Valknut

CHAPTER|33 Introductions I

Catriona found the hustle and bustle in the castle deafening today. Perhaps more so than usual because her nerves were a complete mess. Today would be the day that she would be formally introduced to several families. 

Her day had begun as usual. Upon waking, she had walked to the window to get a glimpse of dawn breaking and of people as they began their day. When she had had her fill, she walked to the basin and cleaned herself before rummaging through her trunks for something to wear. Decisions… decisions… decisions… 

Quickly she picked three outfits from the trunk and hung them from her bedposts. She stood in front of each, chewing on her lip while contemplating over the dress. The red would have been her first choice. A sweeping gown made entirely from red silk, with a delicate white inner skirt. She favored the dress for one simple reason, its sleeves stopped abruptly at her wrists. Even though they flared out like a fan around her fingers, the relatively short length of the sleeves meant that she wasn’t absentmindedly dipping them in her broth or whatever else she was eating. Unlike most of her gowns, the dress was simple yet elegant and the only extravagant detail about it was the gold lace crisscrossing across the front of the bodice. 

She would have favored wearing it today, but alas it seemed she rested her behind on something when she last wore it and that had left a stain on the gown. She made a mental note to remind Ella to have it cleaned – a not so easy chore. If her memory served her well, Lady MacShane had once shared with her that the easiest way to clean an expensive dress was to roll it in a bit of snow. But where would one find snow at this time of the year? Certainly not in Orkney! If Ella didn’t know of another way to remove the stain, she’d have to lock the dress away till winter! 

She sighed and walked to the second dress she had picked – a pastel blue gown with a light floral pattern. Dark blue lace graced the delicate neck, cuffs and hem of the dress. Pleats of lighter blue fabric peeked out from between the floral strips that made up the skirt. As with the red gown, this one too had short sleeves, but they did extend beyond her fingers. At least they weren’t all the way down to her knees! She chewed her lip thoughtfully and then proceeded to stand before the green dress. This one she had worn in the not-so-distant past. Oh pssh, who cared. As she reached for the green gown, Lady MacShane’s advice boomed in her ears. 

“A woman mustn’t have too many clothes, nor too few… just enough to have choices. If ye wear the same gown on every occasion despite the many tucked in yer trunk, people will believe ye own just the one.” 

“A'richt … a'richt I’ll wear the blue” she muttered to herself. 

Just as she had finished returning the red and green gowns to her trunk, she heard a knock on her door. She looked up just as Ella peeked in. 

“Ah you're up my Lady. Olaf sent us to ye bearing gifts. Could we come in?” 

“Come... Come... no need for formalities Ella. ye know better.” Catriona chided. 

Ella opened the door wide and stepped in. She peeked back out and motioned for the girls behind her to join them in the room. Three huffing puffing breathless red-faced girls stumbled into the room, dragging a trunk. They stopped in front of Catriona, curtseyed quickly and rushed back out. 

A trunk? A heavy trunk ... That’s the man’s idea of a gift for his fiancé? Really? It was a beautiful trunk though. Made entirely from dark wood and polished to perfection - she could see her reflection on the sparkling surface. Intricate floral carvings covered the trunk – petals in shades of gold and deep purple, and the greens of the leaves painted in light and dark hues. 

“My lady, we don’t have all day. Go on and open it already. The girls will be here soon with yer bath water.” 

Catriona smacked her forehead. What was she thinking? Of course the trunk was a gift, but so was everything that was inside it! Eagerly she knelt in front of the trunk and lifted the little latch, her breath caught in her throat. Exhaling slowly, she lifted the lid all the way.

Her mouth fell open at the trunk’s contents. At the top, lay several dresses made from gorgeous silks in every conceivable shade of red, blue, green, lavender, and white. Slowly she lifted each and placed them side by side on the bed. Then she proceeded to remove the several pairs of shoes that would match the outfits. Under the shoes lay numerous boxes. Curious, she grabbed the closest one and gasped when she saw its contents. Inside, lay the most delicate gold and silver interwoven chain. At equal intervals, lay several of the softest cream colored pearls she had ever seen. 

Ella grinned as Catriona’s eyes almost popped out of her sockets when she opened the second box. Inside, lay a gold chain with links fashioned in tear drop shapes. The two sides were fastened in the center with a delicate gold flower inlaid with the clearest rubies she’d ever seen. Another box contained a silver chain that sported several ivy leaves, and in the center of each leaf lay a different colored stone. Bracelets, anklets, earrings, rings, broaches, pins … Olaf must have bought every shinny thing available in shops from Orkney to Pictland! 

“What’s the meaning of all this? Why so much? What makes him think I’m going to wear all these dresses?” Just as she finished throwing those questions at Ella, Olaf walked into her room. 

Embracing her, he spoke “Nothing is too much for my pretty one. And I do hope that ye will wear all those dresses. Today, yer meeting some very important people - yer and Klaufi's family. And ye'll be meeting my family at the evening feast. I know ye don’t enjoy wearing dresses my love, but Norsewomen are rather fond of erm… playing dress up. They enjoy looking pretty. And the last thing I want is for ye to feel is awkward or inadequate.” 

“Pick what ye like to wear for the morning, and put the rest away for later use. ye can flounce around in your breeks all afternoon. And no ye cannot return the dresses or the jewelry. Ella will help ye, won’t ye Ella? I'll see ye for breakfast in a bit.” He planted a quick kiss on her forehead before leaving. 

Catriona flopped down on her bed in resignation. In marched six girls carrying buckets of hot water for her bath. As they left, Ella mixed apple and cinnamon oils into the water before helping Catriona in. As she scrubbed Catriona’s back with a wash cloth she spoke, “Ye will be a Jarl's wife soon. Lady MacShane has spoken with ye often about the importance of keeping up appearances. Ye wouldn’t want to embarrass Lord Olaf in front of his family, now yer family, would ye?” 

Catriona shook her head as she ran her fingers through the water in the tub. Ella continued softly, “If I may be so bold my Lady, life is about compromises. Lord Olaf needs you to be a genteel lady at both functions. One who takes pride in her appearance. One who understands the social standing of her husband and is willing to support it, encourage it and nurture it, like a woman should. In return, the Lord is willing to allow ye to follow yer wild spirit. Would ye not make him proud by accepting both yer roles gracefully? To do as ye wish in private, in the time reserved for ye and to be as he needs ye to be when he needs ye to be?” 

“Of course I will. But I can be allowed to sulk can’t I?” 

“With acceptance comes happiness my Lady. Exchanging a tunic for a dress doesn’t change who ye are. Being a devoted wife to a devote husband cannot be such a dreadful fate can it?” 

Catriona splashed Ella with a little water. Both girls giggled with laughter before Catriona stood up in the tub. “Come, its time I make my way to the hall.”