Viking Love Beyond Time (Time Travel Romance) (12 page)

             
Taking her hand he guided it between their bodies to where he pulsed, large and virile.  He was huge!  How was she going to take that thing inside her?  He would kill her!  Suddenly he looked up. “Now, angel face, we’ll just see who respects who!” he snarled.  Alodie gritted her teeth.

             
“If you’re man enough Luke Owen, stop talking about it and show me!” she hissed in reply.  He grinned, nuzzled her breast again and, taking her buttocks one in either hand, he lifted her bottom off the ground and pulling her toward him, he began to slide his length into her.

             
Alodie caught her breath, this was it, this was the thing she had feared and yet been curious about all her life.

             
Suddenly the silence was shattered by voices on the other side of the trees.  “Oh shit - no!” whispered Luke and leaping to his feet, struggled into his braeis.  Alodie grabbed her gown and disappeared behind a nearby bush.

             
“.............and as I was saying to Godgyth we must..............” Luke frantically donned his tunic and fastened his belt just as Oswy came into the clearing with a tall dark young man, a stranger.  On seeing Luke he grinned and waved.  “Ah, Nephew, I have been looking for you since
noon
- this is Edric, son of an old friend of mine, the thegn of Lamporth.  He is accompanying us to
Winchester
- Edric, this is Luke, my nephew.”

             
Edric grinned and held out his hand.  Luke had by this time recovered some of his composure and, after pulling down his tunic to hide the embarrassing evidence of his recent activities, he felt able to converse with this pleasant young man.  “I am honoured, sir” he said, clasping Edric’s hand.

             
“Where is your betrothed, Luke?” asked Oswy “apparently news of the lady’s beauty has spread as far as Lamporth”

             
“and beyond sir” added Edric “rumour has it even in
Winchester
that by the side of your betrothed Helen of Troy was a hag”

             
Luke smiled “Well, she was here a moment ago but....” he rubbed his chin “she, er went for a walk” he ended lamely.  Both Oswy and Edric laughed, and Oswy clapped him on the shoulder.

             
“Trying to taste the wine before you bought the barrel were you, you young coxcomb?  Did she clip you round the ear eh?  Gone for a walk indeed!  Gone storming off in a huff if I know women!  Never mind boy, in another month you’ll have the taming of her!”

             
If only you knew
thought Luke ruefully, although he was surprised at the ease with which she had given in at the end - no struggling, was she perhaps mellowing?

             
“I’m glad we found you anyway boy” said Oswy, placing his hand on Luke’s shoulder  “Edric is accompanying us to
Winchester
and he is eager to find out about military training in
Bohemia
, do you favour bowmen or spears there? What sort of swords do you use – that sort of thing.......”

As Oswy’s voice died away into the distance Alodie stepped out from behind the bush, fully dressed, and watched the three figures as they retreated down the path, thanking providence for Oswy’s timely interruption.  Her lapse of behaviour was unbelievable.  She shook her head, vowing that it would never happen again.  Realising, as she did so, that, for the first time in her life, she was aware of every inch of her body pressing against her gown.

**********************

             
Alodie shone that evening in white and russet, her hair was left, as befitted a maid, loose and flowing.

             
She was charming to Edric of Lamporth, laughing merrily at his jokes and teasing Luke almost lovingly.  Edric was open mouthed at her looks and declared privately to Luke that he had never in his life even imagined such beauty.

             
Emma quietly seethed in her corner, hating Alodie more with every second which passed, “Dear Lord” she hissed into her goblet “let her nose grow long, her body grow fat and her teeth drop out!”  Anstice, who was helping to serve, took a step backwards at the sight of her young mistress’s face,
she looks just like a witch casting a spell
she thought, and surreptitiously crossed herself.

             
“You must come to
Winchester
” urged Edric “Bring her Luke, do, she’ll be the toast of the place”

             
“Not until she’s safely wed Edric and under my protection so t’will be known that anyone who does more than worship her from afar will get a sword in his belly” he replied.

             
Oswy clapped him on the back “Well said, Luke, well said fair nephew” he bellowed “What say you, Alodie?”

             
Alodie sipped her mead then, replacing the goblet on the table, bobbed Oswy a curtsey “I, my Lord Oswy?  Why I have no say whatsoever, I am a mere woman, docile and obedient” she kissed him on the top of his bald head and pecked Godgyth on the cheek “and now I must go to bed or I will be asleep in the morning and miss seeing you all off” she turned to Edric “It has been delightful to meet you sir, and trust to see you again at the wedding” he jumped to his feet and, taking her hand, kissed it.

             
“Goodnight fair maiden, sweet dreams” he said. Turning to Luke Alodie smiled sweetly and held out her hand as she had to Edric.  Luke looked at her, his gaze sweeping her from crown to toe, slowly, lazily.  Alodie knew that he was remembering how she had been in the orchard.

             
“For God’s sake Nephew” quipped Oswy “leave the lass some clothes on, it’s chilly out!” downing his mead without taking his eyes from her, Luke wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve then grabbed her outstretched wrist and, pulling her toward him, fastened his lips on hers, his tongue raking the inside of her mouth.  Her knees began to buckle with the strain.

             
Alodie felt anger begin to build in her again - that swine thought he owned her because of her momentary lapse this afternoon.  All her fears about men getting the upper hand after they had had their way with a woman were justified!  She would have to put him right.  At last he released her.

             
“Now THAT is how you say goodnight to your betrothed madam” he quipped.  She curtsied deeply and then replied in modern English, her voice dripping icicles.

             
“You are pushing your luck just about as far as it will go Lieutenant Commander.  Don’t think there is going to be a repeat of this afternoon - ever - you took me unawares.  When we get back you are going to face a charge that will knock your boots off” with that she turned and saying goodnight to Emma, began to climb the stairs.

             
“Oh, Captain, ma’am” called Luke, again in modern English, she glanced down at him. “Whilst you are lying in your lonely bed tonight just remember this afternoon and just imagine what the wedding night will be like!” with a muffled curse Alodie ran up the rest of the stairs and into her room.

             
Luke walked to the table and refilled his goblet.  Suddenly Emma appeared at his elbow, “The language in which you were talking, was it the tongue of
Bohemia
?” Luke took a drink of mead and nodded.  Emma smiled at him in what she hoped was a coquettish manner “That seemed like barbed by-play Cousin.  Me thinks milady Alodie does not like your kisses” Luke took another drink and turned to Emma, wondering what was on her mind.

             
“She’s just very independent, Emma” he replied.

             
She put her hand on his arm “If you ever tire of thorns and nettles in your bed, I will always be here for you Luke”

             
Jeezus
thought Luke and looked at her - she wasn’t really bad looking, her teeth were discoloured but not more than those of most Saxons, she was quite broad shouldered for a woman and flat chested but he had slept with uglier women, a lot uglier, no point looking a gift horse in the mouth.  “Er, thanks for the  - er offer my dear, I’ll keep it in mind” he said, quietly. Emma slammed her goblet down on the table.

             
“You fool!” she hissed “she has you bewitched!  She has everyone bewitched!!”

             
With that she turned on her heel and bidding the assembled company good night, almost ran up the stairs to the room she shared with Alodie.

****************

             
The summer passed - the village drowsing peacefully through the mellow golden days, strangely quiet with most of their menfolk away  - August 17th dawned fair and glorious, the sun’s early morning rays making slatted patterns on the bedroom floor.  Alodie opened her eyes, it was very early, not much after six, what had awakened her?  Then she glanced at her wrist, her communicator was flashing, two flashes at five second intervals - someone was contacting the ship.  Alodie heaved a sigh of relief - thank God, back to sanity.  Should she contact Luke in
Winchester
?  No, it was too dangerous, someone could be with him, they could pick him up later.

             
She pulled on her gown, sluiced her face and scurried out of the room.  As she closed the door Emma opened her eyes. 
So
she thought
Madam Wonderful has an early morning secret, pray God t’is a lover, if so, Luke will be the first to know!
She quickly jumped out of bed and dressing, followed her.

             
The four miles to the shuttle were quickly covered on Doucette, the mare Oswy had given Alodie for her use.  She had been practising her riding and had become quite proficient.  She also had great affection for the horse which, as with all animals who are loved, was returned.  As they trotted through the woods Alodie was sure that she heard hooves following her but was in too much of a hurry to stop and wait.

             
At length she reached the clearing and dismounting, tethered the mare to a handy oak tree and walked over toward the place where she had left the cloaked shuttle.  As she approached she pressed the blue button on her bracelet and heard the hiss as the steps descended, she held out her hands in front of her and on touching metal, she mounted the steps then groped for the hatch and opening it, climbed in.  To her relief the ‘
incoming signal received’
light was still flashing on the communications console.  Sitting down at her station she logged on, her fingers almost dancing over the buttons.  She cleared her throat. “E & MTC deep space hauler
Star City Colossus
shuttle calling unidentified signal source, come in” - nothing, she repeated her request without success for several minutes then a tinny voice answered.  The translator flashed on the console that it was a tongue used by a race from Davra, about five parsecs from Earth, who had become extinct about five hundred years before Alodie’s time, wiped out by a deadly virus manufactured by the Ling Corporation, who had wanted their planet.  The Ling Corporation, in their turn, had been overcome by the Galactic Peacekeeping Corps and their Board executed.  That, however, was all in the future.

             
The screens wavered and a red globular individual with five eyes appeared on the screen.  “Who are you?” he asked “we have no record of intelligent life in this quadrant”

             
Alodie smiled, “I am Captain Alodie Austen of the
Star
City
Colossus. 
My deep space hauler passed through a black hole and we time warped back here”

             
The creature made an exclamation of astonishment “You passed through a
caseryhdy! 
I did not know that was possible!  Where are you from?”

             
“This planet, Earth, but one thousand five hundred and fifty four years into its future.”

             
“Where is your ship now?” asked the creature, punching buttons in front of it. 

             
Alodie cleared her throat “Our cargo was klerth crystals from Nolwe in the Servar system, they interacted with some matter/anti matter acid and went critical, I had to put the ship in freeze and send her off into deep space”

             
“Ah, I will scan for it.  May I commend you on your action Captain, the  resulting explosion would surely have destroyed your planet.  Would you like us to send a transport to take you to our ship, although unfortunately we do not know of any planets capable of supporting your species in the vicinity apart from one orbiting the nearest star of which I am sure you are aware, but the inhabitants of that planet are very different to you and extremely warlike and violent”

             
“Medulla” replied Alodie “no thanks, we’ll be better off here, thank you for the offer, however, Captain - er....”

             
“Deoli, Captain Deoli from Davra”

             
“Captain Deoli, you’re very kind, do you think you could get a message to the planet Zeta Epsillon II for me, they had time travel around now”