Viking

title: Viking
author: Low Fat Cottage Cheese
disclaimer: I did not own them two chapters ago, do you really
think I own them now?
based on the work of fiction called Viking! by Connie Mason
full warnings and disclaimers in the introduction chapter.

/ emphasis /

Viking
chapter 1
LfCc

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kaupang, a trading post on the Norwegian coast.
one year later
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


\" Loki take you, Duo! You have not been yourself since you went A-viking
last summer. You have all but lost your appetite to rut. What happened
during that voyage?\"
Duo sent his brother a grueling look, then glanced around to see if any
thralls were lurking nearby to hear them.
They were alone. The thralls had long since retired to their benches and
shelves that lined both sides of the hall.
Duo knew his brother would not understand his reluctance to rut with
just any on, so he did not try to explain it.

\" Nothing is wrong, Zechs. I have not seen anyone who appeals to me.\"
\" I do not believe you.\" Zechs scoffed. \" Ulm said you have not been
yourself since your dragon ships put ashore on the isle of Man.
He thinks something happened there. I know you have not been
sleeping well; I hear you pacing the floor at night, you rarely
take a bed mate any more. Has Quatre ceased to please you?
\'Tis not like you, brother.\"

\" Naught is wrong.\" Duo repeated, as if trying to convince himself.
\" Tell that to someone who does not know you as well as I.
\'Tis not like you to go so long without rutting, or to remain at home
when you could go a-viking.\"

\" Perhaps \'tis because I am now betrothed.\" Duo opined.
Zechs threw back his head, his long blond hair flying about him
in a platinum cloud, as he gave a shout of laughter.
\" Marrying Relena will not stop your wild ways. I have fought by
your side, Duo the relentless. You are as fierce as any viking
berserker I have seen. \'Tis time you told me the truth.\"

\" I agree.\" Duo\'s father strode into the hall and stopped before his
sons, hands on his hips, legs spread wide. Olaf was massive, as large
as both his sons combined, Zechs took after their father, where as
Duo took after his mother.
Olaf\'s platinum hair and beard were shaggy and streaked with gray.
His huge, brawny body was covered with battle scars, and me
was missing two fingers on his left hand.

\" Zechs is not the only one who has noticed your strange behavior.\"
He told Duo. \" You have been acting like a man bewitched.\"
Duo started violently. He knew his fathers words were meant to be teasing,
but Olaf had come too close to the truth for his liking.
Duo had long since decided that he had been bewitched. Since that
night he had been lured to the isle of Man, he had been unable to
forget the beautiful, mysterious boy. The boy continued to haunt his
dreams and make his waking hours unbearable. Sleep was a luxury
no longer allowed him. The boy was a witch, there was no other
explanation. and Duo was doomed to live in misery for the rest of his days.

Olaf\'s eyes narrowed suspiciously. \" Thor\'s balls!!! That is it!, You /are/
bewitched!\" Duo glanced down at his hands, they looked small, and delicate,
but they were strong hands, hands accustomed to wielding weapons and
slaying enemies, yet they rested uselessly before him now.
A man of his strength and determination should be capable of conquering his
erotic dreams, yet he could not. It was almost as if the dark-haired, prussian
eyed youth had invaded his mind and was slowly seducing him to madness.

\" Aye, father. \" Duo said with considerable anger. \" There is no other
explanation. I /am/ bewitched.\"
\" By Thor\'s beard! What are you saying!\" Zechs roared. \" Someone must
have bashed you on the head, else you would never make such an outrageous
statement.\"

\" I encountered a witch in the isle of Man.\" Duo explained. \" He lured me to his
shore, I swear it, He spoke to me through the wind and the waves, promising me
a taste of Valhalla. He is beautiful, with hair as dark as the richest earth and
eyes like jewels the colour of the midnight sky. He was naked, his
body shimmering like ivory in moonlight. And I wanted him more than I
have ever wanted any other.\" Zechs moved to the edge of his bench, apparently
enthralled by Duo\'s tale of witchcraft.
\" By Thor\'s beard! A boy such as you describe would have to be a witch.
What happened? Did he cast a spell on you? A story like this is worthy
of the most talented scald. He would sing it throughout the land\"

\" I spoke to him in Gaelic, but the witch refused to answer\" Duo continued
as if his brother had not said a word.He deviled deeply into hes memory
then began again. \" He uttered but one word.\"
\" What word was that?\" Olaf asked, he seemed surprised that the
younger and more adventurous of his two sons would allow a boy to bewitch him.
\" He said \' Nay\' as I bore him to the ground. I wanted to be inside him, could
think of nothing else. I was hard and aching and wanted to ravish him. When
I paused to remove my mail, he caught me off guard and escaped.
I tried to follow but he seemed to disappear into thin air.Only a witch could
do that. Instead of searching the island for him, I panicked and ordered my
men to their ships. I felt, nay I /knew/ I had been bewitched and it frightened me.
I have never been so utterly captivated by anyone. The beautiful witch I encountered
on that misty Isle that night has made my life miserable ever since.\"

\" Olaf\'s blue eyes, so like Zechs\', gazed with pity upon his younger son, he
could tell Duo was suffering and he liked it not. He rubbed his bearded chin
as he pondered Duo\'s plight. Olaf had never believed in witchcraft, but he
was not nor to dismiss something he did not understand. If Duo believed
he as bewitched, then something must be done about it.

\" You must go back to Man.\" Olaf decreed.
\" For what purpose?\" Duo asked. \" I never want to see that cursed place again.\"
\"Since when do you ever turn down the chance to raid and plunder?\" Zechs jeered.
\" Heed our father, Duo, for he is wise and will tell you how to break the witches\' spell\"
\" Very well, I will take my dragon ships to Man, to raid and plunder the land.
When I am through they will curse my name for generations to come.\"
\" Aye \" Olaf said, obviously content with his sons response to his advice.
\" But there is more. You must find the witch and slay him. His death will
free you from his spell.\" Duo stared at his father, his violet-cobalt eyes blazing with
unholy light. Of course! It was all so clear now. he should have thought of it
himself and ended all those months of torture. once th witch was dead he could
no longer cast enchantments, and make Duo ache to possess him.

\" I will gather a crew and undertake the journey\" He said, anxious now to be off.
\" Every inhabitant of the isle of Man will learn to fear the name, Duo the Relentless!\"
Zechs nodded sagely. \" \'Tis a wise decision. You must kill the witch and break the
spell. Besides, the plunder and captives will bring us new wealth. Byzantium clamors
for fresh salves and Male-Breeders to fulfill their demands.\"

\" Will you explain to Relena the Fahy ohy our marriage must be delayed, father?\"
Duo asked. \" I know you made arrangements for us to wed at the Althing this
summer.\"
\" The wedding can wait. I will invite Relena to stay with us while you go a-viking.
The wedding can take place upon your return. Once the witch is dead, you will
be able to concentrate on wedding Relena and producing children.\"

\" We will a wait your return, Duo. May you safely see your destination, and Thor
the thunder god give you strength to defeat the witch.


tbc...

lowfatcottagecheese@yahoo.com