“I will,” Sigrid promised.
After Minna had left and the customers were few and far between, Sigrid had time to consider her actions. Marry Einar? Really?
But the more she thought about it, the more she realized how much she had come to enjoy his company. He was caring, thoughtful, hard-working and not afraid to protect her. Would it really be that bad? More importantly, would he be willing to follow through with marriage after he had seen her at her worst? Or had his words simply been a ploy to get her out of a scrape?
Torsten looked up as Einar returned to their booth to take his turn at serving their customers.
“I have heard the news,” Torsten said without preamble. “You have hit one of the King’s men with a shovel and thrown ox dung at the rest. What were you thinking? Do you want them to come after us with an army?”
Einar sighed. “Do you really believe all that, Brother? The gossip travels faster than lightning!”
“Well, what happened? And how did you become betrothed to Sigrid with the speed of lightning?”
“Sigrid saw Hagen and took revenge for his treatment of her. I happened to see it all unfold.”
“So what is the tale about ox dung?”
“She scooped up a big heap of it in a shovel and dumped it over his head.”
Torsten roared laughing. “That is funny!” he chuckled. “That will teach him not to upset her!”
“Maybe it looks funny to you,” Einar said. “But Sigrid got into trouble. The King’s men were about to drag her away and I stepped in and told them that they were breaking the law by handling another man’s woman. I had to tell them that she is my betrothed and then they let her go.”
“Do you realize what you have just done?”
Einar’s face fell. “It is becoming clear,” he said.
“Saving Sigrid from harm was a good thing to do,” Torsten said. “But when you declared that she was your betrothed, were you ready to follow through and marry her? Or was it just something you said quickly to get her out of trouble?’
“I did not give it much thought.”
“You had better think now because there will be consequences if you do not.”
Einar thought of the young man who had broken Sigrid’s heart and tarnished her reputation. He had placed himself in a position to do the same thing if he was unwilling to follow through with the betrothal. Everyone in both of their villages had already heard the news; in fact, it was the juiciest piece of gossip many people had heard for years. The rumors were flying around the marketplace and they were unlikely to go away anytime soon.
He loved Sigrid; he already knew that. But it had always been from afar, the kind of admiring love that never got close or personal. He never imagined ever being in a position to marry her, nor had he ever had the chance to tell her of his feelings or even touch her with tenderness. Yet, with one rash action, he would now be forced to confront the matter head-on. He would have to address his actions by offering marriage or she would again suffer as she had after Hagen ended their betrothal.
But would she want to marry him? He decided that he must ask her; if she said no, then at least he could say he had done his best to fix the problem he had inadvertently caused her.
CHAPTER 12
“Sigrid! There is someone at the door!” Minna called from inside the storeroom where she was rearranging their supplies after they had returned from the markets the day before.
Sigrid dried her hands and went to the door.
“Einar!” she exclaimed in surprise.
She had been half expecting that Einar would talk to her about the incident with Hagen but he had left the markets early and she had not seen him since. Now he was here, standing on her doorstep. She looked up at him; his hair was neatly combed and his beard had been trimmed. His lips were rosy-red and full; for a fleeting moment, she wondered what it would feel like to kiss them. She shook the thought out of her head as soon as it entered; it was foolishness.
“We need to talk, Sigrid,” Einar said seriously. “Will you step outside with me for a stroll?”
“Einar is here, Mother,” Sigrid called. “I am taking a small walk with him.”
“That is fine,” came Minna’s muffled voice from inside the storeroom.
As Sigrid fell into step beside Einar, she felt small beside him. His bulk towered over her and she felt safe with him.
“Shall we go to the shore?” Einar asked.
Soon they were standing on the shore, watching the waves roll in.
“What do you want from your life?” Einar asked suddenly.
It caught her by surprise. “I am not sure,” she said uncertainly. “But I think I would like to be happy.”
“I have never wanted to go fighting or raiding,” Einar said. “Many other men my age do that but it has never appealed to me. Maybe it is because I grew up in the mountains, isolated from the ocean and away from the tensions between the villages along the coast. Our village was peaceful most of the time and it is what I wanted for my life.”
“But you did a good job of chasing away the King’s men,” Sigrid said.
“I will fight if I must. But for fun or reward? Never. I have always wanted to be a farmer.”
“You have your wish now. Why are you saying these things?”
He looked at her, hazel eyes serious. “I have not forgotten what happened at the markets,” he said. “I am sorry for any unpleasant consequences you have had to endure because I declared us betrothed.”
“I must thank you for saving me,” she said. “Without your intervention, who knows what might have happened to me.”
“It was a quick solution to a problem but it has created a larger one for you, has it not?”
She rolled her eyes. “The wagging tongues have not stopped. It is the highlight of their lives. It was foolish of me and I am sorry that I put myself in a position where you had to rescue me.”
He turned to face her. “Sigrid, I meant what I said. My words were not carelessly cast aside after the event. I am well aware that the villagers now consider us betrothed. To break that will cause scandal and catastrophe in your life.”
“What are you trying to say, Einar?”
“I am aware of the position you are now in.”
He cursed himself mentally as he found it impossible to tell her what he really wanted to say. She was so beautiful and innocent as she stood looking up at him, her clear blue eyes serious and her silken gold hair blowing in the wind. The waves rolled gently onto the shore while the cool sea breeze wafted the scent of ocean and salt air into his nostrils. He had never felt more alive, every nerve and hair on end, receptive to the slightest nuance of touch and emotion. Yet he could not get his stubborn tongue to tell her that he loved her. That he wanted to be with her forever, that there was no one else for him. He could swing an axe with a roar that scared off a posse of the King’s men, yet he could not tell this delicate, exquisite creature that she had captured his heart. What was wrong with him?
She looked at him quizzically. “Every person in the village is aware of the position I am in,” she reminded him. “The gossip is flying around so thick and fast that I have to duck every time I step outside my door.”
Despite his discomfort, he chuckled. She had a way with words.
“It is true. Gossip merchants make hay while the sun shines. But the scandal will die away eventually,” he said.
She shook her head. “They will always remember,” she replied. “There will never be a time when I am free from the taint of scandal.”
He could not let the moment go; he would never be able to live with his cowardice. He turned around to face her and took both of her hands in his. “Sigrid,” he began hesitantly, “I did not intend to harm your reputation with another broken betrothal.”
“I know,” she told him, eyes lowered.
“I want to do what is right. I want to fix the problem that I unintentionally created for you.”
“How?”
; He took a deep breath. “I want to marry you. Will you marry me, Sigrid?”
She sucked in air with a whoosh. “Please do not assume I am saying no,” she said. “But I need to ask you some things first.”
“All right,” he said, puzzled. He hadn’t known what to expect, but it wasn’t this.
“Are you asking me to marry you simply to right a wrong?”
It took him a moment to realize what she was asking. He tilted her chin up with his forefinger so that he could look into her eyes. “I love you, Sigrid,” he said simply.
She let out her breath in a rush.
“I have loved you for a long time,” he told her quietly. “You are beautiful and clever and you are not afraid to stand up for injustice or to take on an opponent who is larger than you are. I admire that in you.”
She blushed, but he wasn’t finished yet, not now that he had finally found the courage to tell her how he felt.
“When Hagen came into your life, I was sad. I wanted you to be happy but I wanted you to be happy with me, not someone else.”
“Why did you not tell me these things?” she asked.
“You appeared to have no interest,” he replied. “I did not wish to force unwanted attention on you.”
“Oh, Einar! If only I had known!” she exclaimed. “You were my friend and I had no interest in anyone at all after the incident with Fritjof. Men made me feel alarmed. But I felt safe with you.”
“I thought you did not have an interest in me because I am too large and ugly.”
“You? Ugly? You are not ugly! Whatever gave you that idea?”
He shrugged. “I am large and hairy.”
She laughed. “Just the kind of man I like,” she said.
He looked hopeful. “Do you mean …?”
She held up her finger to silence him. “There is something else I must know,” she said.
“Ask, then.”
“Do you promise not to take other wives or concubines?”
“You are the only woman for me. I had already decided to have just one wife, long ago.”
“And do you promise to allow me to worship as I choose?”
“Yes. That arrangement is working well for Torsten.”
She smiled then, a slow smile that reminded him of the sunrise stealing across the horizon.
“You have answered my questions,” she said. “I love you, Einar. I will gladly marry you.”
He felt as if a thunderstorm had struck his heart with a lightning bolt. She had said yes! He reached for her and drew her against him, carefully, as if she might break. She nestled into his arms as if she belonged there, her hair silky-soft beneath his hand as he stroked her back.
“This is a wonderful day for me,” he murmured, squeezing her close.
“You were right in front of me all this time and I never saw it,” she whispered. “I wish I had.”
He looked into her eyes. “It matters not,” he said. “The important thing is the future.”
She looked back at him with longing in her eyes, her full lips pink and inviting. He swallowed the tightness in his throat and tried to ignore the hammering of his heart. She was so exquisitely beautiful, so ethereal, so dainty. And yet, for some strange reason, she wanted him. The longing in her eyes kindled desire in his heart, an electrifying current that tore through his veins as he leaned closer.
His hand cupped her face as his thumb stroked her velvety soft cheek. She raised her face to his, her lips slightly parted in invitation. His other arm encircled her waist, pulling her close to him as his lips met hers. He felt her tremble as he deepened the kiss and he was sure she could hear the pounding of his heart. He never wanted the moment to end.
“Mmmm,” she mumbled, pulling away from him, her hair tousled and her cheeks pink. “I wondered what that would be like.”
“So did I,” he admitted, raising a hand to his mouth, where it still burned from her touch.
She took his hand and snuggled her cheek against his shoulder. “I love you, Einar,” she said again.
“I will never tire of hearing you say so,” he said.
“Tell me you love me,” she begged.
He turned to look into her face. “I love you, Sigrid. You are more than I ever dreamed of.”
She sighed happily. “I cannot wait until we are married,” she said dreamily. “Then you can kiss me every day and tell me you love me.”
“It will be my pleasure,” he smiled.
She suddenly stood up straight. “What will the gossips make of this now?” she wondered.
“It will fuel the rumors. We expect nothing less,” he said. “But they will not last. We will wed and everyone will find something else to talk about.”
She took his hand. “I want to tell my parents as soon as possible,” she said.
“It is customary to ask their permission to court you, is it not?”
“It is. But we have done things rather out of order. We are betrothed before there was a courtship!”
He smiled. “Life with you will never be dull, my darling.”
“Are you sure you want to marry me? You have seen me at my worst!”
“I have been warned not to upset you,” he grinned. “I value my head. I do not wish to find a pile of ox dung dumped upon it.”
She looked ashamed. “I will try to behave,” she promised.
He laughed. “Do you know something? I thought it was funny that Hagen got what he deserved.”
“Really?”
“And do you know what else? Many people agree with me. I have heard them speak of it and many think it is hilarious.”
“No! I cannot believe that!”
“It is true,” he said. “You have more friends than you realize. Many people saw that Hagen wronged you. They might not have said anything to you but they were silently on your side.”
“It was wrong of me,” she said. “I should not have allowed my anger to overcome my good judgment.”
“That is true,” he agreed, “but it was funny. Just warn me before I suffer the same fate.”
“I trust you not to treat me that way,” Sigrid said, suddenly realizing it was true. Einar was a man she could trust with her heart.
“What will your parents say?” he asked.
“I am certain they will be pleased,” she said. “They like you and they will be happy that we are planning to wed.”
“That is a relief,” said Einar. “Shall we go and tell them?”
She slipped her hand into his. “Yes. Let us do that.”
As they started to walk along the beach towards the village, she glanced behind them.
“Look, Einar,” she said.
“At what?” he stopped and turned around.
“Our footprints in the sand.”
“Why is that important?”
“They are together. Just like we will be. But the tide will not wash us away. We will be together forever.”
Epilogue
Minna opened the door and walked inside. Alfonso followed her. The house felt empty with just the two of them in it. Minna sat down at the table and Alfonso joined her.
“That was a beautiful wedding day, was it not?” she asked.
“It was,” he agreed. “Sigrid is the last of our children to wed.”
“I will miss her,” Minna said.
“The sad day comes when all of our children are grown and we have the house to ourselves,” Alfonso agreed.
Minna brightened. “At least she will not be far away,” she said. “It was fortunate that Torsten sold Einar part of his land so that they could live side by side. And fortunate for Einar that Erik bought the longhouse in Leið Lykð. It meant he was free to build a new house next to Torsten and Frida.”
“We have been blessed to have our children stay close to us,” Alfonso agreed.
“Soon there will be many grandchildren,” Minna said happily.
“When one phase of life ends, another begins,” Alfonso mused. “We are getting old, Wife.”
<
br /> She sat up straight and looked him in the eye. “Who are you calling old?” she asked with a hint of the spark that he had come to love and treat with wariness in equal measure. “You may be old, but I am not!”
He laughed. “You are still feisty, I see,” he said. “Einar will discover for himself what it is like to live with a she-bear. Sigrid is just like you.”
“I will probably find him hiding in the barn with you someday.”
“Probably,” he agreed cheerfully. “It is wise to know when to retreat.”
She yawned and rubbed her eyes. “It was a big day today. Shall we retire to bed?”
“Let us do that,” he said, standing up and pulling her close to him. “You have done well, my love. You have raised all of our children to be fine adults with their own homes. I am proud of you.”
She smiled at him and allowed him to lead her to bed. Her job was done; Sigrid had her own home to care for now and the cycle of life would begin again. She was looking forward to the next phase of their story.
The End
GLOSSARY
Old Norse
English
Heill
Greeting, hello, health
Haust
Autumn, harvest season
Dubh Linn
Dublin
Jarl
Earl
Eindingida (Old High German)
Meeting
Loved it? Didn’t Love it?
Did you enjoy the story of Sigrid? Were there things you thought could have been better? Why not leave a review and tell others about your experience? Your feedback helps me to know what my readers like so that I can create something even better in the future.
Kaitlynn xx
PS You can leave a review on Amazon, Bookbub, or on Goodreads.
Author’s Note
While every effort has been made to preserve historical accuracy throughout this story, some elements of Norse culture remain a mystery or are disputed among historians. Therefore, some aspects of Norse life and beliefs have been “borrowed” from the known practices of surrounding nations while others are fictitious.
Sigrid: Spurned (Viking Guardians Book 4) Page 8
