I've Been Waiting for You (2 page)

Thor pushed away from the great table and jumped down off the bench. He went and stood next to his Mama and the great
King. “Yes, sire?”

Thor stood and waited but wasn’t frightened. The
King smiled, laughed his deep, rumbly laugh and lifted him up. “While I’m here, would you like me and your uncles to teach you how to ride a horse? We will pick out a gentle horse that is to be yours. I remember my first horse, given to me by my brother,” the High King looked away, a wistful look crossing his face, then turning his attention back to the young boy.

Thor looked at the
King, “Yes, very much.”

The
King put him down, patted his shoulder and looked directly into his eyes. “Then we will start teaching you while we are here, son. Just promise me to always listen to your dear Mama here and protect her if ever comes the time, lay down your life for her if need be.”

Thor looked up at the
King and then at the only mother he had ever known. “Yes, always.”

* * * * * * * *

Slaine was directing the servants on where people would sleep, when a commotion could be heard from outside. All the men were up and swords were drawn. The servants scurried to the corners and Slaine took the sleeping babe from the maid and pulled Thor to her skirts. Thor pushed himself away and went and stood with the men. Donnchad, seeing the little boy standing with the King, knelt down. “Here is my dagger, son, you are to defend your Mama.”

All eyes turned as the Man-at-Arms came rushing in. Shock on his face as he was met by a roomful of men with swords drawn.
Kneeling low, “Sire, King Cormac O’Heachthanna, Queen Elsabet, and their son Prince Colum, have arrived along with servants and their men.”

The King
sheathed his sword and smiled at his sons. “Lucky for them that they are on our side, they live to see another day.”

Colum walked a few paces behind his father. Their
Men-at-Arms walked behind them. Elsabet, Colum’s mother held his arm. They walked into the great hall of Bunratty Castle and were met by most of the men still holding their swords. Colum had his sword out in lightning speed and pushed his mother back. He heard her hiss as she also drew her sword.

Slaine had heard of this Prince and his father, bigger than any man ever to live. They were giants. In they walked into their great room.

King Brian stepped forward quickly and heard a curse from his son. “Silence and sheath your swords, men. King Cormac and his son come in peace and to help, not to slay us.”

The
High King walked up to the visiting King first, and then his son. Then he turned to Elsabet, who stood so still Slaine thought for a moment she had become a statue. “Cormac, Colum, come sit by the fire and warm yourselves.”

He bent and kissed the hand the
Queen Elsabet. Slaine saw a smile spread on her lips. “Too bad you aren’t one of us Brian.”

Slaine wondered at that odd comment
, and at her father’s reply in the old language. Slaine pushed those thoughts aside, though, and instantly warmed to the woman who appeared to be as old as her father, but still so beautiful.

The
Queen, Elsabet, turned towards the High King’s daughter. “Slaine, I have heard so much about you,” she said as she looked at the High King’s youngest daughter.

Slaine curtsied deep in front of the
Queen. “I have heard much of you as well. But what did you mean a moment ago, if only my father were like you?”

Elsabet laughed her laugh that could disarm the most hardened warrior. “Ah dear
, that is for another time.” Taking Slaine’s hand she turned towards her son. “Slaine, let me present my son Prince, Colum O’Heachthanna.”

Slaine curtsied deep
ly in front of the giant warrior. His hair was as black as a raven. When she looked into his eyes, she saw that they were an odd color, almost a red brown. But as she stared into his face, they seemed to change to a dark purple. She felt her hand taken in his massive one, as she stood up, he brought her hand to his lips.

“It’s my pleasure
, for certain. Maybe you will introduce me to your brave little warrior, who at this moment stands ready to slay the first one who advances on you.”

Slaine glanced down at Thor. “Son, it’s safe, we are safe. They are friends
, not foes.”

Thor glanced up into the eyes of the giant who stood in front of him and wondered how anyone that big could be nice.

Colum got down on his haunches. “Son, on my honor I will never harm your mother. Do you believe me?”

Thor’s stare never flinched. “I don’t know you well enough to believe you but if I am around you enough maybe I will learn to trust you
.”

Colum smiled at the young boy who was being so brave for his beautiful mother.
“Fair enough, son. Now, would you take my hound here, and her pup, and find her a bone. She loves to curl up by the fire and have her belly scratched after a long day.”

Thor looked at the wolfhound that towered over him.
She stood at attention near her master. The pup that was under its mother’s belly saw the look as an invite and hurled itself at Thor. Thor was flat on his back, laughing and trying to push the young pup off him. “I don’t need a bath. I had one a week ago.”

Colum then turned back,
looking at Slaine. “I would say the pup has a new owner.”

Colum stood and took Slaine’s hand again. “Will you do me the honor of sitting by the fire and telling me about your family, I see you have a wee one
.”

Slaine looked down at her baby
who had woken up and stared in wide eyed wonder at the man who stood in front of him.

Slaine tried to turn her son but the little one buried his face in his mother’s breast
, as if for comfort.

Colum knew his size was a bit
intimidating for children. Until they got used to him, they seemed to be frightened and intimidated. Thor seemed to accept Colum, but the little one who pulled back Slaine’s bodice, started to suckle, stared up at him in wide eyed fascination from his safe haven.

Slaine smiled up at Colum. She motioned for servant to get more seats around the roaring fire and food and drink to be brought in. Sleeping pallets were moved aside. Sleep would be very late coming tonight.

“Come we will sit and you can rest yourself.”

The
High King sat with Cormac and Elsabet. “It would appear that your son has found a possible wife in my daughter Slaine?”

Elsabet smiled
, “Ever the matchmaker Brian.”

Cormac took his wife’s hand, smiling at her remark. “Nothing would make us happier than to have a union of two great families.”

* * * * * * * *

Slaine woke up to her maid’s bustling around her room. Thor was up and laughing at Olaf’s antics. The two boys were so much alike
, and Slaine smiled as she crawled out of her bed. She was the only one who had a real bed in the castle. A proper bed, of such a size that no one could believe, had been delivered a fortnight before. That was after the arrangements had been made for her marriage to Colum. Gifts of every kind had continued pouring in. In return, her brothers had sent one hundred and forty horses to Colum’s parents. She had slapped Donnchad when he’d said, “That’s an awful stiff price, even for you sister.” In reality, Colum had asked for nothing. His father, who ruled over the Ring of Kerry and the west, had said that he was just happy to finally have the two great families together, at last.

Slaine was to travel after the Holy
Week, but from rumors, it sounded like she would no sooner be wed than all the men, including her father, brothers and new husband would be leaving for Dublin to squelch the rebellion which had been building.

The Humvee picked up speed and flew over small hills as it headed back to the base. Inside was a crew of four.

Thor looked over at his brother
, Odin, who was looking over a map. Brent and Justin were in the back arguing, as they always did after a mission. Too much energy and not enough to destroy. Thor always thought they would make perfect vampires, since they already had an inner need for blood.

Odin yelled
to the back, “Would you guys shut up. I can’t concentrate. I’m trying to find the coordinates to where we heard those bastards were hidden. It’s right about...”

Their vehicle went over a slight rise, came down and then it was
launched after a deafening boom, the explosion hurling the Humvee into the air. They flipped over too many times for Odin to keep track of. The explosion had been on the driver’s side. He saw his brother’s closed eyes. As they came crashing down the last time, he saw Thor’s eyes open fast and wide. They both yelled each other’s names and then Brent and Justin’s. No sound came from the back.

Odin unbuckled and slammed his fist through the
window. He was on the radio for help then sent out a beacon for the family to find them. One way or another he was going to get everyone out of here in one piece. As he crawled out the window, he heard Thor scream in rage. Grabbing his M16 at the same time he was unbuckling his Glock, he turned and saw Thor dragging his body out his side. He was covered with blood but with a quick assessment he knew, just from sight, his brother would be healing quickly. Giving a quick scan, he didn’t see anyone around, but that didn’t mean anything. He punched the window to the back door, grabbed the handle and gave the door a vicious yank, taking the whole thing off. He checked Brent’s pulse. He was still among the living, just knocked out. He climbed over him and saw Justin looking up.

“Sir, do you think we will get back?”

Odin looked down and saw that part of one leg was blown open. At the rate Justin was bleeding, he would bleed out soon. “We are going to get out of here, I promise you.” His mouth watered as he viewed his friend’s leg blown open, blood flowing like a river. He pushed the thoughts and urges back. Now was not the time.

“I don’t know
, I can’t feel anything,” Justin said, his eyes closing and then opening.

Odin had never had to change anyone
but knew this was the moment he should do it, if he was ever going to.

“Justin, listen buddy, I can guarantee I can get you out of here, will you trust me?”

“Anything, sir,” was his faint reply.

Odin felt his brother
’s eyes burn into him as he sank his fangs into Justin’s neck.

Thor jumped to the sound of gunfire. “If that isn’t friendly fire covering our ass
, those hostiles are going to find out quickly what they just messed with.”

“Yea
h, a nest of frigging vipers,” Odin said as he sat back and wiped his mouth.

Odin looked down into Justin’s face. His
face had lost its pinched look and was all smoothed out. His wound had stopped bleeding and would be healed enough in minutes to where it would resemble a bad tear. Within an hour, it would be completely healed, especially with new blood Justin was about to get. Justin’s eyes opened wide and he started screaming.

Odin grabbed Justin by the front and shook him. “Shut the fuck up and listen to me now!” He hissed in his ear. “Now here is a quick rundown
, Justin. We hit an IED. Brent is coming to, you are OK, but may have the urge to sink your teeth in something. Don’t bite Brent. Go after the men who are responsible.”

“Odin, ETA five minutes for one of our own choppers to come get us
,” Thor said.

Odin looked over at his brother. “Where are the hostiles?”

Thor pointed back over his shoulder. “I think over the hill there.”

Odin grabbed Justin by the shoulder. “We are going headhunting
. Brent you stay with Thor.”

Brent crawled through the overturned Humvee and crouched next to Thor. “What did your brother mean by
he and Justin were going headhunting?”

Screams rent the air.

“I’d say they have found their prey, I mean their objective.” Thor rested his head back on the Humvee and waited for their chopper to come get them out of this hellhole.

* * * * * * * *

Odin and Thor pushed open the door of their barracks and were met with one of the guys coming out. “Well, well, if it isn’t the Brothers’ Grimm...”

“We love you too
, Smith.” Guys got up and walked up to shake their hands as they walked to their bunks.

“Hey
, Thor, you two have a pile of mail.” Both Thor and Odin went to their respective bunks and opened up the packets that waited for them.

Odin quickly looked through the envelopes and saw the one he was
looking for. He saw one was from his Uncle Travis. He would read that later. The one from Sally was the one he wanted to read. Looking over at his brother he saw he was reading a letter. He looked too serious.

Ripping open the envelope
from Sally, he saw that it was a two page letter.

Dear Odin,

I know that’s not how I usually start my letters but things have changed. When I was younger I remember Colum telling you and Thor that neither of you guys were to touch me, that even if you liked me you couldn’t touch me. I know you guys were my bodyguards and all till I went off to college. I couldn’t very well bring you two down here now, could I? Besides, things changed as I got older. You two were like the big brothers I never had, and then I noticed looks from you and your brother. I’m not stupid, I’ve had a couple boyfriends and I know Colum had to step in to protect them from you two Neanderthals...BUT none of those guys ever measured up to you or your brother.

God
, I don’t know where this letter is going to lead, except I finally know who is the right one for me. I mean I can’t think straight and my grades are failing ‘cause I am at a loss at what to do. I can’t sleep, can’t eat. Olivia nags me, and you know Olivia., she thinks everyone should eat six meals a day. BUT until I tell one of you who I want, this is the way it is going to be. Then, there is the wait-to-see which one of you writes or calls back. Will you even care? Perhaps you won’t. Maybe being who you are, maybe you don’t even really want me. I don’t know. Maybe this is all a girl’s fanciful imagination and wishful thinking that a guy like you would even remotely like me, never mind be attracted to me. So then this letter will be all a stupid mistake and I will go through life just a normal human in a relationship with a regular human and not the vampire who I so desperately want to get to know better and find out if he is truly the one for me.

So I better get this out. I have chosen you
, Odin.

Odin rea
d the letter again and again. Feeling his brother’s eyes on him, he knew Thor was watching him. He glanced up, seeing Thor sit there with a stupid grin on his face,

“She chose you
, didn’t she?” he said in a whisper.

Odin wanted to jump up and start cheering but he knew it wouldn’t be the thing to do, not with his brother hurting right now.

“Yeah, man, I’m sorry bro...”

Thor got up and went to his brother. Sitting down on his bunk he noticed it sink with the added weight. They
’d had special bunks made just for them, but at the size they both were, this bunk wouldn’t last long given the combined weight of close to...

“Hey
, don’t worry. I’ve known for some time she would pick you. It was a given. I mean, who did she cry out for when she fell off her horse and busted her leg? Our Uncle said she would call your name out at night when she had nightmares. I always saw her looks towards you. I’m glad she has finally figured it out. There won’t be any fighting over her now.” Thor took a breath and looked at his brother straight in the eyes. “Don’t worry, besides, Olivia has been writing to me more. Who knows, maybe it will be a double wedding someday.” Thor pumped his brother on the back and laughed.

Odin wasn’t fooled. He knew his brother
was hurt, but he was too good of a brother to ever hold a grudge.

“I can’t imagin
e you and Olivia not fighting, God that’s all you two do when we are all together. You guys can never get along or agree to disagree.”

Thor stood and saw the bed sigh with relief. “Who knows
, maybe her growing up will help. I mean, where can she find a guy like me? There aren’t any on campus, that’s for sure.”