The Last Warrior Queen

Chapter 13

Once the Regan Estate was well behind us I relaxed a little. Gunnar was riding beside us and was chatting with Eric. I wasn’t paying attention to their conversation.

Suddenly Gunnar turned his attention towards Halvor and I.

“My King, how far will we ride today?”

“We will stop once we reach the small village by the river. We should get there by nightfall.”

“Ah, but my King, we have a lady with us now. Surely you’ll want to set a more leisurely pace?”

I noticed the other warriors nod in agreement. Halvor didn’t respond. Not wanting to make trouble I spoke up. “I will be fine until nightfall, I assure you.”

Halvor grunted and said “There you see.”

“Well maybe we should be prepared to stop early, just in case” Gunnar countered. I gathered that no one else except Gunnar could talk to Halvor in this way. Perhaps because he was a little older than everyone else and therefore more respected.

“Maybe we should make a bet that my wife will be fine until nightfall like she says” Halvor replied.

Gunnar just chuckled and said “As you wish my King.”

Every so often Gunnar would look back at me, to check and see if I really was alright. I would nod in reassurance to let him know I was indeed fine.

“It seems Gunnar is worried about you. You must have made an impression on him as well” Halvor eventually observed.

I shrugged. “I suppose it’s natural to think a noble lady wouldn’t have much endurance. However I am used to long days full of work. Push as hard as you need to so that we can be back on your lands quickly.”

Halvor nodded and asked “What kind of labor did the nuns require? Aside from bandaging poorly skilled knights.”

“Well we had to cultivate crops for food, cook and wash each day. We also learned reading, writing and arithmetic in order to run an estate efficiently.”

Halvor smirked and replied “I can’t think of how any of those skills will help you in my kingdom, apart from knowing how to grow food. We are a battle worn kingdom where skills in combat are valued above all else.”

Not wanting to disappoint him I quickly added “Well we also learned some self defense…from the knights.”

Halvor burst into laughter. “I’d like to see this so called self defense you learned from knights who had to have maidens bandage their wounds from sparring.”

I nodded and I suddenly wished that he could see me fight, so I might prove myself to him. I quickly banished the thought from my mind, realizing what a silly desire it was. I should have no reason to wish Halvor to like me. As he said, he would simply be using me to bear his children and that would be it.

At dusk we reached the village and one of the warriors rode ahead to secure lodgings at the inn. As we approached the inn, the warrior met us with the keys to our rooms. Halvor dismounted and lifted me off Bjorn. He handed me the key and told me to get settled while they tended to the horses.

I nodded and walked up to the inn. I quickly made my way upstairs and found the room. It was clean and warm with a fire lit in the fireplace. I took off my cloak and laid it near the fire. I walked over to a small table by the window and poured some water from a pitcher into a small basin that were on top of the table.

I splashed some water on my face and then sat by the fire to warm up. Soon Halvor entered the room and nodded in approval.

“Come, we will eat downstairs.”

I nodded and walked with Halvor to a couple of large tables that the other warriors had already gathered at. Gunnar appeared carried several cups in his hands.

“They only have Meade here” Gunnar grumbled as he placed the cups on the table. Everyone grumbled as they grabbed a cup and began to drink.

Gunnar grabbed the last cup and offered it to me saying “Here my Queen. I will go get more.”

I smiled up at him and graciously took the cup replying “Thank you Gunnar.”

I took a sip of the honey flavored drink and reveled in the way it warmed my throat.

“I didn’t realize noble ladies drank booze” Halvor said beside me.

I shrugged and replied “Apparently they do at a nunnery.” Halvor laughed at my response and downed his own cup. I continued to sip slowly, aware that if I had too much I could very well make a fool of myself.

The warriors grew more relaxed and talkative with each cup of Meade and I continued to sip on my one cup quietly observing everyone. Even Halvor seemed to be laughing more and no longer wearing a cold expression on his face. I noticed how handsome he looked when he smiled and found myself wishing I could see his smile more. I quickly looked away when I made eye contact with him, turning my focus back to my Meade. We all ate a small supper and eventually Halvor announced that we would retire for the night.

I walked with him back to the room where he immediately began to undress. I still wasn’t used to undressing with a man in my presence and I blankly stared at him as he removed his tunic. Once again I noted the multitude of scars covering his body and thought of all the horrible battles he must have been in.

Halvor paused and caught me staring. I quickly looked away, but it was too late.

“You may look all you please, wife.” He sounded a little drunk.

“I…I was just thinking about all the battles you must have been in” I stammered out.

“Oh, you mean my scars. Yes, you can’t be afraid to be injured if you want to win in battle.”

I furrowed my brow as I considered his statement. To push through injuries like that and still come out victorious means that he is incredibly strong and stubborn.

“You must be very strong willed to be victorious after so many injuries” I finally said.

Halvor laughed and said “I’m just too stubborn to lose and I refuse to die.”

I smiled up at him, realizing I had thought the same thing. Halvor looked at me with a strange expression and suddenly crossed the room towards me. He reached out his hand and gently brushed my cheek. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and gazed longingly at me. I simply stared at him, unsure of what he was going to do.

Eventually Halvor pulled away and continued undressing. I followed suit and stripped down to my shift. I shivered at the cold as I made my way to the bed, blowing out the candle that was lit on a table nearby.

I quickly got under the covers and pulled my knees to my chest to try and warm up a little. Suddenly I felt Halvor’s arm wrap around me and pull me towards him.

“Turn towards me, you’ll warm up faster that way” Halvor commanded. I reluctantly rolled onto my other side to face him, glad it was pitch dark in the room so Halvor couldn’t see my face turn red as a tomato. Once I had turned, Halvor pulled me even closer to him and made sure I was well covered with the blanket. I warmed up quickly thanks to Halvor and my own racing heartbeat.