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| Part 3 � You know I love you, you stupid Northman,� he said panting. I laughed, � I love you too, you foolish Arab,� I replied happily. He grinned at me, and then groaned as I pressed the hard length of my erection into his groin, bumping against an answering hardness. � Oh,� he gasped and thrust against me. I had to pull away or risk coming already, I was aching for him but I wanted this to last as long as possible. He frowned in confusion, but smiled again when I pushed him down and crawled over his body. I settled myself between his legs, aligning our cocks again, rocking gently against him. His groan sent a shiver of arousal through my body and I could feel my cock leaking in anticipation. I thrust against him and felt him respond eagerly, his hands grasping my shoulders painfully. I pulled away again, I wanted him naked. I pulled off his trousers and then my own, almost tripping in my hurry to be rid of them. Ahmad grinned at me suddenly and pulled me back down on top of him. I rested my weight on my elbows afraid that I would be too heavy. I looked down at him and smiled, before dipping my head to lick his lips. His mouth opened and I slipped my tongue inside to taste his warm, wet depths. He groaned and sucked hard on my tongue, as I pushed against him, our cocks rubbing slickly together from sweat and juices. I pulled away from his mouth and kissed my way down to his neck, nibbling at his slightly salty skin, sucking gently until I left a light mark, loving the way he writhed under me. I sucked and licked down further, pausing only to take a nipple between my teeth, lightly biting it as he cried out and grasped at my hair. I pulled the other gently into a hard peak, until he moaned with pleasure. Sliding down further I left a wet trail down his stomach, following the line of hair pointing the way to his groin. Nudging against his erection I inhaled his musky scent, before dipping down to taste him. His skin was smooth and soft and the drops of liquid leaking from the tip tasted salty and slightly bitter. Unable to resist any longer I took his length into my mouth, circling the shaft with my tongue. � Shit!� he exclaimed loudly, it was the first time I�d ever heard him swear, I grinned around my mouthful and went to work, sucking and licking, taking as much of him as I could. I could feel him beginning to strain beneath me, and moistening it first from my own leaking juices, I began to ease a finger into him. He began to writhe again, muttering under his breath in his own language, until I reached the small protrusion inside him that I was looking for and then he exploded. His hips thrust forward as liquid warmth gushed down my throat and he cried out long and loud. I swallowed hard until it was too much for me and I raised my head, collecting his juices in my hand. � I want you,� I whispered hoarsely. He stared at me wild eyed for a second, before nodding. � Please,� he whispered. Using more spit and come I slicked up another finger and gently slipped it inside him. Carefully I loosened him, scissoring my fingers to stretch him, before adding another finger. He groaned and writhed, urging me on with small whimpers of need. � Now, please,� he whispered eventually. I coated my aching cock with all the come, sweat and spit I could and shifted further up his body. As I pushed slowly into him I took his mouth in a gentle kiss. A gasp from Ahmad made me stop, truth be told I would have stopped anyway I was so close. He was tight and hot and I gritted my teeth in the effort not to move. I looked down at him, his eyes were screwed tightly shut. � Are you all right?� I managed to ask him. He nodded and then I felt him relax and begin to breathe again. � Move,� he ordered me, I was only to happy to oblige. The wait had taken the edge off, and I managed to ease my way into him slowly and gently without losing all control. He began to moan again, this time from pleasure, his hips starting to move forward, trying to pull me in deeper. I thrust a little harder, his tight passage gripping my cock, sending waves of pleasure through me. � Oh Herger please,� he gasped. I began to move in earnest, pulling out slowly till I almost left the warmth of his body, then thrusting back into him, each time a little harder, his small cries urging me on. The delicious friction, the heat and tightness surrounding my shaft was overwhelming and I could feel myself falling over the edge. I cried out his name, jerking against him as I filled him with my seed. He thrust up against me and I felt warm wetness against my belly as he came a second time, exquisite contractions wringing more seed from my cock. I collapsed on top of him, panting harshly. He wrapped his arms around me, holding tightly, little shudders still coursing through us both. I lifted my head to gaze at him, he smiled at me and I kissed him hard, lightly biting his lips. I rolled off him and lay back, Ahmad laughed suddenly and I propped myself up on one elbow to look at him. I smiled down at him as he trailed his finger through the sticky liquid on my stomach. � What?� I asked. � We are dirty again,� he said, grinning at me. I snorted, � Pah, this is not dirt,� I said. � It is messy and sticky, and will be uncomfortable later, we should wash,� he said. � Fine, you go get cold again, I will wait here,� I said, watching him idly as he stood and walked back to the river. Despite my posturing I knelt briefly at the riverside and washed myself off. Then I pulled on my clothes and lay back to watch Ahmad wash. I was so entranced by the sunlight dancing on the droplets of water that sprinkled his lean body that I did not hear anyone approach until a hand gripped my shoulder. Startled I looked up, it was Edgtho and he looked even more sombre than usual, if indeed that were possible. � What is it?� I asked, waving at Ahmad to join us. � Rothgar is dying, he requires our presence,� said Edgtho seriously. Even in this situation I found myself watching Ahmad as he dressed, � We will be there shortly,� I said dismissively. Edgtho nodded and turned to walk away. I stopped Ahmad as he went to follow him. � What?� he asked. Edgtho stopped and turned, raising an eyebrow questioningly. � We will follow you,� I said. � But�� started Ahmad. � We will follow,� I said again, staring in exasperation at Ahmad. Edgtho shrugged and mounted his horse, riding away slowly. � Why�?� again I didn�t let him finish, pulling him into my arms and kissing him fiercely. � Oh,� he groaned into my mouth, he pushed himself up against me, and it took great strength of will to pull away, although seeing Edgtho watching us helped a great deal. I glared at him, but he raised his hands placatingly and shrugged, riding away without a word. Part 4 � Come on,� I said, � I suppose we should go.� Ahmad nodded, sighing regretfully. I chuckled at his expression. I caught my horse and mounted up, waiting for him to mount his pony. � You got the dog back from Haltaf then?� I said with a laugh at the old joke. He nodded and grinned at me. � I think he prefers a real horse anyway,� said Ahmad. We caught up with Edgtho and rode in silence back to the village. The village was in chaos, people running back and forth like headless chickens, I stared at them in disgust. The confusion was in stark contrast to the joyful celebrations of the night before. Weath stood by the hall watching for us worriedly. When he spotted us he waved in relief. We dismounted and hurried into the hall. Weilew was waiting, she looked pale and her eyes were red from unshed tears. I strode over to her. � Herger,� she whispered, clutching my hand, � He is almost gone, he wishes to speak to you. To you all,� she said. She led us to Rothgar�s bedchamber. The change in the king was shocking, he seemed to have shrunk, he was pale and the stench of death was strong. Wulfgar sat next to him looking slightly shell-shocked. � Ah Herger,� whispered Rothgar hoarsely. � My Lord,� I said in reply. � I fear that my death will cause problems for Venden, we have enemies. We are still weak from the Wendol attacks, and Wulfgar is young, too young,� he coughed harshly, � I beg of you all, protect them,� he stopped again, clutching weakly at his chest. I looked at the others, they all nodded. I turned back to the failing king. � We will,� I said simply. He closed his eyes and nodded once. We left the room silently, leaving Weilew and Wulfgar with him as he passed on. We sat outside in the sun quietly observing the villagers. � This was not unexpected,� I said with a sigh, � I felt he was only holding on to see Wulfgar return.� I shook my head, I never thought I�d be so sick of death. Ahmad rubbed my back and I smiled at him. � You have organised the village well,� said Edgtho. I nodded, � We have managed to rebuild a great deal. But we are still finding groups of Wendol, it is taking time to be rid of them,� I said. � I have heard that you are doing very well there,� said Weath with a sly grin. I snorted, � It may be an unworthy battle but it is� satisfying,� I said. Edgtho and Weath nodded, they all felt the same way about Buliwyf�s death. � I look forward to it,� said Edgtho, his lip curling slightly. � Haltaf and I have been training the younger men, but it takes time, they are farmers,� I sighed. � The village will be easier to defend now,� said Ahmad observantly. The main part of the village was now built on the hill and was surrounded by two walls. Between the walls were spikes and traps, hidden in shallow water. The gate was a sturdier construct than the one we�d hurriedly built against the Wen. I nodded, � There are more watches now, for land and sea,� I said. Edgtho nodded, � Good,� he said. � Wulfgar will have to join the training,� said Weath, � He has little experience.� We nodded in agreement. I leaned back against Ahmad, unobtrusively, but he slung an arm over my shoulders. I caught a knowing look from Edgtho and I shrugged one shoulder lightly. The others didn�t look anymore surprised than Edgtho had been, but I was surprised at Ahmad�s ease in the gesture. I glanced up at him questioningly. He grinned at me, � It didn�t take them long to realise that the blond hair and blue eyes they teased me of dreaming about, did not belong to Olga,� he said. I laughed loudly, getting more than a few glares from passing villagers. I stared at them silently and they quickly hurried away. My lips twitched again at their reactions. � They are scared of you,� said Ahmad wonderingly. � I know,� I replied, � I have gained quite a reputation,� I chuckled quietly. � So we�ve heard,� said Edgtho with a wry smile. � Berserker rage, Herger? That does not sound like you,� he continued. I shrugged, they were used to me treating battle with laughter and exhilaration, not anger. � They pissed me off,� I said. � Remind me not to do that,� said Weath with a laugh. We sobered up quickly when Weilew appeared in the doorway. She looked very shaky and tear tracks stained her face. Despite the age difference she had loved Rothgar. � He is gone,� she said quietly. Ahmad jumped to his feet and walked over to her, offering his arm. She smiled gratefully and leaned on him heavily as he led her forward. As if there had been some signal, the village rapidly gathered around the hall. � Rothgar is dead,� she said, � He has declared Wulfgar his heir, and Herger protector of Venden until Wulfgar becomes a man.� Mutterings and whispers passed through the crowd. I sighed, leadership did not sit well on my shoulders, despite my experience. I have never been one for responsibility, I would have preferred Edgtho in the role of protector. I stood up next to Weilew and smiled at her. � We have all pledged our protection to Venden until such time as Wulfgar is a warrior and a man,� I said loudly, silencing the crowd. � We will finish the rebuilding of the village and remove the curse of the Wendol completely from this land,� I stopped unable to think of anything else to say, I did not want to mention the enemies Rothgar had spoken of. The crowd gradually dispersed and I sat back down with Ahmad and the others. We would have to think about preparing a funeral for Rothgar. Weilew went back inside, I wondered if she would have to go with him. It seemed a pity to me, Wulfgar would need his mother at least for a while. I was not a believer in a mother�s influence making a boy soft like some were. He was still a child, he made me think of my own children with a twinge of regret. Their mother and I had divorced and she had married a farmer, I had not seen them since. It had been many years, my oldest boy would likely be a warrior by now, or maybe a farmer, I did not know. Ahmad echoed my earlier thoughts, � Will Weilew be required to accompany Rothgar?� he asked, it was a part of our traditions he did not understand. I shrugged, � I don�t know, it would be a waste, and she has influence,� I said, Edgtho and Weath nodded in agreement. � Burial by sea?� asked Weath. I nodded, � I think so, the old traditions are strong here.� They were already looking to me as leader, I would have preferred they didn�t. I think Ahmad realised this and he hugged me briefly. I shook myself out of my almost self pity and looked at them. � We are all protectors of Venden,� I said firmly. Edgtho and Weath smiled and nodded. � Yes Sir,� said Weath saluting me semi-mockingly. I grimaced at him, then laughed. Ahmad surprised me suddenly by kissing me gently, I caught his face in my hands and kissed back quickly before letting him go. � What was that for?� I asked slightly breathlessly, ignoring the smirks of the other three. Ahmad shrugged, � You are a good man, and I love you,� he said the last part whispered so only I could hear. Over his shoulder I saw a man I only vaguely recognised staring at us in disgust. I glared at him, he blanched and stalked away. |