Dragon Bride

Chapter 22 St. Lucia's Day

The dragon flew with every ounce of strength and speed as he climbed higher toward the volcano in the frozen sea. He had smelled her musky scent long before he had seen her. The lady dragon recognized him and began to climb rapidly away and the chase began. The dragons climbed higher and higher as the air around them became colder and thinner and they needed to work their wings harder to maintain flight. The larger male dragon slowly closed the distance between them. Then the lady dragon stalled and in the instant she began to fall Loki seized her with strong limbs entwining their bodies together. Wrapped together in a tight mating embrace they fell together. Their bodies in a flat spin plummeted to earth. The fall felt like it lasted an eternity. Then mere inches above the ice they broke their embrace and renewed the chaise.

*****

The household was a fury activity as preparations were made for the St. Lucia celebration. Karliene and the women of the household had finished with the sauna. Unni and Gretchen were assisting Karliene to dress. A lot of effort had been expended preparing food and the special sweet breads for the feast and Gretchen had taken the food to the church. Karliene had put two heavy petticoats on against the cold and the white underdress she had made for her wedding. It was made with unbleached wool and more ivory than true white but she was satisfied with the color. Gretchen presented Karliene with a white dress of pure white wool and a thick white wool shawl with tassels. "Jenny made this for you," Gretchen whispered, "she had so hoped to see you in it. She gave it to me for you." Karliene reverently took the dress blinking back the tears.

"I loved Jenny," Karliene whispered as a few tears ran down her cheek. "I didn't..."

"She loved you too," Gretchen said, "Let's get you dressed."

"Why is Karlie wearing white," Oonagh asked. She was trying on the candle covered crown Karliene would be wearing.

"Karliene will be St. Lucia," Gretchen said. "It is a great honor. The white is for St. Lucia's purity and the red sash for the blood she shed because she was a martyr."

"I want to be Lucia too!" Oonagh said.

"You'll get your chance too," Karliene said smiling and wiping away the last of her tears. Gretchen lit the candles on Karliene's crown then each of the household took a lit candle and began walking to the church. Karliene her voice bright with joy began to sing the hymn to St. Lucia. Other members of the little community joined the precession all carrying candles and singing as they made their way to the church. Others in the community not members of the faith also watched and were moved by what they saw. Karliene led the precession, she kept her eyes downcast as she slowly walked toward the little church. Her heart beat fast and she was filled with joy. As long as she could remember she had dreamed of leading this precession and now thanks to Fr. Peter she was. The effect of the bright mass of candle light, the darkness of the winter night, the myriad of bright twinkling stars, the large full moon and the clean bright snow covering the ground added to the special beauty of the celebration.

Karliene was overjoyed and surprised to see Fr. Peter waiting for them at the church door. She had not expected this but apparently he had recovered enough to be there. She smiled brightly as she walked past him as he held the door for her. Karliene sang in her clear beautiful voice bringing the message of hope on the darkest day of the year:

"Night comes with heavy steps through our land, calling

Sunlight, the earth forgets. Shadows are falling

However dark the night, rising candles bright,

Saint Lucia! Saint Lucia!

Though long may be the night, hope, she is bringing,

Hear now the maid in white, silently winging,

Hushed wonder in the air, Lights glowing in her hair,

Saint Lucia! Saint Lucia!"

The darkness soon shall flee valleys in shadow,

Sunlight I can foresee, over the meadows,

The sun will rise again! Rise in the sky to reign!

Saint Lucia! Saint Lucia!

( Saint Lucia translated by Tamsyn Spackman)

*****

Bjorn had been home for more than a fortnight. He had missed Karliene's visit by less then a day. He was pleased that his large family had finished the construction of his long house. It was nestled in the group of homes belonging to his step-father and brothers. They were sitting together for the evening meal.

"Thank you, all of you for your help," Bjorn said as he helped himself to the blackfish stew his mother had made.

"You helped all of us when we built ours," his brother said.

"And you paid us generously for our labor," his step-father added.

"Tell us about this woman of yours," Brianna said.

"She sings like an angel," Bjorn said thoughtfully. "She has red hair and blue-green eyes and she's tiny, she reminds me of an elf." Bjorn went on to extol the various virtues and traits of his intended wife.

KiKi was sitting next to him. She leaned over to him and whispered in his ear, "I got a secret!"

"Tell me little sis," Bjorn teased.

"Nuh-ah you'll have to wait." KiKi gave him her most mischief smile then ignored him.

"Her sister Unni will be coming here with her," Bjorn added.

"That's good!" KiKi added, "a girl could use a sister or two and a dragon."

Brianna laughed, "What would a girl do with a dragon?"

"Lots of things." KiKi replied airily.

"The village I just came from feeds pretty girls to Dragons," Bjorn teased.

"My dragon won't eat girls," KiKi said with conviction. Then smiling at her brothers added, "I'm not sure about boys." The results of her pronouncement was laughter.

"Caoimhe has been talking about dragons for the last two weeks," Brianna said as she smiled at her youngest daughter.

"What is about dragons that caught your interest KiKi?" her father asked. KiKi responded by shrugging her shoulders.

"What are your plans Bjorn?" Brianna asked.

"I'll set up my home so I have a home to bring my new family too. I'll leave for Iceland once I get the barley planted then catch a boat for Norway," Bjorn said. "I'll travel in one of the knarr (trade ships) as they are more numerous."

"I thought you had a long ship?" one of his half brothers asked.

"Had one," Bjorn replied, "sold it to Olaf Fairhair, that's where I got the cash to buy the land and commission the house."

"I'm thankful you are finally going to settle down," Brianna said as she smiled at her son.

"When do you think you'll be back to stay?" KiKi asked.

"Olaf will return us late this summer."

"Can I stay with your new wife, at least some times. I like her."

"How do you know that Caoimhe," Brianna said laughing, "you have not met the woman."

"Oh I'm sure she'll love KiKi," Bjorn said, "at least as much as I do." KiKi smiled at her brother. "Now spill the beans on your secret."

Caoimhe shook her head to indicate "no" and pinched her lips closed, "I will tell you, but not just now," she said smiling with mischief.