Viking's Promised (A Love Story)

Chapter One

Oh, little one, talk to me.

Don't be afraid, we'll be out of this nightmare soon, you'll see.

Did it ever cross your thoughts that everything you treasured could be ripped away?

Did you ever think about the less fortunate that are in your place every day

Chapter One

People ran for their lives as men approached the docks, they had killed off the ships that patrolled for our safety, it was a brutal sight to witness. But again, did Norse men ever were not brutal? Never. Two strong men took a hold of a seventeen year old's arm as one of them flung her over his shoulder retreating back to his ship tossing her hysterical self inside, sending a glare her way when she showed any sign of reluctance or rebellion. Onlookers stood passive, unable to move...too afraid for their lives.

Near the docks had the main sitting rooms for men which weren't robbed since Norse men had no use of English money or wealth at that case but they were here to prove a point, to show superiority. People were ripped off their precious treasures by men who had mastered monstrosity. Husbands and brothers were shot dead, wives and sisters cried for their beloved ones. Little children cried for their mamas and papas while young men died protecting us.

Was it all her fault?

She ran away, far from the brutality that was being committed, did they not have hearts? Who were these men? Tears slipped endlessly down her cheeks, could she change this? She had no choice, a Kingdom once happily enjoyed the blooms of spring was being slaughtered and colored red? No! No! This won't happen! This will not do! These people were her family, her Kingdom, her home, her land and her responsibility! She shall save them!

Her brothers told her to never fear, her mother told her to be courageous and kind while her papa told her to be herself, to follow the light that was sheathed in her heart. She possessed purity, she possessed so much of good that no man was yet born to deserve her, she was far too good, too pure and innocent.

Wiping off the tears from her face she turned to meet her maid, a woman who had just been almost assaulted, her skirt had been ripped open and if she hadn't come in time, this poor woman would have lost the babe growing inside of her. She shook her head, how could she be as heartless to send her for work in the condition she fared?

No, she must go herself and she must hurry.

She was ready to be the lamb of sacrifice, she was ready as her small hands made fists into her green skirt and natural almost orange tresses waved in the air, her heart was of maybe a deer's? Running for life, scared, did she ever thought about the deer that hunters brought back as dinner? She certainly could imagine but this was no deer and hunter situation since she was herself running to her destruction. Her hunter.

The monstrous viking king who wreaked havoc on her peaceful home, if she doesn't stops this, he might advance his army towards their lands! The peasantry people on the docks were unfortunate for not much harm could be done there. She had swore upon Jesus that she would avenge her people.

Arriving at the dining hall's door she straightened her posture and fixed her disheveled appearance. Her eyes were bloodshot, lips red from biting them too hard to control her raging emotions. The guard shot her a sympathetic look she welcomed, for yes her fate was sealed and so God help her. The doors opened and with a few steady steps she walked right in, no one will ever change this posture for she was the Lady of the Castle.

She was a royal noble, she was Lady Elise Katrina of Cheshire. Thorkel, his men and her family sat on the huge table, Norse men feasted like animals, she thought scrunching her nose in disgust. They had no manners. Beasts!

"Lady Elise, I hope you bring us positive news." One of the main Vikings, the Jarl's brother yelled from afar. Elise was containing her anger towards these beastly monsters, they were cheering and laughing as if nothing was happening outside.

Outside, her lands, at that thought her feet took her near her father's chair where she stood by his side and 3 feet far from the Jarl who was sitting on her father's head chair, how dare he? He didn't deserve the respect of a head leader. Sighing she spoke those dooming words, "I will marry your Jarl on 3 conditions." She announced out loud for all the 10 men to hear, her confidence was radiating off her. For she feared no one but God.

"Lady Elise you have no choice in this matter, you must marry our Jarl if you value your kingdom's safety." Her head jerked up to look at Aaron, the Jarl's brother.

He was smirking mockingly, he must be jesting with her if he thought that he could cower her down! No one could manipulate her! She had her fingers entwined on her belly, gritting her teeth she tried to calm her nerves. She had no time. "This is between me and your Jarl so please keep your nose in your own business, brother." She gave him her sweet smile which was enough to weaken anyone, Aaron just looked at her admiring her guts, that smile had rendered thousands speechless, the other viking's laughed at her insult while the Jarl fumed.

"What gives you the right to talk to my brother that way?" His voice was calm but his patience, that was slowly slipping away from his grip.

Elise scoffed, she couldn't believe this man! Right? What right he had to get women raped, kill men, make children orphans! He had no right to talk about rights. A few tears rolled down her cheeks, "My lord, what right did you have to raid our home? Make the children of our lands orphans? Rape our young women? Steal our valuables?" Her voice was faltering by the second, she had to be quick. The Jarl had no time for this, he couldn't explain this, this was how it worked for them, had been for ages. She couldn't change it, she was in a land of dreams if she could emotionally soften his heart.

"I'll grant you your wishes not because you demand them but because you are my soon to be my wife. Ask for what you wish." His face was drawing a frown and his hands shook, this woman....

"My lord, I would like to speak to you in private." Elise was well aware it was not very proper but she needed to get this over with for her family and kingdom, the table went silent as the chair creaked the floor and a large figure loomed over her, he was intimidating but he didn't scare her. "Well, come." She was pulled out of of her train of thoughts and she looked up to see a very annoyed mountain, yes she felt like a newborn babe compared to him.

She nodded before swiftly walking out the dining chambers. Thorkel's large strides kept up with her small figure, he kept following the little vixen who had driven him mad with desire, annoyance and most importantly anger. The stiffness in his breeches wasn't yet visible but he must take care of that business soon. Her orange hair, those soft silky shining hair, he had never seen something like that before, upon entering the castle his eyes had landed on her and his breath had left his lungs, his men had their jaws on the tiles too.

They had never seen such beauty in their whole lifetime, those beautiful hair were unique, he shook his head, it wasn't long before the same hair would be his to touch, he smiled at the thought, his body itching.

Elise stepped into the balcony which provided a good view of the destruction, she turned around and spotted the bored looking Jarl. "My lord, please stop this destruction and I will marry you and do whatever you say." She pleaded, she couldn't stand it anymore. Tears flowed and she didn't wipe them, it was too much, this won't do. She was ready to give herself up.

Thorkel stood there stunned, did she came here for she didn't want to cry in front of many men? Was her pride holding her back? Most probably, there was this tug at his heart at the sight, her shaking body and plump lips. His chest tightened and throat went dry. She agreed for anything, anything. "Your conditions?" He wondered, stepping closer to her, his hands itched for her softness, damn Odin.

She looked up at him with that helpless look in her eyes, "Can I ask you a question?" Thorkel nodded, "If you marry me and then if by any chance a raid happens on your lands and some man comes and rapes me-," before she could make any sense the Jarl took her by the waist and growled in a animalistic way. "Don't you ever speak those words, Understood?" He roared, his eyes were red and his body shook, she was his and no one touches what's his.

Elise was taken aback by the intrusion but kept silent, she needed to tell him that those women outside have husbands and lovers too, pushing him back she stepped backwards, keeping a respectable distance, "What if someone rapes me now? I am not married to you yet, am I? What if we ever have a....child? What if someone kills me or...you? What would happen to him? What if your brother dies? What if people of your village are raped, stolen from, killed? Would you like that?" She sobbed with hiccups not able to voice her thoughts anymore, holding the banister for life, she cried for her people, their cries of help and pain shredded her heart to pieces, she kept murmuring 'please, please, please,' she was pleading for him to stop his brutality. She couldn't take it anymore.

Thorkel had not been speechless like this before, this woman had made him remind his worst fears, their child....her...He would die before harm came their way. She truly cared for her people. His brother? He loved him and wont bare these types of losses. He had thought survival is not for the weak but this woman and her cries weren't weakness, it was strength, she was strong he could see. He wanted nothing more than to make her tears stop, he wasn't weak but enough damage had done, if he didn't wanted his wife to hate him forever he must cease this. She said he'd be his, what else did he want?

Elise hoped for him to soften his stone cold heart but his silence was making making her realize her words had no effect, how would she save her people? How?

She prayed to God, she begged for a way. Her whole body froze at a child's cry, please don't let it be, spinning around she looked down to see the raiders approaching the village, those burly men determined to murder and rape. She soon spotted a child not more than eight summers being the victim of a Vikings beating, oh dear lord he wouldn't make it. Overpowered by fury and hate she ran out the balcony, Thorkel hot on her heels, not caring about anyone she ran with the most unladylike manner but she didn't care, she would save that child.

Thorkel naught knew what she saw that made her run like a lioness, he had opened his mouth to answer her but she was long gone, his feet took him towards the banister as he spotted his men victimizing the village, this was too much, the village was not in his plans, no killing was the rule, no one would die, his men needed to know, "STOP THIS INSTANCE!" His warrior roar echoed throughout the kingdom, Elise was running out the castle gates when she heard it but she thought her ears had played trickery because of her desperation, after all she was in great despair.

Thorkel might be merciless but he won't attack people who would surrender, he had always provided a chance. It was tradition.

Naught mattered the slashes and cuts in her feet, naught mattered her dirty dress, she wouldn't let that child's life end, she won't, she ran more faster if that was even humanly possible. Upon spotting the monster who was about to scar the young lad for life she ran to come between them, she would die but not this boy. She was well aware that her fate was in God's hands and as she shielded the poor boy she awaited the sharp pain but in this chaos she could only hear a warrior's cry of pain, what had happened?

Thorkel ran behind his bride, he didn't want her in this havoc he didn't wanted her to witness this at all. He had followed after her but she was way ahead, with his furious speed he had reached her in time, his frame trembled with rage as he spotted Hauor about to inflict his chain's wrath on his wife who had her back towards him, she was protecting the boy...without further due he took him by the neck and threw him away, "STOP THIS! WE ARE DONE HERE! GET ON YOUR SHIPS AND HORSES! FREE THE SLAVES AND LEAVE ANYTHING YOU HAVE OF THIS LAND BACK TO IT'S PLACE!" His authority stood out between 100 men, they all shivered, fearing their future, the king had instructed to stop them yet they still hadn't stopped, his wrath would soon unravel. What was more surprising? His orders, freeing the slaves and leaving the valuables? This raid was useless then, a warrior came out and protested, "King Ragnavaldson, non sense! We raided, we shall take da women and treasure, aye!" He yelled and looked around for any support, he got none, many rebels like him came and went but what the King says? Happens. "Are you denying my command, Svarti?" The calm tone of his hinted a violent storm, the bulky man gulped harshly.

"Stating the truth is all." To his mistake, those were the wrong words. "Very well, Aku? Take these both men," the Jarl pointed at Odir, Hauor, Svarti. "Tie them up, flog them to death. Anyone else who wants to refuse my command, gladly bring them to the gallows." He finished giving his warrior's a once over, their heads lowered no one even twitched. "Aye king," with that they all retrieved their belongings and headed back to their ships, knowing that if they even touched a hair of someone's head, their heads won't be on their bodies no more.

Elise could only stare, he had stopped the raid, happy tears rolled down her cheek, the boy had ran to his mother after pecking her cheek, it was all well but she still needed to tend to the families who had lost their providers, their men, the women. She must hurry, she had to make it alright.

She tried to get up but fell twice much harder on her rump wincing. A hand reached out for her and even though she wanted to make no physical contact with her husband to be, she had to get up, taking his larger hand she was pulled up.

"Are ye alright?" He asked, checking for any serious injury. She shook her head and snatched her hand away, turning away she started sprinting towards the healers. Where were they? His touch has burned her, it was tingly, it meant he had burned her! "Elise come back right here!" The command had her rooted, just like those bastard warriors. What was about his voice, it was....powerful like no other.

He approached her, he was done being nice, he wanted off these lands, he wanted her along and this time as his wife. Taking her by the wrist he turned her around to face him, steadying his erratic heart beat which had increased as he was loosing control he spoke, "State your wishes, we are to marry soon and we will be off these lands in 15 hours, speak up, woman!" He had lost his patience, Elise directed her gaze up, she was afraid she couldn't hold it off anymore, her fate was indeed sealed. "Your men raped those women, they must marry them for they stole their virtue." She spoke with such loathe lacing her voice, she valued her maidenhood. If these Vikings thought coming here and raping, pillaging would cost them nothing? They were wrong. She would make sure no harm would come to the girls for she would be with them. Thorkel just stared at her not believing his ears, then he laughed.

A full blown laughter, "Are ye mad woman?" He inquired, Elise found no humor in her statement, it was serious, "No, are you mad my lord? I am serious! Would you like your wife to be unpure?" She seethed, at this all the humor in his eyes drained, the darkness of his eyes made even earth flinch, "Don't you dare..." He warned, after thinking a moment he considered it, his warriors would come home to a warm bed and a wife, nothing to be distraught about. "Fine, next wish, princess?" He said in mockery, Elise ignored it. The next request would not suit well with him, "My...purity..stays with me as long as I deem appropriate." Tilting her chin upwards she showed bravery, fearless emotions. This time Thorkel really had enough, he could have his way with her now, on this ground if he wished.

"You are my responsibility and from now on wards I will make sure to protect you but you shall not forget I own you, you will do as I say and please me whenever I want you to, be done with these childish requests. Are we clear, wife?" His voice held that strong determination which made Elise confirm he was not jesting around with her but she was not raised to be a victim of a man's vile words which had double meanings she didn't understand. He had no right to treat her like a dog, demanding her of things. Gathering her skirts, tilting her chin high she walked with such grace, as if a she-wolf was about to pounce on the attacker of her cubs. She stopped before declaring a challenge that if not won would hurt this Jarl's pride.

"I am not your slave, my lord. I will please you when I want to which is probably never so I wouldn't get my hopes up, and for yer knowledge I can protect myself and never think of me as one of those whores you appoint at nights to satisfy your beastly desires. I will give my soul, my body, my affection, my love and care for the one I think worthy! For I don't care if you are the Viking Jarl because I am your wife but just to say. This is a marriage of haste and force, a coward like you left me with no choice or God help me if I ever see you use your husbandly privileges or advances towards me I will not hesitate to protect my virtue if that includes me putting an arrow through you."

Every word was a blow penetrative enough to wound the Viking King's pride but he wasn't the beastly Viking for no reason, this woman needed to know her place and once he was safely off the blasted English lands her punishment would come and he would like to be alone for that, for now he smirked....A evil glint shimmering in his eyes. She would be his.

Elise in her bewilderment fled away trying to control her anger. She was not his.

The Jarl stood there thinking this petite baby soft skinned women was his and oh how he would possess her. Time would come. Following behind her he wished to know the third damned wish of hers, he spun her around again and this time she pounded her fists on his chest which he effortlessly blocked. "Easy there wife, you would hurt your small little knuckles, my sweet.." He whispered softly, mocking her again, "You oaf, you brute, you insufferable monster, I hope you die, ugh, beast! " She spoke every bad word she knew to offend him but but he just laughed blocking her hits, she had never been this frustrated!

"State your last 1 wish then hear what I have to say." His voice took a turn and changed into a tone of seriousness, Elise stopped and tried to get out his grip while he tightened it further more. Heaving a sigh of irritation she began, "I wont be treated as a slave and I won't be lower than any woman there, I will be your equal, if I am to be your queen."

Her pride talked for her, Thorkel was both amused and shocked, never had he seen such a woman, she wanted respect and a part of him knew she deserved it, she had been so willing to sacrifice for her people, she would make a magnificent queen by his side. "I grant you your wishes but if you want respect I demand it too, I won't have you disrespecting me In front of my people, your virtue is mine and as your husband it's my full right upon it but for your sake I will give you till winter's time, 1 month, that's my offer, if you do not accept this then I won't hesitate to show your place," He whispered onto her lips, making her shiver, she nodded dumbfounded. What was this man doing to her? She wouldn't give into him this easy.

She wouldn't give in at all.

"It's settled, come on. Let's get married, I have wasted enough time as it is."

As his nails dug into her waist she winced, "One more thing, wife. If you try to escape me this deal is over, I will make you suffer to the point you beg for me to release you. I will not hesitate....," He brought her to him, she gasped and went to slap him, how dare he use these vulgar words! They were naught married yet, she was not to let him speak such improper sentences! "Don't make that mistake, or you'll suffer greatly! " He warned as he squeezed her arm which was midair, "I will hate you, forever." She swore, he just snickered, he had saved her and gave into his wishes but she didn't feel gratitude.

She felt appalled, repulsed and all these negatively wrong feelings. Hate being the most powerful. "Do you wish me to flung you over my shoulder or ye will walk?" Thorkel raised his eyebrow as she denied to answer him, "Very well, wife." Hooking his arms under her knee he easily swept her small fragile body off the floor, Elise began pounding at his back as she yelled unladylike profanities, cursing him to hell and he just laughed, he had never been so amused by a woman, no woman had ever driven him this speechless, crazy, he had never been denied by a woman either, they were all wanton, even the when who still possessed their innocence. It would be a time where she would be his

"I will not let you manhandle me you brute! I'll kill you!" Her tiny fists could not inflict any pain, "Oh how should I handle you, my sweet?" He huskily whispered into her waist, his warmth hitting her through the cloth, her mouth hit the floor, This. Man. Will. Regret. It. Bringing her legs to ready, she thrust them forward where his tender flesh belonged, but before any contact he captured them, "I will never let you see my skin you ogre! Donkey! Bastard! Crazy daft fool!" She yelled at the top of of her lungs, his laughter was one of such joy, oh how he would like to tame her.

His thoughts were haunted by her green eyes, creamy soft skin and that beautiful face.

When she had been tired and her dry throat allowed no more yelling she dug her nails into his back, no effect! This man was made of steel!

He had slapped her derriere on purpose to bring her into action again, outraged and with new strength she began again and he made sure to enjoy every second.

It wouldn't last long, at all.

~