Page 32 of A Viking's Captive

Ivar had helped Rathnon to determine the width of the openings for the doors to the two bedrooms, so he already had the measurements, plus he had built the door to their home. He could easily build and hang the doors. Ivar cautioned Ilona that the carving would take many months.

“It is not a process to be rushed.” He looked forward to spending his time carving designs in wood by the fire during the winter evenings, which he immensely enjoyed.

Ilona remained busy weaving and sewing, and created a heavy, shaggy ivory wool tunic for Rathnon. She sewed severalbaby garments. The weather outside matched her mood. The skies seemed to weep in tandem with her. She remained cheerful during the day, but at night in their sleeping space she had once shared with Rathnon, the tears of longing came unbidden.

Months after Rathnon left, Ilona began to show. People congratulated her. The ladies in the village became solicitous toward her, happy they would have a wee bairn in the spring to dote upon. Ilona worked often with Liv in the healers hut, caring for ill and injured people and expanding her knowledge of healing care.

Ilona dreamed of Rathnon at night, of sailing the seas and holding on tight to him in a storm-tossed sea. Sodden gray skies greeted her the next morning. The skies grew darker and somber before the storm out at sea crashed upon the shores and battered them. Ilona wondered if the storm she had dreamt about had actually happened to Rathnon.Was he caught in a savage storm?

She wished she kent where he stayed and what occupied his time.Does his work on behalf of the king involve trading as expected, or raiding and stealing more women from their homes?

Now, many months later, Ilona looked back on her arrival here after being stolen. Her parents would be happy to ken they would become grandparents. She could imagine the joy on her father’s face as he held his grandson for the first time. At least if she and Rathnon had conceived a son, she could make her father happy. When Rathnon returned, she would ask him to geta letter to her parents. In the meantime, she would ask Sigrid if she could accomplish it before he returned.

Rathnon dreamed of holding Ilona again in his arms. When not engaged in work, thoughts of Ilona filled his mind and heart.I hope she’s well and safe. At least I have Sigrid and Liv to look after her in my absence.He wondered how long the commerce and trade agreements would take. He did not consider himself skilled at negotiation since he was a warrior. Rathnon’s skills were vital when negotiations failed or were never offered.

The last thing he wanted was to get stuck when the ice had frozen the rivers. Then they would be forced to winter over there, and he did not wish to leave Ilona without his love and care.

Rathnon dreamed of when he first saw Ilona, and she captivated him. As he gazed intently into her eyes, like deep, unfathomable tide pools with unseen currents, he kent he could drown in her. Something in her called out to his soul. As if they were fated to be together. As if someone else had orchestrated this grand scheme for them to meet and for him to fall in love with her.

Rathnon’s heart filled with a burning ache for Ilona, finding himself short on patience as he barked out orders to his men. Each night he dreamed of Ilona and when they would reunite. He yearned for his wife and his home as he never had before.

Now, he had a better understanding of the married men’s wishes to conduct their business as soon as possible, whereas single men enjoyed the many attentions of beautiful and willing ladies seeking to entertain them.

He and his men traveled to Denmark, England, the Normandy coast, Portugal, and Spain. On the way back, they planned to stop in eastern Scotland, depending on the weather.

Respected everywhere he traveled because of his muscular and massive size, Rathnon towered over other men. Not only handsome, he possessed a shrewd intellect and charm. To his surprise, he was successful in obtaining trade agreements with sovereigns of other countries. Although he thought that because of his imposing size, they preferred the trade agreements over his people raiding and taking what they wanted.

The weeks at sea and on land turned into months. Rathnon longed to head home. The holds of their ships were full of goods, and more were strapped down to the ship’s decks as they returned to the Kingdom of Norway directly from Portugal.

The seas were rough, and even seasoned warriors and sailors appeared green around their gills. The weather grew worse toward the end of October. It snowed, compelling the men to work and row harder to reach their home shores. Rathnon wondered how long his meeting with the king would take before he could return to Ilona. He hoped it wouldn’t take longer than two days before he could ride home to her.

Finally, on a day with dismal weather and snow flurries, they rowed to shore in their longships. Raging winds blew across the seas, splashing icy waves against the ship, and the heavy tunic Ilona had woven and sewed for him provided additional warmth. Whenever he wore it, he noted the admiring glances of men and women. Each day he wore it, he imagined the garment was Ilona’s arms wrapped around him. Rathnon also imagined her legs wrapped around him, which brought him more heat.

The men cheered mightily at being home. They began offloading the ships and taking the items to the fortress, where the king’s men recorded the amount and each type of item. Rathnon carried a few of the valuable items that he would take directly to the king. He greeted Nanna, bathed, and changed his clothes. At his meeting, the king clapped his arm and his back, happy to have him home.

“Rathnon, welcome home. It is good to see ye well. Tell me as we dine, how was your journey?”

They dined in the king’s private study, and Rathnon described his meetings with each sovereign or their dignitaries. He provided the king with a chest full of documents regarding the details of the trade agreements, having successfully achieved more than the king expected, which made the king exceedingly happy. Rathnon gave him sacks of gold and silver coins and jewels.

“What difficulties did you encounter?”

“No difficulties. The people we met with expected us and had spread the word. Those unsure took one look at my impressive warriors and me and thought better of it.” The two men laughed.

“Tell me about the agreements.”

Rathnon explained the trade agreements and the extra items he had included, which surprised the king.

“You have been more successful in making these arrangements than any of your predecessors. Thank you. You must be fatigued from your journey these many months. I imagine you miss your lovely wife.”

He grinned. “I do. More than I ever thought possible.”

The king laughed. “I’m sorry I needed to send you when I did, soon after you married. But it is important to have these and build upon them in the future. I’m hoping the time of wars is behind us. I shall read over these documents to see if I have questions before you leave. If all is in order, tomorrow you can return home to your wife. I remember what I experienced when called away from my wife’s bed after we were married.”

Rathnon bowed and left the study to retire to his chamber. He dared to hope he could see Ilona tomorrow. There was no point in sending a letter now if he hoped to ride home tomorrow. Rathnon couldn’t wait to see Ilona and surprise her.

He dressed the next morning and joined the king in the hall for the mid-morning meal. His few belongings were packed and ready. The king admired his jacket, and Rathnon said, “Ilona is a gifted weaver and seamstress. She made this for me as a wedding gift. It helped me feel wrapped in her love even though separated from each other.”

The king had no additional questions regarding the documents, so they spoke about other things. “Accompany me to my study. I wish to gift you for your work, and then you can leave and return to your bonnie wife with my blessings.” Rathnon accompanied the king as he requested, and the heavy sack of silver and gold coins the king gave him came as a surprise.