I watched from my bedroom window as Dad cut a slit on his arm. Blood began to pour out. The Celtic leader did the same, and both pressed their arms against each other where the blood flowed out.
Here was a historic moment: Peace between the Celts and the Vikings had been made. While the war had technically been between the Meatheads and the Celts, I had married into the Meatheads and long story short, accidentally made my father a king. Ever since, many heirs, young and widowed chiefs have been looking to marry into tribes part of the Kingdom of Berk. The reason for this was because Berk was ten times larger than many of the tribes in the archipelago combined, so it would be best to somehow ally themselves with Berk since we were the most powerful.
Of course, some tribes chose not to. That was their loss.
I put my hand on my belly as I searched for my husband, Al. We had married about a year and a half ago. About halfway through our marriage so far, I found out I was pregnant and as of right now I was eight months pregnant. That's why I wasn't down there, helping with the peace agreement. The details for the agreement had begun being planned out before I found out I was pregnant. Along with Al and many other people I had taught, we'd acted as translators. I decided to stop after I was finding myself feeling too tired and sleepy to help. Al became worried but Gothi reassured him this was normal for pregnancies.
I could feel a kick within my belly, and I smiled. It felt good to hear those kicks inside me: They reminded me of the scary, but also exciting prospect of motherhood. Al and I were nervous, but Rupac reassured us that we would both be better parents than ours were.
To be honest, I still felt strongly about my upbringing, or rather, my lack of upbringing even though I still talked to my parents.
Bah, I thought, better not to think about it, as I walked to my bed and sat. I lifted my legs up onto the bed and eased my head onto the pillow. As soon as I closed my eyes, I was fast asleep.
"Siren, wake up."
I groaned and rubbed the grit out of my eyes. I blinked and saw Al looking down on me, his face soft. I could feel his hand on my stomach as the baby kicked.
"There's our child in there," he mused, smiling at me. Her bent over and softly kissed my forehead. "Your father's holding a banquet to celebrate the agreement. He wants you down there."
Al stood up and gave me a hand. I took it and sat up. I threw my legs over the edge of the bed and Al helped me up.
"All those years have passed quickly," he said as he began taking me down. "I can't believe I'm 23 you'll be 23 too, very soon."
I nodded. Al and I met eight years ago. He was 15 but I was still 14 at the time. I was a teacher at Meathead Island and Al caught me. He didn't kill me. Instead, I taught him.
And that's how we ended up being married.
"Look where we are now," I said, as we reached the bottom of the stairs. Al opened the door, and both of us stepped outside together. The Great Hall was only a few meters away.
Al put his arm around my waist and his other behind my knees. As he'd done before, he lifted me up bridal style and carried me to the Great Hall.
Since the doors were already open, Al set me down and took my hand. We walked through the groups of drunk people with mead. I wrinkled my nose at the smell of the drink. I didn't want to be here. I wanted to be asleep, with my baby's kicks being the only thing waking me up.
"Hiccup." Al's voice shook me out of my thoughts.
"Well," Dad said jovially, with a smile plastered on his face. I forced a smile back. "My lovely daughter's here."
The chatter in the hall stopped. I could feel the gaze in the room. I was trying to keep my eyes open. It was difficult.
I forced myself to look at the onlookers.
"What do you know?" a man with reddest hair and beard I'd ever seen said. It was on of the men from the Gaelic Celt tribe. "She's expecting. When's it due?"
"A month," I said weakly. I kept feeling like I was going to faint from the smell.
"I think my wife needs to get some rest," Al announced, clearing his throat. "You carry on."
Al put his arm around my waist and walked me out. Soon, I was greeted by the breeze. It felt so refreshing.
"I'll take you to our room," he said. "You deserve some sleep."
My eyelids drooped a little. "Yes," I said faintly. "Thank you."
"No problem, milady." Al lifted me up bridal style and kissed me. I let my eyes close softly as Al walked.
I didn't deserve someone like him.