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Now here we were, after Knud was recognized as an ancient king of a tribe all had thought long gone, hearing a riveting tale from his grandmother about how nothing was as it should have been back then.

“How could it be when my son—” she looked at Knud, who sat beside me in front of a fire in the community lodge, recanting a tale for all to hear—“your father and his queen, your mother, were attacked by a tribe they had thought their allies. By those they thought their friends, yet were anything but.”

She paused a moment and sipped her ale, blinking back tears before going on. “My son and daughter by marriage”—her gaze returned to Knud—“your parents were courageous warriors, giving me and as many as I could gather time enough to get to the ships and flee.”

She paused again, struggling with her emotions, before continuing. “The rest of our people, those who could not make it to the ships or who opted to remain and fight alongside your parents until the end were slaughtered that night, and our tribe’s time on Norwegian shores came to an end.” Her gaze lingered proudly, if not affectionately, on Knud. “Or so most believed. But we knew better.”

“As did Earl Bjǫrn Helvig,” Knud realized softly, sounding certain when he looked at his grandmother. “Didn’t he? Because you knew him. I recall you talking about how impressive his battle skills were. How he had fought alongside my father a time or two.”

“I did know him,” she confessed, looking from me back to Knud, shocking us. “In fact, he knew I was a seer and sought me out, claiming his eldest daughter was gifted in the ways of the gods, and spoke of a boy in one of her trances. She called him Knud Thorgard and claimed he would bear Thor’s mark when he ended up with the Helvigs.”

“I have no memory of that,” I murmured, yet something about it felt right. Like a waking dream that had come to pass, and it very much had since Knud and I first met.

“Bjǫrn could not say what would bring Knud to his tribe,” Idunn went on. “Only that Tove claimed Knud would bring great strength and honor to the Helvig people, so Bjǫrn should take him in and give him shelter.” Her voice trembled a little with her emotions. “Raise him as his own.” She shook her head. “I told him I could not fathom any reason that might happen, yet that fated night came soon after, and I knew the time had come.”

“Just as I knew I would have to go to Tove.” As if it were all coming back to him, Knud sounded certain. “Because she was my fate…the Kingdom of Norway’s fate.”

“Ja, and you said such to me soon after Bjǫrn’s visit,” his grandmother replied. “You could not say why, only that you were certain, however sad it would be to leave your parents and people behind.”

“Yet it turned out to be you and your people that left him.” The king arched an eyebrow at her. “Why? You could have docked at any number of allied tribes along the coast and told them what happened, then returned for Knud.”

“We could not,” she replied. “A storm carried us out to sea, giving us no choice but to sail away until the gods brought us to these shores to wait out our Wyrd. To find roots here and rebuild our tribe.” Her steady gaze returned to Knud. “I knew you would come someday, and so you have, just as the gods planned. But you needed to stay with Bjǫrn and grow to manhood under his tutelage and training, as was foreseen. No matter how much I wanted to go find you and raise you—had I done so, you never would have become the fierce, brave warrior you are now. And you needed to be with Tove.” Her gaze softened on me. “With your shield-maiden, destined to bring renewed strength to our people and help find peace betwixt the Scots and us.” Her knowing gaze flickered between us before landing on Knud again. “A shield-maiden, I can see you love a great deal, ja?”

“Ja,” Knud readily confessed, but then he seemed to realize what this meant for us and wasted no time acting on it. Slipping his hand into mine, he gazed at me so lovingly, my throat clogged with emotion. “And I would have her not just as my friend, fellow warrior, and earl, but as my wife and queen, if she will have me.”

“Of course I will,” I managed, unable to keep from blinking back tears, despite my aversion to showing emotion in front of others. There was no helping it right now. “’Twould be my honor, King Knud Thorgard.”

The room erupted in cheers, making it clear that all approved, including King Magnus, who raised his cup to us. “Here is to a strong match indeed! May you marry soon and bear many strong sons.”

Knud raised his mug as well. “And daughters as fierce as their mother.”

“Here is to that,” Freya and Helga echoed, smiling at us, both just as happy about this.

Everyone else lifted their mugs and toasted to us before Knud’s grandmother spoke. “As to marrying, ’twould please me greatly if ’twas before you leave these shores so that I might bear witness to it.”

The happiness that had been in Knud’s eyes faded, and his brow furrowed when he looked at her. “I assumed, hoped, you would return to Norway with us.” He looked around at his people. “All of you, once we secure ships for the journey.”

“Many will, grandson,” Idunn said gently. “The young and strong who wish to go, and there are many.” She shook her head and glanced at the old man who had tried to protect her in battle. “But for those of us who are older, getting down the mountain is difficult enough these days, never mind sailing across the sea. ’Twould be too much for our old bones.” She eyed the lodge fondly. “Besides, this place and land are our home now, and King Magnus our liege.”

Though I could tell that bothered Knud, I also saw that he understood. It wasn’t the easiest journey from start to finish. “Well, then,” he finally said, looking my way. “I see no reason to put off marrying unless Tove wished to wait until we returned home to marry among our tribe.”

“Which we can do right here,” I assured him, never so eager for anything, smiling at the people around us. “For are we not amongst our tribe?”

Knud smiled as well. “Then mayhap in the morn before—”

“Why wait until morn?” the king interrupted, grinning, clearly enjoying his ale. “Why not marry this eve so that you have time to celebrate with your grandmother and people before our return to my castle on the morrow?”

“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Freya exclaimed, backing his suggestion, looking from Knud to me. “And then, mayhap, another celebration once you return to Norwegian shores, as your tribes unite.”

Knud and I looked at each other and smiled, needing no further prompting. We agreed to marry that very evening, to more drinking and cheers before Knud’s grandmother insisted I join her, Freya, and Helga to get ready.

After I bathed, they assisted me, following the old ways of our ancestral Vikings. Idunn presented me with a lovely, embroidered, deep purple linen dress, eyeing it fondly. “This was in one of the few trunks that made it to the ships that fateful night so long ago, when I thought my son and daughter by marriage would find a way to follow. ’Twas the dress Knud’s mother wore on her wedding day, and I thought mayhap, given you two are of a similar size that…”

When she trailed off, emotional, I accepted the dress, cherishing the gesture. “I would be most honored to wear it tonight, Idunn.”

It ended up fitting perfectly, and by the time the three were finished with me, I could admit I was pleased with the outcome and hoped Knud would be too. Freya had painted my face delicately, lining my eyes not for war but for pleasure, and Helga saw to my hair, leaving it down except for a few beaded braids.

“’Twill please Knud greatly to see your hair like this,” Helga marveled, admiring my long, silky, ebony waves. “Although I know ’twould not suit your active lifestyle, you should wear it down more often, my friend.” The corner of her mouth curled up, and she winked at me. “At least in your bed chamber.”