Page 49 of A Viking's Captive

Ilona told Rathnon she wanted to nap and asked him if he wanted to rest too. Rathnon joined her in their bedroom since he hadn’t gotten his usual quota of sleep in several days. He would help Ilona tonight to care for their son. Ilona and Rathnon took a nap while their babe slept in the cradle at the foot of their bed. They looked at their sleeping son and smiled before falling asleep.

Later, they awakened to his cries and Ilona changed him. She nursed him in the rocking chair while Sigrid finished baking the bread for their dinner. Rathnon slumbered on. He awakened a short time later and joined them in the kitchen. He placed more peat on the fire and got another bucket of water for the kitchen.Sigrid insisted Rathnon and Ilona eat a hot dinner while she held the baby.

The warm bread from the oven and the venison stew tasted delicious, and they ate their fill. Later, Rathnon showed Sigrid the location of the outhouse.

Their days and evenings continued, occupied by chores and care of Thor as spring blossoms grew in abundance. Carpets of purple heather and wildflowers covered the meadows, and gradually the weather became warmer. Days lengthened, filled with sunshine. Sigrid returned to live in the longhouse but ventured to their home a few times each week, brought food to dine with them, and cuddled and rocked Thor.

When Rathnon went back to laboring with the men, he contemplated his life. At first, he had fixated on finding a wife. Once he found Ilona, as their relationship grew and deepened, Rathnon realized he wished to please his wife and make her happy. He discovered how easily he could lose the love of his life and how many men would gladly claim his place. Ilona needed to freely give her love to him wholeheartedly. Rathnon learned he wanted more and needed her forgiveness. It was nae enough to be married and raise a child. He was desperate for Ilona’s love. He wanted her to truly belong to him in every way. Finally, he’d accepted what he needed to do to earn her forgiveness and hopefully her love. Little by little, he devised his plan to achieve his dreams of love with Ilona.

Ilona shared her appreciation of the cradle Rathnon had carved for their bairn. Thor grew steadily and remained moreawake and alert. He grinned at his father, which brought Rathnon endless delight.

One day, Rathnon said he needed to sail to Scotland on a short trip. “Write a letter to yer parents and hopefully we can stop close by for yer letter to reach them. I wish I didn’t have to leave ye and Thor, but it is a necessary journey and this is a good time for it. I will sail early tomorrow morning. I told Sigrid, and she will come stay with ye if ye like, otherwise she will check on ye each day if ye do not venture to the longhouse.”

“How long will ye be away?”

“If all goes well, I hope to be back in two weeks. Ye ken it will take a week to travel there and back, with good weather.”

“I will miss ye and Thor will miss his father while ye are away. I intend to sleep here with our bairn, as it is easier to care for him here, where I have his things. I will go to the longhouse and work each day. Thor will not want for arms to hold him, but he sleeps contentedly on my back when I’m in the garden or at the loom.”

Ilona made bread and oatcakes for Rathnon to take with him on his journey. She portioned smoked meat and fish in separate oilskin bags for his meals, and added a small sack of fruit for him. Rathnon packed his clothes and made sure to add the jacket Ilona had made for him. He chopped wood and stacked it inside with peat, providing greater convenience for Ilona. For their dinner, Ilona roasted chicken with potatoes, served spring vegetables, and warm bread and butter. She completed a letter to her parents she had started and placed it with Rathnon’s clothes. Rathnon ate heartily, for he kent he would nae have Ilona’s homecooked meals for several weeks. After dinner, they walked outside, enjoying the warm sun before sunset. Together, they put Thor to bed.

Rathnon pleasured his wife many times before they fell asleep, entwined in each other. Ilona awakened during the night to feed and change Thor before dawn. Ilona dressed and put hot water over the hearth and readied Rathnon’s breakfast. He awakened and kissed Ilona before he left to draw more buckets of fresh water for her use. When he returned, Ilona served his breakfast of eggs, bread, sausage, and fruit with tea. Rathnon ate his fill, wishing to linger with Ilona. He felt her shiver as he held her.

Reassuring her, he said, “I will be back soon. I will nae take any extra or unnecessary time so I can return to your loving arms and to our son. I love ye, Ilona.”

“I love ye, Rathnon,” Ilona said quietly, for she did her valiant best not to weep.

Rathnon checked on his sleeping son and took Ilona into his arms in a fierce embrace and kissed her passionately, wishing he could bed her one more time before he left.

Ilona stood outside and waved to Rathnon until he disappeared from sight. Already, she lamented his leaving. Despite it being a short trip, she still missed him. How will I get through the next weeks without ye, Rathnon? I am grateful I have Thor with me while ye are away.She kent there would be more voyages Rathnon would need to embark on for the king’s business in the future.

When Thor awakened and Ilona nursed him, she wondered how close Rathnon would venture to Orkney. She hoped her lengthy letter to her parents reached them soon. As she bathed Thor in a tub of warm water, he kicked up a storm, loving the water. Ilona dried and dressed him. Recently, Ilona had sewed a cloth sack to hold Thor securely on her back while she laboredin the garden or at the loom. She wrapped and tied Thor to her back and also took a small sack with cloth diapers and a blanket with her. At the longhouse, she and Thor were warmly greeted. Ilona asked Sigrid where help could best be used.

“It would be most appreciated if ye would weave yer magic at the loom to make blankets. There will be a wedding in the summer, and the bride and groom will need warm blankets.”

“Aye, I will weave, then.”

“Let me take Thor from ye for a while, then ye can be more comfortable working at the loom.”

Ilona untied her baby wrap and handed Thor to Sigrid. He smiled and cooed at her, earning her bright smile in return. Ilona picked out the balls of yarn she would use and began to weave. Sigrid placed Thor in a cradle for his afternoon nap, and ladies stopped at the loom to ask Ilona about her husband and son. In the afternoon, the aroma of roasted fish filled the air with freshly baked bread. Ilona was glad when dinnertime arrived.

By the time she returned before sunset to their stone cottage, Ilona was tired and ready for bed. She made herself a cup of tea and sat outside as golden wings of light painted the sky. The ocean, dark blue and vast, stretched out endlessly in many directions. Ilona’s thoughts turned to Rathnon, and she wondered how far he had sailed today. She had secretly tucked a bunch of heather in his sack so he would carry a little piece of home wherever he sailed. He already carried her heart.

After the sun set, Ilona returned inside and readied herself for bed. She recited prayers for Rathnon and his crew for their safe return. Ilona slipped into bed and missed Rathnon’swarmth and comforting arms. She fell asleep dreaming of Rathnon.

Thor slept through the night and awakened at dawn to nurse.

Rathnon missed Ilona and Thor as soon as he left them behind. He turned his focus to actions, but he felt the ache in his chest, knowing what he must do and how long he would be away from them. He jumped into taking charge and barking orders to the men to take advantage of the tide. They rowed the long oars in the Viking ships and glided across the waves. The wind and weather were in their favor for the present. The ships plowed through the waves as the men rowed with vigor. They ate in shifts while other men continued to row. They had taken items to trade or sell on Orkney. Rathnon took a few of Ilona’s wool blankets to sell or barter with. He had one to gift her parents and a sword to gift to her father.

Later, when they bedded down in shifts on their ship, Rathnon hoped her parents would agree to return with him to see their daughter and grandson. He wished to surprise Ilona by their arrival. In the darkness, Rathnon clutched his jacket Ilona made for him against the cold wind, while he stood watch, on lookout for unforeseen dangers or other ships.

Rathnon wondered what Ilona, Sigrid, and Thor were doing and pictured them in their cozy home. He couldn’t wait to return to them. He recalled before he met Ilona how much the lure of the sea and adventure called to him. But now with his family, its allure had dimmed. The cold wind blew across the sea. Rathnon’s memories kept him warm with thoughts of Ilona and her passionate kisses and responses to his overtures.

The ships traced their path across the sea to Orkney over the space of several days. They made land on Orkney, and the menventured into the village to trade items. The men would eat and drink at the inn to quell any fears of their motives during this visit.

Rathnon left a man in charge and took his friend and translator, Olaf, with him and rode to Ilona’s home. He carried Ilona’s letter to her parents in his saddlebag. He noticed all the details surrounding them and demonstrated far greater confidence in his ability to speak Gaelic than when he had captured Ilona. But he had taken Olaf to ensure no misunderstandings arose. He hoped his visit did not alarm her parents, especially since Ilona did not accompany him. Sailing on treacherous seas, Rathnon wanted his son older before he took him on a hazardous ocean voyage. He hoped they had received the previous letter he and Sigrid had sent to them and would be willing to travel with him.

Rathnon and Olaf rode up to Ilona’s parents’ home and reined in their horses, tying their reins to trees nearby. He took in the flourishing garden to be able to describe it to Ilona upon his return. Rathnon pounded his fist against the door of the stone cottage that had smoke curling out of its chimney. The door opened to a tall man with dark piercing eyes who assessed them in a sharp, quick glance.