A New Home #2
“I do nae ken who will be yer husband. The king will decide this evening. I believe ye will return to this room to sleep tonight. I do nae ken when ye will be married.”
“Thank ye. Ye are very kind.” Ilona and Helga smiled at each other as Helga helped her into the linen shift and pulled the bed covers back for sleep.
They were close in age. Nanna and Helga left, and Ilona drank the ale and ate the food before climbing into the giant bed and snuggling under the covers. Moments later, she fell sound asleep.
Hours later, Helga awakened Ilona and helped her to dress in a long gown with a green embroidered overdress.
Helga braided strands of Ilona’s coppery hair and wove them like a crown on her head.
Someone had cleaned her shoes. She marveled that the dress fit well, but then Helga had taken Ilona’s old dress with her to wash.
After Helga had finished, Nanna entered the room and smiled.
Ilona appeared a vision of loveliness; the green overdress made her eyes stand out and dance in the light.
Rathnon would be pleased with how lovely Ilona looked.
Nanna and Helga left, as there were other women who needed help to dress for the feast. Ilona paced across the length of the chamber.
Her heart trembled in her chest at the momentous decisions that would affect the rest of her life—at least until she could escape.
Ilona opened the door to her room and looked outside, surprised to see a guard posted outside her door.
Once again, Rathnon has prevented me from leaving my room and the fortress. Infuriating man.
A short time later, there was a knock on the door, and Ilona answered it.
Rathnon stood before her, having bathed and dressed. He entered the chamber, and his eyes lit up as he gazed at how beautiful Ilona looked in Viking dress. But then she would be beautiful in anything—or nothing at all.
“Ye look beautiful, Ilona. I will escort ye to the hall, where ye will meet the king and queen of our country at the feast. Afterward, it will be decided who will be wed to each other.”
Ilona smiled and nodded to him. She thought he must be telling her about the feast and what would transpire at the feast and afterward. She would find out in due course.
Rathnon took her hand and led her down a long hall to a stone staircase, which they descended to the first floor.
The great hall appeared transformed while she slept.
Benches and furs were set against the walls on both sides of the long hall.
Fire torches burned against the walls, glinting off fierce weapons hanging from the stone.
A fire burned in a massive hearth at the end of the room.
A sizable table was set along a section of the wall with large carved wooden chairs.
Additional tables with candles and benches covered the wide expanse of the space.
Several benches were occupied by women Ilona recognized from her voyage, but all had been transformed. Viking men sat across from the women. As a couple seated together, Ilona and Rathnon were the exception, and she wondered why.
While she sat quietly next to Rathnon, who towered over her, Ilona observed his dress more closely.
He wore a finely woven linen tunic in moss green and embroidered with a thick band of silver thread along the V-neck.
The tunic pulled taut over his muscled chest and the bulging biceps and triceps of his arms. Rathnon wore this tunic over darker green pants, and a bronze cuff circled his forearm.
A leather necklace with a bronze medallion that had rune designs on it hung around his neck.
A thick leather belt tied around his waist sheathed a hunting knife. The handle was made of horn.
Rathnon appeared a powerful warrior tonight with symbols and amulets of power and strength.
The great hall for feasting soon filled up.
Ilona wondered how many people the hall held, as it seemed to be full to bursting tonight.
Serving lasses poured ale into horn cups for the men at the high table and throughout the spacious hall before the king and queen arrived.
Rathnon leaned over and said, “The king’s name is H?akon H?konnsson and he and his wife will arrive soon. ”
The king, H?akon H?konsson, and his wife entered the hall in their fine clothes.
The king and queen’s clothes were more richly embroidered, and they wore silver medallions and armbands.
The people cheered the king and queen and toasted with their ale cups.
The king remained standing to address everyone in the hall, while his subjects sat.
It appeared to Ilona the king welcomed his men home from their successful raids.
The raids enriched his coffers, added to their livestock and goods for trade, and brought many lovely women to be wed to those seeking wives.
The men cheered at the end of the king’s speech.
Lads and lassies hurried to the high table, brought wooden trenchers of meats and vegetables, and distributed them quickly among the tables.
Others walked through the seating areas and poured more ale from metal pitchers, replenishing cups as they walked.
Rathnon and Ilona shared a trencher, and he cut meat with his knife for her to eat with her fingers.
He glanced over and smiled at her as they ate.
Ilona tasted a few morsels of the food, too anxious to eat, nae kenning her fate at the hands of the king.
She pushed the trencher to Rathnon and shook her head, indicating she did nae want more food.
She rubbed her palms down her dress, needing to do something with her hands.
Ilona drank more ale, hoping it would soothe her nervousness.
Lads and maids collected the trenchers, refilled glasses, and carried baskets heaping with fresh plums. Rathnon took three plums and gave one to Ilona.
“Takk,” and she ate her juicy plum, careful not to get any juice on her dress. Rathnon smiled benevolently at Ilona and pocketed a plum in his pants pocket while eating the other.
The hall quieted as a man with silver hair stood proud and erect in front of the high table.
He read off the name of a man who stood when he heard his name read, and then a woman’s name who stood.
A man came and collected the woman and led her to sit beside the man whose name had just been read.
Several names were read slowly in succession, and Ilona strained to hear her name called.
She shivered beside Rathnon. He held her hand and rubbed her back to try to soothe her.
Then Rathnon stood when he heard his name called and pulled Ilona to stand beside him.
Soon, shouts rang out in the hall. Several Viking men were protesting.
Rathnon stood poised and confident in their midst. He had the king’s blessing for his union with Ilona, but the king could not interfere if another man challenged him to combat.
Ilona recognized two men from their sailing vessel. The men must nae be happy Rathnon would marry. Is the king forcing Rathnon to marry me?
Rathnon glared at the other men. “I found this woman and studied her before I took her. I captured her, brought her to our ship, and cared for her during our voyage. This woman is well-suited to be my wife, and I will protect her well. I have participated in many raids to bring wealth to the king and our land. I have brought many women for the men to take as wives. But Ilona I claim as mine. I will fight and win against any man in combat who seeks her as their wife.” His right hand clenched the hilt of his sword.
The men shouted more vitriolic speeches and approached the table where the king sat in judgment. Filled with trepidation and not kenning the stakes, Ilona stood and walked to stand in front of the king and queen. After she bowed, she addressed them.
“Please do not force Rathnon to marry if he does not wish it. I have seen he is a noble and honorable man, and I’m sure a great warrior for ye and yer clan.
I saw how well Rathnon commanded his men.
He cared not only for his warriors but ensured the care of the women, especially during the storm at sea.
Please do not force him to marry me. It is clear the men do nae want him to marry me so he can continue to command them in battle and on the seas.
“I will do any work ye require. I do nae want him to be forced to marry me, but that ye honor his request to ye.” Ilona curtsied and looked straight at the king, who smiled at his wife as he translated.
The queen grinned at her too. That the king understood Gaelic and did nae need an interpreter surprised Ilona.
Bewildered, she did nae ken what else to do to aid Rathnon.
He should nae be faulted for his kindness to me.
The king stood and translated what she had said to the men. Rathnon appeared calm, but a telltale crease showed between his brows until the king translated. He admired Ilona’s courage in speaking to the king, supporting what she thought he wanted. His tense shoulders relaxed slightly.
“Lass, yer selflessness and concern for others does ye credit, as does yer bravery. These men are nae asking for Rathnon to remain a single warrior. They wish to challenge him to combat and wish to marry ye. What do ye think of that?” Witty and charming, the king possessed a sense of irony and amusement.
Ilona shuddered in horror, seeing their leering gazes directed at her. Unconsciously, she took a step next to Rathnon. “Marry me?” she said incredulously. “These men do nae even ken me, nor do I ken them. Nae.” She shook her head, rejecting them.
The king looked at the men standing before him.
“Think hard. Do ye wish to sacrifice yer lives to challenge one of the strongest warriors in our entire kingdom? State yer intentions now if ye do, and we will clear the floor for yer fight.” The men who initially challenged Rathnon’s claim to Ilona remained silent.