The Nephilim & The Maiden

A P r o p o s a l

My skull felt like it was being split open and I swore it felt like I hadn't had a drink of water in weeks. The small beams of light that made their way in through the cracks of the window were blinding me. This was, without a doubt, the worst hangover I've ever had.

I groaned, gingerly rolling over onto my side, trying not to lift my head while I pulled the blankets up around me, hoping that somehow that would make this hangover go away. The moment I felt better, I planned on going to Harald and punching him for feeding me so much mead at dinner.

I felt a stubbly chin brush against my shoulder followed by a tender kiss on the crook of my neck. Before I could even register what was going on I heard him speak.

"Marry me, Breit."

I rolled over to look at him and before I was even all the way on my side, Ivar's hand cupped my cheek and his lips met mine in a gentle yet possessive kiss. I couldn't help but moan into his lips as flashes from last night played behind my closed eyes. A wave of heat washed over me and the same feeling of desire rose between my legs.

Breaking the kiss, I looked up at his hooded eyes. "I thought you said we were gong to take this slow?"

His hand moved from my cheek and his fingers ran through my blonde locks. "The full moon was just the other night, hmm? We can plan to marry by the next full moon and in the mean time we can take things slow. That also gives everyone time to prepare the celebration and feast."

"And... and what if this doesn't work out? Then what?"

Ivar licked his lips, his smile dropping for a moment. "Then it will be a feast to celebrate the end of the raiding season."

He leaned over and kissed my forehead before taking the blankets from his still naked body and sat up. Gingerly he pulled on his trousers, shifting his weight from one side and then the other to tug them up over his hips.

"If I remember correctly, you said you would teach me to ride a horse. I'll call for the blacksmith to join us, he can get some ideas for new braces for riding." He pulled his tunic over his head and then grabbed for the blankets that I was still snuggled under and pulled.

"Too much mead last night?" Ivar teased when he heard me groan from the hangover that was still getting worse.

Ivar's smile slowly dropped when his eyes landed on my bare stomach. I knew exactly what he was looking at. My heart sank and the feeling of nausea that came over me wasn't from the mead. The heavy feeling of emptiness hurt more than any battle wound I'd experienced and now that Ivar was looking at my scar I felt a new emotion; guilt. This was my fault. True, he was the reason I was with child in the first place and I had no idea we would be back together in any way but if it wasn't for my stupidity and my insatiable need to prove myself, my child would still be alive.

Thick, hot tears burned my eyes before they started to roll down my cheeks. Ivar saw my sadness and leaned over, resting on his elbows before he placed a long, gentle kiss on the puckered skin of my belly. I winced from the slight pressure. Even with the time that had passed and all of the herbal pastes that the healer painted on the wound, it was still tender to the touch.

Ivar felt me flinch under him, his brows came together and his already closed eyes tightened still. He breathed out a harsh breath through his nostrils then looked up at me.

"This is as much my fault, little one." he whispered, wiping my tears with his thumb. He moved up closer to me, moving a lock of my hair behind my ear and then placed another gentle kiss this time on my forehead. "I promise, I'll never hurt you again. No one will ever hurt you." Placing another kiss on my forehead, his fingers gently started to stroke my hair. He looked into my eyes and I couldn't help but see a strange look of both sincerity and possession. "We will make another."