“Oh, I beg your pardon,” Frida exclaimed as she scurried around the corner, almost stumbling into him. “I had no idea …”
He caught her by the arm to steady her. “It is fine. But why are you in such a hurry?”
She looked behind her. “I do not wish to dance with Fritjof,” she said. “He is very insistent.”
Torsten felt his anger rising. Fritjof had lost his wife to the attack by Taft and no doubt the man was lonely, but he was far too old for Frida. Besides, Torsten couldn’t bear to think of her marrying someone like him. He wouldn’t treat her well.
“Leave Fritjof to me,” he growled. “He will not bother you again.”
She looked at him with gratitude in her soft brown eyes. “Thank you, Torsten,” she said, giving him a small smile.
He felt on top of the world. Not only had this beautiful woman spoken to him, but there was also something he could do to protect her and help her to feel safe. It felt good.
Kaarina sighed happily as she looked around the barn. The women had done a wonderful job of decorating it with flowers and ribbons for the occasion. It had been the best day of her life. She looked over at Eira, who was sitting on a bench on the wall. She was deep in conversation with her mother. Kaarina had never seen Eira look so happy. Not only had she married the man of her dreams today, but she’d also been reunited with the mother she thought she’d never see again. Kaarina couldn’t believe how their lives had changed since those days when Eira had first come to their village as an outcast with accusations of evil witchcraft hanging over her. She had only survived through the intervention of Halvar and Canute. Kaarina couldn’t imagine life without her now.
“You look weary, my love,” Landwulf said, sliding onto the bench seat beside her.
She laid her head on his shoulder. “I am so full of happiness that it has made me tired,” she said.
“It has been a wonderful day,” Landwulf agreed. “And I am looking forward to going to bed, too.”
Kaarina blushed as she caught his meaning. “Shh!” she scolded. “People will hear you!”
Landwulf looked at the dancers thumping past. “I doubt it,” he said cheerfully. “Besides, you are my wife now. They expect me to whisper bedroom talk into your ears.”
Kaarina blushed again. “I can wait until the bedroom,” she giggled.
“I am not sure I can. Why do we not just sneak away? We can go to our own house for the first time as husband and wife.”
“You know that is not the tradition,” Kaarina said. “We must take the ox cart that the women decorated with flowers and ribbons. And the people must escort us.”
Landwulf groaned. “That will take so long! I want us to be at home now.”
“Why, so we can go to our bedroom?” Kaarina teased.
It was Landwulf’s turn to blush. “Are my thoughts that obvious?” he asked.
Kaarina giggled. “Every husband is anxious to whisk his wife off to bed as soon as they are married,” she said. “Everyone knows that is what you are thinking.”
“Let us tell them we are ready to go, then. They already know why!”
As the late evening sun sank towards the horizon, the two wedding carts turned in opposite directions. Some of the people went with Halvar and Eira to their new home. The rest walked alongside Kaarina and Landwulf as the oxen began their slow plod through the village. Kaarina leaned her head against Landwulf’s shoulder.
“This has been the happiest day of my life,” she said softly.
“Mine, too,” he said, covering her hand with his. “I am so glad you came to me and that someone else did not find you first.”
“I could not imagine a future with anyone else,” she said.
The End
LOVED IT? DIDN’T LOVE IT?
Did you enjoy the story of Kaarina? Were there things you thought could have been better? Why not leave a review and tell others about your experience? Your feedback helps me to know what my readers like so that I can create something even better in the future.
Kaitlynn xx
PS You can leave a review on Amazon,. Bookbub, or on Goodreads.
GLOSSARY: OLD HIGH GERMAN
Unhoflich
ill-mannered
Gartlih
garden
Widarrðzanti
dreadful
Eindingida
meeting
Alemannia
Germany
Pfaffo
Parson
Gizelt
Tent
Muoter
Mother
Brðtlouft
Wedding
Sambaztag
Saturday
Dwahal
Baptism
Westibarn
Candidate for baptism
Kapfa
Cap
Dingstat
Meetinghouse
Fritiling
Pancake
Heimbringa
Bride’s female attendant
GLOSSARY: OLD NORSE
Brullaup
Wedding
Heill
Good luck
Sváss
Beloved
Friðr
Beautiful
Bikkja
Bitch
Skald
Troubadour or Minstrel
Víkverir
Vikings or Vik dwellers
Rygr
Housewife
Lína
Bridal veil
Stofa
Sitting room
NORSE GODS
1. Eir, goddess of protection
2. Njǫror, the god of prosperity
3. Tyr, the god of war
4. Heimdallr, the guardian god
Author’s Note
While every effort has been made to preserve historical accuracy throughout this story, some elements of Norse culture remain a mystery or are disputed among historians. Therefore, some aspects of Norse life and beliefs have been “borrowed” from the known practices of surrounding nations while others are fictitious.
A NOTE ON THE SABBATATI CHRISTIANS
The term sabbatati Christians loosely refers to a group who followed the practices
