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Author's Chapter Notes:
thanks for all the amazing reviews. here is the next chapter. I am finally over my traditional christmas illness and am back typing, so update should be along regularly
William got turfed off the bench where he was sitting by Anya. He didn’t complain though, he didn’t dare. Every man in the hall had been moved at least twice as the women pulled boxes and chests out of hiding places from all over the hall. The preparations for the Thing were under way.

Connor’s shut bed had been stripped and the mattress lifted, Buffy using it as an excuse to take the blankets outside to air. The wooden slats underneath had been moved and four large chests had been removed from their hiding place below. They and all the rest of the chests had been put under the only table that had been left standing in the chaos.

Tara and Willow came back into the hall. They had spent the morning in the home field with the birthing ewes and had come into the house to grab some food before heading back out to their work. Tara stared in amazement at the huge pile of silver that had appeared as if from nowhere. There were tablet braids and silks piled high, a king’s ransom in anyone’s eyes. Buffy was sorting through the hanks of tablet braid, picking out the best and second best. She held up a long length, three times the height of a man, of dark blue and purple, expensive high ranked colours, and set it aside.
‘That is staying here,’ she said and continued sorting through the luxurious lengths. Tara had never seen such wonderful braid. She would have touched it but her hands were still dirty from the birthings she’d been attending.

Willow and Tara washed their hands and faces in the bowls of clean water that Andrew brought them. They were then presented with platters of cold meat, cheese and bread. They even had a small sour apple each, taken from the stores. After all the months here was still amazed at the amount of food they were given to eat: she hadn’t been hungry once since she’d arrived. Her figure had filled out and even her hair had grown longer, she was sure. Tara smiled at Willow, her greatest joy. She looked up at Connor who was watching the pair of them.

‘Any luck in the field?’ He asked.

‘Three sets of twins amongst the first lambs,’ Willow replied, ‘and they are all doing well. I’ve sent Jon out to fix extra hurdles as shelter in the field for the mothers, and had hay left out for the others. We’ll do well from them this year if it keeps on like this.’

‘That’s good, have we lost any?’

‘Not one. Tara even got one really nice ewe lamb breathing again, the mother has taken to it well.’

‘Good.’ Connor replied as he accepted his plate from Andrew. Blushing as he felt Tara’s eyes on him.

Tara looked at the chaos in the hall. She grabbed Andrew as he went passed with a full jug of ale.

‘Don’t forget to feed Buffy, she’s so busy she’ll only forget.’

Andrew nodded and went to make up another plate.

Connor felt his heart warm. Tara was a lovely young woman. If she’d been Norse he would be sending Xander to talk to her family about now; her smile towards Willow was gentleness itself. She would make a fine lady one day. He sighed and finished his meal quickly before Buffy or Anya shoved him out the way again. He looked around for male support. Every man in the hall looked awkward and in the way.

‘I’m going to check the boats,’ he announced. It took only a moment or two before Xander and Olaf volunteered to help before they got dragged into hall work. They grabbed William’s arm as they passed him.

‘Come on, you really don’t want to stay around here today!’

William followed the men down to the water’s edge along the path to the noust.
Connor looked at his beautiful ship, his mistress. She had suffered little during the winter. Beside her within the boathall built by his great-grandfather, was a lovely, wide merchant ship. The difference between the two was obvious. One was built for speed and one for comfort; one tiny, the other large. They were a perfect pair. The Sea Stallion could get the goods and their new little beauty could take them around the coast and sell them. Connor hadn’t really taken much notice of the ship that Buffy had acquired for them the previous summer; as always his darling stepmother had done well for their family and hall.

Connor looked across to William. He seemed uncomfortable so near the ships.

‘Thinking about going home? We’ll get you there safely, you know.’

‘It’s not that, I’m just not sure I want to go. Tara and I have been treated better here than we ever were at home. I know she would love to stay.’

Connor looked sharply at William’s words.

‘You think she wants to stay?’

‘I know she does, but honour demands…’

Connor seemed to shrink back. ‘Yes, honour demands.’

The Norse men were checking both ships carefully. They unloaded the sails and opened them out on the ground. Both sails had survived the winter well. Connor was glad: it would save a lot of work later. He hated mixing up the ochre, fish oil and urine to make the preservative they painted on the sails when they had to. This year they would miss that awful process, it stank and he hated it with a passion. He even used to bribe Andrew and Jon to use their free afternoon to do the job for him: it cost him silver every time.
The two slaves always grinned at him when he came to negotiate, after all their free time was theirs and he had to pay them to work it.

William watched in amazement at the men worked up and down checking the strakes of the ship. Oar plugs were double checked as were the seal skin ropes. William remembered just how much his father had paid for a small amount of such rope. This hall was richer than even the Earl of Wessex’s Hall. They must be as rich as Mercia. It hit him hard just how far above him Buffy really was.

Connor called to him to help fold up the sails and they headed back to the hall hoping that the women had finally sorted out all the valuables they wanted to take to the Thing and that peace would reign in the hall.

Three small chests and a huge pile of braids were piled up on the table as they came in. William could smell fresh bread and a thick fish stew. There were honey cakes to follow. Food was packed in sacks. All was ready for the morning.

He held on tight to Buffy that night. He could smell the gentle flower fragrance in her hair. His mouth found that sweet spot on her neck that always started her moans off. She felt powerless against him as he kissed and licked her, his hands, his talented fingers finding her most intimate place and invading her body. She was already wet for him and although he wanted to spend the night taking her she pulled him quickly on top and he found himself deep within her body. His thrusts were slow and measured. He listened carefully to her small gasps of breath, she was so responsive to his every move. How could he ever let her go? His thrusts became fiercer and deeper, more frantic and urgent and he could feel his own climax coming. The fluttering of Buffy’s silky channel was the final thing he needed as he emptied himself inside her.

‘I love you Buffy’ he whispered as she fell asleep in his arms.

‘Love you too,’ she muttered as sleep finally took her.

William couldn’t quite believe that his ears had really heard that. She loved him too. How was he ever going to let her go?

The next morning everyone was up before dawn. The pack horses had been brought around to the front of the hall and were being loaded with the sacks William had seen on the table the night before. The sails from the two longships were put aboard the wagon, as were the chests. Connor, Olaf and Xander were arming up. Mail and swords were evident. They had blowing horns in their hands and were putting them into the packs on the riding horses.

Buffy had spent the early morning giving order upon order for the running of the hall while she was away. There was a lot to do. Spring had shown her green gown early and although Buffy knew that they couldn’t plant yet, she knew they could get a head start on the ploughing and preparation.

‘Now Jon, you make sure you get the upper fields ploughed and ready for seeding if you get a couple of dry days. I want the walls around the bottom fields checked. We will only be away for a sen’night or so, so just do what you can.’

Anya was laughing. Buffy was always the same whenever she was away from the hall. She knew that Buffy found it hard to let go of control, but that was what had kept them alive during hard times so they tolerated her bossiness and smiled as she listed jobs.
Willow gave her the look that warned Buffy she was getting into Lady mode and Buffy had the grace to blush.

‘I’m doing it again aren’t I?’

‘Yes sweetie, but we don’t mind, we know it’s either because you care or you are a controlling woman who can’t let go of anything.’

Buffy started laughing. Faith who had just come up behind them spoke up.

‘She’s controlling, always has been. Hey Saxon: does she still hog all the blankets at night?’

William went bright red, it still embarrassed him how easily it was accepted that he and Buffy shared the same sleeping area. And he simply refused to answer Faith, who just laughed and wandered off to see Connor.

The heavier draft horses were harnessed up to the wagon and everything was being readied for the group to head out for the Thing. There was shouting and yelling from outside the pale. The massive gates were opened to reveal a party of warriors William recognised from the ship. They, too, were armed and mailed up. They had riding horses with them, as well as a couple of pack horses. They were in their best clothes and had arm rings of silver on display.

Finally, about two hours after sun up, the wagon and horses were ready. Olaf lifted Helga up into the saddle and helped her recover her ankles. He handed her the reins and kissed her fingers. Olaf then swung himself up into his own saddle. The horse was a little skittish for a couple of moments before settling down. Olaf guided it beside the pretty mare Helga was riding. He would escort his wife.

Buffy gave William a very pointed look. He was supposed to do something but for the life of him couldn’t work out what; surely she didn’t mean for him to lift her up? Xander gave him a shove. ‘You’re the only one other than Connor who can touch her without permission: help her up, boy!’ William could have kicked himself. He was used to hiding his feelings but these people weren’t. He didn’t want Buffy to feel that he was ashamed of her, and hurried over. He placed his hands around her slim waist and in front of her whole hall he lifted her easily onto her horse and handed her the reins. He kissed her fingers as he’d seen Olaf do and smiled up at her.

She turned to those staying behind and waved. Kicking her horse on she took her place ahead of the wagon; Xander jumped up onto the driving seat and grabbed the reins. Willow and Tara were standing shoulder to shoulder, their arms around each other’s waist. Anya held Alec up to wave to his father, waving as they left.

Connor blew his horn and they set out for the Thing.





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