Chapter Thirteen

     Days passed, some in a flurry of activity, some so slow and dull
Candy thought she'd go out of her mind by the time Dolph returned from
the battlefield.  All day she worried that he might not come back alive, all
night she tried to show him how glad she was that he had.
     On the battlefield, things were not going nearly as well as Dolph had
hoped.  Vierig's forces were well-trained and quite capable.  Casualties on
either side were few, but serious wounds were abundant.  One day, Dolph's
men would push Vierig's troops back several miles; the next, Vierig's troops
would gain back the ground, with a few feet thrown in for good measure. 
And so it went.
     Dolph made good on his threat to post a guard on Star.  She
thought it was ridiculous and wasted no time telling him her opinion of his
protective gesture.  He was on his way out of the tent and heading to battle
when she caught his arm.  
     "Dolph, I don't need a baby-sitter.  I am perfectly capable of taking
care of myself."
     He stopped and turned, giving Star one of his humoring looks, the
kind that never failed to make her grind her teeth.
     "So you think."
     With that, he smiled and kissed her forehead.  Boom!  She pushed
on his chest hard enough to send him back a step.  He arched an eyebrow
in surprise.
     "Why don't you pat me on the head while you're at it?"
     Ever the agreeable lover, Dolph reached out and patted her on the
top of her head, his smile clearly stating that he knew exactly how annoying
he was being.  Candy sincerely believed that if he had stayed in that tent
one more second, she would have committed first-degree murder!
     From that day forward, every time Candy left their tent, a camp-
tender, or sometimes even a slightly wounded warrior, followed closely
behind her.  She knew it made no sense getting angry at them, they were
just doing as ordered.  After all, it wasn't their fault that they had the most
obstinate, cantankerous commander in all the known universe!  With that
attitude, Candy decided to do her best to ignore whatever poor man had to
follow her around today.  After all, she thought, it must be considered the
most boring duty possible.
     Little did she know that the men wagered for the opportunity to help
Dolph control his little firebrand.  They didn't know what mischief she
might get into, but each of the hardened soldiers wanted to be the first to
find out.  And being near her womanly beauty made them all feel their oats
mightily.
     After some initial reluctance, calmed by the Viking's gold, the local
women started visiting camp regularly.  Dolph knew that this was a security
risk, but he was all too aware of how the gentle touch of a woman could
relieve the pain and frustration of battle.  His men needed that relief.  Since
Vierig's visit to camp, Dolph had doubled the perimeter guard.  Though
there had been no further incidents, Dolph didn't credit that to the increased
security.  He knew that Vierig had left his message, made his attempt at
damaging morale.  Vierig was not one to use the same tactic twice.
     During the daylight hours Dolph saw very little of Star.  He knew
that she spent a great deal of her time bored, searching for something
interesting to do, but she would just have to get used to it.  That was the life
of a Viking's woman.  Still, he worried about her.  She had so much energy
and vitality, it was difficult to envision her sitting quietly and waiting for him
to return from battle for the rest of her life.  Dolph thought she was much
too likely to find something to occupy her time and, knowing Star's luck,
the thought made him cringe.  The gods only knew what his woman might
get herself into in an attempt to stave off boredom.  Perhaps he should try
to find something useful for her to do before her natural curiosity brought
trouble. 
     Dolph shook his head, smiling down at the sleeping woman by his
side.  Now he understood all the warnings his father had given him about
American women.
     "They're not good at being idle, boy," he'd said during one of their
many conversations about women like Dolph's mother, "they think they
should be doing something to help their man.  Can't get it through their fool
heads that sheathing our manhood and bearing our children is all the
purpose they need in life.  I guess the gods made it our job to set them
straight."
     Roarke had chuckled then.
     "To tell you the truth, Dolph, I think I have failed in that duty.  It
seems your mother is always into something or other.  But she has always
been there when I needed her."
     And as Dolph thought about it now, he realized that his mother had
indeed always been involved in some village activity.  She had traveled with
Roarke to a battle only once when Dolph was five years old.  Roarke had
decided that the boy was old enough to be left with Roarke's mother. 
Though Dolph's mother Madelyn, or Maddy, as her family called her, had
protested vehemently, Roarke had won the battle.  He had also won several
new scars.  Dolph could remember how his mother had cried the day they
left.  Dolph himself had felt more jealousy than grief.  His mother got to go
a-viking with 'The Tamer', and he had to stay at home with his
grandmother.  He had thought his mother crazy for putting up such a fuss
and not wanting to go.
     When they returned, Maddy had made it very clear that Roarke
would be a dead man if he ever tried to make her go with him again.  In her
opinion it had been a bloody, noisy, nauseating ordeal.  Roarke had replied
that that sounded like childbirth to him and she seemed to want to do that. 
Maddy had pulled Dolph to her quite ample bosom, turned a death-glare on
Roarke and replied, "You're right, that's a good comparison.  But at least I
get a wonderful baby out of the whole ordeal.  You get gold - you already
have more than you could use in three lifetimes, unwilling women - if you
ever touch one hair on any of their heads you are a dead man, and several
chances to bleed on alien soil because everybody seems to want you dead!"
     Roarke had thrown his head back and roared with laughter.  Dolph
could tell by the look on Maddy's face that she intended to have the last
laugh.
     "It's a good thing I like my version of the Viking ordeal, since I'm
about to do it again."
     Roarke's great laugh cut mid-stream and he had looked at her in
open-mouthed surprise.  As Maddy enjoyed her own laughter Roarke had
come to her, lifting her off the ground and swinging her around.  Quickly
moving out of the way of his mother's swirling body, Dolph saw his father's
expression, a mixture of pride, love and apprehension.  The same look
Dolph had seen him wear every time Maddy became pregnant.
     That look had been one of the things that had told Dolph how much
his father loved his mother.  A Viking warrior wanted children, they were
the greatest treasure, a continuation of yourself.  If your wife couldn't give
you children, you might keep her for companionship, but you took another
wife for children.  Not Roarke.  He had found his one and only love, even
if it meant having less children than he would've liked.  Unfortunately,
Maddy had insisted on continuing to try for a daughter.  That had been her
end.
     Dolph tightened his arm across Star's bare back and she snuggled
deeper into his armpit, unwilling to wake just yet.  Dolph grinned.  He knew
now how his father had felt.  So many feelings ran together in his heart. 
Possessiveness, protectiveness, annoyance, anger, and, above all, love.  He
would love Star until Odin called him to fight by his side.  Even then, he
would watch over her, and if she needed him, he would battle Odin himself
to reach her side.  Nothing would ever hurt his Star if it were within his
power to prevent it!
     "Dolph?"
     His thoughts of doom joined with his warrior's reflexes to make
Dolph start and reach for his sword before he realized that it was Star who
had spoken.  He relaxed as she raised her body onto one elbow and arched
an eyebrow at him.
     "A little jumpy, aren't you?"
     Dolph gave her a self-deprecating grin and shrugged both his
eyebrows and his shoulders, pulling her to rest on top of him.  Worry crept
into her voice.
     "There isn't anything you haven't told me so I wouldn't worry my
little woman's head over it, is there?  You know, unimportant stuff like the
enemy is making regular trips to our bathroom because it's closer than
theirs?"
     Dolph chuckled and shook his head, his great disheveled mane
brushing his shoulders.
     "No, nothing like that.  I was just thinking that you need something
to do so that you won't get into trouble.  At least until you are big with my
child," a darker expression fleeted across his eyes, "may the gods see us far
from this place by then."
     As quickly as it had disappeared, his good humor returned.
     "Perhaps you could assist with the cooking.  I'm sure you could
learn some of the simpler tasks in a short time.  Yes," Dolph nodded,
blissfully unaware that Star was building an angry head of steam, "as long
as it didn't interfere with your duties to me, I think that would be a good
idea.  Star, where are you going?"
     Star rose and stalked to stand at the foot of the bed, her arms
crossed under her breasts, her blue eyes blazing hellfire.
     "You arrogant, conceited piece of Viking pigflesh!  I do not need
you to find me something to do with my time.  I am perfectly capable of
filling my days, and nights, for that matter, without your assistance.  For
your information, I have been helping with the cooking for two weeks. 
When you complimented that bread we had the other night, why did you
think I said 'thank you'?!"
     Dolph started to defend himself, but Star wasn't finished.
     "And, oh great observant Viking warrior, you might have noticed
that your latrines have been moved into the shade.  Less odor, more
pleasant visit.  My idea.  Your war-chest has been completely emptied,
cleaned and reorganized.  Before you throw a fit, I got Kirk to help so that
things would be where you needed them.  I suppose 'thank you' would be
out of the question, but it's a moot point since you didn't even notice.  I've
organized an hour during the day for the camptenders to work on their
schooling.  And believe me that was no easy task.  I never thought of myself
as a schoolteacher, especially not to a bunch of teenage boys who'd rather
be killing somebody, but we made a deal that they would study for an hour,
and then I would watch them try to kill each other for an hour.  Seems they
do that better if there's a woman nearby.  True Vikings.  In short, you
Viking oaf, I haven't been sitting on my butt while you went off to save the
day.  And if your fighting skills depend on your powers of observation, you
better find a new line of work!"
     Dolph fought the urge to hang his head.  She was right, of course,
he had missed most of the things she had mentioned.  He had noticed that
she had done something with his war-chest but had been too interested in
her lovely little body at the time to say anything.  Later, it had slipped his
mind.  He knew the food had been exceptional for the last couple of weeks,
but it had never occurred to him that Star had had anything to do with it. 
He had been a fool.
     Star stood tapping her foot, waiting for him to say something.  God,
she was beautiful, with her silver hair spread out over her firm breasts and
torso, allowing the pewter triangle of coarser hair to just peak from its nest
at her thighs.  His manhood responded instantly, a fact difficult to hide with
just the covering of the thin sheet.
     Star glared daggers at the tented sheet, then looked back at Dolph's
face.
     "Oh, no, you don't.  Every time I get mad at you, that thing rises to
the challenge and I end up flat on my back wondering how I got that way. 
Ok, ok, I might enjoy it at the time, but a woman wants to know that her
guy thinks more of her than just a place to get a little, you know?  I mean,
are 'please' and 'thank you' in your vocabulary?"
     Ignoring the throbbing in his loins, Dolph stood and walked to stand
in front of Star.  Taking her hands in his, he dropped to one knee before
her.  After kissing each of her palms, he looked up into her eyes and spoke
in a quiet, sincere voice.
     "Please forgive me, lady, for my callous indifference to your efforts
to care for me and my men.  And thank you for those efforts and any
others that I in my ignorance may have to have pointed out to me in the
future.  I assure you, I will endeavor to notice them on my own."
     He placed her palms on his chest, over his heart.
     "I have had many women in my life, my Star, and they have given
me many nights of pleasure.  But none has ever come close to you.  One
night spent in your arms, just your arms, my love, is better than a thousand
nights of the best wenching, may Odin forgive me.  What you have done
for me is to help me find my own heart.  Though it beats in my chest
beneath your hand, I am only its keeper, for it belongs to you.  Should you
ever be taken from me, that beating would surely cease, for having nothing
of value left to fight for, I would no longer wish to live."
     He stood and pulled her into his arms.  Wondering at the tears filling
her eyes, he quickly decided that they were only to be understood by a
woman.  He brought his lips gently to hers, feeling all the acceptance of the
gods as she dropped her head back to receive him.  After a long, slow kiss,
Star pulled back with a look of wonder.  She was aglow with the look of a
well-loved woman.
     "Boy, you sure know how to say 'I love you'.  I guess I'll let you off
the hook."
     A smile crept into her words.
     "Just don't let it happen again.  Now, let me go.  I promised I'd
show Magnus how to make pancakes that don't have to be smacked on a
rock to be eaten."
     With a heartfelt sigh, Dolph released her.  Star grinned impishly as
she practically bounced into her red jumpsuit.  Dolph was leaning over to
pull on his loincloth when he felt her soft, warm hand reach through his legs
from behind to cup his manhood.  He gasped, straightened and turned all at
once.  Star, completely dressed, stood poised to run in the open flap of the
tent, her look devilish.
     "Pain helps you remember your mistakes so you won't repeat them,
right, Viking?  See you at breakfast."
     As Star's light, tinkling giggle echoed throughout the camp, Dolph
threw back his head and roared with laughter.