Chapter 28
Ylva’s Gifts
As the crowd erupted in jubilant cheers, lively melodies from lyres and lutes floated in the festive breeze.
Guests flocked to dance around the bonfire which blazed in the grassy meadow above the white chalk cliffs.
The floral fragrance of heather, gorse, and wild thyme mingled with woodsmoke as lyre-song rose into the starlit night sky.
Skjold held Skadi tight, swirling her to the music. Nearby, he spotted Njord dancing with Elfi, and the giant Njáll cradling Luna inside his black wolfskin cloak. Although Bodo limped, it didn’t seem to bother him at all, for he laughed with Sif as he twirled her in his brawny arms.
Skadi suckled the side of Skjold’s neck under his trimmed beard, sending a staggering jolt of desire straight to his loins.
“This reminds me of the night we first danced together in Dvalinn’s cave.
” Her whispered breath was hot in his ear.
“When we made love, shared our frostfire magic…and became soulbound in water and flame.” She nuzzled the tuft of blond hair at the base of his throat, humming with pleasure as she deeply inhaled his scent.
“I hope our private chamber has a window. So we can make love in the moonlight, like last night in V?gan.”
“It’s hard to believe that was just last night.” He pulled her close so she could feel his ardent desire. “So much has happened today… it seems like it’s been at least a week.”
After they danced for a while, Skjold spotted Elfi sitting at the table. Njord was speaking with Sk?rde, Lord Thorfinn, and Jarl Rikard, undoubtedly discussing the morning voyage to Heieabyr to discuss with Sweyn and Tryggvi the wedding proposal for Sigurd.
“I’d like to speak to Elfi,” Skadi said, withdrawing her arms from around Skjold’s neck. He instantly missed her touch. “I want to talk about our weddings.” Skadi’s dazzling smile took his breath away.
As he led Skadi back to the table and seated her beside Elfi, Skjold noticed Ylva sitting with Vivi.
A sudden thought came to mind. “I’ll be back soon,” he said, kissing the top of Skadi’s pale blonde head.
“I need to talk to my mother.” He smiled as Sif came to the table and joined Elfi and Skadi.
“I’ll leave you three brides to discuss your winter solstice weddings. ”
Skjold crossed the clearing and strode to the table where his mother and young sister were sitting with Thorfinn’s elderly mother Oda. Ylva smiled at his approach. “Maman, could I speak to you for a moment?”
Ylva turned to Oda. “May I leave Vivi with you while I talk to my son?”
The wrinkled cheeks of Elfi’s amma crinkled into a soft smile. “Of course. Vivi and I have much to discuss.” She squeezed his sister’s hand. “There are three winter solstice weddings that we must prepare.”
Vivi’s bright smile lit up her pretty face. “Skadi is beautiful. I am so happy that I’ll finally have a sister.”
Skjold grinned from ear to bearded ear.
He led Ylva toward an enormous beech tree adorned with garlands of pink églantine wild roses. The soft floral fragrance wafted into the cool salty air.
Ylva’s blue seeress eyes searched his. “What is it, son?”
Skjold inhaled deeply to summon the courage to voice his request. “Maman, you know gemstones, runes, and galdr magic. You once made an emerald talisman for Faeir.”
He glanced over at Skadi sitting at the table, laughing with Elfi and Sif. By the gods, he loved her. Skjold remembered the extraordinary rings Haldor had shown him. Freyja’s Eyes—crafted by Dvalinn, with the same amber gems that the dwarf had used to create the legendary Brisingamen necklace.
And Skjold didn’t even have a simple silver band for his beautiful bride.
He turned back to Ylva. “I have no wedding ring for Skadi.”
Ylva gently took his hand and traced the fjórún inside his left palm.
“Deep purple amethyst ablaze with brilliant fire,” she murmured, examining the soulbound rune, “And ice blue aquamarine, sparkling like the frosted fjord.” A faraway look in her seeress eyes, she gazed across the clearing at Skjold’s beautiful bride.
“For Skadi’s ring, I’ll select two droplet-shaped gems, set in swirls of silver shaped like flames.
One pointing up, the other down, their tips meeting in the center.
” She smiled at Skjold. “And for yours, the gems set side by side, facing each other, encased in swirls of silver etched with runes.” Her radiant smile, which had always warmed his young heart as a boy, now filled his spirit with joy as a man.
“Skadi has no female kin to help her prepare for the wedding.” Ylva pushed a strand of long blond hair away from Skjold’s bearded face.
Her eyes shone with maternal love. “Neither did I, when your afi Rikard came to fetch me in the Breton village of Saint-Suliac and brought me to Normandy to marry your faeir. But Sk?rde’s amma Gyda—you might remember your great-grandmother…
she passed away six winters ago… welcomed me with open arms when I arrived at Chateaufort for my summer solstice wedding. ”
Ylva smiled as her gaze found Skadi again.
“Gyda had saved her kransen for her daughter—but Katla died giving birth to Sk?rde. So she passed it to me, for my wedding to her grandson. Gyda and her servants, Norhild and Eydis, created a beautiful bridal headpiece for me with that heirloom circlet.” Her eyes glimmered with loving tears as she held Skjod’s gaze.
“I will want it back one day—for Vivi, when she comes of age. But I will create a headpiece for Skadi as beautiful as the one Gyda made for me.”
With a pale, slender hand, she caressed Skjold’s bristled cheek.
“Oda, Sif, and Vilde are skilled with needle and thread. They made Elfi’s wedding gown with sumptuous silk that Njord brought back from the distant shores of the Caspian Sea.
” Ylva glanced over at Oda, chatting with Vivi.
“I’m sure they will be delighted to make a gown for Skadi—in palest blue, like her eyes.
And I will embellish it with amethyst and aquamarine gems, to match your wedding rings. ”
Her loving smile filled his grateful heart. “I will make her a most beautiful bride.”
“You have always known how to shape beauty from love, Maman. Thank you, for everything.” Skjold bent down to kiss Ylva’s cheek, then escorted her back to sit with Oda and Vivi.
He inclined his head politely to Elfi’s grandmother, and kissed his sister goodnight.
“I’ll see you both in the morning. Sleep well.
” With a warm, grateful smile at Ylva, Skjold returned to Skadi’s side.
Njord and Sk?rde came up to the table just as Skjold arrived. Elfi stretched her arms overhead and yawned. “I’m ready for bed. It’s been an exhausting day.” She placed her hand on her rounded belly and gazed up at Njord. “And our daughter makes me especially tired.”
“I’m going home with Bodo,” Sif said to Elfi, kissing her cheek, then Njord’s. “We’ll come say goodbye in the morning.” Bodo and Sif nodded to Skadi and Skjold, then headed off with a torch toward the village.
“Sk?rde and I leave at first light,” Njord announced, helping Elfi to her feet.
He grinned at Skjold. “Haldor will be incredibly relieved to hear your father’s ingenious idea to wed Svanhild to Tryggvi.
” He spoke to Skadi and Skjold. “I’ll see you both in early December, when I return from ísland.
We’ll plan for our winter solstice weddings. ”
Njord kissed Skadi’s hand, then turned to say goodnight to Luna and Njáll.
“You and the úlfhéenar watch over Elfi while I’m gone,” he said to his wolf brother.
“I’ll return as soon as I can.” Njord said goodnight to Lugh and Ildris, who would remain as Thorfinn’s guests tonight and return to álfheim in the morning.
He bent to kiss Luna’s cheek, nodded to Sk?rde, the rest of his pack seated at the table, and escorted Elfi toward the double entrance doors which led into the castle.
Sk?rde said goodnight to everyone as well.
He grasped Skjold’s forearms, paternal pride and profound love gleaming in his deep blue gaze.
“I’m proud of the man you’ve become.” He pressed a bearded kiss to Skadi’s pale hand.
“And delighted with your beguiling bride.” He straightened, watched Njord lead Elfi into the castle, then spoke quietly to Skadi and Skjold.
“See you in the morning. Njord and I sail for Heieabyr after dagmál.” He grinned.
“I’ll formally invite Sweyn and Tryggvi to your winter solstice wedding.
When they hear that Queen íssla of the Ljósálfar will be here at Chateau Blanc, I’m sure they will wish to attend.
” With a rumble of laughter, he inclined his head, waved to the úlfhéenar, and strode across the meadow toward Ylva and Vivi.
Now that the feast was over, thralls cleared the tables and brought them back inside the castle. Warriors and knights drifted toward timbered huts and vast longhouses. Joyous, weary guests headed home to the village.
While servants escorted Oda and Jarl Rikard into the castle, Thorfinn and an attendant approached Skadi and Skjold.
The lord of Chateau Blanc gestured to the silver-haired chamberlain at his side.
“Leif will show you to your private quarters in the north tower,” Thorfinn said amicably.
“I have sheltered Lugh and Ildris on the lower level, Luna and Njáll on the second floor, and your chambers are on the upper level, overlooking the sea.”