Dream of Me/Believe in Me

returned the child to his mother. He quieted after one last howl that caused even his mighty father to wince.
    “A fine set of lungs,” Brother Joseph observed tactfully when the service was concluded.
    From her husband's arms—Wolf having agreed to her coming downstairs only if he carried her everywhere—Cymbra said, “And a fine service despite the accompaniment. Thank you for it.”
    The young monk smiled. He glanced at the fierce jarl with a twinkle of amusement. “I am glad to have been of use after all, my lady, and for a much happier task than to try to persuade you to return.”
    Cymbra, too, was delighted that Wolf had insisted on bringing Brother Joseph along, no matter what the reason. She much preferred him to Hawk's house priest, the dour Father Elbert. He was somewhere in the crowd, no doubt in the company of Daria, for the two of them seemed of the same ilk. On the excuse that Brother Joseph had helped to officiate at her marriage, she felt no qualms whatsoever about asking him to baptize Hakon.
    As promised, Hawk seized that as an occasion to celebrate the unity of Norse and Saxon. Despite Daria's dire predictions, the feast proceeded smoothly. Guests were present in such numbers that the great hall could not contain them and even the bailey yard looked full to bursting. Tables set up inside and out groaned under a bounty offood scarcely seen in spring. That this was due in part to the provisions Wolf had brought along in anticipation of a siege was politely ignored.
    Wolf placed her in a chair at the high table and took his own seat beside her. Hawk and Dragon were on either side of them. Scarcely had they settled than a steady stream of guests approached to offer greetings. They came from throughout Saxon England; Essex itself was well represented, so was the royal province of Wessex, from which Alfred had sent his own dignitaries, and even the Mercian lords, Udell and Wolscroft, were on hand. Vaguely, Cymbra remembered that the latter had been friend to Daria's late, unlamented husband and was therefore not surprised to see the two of them in conversation. But before very long, she had been introduced to so many lords and ladies that in truth she could notice very little and gave up all hope of remembering more than a handful of their names.
    To her surprise, she realized that as eager as they were to meet the Norse Wolf, they were equally driven to satisfy their curiosity about his Saxon wife. From their asides to one another, she gathered they had all heard the stories about her seclusion at Holyhood and her abduction from there. Ordinarily, so much avid speculation would have left her feeling invaded and exhausted. But with Wolf beside her, she basked in his comfort and support, and found that she was thoroughly enjoying the evening.
    Never more so than when she caught sight of Olaf and with a quick smile called him to join them. She had known for days that he too was with the Viking army, but he had managed to avoid her until now. The older man came reluctantly, starting with surprise when she reached out and took his grizzled hand. At once, she felt his dread and concern, neither of which could she permit to long exist.
    “I am so glad you are here,” she said softly. “I hope my son will have the benefit of your wise counsel as my husband has done.”
    Olaf stared at her for a moment as his eyes dampened. Gruffly he murmured, “Thank you, my lady.”
    Wolf had been listening. He stood, and in full view of the assembly embraced the old warrior, calling for a chair to be brought that he might sit among them. The grateful look her husband gave her told Cymbra he truly understood that she bore no resentment for his punishing of her.
    The feast lasted far into the night but long before then the Norse Wolf carried his beloved wife upstairs to their quarters. Though the revelry continued, he was content and more to remain with her. He lay on his side, his head propped in the palm of his hand, and watched Cymbra sleep. That she was there with him, loving him, was almost more than he could encompass. That they also had made a child together brought him joy beyond any he had ever known.
    Since his own boyhood, when he found himself an orphan surrounded by the ruins of the only life he had ever known, a hard knot of anger and grief had existed within him. He had done his best to ignore it, driven as he was to seize the future rather than dwell on the past. Yet had it remained until now. There