Dragon Bride

Chapter 32 Return of the King

Oonagh shrieked with joy as she rushed to Karliene embracing her with her arms around her knees and nearly tripping her. Both sisters were wearing bright colored silk togas as they entered the long house. Karliene's a soft green and Unni's a lite blue. The togas left their right shoulder bear and ended just above their knees. Karl also added his hug and Karliene bent to kiss them both. Other members of the household were full of joy with their safe return. Loki and Bjorn followed them in carrying bags of ham, salt pork and several colorful silk cloths destined to be togas and a bag containing Unni smelly clothes from the troll cave.

Gretchen rushed to Karliene and hugged her tightly then hugging Unni. She had tears in her eyes. "I wasn't gone that long!" said as she smiled at her aunt.

"Nearly a fortnight," Gretchen said, then lowering her voice conspiratorially said, "with the sun behind you I can see right through that dress." Karliene's first reaction was to blush then smiling with mischief she purred to Bjorn, "Is that true bear, can you see through my dress?" now it was Bjorn's turn to blush and even his ears were red. "You know I'm not wearing anything under my toga." Bjorn's face became even redder. "Don't you like what you see?" she pouted as she spoke.

Bjorn finding his voice said clearly, "I love what I see!" Karliene laughed in response.

"You are such a tease," Unni said.

"You all will love how I teased the trolls," Karliene said, "but I'm real cold. I want to wear something warm, my regular clothes."

"Wasn't the cave cold and dark?" Gretchen asked.

"The opposite actually. I'll tell you all about it at dinner. I really am freezing. I don't see how those Roman women did it in just these."

"Italy is quite warm," Bjorn said, "but feel free to dress like a Roman in our home." Karliene laughed.

"I thought you'd like my toga."

"It's you I like in your toga!" with that Karliene twirled around smiled brightly and went to her room to change with Unni and Oonagh tagged along.

They realized that keeping news of Karlie's return was an impossible task so they invited Eleanor and her daughters and Brenda and her family over for a late dinner. They had an abundance of ham to share. Karliene told everyone it was bread and vegetables she missed the most during her captivity. Loki went back to the cave and brought one of the wine amphorae Karliene had found sunken in the cold stream in the cave to add to the festivities. He had forgotten he had hidden several away in the stream years ago. He was impressed that little Karliene had managed to wrestle the heavy amphorae from the stream.

They has so many guests present for the celebration that they took the meal outside. The guests all commented on the quality of the wine and the abundance of the ham. They listened with awe as Karliene told the story of her capture and the eating of Gorm. They laughed with her disruption of harassing the trolls and her theft of the ham.

"And here we all thought our Karlie was starving away in a dark cave not knowing when she would be killed," Unni said teasingly, "and there she was eating ham, drinking fine wine and tormenting some poor innocent trolls"

"It was not an experience I want to have again," Karliene said soberly, "I am so grateful to those who had faith that I was still alive and had the courage to rescue me. We laugh at the trolls now but they were cruel, viscous and cunning. Loki, Unni and my dear Bear...thank you. Loki where did you get this wonderful wine."

"From a Roman shipwreck deep underwater. I think it is very old. How did you get those huge amphorae out of the cold stream?"

"I found a small one. The one you brought is huge."

The meal finished musical instruments were brought outside and they began singing and dancing when a sudden downpour of heavy rain ended the festivities and running they took cover in the long house.

"We'll just move the party inside," Gretchen said, "can't send you all home in this weather."

*****

The long ship rounded the headland of the fjord as the crew rowed the ship. "No unnecessary talking," Olaf whispered to the crew, "voices carry at night over water." Eric stood at the bow watching for landmarks and directing the long ship. "Are you sure we can make it in?"

"If you were accurate in your description of your draft and beam I'll have you tied up at my dock in about two hours. You'll have to row out backwards," Eric whispered.

"I'll feel a lot better once we deliver Lothar to Karlie and Unni. I don't know how he has managed to cling to life."

"He's a stubborn man," Eric whispered, "you need to be stubborn to be a king."

"Are you sure the girls will help him?"

"I'm not sure they even can. But at least he'll die at home."

"I'll send the ship back out to rejoin the others and sail in as a group around mid day."

"Your not going to stay with you ship?"

"My younger brother can be captain. I have business with Unni. Urgent business."

"Good luck!" Eric said and pounded him on his shoulder. The ship was made fast to the dock then Eric disembarked and walked swiftly to his long house. A stretcher carrying Lothar was offloaded by four burley men and Arnie and Olaf climbed down onto the dock. Eric was the first to enter the home and was immediately mobbed by his children as they clung to him and sobbed with joy. Gretchen approached slowly her smile was radiant as they embraced. They were kissing when the stretcher was brought it. Lothar was completely covered by an oiled canvas cloth to keep the rain off him. The stretcher was carefully laid on the ground and just as Arnie and Olaf walked in and the stretcher bearers left Eric removed the tarp. Eleanor gasped and rushed to his side kneeling next to him. She took his hand and kissing it held it to her cheek now wet with tears. His daughters also taking positions around him after hugging their brother Arnie.

"I kept my promise. I made it home to you my love," Lothar whispered. Karliene and Unni joined the women kneeling beside Lothar. Karliene lay her hands on his head as did Unni.

"Please, all of you link together with us in a circle of healing." The others stood in a tight circle. Gretchen holding Karliene's shoulder them linking hands with the others as the circle closed and Eleanor put her hand on Unni's shoulder.