CH 21 Mating Ritual
1090 Words
Leif awoke before Aslaug, who lay beside him snoring soundly, he smiled at her then looked outside realizing he slept far later in the morning than he normally would. He looked back at her noticing her sprawled out body covering most of the bed with one leg hiked over Leif's legs. He smiled taking pleasure at the knowledge that she needed to be close to him to sleep as soundly as she was.
"Are you enjoying the view?" She drowsily asked him.
Leif chuckles, "It's such a good view, is it not?"
She stretches earning a few pops moaning from the release of pressure in her bones, "That was the best sleep I’ve had in a very long time. I should stay over more often." He nods quickly adding on, "Yes, you should."
Aslaug chuckles, "So, what's the plan for today?"
Leif thinks for a moment, "Well, training for one" he puts up a finger "Get something to eat for two" he puts up another finger "Then at some point we need to talk about our mating ceremony and start planning that out. Kind of running on limited time at this point." Aslaug shoots up excitedly, "You're right!" She launched herself out of bed grabbing a clay tablet and reed pen and sits back down beside him, "Okay what rituals do you have for matings in your pack?" She looks at him anxiously waiting for his answer.
"Mating ceremonies are celebrated on the ritual grounds where our ancestral altar is. The seer performs the ritual, completing it by linking our blood and soul together by blending our blood in the village chalice symbolizing our souls blending together. Afterward we run with the village to welcome you as another member." Leif clears his throat "We are expected to mate that night and marked by morning, though we aren’t required to mate in front of anyone."
Aslaug nods reassured writes down what he said, "That's good our pack still followed the old laws and made the members watch as the she-wolf is taken roughly by her mate." She looks up and smiles "Although I am happy to mate with you, I will not have anyone who would treat me as if I am not their equal." Leif smiles nodding, "I wouldn’t have allowed it anyway. My queen will never be seen and disrespected in that way."
Aslaug nods in approval, "Good. Now I would like to add something though. I want a hunt while we do our pack run. I want to reward the wolf with the biggest catch with a year of being tax free." She looks at Leif hopeful and he looks surprised, “I will have to talk with Harald and clear it with him first." She nods solemnly then continues, "We can make a feast from the prey of the hunt." Leif nods "Now that I would happily agree with."
She smiles writing that down and looks at him, "Do you want any specific dishes prepared for the feast?"
"I would like to have my favorite honey cake."
She nods and writes that down as well. "My mother has already made my dress for the ceremony so that is taken care of. Do you have your ceremonial robe ready?"
Leif nods, "I will be wearing my father's robe."
Aslaug nods and puts the pen down. "Well, I believe that’s everything. We will stick to your traditions with a feast after our hunt. We will drink and enjoy the day and that night" she gets up placing the tablet on the bed and walks over to Leif leaning down to whisper in his ear with a sultry voice, "That night you and I will get our fill of each other, and you will be mine."
Leif growls grabbing her abruptly and pulling her close, "I can't wait to feel you writhing in pleasure beneath me, little mate."
Aslaug growls excitedly in return. "We need to go see your father and give him our requests for the ceremony so that they can have enough time to be handled properly."
Leif nods releasing her as he gets out of bed when his stomach growls fiercely and Aslaug giggles, "Let us also find some food I am starving."
They make their way into the longhouse and Leif runs off to a table grabbing bread, mead, and a bowl of porridge left out from the morning meal. They sit and hurriedly eat then they move to wait in the throne room to be acknowledged by Harald. Finally, he looks over and the steward calls them over. “Leif, Aslaug, what is it you need from me today?" Leif bows and Aslaug does the same, "My lord we are here today to finalize the details of our mating ceremony to be held at sunrise six days from now."
The steward comes forward and grabs the clay tablet from Aslaug. His eyes shoot up at the demand on it and turns to Leif with obvious disappointment at the gall to even demand such a thing. "What is it?" Harald asks his steward impatiently and he looks worried, but Leif decides to take pity on him answering for him, "My lord, my mate and I would like to offer a hunt on the day of our ceremony, and she would like to offer a reward to the wolf that brings the largest prey back, a year's worth of free taxes. I would also like to do this as a new tradition to welcome a new member of Harald’s family."
"Oh, do you now?" Harald asked Leif with a slight smirk on his face.
Leif nods trying to hide his smirk eventually choosing to keep his head down to appear contrite, "My lord, I believe giving back to the people to show kindness in this way will help the villagers to know that we will reward those that are loyal to us."
Harald sits back putting his hand onto his lips tapping them rhythmically as if he was thinking about it deeply but truly he was just hiding a smile. Leif had already mindlinked him as they were on the way here, they are only putting on this show so the villagers will know what is coming and to spread word of the hunt and the prize offered and that of Harald’s kindness.
After a few minutes of anxious silence in the room he finally cleared his throat announcing his approval then Leif and Aslaug bowed moving out of the longhouse to head to the training grounds.
- Writer
