The torches outlining the Scared Circle were now lit. Farren, her brothers, their wives, their children, and her father were standing on the outside of the circle looking in. 

The rest of the village was filled in on the premier and then formed a path from the portal of the circle to where the betrothed and the wedding party would enter. The people standing in the aisle of the path held long candles that had yet to be lit. 

Music began playing throughout the square. Gothi, the leader of the Pagan worship was leading the wedding procession. In his hand, Gothi held the hammer of Thor. As the procession grows nearer torches and candles are lit. 

Goster and Inger both have swords hanging from their hips, and horns of mead in their hands. The best man, Einar, and bridesmaid behind them carry torches to be placed in the ground once the possession stops. 

Gothi leads them to the portal of the circle. He enters alone. Leaving Gostar and Inger waiting at the entrance of the circle. Farren hadn't seen Inger in more than a day. Her dress was made of white cotton, with a long skirt and sleeves to her wrists. Over the white, she wore a smock the color of evergreen needles covered in frost in an early winter morning.

But dresses were of little importance. The bride's hair was important. Inger had hair the color of goat's milk. It fell to her waist when left alone. Today is had the traditional bridal braid and her head was adorned with the bridal crown. 

Inger came from a wealthy family, traders. The bridal crown was passed from woman to woman. Inger's was made of braided silver and was adorned with jewels and fresh spring flowers. Farren felt her stomach turn as she knew that her own bridal crown was forged from the steel of a shatters ax and decorated with wooden carvings and pine firs. 

Gothi walks to the center of the Sacred Circle and faces the families of the betrothed. Goster's to the right, Inger's to the left. He holds the hammer of Thor and opens the circle with the traditional blessing. 

Facing to the North the Gothi speaks. "Hammer to the North, hold and hallow this holy stead."

His voice booms across the ears of the village, his face glows yellow against the light of the sun, slowly sinking down to the horizon. Turning to the East Gothi speaks again. 

"Hammer to the East, hold and hallow this holy stead."

Turning to the South he vocalizes once more. 

"Hammer to the South, hold and hallow this holy stead."

He turns to the West. "Hammer to the West, hold and hallow this holy stead."

Turning back to the North Gothi delivers the last line of the blessing. "Sanctify this encloser and prevent all evil from entry." 

As Gothi places Thor's hammer on the altar a heavy silence falls upon the crowd. Even squirming infants can sense the gods among them. Farren can almost hear the whispers of Frigga as she watches the ceremony.

Farren breathes in the air as the square is silent. The salt from the sea registers nostalgia in her heart. The smell of sage flows off of the bridal party, the air turning to autumn is crisp and sharpens the girl's senses.

Farren is snapped back to the wedding as Gothi turns to face the bride and groom. Before speaking he takes his time examining the faces of the families. Looking out on all the people he has married on Friday's just like this.

"Divine Gods of Asgard," He begins. Gothi's stong but raspy voice holds such fervor as he talks. "Noble ancestors and those who have assembled here today, we welcome you to our sacred circle. We ask that you bear witness to this Holy union of matrimony of this couple and that this marriage be a lasting bond of commitment and perfect love."

Two white candles at the front of the altar are lit. One for the bride, and one for the groom. As Gothi transfers the heat from one flame to another he continues his passage.

"We are all children of light. Thus do I bring to flame these candles; one to represent the Sun and our Spiritual Father, and one to represent the Moon and our Spiritual Mother. May the light bring this union of Inger Holme," the candle on the left flickers to life, "to Goster Begbie," the candle on the right is lit, "and to grow in health and joy."

As Gothi turns back to face the crowd he holds a horn of water in his left hand and vile of salt in his right. Raising the objects to the sky Gothi pours the salt into the horn while speaking the next blessing. 

"Thus are the salt and water blessed,
Purified and mingled,
That these lovers shall enter a circle
Made clean and pure,
Able to join themselves together in this rite,
Cleansed of all impurities."

Moving sunwise around the Scared circle Gothi sprinkles the circle with the salted water. As he finishes he turns back to the altar and lights the incense. As tendrils of smoke lift towards the sky Gothi begins his next verse.  

"Thus is the incense made holy," Gothi praises as he walks around the circle once more. Spreading the cleansing fragrance of the incense. 

"And it's sacred scent taken round the circle
The lovers shall enter this Temple of Odin
Filled with blessings:
May their life be happy
And filled with the riches of love."

As Gothi finishes he sets down the burning incense and picks up the runestaff. He wields it like a spear, Farren knows Gothi is no stranger to battle. As he approaches the betrothed couple he slams the runestaff into the stone three times. 

He stops in front of Inger and Goster who still stand at the portal. He raises his voice as he looks down at Inger. "I call upon Inger Holme! If you desire the sacred binding union and vows before us all. Come now through the portal of this sacred wedding circle."

Inger walks through the portal and stands at the west point of the altar. Her bridesmaid follows and stands to the left. 

Gothi turns to Goster and raps the runestaff thrice more. This time Farren flinches with the first aggressive blow. 

"I call upon Goster Begbie!" Gothi shouts. "If you desire the sacred binding union and vows before us all. Come now through the portal of this sacred wedding circle."

Goster enters the circle and stands at the West point of the altar with Einar standing to his right.

In his return to the altar, Gothi grabs an evergreen sprig and the horn of slated water. Drawing the branch from the water's Gothi anoints the couple chanting:

"I give you the blessings of Frigga."

Holding out a chalice of fresh water to Einar and the bridesmaid they each drop a wedding ring into the water. Gothi places the chalice back down and picks up a red ribbon. Taking the ribbon Gothi binds Goster's left wrist to Inger's right. 

Taking the horns of mead from the couple Gothi pours the shining amber liquid into a much larger ceremonial horn. Leading the couple Gothi takes them to the East point of the circle before them is a single blue candle. 

Gothi pours a quarter of the ale over the candle before lighting the wick and beginning the prayer. 

"You begin your journey of life shared
Bound together by the vows of this rite;
Many are the years you will share
And countless moons may you watch together.
If you keep your vows,
Your sacred trust,
Happy will be the number of your days.

Gothi speaks the prayer while watching the flame flicker against the breath of the village. During the second verse, he turns back towards Inger and Goster. 

"May the keepers of the Sacred Winds
Whisper joy in your life;
May you delight in each other's love
For all your years unto passing.
Share the great mysteries of life
And let your spirit be as free as the falcon's flight."

Taking them to the South Goith pours out another quarter of mead, this time over a red candle. He begins a new blessing as he lights the second candle.

"You begin your journey of life shared,
Bound together by the vows of this rite;
Many are the paths you will share
And countless summers may you pass together.
If you keep your vows,
Your sacred trust,
Happy will be many of your days.

"The past is in flames.
You are forever changed from this day on.
May the fires of love kindle your passions for each other
Throughout all your years.
May your love rise anew an eternal flame to light each day."

A green candle that stands in the West is doused in mead and has another prayer sung to it. 

"You begin your journey of life shared,
Bound together by the vows of this rite;
Many are the dreams you will share
And countless tides of life to ride.
If you keep your vows,
Your sacred trust,
Happy will be many of your days.

"Share the waters of life,
And share the reflection of love in one another's soul.
Together explore the laughter of rain
And the mysteries of love.
And in love, share the tears of life."

Gothi leads Goster and Inger back to the altar facing the North. He pours the final drops of mead over a yellow candle and lights it, saying the last blessing.

"You begin your journey of life shared,
Bound together by the vows of this rite;
Many are the roads you will take
And endless the nights of your love.
If you keep your vows,
Your sacred trust,
Happy will be many of your days.

"Plants your roots together in the Earth,
Yet play in the gardens of life as children and as friends,
Grow old and wise together
And share a happy home."

With their fingers interlinked Goster and Inger stand and the altar with Gothi between them. He will read a verse of the vows, which they will then have to repeat after him.

"Beloved, I seek to know of you, And ask of the Gods and Goddesses that I be given the wisdom," Gothi begins.

"Beloved, I seek to know of you, And ask of the Gods and Goddesses that I be given the wisdom," Inger and Goster echo back. 

"To see you as you are, And love you as a Mystery."

"To see you as you are, And love you as a Mystery." They aren't even looking at Gothi anymore.

"I will take joy in you, I delight in the love of you. You are to me the whispering of the tides, The seduction of summer's heat." Gothi speaks slowly, letting each person memorize the line they must speak.

"I will take joy in you, I delight in the love of you. You are to me the whispering of the tides, The seduction of summer's heat." The couple echos back. The synchrony of their voices puts Farren on edge.

In the next part, they are to speak individually. 

"You are my friend," Gothi says.

"You are my friend," Goster repeated. 

"You are my friend," Inger swears.

"My lover," says Gothi.

"My lover," Goster whispers.

"My lover," Inger sings.

"Grow old and wise with me, As I will do with you! A life before us of rainbows and sunsets, And a willingness to share in happiness and in sadness." 

Goster and Inger are back to repeating in tandem. "Grow old and wise with me, As I will do with you! A life before us of rainbows and sunsets, And a willingness to share in happiness and in sadness." 

Gothi doesn't need to speak for them to know the next line. 

"I adore you."

"I adore you."

Their lips come close and eyelashes fluttered.

"I love you."

"I love you."

Holding the chalice of rings between their chests Gothi looks at Inger and Goster in turn. "May your swords lay prosperous in each other's arms."

Finding themselves Goster and Inger draw their swords. The one out of Inger's sheath gleams, fresh out of the forge. The bone and leather handle was supple and smooth. 

The blade Gostar displayed was also shining. It wasn't retrieved from a grave as most of the swords a man exchanged were. Asger refused to lay his wife with her weapon. But the handle of wrapped twine and cracked cow leather was worn as what was traditional. 

Farren watched Inger's fingers run along the black engrave patterned on her mother's blade before wrapping her fingers around the handle. 

"My ma's sword," Farren found herself whispering. "Do her justice Inger Holme." 

After sheathing their new weapons Goster dipped his fingers into the chalice and found the ring Inger's bridesmaid had put in. Slipping it on Inger's finger he beamed. 

Inger did the same, running her thumb over Gosters cracked knuckles before leaving reluctantly drawing her hand away. 

With the rings placed Gothi speaks again, "Be-ringed and bound, are you ready to avow?"

Goster and Inger answer. "Ek em." 

I am.

Gothi nods and turns towards Goster. 

"Goster Begbie, do you take your chosen and beloved mate Inger Holme, to be your lawfully wedded completion, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part? Will you keep your love and trust, caring for and cherishing your beloved: Will you keep the promise of this rite?"

Goster nods. "I will."

Smiling Gothi turns towards Inger. 

"Inger Holme, do you take your chosen and beloved mate Goster Begbie, to be your lawfully wedded completion, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part? Will you keep your love and trust, caring for and cherishing your beloved: Will you keep the promise of this rite?"

With a smile that shows almost all of her teeth Inger nods. "I will."

Gothi turns to the rest of the crowd and proclaims, "May we all now pause and reflect upon the beauty of this sacred rite, and of the life and joy that it has bestowed. Know that all here in attendance wish the two of you as many days of perfect love and perfect trust as life can bring you."

The village pauses. A moment of silence is held, smiles are passed around like free food on a winter's night.

Finally, Gothi continues. "By the witness of our Gods, Goddesses, and ancestors. Are these sacred vows made manifest. I hereby pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

Goster embraces Inger fully and their lips collide. Whoops, and cheers rise from the crowd as the couple seals their matrimony. 

The bridesmaid and Einar hand Gothi two more horns of mead, and once the couple breaks apart he hands them to the married couple saying: "May this mead you now share. Bless this union and sanctify it to our Gods and Goddesses."

Hooking arms Inger and Goster lift the horns to the sky and as the slippy mead slides down their throats Gothi begins ringing his bell, the rest of the village joins in. With their arms still linked the couple walks from the circle handfuls of rice being thrown after them.