Freya

Sixteen

Ewen was angry. For nearly two days his anger had simmered within him and as he waited silently with his men to ambush the soldiers who had been wreaking havoc and death in the countryside north of his home, he breathed deeply to control his anger.

It had been almost two days since the messenger had arrived with news from the north. News of the worst kind involving raids and burning of land and homes as well as killings. Ewen had to act, despite his fears it was planned to lure him out of his castle. Freya was now heavily with child and although the midwife had assured him that their child would wait for his return, Ewen was angry that he had had to leave them to pursue this threat. The timing was too coincidental for Ewens peace of mind but he had to act. A weak king would send others on his behalf and Ewen knew he had to leave his son the legacy of a strong king and stronger Kingdom.

It was ironically his concern for Freya that had escalated his anger even further. She agreed wholeheartedly with him that he needed to lead his soldiers in dealing with the threat. The conflict had come when Ewen had insisted on leaving his best men at the castle to protect her. Freya wanted the best men with him in case the attacks were a front for something more or an ambush.

Both stubborn and unyielding on their viewpoint, they had argued vehemently in their private chamber before Ewen had reminded her that as her King he had the final say. While Ewen may have won the argument he was certainly not the winner in private. In public Freya had accepted his decision and played the role of a supportive and submissive Queen perfectly. It was in their private space that she made it clear to Ewen that she was angry still with his decision. That night, his departure scheduled for early the next morning, she had turned away from him in their bed and claimed that she was tired from the pregnancy. Ewen tried to reason with her and reassure her that even with a lesser force they could manage the threat but to no avail. He knew he could have moved across to her and with his hands and mouth softened her into submission. Worse still he could have insisted on his rights as her husband. But he knew his wife well enough to know that she needed the space to work through her feelings. He was also aware that the pregnancy would have made her quicker to anger than normal.

So it was that the night before he left, neither Ewen not Freya had slept very well. The coldness in the bed uncomfortable for both of them. Although Ewen knew that conflict was inevitable he was saddened that their first real disagreement had happened when he was unable to be at home to reconcile with her. When he had left early that morning she had been there as custom dictated to wish him well. Her face expressionless although he had noticed the brightness of her unspent tears and the tightness of her jaw as she said the traditional words and bade him farewell.

Ewen's anger was well channelled in the skirmish and he lived up to his reputation as Ewen the Cold. He killed many men, by the end his mail was bloody and his sword arm number with exhaustion. He took no quarter and there were no survivors. It was only at the end when the last of his men were piling up the dead for the pyre, that Ewen felt the last of his anger dissipate.

Although Ewen wanted return as soon as he could to his castle and Freya, the afternoon shadows were lengthening and it was decided to set up camp for the night before the men headed home. Away from the scene of the death and the smoke that still rose from the funeral pyre, they set up camp in the safety of a small ravine. Protected from behind by rocks the men relaxed and soon the camp fires were started and the sounds of laughter followed.

Ewen thought of how much he had enjoyed his life as a soldier. Before his father had become ill, he had been sent over the seas to train as was appropriate for a future king. Ewen had thrived on the camaraderie of the army and evenings such as this. The battle behind him and the relieved tiredness of a successful outcome. Instead now, Ewen felt most acutely the absence of Freya. He realised that he had come to depend on their evening time. It was not only the lovemaking that he enjoyed enormously but the companionship too. Freya was an intelligent woman and her experience as the daughter of a king made for much in common. Ewen realised that over the months that they had been married he had changed enormously.  His priority had slowly become her and the life that grew inside her. As he drifted off to sleep his last thoughts were of her. He couldn't wait to see her on the morrow even if he would need first to make up to her for their disagreement.

Ewen and his men left early the next morning for home. Although they had been successful in containing the threat everyone in the party looked forward to spending their evening at home. As Ewen and his men began the final approach towards his castle, his sharp eyes caught the flag of Augustus at the gate. Ewen felt his heart race as he thought of Augustus in the castle with Freya. 

It took all of his self control to enter his great courtyard calmly. Waiting for him at the top of the main steps, her posture regal in spite of the heavy  bulge of her pregnant belly under her dress, stood Freya.

'My Lord,' she greeted him as was customary. Her expression was composed and he could gather no clues from it as to what was happening.

'My Lady,' he responded equally formally.

Freya continued speaking then.

'Our ally King Augustus has come to wish us well for the birth of our heir,' she said evenly.

Ewen struggled to control his emotions as he dismounted from his warhorse. He could think of few things worse than having to entertain Augustus at this time.