Fire and Ice

Chapter 23



Juliana opened her eyes and found herself staring into the face of love. Ulfric held her close and kissed her cheek, whispering words so gentle and kind she almost swooned again. He laid her back on the bed and Ma came forward, wringing her hands together.

“Are you awake, Meg? Are you feeling better? These men say they know you.”

Juliana swallowed but tears sprang from her eyes and ran down her cheeks. She held onto Ulfric’s hand like a drowning man to a plank of wood but managed to croak, “Yes, Ma. I’m awake and feeling better, but my name is Juliana. I had completely forgotten everything until I saw Ulfric and Kyle licked my hand. I’ve been wandering in a sea of mist and fog until now.”

Thorvald and Ragn came forward and smiled their relief at finding her again. “We must get you home, Juliana. Your child is due very soon I see,” Ragn said.

“No, my dearest uncle, I’m unable to get up. I just want to stay with Ma until the child is delivered, but first, Ulfric... I want to be married. I don’t want our child to be born out of wedlock. Find a priest and bring him here so that we may be joined together before the birth.”

Ulfric blanched. He had not expected this but one look at Juliana’s face told him he had to do something quickly. His mouth drew into a large grin and he slapped Thorvald on the back saying, “Come, my brother. We have a priest to find.”

The two men left quickly and Ragn sat by his niece. “I have to tell you, Juliana - we have scoured the streets of York every day for weeks, especially since we found that Norman who abducted you.”

Juliana looked fearful, “You have de Gant? Where is he?”

“He is back at my home waiting for justice and I will see that he gets it now that we’ve found you. The young lad, Tom, described a young woman who had been beaten and was with child staying with his mother. We had heard about the child from de Gant and Ulfric was impatient to get to you so we left him with the servants.”

Ragn’s eyes glazed over as he was speaking and suddenly he stood up. “Juliana, I cannot wait for the priest. I have to get back home.”

“But... uncle, I don’t understand.”

“De Gant has been left unguarded. We brought Kyle because we believed you would know him instantly, and you did, but the servants were given no orders about de Gant. I need to get back to make sure he’s still there. I won’t rest until he has paid the price for taking and beating you.”

In a matter of moments he had gone, leaving only Juliana and Ma. Tom had returned to the smithy earlier but would be back for his meal shortly. Ma sat beside Juliana and held her hand.

“It looks like you’ve friends and family after all, Meg... I mean Juliana,” she chuckled.

“I can’t tell you how relieved I am to have my memories back. My mother... oh, my mother, I need to get back to Bertone as soon as possible. She was very unwell when I left.”

She squeezed Ma’s hand and told her the story of Sir Richard de Gant and his cruel sister. She had just finished when the door burst open and Ulfric appeared with Thorvald almost carrying the priest between them.

“This is Father Joseph, he is the priest of St Michaels and has agreed to marry us,” Ulfric gasped, breathless from his hurried search.

The old priest looked tired and a little afraid of these young virile men standing at either side of him, but he looked with his heart at Juliana and realised her predicament. “My dear, can you stand?” he asked gently.

“I’ll try, Father,” she replied, looking to Ulfric to help.

Once on her feet the priest held out his hand to Thorvald who passed a leather satchel to him. He took out a holy book and was about to start reading when Tom burst into the room. Immediately, his mother warned him to be quiet and he stared wide-eyed at the scene in front of him. The interruption made Juliana catch her breath and put a hand to her heart.

“Oh, Ulfric. We have no rings to exchange. What can we do?”

Ma stepped forward saying, “Me and my ‘usband had no rings when we married. We exchanged coins like in the old days. Yer can borrow them if yer want.”

Juliana looked at Ulfric and he nodded his agreement so Ma went to a small chest and took out two coins. Juliana was radiant as she said her vows and even Ulfric did not look so fierce when he placed a silk ribbon around her neck holding a silver coin.

The couple were blessed and Ulfric smiled into Juliana’s eyes and placed a long kiss on her lips accompanied by loud applause and laughter from Thorvald, Ma and Tom.

“This isn’t the wedding I had hoped for, Ulfric. I’ve had no purification for you and no sword to offer you in return for yours.”

The tradition of exchanging swords was an old one and still practised in some places, even though Christianity had been the main religion for many years.

“Here, borrow mine,” Thorvald offered, seeing the disappointment on Juliana’s face.

In time-honoured tradition the couple exchanged swords. Ulfric looked serious as he offered her his sword saying, “I give you this sword to save for our sons to have and to use.”

Juliana accepted the sword and offered Thorvald’s, saying, “To keep us safe, you must bear a blade. With this sword keep safe our home.”

“Hello, wife,” he whispered.

“Hello, husband,” she returned.

The couple were blessed and Ulfric smiled into Juliana’s eyes and placed a long kiss on her lips accompanied by loud applause and laughter from Thorvald, Ma and Tom.

“We need to celebrate now, Ulfric. Here, Tom, go and get us some ale and food, enough for all of us including the priest.” Thorvald dropped some coins into Tom’s hands and he ran off grinning happily.

An hour later and they were tucking into bread, cheese, meat, sweetmeats and drinking the ale and wine which Tom had fetched from the local inns. Lines of delivery boys had followed Tom back to the house in Haymongergate and Ma was wide-eyed at the amount of food consumed.

They were enjoying their feast when a loud rap came at the door. It was a servant from Ragn’s house bearing a letter for Thorvald. He read it and bellowed as many Norse curses as he could remember. Ulfric was on his feet and grabbed the letter to read. Ragn had written to tell them of de Gant’s escape and that although the horse had returned, the Norman had not. Both Ulfric and Thorvald looked at each other and Thorvald said, “I will go, you stay with your bride and child, they may need your protection.”

Thorvald had consumed lots of ale and food but he was instantly sober as he set off into the night with the servant. Ulfric explained what had happened to the rest of the assembly and he began to pace the floor, feeling helpless but unwilling to leave Juliana who clung on to his arm as she doubled up in pain.

“Are you unwell, Juliana?” Ulfric asked nervously.

“I think my time is here, Ulfric. Please help me to the bed.”

Carefully, Ulfric picked up his bride and placed her on the bed at the back of the room. He watched Juliana’s face contort with pain and felt every bit of the agony she did. Ma came bustling over and pushed him away as gently as she could. “This is no place for men; you must go outside while I tend her. Take Father Joseph with you.”

Ulfric, Tom and Father Joseph stepped out into the cool night, wondering what they should do. “Come with me, and you can stay at the church until the child is born,” the priest offered.

“No, Father. I must be here in case I’m needed, especially if de Gant followed us here.”

“As you wish, my lord, but I doubt you’ll be welcome inside the house. Tom can come with me instead.”

Tom shrugged his shoulders and followed the priest back to St Michael’s church.

By the time it was dawn Ulfric was tired of sitting outside listening to Juliana’s moans and groans. He was tortured by the sounds coming from inside the house and vowed he would never put Juliana through such pain again. Finding the sounds unbearable he wandered up and down the street kicking at stones and cursing himself for his selfishness. When the air was pierced by a scream, he ran back to the door and entered whether they wanted him to or not. He was in time to see Ma place a squirming bundle into a cloth and hand it to Juliana. She looked up and saw Ulfric waiting and beckoned him over.

“You have a beautiful daughter, come and say hello.”

Ulfric was totally unprepared for the rush of emotion he felt when he stared into the face of his first-born daughter. She had the same fiery red hair as her mother with a cupid’s bow for lips. She was the most beautiful baby he had ever seen and for the first time since childhood he felt his eyes fill with tears.

Juliana was watching him and placed her hand in his. Ma left them to make up the fire and heat some water to wash the child with.

“Isn’t she beautiful, Ulfric?” Juliana whispered.

Ulfric could only nod as his throat was constricted with threatening tears.

“Here, you hold her while I get comfortable and Ma is ready to wash her.”

Gently the child was lifted into her father’s arms and he fell in love for only the second time in his life. Juliana and... “What will we name her?” he croaked.

“Kristen, I think. Do you like that name?” Juliana asked sleepily.

“Yes, I like that. It is a strong name but gentle and suitable for a baby girl.”

“I know you wanted a boy, Ulfric – all men do, but maybe next time we will have a son for you.”

“You want more children?” he asked incredulously. “You’d go through that pain again?”

“I want a big family with sons and daughters running around the Hall, bringing it to life again. I can’t wait to see my mother. When do you think we can leave?”

“One thing at a time, Juliana, let’s get you and this little one washed first and you can catch up with your sleep, then we’ll think about going home.”

Juliana fell asleep as soon as her clean baby was placed in her arms again.