Dream of Me/Believe in Me

sacrifice. On the ninth day, as he was dying, he looked down and beheld therunes, givers of divine knowledge. Through them, he was reborn so that his wisdom may be shared by all mankind.”
    Ulfrich reached out, took their joined hands, and held them in both of his. “Wolf Hakonson, you have come to declare before all that this woman is your wife. You must pledge to protect and care for her, to shelter her beneath your roof, to share all you have with her, and to give her children. Do you agree to this?”
    “I agree,” Wolf said quietly.
    “Cymbra of Holyhood, do you agree to be wife to this man, to keep his home, bear his children, and guard his honor throughout your life?”
    Her throat tightened. It was all so very different from what she had ever imagined. Not that she had thought much about marriage. So long as Hawk did not speak of it, she saw no reason to concern herself. But she had assumed that if she ever did marry, she would have the blessing of the Church. Although she did not doubt the sincerity of this pagan ceremony, it was just that—pagan. And it left her longing for something more.
    Yet she was a woman of courage and sense, not to mention of deep, unnamed yearnings she could no longer deny. Quietly, she said, “I agree.”
    Ulfrich nodded solemnly. He accepted a gem-encrusted goblet offered by a young boy, poured honeyed wine into it, and handed the goblet to Wolf. “Drink then to seal this bond.”
    Wolf raised the goblet to his lips. He was about to drink when he hesitated, lowered the goblet, and instead handed it to Cymbra. He did not release it but held the goblet steady as she slowly set her mouth to it and tasted the sweet, tangy liquid sliding down her throat. When she raised her head, he turned the goblet, set his mouth where hers had touched, and drank deeply.
    The crowd roared its approval, but Wolf held up a hand before the well-wishers could engulf them. “Onething more,” he said. He glanced at Ulfrich, who nodded and stepped back. From the crowd came a tall, thin man in a monk's simple brown robe. At Cymbra's startled look, his gentle face creased in a smile. “I am Brother Joseph, my lady. I have the honor to bring the word of the Lord to these good people.”
    “I didn't know you had a priest here,” Cymbra said, looking at Wolf.
    He shrugged, as though it was of no account. “Brother Joseph is just passing through. It is a Norse tradition to give hospitality to travelers.”
    “I have been passing through for three years now,” Brother Joseph said with a smile. “Lord Wolf is most generous—and patient—with his hospitality.”
    “Perhaps I always knew I would have a use for you,” Wolf suggested with a grin. “Proceed, Brother Joseph. The night grows no younger.”
    The young monk nodded. Quietly, he said, “You must kneel.”
    They both did so, Cymbra still stunned by the sudden fulfillment of her wish. Had Wolf truly anticipated that this would be important to her and granted it without her even asking? Or was he simply astute enough to use her faith as one more way to bind her to him irrevocably?
    “Holy Father,” Brother Joseph said, “we beseech Your blessing upon this couple united in marriage. May You who gave Your only Son for the salvation of mankind shine Your great love upon this man and woman, light their way in this world and make their life together a gift of joy to one another and all who know them. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost”—his hand moved above them in the sign of the cross—“I declare you husband and wife.”
    There was no containing the crowd then. They surged forward, the men hoisting Wolf on their shoulders as the women did the same with Cymbra. As the musicresumed in a fury, they were carried around and around the tree until at last, breathless and laughing, the crowd deposited them in their seats at the high table. As others found their places, and the servants darted forward to fill cups and bowls, Wolf leaned over and covered Cymbra's hand with his own.
    “Are you all right?”
    Was she? She really didn't know. She was dazed and very uncertain. And yet … Her eyes drifted to the place on his jaw where her fist had landed. Again she felt a tremor of shock at her own behavior.
    There was no mark but at the very least she must have stung his manly pride. Yet he had said nothing of it to her, offered no recrimination and inflicted no punishment. Dare she hope he thought her small attack in some