there. An odd ache was present between her legs and beat of her heart increased that ache and Jane was at a lost as to how to sedate it. She felt warm, wet and restless. But more than anything she felt confused.
"What the hell was that?" she asked the empty room.