Chapter 6 Strange Woman

• ****************************NEW PAGE
• The young boy ran to Baldr who was just coming back from prison, "Baldr, why is locked up? She isn't evil. She saved my sister's life and my own life."
• "Take me to your village Lukas." He and the young boy left for the stables outside for the trip to the small village that wasn't that far away. Elsa crept out of her room headed to the servant's quarters and with Leah's help, gathered a few things for the strange woman. Elsa grabbed a bottle of meade and then hurried down to where the prisoners were kept. The guards had already taken some of the prisoners to either work the land if they wanted to eat or for those, who were already found guilty of stealing from the Chieftain, were already killed. Elvinia wished she at least had her pack heard the door to the cells being opened. She has left her because she figured she was a flight risk and they were right to assume so, too. It was to her surprise that she saw the little girl that she had saved with another female with a basket filled to the brim with food. Elsa put everything where the woman could grab it without having to open the door, Elsa saw that the maiden wasn't that much older than she was however Elsa could see the look in the stranger's eyes that she wasn't an average woman. Her eyes showed she had seen many things and Elsa knew in her soul that this strange woman there was something ancient about her. Elsa didn't stay long as she and the young girl left before anyone saw them in there and would report her to her father. Elvinia grabbed the basket and her drink and went over to the corner of her cell. She ate while taking everything in, once she knew that no one else was in there, she clicked on her wrist device, to see the locking mechanism. Once she saw how to unlock her chains, she began working with the bone she hoped would be able to unlock before anyone came back in here. A few times she had to stop working with the locks because guards came in to see her and of course, they would make some kind of remark that she could only guess was insulting but after they left she went back to working on her lock until the bone broke but at least she was able to get one cuff off.
• She looked around the floor, searching for another bone or something but none were useful to her plight. She began pulling on the bars until frustration got the better of her and again she paced thinking of another solution. Clicking on her wrist device scanning her cell, till a smile crossed her face. She began kicking the lower half of the bar until the bar was giving way. Once she was able to get the bar to loosen she began working on the shackles around her ankles. She was getting the hell out of dodge one way or another.
• The chieftain Ingemar was making sure those who were to be beheaded were taken care of as the other prisoners were working in the field with armed guards of course. Elsa's job for today was to show Beadu around right after breakfast while the chieftain wanted to find out about the strange woman. Viggo told his father that Baldr went to check out the village where the children said that had been attacked. Ingemar sent out messengers to the other villages that were part of the Hold warning that it was no longer safe outside the Hold's wall and that the people needed to come in until the monster's infestations were taken care of. He didn't want to see the woman yet for already it was going to be one of those days, he had hoped Baldr would be around so that he could hear the new proposal but Baldr was gone and Ingemar was now having to wait for him to come back. Baldr had the boy stay on the horse while he investigated the area. The village looked worse than a battlefield. There were no survivors and he saw firsthand the creatures that were slain by the maiden. "Come on. We are not alone right now. They are watching us."
• "How do you know this?"
• "Silence means death, we need to get back."
• Word had already gotten out that there were more attacks, and there was more to come. When Baldr and Lukas came back there were more villagers as they were being directed where they were going and where they were needed to help reinforce the walls. Baldr reported to Ingemar about the fallen village and brought in one of the slain creatures, "We cannot fight this battle ourselves, father."
• ****************************NEW PAGE
• Ingemar along with his advisors and his guards were in the council room with Baldr and Viggo and the captain of the guards. Baldr was reporting what he had seen and every one of them saw the creature that Baldr had brought in.
• "These are not the only ones that have been attacking the villages across the shores, but over the last few months we have seen markings of trolls and other creatures and our weapons have not stopped them."
• Ingemar listened to everyone bickering back and forth about they may have to run from the lands that were now cursed. Baldr stood up for his size alone and said volumes, "Then after that, and the curse spreads where would we go then? We do have to find a way to stop these creatures, the maiden was able to slaughter them. We could use her help."
• Ingemar stood up, "NEVER! Tonight we endure whatever comes our way, and make the preparations for our journey to Sten Berg."
• The Thane went and gave the orders for they were to prepare for tonight, for the sound of battle was heard, tonight would tell the tale of who would live to see the morning's light. Even the children were helping prepare for the night, and though many were afraid of what was coming, none said anything though. What could be said about creatures that are nearly impossible to kill? Down below, Elvinia worked on her shackles but outside she could see that the people here were preparing for war. Breaking through her chains and shackles now she was getting closer to her freedom. She didn't hear Lukas coming in as he had her things just as Baldr had ordered him to do. Outside the walls, the winds blew but there was no sound of any kind, there were no birds or anything as everyone prepared for whatever came their way. In the distance, the creature with horns watched for the woman that was taken by her captors. The horned creature knew they had to kill the woman or else they couldn't proceed forward. He signals to release the Jotnar and the trolls that were not easily killed. Mortals didn't have the weapon to kill these creatures, so they were coming for her.
• Elvinia quickly got on her armor that she had in her pack, from her corset armor to her war skirt to her boots, and finally armed herself with her blades that were now crisscrossed on her back and her crossbows were back on her hips. She grabbed her pack and rushed out without looking behind her, she wasn't going to stay here any longer. This was her chance while everyone was occupied she slipped out and then made her way toward the tree line. The guards saw that she had escaped but before the horn could be signaled the ground trembled beneath her feet that even those behind the walls stopped yelling. Baldr came out in full armor expecting to see the female with Lukas instead Lukas pointed to where the woman was, she was running to the treeline but when the ground rumbled she and everyone else had stopped. The trees began to shake as she grabbed her blades then she heard screams, she saw a group of kids running with a woman who was carrying a child. Elvinia saw the woman trip as the crying children went back only to see wolf-like creatures coming out of the woods hurling themselves toward the fallen woman with the infant. Elvinia didn't think twice she had already been on the move before the wolf-like creatures came out, her blades had already intercepted the creatures. The fallen woman scrambled off her feet and with her infant ran to catch up with her other children. Elvinia began twisting her body maneuvering herself to avoid the gnashing of the teeth. A couple of the wolf-like creatures detached from the pack and resumed their attack by going after the group of innocents. The men behind the walls were firing fiery arrows trying to stop the creatures giving the small group a chance to get to safety. Elvinia knew the group wasn't going to make it as she grabbed her crossbows and pulled the triggers releasing the rapid speed of bolts. She held one in the direction of the creatures that were chasing the group and fired some that were still trying to get a hold of her. Elvinia switched her ammo and fired two shots then ran towards the small group. Behind her was an explosion that finished off the creatures that were coming toward her. Elvinia ran while reloading her ammo to her crossbow then fired another shot and stunned the creatures from moving, which gave the small group a chance to get to the draw bridge where they were able to get inside. Those on the wall including the chieftain and his men saw her fighting abilities. Elvinia put aside her crossbows and was about to head back out and just wanted to leave. They didn't want her here and she didn't want to be here, either. No one moved only watching her who was looking at them, she hoped that this was the moment they saw that she wasn't here to hurt anyone, only that she wanted to be on her way. Just as she was ready to make her way toward the woods, the air grew with the stench of something putrid, like a landfill of sulfur and farts from hell clashing together. She pulled up her mask that was attached to her hood though she had gotten a whiff of the odor, anything was better than nothing. Around her, the grass began to die as the green-like fog crept in. In the darkness she saw dark red eyes glaring back at her, those on the wall had their attention on something else. Trolls were barging through, they were going after the Hold's walls even though she was no longer trapped inside, their orders were to take no prisoners. Those were humans, and none were to live through the night, but the Jotnar had a special mission. Elvinia grabbed her blades because she knew the creature was there for her, something told her that this creature wanted to taste her blood. From the walls, many of the warriors were aiming their spears and arrows at the trolls but the flesh of the trolls was like steel. Should care what happened to the Hold but she knew there were children there, so she made a decision. Hurrying back to the Hold, not allowing any time to be wasted. Her blades were back on her back so that she could grab her crossbows load her ammo, and then lock it in. She took aim and though the trolls had yet to break through the Hold's walls she sent them a little present. Several devices were sent flying over to the troll and once they were released the heat coming from them began to melt through the troll's armored flesh. The Jotnar was closing in on her and with a quick swipe of his claws knocked her a few feet onto her back and then rolled until she hit the rock. Elvinia took her crossbow and sent a bolt into the creature's stomach as electrical surged through its body. She knew she cracked a few ribs, but she regained her posture and looked at the horde of trolls that were no longer trying to break through the Hold's walls but now were growling at her. Her blades glisten but she didn't take the first strike as several of the warriors came down to her aide. Baldr's battle axe cut through the wounds that were made by Elvinia giving them the chance to fight back against the horde. The Jotnar no longer being shocked as it saw the mortal coming out to fight the trolls and it was then he saw Elvinia aiming with her crossbows. With the rapid fire of her crossbows, the flesh of the creature was burning and she was running toward the beast. She placed her crossbows back onto her utility belt holsters, then grabbed for her blades. Her heart was racing like a mile a minute, but not out of fear of the creature. It was a rush she had no idea that her eyes revealed the power that flowed throughout her veins while wielding her blades as the creature snarled towards her, but she was too fast for him. Though he tried countering her moves, it, however, appeared to be useless because she proved to be a threat that he wasn't prepared to face. Though the Jotnar tried to block the blades, she kept moving not staying still for a moment, once she was on its back, she then rammed the blades deep into the creature's flesh and muscles. As the creature tried swinging her off and even trying to smash his back against anything to knock her off, instead with a swift kick to the creature's head, she sent it to his knees. Again she rammed her blade deep into the creature's spinal cord through his neck, and with the other blade, she held. She stabbed the creature into his head, and out his mouth, the blade had gone all the way through. The trolls that had come down stopped in their trails in horror for no mortal had ever killed a Jotnar, their roars sent out alarming the horned beast of the death of his mistress' son. the trolls no want to face her and knowing that Jotnar's life was lost, they ran back to where they were sent from before dawn arrived.The creature fell to the ground and with one quick thrust, she removed the creature's head off his shoulder, and with her hand, she lifted the head of the Jotnar towards the chieftain and his people. Baldr and his men stopped in their tracks for they had witnessed something that was said was impossible, a Jotnar couldn't be killed by a mortal. However right in front of them, a woman that was a stranger to their land stood in front of their chieftain and then turned to them holding a head of a creature that had lived well over a hundred years. She dropped the head and then cleaned off her blades before placing them back into their sheaths that crisscrossed her back. She was ready to head out for the message was clear to not fuck with her, instead, the Chieftain sent his Thane down and held up his hands for they all knew she didn't speak their language. He made a motion with his fingers to eat and drink here at the long house that was the center of the Hold, their leader's home. She nodded though she was weary and had no trust for them, she followed the Thane back into the hall where food was readily made considering it was a celebration going on because of the chieftain's new bride.
• ****************************NEW PAGE
• Inside the people made music with their instruments, as the bard sang songs of honor of the chieftain and his new bride. Tonight was another celebration going on, their people were saved by a woman who could have just left them to their demise, instead, she saved the merchant's family, and not one of the people of the village was killed. Elvinia ate from the meat they were serving, she could guess a few things but at the moment she was hungry and this meal was fulfilling her needs. She made sure to stay away from everyone though the others were watching her, she knew they too didn't trust her as far as they could throw her. However, she wasn't locked up and she was eating without being shackled. She drank the ale that had been poured for her, not taking a breath as she drank from her tankard. She had two more and though she had never drunk that much before, tonight she knew by dawn she would be leaving, and maybe this time she wouldn't be stopped. On the other side of the room, Baldr watched her amazed at how much she was able to put away. Viggo grabbed another fill of his tankard and one for his brother, "You have been watching her ever since we came back inside. I think you have been thunderstruck by her, or you are still thinking she is the one behind all this madness?"
• "You think too much."
• Baldr polished off his drink that was half filled before having another but his brother was smiling, "I have seen you with other women. You do not look at them as you are looking at her. You have many women here wanting to be in bed with you, but you haven't looked once at them. However, this strange woman you have yet to look away from. Either you are fantasizing about her or you think if you blink for a second she won't be there when you open your eyes again."
• Baldr struck his brother in the shoulder before walking away. Viggo was laughing though he rubbed his shoulder from where he was struck. Baldr had no intentions of being chained to anyone and to prove to himself that he wasn't falling for the young maiden, he walked up to one of the dancers, though he didn't take very long, maybe just a few minutes. He and the one female with light brown hair followed him towards the hall and Baldr was going to relieve some of his tensions. The chieftain and his bride too were leaving as did Elsa, it was just some of the men. Viggo looked over at the maiden who was watching the others, but like his brother Baldr, Viggo decided to call it a night and led a couple of the dancing women out of the room. It wasn't very long after Baldr had left that everyone else started leaving the hall and the servants were cleaning up, Elvinia grabbed her plates and tankards and brought them where the other servants were taking everything. She didn't know where she was to sleep, instead, she left the hall and went to the stables. She made a bed out of the hay that appeared to be cleaned, before she reached for her cloak she put a light blanket, that was in her pack on top of the hay. Finally, she laid down and began covering herself with her cloak, using it as her blanket. This time though, she slept with her long dagger clutched in her hands before closing her eyes. While others in the long house were with having coitus, Baldr couldn't get the maiden out of his mind. With the woman he was with, he didn't see her as herself but instead, he saw the maiden, and though he couldn't get the strange woman out of his mind, the woman he was with was enjoying everything he was doing to her but he pulled out before he could release his semen. He waited for a few minutes before he ordered the young woman she needed to go. He, however, wasn't ready for bed, and even though, it was not yet morning, he couldn't put off what he was feeling and he needed to check on the war maiden, though she was a stranger to these lands. He hoped that she would still be here and maybe she would want to stay. Another thought came to him that perhaps the maiden had already left. He didn't want to see her leave. He wanted to know more about her though he tried pushing her out of his thoughts, but he couldn't. His brother, Viggo called it and Baldr had to admit he couldn't deny how he was feeling. He put on his tunic and leather pants and went out into the hall, just as he thought the maiden had left. He was a fool to take the dancer to bed when he could've stayed out here. One of the servants who was older than the others had spent many years with Baldr's mother, she was almost like a grandmother to him. She could see he was looking for the strange maiden and she walked over to him and whispered, "She is sleeping in the stables. She doesn't know there was a room prepared for her. Here is a blanket for her, I was going to take it out there but now that you are here, you take it as a peace offering."
• He didn't say anything, he didn't like displaying his emotions for anyone to see because he had spent many years hardening his heart and keeping others from ever getting close to him. The older woman however knew Baldr, she could see the change in him ever since he laid eyes on the newcomer. "Your mother would approve. You know I was thinking of having the children teach her our language, maybe you could teach her as well."
• He walked outside towards the stables and as the older woman had stated, the newcomer was sleeping. He wasn't used to showing compassion or affection to just anyone, just his mother before she had passed away, and now only his sister saw that part of him. He unfolded the blanket and covered her but he didn't leave her side but sat down and watched her sleep. She looked much younger than his sister, but he knew that her age was hidden away in her youthful flesh. She was sleeping with peace on her face, her lips were full and her hair was fanned out. Though he knew he should go back inside, he couldn't pull away from her magnetic pull. While he debated whether to stay or to leave, she opened her eyes to see the man staring at her. She got up pretty quickly not knowing what he wanted however he raised his hands to show her he meant no ill will towards her. He pointed to himself and said, "Baldr."
• She slowly sat back down and pointed towards herself, "Elvinia."
• She had almost forgotten she was carrying the long dagger and then she looked down and saw that in her haste reaction to seeing him watching her, she had stabbed herself in the thigh. She smacked her forehead for Murphy's law had struck again with her because if anything was to happen, it always happened to her. She pulled the long dagger out of her thigh and quickly went into her bag to bandage her wounds. He came over to her side and pressed the bandage against her skin. She reached into her bag while he was helping her and got out a bottle of alcohol she kept because vodka was her favorite drink. She poured the alcohol over her wound once he lifted the bandage. Then she got the staples out but first, she burned her flesh making sure it wouldn't get infected after that she stapled her wound and he watched as her flesh was forced by the metal to seal the wound. He wondered if this was some kind of witchcraft wondering if she was a healer. He didn't know about college or understood she had taken some medical classes, not to mention her time in the Navy. He watched her and for the first time, he could see another side of her. He was very close to her and she had to admit he was very sexy like an actor, who had worked out for months to get this build, but he was not pretending to be something he wasn't. She touched his face out of curiosity though she shouldn't have because he could be promised to another or he was married. However, something about him she felt like she was right, though she knew it was best for her to leave and never look back. She had never felt this way, she didn't count on him kissing her and she didn't count on her kissing him back. Everything in her mind told her to get up and walk away and not look back was thrown to the wind, and they continued to kiss.
• ****************************NEW PAGE
• Though they stopped long enough to catch their breath, it didn't last very long, and quickly she found herself pressed against his body while he was taking off her armor till he felt her flesh. He thought at first that this was some kind of dream until he felt her nibbling on his lips. and he quickly pulled off his tunic and reached for the blanket to cover them up. Her body was like warm honey even her nipples were kissed by the sun, her breasts were full and perky, and very pleasing to his eyes. She felt his fingers gliding over her curvaceous, firm body and again he kissed her fully on her lips this time however he grabbed her by her hair and held her place though he was firm but how he dominated her body, and already her thoughts of leaving had melted away. His kiss was sensuous, his left hand rubbed her back as he heard her lightly moan. Once he had finished kissing her sultry lips, it was the way she was looking at him that aroused him even more. His right hand moved from her back then cupping her breast while he held her in place, it was as though her eyes were daring him and again another wave of passion could no longer be ignored. He wanted her as him, he wanted her like no other. He decided then and there that he was going to make her his. Their lips locked with her hands running through his hair and though she had never made love with anyone, before. Elvinia was throwing caution out into the wind, forgetting everything including her judgment and common sense. She didn't know what his intentions were and neither did she know how this was going to work between them. At this moment in his arms, she didn't want to think about the consequences that lay ahead. She however was allowing him to roam her body even after she did a stupid thing, like the accidental stabbing of herself. The last couple of days, he had been after her, and now here he was going after her differently. He didn't know why or understand this hold she had over him, he wondered at first if she truly was some sort of sorceress who bewitched him but something in her eyes told him that she too was drawn to him as well. Something about the way he kissed and touched her was almost forbidden to her which not only enthralled her, but the burning passion that seared his lips from the way and her soft touches from her fingertips sent sensations throughout his body making it harder for him to resist but he didn't want to be inside her, yet. Through his embrace, from being here in his arms and her body pressing against his body, his lips scorched her body as his lips went from her lips to her neck and he worked his way down. Her hands no longer caressing his chest or her fingers running through his chest hair, for he had moved her hands away from him and above her head. He had returned to what he was enjoying, and while his lips were kissing her nipples. His hands went down the sides of her body until she felt his fingers spreading her mound's lips apart, he started by using his finger and thumb till she felt the intensity tantalizing her in places she had never felt before. He didn't care about anyone watching all he wanted was to be inside of her, but for now, he enjoyed tasting her and feeling her smooth body against his. Her body was so smooth as his lips ventured to other places of her body, though she had scars they were very faint. He used his tongue from down her breasts and nipples, for her body trembled and wherever he kissed and licked little bumps were left behind as she shivered.