Aednat and the Wolf

Chapter 4 The Chaplin

Later that afternoon David said, "Aednat, I'm going to take you to meet someone, he is a friend, a priest."

"Will he marry us?"

"I will need to get permission. I'm sure he will help." Aednat put on her pea jacket then hand in hand they walked to the Chaplin's quarters. Father Tom greeted David with a broad smile and shook his hand.

"Well you're finally going home, I will miss our conversations. Who is this young lady, David?"

"She is Aednat, Father, and I want to marry her."

"How long have you two known each other, you and I talk regularly and you never mentioned her?"

"We met yesterday, we spent the night together. I'm sure you heard about the ice cave."

"Is she one of the scientists?"

"She's the girl in the ice cave. She speaks in Old Norse. I can speak with her. I'm frightened for her Father. I do love her and want to protect her. I do not see any way except marriage to protect her. I believe the scientist plan to have her live out the rest of her life in a diorama box demonstrating life during the Viking age."

"I would not put that past them."

"She deserves a real life, and I'm willing to give it to her."

"How does she feel?"

"She is agreeable to marriage."

"How old is she?"

"She had just turned seventeen a while before she entered the cave, but in real terms she is almost six hundred years old."

"Marriage would protect her and give citizenship too. Let me talk to the post commander." The Chaplin left them in his office and called the base commander on the phone. About ten minutes later the base commander and his wife arrived.

"I understand you want to marry this woman, Aednat?" the base commander said. "The Chaplin explained everything to me."

"Yes sir, I wish to marry her."

"You are aware that she would become a U.S. citizen under the War Brides Act and the Alien Fiancés Act. That the marriage needs to be a real marriage...by that I mean a consummated marriage and not simply an arrangement to gain citizenship."

"Sir, it is my intention to take Aednat home and remain married for my entire life."

"Chaplin, tomorrow is the Sargent's last day as a member of the United Sates Air Force, so we had better act now." The Chaplin nodded. "We both know you well David, and because of this it will be allowed. Now if I can have my lovely wife Dorothy step in we can begin."

David explained to Aednat what was about to happen. She nodded her approval. Dorothy was smiling as she entered. "Dottie, my dear, we are going to be witness to David's marriage."

"They do make a cute couple Sam," Dorothy said. "David do you have a ring?"

"No, didn't think of it." The Chaplin pulled a cigar from his pocket and taking off the paper band handed David.

"Fuente Fuente Opus a truly fine cigar. Let this be the ring David. You can get her a more traditional ring later," Fr. Tom said.

The marriage took but a few minutes but in the end they walked out of the Chaplin's office papers in hand as Mr. and Mrs. David Hendersen. By the time they reached the cafeteria everyone knew of their marriage. The cook had decorated a group of cupcakes to resemble a wedding cake and they were loudly congratulated and teased about their extreme age difference.

It was not until the couple returned to their room did the ramifications of their marriage hit Aednat. "David, do you really love me?"

"Yes, with all my heart, from the moment I first saw you."