Page 12 of Alliance Bride
The priest cleared his throat, interrupting Aevar’s perusal of his bride.
“You will join hands.” The man didn’t even work up the decency to hide the disgust in his voice.
Aevar freed his hands from the folds of his cloak and held them out to the princess. She moved more timidly, and her fingers came to rest in his, cold and trembling a bit. He almost folded his hands over hers to warm them but caught himself.
Reflex. Nothing more.
Tingles raced through Eadlyn’s chilled fingers, all the way up her arms, sending a twinge to her middle. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t held a man’s hand before, but something about this was far more intimate. Aevar’s hands were warm to the touch—rough, worn, strong. She swallowed, though it was nearly impossible to do without gulping. His thumb brushed over her knuckles, shooting another shiver straight up her arm.
She forced her gaze back to him. He still watched her intently, and she wished so much she knew what he was thinking. They were standing so close, only their linked hands between them. Close enough for her to notice a scar under his cheekbone she had missed before, and another peeking from the dark hair on his chin. So many scars between these Nord men, and those were only the ones she could see. Not that she was one to be put off by scars, but they told stories. Of battles fought. Of a life that likely looked nothing like her own. Just what kind of world was she stepping into?
She tried to imagine him as an Essian man, clean-shaven, hair trimmed short, and without the scars. To her surprise, she came to the conclusion that he might have caught her eye under different circumstances. Not that it completely helped, but she acknowledged she could be marrying a much older man. Perhaps she should count her blessings.
Father Bened began the ceremony, his nasally voice thick with the contempt he harbored toward her husband-to-be. He’d made no secret of it since negotiations had ended. Though he’d been the royal priest for over a decade, it had brought little good to the palace at Kenwich. He spent far more time counting coinage and drawing attention to his outward piety than doing any actual work for the Lord.
If only Brother Winstan were here instead. Eadlyn craved his spiritual guidance and counsel. He was the one who had taken up where Bened failed and helped guide her to true faith in Christ. But he had his small church to tend to back in Kenwich, andFather Bened was expected to travel with them. He was one person Eadlyn did not regret leaving behind.
He had complained for half the evening last night that they should have insisted on Aevar being baptized as part of the marriage agreement. Thankfully, they had not. It would no doubt have led to a pointless debate and ill feelings with their new allies. They couldn’t risk that. Getting dunked in the freezing river by Bened would not have made Aevar any more Christian than the other Nords anyway. That could only ever come through a change of heart and true faith. She should have prayed for such an outcome more than she had. It seemed so impossible, but she was ashamed of such a lack of faith on her part.Lord, if I can be a light and witness in Nordra, guide me and use me. Give me the courage to be so.
Except for such prayers, she found it hard to focus with Aevar’s solid presence so near and overwhelming and missed most of the ceremony. His attention remained fixed on her. Of that, she was very aware. She wasn’t sure what sort of unnerving sensation it sent to her already tangled stomach. She’d seen men leer at her before, but this was not that. Dare she believe there was some honor in this man when she knew so very little about him? She recalled what Kian had said and prayed yet again for it to be true. She didn’t need for a husband to love her, just for him to be kind. That was all she asked.
Before she even knew it, they had come to the vows, and she fought to concentrate. Her heart raced as she forced herself to hold Aevar’s gaze while Bened recited the words.
“Do you, Aevar Runarsson, take Princess Eadlyn as your wife, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others until death do you part?”
Eadlyn held her breath, but only a heartbeat passed before Aevar answered, “I do.”
And she realized this was the first time he had spoken in her presence. The first time she had heard his voice. It was deep yet warm, and she wanted for all the world to believe he’d meant his vow.
Tremors threatened her limbs as Father Bened’s attention shifted to her.
“Do you, Princess Eadlyn, take Aevar Runarsson as your husband, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others until death do you part?”
Eadlyn stared into Aevar’s eyes. If only she could see the future in them. Yet, whatever it held, she was here for a purpose she would not abandon.Lord, I’m laying my life down at Your feet. You brought me here, and I will trust You.
“I do.”
Fear still thudded in her chest, but at that moment, she found a strange sort of peace in the knowledge she had made her choice. She had followed through despite the unknown. At the same moment, Aevar’s hands tightened around hers, and she wanted very much to believe it was his way of saying, whatever happened now, they were in this together.
Chapter Five
Therewerenocongratulations.No celebratory applause or cheers. The ceremony simply ended with the exchanging of the rings and Father Bened pronouncing them man and wife before God. Not that Eadlyn had expected more. This was, after all, a transaction, not a celebration. One that now left her standing awkwardly beside her new husband outside the pavilion, where they had followed his father and the rest of the men.
The jarl turned to them and settled his attention on her. “Are you packed, Princess? My men have finished with our camp.”
Eadlyn forced herself not to shrink, since he hadn’t spoken harshly. “Yes. If my maid has finished, I should be ready.”
“Will she be accompanying you?”
“No, I will go alone.”
Saying it aloud sent a chill down her spine. The jarl—her father-in-law, she realized with a jolt—raised his brows. Likely they’d assumed she would bring at least one person to serve her.
“And do you have a stout horse forthe journey?”
“Yes.” Her gelding, Hiroc, was no gangly creature.
“Good. We’ll leave as soon as you’re ready.”
