Page 53 of A Viking's Captive

“I wish to thank ye, Rathnon, for building a strong home for my daughter and grandson. I can tell ye cherish Ilona and provide well for her and yer son. I appreciate ye came to bring us here nae kenning the reception ye would receive from us for kidnapping our only child. I ken by how my daughter glances at ye, she loves ye, and I am happy. We have greatly missed Ilona, but her happiness means everything to us. Thank ye, from my heart,” said Ilona’s father.

The men shared a glass of whiskey. Rathnon said, “Ilona missed ye keenly. I wished I could have brought ye earlier, but I had my duties to the king. Winter then set in, and a short time after I returned, Ilona gave birth to our son. I thought ye’d be more comfortable here in our home than sleeping on benches oron the floor as they do in the longhouse. Ye will see it tomorrow. Please make our home yers. Sleep as long as ye need. The fish will bite whenever we go fishing.”

They said good night and Rathnon, Ilona, and Thor went into their bedroom and shut the door. Ilona nursed Thor before he fell asleep, and she placed him in his cradle. Rathnon was eager to be alone with his wife.

“Ilona,” he said with a soft low voice, making Ilona tremble with longing and desire, “I missed ye more than words can say.” Rathnon caressed her cheeks with his fingertips, pulled her fiercely to him, and wrapped his arms around her. He undressed her by the candlelight in their room and lifted her up and placed her in their bed. He tore off his clothes and prowled over her body before kissing her lips, neck, and breasts, making her ready for him.

“Rathnon,” Ilona pleaded softly before he entered her and thrust slowly at first and then passionately, until they both climaxed in each other’s arms. He took her again to the heights of ecstasy before they fell asleep with her head resting on his chest and his arms wrapped around her.

The next morning, Rathnon said, “I’ll bring ye the buckets of cream for ye to churn today, and we will bring it to the longhouse tonight. Is there anything else ye need me to bring to ye?”

“I need more oatmeal to make a sweet berry dessert to share at dinner. Besides the bread, butter, and dessert, is there anything else I should make to bring?”

“Nae, my love. That is more than enough. I ken ye wish for everyone to warmly welcome yer parents. Do nae fash. They will be fine.” He hugged her tightly and kissed her and their sonbefore he left for the village. A short time later, he returned before her parents had awakened, carrying two buckets of cream and a sack of oats tied to his waist.

Ilona laughed when she saw him. “Ye look like a milkmaid, Rathnon.” He set down the buckets outside next to the butter churners, untied the oats, and took the sack into the house. Ilona had been busy washing clothes and had hung them on the line he had strung for her.

She had breakfast ready on the table for her parents. She nursed Thor, took him outside, and laid him on a large blanket on the dry ground next to her to keep an eye on him as she worked. She began to churn the butter in a rhythmic motion.

Thor was used to the sound by now since Ilona churned butter every week. On his tummy, he lifted his head to watch his mother work and smiled an endearing smile at her. Then he surprised himself by turning over. He worked hard to roll back to his tummy to see his mother more easily. She smiled, encouraging him, and after many tries, he succeeded.

A few minutes later, her parents emerged from the house and were surprised to see her there working.

“Thank ye for breakfast. I was hungry, and I’m getting hungry again. I think it is the sea air,” said Ewan, and Ilona and her mother laughed. Her father was always hungry.

“May I help ye churn more butter or do something else?” Rhona asked.

“Ye can churn the butter or ye can play with yer grandson. Rathnon went to the village and should return soon. He will take ye fishing, if ye like. Do ye have clothes ye need to wash? I have the tub ready for ye. Did ye see the tub to bathe with in thekitchen? I Ieft plenty of hot water hanging over the hearth for ye.”

“Aye, we both took advantage of the tub and warm water. Thank ye,” said her father. He checked out the garden and the rope Rathnon had strung for the clothes to dry in the warm spring sun.

Rathnon returned as Ilona continued to churn the butter and her mother played with Thor, who loved the added attention. Thor rewarded his grandmother with adorable giggles and coos. Rathnon took her father fishing and carried his bow and arrows in case he ran across a buck. With her butter churned, Ilona took the butter churner into the kitchen and emptied its contents. She paddled it into the molds and placed the molds in the cool root cellar.

Hours later, the men returned loaded with strings of fish to show their wives before taking their catch to the village to be prepared for dinner. Curious about how Rathnon’s people lived, Ilona’s father watched alertly as they sauntered to the village. They were heartily greeted by many men, and Rathnon introduced his father-in law to the many villagers. The men exchanged stories over ale after Rathnon took the fish to the women in the longhouse and introduced Ilona’s father to his aunt and the women inside.

Rathnon translated for Ilona’s father so he could converse with the men. Rathnon watched the sun in the sky and then told Ilona’s father they needed to return to bring the women and food to the feast.

While the men were away, Ilona and her mother picked berries, and Ilona made her dessert of berries with a crumble of oatmeal on top and let several pans cool in the kitchen. She andher mother prepared the butter and bread to take to the village. Ilona nursed Thor several more times and had a sack of extra clothes for him with a soft blanket to bring with them. After placing Thor on cloth, she tied him to her body in front of her and rocked him in the rocking chair while waiting for the men to return.

Ilona could tell by Rathnon’s kiss when he greeted her they had drunk ale in the village. Her father’s smile indicated the men had enjoyed themselves. They took the food and walked down to the village for the feast celebrating the arrival of Ilona’s parents. The villagers eagerly greeted her mother and father. Villagers pressed ale into their hands as they gathered outside to eat next to large firepits roasting meat and the fish they had caught earlier in the day. The children laughed and frolicked, chasing each other around the assembled adults.

Over dinner, the villagers asked about Ilona’s parents, and Ilona, Rathnon, and Sigrid took turns translating. People asked about Ilona’s childhood and praised her mother for teaching beautiful weaving skills.

“We are all the recipients of Ilona’s lovely weaving and sewing skills,” explained Sigrid. Other villagers told stories of Ilona helping to heal them. The mother of the son whose life Ilona had saved spoke of her courageous actions in saving her young son’s life in the bear attack. Ilona’s mother gasped when she heard this story and looked at Ilona with alarm at what she had endured and how easily she could have lost her life. Her father gazed at her with deep pride. Still others told stories of Rathnon’s bravery in battle and his prowess in hunting.

The berry desserts with a crumbled oatmeal topping were a huge hit with everyone. The men and children clamored for more, until it vanished. Ilona was delighted everyoneenjoyed the dessert she’d brought to share. Most especially, she appreciated the caring reception the villagers had shown her parents. They returned home after Rathnon showed them the inside of the longhouse where most of the villagers lived.

The following day, Ilona’s parents, with Rathnon’s help, showed her the baby lambs, chickens, and goats they had brought with them when boarding the ship. Ilona hugged her parents and exclaimed over the adorable animals they’d brought as gifts.

“Thank ye for these precious animals ye brought to us. Thor will enjoy watching them grow up too. The sheep will help provide us more wool to spin into yarn when they have grown.” Ilona’s mother had brought a beautiful woven blanket to use for one of their beds. The beautiful turquoise-blue blanket reminded Ilona of the sea surrounding Orkney.

“Mother, this is beautiful, and I ken it took ye many months of weaving to make this lovely warm blanket for us. I will put it in the bedroom you and father share, as it will be Thor’s bedroom later, when he is older.”

In the following days, Rathnon took Ewan to visit the blacksmith, tanner, carpenter, and blacksmith, as well as the potter. Rathnon insisted he choose an item they would like to use back home as his gift. Depending on the items they chose, it would take time to create. Rathnon hoped these could be finished by the time her parents returned to their home.

Rathnon and Ilona took her parents and Thor for a picnic by the loch on a warm day. He took his son swimming in the loch. Thor loved the water and kicked and splashed with abandon, bringing great happiness to his parents and grandparents.

While the men went hunting and fishing on other days, Ilona and her mother walked in the forest, with Thor snugly attached by cloth to his mother’s body. They gathered berries and herbs and made baskets. Ilona savored every day spent with her whole family. For she kent the time would pass more quickly than they thought. Ilona’s mother helped Ilona cook and prepare meals and do the washing. She had discovered how much more laundry needed to be done with a bairn.