3. Duty

SITARA

The priestess untied the bindings and handed it to Johan and I.  Johan took it and put it in his pocket.  “You may now seal your vows with a kiss.”   

Holding my hands in his, Johan lightly touched his lips to mine.  It was like being struck by lightning.  A trail of heat started from my lips and traveled straight to my core, leaving me to feel like I’ve just been branded.  Johan must have felt something too because he pulled me closer, wrapping me up in his arms and deepened the kiss, leaving us both breathless.  

Afterwards, the wedding party moved into a clearing not too far from where the ceremony was performed.  Bonfires burned bright and tables were laden with food and drink.  My father and Johan’s had gone all out.  Johan took my hand and led me to the head table.  As I sat, I could feel the calmness which always preceded one of my visions.  I quickly lowered my head so as to not frighten my husband’s family, my new family.  Johan took his seat as his father raised a goblet and a hush settled over the crowd. 

JOHAN 

   From beside me, I felt my new bride shiver, not the slight kind of shiver like one would get from an unexpected breeze, but the kind that left you shivering as if someone had just walked over your grave. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed the way she held her body rigidly in the chair, as if afraid to draw breath.  Was it the moonlight, or did her eyes just change color?  Is it true then?  Is my new bride a sorceress?  

My father raised his cup and addressed the crowd.     “With this union,  we can now join forces against a common enemy.  An enemy that seeks to destroy everything that we hold dear.  An enemy that is such a coward, that they attacked us and made it seem like we attacked each other.”  

Aldair, Sitara’s father, spoke next.  “I am told by my daughter that the joining of our tribes will bring the generations to come, peace.”  His voice boomed across to everyone in the clearing as if amplified.  I’ve never met him until now.  But listening to him speak, I could see why he was their chosen chieftain. 

"As many of you know, my daughter is very precious to me.  And like a true leader should, she has chosen to put her people first." 

He raised his cup, "To my daughter's happiness and our people's future."  

I’ve heard rumors about him, heard how ruthless he'd been.  Until he’d met his lovely wife, Sitara’s mother, Raven, he'd lived for battle.  His wife had tamed him a bit but he was still a warrior.  He just didn’t go looking for a fight.  But you can be damned sure he’d finish it if a fight came looking for him. 

EDAIN

Won't be long now.  My brother is stepping down as laird and appointing Johan as his successor.  Not a problem, I can control the boy.  But that new bride of his is rumored to be a sorceress, and if they sire an heir,  they will be harder to dispose of, plus I’ll have to deal with their brat.  I didn’t even bother with my own brats.  I don’t want to deal with anyone else’s.  

I stayed in the shadows.  Let my uncle’s bastard think that he was running things all so that I could deliver the final blow without anyone being the wiser, let him think this coup was his idea.  The fool still believed  I was helping him become ruler of our lands.  Right up until the moment I buried my sword in his chest a few hours ago.  

As I looked around the crowded clearing, I felt a tiny tinge of regret, it was so fleeting and was gone so fast,  it left me to wonder If I’d felt it at all.  

The hairs on the back of my neck rose, sending a shiver down my spine.  I looked around at the wedding feast, my eyes landing on my new niece-in-law.  I was startled to find her staring straight at me, and I could swear her eyes looked silver in the glow of the bonfires.  Must be a trick of the moonlight.  Or are the rumors true then, Is Johan’s new bride really a sorceress?  

Everyone cheered but me.  I looked to the trees in the northern part of the clearing, where I had a few trusted men waiting on my command to slaughter every living thing in the clearing, including my brother and nephew. 

   

SITARA 

“Who is that?”  Johan looked to where I was looking and waved at the man who gave us a small bow.  “That's my uncle Edain”  

“Oh.” I whispered as I felt a shiver run down my spine.  As the night wore on, it was getting harder and harder to breathe.  I was unable to shake the feeling of dread that weighed on me and seemed to center around Johan's uncle, Edain.  I couldn’t get a clear image, I never do when my own future is involved, only shadows and feelings.  And what I felt made me want to run to the farthest cave and barricade myself in.  

The festivities wound down and Johan and I were accompanied to the marriage hut, where we would be spending our wedding night.  If Johan had been part of my tribe, the next morning would find us moving into a home he would have built himself in preparation for our joining.  But since he's from a neighboring land, on the morrow, we will set out for his keep, which was a three-day journey from my village. 

Earlier in the day, I came to the hut to make preparations for the wedding night.  In a corner of the hut, stood a small altar.  On it there was a candle holder, dried lady’s mantle, a small white candle, water from a nearby spring, a key, a small bottle of birch oil and a small bottle of thyme oil.  I began by pouring some water into the bottom of the candle holder, then added a pinch of lady’s mantle into  the water.  Positioning the key in front of the candle holder, I then anointed the candle with three drops of birch oil and three drops of thyme oil, lit it and recited the incantation.  

“Blessed Goddess of the Hearth, bless our Sacred Fire, our Union and this Place…  We share with you these offerings and give honor to your divine grace!”  

I turned to find Johan leaning against the center pole watching me.  He looked to the altar questioningly.  

“Offerings for the Goddess Frigga.”  I explained.  

“Goddess of marriage?”  He asked.  

“Appropriate don't you think?”  I asked.   

“I didn’t realize your tribe worshiped the same Gods we do.”  He said.  

I raised an eyebrow as I looked at him but I didn’t say anything else.  He smiled.   

“Why did you agree to marry a complete stranger.”  He asked as he unbuckled his scabbard, laying his sword on the floor by the makeshift bed, within easy reach.  

“Why did you?” 

“I am duty bound to obey my laird.”  He answered softly.  “As I am duty bound to obey my chieftain.”  I replied, bowing my head slightly.  

“Are you really a sorceress?”  He asked. 

“I am a shamaness.”