He's been a constant in her life for years now, someone to joke with during boring meetings, to help with heavy lifting during the rebuilding, someone to dance with at festivals.
Sigrid sees him after the battle, in the healing tents. Fíli's injured and refusing to lay still till he sees his brother. The healers are trying to strap him down but he's managing to shake them off, hurting himself all over again. Sigrid puts the basket of linens she was carrying down to see if she can help. He stops when he recognizes her and begs for her to see Kíli for herself. She goes to the next tent and asks the healer for Kíli's condition, he's stable, the fever has subsided and he had just gone back to sleep. Sigrid goes to a grumbling Fíli and tells him, he looks doubtful and she holds his hand and asks him to trust her. And he does.
Fíli eventually gets reunited with Kíli and they move them to the same tent to keep the sanity of all the healers and to make room for the wounded. Sigrid comes to see them daily, sometimes with Bain and Tilda in tow. Other times alone. Kíli spends more time sleeping than Fíli does, he seems incapable of turning off his brain long enough to rest. Sigrid coaxes him to sleep during her visits, sometimes just telling her stories her mother used to tell her and other times humming gently.
Once he's better and most of the dwarves have moved into the mountain he comes by to help with what he can. Sigrid is busy, getting ready for winter and Bain and Tilda are set to explore the houses and mark which ones are the most habitable. But Fíli still comes to the campsite, sometimes to help ladle food with her, other times to help her carry something. He gets stronger every day and his limp is less pronounced as time passes. They manage to get the great hall habitable with the help of the elves. The fisherman are going out into the depth of the ice for fishing digging holes into the ice and bringing food. The elves leave but sent food with sledded carriages and pulled by northern horses. They manage to survive the first winter. IT wasn't as harsh as it could have been, and once the snows begin to melt rebuilding begins. Fíli still comes to visit them at the house the claim as their own. The village wanted her father to take the great house of Girion but Bard declines it and chooses a nice one closest to the lake. It needs less work than the others and Sigrid spends her time trying to make it feel like home. Fíli comes one day with a chair he found in the mountain that was much too big to belong to a dwarf. It was too big for Sigrid too but she thanks him just the same.
Other times he comes down and steals her pastries that she had finally been able to make when trading begins with the south. Merchants show up with their wares and Dale begins to seem less gloomy and more lively. Fíli likes to watch her bake but Sigrid has none of it and puts him to work, chopping wood or peeling potatoes. One day when Tilda finds the old library with a some of the books still intact she makes Bain and Fíli carry them to the great hall. The old library's roof looks like it may fall on them any day now. Kíli who is finally able to leave the mountain grumbles since he's still not allowed to help.
The old school of Dale is discovered in ruins, the old blackboard crumbled with chalk marks still on it. Sigrid sees the small desks in shambles and a few chairs still usable to she begins to pull them out of the rubble. The building will be torn down just like some of the others, the stone reused for new homes. The chairs and few tables she finds she takes them to the great hall, everything that is usable is taken there to be distributed to those who need it. Soon though she decides to take a room of the great hall and sets up a makeshift school. It begins with trying to find occupation for the small children whose parents are trying to help with the rebuilding and for those children who lost their parents. She reads them stories, old stories Sigrid hadn't heard before. Tales of brave soldiers and lost kingdoms. The story of star-crossed lovers is the children's favorite, though Sigrid doesn't tell them how it ends. It ends in tragedy.
Sometimes Fíli finds her there surrounded by children, some sitting on the stone floor, others sitting on chairs and stools. All captivated by her story. One such day towards the end of the summer he comes with more books, books of elvish epics that managed to find their way into the library at Erebor. Sigrid thanks him and the kids ask for her to read one of them and she does, Fíli leaning on the far wall listening with rapt attention the whole time. When it's time for the children to leave, some hug her on the way out, others wave, but they all smile at her.
She comes up to him and thanks him again for the books, he smiles and motions for the door. "I was told by your sister that you have pies, I will accept your gratitude with a slice."
She rolls her eyes and shoves him. He doesn't budge but smiles anyway. They eat lunch outside, the breeze is cool and Tilda spends the whole time running after a stray cat that has decided that the hill below the house is its new home. Tilda wishes for it to come inside and Sigrid doesn't think she'll catch the darn thing.
Her and Fíli talk the whole time, exactly what she could never remember. But the things she does remember was how he talked about the future, and how inspired she was by his ideas. How he listens to her own ideas for Dale. She tells him how she's working on finding a bigger place for the kids to learn, how teaching them has given her a purpose and she wishes to expand on it. He doesn't judge her for it and even has his own ideas to add to her own and she saves them in her mind. Tilda finally catches the cat, triumphantly and Sigrid can't tell who's more pleased about it, Tilda or the cat. It looks haughtily at Sigrid as if it's what she wanted the whole time. Fíli laughs, the corner of his eyes crinkle when he does. That was the first time her heart, the treacherous thing that it was, thumped hard in her chest.
4 years later
Years pass and Dale rebuilds, slowly buildings rise, towers fall and new faces come to the city. Almost all signs of the dragon are erased and the land between Dale and Erebor is thriving.
Sigrid ties her apron on and gathers her books as she heads out the door, Tilda well ahead of her skipping along, the bows in her hair flapping in the wind. They're heading to the outskirts of Dale where a small yellow house has become a school. It had been gifted to her by her father and it took a long time to make it usable but now the walls were painted and a new roof kept the rain out, the small garden surrounding it was littered with flowers that her students had planted and were just now beginning to bloom. Children were everywhere of all ages chattering away as they waited for their morning meal.
The school was open three days a week so the students could still be at home doing their chores and because it was the only days she had extra help. Mrs. Green was an older woman who cooked for the kids three days a week with donated food from the rest of the city. Sometimes the baker sent loaves of crusty bread and other times she would bring pastries for the kids to enjoy.
New students came every spring as new families moved to Dale and she sometimes had kids from Erebor, families who decided not to move to the mountain after spending so long living out of one. She had two Dwarrow children at the moment, a grumpy redheaded boy and a sweet dark haired girl.
Her lessons were simple, her goal was simple, making sure they knew their letters and basic arithmetic. They needed to write and read. The older girls sometimes joined her sewing class she held once a week. Others taught things during the week such as how to weave a fishing net and baskets. The school was open to anyone and Sigrid was in charge of it. Her brother didn't need her anymore, not with getting married a few weeks ago and Tilda was almost no longer a child. Her father still needed her as she was the peacekeeper in the city. She usually stopped any petty squabbles her father couldn't. She felt the school would be what gave her purpose that was wholly hers. It made her content.
The day had begun with the children cleaning up after their meal and settling in. She had proper work tables now, sturdy ones meant for children to sit around and a few bigger ones for the older children. Her students all sat down while Tilda passed the slate boards and chalk around. Soon the sound of chalk on stone could be heard as they began their lessons.
After story time Sigrid stood to stretch and noticed they had a visitor. Fíli stood there, leaning against the wall and he gave her a small smirk. Fíli still showed up unexpectedly when he could. Sigrid smiled at him and clapped her hands.
"Class, say hello to Prince Fíli."
The class chorused their hellos and Fíli bowed deeply, making some of the kids giggle. Sigrid dismissed them and began collecting things from the tables. Fíli helped carry it for her while Tilda began talking.
"Fíli, will you be coming to the festival?"
"Aye, I had hoped that you would show me around as I missed the last one and would be quite lost without your guidance."
Sigrid rolled her eyes at him and thrust a few books with a, "Carry this for me, please?"
Sigrid picked up her own pile and they made their way out of the school Fíli walking beside her as Tilda skipped ahead of them.
"So how did your meeting go," Sigrid asked as they neared the outer gate. Fíli had expressed concern over an important meeting a few days ago. She had never seen him so nervous.
"It went well I think. I got uncle to cave in something I've been asking for a long time. But I'll tell you about it later."
The gate was kept open during the day so they walked in waving to the guards who were there. Tilda pointed towards the market stalls. "Did you want me to pick up supplies for dinner?"
Sigrid looked down at the pile of books and sighed, "Yes but don't doddle I don't want to have to come looking for you."
Tilda beamed at her and headed towards the lane while Fíli and Sigrid continued towards her house.
"So what's with the armor. I hardly see you so formal these days."
Fíli managed to not run into an old man who wasn't paying any attention to those around them without tripping and cleared his throat. "Well, I had a meeting with your father this morning as well. It was an official meeting so I had to dress the part, didn't I?"
Sigrid laughed, remembering all the times Fíli and Kíli had shown up to council meetings still in their training gear or a few times with a black eye or a bloody nose. "Must have been really important I imagine."
Sigrid was interrupted by an older woman with dark brown hair, "My lady, your father is looking for you. He wants you to go the great hall."
Sigrid frowned, "I'll go once I drop this off of."
The older woman, Mrs. Smith, shook her head, "I'd go now if I were you, my Lady, he seemed troubled."
Sigrid nodded and looked at her pile of books. Fíli took them from her with a look that Sigrid didn't quite read. "I'll take the whole lot of them back to your house."
She smiled and handed them over, "Thank you. I shouldn't take long."
"I'll wait for you there?"
Sigrid nodded and followed Mrs. Smith back to the great hall. Inside there was murmuring as she walked in. She could feel everyone's eyes on her as they milled around. A few of them she didn't recognize and she continued to the back room where her father had made his office. He stood there, staring out the window, looking like all the years of his life were catching up to him.
"Da?"
Bard turned and shook his head a little as if to clear his mind and reached for Sigrid's hand. "Da, what is the matter."
Bard sighed and brought her to his desk, an old thing that she had found for him amidst the rubble. It was littered with letters, seals broken and different insignias. She picked one up and began to read, then picked up another and then another.
They were all about her.
Offers of marriage from places that were too far to fathom and others from places she had never heard of. Sigrid sat down with the one from Gondor, the second son of the steward is of an age with her. She looks up at her father.
"Da?"
Bard kneels in front of her and cups her cheek. "With your brother marrying Eva so suddenly it brought you to the notice of many. The council feels I need to make a match for you, I've been getting letters for weeks now." He paused and grabbed her hands. "I won't make you, I promise."
Bainhad married a merchant's daughter, a sweet girl named Eva. Her father had consented readily when he saw how much in love they were. Sigrid had been happy for the both of them. But she had known for some time what would happen next, many of the people of Dale had joked with her about when would she settle down and wondered at her if she would be sent away.
She had thought she had more time, though, or that it wouldn't happen, and that she could live in peace. But she knew her father wouldn't remarry, he had said as much before. And she knew that if she didn't accept someone the council may try to set something up for Tilda, and she couldn't bare to have her sister sent away so she wouldn't have to. Tilda would go, thinking it was a grand adventure, only to realize too late that it had been a mistake.
No. She couldn't let Tilda have a precarious future. She knew from reading the first letter that she had already made up her mind.
"So, who do you think would be best?" She asked with a low but steady voice.
Her father argued with her, pacing the length of the office, running his hands through his gray-streaked hair. But she argued back, arguments she was sure the Steward and the rest of the council had brought before him.
Finally, he sat down and slumped down, burying his face in his hands. "There's one more offer, though I refuse to accept it."
Sigrid looked up from the map her father had given her so she could figure out where these places were.
Bard swallowed the lump in his throat. "I had a meeting with Erebor this morning…"
There, that hard thump in her chest, "And?"
Bard looked down at his hands. "Fíli made an offer as well."
Sigrid felt herself smile but she didn't dare get her hopes up. "But that's wonderful news, isn't it? I would be so much closer than Rohan and Fíli is my friend."
Because Fíli was her friend. He had been there for her since that day he crawled in from her toilet. He had saved her life, more than once and she couldn't help but smile at the memory.
"No, Sigrid, it is now wonderful news. Don't you remember the madness in his uncle, it is what caused our grief in the first place. No, I don't like it one bit."
"But Fíli is not his uncle. You know him, he's eaten at our table. He saved our lives."
"Lives that were in danger because of his family.
Sigrid took a deep breath, "But isn't it my choice?"
Bard looked at his daughter with pain and nodded. Resigned he hands her another letter, this one with Erebor's terms and Sigrid is amazed at what they are offering. It is by far the best offer at the table.
"Think carefully Sigrid, I cannot bear to see you suffer for money. It is not worth it."
But it wasn't just money, it was a treaty that would benefit Dale years after she was gone, it helped with public works and fairer trade agreement. It was the protection of Erebor and its army in times of war. She knew her choice before she left her father's office and headed towards the house at the end of the lane.
Tilda was washing vegetables with the maid Ola when she walked in. When she asked if Fíli were still there Tilda absently pointed to the back garden. She walked outside to the rhythmic sound of an axe slicing wood. A large pile lay next to Fíli. His armor lay carelessly on a chair, littered with daggers that Sigrid wondered at. When he saw her he smiled.
"So he told you?"
She nodded and sat on a bench while he finished up the wood. She could hear Tilda in the kitchen with the maid that helped with keeping the house together.
"I had hoped I could have made you a proper offer, talk to you and ask you before your father told you but I guess he beat me to it."
The axe swung down. He was nervous, she realized as he wouldn't look at her in the eye. He kept chopping wood and Sigrid watched him for a moment.
"Why didn't you tell me your meeting with your uncle was for this offer?"
Fíli sighed and placed the axe down, finally looking at her. "Because I had asked before. But with Erebor still trying to get back to normalcy my uncle thought it best to wait, hoping to bring in…"
"A dwarrowdam?"
He nodded, "And they did, for months now they've been bringing them in from all over, hoping that I would look at one of them, that I would accept one of them. But they're strangers, not a one is anyone I have known. And when I heard your father talking to Balin about Rohan and what we knew of the kingdom I figured you were in the same boat as I was. So I asked then and Thorin said no, so I waited and asked again." He smiled at a memory, "I finally convinced him."
He took her hand and looked at her. "I know you, you aren't going to conspire against me or pin me against my family. And you know me, I'm not a stranger leagues away. You know I'll never let anything happen to you and I wouldn't prevent you from doing the things you love. That I wouldn't keep you from your family."
He smiled at her, "A marriage with familiarity and friendship is the best I can offer you."
She looked down at their hands, his so much larger than hers. Sigrid thought about other marriages she had seen over her life. Her parents were in love but it ended too soon when her mother passed. Some of her neighbors married as soon as they became of age, some happy others not so much. Her own thoughts had never really been romantic like Tilda or even Bane. All she ever wanted was peace.
So with a nod, she sealed her fate, not to a stranger but to her friend and if not love, she'd have his friendship to lead them forward. He finally smiled then and kissed the top of her head.
Her heart was a truly treacherous little thing that hammered in her chest and his kiss lingered on her head for hours after.
Their engagement is announced a few weeks later. It took that long to get her father and King Thorin to agree with terms. Her father had gotten over his initial shock of the whole thing by the time she was being fitted for clothes. Tilda and Kíli were beyond ecstatic that they were joining the families. Kíli hugged her at the spring festival with a laugh and Tilda began planning everything.
She spent the spring festival with Fíli at her side, they danced, they laughed, they raced against their siblings. It was a wonderful day that gave her hope for the future.
Her wedding was planned for the end of summer and lots of plans were made. Erebor wanted to hold it inside the mountain but Sigrid wanted it in Dale. Invitations were sent and the Elves soon showed up with a host. Sigrid hardly saw Fíli during this time as he had his own preparations to make. He sent her notes or messages with the birds of Erebor, each one haughty, each one demanding payment with food.
Evas mother and sisters Eva was resting on the bed behind her, sighing at her dress as she was pregnant and hadn't felt well. Tilda was off somewhere and Sigrid was worried the girl wouldn't be back in time to get ready. She ached to chase after her and even said so aloud. Evas mother, Enya patted her hand and smiled fondly at her. "I'm sure she'll be back soon enough."
When her hair was done and her dress laced to a comfortable level, Baincame into the room smiling at everyone but his smile grew when he saw his own wife. It took some prodding to get him to speak. "I think they're ready sis. You look wonderful."
Sigrid had wished her mother's gown had survived the dragon but their home was under the lake and with it a chest full of memories. She had dealt with seamstresses fighting over who had the right to make her gown, the dwarven ones demanding to clothe their new princess, the ones from dale demanding to marry her off in the style of her people. In the end, Sigrid and Tilda had to end the discussion and had them each draw a sketch of what they had in mind. Tilda chose one that reminded her of her mother's gown and Sigrid was glad she did. It was ivory with pale gold trim. Tilda had picked the colors, gushing over it as she did about everything.
Sigrid stood, her sister in law finishing up the last of her pins and Enya making sure the modest train lay properly. Sigrid wrung her hands together looking around when they got to the living room.
Her father came up to her with a smile and held her hands in his, "What's the matter, love?"
"Where is Tilda?"
He frowns, "I thought she was with you?"
Everyone soon scrambles looking for Tilda, her father calls the guards and Erebor's guards help with the search. Sigrid wonders at where she could have gone and begins to ask everyone when was the last time anyone saw her. Sigrid hadn't seen her since breakfast and her father said the same. Soon the whole city is running like mad knocking in every house and going inside the unoccupied ones. Sigrid looks outside her window and frowns as she sees the school house. Had anyone checked there?
She walks towards the schoolhouse, no one really notices her as everyone is running around looking for Tilda or getting the last things done for the wedding. When she leaves the city walls she picks up her skirts and begins to run in earnest. The school house is dark inside but Sigrid still goes inside to see Tilda sitting on a chair, crying.
"Oh, I found you." Sigrid rushes to her, her heart hammering in her chest and relief flooding her senses.
Tilda is in her new dress, tears streaming down her face and a guilty expression. "Did I miss the wedding?"
"What? No, we were worried about you! the whole city is out looking for you. Where have you been all morning?"
Tilda sniffs and wipes her face with the back of her hand. "I went to get you flowers."
Sigrid almost laughs, "Flowers? It took all morning to get flowers."
Tilda sniffed indignantly. "No, I got the flowers quickly and made you something but I…"
Sigrid tilted her head back so they could look at each other. "And?"
Tilda lifted her skirts and Sigrid saw the swollen ankle, "Oh love, your ankle. It's all right, I'll get Da, and we'll mend you up nicely."
Tilda's eyes watered anew, "but your wedding, everyone is waiting for you."
Sigrid smiled at her and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. "I know. I'm sure Fíli will understand. You know he cares about you, we can wait till a healer has seen you."
As if summoned by his name, Fíli knocked on the open door and let himself in. She had expected him to wear armor, but he wasn't, he wore a dark blue coat with silver trim, his hair was braided and beaded in a manner she had never seen before. It looked good on him, she had to admit. He gave them a small smile.
"I thought I'd find you here."
Sigrid tried to smile but her nerves had come back and she looked down at Tilda instead. "Tilda hurt herself, will you stay with her while I get someone?"
Fíli rolled his eyes, "No no, that won't do. Come on Little princess, how bout a lift."
He lifted Tilda like she weighed nothing at all and carried out of the room, only stopping at Tilda's insistence to grab her basket. Sigrid was too surprised to say anything while Tilda smiled through her tear stained face. When she stepped outside Sigrid let out a small gasp.
A carriage was outside pulled by two snowy white rams who bleated at her when she approached. Fíli placed Tilda gently on the bench and turned to help Sigrid up.
"It was supposed to be a surprise but as always," he shrugged, "I miss my opportunity."
Sigrid made Tilda stretch out on the bench and sat with Fíli on the driver's seat. They slowly made their way back to Dale, Fíli worried about jostling Tilda.
He nudged her, "You know when I saw you running out of the gates I thought you were jilting me."
Sigrid quickly shook her head, "No! I just thought I knew where Tilda was and sort of reacted. I would never…"
"I know, he said quietly. "It took me a moment to figure it out, the carriage seemed like a good idea."
They didn't speak after that, the guards hailed them as they reentered and Sigrid asked them to fetch a healer. Fíli took them to the great hall where they were spotted by Bard and King Thorin. Soon Tilda was taken away and Sigrid followed close behind.
Hours later, when Tilda had her ankle wrapped and was given medicine for the pain did she finally see Fíli again. He looked cast down and was sitting on the bench in her garden. He had taken off the outer coat and was staring up at the sky when she sat down next to him.
"How is she?"
"She'll be alright. Her ankle was set and bandaged."
He nodded and looked at her from the corner of his eyes. "You look beautiful, I didn't get to tell you that earlier."
"Thank you. You clean up nicely yourself you know."
His smile didn't quite reach his eyes, they fell into silence and the sound of their wedding feast could be heard from the distance. But there was no wedding and the bride and groom weren't there.
"I'm so sorry about all of this. I didn't think our wedding day would have gone away from us as it did."
He chuckled, "Oh I thought something much worse would have happened, another dragon maybe? Or maybe an orc army at our gates, open rebellion from our own people? No, Sigrid, a dislocated ankle was not what I expected but at least it wasn't any worse."
She bit her lip, worrying it between her teeth, "Did you really think I would have run away?"
He looked at her for a long moment, as if weighing his response in his mind. "I didn't think you were going to agree to marry me in the first place."
She frowned, "Why did you think that?"
Fíli looked up at the sky again and said. "Because we're friends, because you aren't in love with me because my uncle was mad with dragon sickness because we're the reason your home is under the lake? Take your pick, Sigrid, I knew what I was getting into when I went to your father. I'm surprised he didn't maim me on the spot."
When she didn't respond he nudged her. "So… Are we still getting married?"
Sigrid nodded, "Yes we are. Tilda insists we still get married tonight and was getting carried down by my dad in a bit. Though I think a quicker ceremony will do since everyone is already feasting."
Fíli grinned at her, "Well then, we'd better get down there before all the food is gone. I'll wager you haven't eaten all day."
They walked down to the great hall where only her family and his were waiting. Kíli said something that Sigrid didn't quite catch as he was elbowed sharply by Lady Dis. Tilda was on a large chair that usually sat in her father's office and Bain and Eva were smiling at her. Tilda waved her over and thrust a bouquet of wildflowers tied with a ribbon at her.
Balin led the ceremony, vows were exchanged, rings were given and beads bear in, it was over. She was married.
The feast was in full swing when they were announced, half the party was drunk and the other half too full to dance. The elves were somehow the loudest, their wine flowed deep into the night.
By the time the pies and cakes were brought in Sigrid was falling asleep. Tilda had gone home with Bain and Eva, and her father was trying to outdrink the Elvish king. Sigrid didn't think he would win.
Fíli grabbed her hand, and whispered to her, "Let's go home love."
Her stomach fluttered and he didn't let go of her hand as they made their way back to the carriage, here a driver waited for them. Fíli didn't let go of her hand, it was warm and he rubbed her ring absently. The rocking motion or the long day made her fall asleep, her head leaning on his shoulder. He kissed the top of her head to wake her up and led up the mountain. Torches lined the way and the mountain felt empty as most of Erebor was still in Dale, feasting. They didn't see anyone as they made to parts of the mountain she hadn't seen before. When they got to their destination he led her inside with a small smile.
The rooms were large, a comfortable living space filled with big chairs and sofas with blankets everywhere. A kitchen with a brand new stove was off to the left, new dishes on shelves and a pantry to one side of it.
"This is so nice, is it just for us?"
Fíli shook his head, "No, these rooms are yours." He motioned to a door and opened it up to show her a much smaller sitting room littered with daggers and other weapons. Armor lay carelessly in a pile.
"I figured you'd want your own space." He wasn't looking at her anymore as he showed her the rest of the suite. Her rooms had a few bedrooms, the largest was for her. "I figured if Tilda wanted to visit she could have her own space here. And please feel free to decorate as you wish, I didn't know what you would like so I went for practicality."
She was surprised at the number of windows and when she drew near them he shrugged, "We think they were Guest rooms for the elves from long ago. The windows were already here, we just replaced the glass and reinforced the balcony out here."
A small balcony that overlooked the valley below, she could faintly see the light of Dale off in the distance. A bench sat there and she sat down staring at the night sky above them.
He sat next to her and she couldn't help but ask, "Don't dwarves share living spaces with their spouses?"
He nodded, "And we are, this is all still connected, but I thought you'd want your own space." He paused, running his hand through his beard. "Ours isn't a typical marriage now, is it? We're friends, and it was the least I could do to help you feel at home. Besides I don't have a kitchen so you'll still see me from time to time."
And that was it, he left her there, wished her to sleep well and went through the doors to his own rooms.
She tried to walk after him but stopped, not knowing what she would say to him. She was so tired, so confused and her thoughts went everywhere and she finally settled on the rug in front of the windows. Sitting there she could make out stars above her through the glass and her mind finally silenced itself and she felt like she could breathe.
She didn't know what had happened tonight, everything kept slipping from her. She had thought after the incident with Tilda that things had been going well. Sigrid had been warned about her wedding night by every older woman she came across during the summer. Her own mother in Law, Lady Dis had taken her aside to ask if she knew what was expected of her. She had prepared herself for it and now she knew it would not happen. He did not want her. He had made it clear and she couldn't help but feel at odds with it. On the one hand, she wouldn't be required to fulfill her duties in the marriage bed but on the other, she had hoped that with time that they would have learned to love each other, that he would come to love her.
So under the window and through the cold glass, Sigrid watched the stars until sleep took her and she spent her wedding night on her own, cold, alone and bathing in starlight.
AN:This will be my third version of this story, rewrote the beginning a lot. Didn't post it just left it in my google docs. First fanfic in probably 10 years so please be kind.