With heavy steps I walked the dirt-covered paths between the wooden houses, like I had done for the last couple of weeks. I was on my way to the hall, where the Jarl lived and where I lived with him. A house that would soon be crowded with more humans, servants and slaves.

I had no idea how I would manage to be around all of them and still stay sane. In Bildsfell I had my hut where I could escape their eyes, their energies and their voices. Here, I felt trapped. They saw me as one of the leaders, they came to me for advice, I was their Seer. Also, they saw me and Tyr as a team. It was something I had longed for, it was something I had seen in my visions. But now, now, I was scared that everything would change with the arrival of our families.

And this was the reason why I was looking for my lover, I had to speak to Tyr about it. And also about my arriving pack. I was anxious about their visit, and I knew Tyr was too.

I closed my eyes and listened to the sounds of nature, connecting to the vibrations of the spirits that housed the world around me. I stood there, breathing deeply and calming myself before I entered the big house.

The open area was unusually empty of servants, it was cleaned and ready to welcome our guests. I walked through the room and moved towards our private quarters where I knew I would find him. And so I did. Sitting on the bed and holding a figurine of the goddess Freya in his hands.

"Do you want to be alone?" I asked gently as I pulled the fabric down behind me, to cover the entrance and create some privacy for us.

"No," he said as he raised his eyes and looked at me, as I knew he would. He was that kind of partner, he never felt the urge to push me away. He always treasured my company while I often left and craved some solitude.

"Are you nervous?" I asked and sat down on the bed beside him, taking his hand in mine.

"Somewhat," he chuckled, "I've never met your mother before. And now I will meet her as the head of this village, and I don't know what she will expect of me."

"Just be yourself, love," I told him gently and caressed his cheek. "All those qualities I adore about you will truly gain her respect."

He peered at me thoughtfully and gave me a faint smile, "then tell me why you're worrying. I can see it in your eyes, Freke."

I bit my lip and looked down at our intertwined hands. "I've mentioned I have a maður, haven't I?" I mumbled low, and kept my eyes steady on my hands.

"Yes," he said calmly. "When you came back home that summer you told me there had been a ceremony between you and a male in your pack."

"His name is Vidar."

I felt his fingers underneath my chin as he raised my head so he could meet my eyes. "I am sorry I haven't asked you more about your family. Is your relationship with him similar to mine and Noora's?"

"In a way," I told him honestly. "But your marriage was only arranged so that you would have heirs." I looked into his eyes and weighed my words carefully, "the bond between me and Vidar is more spiritual."

"Do you love him?" he asked, his tone of voice still calm and that surprised me.

I could not lie to him, only hope he would understand. "Yes, yes I do."

Suddenly I felt his arms around my body and he pulled me in towards his chest, kissing my forehead once before he started talking. "I know there must be a reason why you never mentioned him before, and I won't press you on the matter. I only ask you this, I need to know if his arrival will be difficult for you."

I let out a sigh of relief, "It won't, I've actually missed his company," I confessed. "But I've also missed my brother and my mother," I added quickly.

"You're worried I won't like him? Or that I wont accept him? Or cast you out of my family?" He asked with a playful smile on his lips. "You know in your heart that I won't." His lips moved towards mine and before they touched he whispered, "what kind of partner would I be if I judged you for doing the same as I have done?"

The kiss we shared was gentle and sweet, full of love. But my body was aching for something more, more than mere words. "Tyr, I need you to do something for me."

"Anything," he whispered against my lips.

"You swore to take care of your wife when you two married," I paused and drew a short breath of air, "I swore something similar to Vidar." I could feel his eyes lingering on me, waiting for me to continue, but my words were lost.

"You want to cast a spell to bind us together," he said. It was no question, but a statement.

"I love you," I mumbled and chewed on my bottom lip as I met his calm eyes. "And I need to know that you will be mine, no matter what happens in the future." For some reason he was the strong one today, while I staggered in my steps and with my words. "It's not a spell, more of an oath, that we will protect each other and be together, in this life and in the next.

He leaned forward and kissed me again. This time he was so gentle, as if he was scared that I would break into small pieces by his touch. "You already have my heart in your hands, Skatt, but I will gladly pledge my soul to you right here and now, if that is what you need as reassurance of my love for you."

"I do," I whispered with tearfilled eyes, hating myself for feeling this weak.

With a deep sigh he pulled me into his arms and placed me in his lap. "Freke, you need to stop thinking these negative thoughts. I see you wither before my eyes," he kissed my temple and held me close, "now, tell me what you need from me and I will do my best to be the partner you crave."

I nodded and reached for a pouch with two necklaces and a ceremonial dagger inside. Things that I had brought with me for this purpose in hope he would accept me as his Friðr.

Tyr gave me his hand before I had even asked for it, and I carefully cut a straight line in his palm, and then in mine. I let our blood drip down on the necklaces as I spoke the oath that would bind our souls together.

"I give you that, which is mine to give.

No one can command me not to, for I am a free person.

I, in the name of the Spirit-Wolf and the Allfather that resides within me,

by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my heart,

I promise to be a shield for your back, as you promise to be for mine.

I shall not seek to change you in any way, I shall respect you, your beliefs, your people and your ways as I respect myself.

I promise to love you wholly and completely without restraint, in my life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again."

I could feel the power of the words flowing through our bodies and leaving me with a sense of relief. When the spirits were content I placed the leather band with the plain wolftooth around Tyr's neck, and the tiwaz rune engraved in silver around my own.

"That is the symbol of the warrior-god," my lover chuckled. "You know I'm not him right?" he continued to tease me.

I ignored him and leaned in to kiss his cheek, "to me you are."

He rolled his eyes as he cut a piece of cloth from the bedding to wipe off the blood from our hands. "We could have done this years ago, Freke," he said with a smile, but I'm happy you came to me now. And I hope this will bring you peace so you never have to doubt how much you mean to me again."

I nodded and smiled; content. His hands started to comb through my hair as he usually did and I curled up even more in his lap, inhaling his scent and listening to his heartbeat.

"Let's stay like this for a while, Friðr," I whispered while suddenly noticing how exhausted I really was.

"Friðr," he said, tasting the word. "Is that what we are now?" I nodded against his chest and before I travelled to the realms of the spirits and went into deep sleep, I could hear his sweet voice caressing my skin, "I love it."