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Fiona left the hut and ran through the pouring rain to Elsie’s house. It was too risky for her to go and speak to each of the women individually, but Elsie knew everyone, and she was one of the few that Fiona knew she could trust.

“Oh, lass, what are ye daeing out and about in this storm? I told ye that ye should hae gone home! Let me get ye sat by the fire tae dry ye out. Oh, ye would catch yer death out there,” Elsie said, fussing over Fiona as though she was one of her children.

“I will sit with ye and keep warm, but ye must dae something for me in return,” Fiona said in a conspiratorial whisper. “I hae learned of something dark and dangerous that is happening, and I need people I can trust. There is a shadow hanging over this clan, and we need people tae fight.”

Elsie listened with wide eyes as Fiona told her about all that was happening, and she readily agreed to help.

Meanwhile, Varrik had gone to see his men. They looked sullen and aggrieved but were overjoyed when Varrik appeared to them.

“Varrik! I can’t believe they locked you up like that,” Steffen said.

“I know. But there’s no time for that. The clan is in danger. Laird Fletcher is not what he seems. He’s going to attack on the wedding day. We have to make sure we’re there to defend them,” Varrik said.

He could sense the tension in the air as soon as he spoke.

“I’m not sure we’re willing to do that. We’ve been treated as villains ever since we’ve come here. Why should we help them now?” Steffen asked.

Varrik looked at them, at the doubt in their eyes. “I know how you are feeling. I’ve felt the same thing myself. It would be easy to turn our backs and let them fight this battle themselves. But we were brought here for a reason. What good are we going to be if we shun them because they shunned us? Let’s show them how Vikings fight. Let’s show them honor. We’re not only fighting for ourselves, we’re fighting for the gods as well, and for all the warriors who are looking down on us from Valhalla. And when has any Viking refused a fight? This is our chance to make our mark on the world,” he said, and his words were enough to sway their minds. He told them the plan, and then late in the night, he stood in the woods, staring up at the moon.

He was surprised when Fiona came to him.

Fiona had been unable to sleep because of everything that was happening. To calm her nerves, she had gone for a walk under the moonlight. The storm had calmed now, and it just so happened that she and Varrik had chosen the same place to find comfort. She smiled shyly as she approached him. He looked glorious in the moonlight. The trees formed a lush background.

“I was not expecting to see you until after the battle,” Varrik said.

“I suppose the gods haed something else in mind,” Fiona said.

“Who am I to argue with the gods?”

She walked up to him and slipped her hand in his, feeling an immediate sense of relief for being in his presence. She looked up at him and saw the moon pooling in his eyes. The sight of him took her breath away.

“I know ye said ye wanted tae wait until all this is over before we said anything, but I…I cannae. I already saw ye taken away from me once, and I never got a chance tae tell ye what was in my heart. Varrik, when we met, I was harsh tae ye, and I’m sorry for that. But over time, I…I realize that ye are everything I ever wanted in a man. I cannae imagine being with anyone but ye. I dinnae think I ever wanted a man before, but then ye are here and…I should hae known from that first duel, really. I suppose, in a way, I did. I just, I know that taemorrow things might change. I dinnae want tae gae my life without knowing what it’s like tae be without ye.” Her voice lowered to a whisper as she spoke. Her hand reached out to his chest, gently tracing lines down his body. He exuded warmth on this cool night, and she was drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

Varrik stared at her. She thought he was going to tell her to be patient, that they should wait until the battle was settled. Instead, he didn’t say anything at all. He wrapped one arm around her back and drew her in close to him, just as he had done when they had been dueling. Then he kissed her again. This time there was no hesitation. There was nothing more that needed to be said. Their lips met, and then their tongues. They melted into each other, and a scorching burst of energy flared as they sank into the soft, damp moss.

As they kissed, they peeled off each other’s clothes and took joy in the naked glory of each other. The moonlight illuminated the angles of his masculine body, and his hard manhood was hidden in shadow. Silver light ran along her curves as well, inviting and alluring him. Their kisses were soft, and their touches were insistent, eager. She breathed in his essence and felt at home. Their hands slid against each other, their fingers entwining.

“This is how I always imagined getting married,” she whispered. “Under the moon, hand in hand with my husband, vowing tae love him and only him.”

“Then let’s get married,” he said, clutching her hand tightly. “The stars and the moon and the gods are our witnesses. I vow to love you, no matter what, Fiona. Loving you is the only worthy thing I’ve done,” he said.

Fiona smiled and made a similar vow, amazed that after years of resisting marriage, it would come so easily to her. As soon as the vows had been made, they kissed deeply, sliding their arms around each other; their bodies became one. It was impossible to tell where one of them ended and the other began. She was as much a part of him as he was of her, and she loved the feeling of being so intimate with him.

Their kisses were long and deep, and she allowed herself to sink into him, as though she was drowning in bliss. His skilled fingers drifted down her body and caused heat to bloom within, flowing deep from the sensual core of her body. Shuddering breaths drifted from her mouth as her eyes closed and her body arched under him. His strong muscles swelled as they gripped her. He nestled in the crook of her neck, and his hot breath washed over her. He enjoyed all of her femininity while the pleasure rippled and bubbled under the surface, coming out in hot waves.

Then he shifted his weight. He cradled her in his arms as he pressed against her. She felt him, and then suddenly the world shook. She went limp at the overwhelming sensations, and the breath was driven from her lungs. She curled her arms around him and held on tightly, feeling the sinews of his body tighten at the taut rhythm of his lust. Passion streamed out of their bodies in a thick sheen of sweat. Sharp gasps cracked through the air, feeling as powerful to Fiona as the lightning did earlier. There was never a point where they weren’t in touch with each other, and Fiona lost herself in the blissful haze. Warmth surged through her like honey, and she knew that no other man could make her feel like this. He was her Viking warrior, and no matter what happened, he would always be her husband, her love.

When it was over, they lay together under the moonlight, basking in the glory of each other. There were so many things that remained unspoken because she was afraid of what the future might bring. Life was a precious thing, and it could so easily slip away. In the small hours of the night, all she wanted was to be with him, to pretend that they could have a life together and that there weren’t people trying to conspire against them.

All she wanted was peace.