Viking's Desire: Sexy-Romance Novel: A Viking Love Story (3 page)

Chapter
6

The day awoke sunny.  The air was as crisp as a summer apple and Eriik breathed it in deeply, almost being able to taste it.  It invigorated his senses and strengthened his purpose. 

The men were stirring
and in barely a moment, they were ready.  They gathered around him and started the walk in their battle formation toward the castle.  Eriik, in front, stood firm.

“Lord of the Castle.  Listen and live
, you and
your people.  Your fortress will not stand another day.  Submit to our demands and your citadel will not be crushed, your women will not be taken, your men will not be beheaded and your castle will not be occupied.  Give us your treasure willingly and go about your business in peace.”

Lord Devo
rn appeared at the top of the wall, looking sheepish as his voice shook, “Never, as long as I live.” 

Eriik’s voice was strong as he
shrugged, “I’m afraid Lord, that will not be long.”

Eriik pointed to the fortress and the
men with the ram took their place.  The battle started again, but with pleasure, the Norsemen noticed there was no oil showering down upon them this day.  The castle’s archers were still busy but it seemed each day they were fewer and the Norsemen’s archers were still strong in number and aim. 

Each time the ram struck, the gate
s groaned and shuttered.  They were starting to open the slightest bit in the mid-section.  It shouldn’t be long now. 

Inside the fortress, the able-bodie
d, fighting men, were armed and at the ready, just waiting now for the inevitable.  Lillian stood at the top of the stairs and wept.  She caught her father’s eye as she started to descend the steps and she knew he was telling her not to come down under any circumstances.  She obeyed.

The ram
made its final surge and the gates crumpled.  The Norseman exploded inside the walls of the fortress that all inside had thought would protect them and their families.  It looked like a certain bloodbath but Eriik shouted in a full and strong voice, “Stop, everyone now!”  For some reason, not only did his men honor the command but everyone in the castle did so as well.  Perhaps they thought this could save their lives and most of them looked on with hope. 

Eriik spoke again in a voice that
was definitely in charge.

“Lord, do you see these warriors.  They have stopped only because I commanded them to.  They are ready to slaughter everyone in here.  Is that what you want?  Are your possessions worth your lives?  I say nay!”  Again and for the last time, I offer you your lives for the treasures of this fortress.  Give them up willingly and we will return home and leave you in peace.  This is fair!”

Lord Frederick hung his head, looked around at his people, terrified, and sorrowfully shook his head yes. 

“Lord
of the castle, I will hear your answer!”

Frederick looked
at Eriik, Jarl of Jaedon in the eye and said quietly, “Yes, I agree to your terms.”

A few of the English fighting men cried out, “No!”

Eriik raised his sword, “Don’t tempt these men.  They are the best warriors in the world.  You will be slaughtered if you try us.”

“I agree, I have no doubt of what you say.”
  Frederick whispered.  “Everyone will hand over their weapons.”  He gave a stern look, especially to the young, hardy men of the group.

The disarmament went on and Eriik and his men
stayed, keeping the remaining men on watch outside, waiting.  Any sign of a problem and they would swoop down on the fortress, bringing unbelievable horror upon the Saxons. 

At the removal of every weapon and
most of the treasure from the walls of the castle, being safely ensconced in the Viking camp, Lord Devorn asked Eriik, “Now will you remove your henchmen from my land?”

Eriik thought for several moments
with thoughts of the lady running through his head.  He knew he was about to insist on a very bad stipulation but he couldn’t stop himself, “Only after we dine, here, tonight, with you and your family.”

If a look could kill, the look on Lord Devo
rn’s face would have struck Eriik Thorennson dead in his tracks.

“
My God man, are you mad?”

“Possibly, but my demand still stands.”

Frederick shook his head in defeat once more, “Give me your word that you will return to your camp immediately after, leave my land, and never return!”

Eriik lifted his eyebrow in a jaunty manner, “I will give you my word never to return to
your
land.”

Eriik and all of his men laughed until their faces were red
, “We will see you at dinner.”

Some of the
Norsemen returned to camp with the remainder of their plunder, congratulating themselves on their success and rested in shifts until time for dinner.

Bjorn looked
at Eriik with a look of concern, “Why in Odin’s name demand dinner with these Saxons?”

“I’m hungry.”
  Eriik laughed.

Bjorn just shook his head.
  “This I will never understand.”

“Well, they can’t fight worth a damn, I thought maybe they could cook.”  He grinned.

As dusk drew near, Eriik and the men going to dinner approached the castle carefully.  Some men had been guarding the bastion all day, but caution was always the way.  They were shown in with forced hospitality and seated at a long table.  The family arrived but he did not see the young lady he was looking for. 

“Excuse me Lord, but I do not see
everyone.”

“I am here
, my wife is here.”

“I am looking for a particular young lady, fair of skin with long, dark hair.  She looks out of the tower most days.”

“My daughter?”  Frederick exploded.

“
Then, lord, your daughter is not here.”

Frederick stuttered, “My good man
…

“
You are misinformed, my good man,” he said sarcastically, “You’ll find nothing good here, but for the last time, I asked you where your daughter is.”

Frederick was so red in the face, the
servants thought he might pass out of this world and on to the next, but through clenched teeth, he told Gertrude to fetch Lillian straight away.

Eriik told the servants to hold the food until the
lady arrived.  They looked to Frederick and he nodded. 

When Lillian arrived, Eriik rose, none too gently moved
the man beside him, who held himself like a strutting peacock, out of the way, and seated Lillian beside him.

She was so surprised that for a moment she thought she might
trip and fall onto the table. “
What an entrance that would be
,” she thought to herself and smiled.

Eriik wondered what had put such a beautiful smile on her radiant face but didn’t care much as long as she was here and
alongside him for dinner.  All the days he had watched her couldn’t have prepared him for how stunning she was.  He had imagined her so many times in his mind’s eye but he was ill equipped for the real lady.  He was caught quite unaware.

Lillian
had watched this man so many times, but being next to him was something completely different.  Watching him from afar was nothing to compare to seeing him up close.  He was amazing.  He was so tall and, mesmerizing.  His thick, long, glorious hair framed his face, causing his blazing blue eyes to stand out even more.  He had hard corded muscles over every inch of his body.  Even the knights she had seen weren’t his equal.  His arms were so muscular that she couldn’t imagine him being able to maneuver something as delicate as a fork.  He had a band on each arm, outlining the taught muscles there. She was waiting for him to attack his food like an animal, but surprisingly, he ate quite civilized.  She knew she was staring, but couldn’t help herself.  She knew she should hate this man with everything in her heart and soul but still could only manage to gawk at him.

Eriik
knew she was staring at him because he was staring right back at her.  He was sure she hated him with a blind fury, but all he could think about was the most alluring emerald green eyes he had ever seen and how it accented her beautiful long dark hair.  It flowed down her back forcing one to notice how her back narrowed into a very graceful waist and shapely ass, just as he had imagined it would be, staring at her in the tower all those days.  Oh yes, he would definitely like to bury himself in between those thighs.  He could only imagine how beautiful they would be. 

After a rather uncomfortable silence, they started an awkward conversation at first, which blossomed into quite an interesting one
, which surprised Eriik.  He couldn’t imagine she would even talk to him.  Lillian was a curious girl and couldn’t get enough information about this gorgeous man from a land afar, especially how he learned to speak English, and Eriik couldn’t get enough of telling her.  After all, he could look at her while he was talking and that’s exactly where he wanted to be and what he wanted to do.  His men couldn’t help but notice what an idiot Eriik was being over this Saxon wench.  They couldn’t believe it.  Usually women threw themselves at
him
.  He was the one who besotted the lasses and he could pick and choose, never interested very long after tossing up their skirts.

Eriik could tell that
the man he moved was seething at his place at the table.  Every time Lillian or Eriik would laugh, he could see the look of rage on his face as if he wanted to punch Eriik in the face.  He would have loved to return the favor if he tried.  Finally he guessed this peacock would have no more of it as he strode across the room and leaned in between Lillian and Eriik. 

“Excuse me, sir
, and I use the term loosely.” He smiled an evil smile.  “I am Lord Simon Montfort and you are cavorting around with my intended and I won’t have it for another second!”

Eriik smiled widely, “Intended what?”

Lillian could hardly keep herself from smiling.

“You simpleton, intended wife.  We are engaged to be wed.”

Eriik’s eyes glazed over and he seemed to slip into a trance for an instant before he spoke again. “Well that is indeed unfortunate.”

“Why is that?  What in the world business
is it of yours?”

Eriik arose and raised his chalice,
“Lord and Lady, I’m afraid I have one more demand and it is non-negotiable.”

Frederick
looked truly defeated, “What could you possible ask of us now?”

“Yes, just one more
small requirement and you will be rid of me and my men forever.  He paused then stated sternly, “Your daughter must accompany me when we leave tomorrow.”

He translated the demand for his men.

An audible gasp came from the residents in the castle along with his own men, the biggest from across the room from his best friend.

“
What?”  Bjorn swung around to face him.  “What the hell do we need with a bawling princess?  “By the gods, have you gone out of your bleeding mind?  What can you possibly be thinking? I can’t believe what I’m hearing.” 

Lillian couldn’t either.  Leave
her home, her parents.  Go with a complete stranger.  Go where?  To a foreign land among strange people and be a prisoner there?  All this seemed impossible.  Her father couldn’t possibly allow this.  He couldn’t, he wouldn’t!  Why was life so difficult, especially for a woman.  Why couldn’t a woman decide for herself what she would do and where she would go.  She bolted from the table without excusing herself and ran for her suite.  If Mother was upset with her manners, then so be it.

Eriik watched her go and felt for her, but couldn’t help himself.  He wanted her.  He
would have her. 

Frederick couldn’t believe his ears.  This heathen was going to take his little girl?  He
had been watching her all evening.  She had talked with him, smiled at him, even laughed with him.  But go away with him?  He and his men had just laid siege to their castle and stolen most everything of value in it.  That was intolerable!  But the alternative, wed to Lord Montfort.  Yes, his wife thought they needed him for political reasons but he knew that he was a cruel and manipulative man.  What kind of man was this Norseman?  Was he a demon, as everyone said? 

The whole time he was lost in thought,
this Lord Thorennson seemed to be waiting for something, watching him.  Frederick came out of his reverie and noticed the Norseman looking at him.

“
I understand that your men can and probably
will
kill everyone here at your command if I say no, and you will probably do just that, but I must tell you I cannot hand her over to a stranger, an enemy at that, to take her to a foreign land against her wishes.  What do you say to that?”

“I do not have an answer.  You must talk with her and at dawn tomorrow I will come for her.  If you do not hand her over to me, my decision will be made then.”

Eriik strode out with commanding strides and his men followed, amazed at what had just taken place and completely confused at their leader’s actions.  No one said a word.