by Audra Hart
Shamus, the leader of the Guild Elders, steps forward and hugs Morna. “Lass, I had no idea that you were so far along. That babe looks like he might come anytime now.”
“It feels like it too, but Nora assures me that he won’t come until the 29th.” Morna says happily.
“Isn’t that earlier than we originally anticipated?” asks Elias, all doctor now. “Is the fetal development okay?” He strides forward and places his hands over her distended belly and closes his eyes. He opens them suddenly and looks at Morna in surprise. “He feels strong enough to be born right now! How is that possible?”
Morna shrugs innocently and murmurs; “He certainly isn’t a typical child. And neither are his parents.” She shares a meaningful look with her mate. They both know something miraculous happened when they released their inner selves and came together. Something that seems to have made their child even stronger and perhaps advanced the pregnancy. But they are not about to get into all of that with the Guild Elders standing here.
Elias looks towards Luca, “Have you been able to maintain the spell?”
“Yes Elias, Morna and Madigan are fine,” Luca assures the young physician.
“Madigan? I like it. It’s a fine, strong name.” He grins happily but suddenly seems to recall where they are and what they are about. “Oh okay, sorry.” He nods at the Elders, “My apologies.”
“No reason to apologize Elias. We all know that you are a healer, first and foremost.” Rylan, another Elder, assures the young man.
Shamus chuckles and takes Morna’s hands. “Lass, we wholeheartedly support your proposals.” He drops her hands and looks at Luca. “Lucian, has she told you that she wants you to lead the Warriors of Airendell?”
Luca chuckles, “I am aware of my mate‘s choice.”
“Well we concur. However, we agree with her assessment that Archer and his sons should stay on as keepers of the gateway. That has been their home for almost six hundred years, and they have done a fine job of protecting the gateway. We propose that you keep a small contingent of warriors there under his command, but we think we should build a new barracks and headquarters for the Warriors of Airendell. Do you concur with our assessments?” Shamus asks directly.
“I do. However, I would like to rotate the warriors under his command periodically. Gateway duty can grow tiresome. I propose we build the new headquarters north of the village on the plain of Airensaur. I also feel that Morna needs a contingent of Warriors that are directly under her command at all times, the Protectors of the Talismans of Airendell.” Luca says as he warms to the topic.
“Ah… They are so in sync as warriors, it has always been so.” Rylan says enthusiastically. “That and other reasons are why we so willingly support her decisions. There is only one that we want to ask a few questions about before we give our final support to it.”
“Let me guess… The commander of my contingent of warriors, the protectors of the talismans? I have not even asked her yet, so your questions may be moot if she declines.” Morna says with a smile and then turns her attention towards Ingrid. “Ingrid, my friend, I have a great favor to ask of you. Would you consider being my commander over the Protectors? Ultimately, I will have overall command as First Protector and First Weaver, but I need a strong person that I can trust to be my number one.” Morna walks over to the Valkyrie and places her hands on her shoulders.
“You have demonstrated amazing patience with me over the last weeks, your ability to organize and manage people and situations would be invaluable to me. And I know your skills as a warrior must be second to none if you served my great grandfather as a Valkyrie. However, I also know you wished to leave the Valkyries because of your empathic abilities. If this position would be painful for you, or you just do not find it to your liking, I would completely understand if you decline. Also, I do not expect an answer today.” Morna says with an open smile on her face.
“I don’t need any time to think about it. I accept. I have already asked Reagan to set up his medical practice on the other side of the gateway in Ireland so that I might continue to serve you after we married. I would be honored to serve you and your Guild in any capacity which you need me. Odin has already given me permission to swear fealty to you and your Guild of Spell Weavers,” Ingrid says sincerely.
Morna hugs the beautiful blonde Valkyrie and looks at the Elders. “Do you still have questions?”
“Nay, I do not,” says Shamus. And he looks around at the other Elders. “So we all approve the appointment?” All the Elders give their consent.
“Wonderful!” Says Morna happily. She goes around and hugs each Elder and then says, “Now with your kind permission, I have a wedding to prepare for.”
Maggie Fine laughs and says, “And not much time before sunset, lass.”
Morna smiles at her best friend’s mother, and guild Elder, and then she looks around the room and says, “One question before I go. I have been sensing another’s presence ever since I stepped off the bridge this evening. Oddly enough, I sensed the same presence in Mars’ domain this morning… It’s familiar, but so faint I can’t figure out who or what it might be. Does anyone else sense it?”
Luca, Elias and the Guild members all shake their heads no. Morna looks at Ingrid, “I do Morna, but it’s a presence I have never felt before, yet it is vaguely familiar, rather it reminds me of something… but it is very weak. It’s not actually on this dimensional plane with us. Sorry I can’t sense more.” Ingrid says with a shrug.
Morna looks worried and then turns to her mate and kisses him soundly. “I will see you under our tree in about forty-five minutes.”
“Don’t be late! I will come after you if you tarry.” Luca says with a carnal chuckle.
“Don’t tempt me.” Morna says with a wicked grin as she leaves the tent with Ingrid in tow. The two women walk back towards Morna’s tent. “Thank you Ingrid. I apologize for blindsiding you with this. I have been having to make decisions off the cuff the last few days and communicating with Elias via telepathy. I am so grateful to Aiden for teaching us that valuable little skill.”
“No problem Morna. I am honored, and I understand what it is like to have to make decisions without a great deal of discussion. I must admit though that I feel strange being appointed to command a unit of warriors whose sole purpose is to protect a couple of ancient relics.” Ingrid says quietly.
Morna chuckles and stops walking toward the tent. She puts up a buffer spell and puts her hands on Ingrid’s shoulders and meets her eyes. “Ingrid, this job is much bigger than that. At least as far as I am concerned. The ancient relics you speak of are simply replicas. The true talismans reside in me. I am the talismans of our Guild’s powers to heal and perform magic by spell weaving. Later, I will explain how this came about, but for now I just want you to know you are not a security guard for some relics. You are my number one when it comes to keeping me safe and my children. I suspect my children are also keepers of some of our Guild’s magic. Of course, we must keep up the charade of protecting the relics.”
“Oh Morna! I am so grateful for your trust! I was honored before, but now words truly fail me to express how I feel about your confidence in me.” Ingrid says with tears spilling from her eyes. “I am deeply touched.”
“Well, let’s see if you still feel that way when I make my next suggestion. I would like to suggest a candidate for your second in command…” Morna starts.
“Let me guess, Annveig?” Ingrid laughs pleasantly. Morna nods and Ingrid continues, “Excellent choice! Not only is she a fine warrior and already deeply devoted to you, but this is one way to keep her near Rinda. You are quite determined to nurture that little relationship, aren’t you?”
“I admit that I am. Rinda deserves someone to completely love and appreciate her. I think Annie might be the right one.” Morna says and blushes. “Do you think I am motivated by guilt in this?”
“It might be part of it, but only a very small part Morna. Mostly, you are motivated by
love for dear Rinda.” Ingrid says honestly
“She is truly precious to me. She always will be,” Morna admits quietly.
“I know that, as does Rinda.” Ingrid says gently. “Never fear, you balance your past and your present and future wonderfully. Your mate knows your devotion to him is absolute. And most of the time, Rinda knows how truly precious she is to you. Not many could walk the fine line you do, and do it without hurting those you love.”
Morna drops the buffer spell and resumes walking towards her tent. “Let’s see if we can’t make a silk purse out of this sow’s ear before sunset.” The women laugh together at that and enter the tent.
The others are waiting and eager to help Morna and Ingrid prepare for the ceremony. Breena comes forward first. Morna smiles happily at the sight of her tiny, pixie like sister in her emerald green silk dress. The dress is cut off the shoulder much like Morna’s gown, with simple, flowing lines. It reminds Morna a great deal of a fairy tale that Maggie Fine would tell the girls when they were little. In this fairy tale, the tiny pixie dons a lily for a dress. The back of the green bridesmaid dress is slightly longer than the front and the hem flares out gently like an upside-down lily. It’s lovely.
Morna smiles and says, “Breena you are so beautiful!” The sisters embrace and Morna pulls back suddenly to look into the eyes of her sister. “What’s wrong?”
“Morning sickness,” Breena snickers. “Micah has been here to examine me, and told me that I am in a hurry like my sister. We have woven the right spells and taken precautions to keep from embarrassing myself today. But I still feel slightly unsettled in my stomach.”
Worry flickers across Morna’s face as the reality of what her tiny sister is facing hits her. She knows how tired and nauseated she had been at this stage and worries that this pregnancy might be too much for her more normal sister. “Stop it Morna! I am going to be fine. Gullveig and Micah will see to it. Besides, I am a hell of a lot tougher than you think.”
“I know how tough you are, lady. But I also know what a struggle this is going to be for you.” Morna says quietly. At that moment her own son stretches and kicks hard. Morna gasps because the sheer power of the kick takes her breath away.
Breena guides her over to the chair beside the bed and urges her to sit. “Luca said he was getting stronger every day.” Breena holds her hands out over Morna’s growing belly and says, “May I?”
Morna giggles and says, “You don’t have to ask.” She waves Aideen and Nora over and all four of them hold their hands on her belly as the baby continues to stretch and kick with vigor.
After a few minutes Breena says in a voice filled with wonder, “He is strong Morna, but his consciousness is gentle and loving. It is amazing what I can sense from him already. And I swear your belly has grown today alone.”
Morna laughs and says, “Yes, he is going to be a rare gem. But I had better get dressed to go renew my vows to his Daddy.”
About fifteen minutes before the sun sets Valliant arrives at her tent. When Morna’s friends move away so that he can see his beloved child he is rendered speechless. Tears roll down his cheeks as he opens his arms to her. “Baby Girl, you have never looked so lovely, in all your incarnations.” Morna runs and jumps into his arms like a little girl.
All the members of her bridal party start calling out warnings about wrinkling her gown, mussing her hair, etc. Finally Frigg speaks up, “Dammit Valliant. Control yourself and put the lass down before you undo all our hard work with those massive hams you call hands. You great oaf!”
Valliant and Morna chuckle at Frigg’s stern demeanor and seemingly harsh words. Valliant whispers in her ear, “Am I forgiven Morna?”
“Nothing to forgive, Father.” Morna assures him happily as he hugs her again before putting her down on her feet.
“Morna, there are certain traditions I want to borrow from other cultures today. The something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue tradition, specifically. Obviously, this beautiful dress your girls made for you is new. And for the something old and something blue, and something borrowed, I offer this necklace. Odin gave it to Rind when he was romancing her, way back in the day. I know it is rather large for you, but I think it will look lovely on you just the same.” Valliant says proudly.
Morna gasps when he takes the necklace out of his pocket and shows it to her. It consists of an emerald cut sapphire nearly as large as Morna’s palm. The huge gem is set in delicate gold filigree, on a long chain that almost seems too delicate to bear the weight of the stone. “May I?” her father asks and Morna gulps and nods, she lowers her head and her father lovingly drapes the necklace on her. The chain is so long that the massive stone rests below her breasts where the over dress of her gown is fastened. The stone rides just atop her belly and looks as though it was designed for the ensemble. “I think that looks nice. What do you think, Baby Girl?”
Morna turns towards the mirror and is nearly brought to tears. She feared it would look grossly out of place on the gown her daughter’s designed, but it works, it really does. Morna knows how much his father treasures this bauble. Rind had given it to him on her deathbed after she had been felled by Trolls nearly eight centuries ago. Morna is temporarily rendered speechless, because she knows her father allowing her to wear this demonstrates just how much he adores her. “Father, it’s beautiful! Thank you for allowing me to borrow it.” She says breathlessly.
“You are the first woman to wear it since my grandmother,” Valliant says quietly. “I forget how big she was. The necklace was practically a choker on her, but it reaches your belly.
I am honored.” Morna says simply.
“Morna, it is lovely, but may I be allowed to stitch it in place so that it doesn’t move when you walk and dance later?” Asks Ingrid. “I can secure it without damaging your gown or the setting.”
“Thank you Ingrid. That is a wonderful idea.” Morna silently thanks God for her Father and all of her friends on this very special day as Ingrid quickly and expertly stitches the priceless bauble in place.
When Ingrid finishes she says, “We better get moving, Lord Lucian is becoming antsy.”
The bridesmaids line up. Ingrid cues the music and sets out first, then Sammy, followed by Frigg, Sif, Maria, Bronwyn, Enya, Brigid and finally Rinda. Breena as Maid of honor goes next, and then Nora as flower girl. The tiny girl had requested to walk just ahead of her mother. Valliant offers his arm to his child and proudly escorts her to join her mate under her ancient oak tree.
Morna chuckles as she sees the men standing up with her mate. Damian, her bonded protector and a Stone Cold vampire, is his Best Man, and the party of groomsmen consist of their three sons; Kylor, Kyle, Aiden, fellow Spell Weavers; Brian, Carrick, Fionn, Elias, Micah and finally their future son in law, Agnar. Morna is amazed that either of them consented to having so many in the wedding party. But she knew that so many were risking so much to help them that this was the least they could do to show their appreciation.
As Morna gets closer she only has eyes for her mate. He is perfectly beautiful today in his simple black designer suit, black linen shirt with an emerald green silk vest and aquamarine silk tie. Every member of his groomsmen are dressed exactly like Elias. They all look absolutely perfect. Morna’s heart swells with pride when she takes in how handsome her sons are.
If Luca still had a beating heart to race, it would have raced out of his chest when he saw his bride coming towards her on the arm of her father. He has never seen her looking lovelier or more radiant in any of her incarnations. His passion for his mate burns so hotly that Agnar says telepathically, “Easy big fellow! She’s all yours and she’s just as eager to renew your vows as you are.”
Luca chuckles at Agnar’s comments but he can’t take his eyes off of his bride. Her beautiful pale strawberry blonde hair is styled away from her face, flaring out in soft spiky curls on the sides and in the back. Her brilliant green eyes seem to be shining with all the love he sees there. Her
full, rosy lips are smiling serenely. Her cheeks are kissed with rosy color. Her full cleavage is pushing up gently above the low, off the shoulder neckline of her lovely gown. Her long legs are shapely and very, very sexy in the emerald green heels she is wearing tonight.
The dress their children designed suits her perfectly, even if it is much more ornate than anything she would ever have considered wearing on her own. The under dress or shell is a form fitting cotton jersey in the same color as his eyes, that flares gently at the hemline. The over dress is made from beautifully embroidered emerald green silk, with a wide trim of gold brocade around the shoulders, and down the front of the gown. It is sleeveless, and fashioned off the shoulders and meets just below her breasts. She looks like a lovely three tone lily opening gently. She is carrying a single white lily, just like the one he gave her on the day of their first wedding.
His eyes finally settle on the massive sapphire resting atop her swollen belly and wonders where it came from. And then he remembers tales of Valliant’s grandmother, whom the demigod had adored. She was a beautiful giantess named Rind. Odin loved her dearly, and the legend goes that he wooed her with beautiful jewels, poetry and feats of daring before she finally consented to mate with him. The massive gemstone must have been hers. Luca almost chuckles because he knows Morna would not have ever considered wearing such a showy jewel, except to please someone she loved. Fortunately, she is stately and regal enough in her bearing to pull it off. She looks magnificent.
The ceremony is brief and many gathered chuckle when Morna and Luca end their vows with “I still do.” just as they had done recently at their home in Asgard. George Welborn looks stately and oh so handsome as he presides over the ceremony. When it is over, he proudly turns the couple towards their well-wishers, and says, “I am proud to present my brother and sister… Lucian and Morna Michaels of Airendell and Asgard.”
A loud cheer fills the glen and George raises his hand to get them to be silent. “I almost forgot to give my brother leave to kiss his bride.” The crowd cheers again when Luca takes her into his arms and kisses her with all the passion he can muster. When he finally releases her, she is unsteady on her feet from her excitement and his magnificent scent. George and Luca steadies her, and George looks toward the crowd and says; “What do you know? Even after over seven hundred years he can still make her weak in the knees.”