Fire and Ice

Chapter 2



For the first few days after de Gant had left, Juliana and her mother enjoyed a freedom they had not known in weeks. They decided to visit her mother’s old friend Sara who lived near the Ings and who was clever at making potions from herbs and fungi. Sitting in front of the fire in her hut, Sara and her mother spoke in hushed tones about her father and what they would like to do to the Normans who now defiled their home but Juliana made excuses and went outside to enjoy the warmth of the new spring. Sara was what the villagers called a healer and could often be seen visiting huts where illness abided in order to treat their suffering. Outsiders called her a witch but she ignored them and waited until they too needed her to work her ‘magic’.

Juliana stretched in the sunlight, raising her hands in thanks to the Lord Jesus for this respite from their troubles. She looked out across the river and saw occasional ships passing by but then her eyes became fixed on a figure waving to her from far along the bank. She looked again but could not make out who it was but the figure began to run towards her and eventually she recognised Erik, whom they all thought had died with her brother. She ran towards him and he caught her in his arms and swung her round and round.

“Put me down, Erik, I beg of you, you’re making me dizzy,” she said breathlessly.

“And I, Juliana, am dizzy with delight at seeing you again. I thought I’d never get home. How are you and your mother and father? I hope you’re happy to see me.”

“Of course I’m happy to see you. We thought you had died with my brother at Senlac.”

His eyes clouded with sorrow, “Aldred is dead? I didn’t know, Juliana. I was injured but not mortally, so I made my way back on foot. My horse was lost to me and I had to rely upon loyal Saxons to feed me until I was well enough to travel. I managed to get a ship to bring me this far but you were the last person I expected to see here. I haven’t even been home to see my own mother and father yet.”

She looked into his deep blue eyes, and compassion filled her so much she could hardly speak, but he needed to know what had happened in the past months and of course about her father’s death. She choked out her story but did not mention de Gant and saw the conflict of emotions pass across Erik’s face as he listened. His eyes filled with tears when she took him by the hand and led him back to Sara’s hut where she decided she would tell him about the new lord and his expectations. When they arrived her mother was at the door looking out. Her eyes widened with surprise and delight at Erik’s return and Sara insisted he come inside and stay with her away from de Gant’s men, some of whom were still at the Hall.

“Who is this de Gant, Juliana?” he asked suddenly.

She looked at the floor unable to look him in the eye and confess the awful reality. She shook her head so her mother answered for her.

“He’s the new lord of Bertone. His name is Richard de Gant, sent by his Norman king to take possession of the land and everyone in it. He’s decided he’ll take Juliana too - as his prize.”

Erik jumped up and stared at her. “You mean you’ve given yourself to this man, Juliana?”

“N...n...No!” she stammered, her throat blocked with emotion.

“Erik,” Hilde soothed, “sit down and I will tell you what has happened. It’s too difficult for my daughter.”

Erik listened to their news and began pacing the floor, shaking his fair hair and muttering dire threats on all Normans. “This cannot be, Juliana. We must find the priest to marry us immediately. We’ll see then how this de Gant reacts.”

“We must not anger him, Erik,” she replied. “He is quite capable of killing us both.”

“I would rather be dead than live to see you taken against your will.”

“Please,” she asked in earnest, “Spend a while here with Sara and listen to her wisdom before coming to the Hall. Sir Richard will be away for at least another week.”

“I’ll stay here, Juliana, but only to plan revenge on this Norman lord who would turn you into a whore.”

Her eyes widened in horror as he spoke and she knew he was telling the truth but was helpless to know what to do about it. His eyes told her he was sorry for being so abrupt and held out his arms to her but she didn’t walk into them as he wanted, so he said, “We must think of somewhere to run away to then. We will leave tonight and...”

“No!” Juliana interrupted, “I won’t leave my mother and the townspeople to suffer at Sir Richard’s hands through any action of mine. You don’t know what we’re dealing with, Erik. Wait a few days then come to the Hall and we’ll see what’s to be done, but don’t do anything to bring this knight’s wrath on our people.”

Erik looked suitably chastened and bowed to her mother before turning his back on them all.

They said goodbye to Sara who followed them outside whispering that she would look after Erik and try to calm him down. She handed a pouch to Hilde and they returned silently to the Hall.

As they entered the yard at the back of the Hall they were horrified to find more Normans milling around shouting to the servants to stable their horses and feed them. Hilde’s face was white with apprehension so Juliana looked around for someone in authority. One man who appeared taller than average with wide shoulders and wearing a fine-linked hauberk, was sitting astride his large war horse deep in conversation with a blond-haired man who had not yet dismounted. The blond man saw the two women approaching and nodded to the first, who turned and watched them thoughtfully.

As the women approached he slid down from the saddle with practiced ease and bowed politely.

“Good afternoon, mother, my lady.” His English was good but deferred to Hilde in the Norse manner.

They curtsied and waited for him to speak again, not daring to say a word in case Sir Richard’s men reported back to him. He looked around the yard seeming satisfied that his orders had been carried out as far as stabling and his men were concerned then looked back to the women. He was a good head and shoulders bigger than the hateful de Gant and had an air of authority which charmed rather than threatened, but he was still a Norman Juliana reminded herself.

“I am Ulfric, knight of King William and have been endowed with this Hall and lands by the King himself.”

His statement surprised them since de Gant had claimed the Hall and town as his own, but they didn’t refute it. Hilde seemed unwilling to respond so Juliana answered for her, “My mother is the lady of this Hall, her name is Hilde and I’m her daughter, Juliana.”

“I am honoured to meet you,” he turned and bowed to her mother again who looked at him suspiciously, but he laughed and indicated the blond man who had now dismounted. “This is Thorvald, we are as close as brothers can be without actually being of the same blood. He watches my back at all times.” He looked closely at them as he said this and they were left in no doubt that he knew they had no love for the Normans. “Now, where is your father, I understand he is a reasonable man and we have much to discuss.”

Whether it was the shock of hearing him speak of her father, or whether the frustrations of the day were just too much, she didn’t know, but her temper rose as she spat, “I’ll show you my lord knight where my father is!” She tried to drag him by the arm to the church wall but he was immovable so she pointed to the oak tree. “My father is dead, Sir Knight, he lies there speared by a Norman sword when provoked beyond reason. Do not sully his name by speaking of him with your Norman tongue!”

Ulfric looked at Thorvald who shrugged his shoulders, then returned his gaze to them, “I wasn’t aware of this. Sir Richard de Gant was sent here to take possession of the town for me until I could get the Title sealed by the King. There was no reason for anyone’s death – there’s been enough.”

“Well, someone should have told him that. His men came looking for trouble and did not leave until my father was dead. Sir Richard rode in afterwards to claim the town as his.”

A growl exploded from Ulfric’s throat which made them step back in alarm but he spoke quickly and quietly to Thorvald. By the time he turned back to them he had composed himself and strode purposefully into the Hall. The servants had been busy cleaning away the remaining detritus of de Gant’s men and had swept the floors, strewing fresh rushes and removing the dogs for exercise. Ulfric looked around and nodded seeming satisfied that all was as it should be. Sitting at the table he called for ale and food to be provided for the newcomers and Hilde went to help the servants, she seemed afraid to be in his presence for too long.

Juliana was about to follow her when Ulfric called, “Juliana, come here. Sit by me and tell me about your town.”

She turned towards him and could see from his raised eyebrows and mocking grin that he was testing whether she would be obedient or defiant. She went to him and sat in the place he indicated trying to keep calm and to get the measure of this man. He was totally different from de Gant and she knew she would have to use all her wits to win his trust, before she killed him.