Rathnon’s Return and Surprise #2
As winter inexorably settled its white cloak about them, the days by the fire in the longhouse became cozy.
The days were shorter, the skies darker.
The morning following Rathnon’s arrival, they returned to the longhouse and Ilona resumed her work on the loom until their mid-morning meal.
Rathnon worked with the carpenter to build the second bed for their home.
As a surprise to his wife, they worked to build a rocking chair for their bairn.
Before the evening meal, Rathnon accompanied Ilona, and they purchased other items needed for their home.
They joined the others for the evening meal, with many people asking Rathnon about his travels, and he obliged them.
After dinner, Ilona and Rathnon left the longhouse for their home, carrying the purchases they had made.
Inside their home, Rathnon stoked the peat fire, adding more peat.
While he was busy, Ilona put away the items they’d purchased.
There were ceramic canisters to hold various herbs and spices, and Rathnon had purchased wooden trenchers as well as a paddle for Ilona to use to bake bread in their oven. She surveyed the items they had purchased or bartered for, content with their purchases.
Rathnon had also purchased taper candlesticks and thick candles for the lanterns. He was glad he’d had the forethought to have stacked ample supplies of peat and wood before leaving to do the king’s bidding.
Later, Ilona said, “Before the bairn is born, we need a cradle. Do ye wish to craft it yerself, or do ye want me to barter with Ivar to make it?”
“I will converse with Ivar. Let me barter my skills for what we need. Ye need to rest more; ye are tired.”
“Aye. We still need a tub for bathing and a wooden bucket. I wove for a woman who is making us bath towels in return. I ken, it will be too cold to go bathe in the loch during the winter.”
Thinking about what he could do with his wife in a large tub, Rathnon agreed. “I will find one a tub of a suitable size tomorrow, hopefully already made. I may have to ask Ivar or the blacksmith to make one for us.”
Ilona took Rathnon’s hand and, picking up the lantern, led him into the root cellar. “I want ye to ken and see what I have collected and stored here. Please let me ken if there are other items ye would like for us.”
“It appears ye have thought of everything. I do nae ken we need anything else except smoked meat and fish. I’ll talk to Ivar and see if he has barrels already made or help him make them.
Even though the longhouse has ample supplies, I ken, in case of a raid, we should also store smoked meat and fish. ”
Ilona’s face took on a worried expression with her brows drawn up in concern.
“What do ye mean?” She halted. “What do ye mean by raids here?” She had been kidnapped in a raid, which had brought her here.
Now that she had accepted her life with Rathnon and expected their first bairn, she did nae want to contemplate raids here.
Ilona did nae wish to worry that she and their bairn could be stolen from Rathnon.
Living here had begun to feel like home, especially now that Rathnon had returned to her.
Ilona did nae think she could bear being stolen and uprooted and taken away from Rathnon.
Even while far away, thoughts of him had been her anchor.
She loved Rathnon. Even though she had nae expressed those words to him, she hoped by her actions he could tell she loved him.
Their bairn needed a father as much as a mother.
If their bairn were a boy, he needed to have a father to guide him as he grew into manhood.
Back in the kitchen, Rathnon took Ilona and gently pulled her into his arms. Stroking her hair and gazing deep into her eyes, he said, “Do nae be worried. It has been many years since anyone came raiding here. The men are trained, and I am here to keep ye safe.”
“But what about when ye are nae here with me? Where do these raiders come from?”
“They come from Denmark and Sweden, but also other parts of the kingdom of Norway. Any would be utterly foolish to attempt any raiding now because of the weather. There have been none for many years. I doubt there will be in the future. They are more likely to raid closer to home. Do nae worry, love, I will guard ye close.”
To prove his words, he pulled Ilona into his arms. Picking her up, he carried her to their bed, where he showed his love with great intimacy.
Tenderly, he experimented with different positions for their lovemaking to make Ilona the most comfortable and relieve any pressure on her abdomen.
They both immensely enjoyed it when she lay on her side.
Rathnon entered her from behind, leaving his hands free to do many tantalizing things to Ilona.
As she lay asleep in his arms, Rathnon felt a small measure of relief due to Ilona’s reaction. From what she’d said to him, she did not want to be taken away from him. At least not now. But will that change in the spring?
He needed her love. He had been lonely for so long. Rathnon’s heart, filled with longing, had felt like a bell ringing in the dark night with no reply. Constantly surrounded by others on raiding journeys and in the community here was not the same as having a wife.
Now happy, he had listened keenly to what she held in her heart and had built this house for them and their family.
Rathnon, a lusty and skilled lover, enjoyed his wife moaning her pleasure in his arms and calling his name.
Unable to express the depth of his love, he used the language of physical love and tenderness to communicate the depths of his heart to Ilona.
He knew she would not have been responsive if they had been in the longhouse. The cold winter nights would be all the colder without making love to Ilona. She freely gave her body to him. Could it mean she’s forgiven me for stealing her from her home and parents?
His heart now a chorus of bells ringing in elation, Rathnon listened to her soft sighs as she slept. He finally felt his eyelids grow heavy, and he fell asleep, holding Ilona in his arms and wanting never to let her go.