“When are you returning to Merilant?” he asked.
“When the King dismisses us from this task,” Hagen replied. “He has said he wishes for us to return to visit our girls as soon as possible.”
A few minutes later, the weary travellers stopped outside the King’s hall. The King held up his hand.
“It has been a long journey,” he said. “You may remain here if you wish but I am dismissing you from this task. You have completed it to my satisfaction.” He paused and looked around the group. “But there is one thing I wish you to do as soon as possible. I want you to return to the villages where your women are and spend a few days with them. Show them that you are serious about courting them. And if at all possible, come back betrothed. You have all done the hard work of finding women to court; do not let them slip from your fingers because you are tardy in visiting. There are plenty of men in the land who are looking for wives. Do not lose yours because you are sleeping.”
There was a rumble that resembled a groan around the group. The King looked sympathetic.
“You do not have to leave tonight,” he said. “Go home for a short time if you must but prepare to return to the Christian villages soon. We have set ourselves up with a strategic advantage and it must not be allowed to slip from our fingers.”
“What of the sabbatati villages? Are you not going to make them accept our ways?” asked one of the young men.
“Not at this time,” the King said. “There are too few of us and we need their support. For now, we are all one under the banner of Christianity. We have a far bigger task convincing the pagans to accept new ways and that needs to be our focus for now. It would be wise to agree to allow the women to worship in their ways; we do not wish to alienate them. So if the families ask you, agree that the wives will be allowed to worship as they choose. Perhaps they will join you in worshipping your way later on. You are dismissed.” The King nudged his horse forward through the gates of his residence, followed by several of the young men.
Hagen sat there, thinking about what he would do next. He could go to his home village and see his family but it was a long journey to the north and he would no sooner get there than he would have to turn around and come back. Perhaps it would be best if he spent a few days at the King’s hall and then returned to Merilant.
“Sigrid!” Frida called, running into the house.
“What is it?” Sigrid answered from her place at the loom.
“You will never guess who I found roaming around!”
“Who?”
Frida ran to the front door.
“Hagen!” Sigrid exclaimed as her sister dragged him through the door.
“Sigrid!” he cried, his face lighting up with pleasure at the sight of her.
Sigrid jumped to her feet and went over to him. He took her hands in his and looked deep into her eyes.
“I have missed you,” he said, smiling down at her.
Her heart skipped all over her chest. “I have missed you also,” she murmured shyly.
Frida knew when to make herself scarce. “I am going to the garden to work with Mother,” she said with a smirk.
And with that, they were alone. It was something Sigrid had longed for ever since she’d waved goodbye to Hagen as he rode out of Merilant. But here she was, so nervous that she could barely speak a word.
“Tell me of your journey,” she finally managed.
He smiled at her again and led her to the chairs in the corner. “Let us sit while we talk,” he said. “Are your parents and brother well?”
“They are. Father is working at the farm and Mother and Frida are working in the vegetable garden. There is much to do at this time of the year.”
He nodded. “Yes. I remember from my days of living in the village. Father made us all work from dawn until dark during the summer months. And where I live, there is no darkness in the summer!”
She laughed. “I guess what you are trying to say is that your father made you work hard,” she said.
“He always said that only the busy get to eat. Lazy people do not. I like eating so I had to work hard.”
“It is the truth,” she said. “There is no food if we fail to plant it and care for it.”
He looked at her again without saying anything. “I really have missed you,” he said at last. “Even though I only spent a short time with you last time I was here, it was an amazing visit. I never expected to find a beautiful woman such as yourself here in the little village of Merilant.”
She blushed and changed the subject. “How long will you stay?” she asked.
He looked sad. “The King has another task awaiting me so I shall only be able to stay for a few days.”
She felt disappointment chopping the tops off the waves of happiness inside her. “That is disappointing,” she said. “I hoped you would stay for a week or more so that we can spend plenty of time together.”
“It is not to be,” he said. “The King keeps me busy running errands for him throughout the land.”
“You have a very important job,” she said.
He looked proud. “Our King is building a strong and unified kingdom,” he said. “The efforts of the other young men and myself are part of his well-organized strategy that keeps his kingdom running smoothly.”
“Well, I am glad you can be here even if it is only for a short time,” she said. “I am looking forward to spending time with you.”
CHAPTER 6
Sigrid could barely contain the heady emotions of the past few days. Hagen’s visit had flown past, every moment of it precious. He had been so attentive and caring that she had fallen head over heels in love with him. She sighed happily as she snuggled into bed, dreaming of a future where a handsome young man treated her as his queen forever.
But the joy was tinged with sadness, for tomorrow Hagen would depart; the King needed his services and he expected to be gone for some time.
The next morning, she woke early to get breakfast ready for Hagen. Although he was lodging at Emiline’s house, Sigrid had invited him to eat one last meal with her family before he departed. She thought longingly of the walks they had taken and the times that Hagen had helped her in the garden or talked to her while she worked in the kitchen. She had never known the exhilarating feeling of being loved and wanted before and her heart was overflowing with the magnificence of life.
“Someone is happy this morning!” Frida teased as they worked together to prepare the morning meal.
“Hagen’s visit has been wonderful,” sighed Sigrid, a faraway smile on her face as she thought of the time they had spent together. “The only problem is that he’s leaving this morning and I do not know when he will return.”
“Make the most of this last time with him, then,” advised Frida.
“Make the most of what time?” Hagen asked, walking into the kitchen.
Sigrid blushed.
“The time before you leave,” Frida said.
“Well, that is a good idea,” Hagen agreed. “Frida, can you excuse us for a few moments?” He turned to Sigrid. “Come outside with me for a little while.”
They stepped out into the cool morning and walked away from the house towards the beach.
“Is this not a beautiful morning?” asked Hagen, taking her hand.
She felt her heart skip a beat. Would he kiss her again?
He led her onto the sand and slipped his arm around her waist as they walked along the beach. “I wish I did not have to leave,” he whispered against her hair.
“I am going to miss you,” she said, suddenly feeling sad. Tears came to her eyes as she thought of being parted from him without knowing when he would return.
“What’s this?” he asked, turning her to face him. He looked searchingly into her eyes, then tenderly wiped a tear from her cheek. “Are you crying for me?”
She nodded. “I know not when I will see you again,” she said softly.
He drew her against him and held her close. “I shall return,” he
promised. “But there was a reason I brought you here where we could be alone. I wanted to ask you something.”
“What is it?” she drew back and looked into his face.
He took both of her hands in his, looking earnestly into her eyes. “Sigrid, I love you. Will you become my wife?”
She gasped in shock, unable to speak for a moment. “Yes! Yes! Of course I will!” she exclaimed when she finally found her voice.
He smiled. “You have made me a very happy man,” he said. Then he bent his head and his lips found hers in a tender kiss that made her feel weak at the knees. “Oh, this is such good news! I cannot wait to put the matter to your father. With his blessing, we can announce it to everyone!”
He took her hand and they walked back to the house.
“You look like the sun is shining inside you!” Frida exclaimed when Sigrid went back to the kitchen. “What happened out there? And where is Hagen?”
“He went to the barn,” Sigrid said.
Frida gave her a knowing look. “Father is in the barn,” she said.
“Yes,” Sigrid said evenly. “It is common to find him there.”
“Well, if you will not tell me, I shall have to guess what is going on,” Frida said.
“You will know soon enough, Sister. Just be patient.”
“That is impossible!” Frida exclaimed. “Tell me!”
Sigrid smiled and held her finger to her lips as she moved dreamily around the kitchen.
A few minutes later, Hagen walked in, beaming a huge smile. Sigrid’s eyes asked the question.
“He said yes,” Hagen said simply.
Sigrid flew into his arms and he whirled her around before setting her down.
“Does this mean what I think it does?” asked Frida.
Sigrid nodded. “Father said yes! We are betrothed!” She was sure her face would split in two from smiling so much.
After the meal, Hagen got ready to leave. Sigrid clung to him as he stood beside his horse, tears in her eyes. He held her close, concern on his face as he saw her distress.
“I will return as soon as I am able,” he told her, brushing a tear from her cheek. “I will think of you every day until we can be together again.”
She nodded. “I wish I could come with you,” she said.
“We shall wed as soon as possible,” he smiled. “Then perhaps you can accompany me on some of my journeys.”
She smiled at the thought. “I would follow you anywhere,” she said.
He gave her one last squeeze before mounting his horse. “Soon, my love, soon,” he promised. He slapped the reins and the horse jumped into action. Moments later, they were out of sight and Sigrid was left feeling empty and alone until she remembered that they were to be wed. He would return. He had promised.
“Did you hear the news?” Torsten asked Einar that evening as they sat down for their evening meal.
“What news?”
“Landwulf was here earlier. He told me that Hagen left this morning.”
“Well, that is not news. I knew that he was here and would only stay a short while.”
“Before he left, he asked Sigrid to marry him and she said yes.”
Einar’s face paled and he lowered his eyes. “She does not know the man,” he mumbled.
“I agree, Brother,” Torsten replied. “Christians usually like to take time to get to know each other before they marry and in that sense, it is odd. Not that it is unusual for our people.”
“True. But most of us marry because our parents have chosen for us. Not because some important person sweeps us off our feet before we get a chance to know them.”
“It is a blow for you, Brother,” Torsten said quietly. “I hope that you shall find a wife that suits you someday.”
“Perhaps I shall have to buy one from the slave markets.”
Torsten looked at him. “Is that a wise choice?” he asked. “Slaves have not the rights of a free wife. And it would be worse than our parents choosing a wife for you. You know not the temperament or background of a slave. It might make for a miserable life.”
“You are right again,” Einar conceded with a sigh. “I am not ready for a wife yet, anyway. The memory of Sigrid is still fresh in my mind.”
“You can still be her friend,” Torsten said.
Einar looked pained. “It is difficult to be a friend when you want more,” he said. “You are fortunate, Brother. Frida loves you.”
Torsten smiled. “I am looking forward to marrying her,” he said. “She is worth waiting for.”
Einar looked glum. “That is what I thought about Sigrid,” he said. “But someone else took her while I waited.”
That evening, Minna and Alfonso snuggled into their warm bed.
“Sigrid is happy,” Minna whispered into the darkness.
“Hagen is a polite young man,” Alfonso said. “He did everything the right way when he asked if he could marry her.”
“She is so overjoyed that the whole house is bursting with it,” Minna laughed.
Alfonso’s voice took on a note of wariness. “I am glad she is happy,” he said. “But there is a feeling I cannot shake that things are not as they seem. I hope that her happiness lasts.”
“What do you mean?” asked Minna.
Alfonso paused, thinking of the right words to say. “It is as if this young man has been told to do things a certain way,” he said. “Everything had to be done in the right order if you know what I mean.”
“Not really,” said Minna. “Order is a good thing.”
“It seemed to me that he was acting in undue haste; as if this was a task that he needed to complete by a certain time. Now that they are betrothed, perhaps he will not be so eager to visit or spend time with her.”
“So you are saying that you think his purpose was to secure the betrothal and that his feelings for Sigrid are less important than that goal?”
“Yes,” Alfonso agreed. “You do have a way with words. That is exactly what I was trying to say.”
“But why would he want to wed Sigrid if he does not have strong feelings for her? No one arranged the match or forced him to court her.”
“I know not,” Alfonso said. “Perhaps I am imagining things. I could not say no when I have no proof of anything amiss. I just wish that he had spent more time courting her so that we could see that his intentions toward her are genuine.”
“I can see what you mean,” Minna said thoughtfully. “Now that you have pointed it out, it does seem odd. It appears that everything has been planned with deliberation to achieve a goal in as little time as possible. I hope he does not break her heart.”
“We can only wait and see,” Alfonso responded. “Time will reveal all.”
“We shall say nothing of this to her,” Minna said. “That would only spoil her happiness, especially if he proves us to be wrong. She would never forgive us for speaking ill of her beloved.”
“No, we should ensure that she knows nothing of our concerns,” Alfonso agreed. “We are there to guide her but in the end, it is her decision.”
“I can see why she fell in love with him,” said Minna. “He is handsome and charming and has an important position working for the King. He swept her right off her feet and into the arms of love.”
“Our lastborn deserves someone to love her,” Alfonso said. “But I am not convinced that Hagen is the person who will do that.”
“She has had no great fortune in finding a husband at the eindingida,” Minna reminded him. “She is probably beginning to fear that no one will ever want her.”
“And then Handsome Hagen appears and is everything she’s ever wanted and more. What girl could resist?”
“There is some wisdom in arranged matches,” Minna said. “Not that we would arrange them for the same reasons.”
“No, there is too much danger of families arranging matches to suit their own purposes without considering the suitability of the husband and wife.”
“That is true. But the people o
f this land make it work. Plenty of them seem to be happy.”
“But I have seen many that are not,” Alfonso responded. “We believe in the freedom to choose, remember? That means that there is also the freedom to make mistakes or choose unwisely.”
“You are right,” Minna said. “It is something we hold dear. I was just wishing to protect my child from heartbreak.”
“Of course,” Alfonso said. “After the mistakes we made with Frida when she was almost forced to marry Fritjof, I have learned that we are never too old to make mistakes. And we cannot save Sigrid from making a mistake if that is truly the choice she wishes to make. It is a difficult part of being a parent.”
“You are wise,” Minna yawned. “Now I need to sleep. We shall wait and see how this situation unfolds.”
CHAPTER 7
“Hagen! The King wishes to speak with you,” said Gulbrand, the King’s herald.
Hagen got off his horse; he had just returned from an errand for the King. He cast a glance at the sky. Surely it would rain soon. He was glad to be back at the King’s hall.
“Thank you, Gulbrand,” he said. “I shall go to speak to him now.”
A few minutes later, he was in the King’s presence. After reporting on the success of his errand, the King bade him sit.
“How is your courtship going with the young lady of Merilant?” the King asked.
“I was hoping that you would give me leave to visit her before the haust ends and the winter snows become heavy,” Hagen replied.
“So you have not seen her since your visit when you secured a betrothal?”
Sigrid: Spurned (Viking Guardians Book 4) Page 4