The Escape #4
How eager is she to have children? No doubt we would have our hands full with that many children.
Close to their imaginary home, there was a meadow in the distance.
It would make a great location for raising a herd of sheep and goats.
Rathnon held her in his arms and kissed her head, contemplating their future.
Does she know how long I may be gone? Duty bound to the king on raids or fighting wars?
I will worry about her away from the village.
I would worry about her no matter what. The thought of leaving her for any reason filled him with sadness.
As they ate their succulent meat, Rathnon hoped today helped her feel more comfortable with him, for tomorrow was their wedding day.
He knew the private spot he would take her.
He had already partially prepared it. Tonight he would sleep outside alone in preparation for their wedding.
He would not see her until Sigrid led her to him in the forest.
After they ate their fill, Rathnon wrapped the remains in a thick cloth, then helped Ilona tie the baskets together and assemble the items. He emptied the bucket of water over the fire to extinguish the flames of the firepit and placed the wet tree bark back inside the bucket for their walk home.
Rathnon kissed her passionately before they left to return to the longhouse, and he felt her yearning in their kiss, further inflaming his desire for her.
They were warmly greeted as they entered the longhouse.
Rathnon gave the thick cloth filled with meat to the women to add to tonight’s dinner.
As he placed the fur pelts in the building, he arranged them to dry.
He refilled the bucket of water containing the tree bark and placed it where Ilona indicated.
They carried the baskets and placed them on top of her sleeping bench.
Ilona stood on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “Tomorrow, we will give these as gifts to the families.” He didn’t understand but loved the feel of her so close and relished the sound of her soft voice.
Although they had already dined, they sat at the table while the others ate and talked.
Sigrid explained, “Tomorrow, the women will prepare a bath for ye after the men leave in the morning. Lassies will gather flowers to weave into yer braided hair and help ye prepare for the wedding ceremony to be held in the forest, a short distance away.”
“Thank ye and I thank them for helping me to prepare.”
“After ye are wed, everyone will return here for the wedding feast. If the weather is good, we will eat outside at long tables. Afterward, there will be music and dancing.”
“It sounds like a ceilidh at home.”
“Later, Rathnon, will lead ye into the forest for yer wedding night in privacy. Ye will spend time alone in the forest together after ye wed before returning here to the longhouse. Rathnon will sleep alone outside tonight, and ye will nae see him until the wedding ceremony tomorrow. Did ye have any questions ye would like me to ask him now, before he leaves? Do ye want to tell him anything?”
“Aye, I need to ken if he is angry with me?”
Sigrid asked Rathnon, who drew his brows together, perplexed by her question, until he realized what she referred to.
He stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers and stared intently into her eyes.
“Elskling (my darling), I am not angry with you. I am happy you are here with me and we are to be wed. We are meant to be together. I never want you to leave me,” Rathnon said hoarsely, with restrained emotion.
Ilona nodded after Sigrid translated, and looked down at the floor, trying to compose the words she wanted to share with her limited vocabulary. Relief flooded her as she realized Rathnon did nae hold a grudge and was nae angry with her attempted escape.
“I look forward to being yer wife. I will work hard to be a good wife to ye.” Sigrid shared with Rathnon what Ilona had shyly said, and Rathnon grinned at her.
Later, he collected his wedding shirt and other items he needed.
He kissed Ilona, and his eyes sparkled with the knowledge that tomorrow would be their wedding day, and he could finally claim the woman he loved.
After Rathnon left, Ilona sewed the last of the handles onto the baskets. She wove and fastened the wood design she had carved into a basket to give to Rathnon. Then she embellished the design on the basket she had woven for Sigrid.
Finally, she assembled the items she needed for tomorrow and packed a sack with a linen shift and a couple of dresses to wear while they lived in the forest during their honeymoon, with her bag of herbs. Ilona bid goodnight to Sigrid and settled on the floor blanket under the furs.
Did Rathnon take me into the forest today to let me gauge for myself that he will provide well for me and protect me? Ilona was nervous and speculated about what he would expect from her on their wedding night. She lay in her bed and couldn’t sleep.
Ilona couldn’t imagine sleeping with him in the forest, but she remained grateful for the warm summer weather.
The next item she needed to weave for herself would be a warm, thick wool cloak.
As she finally drifted off to sleep, she thought a green cloak would be pretty.
Ilona dreamed of Rathnon holding her close and keeping her warm.