Authors: Monica Luke
“Mind your low bred tongue as you speak to the king!” Baric’s angered reply sounded off the walls and rang in Elgen’s ears, “Or you will return to your brother with it hanging around your neck!”
Elgen eyes turned cold, and ice blue they already were causing fear in many who looked at him w
hen he was angry, such was his scowl, if armed all knew he would have thrown his knife at Baric to kill him, the inner guards seized the end of their swords.
“
Our weapons?” questioned Elgen.
“
When at the gates’ end,” Irek, who was by Laad at the doors, opposed, “Is when you will have them back and not a step before.”
Laad motioned with his head.
“See them out,” his short order to the inner guards.
Heavily, Elgen walked towards the huge double wood doors out of court, but as he passed Laad, he slowed only a
moment again to give him a cold stare, as he thought back on the cloak thrown to cover the body of the beautiful girl. She belonged to another, he thought to himself as he smirked, at least for now.
As the doors slammed shut and latched, Laad and Irek went
to stand before the king to speak of Elgen’s words.
“
He has made himself clear,” one of the men in his quorum said, “A time for peace is no more between Worrlgen and Celgon.”
“
Such is true,” King Rone agreed, “But we will not ride out and attack from just Thogor brother’s words. Let us wait and see what Thogor will try with the lands of the south, including Orem.”
“
I reason that as wise too,” another in the quorum said.
“
And I,” followed by another, until all agreed.
“
Then it is settled,” King Rone said and dismissed them.
When the quorum left the court hall, Bayl looked to his father.
“The hour is still early,” he said, “I am going back to my chamber.”
“
Did the horns take you from other deeds?” Baric teased.
“
Brother,” Bayl said and shook his head, “Is there no end with you?”
“
Such has been between them both all their lives,” King Rone said to Irek, as he stood.
“
I know well one would die for the other,” Irek said, as King Rone walked away.
“
As I,” King Rone added, “But the hour is indeed early, I am going to my chamber as well.”
As Irek and Laad stood in the court hall, after Baric had left too, Irek looked at Laad and remembered his earlier disapproval.
“There is a deed that makes me wary with you,” Irek said sternly.
“
I know.”
“
You love her Laad,” he said compassionately, “Yet such was her deed, she could have been taken or killed had their intent been to do more than bring a message.”
“
My love is deep for her,” he confessed, “And her youth causes such foolish deeds.”
“
You have many obey you now without question,” Irek said, as he began to walk away, “And such should be the same for your wife.”
**
Quickly, Ogorec and Belon rode beyond the glens and to the forest, and looked over the land from high, but saw no vast number camped or anyone prepared for battle.
“
There is no one but them,” Ogorec said, as he mounted his horse, “My ears long to hear what words they brought us.”
“
Only eight in the darkness as dawn approached.” Belon said, as he mounted his horse too, “Reason it as good.”
As both rode b
ack through the Grey Forest of Worrlgen. Side by side on their horses, Belon looked over to Ogorec.
“
We have no one around us,” an aroused Belon said as he stopped suddenly wanting to seize the moment and jumped from his horse.
“
Belon,” Ogorec warned, when he also stopped. “They wait for word from us.”
“
We have no dire words to give them, and our time will be short,” his words as he stood next to Ogorec’s horse looking up at his lustfully, “Will you deny me?”
Ogorec
’s head turned left and right looking all around to make sure they were alone, and jumped down. “No.”
Back at WorrlgenHall, as Bayl entered his room, Liha still on the bed sat up and waited for him to speak.
“All is well,” he said, not to worry her, “The King of Celgon has died and his son Thogor is now king.”
“
With haste they came to deliver such words,” Liha said.
“
Along with more,” Bayl said, as he climbed in bed and pulled her close, “But fret not over such matters, but one.”
“
What, my lord?” Liha smiled, already knowing what he would say.
“
Beginning again where we where before I left you.”
As King Rone returned to his chamber and climbed in bed with Seda who was now sleeping soundly after tossing and turning all night in bed from the child kicking. His hand around her growing belly, he kissed
her neck, then gasped surprised when he felt a hard kick against his hand.
“
Strong you are,” he said, as he pressed his hand to her growing belly, “You will be a boy.”
**
Most all in WorrlgenHall still asleep since so early, Baric went back to his chamber, but as he now did for months since he healed, he lay awake lost in thought in his bed.
Time after time again, his mind recalling thoughts of the woman he
now knew as Ecia, each day a feeling so strong now made him question the dream he kept having of her.
His dream always of them by a fire,
with her washing him, he could feel her warm soft lips kissing him and her hands on his body.
Always in his dream, he saw her looking down at him, moaning before her head leaned b
ackwards, then as she did, his eyes opening and beholding full bouncing breasts.
In his dream, he remembered how she spoke to him softly as he felt a deep tingling between his thighs; but just as felt it; no matter what, he woke.
“I swear now!” Baric cried out, as he sat up. Each time he thought of it, more vivid memories coming back to him, “My unyielding dream was never a dream.”
**
Nona paced back and forth in their chamber as she waited for Laad to return, her mind so filled with words of how to beg his forgiveness, she could hardly breathe.
She knew once before she had angered him to such a state that she saw his brow
furrow and mood overcome him, but this time as his eyes squinted as he used her whole name, she had erred much.
His steps heavy, as she
listened to him walk up the stairs, unable to decide to sit or stand to wait for him, she chose to stand.
Slowly, his steps came to the door and when it slowly opened, she inhaled and at right away began to give her reason for disobeying him.
“Such is my love,” she blurted, as she hurried in front of him, “I only wanted to know all was well with you. I beg forgiveness.”
Laad said nothing, as he closed the door; then put away his sheathed sword on another table in their chamber.
“Such is my youth,” she then blurted, as she walked back and forth “At times I reason not what I do. I beg forgiveness.”
As he stood close to the door, Laad looked at her and such was her state, his heart turned to mush from the downcast look on her face, but Irek was right
and Laad fought away his weakness.
His voice firm, Laad inhaled to stiffen his will.
“Stand before me Eeilnona,” he commanded, and with haste, she did; then looked up at him meekly.
“
Did I shame you?” she asked her voice soft and meek, her eyes begging clemency from him.
“
Were my words to you to go back to bed?” he asked, as he looked down at her, “Not once, but twice when I walked out?”
“
Yes, husband,” Nona answered and looked down.
Without warning, as Nona stood in front of him, he grabbed her under her arms and lifted her to his face to look at her,
“Such is my love,” he repeated some of the words she said to him; then kissed her on her lips, “That you will learn to obey me.”
Nona light in his arms, he swiftly cradled her into his arms; then carried her to a chair at the table, and he did it so swiftly she hardly had time to blink.
Her securely in his lap, as she looked at him, he turned her over and bent her over on his lap,
“
Those men could have harmed or killed you,” he said calmly, as his strong hand thrashed her tender bottom and although not as hard as he could have made it, Nona cried out as she felt his punishment.
“
Please, my husband no more!” she finally cried out, “My wrong I have learned well!”
At once, Laad released Nona from his lap, but when she tried to pull from
him angrily, he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.
“
Release it,” she said unwilling to look at him.
“
Great is my love for you,” he said with no hint of anger in his voice, yet his tone was such that she knew to heed them well, “I will do what is needed to have you obey me at all times, and not just when you want to for your own sake.”
“
And does that mean causing me pain?” Nona questioned, never so angry with him before, as she tried to pull away from him.
“
Yes,” Laad said without dwell, and sternly.
Unsure what to say, and afraid to say the wrong words to him, she burst into te
ars; then ran into the bedchamber and flung herself on the bed, and as she cried, Laad fought within himself to keep from going to her and holding her in his arms.
Instead, he stood; then when he noticed Elaad awake in his bed;
he went to him, picked him up, and gently cradled him in his arms.
“
My son,” Laad said playfully, “Did the wails of your mother wake you?”
Annoyed and angry, Nona turned on her side in the bed and looked at Laad and how in his strong hands, he held Elaad gently and lovingly, which he
usually did with her, other than just now, and her anger left her.
“
Give him to me,” she said as she rose; then removed a breast from her gown, “He is hungry.”
At once, she took him and placed Elaad in her arms, and as Laad watched Nona feed him as she r
ocked him in her arms next to him, he looked at her, smiled; then removed his tunic and boots.
“
I am going back to sleep,” he said.
“
No, sit Laad until I am done. I beg you,” Nona said, as she softly patted Elaad on his back to burp him before she put him back in bed.
Just as she asked him to do, Laad sat in the chair; then looked at Nona as she walked to him and stood in front of him.
“Never would I have reasoned resting on your lap could bring me such pain, as well as pleasure,” she said meekly.
“
Oh, my love,” Laad said, as his heart dropped, but he was not sorry he had punished her, just that it needed done, “How you ...”
“
Wait,” she said, as she put her finger on his lips to stop him from talking more; then lowered her head again.
“
Forgive me Laad. I beg you.”
“
You ask for what was done long ago,” he said, as he put his arms around her tiny waist and pulled her closer to him.
“
I love you.”
“
And, I love you. Obey me Nona,” he simply said, yet there was strength behind his simply words that made them firm.
“
In all things,” Nona agreed, as she raised her head to look at him and repeated, “Great and small, my husband.”
Laad smiled; then began to stand.
“Are you hungry?” she asked, as she then reached to touch his face.
“
For food yes,” he answered; then pulled her even closer, as he recalled the sight of her body as she stood with the wind blowing her gown against it, “And for you yeeeeesss.”
“
Then which will you have first?” she teased.
Once Laad stood, he gave no answer
, but before she could again blink. Both feet high in the air and her body in his strong arms, as he whisked her to bed, she knew his answer.
S
pring came as suddenly as a hawk’s pounce upon its prey as many dreaded again leaving those they love. But, Elgen’s word of defiance that his Brother Thogor’s wanted the lands to the south unable to ignore, King Rone decided to have scouts journey south to see if such claims had begun, and if they had, squash them at once or send for the united men.
Baric again healthy and fit
, he decided to journey also hoping to somehow find the woman he know knew as Ecia, but other than she could be among those of the ash people or with nomads, his hope was a distant one in more ways than he cared to reason.
Since Baric was
going, Ogorec had to journey with him. To safeguard WorrlgenHall from invasion should Thogor plan a siege of some sort, King Rone decided Bayl and Irek would stay behind.
Once both learned again they would not journey together, both were miserable
and for a brief time spoke of leaving WorrlgenHall and going to the Eldernon Mountains together.
“
Some would say we fled for fear to battle with Celgon,” Ogorec voiced to Belon as they spoke of their plan.
“
How many times have we shown our bravery?” he questioned; then spoke his anguish, “I reason none will and so long will you be gone. How will I spend my days and nights other than unhappy?”
“
It will pass with haste,” Ogorec assured him.
“
So you have set your mind to go with the men?” he questioned, his voice low, already knowing his wounding answer.
“
I have,” Ogorec gave it, “I swore an oath as a guild to serve above all.”
“
What about your oath to me?
“
I am bound to you always.”
“
Then be so,” Belon said; his voice rising as angst consumed him, “We can leave together this very night.”
“
I will not do such a thing.”
“
Why not?” Belon shouted.
“
Why is there always such quarrel between us?” Ogorec asked annoyed, and unsure of why himself, “So much that I wonder-”
“
Why did you stop? You wonder what?” Belon asked.
“
How we came to be what we are to the other?”
“
There was a time you would not dare speak in such a way,” Belon said, as he stood, “Dare I speak of that young guild that makes you now question us?”
“
That is foolishness.”
“
Then swear to me he does not come to your mind,” Belon demanded, as he looked at him intently, “Swear it such that I trust you speak truth.”
“
What is in one’s head and deeds are not the same,” Ogorec confessed, “He comes to mind, but no deed has or will be been done.”
His words striking him deep, Belon turned and walked away without a w
ord in return, but as he did, Ogorec came from behind and turned him by his shoulder.
“
I ride out in the morning,” he said when he did, “Will it be with me wanting?”
“
It will,” Belon’s reply, as he angrily stormed away.
**
As Irek spoke with Laad about his journey south, Laad’s mind often drifted to Nona. Both dreaded the days that passed bringing spring closer to them, yet both knew that when he took command under Irek, what would be required of him.
For days as spring cre
pt nearer he, Irek, and the king discussed when it would be wise to leave; and the valleys clear and heavy rains over, a few days before the full moon just after spring was their choice.
Although, Laad now knew when he would leave Nona, he kept it to himse
lf to spare her anguish, yet within him like a festering wound, it ate away at him, and although Nona knew from his eyes that it was soon, she said nothing to him about it.
On the eve Laad was to leave Nona, as he and Irek again spoke in the court hall of
the number of gruels, bowmen, and guilds warriors, both high and low, that would journey south, Laad so lost in thought, had Irek told him he was on fire, would not have known.
“
Laad,” Irek said, well aware of the anguish he was going through, because he many times had to leave his wife and children behind, “At dawn it is set. It would be wise to go to you chamber and get a good sleep this night.”
“
Yes, it would be,” he agreed.
As Irek watched Laad walk away, he looked over to Aron who was close by.
“I reason the last thing he will do this night is sleep,” Aron commented in jest.
“
As I,” Irek agreed, and left the court hall too.
With haste, Laad went to his chamber; then as he opened the door, the room dark other than a candle by their bed, he noticed Nona
awake in bed waiting for him.
As he looked at her, he sighed knowing he had to tell her, then noticed the soft glow of the candle she kept lit shining on her smooth face as she waited and as he gazed upon such a beautiful face, he swallowed at a loss for w
ords.
“
Do you leave at dawn husband?” Nona whispered her question; the sadness in his eyes his obvious answer.
Laad nodded.
“Then why are you there and I here?” Nona asked, as she held out her arms for him to come to her and fall between them.
Once again
faced to dread a sunrise, just as the sun began to peak its head over the horizon, Laad cursed it when he saw it.
“
You shine bright on such a dreaded day,” he then said, “If only you would hide your face from me a little longer.”
As he dressed, he looked
to Nona who slept naked under the fur with her leg hanging over its side and smiled as he looked at her firm thigh, recalling how he kissed his way up it only hours before. He knew her sleep was now a sound one, as his mind recalled her shrieks and gasps of pleasure throughout the night.
Quietly not the wake her, he picked Elaad; then held him as he slept.
“With haste you grow,” he said, and kissed his forehead, “You hold my heart son. To leave you and your mother fills me with such grief.”
Gently he placed
Elaad back in his bed; then with his armor in his hand, walked to the door, but stopped.
At first, his plan to leave Nona as she slept because they said their goodbyes throughout the night and because to see her cry would grieve him more, he could not le
ave her without words and went back to their bed.
“
Wife,” he whispered, his voice soft, as his hand could not help but caress her warm flesh, “I must you leave now.”
Slowly, Nona turned onto her back; then looked up at him.
“Husband, please let me dress and watch you from the walls or as you pass me as others do when their men ride out.”
“
I am already grieved. To see your face as I ride away, would be more painful than being run through with a sword.”
Nona sat up and pressed herself close to Laad before she
kissed him tenderly.
“
My prayers are that no harm comes to you no matter what, as is my belief.”
“
Then I will believe it too,” he said, as he held her even tighter.
“
You are my life,” Nona pulled herself from him and looked into his face to speak, “Return with haste to all who are yours.”
“
I have heard you speak such words before when…” Laad mentioned; then his heart began to race, “When…”
“
Then, now you know.”
“
How long?”
“
Just after the snow began to fall I will reason.” She smiled.
“
Mm, I remember well those many cold mornings in bed.” He hummed, as pleasing thoughts filled his head of them.
“
Cold mornings you kept me well warmed beneath you.”
“
If it was not already so, I believe from this night, I put enough of my seed inside you to make you with child again.”
Nona smiled and pulled the furs off her belly. “
Ah yes, such is my belief also.”
Laad
’s expression showed his surprise and happiness. “Your womb shows no sign. Why did you not speak it sooner?”
“
What greater surprise to have upon your return?” she whispered, “But now I reason what greater joy to know before you leave?”
“
Oh, my love,” Laad said, as he fell to his knees next to their bed in front of her, “I am humbled by you and only you.”
“
With haste leave us,” Nona said, as she fought to keep from crying, “And with haste come back to us.”
“
I shall,” he vowed; then kissed her forehead.
Quickly, he turned to hurry out of the room, but as he walked,
his boots felt as if steel weighed each of his steps slowly him; then when he stopped at the door, as he grabbed the latch he heard a sniffle, which made him turn around.
As he did, he inhaled; then looked at Nona. Her eyes glassy, she said nothing as she
stood straight up in their bed.
Tears streaming down her cheeks and resting upon her full breasts while she watched him walk to the door, he flew back into her arms like a forceful wind.
Once back in her arms, such was his forceful grab; he lifted her from the bed, as he kissed her passionately inhaling into his body all the air within her lungs.
“
My love, my love, my love,” Laad said, as he kissed her face; then neck; then face again, “Dare I leave you this way. I will not pass our threshold with your eyes full of tears,” he vowed.
Nona knew he meant his words, and ceased her tears though they streamed inside of her.
“Leave us,” she said, as she pushed his face from hers so he could see her tears were gone “And do what needs to be done.”
Another kiss, th
is one tender, again he turned to walk towards he door. Again, his steps heavy as if weighed with steel, but this time as his hand touched the latch; slowly he opened the door only pausing for a moment to take a deep breath before he passed through it.
**
“My son,” King Rone said as he put his hand on Baric’ shoulder and kissed both of his cheeks, “I pray no harm comes to you as you also seek out this Ecia while you journey.”
“
Fear not father.”
“
Then may your journey be a triumphant and swift one,” he then added, “As I hope your return is.”
As the gate slowly opened, one by one the men ro
de out as a great shout came from many, and King Rone on his horse at the gate’s entrance held his sword high as the priests’ sprinkled water and spoke prays aloud.
“
What we have laid claimed with our blood!” King Rone shouted, “Will not be snatched from us as a thief would do in the night. Let all who believe such be humbled at our feet!”
As the men marched out, Baric and Ogorec in the lead, Belon made certain to look at Ogorec who was in front with Bayl, while Baric kissed his brother on both cheeks then
hugged him, and when Ogorec saw Belon, both gazed at the other long.
“
Journey well and return unharmed my brother,” Bayl said after he hugged him, “Or shall I scorer the earth to find you and have it be in the arms of a woman again?”
“
I have no question you would brother.”
“
Such that I would,” Bayl assured him, “I have grown forward to the unending taunts from you.”
As Irek sat on the other side watching, his eyes not set on anyone in particular, they happened upon Belon who was staring at Ogorec. His exp
ression deeply morose, and one he had seen in many men who left loved ones behind, he looked over at Ogorec whose demeanor was the same and from how they looked at each other, he knew that more than friendship was between them.
He wondered to himself if O
rem had known and said nothing or if anyone else knew; then he thought of the rumors that came from some in hushed words, other than Tohlor.
“
Tohlor…” Irek said to himself, as his eyes again looked to Belon, before he began to wonder if he could have overhead or spoken one hushed word to many and sealed his doom.
Careful not to speak insulting words, Irek did not voice his thoughts as he looked over at Bayl again wondering if maybe others held their secret for them.
“Does Belon have a wife or children?” he asked one of the men next to him.
“
He has never wed, but children I cannot say. He has left his seed in many women.”
“
Is that so?” Irek asked puzzled, “And Ogorec?”
“
Without wife, yet his choice of if a man or woman he longs to leave his seed in.” the man jested, “Some question.”