We are all blind

Wedding Crasher

So the time had come. 

Ivar and Sidsel were to marry.

Everyone in Kattegat were to attend, which made the already nervous Sidsel even more nervous. A prince was to marry after all so it made sense everyone was invited to attend the festivities.

"What if I stab him during the sword ceremony? Or stab myself? Or the gothi?"

"Calm down, sister", Asta laughed as she helped Sidsel get into her dress. It was a dress in a green shade with brown leather details. Very simple but beautiful, everyone around her assured her. Aslaug had taken the time to make it for her. It complemented her eyes and complexion. 

Her golden blonde hair was done up in intricate braids with a crown weaved into it. The same crown her mother had worn on her wedding day.  

When Asta and Sidsel moved to Kattegat their father had sent one of the ancestral swords and the crown with them because he intended for, at least, one wedding to happen eventually. 

Some wildflowers were also placed in the braids and her staff was also decorated with flowers and vines. Her eyes were lined with a thin line of kohl, making them stand out.

"You look stunning", Helga complemented when they were done decorating her. Asta kissed the top of her younger sisters forehead. "Mother would be so proud of you", she whispered making Sidsel tear up, thinking of how she wanted her to witness this day. 

"Don't cry, we don't want to give Ivar the wrong idea", she smiled and gave her a tight hug. 

Minutes later, Sidsel was sitting on a boat with Helga, Asta and some of the shieldmaidens that had come from Köpingsvik with her brothers. The sun had been up for a couple of hours already and people had gathered by the lake where the ceremony took place. They all watched as the bride emerged out of the light fog on a beautifully decorated boat. Sidsel could hear people gasp and murmur in excitement as they were close to the end of the lake. She heard someone step into the water. 

"You look beautiful, sister", Royd said and put his arms under her knees and back and carried her to shore. She held her staff tightly in her hand to not drop it. 

"Nervous?" He asked as he felt her tremble a little. "Yes, but that's to be expected", she whispered in response. He slowly put her down on the solid ground and walked her to where Ivar was standing with the help of braces and crutches that Floki had designed. 

Royd was now giving her away to Ivar. 

"Good morning, Sidsel", she breathed in a little sharper than usual as his voice came from above her rather than below. He was almost a head taller than her standing up. "Good morning", she whispered in reply with a smile. Her nerves were gone. Only Ivar was there at that moment. No one else mattered.  

The ceremony started. First the sword exchange. Sidsel was very careful when handling the swords. They weren't as sharp as swords should be in battle, but she wouldn't risk cutting anyone open. After that they exchanged rings. Again, Sidsel was careful not to drop her sword or cut herself as she took the ring from Ivar's sword. 

A horse had been sacrificed and now its blood was sprinkled on their faces by the gothi. 

They said their vows without hesitation. And when the gothi asked if they swore by the gods that they wanted to marry each other they said;

"I swear"

"I swear"

"You are now husband and wife". 

At those words, Ivar put his weight on his left crutch and dropped his right to guide Sidsel's face towards his and pressed their lips together in a sweet kiss. Everyone around them clapped their hands, dunked each other in the back, hugged and cheered as they saw the newlyweds share their first kiss as husband and wife. 

Then there was the bridal race. Royd and Halvor ran against Ubbe, Hvitserk, and Sigurd. 

Halvor was victorious, followed by Hvitserk, Royd and then Ubbe and Sigurd last. This meant that the three Ragnarssons were to serve the feast as Ivar's family had lost to Sidsel's. 

The great hall was silent as Sidsel and Ivar performed a ritual to get the feast started. She, with her sister's guidance - to not spill the liquid, filled a goblet with sweetened mead and then offered it to Ivar, who took it, raised it and said;

"To Odin". He took a drink of the mead and then pressed the goblet into Sidsels waiting hands and it was her turn;

"To Freyja". When she drank from the goblet, music started and the mead started to flow freely, not only in the great hall - but also on all the streets of Kattegat.

People danced around to music that played from the great hall. Ivar and Sidsel even tried to dance briefly, even though it was as awkward as anyone could imagine. A blind girl being led by a man on crutches was not the best idea. It went better to dance with Ubbe, Hvitserk and her own brothers but she gave up after a few short dances to sit at the head table beside her husband. 

Ivar would whisper things he wanted to do to her come night time and she would turn bright red for all to see. As they got drunker they would start to make out in front of everyone but no one paid them much attention, not that they seemed to care. They were both happy.

But happiness can't last forever. 

Everything went silent all of a sudden. Sidsel got alarmed and searched for Ivar's hand under the table. He took her hand and squeezed it firmly. She had no idea what was going on as no one said anything and was just about to open her mouth to ask, but one name uttered from Aslaug's lips stopped her from doing so;

"Ragnar"

~~~~~

Hello everyone! 

I just wanted to take some time to say thank you to everyone following this story, voting, commenting and just reading it. You all warm my heart. 

Please feel free to comment on anything. I love constructive criticism. I want my writing, and English, to improve. 

Have a wonderful morning, afternoon, evening or night, wherever or whenever you are. 

Love, 

Cancan