Thursday, July 19th

Cape Neddick, Maine

As Alexis ran towards the woman something strange happened. Her surroundings disappeared and she found herself in blackness and then brilliant colors surrounded her and rushed by as her body was propelled forward, fast as the speed of light. Strangely enough the feeling was calming and she oddly felt no fear.

Then everything slowed down and stopped moving as the colors coalesced into objects. Green shades became the leaves of trees. White became twinkling stars in a moonlit sky and yellows, oranges and reds formed into a large bonfire which sat inside of a circle of tents. Alexis suddenly was hurtled outwards and landed dropping to her knees.

Feeling a trickle of fear for the first time, she wondered what the hell had just happened. She was at the edge of a group of tall trees looking at some kind of settlement which was on a beach by an ocean. It was night time and she could see someone walking around the bonfire.

He was a fairly tall man she could tell and built well and he was heading her way. She looked down at her robe realizing that she had not a stitch under it, she thought vaguely.

Alexis was frightened beyond belief. She must be dreaming she thought, although it did not feel like a dream. Frozen to the spot she was unable to move as she watched the muscular man walk towards her.

******

Bon watched Alexis disappear and shouted. He ran towards the spot, past a startled Thalia and stopped looking around wildly and then turned to the woman. “Who are you! And where the hell is Alex!” he shouted.

Thalia recoiled as he was wildly angry. She couldn’t speak and he walked quickly to her as she backed away, and he made a grab for her shoulders but his hands passed right through her.

Stunned, he dropped to his knees. “WHO are you? WHAT are you?” he asked the Goddess, shock all over his face.

Thalia was standing there wringing her hands, but didn’t answer. She was instead concentrating on the miniature hourglass upstairs in Alexis’s bedroom.

Bon began to speak again, still on his knees, when everything froze as a beam of light appeared and Kronos materialized.

He looked at the scene and then turned to Thalia and said, “What HAVE you done my dear?”

Summer, 1000 A.D.

Newfoundland Canada

Alexis watched the man walking towards her still unable to find her legs. She saw that he was built like that of a Viking or a warrior from another era. Then she remembered her dream. Was this the man from her dream, she wondered?

Although there was a three quarter moon, providing fairly good light, she was unable to see his face as it was in shadow. As he drew closer she noticed he had his sword in his hand.

Feeling a huge burst of adrenaline suddenly, she finally found her motor skills and started backing up as he advanced towards her.

The man said, “U daar meisje, einde!” (Which in English was, ‘You there Wench! Stop!’)

Though she understood some of his dialect she still retreated until her back came up abruptly against a tree trunk. As she looked from side to side he had reached her.

She was looking down and she saw his belt, his muscular thighs and then her eyes traveled up slowly over his very cut abs into his well formed pec muscles. Her eyes then moved up to his face which was totally visible to her now and her mouth fell open as she gasped. She felt her knees grow weak, as her trembling lips said, “Bon?”

And then blackness overtook her and she fainted.

As her head went back Bjorn grabbed her around the waist, holding her tightly to him, the robe she was wearing had come undone slightly, as he stared at her half naked body.

Carefully sitting her down and leaning her back against the tree, he sheathed his sword and closed her robe. Then he picked her up in his arms and carried her back to his tent.

Entering the tent Tasha woke and said, as she saw the woman, “Bjorn, who is this strange woman you bring into our tent?”

“I do not know my sweet,” he replied. “I but woke earlier and did thirst and as I went to grab a skein of water, I saw the wench standing at the edge of the trees. When I questioned her she swooned.”

They stared at the woman who Bjorn had laid down in the middle of their pile of wolf furs. “She is dressed strangely and in such an immodest garment,” Tasha commented, noting how exquisite the woman’s body was, much like her own. She reached and grabbed one of the furs and covered the woman’s near nakedness.

“Did she speak at all?” she asked.

“Yea,” Bjorn replied. She said one word, “Bon.”

“Bon?” Tasha asked. “Not Bjorn?”

Bjorn shook his head. They both looked at the woman and the woman’s eyelashes began to flutter. “She is awakening,” Bjorn said. “Go and fetch some water my sweet.”

Tasha left the tent quickly and Bjorn stared at the woman’s face as she slowly opened her eyes. Bjorn thought, next to Tasha, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She was very much like his Tasha, but instead of violet eyes he found himself looking into green blue eyes the color of the sea.

“Meisje,” Bjorn started, then switched to English. Bjorn had studied several languages when he’d lived in Denmark as a boy and knew the language well.

“Wench,” he said, “Who are ye? What are ye doing here? And where is your clan?” Bjorn said.

The woman said however, “I am having a dream and you are in MY dream. So I am allowed to ask the questions.”

Bjorn stared at her not believing what he was hearing.

“Who are YOU? And why do you look like the man I love?” Alexis asked and sat up.

Tasha entered then with the water skein and saw the two of them staring at each other with strange looks on both their faces...

******

As Kronos waited for an answer, Thalia began crying and Kronos said, “Goddess! Now is not the time for tears! Please calm yourself and tell me what has happened,” he commanded.

Thalia struggled with her emotions and then said, “Alexandria went through the portal! And Bon saw it happen!”

Kronos’ heart sank and he rubbed his forehead. How could this have happened?

Thalia said, “It is my fault but I did not know she would be out here.”

“How is it your fault Goddess?” Kronos asked her. “Be assured. It is not your fault. It is mine as I was the one who set the coordinates for this very spot. I had not presumed that anyone would be out here at the late hour.”

He sighed and then said, “But it matters not, who the blame lies with. Now we must undo this. You say that Bon saw her enter the portal. Are you quite certain?” he asked a trembling Thalia.

“Yes Kronos, I am,” she replied. “And he tried to grab me and his hands passed through me.”

Kronos stood, deep in thought.

“But Kronos, can you not simply use the memory effect on him?” Thalia asked looking a bit bewildered. “Then you can go and retrieve Alexandria and bring her back and no one need know,” she reasoned.

“Goddess, but were it that simple,” he told her. “I’m afraid it is more complicated then that. Bon Vincent Johnson has witnessed a supernatural occurrence and saw his beloved disappear before his very eyes. Not only that, he realizes now that you are something other than human. But be that as it may, I cannot do the memory effect on him, for Alexandria is missing. This will cause more grief and uproar once he realizes that she has disappeared even if he does not remember seeing it happen.”

He paused and then said, “And yes I could go back right now and retrieve Alexandria and bring her back and then use the memory charm on the both of them, but what about those that Alexandria interracts with in the past? Are you aware that I cannot use a memory charm on those mortals that are living in an era before the current earth timeline?”

Thalia said she was not.

He said, “I have never been able to comprehend why it does not work except in the present, so you see if your host interacts with Bjorn or others, it will raise many questions in that time and could disrupt events and very possibly it could alter the course of history as it is written, even if those events seem small and insignificant. Because if that happens, all of the deities in our Realm will most assuredly find out about it. This will raise even more questions and I will be the one they will come to for the answers. Not only that, the Adonis Mission could be deemed a failure if that happens.” He paced back and forth.

“In addition,” he said, “I am due at a very important meeting among the Gods soon and I must not be late. Zeus himself will be attending,” Kronos finished, wondering what his son had on his mind. He said, “I’m afraid there is really only one solution.”

“What is that Kronos?” Thalia asked her eyes on Bon's’ face.

“We must reveal ourselves to Bon and explain what has happened to Alexandria. We must take the mortal back to Titania with us.”

Thalia’s eyes grew big.

“We will prepare him,” Kronos continued, “show him things that will convince him that we are who we say we are. Then I will take him back to Bjorn’s timeline and together we will rescue his beloved. I will disguise him to look differently of course. After that, when he and Alexandria leave that timeline it will simply look like they have left to continue on their journey. When I return them to their own time I will then use the memory effect on them both.” He paused and said, “Let us hope that your host has not spoken to any of the mortals there about what she has recently experienced, for if she has the consequences could doom the mission.”

Thalia was staring at him in shock. “Bring him to Titania?” she asked. “Kronos, is that possible?”

“Yes, my dear, it has been done before,” he told her.

He raised his arm then to start time when Thalia said, “Wait!”

He stopped and she said, “Will this not be difficult for him to accept? What if he is overwhelmed or he shows violence or loses his mind?” Thalia asked, imagining the worst.

“He won’t,” Kronos assured her. “For I will use the calming effect on him.”

He then moved his arm and time began.

Bon said, “I asked”.... and then his words broke off as he noticed Kronos standing there.

Bon saw a man dressed in a hooded long silver cape holding a large hourglass in one hand. The man looked to be fairly young with long dark hair and piercing silver gray eyes which were staring right at him.

“Who are you people?” Bon asked feeling as if he were in a dream. Shit! He was definitely dreaming, though he’d never had a dream quite like this before, he thought.

Thalia stepped forward and said, “I am Thalia, Goddess of Eternal Love and Healing, Bon Vincent.”

Bon stared and then laughed shortly and said, “Come again?”

But neither of the other two were smiling.

Bon said, looking at Kronos, “I suppose you’ll be telling me next that you’re a God too.”

Kronos didn’t answer but stood staring at him with a slight smile on his face.

“What? Don’t tell me,” Bon said sarcastically, searching his memory, “You must be the God of”.... He paused then, thinking back to when he had studied Classical Mythology in his high school history class. “You must be the God of Time. Or Kronos, as the Greek Mythology books call you.” He had a smug look on his face.

“Exactly,” Kronos replied.

Thursday, July 19th

Los Angeles, California

It was 10 am that morning and Rye and Olivia had just come from a meeting with Rye’s financial advisor, to release the funds so that Olivia’s new business endeavor could take place. They had met earlier with a jewelry designer and she had taken all of Olivia’s designs and said she would get started immediately.

Tomorrow they would contact a marketing team to promote the jewelry and then hire a photographer to take professional pictures of each piece, as well as contacting the appropriate publisher to print out a catalog of all of her designs.

Olivia was ecstatic and was sitting next to the Rye in the limo kissing him as she chattered on and on about her latest project.

Rye watched her as she talked, thinking that she looked so beautiful, her face animated and excited. He was falling in love with her, he realized. He wondered what it would be like to have a child with her.

He leaned his head back as his mind went off for a bit imagining a beautiful little girl who looked just like her, toddling around his home.

“Hon?” Olivia had stopped her chatter and was staring at him.

“Yeah babe?” Rye asked focusing on her face.

“Where were you just now?' she asked smiling slightly.

“Just thinking about you and me,” he said. He took her face in his hands and looked into her blue eyes and said, “I just realized something important.”

“What?” she asked softly.

“I love you,” he said simply.

Olivia felt a burst of pleasure so intense at those three simple words, that her emotions were overwhelmed and she said, as her eyes overflowed, “Oh Rye... I love you too!”

He kissed her then and she answered him back passionately and when the kiss broke she said, “I’ve known it for quite some time now, but I was afraid to tell you.”

“Me too,” Rye replied. They kissed again and then their arms wrapped around each other they stayed close, staring into each others eyes as each of their hands caressed the other’s body and the limo driver headed back to Rye’s estate.

******

Alexis could not believe how much this man looked like Bon. Except for the fact he was a bit younger than Bon was right now and more muscular with long brown hair. Unable to help herself she reached out and stroked his chest as Bjorn’s breath drew in sharply.

However, Tasha said in English as she too had studied the language. “Stop that wench! He is already taken!”

Alexis quickly dropped her hand and turned and looked at the woman and saw fire in her violet eyes.

“I’m so sorry. It’s just that he looks like my own love, Bon, so very much.” Her eyes returned to Bjorn’s eyes. “You have to tell me, who you people are,” Alexis said gazing at him, “and where it is that I am!”

Bjorn said, “I am Bjorn Bontykir, at your service ma’am,” and bowed his head briefly. Bjorn, Alexis thought. Not so dissimilar to the name Bon.

Tasha said, still a bit coolly, “And I am Tasha Dardenne, Bjorn’s woman and also a member of this clan.”

“Are you the leader?” Alexis asked looking at Bjorn.

“I am not,” Bjorn told her. “Our captain, Leif Eriksson is the head of the clan and we serve under him.”

Alexis was quiet thinking, Leif Eriksson? Where had she heard that name before?

Suddenly she had a thought. She remembered studying about Leif Eriksson in grade school. She said, “Leif Eriksson, the Viking, who was an explorer and who discovered Newfoundland?”

Bjorn looked a bit puzzled at her words but said, “Yes, that is he, although he has not yet discovered this place you call New..fin...land.”

“Where are we now and what year is this?” Alexis asked feeling dizzy and weak.

“It is the year 1000 wench,” Bjorn answered. “We have recently sailed here to this new land, which our Captain has yet to give a name to,” Bjorn told her.

“Where have you sailed from?” Alexis asked trying to calm herself at his words and Bjorn said, “We sailed from the Isle of Greenland.”

Alexis thought back and she remembered that Leif Eriksson’s father, Erik somebody, had discovered Greenland. Erik the Red, she suddenly remembered. It was afterwards, that Leif and his people discovered Newfoundland which Eriksson had named ‘Vinland’ because the area was heavily populated with grapes.

She was in the year 1000 A.D.? In Newfoundland???

She stared at him and decided to go with the flow of the dream. She said, “My name is Alexandria Grey and I come from the year 2007. I am in love with a man whose real name is Bon Vincent Johnson who resembles you in almost every way. I don’t know why or how, but I have been taken back 1007 years into the past, into your time.”

Tasha and Bjorn looked at each other thinking the woman was crazed and simply had no words to respond.

Alexis saw the skepticism on their faces and said, “I am not crazy and I know none of this makes any sense but I tell you if this is not a dream, then what I have told you is true. I am from the future and furthermore I need to find my way back,” she said starting to get up.

But Bjorn said reaching out and grabbing her shoulder, “Wench it is late and there are wild animals in the forest. You must stay until daylight. In the morning, Tasha will fetch you an appropriate garment and then if you want to leave you may go,” he told her.

Alexis was not used to being ordered around by a man and her first instinct was to tell him that but she bit her tongue as she saw the wisdom of his comment as she certainly didn’t want to become dinner for some hungry wolves either.

She laid back down, then and he said, “I will sleep elsewhere and leave you two women here,” and he quickly left the tent. Tasha stared at Alexis her face frowning, thinking she had just lost her bedmate and lover because of this strange woman. But the woman looked so miserable that Tasha felt her heart soften again. Even though her tale had been wild and seemed to not make sense, Tashsa somehow sensed that the woman was NOT crazy at all.

“Do not worry Alex... andria...” Tasha said struggling a bit over the foreign name.

Alexis answered saying, “You may call me Alexis.”

Tasha said, “Alexis, yes that is a bit easier,” and she smiled. Alexis thought how lovely she was and she could see why she would belong to a man such as Bjorn.

“Let us sleep now and in the morning we will decide what to do,” Tasha told her as she lay back down next to Alexis.

Tasha soon fell asleep but Alexis lay there her mind too overwhelmed with all that had happened and it was a long time before she too joined the other woman.

******

Bon stared at the man, thinking the dream had turned into a nightmare. He was now sitting here with two loony tunes, taking part in some weird fantasy. He closed his eyes and concentrated saying, “Wake up asshole!”

He opened his eyes carefully to see the two crazy characters still standing there staring at him. Suddenly from his peripheral vision he spied a cat walking towards him. As the cat got closer, Bon saw it was Moody. Bon was never more glad to see a cat in his life and when Moody came up to him and started rubbing against his legs, he picked him up bodily, holding him against his chest. He felt like the cat was his one lifeline to reality.

“I assure you, this is no dream Bon Vincent,” Kronos said walking closer to him.

Bon stood then and not knowing how to answer the man he said instead, “Why do you keep calling me Bon Vincent?”

“Is that not your name?” Kronos asked, noticing his scowl.

“Yes, but it’s really the name of my band as well and no one calls me that ... instead people call me Bon,” he said scowling even more.

Kronos said, “As you wish Bon. You must listen to me and please do not interrupt until I have finished,” he said, setting his hourglass down.

But Bon thinking of a question did just that and suddenly asked, “What the hell is that thing?” he pointed to the large hourglass.

“It is an hourglass,” Kronos replied.

Bon sighed and said, “I know that. What is it for?”

“It measures time,” Kronos said matter of fact.

Bon could feel his blood pressure rising and several obscenities were about to be spilled from his lips, when Kronos said, “Are you willing to listen to my explanation now? We must hurry as we are running out of time.”

“Well that should not be a problem for you, Kronos,” Bon retorted, not able to help himself. “I mean after all you’re the God of Time!” His sarcasm was evident to everyone except the cat who was busy licking his fur. Bon set the cat down and straightened up again glaring at the man.

Kronos thought momentarily and then decided drastic measures were needed.

“Yes,” he said, “It is true, but I cannot stop certain things from happening, such as your beloved slipping into the portal, headed on her way back to the year 1000.”

He waved his hand and the tree leaves which had been blowing gently in the night breeze, froze into place.

Moody, had continued to clean himself and had been in the act of washing his paw. He too was frozen as well, his paw up to his mouth, his tongue out in mid lick.

Bon looked around wildly and then stared at the cat, noticing that he now looked like a statue. He squatted down and gently poked the animal but the animal was stiff and unresponsive.

He stood again, backing away slightly and said, his face filled with horror, “What the FUCK just happened?!”

“I have stopped time momentarily,” Kronos answered. Bon just stared at him thinking if he didn’t wake up soon he would fucking lose his mind.

Kronos sensing that Bon was at the edge, from the look on his face, brought his hand up and moved it rapidly. Bon suddenly felt calm and not afraid.

“Okay,” he said to Kronos. “I want to hear your explanation of all of this, but it better be quick, or I am going to phone the police and tell them that my woman has been kidnapped by two insane psychopaths,” Bon warned.

Kronos said, “Alright then.” He waved his hand as time began, the leaves moving and Moody continued to clean himself where he’d left off as Bon jumped and stared again, not believing his eyes.

“But not here,” Kronos said. “You must come with us now Bon, for I assure you time is running out,” he told him picking up the hourglass again.

Bon said, “Where? Come with you where?” He suddenly felt a lick of fear again.

“To Titania,” Kronos answered. “The realm where we Gods reside”.

Bon’s mind began whirling and fear and panic set in. Kronos seeing the blood drain from the man’s face waved his hand once again and Bon felt soothed and relaxed.

Bon feeling better, said, “Where is this place and how do we get there?

“Through the door behind you,” Kronos told him.

Bon turned and saw the beam of light and said, “All I see is some kind of light rays. I don’t see any door.”

Kronos said, “The shining beam of light is a portal, Bon. Once we step inside it will immediately transfer us to my estate in Titania. Now are you ready?”

Bon felt his heart start beating faster as panic started to set in once more. Again, Kronos calmed him and Bon asked, “So what do we do?”

Kronos headed towards the portal while Thalia followed, and said, “Just join us over here and then we will be on our way.”

Bon walked over slowly and said, “Is this gonna hurt?”

“Not a bit,” Kronos reassured him. “Now go,” he said to Bon, “Enter the portal, Thalia and I will be right behind you.”

Bon stared at the beam of light and at that moment felt like turning and running. But he was not a coward and as strange as this was he had faced many demons and other difficult things in his life countless times before.

Taking a deep breath then, with his eyes wide open he stepped through the portal.

He was in darkness but colors soon swirled around him. He appeared to be moving, rushing at a very fast pace or possibly it was the colors which were moving. Seconds later everything slowed and the colors formed into objects as finally he saw that he was in a strange room. He looked behind him and saw the portal doorway and he was standing on some old rough hewn stairs. Carefully making his way down the staircase, he turned and examined the strange room. Or was it a room, he thought, for there were hardly any walls with only a glassy looking floor, flanking the only wall in the room, which was about twenty feet away at the opposite end. A single door stood against the wall.

Bon turned and looked at the amazing panoramic view of outer space and saw planets and stars and nebulae of brilliant colors and hues. As he watched, a star suddenly streaked across the sky. It was awesome. Rye was NEVER gonna believe this, he thought.

He heard a noise then and turned his head in the direction of the portal and saw first the girl emerge, and then the man follow her.

The two of them made their way down the staircase, joining him. “Right this way Bon,” Kronos said, and he led him across the floor and through the door.

Bon found himself in a normal looking yet very large room with a large desk at one end but on three sides of the room were row upon row what looked to be television sets.

Kronos walked the length of the room and sat behind his desk and looking at him said, “Please, come closer.”

Bon jumped for it sounded as if the man had spoke the words right next to him yet he was something like twenty yards away.

Thalia walked by him and Bon stared at her briefly, thinking she certainly was beautiful, he’d give her that. He was relieved to know that part of him still worked normally.

He followed the Goddess as they both sat down in chairs near Kronos’ desk.

As Bon looked at the man, suddenly he did not see the cloaked dark haired younger man any longer. Sitting in front of him was an older middle aged man with long silver hair and a pleasant expression on his face. He was dressed in a blue long sleeved work shirt and from his right ear dangled a small gold hoop which held a tiny hourglass dangling from that.

“This is my normal look when I am not working,” Kronos offered in explanation noticing Bon’s wide eyed look. “When I am working, I choose to look like the image of myself as I looked at age 28 years of age.”

At least he was far less daunting this way, Bon thought.

Kronos then said, “Are you ready to hear me out now?”

Bon nodded.

“Where shall I start?” Kronos wondered aloud.

“How about at the very beginning?” Bon asked. “Tell me everything.”

He sat back in the comfortable armchair and waited.

******

Alexis tossed and turned, her body feeling sore. She sat up and suddenly realized it was morning. Her back hurt and her hips. She wasn’t used to sleeping on the hard ground, despite the warmth of the furs. She missed her comfy queen sized bed. Then having that thought she looked around realizing that what she’d experienced last night was not a dream, it really had happened.

God! How could this be, she wondered?

She saw that the woman Tasha was no longer in the tent but at that very moment she popped her head in and said, “Ah, you have awoke.”

She came in and in her hands were a piece of clothing and a pair of sandals which had leather long laces. “Here is a dress you can wear. It looks like your size. It is one of mine from my trunk which Bjorn had put on board the Valerian after I had been captured by Rollo and his clan when they rescued me.

Alexis stared at her. “Rollo and his clan?” She asked as she took the garment and slipped it over her head.

The dress was made of linen and was the color blue. It was long sleeved and ankle length, fitting her like a glove. It also exposed a great deal of her bosom she noticed. Tasha handed her the sandals. As Alexis slipped the sandals on she wound the laces around her legs and then tied them as Tasha answered her question.

“Yea,” she said. “Our village was attacked and I was about to run and hide but Rollo found me and captured me taking me aboard his ship.”

Tasha reached under a fur and pulled out a couple of objects which were a small mirror and a comb, handing them to Alexis. Alexis tried to fix her hair as best she could then. As she gazed into the mirror she saw that her face looked pale and tired, with faint dark circles under her eyes.

“You have startling eyes,” Tasha commented. “They are reminiscent of the sea and very beautiful.”

Alexis stared at her and said, “As are your own. They are like the wild violets I have growing in my garden.”

Just then a strange woman poked her head inside the door of the tent. Tasha turned and said, “Genna, ye have awoke!”

“Yea,” Genna said and then came in. She said, “Who is this woman, Tasha?” as she gazed at Alexis.

Alexis saw another very beautiful woman with chestnut hair and gold streaks lighting it up here and there, as well as a killer body. She too was clothed in a dress with most of her ample breasts showing.

Alexis introduced herself and held out her hand. The woman smiled at her and held up her fingers in a V waiting. Alexis looked momentarily confused and then she did the same. The Viking handshake was simple. Each person held up their hand with index and middle finger in a V and then pressed them against the tips of the V of the other person’s two fingers and then grabbed the hand and squeezed.

Alexis winced slightly as the woman was very strong and possessed the grip of a man.

But she then smiled slightly and Tasha said, “That is how we greet one another.”

Then Alexis held out her hand to show them how they greeted one another from her time. Genna held out her hand the same way, and Alexis took her hand and shook it up and down.

Both women giggled at that and Genna said, “Very strange, but not unpleasant.”

Tasha said, “It is time to prepare the morning meal.” She looked at Alexis and said, “Since you are not one of our clan, Alexis we will not ask you to help but after it is prepared you may join Genna and I if you like, while we eat.”

Alexis thanked her and the two women left.

After a moment, Alexis sitting there unsure of what to do, realized she needed to get out of the tent. She carefully stood and then opened the tent door and exited.

Much activity was going on in the camp she saw. She looked over spying a large table of tree logs, set low to the ground, around which sat many robust strong looking men. She saw Bjorn and noticed he was staring at her. She flushed immediately and as much as she tried, she realized with horror she could not tear her eyes from his own. Then he looked away momentarily to speak to the man on his right and the spell ended. Her eyes dropped then and she saw that he was wearing a black sort of swash buckler type of shirt which she found very appealing.

Then she looked at who he had turned to speak to and felt a shock the size of a small earthquake, hit her entire body. For she was looking at the identical twin of Rye Sanders.

The Rye likeness stared back at her, a smile on his handsome face and said something to Bjorn. Alexis was confused beyond belief and started walking toward the table when Tasha seeing her intentions, intercepted her.

“You must not disturb the men when they are at the table,” Tasha told her. “It is forbidden for we women to speak to them until after the meal. Nor are we allowed to sit with them while they partake of it,” she told a disbelieving Alexis.

Alexis then realized, that this was way before women had became emancipated. However her hackles had went up and she said, “Why? Why it like this? Why can you not talk to them or eat with them?” She knew the answer but wanted to hear Tasha say the words.

“Because we are mere women,” the violet eyed beauty stated matter of fact.

“Mere women?” Alexis asked. “You bear their children and care for them, cook their meals, sew their clothing, take care of their houses I am willing to bet, and make love with them too.”

Tasha blushed at the last but said, “We also hunt along with them and do many more things.”

Alexis said, “And tell me what exactly does a Viking man do?”

Tasha said, “Oh the men have important responsibilities. They must protect us, defend the village which means fighting the enemy at times, and they also hunt and prepare the game, and... and... she hesitated and said, blushing again, “They give us pleasure in other ways.”

Alexis smiled at the woman’s modest attitude and said, “I see.”

She turned and found almost every man at the table staring over at them. Her eyes went back to the Rye look-a-like and she saw he too was watching her intently.

She knew that someday her rebel spirit was going to land her in a great deal of trouble and she prayed that today was not the day. Alexis smiled at Tasha and then Tasha left to go back to the cooking of the meal.

Taking a deep breath then Alexis continued on her way over to the table. As she walked over to the end where Bjorn and the Rye twin were sitting, the men stopped laughing and talking. It was completely silent, as they all turned and stared at her.

As she walked up to the table, one of the Viking’s sitting near her, a blond haired handsome man, reached up and put his hand casually around her waist and said, ’By Odin’s beard, but you are a beauty!” The other men whistled and cheered in agreement.

Alexis asked, staring at him coolly, “And who might you be?”

The Viking stared at her momentarily and then dropped his arm and said, “Do you know wench, it is forbidden for the women to speak with us warriors why we partake of the meal?”

She stood but two feet away from the Rye twin, but she didn’t look at him.

“I DO realize it is forbidden for women to talk to the men while they sit at their table,” she replied. “But I am not from your clan and am from somewhere else entirely.” She looked at Bjorn when she said this, who was watching her with an undefinable expression on his handsome face.

“I do not think the same rules apply to me, so I am begging that you make an exception this time,” she said.

Still silence.

Her eyes glanced once again at Bjorn and she noticed his lips wore a trace of a smile.

The warrior who’d challenged her didn’t reply but nodded his head slightly.

Alexis turned and looked at the Rye clone. “I must ask you a question, ” she said. “What is your name sir?”

Rye stood and bowed slightly saying, “Ryden Sorenson at your service my beauty. You may call me Rye.”

Even his name Ryden (Rye) Sorenson was SO similar to Rye Sanders from her time, she thought. And the way he resembled Rye in his appearance was uncanny. He was a bit younger than Rye was in her time, but the only other difference was the clothing he wore, which was a black, suede leather vest, open to his navel and on his legs he wore tight leggings which molded to his slightly muscular thighs. He wore a heavily studded belt around his waist and on his feet were black leather boots stopping at mid calf. Come to think of it she thought, the clothes were not that much different from the rock star clothes Rye wore himself.

Getting a hold of her thoughts she said, “Thank you,” and held out her hand. She put her fingers in a V but Rye, smiling, took her hand and kissed the back of it. Alexis suddenly felt goose bumps tickling her neck. He kissed her hand just the way Rye always greeted women. At least the pretty ones.

As he released her, she said, “It’s just that you look like someone I know.”

Rye smiled fully showing his Rye teeth and said, “There is another Ryden somewhere? I would like to meet the imposter!” he said as the men around the table laughed loudly. Alexis didn’t say anything and she saw that Rye was waiting for her to reply.

She said, “It’s a long story. Perhaps you should ask your friend Bjorn.”

She didn’t dare look at Bjorn but kept her eyes on Rye’s face and said, “Thank you for indulging me.”

Turning and looking at the warriors then, she said, “I will leave you now and please pardon the intrusion.”

She walked away as the silence continued and could feel the men's eyes boring into her back. Then she heard loud raucous laughter and her face flamed. They probably were laughing at her impudence, either that or they all were convinced she was touched in the head, she thought.

She walked over to where Tasha and Genna stood. They were just removing several large pans from the fire, in which sizzling fish cooked. The smell was heavenly, Alexis thought, feeling her stomach growling. In addition there were baskets here and there holding an assortment of fruits, such as apples, grapes and different types of berries, as well as fresh vegetables, mostly boiled carrots, braised parsnips and turnips.

Servants had just pulled the flat breads out of the pan, and Alexis smelling the heavenly smell of fresh baked bread, said to Tasha, “I would like to help. What can I do?”

Both women turned to her smiling. Genna said, “You can carry the baskets to the table wench, that would for certain, be a great help.”

Alexis picked up a large basket of fruit and another of bread balancing it on top of the fruit, and once again headed for the table thinking to herself, wench?

The men pretty much carried on with their laughing and boisterous behavior and as she set her load down on the table she placed a basket of bread near Rye and Bjorn. She caught Bjorn’s eye again and she felt chills go down her spine and a warmth coming from her core. God but the man possessed the same talent as her own Bon she thought. Making a woman feel undressed with his gaze. She tore her eyes away and walked off and then unable to help it, swayed her hips softly from side to side. It was a universal woman thing, she thought.

Bjorn watched the woman feeling desire course through his loins as she walked away, her hips swinging provocatively and he saw her full bottom which filled out the back part of her dress, suddenly itching to cup that undressed bare ass with his hands.

Then he felt ashamed. It was Tasha he loved, but Odin help him, he did desire this strange wench. He would most love to bed her.

Finally the men were all taken care of and sat happily eating and Tasha handed Alexis a large wooden bowl and said, “Here is a dish for you Alexis, the three of us will eat over there.”

She pointed about fifteen feet away from the men’s table.

Although Alexis scanned the area she could not find any other table. “Where is our table?” she asked.

“Table?” Tasha asked, looking puzzled. “We have no table. We sit on the ground and eat.”

Alexis was outraged. Even though she had sat plenty of times sat on the ground at picnic’s, even though a blanket was between her and it, she was not going to stand for this.

“That is barbaric!” she said loudly and suddenly the men’s talk cut off. Every one of them turned to look at her. “Where is your Captain Eriksson?” she asked. “I would like to speak with him.”

“He is not here Alexis,” Tasha replied. “He is over on the ship,” she looked out on the ocean, “as the Valerian suffered damage when our clan fought Blackheart the pirate and his men. The captain and some of the servants are setting about repairing it.”

Alexis stared out at the large Viking ship and thought, pirates? They fought pirates?

“Well when he returns I will speak with him,” Alexis retorted.

She turned and looked around trying to find something that might work as a table. She saw several small crates sitting to the side and went over and started tugging one in the general direction of where they were going to be eating.

Tasha and Genna both walked over and said, almost in unison, “What are ye doing wench?”

“I am moving our table over there,” Alexis replied. “Would you mind giving me a hand?”

Both women immediately looked at each of their hands and then back at her and Alexis remembered she had to think of English as it was in this time frame, which should not be much of a problem being that she was a writer and she said, “Please help me.”

The women hesitated and then both helped her pick the crate up and move it over. The men watched, occasionally laughing but Bjorn and Rye did not. Their faces wore twin looks of admiration as they admired the woman’s spunk and boldness as well.

Soon the women had 4 crates lined up two of them back to back with the other two. Then Alexis took her bowl and piled some fruit and cooked vegetables on it, taking a piece of the cooked fish and then added bread. The other women helped their own bowls and then carried them over and set them down.

Tasha then went and fetched three drinking tins and then brought over some blackberry juice that had been strained from the berries and mixed with the juice of ripe apples. It was delicious Alexis thought as she sipped her drink.

As she ate the very delicious fried fish and the fresh fruits and vegetables as well as the piping hot newly baked bread she thought how much better food back in this unspoiled time tasted as compared to that which one would buy at the supermarket.

The women chattered or mostly Genna and Tasha chattered as Alexis concentrated on eating. She was absolutely famished she realized.

Suddenly both the other women’s voices broke off and Alexis saw a shadow fall over their table. She looked up, and her mouth dropped open as she found herself looking at one of the most commanding, remarkable Vikings, other than Bjorn, she had met so far.

He was a huge man, but all muscle and was dressed in a breastplate made from shiny brass, and beneath that he wore a silver maillot, which ended above his navel. His abs were ripped in the same way as Bjorn’s and he too wore a belt and beneath that was a pouch barely covering his very well endowed privates. His long flaxen blond hair waived in the morning breeze and he wore a Viking helmet on his head from which protruded two horns.

He had his hands on his hips and as he gazed at her, he said, “You are the stranger, Bjorn has told me about. How did you get here and why do I hear that you dared talk to the men while they were at their table?”

Alexis stood so she wouldn’t feel so small and insignificant and said, putting a pleasant smile on her face, “And who is it that I am talking to?”

Alexis realized then that the whole camp had gotten quiet. People just simply stopped what they were doing and broke off all of their chatter to watch and listen.

The blond Viking stared at her feeling a combination of shock at her boldness and impudence at her not having answered his question, instead asking HIM a question, but he also admired her bravery, or her foolishness, he couldn’t decide which.

He said, “I am Captain Leif Eriksson, the owner of the Valerian, Explorer and leader of this clan! Now wench will ye answer my question?” he thundered.

Alexis shocked, jumped a little and almost said, I am Alexis, the small and meek...

Trembling as he glared into her eyes, she said, ’My name is Alexandria Isabella Grey. I come to you from the year 2007, Captain Eriksson.”

Leif was silent for a moment, though his eyes softened. He had already heard of the tale from Bjorn this morning, though he had wanted to her it from her own lips. His first instinct was to think the woman crazed. But as he stood staring at her he saw beautiful calm green blue eyes gazing into his. He rethought his original opinion. She simply did not have the look of someone who was touched in the head.

Then Alexis said, “Tell me Captain, have you named this land yet?”

Leif said, “Nothing has been decided yet, why is it you ask wench?” He stared in her sea green eyes thinking that she was the most stunningly beautiful woman he had seen, reminiscent of his wife Thorgunna when she was younger.

Alexis answered, choosing her words carefully, “Because our history books say that you will name this land Vinland.”

Leif gasped, and dropped his hands from his hips staring at her with a look of amazement on his strong handsome face.

“How did ye know of this?” he asked her. Leif thought back to early this morning when Bjorn and Rye who had went hunting, returned and told him that they had found the grape growing wild, further inland. They took Leif there and he could not believe how many grape vines they found. It was everywhere you looked, wound around trees, covering the ground and growing over rocks, and across meadows. Bjorn then, suggested he name the land ‘Vinland.’ And Leif had liked the name but normally he and his high officers would put the name to a vote as it was more, just, that way.

“I told you,” she said, “You and Rollo and others are mentioned in our history books.”

“I am in your books?” Leif asked feeling a bit pleased. But then he thought of her other words. “But the books also mention that scoundrel and pillager of women, Rollo as well?” He scowled fiercely at that.

“Yes, but what is written about him is not exactly flattering,” Alexis replied. “Basically he was written up as the way you just described him.”

Leif felt content then and as he started to speak one of the servants ran up and said, “Captain! A ship approaches!”

Leif turned abruptly as did the warriors sitting at the table. All eyes looked out to sea as they could see far off in the distance the white sales of a boat.

The warriors who had been finishing their breakfast jumped up as Leif turned to join them. “War gear men! We head back to the Valerian!” Leif ordered.

“What does it mean?” Alexis asked the other two women.

“It means,” Tasha said, “That we go to battle again, most likely.”

Alexis feeling a bit fearful, slumped down at their makeshift table as she looked at each of the two women. But they just continued eating calmly, as if news like this was as common as asking the time of day.