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Mac K and Em
message 101:
by
Mac
(new)
May 05, 2017 05:55AM
"Alright, I think you would look very good in that. Don't forget to look for a coat, pants and a few shirts as well." He told her to make sure she got the attire she needed. "Also don't forget about the seeds and anything else you may need. Just let me know." He told her kindly.
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She looked at him a little shocked but nodded softly "yes lord." She said to him then stepped into the booth, looking at what they had to offer before she tried on many pieces of clothing.
"Perfect." He replied as she looked at clothes and garments. "Try on a few if you like, I wish you to be comfortable in them if you want." He said as she continued looking.
She tried on piece after piece then walked back over to him once she was finished. "I may purchase these?" She asked him and showed him a small handful of garments.
"Of course. But you have no coat. Spring is coming but it still gets cold. Won't you please get a coat as well?" He told her in a kind and gentle voice. He knew she was nervous and knew he would just have to earn her trust little by little.
She smiled gently when she looked at him again. "There was no coat I liked." She said "may I view another booth after this one?" She asked him, hoping it would be ok.
"Of course, that would be ok." He said to her. He bought the garments she brought to him and the continued on to the next booth. The market was busy today, but it had a pleasant air to it. "Any booths catching your eye?" He asked gently.
She shuffled quickly to catch up with him as they walked through the market, she continued to feel like people were watching her, she shouldn't be there. Should she? When he asked her a question she snapped back into reality. "Excuse me? Oh.. yes this booth." She said and showed him one ahead
"Alright, perfect. Don't hesitate to let me know if you like something." He told her. He glanced around and noticed the people at the market were throwing glances at Ingrid. He really hoped he wouldn't no one would start a fuss. He saw a woman briskly walk away from the market. If she goes and gets her husband, this could be some bad news. He told none of this to Ingrid as to not scare her, and continued on with her to the booth.
She looked at him again and smiled slightly then walked into the booth, looking at what there was to offer. She found a coat that she liked and tried it on again. "I like this." She said to him as he was looking around "lord?"
"Ah, perfect! Anything else you would like?" He asked. But as he asked, he noticed 3 men asking around the market and a man motioned in their direction. It could be anything he thought, surely they wouldn't make such a fuss over his servant. Then again, she was prettier than all the girls in the town so maybe they got jealous. Besides, if it came to it, Mareth was a skilled fighter and would be able to handle them if he needed to. He still said nothing and waited as Ingrid looked around the booth, checking if there was anything else she might want.
Ingrid looked around the booth a little more then shook her head gently "no thank you lord." She said to him. "Seeds? For your garden." She said so if anyone heard they would believe it was his garden and she was doing as told, being a servant and attending to his garden. She noticed in the distance men question those around them and hoped it wasn't for them. She didn't want to be caught doing something wrong if she was
He nodded and payed for the coat and a few seeds for the garden. As they were exiting the booth and heading back to his cottage, the men spotted them and started towards them. He knew what was coming. He turned to Ingrid and said, "whatever you do, stay behind me." He said quickly. "Mareth! What have we here? Is this you new servant whore?" The biggest man said to a round of chuckles to his buddies. "Sir, please step aside before you addendum me and my maid." He replied. He tried to move forward but they blocked him. "Why don't you lend us your maid for a little bit?" Said the man. "Get out of my way." Growled Mareth. In a flash the large man drew a sword. "Your mistake." Said Mareth as he pulled his own from his sheath. The large man charged him, Mareth met him and deflected the blade rather than blocking it and sliced open the mans thigh with a quick move. As the first fell, the two men on the side moved in. They swung at the same time and he deflected one and attempted to dodge the other, but suffered a nasty cut on his arm. He disarmed the man whose blade he deflected and stuck him in the leg. One more. The man swung and Mareth ducked, spinning with his sword held out as he did so, slicing the last mans shins. It was over quick and the market was staring at him. He was a respected sword fighter and these people knew it. "Come, it is time for us to go." He said to Ingrid.
Ingrid looked at mareth and the men behind him before he pushed her back. "Lord? What is this?" She asked, she they began to make remarks and demands she was getting rather worried about it all. As the fight broke out she gasped and began yelling at them to stop though she could hear around her the Vikings were cheering on the fight. She was certainly worried about, what was going to happen to her. Once it finished she looked at mareth quickly, still frightened. "We can not leave them there." She said but he was already pulling her away back to his hut.
"They are fine, I gave them no mortal wounds, I only caused them pain. I am well aware of how heartless it may seem to you but I'm afraid it is for the best. They will not be messing around with you or I anymore, nor will the townsfolk. I'm sorry for the inconvenience but it is best for us to get home." He replied quickly, hauling her new clothes into his hut and laying them on her bed. He came back to his kitchen and He took off his shirt and grabbed some whiskey. The cut on his arm he had suffered was deep and he needed to stitch it up. He took a swig of the liquor, and then poured it on his cut gritting his teeth. He grabbed a needle with thread on it and began his tedious task of stitching himself. Ingrid had not moved from the door shocked from all the events. He was sorry he could not comfort her, but he needed to stop the bleeding.
Ingrid stood frozen in the door way, she was still in shock and trying to believe or think about what had happened. She really hoped they were not in any danger now or ever, all she hoped for was some sort of life here, even if she was a servant or .. if needed to become a whore but she wished not. She finally snapped herself out from her trance and walked over to mareth, she took the needle and thread from him, stitching his arm up for him. "You best not do this." She said
She took the needle from him and stitched his arm. He was impressed by how well she did it. When he finished, he sat back in his chair and relaxed a bit. "Thank you Ingrid. I am sorry you had to witness that, but I was not about to let those men take you. They would not have been kind to you. And you may be relieved to know, no one else will come around messing with us. They now know just exactly who they will be dealing with. Are you ok?" He asked gently. Her face was still shocked and he could tell that the fight in the market had made her scared.
She stitched his arm up slowly and carefully, staying quiet as she focused. When she was complete she moved back, looking at him gently she nodded, she was scared, she was afraid. "I wish my family were here." she said with a soft sob. "I do not belong here. The men want me for my body. I am not viking. I am saxon." She told him as she softly sobbed
He hung his head. What she had said was one hundred percent true. He felt terrible. He got up and went to her and unsure of what to do, he gave her a hug, holding her as she sobbed. "I truly am sorry. I know the way you feel. When I was a little boy, my village was raided by Vikings as well. One saw me in my crib and did not have the heart to kill me, so instead, he took me home and raised me. I know what you are feeling now, your sense of loss, loneliness. I am sorry you experience these things, but I know how you feel. This is why I am considered an outsider amongst my people. Why I do not look like them." He told her soothingly. She continued to sob and he continued to hold her and comfort her as best he could.
Ingrid sobbed before wiping her eyes clear of the tears, she looked at him gently as she pulled back from his hug "thank you lord, I am sorry i cry." She said to him, she listened to his life "you were born no viking?" She asked him
"It is ok to cry, do not fret. And, no I was not. I was taken very young and raised by Vikings. I became a warrior in my teens because I felt I needed to prove myself to my people. I learned how to fight, but in a different way then my comrades. I learned to use speed and agility to my advantage. But no, I was not born a Viking. Thus my status in this town as an outsider." He told her.
She nodded softly, taking a seat at the table once again. "May I sit?" She asked him, he was her lord, she would not to anything without his permission. "Will I become a Viking?" She asked him
"Yes, of course you may sit. And, that is up to you. I'm sure once you have been with me for a while, you would be allowed to get a job as a normal citizen, and maybe even get married off to someone, but for now, I'm afraid you are considered my servant." He replied, taking a seat as well.
She nodded softly when she looked at him again, listening and understanding "I must thank you, lord." She said softly to him, smiling "you saved my life."
"It was my pleasure. Are you happy with the clothes you got from the market? I thought you looked great." He told her. "Also, I thought that because you don't have any belongings and you have been such a delight, I got you a gift. He had slyly snuck off to get it while she was looking at clothes. He produced a small, silver locked from his chest pocket. "I thought you might like it and it would make official your life here, as it is your first possession here." He told her, smiling kindly.
"I do like my clothing, lord, thank you." She said to him for his kind generosity, when he began to get the gift out she was curious, why had he gotten her a gift? She looked at the locket he had given her and smiled softly "thank you, lord. Thank you," she said to him happily "it is an honour." She said
"It is my pleasure." He replied as she put it on. She was very pretty and the Locket looked great on her. He realized he was staring and quickly looked away, blushing a little. Then he said, "well, you should go put your clothes away and I'll make us some lunch, how does lamb and greens sound?" He asked pulling out a piece of cured meat.
She looked st the locket and smiled happily before putting it around her neck, she then looked at him again as he suggested her to put her clothes away: she nodded softly "yes lord." She said, rushing off to do as instructed.
When they finished lunch, Mareth sat down. He didn't have much to do as soldiers were free to do as they pleased when at home, so he was bored and could see Ingrid did not like sitting around doing nothing. So he asked her, "do you like nature Ingrid? There is a beautiful meadow about, Oh, an hour away that I could show you. The wild flowers are in full bloom, and the tree in the center is just beginning to bud. If we put on coats it shouldn't be too cold. Would you like to go see That?" He asked.
Ingrid looked across at mareth as she was cleaning up, it was her role to clean was it not. "You are asking me to go out with you?" She questioned, meaning he was asking her to go some place with him rather than stay and work, slave away. It was kind, she smiled softly "I would like it."
He blushed a little, which was weird for him because it had been many years since that last happened. "Uh, yeah, cool. I'll help you finish the cleaning and then we can go. I only have one mount, but he will do just fine." He said as he wiped down the table. Once they had everything cleaned he asked, "are you ready?"
She was quick to clean up the area, begging him not to help, she did not want him to be mad if she disobeyed him accidentally one time. And she was his slave now. When he spoke about the horse she thought she would have to walk, it was odd to her for a viking to treat her that way but he had said he was not born a Viking.
She insisted that he not help her clean and he thought he heard a hint of nervousness in her voice. When they were finished, they got on their coats, and went to his horse. He mounted his steed and when Ingrid did not mount behind him, he said to her, "come on up behind me, It will be faster if you do not walk." She then swung up behind them and he flicked the reigns. Out of the village he went, to the north, where his special spot awaited him.
Ingrid looked up at mareth when he mounted the horse and insisted she mount with him, she was still resistant but finally agreed, getting up with him she held on tightly and they were off again.
It was about a 45 minute ride, and for some reason, he could not shake an unmistakable warm feeling that came from ingrid holding on tightly as they rode. Mareth was confused by this and so he wasn't much good for conversation during the ride. When they got there, Mareth heard Ingrid inhale sharply at the beauty that lay before her. Gentle rolling hills covered if wild flowers were thick in the field and at the center, a budding tree sat, the beginning of life, creeping into its branches as new buds sprouted along them. He got down and then lifted Ingrid off of the horse. "This is the place where I like to clear my head. I believe I am the only one who knows about it, but now you do too. Someday when I am done with my service to the Vikings, I wish to move here." He told her longingly.
She was in completely awe as she looked at the beauty of nature surrounding her, it was simply spectacular, everything was stunningly beautiful. "It's beautiful, it's really something special." She said when she looked at him again. "I am honoured to be here." She assured him
"It is nice to be able to take someone here. Never have I showed this to anyone, but I thought you might like it." He replied, looking at her face as it gazed over the field. Her hair was being buffeted by the wind and she looked amazing standing next to him. She glanced at him and he realized he was staring and quickly averted his gaze.
Ingrid smiled happily, for once during this short new life she had, she finally felt somewhat at home, the nature around her of rolling hills and wild flowers reminded her of where she was once lived and a place she once visited herself. She turned her glance towards him, giggling gently as he quickly looked the other way though she said nothing
Mareth and Ingrid sat in the field admiring its beauty. Mareth then got a thought and asked her, "did you have a husband, or someone special, back home? I mean not to bring back bad memories, I am just curious." Studying her reaction to make sure he had not crossed any borders.
She looked at him after he disturbed the peace and quiet for a small conversation, she smiled gently when looking at him, surprised though. "No, lord. I did not." She said quietly
"Well I must say, I am a bit surprised, a girl as pretty as yourself is usually married at your age." He said truthfully. He really was surprised she hadn't been married to anyone, how could that be? He could find no flaw with her, as none had presented itself in her yet.
She looked at him with a gently blush and soft shrug. "Well I never was, my father knew my feeling towards an arranged marriage." She said to him
"Ah, I understand. Um, well, because you are mine, men will probably ask me to marry you to them. I shall absolutely refuse any offer unless there is one you wish to take. Just, let me know when you find him I guess." He said awkwardly, kind of embarrassed to be having this whole conversation, but he figured it must be had.
She smiled softly and nodded as he spoke about marrying her off, but with her permission. She gently leaned over, kissing his cheek "thank you, lord." She said to him then laid down in the grass and flowers. Looking up at the sky
He sat there for a second, and smiled from ear to ear after she kissed him. That's when he realized he was in trouble. He had feelings for this girl. Well this is not good. Not good at all. He was going to have to marry her off to some guy someday that she actually liked, and then where would he be. He shook his head and decided not to think about it. He lay next to her, looking up at the sky,mwhich was beautifully streaked with clouds.
She glanced over at him, smiling gently, he was so much nicer than she expected from anyone. She wondered if there were any other men a nice as him around her? It wouldn't be right if she were to marry her lord was it?
"Some days, after battles that were particularly brutal. I used to come out here and just lay in the field all day. Letting the nature and beauty soak the horrid memories of war from my mind." He said, almost as if he were in a trance, mesmerized by the swirling clouds above him. "Someday Ingrid, I'll stop fighting. I hate it so. I was young and foolish when I started, and I have never been able to stop. It seems to follow me, to haunt me." He said mournfully.
Ingrid looked back up towards the clouds floating above them, moving across the sky gracefully. "You are not to stop." She assured him softly "it is in your blood." She said quietly, her eyes still on the clouds. "A Viking fights, you are a Viking."
"Am I? I live on the outskirts of the village and am avoided by most of the townsfolk. When I fight, I do not kill, I maim. They fight so much, and I follow them because that's all they taught me. Could I not have become a writer? Or a builder? Instead of a soldier? No, I guess you're right, I couldn't have. I do like my village, and in times of war, I protect it. I guess it is just the raids I have grown tired of." He said almost wistfully. After a moment of silence, he glanced at ingrid, who looked like she was thinking deeply on a matter.
Ingrid was listening but also thinking deeply as she looked at the sky and the clouds. Was he really that different from all the other Vikings? She didn't know much about mareth but so far she could see he was different, he was much nicer and kinder, he seemed to care about her after what had happened. But was it real? Would he really take care of her? She hoped so, she liked him a little, for helping her.
