Ria Cantrell - Celtic Storm 03 (41 page)

~~~~~

When next she woke, Rhianna was tucked safely in her own bed. There was a fire lit in the hearth and it took the chill from the room. Erik was sitting beside the bed watching her. It had not been a dream. He had come to save her and this time, it was real. She tried to speak but her throat seemed raw. Erik leaned closer and he said, “Don’t try to talk, Rhi. Your throat is sore from….”

He did not want to say it out loud. The last thing he wanted to do was conjure the horrible memory of her tied to the stake.

“Yes, the fire,” she rasped. She said, “Erik, I have to talk to you.”

“Shh, my love. I already know. Andarra told me.”

Erik took her hand and kissed it.

“You know about the babe?”

“Yes. I wish you would have told me, but I understand why you did not.”

“I wanted to tell you…but then the letter came.” Her voice faded. She too, did not want to replay the events that had nearly destroyed them.

Placing a kiss on her forehead, Erik murmured, “I know. What are we going to do about that temper of yours,” he said with a laugh. Rhianna looked into his eyes and she saw such love there that her heart hitched in her chest. It was hard to talk, but she said, “I know my temper is bad at times…but I never lost faith in our love…despite what you think. I called upon it…in his chambers when he wanted me to conjure black magic with him. It was powerful and it protected me…long enough until you could save me.”

“Aye. I suspected something like that. It was what led me to you. I saw a bright light and somehow I knew it had come from you. Now, let me put some ointment on your poor little feet. Andarra gave me some of your mixed herbs to help heal the burns.”

“I am fine, Erik. I do not even feel pain. The flames did not do the damage he had wanted them to do.”

Despite her protests, Erik inspected her feet and found them to be healing nicely. They were not blistered, but just a deeper shade due to the licking of the flames. Erik put the cooling salve on the soles of her feet and he tucked her back into bed again. She held out her arms and she said, “Please lie beside me. I cannot seem to get warm enough, even now that I am plied with furs.”

Erik smiled lovingly down at his wife. He was happy to oblige her so he slipped into their bed and gathered her into his arms. She was still unnaturally cold and so he settled against her to staunch the chill that cooled her flesh; his love warmed the ice that had frosted her heart and soul. He breathed in her scent and he thanked every heavenly being for her safe return to him. As he tried to just comfort her, Rhianna would have none of it. She wanted him and she wanted to show him just how much. As she slipped beneath him, she declared her love for him and found the only true comfort she could ever need. She succumbed to love’s power and lost herself in the safety of his arms.

~Epilogue~

The weeks after Rhianna’s ordeal had taken a far worse toll on her than any of them were prepared for. Sometime in the night, during a massive thunderstorm, Rhianna woke from pain that threatened to cleave her in two. By morning, the babe she carried inside of her was gone. Once again, a storm had brought such loss that it threatened to break her resolve. Erik was not prepared for the grief that beset his love and soul mate. He blamed himself, of course, and he cursed the man who had caused the trauma to his wife. There seemed to be nothing he could do to bring laughter back into her beautiful eyes. Erik could not bear the heartache that Rhianna had fallen prey to. He did not know how to ease her pain and suffering, but he knew he had to try. Her smiles and laughter were like heaven’s nectar and without them; Erik’s heart was breaking at her anguish.

After much thought, Erik had decided that it was time to bring Rhianna home; his home. So many sad memories now lived in du Montefort Keep for Rhianna that it was time to start anew. As heir to his father’s holdings, Ragnorsen would be his eventually, so it was right to bring his wife there. Erik hoped that the change of scenery would do Rhianna some good. He wanted to travel soon, despite the approaching winter. He thought it would be best to make it to Ragnorsen for Christmastide. Ragnorsen always promised magical revels for the season and Erik knew that being a part of those festivities may put cheer into Rhianna’s broken heart.

Besides, it was about time she met his parents. They had not been able to make it to their wedding and Erik was just aching to bring his wife to his birthplace. Erik knew that his mother would dote on Rhianna and she would know how to bring Rhianna’s joy back into her heart. His mother had lost a baby, too, many years ago when Erik had been a small child and so she knew the heartache that such a loss brought to a woman. She would know what to do to comfort his beloved Rhianna.

On the day they were set to leave, many had assembled to bid their goodbyes to their precious Mistress. So many people loved her. It warmed Erik’s heart to see the villagers come in mass to wish her well. They had abundant parcels and gifts waiting for her and while it was bittersweet, Erik could see that their love would follow her to the new chapter of her life. He knew that she would gain the love of his people, too. His people would come to cherish her and benefit from her healing gifts as her own people had done. Pride blossomed within Erik and he waited while Rhianna hugged and kissed each and every person who had come to say farewell. He would not have it any other way.

Finally, with hugs for her captain of arms, her beloved chatelaine and her brother and new sister, Rhianna was ready for the next adventure, so long as it was with Erik. Andarra had promised that Rhianna would bear a child again soon and this time, there were no portents or warnings concerning that pregnancy. Rhianna knew to trust Andarra’s prophesies and joy returned to her heart at the thought of another child of Erik’s. As she looked over at Erik, she knew she could be happy anywhere if he was with her. Love filled her aching heart and as crystal tears clung to her lashes, she beamed a true smile at her handsome knight and husband. Yes, love made everything possible and everything bearable. With Erik by her side, the future once again seemed to glow brighter before her.

~~~~~

It took them three days to reach Ragnorsen. As they approached Erik’s lands, Rhianna began to worry that Erik’s family would not accept her. She vowed to sit tall in her saddle and not slump in the exhaustion she truly felt. Erik pointed out that Ragnorsen could be seen now in the distance. There seemed to be a golden hue emanating from the edifice on the hillside. The beauty of it struck Rhianna with awe and amazement. The du Montefort Keep was splendid, but Ragnorsen was beyond words.

Rhianna smiled nervously at Erik and he winked at her. Reaching for her hand as she rode beside him, he said, “Have no fear, my love. They are going to love you as much as I do.”

When Ragnorsen Keep grew closer, Rhianna could see the colors of Erik’s house standards flapping in the cold nocturnal air. His men fell in line behind him and a soft chant began to fill the night.

“Ragnorsen…Ragnorsen…”

It resonated from the ranks of his men and seemed to echo from the walls of the keep in the distance. Rhianna soon realized that it was not an echo at all, but a response. They were chanting in unison to the voices behind her, in welcome of their riding party. She sat a little taller; her fatigue suddenly evaporating in the chill of the night air. As they clattered across the drawbridge, Rhianna’s eyes beheld the wonder of Ragnorsen Keep. It was adorned for the coming Yuletide and the boughs of holly only added to the magnificence of the place. This was her husband’s home and now it would be hers.

As Erik helped her from her mount, there were people waiting to greet them. An older couple stood hand in hand and Rhianna knew in an instant who they were. There was no denying the sire of her husband as he stood next to the beautiful woman, Rhianna knew had to be Erik’s mother. As Rhianna curtseyed before them, Erik then made the introductions, “Father, Mother, I want you to meet my wife, Rhianna Ragnorsen nee du Montefort.”

Erik’s father, a big Norse Viking, who was an older replica of her husband, smiled down at her with kind blue eyes. He dashed formality to the wind and pulled the beautiful girl who had won his son’s heart into a bearlike embrace. Pleasantly surprised, Rhianna hugged the giant Viking back, feeling instantly like she had truly come home. It had been so long since she had parents of her own but when Erik’s father held her, she felt like that empty place that had lived so long in her heart was instantly filled. When Rurik Ragnorsen released her, Lady Brekka likewise embraced her. “Daughter,” she said. “Welcome home.”

Rhianna saw the sweet smile on Lady Brekka’s face. It reached her sparkling azure eyes and Rhianna truly felt the warmth of her welcome. The lady wore a lovely crimson bliaut with a rose colored stomacher. It cinched her waist and Rhianna could see that Erik’s mother still sported quite the girlish figure. She was stunning! Two long golden braids hung in casings on each side of her face. Though she was a married woman, her head was not covered in a veil, but she wore a simple circlet over her braids with an oval garnet mid forehead. Rhianna noted that this woman, her husband’s mother, was a very beautiful woman indeed. Such beauty was only matched with her grace and her loving demeanor. Rhianna knew instantly that they would get on splendidly.

Suddenly overcome with emotion, Rhianna raised glassy eyes to Erik. A tremulous smile lifted her lips. “Yes…home. I am home. I am so happy to meet you both.”

Rurik linked his arm through hers and he said, “Come inside and have something to eat. Indulge an old man and tell me how you tamed that wild Viking of ours.”

Wasn’t that the pot calling the kettle black
, Rhianna thought but she giggled and said, “In truth, I think it was the other way around for your son was ever persistent to get me to like him. I am grateful for his patience and
understanding
.”

The last, Rhianna said with a smirk and Erik was rolling his eyes to the heavens. Lady Brekka was quite certain that these two had an interesting courtship, for she could instantly see the fire in the young woman. She had no doubt that they loved each other deeply and she could not have wished for a better wife for her son.

Brekka Ragnorsen smiled with tears in her eyes, as well. This was the mate of her son. The Fates had finally brought her to him. She had seen her so many times in her own dreams, and here she was, more beautiful than she had imagined. So many nights she would wake with visions of the woman who would win and claim her son’s heart and she would pray that the girl would find him soon. Brekka did not always tell Rurik what she had seen. He had grown used to her Ways that had deep ties to those who walked before her. Hell, the Norsemen were pagans long before they embraced Christianity. She had prayed for her only son to find that mate who would fill his life with love and joy and every time she did, she dreamed of a dark haired beauty with emerald eyes. Brekka wanted grandbabies to fill the keep before she was too old to enjoy them, but Erik had always been a warrior first. Still, here she was, the woman she had dreamed of time and again. This was the half that had been missing from her precious son’s heart. This was the woman to quell his wanderings and to settle him.

After Rhianna and Erik had unpacked their horses and made their way into the feast hall, they talked long into the night and Brekka finally said that she would show Rhianna to Erik’s chambers while father and son had a last drink before retiring, themselves. There was so much she wanted to share with the mate of her son’s heart, but tomorrow was another day. Instead, as she led Rhianna up the stairs to Erik’s rooms, she offered kindly, “I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Thank me? M’lady, I do not know what you mean. It is I who must thank you for opening your home to me.”

“This is your home now, love. But I am so grateful that you love my son because you see, a mother worries that her only son would never find a mate to make him happy…and you do. I can see that you do. I can see the way he looks at you and you at him. It does a mother’s heart good to know her son has found the perfect mate. Thank you for loving him.”

Rhianna blushed and said, “I do love him, with all my heart. He is the other half of my soul. Erik is easy to love…I suspect it is because his mother taught him how to be a good and loving husband.”

Wiping an errant tear from her eye, Brekka Ragnorsen said, “You honor me, my daughter. I hope you will have many happy years here.”

Rhianna hugged the beautiful mother of her husband, feeling love fill her heart for both Brekka and Rurik, and she said, “I know I will. I feel like I have found my destiny, here with Erik. For so long my family consisted of just my brother, but he has a wife of his own now.”

“We are your family, now, my sweet girl. And the luckier are we for it. You are home, where you belong.” And Rhianna knew that she truly was.

~The End~

Acknowledgements

When a writer decides to take the journey to tell his or her stories, there are so many people who help make the dream a reality. I cannot say enough how I treasure the people who inspired me and set me on this path. I would like to thank first and foremost my husband, Paul. He inspires me to true romance and is my greatest supporter. He is responsible for the artwork and the ceaseless promotion of this book and the others in the series. I want to thank my family and friends who encouraged me to follow my dream to write. To all my other author sisters, I thank you for the guidance and the support. Your words of wisdom have been so very helpful in the development of this story. I want to thank my mom, Marilyn and my sister, Andrea for always believing in me. Of course, I need to once again thank Wynne Guglielmo for her long hours of painstakingly editing every comma and ellipse. I want to thank my street team, Ria’s Celtic Spirits, for stepping up and helping me make this a success. I love you all and am blessed to have you in my life. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank my beta readers who were the first eyes to see this story. A special thanks to Cathy Phillips and Virginia Smith who found typos that even we never saw. Without them, I would have missed so many edits, as well. There are countless others, I am afraid…too many to name, so I hope you all know who you are and I offer you bright blessings!!!!