The Viking's Captive(67)

“The hand?” Halvor appeared confused.

“Yes, the writing.” She studied her husband’s blue eyes. “It’s that of my father.”

“Your father? He made this?”

She nodded and turned the envelope over. Quickly she opened it and pulled out a single sheet of paper. It was full of her father’s neat sloped handwriting.

“What does this mean?” Halvor asked, jabbing at it. “These scribbles.”

“It’s not scribbles, it’s words, communication.”

“They mean something to you?”

“Yes, of course.”

He raised his eyebrows as if not quite believing her.

“You cannot read?”

“Why would I want to?”

“For this, to send letters, information. I was taught at Sunday school, everyone on the island learns.”

He smiled. “It is not the Viking way. Odin, Thor, and the runestones show us our path and tell what we need to know.”

Duna wanted to argue, but now was not the time.

“So what does he communicate?” Halvor asked.

“He says.” Duna took a deep breath then began to read. “My darling daughter, Duna. It is with much hope that I put pen to paper and write this and that you will one day read it. And if you do I hope it finds you as well and happy as Esca has had me believe. He returned from his journey some time ago, with a missionary, who now says he is traveling south then onto Norseland. From the kindness of his heart he promised to try and get this letter to you. I want you to know how much I love and miss you. I grieved for you when you were taken the way I grieved for your mother. My broken heart was soothed by marrying again, Esca reports he told you of this fact so it should not come as a shock. This marriage has made me happy, but knowing you are alive and well has brought me more joy than you can imagine.” Duna paused, bit on her bottom lip, and sent a silent prayer of thanks to God. To read that her father was happy gave her a wonderful sense of relief.

“Is there more?” Halvor asked.

“Yes.” Duna continued. “In regards to your marriage to the savage Norse brute who took you, I am of course surprised and can only presume you were forced into it. Esca has assured me this isn’t the case but I cannot understand it any other way, I’m sure that is something only you could make me believe. But if that is the case I hope he treats you well and with kindness and provides everything you need in the way a husband should. Perhaps one day you will return to the Shet Isles, and I pray that it is within my lifetime. However if that is not the case, dearest Duna, know that you are a light in my life, a part of my soul and I will be waiting in God’s heaven for you. Your loving father, Ronan Terin of Shet Isles.”

Tears misted Duna’s eyes and she quickly folded the letter and returned it to the envelope.

“Oh, my love, please don’t cry.” Halvor frowned and reached for the letter with both hands. He held it up and twisted it. “Here, I will destroy it.”

“No, no, it’s precious to me.” She snatched it back.

“It’s made you sad. I do not like that.”

“Sad in a happy way.” She tucked the letter beneath her pillow then wrapped her arms around herself. A single tear escaped and trickled down her cheek.

“Duna.” He caught her face in his hands. “Do not weep on our special night.”

“Hold me, please.”

He didn’t reply, just scooped her close and lay down with her in his tight embrace.

She settled her face into the crook of his neck and inhaled his familiar scent. For several minutes they were silent. Halvor rubbed the small of her back gently and kissed the top of her head several times.

“Your father does not care for me,” he said.

“Can you blame him? I was all the family he had and you stole me away.”

“I wanted you.”

“I know that.”

“Do you wish I hadn’t taken you?”

She was quiet for a moment, then, “At first I did. I wanted to be at home, with my father and the people I knew. I didn’t want to be a thrall, and to be spanked for making mistakes. But then I became fond of you. I liked our home, the animals and the fields and hills. And then…” She reached up and touched his cheek. “And then I fell in love with you, and the way you make me feel.”

“Which is?”

“Alive, happy, a woman who is desired, protected, and kept in line.”

“On the boat, here, all that time ago, I longed for you to respect me as a master. Do I have that?”

“You know you do, and more.”

“I respect and admire you, Duna,” he said, catching her hand and kissing the tips of her fingers. “The way you fought for your freedom at the beginning. How you take your punishments without complaint and complete your tasks even when tired or heavy with child is commendable.” He smiled. “And I love you for the way you hand your body over to me, take my seed, and have given me a son. Without you, sweet Celt, my life would not be worth living. You are my sun, moon, and stars. You are the waves that support my world, the crops that nourish me, and you are in every beat of my heart.”

“Halvor.” A wonderful warm feeling spread through her chest. “For a Viking savage that was very… romantic.”