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The smirk didn’t disappear. “No, I need you for something completely different.”
“Why do I feel like it’s going to make me want to punch you?”
“Because you love me.”
I rolled my eyes. This only meant one thing: it was going to get real uncomfortable between me and someone else, and given I was supposed to be remembering my past, I had a very good idea who that person was.
“You brought the first tunic you finished, right?”
I pursed my lips and thought for a moment. I had finished that one weeks ago, but did I remember to grab it? “You snagged it off the counter this morning.”
She snapped her fingers. “That’s right. Then, did you finish that second tunic?”
I frowned. “No. I didn’t have enough time before this all started, and can’t concentrate well enough here to complete it.”
“Good.”
My eyebrow spiked.Good? Why is that good?I still didn’t understand why she had wanted me to make the first tunic, let alone a second one. The second one was large enough to fit Tyr, but he had one, and the other was a good size for Diego, but again, he already wore one.
Wait… isn’t there a ritual that has something to do with clothing?
Aya addressed the gathered crowd. “Now, we’re going to discuss something I know many of you are curious about—romance.”
She received a mix of responses, from excitement to eye rolls and groans. I was one to internally groan.I knew it.
Normally, this wouldn’t bother me, and I knew I needed to remembereverythingof my past, but this was Aya. She was meddlesome, and definitely had something up her sleeve.And still I love her. Apparently, I am a glutton for punishment.
“Many look at this time period, and the Norse and Scandinavian people of the time, and think freedom—these freedoms also being extended to women. And as I’ve taught throughout the day, sometimes this was true, and sometimes it wasn’t. The aspect of romance and family is one such occasion where it is both.”
She walked around, staying animated to keep people’s attention. “For the majority, marriage was still used as a means of alliances. They were business contracts, first and foremost. Arranged marriages were the norm, for both men and women, though some were lucky enough to have more of a say in their union. It wasn’t uncommon, even if arrangement was chosen, for those being married to be consulted, as, unlike many other cultures, divorce was possible, so they considered it wise to try and make agreeable matches that also worked positively for the families.”
Aya gestured to me. “Astrid here will be acting as our young fair maiden for this demonstration.”
I placed a hand on my hip and tried not to glare at her.There is no going back now.
“While her father isn’t here to stand in to show what negotiations looked like, there would have been a discussion of bride-price, dowry, and any other political advantages that would come with the union. Once an agreement was made, the betrothal would be set, and then it was highly encouraged for the betrothed couple to get to know each other while wedding preparations commenced, especially if they hadn’t done so prior to the proposed marriage.”
Aya continued to move about, graceful as always, bewitching her enthralled onlookers. “Men and women would show their tokens of affection and love differently. You couldn’t show public displays of affection, such as kissing, sharing drinking horns, and lap-sitting, until courtship was official. However, you could show other forms of interest before the official betrothal.”
I startled when a small bouquet appeared in front of my face. I glanced at the pretty flower arrangement and then up at Diego, who smirked.
This was a moment for me to remember my past, and I would have expected her to pick Tyr for something like this—but it seemed Aya was up to something else. I was vaguely aware of Tyr’s intense gaze on me, and I could only imagine the jealousy he may be experiencing, as no doubt he also would have assumed Aya would use him in this demonstration.
“Men would commonly present women with flowers, much like we see today.” Aya chuckled. “Though, unlike today, and for some reason that still baffles many of us to this day, men would slap women across the face with said bouquet.”
The crowd laughed, and then roared when I pointed at Diego. “Don’t you dare.”
He snickered. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Sunshine.”
Something inside me pulsed. No one called me that in this life. However, my soul had experienced that name—long ago, in my first life. My mother would call me that. Baldur began calling me that at some point… in the same way someone else had before Tyr had come along.
I took the flowers and smiled while I inhaled their sweet scent. This may be a demonstration, but Diego would be the type to give flowers. And it was a romantic gesture I enjoyed.
“For women,” Aya said, continuing. “To show their affection, they’d take the time to sew a tunic.”
She briefly gestured with her eyes for me to grab the red bundle on a nearby seat before continuing. “Some may think this to be a strange way to show affection, but given one couldn’t simply walk into a store to buy something premade, and only nobles and other wealthy individuals could afford to pay someone to make clothes for them, the ability to make clothing was crucial to women. And, given how long it took to make something even as simple as trousers or a tunic, one could appreciate the effort and time placed into such a gift, especially for exceptionally crafted clothing.”
“Don’t hold your breath about getting anything exceptional,” I muttered, garnering several laughs, including from Diego.
