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~Soldier78~

The Viking and the Slave

Chapter 6

Work began immediately for Keera. She was awaken rudely by her master. Hoffer had intruded into the stable and gave her rough jabs to the ribs to rouse her. Keera finally got up and was given her first chores for the day. The master's wife had placed two stones in front of her on the ground where she was sitting. The wife glared at her with beady eyes and pointed to it, snarling at her in their tongue.

Keera dared to raise a brow which was met with a slap across the face in response, reopening the gash. She pointed to the two stones again and spat angrier, Keera still looked at the stones with cluelessness. It was thanks to the master's daughter who came to her rescue and demonstrated the task briefly. However, she wasn't too happy with that gaill staring at her like she was some beaten deer.

By midday, Keera was sent to do another chore. She was thrown out to the field where she would take a scythe and start reaping the crop. She watched other thralls perform this tedious task but still struggled herself. She raised the scythe over her shoulder and attempted to swing at the plant, only to graze the top and she watched the tip fall, defeated.

She was ready to hoist it up again until she felt two hands wrap around the handle on both sides of her. She was ready to spin around and pummel the halfwit who had her trapped until she heard his soft, careful words.

"Lemme show yeh, 'Ra."

For a dazed moment, she thought she had to be dreaming. Dreaming of him again like she had been for the last two months. She surmised to his guidance and she closed her eyes, picturing him as she swung the scythe to the crop. This swing was successful and she opened her eyes to see the oats fall.

She looked over her shoulder to test her theory but gasped when it was tossed onto the ground. Her eyes widened to the best of their ability and she felt tears sting her eyes. She spun to him and embraced him.

"Aed!"

The man, now grown a couple of more inches, with stubble poking out of his chin, hugged her back. The thralls around looked up to see the happy couple embracing each other. Keera let the tears slid down her cheeks onto his shoulder.

"Oh Aed," she whispered, weakly to him. The tears had stung her cut but she ignored it for the sweet reunion she dreamed several times before.

"I knew yeh were 'ere, 'Ra." He whispered in her ear as she pressed her ear to his chest to hear his heartbeat. "I jus' ne'er 'ad the chance te look fer yeh."

"I'm 'ere now, Aed." Keera mumbled, softly.

"I know," He said. "God, I thought I'd lost yeh."

He gently pushed her to get a good look at her face. He gazed at her softened face and tenderly brushed the growing bangs from her eyes.

"Yeh 'ad won'erful 'air." He commented sweetly. His thumb faintly touched the rough scab of her gash.

"Theyweren' t'fond o' me 'air." She reported, jestingly. Aed smiled, a bit entertained by her still-existent humor. "Who're yeh wit?"

"I was sold t'the Chief." Aed replied. "'e's a scary man, but…'is son is not so…"

"Intimidatin'." Keera finished. Aed nodded and she broke into a grin. "Me master's daugh'er an' 'im seem t'ave eyes on each o'er."

"Yeh wouldn' believe 'ow lovesick this Vikin' is." Aed said. "Yeh'll see a lot o' 'im."

Keera reached up and gently stroked Aed's tan skin.

"Oh Aed," she whispered. "Fer days, I thought I was alone. I still see me Da in me mind an' 'is death. I dreamt yeh 'ad the same fate."

"Keera," he gently assured as he grabbed the hand that rested on his cheek. "I know yeh're scarred by yer Da's demise but…stay be me…lemme-"

She placed a finger on his lips.

"Yeh don' need t'say it 'cause I want t'stay be yeh." She answered for him. Aed smiled.

"Nothin' stoppin' us now." He said, leaning in to kiss her pale lips.

"Oi!" was heard in the distance and directed to the two thralls. They looked up to see two burly Vikings headed straight their way about the break them apart. Aed whispered to her again, riskily.

"'cept 'em." He said. Keera chuckled and he slowly walked out of her arms. He picked up the scythe and tossed it back to her, believing that she would catch it. She did effortlessly and started to work again. When the Vikings came, they violently shoved Aed and spat something nasty at Keera. They didn't do much of anything else and they shoved a scythe in Aed's hand and pointed to the field.

And there, they worked together and Keera felt her heart lift slightly at the mere marvel that her Aed was still alive.

That night, she was walked back by Aed to the master's residence. Aed told her the story of his survival and she told her his. She told her about the master's daughter's dragon and he told her about his master's son's dragon.

"Drag'ns seem t'be more 'uman than 'em." Aed had stated along their walk back from the fields. It was nearly sun down and she was expected to do evening chores after the Mrs. served dinner to her family. Keera would get the scrap and work until very late probably. Keera hummed in response.

"'owever," Keera wanted to add. "The daugh'er did pull me outta a big blow t'day."

"Aye?"

"She was pro'lly ordered by 'er Ma but she came o'er an' showed me 'ow to grind grain."

"I'd ask 'ow yeh don' know 'ow t'use a quern but-"

"Can I tell yeh somethin' Aed?"

"An'thing, 'Ra." Aed answered. "Yeh know tha'."

"I'm actually scared." She said honestly. There was traces of defeat in her usually confident and stern voice. Aed paid attention and mulled over her next words with respect and understanding. "I don' un'erstan' their language an' I don' know 'ow t'do work. I've been the baron's daugh'er me entire life."

Aed placed his hand on her shoulder and they stopped walking briefly.

"Don' worry," he vowed. "Yeh'll learn. 'specially if yeh 'ave a master's daugh'er like 'er."

"She's a bit scary,"

"So is the Chief's son but, there's somethin' 'ere tha's diff'rent from all the o'er tales we 'ere 'bout these barbarians."

"Yeh git tha' from jus' one day wit' 'em?" Keera questioned. Aed shrugged.

"I'm jus' sayin' there's somethin'." He replied and they were at the stable. He turned his head to see the giant Deadly Nadder and he changed the subject, pointing to the beast. "Aye, is tha' 'er?"

"I've 'eard the name Storm somewhere from 'er ri'er." She answered.

"It's a beautiful creature." Aed complimented. Keera smiled softly, agreeing with him. Aed grinned. "Me master's son's beast is named Toothless."

"Toothless?" Keera inquired and Aed nodded. She chuckled, a bit fond of the name. "'e doesn' 'ave teeth?"

"Aye, 'e 'as teeth. Why 'e's named tha' is beyond me." Aed assured.

"Most o' things're beyond yeh." Keera haughtily mocked. Aed scowled at her and gently punched her shoulder. Aed admired the dragon again.

"I won'er wha' it's like." He said aloud. Keera looked at him quizzically. "T'fly."

She hummed, thinking about his innocent wonder.

"I'd fly back 'ome." Keera identified bluntly, looking up at Stormfly. Aed looked at her with empathetic eyes.

"Even af'er the raid?" Aed asked. Keera looked at him and she nodded.

"Anywhere is be'er than 'ere." She said. "I'm not made t'be a slave."

Aed thought with confliction in his heavy heart.

"Maybe yeh weren'…" he said, rather vague about the interpretation but Keera suspected the true meaning and she looked at him.

"Aed…I'm-"

Aed turned to her and grabbed her hands.

"Yeh know, I 'aven' kissed yeh yet." He suggested. Keera smiled.

"Then do it, Serf." She challenged. Aed smiled, fond at her pet name for him.

"Can I say I love yeh first?" He requested as they were now pressed together. Their foreheads were against each other's and their breaths mingled. They were together intimately in the stable, probably an eyeful to some wandering Viking. They'd probably hear about later on and get beaten for their shameful behavior. Yet, they cared less as they were almost near-kissing and holding each other, the last links they have to their past.

"Please." She murmured finally to him. Aed smiled and whispered the four heartwarming words.

"I love yeh, Keera." He confessed without doubt.

"I love yeh too, Aed." She returned with equal emotion. He smiled and kissed her sweet lips again, reveling in the taste of her and the scent that she still carried even if she hadn't been able to wash herself for a long time. She was warm and comforting. He was warm and present. Their lips reacquainted with one another with passion and promise for a better future as they face this new problem together. Aed pulled away, out of breath and pressed his forehead to hers again.

"Keera." He said her name, just to say it.

"Aed." She did the same thing.

They were about to move in when there was a clearing of a throat. They pulled apart to see the master's daughter standing in front of them. Quickly, they jumped apart and their cheeks were hot. The blonde Viking eyed them but she gestured her head and gave a command that sounded like 'scram'. Aed took it, bowed in respect and headed off.

Keera expected something cruel from the Viking before her but the blonde looked at her with an unidentifiable emotion. Keera coughed awkwardly and the Viking pulled out something. She offered it with an extended hand. Keera eyed her suspiciously until the Viking gave up and tossed it to the hay stack. The Viking said something else and left.

Keera sat down back at the haystack, her lips still tingling from Aed's presence and she picked up the piece of bread that the Viking had given her. Slowly, she ate to reserve its existence.

About halfway through her bite, she laughed genuinely for the first time in forever and she pulled out the very ring Aed had given to her the day of the invasion.

"Stay by me."

To be continued.

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