Nordic Moon by K.E. Saxon

Author:K.E. Saxon [Saxon, K.E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: K.E. Saxon

Awestruck yet again by the intricate detail and design of the bridal crown, as well as its history, Ingiríðr gently settled it on the table beside she and the other women. She swallowed a sigh. Would she e’er have an occasion to wear such? Sadly, after the past days that included both her humiliation and her failure, she doubted it. And so did her father, ’twas plain. Evidently, Lord Grímr had been his final hope of getting her well-wed. She blinked back the tears that threatened to form, then turned back to continue the preparation of the bride for her groom and her bride bed.

With comb in hand, she moved to stand behind Vika, between Ete and Lady Arndís, who were occupied with the unlacing of the gown and the doffing of Vika’s shoes, and began running the implement lightly through Vika’s loose locks. Afterward, she would brush the long mane to a dark shine before placing the crown back upon Vika’s head for her husband to remove ceremonially upon his arrival. “Your hair has fewer tangles than I’d expected, Lady Vika.” She could not bring herself to use her given name without the title in front of the others.

“Aye, it surprises me as well, Ingiríðr,” Vika responded, clearly feeling not a jot of the same unease as Ingiríðr was feeling.

As the women continued to fuss and chatter, Ingiríðr’s thoughts traveled back o’er the day. Lady Arndís had prepared the hall so beautifully. And the exchanging of vows, with the majestic sea erne perched on Vika’s arm, had been magnificent. Although Vika had reminded her this morn that she’d done the same at her wedding to Lord Hákon years before, Ingiríðr did not recall it. Not surprising, since she’d been much younger and much less interested in weddings at that time, even tho’ her father had already been scheming to get her wed to Lord Hákon herself prior to the surprise contracted marriage between Vika and the older man that strengthened the alliance between the Gunnarssons and the Cambels.

She walked back o’er to the table, picked up the brush, and allowed herself another long look at the bridal crown, imagining herself in it, imagining herself kneeling on the low bench before the priest with her groom at her side. As had been happening all the day long, her mind instantly formed the impression of Eiríkr Thorfinnsson as that groom, and she shook the vision out of her head. What was wrong with her? He was strictly forboden to her. Mayhap ’tis why you are so attracted?

“Bring the brush o’er here, Lady Ingiríðr, so we may finish this quickly!” Lady Arndís said in a frantic whisper. “For, I can hear the men coming up the stairs without us first summoning them!”

Ete began to giggle, and so did Vika.

“My son is eager for his bride, ’twould seem!” Lady Arndís said o’er her own bubble of laughter as she patted down the flying strands of Vika’s locks after each stroke of the brush.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.