Page 18 of A Viking's Captive

Mists hung low over the land, and the sky drizzled. Ilona had hidden her garment bag by the fishing boat, assuring herself all would be well. As she plodded down the hill to the coast, she heard the cry of a solitary lapwing bird. It sounded mournful this morning. The lapwing was familiar to her as it called her home. Did it call out to its lost mate? Would she feel lost without Rathnon after returning home?

There was nae turning back now. On the beach, she walked to where the small fishing boat was hidden. Ilona removed some of the branches of spruce and pine that had hidden it from view.

Before leaving, Ilona had left a farewell note for Rathnon, and left the only silver coin she possessed for good luck and had always carried with her. Ilona kent it was nae enough to pay for the boat. It was all she had to give. Her heart felt hollow in her chest, filled with anguish at the thought of never seeing Rathnon again.

“I am sorry, Rathnon. Leaving is nae a reflection on ye or how ye treated me. Ye are everything I want in a husband. Ye are kind, thoughtful, strong, and honorable. With yer fine qualities, I ken any woman would be happy to be wed to ye. I apologize for taking the fishing boat. But I must return to my family. My father will renounce me as his daughter and never forgive me if Ido nae return. I owe a duty to my parents. I would stay with ye if I could. I hope ye will be happy. I will never forget ye, Rathnon.”

Ilona retrieved her sack she had hidden nearby and placed it in the boat. She kept many of the branches in the boat for sleeping on. Ilona pushed the boat out over the sand.The small fishing boat feels heavier than when I lifted it before. How could that be?

She heaved and pushed and heaved again. When she stood back to assess her progress, it appeared she had moved the boat only a fraction. She braced her legs and pushed with all her might against the boat. High tide was her only opportunity to get the boat into the water, otherwise she would be stuck here.

It rained softly at first, and the wind picked up. Just what she needed. Determined, Ilona couldn’t live with herself if she gave up. The wind whipped her hair loose in her face. With fierce resolve, Ilona shoved the stubborn boat. She didn’t ken if wet sand would make it harder or easier to push. Ilona pushed and shoved. No matter how hard Ilona tried, the boat barely budged. The rain transformed into a deluge.

After pushing against the boat for what seemed like half an hour, the rain drenched Ilona, leaving her bedraggled. Finally, reality set in when she pulled away the remaining pine boughs to see the bottom of the fishing boat weighed down by heavy stones.Those weren’t there the other day when I inspected the boat. Did they worry the boat would float away during high tide in a storm?

Ilona collapsed on the sand and sobbed. Only when warm, powerful arms enfolded her tenderly did she realize the boat had been purposefully sabotaged so she could nae escape. He hadknown. Turning around, Ilona searched Rathnon’s face. His eyes were filled with sorrow and hope.

She sobbed and railed against Rathnon, who quietly held her, sitting in the sand. “Ye kent. Ye kent I would do this and ye stopped me. I could have left if ye did nae weigh down the boat. Why did ye do this? Why could ye nae let me go? I do nae belong here. My father will be angry and disappointed in me. He’ll never want to see me. He will nae love me anymore.”

The rain poured down over them so that Ilona could not see the tears on Rathnon’s cheeks. Saddened by the pain he had caused her, he felt a deeper pain piercing like a knife in his gut and anguish knowing she had been trying to escape and leave him.

When her sobs were spent, she clung to him. He gently lifted her chin to gaze into her eyes. “I warned you I would always catch you when ye fell. I also meant I would protect you. Your father will always be with you, through the skills he taught you and the experiences you shared. You will always carry your father’s love for you in your heart. But your father is not here now. No longer does he have any say over you.

“I am here for you. I am here to protect you and care for you. You are mine to cherish and protect. By trying to escape, you have done your duty to you family. It is time to get cleaned up and warm. I do not want you to get sick. I can never let you go because you belong to me. Freya sent you to me. The first time I saw you, you wore heavenly wings.” Rathnon stood and grabbed her sack.

“What about the boat?”

“Do nae worry about the boat. It will be fine where it is for now. It is nae going anywhere,” he said with finality. “Later, I will have men move it back under cover.” Rathnon did nae look smug as she expected—only determined. He lifted her up into his arms to carry her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning her head on his shoulder.

He came for me. Rathnon cared about me and prevented me from leaving. Does he still wish to wed? He must be furious with me. Will he punish me?

Instead of taking her into the longhouse, he carried her into a building she had nae been into before. He told one lass to bring towels and a blanket to him, and she nodded and ran to do his bidding. Rathnon opened the door into a small room lined with wood and wooden benches. Flickering candlelight from lanterns illuminated the space.

Warm inside, Rathnon undressed Ilona, removing her sodden dress. She remained in her linen shift. He partially undressed as well, pulling off his pants, socks, and shoes and remaining in his linen tunic. It hung halfway down his upper legs, covered in coarse hair. His legs were sculpted hard muscles.

The lass brought what Rathnon had requested, along with a water bag.

“Takk, we don’t need anything else, and I don’t wish to be disturbed.”

Ilona had nae idea what was happening, but her heart pounded when the lass left.Is he going to punish me now and doesn’t want anyone to see it?

Rathnon gave Ilona the towel to drape around her, and he pulled her linen shift off over her head. He had her sit downand gave her the water bag to drink from. Rathnon pulled a towel around his hips, facing away from her, and tore off his tunic, leaving him bare-chested. He drank from the water bag, and then he poured water over the hot stones, and steam hissed. Rathnon handed the bag back to Ilona, indicating she should drink more water.

“This is a sauna, and it will clean your skin and keep you warm so you will not become ill. Our wedding is in two days. I want you to be well and enjoy our wedding festivities and our time together afterward as man and wife.” Rathnon felt the skin on her arm. “If you get too hot, let me know and we will leave.”

“Ye still wish to wed me?” Ilona asked with luminous eyes brimming with unshed tears.

He seemed to understand her. “You will be my wife and I will be your husband,” Rathnon said, brooking nae arguments and saying “wife” and “husband” in Gaelic to help her understand his intentions. He leaned over her and tenderly kissed her lips.

Rathnon did nae show anger at me. He still wants to wed me. How is that possible? Most men would be enraged. Will he later show his anger and disappointment in me?Ilona was perplexed.Will others know I attempted to escape? Will they think less of me or of Rathnon?

Rathnon gave her more water to drink, then he drank more, and he put additional water on the stones, steam rising from them.Do they use this sauna all year round? Do men and women typically use it together?The heat permeated every inch of space, and it made her feel sleepy.

Ilona had nae slept well and had awakened very early. After half an hour, Rathnon stood up and pointed to the door,indicating they should leave. He gathered their clothes and wrapped them together in a heavy wool blanket, and they walked back to the longhouse.

Inside the house, only a few women worked, and they seemed unaware she had attempted to flee. The villagers smiled at Ilona and Rathnon together, wrapped in towels as if it were an everyday occurrence.

Rathnon laid down blankets and furs for Ilona to sleep. He hung her shift on the wall, then left to hang up their wet and sandy clothes outside, while it still rained. The rain would wash away the sand.