The Birth and Revelations #2
Ilona made tea and asked Rathnon to pick vegetables from their garden and wash them. He did and returned minutes later with an assortment of vegetables. They sat and enjoyed a cup of tea with sweet biscuits Liv sent home with them. Thor awakened and Ilona nursed him.
The radiant beauty of his wife transfixed Rathnon with their babe at her breast as the firelight illuminated her face.
Flickers of firelight danced and leapt for joy in the hearth and were reflected in the face of his wife as she gazed adoringly at their son, then at him.
Rathnon’s heart clenched in happiness and fierce pride as he beheld his wife gazing at him with love.
He went to her and kissed her. “I love ye, Ilona. Ye are my heart and my life. Ye made a beautiful son for me and made us a family. Something I never thought would be mine. Too long I chased dreams for others, never my own—until ye. Thank ye for believing in me and in us.”
Before he could continue, a knock sounded on the door.
Rathnon answered it to admit Sigrid, who handed him a pot of cooked venison stew.
Sigrid greeted them and asked Ilona, “Can I get ye anything?” She glanced around.
I’m glad to see ye are drinking tea. Do ye want to take a nap while Thor sleeps?
Dinner is ready whenever ye and Rathnon wish to eat.
I’ll keep my eye on the bread too. Maybe Rathnon wishes to sleep with ye too, for the babe will be waking ye up many times at night to nurse for the next moon. It’s best to get yer rest when ye can.”
Ilona told Rathnon she wanted to nap and asked him if he wanted to rest too.
Rathnon joined her in their bedroom since he hadn’t gotten his usual quota of sleep in several days.
He would help Ilona tonight to care for their son.
Ilona and Rathnon took a nap while their babe slept in the cradle at the foot of their bed.
They looked at their sleeping son and smiled before falling asleep.
Later, they awakened to his cries and Ilona changed him.
She nursed him in the rocking chair while Sigrid finished baking the bread for their dinner.
Rathnon slumbered on. He awakened a short time later and joined them in the kitchen.
He placed more peat on the fire and got another bucket of water for the kitchen.
Sigrid insisted Rathnon and Ilona eat a hot dinner while she held the baby.
The warm bread from the oven and the venison stew tasted delicious, and they ate their fill. Later, Rathnon showed Sigrid the location of the outhouse.
Their days and evenings continued, occupied by chores and care of Thor as spring blossoms grew in abundance.
Carpets of purple heather and wildflowers covered the meadows, and gradually the weather became warmer.
Days lengthened, filled with sunshine. Sigrid returned to live in the longhouse but ventured to their home a few times each week, brought food to dine with them, and cuddled and rocked Thor.
When Rathnon went back to laboring with the men, he contemplated his life.
At first, he had fixated on finding a wife.
Once he found Ilona, as their relationship grew and deepened, Rathnon realized he wished to please his wife and make her happy.
He discovered how easily he could lose the love of his life and how many men would gladly claim his place.
Ilona needed to freely give her love to him wholeheartedly.
Rathnon learned he wanted more and needed her forgiveness.
It was nae enough to be married and raise a child.
He was desperate for Ilona’s love. He wanted her to truly belong to him in every way.
Finally, he’d accepted what he needed to do to earn her forgiveness and hopefully her love.
Little by little, he devised his plan to achieve his dreams of love with Ilona.
Ilona shared her appreciation of the cradle Rathnon had carved for their bairn. Thor grew steadily and remained more awake and alert. He grinned at his father, which brought Rathnon endless delight.
One day, Rathnon said he needed to sail to Scotland on a short trip.
“Write a letter to yer parents and hopefully we can stop close by for yer letter to reach them. I wish I didn’t have to leave ye and Thor, but it is a necessary journey and this is a good time for it.
I will sail early tomorrow morning. I told Sigrid, and she will come stay with ye if ye like, otherwise she will check on ye each day if ye do not venture to the longhouse. ”
“How long will ye be away?”
“If all goes well, I hope to be back in two weeks. Ye ken it will take a week to travel there and back, with good weather.”
“I will miss ye and Thor will miss his father while ye are away. I intend to sleep here with our bairn, as it is easier to care for him here, where I have his things. I will go to the longhouse and work each day. Thor will not want for arms to hold him, but he sleeps contentedly on my back when I’m in the garden or at the loom. ”
Ilona made bread and oatcakes for Rathnon to take with him on his journey.
She portioned smoked meat and fish in separate oilskin bags for his meals, and added a small sack of fruit for him.
Rathnon packed his clothes and made sure to add the jacket Ilona had made for him.
He chopped wood and stacked it inside with peat, providing greater convenience for Ilona.
For their dinner, Ilona roasted chicken with potatoes, served spring vegetables, and warm bread and butter.
She completed a letter to her parents she had started and placed it with Rathnon’s clothes.
Rathnon ate heartily, for he kent he would nae have Ilona’s homecooked meals for several weeks.
After dinner, they walked outside, enjoying the warm sun before sunset. Together, they put Thor to bed.
Rathnon pleasured his wife many times before they fell asleep, entwined in each other.
Ilona awakened during the night to feed and change Thor before dawn.
Ilona dressed and put hot water over the hearth and readied Rathnon’s breakfast. He awakened and kissed Ilona before he left to draw more buckets of fresh water for her use.
When he returned, Ilona served his breakfast of eggs, bread, sausage, and fruit with tea.
Rathnon ate his fill, wishing to linger with Ilona. He felt her shiver as he held her.
Reassuring her, he said, “I will be back soon. I will nae take any extra or unnecessary time so I can return to your loving arms and to our son. I love ye, Ilona.”
“I love ye, Rathnon,” Ilona said quietly, for she did her valiant best not to weep.
Rathnon checked on his sleeping son and took Ilona into his arms in a fierce embrace and kissed her passionately, wishing he could bed her one more time before he left.
Ilona stood outside and waved to Rathnon until he disappeared from sight.
Already, she lamented his leaving. Despite it being a short trip, she still missed him.
How will I get through the next weeks without ye, Rathnon?
I am grateful I have Thor with me while ye are away.
She kent there would be more voyages Rathnon would need to embark on for the king’s business in the future.
When Thor awakened and Ilona nursed him, she wondered how close Rathnon would venture to Orkney.
She hoped her lengthy letter to her parents reached them soon.
As she bathed Thor in a tub of warm water, he kicked up a storm, loving the water.
Ilona dried and dressed him. Recently, Ilona had sewed a cloth sack to hold Thor securely on her back while she labored in the garden or at the loom.
She wrapped and tied Thor to her back and also took a small sack with cloth diapers and a blanket with her.
At the longhouse, she and Thor were warmly greeted.
Ilona asked Sigrid where help could best be used.
“It would be most appreciated if ye would weave yer magic at the loom to make blankets. There will be a wedding in the summer, and the bride and groom will need warm blankets.”
“Aye, I will weave, then.”
“Let me take Thor from ye for a while, then ye can be more comfortable working at the loom.”
Ilona untied her baby wrap and handed Thor to Sigrid.
He smiled and cooed at her, earning her bright smile in return.
Ilona picked out the balls of yarn she would use and began to weave.
Sigrid placed Thor in a cradle for his afternoon nap, and ladies stopped at the loom to ask Ilona about her husband and son.
In the afternoon, the aroma of roasted fish filled the air with freshly baked bread. Ilona was glad when dinnertime arrived.
By the time she returned before sunset to their stone cottage, Ilona was tired and ready for bed.
She made herself a cup of tea and sat outside as golden wings of light painted the sky.
The ocean, dark blue and vast, stretched out endlessly in many directions.
Ilona’s thoughts turned to Rathnon, and she wondered how far he had sailed today.
She had secretly tucked a bunch of heather in his sack so he would carry a little piece of home wherever he sailed. He already carried her heart.
After the sun set, Ilona returned inside and readied herself for bed. She recited prayers for Rathnon and his crew for their safe return. Ilona slipped into bed and missed Rathnon’s warmth and comforting arms. She fell asleep dreaming of Rathnon.
Thor slept through the night and awakened at dawn to nurse.