Free THE VICTORY DANCE by Mahogany SilverRain

 
     
    THE VICTORY DANCE
     
    by
    Mahogany SilverRain
     
    *****
     
    PUBLISHED BY:
    Lulu Press, Inc.
     
    The Victory Dance
    Copyright: © 2009 Mahogany SilverRain
     
     
     
    All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
     
    This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
     
     
    *****
     
    THE VICTORY DANCE
     
     
     
    *****
     
     
     
    Dressed in a red oval neckline wool tunic and blue wool apron dress, she stood watching alone as the bitter cold snow beat against her face. Though wrapped in fur pelts fashioned into a cloak with a hood, she shivered. The brass circlet she wore on her head felt like ice and her hands had grown numb with the cold. That didn’t matter to her one bit. It was hell, the waiting.
    She stood this way, bracing the elements, every day since she’d heard that her beloved, the king, was on his way back home with another victory to celebrate. And celebrate they would. Not only with feasting and merriment, but with love making that lasted for days, locked away in their bedroom in the palace. The servants would leave food and wine outside the door as they were not to be disturbed.
    It’d been two full moons since she’d seen him last, her beloved. Her body ached for him and she longed to hear his voice. Every night she whispered his name, softly chanting, praying to the gods for him to return safely to her. Around her neck she wore his symbol, a Viking dragon pendant, between her breasts and close to her heart. She wanted no other, only he could satisfy her. Her tastes were wild and extravagant, matching his own. Their lust and love for each was so intense, that some envied it while others feared it. He was ruthless with his enemies but fair and kind to his court and subjects. No one dared interrupt them or speak ill of either one, not even in jest, for fear the king and queen would hear of it and have them killed. They made no apologies for who they were. Though the queen was not liked by many in the palace, she’d born the king ten sons, a feat not done by any other queen before her, earning the people’s respect and no one could deny her right as queen. The king saw to that.
    After what seemed an eternity, she spotted the soldiers and their triumphant king in the distance. Her heart beat faster as she lifted her tunic and cloak and broke into a run.
    “ No my queen, you must wait!” Her ladies called behind her but she just ignored them.
    Faster and faster she moved easily through the snow even though she was weighted down with the fur cloak she wore.
    The king pulled the reigns of his horse and stopped as he watched his beloved queen running toward him in an unladylike manner. It didn’t matter to him, only that she loved him as much as he loved her. He laughed as he ordered his men to make way for the queen. He eased off his horse, wincing as the cut on his right side stung him. He stood proudly as she approached him at last.
    The king cut a dashing figure covered by a cloak of fur pelts held together by golden dragon head shaped clasps over his green wool tunic and furry animal skin boots. Even with his windblown strawberry flaxen hair that hung past his shoulders and slightly dirt smudged face, he was indeed handsome. His beard was long, blonde with bits of gray