and walked away. It drove him mad. What the hell was she trying to do to him?
Once the Hall was asleep, Glam made his way silently through the corridors and climbed the steps leading to the guest rooms. He tripped once and cursed softly. A man had evidently passed out on the steps, unable to make it to his room. He moved on, as much like a cat as he was capable of, making no more noise than a herd of cattle on the move.
Looking over his shoulder as he reached her door, he made sure there was no one about. He took out a thin, slender-bladed knife and used it to slide between the planks of the door, raising the inner latch until he could open the door wide enough to slide through. It squeaked once when he closed it behind him, causing his heart to skip a beat or two.
The light coming through the open window bathed the form of Hemming lying beneath the coverlets of her bed. Her hair was again undone and lay as a golden wave about her head and shoulders. She moved in her sleep and one bare globular breast winked at him. By Thor's bouncing balls, she's naked! That's a stroke of luck.
Swiftly, he removed his clothing, cursing under his breath when the thongs, holding his leggings about his calves, refused to come undone. Finally he gave up and decided to just leave them on. Creeping forward on his toes, he resembled a not-quite-natural ape. He neared her bed and knelt down, looking at the face of the sleeping woman. There was just a hint of a smile on her face. Was she dreaming of him?
Glam covered her mouth with his hand. 'Shhhhhh! I won't hurt you,' only to receive a crack across his ear that set his head to ringing. Then teeth bit into his hand and the fight was on.
By the gods, she was strong! They struggled and fought, with her biting and kicking, pulling great gouts of hair from his beard and head, her fingernails digging grooves in the fur hide he called his back.
She fought silently; not a word was spoken as they struggled. His weight atop her, he finally forced her back onto the bed and took another five minutes to maneuver himself between her legs, pinning her so that she couldn't get away.
As gently as he could, he penetrated her. She gave one small gasp of pain as her hymen broke. Glam smiled to himself. Aha! A virgin. Anyone knows a virgin isn't quite right in the head until she gets a proper laying.
Glam thrust deep and Hemming's eyes went wide, the whites showing in the dark as he entered her completely. Gradually, the struggle turned to mutual efforts of pleasure, and she moaned, softly at first, then louder. Soon her legs were wrapped about him and they rode the 'Beast with Two Backs' until they both dropped off into a deep sleep of satisfied exhaustion. They slept, her head on his arm and one of his huge hands holding her breast.
Glam twitched in his steep. Something had pricked his neck. He moved in his slumber, trying to get away from the annoying feeling, only to feet the pricking sensation again. One eye opened, then the other, both focusing at the same time.
He looked up at the long length of shiny, sharpened steel to see the face of Sifrit standing over him holding the sword to his neck. He tried to move away from the sharp tip of it, but Sifrit shook his head, looking sad, and pressed the point into his neck a bit deeper.
Glam choked out in confusion, 'What the crap is wrong with you, Sifrit? What are you doing here? And take that damned ugly toothpick away from my throat.'
Sifrit again shook his head, as if in regret. 'Sorry about this, old boy, but I tried to warn you. You just wouldn't listen.' Hemming woke, stretched her arms, and sighed deeply. Seeing Sifrit, she said nothing. She just rolled over and went back to sleep.
Repeating himself, Glam hissed, 'What the Hades is wrong with you, Sifrit?'
Sifrit twitched his blade a bit, drawing a drop of blood. 'We got a problem, Glam. The girl is my first cousin and she's here under my vowed protection. You know the laws concerning the taking of a woman against her wishes, especially a virgin. We have a blood feud here.'
'Blood feud,' Glam sputtered. 'What do you mean? That I took her against her will? Just ask her.'
Sifrit called out Hamming's name and she opened her eyes and smiled.
'Good morning, cousin,' she yawned.
Sifrit asked her, 'Did this animal rape you?'
Hemming touched her hair, putting a stray strand back into place and out of her eyes. Her voice was sweet as honey. 'Yes, he did, cousin, and not just once but seven or eight times.
Sifrit whistled between his teeth in admiration. 'Well, then,' he turned his attention back to Glam. 'That about does it, old friend. I am sorry about this, but I don't have any choice in the matter. Honor demands that I run this long piece of cold steel through your neck in order to satisfy my family's honor.'
Glam bellowed out, 'You wouldn't do that. Now, come on, Sifrit, we've been friends too long for you to act this way. Besides, the girl isn't really hurt. She's been gently used.'
Sifrit shook his head in the negative. 'Gently used, you say-after seven or eight times? No way. It isn't anything personal, you understand. It's just the law. I'm going to have to kill you now or my family will be dishonored and I can't have that happen.'
Glam began to protest loudly, his mind confused. Hemming had rolled over on her side and closed her eyes again, apparently oblivious to anything unusual happening around her.
Casca came in through the open door, followed by Lida. He took one look at the situation and could barely restrain a grin. 'What's going on here and what's all the noise about?'
Sifrit informed him of Glam's actions and how his virgin cousin had been repeatedly abused. Hemming smiled her agreement to the tale and took on a wounded expression. She lowered her eyes demurely and wiped away a nonexistent tear.
Glam appealed to Casca and Lida. 'Isn't there anything you can do about this, Casca? At least make him take that sword away from my throat and give me a fighting chance.'
Casca mused a moment, then asked Lida what the customs and laws of the land had to say about matters like this. They whispered together a moment, and Casca said to Glam, his voice full of regret, 'I'm sorry, Glam, but Lida says that Sifrit has every right to kill you and that we can't interfere. You know, I've always made it a policy not to interfere with the local customs. I guess you'll just have to have your throat slit. See you later Sifrit, Hemming,' and he turned to leave.
Glam wailed out, 'My lady, surely you can help me.'
Lida hesitated. 'There is one way.'
Glam wailed again, 'Anything.'
Lida was quiet for a second. 'The only way that honor could be satisfied would be for you to marry the girl and become a kinsman to Sifrit.'
Hemming smiled shyly and under the cover, stroked Glam's thigh. A light lit up in Glam's mind as the pieces came together. 'So that's the way it is. You've trapped me. Some damn fine friends you are.'
Sifrit responded in a wounded manner.
'I'm sorry you feel that way about things, Glam. But even if it were true, I'd still have to kill you. I thought that at least if I had to kill you, we could still be friends. But if you're going to act bitchy about it, that's your business. If you don't want to marry her, then I have no choice but to finish you off.'
Hemming stroked the inside of his thighs with a long fingernail and Glam gave up. 'All right, you've got me. I'll marry her.' But he shook a warning finger at Sifrit and Casca. 'I know you two set me up and one of these days, I'll get even with you for it.'
Casca grinned. 'Well, now, that's settled. Let's go down and get something to eat.'
Sifrit moved the sword point away from Glam's neck and leaned over and gave him a firm thumping on the shoulder. 'Glad to have you in the family, old boy. It may not be as bad as you think.' He whispered in Glam's ear, 'She's rich and I hear she is also a damned fine cook.'
Sifrit left and Glam rose, searching for his trousers. Before he got up off the bed, Hemming stuck her tongue in his ear and whispered, 'Next time you'll take your leggings and boots off.'
The wedding took place five days later and in the spring of the following year, Hemming gave birth to Glam's firstborn, whom they named Olaf, after her father.
Though Glam continued to grumble about the sword wedding he'd been forced into, he fooled no one. The glint in his eyes when he looked at Hemming or when he watched over Olaf told all the truth, no matter how much he complained.
As for Hemming, she was well-pleased and took to training Glam so that his manners and appearance
