A New Home
The waves lapped at the wooden hull of the ship, rocking Ilona to sleep. She missed Rathnon’s presence and warmth before she slumbered.
Later in the night, Rathnon sat beside her and, careful not to awaken her, held her to him as he inhaled deeply the scent of her hair.
Despite the overpowering scent of the briny sea surrounding them, her hair smelled like heather and wildflowers.
Holding her and inhaling her scent brought him happiness and peace.
Rathnon yearned to spend more time with Ilona.
But, obliged by duty and at the mercy of the king, he didn’t know what obligations awaited him upon his return.
Hours before dawn, he resumed rowing with the long oars as Ilona slept.
After awakening, everyone on board broke their fast. With the safety of calm waters, Rathnon cut her tether and Ilona walked up to the bow of the ship to drink water.
He stood there and surveyed the landscape on the horizon, searching for landmarks to lead them home.
As he turned, he saw Ilona nearby next to the railing when she slipped on the wet wooden deck.
He caught her before she fell to the deck.
Holding her face-to-face and gazing into her eyes, time seemed to stand still, and everyone else vanished from his view.
He gave her a beaming smile as he caught her and held her close.
Quite tempted to ravish and taste her lips, Rathnon gazed at her mouth and leaned closer for an instant, then abruptly pulled away. He said, “I have ye.”
Ilona repeated the Norwegian, “Jeg har deg.” I wonder what it means.
Her words made Rathnon’s smile illuminate his face and eyes.
The sun had broken through the dreary skies, and rays of light filtered through the clouds and danced on the sparkling water.
For a moment in Rathnon’s arms, gazing in his eyes, the world and her worries receded.
His arms made her pulse dance and her breath quicken until he released her.
He picked up the ladle to give her a drink of water.
Sparks flew across her skin as their hands brushed.
Ilona drank deeply to quench her thirst and her embarrassment at slipping. “Thank ye for catching me when I fell.”
Rathnon must have understood the gist of what she said and answered gently in a soft voice, “I’ll always catch ye.”
Ilona was at a distinct disadvantage in nae being able to understand what Rathnon said to her. She walked carefully, mindful of her footing on the slippery deck, back to sit among the other women. Conscious of his heated gaze as she returned to her seat.
Rathnon watched the gentle sway of her hips as she walked and still studied her as she looked up after sitting down. He smiled at her again before talking to his men, then pointed to the shore.
Ilona’s eyes followed to find what he was indicating.
A long sandy beach appeared, with rocky outcroppings.
On top of one large outcropping stood a clump of trees.
Did that mean they were closer to the men’s home?
Ilona would be glad to be off the ship and back on dry land but feared what would happen next.
Will our fate be decided tonight at a feast?
The interpreter had said that within a fortnight of arriving they would be wed. Will we all be wed at the same time?
In another hour, they were closer to shore. None could mistake when the men drew closer to home, as a loud cheer went up from all warriors on board. A roar of cheers echoed from the men on the other two sailing ships.
Strategically positioned in the harbor stood a tall, massive stone fortress.
Men lined the ramparts from which colorful banners flew.
Sailing ships of many sizes moored in the harbor.
The wharf appeared a hive of activity with workers offloading ships that had arrived from foreign lands.
Flags of many colors and designs blew from the tall masts.
Ilona grew excited to see the activity of men carrying burlap sacks and barrels to shore.
Others carried barrels over their shoulders and onto ships waiting to set out to sea after trading.
Fishing vessels of all kinds bobbed in the waves along the shore, while some men carried boxes and others mended their fishing nets.
Ilona marveled at all the sights, not knowing where to look first in this busy trading port and city.
She had never seen so many large sailing ships in one place.
The men glided onto the beach through the sand, then jumped overboard and heaved the ship farther onto the shore.
Rathnon barked orders to the men over the din of their voices and shouts.
After the first boisterous warriors left, Rathnon appeared by Ilona’s side and jumped over the rail to the sand.
He reached up for her, and she jumped into his arms to lower her to the ground.
Rathnon called out to his crew as they dispersed into the city.
The stone building she had seen from the ship seemed to be where Rathnon was leading her.
From her father’s lessons, she gleaned it was probably the Bergenhus Fortress.
While they walked, he led her through throngs of people until they entered the inside of the fortress.
Rathnon tried to explain to her with hand gestures that the person who wore a crown lived in this fortress. “Konge.”
Ilona thought it must be the king he worked for.
She nodded, indicating she understood what he tried to communicate, and she said, “King.” Rathnon smiled and nodded in recognition.
Although dark and foreboding from the outside, the fortress inside held welcome.
Rathnon led her to a large room on the second floor.
Bright textiles and a large tapestry hung on the walls.
One end of the room held a wide hearth and a massive, canopied bed covered in bear fur.
Ilona wondered if Rathnon had shot the beast himself.
At the end of the bed sat a huge carved wooden chest. Rathnon set his furs down on a chair and removed his water and whiskey skins.
Moments later, an older woman entered the room and greeted Rathnon. The woman glanced at Ilona with a curious expression and lifted one brow in question to the warrior.
Rathnon said, “Hun vil bli min kone.” (She will be my wife.)
“You seem certain she will be yours.”
“Aye, the king granted me my pick of women when the time came for me to choose a wife and raise a family. I have chosen Ilona. I will remind the king of his agreement.”
Rathnon said to Ilona, “This is Nanna, and this is Ilona from the Orkney Islands.”
Nanna hugged Ilona and spoke to her in fluent Gaelic.
“Welcome to yer new home, child. While ye are here, I will help to teach ye how to adjust to our customs and learn our language. I will translate for ye and Rathnon and explain to ye what is expected from ye. Ye will be happy here. Hot water for a bath will be brought with new clothes for ye. A maid will help ye with yer bath and fix yer hair for the feast tonight. Later, after yer bath, ye can rest and ask me any questions ye like. For now, ye need to stay in this room until Rathnon comes to take ye to the feast.”
“Thank ye, Nanna. I will have many questions of ye after I bathe.”
Rathnon spoke to Ilona, holding her hand in his, and Nanna translated.
“I will return later to take ye to the feast. After yer bath, crawl into yer bed and sleep. The feasting will continue late into the night as everyone celebrates our success and safe return. Nanna will help ye with whatever ye need.”
“Thank ye.”
“Takk,” Nanna told Rathnon, and he nodded and smiled. Ilona now kent how to say thank ye in the Norwegian language.
He lingered to talk longer to Nanna, who glanced over to Ilona several times, as if assessing her.
Rathnon told her of Ilona’s cunning attempt to escape and his conviction she would try again.
Therefore, he left an armed guard outside the door.
“She has a dirk strapped to her leg. I do nae have an objection to her keeping it for now for her assurance of protection. It must be frightening for her to be here and not ken anything—our language and our ways. It is possible she may misunderstand another man’s attentions until I can officially claim her and the king grants her to me. ”
“Aye, I ken.”
“Her beauty captured many a man’s imagination onboard our ship, and I ken others will try to claim her tonight. I intend to prevail. I will go see the king now if he is free for a few minutes.”
Rathnon left and commanded a guard to be on watch outside his door.
Minutes later, the lads brought in a tub and carried buckets of steaming hot water, which they emptied into the tub. A bucket of hot water sat on the floor beside the tub for rinsing. A maid entered and greeted Ilona.
“I am Helga.” The maid helped Ilona disrobe and washed her hair and rinsed her after her bath.
She took her time, gentle with her hair.
She gave her a cloth to dry with and covered her with a fur on a chair by the hearth.
Helga took a brush and brushed out the tangles from Ilona’s hair as it dried before the fire.
Later, the lads returned to empty the tub and remove it.
Nanna returned briefly with a linen underdress.
She asked Ilona about her preferences of colors for a dress for dinner and for work during the day.
“I like all colors, but especially green and blue. Takk.”
“Take a rest now after ye eat.” A lass brought in a tray with a plate of bread, meat, and cheese, with ale to drink. “I will bring yer dresses after ye sleep. I’m sure ye are tired after yer voyage and the storm at sea.”
“Do ye ken who will be my husband? Will it be decided tonight? Will I leave with my husband after the feast or return to this room?”