Viking Love Beyond Time (Time Travel Romance) (69 page)

             
“The tarts you used to smuggle in through the side door”

             
Halfdan guffawed then began to cough.  “Honey, my dear, always honey” he gasped, dabbing away the flecks of blood from his mouth.

             
Alodie grinned, then lifting her eyes to those of King Halfdan, the absolute ruler of Viking England and most of Denmark, son of Ragnor Lodbrok, called, by his enemies and friends alike “The Black Wolf of the North” she very sweetly, very calmly, winked and left the room.

             
“Laughing!” hissed a voice at her elbow.  “Do I hear the king laughing?”

             
She jumped and turned, it was Skallagrim.  “You do indeed” she replied “he was telling me of his liking for honey tarts, he wants to see you now”

             
The little man’s mouth fell open then he coughed and straightened his robes.  “Very well milady.  Now the hall is just down those steps, turn right until you come to the main staircase where you will see your men, the Lady Gudrun is with them awaiting your return, she will show you to your quarters”

             
“Thank you Skallagrim” she said, trying not to laugh at his officious attitude.  He reminded her of a certain petty official who worked for E & MTC - lord that seemed like centuries ago now.

             
Skallagrim put his hand on her arm.  “No, milady, if you made him laugh it is I who should thank you, he has not laughed for so long”

             
After what seemed like an age she came to the top of the stairs and glanced down, the men were milling about in the hall below, talking amongst themselves quietly, and one in particular, who seemed to be more nervous than the rest, was sitting on the bench with his hood pulled over his head cracking his knuckles.  Alodie smiled - how he could hope to disguise himself as a karl was almost laughable, leadership practically radiated out of him.

             
Taking a deep breath she descended the stairs and headed toward Herger, on seeing her he got to his feet and pushing through the men met her, relief suffused his features.  “Well?” he asked quickly.

             
Alodie shook her head in reply.  “No, it’s hopeless, although he is out of  pain and will remain so until the end”

             
Magnus lumbered to his feet and approached them.  “Keep it to yourself” hissed Herger.

             
“Have you been able to do anything lady?” he boomed. 

             
She shrugged.  “I have tried, it is in the lap of the gods”

             
“Hmph” he replied “that is no answer”

             
“T’is the only one you will get Magnus” interjected Herger.

             
“Magnus Leifson!  How dare you show your face in this hall?”

             
Alodie and Herger turned to be greeted by the sight of a tiny woman pushing her way through the gathered Vikings toward them.  She could not have been more than four feet in height with a correspondingly tiny build.

             
With a roar Magnus held open his arms and sweeping her off her feet spun her round.  The size difference was laughable, Magnus was over seven feet tall, one of his hands could almost have gone round her shoulders.   He planted a big sloppy kiss on her face with a mouth that covered almost all of it then held her at arms length.  She spluttered and gasped then reaching out aimed a swing at his head which missed by a mile.  “Put me down you great daft fool” she said, trying to keep the delight at seeing the giant from her voice.

             
Magnus turned.  “Alodie, allow me to introduce you to the only woman who ever stole my heart, Gudrun of Elmet, but the heartless wench refuses my proposals of marriage - think of the sons we would have!”

             
This sally was greeted by a roar of laughter from the assembled throng and Alodie found herself grinning along with them.  The Norse people were so open, so uncomplicated, there was no pretence with them, they were like a breath of fresh air in a stale room.

             
“Put me down you idiot” she said, beginning to smile.

             
Grimacing, Magnus did as he was bid and received a kick on the ankle from the little woman for his pains.  Then, trying not to laugh, she turned to Alodie.  “Welcome to the king’s hall milady Alodie, I am only sorry you do not come at a happier time.  I am, as that great fool has already informed you, Gudrun of Elmet, King Halfdan’s sister and the governess of his son, Thorsen, if you will follow me I will show you to your room”

             
Gudrun bustled past her, deftly avoiding a hefty thwack from Magnus, and headed up the stairs.  Trying not to laugh Alodie followed.  She stopped at the second door along the passage and opening it waved Alodie into a sunny room overlooking the square.  There was a large bed covered with clean furs and a basin and ewer on a dresser, rich rugs covered the floor.

             
Alodie’s clothes had already been unpacked and her creams and perfumes placed neatly on the dresser, it was equally if not more comfortable than her quarters in
Winchester
.

             
Gudrun shut the door and leaned against it.  “You will have to forgive Magnus milady, he is thoughtless, it is just that his high spirits are such that he does not think how you must be suffering in your sad loss”

             
Alodie wrinkled her eyebrows then remembered - of course, she was a grieving widow.  “It is quite alright Gudrun, I know the world cannot stop because my husband is gone”

             
“Believe me, my lady, when the news of Herger’s death reached us, half the court went into mourning”  
The female half probably
, thought Alodie and bowed her head in an attempt to portray grief.   “And now that pig Olaf.....” Gudrun patted her hand “never mind milady, I am sure someone will champion you against him”

             
Alodie looked up.  “Please, call me Alodie my lady Gudrun, I cannot see that our stations in life are much different, in fact you obviously outrank me, being the sister of the king”

             
The little woman chuckled.  “Aye, his sister true, but on the wrong side of the blanket.  I am the daughter of Ragnor by his mother’s maidservant - still and all I am more of a sister to him than his true ones, the cold blooded bitches, spending their time casting their runes, weaving their banners and pushing men to war.  Where are they when he needs them I ask you?  Tell me, is my brother going to die?”

             
Alodie realised that Gudrun certainly seemed to have inherited the family propensity for coming straight to the point.  “Yes” she replied “quite soon, I am sorry”

             
“Have you alleviated his pain?”  Alodie nodded.  “Thank you, he has suffered greatly during the last few weeks” the little woman turned away abruptly and walking to the window, bowed her head.

             
Alodie bit her lip thoughtfully.  It was obvious that Gudrun was trying her best to hold in her tears and she was at a loss how to comfort her.  After a moment she walked over and crouching down put her arm round her shoulder.  “Gudrun, don’t fight the tears, let them flow” she said quietly.  The little woman looked up and smiled then rubbed her eyes.

             
“I apologise” she said briskly.  “Halfdan relies on me for so much and I cannot show my distress in front of him” she shook herself and sniffed.  “Now, as I was about to say, I am sure someone will champion you against Olaf”

             
“.......and if they do not, or if someone does and he loses?”

             
“Best not think on it my dear”

             
“I am a Saxon Gudrun, I do not know your ways, and like you I am not a child to be placated, tell me what happens if my champion loses?”

             
Gudrun picked up one of Alodie’s pots of cream and lifting off the lid, sniffed at it.

             
“Our laws are very complicated on this matter Alodie but this I do know, if he has killed your husband and beats your champion he is entitled to take you and all your lands”

             
“But I have a son”

             
“Who will, if he lives, hopefully challenge Olaf when he becomes a man and regain the lands - it is called a blood feud”

             
“..and do I have no say in this whatsoever?”

             
Gudrun shook her head.  “None, my dear, it is our law and you have no right of appeal.  Actually, in these cases it is unusual for a person in Olaf’s position to claim the wife of his foe, it is usually just the lands he wants but I think that in this case it is you”.  She laid her tiny hand on Alodie’s arm.  “Take comfort though my dear, if he does take you and claim you it cannot be as his concubine, he will have to marry you”

             
Alodie spun on her heel and walked to the window.  “Thank you Gudrun, that is a great comfort” she said sarcastically - then, because she realised sarcasm would be lost on Gudrun, she added “I will have to pray on the matter”

             
Gudrun sniffed.  “I do not think your puny meek and mild Christ God will bother himself in
Norse
matters, do you?”

             
Alodie turned back to her and smiled.  “We will have to see -  my father always taught me to look on the bright side”

             
Gudrun reached up and patted her on the shoulder, then shook herself.  “Well, I cannot stand chatting, I have things to see to” she bustled “rest now and later on this afternoon I will send a servant with a bath for you and a maid to help.”

             
“Thank you Gudrun you have been very kind”

             
“So have you my dear, I was waiting outside the little door as you were talking to my brother and after you left I went in for a while before I came downstairs to the hall.  I have not seen him in such good spirits for months, that is why I am in a rush, I have to prepare for the feast” she turned to go then, at the door she paused and looked round.  “Alodie, look beautiful tonight, not for Olaf, but in Herger’s memory, do not let him down”

             
“I have not completely given up hope about tonight Gudrun, I think there may perhaps be a few surprises”

             
Gudrun shrugged.  “I hope you are right my dear” she said and with that she slipped out and shut the door behind her.   Ten minutes later, overcome by exhaustion, Alodie was fast asleep.

****************************

             
The feast began before it was full dark but Alodie waited in her room for almost half an hour after the maid had left.  She was dressed in the richest and most ornate gown she had ever seen.  Sleeveless in the Norse style,  it was made of lace intertwined with silver and gold tissue.  The maid had informed her that it, together with the two silver combs and spangled veil which adorned her hair, were a present from Halfdan.

             
At last she took a deep breath and glancing in the mirror, got to her feet and walked down to the hall.

             
The feast was in full swing as she came to the head of the stairs and keeping her eyes in front of her and her chin held high she descended.  As she did so a hush came over the throng - it was so quiet she could hear the dogs crunching their bones under the tables.

             
Alodie felt the perspiration start up between her shoulder blades and on the palms of her hands and she had to dig her nails into them to keep herself calm.  Reaching the bottom of the stair she glanced round and took an involuntary step backward.  Everyone in the room seemed to be staring open mouthed at her, the men eating her alive with their eyes and as for the women - some were staring at her in envy, some with astonishment but most with pity.

             
She felt panic build up as she looked round for Herger.  Where was he? 
H
er eyes darted almost frantically round the room, she saw Thorund and Bjarnie - yes and Magnus, but of Herger there was no sign.

             
She stiffened as she felt her hand taken in a grasp so cold as to almost numb it and turned slowly round to see Olaf standing there.  He looked even more handsome than at their last meeting, dressed again in black velvet with his neatly combed hair in a long pony tail.  Yes, he was good looking, she could understand how he could have fooled an innocent young girl, he might have fooled Alodie herself at one time.  Handsome indeed, except for his eyes, they betrayed him, they were grey, almost colourless - flat merciless eyes, eyes that could look out on unspeakable horror and not show emotion.  She had seen eyes like them once before, they belonged to an overseer of a Caramanthian prison ship, a man who had been brought to trial for the appalling suffering he had inflicted on his prisoners.  Olaf had the eyes of a professional torturer.