Keeping with tradition the marriage took place on a Friday eve to honor the Goddess Frigga. In the early twilight the guests gather below the canopy. Standing to one side near the altar the King of the Nordic Region, the Queen ,their daughter Meagan, and son ,Nicor. On the other side of the altar stood Baron Myco, his lovely wife Baroness Caia, Sir Tancred, Sir Jules and Father Padraig . Others of the royal family stood near by. The openness of the canopy allowed for many guests.

Along the path from the longhouse to the outdoor canopy stood the King's guard holding torches. Between them stood the Knights holding their swords up in honor of the occasion.

Preceding the Princess was her brother Prince Talor.

The sword her brother carried was forged from the finest iron in Uppsala, lined in silver and engraved with the flaming ring around the "s". The pummel had four diamonds, representing the four seasons, the four directions and the four quarters of the year. The blade of the broadsword is engraved with a rune telling of the Solig family. This sword had been a gift to her mother. Only four existed. One was given to Tusk. One to Toreena. One to her Mother and one to Caia.

He presented this to Tancred who laid it with reverence on the altar.

She was a vision of beauty as she stepped from the door of the longhouse and walked the torchlit path to her new destiny. Blonde golden hair cascaded down her back. On her forehead rested a lann of gold encrusted with precious jewels-dark blue eyes framed with thick lashes, a soft glow to her cheeks.

Her under dress was of the finest silver silk. From the hem upward to her bust like stars scattered in the night sky, her mother had embroidered dark blue stars. Iridescent seed pearls scattered among them like star dust. The sleeveless overdress split down the middle was dark blue, trimmed in silver and pearls. Upon her feet were the finest kid slippers dyed dark blue. The sleeves of the underdress fit snugly around her wrists. She was ethereal in her appearance, her pale skin and blonde hair a startling contrast against the dark blue.

Walking with head held high she met her destiny.

Closely behind her Sir Henri carried the ancestral sword of Sir Tancred. Fjorda stood near the altar watching him come forth. He handed her the sword and she turned sliding the blade under the other one so they were crossed.

The ancestral sword signified the traditions of the family and the continuation of the bloodline, while the sword given to the groom by the bride symbolized the transfer of the father's power of guardianship and protection over the bride to her new husband.

Each then placed a ring on the hilt. This juxtaposition of sword and rings further emphasized the sacredness of the compact between man and wife and the binding nature of the oath which they take together, so that the sword is not a threat to the woman only, but to either should the oath be broken.

Fjorda's ring was offered to her on the hilt of Tancred's new sword. She followed suit and offered his ring on the hilt of his ancestral sword. Once the rings had been given Tancred took her hand and they turned to face the altar. Exchanging the rings in this manner symbolizes the equality between the couple. Both are responsible for the marriage. If anything were to happen, both are subject to the misfortune of a sword.

FatherPadraig stood before all present a soft smile on his face.

"Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as time doth pass, remember..."

"Like a stone should your love be firm, like a star should your love be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the strength of your dedication make you inseparable."

Placing their hands on the sword hilt of Tancreds ancestral sword they spoke their vows.

I ,Tancred d' Hauteville, in the name of the spirit that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my heart, take thee, Fjorda Solig to my hand, my heart, and my spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire thee and be desired by thee, to possess thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself.

I, Fjorda Solig, in the name of the spirit that resides within us all, by the life that courses within my blood, and the love that resides within my heart, take thee, Tancred d'Hauteville, to my hand, my heart, and my spirit to be my chosen one. To desire and be desired by thee, to possess thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restraint, in sickness and in health, in plenty and in poverty, in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love again. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect thee, thy beliefs, thy people, and thy ways as I respect myself.

"What binds you now is infinite love, as your still clasped hands attest. But though you might want to hold hands forever, you might starve to death going about like that. That is why you have brought rings, also symbols of the everlasting, to share with one another, so that you can continue to hold hands even when you are forced to be apart."

"Be free in giving affection and warmth. Have no fear and let not the ways of the unenlightened give you unease, for God is with you always."

Tancred kissed his young wife and they turned to see many smiling faces coming forth to greet them.

When it was time her mother and the other women escorted her to the large canopy. Flowing out from it were trestles tables. All would feast well this night.

Across the back was a long trestle table decorated for the newly married couple and their family. Her mother had gone to great lengths to decorate. The bridal table draped with dark red velvet, evergreen boughs, flowers and fruit, set with gold and silver plate and goblets.

Arriving at the entrance she was met by Tancred who blocked her entrance into the feast with his bared sword laid across the entry-way. This allowed the groom to lead his new bride into the hall ensuring she would not stumble over the threshold, which was a bad omen.

Once inside she brought forth a silver kasa, a small bowl with handles on either side in the shape of a deer. Handing him the bowl of mead, " Ale I bring thee, thou oak-of-battle,With strength blended and brightest honor, Tis mized with magic and mighty songs" Serving the bridal ale was another legal requirement of the marriage.

Tancred accepted the cup and made a toast of his own and after sipping the mead handed it to his new wife. By drinking together they were made one in the eyes of the law and gods, affirming their new kinship. For one month they would share of this mead.

To show her new husband honor she began her first duty as his wife and served mead to all those within.

The feast carried on well into the night. Singers, dancers and bards entertained them with song and dance.

To save all from making the long trek to Soligby to see to the last legal requirement of the marriage a small longouse had been erected a few miles from the feast. Within was the marriage bed. It would be removed to Soligby the next day.

Fjorda was placed within the marriage bed by her mother and other women of her family. She wore a leine of the finest silk embroidered with flowers along the neck line, hem and cuffs. Upon her head the bridal crown. The last legal requirement of the marriage was that the groom must be put to bed with his wife, after being led there by witnesses with light. The purpose of the law was to ensure that the six legal witnesses could identify both bride and groom, so if called later to testify to the validity of the marriage.

Tancred upon entering the chamber removed the crown in front of those assembled. The bridal crown of was a symbol of the consummation of the marriage.

Upon the next morn once again her mother and other women of her family came and assist her with dressing. She was then presented in the hall of her father to complete the final requirement of the marriage. Before witnesses Tancred presented her with the morning gift, or morgen gifu, signifying the marriage was complete.