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Sookie's head was touching something soft. Her body, on the other hand, was lying on something very hard. Opening her eyes, she dazedly realized it was early in the morning. A small fire was burning beside her in the clearing in the forest. Sitting up, Sookie noticed a bundle that had been placed underneath her head. Turning herself left she faced him, Eric. An indecipherable expression was occupying his handsome face; he was chewing on some meat.
"You've slept for two days, Sookie. We're now only a few hours away from my village. Were you given a potion?", he asked after swallowing.
After Sookie's faint, Eric had ordered for her to be taken to one of the houses. He had no desire to spend the night in Ulf's old domain, but the emergence of a daughter of the Sky Clan had put a halt to his plans. He had heard of Fintan before, everyone had. He was a reclusive man, one not to be faced lightly. For the past forty years or so, no one had seen him though. He never took residence on anywhere they knew, but they were all sure of his existence, even if no one had ever truly laid eyes on the man. Only whispered rumors were heard, but they were enough, as Fintan was known for his magical powers.
A child from his house was an unexpected trait, even more because she was Fintan's last. A rumor had spread a decade before that the old magical house was disappearing, a war between Fintan's and another powerful house had started. But no man was willing to search for the truth about Fintan and much less about his downfall. They were simply relieved to hear about it.
The girl had not awakened on the morning next, not even with Eric's efforts to rouse her. With this, he had taken the time to examine her. Sookie's hands and feet were smooth, as if she had never stepped on hard ground, her nails were clean, not a grain of dirt underneath them. Her dress was made of fine material, far whiter than any fabric he had ever laid eyes upon. If not for the rich embroidery of the gown, what had convinced him that she was who she claimed to be was her beauty. Lush golden hair, full breasts, slim waist, shaped lags and kissable lips set her apart from any woman he had bedded.
"I think so", says Sookie. It wasn't a lie, exactly. The fairy that had attacked her at the Shreveport mall had cut her with his blade, and she had felt dizzy right after it, and then woken up on this place.
"Are they all gone? Your house members?", asked Eric.
"Yes, they are", said Sookie with a heavy voice. Even though she had no clue why she was saying these things, as again she had no control over her speech, she felt guilty for lying.
"And your Lord, Fintan?", asked Eric before placing another piece of meat in his mouth. His posture was of pure ease, with his back pushed up against a tree trunk. But Sookie knew better. She couldn't read any words from his mind, but she could feel how apprehensive he was about whatever answer she might give.
"My Lord, my grandfather, is gone. I'm to live among you until is time for me to join him in our home. When the time comes, I'll return to him barring a gift that will ensure the safety of a future generation", said the telepath in a monotone voice.
Her reply took Eric by surprise, although not in a bad way. He was silent after her little speech, but his mind was buzzing. The implications of her words were not clear to him, yet he was certain that she was a gift to him. A gift that would eventually be taken from him.
As for Sookie, she now had a better idea of what her grandfather was planning. Ever since he came into her life, Fintan had instructed Sookie on the perils she would have to face if the Fairy war reached her. Many times he explained about the possibilities of her being used as a tool against her own family and friends in case of a kidnap by the Water Fay. There was another aspect of it all that only once was mentioned by her grandfather.
Sookie was seventeen when Fintan told her about an ancient custom. Curiously, it was one also familiar to humans. Arranged marriages. If it ever comes a time when he or his friends were unfit to protect her, she would be offered to marry someone who could. Someone supernatural, of course. After her initial shock, and Fintan's promise of trying his best to avoid such scenario, Sookie had realized that her grandfather had excluded his Fay family as source of aid for Sookie. That had been the first time she had fully understood how unlikely it was that anyone else besides Finan would ever accept her as Fairy Royalty.
So facing the odious situation of preserving her granddaughter from harm he could not truly prevent, Fintan had sent Sookie back in time to acquire something that will help her situation back home. The problem was she had no idea what it could be; only that it definitively had to do with Eric.
Eric was striding with more gusto as he recognized the trees leading to his village. It had taken almost the entire day to carry Sookie to his home. The girl had been in and out of sleep, as if her body was too tired to keep her up. He hadn't even had the chance to give her something to eat.
At first, he was a bit irritated with her frail nature; after all he was not used to women who could not carry themselves. The women from his village were brave and strong, warriors on their own right. Now, Sookie was precious, he could tell. A woman not prepared for a wild environment, not familiarized with the hardship of these lands, nothing so unusual if you consider the fact that she's a princess.
Carrying her in his harms – he had tried carrying her over his shoulder but she had complained even in her sleep – he marveled in her warmth and delicate sent. Her lips were just parted, her chest lazily raising and falling. She had been scared when he found her; he had watched her evaluate her surroundings trying to escape from him. It had only lasted a few minutes, though. After hearing from late Earl Ulf that she was now Eric's charge, Sookie had been far calmer. In the few moments she had been awake, he had seen in her eyes not fear but attraction towards him. And that was making him walk faster towards the edge of the forest.
Eric's village was like many others in these parts of the globe. Wooden constructions dominated the scenery, only a few stone larger houses took place right in the middle of it all. Many people were still wandering outdoors, despite the darkness that had befallen. They all gave Eric and Sookie curious glances but dared not to question him as he moved heading to the village's smallest stone construction, his house. As the son of the Earl, Eric had granted himself a privet residence after winning a large treasure in his last quest to Brittan's lands. His residence was also the future home of the woman he was intended to marry.
Kicking his front door open, Eric entered the house and walked to a large bad that occupied the furthest wall. Depositing Sookie on it, he smoothed her dress and headed out to meet his men.
They were just outside waiting for him.
"Your father has not returned nor has your brother, Eric. It'll take them a week or more to do so. Asmund returned on another boat, he reports that your father's ship faced a few problems and because of it, it will take them longer than expected", said Destin, the man who had talked to Eric at Ulf's village.
"Very well. Anything else?", asked Eric.
"No, all men have returned and your mother is aware of the Sky woman presence. She says that you're to wait for your fathers return before you visit her. She is afraid that this woman might cast some magic upon her", uncomfortably spoke Destin.
As everyone on the village, he knew better than to question Eric prerogative as Sookie's new protector. His concern, however, matched Eric's mother. There's no way of telling if Sookie was truly harmless. They had never heard of any of Fintans people as magical. He was the one with power. Still, in this case, it was better to act with caution.
"All better, I intent to remain in my residence for the time being. Make sure the chests collected at Ulf's are storaged at my father's house and keep the men alert, if the boats don't return in three days we might have to send a search team." Finishing his orders, Eric turned his back on his friend and returned to his house.
Destin has seen the gleam look on Eric's eyes before. He was sure that it wouldn't take long for his friend to bed the Sky princess, not even the chance of a magical curse would keep him away from his prize.
Sookie was so comfortable she didn't want to move. But her thirst was making it very difficult to do so. A few minutes before she had woken on a strange bed in a strange house, she'd panic for a second, until she saw Eric.
He had his profile to her; he was leaning over a large wooden desk examining maps. His face was illuminated by the fire burning in a big fireplace. He had changed from his leather assemble, and now was dressed in simple wool pants and nothing else. Sookie could see all his ripple muscle, his strong back and shoulders.
"Will you not rise, my Sookie?", he unexpectedly asked turning his head to her.
Blushing for being cough ogling, it took her a few minutes to answer.
"I… May I have some water", she said in a small voice. It crossed her mind that she wasn't so scared anymore. A sense of calm was washing over her, even as tired as she still felt. Perhaps, time travel had its own price.
Eric was crossing the room towards her; he handled Sookie a cup filled with water. Sookie quickly gulped it down. She had no hunger and refused the meat Eric offered her. Somehow she knew she was not supposed to eat. Another thing to add to the list of odd things going on, she grumpily thought. Surprisingly, Eric did not insist on it, as if he also knew she shouldn't eat.
"How did you find yourself in Ulf's House, Sookie?"
The telepath had no idea what to say, so she decided to give a slightly altered version of what had happened to her at the mall.
"I was trying on a new dress when our residence was attacked. Grandfather asked me to run. And so I did." She lamely finished.
Eric was watching every change on her face. He could tell she was not telling the complete truth. Still, he knew, somehow, she wasn't intentionally trying to deceive him. Perhaps she really didn't know.
"Do you have any magical powers as your grandfather does?" Eric asked in a whisper. He didn't care if she was magical or not, but it would be prudent to have the confirmation.
Pulling the covers to her chest, Sookie sat up further on the bad. She could feel his great curiosity and a bit of amusement. Maybe he thought she could do party tricks.
"I'm not as talented as my Lord Fintan". She answered somewhat irritated. "I'm of his blood, and his magic runs through me. But it's not to be displayed or wasted."
Eric was surprised by her response. He hadn't had the intention of disturbing her. Moving to the bad, he tried to placate her.
"I've no desire to make you uncomfortable, Sky princess. My intention was to know you better. Would you like to take a stroll through the village? You've been for too long confined to this bed".
He offered her his hand. After a slight hesitation, in which she used the time to make sure her legs were working, she took his hand.
The village was busy. The men were nowhere to be seen, but the women were running around worried with their tasks. They paid little mind to Eric and Sookie, almost as if they could see the pair, but not really focus on them.
Eric showed all the houses around the center of the village, his pride was palpable. He explained how the new lands acquired with the defeat of Ulf would improve the life of his people. He begum to detail how they had defeated their opponent, but seeing Sookie's unease, he dropped the subject.
They were sitting by a pond when Sookie softly spoke for the first time since they had left Eric's house.
"I could get used to this life. It seems quiet. My life, from where I come from, is good. I've been happy. But things are never easy, never straight forward as worrying if there will be enough food for winter or if the ships will be ready for summer". Tears were flowing down her pale cheeks. "I'm constantly looking behind my back. Waiting for the moment when they will come to take me away from the little I have. And now I'm here. Knowing I can't stay. Why grandfather sent me here? Why he tortures me so?"
Her silent tears tuned into sobs, as Eric gently wrapped his arms around her. She was his, even if for a short time. And he would make her happy.
He was humming close to her ear. Not long after, she was back to sleep. Only to awake desperate for some water. Fifteen hours later.
Sookie lifted her head and tried to raise her upper body from the bed, but something was holding her down. A large, muscled arm was snaked around her waist, pinning her to Eric's chest. Taking the furs that were covering them, Sookie saw one of his long legs draped over hers. She was caged in, but in a delicious way. She managed to reposition herself in his arms, only to face him. In his sleep, Eric had a more soft expression, making her see what a beautiful boy he must have been. Clean of blood and dust from the forest, he was like an angel sent to her, an angel with the most sensual lips.
Sookie gazed up.
His eyes were open.
Before she could say anything, before she could shy away, he captured her lips. The kiss was slow at first. Sookie was lost at what to do. Should she kiss this man? This stranger? And more importantly, how?
The girl, even at her age, had never been kissed. How could she, if touching anyone only made her telepathic connection even stronger. Her isolation after her grandmother's passing last year hasn't helped either. All that, however, didn't matter for long. Eric had enough experience for both of them, and soon Sookie was lost for a much better reason.
Grasping for breath, they separated. He had a grin on his lips and she a furious blush on her cheeks. He was leaning for a new round as his hands began to move over her body when Sookie placed her much smaller hand on his lips.
"Please, I really need some water."
Not saying anything Eric left the bed and quickly returned with a cup. He had lost his pants sometime during the night, the morning chilly air not doing any damage to his impressive anatomy.
Taking the water with as much grace as she could under the circumstances, Sookie drank it and placed the cup on the floor beside her. Eric was sitting on the bed simply looking at her. She was going crazy not being able to read him. But she could feel his curiosity, lust and appreciation. A man entered the house.
"Eric, may I have a word?", said Destin from the door. Faster than a rabbit running form a fox, Sookie shrank herself back under the covers. Not caring about his nudity, Eric walked to the door and spoke quietly with the man. A few minutes went by and once again Sookie fell asleep.