Page 34 of A Viking's Captive

“We need more staples, kitchen supplies, and a few other items to be comfortable yet. But I wanted it to be ready for ye when ye returned.” Rathnon took her in his arms and kissed her again.

“Ye are amazing, lass. Ye accomplished all this in the months I was away.”

“Thank ye, but Ivar is the one for ye to thank as he made and hung the doors. Ye can move yer chest to our room when ye are ready.” Rathnon strode over to the door and opened it. It shocked him to see Ilona had arranged for a huge bed for them.

A warm red wool blanket covered the bed. Then he noticed the carved headboard depicting Norway spruce trees, a majestic wolf, and a loch—a work of art. Rathnon ran his hands over the intricate carvings. “This is marvelous, Ilona. Who carved this? Did Ivar make the bed for us?”

Ilona laughed at his response and obvious delight in seeing the carved bed. “Aye, Ivar made the bed and carved the headboard. We worked together on the design. I told him the elements I wanted that I hoped ye would like. I kent ye wouldappreciate yer own bed after years of sleeping on yer ships, outside, and on hard floors. I want our home to be yer peaceful haven.”

Holding her hand, he said, “Ye have made it that already, just by yer presence. It is beautiful, and I love that ye did this for me—for us. How did ye pay him for making all this?”

“I dyed and spun yarn, wove wool, and sewed the wool to make several tunics for him. That is all he wanted.”

Ilona unpacked the food Rathnon had brought while he continued to look through the house. The second room contained a chest with a lantern as well as a small pile of baby clothes lovingly stacked on top.

Rathnon picked up each item Ilona had made for their bairn with love. Moist tears threatened to spill from his eyes. Sigrid had been his only family until Ilona. Creating a family of their own filled him with great joy.

“Shall we eat now?” As Ilona moved to set food out, Rathnon stayed her hand and pulled her into his embrace.

“I am hungry, but nae for food right now. I’m hungry for ye, wife.” Rathnon pulled Ilona into his embrace and led her into their bedroom. Rathnon pulled back the blankets on the bed and slowly undressed his wife. He kissed her skin tantalizingly each time he removed an item of clothing. Rathnon wanted to proceed slowly and savor every inch of her skin and curves. Ravenous for her, he feared he would not last long.

Ilona lay on the bed, shy about being naked with her round abdomen in front of her husband. Rathnon marveled at his wife and her pregnant belly. He caressed her abdomen and showered it with kisses. This culminated in Rathnon making love to hiswife in their new bed many times. Rathnon took delight in his wife in their new home.

Hours later, they arose from their bed and took the lantern into the center room, where they finally ate dinner. Over dinner, they talked, and Rathnon shared the places he’d visited for the first time, enchanting Ilona with his engaging tales.

Rathnon held Ilona captivated with his stories of other countries, their customs, and food. He recounted feasts where he dined and regaled her with stories about how people in different lands lived and dressed.

Afterward, he pulled his wife into his arms and marveled once again—he was finally home. Returning to bed, Rathnon devoured his wife again with his insatiable appetite, away from her for too many months.

Now, with winter settling in all around them, it was unlikely the king would call on him. Until spring, he could spend time with his wife. The next day, he would see about obtaining more items needed for them to live in their home. Rathnon wanted his wife’s happiness. He knew living in this house and affording her the privacy she had been accustomed to would help keep her content and at his side.

Rathnon found himself more reliant on Ilona every day and realized the depth of his feelings for his wife. When later they hunted in the silent forest, he worried she still might try to escape and flee from him yet again. His stomach clenched in pain at the thought.Ilona is mine, and I will keep her with me.

As winter inexorably settled its white cloak about them, the days by the fire in the longhouse became cozy. The days were shorter, the skies darker. The morning following Rathnon’s arrival, they returned to the longhouse and Ilona resumed her work on the loom until their mid-morning meal. Rathnon worked with the carpenter to build the second bed for their home. As a surprise to his wife, they worked to build a rocking chair for their bairn. Before the evening meal, Rathnon accompanied Ilona, and they purchased other items needed for their home.

They joined the others for the evening meal, with many people asking Rathnon about his travels, and he obliged them. After dinner, Ilona and Rathnon left the longhouse for their home, carrying the purchases they had made. Inside their home, Rathnon stoked the peat fire, adding more peat. While he was busy, Ilona put away the items they’d purchased.

There were ceramic canisters to hold various herbs and spices, and Rathnon had purchased wooden trenchers as well as a paddle for Ilona to use to bake bread in their oven. She surveyed the items they had purchased or bartered for, content with their purchases.

Rathnon had also purchased taper candlesticks and thick candles for the lanterns. He was glad he’d had the forethought to have stacked ample supplies of peat and wood before leaving to do the king’s bidding.

Later, Ilona said, “Before the bairn is born, we need a cradle. Do ye wish to craft it yerself, or do ye want me to barter with Ivar to make it?”

“I will converse with Ivar. Let me barter my skills for what we need. Ye need to rest more; ye are tired.”

“Aye. We still need a tub for bathing and a wooden bucket. I wove for a woman who is making us bath towels in return. I ken, it will be too cold to go bathe in the loch during the winter.”

Thinking about what he could do with his wife in a large tub, Rathnon agreed. “I will find one a tub of a suitable size tomorrow, hopefully already made. I may have to ask Ivar or the blacksmith to make one for us.”

Ilona took Rathnon’s hand and, picking up the lantern, led him into the root cellar. “I want ye to ken and see what I have collected and stored here. Please let me ken if there are other items ye would like for us.”

“It appears ye have thought of everything. I do nae ken we need anything else except smoked meat and fish. I’ll talk to Ivar and see if he has barrels already made or help him make them. Even though the longhouse has ample supplies, I ken, in case of a raid, we should also store smoked meat and fish.”

Ilona’s face took on a worried expression with her brows drawn up in concern. “What do ye mean?” She halted. “What do ye mean by raids here?” She had been kidnapped in a raid, which had brought her here. Now that she had accepted her life with Rathnon and expected their first bairn, she did nae want to contemplate raids here. Ilona did nae wish to worry that she and their bairn could be stolen from Rathnon. Living here had begun to feel like home, especially now that Rathnon had returned to her.

Ilona did nae think she could bear being stolen and uprooted and taken away from Rathnon. Even while far away, thoughts of him had been her anchor. She loved Rathnon. Even though she had nae expressed those words to him, she hoped by her actions he could tell she loved him. Their bairn needed a father as muchas a mother. If their bairn were a boy, he needed to have a father to guide him as he grew into manhood.

Back in the kitchen, Rathnon took Ilona and gently pulled her into his arms. Stroking her hair and gazing deep into her eyes, he said, “Do nae be worried. It has been many years since anyone came raiding here. The men are trained, and I am here to keep ye safe.”