Thank you to everyone who has given me helpful suggestions, I know the last chapter was a bit short, this one is a little too; but I hope you will still like it.
Thanks again,
Sacrificedangel.
*************************
Bruni lost the breath from his lungs at her whispered words, his heart taking a plummet to his stomach, before rising back with hope once more when she said she loved him; his heart ached, it beat so feverishly he thought he was going to fall dead to his cot.
In his lap sat the most enchanting creature he had ever met, even bloodied and torn, her cool hands ran over his heated and dirt covered skin, soothing him; he desired nothing more than to have her back with him on Auden lands, in his chambers relaxing with him in the wooden tub. Surrounded by warmth instead of this biting cold, bathed clean of the blood and sweat that coated them both, he could picture her now resting back against him in the water, her naked body pressing intimately against his own.
He wanted to bathe her and sooth her sore muscles, he wanted to press kisses to every inch of her bruised flesh, he wanted to gut the Gaul who had tried to rape her.
Bruni closed his eyes as her gentle palm caressed his stubble covered cheek, groaning slightly as he imagined her in his bed, surrounded by the softness of his sheets as opposed to the rough wool they lay upon now, he wanted her lain back against fur so soft it rivaled the smoothness of her skin; he wanted to be on top of her, under her, inside her with a ferocity that scared him, shook him to the core.
He knew now that if he took her, even if he pledged himself to her as his heart was screaming at him to do; he would never be able to let her go.
She caressed and stroked him, not with passion, but with care; care that he seemed to look so ill. His skin was fire beneath her fingers as a light sheen of sweat blossomed on his skin. Eleanor began to get worried when he was finding it hard to breathe, his broad chest rising and falling as though it were weighted heavily. Eleanor panicked, tears she refused to shed brimmed in her eyes as she realized it must have been her words of her love for him that put him out of sorts.
"Bruni, I..." She swallowed, finding her voice hoarse and her throat dry. "...I do not expect the same feelings back, I mean, if they are not there. I will not blame you; I will forget what happened on the way here if you wish."
Eleanor slowly disentangled herself from Bruni's tight grip, attempting to rise, and escape before her tears made a fool of her. His grip was strong, his body unyielding as she tried to escape, her body becoming more frantic when she knew that her tears were close; she needed to escape, needed air to calm her, anything to be away from the source of her pain at that moment.
"Bruni, please, let me go."
"I cannot."
His lips were swift and brutal as they made the connection with hers, he could not hold back, her sweet words were slowly infusing within him, stirring him; making him plead to Freya that the Goddess help him and his love to somewhere secret so he could be with her as he was aching to do now.
He cradled her against him, one arm holding her at her back as she sat across his lap, his other hand tracing idle circles over her thigh on the outside of her torn dress. His mind raced with all the stimulation, her soft hands grazing him, her sweet taste enveloping his senses, her lithe body pressed so intimately against his own with only mere layers of fabric separating him from the heaven of her hot body.
Gods how he wanted her; he was debating within himself, Loki toying with him, suggesting to throw her to his cot and make her his there and then, and the Goddess herself begging him to take care with her subject, take his time and be gentle. His conscience begged him to be true to her.
Swallowing the lump of panic that raced through him, Bruni savored the bruising kiss as though it would be his last, imprinting her taste, her beauty to his memory; her willing form tucked against him would forever remain with him. He had no doubt he would never be allowed this liberty with her again.
Be Honest.
"Eleanor. I have something to tell you."
***
They were chasing them, fast, furious, relentless over the vast forests of the Haur lands. The darker colored Gauls and other foreign men, with their curved swords, and vicious daggers, covered the ground wise emmense ease, like the wind covering miles in seconds.
The thunderous sound of their hunt was deafening as he carried his precious bundle through the night, desperate to escape them; the foreign curses of their enemy were so close, he was sure he felt breath on his neck as he searched deep for the energy to run faster; the need for safety was paramount.
Varin felt the burn in his legs, the sweat that coated his body as he ran, the score of the bushes and trees as he ran through them, unheeding of the blood that bloomed on his skin; he ran for the cliffs, ran for the safety Ragnar had created, he could see them now, the swift descent to nowhere...if he just got their quick enough, he could descend enough to make them think he had jumped rather than be caught.
If...he...could...just...get...there...quick...enough.
Few more steps, few more to safety.
As Varin reached the edge he stopped abruptly, only slightly aware of the burning pain in his stomach. Acutely aware of his little Loki staring at him with wide and accusing pain filled eyes that brimmed with tears when he looked down at the red pool that spread from her, that spread from him. The Gaul placed his heavy boot in the small of Varin's back, and pulled his curved blade free of the bodies...sending them crashing to the sea below.
"ANIKA!!!!"
Varin screamed as he woke himself from his nightmare. Drenched in sweat, beads blinded him as he swiped at them, frantically trying to clear his vision. He needed to make sure she was alright; needed to assure himself he had not lost her.
Feeling around the floor for the blanket she had slept on, Varin felt the pit of his stomach try and escape him further as he found nothing amidst her blankets, no Anika, no warmth to indicate she had not long left it.
Grabbing the linen of the shirt he discarded during the night, Varin hurriedly wiped his eyes; the sting in them remained as he grabbed his sword and ran from the cave; tears threatening to spill over his mind's frantic assumptions.
"Anika!!" Varin called, as loudly as he dared; he did not want to draw attention to the caves if those hired guards were up there. His mind slowly clearing from the fog of sleep and the panic of his nightmare, as he figured they would not have left him alive surely if they had taken her.
"Anika, where are you!!??" He called a little louder this time, the adrenaline beginning to pump once more as his hope of her just being outside began to dwindle.
Varin opened his mouth to holler her name to the heavens, and halted, hearing voices talking quietly not far from him. Readying his sword, he followed the sound in the bright moonlight, out of the mouth of the cave and along the narrow ledge that separated the risen cave from the next inlet. Peering around the corner, Varin felt his heart soar, relief flooded his system and he felt dizzy from the sudden lack of energy in his body.
"Varin, come here!!! Esme is teaching me to catch little fish!" Anika's childlike glee was infectious as she stood smiling and waved him to come to her. "We were going to cook them and bring them to you for evening meal!"
"Thank you Anika, and Esme." Varin spoke softly as he approached them, suddenly feeling like a fool for his overreaction.
"Anika, I need you to tell me if you go somewhere, it is not very safe right now."
Varin kept his voice steady, calm and unthreatening, the last thing he wanted was to see her child-like light go out again, he wanted her happy and smiling. Taking her into his arms, he gave her a hug, kissing the top of her head before taking a piece of sinew himself to help catch some fish. His hand shook as he tried to get used to the feeling of calm wash over him once more, flushing out the fear and the cold sweep of panic.
Was this how his older brother's had felt about him? Whenever he had managed to disappear into the fields, and his brothers had found him, their expressions had been taut with worry even through the stern façade and the smack on his hand they gave him for his wandering.
He was so much younger than his brothers were. He had always felt protected by them, and now he wished they were still alive, to come and help him; to protect him so he could feel safe, and the horrible churning of his stomach could dissipate.
Varin found himself wishing he could have that child like innocence back, the ability to find good, and playful imaginings all around him; and he wanted to cry with anger over the loss of his childhood.
He had felt honored when Erick had regarded him in such high esteem and trust to place him as head guard to watch over Matilda and Anika. He had been only twelve then nearly thirteen, built big and strong even by that early age; other guardians of lands and self serving men had tried to attack them then, thinking a mere whelp of a boy was the only guard between them and the ethereal Matilda.
They had not expected him to be so large.
Just over two years had passed since Erick had left him as their protector; the endless infighting had left its marks, its scars on both his body and his soul. His mind felt like he had aged a thousand years passed fifteen. He needed to rest, he needed escape and peace. When this was over, and Ragnar was back; Varin would leave. Anika needed her brother, her family, and people capable of keeping that angelic smile on her face.
Varin was not fit to protect her.
*** Kate and Ragnar lay in absolute silence, what had been sweet words of affection between the pair had now halted, and with Bruni's last statement, Kate and Ragnar's breath hitched. Their eyes widened when they realized what he was about to do, and could do nothing but lie there as still as the dead as he told Eleanor about the contract.
