Page 72 of Her Celtic Captor
She came straight to the point. “I wronged you. I am deeply sorry for it.”
Fiona cast her a sidelong glance. “It is in the past, and we need not?—“
Brynhild rushed on. Now that she had started she needed to get the words out quickly. “When I arrived here, started to make a new life for myself, I realised how badly I had behaved. I had my reasons, I suppose, but they were not good ones and did not concern you. My actions were beneath me. I wished to apologise, to make amends. But I could not, I did not expect to see you again.”
“And now you have. You have had months in which to apologise if that was your wish.”
“I know. I should have. But, you should also know that Taranc punished me for what I did to you. I asked him to. I asked him to act on your behalf and he did so. It… it was a serious spanking, the worst he has ever given me.”
“Tarancspankedyou? For me?” Fiona turned to regard her, wide-eyed.
“Yes, he did. And he forgave me, on your behalf, but now that you are here I realise that you may not consider the mattersettled. I would understand that. I am ready to apologise to you, and?—“
“He spanked you? Actually spanked you? Bare bottom and, and everything?”
“Yes. Bare bottom and, and…” Could she actually tell Fiona the whole truth of what Taranc had done to her? She supposed the other woman was entitled to know, since it was done on her behalf. “He put ginger inside my bottom too, and spanked me whilst it was there. It was very unpleasant.”
Fiona gaped at her and actually blanched. Brynhild wondered if she needed to fetch the pail again..
“Ginger? Oh my…”
“Yes, so you see he took his responsibility toward you most seriously.”
“I can tell that he did. But you and he are… you are … happy together? Despite the ginger, and the spanking?”
Brynhild nodded. “We are. He is a good man.”
“I always thought so.”
“So, now that you know, I must ask you if you are satisfied that the matter is settled. I am deeply sorry for the hurt and fear I caused you, and if I could undo what took place between us I would do so. I hope you can accept my apology.”
Fiona regarded her for several moments, then gave a slow nod. “It is finished. Let us speak of it no more.” She made as though to rise but Brynhild laid a hand on her arm. “There is one more thing I need to talk to you about. It concerns that night of the stocks.”
“Yes?”
"It was not my intention to leave you out in the cold all night."
Fiona raised one doubtful eyebrow, her expression speaking for her.
Brynhild pressed on. "I was distracted, by Njal's illness." She explained quickly about the loss of Astrid, the shock and fear this tragedy had instilled within her, and her concern that her beloved nephew might be snatched away just as quickly. "My fears were groundless, but I was not to know that then. I instructed Harald to remain with you and to release you after a short while. You saw me speaking to him? Just before I returned to the longhouse?"
On this, at least, they seemed to concur. Fiona nodded. "You spoke to him under your breath. I did not hear what you said."
Brynhild knew a pang of guilt. That had been spiteful of her. "Yes, it was my intention to frighten you so I did not allow you to hear me tell Harald to release you after thirty minutes."
Fiona frowned. It was clear this was indeed news to her. Brynhild went on to explain that she had returned to Njal's bedside and had completely forgotten the drama outside. Her concern had been wholly for the little boy in her care and she had given no thought at all to Fiona. She met the Celtic woman's gaze and held it. "I am ashamed to say that I forgot all about you. I should not have, but that is what happened."
"But—"
Brynhild continued as though Fiona had not interrupted her. "It was only when Njal at last slept that I realised that neither you nor Harald had returned indoors. I came at once to seek you out but as I left the longhouse my brother charged past me with you in his arms."
"I know. You have said all of this." Fiona seemed exasperated, and weary. Brynhild could not blame her. She had told her nothing new and the other woman was no closer now to believing a different version of events than she had been a year ago in Skarthveit.
Brynhild opted to try a different tack. "Forgiveness is precious. I know better than to ask it of you for I treated you very badly. I would have your honesty, however."
Fiona glowered at her, indignation writ across her features. "Honesty? I have always been honest in my dealings with you, and with Ulfric."
Brynhild shook her head. "Ulfric does not believe my account of that night because he insists his son was not ill. Njal was quite recovered by the following morning when Ulfric next saw him so I can readily understand why he believes it to be so. But you know, do you not? You remember?"
