Jealousy Of A Viking

Chapter 4

Erik mounted his borrowed horse, and as he rode away, he turned and saw the girl watching him. He thought how lucky he had been to come across her in the forest. Maybe he would have found the village anyway, but if he hadn’t, he might have perished. And she was very pretty.

He raised a hand in farewell and kicked the borrowed horse to a canter. His mother would be anxious and his father would be angry with the men who had managed to lose Erik while hunting. He did not want to be the cause of their punishment.

As Biorn had predicted, it took nearly a full day to reach Jorvik, but he arrived in time for the evening meal.

His mother welcomed him with open arms. “Erik, you’re back. I was beginning to wonder if you’d been attacked by wolves and lay dead somewhere.”

Sigfried strode across the room to the pair standing in the doorway. A tall man with long moustaches, he took Erik in a bear hug, then turned to Erik’s mother.

“Guthrun, I told you he was all right. Our son would not succumb to wolves.” He turned back to Erik. “Where have you been? It’s two days since you went missing.”

“Stjarna hurt her leg in a rabbit hole. I found a village where the headman and his family helped me. They let me stay overnight. Biorn, the headman, lent me a horse so Stjarna could recover properly.”

Two days later, he mounted the borrowed horse and headed to Thoringsby. He rode at a trot whenever he could. He was eager to see his horse. At least, that’s what he told himself. But images of a pretty blonde girl kept intruding on his thoughts

After hours of riding, he slowed as the village came into view. He turned into the compound and looked around. He could not see Helgha, although her mother was at the well. Was she in the forest again?

Ædelflaed lifted the bucket. Erik leaped from the horse and ran to take it from her.

“Thank you.” Ædelflaed smiled at the young man. “Come into the longhouse. Biorn and the boys are still in the fields but shouldn’t be long. I expect you’ve come for your horse.”

Erik nodded. He wanted to ask where Helgha was but did not dare. Ædelflaed had not mentioned her. He could not show too much interest in a girl he was unable to court. These people were not of his class. He was the son of a jarl, after all. His father would arrange a marriage with the daughter of another jarl.

On entering the longhouse, Erik looked around in the dim light that flickered in the flames from the fire. In the orange glow, he saw a blonde head bent over some sewing. He grinned. Helgha was here.

Then his heart sank. This would be the last time he would ever see her. He must put her out of his mind.

She looked up, and a smile lit her face. “Erik.” She put her sewing down and walked toward him. “You’ve come for Stjarna, I suppose. I’ll take you to see her.”

They walked to the end of the house where the animals were stabled.

“H-how is she?” Erik asked, faltering over his words.

“She’s fully recovered.” Helgha opened the door.

Stjarna saw Erik and whickered a welcome. He went over and put his arm around her neck. “I’m pleased to see you, girl.” He knelt and ran his hand down the mare’s leg. She turned her head to look at him but did not wince.

Erik stood and grinned at Helgha. “Your father has done well.”

A silence fell between the pair. Now that he had established his horse was fit once more, Erik could think of nothing to say.

The silence was broken by Biorn’s voice.

“I see you’ve come back for Stjarna. She’s all ready to go again. The rest did her good. I put a poultice on it to speed her recovery. It seems to have worked.” He approached Helgha and put his arm around her. “My girl here has done her share by feeding your mare apples.”

Erik looked at Helgha. “Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”

Helgha looked at the floor and shuffled her feet. “There’s no need to thank me. I love horses.”

“It’s too late now for you to return to Jorvik. You must stay until tomorrow,” Biorn told him.

Erik thanked him and once more looked at Helgha, who blushed.

Does she like me as much as I like her? She looks so pretty when she blushes. But I mustn’t think like that. We’ll not meet again once I leave with Stjarna.

Does she like me as much as I like her? She looks so pretty when she blushes. But I mustn’t think like that. We’ll not meet again once I leave with Stjarna.They walked into the longhouse where Ædelflaed had begun to spoon stew into wooden bowls. She handed one to each of them, then passed wooden spoons to eat it with. Biorn sat on a bench and indicated that Erik should join him.

Erik turned his gaze to Helgha. He could not prevent himself. She did not return his gaze but looked at the floor. He smiled as she contrived to sit next to him.

She does like me then. She wants to be near me.

She does like me then. She wants to be near me.Biorn continued to talk, asking about life in Jorvik. “I go from time to time, to the market, but can’t say I really know the place. I go to Selby more often. It’s nearer.”

Erik tore his eyes away from the girl sitting next to him. “It’s a busy city. We have many industries there. My family lives to the west of the main city, just inside the walls.”

He glanced at Helgha. She sat with her spoon halfway to her mouth, listening with interest.

“I’d love to see the big city,” she said.

“Maybe you will, one day,” Erik told her and smiled. I’d love to show you around.

I’d love to show you around.The daylight faded until only the firelight lit the longhouse. Soon the family wrapped themselves in furs. They made themselves comfortable on the wide benches that doubled as seats during the day and slept.

Erik lay staring at the fire. Helgha was truly the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Could he ask his father if he could court her?

His heart sank. No, Sigfried would never agree. This family was free, but they were still only ceorls—beneath his social class. His father was trying to arrange a marriage with the daughter of someone more important who could improve their standing in the city. He sighed and closed his eyes as he dreamed of marriage with Helgha.

But the next morning, he mounted Stjarna and rode back along the road to Jorvik