HI! Some of you may have seen this story on Wordpress but for those who don't use it, I wanted to bring this story here. It will be about 5 parts long, and there are three parts already written. This story is a little darker than my others, it's a little different in the use of the language. It's set in basic medieval times but I didn't want to use all the medieval language so I tried to make it sound authentic without that. If you read the summary, you saw the warnings for this story- and that's basically because Eric has a horrific backstory for this and he talks about it. So there are not scenes depicting the warnings but it is mentioned. That said, things will start off hard for these two but get better and I will leave them happy, don't worry! :) Thanks for reading!

He was brought before her—a slave, but the most beautiful one anybody had ever seen. He stood defiantly, looking her straight in the eyes. He could not be broken, they told her. Choose another. But she had insisted. He was tall—taller than any of the guards—and lean, with sparkling deep blue eyes and long wheat colored hair. He wore a scrap of cloth to make him decent but that material did nothing to hide the rest of his strong body. He was covered in dirt, caked mud and sweat. He had the strength of five men and they worked him just as hard. His suntanned skin bore the scars of his open defiance of his captors.

She walked around his body as if inspecting an animal for purchase. His head swiveled and he followed her with his piercing gaze. She paid him no mind as she looked him over. She was close enough to feel the heat of his body, see the sweat roll down his skin. They must have fetched him straight from the quarry. She watched his stomach move in and out with his deep breaths. He was not frightened to be brought before her. He stood tall and proud, relaxed, as she decided whether to accept him or not.

She lifted his cloth and peered under it. He growled as a small smile passed her lips. His guard lifted the whip menacingly.

"Bathe him. He will do," she called.

"But, my lady, he is a savage. You should choose another that will come willingly. I'm afraid he might—"

"Silence!" the princess screamed. "I said bathe him! If you will not follow my orders, there are many others who would love to run their hands along his body to clean him!"

The slave snarled in disgust at the prospect of being washed my men such as the one before him.

"Draw his bath and let him clean himself," she ordered. "I'm sure he knows how?" She looked at the slave who stared right back at her. "Answer me, slave, or do you want William to put his hands all over you? Perhaps you like that sort of thing?" She smirked at him as he reluctantly opened his mouth.

"I can bathe myself," he bit out, his hands clenched at his sides to keep from striking out.

"Very good. See that you wash all that hair. I won't have you stinking up my bed." With one last look she turned on her heel and walked quickly out of the room.

The captive was led to a bathroom bigger than his entire tent. He was made to stand while his bath was filled and then watched over as he cleaned and shaved himself. He was given a linen to dry off with and then told to sit to have his hair and body plied with sweet smelling oils. He curled his lip as the princess's manservant, William, came forward to rub the oils into his skin.

"I can do it myself!" he barked, snatching the small vial from William.

"Watch yourself, slave! You may be big but I could have your guard in here with one word and we shall see then who will be compliant."

"You are a coward," the slave mumbled, uncaringly dousing his head with the oils.

"And you are a pig," spat William. "The princess will have her way with you and then you will be tossed back out amongst the mongrels where you belong."

"Jealousy does not suit you," he smirked.

The slave smirked at him and William was seething in anger. How dare someone so beneath him behave in such a way! He was just about to call to the guard when the face of a pretty young girl appeared in the doorway. William immediately fixed his face into a smile.

"The princess is tired of waiting. Is he not ready yet?" She eyed the beautiful slave, whose blue eyes narrowed at her. Her breath hitched as he brought his arms up to tie his hair back with a bit of silk left for him. His biceps bulged with his efforts and his body shone from the oils. She eyed his cock, even lying flaccid against his thigh it was impressive. He was truly magnificent and Jessica knew why her mistress had chosen him despite his savage reputation.

"He is ready," said William, sidling up to Jessica.

Jessica moved from him in disgust. His interest in her was unreturned. She knew him to be uncaring in whom he bedded, often taking unwilling slave boys. He would not be getting close to her, of this she was sure. "So bring him to the princess!"

The slave was given a clean pair of loose linen pants, his torso left purposely bare, and led to the princess' bedchambers.

"Leave us!" she ordered as soon as he was in her room.

"But Princess, he might harm you. Surely you don't mean to be alone with this animal!"

Princess Brigant whirled on the unsuspecting William, causing him to lose his balance and stumble against the wall. The slave expelled a short hard breath, suppressing the laughter in his belly. William cut his eyes to the brute and then looked back at his princess.

"I only wish to keep you safe, my lady! I could stay and watch…Make sure you are unharmed by this swine."

"I said leave us! I will be fine! You think I am so weak that I cannot defend myself?"

"No, Princess," said William, hanging his head as he shuffled to the door. "His guard will be right outside."

As soon as he was gone, Princess Brigant took a deep breath and bounced onto her bed with an undignified huff.

"Jackass," she mumbled. She looked up at the man standing near the door. His eyes were trained on hers. He seemed relaxed but guarded, as if at the first sign of danger he would stand ready but until then he could not be bothered to care.

Getting up, she walked up to him and stopped a foot from his massive chest. "What's your name?" she asked softly.

He peered down into her face, wondering if she meant to lull him into behavior that would get him beaten. What he saw in her eyes changed his mind and he found himself answering her question without thought. "I am Eiríkr of Öland," he said, "But your people call me Eric."

She smiled. "Eiríkr ," she said, purposely calling him by the name of his land. "And are you a savage as William says?"

He regarded her carefully as he decided on his answer. In the end, he went with the truth. "Yes."

The princess laughed. "Oh, good!" she said, patting his arm. "I am frightfully bored. Shall we cause some trouble?"

"Princess?" he exclaimed, startled by her words. He furrowed his brow at her and looked at the spot on his arm that she had touched. Nobody had touched him in such a kind way since his mother so long ago. When she took his hand and led him to her bed, he was even more bewildered. "Why have you sent for me and had me bathed? I had thought you meant to…I thought I was meant to pleasure you…"

The princess patted the bed beside her and waited for the giant to sit down next to her. "I will tell you a secret, shall I? I would never take a man against his will. Wait!" she said, when Eiríkr opened his mouth to speak. "You will say that most would be willing. That pleasuring a princess is better than working the mine or the quarry…but is it really their will if they are choosing the lesser of two evils? No, when I give myself to a man, he will want me just as much as I want him."

"So you have never…? And when you have these men brought to you—for we have all heard the stories—you do not bed them?" He looked at her with surprise on his handsome face.

"I am untouched. I do not need to force a man, however subtle the coercion may be. What I do need, is friendship. And a purpose. Shall I tell you my purpose?" she whispered, leaning in close to her new potential friend.

"Tell me," he said. He found himself leaning in as well, until their faces were inches apart. He took a breath in and swallowed hard. She smelled better than anything he had smelled in years and he felt his body's stirring response to her proximity.

"I am going to get you all out of here."

Eiríkr leaned quickly back and stared, open mouthed, at the princess.

"Surely you are joking, Princess. How do you mean to do that?"

"Sookie."

"Sookie?"

"My name. Sookie Brigant at your service." She smiled again and this time he could not tear his eyes away from her full pink lips. "And I mean to do it with your help. I have a friend in each camp. By this time, our plans have been spread among the men of all but one camp—yours. Will you help, Eiríkr of Öland?"

"I…of course, I will help. You mean to let us all go freely? To let us go home?" His voice was strong and steady but his eyes betrayed his emotion at the prospect of home. It had been such a long time since he had seen the land of his youth.

"I plan to help you fight for your freedom. I am simply the organizer. You will have to fight hard and prepare yourselves for battle. The men will need a leader, a champion. I know your reputation as one who will not be pushed around. Will you do it?"

"Yes. I will make sure all those in my camp are ready."

"Good. Come, let us make ourselves comfortable in front of the fire and I will have food brought in for us while we discuss our plans." She led him to a large plush chair in front of a roaring fire and he sat swiftly, warming his tired body by the flames. The hot bath was the first such luxury he had enjoyed in many years. He was used to being cold. The meager amounts of wood they got for fires were barely enough to cook the food scraps they were thrown nightly. Still, it never got as cold as his homeland. Even in the dead of winter, such as now, a man would not freeze to death wearing only a scrap of clothing. And during the day when the sun was high, a man could still work up a sweat if he toiled outside.

Sookie sent for a huge lavish meal and as they ate, they went carefully over every aspect of the plan. Things needed to move quickly as the feast of Maenad was in one month's time and there was still much to prepare. It was during the feast, when the guards would be distracted by festivities and drink, that Sookie's plan would be carried out.

"Thank you, Sookie. I have never met someone such as you. You are brave and kind and good. Why would you want to help barbarians like ourselves?"

"You are not barbarians. You are simply men. Some of you were taken so young that you do not even remember your mothers or your brothers. Some are so far from home, they have no hope of seeing it again, some are so old they will surely die before their journey's end. Just because my grandfather's army has captured you does not mean I agree with it. He only wants to become rich. You were not taken in a war—there is honor in that at least. You were taken by surprise raids, snatched up as children or while in small unarmed groups. And for what? So Grandfather can use your strong backs to mine for precious metals and gemstones! The King is a coward and a greedy monster!"

"But he is your grandfather. You do not wish him to be wealthy? Surely his money will be yours one day."

"I do not want it!" she spat. "Money earned by the suffering of men is not money I will ever wish for!"

Eiríkr looked upon the princess with respect. It would be easy for her to live her life among the royals, flitting from one activity to the next but she had a sense of adventure and a moral compass that he found honorable.

"You are a wise and courageous person. I hope to serve you well, my princess."

"Eiríkr," she said softly, reaching out to lay her hand on top of his. "You do not serve me. You will serve no one again if our plan is successful."

"Thank you, Sookie," he said, bowing his golden head.

"Now," said Sookie with an impish grin, "should we go and fuck?"

Eiríkr coughed loudly, needing a drink of his wine before he could talk. "I thought you said that was simply a ruse."

"Yes, but they are expecting to hear it so we must put on a show. That little rat William listens at the door, I am sure of it."

He followed behind Sookie as she led him over to the bed and he could not help looking at her ample backside as she walked. He felt that same stirring in his loins as before when he had smelled her.

Sookie crawled onto the bed and he had to clamp his mouth firmly shut so that she did not hear the vulgar noise that slid from his throat. She looked back and saw him frozen there. "Come on then! Don't be shy!" She flopped onto her back and patted the bed next to her. She winked and then said loudly, "Make me scream in pleasure…if you can!"

Eiríkr threw his head back and laughed. It was a beautiful sound but it made Sookie's heart ache. She was sure he did not have enough reasons to laugh heartily in his life.

"Do not doubt my prowess, young Princess!" he declared, "for when I am finished with you, you will be able to make not a sound!"

Sookie raised her eyebrows as he came closer to the bed. He smiled sheepishly and Sookie saw him looking unsure for the first time since she had laid eyes on him. She smiled warmly at him. "Good," she whispered, casting her eyes down to the bed where she wanted him to lie. He was hesitating for a reason she did not understand.

Seeing that she wished him to lie next to her, he sat with one leg bent on the bed and lowered himself until he was lying down quite near the edge of the bed. He felt ill at ease and was startled when she grabbed his hand. He looked over and saw the playful mirth in her eyes and could not help his smile.

Sookie motioned for him to continue but he was unsure of what she wanted so he remained quiet. When she tipped back her head and moaned loudly, he felt a ripple of pleasure travel the length of his spine, lodging securely in his groin. He knew the stirring in his pants would soon be visible and panicked slightly at the thought.

Sookie noticed the disquiet of his countenance and frowned. She brought her lips to his ear and whispered, "You do not have to make noise. Some men are quiet until the very end, are they not?"

"It has always been quiet for me," he mumbled too low for the princess to hear, though he nodded to show his understanding.

Sookie stood on top of the bed and continued to moan loudly, sometimes knocking the wall above the bed with her fist. Eiríkr was enamored with the show she was putting on and had forgotten to hide his excitement. When Sookie looked down his body and blushed furiously, he looked as well, and was immediately overcome with remorse.

He sat up quickly. "I am sorry," he whispered. He stood and paced across the room, ashamed of his lack of restraint. Sookie got quickly up to follow him and stood behind him watching his muscled back. "Sometimes I cannot help—"

"Of course, Eiríkr. Do not be ashamed. Come back to the bed. I will stop the noises." She grinned, though he did not see it. "We can jump!" she said excitedly.

Eiríkr turned around. "Jump?"

"To make the bed creak and groan." Her eyes were alight with joy. These clandestine meetings were the only happiness in her life; she did not have much cause for laughter either. She grabbed his hand again and led him back to the bed, pulling him to stand on it with her.

He stood still as she jumped in a circle all around him. She would call out a word or two— "Yes!" or "That's it!"—every few jumps. Eiríkr laughed again. It seemed she had a knack for turning his mood around.

On one pass behind him, Sookie threw herself onto his back, clutching him around the middle. She felt carefree and silly and he was definitely strong enough to hold her.

When he felt her land on his back, her hand grazing his bare stomach, he flinched and threw her off. She landed on the bed with a grunt, surprised by his forceful move.

He immediately put his hand out to help her up. "Please forgive me. I was…you startled me. Are you hurt?"

Sookie's brow furrowed as she looked up at him. His face was a mask of shame and hurt and she did not feel she knew him well enough to ask him what he was feeling. She was sure they both had secrets to keep. "No bother!" she said cheerfully. She stood and began to jump again, this time with less joy at her games.

Eiríkr sat against the headboard and looked up at her, thankful that she did not press him. He smiled at her childlike glee but his eyes were quickly captured by the bouncing of her body as she jumped. Her body was not childlike in any way and he appreciated the way her breasts heaved up and down with her movements. He pulled his knees up so as not to put his excitement on display again and tried to think of something to douse the fire in his belly.

He soon thought of something that was like a frigid bucket of water to his loins.

Sookie was grinning as she jumped but as she regarded her companion's face, she stopped her feet and flounced down at his side, taking his hand into hers.

"Do you wish to leave?" she asked. Sookie would not hold him against his will. If he wanted to go back to his camp, she would let him.

"No," he answered slowly.

"Are you hungry? Would you like more wine?"

"No. I am fine." He looked at her with a sad smile.

"You don't look fine. Something bothers you."

"It is nothing. I am not used to someone caring how I am feeling. Truly, I am fine."

"Okay," she said. She felt a deep ache in her chest for this lonely man. In truth, Sookie had no one who really cared how she was feeling either except for those who were paid to—her servants—and her grandfather, who only pretended to care about her wishes when in actuality he just wanted to use her for his own gains. She looked at Eiríkr's bronze skin next to her pale arm, felt his calloused hand in her soft one—they were so different yet much the same.

They looked upon each other in silence for a moment before Sookie dropped her eyes away from the virtual stranger that she felt herself deeply drawn to.

"You can sleep here if you wish." She knew if she sent him back, he would face a cold tent and a small pallet on the hard ground. She felt a strong need to keep him close to her. She knew she would be forced to send him back to his camp eventually but she wanted him to stay in comfort for a little while longer.

"It is fine. You can send me back." He wanted to stay, of course he wanted to stay, but he knew this luxury could not last. Rather than get used to something he might miss, he would leave and resume his life among the other men.

"Will you stay for me then?" the princess asked softly.

"For you?" he asked.

"I am always alone, Eiríkr. Would you stay and sleep next to me for a while? They will think we fell asleep after vigorous love making and will leave me be for a few hours. Will you rest beside me?"

"I will." He smiled at Sookie and she smiled back and they sat simply smiling at one another for a long time.

"I must take off my dress," Sookie whispered after a while.

He swallowed. "Why?" His eyes were large with wonder.

"Because, no doubt William will come in as we sleep and if he sees me in my full dress, he will wonder why. I suspect he spies for the King, the slimy toad! I will still be covered if you are worried. I will keep my under-tunic on."

"I am not worried," he murmured, looking into the princess's eyes.

She swallowed this time. "Good," she said. She got up and turned from him but she was still aware of his eyes on her as she removed her rich blue dress, unlacing the bodice before slipping it off. She dared not look into his eyes as she climbed back into the bed beside him.

Had she looked, she would have seen the raw and passionate look in his eye as he watched her breasts sway. She would have seen his pupils invade the blue of his irises until his eyes were dark with desire. And she would have seen him shake his head to clear his thoughts because he knew she did not mean to arouse him. He understood why he was there and it was not for sex.

Sookie laid her head down beside Eiríkr and he scooted down on the bed to lie next to her. They lay side by side in silence before Sookie rolled over to face him.

"Eiríkr," she said softly, not wishing to disturb him if he were already sleeping.

He rolled so that they were face to face.

"Sookie," he whispered. His eyes were soft, his face relaxed, and she did not fight her urge to reach out and touch him. His lips parted in a sigh as she brought her hand to his cheek. He could not remember the last time someone touched him so tenderly. She stroked light fingertips down the side of his face and over his sweet bow mouth. He closed his eyes as her fingers gently traced his eyebrows. He moved his hand to hover over her, not sure what they were doing, not sure where would be appropriate to let it rest. He finally settled it on her waist, draping his long fingers softly over the small of her back.

"You are so beautiful," she breathed, looking into his blue eyes.

Such a look came over his face, such pain filled his eyes that Sookie nearly gasped. His brow knitted as grief spilled over his features. Sadness soon gave way to anger before he seemed to notice the way Sookie was looking at him. He rolled to his back once more to avoid her gaze.

"I did not mean to cause you pain, Eiríkr," she whispered. She tried to touch his arm but he flinched away.

"It is not you, Princess. Please think nothing more of it." His voice was gentle but there was a tiredness to his words that made Sookie's chest ache. She was trying to be kind to him and what she said had painted his face with sadness instead.

Rather than continue speaking and risk hurting him further, Sookie moved tentatively toward him, wanting in actuality to throw her arms around him and pull him protectively into her bosom. She took his hand again, this being the only form of comfort he seemed to accept, and laid her cheek slowly against his shoulder.

Eiríkr shifted and put his arm around her so that her head rested on his bicep. He bent his neck and buried his nose in her sweet-smelling hair, letting his eyes drift closed while he breathed deeply. And then he slept, and his slumber was deep and carefree. Night noises did not plague him, fear of being woken for vile reasons did not prevent a tranquil rest. He slept peacefully for the first time since he was forcibly removed from his homeland so long ago.

Sookie woke first and sat up, watching the peace on Eiríkr's face as he slept. He was so beautiful, even if he did not want to be told as much. She reached out her hand to remove the silk tie from his hair so that it would fall loose around his shoulders. As soon as she touched him, though, she found herself suddenly on her back with a wild-eyed man on top of her, softly growling. She looked into the glazed eyes of a savage, his lips pulled back into a feral snarl.

"Eiríkr!" she shrieked, pushing at his chest.

The door to her bedroom burst open and William charged in with a palace guard, sword and whip at the ready.

"I heard you scream, Princess! What has he done?"

"William, leave!" she shouted, never removing her eyes from Eiríkr's face.

"I will not leave you in this state," cried William, who took in the scene before him. The brutish slave was on top of his princess, his face twisted into rage as he looked toward William and the guard.

"I am fine. He won't hurt me. Leave! Now!"

Eiríkr, realizing that he needed to calm himself or face the guard and his whip, climbed slowly off the princess and sat down on the edge of the bed, all the while keeping his eyes glued to William's, challenging him to make his move.

"You see? He will not hurt me. Now go before I have you thrown into the stocks for disobeying your princess!"

William puffed up his chest and looked briefly at the princess before lowering his eyes to the floor. "As you wish," he said. He turned to walk away and then turned back before he reached the door. "I'm sure the king would like to know that one of his slaves was misbehaving with his granddaughter."

Sookie simply stared at him, not playing into his idle threat. Once he was gone, Sookie crawled to sit by Eiríkr's side. "He will not say anything. He is all smoke and no fire. A blathering idiot who tries to curry favor with anyone who has power."

Eiríkr remained silent at her side and Sookie ran her hand down his arm soothingly, which he allowed.

"I will go now," he said quietly. "I regret having scared you. It was not my intention."

"What happened?"

He turned to look at her then. He wore the same expression of shame and hurt as before. "When I am woken," he said quietly, before taking a slow breath to figure out his words, "it is never for anything good."

"I see," she said, although she really did not. She did not understand the life he led, the things he'd seen, the things he'd done—the things done to him. She could not understand, she was a princess. But she did understand about being a captive, about the unhappiness that came with living a life not of your dreams. She knew the longing for something more and the fire for a different course in life.

They sat silently for a few more minutes, Sookie stroking his arm soothingly, until Eiríkr stood. "Send me back," he said. He turned around, his eyes burning with some unnamed emotion, "Please." He could not bear the feeling, the hope, the companionship. He could not let it sink into his bones and make him weak.

Princess Brigant looked up into his eyes for the final time this night. She saw the light flicker out, cold detachment replacing the warmth in his eyes. "Very well," she sighed.

What did you think? Gonna keep reading? :)