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Drowning in Sin (heartlesskitten x Kuro)

“Hilda, please, I am a man of God. I’d like to speak with Elizabeth,” Cerdic said, giving the old woman a bemused look before turning back to the blonde. “Mercia? Well, I’m afraid much of what I know is just by way of passing through. First with a sword and then with a Bible. I’m assuming the coast since you were taken.”

He slipped the tunic back, stretching his arms over his head to slip on the garment. As he stretched, his hard toned stomach rippled slightly and he caught sight of her expression when he tugged it into place. Cerdic bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smirking at her obvious want in order to preserve his monk identity.

“You do not speak Norse? It must make it extra difficult, I learned enough on the boat ride over to get by and I practice, you should, too,” the man said, looking into her dark blue eyes, “It would help.”

He frowned slightly, wondering how the woman might know so many rumors or secrets if she could not even speak the bloody language. Maybe she was just full of lies and such to make herself feel important. Cerdic could hear in her accent that she had a refinement and suspected she had been no peasant’s daughter. “Ahem, as for the man who is my master, he did not defeat me in battle. I fought his brother, Sven, and two others. I had a staff, they had shields and blades and I was wounded in the battle. I got away from them and my master found me lying in the herb garden, bleeding badly. He took me and mended me, I am now a slave though I could have chosen to die. I did not for it would have been a sin to throw my life away, it is a gift from God.”

Cerdic was very direct and his storm colored eyes held her gaze intently. “Would you walk with me, perhaps you would like to do confession?”

He wanted to get away from Hilda so Elizabeth would feel more comfortable as clearly the saucy old woman antagonized her. He would rather not be interrupted as he questioned her, to see what she really knew.
 
"I don't believe there are enough hours in the day." Hilda muttered under her breath as she continued to work, taking her apparent frustration out on the bread she was making.

Elizabeth smiled at the suggestion and moved beside Cerdic to hook their arms together. "I would love that, it's been so long since I've been escorted by a gentleman." She began to walk, tugging Cerdic with her until he did the same and she lead him away from the back of the Great Hall.

"I am certainly glad you chose to live, though I'm sorry you have that man for a master. He must make you service him as I understand he likes to lay with men quite often." She said in a sympathetic voice, her hand patting his arm gently. "He is quite jealous of me for my looks. He once threatened to throw liquid fire on me." She whimpered, pressing her face against Cerdic's arm.

She continued to lead him away from the Great Hall and toward the barns and other sheds. "I'd like to perform my confession in private if that is okay with you Brother Cerdic?" She asked him sweetly, looking up from his arm with remorseful eyes.
 
Cerdic politely took her arm, following her as she guided him away. Her next words made his ears start to burn and he cleared his throat, "You misunderstand my master, he does not force me into anything and does not use me."

It was the truth, he had not been forced to do what he did with Vigi and though some might argue as a slave he had no free will so anything he did was coerced Cerdic did not feel that way. He held back commenting about Elizabeth's provocation of such a threat and merely clicked his tongue and shook his head with sympathy. "My dear, you must remember that these are heathens that do not know the gentle love of our Lord. Try not to draw such attention to yourself, for your looks are quite fair and if you were to be disfigured you would lose value. Would you rather be a drudge like Hilda?"

Cerdic took Elizabeth's hand, caressing her fingers and stroking a fingertip against her palm gently, looking deeply into her eyes as they stood in the shadow of the barn. She did not have the callouses of Rowena or Hilda, combined with the refinement of her speech he guessed there was some truth to the rumor of her being high born. "What house did you belong to in Mercia? The black bear of Hull? The white rose of York? Maybe a lesser house of Blackburn? Though with that golden hair I would say either Drake or Estton."

He watched her and gave a small smile, "I was not always a monk. My father is a lord of Wessex, second only to King Egbert. We put your Offa and then Wiglaf after him to flight out of our lands and I remember some of the banners that flew in those days."

It had been years but the memory of those battles were clear and he could even remember the smell of horses and sweaty leather, the stench of shit and blood that filled the air, along with smoke from burning villages and fields. "We spend so much blood fighting against each other and now we have the Danes stealing our people and burning churches."

Giving her knuckles a chaste kiss, he bowed his head slightly, "Elizabeth, it is a sin that you were taken from your home and abused. Please, I would be honored to hear your confession. Where ever you are comfortable."
 
Elizabeth's eyes grew wide as did her smile. "A warrior and the son of a powerful Lord? Why would you ever give that up my dear Cerdic?" She asked, bitting her lip and blushing as he kissed her hand. "You would make for a much better husband and father back home where we are the masters, as I hale from the white rose of York. These filthy savages should be serving us as we are God's chosen people."

She gripped his hand tighter and lead him away from the barn to the shed where the slaves slept. It was empty as many of them were out doing their chores as they are supposed to. "I miss home so very much, being forced to lay with these disgusting men day and night is torturous." She said softly, stopping them inside of the shed and holding both of Cerdic's hands.

"I wish to return so badly, but I have been touched so many times I don't think a man back home would wish to marry a dirty and impure woman such as myself." She sniffed, her eyes casting down. "These horrible men took away any chance of me finding a true husband or honor back home when they stole me away. What good Christian man would want a dirty whore for a wife?" She whimpered, letting go of Cerdic's hands and covering her face with her own as her shoulders shook with soft crying.
 
He shook his head, "I chose my path with God, there is no greater honor in that."

Truthfully it had not been much of a choice and he would rather not think of what would have become of him if he had not gone to the monastery. "York? A good family, as far as Mercians go."

Cerdic smiled a little, and despite the warnings in his head, it felt good to talk of things he knew and share them with someone who recognized the families and lands. Vigi did not know of them nor would he likely care and the other slaves were peasants in their homelands. Elizabeth was from another kingdom but she had grown up in the same surroundings as he had. "Do not think that, Elizabeth, we do not need to be served by the Danes but to save their souls from their heathen ways. There are monks who have traveled among them, some have even built churches in the south to convert to the one True God. Once they are Christians, they will understand the great evil it is to enslave fellow Christians and they will feel the love of God."

He half believed it for he was Christian and he fought with and against Christians enough to know it did not lessen the lust for blood in a man. "I truly am sorry for you, being raped and abused is not something that should be tolerated but there is little we can do but pray. We will pray for your protection and to open the hearts to those men so they might see the harm they do."

Her words struck him and he pressed his lips together, sighing, "I'm afraid you are not wrong. Even if you were ransomed, the best you could expect would be to join a convent. It is not so bad though, you would serve God and the people, take care of the sick and help the elderly and orphans. But marriage...men generally do not want 'damaged goods', as they so callously refer to women like you."

Cerdic put an arm around her, he did feel bad for the young woman and wondered if her reputation was borne from her status and how she reacted to her sudden position of servitude. "Trust me, it would be for the best to become a nun if you are freed."

He had heard the stories of English women ransomed from the Danes only to be killed or sent away to convents for their 'sins' in bondage. It was not their fault, though some people believed a true Christian woman would die before submitting to a heathen he could not agree there. It made him sick to think about a man paying to get his wife back only cut her throat because she was pregnant by her captors. Cerdic gave her a small hug and stepped back, "Now, kneel with me and we will pray together. You can confess your sins and be cleansed."
 
With a small sniffle the blonde haired beauty nodded, gentle rubbing the tears from her eyes before kneeling down beside Cerdic to pray. When they finished praying they sat on the sleeping bench used for the slaves and Elizabeth began her confession. She would grip Cerdic's hand or touch his knee as she spoke. Her confessions were not so much confessing of her own faults and sins as a person, but rather blaming others. When she confessed to growing angry, she made sure to mention who had caused it.

"Do you think God can find it in his heart to forgive me?" She asked Cerdic when she finished, gently touching his thigh in a somewhat intimate manner.

"Cerdic!" Vigi's voice rang from outside of the shed and Elizabeth scowled, her fingers digging into Cerdic briefly before she let go.

"Oh please say it isn't so, that we must part so soon after meeting?" She said, grasping Cerdic's hand.

The door opened and Vigi stepped into the somewhat dark shed, his shoulder's clearly tense from the dark silhouette he formed in the bright light of the door way. "We're leaving." Vigi said sharply, turning his body slightly to start to leave and the sunlight of outside revealed he had a split lip, and his chin under it was stained red from dried blood. "Now!" He shouted, remaining in his spot and waiting for Cerdic to join him with his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

"Meddling savage." Elizabeth muttered in English.

Vigi snarled and marched forward, smacking the blonde woman hard enough to send her sprawling back onto the bed. "I speak English remember? You half wit." He growled at her in English as she stared up at him, completely and utterly stunned.

"You-you can't-" She stammered, bringing her hand up to touch the cheek he struck.

"Strike you? You're a slave, I could kill you if I wanted and right now I'm in a murderous mood so shut your mouth if you wish to live." Vigi snapped down at her. "With how you act, it is long over due." He turned his hard glare to Cerdic. "We're leaving or do I need to strike you too to get you off your bloody ass!?"
 
Cerdic cleared his throat, gently removing her hand from his upper thigh when she got too friendly and listened as she confessed other people’s sins. He was about to remind her about those who cast the first stones when Vigi’s voice made his head snap up. He began to remind her to say her prayers and try to follow Christ’s path. but the fierceness in his master’s voice made him go quiet. When the light illuminated Vigi’s face, he saw the cut and frowned, he should have known better and stayed with him while he saw the Jarl.

He did not speak out when Elizabeth was smacked, only raised his eyebrows and made to stand up before Vigi shouted at him. Cerdic clenched his jaw and glanced back at the girl, before following Vigi out. Once they were away from Elizabeth, he replied,“There’s no need to strike me, Master. I’ve done nothing wrong but leave you alone for five minutes with your family.”

Cerdic shot a look at Vigi, waiting to see if the man would hit him for that. It was cheeky but true, he should have been at his side, rather than listen to that git prattle about everyone else’s wrongs. Silly girl but one who he did sympathize with, she was a long way from the home she had always known. It had to be harder for someone used to being on top to be dropped so low. God knows, he understood that.
 
Vigi rounded on him with a glare. "That was said more for show for her and also, shut up; I am sincerely in no mood for your witty comments." He muttered, reaching up his hand to rub his jaw. "Ugh, it has also not been five minutes. It has been a long, draining few hours." He clarified with a scowl.

"My talk with Sven about our mother went well, we believe we've come up with a solution for her. That is not the problem however." He paused to turn and spit on the ground to see if there was any blood in his saliva. It felt like a tooth may have been knocked loose but he saw no blood.

"I made the mistake of going to visit the Jarl about the events of his visit my first day back from the raid." Vigi growled, jerking with his hand for Cerdic to follow him as he continued to stalk off the Jarl's property. "I merely wanted to assure him that he had my loyalty, that he did not need to use force to keep following him. All I asked in return from him was some respect if I was to take my mother's place, because the attitude of his brood has trickled down the ranks like poison. However he snapped at me that I had to earn his respect and how dare I come demand it of him."

Vigi stopped walking and glared down at the ground, his fists clenched at his sides. "I don't know why, perhaps it was because of my talk with Sven...But I addressed him as father by mistake because I was quite flustered with how poorly the conversation was going." He turned to Cerdic and gestured to his split lip. "He back handed me the moment the word left my lips."

Shaking his head Vigi felt the anger start to drain out of him and his hands started to shake softly. "I lost my temper and screamed at him I've had enough and stormed out, then came to find you." He took in a deep breath and ran his hand down his face. "I just wish to return to my hut for the rest of the day because I am done with this entire bloody place." He gritted his teeth and looked Cerdic in the eyes, his own shining slightly from held back tears. "So I would appreciate it if right now you would not make any clever remarks. Alright?"
 
Cerdic followed, keeping his mouth shut even though he wanted to snarl about his thick headed father. Though he did not believe in Vigi's gods and even wondered at his powers other than the healing skills, he understood his master was equivalent to a priest. Striking a man of God was a sin and he would have assumed the superstitious people would think twice about hitting a man capable of cursing them. Maybe the Jarl figured his son, as much as he denied his blood, would never curse him and felt safe abusing him. Maybe the Jarl was a more pragmatic man who did not truly put his faith in his own gods. A man like that might turn to Christianity, as others had before him with a promise of gold and support of the Church. Pondering this only briefly, he halted when Vigi paused.

They were already on the outskirts of the village, having passed through the gates of the rather poor stockade. His trained eyes made measure of the timber and many needed replacing or reinforcing. Beyond the walls, the village spread out to farms and forests. Cerdic glanced at Vigi with concern, his brow furrowing. Not that he minded terribly if that were true but being done with the place that would be the most secure in a battle was probably not the best idea. If there was an attack coming, and it would not surprise him if there was considering the belligerent nature of the Danes, the village needed to prepare.

He met Vigi's gaze and shook his head slightly, "Of course, Master. I'm sorry I was not there to protect you."

Cerdic would have stepped in to take the blow for he could not raise a hand to the Jarl but truly he wished he could have spared Vigi the emotional pain of his father's continuous rejection. Biting his lip in thought, he turned his head to look back at the village before stepping towards his master and putting his hands on his shoulders. Looking deep into those pale green eyes watering from the stress of the day, "I won't make that mistake again. I am yours, your shield."

Without thinking, he moved to embrace his master, his strong arms holding the slender man and he brushed his lips against his cheek before pulling back, his face flushing with embarrassment. "Ahem, we, uh...should probably find the boat."
 
Vigi tensed at first when Cerdic embraced him, then relaxed after a moment when he realized what the man was doing. It felt warm and comforting to be held if even for a few moments. He did not realize he needed that gentle contact with another person, but it did help him calm down. He didn't even care if anyone saw them right now.

He flushed feeling the graze of lips on his cheek and reached out to pat Cerdic's shoulder. "Yes we should...Thank you Cerdic." He took in a deep breath and rubbed his sweating hands off on his tunic. "Perhaps you can help me figure out a way to make this madness stop. I can not take my mother's position as speaker of the gods if...If I am being treated no better than a slave. That wench Elizabeth is treated better than I am."

Shaking his head be rubbed his forehead to try and fight off a growing headache and continued their path to the docks. He wished he understood why his father hated him so fiercely. He had no control over who he grew into, the Norms long decided his fate before he was born.

He lifted his head a bit higher when they reached the dock so he could look for his boat. He stopped walking when his eyes landed on an older woman with pale brown hair, light scars on her face and dressed as a mixture of warrior and woman waiting near the boats. Vigi pinched the bridge of his nose. "Cerdic, that is the Jarl's wife." He explained to him before continuing forward.

"Geira, have you come to drown me in the waters?" He asked the woman bitterly. She must've cut through the middle of the village to beat them to the docks when they traveled the outskirts to avoid people. The woman was younger than she appeared and was as spritely as any warrior.

Geira turned to him, her face blank but her lips slightly pinched. "I did not wish for you to leave just yet, before I had a chance to speak with you, Vigi."

Vigi stopped walking and narrowed his eyes suspiciously at her. She never addressed him by name. "What is it you wished to say?"

Geira cleared her throat before placing one arm across her chest and bowing to him slightly. "On behalf of my household and my husband, I give you my sincerest apologies for how disrespectfully you were treated."

Vigi felt his mind grind to a halt and his mouth dropped open in complete and utter shock. He would never believe in a thousand years that he would ever, ever hear such words from anyone of the Jarl's legitimate family. Especially from Geira.
 
He raised his eyebrows, "I'll do my best but I've never been very good at subtlies, you should have taken my brother Aelle...he would have had you in the Jarl's throne in a fortnight."

Cerdic shrugged at the sassy remark, rolling his eyes, "As for Elizabeth, she's a highborn woman and comely, there is no doubt the men would be wanting to bed her. She says she does not speak your tongue but I have my doubts if she knows so much or if she's just getting her information from other slaves. She is, of course, very troubled by her capture, she is unused to such treatment. I do not think her innocent though, she touched me in ways a Christian woman probably should not touch her confessor. Nothing terrible but I think she's attracted to me, whether that will help or not, we'll see."

Cerdic followed him to the dock and his attention was caught by the woman waiting for them. She had the look of the young woman playing warrior but she was not as tall or broad shouldered. He took a deep breath, once again reminding himself to react only to a physical threat. He saw the shock on Vigi's face when the woman apologized and he started to relax, at least she was not there to threaten or bully him more.
 
Vigi shut his mouth and caught himself before he looked at Cerdic for some kind of guidance because this had never happened to him before. "Thank...you for your apology." He said, even though he very much doubted the sincerity of the words she spoke. There was too much bad blood between him and her household to really feel she was saying this out of genuine regret. She was up to something.

Geira stood up straight and nodded her head. "You were correct before. You are our link to the God's and a brilliant healer. You do deserve the same respect your mother received as you will be taking her position."

Vigi remained silent, glancing over at Cerdic before focusing back on the Jarl's wife. "Thank you."

Geira raised an eyebrow at him. "You do not believe my words?"

"Honestly? No, there has been too much that has passed between me and your household." Vigi said, folding his arms over his chest. "Ever since I was a child you scorned me and called me worthless. Your daughter nearly caved in my skull hours ago! Were it not for Cerdic I may be dead because of her. You people have treated me poorly my entire life and continue to do so. Do you really think apologizing now after years of abuse will cause me to so easily forgive you? That I will believe you feel genuine remorse for what you have done to me? You are just using pretty words to try to manipulate me and for what reason? Do you really think I will destroy this village because of anger toward you and the Jarl? Do you think me so petty as to take it out on innocents for our personal squabbles?"

Geira glared at him as he spoke and sighed, bringing up her hand to rub her forehead. "What do you wish for me to say?"

Vigi's hands gripped his biceps tightly. "Never. Lie to me." He warned her lowly, readily returning her glare. "Well this has been wonderfully pointless." He muttered bitterly, turning to Cerdic. "Let's go."

"Wait." Geira said, holding out her hand as though to grab him and stop him as he started to walk away. "Do you wish for honesty? Then I will give you honesty. People are afraid of you."

Vigi stopped walking. "I've gathered that." He said over his shoulder. "I do not understand why. I have done nothing to the people of this village but help them."

"Because you have every reason to despise us and curse our lives." Geira continued. "You are very powerful, your mother has told us for years that you will one day surpass even her prowess in magic. But we didn't listen to her. All we saw was a feminine boy that could not even swing a practice sword properly. We could not see what your mother saw. It was difficult for some to believe that you would ever become someone useful, much less a threat...Then you returned from your journey. You were not the soft spoken, wide eyed boy you used to be. You became a man, hardened and confident, it was as though you retuned as a warrior; but you wield a weapon that we are powerless to defend against. It was then we realized your mother was right and how grave of a mistake we made."

Vigi remained silent as he mulled over the words before shaking his head. "So you are remorseful. Remorseful that you've given me reason to hate you. Reason to destroy the life you have worked so hard to build...But you do not feel bad for mistreating a child."

"...I suppose I don't." Geria admitted softly. "I was furious with your mother for giving my husband the son's I never could. I could not take it out on her though and I could not take it out on Sven. My rage needed to fall somewhere or it could have ruined everything that was so fragile at the time between my husband and I. If I knew then what I do now, I would have found a better outlet for my rage."

"Because you fear me now." He said, bringing up a hand to touch his bruised stomach through his shirt. "If that is true then you should put a stop to this mistreatment and adding fuel to my growing ire. Every man has his limits, do not push me to mine."

"Of course." She agreed with a slight nod of her head.

Vigi remained standing for a moment before continued walking without another word. Geira did not try to stop them again and when they were settled in the boat with Cerdic rowing back to his shore Vigi finally spoke.

"What do you think of what she said?" He asked, looking into his storm grey eyes with a frown. "Do...Do you suppose my father fear's me?" It sounded absurd as soon as he said it. His father didn't fear anything.
 
Cerdic listened to the exchange, careful not to show any reaction on his face as the Jarl’s wife spoke. Once they were in the boat and he was rowing away from the docks did he dare speak. Meeting Vigi’s gaze, his lips pressed in a thin line.
“I think that is a distinct possibility,” Cerdic said finally, “Fear will make men lash out, if his control is through the physical, then he will fear the spiritual...your gods. Even kings fear God’s wrath and therefore are often inclined to leave monasteries and churches alone for the most part during war. When a man is scared, he take drastic measures to feel safe.”

Going quiet, he concentrated on rowing towards the far shore where the little hut stood and they would have privacy and peace. Cerdic got out and dragged the boat onto the rocky shore and tied it to the sunken peg. Scratching the side of his nose, he sniffed and went over to Vigi. “I know you want his approval and to feel like his son but...you could use his fear to your advantage.”

He knew fear could make a man desperate, willing to do things he probably would not have done before and it was a tool to use. If the Jarl feared Vigi, the shaman could use it, if he dared.
 
Vigi looked up sharply at Cerdic with wide eyes. "What?" He asked, climbing out of the boat to stand on the shore with the Christian. "Use my father's fear of me to my advantage? What advantage? If he fears me enough that he thinks he has to control me through violence, if I do anything to increase the fear he might have me killed!"

Vigi shuddered at the thought, having very little doubt in his mind that his father would even hesitate to kill him. "It doesn't matter how powerful I am and how much they may need me, if he thinks I'll turn against him even for a second...His sword will come down on my head." He brought up his hand to rub his neck, as though he was trying to protect it.

He didn't know if his father feared him, but he knew very well that he was terrified of the Jarl. "It's too dangerous to try and manipulate him in such a way." He murmured, forcing himself to lower his hand.
 
Cerdic shrugged, “What do you want from me? I was just a warrior, just a pawn to be pushed around by those higher ranking than me, a third son...just an extra. You know, I just did what I was told, for the family.”

Putting the oars in the boat, “Don’t you have like some bones and feathers you could wave in his face and threaten to turn him into a toad?”

The monk made a motion with his hand and muttered some nonsense words and waved his hands around. Cerdic shook his head, the Church officially discounted witches and magic, calling it nothing but fantasy and not even worthy of fear and belief. He snorted with derision, the truth cutting too close and it made him lash out against his master, which was probably not the best thing to do. Cerdic rubbed his mouth and started to walk away, towards the hut to get a fire started.
 
Vigi stared after Cerdic with wide eyes before anger rushed through him and he started after Cerdic. "Do not walk away from me." Vigi snapped, grabbing his arm when he was within reach of the slave and yanking him around so he could glare at him. "I'm glad you find this amusing, because I certainly do not." He tightened his grip as he ground his back teeth together in frustration.

"Do you think this is a game? Do you think my powers are just make believe?" He asked him, jerking him closer and using the added inch he had over Cerdic to glower down into his eyes. "Do you think that I am merely being dramatic? That there is no real threat of the Jarl killing me?"

He ducked his head down and nearly pressed their forehead's together. "Or do you understand the danger and just wish to be rid of me? You feed me bad ideas and then belittle my skills so it will end in my death and you can make off back to your homeland?" He shut his eyes tight and pressed their foreheads fully together as the stress and deep emotions of the day crashed over him. "You just want me dead like the rest." He muttered, a tear dripping down from his eye and landing on Cerdic's cheek.
 
Cerdic halted when he felt Vigi grab him, he could probably overpower him but he felt a twinge of guilt at what he had said. He was frustrated, feeling helpless to do anything against the Jarl or his brood. It was the same gut wrenching impotency he had felt when Aelle came to him with his ultimatum. There was nothing he could do that would not result in his immediate death. Rubbing his head, he shrugged, “No I don’t find it amusing, there’s a lot of shit I don’t find amusing.”

He tugged his collar and held the pale green gaze, “It is a game, you know? A big bloody game where we move around like pawns to someone else’s tune. I do believe the Jarl could kill you, a man may snap and even the fear of the wrath of God can be forgotten.”

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Cerdic looked away at Vigi’s accusation, his jaw clenched. There was some truth to it, he was planning on escaping at some point and leaving this heathen land for the brutes to squabble over. And go back home. To what? He closed his eyes for a moment, furrowing his brow. Back to the monastery to freeze in the stone huts and copy the Bible over and over. It was not a bad life...but it was not a life a man like Cerdic was made for. If only he had a chance to get his place back and serve his father again or his brother, but as long as the boy was the heir, there was no place for him back home either.

Finally he opened his eyes, meeting Vigi’s gaze and he spoke in a throaty voice, “No, I don’t want you dead. If I did, I would have done it myself. I owe you my life and...I just don’t want to see you dead. I’m not trying to do that but no, I don’t believe in your powers. I’m a Christian, it would be a sin to acknowledge witchcraft and heathen gods.”

He reached up and touched the smooth cheek, wiping the tear away with his calloused thumb. “Next time, keep me with you, I’m your guard and I take that seriously. Pardon me my temper and my stupidity, if I was so crafty I would not have been at the monastery.”
 
Vigi opened his eyes at the touch on his face, pulling back enough so Cerdic's face was in focus. The warm hand on his face felt nice and he turned his head so he could press his lips against Cerdic's palm. "I believe you." He said softly into the rough skin of the priest's hand. "To some extent I believe you."

He could see Cerdic was a good man, a man of honor. Despite his momentary lapse brought on by emotional torment, he did believe Cerdic didn't want him dead and would protect him. It was shocking because even though he'd saved his life, he still took Cerdic as a slave. He more than anyone had reason to hate him after putting him into bondage. After the cruel things he had said and done when he lost his temper.

He snorted suddenly and shut his eyes. "It is a sad day when I trust you more than the warriors that fight for my father." He said before heaving out a sigh and stepping away from Cerdic. Vigi rubbed at his eyes to clear away any tears clinging to his eyelashes still.

Lowering his hands from his eyes Vigi pressed them together in front of his face as he stared off into space in thought. "I think we should make a deal." He said, meeting Cerdic's eyes once again. "You are not fit for the life of a slave. That much is obvious. When I feel safe in that village, I feel secure that the Jarl will not behead me and I will no longer be treated like a dog. At that time I will consider the debt you owe me repaid, your services will no longer be needed and I will free you of slavery. I will even see you returned to your homeland. Either back to a monastery or back with your lord father. Whichever you feel is where you truly belong." He raised an eyebrow. "Though I still say wasting away in a monastery is a poor fate for you."
 
Freedom. It was a gift he had hardly thought Vigi would offer him. Cerdic blinked in surprise and sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. It was an uncomfortable thought now that it seemed a reality. Dreaming of escape had been pretty much that, some mental masturbation to get his mind of his circumstances. He did not know the land and was a sea away from his home, in his heart he knew it was just a fantasy. Now Vigi offered it to him, a chance to return home so why did his stomach knot up with a surge of anxiety. Truthfully, he agreed that he did not belong at the monastery. Going back home was not an option either, Aelle would be lord soon, if he was not already and he was a cautious man who ensured all his loose ends were well tied. Cerdic no longer had a place at his own home. He could hire himself out, offer his oath to another lord but it would be a shameful thing if he ever had to fight his own blood. Especially considering his son was likely training in arms now, maybe even serving one of the seasoned warriors to learn at his side. My side, he should be at my side, he said to himself but shook off the impossible thought as soon as it entered his head.

"Master, it is a great kindness you offer me and I accept your terms," Cerdic offered then rubbed his square chin. Despite the grim outlook, he still desired to be rid of the stinking collar. "Thank you."

Cerdic put his hand on Vigi's shoulder, leaning closer to him, "And believe me, I do not wish you dead. You have proven to be a kind man, despite being a heathen and besides...if you were not my master, where would I end up?"

He smiled and ruffled the long flaxen hair, giving him a slight hug. Perhaps it was informal and not a proper slave's behavior, but he could not help feeling an affection of sorts for the fair man.
 
Vigi scoffed but smiled slightly as he returned the embrace. He didn't care about their statuses at that moment, he needed the comforting contact. And they were alone, what did it matter? In public they were master and slave, but in private he would tentatively say they were almost friends. At the very least they were allies.

"Most likely you would be dead. Not many freemen will tolerate a bull headed slave." Vigi said as he stepped back from the Christian. He tried to ignore the small feeling of disappointment as he stepped away from Cerdic's warm, strong arms.

He licked at the clotted blood on his lip and grimaced from the taste and sting of pain. "With any luck that bitter woman will be able to do something about this abuse." He muttered, bringing up his hand to rub at his tender jaw again. "This will be another bruise, but I will not be able to hide it." With a frown he realized word may leak out about him being struck. How will the people react to the news? Will they know why or will they only hear that the Jarl hit him and then fill in why for themselves?

"The gossips are probably wagging their tongues by now." Vigi said, more to himself than to Cerdic as he thought out loud. "I doubt they will know the reason for the hit though and supply their own theories. Odin only knows what they will say." He shook his head and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I tire of worrying what other's think of me." He sighed, lowering his hand to look back at Cerdic. "Let's relax for the rest of the day. Surely we can manage that?" He could not think of any chores that they would need to do, everything was well in order for the most part. Such were the advantages of having only a small farm to tend to. "It is warm today, a soak in the cool water of the spring will be soothing." The idea was an appealing one, especially standing underneath the small water fall.
 
"You're probably right about that, without you I would have been killed in that bee field or at least tossed from the boat," Cerdic conceded. "I do know how to serve though, but as a free man loyal to his lord and King. Truthfully, it was never a choice, I was born into it but it still does not have the same bitter taste as the word 'slave'. And I still have the freedom to leave if I wish, without pain of death. You offer me this generous promise then I can offer my own. I will serve you, with honor and steadfastness. I will be humble when I must but if you want the most from me, then allow me the freedom to express myself when we are alone."

At his comment on the gossip, "Indeed though you know how to get shut of it. You just don't want to do it."

Smirking a little, Cerdic held his hands wide, "Power. Display your power, something other than an tea for some farmer's aching joints. You know why we have the large churches with lots of gold and velvets that you Danes love so much? It is because that is power. A commoner walks in, forced to look upward into those vaulted ceilings and smells the incense smoke and sees the silver and golden goblets that hold the wine. The illuminated Bibles opened and read from by a priest to an illiterate people...that's all power and it humbles the folk before God."

He sniffed and shrugged, "It's all a display, but it works. Lords look at the Church and see wealth and power, something they all crave like a drowning man wants air. The small folk see God's power, an unattainable to them as much as the lord's they serve. That displays the ultimate strength of God and His dominion over men."

"If you wish for them to think of you as other than the Jarl's disowned bastard who takes it in the arse, then give it to them, Vigi...master," Cerdic said, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "And I agree, relaxing would be nice. I'll fetch some lunch together and your fishing nets, might as well be useful."

With a wink, he went inside and put together a meal of hard sheep's cheese and some bread, taking a flask of mead with him as he followed his master out towards the woods. On their walk, he spotted red ripening raspberries on a low bush and they stopped to pick some, "I used to love finding things like this on the long walks I would take as a boy. My brothers and I would play among the woods near the fort, they hunted and when I was too young to wield a bow, I was put in charge of foraging."
Holding up the large handful of berries, "I got good at it."

The spring fed pool was as lovely as he remembered and Cerdic tied up the berries with the other food and looped it on a branch of a tree to keep the bugs away. Cerdic could feel the sun as it warmed the banks, the trees set back and he sat down in the grass to unlace his leather shoes.
 
"I thought it was already obvious by now that I don't mind that you act like your bull headed self when we are in private." Vigi said before falling silent as Cerdic continued to speak, offering to him actual constructive advice. Even though Cerdic believe in their Gods, what he said was true.

But..displaying his power...The thought had occurred to him on numerous occasions, but always what followed that thought was fear of how his father would react. The Jarl could see it as an attack on him and the village. However...after the blatant disrespect he was shown, could he really be faulted for it? Was he not within his rights?

It was something he mulled over as they walked to the fresh water spring, only coming out of his thoughts when Cerdic displayed his berry picking skills. He smiled a bit hearing the tale from Cerdic's boy hood and stopped to help him pick, eating a few berries as he went. "I was much the same, my brother and I used to go hunting for berries while our mother picked her herbs. I also liked looking for bee hives for honey. It always felt like hunting for treasure because they were so difficult to find."

Vigi ate a few more of the tart berries when they resumed their walk to the spring. He was empty handed by the time they arrived and he began to undress. He folded up his tunic and trousers, placing them on a dry rock along with his belt, sheathed seax and his charmed necklace of black beads and bones.

He next removed the beads woven into his hair, leaving the top a mess of stray wavy hair but the rest of his braid remained in tact. Completely naked he slipped into the shallow end of the pool with his back to Cerdic. A small shiver went up his spine from the cold of the water, but as he walked in further he gradually became used to it.

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He took in a deep breath before diving under the water completely, only the muffled sound of the crashing water fall penetrating the silence under the water. It was peaceful and he could feel himself beginning to relax suspended in the cool water. Re-emerging from the water to breath he pushed his hair from his face and made his way over to a smooth rock to sit down on. He tilted his head back and shut his eyes to enjoy the warmth of the sun coming through the trees and to think.

For years he had sat by and allowed the people of the village to treat him as they wanted, although many respected him; being struck by his father in public would be a turning point. If it had been any other man, any other Jarl, he would make the man feel his wrath and the wrath of the gods for the disrespect. He held council with most powerful beings in all the nine worlds!

It was time he was given the respect he damn well deserved. Cerdic was right, he would have to display a mighty force of his power.

Vigi opened his eyes again, the pale green hard as he looked up at the tree's. "When we are finished here, we will need to look at the hut and the barn for my animals for structural issues." He said, lowering his head to stare down at the water, swirling his hand around to create a small whirlpool. "There will be a very strong storm coming this night and it may last a few days." He muttered, lifting his eyes to give Cerdic a hooded, determined look.

"The Jarl does not want me for a son, then I shall stop treating him like family and treat him like I would any other man who disrespects me."
 
Cerdic removed his tunic and pants as Vigi waded into the water. His eyes were on the sleek pale body that slipped through the water as easily as a seal. Swallowing hard, he hung his pants over the branch and felt a thickening of his manhood already. As Vigi spoke about agreeing with him and standing up to his father, he felt a tingling in his loins, his body responding to the determination and fierceness in the other man's voice. Christ, he swore to himself and then chuckled wryly. It's not like Vigi would mind and he casually scratched his jaw and wandered over to the water, plunging into it. Hissing at the cold water, he tossed his head back, running a hand over his short wet hair. Glancing over at his master, he grinned as he went to lay on the rock.

The Saxon swam over to him and leaned on the rock, drinking in the sight of the lean body and he bit his lip slightly as he looked up at him. He said nothing, letting Vigi enjoy the sun and he glanced around the pond, instinctively keeping watch in case of danger. Finally, he hauled himself up and sat next to him, his broad back facing him as he leaned forward, picking off a piece of water plant that had clung to his foot. "I doubt there are many days as fair as this here. God's blessing for sure. I think you're right, it's time your Jarl realize what he has in you. If not a son, then a man who can be a powerful ally. If he chooses to feel threatened, hopefully he is smart enough to make an alliance with you rather than try something stupid like killing a man who speaks for Go...for the gods. So far I have not seen him display much craftiness but brute force will not keep a man in power for long so he must have something between his ears."

Twisting around he grabbed Vigi's ankle and playfully wiggled it, "But enough of that. Let's talk about sheep barns and what is needed before autumn sets in. Or not. Please."
 
Vigi stared over at Cerdic before he smirked in amusement. It seemed the Christian did not catch the meaning of his words. Maybe it would be for the best, he didn't need Cerdic doubting his powers and making him rethink his decision. It had to be done, he had to start showing his power or things may never change. It was dangerous, but he would maintain that he was in his rights. He would have to give the Jarl a warning at the very least...

The tug on his ankle pulled him away from his thoughts and he focused on the slave. He ran his eyes over Cerdic's naked and wet body, feeling the heat of arousal curl inside his gut. It effectively switched his focus from magic and power struggles to something more intimate, definitely more enjoyable. He smirked, thinking back to the night a few nights ago when they brought each other to orgasm. He was tired and sore in a few places, but he wanted to feel that strong body pressed against him again with large calloused hands running gently over his skin.

He pulled his ankle out of Cerdic's grasp and slipped down the rock so he was closer to him. "You're right. We are here to relax after today, not talk more business." He said when he was seated a little behind him but nearly beside the Christian. He placed his hands on his powerful shoulders and leaned forward to brush his lips against Cerdic's ear.

"So," He smirked, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "What should we do?" He asked, moving his lips down to press a kiss on Cerdic's neck above the leather collar.
 
A shiver ran through him when he felt Vigi's warm breath against his ear and he turned his head slightly. The kiss on the sensitive skin of his neck gave him some ideas and he reached back to lean on his hand. Cerdic met Vigi's lips with a kiss, the bristle of the stubble from his cheek grazing the other man's skin. Pulling back a little, he raised his eyebrows, "Something I'll be damned for..."

With a crooked grin, Cerdic rolled over to get to his knees in front of the shaman. His cock was already at half mast as he reached forward to run his fingers through the long flaxen locks and lean in to kiss him again with hunger. He moved his head to the side, opening his mouth so his tongue could probe and lick against Vigi's lips. Nipping him gently, he moved one of his hands up the slender Dane's leg, his thumb grazing upward along the inner thigh.
 
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