Page 35 of A Viking's Captive

“But what about when ye are nae here with me? Where do these raiders come from?”

“They come from Denmark and Sweden, but also other parts of the kingdom of Norway. Any would be utterly foolish to attempt any raiding now because of the weather. There have been none for many years. I doubt there will be in the future. They are more likely to raid closer to home. Do nae worry, love, I will guard ye close.”

To prove his words, he pulled Ilona into his arms. Picking her up, he carried her to their bed, where he showed his love with great intimacy. Tenderly, he experimented with different positions for their lovemaking to make Ilona the most comfortable and relieve any pressure on her abdomen. They both immensely enjoyed it when she lay on her side. Rathnon entered her from behind, leaving his hands free to do many tantalizing things to Ilona.

As she lay asleep in his arms, Rathnon felt a small measure of relief due to Ilona’s reaction. From what she’d said to him, she did not want to be taken away from him. At least not now.But will that change in the spring?

He needed her love. He had been lonely for so long. Rathnon’s heart, filled with longing, had felt like a bell ringingin the dark night with no reply. Constantly surrounded by others on raiding journeys and in the community here was not the same as having a wife.

Now happy, he had listened keenly to what she held in her heart and had built this house for them and their family. Rathnon, a lusty and skilled lover, enjoyed his wife moaning her pleasure in his arms and calling his name. Unable to express the depth of his love, he used the language of physical love and tenderness to communicate the depths of his heart to Ilona.

He knew she would not have been responsive if they had been in the longhouse. The cold winter nights would be all the colder without making love to Ilona. She freely gave her body to him.Could it mean she’s forgiven me for stealing her from her home and parents?

His heart now a chorus of bells ringing in elation, Rathnon listened to her soft sighs as she slept. He finally felt his eyelids grow heavy, and he fell asleep, holding Ilona in his arms and wanting never to let her go.

Chapter 11

Winter

They heralded the new year with snowfalls blanketing the trees in white velvet splendor. Crystal icicles sparkled like diamonds; the forest appeared bedecked with jewels, as if greeting royalty at a lavish ball. After one particular storm, long icicles glittered from the branches of spruce and pine trees, heavily laden with snow. Winter smothered them in relentless snowstorms.

During the winter’s bleak weather and their proximity, Rathnon and Ilona’s feelings for each other intensified. But Ilona had nae shared her deepest feelings with him yet. Part of her still kent that her deepening understanding and love for Rathnon represented a betrayal of her family, their traditions, and culture. Most especially, a betrayal of her father.

Rathnon fell asleep, but Ilona could nae sleep. Her thoughts were in conflict, preventing her from restful escape.

How is it that I can love him when he stole me completely away from everything I’ve ever known? If Rathnon truly loves me, shouldn’t he return me to my family?Ilona’s mind told her one thing while her heart and her body told her other things entirely.I want Rathnon for my husband. I want to be a good wife to him. But I shouldn’t want him and need him.

My heart has overridden what I thought I ken about myself. If I tell him I love him, he will expect that I will never try to escape. It would break my heart to leave him, but I can’t promise him I won’t try. Now I do nae ken if I could live happily without him. He will leave again to do the king’s business. What if he finds a woman he truly loves?

Ilona delighted in chopping nuts they’d harvested in the fall. She incorporated them into the bread. Ilona made sweet desserts with nuts, oatmeal, and honey cakes, which lifted people’s moods in the darker winter days and gave them energy for their work. She learned recipes from the ladies in the longhouse, and they learned from her.

The ladies were a fount of information about her pregnancy. Ilona’s radiant glow and her growing abdomen gave them joy. Having children, a source of happiness for women, further validated their roles in society. Rathnon’s protectiveness of Ilona became even more prominent. Every day he inquired about how she felt physically. He remained sensitive and solicitous of her level of energy and increasing needs for rest.

Grateful that today she did nae need to walk to the longhouse, Ilona prepared a mid-morning meal for her and Rathnon. Afterward, she kept busy with sewing, and when she tired of sewing, she churned butter and made cheese. Later, Rathnon would take it to the longhouse. He kept a small amount for themselves.

“Today is bitterly cold outside. I’d like for ye to stay inside while I go into the village and work. I do nae want ye to become ill. The winter is colder here than where ye lived. Ye will get used to it.”

“Aye, I understand ye want to protect me. But ye cannae expect me to stay inside alone all day for the rest of winter because it is cold outside. I will stay inside today as ye request.”

Rathnon sensed her ire over the loss of control. He lifted her chin to gaze deeply into Ilona’s eyes.

“I do nae expect ye to stay alone nor inside all the time. I want ye to be happy here, Ilona. Your happiness means the world to me. Just for today. If the wind is nae bitter like today, I’ll take ye to the longhouse. Believe me, most others will stay inside today if their work allows.”

“I ken ye wish to protect me, but I am nae a fragile flower. Ye ken my parents raised me in Scotland, and I worked outside on many cold and wintry days.”

“Aye, I ken. But ye are my flower, and I must protect ye and our bairn. It is icy and slippery. I do nae want ye to fall and hurt yerself or our bairn.” He leaned toward Ilona and pressed a tender kiss to her lips and held her in his arms.

After Rathnon left, Ilona was filled with guilt and shame over her anger that she had expressed openly. She kent he took his role as her protector seriously, but during her pregnancy, her emotions threatened to engulf her. She did nae wish to appear weak in front of Rathnon.

To her frustration, she could nae trust her body or her emotions anymore. One of the older ladies later reassured her that vacillating emotions were common during pregnancy, and candidly expressed what to expect during pregnancy and later in childbirth. She assured her there were a couple of women who were midwives to assist her during her birthing process in the spring.

“It is normal to be concerned about what may happen when ye go into labor and give birth to yer bairn,” said Sigrid in Gaelic. “Ye can ask me or the midwife any questions ye have.. Laborgoes better for both the bairn and the mother if the mother is relaxed as much as possible. I ken being away from home and yer family may cause ye more concern during this time. Ask any of the women about yer concerns to be reassured. When ye go into labor, Liv will take ye into the healer’s house to help ye with a midwife. I’m happy to attend ye as well, if ye like.”

“Thank ye, Sigrid. Ye help me feel more at ease.”

Days later, Ilona distributed wool to families to make warm clothes and for additional blankets. She felt it was the least she could do for their welcome and care. Men and women alike appreciated her beautiful weaving and also the garments she created from the wool that she made at the loom.

After Rathnon shot a deer, she prepared a portion with her grandmother’s recipe in a huge iron pot. She wanted to cook for her husband and care for him. When done cooking, she asked Rathnon to carry the heavy pot, with its lid on, to the longhouse for dinner.