Chapter 5: The Ceremony

The day was soon gone and replaced by darkness. I wear my wedding dress and it may look perfectly beautiful, but it is beginning to feel a little too warm right now. The material sticks to my skin as I wait around for the people to call me. Behind the doors I hear them. I hear the rowdy cheers and whistles of the Northmen. They are getting louder in my ears and I am now sweating.

*I do not feel ready*.

What feels like panic starts to set in and I cannot help but step back.

"Your highness?" One of the guards notices, his hand out as if I were to fall.

"I... I just need some space. This is all too fast."

And I run away, with their voices calling out to me.

"I need time!" My voice sounds scared and I am hoping they give me that before alarming anybody.

I just need time.

...

Makeup drips down my face as I sit on the rocks of Poseidon. I cup some water into my hands and scrub the rest off of my face and look at my reflection. The fast moving stream carries away the tears but the reflection stays still. My cheeks are flushed, eyes much smaller and swollen.

I do not even know what will happen afterwards. Will he return to the North? That will mean I must go too and I... I do not know if I could do that. I remember my father's words, when the time comes I will have to go. Is it enough to hope that he meant in the far future? My hands squeeze around the few rocks I had picked up on the way here. The pain acts as a release for the time being.

The moon stares back at my frightened face. Soon they will come looking for me if I had not gotten back before they realise I have gone. I hope that the guards realise my worries and that I just needed some time.

But I must go back. Your word is all you have and my word meant everything to me.

...

"Princess, shall we call for the physician?" Xavier joins me walking up the steps to the palace.

"No, I am fine now, thank you Xavier. I hope that nobody else was alerted to this matter?"

He shakes his head and gives me his arm.

I am back at the doors but the sounds have now almost gone.

"It is time." Xavier says and then I follow his eyes. My father approaches, oblivious to my episode and his face proud and expecting.

"Daughter, are you ready?"

"I am. Take me to my husband, father."

I stare straight ahead as the doors open but I feel his smile besides me.

The musicians play songs and this is the chance I take to see my own wedding decoration. They have kept it light, whites and soft yellows with blues. The shimmering floor reminds me of the coast at night and the round chandelier is like the moon. The number of guests have exceeded my expectations. It is almost funny how they contrast however. One side is my people, elegant and cooing whereas the Viking cannot keep quiet. Either by their shuffling as some of them have worn our clothes or their colourful, hushed conversations.

I touch my hair, hoping its appearance show a sign of determination and duty. It is heavily braided, fashioned exactly how a Viking bride would have it. I may have visited the library for some sort of preparation. They are their own kind of people, I had to have some sort of knowledge. And I did want to make an impression all on my own on him.

Their whispers are all around me.

"Look at her hair." Someone gasps from the right, our side.

"She looks like one of us." A tall one laughs. He does not even try to keep quiet. His wife, I presume, hides her own giggle but nudges his side. Her hair is long, blonde and loose with a part of it twisted away. I pass by them at the front and they regard me, carefully. I feel as though they are important to their king for the tall one was who announced the king's acceptance of me.

Rolf has not seen me yet. And I see his clothing. It is not like the others. A fine dark tunic beneath a heavy overcoat. His hair is tied away, braids of course running through them. I notice his sword, the one that he fought with this morning, at his side. I remember reading that it was customary for them to bring their swords at weddings.

"Your Highness, please join the Northern king at his side."

Then he looks at me. From hard slits, his eyes momentarily open up. I get very close to him and my father clears his throat for he has not moved to accommodate me.

Wordlessly he side steps but does not look away from me. I see his eyes on my hair, studying my work. I hope that he likes it.

"Your highnesses?"

I snap out of staring at his face and look ahead. The tall one quietly laughs behind us.

Rolf slowly looks ahead and the ceremony begins.

...

I was grateful that it was over because they were how they usually are. Long and boring. Though I would imagine if I was marrying a man that I loved, it would be different. The Viking carried away their king, quite literally to the beach for that is where the party would take place. But one, perhaps insignificant, detail stayed on my mind. How he almost took my hand in his before they tore him away. I force myself to stop smiling as I watch them go.