Tears of Amber

Chapter 2 Angel Slumbers

       Randver and two of his warriors hunted deer in the woods when they happened upon a maiden alone and weeping.  It was not in his character to leave a helpless woman alone in the woods, so he sent his men to offer aid.  Her beauty struck him as he watched her weep on the forest floor.  Her gentle cries tore at him in a way he had never experienced before.  He was overwhelmed with the urge to comfort her.  He wanted to free her from whatever pain held her prisoner.     

               He didn’t know exactly what it was about her that stirred him so deeply.  Her beauty was glorious.  Her hair was so bright the pale ivory mass could make the sun jealous with envy.  When she heard his men approach she regarded them with open rage.  Even from a distance he could see the sharp hatred in her eyes.  What about his men did the girl find so vile?    

Her eyes, oh yes, her eyes.  What a fiercesome sight to behold.  Never in his life had he seen such a striking pair of eyes.  To say they were blue wouldn’t even begin to do the color justice.  They were the exact color of the frigid arctic sea.  The great ice masses that inhibited the water gave it a distinct color, and that was what her eyes looked like, two icy pools of seawater.

               Though she appeared to be a woman lost in the woods, warrior goddess was a more accurate description for the hellcat who turned on them so violently.  Still enthralled by her beauty, he couldn’t believe she actually engaged his men in battle.  To further injure the pride of his two most able warriors, she actually managed to leave a nasty gash on Eric’s arm.  Thankful for the tree that landed in her path as she escaped, he stared at the now unconscious girl on the forest floor.  Even covered in dirt and leaves she was the most breath-taking woman he had ever seen.  Who was this mysterious creature, and what brought her to the woods?  His second-in-command, Braggi walked to his side.  Soon after Eric made his way over with his bloody arm in a fresh bandage.  Braggi was the first to speak.

               “That’s the last time I try to help this maid.”

               Randver chuckled at the warrior’s surly tone.

               “She put up an admirable fight.  Too bad she didn’t understand we only meant to help her.”

               “Her mind must be addled if she thinks we meant her harm.  Common sense would tell her that we could have easily taken her by surprise.”

               Randver shook his head, “You’re right, but she was obviously distraught when we stumbled upon her.  I doubt she was thinking very clearly.  I guess you’re loosing your touch with women, Braggi.  I thought no woman was immune to your sweet face.”

               Braggi puffed his chest up as he defended himself.

               “Maybe women in this part of the world fear our kind.  I shall have to try and persuade her with my charm when she comes around.  She’s quite fetching while she sleeps.”

               Jealous fire flashed through Randver’s veins.

               “You’ll do no such thing.”

               Braggi laughed at him.

               “Oh ho, I see, you think maybe you are a better man for the job.”

               He would only tolerate a jest at his expense from someone as close to him as Braggi.

               “You know I’m the better man for the job.”

               Before the jesting continued Eric joined the conversation.

               “Who do you think she is?  Her dress is plain, but it’s made of good quality material.  Do you think she’s important?”

               Randver answered, “Why would a woman of important birth roam the woods alone?  If she has nice clothes it’s probably because her master values her beauty.”

               Braggi laughed, “You’re right about her beauty, but still I think you’re going to have your hands full.”

               Randver motioned to her supple chest.

                “Having my hands full might not be such a bad thing.”

               Eric laughed at Braggi, who in return pointed to Eric’s arm.

               “What are you laughing at?  She nearly chopped off your arm.”

               The smile faded from Eric’s lips as he countered.

               “It’s barely a scratch.  Besides, what type of woman carries a sword and knows how to use it?”

               Randver pondered Eric’s question before he answered.

               “It’s not much of a sword.  Barely a glorified knife.  Although, you might be right about her birth.  Peasants don’t have treasures such as swords.  Especially swords with jewels on the hilt.”

               Eric and Braggi shrugged their shoulders at the same time.

               “So what do we do with her?”

               He bent down and scooped the lovely maid into his arms.

               “We can’t leave her bloody and wounded on the forest floor.  We bring her back to the ship with us.  She’ll be under my protection until we find out who she is.”

               Braggi jeered Randver once more.

               “She’ll be under you, alright.”

               “Enough Braggi.”

               With his terse dismissal, Braggi and Eric gathered their things and made their way to their horses.  Randver walked with the girl to his great horse.  She was such a peaceful looking creature in her sleep.  Long wheat colored lashes framed her closed eyes.  Upon closer examination she seemed to well kept to be a servant.  Her hair smelled faintly of roses.  No lowborn serf would have access to scented soap or perfume.  She was definitely well born, or meant something to someone important. 

               As he settled in atop his horse with her, Eric made his way over with her beast.  The hulking horse rivaled his own.  Even unconscious he felt himself starting to like the little warrior goddess who slept in his arms.  She carried a sword, rode a horse that most men would envy, and fought with everything she had when she felt threatened.  Courage was something Randver admired and this girl had plenty of it.

               They took the girl and her horse back to their long ship.  The men aboard the ship were obviously surprised to find their fierce captain carried a girl as he boarded.  He ignored the questions of his men as he made his way below deck.

               He took the girl to his quarters and locked her in his room.  He sent one of his men to see to her wounds while he explained her presence to his crew.  He saw the wary eyes of his men and knew they questioned his decision to bring a woman aboard his ship.

               “The girl you saw board this vessel is to be left alone.  As of now, she is under my protection.”

               Since he did not know her name or where she came from he didn’t bother with any further explanation.  Just the fact that he had declared that she was under his protection would be enough to guarantee her safety aboard his ship.  His men obeyed him because they respected him. 

               Once her wounds were tended, he posted a man outside the door to alert him when she awoke.  They forced a powerful pain potion down her throat so he knew she would sleep for hours.  They had only stopped their ship long enough to hunt fresh game.  He knew it was a bad idea to take her from her homeland, but he didn’t have a choice.  They needed to reach their destination before winter set upon the land.  Randver had his crew sail once again.

               They were nearly to the mouth of the sea when a man came to fetch him.

               “She’s awake, sir.  She won’t speak, and she tries to fight me every time I get near her to check the wound on her head.”

               Randver didn’t allow himself to show the surprise he felt.  Despite her injuries still the maiden tried to fight.  Mayhap she didn’t understand their tongue and that caused her fear.  Hopefully she understood one of the five languages he spoke.

               “I’ll go and see to her when I’m finished on deck.  Leave her a plate of food, and keep her locked in the room.”

               “Aye, sir.  Right away,” and with that the man left to do his bidding.

               He finished giving orders to the men rowing the long ship and made his way below deck to his quarters.  No discernable sounds came from inside the room.  He pressed his ear against the door and listened more closely.  Still no hint of a sound escaped his chamber.  He carefully removed the lock from the door and eased it open.  He didn’t want to wake her if she had fallen back asleep.  Nothing could have prepared him for what happened next.

               As he gingerly tried to ease the door open it was forcefully jerked out of his hands.  The captive girl slammed the door against him and ran past him in a whirl of fabric.  Stunned by her actions it took him a split second to react.  She was several feet down the hall when fear struck him.  What if she was frightened enough to try and jump overboard?  The water would be frigid and he doubted she could swim against the strong current.

               He raced down the hall, but didn’t quite manage to catch her before she burst onto the deck.  Randver stumbled out onto the deck after her.  Her silky hair whipped about her face as she turned her head side-to-side looking for a possible escape.  He watched her freeze with what he could only guess was fear.  For a moment she looked like an alabaster statue.  Creamy skin, and flawless features completely still with shock.  Her icy blue eyes gazed at the crew.  She drew in a sharp breath, he braced him self for a terrified scream, but instead she collapsed on the deck.

               He rushed forward and scooped her into his arms.  Braggi and Eric made their way to his side.  The three of them quickly made their way bellow deck. 

               Braggi spoke first.

               “So, I see your methods of charm have no more luck than mine.”

               Randver’s ire for his friend was only abated by the stunned fear he felt for the girl in his arms.

               “I didn’t even speak to her.  I barely opened the door when she burst through it running right past me.”

               Braggi laughed, “I guess she didn’t find favor with your sweet face either, Randver.”

               He didn’t like having his own words cast back upon him.  Always the peacemaker, Eric spoke to calm his anger.

               “She’s proving to be a challenge.  Do you think her head injury caused her to collapse again?”

               Randver gently laid the girl on his bed as he spoke.

               “Truthfully, I believe she was just overcome with fear.  She probably thinks she is going to be sold as a slave.”

               Braggi boldly questioned, “What are you going to do with her?”

               “I’m going to stay here until she wakes up again, and then I’m going to try and speak to her.  If she wishes to return to her homeland then on our return trip I will bring her.”

               Braggi’s next question annoyed him with its penetrating nature.

               “Why are you so bent on helping this girl?”

               He searched his mind for an answer, but truly he didn’t have one.  His lack of an explanation pushed him to excuse his friends.

               “It’s not your job to question, Braggi.  Leave me with the girl and go tend to the deck.”

               He didn’t like the sharp look of hurt on his friend’s face as he exited the room, but it couldn’t be helped.  Braggi was the closest thing he had to family, but he couldn’t allow him to question his decisions.  As their leader it fell to him to protect the men that rode with him.  In the heat of battle his men had to follow him without fail.

               With Braggi and Eric gone, he turned his attention to the girl who occupied his bed.  The view of her slender frame stretched among the fur pelts stirred a longing deep within him.  He watched as her chest rose and fell evenly in her sleep.  The gentle rustle of her breathing escaped through her parted lips.  It felt like an intrusion to watch her so closely.  In sleep the fear smoothed from her features.  In peaceful slumber she was serene and enchanting.  He mixed another strong sleeping draft and forced it down the girl’s throat.  The knot on her head was still very swollen, and he didn’t want her to injure herself further.  Sleep was the best thing for her now. 

               The sun sank below the horizon.  The lone round window in his cabin emitted an orange glow bathing the girl in a fiery haze.  As they sailed further into the sea the temperature of the air plunged.  She drew her legs up and huddled into the pelts in search of warmth.  Since it would be some time before he was able to speak to her, Randver removed his clothes.  The best way to provide her warmth was to share the bed with her.  Exhaustion from the events of the day made sharing the bed with her all that more appealing.  The pain potion would ensure that she wouldn’t remember this night anyway. 

               He slipped into the pelts and settled his chest against her back.  She nestled against him and once again he was assailed with the faint smell of roses.  Lulled by the gentle pitch and roll of the boat and her even breathing, he allowed sleep to take him.