Fire and Ice - By J. E. Christer Page 0,8
swim away from him.
“Why do you struggle so, Juliana? Do you struggle against my lord Ulfric when you warm his bed at night?” he sneered. “Sara has told me of your current sleeping arrangements. First de Gant and now this Ulfric – have you no shame?”
This was a totally different Erik to the young man she had known before he went to battle. The old Erik would never have spoken to her in that way. She swam to the bank and pulled herself out knowing that her linen shift would hide nothing from his gaze but she would rather face him out of the water than in it. She put her cloak on to cover her wet body and turned in a heat of fury to give vent to her anger but caught sight of someone leaving the woods and held her tongue.
In a controlled voice she replied to his accusations, “I suggest you tell Sara not to listen to gossip from the Hall and it would do you good to stay in that water and cool off before going back to her.”
“I’m not going back to her, Juliana. I’m going to confront this Ulfric and tell him to let you go. You belong to me and have done since birth!”
“Erik, please!” she pleaded, “We must put the past behind us and enter a new phase of our lives. My father is dead and Ulfric will kill you if you try to molest me again.”
“I care not for all that. I still love you, Juliana and I cannot give you up.”
There was little she could say in response so she turned and picked up her gown and slippers and hurried back to the Hall, hoping that everyone would be too busy to notice her. She prayed that Ulfric would not have returned yet from his morning exercise but, unfortunately, he was sitting eating breakfast when she entered the Hall. He looked surprised to see her in a dishevelled state, lifting an eyebrow as if in question, but she ignored him and went to stand in front of the fire to dry her clothes and hair. She felt his presence behind her and held her breath until he spoke.
“You look like a woodland nymph, my love, clean with the smell of flowers in your hair.” She turned quickly and found he was leaning over her breathing in the scent of the soap still lingering in her hair. As she turned he took her into his arms, bending to kiss her neck in a most intimate fashion. Her face began to burn with embarrassment but she tried not to anger him and forced a laugh, “I will need another swim if you don’t keep your distance, my lord. In fact, perhaps you should have one now.”
Just then there was a commotion outside and two of Ulfric’s men brought a still-dripping wet Erik into the room and forced him to kneel before their lord. Ulfric’s hand slipped round her waist and he held her closer than he normally would. His eyes grew cold and he smiled icily.
“Well, well, what do we have here? Two woodland nymphs, I see.”
He looked from Erik to Juliana and back again. She tried to return to her place at the fireside but she was held fast. It was obvious that he had been the one lurking in the woods by the beck, and if so he would have seen or at least heard Erik’s accusations.
“What is your name, sir?” Ulfric asked.
“My name is Erik, my lord Ulfric, and Juliana is my fiancée. We were promised to each other from the cradle and you must not touch her. She is mine!” His voice trembled with emotion and Juliana felt pity for him. He seemed not to understand how much his life was in danger.
“Stand him up!” Ulfric ordered and his men raised Erik to his feet. Juliana saw his hands were tied behind his back and gasped as Ulfric revealed a dagger he had concealed in his boot.
“No, please my lord. Please don’t harm him. He is only recently returned from the battlefields and doesn’t understand what has happened here.” She grasped Ulfric’s arm and slid to the ground pleading on her knees for his mercy.
“Stand up, Juliana! Begging doesn’t suit you. I respect your anger more.”
By the time she was standing again he had moved closer to Erik, who stood his ground looking Ulfric in the eye as he approached. “Do you have family hereabouts, Erik?” Ulfric asked.
“Well