Fire and Ice

Chapter 3



Hilde came with the servants to bring their food but Ulfric demanded that she sit in her own chair and join them to take their meal. She looked at Juliana hesitantly after the rough handling of de Gant, not wanting to trust any man again, but Juliana nodded to her to obey. She seemed to regain some confidence and looked better than she had since the Normans had come, eventually answering Ulfric’s questions with an easy manner. She explained that her family were Danes from Jorvik or York as it was becoming known. She had married Juliana’s father in an effort to join the Saxon and Danish community. That part of Lindsey was part of the Dane geld and there had been peace in the land until the coming of the Normans. They drank wine with their meal which calmed her still and Juliana was pleased to note some colour returning to her cheeks.

Suddenly, the door burst open and de Gant stood red-faced in the doorway sending daggers of hatred with his eyes towards Ulfric.

“What’s the meaning of this, Ulfric? Since when did I give you leave to enter my Hall and make use of my servants?”

Ulfric rose to his feet and Thorvald moved to the side of the room where he could watch if de Gant drew any weapons which posed a threat to his friend.

“Sir Richard,” Ulfric began amiably, “please, come and join us here at the table. You know as well as I that the Title of Bertone was given to me by the King himself.”

“I know nothing of this. My father told me he would speak to the King and this manor would be mine.”

“Your father did speak to the King, but unfortunately for you I already held the title. It would have made little difference anyway, news of your conduct on the field of battle reached William’s ears and you were lucky to escape his wrath. Take heed, Richard, this town, this Hall, and everyone in it is mine. Now, come and sup with us if you must, if not go settle your men and horses.”

De Gant’s eyes were looking hungrily in Juliana’s direction but she pretended not to understand what they were talking about. Ulfric had used only French so far except when speaking with Sir Richard so she continued to play ignorant. De Gant moved to the table and grabbed a goblet of wine and downed it in one gulp, spilling some down his tunic. Thorvald returned to his original place and began to eat again but Hilde was ashen-faced at the return of this would-be lord and could not be cajoled into eating anything else, so made her excuses and went to her bedchamber. De Gant threw himself into her seat and finished off her food and called for more.

Juliana too had lost her appetite and decided she would go and see to her mother but Ulfric held her arm to keep her by his side. His grip was firm but she must have looked surprised because when she turned her head she was met by blue-grey eyes warning her silently to stay where she was. De Gant had seen the exchange and laughed out loud.

“You’ve met your match with that one, Ulfric. She’ll slide a blade between your ribs at the first chance she gets.”

Without thinking Juliana began to answer him in French, berating him for the vulgar swine he was, threatening to slit his throat first. As soon as she had finished her tirade she realised her mistake and sat silently with her head bowed.

“So, young Juliana, the Norman language is no stranger to you after all. You are full of surprises,” Ulfric said, laughing at de Gant’s astonishment.

She made no answer but silently cursed herself for her temper and stupidity, feeling that she had lost a superior weapon.

She lifted her eyes and straightened her back determined not to let them see how foolish she felt, but Sir Richard leaned forward hissing, “I made you a promise before I left, my lady, and tonight I will keep that promise!”

“And what promise was that, Sir Richard?” Ulfric asked in a matter-of-fact way.

Sir Richard smiled slyly, “That she would warm my bed, of course.”

Juliana, much to her horror, started trembling, which made de Gant laugh even more at her discomfort.

Ulfric leaned forward and spoke slowly but with menace, “Now listen to me, de Gant, I have told you that this town and everyone in it are mine including this girl and her mother. You will stay away from both of them during your stay here or else. Do you understand me?” He hesitated and added, “You are welcome to choose any of the servants but you will show honour to the lady Juliana and her mother.”

De Gant said nothing but flung his food back into his trencher and rose to his feet. Thorvald slid his hand to the hilt of his sword but Ulfric remained seated. Juliana wanted nothing more than to run to her chamber and bar the door but Ulfric’s hand still held her fast.

“I said - do you understand me, Sir Richard?” he repeated.

The other man looked from Juliana to Ulfric and back again but still made no response. Eventually he sat back down and attacked his food again, nodding his consent to Ulfric. This was as much as he was giving but for now it was enough.

Ulfric looked Juliana in the eye and read her turmoil. He stood with her and offered his arm to escort her from the table which she took with gratitude. It would seem he had some chivalry in his bones but that did not excuse the death of her brother or her father so she hardened her heart against him once more. Ulfric took no notice of her accusatory expression and walked her up to her room where she made to enter but was surprised when he refused to let her go.

“I think you should accept my lordship here, Juliana, before you come to harm and I don’t trust de Gant any more than you do so from now on you’ll share my room.”

Her anger was barely concealed and she could feel her eyes sparking with the fire she felt within.

“I think not, Sir.” she said indignantly. “I will not play the whore for you or any other man, so please let go of my arm.”

He pushed past her into her chamber and pulled her in roughly behind him, closing the door with a bang pushing her back against it. His strength was more than she could fight and his jaw was set with determination, but she too could be just as determined.

“You will do as I say, Juliana! Where’s your mother’s chamber?”

“Why?” she cried, wondering what his intentions were towards her mother.

“Just tell me, girl. I want to speak with her. Don’t forget I allow you to keep your position in this household because it suits me, and your father by all accounts was a good man, so I think I owe it to him, but don’t cross me too often, Juliana. Be warned.”

He was leaning over her as he spoke and she could feel his heart racing through his tunic as he fought not to lose control of his temper. She relaxed in his arms and nodded acquiescently, so he released his grip and she turned to move out of the room and he followed her. Further down the corridor she tapped on her mother’s door and called to ask her to open it, which, after a few seconds she did. Her surprise at seeing Ulfric standing beside her daughter showed in her startled expression but she moved back to allow them to enter.

Ulfric looked around the chamber which Hilde and her husband had shared. It was larger than Juliana’s and held a bigger bed covered in animal furs. This was the bed where Juliana and her brother had been born, and she dearly hoped it would not be the one in which she died.

“My lady,” Ulfric directed his words to Hilde who still looked bewildered at the intrusion. “If this is the lord’s chamber then I would ask you to take your belongings and move them into your daughter’s chamber.”

Juliana must have looked relieved at his words but he soon put paid to that. “Your daughter will move in here with me for her own protection.”

“No, my lord, Ulfric! Please don’t do this,” she pleaded, seeing her mother’s colour drain from her face.

“My mind is made up, Juliana. You can stay willingly or not, but you will stay.”

Her mother said nothing but began to pick up some of her belongings, silently warning her not to raise this man’s anger again, so Juliana started to help her gather her gowns and within half an hour they had exchanged sleeping quarters. Eventually, she closed the door to her new lord’s chamber and waited for the inevitable. He began to undress so she diverted her eyes. She turned her back so that she could see outside across the countryside towards the river and was glad that the nights were getting lighter now, so avoiding any intimacies which might occur by candlelight. She heard rather than saw him bar the door and then climb into the big bed behind her but still he said nothing. After a few minutes she dared turn around and saw that he was facing away from her and had his eyes shut. She crept towards the bed and noticed a pile of pelts on the floor beside it. She sighed with relief and was just about to remove her outer garments when he opened one eye and gave her that mocking smile which she wished sincerely she could knock off his face just once.

“Come Juliana, the nights are still chilly and you need your sleep. I’ve had a tiring day so get into your bed and stop prowling around.”

Before he could change his mind she moved away from his gaze and began to undress to her linen shift. His clothes had been folded carefully and she did the same with hers and placed them into the chest at the foot of the bed. In record time she was between the pelts and closed her eyes, hoping sleep would overtake them both and he would not change his mind during the night.

She awoke late the next morning to a tapping on the door. Her mother peeped her head inside, “Child? Are you alright? Did he hurt you?”

“No mother, as you see I slept on the floor. He didn’t touch me.” They were both incredulous but she pushed a skin pouch into Juliana’s hands, which she recognised to be the one Sara had given her.

“What’s this?” she asked, peering into its depths.

“It’s a sleeping draught. Keep it hidden until you need it. My lord Ulfric looks like a man who usually gets his way and if you think you’re in danger sprinkle some into his wine or ale. You’ll be sure he won’t bother you then.”

They both laughed at her cunning and she hid the pouch in the chest containing her gowns.

“Where is Ulfric this morning? He must have been up early?”

“He has taken his men and horses to higher ground to practice their drill. He even woke de Gant and I could hear him complaining bitterly, but he had to go too.”

At the mention of de Gant she thought of the previous night, “Did he take one of the servants to his bed?”

“Yes, but I managed to sprinkle some of the herbs into his ale and he slept peacefully enough, but not before he had given Alice a black eye for her resistance.”

“I hate that man, mother. The sooner these Normans are dead the better.”

Her mother pursed her lips and nodded but advised caution, “Be careful, daughter. They will only send more to fill their place, and I would not see you nailed to the door of this Hall for killing these men.”