Astrid appeared on her other side, her sister's blonde hair glowing in the bright blue light that shone down upon them. "Are you ready for this?"
"I've been ready for a long time, I think," she replied quietly, looking around them one last time.
But then she remembered that she was already bonded. She didn't need to go see a blood witch, and neither did Gunnar. This was a waste of time for them all to tiptoe around it, like she and Gunnar weren't already tied together as all the other couples were soon to be.
"Oh, wait," she said with a soft sound of disagreement. "I'm already bonded."
"Yes, I'm sure you are," Astrid replied. "But there's a ceremony with the trolls. A blood tie that intertwines your magic."
Rose frowned at her. "I know. We've already done that part."
Both Vigdis and Astrid froze, their expressions suddenly nervous. They both looked at each other and then at her.
It was Vigdis who quietly said, "You did the bonding ceremony? You mingled your blood and watched as your magic joined?"
"Yes. It was an odd color at the end. I wasn't particularly partial to it. But it's his and mine, so I suppose it should be fine." She shrugged. "I don't need to see the blood witch. What's the next part of the ceremony?"
Again, they shared a look before Vigdis said, "It's my bonding day, too. This is for you to deal with."
Then she headed off with the rest of the crowd, leaving Rose alone with her sister, who still looked rather troubled.
"What?" Rose finally asked. "What is the problem?"
"It's just that competing in the bridal games is sacred. I'm not worried about you, of course. They wouldn't punish you for this. But Gunnar, he's..." Astrid trailed off as heavy footsteps approached them.
Bjorn. Of course it was Bjorn.
Rose winced, not looking forward to dealing with the big brute who always made her a little uncomfortable. He was still very short and gruff with everyone, and hated crowds as much as she did. But his problem was that he could get very violent when he felt like he was closed in, and she just receded into herself.
But she wasn't that person anymore. She wasn't going to be. Neither was he. They were both moving forward, trying to learn and grow from a horrible experience that had torn them both apart in more ways than one. They should be friends, considering how much they shared with each other.
Still, it was hard for her to look up at him only to find that he was glaring down at the two of them. Not that she believed he was actually mad. That was just his face.
"What's the problem?" he grumbled.
The sound of his voice still sent shivers down her spine. His voice had been one that had haunted her dreams when she was in the labyrinth. So many women had prayed they wouldn't be given to him, although some of them had hoped for it. She always understood why. They wanted him to kill them, and he had done it. Over and over again. Killing so many people, it was hard to imagine how he didn't look at his hands and always see blood there.
Shaking her head, she refused to let those memories swell over her head. She was different.
He was different.
"I have already bonded with Gunnar," she declared.
He looked so angry immediately. His entire face morphed into rage, pure and true. She could already see him swelling a bit, the berserker in him ready to destroy anything and everyone who stood in his way.
"He what?" Bjorn snarled.
Oh, right. People were going to be angry about this.
Rose cleared her throat, trying to push the words past the anxiety that told her to run. "It's all right, though."
"All right?" He thundered, completely oblivious that Astrid had placed a hand on his chest to calm him down. "It is not all right!"
But then Rhydian appeared beside Bjorn, looking far too bored considering the situation. The spirit leaned against Bjorn's massive shoulder, as if it wasn't insult enough that he wasn't afraid of the terrifying beast. "He's angry on your behalf," Rhydian said.
She tilted her head to the side, not wanting to talk to someone who wasn't there but also needing more information.
"He thinks Gunnar didn't tell you everything about the bonding. To Bjorn, you are still a wanderer. Lost in your own head. A danger to yourself, and therefore someone who must be coddled. He hasn't been present for your awakening, dear one." Rhydian sighed, looking down at his nails and then tsking. "He cares for you, Rose. He doesn't want anyone to hurt you, and to him, Gunnar has hurt you."
