The Wedding and Honeymoon
The next day was one of celebration. In the morning, the men left early after they brought in a wooden tub, placing it by the firepit and filling with buckets of hot water.
Elderflowers were strewn on top, lending their sweet aroma to the water and surroundings.
Sigrid assisted Ilona in washing and rinsing her hair.
Ilona dried herself and dressed in a linen shift, socks, and shoes.
One of the ladies helped her towel-dry her hair by the fire.
The woman gave her tea and prepared her a breakfast of bread and eggs, which would fortify her until the feast later.
The woman carefully combed out Ilona’s long, burnished hair and braided a few strands on both sides of her face.
A lass came in with a basket of fragrant white elderflowers and wove these into her hair like a crown.
Sigrid helped her dress in her green gown, which complemented her copper-colored hair, green eyes, and fair skin. Then, Sigrid placed the resplendent embroidered apron over the gown.
Ilona’s embroidery shimmered in the light of the flames that danced in the firepit. The bride would glow and sparkle in the radiant sunlight. The women gathered around her with smiles and words of encouragement, remembering their wedding days and their feelings on that momentous day.
The women studied the designs she had embroidered and asked her questions about them. When Sigrid translated, they understood the symbolism.
When Ilona pointed to the wolf in the center of her design, she said, “Rathnon, mit ulf,” and smiles of understanding lit up their faces.
Ilona incorporated things from Norway into her wedding gown rather than things from her previous home in Scotland.
She told the women Rathnon wore the symbols of Scotland, knowing they would both need to understand each other’s customs and learn to compromise.
The ladies marveled over her stitching and designs and told her how beautiful she looked.
An older woman returned and told the women, “The meat has been roasting since early this morning, and all is ready for the ceremony and feasting. The men are assembled, and the groom is impatiently waiting for his bride.”
The ladies formed a procession through the forest, with Sigrid and Ilona walking last. The women had bathed and dressed in their finest clothes, honoring the bride and groom. As she walked behind the other women, she hoped Rathnon liked his wedding tunic she had made for him.
Ilona shivered with anxiety and anticipation.
Her heart beat in a frenzied dance. Close to the wedding site, wildflowers were strewn on the ground.
Ilona heard the distinctive call of the lapwing bird, and this time, instead of sounding mournful, it sounded celebratory.
Birdsong joyously filled the air, and the sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky.
In front of her, one by one, the women left the procession to stand with their husbands and families, until only Rathnon stood before her with a beaming smile.
He reached for her hand and kissed it, calming Ilona’s nerves. She glowed with an inner radiance.
Rathnon’s heart swelled, thinking how he wanted to make Ilona happy and care for her.
With an eye for detail, Rathnon studied the artistry and painstaking designs Ilona had created on her gown. Extraordinary embroidery on her wedding gown and his wedding tunic filled him with joy.
In Gaelic, Rathnon said, “Ye are beautiful, Ilona.” Surprised, Ilona gazed at him, smiled, and said, “Takk, Rathnon.”
An elder stood before them, and Rathnon cut their hands with his sharp knife. To please Ilona, their hands were tied and bound in a Scottish marriage ceremony. The elder recited his words and blessings for the couple in Gaelic and Norwegian so all present could understand.
Rathnon recited after the elder in Gaelic, “Ye are blood of my blood and bone of my bone. I give ye my body that we two might be one. I give ye my heart, till our life be done. Ye live in my heart. Jeg elsker deg (I love you), Ilona, with all my heart.”
Tears glittered in Ilona’s eyes at his words. She recited the vows in Norwegian, surprising him and all assembled. Only Sigrid kent that she had planned this to please Rathnon.
“Ye are blood of my blood and bone of my bone. I give ye my body that we two might be one. I give ye my heart, till our life be done. Ye are the fierce Ulf and protector of my heart.” Rathnon pulled her to him and embraced her, kissing her possessively as everyone cheered for the newly married couple.
“Ye are amazing, wife. I love the tunic ye made for me, Ilona, and yer embroidered gown is beautiful.” Rathnon pointed to his tunic, which fit him perfectly, and smiled. “I have a gift for ye.” Rathnon pulled out the pin he’d had Bj?rn make for her.
The silver brooch had been expertly etched. A magnificent wolf stood proudly surrounded by elderflowers gleaming in the sun. Rathnon showed it to Ilona before he pinned it on her dress. Touched by his gift, tears of happiness spilled down her face.
Rathnon quickly wiped them away with his fingers and kissed her face. The procession left to return to the area by the longhouse, where tables with flowers and candles stood with benches.
Servers poured mead for the bride and groom, and then filled the cups of the guests.
The wedding guests toasted the happiness and prosperity of the bride and groom.
Rathnon never left Ilona’s side as they remained bound.
The meat and fish were laid on platters on the table, accompanied by vegetables, cheeses, bread, and butter.
Sweet honey cakes were served for dessert before the music started for dancing.
The bridal couple excused themselves and entered the longhouse to retrieve the baskets they had woven.
Rathnon and Ilona bestowed the first one to Sigrid, whose eyes teared up with happiness.
Together as a couple, they distributed the baskets to each family and then individually to the small children old enough to use the baskets.
The children were delighted with their treasure baskets and the painted birch designs inside.
Ilona told the children, with Rathnon’s help, she wanted them to think about a story for the item inside their basket. After the couple returned, they would gather, and the children would share their stories at night by the fire. Excitement sparkled in their eyes at this prospect.
Rathnon led Ilona into the area for dancing, and they danced as everyone clapped for them. Then everyone joined in the merriment. The celebration was gay and fun, for nae one worked except to contribute to the wedding celebration.
After they had danced for a couple of hours, Rathnon took her hand and led her into the longhouse, where they changed their clothes.
Ilona presented Rathnon with the basket with the engraved wooden piece at the bottom of the basket as a wedding gift.
He kissed her and said, “Thank ye,” in Gaelic, which pleased her immensely.
Rathnon had already prepared their space in the forest, but he carried extra items and bags filled with whiskey and mead. The bridal couple slipped away from the wedding celebration and silently stole into the woods. Still light in the afternoon, Rathnon wanted to get settled before it became dark.
He led the way to a densely forested area where he had set up furs for their bed.
Rathnon ignited the firepit, piled with wood.
He had extra chopped wood for their needs.
Fragrant elderflowers laid on top of their bed.
It felt like silver ribbons of light wrapped around her heart and bound her closer to Rathnon, affected by his efforts to please her.
Pouring her a cup of mead, he set out food for them to share. He kent she hardly ate at their dinner. Rathnon fed her a few tender morsels of meat, and he cut slices of a juicy peach for them to share.
When they were through, Rathnon pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
Ilona trembled against him. He gently untied her shoes and pulled them off, then slid his shoes off and removed their socks.
He settled her down beside him and kissed her.
After heated kisses, he pulled off his pants and pulled her dress off over her head, leaving them both in their linen shifts.
Rathnon gave her tender kisses over her shift.
The heat from his lips inflamed the desire he stoked inside Ilona.
Rathnon’s tongue seared her lips, demanding entrance, and he thrust his tongue into her mouth the way he wished to be inside her body.
After he caressed her breasts through the fabric and Ilona moaned, he divested her of her shift, leaving her naked beneath him.
Rathnon knelt over her and kissed one breast while he played with the nipple, pebbled and sensitive, in his other hand.
Rathnon’s hardness pressed against her soft body. He kissed her breasts, relishing the taste and scent of her silken skin. With his fingers, he stroked the inside of her legs, setting Ilona aflame with desire and heat like she had never ken.
Everything he did, every touch, inflamed her senses and increased her sensitivity and pleasure.
Rathnon returned to kissing her lips as his fingers found her soft curls over the mound at the apex of her thighs.
Unconsciously, Ilona moved against him seeking the increased friction and spiraling pleasure.