The flies that buzzed around his face were beginning to annoy Ewen intensely. After days of rain and strong wind, the morning had dawned bright with the promise of fine weather. As the sun rose higher in the sky, the heat had become unbearable however and the small group of men had struggled in their heavy armour. Even the horses had slowed as the humidity had weighed heavily on them.

Looking up Ewen could see their destination slightly ahead of them. The small village on the borders of his land had an important defensive role and regular inspections were vital. Tonight they would stay in the home of the local lord and tomorrow complete the inspection of the troops and defenses. Ewen sighed deeply. He was stiff from the long ride and tired from the oppressive heat. His mind drifted to his home and he longed for the quiet coolness of the evening there. And Freya.

Ewen still felt a strangeness when he thought of the woman who was his wife. It was very different after the years of solitude to have someone in his once private space. Ewen had been king for eleven of his thirty years of life. It had been a long time without having the concern himself with the needs and wishes of another person. He had grown accustomed to the solitude and peace.

Ewen recalled his first meeting with his betrothed. It had been on a visit to her family castle to formalise the alliance. Freya had been two years old. The old King, Ewens father had been alive then too. He was strong still then; it was only in the next two years that the fevers began and gradual deterioration. Ewen could recall little of the visit apart from the tall, angry man who was their host and the daughter he was using to tie up the alliance. Even as a tiny two year old, Freya had stood next to her father during the proceedings, silent and sombre. Her blue eyes much older than her years as she witnessed the two most powerful men in the land decide on her future. Ewen wondered if she felt any of the dread he did in that moment.

At the main gates of the village, an entourage greeted Ewen and his men. The lord greeted them in the traditional way and welcomed them to his home. As Ewen rode next to him, he forced himself to focus on fragments of the conversation. Mostly about the readiness of the village for war and the inspections that would take place on the morrow. It had been a long day and Ewen was tired.

Much later, after the feast and many toasts to the welfare of the kingdom, Ewen found himself alone in the lord's private chamber. It was clean and comfortable and Ewen was grateful for the privacy. His mind drifted to Freya. He wondered what she was thinking as she lay alone in his bed. She would have a respite from his nightly attentions and perhaps that would please her a little. Ewen felt some guilt because he knew that there were nights when he had hurt her. His experience was that some of the pain was inevitable since she was untouched before their marriage. He had tried to make it more pleasurable for her. Her gasps of pleasure and responsiveness had pleased him but he had little experience in pleasing a woman. The maids he had coupled with in the secret corners of the castle had satisfied a need but their enjoyment was not something he had to be concerned about. Of more importance was not creating a bastard child to divide the succession for the throne. Ewen had always made certain to pull out before the end and spill his seed on their bellies rather than in the maids.

Freya was different though. Ewen needed to get her with child as soon as possible. The succession secure benefitted both of them. Suddenly he was restless for the quietness of his chamber and the warmth of Freya lying next to him. Sometimes in the night when he woke he couldn't help himself from reaching over for her. Her dark hair splayed over the sheets and slim body aroused him. Ewen wished suddenly to be in his own chamber in his own castle, his wife below him as he moved in her. He sighed deeply as he tried to go to sleep. The day ahead would be a long one but tomorrow night he would be closer to returning to his wife and castle.