The Scarred Viking's Bride (On Temp. Hold)

Five

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Warning: This chapter includes a trigger scene. Proceed with caution guys, okay?

Her dark eyes turned towards mine, looking deeply, her brows furrowing, almost willing me to understand what she said next.

I could not help but tremble at the words that uttered from her mouth.

"Britta...you do not fathom. Aderick has been waiting for you for a very long time. Longer than you could ever imagine."

My breathing stopped.

What?

My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of the water. Questions and protests rose in my throat, but they seemed to die there as no words escaped. I sat there stunned.

What did she mean, the brute has been waiting for me longer than I could imagine? What? Why? How? That is impossible. I had never met the Jarl or any man from the Dahlsten clan until two days ago. How could that be?

But his eyes held a hint of familiarity...

Ingrid only smiled slightly at me, noting my confusion and shock. I waited for her to say more, but she did not explain any further.

She suddenly turned sheepish, her gaze moving around the room, avoiding me.

"P-pardon me, I should not have said anything. Aderick would be furious if he found out I said anything to you," Ingrid cleared her throat and opened the door, letting Laila and her apprentices back into the room. For her, the conversation was over.

But not for me.

I wanted desperately to ask her more questions, but I knew I could not ask anything about the Jarl in front of the others. I nearly blurted out my questions in spite, but I knew Laila and girls may pass from faintness as I challenged their Jarl and his motives. Ingrid seemed to enjoy spilling confusing riddles at me to question everything I had thought I understood. I would have to corner her later to make her explain everything. Rather her than him. I did not want to see him after what happened earlier.

A blush rose to my face as I remembered his kisses as well as my wanton reaction. I was disgusted at myself for responding to his touches. Ingrid had an impish grin on her face and I wanted to roll my eyes at her. I held the impulse down as Laila gestured me towards the stool again. I sighed in resignation.

The women continued for several more hours of creating styles of gowns and their measurements for every possible circumstance. My feet began aching from standing for a long period of time. I grumbled when they tried convincing me to try on silky undergarments.

I requested a thick cloak to be made, and I inwardly noticed Ingrid's slight frown as I asked for a specific sturdy material to be used.

Laila and the girls began grabbing the white and cream material from the bed and dropped it near me. I nearly moaned in devastation as they joyfully began making the wedding gown. They started cutting and measuring the pieces for the dress, pinning them loosely together on my body. They added black ribbons outlining the budding wide billowing sleeves and intricate silk black flowers along the bodice and flowing towards the hem on the ground. Laila and Ingrid deliberated on belts for the dress, finally deciding on a black and gold lace piece that came together to lay in the middle of the white silk.

The colors of the Dahlsten family. It was imperative that the colors be incorporated within the gown, gold and black, evidently showing everyone who was to be wedded. Only the future bride of the Jarl could wear such prideful colors on the wedding. Even though it was not completely finished, the gown was beautiful I shall admit, but I would not be wearing this.