So, that was why Hakon had denied her love, Gwendolyn thought. Suddenly it was all becoming very clear to her, horribly clear. Berta had once told her that a Viking's vow to his liege lord could not be broken without facing the fiercest consequences. Now Hakon was willing to do just that . . . and all because he loved her!
An awful thought struck Gwendolyn. "But what will happen if we cannot outsail the warships?"
"That is unlikely, for my longship is far more seaworthy than those larger vessels," Hakon tried to reassure her. Indeed, it was unlikely, he thought, but there was a chance that it could happen. He had hoped she would not ask him this, but he decided it was best she knew the truth. "If we were caught and we could not fight off Haarek's warriors, we would be taken prisoner. You, of course, would be returned to your family in England."
"And you, my lord?" Gwendolyn whispered fearfully, though she could already sense his answer. "What would happen to you?"
"I would be taken back to Norge, and tried at Haarek Jarl's court as a traitor to my people. There is only one sentence for that crime: death."
Gwendolyn shuddered in his arms. The thought that there was the slightest chance that he might die was more than she could bear. "Nay, Hakon, surely there must be another way!" she cried out, her mind racing.
But Hakon shook his head. "I can think of no other, little one," he said softly. He traced a finger tenderly down the side of her face, entwining it in a silken curl. "I have almost lost you too many times already. Do not try to spare me from what may happen by insisting I return you to your homeland. I will not do it. I cannot live without you, Gwendolyn, nor can I believe the gods have brought us through so much only to tear us apart again. If I must face the possibility of death, then so be it." He sealed his words with a searing kiss that took Gwendolyn's breath away
Hakon lifted his head, a rakish grin on his handsome face. All seriousness was forgotten, at least for a while. "I would that we remain in this shady bower, my love. If I had known there were such beautiful forest nymphs running about half clothed, I would have made this my bed every night! But we must make our way back to the settlement. If we linger any longer, no doubt they will sound an alarm and come looking for us." He laughed as he thought of the look on Olav's face if his helmsman found them beneath this tree! He rose to his feet and held out his hand to her.
Gwendolyn could not help but smile at his teasing, yet her heart ached at the thought of what was to come. "Aye, my lord," she replied, as lightly as she could. She took his hand and he pulled her gently to her feet, then drew her into his arms. She rubbed her cheek against the soft golden hairs on his chest, breathing in the warm, male scent of him. They stood together for a long moment, looking out across the mirrored surface of the fjord, each lost in thought.
Hakon at last broke the silence between them. "We must go," he murmured, brushing a light kiss against her fair forehead. They drew on their clothes, and he wrapped his scarlet cloak about her delicate shoulders. He then strode over to his stallion, which was munching contentedly on some wild grasses not far away, and led it to where Gwendolyn was waiting.
Lifting her easily onto the saddle, Hakon put his foot in the stirrup and hoisted himself up behind her. Holding one arm protectively about her, he took the reins in his hands. He made a clicking noise to his stallion and they were off, galloping like the wind across the grassy bank of the fjord toward the settlement.
Chapter 42
Gwendolyn stared out across the sparkling waters of the fjord, watching as the settlement receded farther into the distance with every stroke of the oars. Most of the Viking warriors who had gathered near the docks to see them off had already gone back to their longhouses, but she could still see Berta's stout figure standing alone on the shore. "I will truly miss her," she said softly to Anora, who stood beside her on the rear deck of the longship.
"Aye." Anora nodded, wiping away the tears that dimmed her eyes. "She was good to us."
Gwendolyn gently squeezed her sister's arm as both of them fell silent once again. She found it hard to believe this would be the last time she would ever see the settlement. It had become a part of her life, women into the very fabric of her relationship with Hakon. She had experienced not only the greatest sorrow and heartache there, but also the greatest joy she had ever known.
She did not tear her eyes away until the longship had rounded the bend in the fjord, hiding the cluster of logged buildings from her view. She sighed, then squared her delicate shoulders. Nay, now was the time to look ahead to the future she and Hakon would share. She left Anora's side and sat down on a vacant rowing bench nearby, her hands absently smoothing the wrinkled pleats of her silken tunic. She smiled to herself when she realized what she was doing, then shrugged. For some reason she had not minded donning women's clothing that morning. Suddenly she chuckled.
"What is so amusing, little one?" Hakon asked, walking up behind her. Gwendolyn started at the sound of his voice, her emerald eyes wide as she looked up at him. He laughed and sat down beside her. Now that the longship was well under way and the crew members were working hard at their oars, he could afford a free moment. He took her small hand in his own large one and brought it to his lips.
Gwendolyn felt a thrill course through her body at his touch. He looked so handsome this morning with the bright sun glinting off his white-blond hair, the long, thick waves tied back with a leather thong. The snug-fitting, sleeveless tunic he was wearing was molded perfectly to his broad, sculpted chest. His bronzed arms were bared and rippling with muscles.
She smiled and looked into his tender eyes. "I was only thinking 'tis my first time on this ship that I am not rowing with the others." She laughed gaily as he grimaced, though his eyes were full of mirth.
"Aye, 'tis true, my love. But at least I know that if I lose a crewman, there is someone who can ably take his place!" he tossed out playfully. He brushed a quick kiss against her smiling lips, then stood up from the bench and strode over to the helm to speak with Olav.
God's teeth, the very sight of him could take her breath away! she marveled. And to think she was to become his wife as soon as they reached Dublin! But suddenly her smile faded, a twinge of apprehension prickling at her mind. Nay, she shook her head defiantly. She would not allow herself to consider the possibility that all would not go well for them. She had to believe that Hakon's plan would work!
She knew that he had informed Olav and his hand-picked crew during a secret meeting the night before of his plan to defy Haarek Jarl. He had decided it was only fair to give them a choice. They could either stay on in Norge and serve under his uncle, who would take over his settlement, or man his longship and help him carry out his plan, with full knowledge that any who followed him would also be branded as traitors. But down to the last crewman, they had all sworn to remain with their chieftain, fierce loyalty blazing in their eyes.
Hakon had then seen to it that extra provisions were loaded onto the ship —food, fresh water, and most important, his own private hoard of gold and silver to use for trade. It had been done under the cover of darkness in the early hours of the morning so as not to alert any of the other warriors in the settlement to his plan. He had not rested until he was satisfied that all was securely loaded and in readiness for their departure later that morning, with enough supplies stocking the cargo well to see their way to Dublin . . . and even farther if need be.
Only then had Hakon made his way back to his hall. Anora had subtly offered earlier that evening to sleep on a pallet in the main room, so he and Gwendolyn could share his chamber during their last night at the settlement. Gwendolyn had lain awake in the wide bed for what seemed like hours, waiting for him. But when at last he had walked into the room, they had both been so exhausted that they were content simply to lie in each other's arms until the morning dawned.
Yet perhaps last night had been the sweetest of all their nights together, Gwendolyn thought warmly. Hakon had cradled her in his arms, softly stroking her silky hair and murmuring tender words of love, until she had been lulled into a deep sleep by the steady beating of his heart.
A great flock of white sea birds suddenly startled Gwendolyn as they flew over the longship, their shrill cries breaking into her thoughts. She shielded her eyes from the sun and looked up at them, watching as they soared high into the endless expanse of blue sky, then one by one dove back down to the surface of the fjord in search of fish for their morning meal. Some of the birds carried their wriggling catch to their nests along the rocky slopes towering above the fjord, where hungry mouths were waiting to be fed.
Gwendolyn sighed. So much had changed since that first journey along the Sogn late last year. Yet it really did not seem so long ago that she had envied the soaring freedom of the sea birds. She shook her head, smiling. Nay, she did not have to envy them any longer.
She looked over at Anora. Her beautiful sister was still leaning on the railing of the ship, breezes blowing through her shining hair. Her emerald eyes were dancing with excitement, her cheeks blushing rosily with exhilaration. No doubt Anora was thinking of Wulfgar, and their long-awaited reunion .