Chapter 27
Ragnthor
It wasn't long after Carlotta left that Ralof and company arrived. Ragnthor was sitting out by the fence, smoking and looking at the horses, wondering how he was going to brand them and which ones to sell. Suddenly he heard a scream and was hit almost instantly.
"RAGNTHOR! YOU'RE HOME!" Lucia slammed into him and hugged him.
He almost knelt then looked at how tall she was as he hugged her. "I'm back little lass. Though I might have to stop calling you little. You're almost as tall as Lydia."
She beamed up at him. "Yep. She also says that I'm almost as good as her with a sword. Want to see?" She reached for the sword at her waist.
Ragnthor stopped her. "Not now Lucia. Maybe in a few weeks when I have had time to rest."
She nodded and sat on the fence next to him. "So what are you doing?"
Ragnthor sighed. "Looking and the horses and wondering what to do with them. Even with Ralof's help you have left me with two years worth of mess to clean up, at least where the horses are concerned."
Lucia huffed. "Well we did the best we could. You left us for 2 years! All by ourselves, not knowing one whit about anything."
Ragnthor held up his hands. "Easy, easy. I wasn't going for a fight. Just stating a fact. I don't think that between the 4 of you that you have as much horse sense and knowledge as me."
He turned and leaned against the fence, looking out over the fields, green and bountiful.
He held out his arms. "But this, though, this is good. You all have done more to get the fields planted and growing in 2 years than I ever managed. I might have to turn over that part of the farm to you, or at least get you to teach me."
Lucia nodded. "Maybe."
Ragnthor smiled and rubbed her head. "Well its time to go inside. I had a long night last night and I need to talk to Ralof about some things."
She hopped down and looked at him. "What things."
He gave her a mock surprised looked. "You mean you didn't know? Me and Lydia are getting married."
She laughed. "You need some better jokes, you've used that one on me before."
His face dropped to a plain smile. "It's no joke, little lass. As I stand before the gods, in two weeks time we'll be married."
Lucia looked up at him, smiling. She started jumping up and down and was just opening her mouth when Ragnthor put a hand over it.
"Easy there. There is a chance I overstepped my bounds. She might have wanted to tell you herself."
Lucia nodded, barely able to conceal her excitement, and they walked toward the house.
As they walked into the house, everyone looked at him. Ralof stood and walked over to him.
Ragnthor raise his arms in the start of a hug. "Ralof! It's been years." He saw to late Ralof wasn't sharing his smile.
As he got close, Ralof swung, hard. The force of the blow knocked Ragnthor down and against the wall.
As he fell he heard Ralof curse "Shit!", right before his head hit the wall.
He sat there for a moment, completely dazed. When he managed to regain focus he saw Lydia trying to tear into Ralof, held back by Brasella.
Ragnthor rubbed his jaw and stood. "Shite Ralof, what did I do to deserve that?"
Ralof turned to face him, the anger in his eyes tempered by shock. "You damn well know what you did! Your gods damn raid on the Embassy set the Thalmor on our trail! Do you know who hard it is to dodge them, especially when you find yourself married and with a pregnant wife?! Besides, a tap like that shouldn't have floored you. What happened over the last 2 years?" Ralof looked like he would hit him again.
Ragnthor held up his hands. "I know I messed up messing with the Thalmor and I spent a year trying to stop them. And I would have worked longer but I found myself in Cidhna Mine."
The anger left Ralof's face. "Shit Ragnthor, how did you end up in Cidhna mine?"
Suddenly Lucia piped up. "What's Cidhna Mine?"
Ragnthor looked at her. "Something you need not concern yourself with. You're still too young to know."
"Gods damn it, I'm 16!"
Ragnthor glared at her. "Watch your mouth or I will bend you over my knee."
She huffed at him. "Well why do you get to swear?"
"Because I am old enough that I don't have to follow my elder's rules. In 2 years you can start making your own choices."
She huffed again. "Fine." Then she stalked off to play with Bryta.
Ragnthor sat down, still rubbing his jaw. Lydia sat so close to him, if she was any closer she would be on his lap.
Ralof looked at him with knowing eyes. "So when's the wedding?"
Lydia jumped. "Who did you know?"
Ragnthor laughed. "Because you are sitting so close and at least feel like you are trying to get on my lap." She slapped him and Ralof nodded.
Ralof put his hands on the table. "So when's the wedding?"
Ragnthor smiled. "In a little less than 2 weeks."
Ralof's mouth opened. "2 Weeks!"
Ragnthor nodded. "Deemed it prudent not to wait. Things move fast and dangerous around me. Shite, I went on a mission to sniff out corruption and ended up in jail for over a year and a half."
He pulled Lydia as close as he could with one arm. "I came home for Lydia and don't want to leave this world before being joined to her."
Ralof nodded. "I can understand that. But who did you end up in jail?"
"Sniffing out corruption in Markarth. Got crossways of the Silver-Bloods and found myself in the mine. I managed to get out but if they coming looking for me again…" His smile turn dark, unsettling, "They will find out the cost of my life."
He shook his head. "But enough about that. Ralof, will you be my best man?"
Ralof nodded and he out his hand. "Aye brother." They smiled and shook hands.
The next few weeks flew by quickly. Between planning and making things for the wedding, in addition to farming, Ragnthor and Lydia spent little time together. And that was in bed, fast asleep.
A few days before the wedding, Ragnthor's clothes arrived. After quickly throwing them on in order to check that they still fit, he put them back in the box.
The night before the wedding he hardly got any sleep but instead worked on something that Lucia had told him to do, over the forge and anvil.
When he finally staggered into bed, Lydia wrapped her arms around him, still deep in sleep. He smiled and held her as he drifted off to sleep.
He woke to Ralof pounding on his door. "Wake up, Stonebrain! You're going to miss your own wedding!" Ragnthor surged up and pulled on the undershirt that went with his outfit.
A few hours later Ragnthor was standing outside the Temple, trying to come to grips with what was happening. He felt like he wanted to bolt and hide in the hills.
Ralof walked up beside him. "But you're not going to."
Ragnthor looked at him and Ralof left. "You look like I felt before my marriage. But you're going to go in. I know you. You would never do anything that you knew would crush Lydia."
Ragnthor sighed and nodded. "You're right. Now let's get this over with." He opened the doors and when in.
He had stood there, at the front of the room, for a while when suddenly the pipes started.
The door opened and Lydia walked in, surrounded by sunshine. She walked forward in beat with the music. Ragnthor was struck breathless at the sight of her. Her hair had been brushed and was pulled up on top her head. There was a band encircling her head and a long train hung from it, where she got it he had no idea.
As soon as Lydia reached Ragnthor, Danica started the ceremony. "Brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, aunts and uncles, people of Skyrim, today we gather under the watchful eye of Kynareth, Goddess of the Storm and Bringer of the Last Kiss, Keeper of the Wild Places and Widow of Shor to join these 2 stalwart warriors in marriage for time and all eternity."
She took a step forward." Marriage is a very special spiritual connection of two people united for a common purpose, bringing love and trust together into single focus. The union of wife and husband in heart, body, and mind is intended by the Gods for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Gods. Therefore marriage is not to be entered into lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by the Gods."
She grabbed their hands. "Sooner or later we begin to understand that love is more than verses on Heart's Day and romance in front of the fire. We begin to know that love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in our lives. For love is the creator of our favorite memories and the foundation of our fondest dreams. Without love, we merely exist. With love, we truly begin to live! For love is a promise that is always kept, a fortune that can never be spent, a seed that can flourish in even the most unlikely place. And this radiance that never fades, this mysterious and magical joy is the greatest treasure of all - one known only by those who truly love."
She lowered her voice. "There are no ties on Nirn so sweet, none so tender as those you are about to assume. There are no vows so solemn as those you are about to make. There is no institution of Nirn so sacred as that of the union you will form, for the true home is not only the place in which you will live, but is also the dwelling place where each lives in the heart and mind of the other."
She raised her voice. "Ragnthor and Lydia, true marriage is the holiest of all unions. It is to be entered into reverently, consciously and with full understanding of its significance. To be complete, marriage must be spiritual as well as an estate of Nirn. When it is Spiritual in thought, purpose, plan and action, it becomes the harmonious, peaceful and happy union for man and woman. The state of matrimony is true marriage only when it is based upon a deep, inner communion of two souls who find completion, each in the other. Today, your separate lives, each with your individual memories, desires and hopes, merge into one life - a new dimension. Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In the art of marriage the little things are the big things."
She took a cord out of her robe as she spoke. "Please kneel and take each other's hand."
As they knelt she recited a list and after each one she wrapped the cord around their hands, joining them. "It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say, I love you" out loud, at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is at no time taking the other for granted. . . for what you take for granted, disappears. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in a spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is having the capacity to forgive and not bring it up later. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful in each other. It is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is BEING the right partner."
As she finished she tied a knot. "Marriage can be a great adventure when it is the outward expression of a great love; such a love is characterized by compassion, passion and courage. It allows you to see through to your partner's essence, willing to be in total support of your partner's well-being, goals, purpose and spirit; and unwilling for your partner to be less than all he or she can be spiritually, mentally, and physically. Such a love requires that you be totally honest with yourself and your mate, that you ask for what you want, take action even though you are afraid, share your feelings and listen but leave your partner free to be who they really are. In other words, always love your partner for who they are, not for who you think they should be."
She turned to Ragnthor. "Ragnthor, do you reach out in love to receive Lydia and choose to share your life with her? Will you promise always to give to her your expression of your ever growing love, will you comfort her, be sensitive to her needs, express your feelings with her, listen to her, put your trust in her, and forsaking all others, be her intimate friend and honor her as your equal partner?"
Ragnthor looked over at Lydia. "I do."
Danica turned to Lydia. "Lydia, do you reach out in love to receive Ragnthor and choose to share your life with him? Will you promise always to give to him your expression of your ever growing love, will you comfort him, be sensitive to his needs, express your feelings with him, listen to him, put your trust in him, and forsaking all others, be his intimate friend and honor him as your equal partner?"
She looked over at him. "I do."
Danica summoned a small flame in her hand and lit the cord on fire. Ragnthor was surprise to find that it didn't burn them. In fact it had no heat at all, it just slightly tickled.
"With the burning of the cord, the gods have given their blessing over this union. You may now exchange rings and vows."
Ragnthor turned to Lydia and grabbed both of her hands. "Lydia, I love you. And looking back really hard, I have since the first moment I talked to you. And I know I have left you, hurt you, and made you hate me. But not for a single day over the last 20 years have I ever stopped loving you. You are the person I thought of when the world grew cold and dark, the person I missed the most as I wandered the land, and the only motivation I had when dragging myself, half dead, out of deep swamps, crawling through burning deserts, and freezing on ice covered peaks. I pledge my life to you, for all of time."
He reached into his coat and pulled out a ring. "I know this isn't the ring I gave you when I proposed, but Lucia convinced me to use it. It is made out of the gems I strove to save during my 8 years wandering." He slipped on the ring and heard Lydia gasp when she saw the design. It was the same he had described to Lucia.
Lydia looked him in the eye. "You are right, Ragnthor. You hurt me, deep, and as everyone in the room can confirm, I hated you for years, mostly because that was the only emotion I knew after you left. I thought the gods had decided to turn all their joy for human suffering on me the day Balgruuf made me your Housecarl. But over the last 4 years, things have changed. I have slowly come to care for you again. You have given me enough of your own heart to help me learn both how to heal and feel my own. I love you Ragnthor, will all my mind, body and soul."
She reached into her dress and he heard the sound of a chain snapping. In her hand was the ring he had made 12 years ago. "I wasn't expecting this so I didn't have time to get you a ring. I can't make one over night like you. So this will have to do until I can get a better one." Ragnthor held out his little finger and the ring still almost didn't fit.
He whispered to her so no one else could hear. "It's perfect."
Danica had them turn and face the guests, still holding hands. "Now that Ragnthor and Lydia have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of a ring, I now pronounce you wife and husband, in the name of The Divines. Those whom the Gods have joined together, let no one put asunder."
She had them face each other."You may now kiss the bride."
As her lips met his, he felt of pleasure that he had never known. Now he would have someone by his side, someone who trusted him and that he trusted, until the end of time. And from the passion he felt from her, she was thinking the same thing. As they parted, both of their faces were flushed.
Danica smiled at them. "To all those here, it is my pleasure to introduce Ragnthor and Lydia of the Isles."
Ragnthor and Lydia bowed as their guests started to clap and cheer.
An hour or so later they were gathered in the main square, that being one of the few places that could hold everyone, and a party was in full swing. Suddenly everyone quieted down and the pipes started. Somebody pushed Ragnthor forward and suddenly he was standing with Lydia in a circle of people.
He turned to her and pulled her close. "I've never been much of a dancer."
She smiled. "It's just like fighting but slower. And with no death. Just follow me." Then they started to move.
Ragnthor was a little self conscious at first, never being on to like being the center of attention. But as they flowed around each other, all but Lydia faded away. Her graceful form and her flowing movements. Suddenly the beat changed, growing faster. They ended breathless, in each other's arms, the cheers of the crowd raising around them.
She smiled up at him. "See, it wasn't that hard." He smiled and kissed her.
2 or so hours later the party had built to a wild, noise climax. Ragnthor walked over to Lydia and pulled her aside.
He whispered in her ear. "Let's go to Cyrodiil, tonight."
She looked up at him. "Why Cyrodiil?"
He sighed. "Because I want to go somewhere I'm not know, at least not well. I have been oceans deep in Skyrim's problems for 4 years and I'm tired. So let's go."
Lydia nodded, leaning on him. "What about Lucia?"
"I'm sure Ralof would watch her for a few months."
They walked over and asked, with Ralof saying yes, for a fee. Then they snuck out of the party and down to their horses. They tore down the road to home and then they threw all the clothes and other gear they need into the wagon, hitched up the wagon and swung off down the road, Lydia laying on his shoulder while he was singing for the first time in years.
Author's Note: Sorry the chapters have been on the small side for a while but when the choice comes to cut them short or stretch them long, I go short, hoping for better quality. But a wedding finally, so there's that. I hope I got it kinda right. Never been married, haven't been to a wedding since I was small and was more interested in the horses walking around the barn or pond.