"Drink… drink… drink…drink…" Harry felt tepid ale dripping down the sides of his mouth as he tried to gulp down as much of it as he could as quickly as he could. Across from him, Erlend was putting his prodigious skill at imbibing to good use and handedly beating him.

To his side, Torgils was waiting for the opportunity to down his own drink as the crowd cheered them on. Erlend finished his with a smile and slammed his mug down onto the table with the top down and Arnkel started in on his own. Harry had to struggle through three more gulps before doing the same.

Fortunately for him, Torgils could drink almost as well as he could fight and made up the difference. He finished his drink and slammed it hard enough into the table that it wobbled and felt as though it might fall over.

Their anchor was Aengus. An odd choice, but the younger man, it was hard to think of him as anything else after seeing him blooded in the field, had insisted. And despite their misgivings as a team, it seemed that he had the right of it.

As Arnkel finished and sent the last of the three brothers to his drink, it was obvious that Aengus was at least Thorfinn's equal if not his better. He dropped his mug to the table as the crowd cheered louder than ever. Then he let out the mightiest belch Harry had ever heard that he was quite confident would put an Erumpent explosion to shame. That just set the crowd off again.

It was the second day of feasting in what had once been Causantin's estate just outside of Perth. Its wealth had been plundered to the bones and divided between the lords to then be further split amongst the men. There was no one who served that would not leave Perth without some wealth. A share of it had been kept there under the presumption that one of the Highlanders would take up residence and lordship in the south.

And that was the greatest point of contention yet to be decided. That and whether we ought to keep marching. There was still St. Andrews that was unlikely to submit to pagan rule, though there was the possibility with the death of Cellach. Then to the south, they had to worry about the Kingdom of Strathclyde. Their king, Dyfnwal, was firmly Christian and had allied with both Aethelflaed and Edward against the Danes in the past to retake some of their lands.

Torgils clapped young Aengus on the back hard enough that it knocked the wind right out of him, but he managed to keep from letting his head smack into the table, "Well done… between the way you fought and the way you drink, I would think you Norse!"

Harry stood and squeezed the younger man's shoulder. If it were his choice alone, he would pick Aengus to take up rulership of Alba. He alone out of the taoiseachs seemed to truly embrace their allies. While the likes of Gamelin and Inan were grateful for their armies, they were still distrustful of them. History was a hard thing to forget, but it was a new day, and Aengus seemed the one best equipped to recognize that fact.

As he pushed his way through the crowd, he found who he was looking for. Rowena was in one of the less uproarious corners of the hall. She was speaking with Ragnall, Ansbjorn and Gamelin.

Sitting down beside Rowena, his hand found the small of her back as she told them, "St. Andrews won't need an army to be dealt with. Word of this conquest has already begun to spread, and that will have a far greater reach than our army. You can see it in the city now. The people are questioning the truth of the god given to them by the priests."

It was true. The scene in the heart of Perth had created many new heretics. And as word spread across Scotland and further afield, the hope was that those numbers would only grow. Harry and Rowena both knew that this wasn't a war that could be won with swords alone.

"St. Andrews and its priest worry me far less than the swords of Strathclyde, lady." The deference paid to Rowena had only grown after her display against Cellach, "If they send word to Mercia…"

"Then my cousin remains between them at Yorvik," Ragnall reminded them, "Should we get word of Strathclyde calling its fjords, we deal with them before the Saxons ever have the chance to arrive. I think the city can handle our hospitality for the next month while we wait and see."

"There is another matter that hasn't been discussed." Ansbjorn took a pull of ale, "Given the celebrations, it's understandable. The wealth has been split, evenly and fairly as I've ever seen in my raiding days, but their remains the question of what will become of Alba."

"That is for the taoiseachs to decide, not the likes of you." It was clear that Gamelin didn't care for Ansbjorn's presumption.

"The Danes and Norse have been making and killing kings on this island for more than a century now." It was hard not to appreciate Ragnall's bluntness, "I don't see why today should be any different."

From the reddening of his face, it was obvious that Gamelin had a lively retort ready, but Harry cut in instead, "There are enough of you gathered, eight of you remain if memory recalls. Unless you intend to call upon the thegns of Causantin that fought against us that survived, there are no others who can make the decision."

That brought the taoiseach up short. For a long moment, he looked at Harry considering the proposal. When it seemed he couldn't make up his mind, he continued, "You put it to the vote, if there's no majority. It falls to us to see the tie broken." He didn't think it would come to that, but, if necessary, he knew that he, Rowena, Ansbjorn, Ragnall, and the brothers could reach an agreement

Gamelin gave one stiff nod, "Aye, it seems the best course. I'll inform the others and it'll be done on the morrow." He grabbed up his own flagon of ale and downed it in one before going on his way.

"He means well enough, but he's a difficult man to like." Ansbjorn's eyes followed him as he waded through the crowd, "Still, I prefer him to many of the others."

"So long as these fools do not make that old bag of bones, Rhun, their new king, I will be happy enough." From what Harry could tell, even the taiosechs that respected the eldest amongst them didn't actually care for the man. And since he had no children to follow him, he'd make for a poor king.

"If you had to choose, who would it be?" Rowena asked the two jarls.

Ansbjorn snorted a laugh, "I care not so long as they remember who helped them get onto their throne."

"And you?"

It was difficult to read Ragnall as he looked at Rowena, "I have my own opinions, but unless they're needed to make the decision, I think I'd rather keep them to myself."

"Do neither of you want it for yourselves?" Given they'd been instrumental in ending the reign of the previous king, Harry didn't see why their names shouldn't be put forward.

"No, I've gotten all I wanted here, wealth and reputation in equal measure." Harry couldn't say exactly why, but he was sure that there was more to it than that. "This place doesn't interest me, though my mind turns to other opportunities. Ones that I hope my newest friends will be willing to help me with when the time comes." He raised a cup to the two of them.

"It is a difficult enough thing to be lord in the Hebrides and there is much that still needs putting to rights there..." He was still haunted by Gideon's machinations, "I would do no one any good taking on that sort of responsibility.

"And what about you?" Ragnall had a mischievous smile, "Why not you two? King Harry and Queen Rowena? It has quite the ring to it."

They looked at each other before they both laughed. Rowena managed to steady herself and answer for them, "No, we didn't come here to take on new titles. This was about doing what was right… what was necessary." It wasn't lost on him, or the two jarls for that matter, that she didn't deny that they were together.

"That's true, I'm sure." Ragnall leaned closer, "But I don't think that's the whole truth, even if you don't know it. Whether you meant to or not, you came here and made new stories for yourselves. The kind that echoes through history."

"He's right." Ansbjron agreed, "It's quite the thing to see two people bring together so many, so quickly, and give them common cause. There aren't many who would willingly give up that sort of power."

Their discussions were interrupted then as Torgils came steaming in, "Come, niece, dance with me! I remember how much you loved it as a child!"

The music in the room was barely a soft undercurrent against the general din of the crowd. But closer to the musicians there were a fair few people dancing away.

There were no protests from Rowena as her uncle pulled her to her feet and across the hall. Harry watched them with a fond smile. He couldn't remember the last time he'd celebrated like this. When I succeeded in the first task probably. Even after the second, I didn't feel much like celebrating.

As the night wore on, Harry stole Rowena from her uncle and danced until his feet were sore and even managed to do it without stomping on her feet. They both shared a laugh when Ragnall was pulled into a dance by an excitable Heiddi. As much as he tried to hide it, it was clear that he enjoyed her attentions though. They ate and drank and sang with the rest into the early hours of the next morning.

When they finally made their way to bed, Harry and Rowena did it together. By some unspoken agreement, Causantin's old quarters had been given to them. They were both pleasantly buzzed and a bit touchier than they would usually be unless truly in private.

His hand was on the curve of her hip, and he was taking the opportunity to pinch the soft skin beneath. Her head rested against his shoulder as she traced little circles on his chest with her hand.

He opened the door and quickly closed it behind him. With a wave of his hand, the sconces in the room were alight with fire. Making his way over to the bed, he sat down at the edge and had Rowena sitting in his lap. Her dark-blue eyes searched his as a soft smile came to her lips, "These last few days have been so hectic… it feels like we've barely had a chance to breath since the morning of the battle."

"I know." He wrapped his arm around her lower back and pulled her closer, "We've not had a moment to ourselves."

"Not since that morning…" She kissed the corner of his lips, "And there's something I've been meaning to tell you."

"Oh…" he was having a hard time focusing as she pushed herself against him, right where she knew it would have that greatest affect, "what's that?"

"I was right." She kissed her way down from the corner of his lips to the crook of his neck.

"Uh… that's not anything new." That made her giggle against him, "Mind being a bit more specific, Row?"

She pulled away long enough to look him right in the eye as she told him, "I feel the same way today as I did before the battle."

He couldn't stop the grin, "You did say that you thought about it… a lot."

She nodded her head in a very serious manner, "And I'm usually right when I put that sort of thought into anything."

"So does this mean you finally trust me then?" His hand slipped up along her thigh beneath her skirt to the curve of her bum.

Bringing one finger to the front of her lips, she played as though she needed to think about the answer. It was only when he pinched her perky behind that she yelped and gave it, "I do… but I'm curious just how much you trust me."

In another situation, that might have been a worrying sentiment, but the way she bit her lip as she dropped down so that she was kneeling at his feet with her face tantalizingly close to his hardening member put him at ease.

"I trust you more than anyone." There were things he still needed to tell her, but he knew they were far from easy topics to broach. And now certainly isn't the time.

"I know." He lifted his hips as she reached for his trousers. She pulled them so that they sat at his ankles. His length bobbed out and thudded against her forehead. She giggled as she took him in hand and gave him a stroke, "It takes a great deal of trust to let a woman do this…"

Her lips parted as she pushed them over his crown. Her tongue darted around the ridge as she pushed a little bit deeper. Her inexperience was obvious as he felt her teeth brush against him, but she was careful not to actually bite down. She pulled back and gave him a kiss right on his frenulum that made him shiver.

She had a devilish little smile as she realized the power she had over him, "I've been thinking about doing this for you since that first night when you licked me and kissed me until I was shuddering on your tongue…" To emphasize her point, she took one long lick along his shaft starting just above his bollocks until she was back at his tip. Opening her mouth, she took him back into that exquisite wetness and pushed her lips just that little bit further down his length.

Leaning back on his elbows, Harry stared down at the wonderful sight in nothing short of genuine adoration. She diligently took more of him into her mouth until she coughed and gagged as his spongy tip prodded against the back of her throat. Thick spittle leaked from the seal of her lips as she breathed heavily through her nose. But she refused to pull back.

Instead, she brought both of her small hands up to help in her endeavor. With one of them she stroked the rest of his length, working her slippery spittle into his sensitive skin. The other massaged his hanging bollocks. They twitched at her touch, and he heard a soft moan as precum leaked from his tip right onto her tongue.

Harry's fingers threaded through her dark tresses as he gently guided her, never forcing any further than she could handle. She was so absorbed in her task that it came as a surprise to her.

Rowena's midnight blue eyes snapped open as she gave him a particularly firm squeeze. Harry moaned low in his throat as he stared down into those beautiful pools of lust. He could see a sparkle in them with every new sound she managed to pull from him.

Little by little, he could feel his resolve breaking down. He could feel the subtle tightening of his bollocks as she coaxed more and more precum from him. With each passing second, she refined her technique. Brightest witch of her time indeed.

He shivered as she let her teeth gently scrape along the large vein that ran the length of his shaft. His voice came out like a desperate plea, "Row… I'm…"

If he thought it was going to deter her, he was sorely mistaken. Though in this case, it seemed that she may have overestimated herself. His cock flexed in her mouth as his balls pulled tight to his body. The first rope of his warm seed shot to the back of her mouth hard enough that it made her jump. She tried to swallow, but she didn't manage it all. Thick white cum leaked down his shaft.

The second shot caused her to pull back entirely, his tip slipping free of her lips. Harry throbbed as he heard her giggle happily as she kept jerking him with one of her hands. Her pretty face was painted in lines of white from chin to forehead, there was even some that highlighted her raven hair. As he twitched through the aftershocks, Rowena leaned in to lick up the side of his shaft and gather some of his jizz.

Her pink tongue darted back into her mouth and her neck bobbed. She hummed to herself as she told him, "Better than I was expecting… Next time I'll try not to make such a mess."

Harry would happily watch her make a mess again in a heartbeat. There was something primal about seeing such a beautiful woman covered in his seed, "You're a beautiful mess."

"I…" Her words turned into excited laughter as he hooked his hands beneath her arm and threw her back onto the bed.

"And I need give you proper thanks." Rip. He tore at the fabric of her dress to reveal her full bosom before hiking up her skirts to reveal her wet womanhood. His cock, still slick with his own cum, parted the petals of her tightness.

They moaned together at the feeling of being together again. Rowena's fingers slipped beneath the hem of his shirt and she scratched against his abs as he pushed all the way in, "Off… I want to see you." Not one to disappoint a lady, he pulled his shirt over his head.

As he eased his way out of her sheath, reveling in every exquisite, grippy inch, his thumb brushed against her cheek, gathering some of his cum as it went. Bringing it to her parted lips, she sucked down on it without hesitation.

Smack… Smack… Smack… He felt overwhelmed by the beautiful woman beneath him, rutting against her with every fiber of his being. Little by little, he collected every bit of his first climax on his thumb and offered it to his lover. When there was nothing left, she kept his thumb there, rolling her tongue around the digit as she stared up into his eyes.

He felt her walls flutter around him as she squeaked, high and sharp around his thumb. Her essence covered his cock, white and creamy, as she came undone. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head as she humped herself against him trying to prolong that euphoria. He held on, pinching one of her nipples to help extend that high.

The minutes ticked by each of them a small taste of bliss. Sweat dripped from his brow as he managed to pull one more peak from her. Her body shuddered in jiggled in the most sinfully delicious ways.

His own end came as she scratched her nails against his abs and brought her legs up to hook behind the small of his back. Her eyes held such an honesty intensity that he couldn't hold back any longer.

As that first blast of heat filled her pussy, she sucked down extra hard on his thumb. Every muscle in his body felt taut as he held her against her. Her walls flexed around him trying to coax every drop of cum left in his balls. If he could live in that moment for an age, he would've happily done it.

As that last twitch of his climax passed, he slipped free of her clutching heat. His thumb popped free of her mouth, and she gave him a beaming smile, "I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to that… but I look forward to finding out."

With a chuckle, he placed a heated kiss on her lips, "Me too."

Wrapping her up in a hug, he pulled her up the bed as she curled in against his chest. As they drifted to sleep, he expected it would be a peaceful one.

And at first, he was right. But fate had other plans.

It woke him up suddenly, a spell tied to the children's encampment. His panic was palpable as Rowena stirred beside him, "Someone's broken one of our wards." Her eyes widened and he saw her hurry about, trying to find a portkey.

In nothing more than his small clothes, he apparated away without thinking. He knew it would raise some questions, but he wasn't willing to put them at risk.

As he arrived in the clearing, everything was quiet save Euan, Rorik, and Adela quietly talking around a small fire. Whoever broke his ward was going for the subtle approach rather than brute force.

They noticed him and shared a laugh, "Harry? What are you doing here… especially dressed like that?" It was Euan that asked the question as he hurried over to them.

"I'm here because there's someone here who shouldn't be." He doused the fire with a wave of his wand, "Now into the tent, and don't come out until I tell you. Understood?"

He could see that Euan wanted to argue, but he wasn't going to allow, "I trust you to look after them, now go."

As they hurried into the tent, Harry could feel eyes on him and he could just make out the quiet padding of footfalls, "I know you're there. Might as well show yourself."

His plea to the darkness went unanswered… until five spells came zipping through the air from all around him. Whoever they were, they were smart enough to obscure themselves. His Revealing Spell illuminated them. Three were hiding behind nearby trees under Disillusionment while two others were using invisibility cloaks. His first spell was precise and devastating, decimating one of the trees.

There was a scream as the broken splinters dug deep into the arm of their would-be assailant. Another spell flashed from his wand to the source of the scream, and it quickly died down after a dull thud in the dirt.

The spells came fast and heavy then, but Harry apparated away and behind another before any of them could land.

A bludgeoner turned the odds to three against one. It was then that he heard the tell-tale sound of a portkey as Rowena arrived. Her dress was still torn, and she looked as though she'd been ridden well, but her wand was in her hand, and she got the measure of things without even batting an eye.

Her first spell was a deep purple and splashed against the translucent material of the invisibility cloak. From the cries of panic, it was a woman beneath. Two against two. He liked the odds before Rowena arrived, but now their uninvited guests were seriously overmatched.

It seemed that at least one of them knew it, "They can keep the money for themselves, it isn't worth this!" Before he could escape, Harry snapped his wrist making him drop his portkey. He fell to the ground unconscious thanks to Rowena's follow up.

"Useless bastards the lot of them." The last man standing revealed himself. He had an air of confidence about him despite being outnumbered. His hair was dark, and he had a neatly kept goatee. He was rather short and well-dressed in fine, green robes. Grey eyes appraised them both as he took up a dueling stance, "Well, shall we?"

Harry and Rowena shared a look and then… Spells filled the forest, lighting up the dark corners with every color. Harry had to admit, the man was impressive. For every spell he seemed to have a counter, when he was on the back foot, he knew how best to retreat. And on the one occasion where he saw an opportunity, he nearly took Rowena out of the fight. But she managed to encase herself in a dome of rock before his conjured fire-serpent could reach her.

Their entire fight lasted no more than five minutes, but by the end of it. There were a number of trees around the clearing that would never grow the same way again. A deep gouge ran some ten meters right through the center of the clearing. Despite his best efforts though, their assailant had a cut on his cheek and was limping quite badly. The two of them together were a hard thing to match.

Finally, he dropped to his knees and threw down his wand, "Yield… I yield." Rowena summoned his wand. At the mouth of the tent, he could see their pupils looking on curiously despite his warnings.

Before they went any further, Harry hid Rowena from view and quicky repaired her dress. She gave him a grateful smile but was more focused on something else.

"What were you doing here?"

There was a hint of accent in his words that sounded Spanish. It was there but only barely, "Fulfilling a contract…" he gave a morose chuckle, "One I never would've taken in the first place had I known what you two were like."

"What was the contract?" Harry could imagine the church doing something like that, but these people didn't seem like zealots.

"You were to be… coerced into presenting yourselves before the Council." Harry pinched the bridge of his nose as he felt a headache starting to form, "It was thought that the children would be the best way of managing that."

Rowena's brow was furrowed in confusion, "You're very forthcoming, all things considered."

He shrugged his shoulders, "I'm nothing more than a hired wand, and a rather exceptional one at that." From what Harry had seen, it wasn't a boast, "I have no loyalty to them. In fact, I detest them. But coin is coin."

"And does this 'exceptional hired wand' have a name?"

He smiled, "Salazar Slytherin… a pleasure to make your acquaintance." It went without saying that Harry did, in fact, have a headache.