Twenty three
1516 Words
DENI’S POV
Early the next morning, Deni was up waiting for Bard to wake up from his deep sleep.
She had prepared some soup from the dried meat they had.
“How did I get here?”
She turned and saw Bard was seated up.
She smiled. “Good morning.”
“You are British.” He said.
She walked over to him and handed him the bowl of soup.
“How are you feeling?” She asked him.
“Weak.” He answered.
“The soup would make you feel better and give you some strength.” She assured him.
He looked at her skeptically.
“How do I know that you have no intentions of poisoning me.” He said .
“I assure you, if I wanted you dead, I would have left you in that forest.” She said.
She took off the leaves from his forehead and examined the stitches.
They were already beginning to clot.
“We found you in the forest. Alaric and I.” She said. “You were almost dead.”
“Alaric?” He said in Alarm.
“Look around you.” She told him. “These are the men of your pack.”
Only then did he turn around and see their tents bearing their plaids.
“You must be the British wife.” He said.
Then there were voices, Deni looked up and saw the men were coming out of their tents.
Those who had stood watch came around.
“Bard.”
It was Alaric.
They cleared the way for him and he went down to Bard.
“The moon goddess. You survived.” He said and then he put his forehead against his.
Their way of culture of acknowledgment and then he hugged him.
Soon one after the other, they began to greet Bard.
Deni simply watched saying nothing.
Bard who was still weak and tired had to rest.
Alaric decided that Bard and about five men would ride ahead so he could receive more treatment at home.
When Bard had gone, Alaric and the remaining party rode on.
Alaric did not tell her thank you.
He just grumbled and ignored her throughout the ride.
Deni was still shaken and images of the dead men were always in her mind.
She had never witnessed an attack before. But she was glad Bard had survived.
As they rode on, she whispered prayers to herself.
“What the devil are you doing?”
She turned around and saw her husband staring at her with a frown.
“Must you always frown?” She asked him.
“I do not frown.” He stated stubbornly.
“Then by God. I am stuck forever with a woman who can not even tell when he frowns.” She said in exasperation.
“This is my usual expression.” He told her.
“If that is to be your usual expression, then I wonder what you look like when you attempt to frown.” She said.
“Are you chiding me wife?” He asked her.
“I have a name!” She yelled at him.
Alaric deepened his frown and she knew that he was upset with her.
He stopped her horse and let his men pass ahead.
Deni looked down at her hands. She already knew it, she was about to get an earful of scolding.
“When would you learn to never speak to me with such disrespect in front of my men.” He warned her.
She sighed. He was actually right she hated to admit. It was quite rude.
“I apologise.” She said with a sigh.
He blinked at her as if he had not been expecting the apology.
Then he eyed her and let her horse keep on walking along with his.
“I beg you stop calling me wife.” She said. “My name is Deni.”
“I would call you however I wish.” He said.
Her face became an absolute red.
“But you had just demanded I was not to tell at you in front of your men which I agreed and apologised for and when I ask you to do something as easy as such for me, you decline?” She said in fury.
Her face was so hot she could feel herself get angry.
“You are my wife.” He said. “You will have to do whatever I say nonetheless.”
“How dare you!” She yelled at him. “I am a woman with my own mind and soul and no one, not even my father has a right over what I may, or may not do.”
“This is why I am your husband.” He said Not even paying her much heed. “I would do as I wish and treat you the way a woman is supposed to be have.”
“A woman is supposed to be have like I do!” She said.
“Oh my God why did you bring me a British wife.” She heard Alaric scowl.
“I heard you quite well and I just say. I regret marrying you.” She yelled. “Let me be this very instant and I shall find my way back home. Marry one of your women and claim her to be your mate and I shall be free of your troubles.”
“You are so foolish.” He said in irritation. “Did you not think I would be aware of such? But unfortunately for your incredibly stupid plans, that is impossible. The king would be visiting and he shall be in wonder when he finds out that my wife is not having an accent of a frog.”
She gasped. “I do not have an accent of a frog!”
“Yes you do.” He said.
“Says the man who speaks like an insect.” She said. “Your language and tone is so horrible.”
“My Scottish Gaelic is the best known language right now in the world and just you wait and see. In over a thousand years it would be spoken round the world.” He said.
“In your plaid matted dreams. English would be spoken around the world and unfortunately I would not wait and see because I would be dead in over a century. By God I would be dead in less than a year if I live with you!” She yelled back.
Alaric wanted to say something but then he decided against it and rode on.
“That is quite good. Let an English woman make her stand.” Deni said and she hissed irritatedly.
Then she realised that he was not engaging in the argument with her anymore and she became frustrated.
She started to curse and swear to herself.
The man was going to drive her mad.
She said something quite terrible and then she quickly prayed to God.
This man was going to be the reason why she went to the pits of hell if she was not careful.
As they rode on, Alaric turned to her.
“Not a word From Your lips.” He warned her.
She wanted to speak up, but then he gave her a warning look that told her if she uttered a single word, she would have her head cut off.
She looked down and kept her mouth shut. As much as she would have liked to argue, she knew better.
“Just stay close to me and my men.” He said.
Then she saw a group of men on horses in different shade of plaids.
Unlike Alaric’s plaid, these plaids had pale blue and black.
“Who are they?” She asked him.
“Relax Deni.” He told her.
Then Deni looked and saw that she had somehow gotten her hands on his plaid and was gripping them so fiercely.
Then she eased off.
“These are just my nearby allies.” He said. “They are the only ones that know I traveled because of how close we are. They will bring you no harm.”
“I’m not scared.” She pouted.
He rolled his eyes.
“Why did you roll your eyes. I am not scared of them. Neither am I scared of anyone.” She said.
“I never said you were.” He said tired of her bickering.
And she shut her mouth.
“When they approach be silent.” He said.
“Why?” She asked him with a pout.
“Must you question everything I tell you truly?” He asked her.
“What if they are enemies?” She asked him.
“And I have told you they are not.” He said. “Had you not just said a few seconds ago that you were not scared”
She muttered to herself.
“My God woman the lies that come out from those tiny lips of yours could bring a dead man to life.” He said.
- Writer
