The day was a busy one and the day was not yet over!!

The wedding was beautiful and inspiring--as are all weddings. The bridal party sheltered under the great oak that overlooked the small harbor. Gudrun wore a bountifully embroidered gown that had belonged to Sigyn's mother. Eirik, correctly anticipating the manner in which the day would end, had brought his festal raiment with him.

When Haakon recited the bride's worth to his family, Sigyn almost burst into tears of pride. She saved the emotion, however, waiting for the elder's blessing so she could weep with all the other women.

"Why are you crying?" Haakon stared at his sister in consternation. "This is a good wedding. There's no cause for tears."

"It's so wonderful." She sniffed audibly. "Gudrun is so beautiful. She's glowing. And Eirik is so handsome. Everything is just so--it's so--Oh I can't wait until my own wedding!"

Haakon looked around helplessly and noted with surprise that there was not a dry-eyed woman witnessing the oath-taking. The sobbing became more pronounced when the couple exchanged their rings. Haakon sighed heavily and patted Sigyn's hand awkwardly. Obviously this was some incomprehensible female thing. He very much hoped it would resolve itself soon.

When the ceremony was over, the elder nodded to Haakon who abruptly released Sigyn's hand and ran for his horse. He vaulted onto the sleek animal which instantly took off toward the main house. Not to be outdone, Sigyn sprang toward her own mount which one of slaves had secretly led to the wedding site. The thrall tossed her onto the horse's back and she was off with the laughing guests running behind.

But Haakon's lead was insuperable! Sigyn reached the main house a full two minutes behind her brother. He smiled as he helped her down from her horse. Sigyn tried to slip behind him and run into the house, but he laughed and swung her around.

"You owe me a drink, sister!" Haakon crowed in triumph. Sigyn turned to the waiting slave and accepted the vessel of mead and a horn. She poured the mead and handed it to her brother as the guests began to arrive. The women laughingly accepted horns from the slaves and then poured drinks for the men and for themselves. It took awhile before the bridal couple and the elders, walking at their more sedate pace, reached the longhouse. Amidst rousing cheers, the guests saluted the bride and her groom. Then Gudrun and Eirik accepted a pair of intertwined silver toasting cups served to them by Sigyn and Haakon. After another round of mead for all, the party adjourned to the feasting tables.

The women had suspended heavy sail cloth as canopies over the long tables. Eirik led Gudrun toward the place of honor but she blushed and demurred.

"It's not seemly, I'm only--"

Eirik interrupted, however. "You are my wife. As such, you take precedence over all here present save, perhaps, Sigyn. This is our bridal. She wouldn't displace you today!"

Sigyn danced over to her sister and hugged her. "You goose! The bride and groom sit in the center of the head table. Everybody knows that! Now sit you down and I'll fetch mead for you both."

Gudrun smiled and waved to a slave to bring mead. "This is my task. To make sure that my h-husband never lacks what he needs." She blushed once again at her stumble over the word "husband." Eirik and Sigyn both laughed. He planted a possessive kiss on Gudrun's face and led her toward the place of honor.

"Sit!" he roared. He smirked at the slave who carried the mead over and smacked her rump appreciatively. Sigyn shook a finger at him. "None of that!" Gudrun blushed again.

Haakon strolled over to the trio. "This is a great day for our house." He smiled broadly and clapped Eirik on the back. "The new ship is ready to ply the waves--and with any luck in nine months I'll have a fine nephew to cement the tie between our families."

Gudrun and Sigyn exchanged glances. "YOU will have a nephew?" Sigyn chuckled over the egotism of men while Gudrun blushed even more furiously than before. Haakon flagged a passing slave who poured more mead for everybody. "Drink up sister! Fortify yourself for later!" The men laughed as Gudrun's neck reddened in a tell-tale flush. Haakon then nodded toward Sigyn. "I see Rurik and his family's arrived. Go greet them. I hear he has a merchant visiting. No need to go over-board on the hospitality. Still, it won't hurt for you to take the welcoming cup to the man yourself."

The two women looked toward the doorway. The man standing next to Rurik was above average in height but not over large withal. His blond hair and gray eyes were appealing. But he lacked a beard, which interested the women. "Good for kissing," murmured Gudrun. "Much YOU know about it!" replied Sigyn.

But she was not displeased to be carrying the cup to the handsome stranger.

Sigyn filled the hammered silver vessel almost to the brim with the deep amber liquor. Carrying it that way would force her to walk slowly and allow her to show off the sky colored kirtle Haakon had brought back for her from his last raid. As she approached Rurik's guest, she met his eyes and froze for one second.

She could not afterward explain it, even to herself, but in that moment she felt he held her heart in his hand. If he chose to crush it, she would die. Her breath caught and she stopped walking. The stranger smiled and came toward her.

Sigyn proffered the cup with a soft greeting. The blood was pounding in her ears and she could not hear properly when Rurik announced the man's name!

She tasted the mead then proffered the cup to the stranger. He regarded her gravely and turned the vessel so he could drink from the spot her lips had touched. His eyes never left her face as he quaffed the mead.

"I thank you, Sigyn Larsdatter, for the hospitality you offer on behalf of your house." He smiled at her one more time before Rurik led him toward Haakon.

The stranger approached the high table, bowed to Haakon, and took his first gift from the arms of his slave.

"I greet you, Haakon Larsson, and tender this gift of a silver eating knife set with a ruby pommel-stone as token of friendship between us." Haakon accepted the gift and examined it closely, admiring the fine workmanship.

The man turned toward Gudrun and Eirik. "I also bring a gift for the happy couple--blue silk from the land of the Arabs!" His slave unfurled the length of shimmering cloth to display it under the flaming torchlight. Gudrun gasped at the beauty of the fabric. It was the color of a water sapphire but shot with emerald threads that caught the torchglow. Sigyn watched enviously as the slave rebolted the beautiful cloth and presented it to Eirik to give to Gudrun. It wasn't that she grudged the stuff to her sister--but…one was human after all.

Skallagrim leaned forward at Haakon's covert signal and asked, "How are you called, friend?"

"My name is Arnulf Kjalarson, Skallagrim Larsson--recently come from the lands of the Kievan Rus." His eyes strayed toward Sigyn. "And I would like to make a deal with your brother...."

Skallagrim laughed and gestured expansively toward the parade of slaves who had begun to appear bearing trays laden with bread and meat and other savory viands. "Eat first! Then we'll talk. Sit! And enjoy!"

The stranger bowed toward Haakon and Skallagrim then turned to go with Rurik to their places. But as he turned, he caught Sigyn's eye once more and smiled.

She caught her breath and smiled tremulously back at him.

Arnulf. His name is Arnulf Kjalarson. I wonder if I'll see him again?