VIKING ROMANCE: Married to the Viking King: Wolf Shifter Romance

Wolf Shifter Romance

O.C. Adams

© 2015

Introduction
 

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Disclaimer

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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Table of Contents

Married to the Viking King

Married to the Viking King

Linnea gazed out across the seemingly endless expanse of water before her as she drew ever nearer to what would be her new home. She was calm on the outside, her face never betraying the emotions that churned inside of her. She knew, though, that her escorts would have no sympathy for her, and she knew she should save her energy. She had a feeling she would need it.

Linnea had grown up in a small village by the sea. Her mother and father had died when she was young, and she had been raised by her aunt and uncle. They had very little, but they made do, and they loved one another. She lived with them for many years, until one day her uncle fell ill. Though she and her aunt did everything they could to save him, he died of the illness. Not long after, Linnea had walked into the kitchen to find that her aunt had slit open her wrists.

By that time, Linnea was all but grown. She was young, but she knew enough to be able to take care of herself. The people in her village understood her situation, and they helped her when they could afford to. Linnea had very little, but she felt as though she lived a very good life. She was sometimes lonely, but she was alive, and that was all that mattered. Some of the village boys had begun to look her way when she passed by. It made her blush, but she was slightly excited by their attentions. Maybe she wouldn’t have to be lonely the rest of her life after all.

Linnea lived in this manner for some months before one day her life was changed forever by the arrival of two strong, armed men. They appeared on the water, and the village people saw them and gathered to see who they were. Linnea was curious as well, and she moved with the throng of visitors to where the strangers docked their boats. Upon seeing the men, Linnea felt a sense of unease.

These men were incredibly large, strong, and there was an air about them that suggested they had seen battle and killed men. Linnea had no doubt that these men were the Vikings that her parents had told her stories about when she was young. The Vikings were a fierce, warlike people, and they did not budge when it came to getting their way. As a child, Linnea didn’t believe that they were real. Now though, she saw these men, and she knew that her parents had told her the truth.              

The two of them looked out over the crowd, silently taking them in. Linnea felt the group become tense. Finally, the leader of her village stepped forward to speak with them.

“What can we offer you two?” her leader said to the men. Linnea noted that while he looked so strong to his entire village, he looked weak and small next to these strange men.

“We have come to collect a woman,” one of the men said plainly. “The leader of our clan requires a wife.”

A murmur ran through the village, and each of the women felt a stab of fear.

“Surely,” their leader said, trying to dissuade the men. “Your leader could select a woman from your clan.”

“There are no women remaining in our clan for our leader,” the man explained simply.

“Well, you must understand,” their leader said firmly, standing strong and firm as always. “I cannot simply let you take one of our women.”

“Well, you must understand,” the man responded in kind. “If you do not comply, we will select a woman ourselves, and lay waste to your entire village.”

The village gasped at the severity of the threat, and their leader could find no way to argue or change their mind. Their ultimatum had been very clear.

“What do you choose?” the other man finally spoke. His tone was very short. It was very clear that he would have absolutely no problem destroying their village and everyone in it.

Silence reigned, and Linnea knew that she was the only one who could save her village. She was all alone here, and she would be missed the least out of all the villagers. She would gladly leave everything she knew if it meant her village would be safe. She took a deep breath, and pushed her way through the group of villagers to get to the front and face the two strange men.

“I will go,” Linnea said, unable to help the slight shake in her voice.

The leader of the village looked at her sadly. Linnea knew that he wished beyond anything he could somehow save her, but they both knew he could not. Linnea turned to face the strangers, and they both looked her up and down. They seemed to consider her.

“She will do,” the first man said after a moment. “Come.”

“I need to gather my things,” Linnea said hesitantly.

“You won’t need them, everything will be provided for you,” the man explained, and gestured for her to walk in front of them back to their boat.

Linnea did not hesitate. She did not turn to look back at the village she was leaving behind as she got in the boat and the two strange men followed suit. She did not look back even as they rowed her out into the sea. She knew that she would never see these people again. A part of her mourned for her loss, but another part of her knew very well that if she had not stepped up, her entire village would have been destroyed, her along with it.

Now, Linnea just stared out at the water, and allowed her mind to wander. She wondered what the leader was like. Who exactly had she agreed to be married to? Was he abusive? She realized that it hardly mattered. She vaguely thought that if the situation was too much to bear, she could always follow in the path of her aunt and kill herself. Still, then some other poor woman would just have to take her place, and the idea was distasteful to her.

After what seemed like an interminable length of time, Linnea saw the signs of land in the distance. She was nervous about what awaited her in her new home, but a part of her was just relieved to be getting back on land, and not being subject to the rocking of a boat.

In short order, the men had rowed the boat to the shore. Linnea helped herself onto the land, and waited as the men pulled the boat entirely out of the water. Linnea allowed herself to look around, and she noted that this village was much grander than the one she had left. The dwellings were built of stone, and they looked stable and secure. The village also appeared much larger. Linnea experienced a rush of nerves.

Linnea stayed still as one of the men set off into the village, the other staying with her. She presumed he was staying to make sure she didn’t try to run away. Linnea vaguely wondered where she would even go if she ran. She was a stranger in a strange land, and she knew she would never be able to live completely on her own.

“Our leader will be joining us shortly,” the remaining man explained to her. Linnea nodded in understanding.

Linnea found that she was becoming increasingly nervous. She only hoped that this man who was to be her husband was not cruel. If he was, she could bear it, but she dearly hoped that he would be, if not kind, at least tolerable.

Linnea did not have to wait long before two men began walking her direction. One of them she recognized as the one who had taken her from her home, and the other she knew must be the leader and her soon to be husband. She could not help but keep her eyes locked on him as he approached.

Linnea had never imagined that a man could look more intimidating than the two strangers she had already met, but she was proven wrong. This man was taller and broader than the other two, and he carried himself in a manner that brooked absolutely no room for contest or argument. He was undoubtedly the leader.

Though Linnea was certainly intimidated by his presence, she did not fail to notice that he was attractive. His brow was strong and his firmly set jaw was adorned by a well-kept beard of golden brown. His hair was the same shade, and it fell behind him, secured at the back of his neck by a cord. His eyes were a piercing, steely blue, and he looked over her as he approached, taking in every detail of her appearance.

Finally, the man stood directly in front of her. Linnea looked up at him, making eye contact, and hoping that was the right thing to do. Her stomach churned at the thought of him striking her for unintentional disrespect.

“What is your name, girl?” he addressed her. His voice was low and rough, with an obvious air of command.

“Linnea,” she answered at once, not wanting to give him any reason to be angry with her.

“I am Aric,” he said plainly. “I am the leader of this clan, and before the day is out, I will be your husband.”

Linnea felt her stomach churn at the words.

“This is Amund,” Aric indicated one of the men. “And this is his brother, Magnild. I trust you have sufficiently acquainted yourselves. You two may go.”

Without another word, the two men set off side by side into the village, leaving Linnea alone with Aric. She felt her heart pounding hard in her chest as the enormous, powerful man merely looked at her. Try as she might, Linnea could not see any emotion in his face.

“Come,” he gestured for her to walk at his side. “I will show you my village.”

Linnea fell in at his side and allowed him to guide her through the village. He showed her the dwellings of each citizen, and told her about each member of his clan. There was an elder couple, named Lamont and Gerde. Lamont had once been the leader, and Aric explained that he still sought his advice in times of trouble.

The leader that Aric had taken over for was named Eskil, and his wife’s name was Hilde. They were somewhat older than Aric, but still very fit and capable. The only reason that Aric had taken over leadership was because Eskil had been severely injured in battle. He explained that Eskil had been a strong leader, and Arik viewed him as a brother. These two had two sons named Enar and Brandr.

Then, there was another couple about the same age as Aric named Keldan and Noma. They also had a son, named Lambi. Aric explained that the two brothers that had retrieved her were the youngest adults in the clan. Magnild was married to a woman named Astred and Amund was married to a woman named Jord, and they had two twin daughters named Liv and Magna.

“I will point all of these people out to you at dinner tonight after the ceremony,” he explained, his voice void of emotion. “It is very important that you realize that even though you will be the wife of the leader, you are still a stranger here. Respect will not be given freely to you; it must be earned. You would do well to remember that.”

Linnea nodded mutely, and Aric acknowledged the gesture with a short grunt.

“Now,” he said. “I will take you to Gerde’s, and the women will prepare you for the ceremony.”

Linnea felt a rush of anxiety, but she did not dare argue. She merely followed Aric as he led her to one of the stone dwellings. Upon arriving, he was greeted at the door by a gray haired woman of small stature and a wrinkled face.

“Gerde,” Aric greeted her, and for the first time Linnea saw a look of gentleness on his face.

“Aric,” she replied, smiling up at him.

“This is my young bride to be, Linnea,” he announced, gesturing to her.

“Ah, a very pretty one,” Gerde looked her over, and Linnea couldn’t help but blush. She also noticed that Aric did not comment on her statement.

“Well don’t you worry,” Gerde ushered Linnea into her home. “We’ll have her all ready for you in no time.”

Aric gave them both a nod, and left them. Linnea let Gerde lead her into the room, and she was overwhelmed by all the other women.

“Here we go now, don’t be shy,” Linnea reluctantly allowed herself to be stripped of her clothes so the women could brush and bathe her. The water was blessedly warm, and when she was cleaned and dried, they dressed her in a dress of fine linen. The material was soft against her skin and she noted that she had never worn something quite so comfortable. The women proceeded to braid her hair down her back, and interweaved a crown of white flowers into her light blonde hair.

“There we are,” Gerde gently voiced her approval. Linnea gave her a small smile in response.

Linnea then allowed the women to lead her out of the house. She followed them until they reached the center of the village, where the men had formed a half circle around Aric, who stood strongly in the middle. Linnea felt his eyes upon her as she approached. She noted that he was dressed similarly in a linen tunic, with dark trousers. He looked immovable and undeterred, a sharp contrast to how meek and nervous Linnea was feeling.

Linnea was made to stand in front of Aric, and the women completed the circle started by the men.

An older man, who Linnea assumed must be Lamont, began to speak in a language she did not understand. This ceremony was certainly not the same as the marriage rite practiced in her old village, but she supposed that didn’t particularly matter. At one point, Aric took hold of her hand, firmly but gently in his. Lamont then placed his hand over both of theirs and spoke several words before touching each of their foreheads with his remaining hand.

Lamont then removed his hands from them entirely, and Lamont uttered a single phrase, which was then repeated by the rest of the clan that had gathered around them. Linnea concluded that this was the conclusion of the ceremony, and she relaxed slightly. That had not been bad at all. Just as she relaxed however, she suddenly felt Aric capture her face between his hands and hold her still as his lips descended upon hers in a kiss.

Linnea stiffened. His kiss was just as demanding as the rest of him. He forcibly parted her lips and explored her mouth with his tongue. Linnea, shocked, attempted to respond in kind, awash in the sensation of such intimate contact. Almost as soon as Aric had initiated the kiss, though, it was over, and Linnea was left standing overwhelmed and confused.