But now, she knew exactly what it felt like.
It bubbled up inside of her, effervescent and tingling through her veins as she looked up at this man who would sacrifice theworld for her, even if she didn't want him to. Gunnar had proved to her time and time again that he was going to stay. He wasn't going to hurt her. He was just going to be here with her. No matter how long it took her to open up.
Her shield from the world when she needed it. Her rock in a storm to clutch onto when the memories became too much. Her troll husband who would stop at nothing to make sure she was happy.
Which god had looked down at her and decided she had suffered enough? Which god had given her this moment, surrounded by the living and the dead? It was a gift she would never forget.
"Come on," Astrid called out, somewhere in that mass of people who were all turning back toward the center of Trollveggen. "The celebrations aren't over yet! The others should be done with their blood bonding by now. Now's the best part!"
Rose couldn't imagine what that better part could be. And then she realized she was allowed to say that. To explain.
So she leaned closer to Gunnar and said quietly, "I don't know what could be better than standing here, looking up at you, and knowing I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you."
His lips parted, and his face turned a dark green in a blush that spread all the way down his masculine chest. But then he shook his head at her and grinned. "Rose, I'm shirtless marrying you. What do you think I'm bringing to this marriage?"
"Everything," she replied, then grabbed his hand and followed the crowd of people out of the forest.
But there was one person in particular she was interested in speaking with. Rhydian. The elf who had guided her through so much hardship, and he walked beside her as another troll woman joined Gunnar on his side.
"Thank you," she said to Rhydian. "You've guided me through so much of my life, and I still don't understand why."
"My sister," he replied. "I suppose I can finally tell you. She was kidnapped when she was young, just like you. Forced to do horrible things. I was with her until the very end, where she chose to leave this realm and go to be with our ancestors. She suffered. I did not want to see you walk the same path."
Rose frowned. "It wasn't trolls, was it?"
He laughed. "Do you think I would have wanted you to marry him if it was? No, it was not trolls. Even the elves were cruel, dear Rose. But I did have another sister who ran off with a troll, and from my understanding, she was treated like a queen until the day she died."
Now it was time for Rose's mouth to drop open in shock as she realized King Egil's wife looked an awful lot like Rhydian.
He winked at her, as though he knew where her mind had gone. "The world is smaller than you think, dear one. She's not my sister, but she is a descendant of those who came from my line. She did me proud, just as all of my sister's offspring did."
Rose let out a little laugh, the chuckle bursting out of her before she could catch it. "Elves got around, didn't they?"
Rhydian only arched an unimpressed eyebrow at her crass language. That gave Rose a moment to listen in on the conversation Gunnar was having with the pretty troll beside him. She had looked so happy during the ceremony, and Rose knew that she was someone important to her new husband.
"Tindra," he said, and the name sparked a memory in Rose's mind. "I'm so sorry."
"You did everything you could, Gunnar. I released you from that guilt a long time ago, but you are the one who stubbornly holds onto it."
"How could I not? I was the reason you died."
"There were a lot of reasons that added up to my death, but you were not one of them. You were fighting in a completely different war band, unaware that I was out there with another.You did exactly as you should have. You protected Trollveggen, and you didn't let me in." Tindra smiled at him, her expression light and breezy. "I'm quite happy being dead. I get to watch anyone and everyone I want to watch. Including you."
He paled, and she laughed as she headed off into the gathering of the dead that would wait at the edge of the forest. It was time for Rose and Gunnar to join the living, even though it was hard to leave the spirits behind.
As Gunnar's magic faded away from them all, she saw the moment everyone else couldn't see them. But Rose could. She could still see all their smiling, happy faces, and the waves they gave them all as they headed into the capital of Trollveggen to join with the others who were now bonded as well.
Now it was time for that happiness to swell again. Rose could feel it building as they reached the first couple. They were at a jeweler's bench, watching the man twist wire around stones that were so pretty they made Rose's eyes burn. Bright sapphires, so blue they made the color seem like it shouldn't even have a name.
Then the next couple, this time at a metal smith, each of them picking out gold bands that were extremely large. But the gold was lovingly made, and they were quite pleased about it.
Rose almost asked what they were doing, but then they were interrupted by Vigdis. The gorgeous troll had a much larger troll maiden by her side, although they oddly fit together perfectly.
And then Vigdis tugged the massive troll against her side, and it all clicked into place.
"You're bonded!" Rose said, quite pleased for her friend.
Friend.
