Jealousy Of A Viking E-Book

V.M. Sang

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

After Helgha meets Erik in the woods surrounding her home near Jorvik - modern day York - she learns that he is lost, and helps him by taking him into her home for the night.

In time, the two grow close, much to the anxiety of her parents as there is no message from his father suggesting a betrothal, but Erik behaves as though they are betrothed. Soon, they learn that there is another reason why Erik has not asked her to marry him.

With the honour of their family at stake, Helgha's father takes drastic measures to rectify the situation. Amid the bloodshed and danger of the medieval times, can Helgha find happiness for herself and her family?

Leseprobe

JEALOUSY OF A VIKING

A Family Through The Ages Book 2

V.M. SANG

CONTENTS

Other books by V.M.Sang

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Names, places and other things

Author’s Notes

My Thanks go to the following:

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About the Author

Copyright (C) 2021 V.M. Sang

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2021 by Next Chapter

Published 2021 by Next Chapter

Edited by Elizabeth N. Love

Cover art by CoverMint

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author’s permission.

To my grandchildren, Nicholas, Oliver and Bethany.

Thank you for all the fun and pleasure you have given me.

OTHER BOOKS BY V.M.SANG

Fantasy

The Wolves of Vimar Series.

Book 1 The Wolf Pack

Book 2 The Never-Dying Man

Book 3 Wolf Moon

The Wolves of Vimar prequels

Jovinda and Noli

The Making of a Mage

Elemental Worlds

The Stones of Earth and Air

The Stones of Fire and Water

Historical

Vengeance of a Slave

Non-Fiction

Viv's Family Recipes

This book contains adult themes including descriptions of childbirth, miscarriage and infant death as well as death in childbirth.

If any of these things will upset you, I do not recommend reading it.

1

Helgha wrinkled her nose while digging up the bulbs of the ramsons plants. The pungent smell that arose as she dug tickled her nostrils. She looked at her spoils, decided she had gathered enough and picked up her basket.

The sun was sinking toward the horizonmaking the shadows of the trees creep like hands reaching to grab her. She shivered. Soon the wolves would be hunting.

A swishing sound, like footsteps in the dead leaves fallen from the trees sounded in her ears. She whirled around, her ash-blonde hair whipping her face.

No one from her village would be coming from that direction. The road led deeper into the forest, and all the villagers would be at home now. Could it be an outlaw? Strangers were not to be trusted. She looked around. She should not have stopped to gather the extra ramsons, even though, with the winter approaching, it would be needed for the inevitable coughs and colds.

Helgha listened. A blackbird scrabbled in the leaves under a small bush. A squirrel chattered at her from high in the tree above, angry at her presence.

She drew her brows together. What had she heard? Concentrating, she discerned a voice muttering but could not make out the words. Who was this person speaking to? Did it mean more than one person approached? She looked at the shadows of the trees. They would help to hide her, but her walk back to the village would be in near darkness, dangerous for a girl out alone.

A young man leading a grey horse appeared from around a bend in the road. He murmured to the animal as he walked. Seeing the stranger, Helgha backed toward the bushes at the edge of the track. She hoped to make herself invisible in the shadows, but his eyes turned in her direction, the movement giving her away.

“Hey.” He looked toward where Helgha had pushed her way into the undergrowth. “Can you help me? I’m lost.”

Helgha backed farther into the bushes looking for somewhere to run. Perhaps the narrow animal track behind her would lead to a wider one where she could make her escape and run back to Thoringsby.

The branches snatched at her long skirts. I wish I were a man, then I’d wear breeches. She pulled hergrey woollen overdress from an elder bush.

The man called again. “I won’t hurt you. I only want to find a way out of this endless forest and back on the road to Jorvik.”

Helgha stopped. She could not go any farther. A large bramble bush prickled her back, its thorns penetrating the woollen cloak she wore.

The man dropped the horse’s reins, and the animal stopped, obedient to the signal. The stranger walked toward where he had seen Helgha before she pressed into the undergrowth.

“I understand why you’re afraid. I know strangers can be scary.” He smiled, making his grey eyes light up. “My name’s Erik.” He stopped walking and continued to speak. “I’m assuming there’s a farm or a village ahead, and that’s where you’ve come from.”

Helgha stepped out from the bramble bush. She had to wrest her cloak free from the wicked thorns trying to pull her back. The man had seen her, so it was no use pretending she was not there. If he wanted to, he could come after her. Anyway, she could go no farther with the dense brambles blocking her way.

“My home is a few minutes away.”

“Will you help me find a way out of the forest?”

Helgha looked at the man. He had light brown hair, a beard and a long moustache, as did most of the Danish men. His clothes looked of good quality, and an expensive brooch pinned his cloak at the shoulder. She estimated him to be about eighteen years old—a few years older than herself.

As she looked at him, a hundred butterflies took flight in her stomach. She pressed her fist against it to try to stop their fluttering wings.

He’s not a beggar, nor even a poor man. Certainly not an outlaw, dressed in those clothes. And he has a friendly face. A handsome face. He’s lost as well.

She made a decision to help this man. As she began walking along the road, she beckoned Erik to follow. He picked up the reins and pulled his horse forward. It shook its head as if in denial before beginning to follow.

Helgha stopped and walked back to where the reluctant horse limped forward. She patted the animal talking gently to it. “You’re a beauty, aren’t you. Does your leg hurt?”

She turned to Erik. “What happened to your horse?”

“She tripped over something as we followed some game. I hope she’s not done too much damage to her leg. She’s a good horse.”

Helgha smiled. “Father’ll have a look at her when we get home. He’s good with horses. Have you walked far?”

“It seems like hundreds of miles.” He shrugged. “But it’s probably only a few.”

“How did you come to be lost?”

“My friends and I went hunting. As we cantered along, Stjarna tripped. The others rode on, and I started to return to Jorvik. We’d ridden into a part of the forest we didn’t know—chasing a stag.’ He laughed. ‘He gave us a good run. I hope the others caught him. On the way back I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere.”

“You must have. We’re almost a day’s journey from Jorvik.”

“No wonder I felt I’d walked for weeks. I’ve gone in completely the wrong direction.”

They continued to walk along the forest road that wound between tall trees, mainly oaks, with bramble and bracken growing beneath their canopies. The leaves had begun to turn a yellow-gold and many had dropped to form a carpet beneath their feet. They swished like the sound of waves invading the beaches as their feet and hooves passed through them.

Helgha sniffed the air. A familiar scent reached her nose. This time of year fungi grew in abundance, and people used them to flavour their stews.

“Wait a moment.” She rushed toward a fallen tree trunk where she picked some edible fungi from its bark. “These are good to eat. Mother will be pleased to have them.”

She continued walking, looking back to see if he followed.

After a little while, the ground began to rise and the forest thinned. Shortly, the trees stopped altogether. Ahead, a cleared area at the top of a little hill came into view. Fields surrounded the village with partially harvested crops growing in them. A small coppice of hazel grew on one side of the hill. The villagers used the wood for making everything from baskets to houses, and the nuts were a valuable crop for the winter.

As they climbed to the top of the hill, a palisade with an open gate appeared. This was Helgha’s home. A large longhouse stood in the centre of the village, surrounded by smaller ones in the same style. All the houses had thatched roofs that came almost to the ground. A frame of wood made up the walls, with a lattice of sticks woven between them. The houses had been made weatherproof by having a sticky clay substance daubed on thickly.

“Tie your horse here, Erik, then come into the house.” Helgha pointed to a post next to the palisade. The Dane did as she bade him and followed her into the large longhouse.

The pair entered through a door set in the middle of one of the longer sides of the building. Compared to outside, the house was dark, but their eyes soon became accustomed. A fire pit glowed in the centre of the single room, the smoke curling toward holes cut in the thatched roof. These holes allowed light to enter as well as letting the smoke from the fire to escape.

One end of the longhouse was closed off. Animals shifted around in that space, and occasionally there came the lowing of a cow. The scent of the animals permeated the large room, mingling with the smell of the smoke from the fire. At the other end of the longhouse, a wooden wall closed off another room.

A double row of wooden pillars ran the length of the house. Wide benches filled the gaps between them. A sheepskin and a blanket lay on each bench.

Three boys, all younger than Helgha, sat on one of the benches playing some sort of game while farther down two women gossiped as they span wool into yarn.

A pot hung over the fire, and a woman with ash- blonde hair, very like Helgha’s, stirred it.

The woman straightened and rubbed her back, smiling at Helgha. “You’re back. I was becoming anxious as it’s getting dark. Who’s this you’ve brought?”

“This is Erik. I met him as I started for home. He was lost.”

As they talked, the door opened to admit a tall man with light brown hair. He walked over to the fire and warmed his hands. “It’s getting cold in the evenings.” He looked around and noticed Erik. “Who’s this?”

Erik stepped forward and introduced himself.

“So, my daughter found another stray. This one’s a bit bigger than most.” He laughed and put his arm around Helgha to give her a hug. “She has a kind heart and often finds something that needs looking after.” He turned to the girl. “Speaking of your waifs, you’d better go and see to that orphaned fawn you brought home. He’ll need to go back to the forest soon.”

Helgha turned with a glance toward Erik that set all the butterflies off in her stomach again. She dragged her feet through the door, pausing once more to look back at Erik and her father.

Helgha’s father was big and had the look of a warrior. He had a full, bushy beard and twinkling blue eyes that he now turned toward Erik.

“I’ll show you the road to Jorvik tomorrow,” Helgha heard him say as she left to feed the orphaned animal. “It’s going dark now, and it’ll be dangerous to leave. Stable your horse with the other animals. Over there.” He pointed to the room holding some cattle and pigs.

Helgha left and entered the stable end of the house. She pulled some hay over to a young deer as Erik led his horse through the door. She stood and patted the mare. “What’s her name?”

Erik gave the horse some water. “Stjarna.”

“A pretty name. But she’s a pretty horse, so should have a name to match.”

Helgha’s father pushed the door open. “Let me have a look at your animal. She looks to have hurt herself.” He knelt down and ran his hand down the leg. The mare shifted as he touched a sore spot.

“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. It’s a bit bruised, that’s all. Rabbit hole, was it?”

“Yes. I didn’t see properly. I was too busy getting up and looking where my friends had gone. I noticed she was limping, so I couldn’t chase after them.”

Although it was not close to the fire, the warmth of the animals kept the stable end of the house warm. When he had made his horse comfortable, Erik returned to the main part of the house, Helgha following.

Once they were back indoors, Helgha’s father said, “If you’re staying here tonight, I should introduce you to the family.” He laughed—a loud and cheery sound. “I’m Biorn. My wife is Ædelflaed. Helgha you know. Boys, come here,” he called to the three sitting in the shadows. “This is Hartvigg. He’s seen eleven summers. Then there’s Laeff. He’s seen nine summers and little Sigmund five. Helgha has fourteen, or is it fifteen? I forget sometimes.”

Ædelflaed shook her head. “Really!” she scolded, with a smile at her husband. “She’ll be fifteen in three weeks’ time. You know that as well as I do.”

“Well, she’s fourteen now,” her husband argued and turned to Erik. “It’s late. You must stay tonight, and I’ll show you the road to Jorvik tomorrow. Your friends? Will they be anxious about you?”

Erik laughed. “I expect so, and when they return to Jorvik without me, my father will no doubt punish them before sending them out to find either me or my body.”

When Ædelflaed served the stew and they all sat eating, Helgha watched Erik and followed his gaze as he looked at the round shield and battle-axe hanging on the wall opposite him.

He turned to Biorn. “You were a warrior then? When did you come here?”

“With the Great Army. We conquered this area. The Anglo-Saxons are weak fighters. It wasn’t too hard.”

“And you decided to stay?”

“Not straight away. I went back to Denmark. Then I came again. There was land here for the taking. Good land. Rich and fertile. I met Ædelflaed soon after that and we married.”

“Many came to settle,” Erik said. “My own family did. My father fought with the Great Army, too, and was there when they took Jorvik. He still tells tales of that battle; how the Anglo-Saxons tried to fight back, and we killed their leader.”

Helgha gazed at Erik throughout this conversation. She tried to memorise his features. She knew when he left she would not see him again. She thought he was the finest man she had ever seen. He was handsome and tall with the muscular body of a warrior.

He turned to look at her, and she blushed. Erik smiled, and that made her face heat up even more. The idea that he might know she liked him embarrassed her. She was only a young girl, but she was of marriageable age. Many girls as old as she was were married already.

Her parents would find her a suitable husband, and she would endeavour to be a good wife, but she wanted to remember Erik. She could dream of him at night and imagine his kisses, but only if she could remember exactly how he looked.

She had been watching him, remembering how he held his head and threw it back when he laughed. She noted the way he smiled. He loved his horse, too. She had watched as he patted it and spoke in a low voice so as not to startle it. Yes, she had enough stored to remember this man who had come so unexpectedly into her life and would as quickly leave it.

That night as she lay on the bench in her furs, she wept in silence for what could not be.

Erik rose early the next morning. Helgha brought him watered ale with a portion of stew from the previous evening, along with flatbread She accompanied him when he went to examine his horse’s leg. It seemed less painful when he touched it, but it still made the animal toss her head and snort. He had hoped to be able to leave that day, but he did not want to harm Stjarna.

Helgha watched as Erik knelt to tend the animal. She stroked her soft nose and whispered to her as the animal shifted under Erik’s ministrations. She loved the horse—its warm scent and the brown eyes looking so trustingly at her.

Erik looked up and smiled. “She likes you.”

“I like her, too. I like all animals, but horses are special.”

Biorn entered the stable to speak to Erik. He looked at Stjarna’s leg and said he did not think Erik should ride her for a few days.

“I need to get back to Jorvik, though.” Erik struggled to stand from his kneeling position next to his horse.

Biorn scratched his beard for a moment. “Well, I could lend you one of mine for a few days until yours is better. I’ll tend her well.”

Helgha could not help the smile that broke out on her face at this. Erik would need to return to get his horse. She would see him again.

She spent time every day with Erik’s horse. She groomed her and took her apples. Stjarna welcomed the girl with a gentle whicker whenever she came near.

2

Erik mounted his borrowed horse, and as he rode away, he turned and saw the girl watching him. He thought how lucky he had been to come across her in the forest. Maybe he would have found the village anyway, but if he hadn’t, he might have perished. And she was very pretty.

He raised a hand in farewell and kicked the borrowed horse to a canter. His mother would be anxious and his father would be angry with the men who had managed to lose Erik while hunting. He did not want to be the cause of their punishment.

As Biorn had predicted, it took nearly a full day to reach Jorvik, but he arrived in time for the evening meal.

His mother welcomed him with open arms. “Erik, you’re back. I was beginning to wonder if you’d been attacked by wolves and lay dead somewhere.”

Sigfried strode across the room to the pair standing in the doorway. A tall man with long moustaches, he took Erik in a bear hug, then turned to Erik’s mother.

“Guthrun, I told you he was all right. Our son would not succumb to wolves.” He turned back to Erik. “Where have you been? It’s two days since you went missing.”

“Stjarna hurt her leg in a rabbit hole. I found a village where the headman and his family helped me. They let me stay overnight. Biorn, the headman, lent me a horse so Stjarna could recover properly.”

Two days later, he mounted the borrowed horse and headed to Thoringsby. He rode at a trot whenever he could. He was eager to see his horse. At least, that’s what he told himself. But images of a pretty blonde girl kept intruding on his thoughts

After hours of riding, he slowed as the village came into view. He turned into the compound and looked around. He could not see Helgha, although her mother was at the well. Was she in the forest again?

Ædelflaed lifted the bucket. Erik leaped from the horse and ran to take it from her.

“Thank you.” Ædelflaed smiled at the young man. “Come into the longhouse. Biorn and the boys are still in the fields but shouldn’t be long. I expect you’ve come for your horse.”

Erik nodded. He wanted to ask where Helgha was but did not dare. Ædelflaed had not mentioned her. He could not show too much interest in a girl he was unable to court. These people were not of his class. He was the son of a jarl, after all. His father would arrange a marriage with the daughter of another jarl.

On entering the longhouse, Erik looked around in the dim light that flickered in the flames from the fire. In the orange glow, he saw a blonde head bent over some sewing. He grinned. Helgha was here.

Then his heart sank. This would be the last time he would ever see her. He must put her out of his mind.

She looked up, and a smile lit her face. “Erik.” She put her sewing down and walked toward him. “You’ve come for Stjarna, I suppose. I’ll take you to see her.”

They walked to the end of the house where the animals were stabled.

“H-how is she?” Erik asked, faltering over his words.

“She’s fully recovered.” Helgha opened the door.

Stjarna saw Erik and whickered a welcome. He went over and put his arm around her neck. “I’m pleased to see you, girl.” He knelt and ran his hand down the mare’s leg. She turned her head to look at him but did not wince.

Erik stood and grinned at Helgha. “Your father has done well.”

A silence fell between the pair. Now that he had established his horse was fit once more, Erik could think of nothing to say.

The silence was broken by Biorn’s voice.

“I see you’ve come back for Stjarna. She’s all ready to go again. The rest did her good. I put a poultice on it to speed her recovery. It seems to have worked.” He approached Helgha and put his arm around her. “My girl here has done her share by feeding your mare apples.”

Erik looked at Helgha. “Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”

Helgha looked at the floor and shuffled her feet. “There’s no need to thank me. I love horses.”

“It’s too late now for you to return to Jorvik. You must stay until tomorrow,” Biorn told him.

Erik thanked him and once more looked at Helgha, who blushed.

Does she like me as much as I like her? She looks so pretty when she blushes. But I mustn’t think like that. We’ll not meet again once I leave with Stjarna.

They walked into the longhouse where Ædelflaed had begun to spoon stew into wooden bowls. She handed one to each of them, then passed wooden spoons to eat it with. Biorn sat on a bench and indicated that Erik should join him.

Erik turned his gaze to Helgha. He could not prevent himself. She did not return his gaze but looked at the floor. He smiled as she contrived to sit next to him.

She does like me then. She wants to be near me.

Biorn continued to talk, asking about life in Jorvik. “I go from time to time, to the market, but can’t say I really know the place. I go to Selby more often. It’s nearer.”

Erik tore his eyes away from the girl sitting next to him. “It’s a busy city. We have many industries there. My family lives to the west of the main city, just inside the walls.”

He glanced at Helgha. She sat with her spoon halfway to her mouth, listening with interest.

“I’d love to see the big city,” she said.

“Maybe you will, one day,” Erik told her and smiled. I’d love to show you around.

The daylight faded until only the firelight lit the longhouse. Soon the family wrapped themselves in furs. They made themselves comfortable on the wide benches that doubled as seats during the day and slept.

Erik lay staring at the fire. Helgha was truly the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Could he ask his father if he could court her?

His heart sank. No, Sigfried would never agree. This family was free, but they were still only ceorls—beneath his social class. His father was trying to arrange a marriage with the daughter of someone more important who could improve their standing in the city. He sighed and closed his eyes as he dreamed of marriage with Helgha.

But the next morning, he mounted Stjarna and rode back along the road to Jorvik

3

Each night for the next two weeks, Helgha recalled Erik's features before falling asleep. She could see them as clearly now as she had when she first saw him in the forest. She thought about how he moved his head and how he walked. His laugh sounded in her ears as sleep found her. She dreamed of him walking into her home and asking her father's permission to court her.

One day Helgha sat with a spindle in hand. She ought to be spinning wool but instead gazed into the fire where her mother stirred broth in a cauldron hanging over the flames. In the smoke, she imagined herself and Erik in a marriage ceremony.

Ædelflaed noticed her idleness and interrupted her dreams. “It’ll be your job to tend to the sickness and injuries of your people when you marry. You’ll need to know what herbs to use for each job.”

Helgha’s heart sank as reality reared its head. She dragged her gaze away from the firepit. “Mother! I've been watching and learning all my life. I know almost as much as you about tending the sick and injured.”

“I know, Helgha, but your father’s going to talk to Gunnar Janson about you marrying his son. You might think you know everything, but there are still many things you need to understand and not only about healing.”

Ædelflaed stretched, put down her spoon and stood. “Come with me, girl.” She left the longhouse and walked toward the storeroom where she kept her dried and fresh herbs.

Helgha followed.

She took a deep breath as they entered the storeroom, and a smile lit up her face. The scents of the herbs perfumed the air. She picked out lavender and meadowsweet. There was the clean smell of mint. And under it all the earthy perfume of fungi. Some herbs hung in bunches from the ceiling, drying. Others, already dry, Ædelflaed had put into pots and stored on shelves around the room.

Ædelflaed reached up, lifted a pot from a high shelf, and turned to Helgha. “Sometimes, Helgha, no matter how much you care for each other, a man will hanker after other women. You need to understand how to prevent him from straying. Now, I will teach you how to stop that. It involves herbs added to his drink, but also words said over it.” She paused, glancing around. “Magic words.”

Helgha's eyes opened wide, and she gasped. “Magic? You know magic? Isn't that dangerous?”

“Not if you know what you're doing and do it right.”

“But if someone found out, they could accuse you of witchcraft.”

Ædelflaed smiled at her daughter. “That's why I've told no one except you, and you must never tell anyone, either, or we'll both be in a lot of trouble. This knowledge has been handed down from mother to daughter for many generations. My grandmother taught my mother, and she taught me. Now I’m teaching you, and I expect you’ll teach your daughter when you have one.”

She told Helgha which herbs to use and in what proportions. “It’s important you get this right. If you use the wrong amounts, it won’t work.”

She heated some water, poured it onto the herbal mixture and began chanting mysterious words over it.

“You learn these words, Helgha. You’ll need this someday when your husband casts glances at some pretty slave girl.”

Each day for the next week, Helgha practised the words until her mother declared herself satisfied. “Good. Now your husband won’t stray.”

One morning, about ten days after Erik's final departure, her father came to her. “I've chosen a husband for you. I've decided on Gunnar Janson's son. I spoke with Gunnar yesterday, and he’s in agreement.”

Helgha hung her head. She must obey her father, but her dream of becoming Erik's wife dissolved as she foresaw a life lived with a man she did not like.

Gunner Janson's son won’t make any woman a good husband.

On the few occasions they met, he had treated her with disdain. He barely spoke to any woman unless it was to give her an order, and he had told Helgha he thought them weak. They did not know how to fight, and fighting was life.

But she must do as her father said, and so she whispered, “Yes, Father,” hoping she sounded acquiescent, but a feeling of tightness encompassed her chest, and her hands clenched involuntarily.

Helgha took a deep breath and carried on with her tasks with a heavy heart. She would obey her father, but all her dreams of a life with Erik came crashing down around her ears. Thoughts of rebellion flashed through her mind but immediately disappeared. She did not know if Erik felt the same way. Most probably, he did not. They had been beautiful dreams, though.

Crushing her thoughts of Erik, she left the longhouse and walked to the well where two serving women were drawing water. Hearing the drumming of hooves on the road, she looked up. Her stomach turned over, and her heart beat faster as Erik rode through the gate. He slid from Stjarna’s back and jogged over to where she stood. Taking the buckets from her, he looked into her eyes. Helgha thought there was something there. Some warmth that made her think her dreams were not in vain.

“Hello, Helgha,” Erik said, then looked away.

Had she imagined what she saw in his eyes?

“Hello, Erik.” Redness crept up her neck and infused her face.

Leaving the other women staring after them, the pair walked to the house in silence.

Why had he come? Surely her dream had not come true and he intended to ask for her hand in marriage. He must have some other reason to come here. Yes, that was it. He was on his way somewhere else and stopped at Thoringsby because it was convenient.

They entered the house, Erik following Helgha. He put the buckets down and spoke to Ædelflaed. “Thank you for your hospitality the other week. I wouldn’t be alive now if it weren't for your kindness.”

Ædelflaed smiled at the young man. “No thanks are necessary. We did what anyone would do. You could have been killed by wolves or bears out there in the dark.”

“I have something for you. To thank you. Wait a moment and I'll go and get it.” Erik ducked through the door and a moment later returned with his saddlebags over his arm.

“First, for you, Ædelflaed, I have this.” He handed over a necklace of glass beads.

Ædelflaed gasped. “This is beautiful, Erik.”

“It was made in Jorvik. We don't make much glass there, but what we do is usually made into beads or rings and is of fine quality. Now, for Biorn I have some wine. I'm sure he'll enjoy it when he comes in. It’ll make a change from ale.”

Helgha smiled at the thought. Biorn drank more ale or mead than wine, but he would enjoy the change.

Erik pulled something else from his saddlebags. “For Hartvigg I have this wooden sword. He needs to learn how to fight like a true Dane. I have a Kubb set for Laeff, and for Sigmund, this toy longboat. After all, we Danes are seamen.” He turned and smiled at Helgha.

Her stomach turned somersaults.

“And for you, this amber necklace. The amber comes all the way from the Baltic Sea.”

Helgha blushed as Erik fastened it around her neck, and she looked at her mother.

Ædelflaed frowned. Helgha knew what thoughts passed through her mother’s mind. Like the ones passing through her own head.

Why has Erik brought me such a valuable gift? Does he want to court me?

Neither she nor her parents knew anything about the young man. He appeared to be well-off if his clothing were anything to go by. But would Erik's father want his son to marry someone from a family who could not bring an advantage? Helgha’s father was a free man, a ceorl, but what Erik’s status was Helgha did not know. She realised he must be richer than her own family and would demand a high bride price.

Helgha sighed, pushing those thoughts away. If it were the case that Erik wanted to marry her, then his father would speak to hers. She would be the last to know.

4

Erik rode back to Jorvik after leaving the presents with Helgha’s family. Her brothers had been excited to receive their gifts, and Biorn was delighted with the wine. It was rare to have wine rather than ale or mead as grapes did not grow around Jorvik. His mind was full of Helgha, though. Could he persuade his father to meet with Biorn and discuss a marriage? He determined to ask as soon as he arrived home.

Sigfried declined his son’s request. “No matter how beautiful this girl is, Erik, she is not for you. I’ve begun talks with Harald Magnusson about a marriage between you and his daughter, Dagmar. The connection will be good for us.”

Erik opened his mouth to speak, but his father held up his hand. “No, Erik. Say nothing. This girl is a ceorl. She is not of the nobility. She is beneath you. Take her as your mistress, if you wish, but marriage? No!”

With that, he strode to his chair, picked up a horn of ale and drank deeply.

Erik looked at his feet. He knew he could not change his father’s mind. Advancing the family was all-important. He slumped onto a bench.

His mother brought him a horn of ale and sat next to him. “What’s wrong, Erik?”

“I met a girl. She’s beautiful and kind. I want to marry her, but Father forbids it. He says I must marry Harald Magnusson’s daughter. I don’t even know her.”

“Erik, love can come after marriage. It often does. Look at your father and me. We didn’t love each other before we married, but I love him dearly now, and he loves me. Forget this girl.”

Erik sighed. How could he forget Helgha? Love does not come on demand, neither can you banish it.

He moped about for the next few days, then mounted Stjarna. He needed to get out. He’d just go for a ride in the forest.

But he found himself riding for hours until he approached Thoringsby. He turned Stjarna through the gate, wondering how he could explain his visit.

Biorn stood in the compound and turned as Erik approached.

“I hope you don’t mind me calling. I was passing when I saw you. I thought I’d extend my greetings.”

Biorn grinned and clapped Erik on the back. “We’re always pleased to see you, lad. Come in and have some refreshment.”

After that, Erik came every week on some pretext or other, but no message arrived from his father to Biorn suggesting a marriage.

Each time he came, Helgha secretly slipped into the herb store and poured a little magic mixture into a flagon of mead. She chanted the words her mother had taught her over it before handing it to Erik.

This made her excited and fearful. Even her mother did not know she did this. Ædelflaed had not told Helgha these secrets for her to capture Erik but to keep her husband faithful.

On fine days, Helgha and Erik sat outside the longhouse. The weather was getting colder as the autumn progressed.

Helgha shivered.

“Are you cold?” Erik asked her. “We can walk to keep warm, if you like.”

They set off through the hazel copse.

“That’s where I met you.” Erik pointed to the path leading to the forest. “What good fortune that was.”

“If you’d kept on the path, you’d have reached Thoringsby without me to guide you.”

Erik smiled. “Yes, but the walk would not have been so pleasant.”

Helgha blushed. What did he mean by that? Did he mean he really liked her and wanted to court her? Could she hope for that?

Walking together became a habit over the next few weeks, and Helgha looked forward to these times when she and Erik could talk without other people around. But Erik said nothing more to indicate any interest other than that of a friend.

After some weeks, as autumn drew into winter, Biorn tackled Erik on the subject of his continued visits. Helgha held her breath, willing Erik to say his father would send a message to Biorn about a betrothal.

“You've been coming here a lot, Erik,” Biorn said. “You spend a lot of time with Helgha, but your father has not contacted me about a betrothal. It’s not seemly for you to be with her such a lot with nothing from your family.”

Erik went red and hung his head. “I would truly like to be betrothed to your daughter, but my father would never agree. You cannot pay the bride-price he would expect.”

Biorn's face grew dark, and his eyes flashed. “You come here courting my daughter, yet you have no intention of marrying her? This is an insult to my family.”

Helgha held her breath as Erik continued to look at the floor.

He shuffled his feet. “I mean no insult to you, Biorn. My father won’t agree to me marrying Helgha, but if I could, I would do so.” He looked up and into Biorn's eyes. “I'm afraid my father wishes me to marry someone who can bring wealth and influence to our family. Someone, I suspect, who is closer to Halfdan Ragnarson than he is.”

“Then this means I will have to defend the honour of my family. I will not have you dishonour my sons and myself.” He went to the wall and took down his shield and battle-axe. “I must kill you. You have insulted my family. Have you amused yourself with my Helgha? Is she ruined?”

Erik stood and faced Biorn. “Should we not fight outside?”

Biorn grunted. Helgha stood with her hands over her mouth and her eyes wide. As the two men went through the door, she ran after them screaming.

“No! No! No! Don't fight over me. Please. Father, don't kill him.”

She rushed over to Biorn and tried to pull his axe from his hands.

He shoved her away. “This is man's business. Go back to your mother.”

Helgha fell to the floor, scrambled up and ran back toward the longhouse. Her mother appeared through the door.

“Mother! Stop them. They'll kill each other.”

Her mother looked at her, eyes hard. “One of them will kill the other. That's the way it is. Erik has insulted our family by coming here as if to court you but making no offers. Your father has to have his honour satisfied. If he fails, then it will be up to your brothers to kill Erik when they are old enough.”

Tears started running down Helgha's cheeks. “Please stop them. I can't bear that one will die.”

Her mother turned away from her daughter. “You are a Dane, Helgha. Behave like one. People die in battle, you know that. Your uncles died with honour fighting for the Jarl to gain all this land. They now feast in Valhalla forever. Whoever dies in this fight will join them.”

Helgha reached out to her mother. “You aren't a Dane. How can you talk like that? You're an Anglo-Saxon.”

“I became a Dane when I married your father. I became a Dane when I decided to follow the Danish religion. I became a Dane when I learned how to act like one. Now, daughter, you must act like one too. Dry your eyes and stand and watch.”

Helgha forced her eyes to stay open as the two men circled each other, each looking for an opening. Erik was young, but Biorn was a seasoned warrior who had fought hard to gain this land. Helgha knew he had more experience than the younger man and was full of tricks and wiles. She worried her father's experience would overcome Erik's strength. Then her anxiety turned to anguish as she thought Erik's youth and more recent battle experience would prevail and he would kill her father in this battle.

As men returned from the fields, they stood around to watch the contest as the pair continued to circle each other.

The sun's rays heated her back as it struck through a hole in the cloud. It felt as if one of the weapons had struck her. Nausea filled her stomach, but she could not give in to the feeling. She knew her mother watched her, expecting her to behave like a true Dane. At that moment, Helgha was anything but a true Dane. She felt like one of the despised Anglo Saxons, full of fear and cowardice. She turned to watch the fight.

Erik lunged, but Biorn avoided his thrust. He struck at Erik, who parried with his shield. Biorn made a flurry of attacks, hacking at Erik's shield and forcing him backward.

Backed against a store building, the younger man ducked and rolled away. He came up behind Biorn. The older man whirled around in time to catch Erik's sword on the edge of his shield. Helgha drew in a breath as he thrust the shield's boss into Erik's face. With no helmet to protect his head, Erik was forced to duck. The edge of the shield cut a deep gash in his cheek.

Helgha screamed.

To the watching girl, it seemed hours passed. In effect, it was only a few minutes. She closed her eyes so as not to see, then opened them because she could not see. The two men were evenly matched. Erik was the quicker, but what Biorn lacked in speed, he more than made up for in experience and craft.

Eventually, the fighting began to tell on Biorn. He slowed. Erik took advantage of this and forced Biorn backward. He rained fast blows of his sword on Biorn's shield. Biorn had to fend them off with no chance to retaliate.

Helgha once again screamed and put her hands over her face. The blood lust in Erik's eyes as he pressed his attack made her shiver. Her heart skipped a beat as Erik’s sword struck her father’s shield.

Then Biorn slipped. He did not go to ground, but his shield split under the assault from Erik. He regained his balance and held up his axe in defence. Erik slipped. Biorn lifted his battle-axe to deal the final blow. Then Erik twisted his body and, thrusting upward, skewered Biorn through the belly.

Blood gushed over the young man as he rolled from under his assailant. He stood and leaned on his sword, gasping for breath as four men rushed toward him, pitchforks in hand. Erik sheathed his sword and ran toward Helgha. He grabbed her and dragged her to where his horse stood.

Leaping into the saddle, he pulled a crying Helgha behind him and turned his horse's head toward the gate. He kicked the animal into a gallop as the first of the workers reached him.

In a clearing in the forest, four miles from Helgha's home, Erik pulled his horse to a stop, dismounted and lifted Helgha from Stjarna’s back. She had stopped crying, but as she looked at Erik, she wondered what had happened. Her father was dead. She knew that. Erik had killed him. Should she be here with the man who had killed her father? But she was not here by choice. Erik had abducted her.

Should she not exact revenge on him? She should kill him. But she looked at the young man standing before her, and confusion filled her.

Erik spoke gently. “This was all because I can't marry you. Your father was right. I should not have come calling on you as if I wanted to court you. But I did want to court you. You are so lovely and have such a kind heart.” He stroked her cheek.