Sorry that it took so long to update. It's so unlike me to leave people waiting. I have a few excuses but I will spare you all. I humbly ask that you all forgive me anyway

I wrote this chapter from SPOV and EPOV two whole times before I got this. I forgot "My Eric" voice there for a second. It was infuriating…

I was walking down the street today just minding my business and out of nowhere just really random this hot guy…I mean he was HOT black tank top and black jeans. His hair was blowing in the breeze and everything. He just happens to resemble the great big Viking himself. Said sexy man asks me, "Do you know any awesome Fae chicks? I just had to smile and say why yes I do and this one is already yours…Ericsfae! this one's for you. May all your Viking dreams come true.

Eric

Coronation

Chapter Six

I was not fully conscious and I knew Sookie was not going to make this easy. She was anxious, about what I could not tell you. She had a friend in Cohan. He liked her as much as Anthony did. If someone was bold enough to pick a fight with me over making her a queen in our world. They wouldn't do it in his presence. In any case she was more than capable of defending herself if the need arose. The crowd of people that would be present this evening was substantially less than that of yesterday. With the exception of Sookie the gathering would be all vampires. Few of which were here for the reason they had even been invited. They all wanted to see Cohan. Now that they had, they were all doing almost anything to curry his favor. Nothing had been effective as far as I know. Stan had offered me his half of a resort development for an introduction. That was the least expensive offering I had received. Russell and Bertrand offered me five hundred million to allow them seats next to the Kováll clan.

The offers were tempting but I knew that having the protection of Cohan all to myself was priceless. When nothing forward worked I received some very generous wedding offers from monarchs in every territory. Aside from the fact that I knew what they were after none were suitable. Louisiana even in all her devastation was a rich kingdom. I myself am an old and powerful vampire. Very few others were in my league so to speak. Lastly Sookie would not abide it nor should she have to. I wasn't exactly sure but I thought it would make her feel as though I did not value our vows of the human union. Strangely enough I did. When they began realize the attempts to get to Cohan through me were futile they went after my child. Pam was receiving other offers to form alliances with her Kingdom through marriage; Stan as well as Gertrude of Kansas. While she wouldn't officially be queen until nine this evening the word was already out. All this made Isaiah more secure and eager in his decision. He was now pushing to wed Pam sooner than later. He set a date for a month from now in a location of Pam's choosing and he would incur all the costs of the ceremonies.

When I entered the room Sookie was seated on the bed. She was more than half naked. She was topless and had on undergarments that may as well have been absent for all the coverage it provided. My thoughts strayed to the prior night. The sex was easily the best I have ever had. The more one gave the more the other begged for more. She bit and scratched as I lost myself in her. Never before had I wanted to bury myself in someone so completely. I felt myself stirring. If this was a distraction tactic on her part it was working. I smiled and wagged my eyebrows at her. In no mood she reached for a towel and covered her body. It was a pity but probably for the best. I sighed. She was intent on making one more attempt at dissuading me.

"I want to talk to you" I sat down beside her. "Eric I appreciate that you want to do this for me but I really think it's a bad idea. I know you think the world of me and all but I hate to tell you that you are one of a few people that do" That was unfortunate. Humans were too narrow sighted to be able to appreciate all that she was. Vampires only saw her ability. I was guilty of this as well. She was a lot more. I knew instantly she was different but it took me a long time to really see that her value did not just lie in what she could do. It was in all that she was. I have lived a thousand years. I could live a thousand more and I was sure I would not chance upon a human of her inner quality.

"If I understand correctly you are asking for me to treat you the way everyone expects and not the way I feel you deserve?" My voice was gentle. I was trying to get her to see why I was doing it. It wasn't because I wanted to set myself apart or "push the envelope" as she put it. She had earned her stripes in my world through blood and courage and intelligence. Even people that didn't agree with what I would do could attest to that much. She was my wife and my queen. All those who owe me fealty will owe it to her.

I waited for her to answer. "No but…" I placed my fingers on her lips. She scowled. It was only met with a bland expression.

"There is not but. It cannot be both ways either you do or you don't"

"This is different" she mumbled. I had to smile. My fingers were still against her lips. Her tenacity was admirable. In this instance it was futile.

"I don't see how"

"Bullshit. Treating me nice because I'm your wife is completely different from naming me queen of vampires Eric" That was the first time she referred to herself as my wife. It pleased me more than it should. It suppressed the irritation of this conversation. I shrugged. "But what sense does this make? What purpose does it serve?" Her tone was argumentative. She knew I wasn't going to budge. I rolled my eyes. This was a last ditch effort indeed. How I missed the days of my highhandedness.

"It serves many purposes and it makes perfect sense" I kissed her lips and stood. She huffed in defeat. "Had you remained uncovered that may have gone differently" She threw a pillow at my back. I laughed. While she was still nervous she had become less fearful.

I was in the shower and she came to join me. I adjusted the temperature to something more comfortable. She slid in front of me. I washed her hair and her body. The steam was rising in the air and the scent of her sweet arousal clung to it. It made it that much more powerful. My fangs ran out and I could almost taste her on my tongue. I was erect and it was almost painful. I wanted her-bad.

I turned her to face me. My fingers glided down the center of her chest, past her curls to her hot core. Her legs parted for me. Her hand reached down to offer some much needed friction.

"Are you hurting at all" Even though she had some of my blood last night we had been at it for a while. She still had me in her hand. Her tongue was teasing my nipple. She bit down as she shook her head. A low growl escaped me. My hand was fisted in her hair. "Up" Her hands were around me and her legs soon followed. It felt like I had to be inside her. I gave us both what we wanted. Just like last night. The heat from her was taking over me. We weren't going to make it to the bed.

She was on her back over a towel on a table that compensated for the difference in our height. I was slow in my rhythm. Every time I took myself deeper until I was buried to the hilt.

Having an orgasm was a sublime moment in time. Sharing it with your bonded doubled the feeling. This was something else. She could be an angel of the devil himself and I wouldn't have cared with the things she was doing to me. I couldn't pick what language I wanted to express it in. It ended up being a mixture of English and Swedish. "My…älskare" My body shuddered and stilled inside her. My face was buried in her shoulder. I didn't let her go until she caught her breath. Then I kissed her and we began getting dressed.

"I can't hear a thing" Tristan's voice was a louder than what was normal. He and Pam shared the room next door to my own.

"Eric" Pam was calling out to me. From the sounds of it they were having trouble with Gideon. Fuck. I rushed to aide them. Pam and Tristan were rolling around on the floor with Gideon. There were also two seemly dead humans in the room.

"Gideon, calm yourself" He was snarling and thrashing about on the floor trying to break free of their hold on him.

"Really, clam yourself! Why didn't I think to try that?" Pam was on her back under him. Her legs were wrapped around his body. One hand was blocking his nose to cut off the smell of blood. The other had his jaw locked. Tristan had his legs. Their aim was to subdue him not incapacitate him. The former was far more challenging. "He is toying with my sight" Pam hissed. She hasn't hurt him yet but she was going to. They knew what he could do but it was most disconcerting for them to be on the receiving end of it while in a fight.

"Gideon, stop that and be still" It took a few minutes for my edict to settle into his body. He was full of bloodlust. Eventually he slowed and they let him go.

"What happened? You were supposed to be watching him" Pam shrugged. Her dress was wrecked. She looked irritated and bored now that the fray had passed.

"I was doing my hair and he ordered a donor" I glared at Gideon. He was not to feed alone. He knew as much. He was also supposed to supplementing with tru blood.

"Is that one dead?" We were all quiet as we listened for any signs of life coming from the human sprawled on the floor in juxtaposition. Her chest was unmoving and her eyes were wide open. She was dead and so was the other one that was crumpled in a sitting position. They were donors judging by the pins that were on their destroyed clothing. This was not something I had the time to deal with right now. It was a stroke of luck that they were donors. I would have to pay a fee but it was nothing exuberant. It saved me the trouble of having to go through back door venues to dispose of their bodies. They signed wavers and they were very much aware of the dangers.

"Pam, call someone to clean this up quickly and quietly" She frowned at the inconvenience. Gideon was guilt ridden and ashamed.

"If it bothers you then learn some fucking restraint. You will oversee the cleaning of your own mess. Then report back to my room" He bowed and I left. There was nothing fitting to punish him with. Forcing him to only drink synthetic would only exasperate the problem. I no longer punished a child by torture. This was a common mistake for a newly made and unsupervised vampire. We all killed from our inexperience. I took solace in the fact that it disturbed him. It was a lesson in error that he only had to learn once. We were the predators predator. By no means was the loss of human life perturbing. It was the loss of control we hated. Only restraint could help us retain and maintain it. Pam killed Tristan. I killed a farmer whose wife just died. It took something different for everyone.

I moved down to the other end of the corridor to find Thalia. "Your majesty" she bowed conveying both deep respect and hostility.

Vampires checked into the grand ballroom but I would be awaiting the arrival of the Ancient Pythoness before making my way down. There were two people that were invited but I did not expect them to show; Curtis of Alabama and Eliza of Tennessee. They petitioned and contested every complaint against me that has been over turned. "Assign teams of two and take up posts" She nodded. She absolutely reviled anything that required her to be with anyone else. Thalia preferred to be left in peace especially if there was no promise of violence in her interactions. "Go now" I left and went back into the room. Gideon was already there. I saw he was keeping his distance from Sookie. He did not trust himself around her knowing what she meant to me. He could try her but it wouldn't go at all like he thinks. She could sense the tension and eagerly left the room.

I stood in front of him. "Nothing can be attained with your regret"

"I know. I thought…" I waved him away.

"Do not dwell. Master your emotions. Dominate your fears and always, always maintain control" He nodded. He remained with me until it came time to go.

o0o0o0o

"It's not too late" Sookie thought. We were about to enter the ballroom. Her fears were present once again. I kissed her head. She looked stunning in a turquoise colored floor length gown.

"You will survive and when you do I have a present for you" I am yet to come across someone so averse to being given gifts. It took a lot of effort but she didn't frown at the thought of me giving her more jewelry. "We are going away, just you and me"

"Where?" I did not respond. The doors opened and our party entered. She and Pam were at my side. Tristan and Gideon were immediately behind us. They were followed by Maxwell and Rasul.

In the room the guests of the evening have already been settled. The vampires from this state held a table closer to the platform that would sit the Ancient Pythoness. We would be seating to her left Cohan and his children were already in their seats on the right. All rose when the Pythoness arrived including Cohan. I suspected he acted out of courtesy for our customs than respect of it.

Mr. Cataliades brought both documents forward and placed them before her. Her unseeing eyes roved down then to the left.

"Have all parties read and fully understood the documents before me?"

"No" Sookie's mental voice was almost belligerent. She hasn't read the documents but I had explained basically what was entailed.

"Yes" Pam replied.

"I have" Then I looked at Sookie.

"Yes" All eyes in the room went to her. Aside from the people at this table no one knew what I had planned. It did not take them long to guess.

"Pamela Ravenscroft come forth" Pam presented herself before the Ancient Pythoness. "Eric the Norse man has bequeathed upon you the state of Arkansas. In so doing he has made you Queen. Do you accept?"

"Yes"

"Lover you are up next watch Pam and do as she does" Her anxiety was growing.

"I don't suppose there is any point in arguing"

"No"

"In so doing you are hence forth tied to the rules and regulations of the throne. You are charged with upholding the laws of our kind until such a time as you are stripped of your title, surrender your title or the true death claim you. Do you still accept?"

"Yes" One of her hand maidens handed Pam a quill and she signed and initialed her name on the last page of the document.

"I give you Pamela of the Ravenscroft queen of Arkansas." Pam bowed and returned to her seat. Once more the ancient one looked to the left.

"Wife of the Norseman come forth" Sookie stood with a grace that belied her unease. She seemed more relaxed when her back was to the room. Anthony gave her a reassuring smile. I was grateful I had to appear indifferent. "Eric Norseman has bestowed upon you the title of his queen" Somehow it got quieter. The beating of my wife's heart was the only sound in the room. It was slightly accelerated given her anxiety. "Do you accept?"

"Yes"

"Human you may be but you too are now tied to the rules and regulations of the throne. You are charged with upholding the laws of our kind until such a time as you are stripped of your title, surrender your title or the true death claim you. Do you still accept?"

"Yes" Her voice was steady. She accepted the pen and signed the paper in front of her. Behind her Curtis was having some difficulty keeping his fangs in his head. He was not the only one. Some were amused other were aghast. Isaiah was an odd mixture of the two.

"I give you Sookie wife of the Norseman and queen of Louisiana" Sookie bowed and regained her seat. The Pythoness reclined into her seat and looked bored. She was probably waiting for a fight to begin.

"A word your majesty if I may" Cohan stood from his place beside her. I bowed deeply. He glided to the middle of the room. Despite their anger and other feelings of hostility at the announcement. The vampires could not help but follow him as he moved. His steps were inaudible. His hair was held high atop his head with a golden headdress. His children were wearing similar pieces. "Hello to all" He nodded his head in a humble fashion. Several people looked hypnotized by the fact that he was addressing the room. Others were unsure if it was a good or bad sign. All heads in the room offered him deep bows. "For those of you who do not know me I am Cohan Kováll" It was a poor attempt at modesty. He was a bigger celebrity than Dracula. He was a legend; living and true. "It is a privilege to be here amongst so many my kind here in the new world" He was looking around the room as if memorizing faces. His gaze moved to Sookie and I. "It is is an honor to have witnessed this historic occurrence. But most of all it is a pleasure to stand here with my two young friends" The thought of someone except him referring to me as young would have been an insult.

I do not blink I did not have need for the reflex. Nothing could explain how Cohan ended up behind Sookie and I without my notice. There was a collective gasp in the room. If anyone could shock vampires it was Cohan. He placed his hand on one our shoulders. Russell's face by all rights should be a shade of jade. "Eric, Sookie, if ever you have need you will call me and I will come" I did not know what expression he wore as he spoke but his vow was solemn. The vampires in the room looked uneasy. His children began applauding politely and hesitantly everyone else followed. The room broke into small conversations.

Human help came in to move the tables and chairs against the walls. Sookie and I moved around the room and greeted guests. Pam was plagued by Isaiah if he walked any closer to her he would be rubbing against her back side. The contracts have not been sighed. He was ensuring his place. There were other Kingdoms here that were richer and more powerful. He was not oblivious to the offers Pam was receiving. There was no need. We owed him for his aid during our time under the rule of Decastro. We were not after someone powerful or rich. It would even up or tip the scales in the alliance out of our favor. Isaiah was familiar. He was a safe bet. We knew his comings and goings as well as his strengths and weaknesses. If he proved treacherous he was someone Pam and I could easily take out.

Anthony found his way to my side to irritate me I was sure. "My father has brought you a present; death dealers" That was interesting. Sookie flinched. Death dealers were what humans referred to as Amazon warriors. They were not only native to the Amazon. Their leagues ran all over the world. They have been around longer than I. It was rear to see them these days their numbers were diminished.

"From where?"

"Egypt" I smiled. This would be most entertaining. They were known for their ferocity.

"They aren't going to actually kill anyone right?" Sookie looked worried. In the past during tournament they fought to the death. It was unclear if they would today.

"No." Anthony assured her. Disappointing the lack of blood would minimize some of the enjoyment but the fighting would still be something worth seeing.

The lights dimmed and I gave Gideon a pointed look. "You will be still" He nodded. It was not an edict but a direct order. Sookie tightened the grip she had on my hand.

I poured calm into the bond. "Relax" The most difficult part of the evening was over.

The doors opened and there was a burst of flames as the death dealer flipped into the room. The flames hung in the air. My eyes drifted to Atéyo. I knew he was doing it but he appeared completely aloof. Everyone suspected his father. Drums began playing and the fighting began. It was choreographed more like a dance with blades than a fight. They moved in rhythm to the drums and each other. Who would come to pull me away but Anthony? He told me yesterday he needed to speak with me. His timing could have been better.

"Sookie we will go for a walk is this acceptable to you" There was a smile in his voice. She deferred to me. I left her side with Anthony. Gideon joined us though he was enjoying the show. We glided to the far end of the room towards a side door no one noticed.

"You are leaving" Cohan appeared behind us. This ability if his was most disconcerting. His scent did not warn you of his approach. He just appeared.

"Eric is joining me for a stroll"

"Perhaps Eráh or I could accompany you?" Anthony smiled and walked over to him. He kissed his head and whispered reassurances to him. Cohan's attachment to him was absolute. While he trusted us not to harm him he wanted him in his sights all the same, odd.

"Gideon, wait here" He nodded and moved from my side.

We walked away in a straight line from the hotel. The lights behind us were growing dimmer with the distance. "I had a vision but I cannot see what I am supposed to do with it" Anthony was a psychic. His predictions were precise. His visions led him to Sookie while he was on the run from Victor. They also saved my life and that of Pam. It was because of him that we had earned a pledge from a ten thousand year old vampire. The ambiguity was could be maddening.

"Tell me how it relates to me" I urged.

"It would cause harm I think" His face soured as he said the last two words. "You will come across an enemy with very many faces. That battle is destined to yield more than winners and losers. It is your test" I had no idea what to make of that at the moment. I would file it away for later. "But more importantly there will come a time when leaving her will be the only choice you have" I froze and took a second to control my emotions before Sookie picked up on it.

o0o0o

On a more serious note we should take second to check out Ericsfae profile there is important information there!

Once again I apologize for my absence. Please, please review...I'm a junkie. I am going through withdrawals here!