Fated to the Viking Lord

As I fell into the water, with Nils on top of me, my instincts kicked in.

I might not be a traditional dragon slayer. But I was a modern woman. In today's world, that's basically the same thing.

Before I hit the water, I put both of my hands onto Nils face and scratched as hard as I could. I dug my nails into his eyes and when I heard the scream, I brought my leg as hard as I could into his groin. Then I kicked him in the groin again. And then again for good measure.

When he grabbed my hands to pull them off his face, I struck. I didn't attempt to push my hands back towards him like he was expecting, but shifted my whole body towards the invisible wall of flames where it was pushing against us both.

Immediately, Nils erupted in flame. He was wearing the ring, and he should not have passed through the barrier. However, I was still attached to him.

The heat was overpowering, and immediately, I dove into the frigid cold waters of the Atlantic. The water was only up to my knees, but that was enough. Whatever flame had passed from Nils to myself was doused immediately.

The steam rose from the place where he once stood. It was all over. It had ended as quickly as it began. I had been in my first fight. I hoped to God it was my last.

That's when I noticed that I was shivering. It was around freezing outside, and already my pants and my coat were starting to freeze solid. I couldn't really feel my hands and feet anymore, and I suddenly was very worried that I was going to die here.

Luckily, Kristófer was up and mobile. He was a bloody mess, but he was smiling like an idiot when he walked into the water and hoisted me into his arms. I was losing consciousness fast from the cold, but was thrilled to hear him talking to me.

"You saved me, Lucille. You're my shield-maiden. You're a dragon slayer. You're a true warrior."

He walked us back towards the highway. I fell into unconsciousness in his arms.

I awoke sometime later. I was naked, and so was Kristófer. We were in the back seat of our rented car with the heater on full blast. I was laying on top of him with what felt like a dozen blankets, towels and assorted sweaters, pants and socks from our shared suitcase laying on top of us for insulation. But I was warm, and very much alive. I flexed my hands and toes, and felt that they were all still attached. That was a good sign.

Kristófer's face was still a mess, but he had at least wiped off as much of the blood as he could. He was still smiling at me.

"Gods, you're beautiful, Lucille. In all the years I have dreamed that I would confront Nils, the woman of my dreams beating the shit out of him with an oar never once crossed my mind."

We both giggled at the absurdity of the situation.

"So, did it work?" I asked

I wanted to put this whole thing behind us. But also, I was on cloud nine. I had just beat my boyfriend's mortal enemy in a fight. I was ready to move on and go home. Even if it was nice laying naked on top of him.

Kristófer reached over into the front seat and found his phone. I could see him rifling through the contacts until he found Inga. It rang six or seven times before she picked up.

"Hey Inga, it's me. Yes, she's with me. Yes, she's alright. Yes, we're still in love. Listen, can you do me a favour and go into the hot spring below? Yeah, that'd be perfect."

A few seconds later a loud yelp came across the phone line. Then Kristófer started laughing.

He apologized to Inga profusely, then told her he'd give her the inn as a consolation present.

"Yeah, the water under the inn is freezing cold. The ring was destroyed in the flame along with Nils. I guess the dragon has finally been slain," he said to me.

I kissed him.

Perfect. Let's go home. Let's actually start a relationship.

Chapter XI: Epilogue

Christmas was always Hell whenever I went home. Luke never wanted to go, and we always wound up staying with one of my sisters. However, now I had my own place. And I was hosting. And six weeks ago, we had set a dude on fire to destroy a magic ring so that my thousand-year-old boyfriend could knock me up.

I had bought a place in town a few blocks from where my sister Daniella lived. We were right in the town square. I walked to work every morning at the little law office that I had started on the main street, nestled between a dentist office and a bakery. Kristófer had sold the inn to Inga for a single Kroner, telling her that it belonged to her family anyway.

Then he moved in with me.

So, back to Christmas.

My sisters would both be there, along with all five kids and two husbands. Oh, and both my parents would be there. We had invited Inga and her family as well, but they were occupied in Finland for the holidays.

Kristófer had a turkey in the oven, and was making lussekatter and assorted other pastries for everyone. He had already made a batch of homemade chocolate for everyone. He was whipping up warmed glögg for everyone in the household too when he asked me if we had any heavy cream. I had no idea what we needed heavy cream for, but I was useless in the kitchen while he was in there making a giant mess and cooking enough to feed a small army.

So, I settled on getting some heavy cream. I put on my heavy navy coat and my nice hat and boots and set out across the street. My sisters were entertaining the kids in the salon while the men were in the basement watching hockey. With any luck I could be back before they even noticed I was gone.

Everything in small towns in Québec closes on Christmas Day, with the exception of the small pharmacy. So, that is where I went.

They had a small refrigerated section in the back where I picked up some heavy cream. Just to be safe, I threw in a litre of milk and a few sticks of butter as well. When Kristófer started baking, we always ran short of those two things.

I made my way to the checkout and passed by the family planning aisle. I saw rows of condoms, and even a few small vibrators. Chuckling to myself at how I had not needed a vibrator since I met Kristófer, as he made me orgasm nearly every night, I kept walking. Until I passed the pregnancy tests.

Kristófer and I had made love almost every night since we got back from Newfoundland, six weeks ago. I know, I was a lucky woman. I had not had my period since then either. Figuring it couldn't hurt, I threw one into the basket and made my way to the checkout.

Just as I had hoped, I was back into the house before anyone noticed I was even gone. Except that pregnancy test was now occupying a place in my mind. Fuck it, Kristófer was cooking and my sisters were watching the kids running around. I'd take it now and see what happened.

I went to the upstairs bathroom and pulled down my pants to sit on the toilet. I put the test between my legs and waited.

Then the door opened and Kristófer burst in. I had learned while in Finland that his concept of privacy did not extend to peeing. In fact, he actually seemed to like watching me. Usually, it wasn't a problem. Until today.

"My love, I asked for heavy cream and it appears that you bought half and half... wait... is that.... are you...?"

His face immediately lit up with hope.

"I haven't even peed on the stick yet Kristófer. Just give me a second!" I told him.

He closed the door and stood watching me.

I peed on the stick. Then I put it on the counter, finished up and washed my hands. He stood behind me, wrapping me in a warm embrace as we watched the test in rapt fascination.

Slowly, a blue line appeared. Then next to it, a blue plus.

I was pregnant. I was almost forty, and it was finally happening.

Kristófer let out a cheer that could have awakened the dead, then kissed me hard. I kissed him back.

Tears of joy were running down my cheeks. He was crying too. This was our lifelong dream, and we were finally going to have a family together.

Christmas might have always been Hell, when I came home for the holidays. However, it looked like this one was finally going to be perfect. One where we both had finally found what we were looking for.