The last chapter of Eric and Sookie's:A Journey Through Time.
Disclaimer: Sookie Stackhouse - Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Charlaine Harris.
Chapter 33
Sookie's Point of View
After Eric took me up against the wall he refused to let me change or straighten my hair because he wanted people to know I was his, he wanted people to see how much I glow and how much more stunning and beautiful I am after he's taken me.
I argued a little but arguing with Eric is like arguing with the someone who won't take no for an answer. I'm nervous about tonight. I don't know why. I just got this feeling deep down in the pit of my stomach.
These guests Eric and Christian speak of give me the creeps. Out of town my ass. I'm sorry for my language but seriously what a ton of bull. I have a feeling these guests are Vampires. The danger Niall and Claudine spoke of.
I've not even been here for six months yet, it's just coming into the fifth month, so why are they here now? And why do I have such a bad feeling about tonight? I watch as Eric dresses in only his black pants, claiming he wants to enjoy the rest of the warmth the setting sun has to offer.
I roll my eyes, knowing he hates wearing shirts anyway and is just using the warmth of the sun partly as an excuse not to have to wear a shirt. I just let him, not wanting to argue if this is the night I'm starting to dread it is.
"Lover you're very quiet." Eric whispers in my ear.
"Eric who exactly are these guests arriving at sun-set?" I ask him. "Did they give you a name?"
"Yes but it was a strange one I can't pronounce very well."
"Did you touch their skin?"
"No because they wore leather gloves, it was quiet late lover when they arrived and it was dark."
"Eric, promise me you and Christian will not do anything reckless or, or something to irk these people, I have a bad feeling about this." She admitted. Eric stopped dead in his tracks and turned to look her fully in the eyes.
Eric's Point of View
"Lover why do you have such distaste for people you haven't even met yet?" I can hear the worry and a hint of sadness clear in her voice.
"I'm sorry Eric, it's just one of those things I can't tell you regarding a possible damage to the future. I wish I could tell you what I think I've figured out, I wish I could tell you why my instincts are screaming at me not to like them or trust them but I can't." She said frustrated, angry tears rolling down her cheeks. I pulled her into me, shooting Christian and Isabelle a look who'd paused a little distance away in front of us, shooting them a look indicating them to carry on without us. We aren't that far away from the door and my lover decides to have one of her emotional out-breaks.
"Sookie, I understand this must be frustrating for you and your cryptic grandfather and cousin hasn't helped matters but I promised you earlier and I'll promise you now that I'll be more aware and take precautions to be extra careful regarding my safety. I'll never leave you, either of you." I told her placing a hand on our baby.
"I know you'll never leave us," she said placing her hand over mine covering our baby but sadness still laced her words and it just about fucking killed me inside and I lifted her chin up gently and forced her to look into my eyes.
"If it makes you feel better I'll be with you the entire evening when they arrive and when we go to bed, but they have requested a private audiencewith me to talk business of a private matter with me before I turn in for the night. They know I'm a man with a woman who's pregnant and promise not to keep me for too long, it's just to sign some papers and I need their details on record because we need to know who is in residence in the kingdom at present time and then when people leave my kingdom to a new one, they have to place the date of their leave and sign to show they've left. Sophia will also have to do this tomorrow." This still didn't seem to sooth her. I noticed something flash too quickly in her eyes for me to pick up on it when I said 'private audiance' with them. She sighed.
"Okay Eric. I'll sit and smile and behave for you but I'm not happy about this, I just have this bad feeling and I don't like it." She said. I kissed her passionately on the lips showing her my thanks and gratitude and we made our way silently with my arm wrapped protectively around her waist and hand protectively over our baby. I knew I'd protect them both with my life, and I knew it as soon as we found out she's with child.
We met Christian and Isabelle at the door and Christian asked if everything was okay and Isabelle looked concerned.
"We are fine; all three of us are fine." He said stressing the word 'three'. It seemed to be a good enough answer for Christian and he nodded, stepping out of his way so he and Sookie could take lead as they enter the vast hall. Nobody would be in here tonight as everyone is outside enjoying the last of the sun's warmth before she set's for the evening.
Sookie's hand moved to rest over his lacing her fingers between his own and moved into his embrace, snuggling into his side, getting as close as she could get and Eric tightened his hold on her as they stepped out into the beginning of the twilight night air.
Round tables had been brought out for the evening with lanterns in the centre lit. It looked magical, with the sun slowly beginning to set in the background. She glanced at Eric questioningly.
"The round tables where made decades ago by my father's father after his father died. His father had the tables designed and was going to use them for occasions like this and weddings within the family but he died in his sleep before he had the chance to use them. We only bring the tables out on special occasions. Today is one of those days. Earlier was a picnic of sorts so we settled for sitting on the warm afternoon grass instead."
"He must have been an amazing man to design and create these tables." She said to him softly.
"From the stories my father has told me and my brother over the years I'm guessing he was indeed incredibly talented, with skilled hands and playing the role of King, he was known as a great multi-tasker.
Sookie, guessed that's where Eric got his multitasking skills from for running business such as Fangtasia and dealing with Pam, Pam - that's a name she hadn't thought of for what felt a long time. She had to admit she did miss Eric's second, and Eric himself but she was grateful now for this chance to get to know Eric, the REAL Eric Northman. She wouldn't have had a clue the Eric back in her time was a King once.
"Have you ever designed anything?" She asked him, wondering about the decor and layouts in Fangtasia... She'd always just assumed it was Pam who did the decor and designing of the bar... perhaps she had been mistaken.
"Some. Our bed, the footings, my desk I designed and carved and have been thinking of designs for our baby's crib, but..." Silence settled between then as Eric left his sentence hanging. Sookie squeezed his hand and looked up at him through her eyelashes. He leaned down and kissed her softly, longingly on the lips. Both of them knew that there was a chance the baby wouldn't be born in this time. But both have been assured that the baby will be safe and sound no matter what happened next.
A clearing of the throat interrupted them and Eric looked up to glare at the guards before them who's duty is to lead them to the long table on the side of the flat space of green designed for hosting summer parties.
"You-your majesty the table is ready for your royal sirs." He said addressing himself and Christian. He nodded.
"Lead the way." He said bored. His eyes still locked with Sookie's.
"Ye-yes sir." The guards circled us and turned to march forwards through the crowed that started to rise, and lead us up to the was one of many precautions of 'safety' he'd taken to appease Sookie, hoping she wouldn't worry or stress too much.
The sun was a gorgeous red color the clouds purple, pinks and deep blues, it looked picturesque in the background of his mother's gardens. He loved this kind of sunset and always came out to enjoy it when it happened, and was pleased he could enjoy it with Sookie and there unborn baby. He hopes that whatever the future holds, they'll get to enjoy this together, the three of them.
When they reached the top table Eric noticed their new residents in the background but he'll ignore them for now. He helped Sookie into the seat pleased his swords had been placed and fitted to the back of his chair. Eric helped Sookie into her seat and pulled his own chair back. He waited for Christian and Isabelle to be seated and let his eyes roam over the crowd before him, drinking everyone in, meeting all of their gazes, including the new comers and then looked up to the sun, a beautiful red setting full of pink, dark blue and purple clouds surrounding the red orb that's the setting sun.
He took hold of his swords handles and whipped them high up above him, relishing in the sound his swords made as they came out of their holdings and held them up high with a clang loving the way the sun reflected red on the silver metal.
He stayed like that relishing in the last of the warmth, her beautiful red rays were enveloping his skin, and the way he felt the most powerful he'd ever felt, standing up here, for the first time. This time last year he was sat where Isabelle sat, next to Christian, whilst his father got this pleasure and now it was his turn to relish in this beautiful feeling and sharing it with his woman.
This summer has to have been the best so far in all his years on this earth. He met Sookie and is going to be a father. He never thought he'd be excited about becoming tied down and starting a family, Sookie really has done a number on him and changed him for the greater good.
He slowly lowered one sword down and placed it skilfully back into its holder and then the other when all you could see of the gorgeous setting sun was the tip and last of her rays.
"And now we dine." Eric said, sitting down gracefully in his seat, feeling very powerful, warm and a surge of energy rushing through his body. He watched as the rest of his people took their seats around the tables.
The chatter slowly started to become noticeably louder as the dinner stuff was brought out and drinks were poured. Eric took hold of Sookie's hand and squeezed her hand gently to gain her attention that seemed to be fixed in the far corner, her face an unreadable mask.
"Lover?" He leaned in to whisper in her ear. No response, he tried again.
"Lover?" Again, no response.
"Sookie?" He said squeezing her hand with a little more force. She jumped and looked up through her eyelashes at him blushing.
"Sorry Eric! Did you say something?" Eric glanced in the direction she was staring and then back to her shaking his head.
"No, you just looked a million miles away, lost in your thoughts."
Sookie's Point of View
"Oh. Um, I got lost for a few seconds. My vision went a bit blurry." Sookie said a little confusedly. She knew there were Vampires in the back, and there were a few of them too. She hadn't been around a lot of empty minds for a while and she'd completely got lost with in the silence not really thinking what she was doing at the time.
"You did look a little out of it for a few minutes lover." He whispered to her.
"Mmm, now I'm feeling very hungry. Your son or daughter is awake." She told him and loved the proud look that lit up his handsome face and started filling her plate with meat and vegetables. She leaned in to kiss his cheek thanking him silently whilst he helped himself to his food.
After dinner there was a couple of dance's and then when the sun was fully set behind the night clouds and the crescent moon and stars where up in the night sky and the temperature dropped, only then did people start turning in for the night.
Eric's Point of View
When the crowds started to thin out, he was approached by the new residents in his kingdom. He felt Sookie tense in his arms but ignored it and paused in their slow dancing. It was the last song of the evening.
"Your Majesty, I apologise for interrupting but we cannot stay long this evening. We thought we'd make ourselves known and then leave after a private audience with your Royal Highness... I didn't think we'd be having company?" The man whose name he can't properly pronounce said, giving Sookie a look he didn't like and stepped slightly in front of her protectively.
"Well Mister..." Eric said, trailing off not wanting to sound a complete fool to this stranger.
"Mister Ocella your Majesty but please call me Appius, I do believe with what business I have to offer your highness that we'll spend a lot of time together going over organisation and business stuff."
"Right... What was it again?" Eric asked feeling incredibly stupid. Then remembered Sookie by his side who was as stiff as the stone walls that built up his Castle. He stepped a little to the left of Sookie so she was in view again, just a little bit. He still didn't like the way the man Ocella, Appius whatever he's called looked at Sookie earlier.
"Please allow me to introduce my future wife and mother of my child Princess Sookie." Appius eyes roamed over her again and Eric stepped purposefully in front of Sookie giving the man a warning glare.
"If you don't mind waiting a ten minutes Mister Ocella I will escort my woman back to our chambers and will meet you with a couple of my guards."
"Of course I don't mind waiting your Majesty." Ocella said.
"Well, if you'll excuse me." With that Eric guided a stiff Sookie to their chambers in silence both of them seeming to be lost in their own thoughts, well he was, he was pretty sure Sookie was having one of those moody moments pregnant woman get sometimes.
Once they reached his chambers, after signalling several guards to join them, he wanted Sookie well protected with Sophia still residing in the castle grounds and then he'll signal another two guards to join him. Sookie was right, there was something about this man that set the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end and he was starting to get the same feeling Sookie has been going on about since he told her about the new residents.
Once they reached the privacy of their chambers Sookie suddenly became really light and weak in his arms and said she felt light headed and her legs wobbly. He rested her on their bed and he had to pry her arms off of him, her nails digging into the skin of the back of his shoulders, clinging on to him. She looked really pale.
"Lover, are you okay?" Eric asked her worriedly gently weaving his hands through her hair, pushing it back from her face.
"Eric, I, I really don't feel good. I think I over did it today." Sookie whispered.
"I'll bring back a doctor with me." He placed his hand on their baby and leaned in to capture Sookie's lips with his own. He gently pried her arms off of him and moved her under the covers into the warmth of their bed and kissed her again and leaned down to kiss their baby bump before pulling the covers over her completely and then left feeling worried, yet determined to get this meeting with the Ocella guy over with.
Sookie's Point of View
When Eric didn't return I knew something was wrong, I could feel myself grow weaker and start to not feel the bed sheets around me, It felt like I was passing out but I also felt this strange tugging sensation like something was pulling me forwards.
I placed my hands protectively over my baby and curled into a ball and the last thing I remember seeing is a blurry outline of Christian before he faded away and disappeared into darkness.
To Be Continued... Review! Hope you enjoyed this story!