Arcanum

Changes

Klaus and Agnethe left the inn and took their time strolling back toward home, talking and getting to know each other more. Still jumpy from watching the fight and worried that Trond would follow them, she kept glancing over her shoulder at every noise.

"He won't be seeking any more trouble tonight. It's safe, I promise," Klaus said, noticing her movements. She nodded and tried to convince herself that he was right.

Following the same path they'd taken the first time, they once again came upon Agnethe's true home. She sighed as they walked by the darkened structure.

"What was that for?" Klaus asked.

"What was what for?" She smiled up at him.

Chuckling, he bumped his hip into her, then caught her as she stumbled sideways. "What did you sigh for?"

"I didn't realize that I did," pausing for a second before she continued, "we passed my real home."

Klaus stopped and turned around. "Which is it?"

"The one there on the left with the flower boxes in front."

"It's nice. I'm sorry you had to move from it," he said in a soft voice.

"Thank you. I suppose I'll never return now."

They stood in silence for a moment before Agnethe turned to continue on, but Klaus stayed standing. When she noticed his absence she turned to him and waited.

What is he doing? "Is everything alright?"

Facing her, he walked with slow and deliberate steps to where she stood. "I don't like that you are going back to the home where that fool will be near you. Is there a way you can move back here?"

"I tried to stay in the first place. Even before my father wasn't coming home," Agnethe closed her eyes and fought to control the sting in her eyes, "they wouldn't let me."

"What if I stayed with you?"

"I'm not. . ." What am I supposed to say to that? "Well. . ."

"I mean," he interrupted, "that I would stay in the front. Just to make sure that no one bothers you." His lips twitched as if he were fighting a smile.

"I don't think that is an option."

He took her hands in his and rubbed his thumbs along the back of her knuckles. "Then I'll stay where you are. I won't leave you to their mercy." He whispered the last part.

Agnethe's chest felt like an anvil was sitting on it. The tears she'd been holding back fell without any ability to stop them. "Why are you doing this? You just met me." Her voice cracked and she couldn't look at him.

Using two fingers he lifted her chin, so she had to look into his eyes. "It doesn't take a long time to know when you have met the person who makes your heart feel whole."

Agnethe could not form words. Breathing became hard and her legs were weak. "I feel that way too, but so much has happened. It's too much."

"I have no desire to put more pressure on you. I just want you to know what you mean to me. As well as keep you from harm, because even if you don't share my feelings, you don't deserve to deal with that clod." He let go of her chin and pushed a strand of hair behind her ears. "What he said. . .about the night before. . ."

A shiver rippled down Agnethe's spine. Klaus' voice held no accusation. It was a tone of concern and hurt, judging by the expression on his face. Agnethe didn't want to tell him what happened, especially after what her aunt had said to her, but for some reason she trusted him. "He tried to hurt me, but I got away," her voice barely a whisper.

"I won't let it happen again." His hand tightened over Agnethe's and his lips straightened to a thin white line.

Suddenly Agnethe felt as if the street spun, her muscles were weak and her head pounded. An odd sensation of containment mixed with excitement flooded her senses. Overwhelmed, she leaned into Klaus who wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. The warmth of his body engulfed her, and she inhaled his musky scent that had a hint of clove. If the world stopped right then, she wouldn't care. But that was not reality, and she needed to face her problems, not hide in the arms of the strong man she'd known for less than a day, yet wondered how she would survive without.

"I need to go back," she said but made no move to pull away.

"I'll go with you."

Agnethe nodded. Taking one more deep breath, she looked up at Klaus and smiled. How is this possible to care so much already?

They continued to stare at each other until Agnethe looked away with a nervous giggle. Klaus twisted to her side, keeping an arm around her shoulders and they headed toward her family.

Tension charged the atmosphere when they entered the house. It was also filled with people. To Agnethe's dismay, Trond had made it home before her and it looked as though his version of events had already been relayed.

Agnethe strode forward toward her aunt, she inhaled and released a breath slow and steady, pushing past her cousin and the throng of friends he'd brought with him. Klaus stayed at her back and growled a warning as some of the men started to taunt her, silencing them.

"I'm surprised to see you," Bierka said. "From the sounds of it you have chosen to ignore your family ties and align yourself with a stranger." Bierka didn't bother to look toward Klaus, keeping her eyes fixed on Agnethe's.

"I have not done anything to go against you."

"Oh?" Bierka raised a mocking eyebrow. "First you make up a story to damage Trond's reputation, then you flaunt yourself at the inn. I will not allow you to mock my family in this way."

"I did not make up any stories. I refused the perverse advances of my cousin."

With unexpected speed, Bierka slapped Agnethe wrenching her head to the side and making her stumble backward. Klaus wrapped his arm around her waist and twisted her away from her aunt, his nostrils flaring as he stared the older woman in the eye.

"That. Is. Enough," he said through clenched teeth.

Bierka narrowed her eyes at him and spat on the ground. Glaring at Agnethe, who was holding her hand against her burning cheek, she shook her head. "You will leave tonight and never set foot in my home again. You are no longer part of this family. Get out."

Klaus pulled Agnethe with him as he backed away from Bierka, "Come, you don't need them, anyway."

"Wait," putting her hand on the arm around her waist while staring at her aunt, "I want my things."

"You have no things here."

"My mother's trunk sits right there and I have two crates in the other room. You have no need for them."

"Leave them for now. I will come back for them after you are settled," Klaus said to Agnethe while directing his stare to her aunt. Bierka said nothing, but nodded, apparently understanding it would not be worth fighting him.

Reaching the doors without further incident, Agnethe noticed Solaug before she turned to go outside. There was a small frown on her cousin's face, almost as if she was sad to see Agnethe leave. Maybe there is one who will remember me fondly, anyway.

Once outside, Agnethe felt numb, then remembered Caesar with a jolt. Calling out his name and clucking her tongue, Klaus watched her with a confused look on his face. Turning to him when he didn't join in her search, she noticed his expression and stopped. "I'm searching for my cat."

Klaus let out a hearty laugh. "That's good to hear, I thought maybe you had gone mad for a second."

Smirking at him, she rolled her eyes and continued to call for Caesar. After a couple more minutes the missing feline strolled around the corner and stretched lazily as if amused by the interest in his whereabouts. Agnethe picked him up and Klaus scratched him behind his ears, earning a hearty rumble of approval.