[center][h2][color=yellow]EATING WITH THE ENEMY[/color][/h2][/center]

Seeing the familiar view of the sun setting, it was only a matter of time til one would have to stop to make camp for the night. This was the only choice that was to be made at this particular time seeing that traveling in the dark was not always worth the trip unless one was in a hurry. 

Vestar held onto the reins of the beast he was riding on. Hanging on the side were two dead hares that Vestar caught which he tied them by rope. Nothing really eventful transpired besides the purchasing of this horse which Vestar used stolen coin to do so.

Living in the land of England was a little difficult at times but there was nothing that Vestar believed he couldn't handle. It wasn't long before crossing into Northumbria that Vestar had to stop and make camp. Now that he was in a wooded area, Vestar tied his horse while gathering material to make a fire, brought about sparks to start the fire and began the skinning of the two hares to cook. Vestar started to think about the time he was kicked off the side of the mountain.

Bruised, bloody, betrayed, enraged, but yet...heartbroken. Vestar reminisced about how he, after a few bumps on the way down, held onto the side of the mountain afraid but unwilling to give in to death. After his climb back to the cliff, the raid was done, his father was gone, and Vestar was  hurt and weakened to go as he was...so pitiful...no wonder his father was able to get the best of him.

Back to the present, Vestar never knew why his father betrayed him but he hated the feeling of being vulnerable [color=f7976a] Odin's cock....[/color] He growled and sighed and continued pulling off the skin of the hare roughly.

Marewen hadn't eaten in more than a day except for a small hunk of bread a child had given her. The boy's eyes had nearly bulged out of his eye sockets when she'd given him a gold coin for it, but that was more than a day ago. Since then she'd had to hide from soldiers on foot or on horseback twice. 

The sun was going down and she panicked when she heard horses hoofs and laughter on the main road. She peaked out from the bushes in the woods and she ducked down when she recognized one of the soldiers. Bastien was her father's right hand man and would not hesitate to force her back to become Edgar's wife. That thought drove her further into the woods as quickly as she could go. It made her run almost recklessly headlong into a pair of vikings.  She skidded to a stop just in time to avoid the fire they had burning but not in time to divert them from her presence.

[color=f7941d]"Well what have we here?"[/color] The bigger man chuckled and stood up and grabbed her around the waist and pulled her roughly against his body. Marewen struggled and kicked to no avail. Her fear nearly paralyzed her when the second man touched her face. When he attempted to touch her chest she slapped him across the face. He reared up and slapped her back.

Marewen was knocked dizzy by the man's meaty hand. When she woke up her face hurt and she was laying on the ground between the two men as they ate. One of the men had a boot on her back so he would know if she woke up. Panic set in and she stamped it down so she could think to escape. The bigger man had picked up her bag and she heard the men go silent as they stared at the contents of it. 

[color=orange]"Are you fuckin' kidding me? She is the daughter of King Phillip!" [/color]Their laughter became even more insidious.[color=brown] "We could get a lot of money for her."[/color]

The other man was not so trusting.[color=orange] "....OR she could have stolen it." [/color]

[color=brown]"Wake her up and we'll find out."[/color] Marewen laid there like she was still out cold. When the man rolled her over to her back and believed that she was still out he sat back annoyed. Marewen lay there until both men were too inebriated to do anything and then she grabbed her bag and slipped away quietly. 

Running through the woods in the dark did nothing to assuage her fear. It was more than an hour in the dark when she fell.

The skinned hares were currently being roasted. Sitting back against a tree, sharpening his axe, Vestar thought about venturing the next day to find more coin and maybe anything else of value. It have been a while since the last time he's raided with a hired group or a group that had a mutual target. 

The last bit of coin he had was to get the horse he's using now. Maybe a woman to entertain him for a bit. Vestar stopped sharpening his axe before hearing a little noise in the darkness which caused him to stand with his axe at hand, ready to attack just in case. 

Was it possibly someone spying on him or perhaps a carnivorous beast? Who or whatever it was, if they were there to cause trouble for the viking, he was going to be sure to walk out of the confrontation alive and in one piece. 

Watching quietly, Vestar caught sight of glowing eyes not far from his camp as whatever it was started to quietly come close. Glaring, Vestar silently witnessed a large doe slowly walk over to his camp to sniff him, the horse, and the hares that were cooking. It then stared at Vestar before making it's way to the small patch of grass to eat. 

This left Vestar at ease, lowering his axe. If he was to kill the doe, that could provide him for the next few days but...he didn't go for it. 

With this little excitement out of the way, Vestar went to grab his water sack only to realize the sack was empty. [color=f7976a] Fuck...I knew I should've stopped at that small creek earlier...[/color] he cursed and groaned before lighting himself a torch. 

He remembered the creek and which direction it was heading so not to backtrack too much. he looked back at the horse. [color=f7976a] I'll be back soon...be good...[/color] he told the beast before heading off into the darkness. 

Marewen had fallen over a log and rolled down a hill into a small creek. She lay there a moment and pushed herself onto her back. She adjusted to the darkness and she could only see the barest of shapes in the dark. There wasn't much of a moon out. Getting slowly to her feet she felt the scratches and cuts she had gotten as they protested her movements. Her hair had turned into a large mess of knots. She was positive she looked a fright. She had always been only a little vain, not like the other girls in the castle. Her hands moved to pull her hair out of her face. It was then that she heard footsteps. She stopped moving and realized a little too late that her dress had caught on something and when she tried to move she tripped over it and fell into a tree. [color=bc8dbf]"Hrmpf!"[/color] She cringed hoping that the man wouldn't see her.

Walking his way through the day, he figured the creek shouldn't be too far away from him. With his torch in hand and looking out into the darkness but also listening carefully for anyone or anything, Vestar kept his axe at hand just in case he needed to defend himself. 

Something caught his attention when he stopped for a moment thinking he heard someone. Something moved from out the corner of his eyes, causing him to look over for a moment. He already witnessed a doe earlier. What else could possibly be out here? 

Vestar was definitely curious. If it was an animal, he'd either let it go or kill it if it was to bare its fangs at him. The closer he got, the more he was starting to make out that this had to be a person. Especially the posture they were in. [color=f7976a]Hey! Whoever you are in the dark, I'm coming your way....I advise you not to attack me if you're smart.[/color] He announced coming over, noticing the woman. He pointed his torch towards the stranger to get a closer look while boldly coming closer until they were about 10 feet from one another. [color=f7976a] Who the fuck are you? And what the fuck are you doing here?[/color] He asked her, looking her up and down.

Marewen had her cloak up covering most of her face but she could see the viking in front of her. She used the torchlight to her advantage and glanced around. Her eyes set on the man's physique. His arms were thick with muscles. He could hurt her badly. She had to get away from him. In her fear she reached down and tore at her dress where it was stuck and she ended up ripping the hem badly.  Marewen stepped backwards slowly trying to leave. She silently prayed she wouldn't fall over something again.

[color=bc8dbf]"Please, I-I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't be here."[/color] Marewen turned and ran into a low hanging branch that nearly took her head off. 

Studying her while the torchlight gave him a better view, he deduced that she must be some helpless little whore. She's small, she looked terrified, and obviously looked as if she never traveled in the woods before. The moment she tore her dress at the hem, slowly backing up so to create distance between them, Vestar knew it....he knew she was going to make a run for it but from what he witnessed, he couldn't just let her go. 

[color=f7976a] Hey....I'm telling you now, girl. Don't you even think about-[/color] Before he could finish, he watched her turn to run but he didn't make a dash after her because of the surroundings he memorized when he reached her. Watching her run into the low branch, causing him to run after her to to grab her from trying to get away and hurting herself even more. Rushing to her, Vestar spoke [color=f7976a]Foolish cunt, I told you not to run![/color] he said to her going to grab her. 

Marewen felt his arms tighten around her and she remembered the other two vikings and she didn't scream even though she wanted to. Her mind raced. How could she get him to leave her alone. 

Vestar grabbed onto her after her clumsy moment. [color=f7976a] Can you walk? I'm taking you back to my camp.[/color] he declared to her. 

The viking had let her loose around the waist but not her wrist. Marewen was stubborn and dug her heels into the dirt and she ended up skidding. Finally she let herself drop as if dead. She hoped he would give up and leave her. 

While first pulling her along, Vestar could feel the shift in her weight and looked back. With an aggravated growl, he stopped and looked at her. [color=f7976a]Okay then. If you want to behave like a child, I'm going to treat you like one.[/color] Still holding her wrist, he used his strength to pull the rest of her body and scooped her off the ground to carry her like that of a neanderthal. From there, he started to walk back to his camp so to figure out what this girl was doing in the middle of the woods as dark as it is.

Marewen shrieked and started pounding on his back. She was very opposed to his hand on her legs just under her rear end. In the dark he wouldn't know her embarrassment at her position. If he recognized her what would he do? She stopped hitting him and decided to hope for an opportunity to get away. After a few minutes they entered his camp.  After he set her down she looked around and kept her eyes on him. She put her hands over the flames to warm up. It had gotten cold these last couple of nights and she was hoping for some warmth. She kept her cloak up as she peered at him.

[color=bc8dbf]"Who are you Viking?"[/color] She'd never heard anything good about them. Her father painted them as murderers and villains. She rubbed her wrists.

Right after setting her down, Vestar noticed he never got his water. It was okay though. He still had a sack of wine. He would just water the next morning if this girl didn't just run off by that time. He was quiet the whole time during his travel to the camp and even after they've made it. Moving the cooked meat, he looked over at the woman while she got closer to the flame to warm up. 

Turning to grab onto dinner, Vestar looked out the corner of his eyes when she asked him a question. He didn't answer her at first. He just turned his head to look into her eyes and then her body and turned back around to pull the piece of cooked meat so to give it a little taste to be sure it cooked thoroughly. 

Who was this girl and why would she be out here in the first place? Most women would never come through the woods like that unless they were accompanied by someone or running away from something. Vestar didn't really care about her backstory right now. He was hungry and nothing else mattered. 

Marewen sat like the proper lady that she had been raised to be. Unsure of what to say to him she asked him.[color=bc8dbf] "What are you planning to do with me? My father says Vikings are unholy killers."[/color] She was trying to rub the dirt off of her hands and her shoes.

Vestar gave a heavy sigh and picked up the other stick with the other hare on it and walked over with his own dinner towards her to take a seat. [color=f7976a] I guess you won't be shutting up anytime soon...[/color] he commented while holding out dinner for her to take. [color=f7976a] I don't give a Fenrir shit about what your father says. and for my plans...I have none...but what I want to know....is what the hell are you doing out here? Judging by the way you look and speak, it's like that of royalty or privileged lifestyle. Who are you?[/color]

Fear shone on her face and she pulled her cloak as far down over her face as she could. She had a chance if no one recognized her.  Choosing her words carefully she spoke. [color=bc8dbf]"My name is not important. I'm no one. I just need to get as far away from North Umbria as I can. Can you help me with that?"[/color]

The one side of her face hurt from the harsh treatment she had gotten earlier from the other vikings. She put her hand up to it and could feel the heat from the inflammation. Maybe if it was swollen enough it would help her disguise herself she thought. Her stomach rumbled loudly and she looked longingly at the food he was holding out to her. She reached out and took it daintily from him and she ate as if she was trying not to get her hands dirty. Marewen nearly cried out in surprise at how good the rabbit was. Once finished with it she tossed the bone into the bushes and pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her face and fingers on it. She felt his eyes on her.[color=bc8dbf] "What?"[/color]

He could see she was trying to hide herself. If that was not a hint that she's someone important, then he's a fool. [color=f7976a] Get away? Why?[/color] he asked. he was not agreeing with anything unless she gave him answers. At least he'd know what he's dealing with if he was to agree to help her. 

He continued to study her for a moment after she took the food and started eating. he could see the red of her cheek. Looked a bit swollen. Someone recently attacked her and if he had to guess, it was more than likely no more than a few hours ago. Besides that, he stared at her body for a while before she responded to it. He looked at her face, which she still tried to keep covered. [color=f7976a] You say your name is not important and that you're no one but everything you continue to do helps me further my suspicion and confirm that you could be of royalty. Your body....even though it's petite and tempting to ravage, you're weak looking. I bet you have never worked a day in your life. I doubt that you're a whore who gives her body. Are you running away from family?[/color]

At his words she realized he was much more observant than she had first realized. At home the attention she got was usually on her appearance and manners. She was not used to being scrutinized so. She inhaled deeply as if insulted when he declared her weak and not a whore.

[color=bc8dbf]"Well, you are correct. I'm not a whore." [/color]She put her fingers to her hood and slowly pulled it down revealing her golden light brown hair. She raised her face so he could see her clearly. The slight redness went across the entire right side of her face. [color=bc8dbf]"I was attacked by a pair of vikings earlier. Luckily for me they became overly indulgent and drank themselves into a stupor. I escaped then." [/color]

[color=bc8dbf]"Will you help me?"[/color]

He may be a foul mouthed cocky warrior who has a temper and loves to fight but he's not a brainless buffoon. To have survived this long practically alone, he had to have good survival instincts and use his mind to get through life day by day so of course he needed to have good observational skills. 

With her revealing her face and hair, she definitely was attacked and with what she told him, he was correct. He didn't know if these vikings were trying to sell her or what but if this girl really needed his help, he didn't have anything more important to do. [color=f7976a] Depends... will you pay me for protection?[/color]

Marewen had to be careful how she answered this question. If she said yes he might just rob her and kill her and if she said no he would likely leave her in the woods to be food for the wildlife.

Nodding. "Yes, I can arrange that. We have to stay away from soldiers and cities. No one can know who I am."

Marewen's fear showed on her face and she pulled her cloak down and pulled her one comfort out of her small bag, her hairbrush. It was cherry wood with a delicate inlay of gold around the edging. It had a calligraphy written M on the inside of the brush handle. The bristles were made of the finest course hairs. Not paying attention to his expression she started to brush the knots out of her long hair. Her scalp was going to hurt when she was finished she was positive. 

Hearing her answer, Vestar stared at her intensely [color=f7976a]I don't care if you pay me by coin or with your very own body but as long as I get my payment and it's of real value, we won't have a problem when this is over.[/color] he tossed his finished dinner into the bushes and pulled out a sack of wine, taking a few swings before, holding it out towards her. 

The brush she pulled out looked very fancy. The calligraphy written M on it, caused Vestar to wonder what he was starting to debate in his mind about her. No...she couldn't be. A royal girl out in the woods this far with fear of being seen by soldiers and the want of staying away from roads and out of sight. If she is the princess, who is to say that there will not be people looking for her. His job was to simply help her, not ask questions about her personal life. For the time being, he kept quiet about that. 

[color=f7976a]Here...drink this. It should settle you for the night. When we move out in the morning, we will travel south. Unless you have somewhere else in mind to go, girl?[/color]

Marewen nodded and took the cup and put both hands around it. Her hair was finally detangled and she'd shoved her brush back into the bag. [color=bc8dbf] "Coin, I will pay with uh gold coins, not my body."[/color] She couldn't help that she was both intrigued and frightened of him. She had no idea that the way she looked at him said much more than her words did. He could tell that she was attracted to him but she had no idea that he could tell that. She lay down near the fire and curled up in her cloak.

Taking a moment to sip the drink she coughed hard.[color=bc8dbf] "Is this whiskey?"[/color]

Continuing to watch her every move, he let go to let her take the drink. Even though she claims that she would just pay him in coin and not her body, something tells him that if it came to it, he could still get both and not by force either. Was she being coy towards him? Who knows but he's been with enough women to know when a woman has some interest in him. 

This was going to be an interesting agreement especially during their travels to get her to wherever she's wanting to go. By the time she laid down, Vestar went back to getting his sharpener so he could continue sharpening his blades. Her cough and question caused him to smirk. [color=f7976a] It's better than elk piss...[/color] he simply answered in a joking manner. 

Marewen had heard tales of men using liquor to get women into bed from her maid. She pushed the cup back. [color=bc8dbf]"Thank you but no. I don't drink alcohol."[/color] She rolled over and stared into the fire. She was so tired, but could she trust him? She was afraid to fall asleep. Eventually her eyes closed of their own accord.

[@king tai]