“I do accept this man as my husband,” she said.
“Indeed,” the priest said. “Will there be an exchange of rings?” He practically smirked as he directed the question to Magnus.
“There will,” Osgar said from behind them and produced two heavy gold bands encrusted with rubies.
Magnus had never heard of such a thing. He’d seen other people wearing such decorations, but it was nothing he’d ever even considered.
He tried to tune out the next instructions from the priest as he blessed the rings and instructed him and Elspeth to place the rings on the other’s fingers.
After another prayer and another reference to Osgar’s greatness, the priest said, “Go forth as husband and wife and may the Great and Almighty God bless your union.”
And then it was over.
“You can kiss me now,” Elspeth said.
Magnus needed no more encouragement. He slowly lifted her veil and everything and everyone else in the chapel melted away. Only they two remained as he gazed into her lovely eyes.
“You are mine now,” he whispered, “For all time.”
“And you are mine,” she said.
Magnus leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. She smelled of lavender and cloves, scents he would always and forever associate with her for the rest of his living days.
“We should go to the feast now,” she said with a chuckle.
“I don’t care about the feast. I have missed you,” he said and kissed her again ever so softly. “And I have missed this.”
“Aye, I have as well, but remember no one else knows about our time in the tower.”
“Freydis does,” he said and leaned back to see her reaction.
“She does. And we have much to talk about, but for now, let us join the others at the feast. There will be plenty of time to reconcile all of that later. For now I want to sit beside you, hold your hand and thank all the gods responsible for bringing you to me.”
That was good enough for him. But he couldn’t let her go without lifting her up and swinging her around in an embrace to let her know just how happy he was they were now officially joined. Well, in her God’s eyes anyway.
They held hands as they made their way outside and to the crowd that had still gathered waiting for them. The priest’s eyes narrowed in on him again. Magnus wondered what would happen if he challenged the man. He suspected there would be cowering and grovelling considering Magnus was now a part of thisexaltedfamily and according to Osgar would be given title and lands. Perhaps some good could come from that arrangement after all.
Once they were back inside the keep and entered the hall, Magnus was impressed at how the place had been transformed to include many garlands of boughs and strings of dried flowers and herbs in arrangements placed on all the tables.
The main table was lavishly decorated with silver and gold goblets and pitchers; trenchers contained steaming meats, salmon, and breads; bowls contained a dark brown liquid and in the centre was a whole wild boar. The aroma in the hall was enough to make the juices flow in his mouth and he had to swallow hard to not embarrass himself.
“Here, you two,” Osgar said. “You will take these seats.”
Osgar directed them to two ornate wooden chairs at the centre of the table. Once they sat, a servant came by to fill their goblets with a dark red liquid Magnus had never seen before. He sniffed it then sipped. It was not unpleasant; not quite as sweet as mead, and not quite as bitter as ale.
“’Tis wine,” Elspeth said. “I prefer it over mead so my brother gets it for me when he can.”
“I shall make sure we are always stocked with it,” he said.
Servants cut up samplings from all the food and placed a large platter in front of them so they could choose what they like. Magnus was not accustomed to such formality and so looked to Elspeth for help.
“Take what you like for yourself and for me,” she said. “I promise we won’t eat like this always, but there is a certain expectation with so many present.”
“I choose your food?”
“Aye, it is technically yours to give.”
“But your brother is laird here.”
