Timmy:Don’t worry, babe, I’ll be there in three weeks, and we’ll have all the fun.
Lilly:I’m holding you to that.
* * *
“Now,as I said, we have two choices where you have your wedding.” Adela opens her folder. We’re currently in a palace car, I presume, driving to the destination choices. The cars have two rows of seating in the back with the seats facing each other for better conversation. I’d never seen anything like it until I arrived here, and dare I say, I really like them.
Theo stayed behind at Strombly, but Katla joined us, and of course, she looks as beautiful as ever in a tweed, forest-green suit and matching leather gloves. I’m starting to notice a trend with her style and mimicking it the best I can, but it’s taking me a second to develop a style that fits my personality and speaks to my future role.
Continuing, Adela says, “We have Frigga’s Sanctuary to view and of course the prestigious Norse Temple.” The car pulls up to a stone entrance. “Which we’re at right now.”
Lara and Ottar climb out of the car in front of us in their matching black suits, and I can’t help but think how cute they are together, even when they’re on the job. Ottar stands by the stone entrance while Lara opens the door for us. Keller is the first to exit and holds his hand out for every woman, with Katla being the last to exit.
“Right this way.” Adela walks through the wooden door under the stone arch. Keller takes my hand in his and we enter a dark stone corridor straight into an ornate cathedral with gray stone vaults, matching stone flooring, and gorgeous stained-glass windows on every side, emitting a rainbow of sunlight.
“Wow,” I say, taking in the entire space.
I’ve never seen such intriguing and time-honored architecture. The carvings seem so alive and intricate, and rich fabrics hang from the walls and decorate the stone floor.It’s incredible.It’s a temple made for royalty, that much is obvious.
“Now this of course is where Queen Katla and King Theo were married, as well as Prince Sveinn.” Adela directs our attention to what feels like half a mile-long aisle. “Chairs will obviously fill either side of the aisle where there are no pews, so they’ll extend to the entrance. We didn’t enter through that way for privacy reasons, but you can get the idea of how long your walk down the aisle will be.”
I gulp. “That’s, uh, that’s pretty long.”
“Enough room for a large train. If that’s what you want. This is all your choice,” Katla says.
“Did you, uh, have a long train?” I ask.
“Twenty feet,” Katla answers.
“Twenty feet? My God, how did you walk?”
“With precision and the help of my father.” She glances at me, and her smile fades. “Whoever you decide to walk you down the aisle will also help you.”
“I can,” Keller says, his hand growing tighter.
“But you should be at the altar waiting for me,” I say.
“Or we can walk together,” he states matter-of-factly. From the tip of his chin and the affirmation in his voice, he’s asserting I don’t have to do this alone. It’s one of the many reasons I love him.
“Something we can figure out further down the line.” Adela brings us to the “altar,” and she says, “This is where everything will happen. The acoustics are great in here, so when you do your love chant, the congregation will be able to hear you.”
“Uh, pardon me.” I hold up a finger in question. “What’s a love chant?”
“Oh, it’s a beautiful tradition,” Katla says. “Quite lovely, actually. In front of all of your family and friends, you sing to each other about your undying love.”
Say what now?
“But . . . I don’t sing.”
“Oh, none of us do, dear. That’s the fun of it.”
Can’t quite imagine how singing in front of the entire country—off key—is going to be fun, but hey, I’m here for the experience . . . and to marry Keller of course.
“Now, will you add the traditional length to your hair?” Adela asks.
“What’s that now?”
Katla turns to me with an understanding smile. “Here in Torskethorpe, the hair of the bride is more important than the dress, which means, we spend a great deal of time perfecting it. One of the things we do is add length to it. Traditionally, the length would be horsehair, but other brides have also used artificial lengths.”
