Luna refilled everyone’s goblet with glorious golden wine. She lifted her chalice to propose a toast. “To the generous gods and their magical gifts May they grant us victory in Ísland. Skál!”
Chapter 33
Return to Château Blanc
At the end of the evening, assured that Úlf had recovered sufficiently for the voyage, Ildris said goodbye with the promise to return with the otherLjósálfarin the morning. The Light Elves would join Lugh and Luna in crossing the portal to the waterfall cave and aid Njörd’s men in loading the three ships to set sail for Ísland as planned.
Elfi and Ylva helped Luna wash the dishes with water from the Isilwenn spring while Lugh, Njörd, and Úlf cleaned the grill outside the cottage. When the chores were finished, Lugh and Úlf retired to their respective chambers, and Ylva headed for bed in the room she was sharing with Luna.
Fetching a lit candle from the oval table, Luna escorted Njörd and Elfi down the hall to the guest room she had prepared for them.
In the simple but elegant chamber, moonlight streamed through a large arched window which overlooked the glimmering lake. On one side of the room, a fire crackled in the stone hearth, and along the opposite wall, an elaborately carved armoire of frosted ashwood stood beside a plump feather bed covered in shimmery silver silk. When Luna lit the beeswax candle upon the small bedside table, the sweet fragrance of honey wafted into the cool, moonlit air.
“There is an extra blanket in the armoire, should you need one. And spring water in the pitcher on the table.” She nodded to an ornate silver ewer and pair of goblets beside the candle. “With a chamber poton the floor in the corner.” Luna kissed Elfi’s cheek, her pearlescent smile radiant in the darkened room. “See you in the morning. Sleep well.” She inclined her head to Njörd, exited the room, and closed the carved wooden door behind her.
“A beautiful view of the lake,” Njörd remarked, admiring the dark surface streaked with silver moonlight and sprinkled with sparkling stars as he unstrapped his sword and stood it against the armoire. “And the bed looks inviting…” he flashed her a wolfish grin, a lusty gleam in his wicked eye.
A wave of warmth washed over Elfi, pooling between her thighs. “Indeed it does.” She smiled seductively and unstrapped herdragonscalesheath. Laying it on the floor beside the bed, she unfastened thetrollkorstalisman and necklace, which she placed carefully upon the bedside table. “Thank the gods, Úlf has recovered. Do we set sail tomorrow as planned?”
Njörd plopped down on the bed and removed his boots, then stood to shed his woolen tunic. “Já, with the morning tide.” Moonlight glistened on the intricate tattoos which covered his muscled skin. Elfi’s pulse quickened when he loosened the drawstring waist of his breeches. One side of his bearded face curled up a sultry smirk as he observed her watching him lower the linen hose. Under her rapt attention, his body responded with ardor.
She inhaled sharply as a staggering wave of desire weakened her wobbly knees. Elfi lifted her dark blue gown over her head, followed by her soft linen chemise. Before she had even placed the garments in the armoire, his sinewy arms locked behind her back and the hair of his broad chest brushed against her tingling breasts.
Warm, insistent lips nuzzled her neck and shoulder. “Odin’s eye, I long to taste you.” As Njörd laid her down upon the feather bed, Elfi’s clothes dropped on the wooden floor. “I said that I would worship every inch of you. And so I shall.”
His warm mouth claimed hers, his tongue parting her lips to probe and plunder, the rhythmic thrusts a promise of what was yet to come. He lapped and suckled her breasts until she moaned, writhing beneath him as he hovered over her, tormenting her withskilled lips and tongue. When his head nestled between her thighs, her body arched to meet him, aching with an empty hollow that she was desperate for him to fill. His fingers plunged inside her, the tip of his tongue caressing the tender bud between her thighs, rocking her with rhythmic waves until she convulsed with blessed release.
He flipped her on her stomach, raised her bottom in the air, and slid inside her warm, slick body, pummeling her from behind.
Elfi wrapped her legs behind his hips, pulling him in deep, her body gripped tightly around his. When he burrowed into her and filled her with his seed, her inner muscles clenched and contracted as she climaxed once again.
Njörd hummed with pleasure and laid down at her side, cradling her against his thundering chest. “I love you, Elfi. I thank the gods you are mine.”
“And I love you, myWolf of the Nordic Seas.” Elfi snuggled against him, blissfully content in his sinewy arms. As his muscles soon twitched and Njörd drifted off to sleep, she gazed through the tall window to glimpse the moon in the starry night sky.
Tomorrow, they would return with theLjósálfarto Étretat. Finish loading the longships. And set sail for Ísland.
She prayed that the gods would guide them.
And that the Norns had woven victory into the threads of their entwined fates.
****
Elfi awakened to the trills and chirps of songbirds, the crisp saline scent of the sea mingling with the fresh, earthy tang of the lake as a soft breeze wafted into the room. She smiled at the familiar hardness poking against her bare bottom.
“I’m glad you’re awake.” Njörd nuzzled the side of her neck, caressing a breast with one hand while he parted her thighs with the other, prodding at the entrance to her body. “Let’s make love one last time inÁlfheim.”When she murmured in delightfulconsent,he slid into her warm, willing body.
A while later, they emerged from the bedchamber and strode down the hall to find that Luna and Ylva had set the table for dagmál. “Good morning.” Luna gestured for Elfi and Njörd to help themselves and join the others already eating at the table. “Barley cakes with lavender honey…skyrwith lingonberries and hazelnuts…smoked silver salmon… and sweet pear juice, or mead infused with elderflowers.”
A wave of nausea swept over Elfi, an unpleasant symptom that plagued her more often lately. Fortunately, frequent meals seemed to help. As she filled her ceramic plate with a little of everything, she wondered how she would fare during the weeks at sea abord ship. She sat down beside Njörd, taking a sip of sweet pear juice and sinking her teeth into a barley cake smothered with honey.
After they’d eaten, Lugh, Úlf, and Njörd went outdoors to clean and oil their armor and leather scabbards, assembling and sharpening their weapons. Ylva and Elfi helped Luna wash the dishes, cleaning the tables and counters in preparation for the long voyage when the cottage would remain empty.
While Luna packed clothing and gathered necessities in a large leather satchel, Ildris arrived with theLjósálfar.
All were clad indragonscaleleather armor in varying shades of gold and green. Sheathed in gem-encrusted scabbards on their hips, their magnificent Light Elven swords and elaborate daggers glittered in the morning sun. And strapped across their broad backs over the gleaming armor were quivers of fletched arrows and elegant longbows crafted from frosted ashwood.
Elfi observed Lugh greet Ildris and the otherLjósálfarthrough the large arched window overlooking the Elandrian Sea. While she watched, Njörd, Úlf, and Lugh each donned their armor. In contrast to Lugh’s dark greendragonscaleleather, the twoÚlfhéðnarwere clad in their respective wolfskin cloaks over chainmailbrynjatunics and leggings.
