The Barbarian Read online

  There were trees all around the circular Keep apart from the open field next to the road. They’d dealt with moving the forest further away, that left more open ground to deal with.

  “Stake it,” he’d told her, it would hold them back and stop them pulling in the big guns. She agreed. Star pattern she’d told him and drew it for him telling him to use the trees they were cutting down, making three lines of defence across the open land into the woods on either side.

  That left the road. They needed that for access and to allow Eldron and his men to get back. It would be their weakest point. It led straight to them.

  “Break it up,” she’d told him to his shock. “Leave enough room for a man and his horse to pass in single file. Let everyone know they cannot bring carts after this is done. Move the break from one side of the road to another or in the middle at random, so they have to weave down it making them a better target for us. They won’t be able to rush us either. Mark the route in, that only our look will know and cover them up.”

  “And when Lord Eldon comes?”

  “Our lookouts had better be good Miles. His Lordship will need their aid.”

  Everyone got to work. It seemed like hundreds of busy bees working on one project or another. A sense of pride filled the air. She’d spoken to Kate about storing food. Enough for six months if needed. Part of the outer courtyard was given over to farm animals. They had water from the creek directly to the Keep but it could be poisoned, they’d need their own supply. Kate had pointed out the old well stood to one side in the middle courtyard, not used since the creek was accessed. Eleanor had them open it up, clean it out, digging down for fresh water not connected to the creek.

  It had all helped to keep her busy during those long months. She missed and feared for him.

  She had her morning meeting with Mark and had passed some time looking out over their hard work, looking for sign that Eldron might come today. Sighing she turned away from the wall. They were nearly as ready as they could be. If Eldron had met with trouble and it was coming their way, they were at least ready to defend his home, it gave them a fighting chance.

  Since that first night of his leaving she’d taken her meals in the great hall with everyone else, she spoke with each table, gave encouragement and poured wine.

  They found it strange that she would serve them, and she just told them what was important. They served her, so she would serve them.

  It resonated with the people, that they were together in this. Her heart ached for his loss, her pain often so bad she’d hide away and weep. But she couldn’t show this to the people. They needed her strength.

  So she went through the motions. She ate and laughed, spoke merrily, asked after family and children and all the while, inside, she was dying a little each day.

  Scared he’d not come back to her.

  ***

  Four days later, banging at her door woke her just after sunrise. Grabbing her robe, just as the door opened. Miles.

  “They’re here my Lady, being escorted in.” He told her out of breath. He had to have run the entire way. Eleanor held her shaky hand to her lips, tears forming in her eyes and she fought for control. “Truly?” she asked her voice trembling.

  “Yes my Lady, he’s here.”

  She waved him off and rushed to dress. She’d thought for a moment he meant the war, then she let the ‘escorted in’ bit sink in. Only Eldron would be escorted in.

  Eleanor flicked her long plait over her shoulder, she splashed water over her face and cleaned herself, donning her clothing with the help of the maid that had come flying in soon after Mark had left and grabbed her warm cloak. She quickly making their way through the main house, Kate came to her.

  “Prepare for injuried. Food and drink.” Kate squeezed her hand and rushed off. She made her way to the Keep outer wall.

  Mark pointed out the line of troops coming down the road with Eldrons colours. A huge sigh of relief hit her, and she bit back her tears.

  “Thank God,” she whispered.

  Eldron was at the front, she couldn’t miss his bearing. They moved through the snaked road with ease following the scout. She saw him look over to the staked barricades on the open ground, as he got nearer, and the cut back trees. She repeated her order for triage, wine and food to be prepared and she nodded at Miles, who gave the order to open the gate and swing out the bridge.

  Eleanor gripped the wall and stared down at Eldron as he got nearer. She could see the concern in his face until he caught sight of her, then he looked straight at her, his hot gaze taking her in. She inclined her head to him, and he smiled. Her heart burst open with joy. He was alive and well and here.

  It was then that she saw he held his arm and leaned forward. He was injuried. Looking passed him, she saw several men were. There’d been a battle.

  She turned quickly and made her way down knowing he would be making his way to the outer courtyard first then though the middle to the centre.

  “Our lord is here.” she called out to the people as Miles when to meet his Lord.

  Kate met her as she walked through the middle courtyard to the centre.

  “Are we ready?” She asked. “They are injuried. Boiled water, ointment, mead, food, bandages and medicines and the Priest all at hand?”

  “We are.” Kate nodded.

  “Good, section the hall like we practiced.” Kate ran off collecting people as she went.

  Eleanor watched as people scurried about doing her bidding and waited at the centre courtyards great hall steps that led into the main building. She held in her fear. It was important the people saw her in control and unafraid.

  He came wearily towards her taking off his gloves through to the centre courtyard listening to Miles, he saw her and made a beeline straight for her. Her heart pounded. It was then she saw his cuts and bruises, his arm was damaged.

  Injuried….

  Her heart in her mouth. Makas behind him not much better.

  She knew instinctively he would not want her fawning all over him. It took all her will power not to go to him and pet him. Instead, she swallowed her scream of concern and tapped her foot, putting her hands on her waist. He gave her an amused smile coming to her. She lifted her chin.

  “Your late!” She bit out. There were several sniggers from people around them. The people she now knew so well. Makas looked surprised at their reaction. Eldron just smiled at her softly. She nearly crumbled but held fast.

  “And don’t bring all your dirt in here.” She snapped. The tension in the air evaporated, people laughed and slapped their thighs good humouredly. She held in her smile biting her lip. Her eyes dancing with mirth.

  He’d never seen anything more beautiful as she’d taken in his injuries and those of him men, swallowed her fears and confronted him. She was magnificent. And he was so very glad to see her.

  There had been times over the last months when he’d thought he’d never see her again.

  There was shock and concern in her expression when she’d first seen him. She’d hidden it well, but he’d seen it she was worried. Her anger was fake and for the people. His heart knew better and swelled with pride.

  He grabbed her with his good arm lifting her up, knowing the people were watching them and placed a strong hard kiss to her lips. She melted against him and clung around his shoulders.

  “Miss me?” he bellowed.

  “Put me down you oaf!” More people laughed and she smiled.

  Pulling back, he put his forehead against hers and breathed her in.

  “You are well Lord?” she whispered. Her concern just between the two of them. He started to walk into the great hall carrying her. “Put me down, your arm.”

  “My arm will always be strong enough for you beauty.” He snapped, kissing her once more needing her taste on his lips.

  She’d upset him. He was sensitive about his injury. Eleanor knew he was hurting. She put her hand gently on his face and he looked down at her.

  “I never doub
ted it My Lord,” she told him brushing his lips with her own.

  “But let me use my legs, they are worthless and only female, but they can still kick your ass.”

  She grinned and winked at him.

  Eldron roared his laughter and relief and put her down with a slap at her buttocks and a wink and promise. She did not see him as weak and would not allow him an inch.

  She rushed off to make sure the hall was ready for them. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  Makas came to him as they removed their cloaks. “You saw the preparations?”

  “Yes.”

  “Miles has outdone himself.”

  Eldron shook his head and strode into the hall looking for Eleanor. He knew better, Miles had updated him. “Not Miles, my wife.”

  Makas reached out to catch his good arm. “Eleanor?”

  Eldron nodded with amusement and looked to find her once more.

  “It seems her book reading wasn’t contained to female nonsense.”

  They both looked across at her in stunned silence as she gathered the people around her. Seeing them regard her, take her orders and going about their business.

  They watched as she called out to people noting the hall now had sections to it. Men were being brought in. Those with more serious wounds being seen first and taken to a section that had treatment ready. The men were directed to areas according to their injuries where staff waited to treat them.

  Then a line was being set up for those that were not injuried to eat and drink on the other.

  Eleanor looked up and called him. They joined her at the top table. Hot water and rags already in place. She looked at him in detail noting the damage. There was more under his clothing.

  “Do you need help to strip?” she asked. He gave her a slight nod.

  She turned to Makas and examined him. Blood was seeping through his tunic. She caught her breath and looked in his eyes. He knew that had to be serious, she didn’t need to tell him.

  It was clear he’d insisted on riding.

  Damn idiot….

  “They should have knocked you out and tied you to a stretcher,” she mumbled.

  Makas laughed then sighed dramatically. “If only you were the one offering to tie me up!”

  “Damn idiot…” She told him good naturedly to both his and Eldrons chuckle and then ordered Makas to strip too.

  Calling a maid over she set about giving her instructions on cleaning Makas wounds.

  Turning back to work on Eldron, she helped him slowly remove his tunic, boots and trousers. His under shirt was grimy and already ripped along the sleeve. They had splinted it. She checked it was done right. It was good. There was blood all over him from cuts and scratches.

  “Get the baths ready,” she called out.

  Then worked from top to bottom cleaning him and putting a lavender and honey salve on him.

  She had been working on this with the Friar before leaving her castle. He’d had some good ideas on the healing properties of herbs, flowers and honey and she’d encouraged it making it into balms and salves. It was similar to the tea he made with some varying differences.

  She used them now. A mug of tea was handed to both men. They turned up their noses and she told them to drink. The lavender oiled water, that she’d had boiled up would help cleaning the cuts and be in the baths too. She worked meticulously not missing a thing checking the maid was doing it as well. A small infected cut could kill.

  He watched her work. Her actions confident and caring. He saw her hesitate at his arm and held it out to her. She glanced up and looked into his eyes. She was telling him it would hurt. He knew that and also knew it would need cleaning properly. She gave it a moment Stealing her fears, then started unwrapping it.

  Eldron grabbed for his wine his hand a little shaky. All the while she gave instructions to the others on how to use the lavender water and balms. She was in her element and although in great pain, he only had eyes for her.

  She noted the tubs were being filled, screens going up and men were getting in them. A healing bath for those not so injuried would help revive them.

  Working as quickly as she dared, she remade his arm brace. It was already mending. This wound was not new, weeks old.

  Why hadn’t he come home?....

  A couple more weeks and the brace wouldn’t be needed. It was a huge risk to take. If it hadn’t been set properly, he could have lost the use of his arm. He’d been lucky, a break clean and easily aligned.

  “We,” she gritted out. Pissed at him. “Are going to have a conversation on why this break is weeks old and I’m only seeing it now.”

  Eldron grinned. The spitfire was back. He was home.

  They stayed until nearly everyone was fed and helped and then she insisted to the room that he take her to rest, she was tired.

  It was a lie. He was exhausted not her, and it gave him the perfect excuse to leave. Rest, he’d told his people. Tomorrow they would talk.

  She went to take him to his room and he stopped her. “That isn’t my room any longer wife.” She nodded calling to a maid instructing that Lord Makas should use Lord Eldrons old room and headed up to what was now their rooms.

  She didn’t argue or challenge him, and it was an example of how concerned she was for him. The tub was full and waiting for him. Part of him wasn’t surprised. She helped him strip his under clothes. Washed and dried him, adding more slave to his wounds and slowly he moved to the bed glad to see it and lay down, calling to her to join him. She lay down next to him and he pulled her to him with his good arm, breathing her in and sighing. Home at last.

  “Sleep,” she told him, and he did.

  ***

  It was dark when he woke. In the shadow of the firelight he saw her add more wood to it. Even in summer the rooms could be cold, and it was early spring.

  “Come here,” he called to her.

  She moved quickly to him. “How do you feel? Thirsty, hungry?”

  He gazed on the beauty of her. His body already stirring.

  “Strip for me wife, I wish to see you.”

  She pulled the garment from around her shoulders and let it drop next to the bed. Running a hand over her breasts he familiarised himself with her body, he cupped her sex slipping a finger through her folds and found her wet for him.

  “Did you miss me female?”

  Her nipples were already hardening. “Yes.”

  He threw off the blankets and furs and palmed his hardened cock. “Get on the bed, I need to fuck you.”

  Climbing onto the bed she straddled him, he placed his cock at her entrance, and she sunk down, letting out a beautiful sigh. He palmed her thighs and spread her wider. “Fuck me, I want to see your pleasure.”

  Careful of his arm, she rode him. Her relief at finding him whole and her need for pleasure took over. She rode him harder than she’d intended but needed the closeness, the contact, the thrill.

  He encouraged her on. Lifting up to meet her, caressing both her breasts one at a time as they bounced with the urgency of her need.

  “Harder,” he told her, and she didn’t disappoint.

  “Faster.” She clung to him and moved with abandon. He pushed up to meet her feeling the wave of pleasure starting to roll through her.

  “More,” he gritted out thrusting up hard. He needed her cries of pleasure on her lips. She gave him what he needed crying out as he gave her everything he had to give, coming beautifully apart, collapsing against him.

  She rubbed herself against him. “I think you did miss me female,” he grinning as she rubbed up against him. She moaned.

  “You are not spent,” she whispered. A fact.

  “No.”

  She moved off his cock and handled it purring at him, then moved down avoiding his injuries to sucked it in. Eldron hissed in pleasure. Her lips warm and wet, her tongue flicking around his bulbous tip, sucking in and out. His balls squeezed tighter. His hand automatically going to her hair as she bobbed up and down on him and he joi
ned in the rhythm.

  “Fuck me female, I need to come. I need to know I’m home.”

  ***

  The following days and nights made up for their time apart. Baths and the dressing of wounds, the talks of the battles they’d endured were endless. The chase of the most cunning of adversities stories to be legends. The one that they dared not leave unbroken before returning home.

  Of the men they’d managed to turn back and of her and his people and the pleasure between them. Their private time building a bond between them they both relished.

  He spoke of his delight in whispered words while slowly fucking her in finding the work Eleanor had put in place in his absence, that it had both surprised and pleased him. SHE pleased him. She hadn’t wanted the role of wife, but she’d taken it with both hands and made it more.

  They’d barely left the bed. And the nights were their own. Constantly seeking each other out on stirring. They would come together in the heat of passion.

  Eleanor would wake with his cock still buried deep inside her. Slowly rocking in and out of her, very deliberately, his hold on her loose, telling her he was sleeping but still wanting her. He would seek her pleasure until she quietly came, then on a final thrust and grunt, his hot seed shooting up inside her before pulling her to him once more. He was never anything but hard and the only time he came in her was during his sleeping moments. More in his dreams than in reality. He had fears that only diminished when asleep. It nearly broke her heart, it was the only time he felt free enough to let go.