Vikings Amoung Us-Closed

[ERedBoyd]

Erik just chuckled. He smiled and said, "I think... not." He let his hand move back down her back along her spine and firmly gripped her left ass cheek, then slid down her upper thigh hooking her leg to wrap it around his. His eyes were intense as he studied her as he stopped kissing. It was evident there was a hunger in the air that both could feel. He could feel the tension in her muscles, the hot breath blowing on his face, the goosebumps appearing on her arms...

"W... what is going on here?" A woman's voice said from just off to the side in the light.

Erik let Emma's leg go and they both spun to face an older woman in her 50's... holding a bucket of what looked like dinner scraps in it. She had a look of fear in her eyes and she stepped back once she saw Erik reaching for his dagger instinctively! It only stopped when he felt Emma touch his hand to calm him down... a gesture he had done to her but a moment before.

He watched her walk out of the darkness holding his hand and muttering her reassurances to the old woman. She had only been going to toss the scraps to her pigs in the back of the house. She spoke to her low and soft, then took his hand and they walked away with her giggling something to herself. Hearing her giggle really didn't go with his own set of expectations... kind of like listening to a cow whinnie like a horse. It just didn't fit.

Regardless, it was evident he would not be getting anything this night so he guided her to an empty home where when he opened the door for her to go in, she would find a passed out priest laying on a couch. He said, "You and your..." He looked past her to the priest with disbelief, said, "Party... will stay here this night. Tomorrow, we will begin working on our plans for ... wedding. Sleep well..." he watched her intensely as he took her hand and kissed the top of it. He then turned and walked back to main hall...

He was immediately greeted by two of his men... Loki... and Holku... two of his lieutenants who would end up arguing both sides of the coin. He wasn't sure she fully understand the deep seeded hatred the King had for him and it was highly unlikely any kind of arrangement would be made between himself and the King. He had done far worse to the King and all the King's men ... long before he ever met Emma or her impressive... defenses.

 

[Perplexia]

The interruption of the woman was well timed. If she hadn't Emma wasn't sure she could have stopped herself with the heat Erik had been rising in her body. Then it would have been a loss. She would have still married him, but they would have been taking a risk without that document.

Diplomacy came easy for her. She knew how to deal with the people of England, explaining softly they had just gotten engaged and were celebrating. It wasn't untrue, but the woman took a risk addressing a Viking with a question on what he was doing. She supposed the older one got the less they cared about things like their life. When she realized what he was the fear was evident though.

Emma knew they'd have to sort out things here before they could go back to her village and get married properly. The kiss upon her hand made her smile sweetly to him. He could be a good Lord, she'd risked her life coming, but her gut had told her it was her only option. She was glad that he was receptive to it.

When she said goodnight to him she addressed him as Mi Lord, as that is what he would be. When she shut the door and placed the bar across it, she looked at the priest passed out. Shaking her head she went to her room. and collapsed on the bed with a smile across her face. Everything as about to change, whether it be good or bad, at least she knew her partner was willing to share the burden. She hoped that one day he would forgive her for the death of his wife. It was war, whether it had been her or someone else standing where her arrow met, it wouldn't have mattered.

When the sun broke the next morning, Emma rose from her bed with a new hope. The priest was moaning about his head and she laughed at him for being a fool. "You are not to get drunk again till the night of the wedding" she scolded him. He held up his hand acknowledging his error. She understood that he had fear, but he would do as his lady commanded. Putting some water in the basin she wiped off the drool from the dream she had of Erik, and freshened up.

Wetting another she gave it to him "Freshen up, theres a lot of work that needs to be done today." a knock came at the door when she opened it a Viking woman stood with a covered plate of food. "Here Eat" was all she said pushing the plate at her. "thank you" Emma responded taking it, the woman turned and left and she closed the door. She wasn't sure if it was a language barrier, or if she was simply unhappy that Emma and Erik were to be wed. Either way it as fine. Taking a piece of bread she sat in a chair and ate it, along with some fruit, and gave the rest to the priest before exiting the house. Emma took a walk around looking at the village making mental notes. She checked all the points of access and shook her head, no wonder it was conquered so easily. The first thing she had to determine was where the leaders were of the village. Stopping an English woman she asked her to find out they had been killed in the raid. "Are there any descendants still alive?" "No Mi Lady, they had none left" the woman explained, "okay thank you, Emma said politely"

This meant the village could be claimed easily. She went to find Erik so they could get started with the protocol of gathering everyone, and letting them know they would now be part of her village and protected by her and her future husband. They would also need all able bodies assistance in fortifying and securing the village to prevent any more loss.

 

[ERedBoyd]

Come the morn, Erik woke up from the bed of the so called Mayor's home. When his men first came to this village, they had quickly overtaken any pity resistance they had had but even that little resistance had resulted in the Mayor himself being killed at his own hand. He had then turned his attention to the middle aged wife and two sons. He had slain all three. He had also slain the Captain of the guard in this town and his family as well when they had been presented to him. After that, any thoughts of resistance died off. It had been a message he had to deliver to these villagers that resistance would be met with harsh punishment.

He scratched his crotch as he walked to the basin and washed his face. His dreams had been a bit unusual as they had involved Emma... except they were fighting each other... a sword fight that was monumental that all had to stop and watch till it was complete. He had no idea who had actually won that fight and realized it probably didn't matter. She knew how to use a sword in techniques that could benefit his fighters.

As he slid his sword back on, his attention was drawn to the sounds of men screaming out in anger! He turned and headed from the mayor's home along with his honor guard and found the yelling was happening at the front gates of the village. As he drew close, he noted 8 men carrying bows, swords and axes were at the gate ready to fight a group of his men. Some of the villagers also gathered looking alarmed.

"What is this happening?" Erik said as he spotted Emma off a ways walking towards the group.

One of his men said, "See the big man there... " He pointed to the tallest thickest man in the bunch. The man had brown hair and a thick brown beard. He was wrapped in furs and carried a thick ax on his shoulder. He was talking with one of the women who was crying onto his arm!

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Erik said, "Yes... I see him... what about him?"

"He is the brother of the Mayor. The man who led this group. Those men were out on a hunting expedition." One of his men said. It snapped into place very quickly as that big name known as Marcus turned his eyes towards Erik. The man was in a rage for him killing his younger more pathetic little brother. When the woman next to him pointed directly towards Erik and then said something to him, Marcus eyes grew wide in rage and he raised his axe off his shoulders and shouted, "YOU!!! You MURDERED my BROTHER!!! I will see you DEAD!!!"

Erik smiled, pulled his own sword from the sheath calmly. Big men were always over confident not realizing they are just easier targets to a talented swordsman. He began to walk towards the gate and the outraged man with his hunting party. It was then... that Emma seemed to appear out of no where....

 

[Perplexia]

Emma moved quicker then she ever had with the hand on the hilt of her sword standing between Erik and Marcus. "Marcus Martin! Put that sword away. Do you know who I am."

"I know who you are Lady Emma, but he killed my brother."

"Things happen in battle Marcus, death occurs on both sides. But you going off half cocked based on emotion is not the way to go about that. This village was rightfully conquered by King Erik. It will be soon merged with my village, and King Erik and I are to be married. Now. You will bow down on one knee and pledge your sword and loyalty to your new Lord. Or so help me I will cut you from toe to nose. Do not test me boy. Be glad that it is me standing here giving you a choice. Don't even let it enter your head that he needs me to protect him from you. I'm protecting you from him."

Her sword skills were widely known and feared by many of men. There had been some that had come begging to be trained by her so they could teach others, and she declined. If they were not willing to be party of her community, then she wasn't going to give them the benefits she share with a few.

"How could you marry a barbarian?" he asked with a drip of disgust. "Would you not say that I am a warrior?" she asked him confidently "Well yes of course Lady Emma" he replied without hesitation. "Would it not make sense that I would wish to marry one?" "Well Yes Lady Emma but.he.." "Did you not kill one of your fellow villagers not two years past because he wronged you."

"That was pardoned because..." "Because you were the brother of the Lord of this village? How is that fair to the family of that man? Yet they abided by their Lords decision. Well he is now your Lord, Bow down."

The crowd started murmuring as the men in his party started getting on one knee. It took him a minute to get it through his thick skull and he too followed.

Emma turned and walked away leaving Marcus and his men kneeling before King Erik.