Page 114 of Truly, Madly Viking

By the time he reached her open front door, where she stood leaning against the frame for support, he had one girl in each arm, both of them chattering away and kissing his neck and face in welcome. But it was Maggie to whom he looked.

"Honey, I'm home," he said, mimicking the line he must have heard on the TV a hundred times. His tone was flip, but his eyes were dead serious, and vulnerable with question. He had to wonder if he was still welcome. After all, how many times could he leave and still be able to return?

"For how long?" she asked, trying to sound querulous, but failing because she was so happy to see the lout.

He set the girls on their feet and shooed them toward the house. Surprisingly, the twins scooted inside, giving them privacy. But the look they gave her as they passed was clear: Don't screw this up, Mom.

"Forever," he answered then, and opened his arms imploringly to her.

She hurled herself forward into his tight embrace. Against his neck she whispered, "Forever sounds just right to me."

Only later, when they all sat in the den, feeling very much like a true family, did Maggie ask Joe, "What will you do here?"

"I know not for certain. Build fireplaces? Teach demented people how to row a machine? Join the you-ess military as a warrior. He shrugged. "Does it matter?"

She shook her head. "I just want you to be happy."

"I will be happy wherever you are. You are my destiny."

Epilogue

Two weeks later...

Everyone agreed it was the best Viking wedding ever held on the grounds of a Texas mental hospital.

Primitive at times.

Poignant at times.

Unconventional at all times.

Jorund's brother Geirolf wanted him to wait until summer and have a spectacular lakeside ceremony at Rosestead, following the ancient Viking rituals.

Rosestead's famous rosebushes would be in bloom then. But Jorund was heard to exclaim, "Ibad kemur ekki komi til greina!" That was the Old Norse version of "No way!" Jorund said his brother was living in another world—Viking soap opera humor if he thought he was going to wait any longer than necessary to make Maggie his bride, and he certainly wasn't waiting for a bloody rosebush to bloom before he broke the period of celibacy his fiancée was insisting upon during the betrothal period.

Rolf sighed in the end and said, "Allt lagi." That was Viking for "OK." He also said something about bullheaded Norsemen who made decisions with organs other than their brains.

It was important to Jorund and Maggie that all their friends from Rainbow be a part of their wedding. Of course, barricades had to be erected around the hospital grounds to hold off the news media and spectators who'd gotten wind of the unusual event.

The wedding was held on a Friday—or Friggs day—to honor the goddess of marriage. It was an unseasonably warm and sunny day, even for Texas in January. Everyone took that as a sign that Jorund was in good favor with the gods, except for Maggie and her daughters, who claimed full credit, having made a wish upon a star to their One-God.

A small family-only wedding ceremony was held in church early that morning, to be followed by the traditional Norse nuptials on the hospital grounds that afternoon. Jorund claimed to be covering all his bases in tying the matrimonial knot.

The day started for both Jorund and Maggie with the ceremonial cleansings, which would normally take place in the castle bathhouse, similar to modern saunas. They compromised by having Maggie take a lilac bubble bath in her own home, with Jorund and his male attendants visiting a local athletic club, with boasted a Jacuzzi and sauna, as well. The symbolism behind these rituals had something to do with purification and the washing away of the virgin or single status. Jorund said the hot steam and cold rinse was more symbolic of his sexual state these past two sennights, which required many cold showers—hot, cold, hot, cold, hot, cold.

While these cleansing rituals were going on, the bride's and groom's attendants were supposed to be giving them advice. In Maggie's case, there was a lot of giggling going on. In Jorund's case, there was much scoffing and ribald jesting, especially concerning a certain body part of purportedly remarkable size.

Maggie wore the wedding outfit brought from Maine by her sister-by-marriage, Meredith Ericsson, which fit perfectly after a few adjustments. It included a long-sleeved, collarless chemise of gauzy white linen, ankle length in front and pleated and slightly longer in back. Metallic gold embroidered roses edged the wrists and circular neckline. A crimson silk overgown, open-sided in the Viking style, had matching bands of metallic embroidery at the neckline and hem.

The gold shoulder brooches and belt buckle were gifts from Jorund in the design of inter-twined boars.

The boar was the symbol of Freyja, goddess of fertility. Jorund and Maggie hoped to breed many children before she got too long in the tooth—Jorund's words—or he lost his virility—Maggie's words.

In truth, there were rumors that Maggie already carried Jorund's seed.

Jorund wore his brother's wedding finery: an black cashmere wool tunic with long sleeves, which hung to midthigh over slim trousers. At the waist was the leather belt Maggie had given him for Christmas, including his scabbard, minus his sword, Bloodletter. Rolf had presented him with a new sword that morning, Joy-bringer, which would play an integral part in the ceremony. A white silk-lined mantle, embroidered with roses matching the bridal attire, completed the outfit.

Rolf and Jorund, Meredith and Maggie had all agreed that they would be starting their own individualized Viking customs in this new world, including the passing on to each generation of these family bridal costumes.