Immortal Enemies

by Jessie Lane

  She was worth the wait.

  It was something I had given a lot of thought on those nights by myself while we were raiding. Replaying the memory of what it felt like to have Liv’s lips on mine. Thinking of what it would be like between us when that time came to join as man and woman.

  I wanted to wait until she was older, though. There would be absolutely no room for regrets when it came to that sort of intimacy between Liv and myself.

  My decision was made.

  I did not have a certain age in mind of when the right time would be. It was best to gauge these things with your heart. Right now, my heart said time was our friend, not our foe, and we could wait.

  In the meantime, I would enjoy the stolen moments where I could embrace her. Kiss her. Trace my fingers along the skin of her hand. Little things to keep me going until I knew she was ready.

  The thought of her kiss pushed me harder than I ever had before as I ran the last stretch of land between my position and Helga’s house.

  Finally, it came into view… and so did she.

  Standing there, by her stream, waiting for me.

  I hoped she always waited for me.

  Not stopping, I closed the distance between us. Not bothering to slow to jump on rocks to keep my feet dry, but splashing right through the cold water until I was on the other side where she stood smiling.

  Scooping her into my arms, I twirled her around in the air, loving the way she laughed with joy.

  “Did you miss me?” I asked her breathlessly.

  Her hands framed my face. “Only every moment that I breathed.”

  Not bothering to see if the old woman was watching—truly not caring if she spied us or not— I kissed Liv. Not gently, but with the enthusiasm I felt at finally seeing her again. Passionately. Long pecks on the lips so I could feel her breaths mingling with my own.

  Reluctantly, she pulled back, but kept the giant smile on her face. “As much as I enjoy you kissing me, we should probably stop before Helga sees us.” Patting the side of my face lightly, she laughed. “I would hate to see you get slapped with a fish so soon.”

  We laughed, and out of the corner of my eye I saw movement in the house. Turning my head, I saw that the old woman, was indeed, standing at the window with her arms crossed over her chest, frowning at us.

  With wide eyes, I looked back to Liv and whispered, “I think I came closer to a fish slap than we both realized.”

  Giggling, Liv leaned in and whispered, “Let’s sit by the stream so you can tell me of your adventures.”

  Settling onto the grass, this time sitting side by side facing the stream, she leaned her head against my shoulder. “What did you see, Arne?”

  Not caring if Helga decided to throw a fish at me or not, I wrapped my arm around Liv’s shoulders and started to tell her about England. “The people are strange.”

  “How so?” she asked.

  “They gather in these buildings big enough to house four families and pray to their Christian god one day a week. My father tells me that no one lives in those buildings except for the priest. It is such a waste of a good building.”

  She hummed. “What else did you see?”

  “The seasons come and go much like here, but the land is different. More plentiful. It would be easier to farm there than it is here.”

  Tipping her head back, she scrunched her nose and teased, “And farming was what you were thinking of while you were over there, Arne Eriksson?”

  With my free hand, I tapped her on the nose. “Every man must think of farming to provide for his family.”

  Pulling her head back in surprise, she murmured, “Are you going to have a family?”

  Shaking my head, the sides of her lips turned down in sadness before I could get my words out. Squeezing her tighter to me I explained, “We are going to have a family.”

  At those words, her eyes lit up, shining like the richest jewels, and her mouth dropped open in awe. “We?” she squeaked in surprise.

  “We,” I nodded.

  Her mouth flapped open and shut a few times, much like the fish Helga threw at me did, and then Liv finally blurted, “Arne, we have known each other for six years, and you do not even know my last name!”

  My brows came down at her accusation. I did not like what she was implying. As if I, of all people, did not know her after all this time?

  Not to mention I had asked for her last name before, but she had told me it was one of the secrets she could not tell me, or we would both face Helga’s wrath.

  Pitching my voice low, I reminded her of this. “You told me that your last name was like your magic—something we could not discuss.”

  Her hand grasped my shirt as if she were holding on to me for dear life. “That is what I mean, in a way. You do not know everything about me. Why would you want to make your family with a woman you do not know everything about?”

  This was a complicated topic. I was no fool.

  The reason Helga had not allowed Liv to tell me all about her magics was because if anyone else found out, they would fear her for it. Seers were supposed to be revered, but they also frightened people.

  From the moment I had realized what she was six months ago, I had known I would have to protect Liv, and her secrets, with my life.

  I had no problem doing that.

  It was time for her to realize that.

  “You could never tell me your last name, and it will not matter to me. If people ask, we will make one up. I love you as you are, and there are no secrets, no magic, or any name that will ever change that.”

  Her eyes became glassy with unshed tears. “You love me?”

  I had put my heart on the line already, had I not? I might as well tell her all of it. “I think from the moment I saw you sitting by this stream I have loved you.”

  Her bottom lip wobbled as the tears started to fall down her face, and for a moment, I worried she was about to tell me that she did not feel the same about me.

  My body tensed for the blow, just as it had done in battle when a man had raised his sword at me before attacking.

  I had survived that experience—I was not so sure I would survive this one, though, if Liv told me she did not care for me, as well.

  Thankfully, I did not have to wait long for my answer. She crushed her lips to mine and kissed me as we had never kissed before. It was more than lingering pecks. This time her tongue teased the seam of my lips, and I opened my mouth to let her in. Our tongues danced against each other tentatively at first, turning into hungry gasping breaths soon thereafter.

  Unfortunately, it was not something I got to enjoy for long because after what seemed like seconds after the kissing started, a hot, panting breath started to breathe down my neck. Followed by the foulest smell I had ever encountered.

  Abruptly pulling away from Liv, I looked over my shoulder in horror.

  There stood their milk cow… staring at me.

  And if I did not know any better, I would say with hatred in its big brown eyes.

  Could cows, in truth, hate a person?

  Liv snorted a laugh in front of me, but I did not dare take my eyes off the cow who looked like it wanted to… I did not know what it wanted to do, but I also did not want to find out.

  From my far right, I heard Helga call out from the house. “Put your lips on hers one more time today, boy, and you will get a whole lot more than a fish to the head!”

  Eyes widening, it was then I realized what was going on here. Honestly, I had no idea why I had never put the pieces of the puzzle that was the old woman together sooner. Her magic must have extended to animals.

  First, she had summoned the raven to sit on her shoulder. Then she had called the fish out of the water to hit me in the head. Now, I was looking at a seemingly angry milk cow with the complete understanding that it would in fact hurt me if Helga told it to.

  I guess we were done kissing for the day.

  Summoning all my courage together, I turned my back on the cow, but s
till felt the beast’s fetid breath on my neck. Turning to look at the old woman, I yelled, “Point made. Now call your beast off before I make it dinner.”

  It was time I started showing the Völva I was not a spineless coward.

  Squinting her eyes, she scrutinized me for what felt like forever, before turning around to march inside the house. The hot breath on my neck disappeared, and I heard the sound of the cow’s hooves on the earth moving away.

  Sighing a bit in relief, I looked back to Liv who was grinning at me like a mad woman.

  Frowning, I said, “If she threw a fish at my head, I do not want to imagine what she would do with a cow.”

  This only made Liv laugh hysterically, which might have unnerved me if it had not been for how beautiful she looked while doing it. Her head tipped back, her usually light and airy voice raspy as she chuckled hard; she looked as enchanting as I imagined the elves might look. Or perhaps as devious as Loki himself. Though, I fancied she was a great deal prettier than the trickster god who spawned monsters for children.

  Taking in her features, the pale creamy skin, high cheekbones, and pert little nose, I could not help but wonder what sort of parents it would take to make such a beautiful girl on the cusp of becoming a woman. Truly, there were days I was sure she was more than otherworldly. Who had hair that shade of ruby red with highlights of copper and burnished gold? Or eyes that glittering and beguiling? No one.

  No one human that was.

  But I was not scared because I had always known Liv was special and more.

  More than her magic.

  More than her beauty.

  More than any one man deserved.

  I was determined to prove to whoever I had to, Helga or the gods themselves, that I would be worthy of her.

  As Liv finally stopped laughing at my well-nigh misfortune with a very large milk cow, I could not stop myself from staring at her. The way the sun made her red hair glow in the sunset reminded me of what I had in my bag for her.

  Releasing my grip, I pulled my bag off my back and placed it between us. Liv’s eyes got wide and curious, but she did not ask me what I was doing. Digging deep in the bag, I pulled out the treasure I had hidden from the Hird for her.

  The moment the light hit the gold and ruby ring, she gasped in delight. Holding it out to her, I told her the truth. “It reminded me of you when I saw it. The red of your hair and the fire of your spirit.”

  Her fingers slowly reached for the ring, and I noticed a fine tremble to her hand. Peering at her face, I took in the look of wonderment at the jewelry. It made my chest swell with pride that I was giving her such a fine gift.

  When she took the ring, she tried to place it on her middle finger, but the ring was too big for that digit, so I slid it off and placed it on her thumb, where it fit more securely.

  She held her hand out and marveled at it. “It’s beautiful, Arne.”

  Running the back of one of my fingers down the side of her face, I muttered, “Not nearly as beautiful as you.”

  Using her other hand, she ran her fingers over the ring on her thumb while I took that time to gaze at her. Eventually, she dropped her hands in her lap and leaned her head back onto my shoulder. We sat staring at the sun dropping below the horizon together, knowing I would have to leave soon to go home.

  Living in the village, I had found that not many people could stand to sit in silence and contemplate the world around them.

  Liv could. It was one of the things we shared. So, sitting here with her quietly, it was time well spent.

  Any time with her was time I considered well spent.

  Little did I know, Liv was about to give me a gift greater than any ring I could have ever given her.

  “Nornsdottir,” she whispered ever so quietly.

  My back tensed, spine going straight at her words, and it took everything I had not to react at what she had said.

  Her last name.

  In her case, it was a powerful gift that she had given me.

  The ability to hold the power of life or death for her in my hands.

  For she did not have a simple last name pronouncing who her father was, like I had.

  Instead, she had a name telling me who her mother was.

  Something uncommon among my people.

  But it was the name she had mentioned that was the true testament to how much my Liv trusted me.

  Norn.

  The Norns were a race of ethereal women who could create and control fate. Even the fates of the Gods. No one was safe from their decree.

  I had not even been aware that the Norns could have children.

  Apparently, Liv truly was what the Christians would call a miracle.

  For she was a being of magic that no one else in the world knew to be here.

  No one except for Helga… and me now.

  Putting my arm around her shoulders, I hugged her to my side.

  “I will protect you with my life.”

  She released a breath that I had not realized she had been holding and then told me quietly, “Thank you, Arne.”

  I hugged her to me a little harder. “I am the one who should be thanking you, my Liv—and I will do that by making sure you are safe and loved for the rest of your days. I swear it.”

  This time it was a soft, almost sad sigh that escaped her. Then, in the smallest, whispered voice I had ever heard, she said something that would confuse me for years to come.

  “I know you will, Arne. I’ve seen it. I’m just afraid you won’t love me anymore when you see it, too.”

  Seven

  The sun had dipped below the horizon some time ago, but for once, I was still wrapped around Liv instead of hurrying home.

  We were sitting where we usually did by her stream, watching the stars as they appeared in the night sky. Old enough to be considered a man now, my parents no longer questioned where I went or who I spent my free time with. They assumed I was spending my time between some woman’s thighs as most young men did.

  How funny they would find it if they only knew the truth.

  At eighteen years old, I had yet to be with any woman, and that was the way it would stay until I knew Liv was ready.

  It was not a hardship. My heart belonged to this stunning, ethereal creature who was not quite human… yet, not quite Norn. She was trapped somewhere in between.

  Liv was a contradiction of many things.

  Not quite a girl, not yet a woman.

  At times, the wisest of souls because of all that she had seen—other times an immature brat that I longed to give a spanking to curb her temper.

  No matter the many things she was, there was only one thing that mattered to me.

  She was mine.

  The affection and love had only grown between us over the years. We laughed and talked the days away, but there was one thing Liv avoided at all costs.

  Discussion of our future.

  I could not understand why, and at times it made me very uneasy.

  Had she seen something in one of her visions?

  Was there a reason as to why she would not discuss our having a family or growing old together?

  It was not as if she withheld her love from me. She was always affectionate and eager to run into my arms. Truly, she seemed as happy as I was in our relationship. So, why then would she not discuss what could become of us?

  As I sat with her cradled between my thighs, my arms wrapped around her chest, I pondered how I could bring the subject of our future up again without causing another argument. Liv was almost of an age where I thought we could be married, and I was eager to start our life together.

  However, tonight she was in a very strange mood. Quiet and broody, like a bear with a thorn in its paw. I had asked Liv what was wrong after arriving here and gauging her temper, but she refused to answer and had quietly asked if I would hold her by the stream.

  We had been sitting here ever since.

  In silence.

  And for once, it was not the companionab
le quiet that we both enjoyed.

  No, this stillness was rife with tension, and I did not like it.

  Whatever it was troubling my woman, I wanted to know. Perhaps I could not fix her problems, but I could share the weighted load if it was making her that miserable.

  Gently squeezing her in my arms, I dropped my head so that it hovered next to her ear. “Tell me what troubles you, love.” Dropping a tender kiss to her neck, she tilted her head to the side allowing me more room to nuzzle the skin there with my nose.

  Liv always smelled faintly of flowers. Perhaps she bathed with them, I could not know for sure since I did not get to spend all the hours of the day with her. What I did know, was the smell of flowers had become a sense of home to me, and I inhaled deeply to trap the scent in my lungs.

  Absorbed in the smell of her, I almost missed the words she spoke until the enormity of them hit me in the heart. “Do you genuinely love me, Arne?”

  Of all the things I thought she might say, this was not it.

  Had I not expressed my love for her every time I saw her for years?

  Shown her with my time and attention?

  Done my best to shower her with gifts of food I hunted for her and Helga?

  All the many things I had done for her over the years to prove my affections, and now she doubted me?

  Turning her upper body in my arms, I made her look me in the eyes. “You know I do, Liv. Why do you even question it?”

  Reaching out with her hand, she lightly skimmed her fingers down my cheek. “I have to know—tonight more than ever, that you love me as you claim to.”

  Every inch of my body was both frustrated and worried. Tense with uncertainty. My emotions must have been obvious on my face, as well, because Liv’s features softened for the first time that night as she let her hand drop to cup the side of my neck.

  “You are my everything, Arne Eriksson. I am nothing without you. But I am afraid that once the future unravels, you will no longer care for me. You might even hate the very sight of me. I cannot explain everything presently, but I can give you a choice. Tell me now that you love me and know we will truly be bound together for eternity. However, if that is not what you want, do not say a word and walk away from me—never to return.” Her eyes grew serious, and then she whispered, “You can have a good life without m—”