The King and the Servant

Part 1 - Different Worlds

 While he was celebrating his victory, drinking, laughing, he looked up and noticed me, standing alone, my hands on my pregnant tummy, with a look of worry on my face. He left the Danes and went up the stairs to see me, his Saxon lover. As he approached me, I smiled and looked down, trying to hide the relief that he was finally up there, alone with me. Even though we have been together for this long, I still feel like a shy little girl around him. I love the way he makes me feel like his  princess. I had been longing for him for almost 7 months while he was away in war, not knowing if he was alive or dead. All I wanted was him by my side, but war kept taking him from me. He grabbed my waist from behind, and kissed my cold neck, after he laid his hands on my tummy. I felt like the happiest person, like that's all I ever want to be, with my handsome, caring, strong husband, and our child.

"Why aren't you down celebrating with me?" he asked.

"I'm tired. I need to go to bed soon."

"And you were planning on leaving me without a word? On our first night back together?" He smirked.

"That is not what I imagined our first night back to be like, anyway."

"Mm. And how did you imagine it? Tell me. Vividly." He laughed and grabbed me tighter.

I turned around, with a look of sadness in my eyes. "I imagined myself sleeping in between your big arms, laying on your chest all night, listening to your heartbeat; that heartbeat I can't live without, that heartbeat I fear of losing every single day. Finally feeling safe again. The only place I feel safe is in between your arms. Knowing that if even a bear comes to attack me then, I'll be safe. That's the only place I want to be." Tears started falling from me eyes. "I can't bear losing you."

"I love you." He whispered. He kissed me passionately and wiped the tears off my face. He grabbed my chin and lifted it up, so that I was looking into his beautiful, intense blue eyes. "All my life I've never feared death. I've never gone into a battle with fear or caution. All I ever knew was fighting, to the death. But ever since you came into my life, I don't want to die, and on the battle field all I ever thought about was returning home safely to you and our child."
He kissed me again. I couldn't resist him any longer. I've been longing for him for so long. I grabbed his waist and attempted to undo his pants. He smirked and quickly grabbed my hand to stop me, "I have to go back. We must celebrate our victory!"

I grabbed him again and kissed him "But I missed you so much."

"Patience my love. Patience." He laughed and kissed me on the cheek. I watched him walk away. I couldn't bear being apart from him any longer, so I decided to go down to celebrate with the Danes. I never felt like I belonged with them. I was a Saxon woman, taken my Earl Ragnar Ragnarsson as a young girl, made to be a servant. And even though I loved Ragnar the younger with all my heart, I couldn't erase from my memory the violence the Danes have caused to Saxon villages and Saxon people. Even Ragnar's men couldn't see me other than a servant, but only their fear from Ragnar makes them act like they respect me.

In the midst of the celebrations, Cnut, Ragnar's cousin, sat next to me. I never felt comfortable around him. He was an arrogant man who always tried to offend me with his words. "My cousin is a fortunate man." He smirked. "Too bad he will not have a real heir. A real man to carry his family's amazing legacy."
I looked at him in shock. "How so? I am carrying his child. And it could be a son. And If it isn't, I will give him a son. And many sons in the future."

"You are a Saxon servant. Just because my cousin treats you like one of us doesn't mean you are. Your child has Saxon blood. Do you think any of us will accept to be led by a leader who has Saxon blood in him? My cousin Ragnar will realize this. And he will soon hump a Dane woman, who can give him a real heir. He will not let a worthless servant taint his legacy."