Page 22 of The Handfasting
Now, as they slogged through the snowy field toward the forest, No?l had to admit he was surprised by just how extensive the holding was. It appeared the king had been quite generous. They’d been hiking for some time.
“How much farther is it?” he asked.
“Not far. Just through those trees, in the clearin’.”
Her cheeks were rosy with the cold. Her breath made fog on the air. And her gray eyes shone with excitement. It almost seemed a pity to tear her away from the land she loved so much.
“There,” she breathed when they finally reached a small clearing in the wood where stray beams of sunlight seemed to cast glittering gems in the snow.
The well wasn’t much of a well anymore. It was a ruin. A winding stream ran into what was left of the stone walls and trickled down the other side. Ferns grew up around the moss-covered rock. Snow-laden pines crowded near, their tops bent inward as if to shield the well from intruders. If No?l didn’t know better, he’d say itwasa magical place.
As they drew near, he saw a curious stone disk sitting askew atop the well. It looked like a dislodged lid.
“There’s an inscription on top,” she told him. “See the Viking runes?”
“What does it say?”
“’Tis a blessin’. For a quiet journey, joyful days, and strong deeds for Odin.”
“Odin?”
“The Viking god.” She ran her fingers across the carved runes. “And here it says, ‘May your love stay true to your noble heart’.”
He nodded. “That sounds like a good blessin’.” He drew his dagger. “Do ye think we should try it? Shall we cut locks of our hair and—”
“Oh, nae!” she blurted out. “I don’t think so.”
Her response set him on his heels. Yesterday he expected her to have some qualms about staying true to a man she’d never met. But they were properly married now.
And they’d made love.
Twice.
“Nae?”
“’Tis just…I guess…” she said, stumbling over the words, “I guess I don’t much…believe in wishes.”
“Hmm.” She wasn’t being completely forthcoming with him. But he supposed it didn’t matter. Wish or no wish, he intended to stay true to his noble heart. And he intended to keep his new bride so satisfied that she wouldn’t eventhinkof straying.
He sheathed his dagger, and then peered over the stone lid and into the abyss of the well. It seemed like a perilous thing to leave open. A small child could fall in and drown.Theirsmall child.
“’Tis deep,” he said with a frown. “If I were laird now, I’d seal it up.”
“Oh, ye mustn’t do that.”
“And why not?”
“Because the spirits will be trapped inside. Besides, at this time o’ year, all the lasses toss their wishes in it.”
“I thought ye didn’t believe in wishes.”
“Well,Idon’t, nae,” she said, coloring a little. “But the others…”
“I see,” he said with a grin. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Ye know, ye’re quite bonnie when ye blush like that.”
She gave him a teasing push. “I’m not blushin’. ’Tis only the cold.”
“Well, I’ll have to warm ye then, won’t I?” He didn’t wait for an answer. He opened his cloak and swept it around her, enfolding them both. “Better?”
