WORRLGENHALL (7 page)

Gone for so long she feared he had left her to rejoin the warriors, her heart filled with sorrow and tears rolled down her cheeks. Her belief of love guiding her, making her always cer
tain she would know true love at first glance. She knew she had found him when she first saw Laad’s face.

“
Now I have known how a fool feels,” she whispered to herself; then began to walk away.

Just as she reached the heavy wooden doors to leave, as she
pushed them open, she noticed Laad and a man standing just beyond them.

“
Young one, already you will not wait for me, how can you be my wife?” Laad asked when he looked up and saw her.

Again, she smiled; then noticed the man a priest.

“I vow by the very blood within me will it forever flow through me with only love for you.”

Laad smiled at her genuine words as he and the priest walked towards her; then once back inside, he gently took her hand.

Both hand in hand, they kneeled as the priest asked them give the other something dear to them they wore; then while standing over them, he put his hands on both of their heads.

“
Before God I bond you making two into one, and one you shall remain until the other breathes no more.

As Nona gave Laad her hair beads given
to her by her mother before she died, he noticed how her hand trembled when he took them.

“
You tremble,” he whispered, “Are you afraid?”

“
No,” Nona inhaled to try to calm, “Such joy quickens my breath and fills me such that I am unable to calm myself.”

A
gain, Laad smiled; then gave Nona his war wristband worn by his father that he now wore; then as they held their items, they were now husband and wife.

As both looked at the other and smiled when the priest closed the door, Nona so filled with joy and love
, closed her eyes and lowered her head, unable to speak.

After of few moments of silence, gently Laad put his hand under her chin to have her look up at him.

“Open your eyes,” his soft request.

Nona opened her eyes and looked up to Laad, her eyes filled wi
th such a glow it could have lit the stable on their very own.

“
What shall we do young one?” his question, as he looked at her beautiful face.

“
My great want is to feel your body upon mine,” she whispered.

“
But we have no place to go,” he said. Their wedding hasty, he also realized they had no place to live.

“
Then, in the shadows lay me upon the straw,” she whispered shyly.

“
I will not,” Laad said, as he suddenly lifted her, then put her upon his horse and rode away.

Right away, he took her close to the
waterfall. Once next to it, he carried her in his arms from his horse to beside the water, then after he put a blanket down, gently lifted and put her upon it.

The cool air off the water on Nona as she lay, she sighed and looked up at Laad; then the stars
behind him.

“
The waterfall is the place of passion for those in love.” She sighed again. Her belief of love at first glance strengthened, “Is it why you brought me back to it?”

“
I reasoned it the right place.”

While he stood, he removed his own clothes; h
is virile body towering over her as he did, she did not lose his gaze as he looked down at her.

“
I shall undress you to behold what is now mine,” he said, once he was naked.

“
Please no,” another shy reply, “I will do it.”

Eagerly
, he watched as she stood and slowly removed her dress and her bindings before she lay back upon the soft grass; then as he looked at her from head to toe. Her innocent form shapely and now enticing to him, when he started at her hair, then let his eyes travel below her navel he thought of the golden haired children she would bless him with one day.

Slowly, he got beside her; then brushed the back of his hand gently along her smooth cheek.
“I fear you will hurt much from me,” he whispered his fear, “You are young.”

“
We are wed,” she moaned, as she felt his strong hand against her face, “Now fit me to you.”

“
Nothing has ever come to mind that I have longed for more than what I behold before me,” Laad admitted, the sound of the waterfall soothing and yet rousing, Nona was right, it was the place for passion for those in love, “And I long to feel how your chaste walls will cling to me as I move between them.”

“
Never have I heard such words.” Nona breathed heavily, “And never have I felt what is burning deep inside me.”

A soft kiss upon
her lips, she held him close as he tenderly lay upon her; then her nails deep in his back she bore his thrusts and kept her whimpers low from pain until pleasure rose too within her.

Her whimpers heeded making him afraid to push more than halfway inside he
r, he decided to content himself with just that.

“
I hear your whimpers,” he said softly, “I will not hurt you more by pushing any deeper.”

“
I will love no other and have no other,” she vowed, refusing to release him until he filled her fully, “My longing for you will be great if you rush our wedding night. Leave me without longing and filled with joy that I pleased you.”

“
So many words you speak Nona! Yet, they cause my heart to race and blood to rush through me.” Laad moaned, granting her wish, as he pushed deeper, “Such is that I feel for you in this short time, I swear by all that is holy could only be love.”

Laad able to feel as he pushed deeper, the torrent rush about to come out of him prepared his will to withdraw his shaft and spill onto the ground
.

“
Young you are, yet you do bleed. I will not leave you with child,” he moaned knowing only a few thrusts more he would release his fertile warmth inside her, “I will be a father to my seed with you when the time is fitting and not always away.”

“
To deny me such a thing is to deny I am your wife, and I now am,” she moaned back, as she held him even closer, “Your seed belongs inside me. The earth has no claim to it.”

From that, Laad released deep into Nona and his final thrusts so strong, he pushed her for
ward chafing her back on the blanket, and as his body quivered, she knew she was suited to him.

“
Did a pleasure come to you from deep inside?” he asked concerned that he may have only thought of himself.

“
Yes,” she answered, as she blushed, “The scratches deeper into your skin are when I felt it.”

“
When that feeling comes over you,” he said softly, “Speak it to me. It stirs me to know it.”

“
I will,” she whispered; then gave a long sigh of love, “My husband.”

“
You are no longer the young one to me,” he said, as he looked into her eyes, “You are a woman, and my wife.”

His stay at WorrlgenHall now ending, Laad held her close, his heart aching that he had to leave her.

“Will you be safe when I am away?” he asked concerned, as his palm gently went to her chin.

“
I shall,” she assured him, “I have a way about me, that wins me favor.”

“
And it is true,” he agreed, finding himself suddenly wed, “Yet, I will worry.”

“
The sun rise approaches soon,” she whispered, “Our wedding night is almost past us. If I could stop the sun from rising, I would.”

“
I will race the sun rise,” Laad said, as blood rushed into every part of him, including what would fill her, “And spill into you again.”

“
My heart is bound to you,” she whispered. “As you stood before me in Uded’s door sill, I knew I would forever love only you.”

“
As I watched you sleep,” he remembered, as he touched her face to wake her, “I knew you loved me.”

“
And me?”

“
Nona, I would never make my wife someone I would not intend to truly love.”

After he filled her again, nei
ther slept as they dreaded the sunrise, but the king gracious in giving him leave, he knew he had to rejoin the others.

“
I will never ride so hard for anything, as I will to return to my wife,” he said, as he dressed, then mounted his horse.

Tears in her
eyes, as he bent down to kiss her, she whispered, “Come back to me.”

E
cia stood before the council of men at their mercy while they sat in a circle and discussed the matter of her betrayal, while occasionally glancing up from their forum at her.

“
Why did you help him?” one man shouted his question.

“
And doing so betray your own,” another sneered.

“
Skin her alive!” bellowed, yet another.

At first refusing to answer, boldly she did. Her shoulders straight, her stare at their faces intent, although, her life lay in their hands, she was fearless.

“I cannot speak why. I do not know myself,” she answered, “Other than his eyes called to me.”

“
Then from your answer, you leave us no other course.”

Mercy granted, her life spared, the council banished Ecia from her village and all the surrounding villages.

With nothing of her own granted she could take, except what she carried now cherished, they left her to the mercy of those she came across who would give it.

Bidding goodbye to her Brother Ecer and her childhood friend Alden, she asked them to join her, but they refused, and with that,
the villages as her homeland, were no more.

**

From a high hill, Tohlor could see the king. With him, no less than five hundred men on foot and horses, he knew he had come prepared for revenge.

“I can see the king,” Tohlor hurried to tell Bayl, “With a small part of the united men just pass the hills.”

Quickly, Bayl and Belon rode out to the king.

“Father,” Bayl said glad to see him as he approached, “Baric’s state is unchanged.”

“
And you?” King Rone said, concerned for his younger son too.

“
I am well.”

A half nod from King Rone, he continued ahead, yet his mind ran with worry. Baric the older and next to rule, should his fate be death, he questioned could Bayl rule the lands of Worrlgen since he was given to quick judgment and carelessness, which often
times led to one’s fall.

“
Once we reach the hill,” Orem, the king’s Lord Helm Commander of the men, said to King Rone as he rode next to him, “I will divide the men left.”

“
Arrange as you will,” the king said, Orem’s years of victories in battle making him wise, he was confident in Orem’s decisions, “Then give word to me.”

Once at the camp, quickly King Rone went to Baric
’s side, and so intense was his fever that he spoke words unknown to any who heard him.

“
He wrestles in his head from the wound,” Orem said shrewdly, as he looked at Baric, “The village people in the lowlands know roots well. I would wager they poisoned him with one of the blades.”

“
Is Orhan near?” King Rone asked, troubled.

“
As you speak, he comes.”

As soon as he made it to the camp, right
away, Orhan went to Baric, and as he sat beside him, touched his head.

“
He is cold to the touch, but he sweats,” Orhan said; then opened a pouch he brought with him, “A sickness is inside him. I can see that he has lost much blood so I will not bleed him.”

“
He was asleep when I found him, and still has not awakened,” Bayl said quickly.

Orhan got out oddly looking red roots out of his pouch.
“A bowl and water,” he then ordered.

Rushing about, one of the men brought Orhan a bowl and water, and as he curiousl
y watched him crush the red roots with a small milling stone, before he added the water, Orem noticed him gawking.

“
Close your mouth and be about your way,” he brusquely ordered.

After pulling away Baric
’ binding, Orhan studied his wound.

“
It is healing well,” he said and mixed water into the red roots, “When the sunrises, sets, and twice between give him this.”

“
Do you believe Orhan can heal Baric?” Bayl asked his father as they stood next to him.

“
He has a gift for cures. He was one of the youngest healers to your grandfather,” King Rone said; then turned to Bayl, “It is why I brought him with me.”

The red roots, taking Baric into another kind of sleep, his ranting stopped and when they noticed, they began to feel he would heal.

“Let us have words,” King Rone said to Bayl, as he put his hand on his son’s shoulder troubled, “Speak of what went wrong?”

As they walked, Orem next to them too, Bayl explained his hasty judgment. Suspecting the villagers to be few and weak, he was certain they would defeat them.

“Never take lightly those who fight for the love of their homeland and have no king,” Orem said wisely, “They will band together and fight until their dying breaths.”

“
Then what will you have us do?” Bayl asked, although he already knew the answer.

As King
Rone turned and looked at his son, who lay helpless and wounded, anger rose from deep.

“
Go back to the lowland and lay waste to it and all within,” he answered quickly, “Orem will lead.”

The next morning, just as he had planned, Orem divided the men. He p
ut those who fought under Baric on one side and those who fought under Bayl the other.

“
For this battle,” Orem commanded, as they planned, “We will not give word of our coming, as you did before, then wait while letting them gather many from all around. They have made clear they will not give up the land.”

“
Why have you divided the guilds that survived?” Ogorec questioned Orem.

“
Some will fight in the villages and some the open field again.”

“
They would not be bold enough to fight again,” Belon blurted.

“
You ran like female dogs with your tails between your legs making them no longer fear us. Burn two of their villages and they will gather.”

“
We should fight together,” Belon insisted, as the thought of Ogorec came to mind.

“
No,” Orem said boldly, then stood and spoke to the king.

First, again looking at Baric before he spoke, although he knew it would anguish the king,
he suggested what he thought was best.

“
My king, I believe it wise to send Lord Baric back to WorrlgenHall. He is of no use and could be wounded or killed in battle if they somehow reach him. Orhan has helped him. I believe sending him back will only help him more.”

“
Bayl.” King Rone looked at his son.

“
I agree father…”

“
It is done,” King Rone gladly agreed, “Send Orhan back with Baric. Choose those strong to return with them.”

“
And you king,” Orem suggested, “Your battles are long pass you. I beg you return with Lord Baric.”

“
I will ride with the men,” King Rone said, as he stood on his chariot.

Since Ogorec was Baric
’s first in command and guard, Orem ordered him to go back to WorrlgenHall with him; then he randomly chose twenty men, but Belon was not one of them.

“
I plead to stay,” he protested when he didn’t choose him, fighting his urge to look at Belon, “And fight with the men.”

“
Safeguard Baric’s journey back, as well as a commander, you are his guard,” the king reaffirmed Orem’s command, and his word final, Ogorec said nothing else. Instead, once Orem dismissed them, set to leave in the morning, he walked unhappily away.

**

His horse heard before he even arrived, as those closest to the king sat talking of battle plans, Laad rode into camp and went to stand before him.

“
Is all well?” King Rone asked concerned.

“
All is well now, my king. But, if I had not stayed the course as I did, would not be. Uded had set to do her harm.”

“
And where is Uded now?” King Rone asked, as his eyes looked intently at Laad.

“
I sent him on a journey,” Laad said frankly, “…into the afterlife.”

King Rone smiled pleased with Laad
’s action, and in how he phrased it. “You did well,” he said grateful, “and for such …ask a favor.”

Laad thought only for a second, knowing exactly what he wanted.
“I ask that when this battle is done and victory yours, I not tarry with the men and ride ahead back.”

“
Is there someone who hastens your return?”

“
Yes, great king, though the time short, I have wed?” Laad confessed. 

“
Consider it granted,” he agreed, and Laad left him.

Making his way to Bayl
’s camp, Laad’s clothes soaked with sweat, he removed his tunic; then poured water on his head to cool himself.

“
What did harm to your back?” Wurden, his long time friend asked when he looked at him, “Did you find yourself caught in a tree thicket as you rode?”

Laad dri
ed his head and sat down hard. “I was wed,” he answered; then thought of Nona, as he looked at her hair beads.

“
And from the scratches, I will gather she was not a willing bride.” He laughed.

“
Willing,” his reply, but said nothing as his thoughts ran deep.

“
When a man is wed, one would hope he would be happy,” he commented when he sat beside him.

Laad turned his head to Wurden, shaking it with indecisiveness.
“She is barely beyond the age to bleed.”

“
Well, where you drunk?”

“
No.”

“
Then what came over you?” he asked curiously, knowing Laad was not one for hasty judgments or actions.

Laad sighed, as he t
hought of the past few days. The golden wavy locks heavy and long on Nona’s head, her wide-eyed expression of love for him in her eyes, and words of devotion from her mouth, in such a short time had reached deep inside him. “…she…she,” Laad began to speak, but stopped.

“
She what?” asked Wurden, as he leaned forward and looked at him curious who now made him stumble over his words.

“
She has a way about her,” he blurted, yet the corner of his lip curled as pleasing thoughts of her came to him, which almost forced a smile, “And I am at a loss for words to speak what it is.”

Wurden put his hand on Laad
’s shoulders.

“
You have journeyed hard and far quickly back and forth in a short time.” Offering Laad a quick solution, “Your mind for reason was slowed. Speak that it was to the king and have her released as your wife.”

“
And have her live in shame. I have broken her seal,” Laad said, recalling his thrusts deep within her.

“
Is she fair to the eyes?”

“
More.”

“
Then trust another will seek her out.”

“
To allow such a thing would anguish me,” Laad said earnestly, “I want her with all that is within me and have let myself already love her.”

Wurden sighed loudly, and stood.
“Then it is settled.” His hand went to his shoulder before patting it hard and raising his voice for all around them to hear, “Everyone, Laad has wed while away, give him cheers!”

**

When night came, Belon and Ogorec sneaked away, but now so many men here and there they had no place hidden to go to embrace.

“
Such woe I have deep within,” Ogorec admitted, as he sat on his horse and Belon on his, “So much that I… I ...”

“
I will be fine,” he assured him, “But as for you cross the land hastily back to WorrlgenHall and wait for me. When I return, I will come to you.”

“
And if you do not?”

“
Then know before I breathe my last that it was you that filled my head.”

“
For such dread, I wished that I could go back a time,” Ogorec expressed worried he might never see him again, “And not yielded to you.”

“
Such words you leave me with.” Belon turned saddened, “Should those be what come to mind as your last words to me?”

“
No.” Ogorec’s tone became softer. Unable to keep his feelings hidden, they came freely this time, yet he still could not speak of love, “Let it be these. Never have I longed for another as I long for you.”

Belon looked at Ogorec, who unable to look at him, looked ahead.

“I will come to you and when I do, seize you passionately,” he promised, and rode away.