Page 71 of Ironling
She hadn’t found a moment to speak to Hakon since the garden, duties and preparations consuming all her time and sending her to bed downright exhausted. Still, the chance, the promise of something more, of somethingcoming,had her aflame with excitement and expectation.
Tonight was the night. Something would happen, she was sure of it.
Weddings were times of promise, of change, of celebration. Aislinn was determined to claim a little bit of it for herself.
For now, though, her focus was her dearest friend.
Sorcha was the most beautiful bride, and when the afternoon waned and she emerged from the house, she was the picture of a woodland goddess come to bless them. Prettier than a storybook princess, she seemed to glide across the grass to her groom, and all held their breath, in awe of her.
Aislinn’s cheeks hurt from smiling so wide, and her eyes leaked happy tears as the couple exchanged vows and made their promises to each other, her father tying a red ribbon around their joined hands to seal it. The ceremony drew tears from nearly everyone, even some of the harpies and manticores.
When Orek bowed his head to take Sorcha in a passionate kiss, declaring them husband and wife, a loud cheer rang out from the large crowd gathered, then a laugh as the kiss went on a little longer than necessary.
Over Orek’s broad shoulder, Aislinn spied Hakon, cheering and clapping with the other halflings. His grin went lopsided when their eyes met, and Aislinn flushed from her head to her toes.
Find me when you can,vinya,he’d said. And oh, she meant to.
Tonight.
Although a chilly evening soon crept across the Brádaigh estate, the crackling bonfires kept the celebration lit and warm well into the night. Aoife and Sofie presented the feast that’d taken days to prepare, and over one-hundred guests ate and drank their fill.
As mead and wine flowed, a group of musicians struck up, and revelers crowded around the central fire to dance.
With a belly full of mead and Aoife’s fine cooking, Aislinn wove through the dancers until she found Sorcha and pulled her into the dancing.
Her friend glowed with happiness, and as they skipped and twirled barefoot around the fire to the music, they giggled like the little girls they’d once been. Tonight, they were both just as full of hopes and dreams as they’d been as girls, tomorrow brimming with promise. Nothing seemed forbidden or out of reach in the firelight, and the beat of the music and dancing filled Aislinn with an effervescent hope of things to come.
Aislinn laughed until her sides hurt, her mind wonderfully quiet.
The flowers in Sorcha’s hair shed petals as they danced and filled the air with a sweet fragrance. The joy for her friend, the happiness Sorcha exuded, was unstoppable, uncontrollable. It was as if everyone there felt it too, the singing loud and joyous, hope and goodwill for the new couple overflowing faster than the wine.
When the song ended, Sorcha threw her arms around Aislinn and hugged her tight. She returned the embrace, pressing a kiss to her friend’s cheek.
While she was still monstrously jealous of her friend’s new life, seeing how Sorcha had made her own way gave Aislinn a little more courage. They weren’t the same, and neither were their situations, but tonight, nothing felt impossible.
“You deserve every happiness,” Aislinn whispered to her friend.
Sorcha squeezed her tight before releasing her. “So do you. You’ll tell me if there’s anything I can do to make it happen?”
“Of course.” She pinched Sorcha’s arm and turned her around back into the celebration. “But not tonight. Tonight is your night!”
Sorcha threw her arms up, more petals falling from her wild curls, and then she was pulled away into another dance by her sisters.
Aislinn watched on as she caught her breath. It was a good excuse to…
There he is.
Weaving through the throng of people, Aislinn smiled and nodded where she needed but didn’t let herself be snared into conversation. Instead, she walked with purpose around the bonfire to where Hakon stood, watching the dancing.
Heart pounding, Aislinn came to stand alongside him. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. They are well suited.” Hakon grinned fondly. “To be honest, I’m glad the ceremony at least is over. Orek was nervous all morning.”
“He’d no reason to be. Although, I take it as a good sign.”
“A groom should be nervous?”
“At least a little, I think.”
