“Sigrid!” he exclaimed, flashing her a smile that made her knees feel weak.
“Good morning, Hagen,” she replied, hoping that her voice didn’t sound as shaky as she felt.
“The King left instructions for most of us to remain behind and help the people of the village while he went riding with Alfonso. Is there anything I can do to help in the garden?”
Sigrid shook her head. “No, I shall not have time to work in the garden today. We have food to prepare for the King and our guests so it is ready when he arrives back from his tour this afternoon. The men will be hungry.”
“I am looking forward to tonight’s meal,” Hagen said, patting his stomach. “Last night’s meal was so good!”
“You can help me carry the vegetables inside and wash them,” Sigrid said. “That will save me some time. That is, of course, if you do not mind women’s work.”
Hagen laughed. “I will gladly help you, Sigrid,” he said. “It will allow me to spend some time with an enchanting young lady.”
Sigrid blushed at his obvious flirting. She handed him a basket of vegetables and his hand brushed hers as he took it from her. She felt heat radiating up her arm from his touch and looked up just in time to catch him watching her reaction. He smiled when he realized she’d caught him looking at her.
“You have beautiful hair, Sigrid,” he told her sincerely. “It is like the finest strands of corn silk.”
She lowered her head, feeling the heat in her face.
“Do not be shy,” he told her. “It is the truth.”
She got to her feet and took the other basket of vegetables. “Let us wash these,” she said, changing the subject to a less intimate one. She led the way to a tub of water and they set the baskets down beside it.
“Where do I start?” Hagen asked cheerfully.
Sigrid looked at him in disbelief. He really did intend to help her! She had never met a man who would willingly offer to do women’s work before. She could love a man like that.
CHAPTER 4
“Have you lived in this village all of your life?” Hagen asked Sigrid as they washed the vegetables.
“Yes, my father chose this site for the village after the family left Alemannia and I was born here,” she told him. “Are you a native of this land?”
He nodded. “I was born in a village to the north, where my father is a chieftain.”
“Did you grow up believing in the old ways?” she asked.
“Yes. My father and the other members of my family still do,” he said.
“Are you a Christian now?” she asked.
“I am,” he replied proudly. “King Haakon has chosen only Christian men to accompany him on this journey. He wants us to see how the different Christian villages live and worship.”
“Why did you become a Christian?” she asked.
“I listened to King Haakon speak of his faith and it made sense to me,” he said. “My father wanted me to continue in the old ways but I chose the new ways.”
Sigrid dumped the clean vegetables into the bucket she’d just scrubbed. “I grew up with the faith we practice,” she said. “It is important to me and our people.”
“Tell me, why did your people come to this land? You said you are from Alemannia.”
“We came here so that we could be free to worship as we please. Our people came into conflict with the official religion of Alemannia and some of us chose to leave there so we had freedom.”
He looked at her thoughtfully. “Why does your faith matter to you so much?” he asked.
“Because I love my God and I am grateful for all He has done for me,” she replied. “Why does your faith matter to you?”
“It gives me a good life,” he said. “Christians try to live peacefully instead of fighting and raiding. I went raiding in the days before I became a Christian. It was an exciting but dangerous life. I almost died several times. But I like peace better now.”
Sigrid looked at him with her beautiful blue eyes. “I am glad you did not die,” she said. “Then I would not have had the chance to meet you.”
“I am glad I did not die, too,” he said. “And I am glad that King Haakon chose me to come on this journey. Otherwise, I would not have met you.”
Sigrid blushed and turned her face away. Hagen watched her carefully. Was it working? Would he be able to declare his intentions to court her before they left the village? He was certain that she would make a good wife and it didn’t hurt one little bit that she was pretty. The King’s bidding would not be so difficult to live with if he could marry Sigrid. Despite his misgivings about the crazy scheme, perhaps it was going to work out well, after all. He would just have to keep trying to win Sigrid over. It was a delicate balance; they only had a short time here in the village but he didn’t want to push her too hard and scare her off. He tried his best to read the hidden meanings in her words and expressions. It was not something he’d ever had to do much in the past; women were creatures that were beyond understanding and men didn’t even try. They stuck to men’s business and left the women to theirs. It had been a hard learning curve over the past few weeks as they had practiced ways to court a woman and had learned to look for a woman’s response. If Sigrid’s shy pleasure was anything to judge by, the hard work was going to pay off.
Later that day, Hagen found Dag again.
“How have you spent the day?” he asked.
Dag grinned. “I was not fortunate enough to find a young lady,” he replied. “I saw two young women yesterday but Bjarte and Egil found them first. But I have spent an enjoyable day teaching Emiline’s young man to play board games!”
Hagen chuckled. “Do not tell the King,” he grinned. “He did not bring you here to entertain children!”
“It is more fun than trying to find a wife,” Dag said good-naturedly. “That is hard work. And I have no wish to wed a woman who looks like a sheep and sounds like the north wind in winter.”
“You amuse me,” said Hagen. “Are you sure you do not resemble a sheep?”
Dag punched him. “I do not have to look at myself,” he said, trying not to laugh.
“Pity your poor wife, then. Cut your hair and try to look like someone she can live with instead of gouging her eyes out so she does not have to look at you.”
“You are probably right,” Dag conceded. “But I am not certain I want a wife just now. It is the King’s idea, not mine.”
“He will be pleased with those of us that succeed,” Hagen reminded him. “There will be power and honor for those that help him to fulfill his vision for our land.”
“True. I have not said I will not try. But no one has caught my eye at the villages we have been to so far.”
“There are still several more,” Hagen conceded. “Perhaps a girl will fall into your lap at one of them.”
Dag thumped him on the shoulder. “I will try harder at the next village,” he said. “I will not have to compete with so many of the men because lots of you have already found girls to court.”
“I have not yet,” Hagen said. “But I am going to do my best to convince Sigrid to allow me to court her.”
“Well, blessings and good fortune on that quest,” Dag responded. “For now, I am going to return to Emiline’s house and play with the twins again. When the King returns, I shall get back to serious business again.”
Hagen waved as his friend walked across the road to Emiline’s house. He knew that his time was short and that he would have to step up his attempts to win Sigrid’s heart if he were to achieve his aim of courting her before they left. He loved a challenge; he would do his best to make it happen. He set off down the road in search of a meadow with flowers growing in it. The King had said women liked to be given flowers as a gift; he was willing to try anything.
Sigrid felt as if her heart would burst from the happy, confusing feelings bubbling up inside her. As she recalled the events of the past few days, she couldn’t believe how things had changed in her life with the coming of the
King’s men.
“Are you awake?” she whispered into the darkness of the loft, where she and Frida had retired before the rest of the family came to bed.
“Yes,” Frida said.
“What do you think of Hagen?” she asked.
“He is a wonderful man,” Frida answered.
“Did you see the flowers he picked for me from the meadow?” Sigrid gushed. “No man has ever done something like that for me. Even Father does not do that for Mother. It would not occur to him.”
“But he treats Mother well,” Frida said. “Love comes in many forms.”
“That is true and I am glad we have a kind father who treats all of us well. He has made it hard for many men to measure up to him.”
“I am glad that I will soon wed,” Frida said. “I no longer have to worry about who I will marry.”
“Torsten is a good man,” Sigrid agreed.
“I thought you might have liked Einar once upon a time,” Frida said.
“Einar? No, he is a friend but he is not handsome and charming like Hagen,” Sigrid replied.
“But he saved you from Fritjof,” Frida pointed out.
“True, and for that, I am very grateful. But gratitude is not the same as love.”
“He is a good man also,” Frida said. “He is like Torsten in many ways. They are both kind and thoughtful and willing to protect the ones they love. Einar would make a good husband.”
“Not for me,” Sigrid said. “I would prefer someone like Hagen.”
“Why? Has he swept you off your feet?”
“He is handsome and works for the King. How exciting that would be! Einar is only a farmer.”
“There is nothing dishonorable about farming,” Frida said. “Einar owns land and that means wealth. Does Hagen own land?”
“I know not,” Sigrid admitted. “But I know that he is the son of a chieftain in a village to the north of here.”
“Most chieftains have many sons. Who gets the land?”
“I know not. But it matters not. He has a good position working for the King and is someone important. And he is handsome and charming.”
“He has not asked you to marry him,” Frida reminded her. “He might be playing with your heart. He will be leaving here in the morning and who knows if he will return?”
Sigrid felt her spirits sinking and said nothing. Frida was right. Happy feelings were not enough to make plans for a lifetime.
“You are right,” she said, feeling deflated.
“Do not feel bad, Sister,” Frida said. “Even if he does not come back, you have still had an enjoyable few days where he has made you feel special. That is a good memory.”
“That is true,” Sigrid said, but she still felt uneasy. Had she got her hopes up for nothing?
The next morning, the King and his men were astir early as they prepared to ride on to the next Christian village. Sigrid was busy in the kitchen preparing food for them when Hagen appeared.
“May I steal Sigrid’s attention for a moment?” he addressed Minna, charming her with his smile.
“Go on,” Minna said, waving her towards the door. “I can manage with Frida for a moment. Do not take too long.”
“I shall not,” Sigrid said, her eyes sparkling with delight at the prospect of a moment alone with Hagen.
They stepped outside the door and Sigrid was grateful for some privacy from the noisy, bustling household. Hagen got straight to the point.
“I have enjoyed my stay here immensely,” he said. “And I am so glad I met you.”
“I am also glad we met,” Sigrid responded.
He reached out and gently tilted her head up so he could look into her eyes. “You are a beautiful woman, Sigrid. You are hard-working, and a wonderful cook. I have enjoyed getting to know you during my stay and I would like to get to know you better. What would you say if I asked your father if I can court you?”
Sigrid sucked in a sharp breath. This was the moment she’d dreamed of so many times, yet here she was, lost for words!
“I would like that,” she finally managed.
Hagen’s handsome face lit up with pleasure. “That was the answer I was hoping for!” he exclaimed. Then he became serious.
“You are special,” he murmured. “I am a fortunate man indeed.”
He reached out to stroke her hair back from her face and she shivered at his touch, her heart pounding so loudly that she worried he might hear it.
“Your hair is so beautiful,” he whispered.
Then he drew her against him, looking tenderly into her eyes. She held his gaze while silently begging him to do what they both wanted. After a long moment, he bent his head and touched his lips to hers in a kiss that was as soft as a butterfly’s.
“I will enjoy courting you,” he whispered. “As long as your father agrees, I shall return next month to see you. I must wait until my tour of duty is over.”
“I will be waiting for you,” she promised in a shaky voice, still feeling breathless after his kiss.
CHAPTER 5
“Ah! This is good,” sighed Alfonso as he and Minna snuggled into their bed.
It had been an eventful day as the King and his men left to continue their journey and the villagers had started setting their lives back to normal. Alfonso had been glad to move back into their house.
“There is nothing like our own bed,” agreed Minna. “I am glad to leave the loft and live in our house again.”
“The loft was not that bad,” said Alfonso. “But there is nothing like the comfort of being in our own home.”
“Not everyone can say that the King has slept in their bed,” giggled Minna. “I can tell everyone that I have had the King in mine.”
Alfonso growled and swatted her playfully. “Naughty wife!” he scolded. “I had better not catch you telling such tales!”
“Of course I will not,” she said, serious for a moment. “What do you think of the young man, Hagen?”
“He seems nice. Sigrid is quite smitten with him.”
“He may become part of our family,” Minna told him.
“He was very polite when he asked if he could court Sigrid,” Alfonso said. “When I spoke to her, she was so happy about the idea that I had not the heart to say no.”
“Why would you say no?”
Alfonso thought for a moment. “It is too soon,” he said finally. “It would have been better for them to get to know each other better first. This young man is a stranger and we know little about him.”
“That is true,” Minna said thoughtfully. “But he is thoughtful and charming and I can see why Sigrid is taken with him. It is not as if she has young men lining up outside her door to court her.”
“I would prefer him to be from our people,” Alfonso said uneasily. “Even though he is a Christian, his beliefs are quite different from ours. I hope he allows her to practice her faith the way she chooses should they wed.”
“I think we need to trust the Lord in this matter,” Minna said. “We have often prayed over each one of our children and we should trust Him to lead in the matter of finding a husband for Sigrid.”
“You are right, Wife,” Alfonso said. “We will wait and see if the young man follows through on his promise to return next month. Perhaps we will have a better opportunity to get to know him then.”
“Did you hear the news?” Torsten asked as he came into the longhouse for the evening.
Einar looked up from the bowl of stew their servant had just placed in front of him. “What is it, Brother?” he asked, eagerly digging into the steaming stew.
“Frida told me that one of the King’s young men has asked to court Sigrid.”
“Did she accept?” Einar asked anxiously.
“She did. It appears that she is quite smitten with him.”
Einar’s face fell. “I hope she is happy,” he mumbled.
Torsten looked at him. “Did you hope … ?” he asked.
Einar nodded. “Sigrid is beautiful. But it seems that
she does not see me as anything more than a friend.”
“I am sorry, Brother,” Torsten said. “I could see that you have feelings for her.”
“Nothing will ever come of it now,” Einar replied. “Courtship is a serious matter among the Christians.”
“As it is among our people,” Torsten reminded him. “Many young men have learned the hard way what it means to end a betrothal. The families do not like it at all.”
“Anyway, I shall never have a chance with Sigrid now,” Einar muttered. “I saw the King’s man that swept her off her feet. He is important and rich and handsome. I am only a farmer.”
“There is no shame in being a farmer,” Torsten said. “And you have enough wealth to provide for a wife and family. You are not poor. I am not sure about the handsome part, though.”
Despite his dejection, Einar smiled. “Fortunately, I resemble you, Brother,” he said. “We can be ugly together.”
“Speak for yourself!” Torsten exclaimed, lightly punching him in the shoulder.
Einar leaped to his feet and a moment later, the brothers were rolling around on the floor in a rowdy wrestling match. A good tussle always helped them to let off steam and feel better after something went wrong. Einar knew he would miss Torsten when he married Frida in a few months.
“Well, that is our tour of the Christian villages over,” Hagen said as they neared the King’s residence.
“And in the end, we both found girls,” Dag replied with a grin.
“You were fortunate,” Hagen said. “You waited until the very last village.”
“I was watching to see the rest of you make all your mistakes. So I did not make any,” Dag declared loftily.
“But the woman you found is no great beauty,” Hagen pointed out. “She did not have young men lining up to court her. You were lucky she all but hunted you down!”
“Watch yourself,” Dag growled, but there was no real menace behind his words.
Happy and easy-going, Dag had found it difficult to put his mind to the task of finding a girl to court, preferring instead to have fun and enjoy the adventure instead of doing the hard work required to fulfill the King’s assignment. He was getting worried by the end of the journey; he was the only young man who had not found a girl and they were at the final village of their tour. He’d been fortunate that Borghild had taken a liking to him; it had made his task easy. He tried not to think of her looks; she was plain and square, with big hands and feet and a loud voice. But she was a good cook and friendly and hospitable. He’d resigned himself to life with a plain but hard-working wife, and after that, the idea didn’t seem so bad. He felt a sense of relief now that the ordeal was over.
Sigrid: Spurned (Viking Guardians Book 4) Page 3
