Aratheon - The Damaged Soul Pt. 01

I eye her warily. Then, the lady who approached first speaks. "I'm Amalgunda, the clan Chieftess, and this is Amalasontha, our war leader."

Amalasontha finally smiles for the first time that I've ever seen as she nods. "We've met before, but it was a long time ago when the four of them were just children playing in our woods."

"I have not forgotten that," I say with a forced smile.

"We have come to honor you and your wife along with your brother and his wife and will pray for success upon the unions," Amalgunda says as all three bow their heads.

I do the same in return. "Well, your honor is much appreciated."

All three women nod and retreat. Tonna leans in. "Way to go, Bothvar. I can't believe you mistook the chiefess for the Matriarch. I'm sure they were very amused, probably not as much as I was, but it's been a long laugh in our village at how many people make that mistake."

"Well, you could've given me a heads up," I say.

"And miss the look on your face when you realize you got it wrong? Nah. By the way, it's good to see you two. I haven't seen you, Bothvar, since the All-Clan Meeting, and you, Arngunn, since the forest. I must've just missed you at the clan meeting," Tonna says.

"That's because Thorkel and Bothvar ditched us," Asfrid says in a bitter tone as she interrupts. "Didn't expect to see you here, Tonna..."

Tonna gives her a smile. "It is good to see you too, Asfrid. And you as well, Thorkel."

"Ahh. it is good to see you again, Tonna," Thorkel says with his usual smile until he sees the look on Asfrid's face, and that smile is quickly washed off.

"Maybe at the next All Clan Meeting you can actually make a plan when you try to prank the Wolves and it might actually succeed," Tonna says.

"Right... And perhaps going through the forest full of wolves wasn't the best idea," Thorkel says, with a forced grin before Asfrid's expression goes from cold to burning hot.

"Well, I am going to go enjoy the festivities. I wish you four the best of luck in your marriages," Tonna says with a smile and a nod before skipping off.

Almedha smiles as she approaches. "So, did you ever figure out that problem of yours?"

"I think it'll always be a work in progress," I say, returning the smile before looking over at Thorkel. I return my gaze to meet Almedha's vibrant green eyes. "And yours?"

"I could say the same," she says with a laugh as she looks back at the four walking away. "Well, I wish you four all the best in your marriages. It was nice to meet you, Arngunn. You're a lucky woman. And you as well, Thorkel and Asfrid. Bothvar, it was good to see you again. Congratulations on your marriages."

She then walks away, and both Arni and Thorkel lean in, asking what that was all about. I only shrug and tell them I'll explain later.

I lean over to Arni. "I don't think I'll ever understand them. Why is the youngest one the Matriarch? And why do they have three different leaders? Talk about too many skippers on a ship."

"I wouldn't be too quick to judge. Besides, I heard a rumor that Dasyra is actually super old, but magic makes her look young. She's really the daughter of Ragnar Bjornsson. The illegitimate daughter from an elven slave, but daughter nonetheless."

"And how did I not know you were hanging with Tonna at the All Meeting?" Asfrid asks my brother, venom dripping from her words. But mutters under her breath. "Even though I figured so."

Thorkel goes white as snow. "It was nothing. We just saw each other in passing, that's all."

"It certainly didn't sound like nothing. What was this about a prank on the Wolf Clan?" Asfrid asks, crossing her arms against her chest and raising an eyebrow.

"We were just trying to have some laughs at the Wolves' expense. Didn't quite go the way we wanted it, and I didn't know Tonna would join us. It was only a brief moment. Nothing more," Thorkel says while rubbing the back of his neck. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he's sweating.

To my surprise, Baldric and Siv walk up. Baldric is a man with shoulders as wide as the door frames. He towers over most. Siv tosses her red hair behind her shoulder and smirks. She is not short, but it's hard to deny she's beautiful. But her face is kinda wolf-like, just like Baldric's. Not ugly, though. Rather majestic, but intimidating as well. "I see you two haven't been sulking in the forest since that All Clan Meeting so long ago."

"I see you two haven't forgotten it," Thorkel says, not daring to look at Asfrid. "Maybe next time you can leave your dogs in the woods and we can fight like warriors."

Siv laughs. "Still wouldn't be a fair fight for you. Wolves are just naturally stronger and faster than anything else on land."

"But you wouldn't dare step foot into the water, because nothing beats the Kraken in the water," Thorkel retorts.

She only shrugs. Baldric steps up. "Regardless, we didn't come to cross swords. We came to offer congratulations on your marriages. Maybe another day we can find out who the better warriors are, but today, we will put aside this petty squabbling and show our respect."

"I'll be truthful. I didn't expect this from you two or your clan, but I'll return the respect." Thorkel stands up, grabs his goblet, and holds it up. "Share our drink and enjoy the games and festivities. We can fight in the days to come."

Baldric and Siv nod and toast to that, along with the rest of us. Baldric looks back at our family, arguing with each other. Father still argues with Bjarni and Vidkunn. "If only our family could do the same."

That actually gets a chuckle out of Thorkel. "Who knew I'd find a laugh from Wolf's humor. Maybe you're not so bad after all, Baldric."

Baldric shrugs. He then nods and his eyes meet mine. It feels as if I'm seeing someone I should know better. Someone I've known for a long time, but I've only spoken to him maybe once. He nods and I return in kind. Siv's eyes also catch mine, and there's a similar feeling there. Her eyes remain on mine for a bit longer before the two of them walk away.

"What a strange lot they are," Asfrid says, then she punches Thorkel on the shoulder. "Next time you go off trying to prank the Wolf Clan and don't invite me, you're going to be sleeping outside in the cold after I knock your teeth out."

"Fair enough," Thorkel says, nearly coughing on his drink.

Semet, the green-eyed elf, walks up and fills our drinks. Arni's servant that my mother gave her. The two have always been inseparable. When she goes to walk away, Arni stops her. "Semet, why don't you get something to eat and enjoy the rest of the night? You are my friend and you should celebrate as well."

Semet smiles and nods. "As you wish."

More people come to greet us and congratulate us as we eat. Styrkar Hreinsson and his brother Saksis. Both have sons a little older than us and serve on our father's ship, and so will their sons. Varin Hialtisson, father of Sigvid, who is the father of Solmund and Griotgard, comes to give us congratulations. He has taken Skardi under his wing and is teaching him how to navigate the seas. We tap our mugs with his and drink up.

Earl Trehame of the Builders, a jolly old man with a long beard and a wide belly, comes up with joyful praise and a warm congratulation. He seems like a fun one to be around.

Even the Giant Earl Kveldulf and his wife Thyre, along with their son Bergthor, come up to congratulate us. All three of them can hardly fit into the hall being so tall. Even Thyre is almost half a man taller than everyone outside of the giants.

As the feast finished, we were ushered outside around the large fire where drums, lutes, panpipes, and harps create a festive melody. I pull Arni in my arms, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around while she laughs and holds on.

We move and dance to the flow of the music with Thorkel and Asfrid. Arni wraps her hands around my neck and holds on to me as we spin and move to the beat of the drums.

At some point, Arngunn sees something that upsets her. She pulls away and heads out of the square where everyone is dancing and singing. I follow her out of the crowd and down a side alley into the dark, where I hear a familiar voice of a woman pleading and struggling.

"Get off of her!" Arngunn yells.

I walk past Arni to find Gorm trying to force himself on Semet. She's in tears as she struggles against Gorm. I pull him off of her and push him back, grabbing her and pulling her over to Arni as she takes the girl into her arms. He growls at me and tries to push me but I bat his hands away and push him against the building. "She is not yours to use!"

Others stop what they are doing and gather to witness. Thorkel and my father push through. "What is going on?"

"It is clear what is going on. Gorm is at it again, disgracing himself," Thorkel says with a snarl.

Gorm looks at all the other people, grimacing. "She's just a slave."

"But she is not your slave," my father says, stepping up.

"Who cares? She is not a Viking. She is not of our people. She is a filthy elf," he says, snarling.

"That does not matter. You are damaging someone else's property. That is as good as theft," my father says, glaring at him. Gorm meets his gaze with scorn. My father doesn't back down but glares back with a much deeper intensity. "If I find you trying to steal someone's property again, you will face some dire consequences. Do you understand?"

Gorm spits on the ground and walks away. My father meets my eyes with a nod before looking over at the slave and my wife, then he looks around. "What are you all standing around for? Let's get back to the festivities."

Everyone reluctantly returns to dancing and games. My brother claps his hand on my shoulder before he returns with Asfrid to dance. Sometimes I don't understand my brother. I still can't forget what happened that night at the All-Clan Meeting with that slave, yet here he is against it...

I help Arni escort Semet back into the hall. She takes her back to her own quarters that my father gave her and lets her stay there. Not long after, she returns to me and barricades herself in my arms, leaning up to kiss me. "Thank you, Bothvi. She means a lot to me, and I would not have any harm come to her."

Leaning down, I press my forehead against hers. "I know, my sweet love. She will be safe as long as I'm around. I remember when we first met her after we learned that your parents died. I know she helped you heal, and for that I will forever be in her debt."

Arni smiles, bringing her soft delicate hand up to my cheek, caressing it. I wish I could keep the warmth of her touch forever against my skin. I lean into her hand, closing my eyes. She then grabs my beard and pulls me down to meet her kiss.

We head back out to join the fun, singing, and dancing. Playing games and laughing throughout the night. With Arni by my side, my life feels complete. Our dance lasts long into the night before the music stops. My father, mother, and my aunts all walk up. My father steps forward as people gather around. "It is time for the most important part of the ceremony."

He smiles as he looks at my brother and me. "Time to make me a grandfather. I want a kid from each of you this winter and more to come."

"What your father is trying to say, it is time to consummate your marriages," Aunt Sigvor says as she claps her hands together. "A marriage isn't truly final until it's consummated and the dowry is paid tomorrow morning, however, this is a special case since the brides' parents feast in Valholl for the honors they've accomplished, they were put in the protection of the Earl. And it wouldn't make sense for Earl Beorcol to pay himself. We will forgo the dowry. Instead, payment will be made with children to carry on Beorcol's line."

"Now let's get these four into their beds!" my father shouts as we're suddenly ushered forward, practically dragged and pushed through the great hall into our rooms. However, none of them leave.

"You're all not going to watch, are ya?" I ask, looking around.

"We have to witness the two of you getting into bed and then we'll give you some privacy," Aunt Sigvor says.

I grab the fur blanket and hold it in front of my wife as she slips her dress off and gets in bed. Then I take my shirt and boots off before slipping my trousers off. I slide in next to her and pull her into my arms.

"Okay, now we will leave," my aunt says as she ushers people out. "Out, out! All of you. Let them get down to baby-making."

I hear my father yell as he leaves Thorkel's room. "I better hear the sweet sound of lovemaking. By the time winter ends, I want grandsons. Oh, and don't rush. You'll be doing your woman a favor. Take it slow and be gentle."

We're finally alone as silence creeps over the room. I get up and put an extra log in the brazier and then slip back into bed. We lay there in the fire's light, neither saying a word.

There's tension in the air and it's as thick as whale blubber. I finally decide to speak. "Well... I guess we should... a... make some babies."

She laughs and leans up to give me a peck on the cheek. "I don't know about you, but I've never... uh... done any baby making."

"Well... I once walked in to find my father and mother doing some baby-making once. I think that's when Bodvar was made."

"And how were they doing it?" she asks as she reaches up and combs a finger through the beard I've been growing. It's not quite long enough to braid yet.

"Well, my mother was on her hands and knees with my father behind her, but we shouldn't do it that way because Bodvar is a few ore men short of a full boat."

She snorts a laugh. "Well, he tends to act before he thinks, but he is still a child. The gods know we weren't the wisest children. We were always getting into trouble."

"True," I say with a smile.

A loud bang rings out from the door. "I don't hear any baby-making going on."

I let out a long sigh. "He is relentless sometimes."

"How about I lay on my back and you just stick it in? That will work, right?"

"Well, I suppose it doesn't matter how it is done, as long as I lay my seed inside you," I say as she rolls on her back.

I get up and crawl between her legs. She looks up at me with those crystal blue eyes as shimmering as the sea and bites her lip. "Just be gentle. I heard it hurts the first time. Sigvor told me I'd bleed."

My eyes go wide. "I don't want to hurt you, let alone make you bleed. Why would you bleed? We're not fighting, we're just making babies."

"I don't know. That's just what she said. But she said it'd only hurt at the beginning and it'll feel good after you're inside me for a bit."

"Well... Just tell me if it's too much," I say as I spread her legs and push them up against her. I stroke my cock. Then I go to press it up against her slit.

"Wait!" she says as she pushes me back. Then she turns and gets on her hands and knees, bringing her mouth down to my cock. She looks up at me as she takes my dick in her hands. "Sigvor said to get your cock wet with my mouth and that would help it go in better."

"You're going to put my cock in your mouth? That doesn't seem very... Eh. I guess." I only shrug, but then I feel her hot, wet mouth wrap around my cock, and pleasure shoots out from it. "Oh, that feels good."

She takes it out and looks up at me with a smile. "Yeah? You like that? Maybe if you're good, my handsome husband, I'll do it more often. It doesn't taste half bad."

I smile down at her as I run my hand through her soft hair and bring my fingers to her cheek, gently stroking it with my thumb. "Oh, then I will treat you like a queen if that is the case."

She laughs and then takes my cock back into her mouth. "For the love of the gods, that feels wonderful. Better than anything I've ever felt!"

She slowly sucks on it while moving her tongue around, and I shudder as a passionate fire erupts through me. Who would've ever thought of a woman taking a cock in her mouth? I certainly wouldn't have.

She takes as much of my dick in her mouth as she can before she gags on it. As she catches her breath, she lets it fall from her mouth. She spits on it and rubs the spit around my cock with her hand. She looks up at me with those sapphire gems. "I think it's wet enough now."

"Should I use my tongue on your slit?" I ask as she lays back down and spreads her legs.

"Probably wouldn't hurt," she says.

I slide down onto my stomach and bury my face between her soft, white thighs. The smell of her cunt drives me wild as I drag my tongue around her slit. I give the insides of her thighs some kisses before diving back in, licking up and down the walls of her slit. She grips my hair. "Oh, my word. Don't stop, that feels so good."

I smile and lick my tongue up the little round bead-looking thing and that causes her to cry out. "For the love of the gods!"

She likes that. She thrusts her hips against my face when I do it again. I finally pull away. "I think it's plenty wet now."

"Okay." She pants. I get back between her legs, lifting them against her chest. Slowly, I press my cock up against her cunt and make my descent.

Her eyes go wide as she gasps. "Oooh! That hurts."

"I'm so sorry. Should I stop? Do you want me to pull it out?" I ask.

She shakes her head no. "Keep going. We have to do this to consummate the wedding. They'll know if we don't."

"Okay, just tell me if it hurts too much," I say as I continue sliding my cock inside her. It's so tight. I really have to take my time and slide a finger length by finger length. Stopping each time to allow her time to breathe.

I slip in a little more, finding a break in her resistance. She screams out in agony. My eyes go wide and I sink my teeth into my bottom lip. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I will stop. We don't have to do this. I..."

"It's okay," she says in a breath. She whimpers a bit. This isn't how sex should be. This isn't how I imagined our first time would go. Whenever I saw my mother and father having sex, they seemed to enjoy it. Our people have never been shy about having sex. Whenever we have large feasts and celebrate, people always have sex out in the open and they all seem to enjoy themselves. Besides a few slaves who didn't seem to enjoy it. What am I doing wrong? I don't like seeing Arni like this. She grits her teeth. "Just keep going."

I lean down and bring my face down to hers as I wrap my arms around her neck. She holds onto my shoulders. Slowly, I continue to push more of my cock inside her. She winces, grits her teeth, and digs her nails into my back. This is not how I pictured our first time together. I don't go any farther and slowly retreat. She looks up at me, confused. "What are you doing?"

"I don't enjoy hurting you," I say.

She smiles wearily at me and then leans up and kisses me. "It's okay. Just get it over with. This will only hurt this once. That's what Sigvor and your mother said."

I grit my teeth and slowly slide my cock inside her and she yells out in pain. My cock is finally all the way inside her. "There it's in."

She is gasping for breath. I just keep it inside her without moving. While leaning on one arm, I bring my other to gently swipe the loose hair from her face. Sweat beads on her brow. She finally catches her breath. "I think I'm ready."

"Are you sure?" I ask.

She nods. I lean down and kiss her. Ever so slowly, I roll my hips back as she bites her lip. I nudge my dick forward and she grimaces. I pause to make sure she is okay. She only nods. So, I continue. I make short, slow movements back and forth. Taking my time and being as gentle as I can be. It's excruciating. I have the urge to go faster. To thrust my hips in and let loose, but I hold back with all my will. I won't ever hurt Arni. She has my heart, and hurting her would be like hurting myself. I keep control over my urges and keep it slow. Stopping whenever she winces.