Frida

Chapter 26 - God of Fire

Frida had never experienced anything like a Norse wedding before in her life. The day had proceeded with lightning speed, and Frida had enjoyed herself more than ever.

After the ceremony, several bonfires had been lit on the beach where whole pigs had been roasted, clouding the whole village with a delicious smoky fragrance, while the best singers had gathered to perform very strong vocal songs that made most of the women in the audience wet their cheeks. They had all feasted outside, and Frida was very surprised that several of her and Ragnar's closest friends had actually held small speeches to them, praising their love and marriage.

Especially Lagertha's words had touched Frida's heart, as they were as pure and genuine as her own person.

When the sun had dived down behind the western mountains and shone its last golden rays over Kattegat's harbor, most of the villagers had gathered in the long-hall which had been decorated heavily with flowers, candles and fragrant herbs, the entire room feeling like a dream.

A really good one, to say the least.

Frida had sat down at the big fire pit in the middle of the room, and she could not help but to smile from one ear to the other as she gazed around upon her friends, her family, as they were all gathered there. Ragnar at her right, Torstein, Rollo, Bjørn, Helga, Floki, Lagertha, Athelstan, all of them, were casually sitting around the fire, their bellies full of wonderful food, wine, and lots of honey mead. A couple of young girls were dancing around them, naked, only furs covering their hair, while a slow flute was playing from a corner making the atmosphere very enjoyable.

Frida sighed out, satisfied, when Ragnar reached his arms over to pull her closer to him, placing her between his legs so her back rested against his chest, and she looked up at him, his smile smug and his eyes glowing. He placed a kiss on her hair before he rested his head on her shoulder, forcing honey warmth to drip down over her body like lovely hot water.

She felt like the luckiest woman alive.

"Floki, why don't you tell us a story?" Ragnar voiced out behind her, earning the whole group to turn their heads to the dark-eyed Viking at their left.

Floki narrowed his eyes at his king, and a small snicker sounded from his lips. Frida took a healthy sip of her sweet horn before she felt his eyes turning to her, the corner of his mouth curling teasingly.

"I would love to, but I think our new queen should decide which one. Don't you agree?"

Frida felt everyone's eyes turning to her, and she cleared her throat, still not used to her new title. She felt Ragnar nudging her shoulder.

"Hm," she breathed with her finger on her lip and her eyes lingering on the dark circles around Floki's eyes. "There is a god that I know very little of, of whom people seldomly speak with affectionate words, I have noticed."

She watched him tilt his head at her, his smile growing. "And who might that be?"

She could sense that his air changed with her words, and he took a small sip from his horn without breaking his eyes from hers. Ragnar chuckled breathily into her ear.

"Loki," she answered.

Floki sniggered devilishly and scooted forward, the shadows on his face dancing vividly, as he raised his eyebrows at her. Frida heard Athelstan laughing out, but she kept her stare locked on Floki as he looked around at the others, smugness heavy on his face.

"Loki," he repeated slowly with a mysterious tone to his voice, "The sly one."

His eyes hovered over the group, entertainment shining from his entire presence.