The Norse Vampire's Beloved

Chapter 2

After thanking the boys for walking her home, she steps into the home her and her father share. He is already home sitting at the table watching the stew as it boils. "Evening da" "Welcome home my wee bairn. How was your night? I hear there are English in the village." "Not a wee bairn anymore da but it was fine." she says smiling. " The English came in but Angus and Ewan were there to stop bad behavior before it got too bad." She answers back as she walks over to check the stew. Her father scowls "So they tried something then?" Turning to her father and placing her hand on his shoulder, "Tis fine da, one soldier just grabbed my wrist. Angus was quick to act, not letting them do anything else. The boys walked me home to make sure I made it." She says, sitting at the small table her father made for them.

Their home wasn't much, just a one-room hovel with a fireplace to keep warm and cook on. But it was large enough. They both had small beds on the opposite sides and the table was in the middle. It's a simple life, but at least they were warm and well fed. "So Angus and Ewan watch over you while you are there, aye? Perhaps a match with one would be a good thing?" "No, I am not interested in a match with either. They are like the brothers I never had." patting his hand, she got up and got the bowls for the stew, giving them both a helping. She sits back down to eat. They eat in a comfortable silence and then head off to bed for the night never knowing they are being watched.

In the morning, they wake up at dawn and start the day, heading off to the Blacksmith's shop. Morgan helps her father get the fires going for the forges. They work throughout the morning together. She keeps stoking the fires while he starts to make and repair the horse shoes and swords that need repairing. While they are working, the three Englishmen from the night before come in. Her father stops what he is doing and greets them "Morning, what can I do for you?" "We need the horses taken care of and the shoes checked, nodding he walks over, picking up the hooves and looking at them.

He calls out "Morgan, can you bring me over the shodding tool?" As she walks around the building, she spots them and continues to walk, saying "Oh look what we have here. The bar wench" Rolling her eyes to herself, she takes the tool over "Here da do you need anything else? If not, I'm going to head to do some other things." Nodding, he says "No you can go" "In a hurry to leave love?" one of the soldiers says, snickering. Her father stands to his full height looking at the three soldiers standing there. Duncan is close to 6' tall and not by any means a small man. He has a very large upper body from wielding a hammer all day with bright red hair that has braids in it. "That's my daughter and we watch out for our own here. You wont be bothering her" he says, looking at them as the sneers and snickers leave their faces. The soldier from the night before steps up "Well, we are soldiers of the crown. You wont dare do anything stupid". Duncan stepped up to him, looking down at this scrawny man. He could probably snap like a twig. "You keep your hands to yourself and we wont have any problems, but I will warn you, touch my daughter or any of our women and it wont be a nice stay here" he says gruffly, before turning away from them.

Morgan looked at her father. He nods to her and she turns, heading back into the village. The three soldiers watch her walk off as they talk among themselves. "We will return later for the horses" they say as they walk off in a slightly different direction than the one Morgan went. Duncan watches them as they walk off trying to make sure they don't follow his precious daughter, knowing his temper may have made her more of a target. He frowns to himself as he continues to work on the horses' feet. He was so lost in his thoughts and worry he didn't hear the two men who stepped up beside him until one cleared his throat. Looking up, he sees two men who are obviously not from around there.

One is taller than Duncan, standing near 6'2" with his long dark blond hair pulled back in braids, well built, wearing leathers and a loin cloth. The other man is smaller in stature, around 5'10" and a lean build. His long dark hair is also pulled back in braids, and he wears very similar clothing.

"Good Morn", Duncan greeted them, standing back up and dropping the horses' hoof. "Good Morning" the man answers with an accent he cant place "What can I do for ye" The taller of the two men pull a broadsword from his back "I need this fixed if your able" Nodding Duncan takes the sword from him looking at the damage "Aye I can but i need to take care of these horses first so we can get these English men out of our clan quickly" "Thats fine we need a meal and some rest anyways. I'm Axel and this is Ebbe we are just passing through." "I'm Duncan" he says, extending his hand "The pub is that way" he says, pointing, "they make a good stew and the pints aren't bad either. I will try and get this back to you before night fall" nodding, the men started to walk off in the direction he pointed. Duncan takes the sword in and hangs it on a hook and returns to the horses.