Apologies: Had some issues in real life. One's that involve homophobes and violent threats. Been dealing with police and lawyers. Ugh.

This chapter is a bit longer than usual

Author's Note: Germanic Warfare usually was just to capture resources, not take over territory. My apologies for any historical inaccuracies in this chapter. I just wanted to make a point about the time in history. I don't know if I mentioned this before, but without a leader, most attacking clans would stop and disband. To live when your leader died was….horrible. It was a disgrace.

"The purpose of these was generally not to gain territory, but rather to capture resources and secure prestige…Leaders of unusual personal magnetism could gather more soldiers for longer periods, but there was no systematic method of gathering and training men, so the death of a charismatic leader could mean the destruction of an army"-Wikipedia

"In the day of battle, it is scandalous to the Prince to be surpassed in feats of bravery, scandalous to his followers to fail in matching the bravery of the Prince. But it is infamy during life, and indelible reproach, to return alive from a battle where their Prince was slain."-Tacitus

Chapter Six

449 A.D.

Chatti Village

West of the Wesser River

Chapter 8

The sun shined especially bright this morning as Jane sat outside her dwelling, sharpening the edges of her blade. Maybe the sun wasn't especially brighter, but something made her feel it was. She'd looked at the stone she took from her father and concentrated as she smoothed it along her sword. She was going to meet Casey out in the field, and with any luck Crowe would be there and she would accidentally drive the end of the weapon into him.

Maura hadn't been happy about finding her sharpening her own sword this morning. The blonde had always done it for her on mornings she had practice. She also turned her away when she wanted to help Angela with breakfast. It was hard to keep the smile off her face when the blonde healer started to pout about suddenly being left out, but it was for the best. She'd tell Maura everything after speaking with her father. In a few days it wouldn't matter. Maura could sharpen her weapons and cook as much as she wanted.

She hadn't heard anything from her mother when she woke regarding the accusations, so hopefully no one had said anything. In fact, she was sure no one had. If her mother had even an inkling of such a word, Jane would not have heard the end of it. She'd still be in the kitchen listening to her mother rattle on about how Jane worried her and how she was never going to be able to show her face. The warrior smiled to herself as she thought of how her mother would feel once she knew she was going to get married. Her mother often referred to Maura as the daughter she never had, seeing as how she was willing to learn while Jane ran from the hearth faster than a scared rabbit. Yeah, her mother would be happy to make it official.

Jane wiped a cloth along her blade, thinking of whether Casey would be upset about the accusations last night, and what she should tell him. Apparently everyone thought he had feelings for her, and if that were true, there was no telling how he was going to be this morning. Sheathing her sword and taking two framms, she walked toward the open field they often practiced at. Casey was already there thrusting his sword at an invisible opponent and dodging from attacks that didn't exist. He had basic good form, but he lacked any fluidity in his movements, making it jerky and easy to anticipate.

"You should try to move with your blade, not against it."

"What?" he said stopping his practice to smile at the approaching warrior.

"Move with your blade. Even after all these years, you don't treat it like it's an extension of your body. Yeah you have strength and good form, but still treat it like a tool. Like a weapon."

"It is a weapon Jane."

"No its part of you." Jane pulled her sword out and slashed at the air with little effort, moving her body with sword, her arm only extending so far. She stopped, grinning at Casey.

"What's your point?"

"I haven't gotten even the smallest bit tired because I don't work against my sword. I move with it…it doesn't take as much strength for me to attack as it would you. You'd tired out twice as fast as I would."

"No I wouldn't"

"Prove it." Jane lunged at the man without warning and proceeded to make obvious attacks on his person. For his part it took less than a second him to raise his sword in defense. The woman's movements were rapid and seemed to be coming from all directions at once, though he knew it was impossible. He parried each thrust, the metal of the swords clashing every second. First up, then down, then at his middle. He had no idea which direction she was coming for. Luckily she wasn't as strong, and strength was something he has in spades.

Each time he parried, he put extra force into each blow, and although she still attacked, she wasn't able to back him up anymore. She moved back a step, and that was when Casey knew he had her. He drove forward, no longer on the defense, sending slow, but massive blows in her direction. Jane seemed to easily anticipate where he was going, but couldn't keep from moving back as pure force was applied.

It seemed what she lacked, he had. His weakness in speed was compensated as each blow was used to make up for the slowness of his attack. He reeled to strike again, when the thin target disappeared. Momentarily startled, he heard the blow before he felt it, as the hilt of her sword struck him in the back.

"I win." she said gasping for air. "Teiwaz's wrath…you didn't take it easy huh?"

"You insulted my skills, had to make you pay for it." He wiped off his brow with the sleeve of his tunic. "So…."

"So…" this was the part she was dreading.

"Are you going to get buried?"

"What?" she said thrown of by his question. "Buried in what?"

"You know…because of what Crowe said at the assembly. Is Radulf taking it seriously?" Jane shook her head, settling down onto the grass.

"No I'm not going to get buried, hung or even whipped. I'm fine."

"Good. I can't believe he accused you of that," Casey said. "I mean, I've seen you with Maura and I wouldn't think you two were like that. I honestly feel that Crowe was just mad that you embarrassed him in public." Jane nodded.

"Well I told Radulf that I would never dishonor him in that way."

"Of course."

"He asked me if I wanted to marry Maura." Casey laughed at the question, pure mirth in his eyes, until he realized he was the only one laughing. Jane kept her eyes on his, hoping he could see the seriousness of her statement.

"And….you told him…"

"Yes," she said. The change was abrupt. Casey cleared his throat and Jane could see the little movements along his jaw. Whether they were in anger or shock she couldn't tell. Unlike Maura, who seemed to be able to pinpoint a person's emotions from just a glance, Jane couldn't read faces. She only noticed "upset" "happy" and "fine". Any other extensions were lost on her.

"Wow," he said his voice dropping. "What did Radulf say?"

"That he wouldn't object as long as I followed tradition," Jane leaned back on her hands, wanting to distance her self as much as possible from the warrior. "I am going to talk to my father this afternoon. I have a feeling her price will be quite high and I don't know how we are going to afford it." Stick to the facts. Avoid any feelings.

"I didn't know you and Maura were…were…I guess it was obvious now that I think about it. I mean...she was…she did things…" he wasn't able to finish a sentence. Jane knew Maura would pinpoint this as a form of denial. Not saying things out loud was a way to keep them from being real.

"Yeah. Well I didn't think it was possible for us to marry. So we never did anything. I haven't told her I got Radulf's permission. I am waiting to talk to father."

"That's good. How did Crowe take it?"

"How did Crowe take what?" a voice behind them said. Jane rolled her eyes, coming to her feet to see the young warrior behind her. "Hey Jane, I'm surprised you're still here. Shouldn't you be head deep in a bog?"
Jane smiled at a man. A genuine smile, not her usual fierce smile that preceded a fist to a face.

"No Crowe. I'm not head deep in a bog," she said calmly. "Actually I want to thank you. And I mean honestly thank you."

"What for?"

"Well thanks to you, Radulf gave me his blessing." There were a couple of gasps coming from the warriors standing near Crowe.

"He can't give you his blessing. You are a woman, not to mention he already gave me his."

"He is allowed to say yes to any suitable young warrior who wishes to court his daughter. When it comes down it, its Maura's decision as to whom she is going to marry. Who do you think she will pick between the two of us?"
"You cannot give her a child; give Radulf a grandson."

"Not physically no…but we'll work around that."
"Why you…"Crowe trailed off pulling his sword from his sheath. "You aren't even of this clan. You are not of our blood, nothing but the twisted, sick spawn of a serf. "

"Crowe don't test me. Your little plan didn't go well. It's done." Jane watched as Crowe's jaw tightened and she could see him grinding his teeth. Her hand went to the hilt of her sword, read to pull it at a moments notice.

"Crowe lets go," Casey stepped up from behind Jane and grabbed the other warrior by his shoulder. "Jane I'll catch you later." He said not turning around.

Facing a six foot tall warrior was nothing, but as she stood outside her father's workstation, Jane chewed on her nails. She'd been putting this conversation off for a few days. With Crowe's threat looming over her, she need to make a formal request for Maura's hand, lest she have to kill the poor warrior.

Franco was hammering away on a blade, smoothing out the hot metal and shaping it. There was no doubt her father was the best blacksmith in the clan. Even with Radulf taking quite a bit of their income for his, they kept a good enough profit. There was always someone who wanted a weapon fixed or made better or, they wanted something new. And Franco was the best. Why else would the clan leader use him?

"Father?" she said stepping from her place in shadows. He didn't seem surprised at her presence.

"You would always stand there and watch me when you were a child," answering her unasked question. "Either because you were in trouble with your mother, or angry at one of your brothers. I've come to know when you are near." He moved the sword back to the heated coals, melting the metal once more.

"You saying I can't sneak up on you?"

"I'm saying you are welcome to try, but I doubt it would be effective." he smiled never taking his eye of the sword. "So tell me, why are you watching me today? Has Franco or Thomas done something?"

"No father. They are fine. I wanted to talk to you and I…" she trailed off realizing she had no idea how to start this conversation.

Franco stopped pounding, confused as his eldest child held a look on her face he hadn't seen in years. She ran her hand up and down the scar on her left arm and was biting her lip. Her face was in a frown. The fierce warrior looked scared. Gone was the confident woman he saw every day and she looked all the more like the small child who used to sit on his lap listening to stories.

Placing his tools on the bench, he wiped his hands off and approached his daughter.

"Jane?" he said, trying to keep the grin off his face. He knew it was nothing horrific, if so she was one to face her mistakes head on. No this nervousness was from something else.

"Father…" she started staring at the ground beneath her. "How did you know that you loved mother?"

"That's an interesting question," Franco said stroking his clean shaven face as if he had a beard. "She was the most beautiful woman. I had seen her attend to her brothers at battle. She cheered the loudest, was always prepared with extra food—"

"No father. Not why you wanted to marry her, but how did you know you wanted to?" Jane watched as a series of emotions went across his face.; a frown of thought, a smile and then this look of complete peace.

"You mother became my everything. We courted as we should. She began helping me as a future wife would…and then one day it hit me. It wasn't her skill as a wife that made me want her. It was her personality. She was loud and overprotective for sure, and suddenly I longed to hear that frazzled voice when I returned from battle. I would wake up in the morning and she would be what was the first thing on my mind. I wanted to hear that nagging voice that told me to eat another piece of meat when I was already full. That is when I knew." Frank watched his daughter closely, seeing her deep thought.

"Okay," she said.

"Perhaps you should be talking to your mother about this. I don't know anything about women in love."

"No if I were to talk to her, she would get too excited and ask who. All she has been talking about lately is Casey anyway and I hate to kill her hopes without giving her a replacement hope."

"So it isn't Casey?" Franco asked in surprise. "I hate to sound like your mother, but who? Crowe?"

"Wōdanaz' No!" Jane screamed. "Please don't insult me father." Franco laughed at her distress. Franco stared as his warrior daughter ran a hand through her hair. The frown deepened and the hand tracing her scarred arm was speeding up. She began to pick at the slight raise on her skin and that's when Franco knew.

"Maura…" he said quietly. It had to be. There was no one else she spoke to regularly. None of the warriors except Casey showed even the slightest interest, and he knew Radulf was not looking for a second wife.

"W-Would she be so bad?" Jane replied biting her lip and looking at the ground. "I know it isn't…it's...it isn't something that m-most people do. B-b-but I spoke to…Radulf and he…" she began only to be silence by a large hand on her shoulder, the other raising her face to his.
"I would be honored to have Maura as my daughter." Jane couldn't stop the tears that welled up in her eyes.

"I-I didn't want to dishonor you b-b-by not having sons," she said sniffling. "I need to know that….that this is okay." Franco pulled his eldest to him tightly.

"I have two other sons who will no doubt father many children. And I do not doubt you and Maura will have your own," he said directly into her ear. "I am proud of you, no matter what." Franco stepped back, struggling to keep the tears in his own eyes from falling.

"Thank you father," Jane said. "I haven't told Maura yet, but I will. Once we are able to speak with Radulf properly."

"You haven't told her? Well how do you…"

"She said she'd marry me over a wikōnago. Actually...she...never mind. You know Maura. She is nothing if not honest."

"One of the many reasons I approve of her," Franco said. "I will see if I can find time to speak with him soon. I imagine that…" Franco's words were cut off as the pounding of war drums began in the village; a call to arms. Walking to the edge of the work station, Jane glanced out to see men and women exiting their homes with confused looks on their faces.

Suddenly Radulf could be seen with a number of warriors behind him running toward the village entrance.

"Jane, Franco we have to go," Casey suddenly appeared in front of her with a frown. "Radulf has asked every willing and able man with a sword or spear to hurry."
"What's going on," she said making her way to her dwelling to grab an extra framm. "Another attack?"

"Yes. The scouts saw a large comitaus heading this way. We don't know the clan. They are heading in from the East." Casey was still fixing his armor as the three ran to catch up with the rest. "Two of our scouts were killed. The others just made it back."

Raids like this were rare, until a few months ago. Something in Jane's stomach didn't sit right. In all her years, raids occurred maybe twice a moon. This would be the fourth. And all were clans from the east. She lived for the battle, for the rush, but no matter how much she enjoyed the fight, the reasons behind these large raids had to be discovered.

The opposing warriors could be heard approaching as Radulf lead his men to a large open area east of the settlement. Jane glanced at her father. He was gripping his blade to where his knuckles were white.

"We'll finish our talk once we get rid of these men?" Jane asked with a smile.

"Of course, we need to talk about how much time you are going to spend working to pay for the costly bride you've chosen."

As Jane glanced out to the field, she was hit by the number of men heading for them. The man in front was nothing like any leader she'd seen. Radulf had no hair on his face, showing his place as a warrior. The warrior leader approaching them had a long blond beard, braided in certain parts and his hair was shaggy. Nothing respectful.

"Kill them," Radulf spoke. "They are here to take over, to disrespect us. Show no mercy." Jane didn't dare ask how her lord knew this, but if he said so, it was to be done.

There was no rest in between strikes as the two sides battled. The moment one warrior fell, it seemed as if there was another to take his place. Jane could feel the pain radiating through her arms as she struggled to keep up with the oncoming attackers. They weren't particularly big or strong, but the number was astounding.

Never one to keep up with the sacrifices to the gods, she found herself mumbling to Teiwaz for strength.

Jane landed on her back, as the latest warrior sent her flying with a hit of the hilt of his sword to her chest. She rolled over quickly, ignoring the nausea, avoiding the blade that was meant for her head. She sent out her leg, tripping the man, and driving her blade through his neck, partially severing the head from his body.

Most attacking clans were no more than 100 warriors, if that, but this force was at least double, explaining Radulf's call for all men to aid. Jane ran forward, clashing her blade with another warrior looking to invade. If what the scouts had heard was true, they weren't looking to raid...they were looking to take over their land; to take their women, their herds, their settlement.

Counter, strike, counter, kill

Her movements were precise, cutting through each opponent with ease, but she could feel herself slowing down.

Strike. The sharpened blade moved through the flesh, as if bone didn't exist. Stopping one from a never-ending line of strong warriors

Defend

Jane moved backwards on the battle field, as the number of warriors approaching her tripled. Her hand gripped the hilt tightly as she aimed for her opponent's neck. Misjudging his aim, she felt it. The metal slicing into her shoulder.

Fall back

Jane knew when she was outnumbered, and the five men approaching her was too much, especially when one of her arms was only good for defense. She grabbed a shield, and held it with her injured arm, using it to fend off blows as she backed up, looking for assistance.

Casey, was nearby, dispatching enemies with a swiftness he hadn't used against her earlier in the day. He too was being surrounded.

She continued moving as fast as she could towards the center of the battle. The ache in her arm was fading to a dull throb as her thoughts sped up, looking for a solution. There had to be a way to stop this. Even with all the men in her village carrying arms, there were too many.

Cut off the head

Maura's voice echoed in her mind. When they had discussed the last attack, Maura mentioned it was cutting the head off the snake. Although the snake would move and continue on, there was no purpose, no way for it to see direction. That was how an army was without its leader.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Jane glanced around the field, looking for the large man she'd seen when they first attacked. He was going to be easy to spot with his long blonde beard, odd for a distinguished warrior.

Throwing, her shield at the warriors who were attacking her, Jane grabbed a sword from a down body and ran in the direction of the battle with a fury. There was no way she was going to let a band of mixed warriors take over her home. To kill her family. To take her woman.

One thing having an injured arm for years did, was build up the muscles in her right arm. She had fewer defenses without the shield, but being able to work the two weapons, she took down enemies quickly. As she crossed the plain, the sound of metal on metal and wet flesh filled her ears along with the pounding of her heart. Grunts and groans flowed through the air as men tore at each other, ripping each other apart.

Jane blocked the blow of an oncoming axe with her blade, kicking the attacker down and stabbing him through the chest as another warrior came on. With the hilt of her sword to his face, he fell to the ground, his head removed immediately.

The tall man she'd seen earlier stood in the center of the field, taking down her clan brothers with a finesse she'd only seen from Radulf. His moves were fluid as he used a sword, unlike the framm or axe most of his men wielded.

She didn't know the boy whom he was attacking, and she didn't care. He was hers.

Jane ran between the two with a loud growl, her sword catching his keeping him from slicing into the young warrior that was in front of him. He kicked at his abdomen, causing him to back away from the boy. Swinging with her stronger arm, she spun around, catching only his shield as he grinned at her with each strike. She twirled the two swords in her hands, striking with her right ,then left, then right, chopping at him, moving him backwards. As her right handed sword moved toward his neck, his shield came up, striking her in the face sending stumbling back. He lunged at her, hitting the dirt as she dropped to the ground and rolled behind him, placing a kick to his backside.

She smiled the same as he did, twirling her swords with an arch of her eyebrow, feeling the lust of the battle hit her. Again and again his sword hit against hers, and she found herself backing up. His fist caught against her left eye, leaving her on the back with a large blade flying toward her head. Dodging it, she caught the man by his legs, sending him falling towards the dirt.

An axe from a different warrior barely missed her face as she stood, turning around quickly to slice through the random attacker.

It burned.

The framm pierced through her abdomen from behind, the head of the spear coming out from the other side. Jane glanced down to see the long handle attached to the head, protruding from her. She felt her knees give out, as the warm blood began spilling from the exit wound. The large warrior smiled as he approached her with a slow stride, stroking his beard as she seemed to fall to the ground.

"A worthy opponent," the clean leader said raising the blade to finish her off.

"I know," she whispered taking the sword which lie beneath her and thrusting it into his stomach. "And our Saiwalo shall see Þunraz together." She used her waning strength to twist the blade, ensuring the blade ripped through his insides, beyond repair. Not even a healer with Maura's talents could save him.

Feeling darkness claiming her, she inhaled as deeply as she could, the pain spreading through her body.

"Urrah!" she yelled, the battle cry sounding through the fields signaling an enemy's defeat.

The ache in her muscles paled in comparison to the pain shooting through her abdomen. I thought there was no pain in death, Jane thought as she moved to sit up.

"Jane, please…you can't move yet," the accent left no doubt as to who was speaking, but Jane would have known Maura's voice anywhere.

"M-Maur-Maura? How are you here?," she struggled to get the words out of her dry mouth. "What happened? Did they kill you when they took over our lands?"

"They didn't reach the settlement, after you killed their comiatus leader, most took it upon themselves to flee or fall upon their swords. Radulf lead the others and were able to take care of the rest."

"Then how did you die?"

"Die? Jane I'm not dead. I'm talking to you right now." The softness of Maura tone was quickly placed by the tone she used when delivering facts. "Are you thinking you are dead?"

"Aren't I?"

"No!" Maura said indignantly. "You are injured for sure and you've been unconscious for several days, but you are not dead." Maura rose from her seat and retrieved a wet cloth, placing the cool fabric on Jane's head.

Jane sighed at the feeling of the moisture cooling her head. Raising her aching arm, she reached down, feeling the bandage that wrapped around her waist. The knot at the end was no doubt from Maura. She'd recognize her method of closing a dressing anywhere.

"You saved me?" Jane said trying her hardest to display her trademark smirk.

"With help, yes. I cannot fathom how you managed to strike him down with the injuries you had, the one to your abdomen not withstanding," Maura's voice started to break. "Why did you go after him alone?"

"Because I had to stop him. Cut the head off the snake."

"What?"

"Cut the head off the snake, like you said. Without a leader they would stop…and it worked."
Maura let out a little scoff. "The one time you listen to me," she whispered.

"I listen to you all the time, I just don't show it." Jane moved to adjust herself, trying to sit up. Maura quickly pressed down on her uninjured shoulder.

"Jane not yet. Give it another day or so. I'll go make you some soup. Bring you ale to easy the pain."

"Thanks Maura," Jane said. Suddenly remembering their precarious position with after the assembly Jane frowned. "Shouldn't my mother be doing this? I mean I would guess you have other things to do." Maura abruptly paused in her movements, then resumed her work of scooping soup into a bowl.

"She has other things to attend to, so I offered."

"Radulf didn't mind?"

"Why would he mind Jane? You are my best friend."

"Nothing," Jane exhaled wondering how long it was going to take her to get better. She needed to go meet with Radulf soon. There was no telling what Crowe was up to at the moment. With her injured, unable to properly seek Maura's hand, and Maura having told Jane to leave her alone when it came to courtship, she couldn't get out of this bed fast enough.

Maybe she could ask her father and Radulf to meet her, while she was in bed. It wasn't customary, but nothing about this was.

"Here you go," Maura returned to her beside, sitting on the edge.

"No." Jane said, seeing where this was going. "You are not going to feed me."

"Well how else are you going to eat?" Maura stated.

"I can feed myself," without permission, the warrior used her good shoulder to push herself up to an almost sitting position, ignore Maura's protest. Without responded she took the bowl from Maura's hand and set it on her lap.

"Jane!" Maura cried. "You're risking reopening your wound."

"I'll live," she replied, scooping some soup into her mouth. "I can eat with one hand."

"Athena has nothing on you," Maura said.

"Who?"

"Never mind."

"I need to talk to my father for a minute," Jane said not bothering to ask for an explanation. "Alone."

"Jane I think you should wait a while."

"No. It's kind of important," she said between sips. "We were discussing some…business and it can't wait."

"Well….it needs to wait. I was told you watch you. Keep you here till you are healed."

"So bring him here," Jane said with a laugh. "I may be stuck in this room, but there is no reason he can't come see me." Jane's smile faded at the distraught look on Maura's face.

"What's wrong?" Jane said putting down her bowl.

"Jane, not now…"

"Maura what's wrong. Where's my mother? Where's my father," her voice got louder.

"Jane just give it another day."

"I knew something was wrong when you were here instead of Ma," she said panicking. "There is no way she would let anyone else take care of me. What's going on?" Jane started to try and standup, wincing as her side started to ache as if someone was putting a hot framm into her stomach.

"Jane stop," Maura said struggling to keep the warrior in bed. "Jane you're going to open your wound. Please." She struggled to physically hold Jane down, only managing due to the woman's weakened state.

"Maur- if you are my friend. You need to tell me," her voice cracked. "Please tell me what's going on. Where's my Ma, my Pop."

Maura turned her head tot eh side, wishing for the first time that she were able to lie.

"Franco….your father was killed in the battle."

Jane's anguished cry was heard throughout the settlement.

Maura finally left Jane's side after several candlemarks. Her tunic was soaked with tears, and had the warrior not fallen asleep, Maura was sure there would be more. Jane had only cried a few times, and never had Maura seen her like this.
What hurt more was that there was nothing she could do. Jane had latched onto her and cried into her shoulder for what seemed like forever, mumbling about how she didn't get to the leader in time. She didn't listen as the blonde told her that it wasn't her fault. That Franco's death was at the hands of the warrior who struck him. That he'd died protecting his people.

None of that made it through.

Maura cleaned up the uneaten soup, exiting the warriors room to leave her to get some rest. The dispersal of Franco's ashes was to be done tomorrow. While some wanted it to be done directly after his cremation, it was decided to wait and let Jane do it.

"How is she," Maura jerked at the deep voice coming from behind her. She hadn't even heard her father entering the room.

"Just how you would think someone is after losing a parent." Maura said with no bite to her tone. "She just fell asleep."

"I need to go talk to her,"

"But father she.."

"I know, but I need to sort this out for tomorrow," Radulf paused on the way to Jane's room. "It's a private conversation so please…respect that." Maura nodded taking his unspoken command to heart and sat down waiting for him to leave.

.

Jane jumped up at the feel of the hand shaking her uninjured shoulder. Blinking twice, she almost wanted to believe the conversation with Maura earlier was just a dream. The expression on Radulf's face as he lit a candle told her otherwise.

"Sir," she said sitting up as much as she could.

"I'm here as a friend Jane, not just as your clan leader."

"Then as my friend, I ask that you let me be alone." Jane started to slide back in the bed, only to be stopped by Radulf's hand.

"I told Maura not to tell you when you awoke. I wanted to give you time to get better before…dealing with everything," He exhaled slowly. "Your mother and brothers are staying in my larger dwelling for protection until you get better.

"Thank you. I will do all I can to get well enough soon. Frankie is nearly ready to take over as it is."

"Is that what you want? To give him your father's place in assembly?"

"My father's place?," Jane scoffed. "My father had no place. He had no land. He was under you," Jane said angrily. "He died under someone else's control because of me." Jane couldn't stop the torrent of tears coming to her eyes. "My father gave up his freedom for me, and...he never regained it."
"I am honoring your father's death," Radulf said slowly, surprised at the woman's silent tears. "He gave his life in protecting this clan and in his honor his debt to me in paid."

"What?" Jane said confused.

"His family will receive land like every other member in this settlement. And as his eldest, I would assume you would take that place in the assembly."

"I have a place."

"At my side, as my honored warrior. I want to give you a voice like every other man in this clan. Not as someone I mentored, but as my brother…well, sister." Jane looked down unable to meet Radulf's gaze. There was no way she, an outsider would be accepted a true member of this clan. Even throughout her time here, she knew what her place was despite her warrior status.

"Why are you doing this really?"

"What do you mean?"

"I was not born in this clan, neither was my mother or Frankie." Jane huffed. "They will not accept me as a woman or as a full clan member in assembly if I am not at your side."

"They will accept a warrior who saved their lives. Whose father gave his life in battle. Your lineage will not matter. Your being a woman will not matter" he said. "And it will not matter when you marry Maura."

"My father did not speak with you before his death. Thus, not formal request for her hand was made."

"I know that Jane. But I meant what I said, I will give my consent. I give it to you here and now." Jane stared at him shocked at his willingness to giver her Maura as a wife.

"I withdraw my request."

"What," Radulf gasped.

"I withdraw my request for Maura's hand until I am able to give her a dowry worthy of her station as the clan leader's daughter."

"Jane this is not necessary. I told you before I did not care about what you did or did not have."

"I won't allow her to be disrespected like that sir," Jane said struggling to sit up. "Maura is worth a thousand herds of cattle and a million framms. To give her to me, a foreigner with very little land that she gained only because of her father's death would be to disgrace her," Jane could hear her own voice in her head arguing against what she was saying. "I won't accept her hand until I am someone she can be proud to call her husband. To be someone worthy of her. I must prove myself in the eyes of the rest of the clan."

Radulf swallowed, stroking his chin. "I have the upmost respect for you Jane, but you are being foolish. Maura already finds you worthy."

"But I don't sir. And I know the rest of the clan does not see me as you do."

"How long will it take for you to prove yourself, in your own eyes. She won't remain available for long."

"I don't know, but I will work for her."

A/N: Please don't kill me. Please...everything will work itself out in the in. Rizzles is endgame...trust me.