Aura

by Abraham, M. A.

  "Aura," Edwin put an arm about Elizabeth’s shoulders to draw her forward to present her with pride. "I would like you to meet Elizabeth, my wife. Elizabeth, this is Aura, Thorn's only contribution to the growth of our family."

  Aura gave Elizabeth a friendly smile and they exchanged an embrace as they greeted each other. "I have waited a long time to meet you. "

  "I am equally curious about you." Aura admitted.

  Thorn and Edwin moved off, believing that this was a conversation best left for women to hold on their own. They had more important matters to discuss. Aura turned her attention to the three children before her, and listened as Elizabeth introduced them.

  "The eldest is named after his father, Edwin. Then Laura. Then Dwaine. “This one," Elizabeth patted her stomach, which showed no signs of stretching, indicating a new pregnancy, "I have not begun to think of a name for yet."

  "How long have you been married?" Aura asked in wonder.

  "Six years." Came Elizabeth's proud reply.

  "Six years and four children!" Aura exclaimed as she gave her a look of awe.

  Elizabeth sparkled back. "Every child is a treasure, I would not give them up for anything. Aura there is nothing more wonderful, more fulfilling, than carrying the child of the man you love and I do love Edwin."

  "As he does you. Come into our home," Aura picked up the youngest, while the other two each had a hold of one of their mother's hands. "I will show you to your rooms and we can then take the children to the nursery. We have gotten one of the girls from the village in to help care for the children during the holidays. You may see them any time you wish, but I think they will enjoy the nursery. The help will leave you free to do whatever you want while you are here. I am sure you will want to visit Signi and Sillgrim for a while. Signi is also carrying a child."

  "How about you Aura?" Elizabeth asked.

  Aura sighed as she answered: "We are not all so fertile I guess, but it will come."

  "Enjoy it Aura, it is never the same after the children start coming. Each one is precious, and a blessing from God and each one brings you closer. You will find that they also take time that you used to have just for him."

  "Would you want it any different?" Aura asked.

  "No, for while they take time, each one tells of the love Edwin and I share."

  "They certainly do that." Aura chuckled.

  Aura remembered how she had told her stepfather that she did not really believe that the ladies had to endure having a child every year. Elizabeth was living proof that ladies were no less susceptible to consistent child bearing than any other woman during this age.

  Aura and Elizabeth entered the guest room and she looked about her in wonder. "It all looks so comfortable, Edwin will not want to get out of bed."

  "It seems he seldom is anyway, considering all the children you have had. You might as well be comfortable." Aura teased.

  Elizabeth tossed her a broad smile and teased back. "I am sure Thorn is not much different. He always believed he would find the one meant for him, his soul mate he used to call her. I am glad it is you Aura, though I am not sure why yet."

  "What was Thorn’s life like, Elizabeth? He never speaks much of his life as it was when he was growing up." Aura asked curiously.

  "It was not easy for him, losing his mother at his birth. He also lost his father and stepmother in a raid when he was very young. He had to practically raise Edwin and Signi when he was little more than an overgrown boy and all the while holding off warring armies. I think that in the beginning it was more luck than anything that he was never killed in battle. There is not another knight in Christendom that can match him in battle. For a long time I thought he felt women had only one use and with so many after him he had plenty of opportunity to use them. The novelty wore thin quickly and he learned to hold women in disdain. There were times I feared he might never marry or fall in love."

  Aura felt a sudden melancholy and changed the subject. "Perhaps we should take the children up to their rooms. Anne will be waiting for them, and this little guy looks like he could use a good sleep.” She indicated the child she held.

  Elizabeth agreed, stating they all could. It was late and they had been traveling all day, only stopping for quick meals. They were very tired. Aura and Elizabeth helped Anne put the children to sleep. The youngest drifted off almost immediately. Aura smiled down at the cherubic little face as she brushed a stray curl from his forehead then bent to brush a light kiss on the toddler's cheek. The two women left the room to say a few last words to each other before they parted.

  "You will make a wonderful mother Aura, you love children."

  "Yes, and as I look at yours I can almost see what ours might look like, and my arms ache to hold Thorn’s child."

  "You love Thorn, don’t you?" Elizabeth sought confirmations of her thoughts.

  "I am madly in love with Thorn. He makes me feel so complete and in his arms I can deny him nothing."

  Elizabeth threw her arms about Aura and gave a cry of happiness. "I knew it, no wonder he is so happy."

  Thorn joined Aura a few hours later, and was surprised to find her still awake. He slid into the bed beside her and gently gathered her into his arms as she snuggled up to him.

  "Is something wrong Aura?" He asked in concern.

  She shook her head and hugged him closer to herself. "I am just tired. They seem so very settled in their lives and roles."

  "Time and children do that to you Aura. I never stop teasing Elizabeth that she must have been born pregnant to have so many. She always seems to be carrying another baby. Edwin used to worry about it, but she bears her children easy, so he never worries overmuch about it any more."

  "Signi is afraid she is going to have a difficult pregnancy. I think it would do her some good to talk to Elizabeth about it. She might be able to ease her mind."

  Thorn smiled as he kissed Aura’s forehead and complimented her. "You are always thinking of others, perhaps we would do well to think of ourselves for a few moments."

  "But I have been." She responded with a roguish smile.

  "Really? And what have you decided?"

  "That Elizabeth has the right idea. Thorn, I would be proud to carry your child."

  "We have all sorts of time for children, Aura." Thorn spoke, as they had covered this ground many times before.

  "I know," was all she said.

  His mouth moved to cover hers and she wiggled to get closer to him. He was in a mellow, gentle mood, and Aura decided to follow his lead. He seemed to move with studied grace, touching, kissing, softly caressing and she responded in likewise fashion. This seemed to be a different Thorn, a part of the man she had yet to see. It both excited and amazed her that after being with him, and living intimately with him for over seven months, that she should find him suddenly changed, at least for the moment. Even their joining had been, it seemed, like part of a dream and therefore not quite real.

  Aura had to force herself not to scream as they came together. Thorn had not used the same amount of restraint as he had called her name a moment before collapsing over her. He did not care if they were heard.

  "Perfect." Thorn breathed into her ear as he molded her pliant body to his.

  They woke several hours later, this time to succumb to a frantic, wild bout of passionate lovemaking. It was as if they could not seem to get enough of each other, and Aura almost passed out as he continued to thrust into her. Shortly thereafter he exploded deep within her, spilling his seed. The next morning they overslept.

  Aura took one look at Edwin and Elizabeth, as they took their seats before them then looked at Thorn, who smiled back at the couple with a twinkle in his eye. She gave a silent groan and rolled her eyes skywards. She was not about to be pulled into this one, it could turn out to be very embarrassing. Edwin and Elizabeth had been married long enough that they did not need to use much imaginations to know what had happened to make their host and hostess late, they knew.

  Sillgrim an
d Signi did not make an appearance until the afternoon and Signi did not look as if she was feeling well. The two brothers took one look at their sister then shot Sillgrim inquiring and not so friendly looks. Sillgrim knew there would be no explaining anything to Signi’s brothers, but he was willing to try.

  "Signi is having problems carrying the child. I do not know what to do to help."

  "I have not seen either of you for over a week. You could have sent a servant for Aura to attend her." Thorn stated bluntly.

  Sillgrim did not want to say it but he was beginning to resent Aura. She had a way of making everyone seem inadequate and Sillgrim realized that although he might have wanted her at one time, there were moments now when she did no more than irritate him. He hated what he thought of as her superiority, without understanding why. He looked at the two men before him and frowned as the thought crossed his mind that they were going to insist that Aura check on Signi.

  As it turned out it was not Aura that ended up helping Signi, but Elizabeth. Aura sat back and watched as Elizabeth reassured Signi of the normality of her fears and they talked about common shared experiences and feelings in relation to their pregnancies. Aura eventually grew tired of the conversation and retired to a room where she had set up to work on her tapestries.

  Aura sat looking at the sewing she had done and chuckled to herself. She remembered when she thought that such work boring, now her crafts occupied a good portion of each day. The men, who were roaming about the house looking for something interesting to do, came upon her.

  "Where are Elizabeth and Signi?" Thorn asked as he led the other men into the room.

  "Either taking naps, or still talking about their up and coming births. Elizabeth has been good for Signi, she has settled some of her fears and she is much more relaxed than when she arrived."

  "I thought you would help her." Thorn replied. He had forgotten that she had told him that she wanted the two women to meet alone together so they could talk in private about the upcoming births.

  "I have never had a child Thorn, she will feel much more comfortable getting her information from one who knows first hand what she is talking about."

  Sillgrim stared at Aura in stunned disbelief. He believed she thought of herself as an authority on any subject. This insight into the workings of her mind considerably changed the way he thought about her. Perhaps Vernon and Signi had been right. Perhaps she did only help where she could.

  Edwin laughed at the thought of the two women napping, as part of what they had to go through while pregnant and teased his brother.

  "Perhaps with a bit more effort on your part, big brother, Aura might have felt more comfortable with the other two. You need an heir."

  Thorn smiled and countered. "We are but newlyweds Edwin, allow us some time for ourselves. I enjoy our life as it is, there is still time for a family."

  "Really? I would have thought you almost too old for a young wife and family."

  "I do not hear Aura complaining." Thorn countered.

  Sillgrim surprised them by defending her. "It would do little good if she did complain. A woman's lot is to serve her Lord. She has no rights of her own. Especially not after she has been wed."

  Aura agreed with Sillgrim and it set off a debate, with the two brothers laughing as they took one side, and Sillgrim and Aura banding together to defend their views. It eased the monotony of the afternoon.

  CHAPTER XXXV

  A couple of weeks later, Edwin and his family left to return to their home. Aura found the void left behind by the lively family hard to bear. She had grown used to having her house filled with the sound of children at play. She had been careful not to mix the reality of her present with her memories from the future. She knew that the things she associated with Christmas would not fit in with this world. The spirit of the season was what she worked on creating. Now, where there had been sounds of gaiety and the smells of sweets baking, there were only the empty sounds of echoing chambers to remind her of the absence of their guests. She turned to Thorn to fill the void, and he was more than happy to offer her the warmth and comfort she sought in his arms.

  The winds of winter brought back memories for Aura. She remembered how it had been in the cave, the lack of light and the cold she had fought constantly to keep at bay so she would not freeze. The constant battle with the elements, she noted, was a never-ending chore, but at least in Thorn’s home there was light. She filled her days with making things to keep them warm and comfortable, and as for the nights, there was Thorn.

  Thorn spent his days finishing off his fortress and helping Sillgrim build his home. The winter was harsh and brought with it many sorrows. Sid was found frozen, curled up in a snow bank. No one knew how he had gotten out of the building, but he had. Aura sighed at the loss, but did not mourn. She had found something more precious to take his place.

  As spring began to show signs of breaking Signi gave birth to twins, boys. Aura was enchanted with the flaxen haired babies and spent every spare moment with Signi and her family, making clothing for the children and helping her care for them. Sillgrim was called to war by Vernon. Thorn decided to stay home with his wife, and sent a small contingent of warriors with Sillgrim to show his support.

  Two months after the birth of the boys Sillgrim announced the completion of their home and Aura helped them pack their belongings. She spent a day crying on Thorn's shoulder after seeing them off, feeling as if a large part of her life had gone with them.

  Thorn held Aura as he tried to comfort her. They were alone and he knew it would take her some time to adjust. She had been so disappointed when she had continued to remain barren. Signi taking the twins meant she would need Thorn’s support even more. It was something he felt capable of doing, so he refused to let it worry him. For now they could share their need for comfort, for it would not only be Aura who would miss them. He had also gotten used to having Signi and the babies around, and although they would get to see each other often, it was not the same as seeing them everyday.

  Thorn watched the changes in Aura after the move, with increasing worry. She kept more to herself and there was no more humming and singing. She seemed to need to sleep more and more, and she was losing weight in a noticeable fashion. It was weight she could not afford to lose. His concern grew when one day he walked into her sewing room and caught her in tears. He had held her in his arms, settling her on his lap, until he thought she had calmed, only to find she had fallen asleep.

  She had given no reason for her depression and Thorn had not asked. The reason seemed obvious. Aura was taking his sister's move too hard and to compound the problem she still missed the children. He looked at the sleeping woman in his arms and decided to have a very serious talk with her. He carried her up to their room, where he undressed her and put her to bed.

  The next morning Thorn woke to find Aura watching him as he slept. She lay beside him with a soft smile across her face and he wondered what was going through her mind.

  "What are you thinking of love?" He asked as he gently tucked a stray curl behind her ear.

  She gave a dreamy smile as she answered. "When we first met. Roger, Wolf and how much you have changed since then. Do you remember much of those days in the cave?"

  "There was not much to remember. I was a different man then. At the time you were no more to me than another woman. Granted, I sensed something special about you even then, but I had no idea what it was."

  "Really, why?" Aura wondered.

  "You haunted my memories and my dreams. I had never been so affected by a woman. At the time I supposed it was because I had wanted you and you had eluded me." Thorn admitted, half ashamed to admit to such thoughts.

  "And when we met again?" Aura asked as she ran a forefinger up the outside of a bare bicep.

  "I will always remember being with you at Vernon's. You taxed me and I swore I would have you." He replied. His body was responding to her tender caresses and he pulled her closer to himself.

  "As I reme
mber," she purred as she placed her arms about his neck and teased. "You did."

  His smile widened as he caressed her back with his hands, feeling the softness of her body beneath his touch. "I must admit," he spoke in husky tones, as he ran his lips over her face, "I was not disappointed. But the following year of my life was a living hell. I swore I would hate you forever for putting me through that, even though I knew I never could."

  He kissed her drawing the sweetness of her lips under his as she opened her mouth to his demanding invasion.

  Their lips parted and she spoke, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "And do you hate me Thorn?"

  Between kisses and their climbing passion he answered. "I could never hate you, not as long as there is breath in my body, or a star shining in the sky. I found that out the moment I saw you again. I could barely wait to get you home."