unthinkable,” said Hilda. “Such a person would lose all honor.”
Niniane had been among the Saxons for long enough to recognize the sacredness of honor to them. Once again she began to thread the weft through the shed. “If loyalty to kin is of such utmost importance,” she said slowly, “what happens if one family member should kill another family member?”
“By the code of kinship, a man is forbidden to kill or to exact wergild from a kinsman.”
“Yet, by the same code, he is required to do one or the other to avenge the dead.”
“Yes.” Hilda smiled, pleased that her pupil had comprehended at last. “That is why the murder of a blood relation is the most horrifying and unforgivable of crimes. It is impossible to avenge.”
“I see,” said Niniane and, finally, she did.
Niniane’s betrothal was celebrated the following day with a splendid banquet in the great hall of Winchester. Among the Saxons the betrothal ceremony far outshone the marriage rite, which was set to follow in two weeks’ time. The main features of the marriage were the giving of a ring and sexual consummation. The betrothal was less personal, more of a community occasion.
For their betrothal feast Edwin and Niniane were given the places of honor, Edwin at the king’s side and Niniane at the queen’s. Out-of-doors the rain was pouring down and it was dark and damp, but in the festive atmosphere of the hall the candles blazed, the food and drink were passed around and around, and the raucous humor got more and more obscene as the banquet progressed.
Edwin listened to the bawdy comment being made by the eorl who sat beside him and gave an appreciative laugh. Left to himself, he would have preferred a marriage with one of the great Anglo-Saxon royal families, but he knew Guthfrid was right to wish to prevent Ceawlin from marrying this princess of the Atrebates. It was smarter to marry her himself and thus keep the bastard from gaining a position that might prove dangerous in the future. She could always be got rid of once his father died.
In the meantime, it might not be unpleasant to have a wife. True, Niniane was not the kind of woman who normally attracted him. She was pretty enough, but too reserved. She had known for over a year that she would be his wife, yet she had never done anything to attract or to please him. Much too reserved. Well, once he had her in his bed he would teach her soon enough what kind of a wife he wanted her to be.
Beside him Cynric was signaling for silence. Then, as a relative quiet fell on the hall, the king called, “Bring in the gifts.”
The hall door opened and a line of slaves came in bearing the traditional gifts of the bridegroom to his bride. There was clothing, jewelry, a strongbox, linens and blankets, and a list of the domestic animals that were to become her property. The gifts were placed ceremoniously on the floor before the high seat. Then Cynric called forth three of his eorls to witness that these gifts had indeed been conveyed by Prince Edwin to the Princess Niniane.
The three Eorls duly swore their legal witness to the transaction and returned to their places. Then Cynric signaled for Edwin and Niniane to come and stand before him. The betrothal ceremony was always concluded by a kiss on the mouth, symbol of the union of bodies that would be consummated in the marriage.
Edwin looked down into the princess’s expressionless face. She was looking at his father, not at him. Stupid cow, he thought. She had been one year in Winchester and still she did not know Saxon. “We are supposed to kiss each other,” he said to her in British.
At that she looked at him. His dark eyes narrowed, he put his hands on her shoulders, and pulling her against him, he kissed her mouth with brutal thoroughness. The hall of half-drunk thanes roared its approval.
Niniane was trembling when finally he let her go. She kept her eyes down as she returned to her place beside Guthfrid and clasped her
Niniane had been among the Saxons for long enough to recognize the sacredness of honor to them. Once again she began to thread the weft through the shed. “If loyalty to kin is of such utmost importance,” she said slowly, “what happens if one family member should kill another family member?”
“By the code of kinship, a man is forbidden to kill or to exact wergild from a kinsman.”
“Yet, by the same code, he is required to do one or the other to avenge the dead.”
“Yes.” Hilda smiled, pleased that her pupil had comprehended at last. “That is why the murder of a blood relation is the most horrifying and unforgivable of crimes. It is impossible to avenge.”
“I see,” said Niniane and, finally, she did.
Niniane’s betrothal was celebrated the following day with a splendid banquet in the great hall of Winchester. Among the Saxons the betrothal ceremony far outshone the marriage rite, which was set to follow in two weeks’ time. The main features of the marriage were the giving of a ring and sexual consummation. The betrothal was less personal, more of a community occasion.
For their betrothal feast Edwin and Niniane were given the places of honor, Edwin at the king’s side and Niniane at the queen’s. Out-of-doors the rain was pouring down and it was dark and damp, but in the festive atmosphere of the hall the candles blazed, the food and drink were passed around and around, and the raucous humor got more and more obscene as the banquet progressed.
Edwin listened to the bawdy comment being made by the eorl who sat beside him and gave an appreciative laugh. Left to himself, he would have preferred a marriage with one of the great Anglo-Saxon royal families, but he knew Guthfrid was right to wish to prevent Ceawlin from marrying this princess of the Atrebates. It was smarter to marry her himself and thus keep the bastard from gaining a position that might prove dangerous in the future. She could always be got rid of once his father died.
In the meantime, it might not be unpleasant to have a wife. True, Niniane was not the kind of woman who normally attracted him. She was pretty enough, but too reserved. She had known for over a year that she would be his wife, yet she had never done anything to attract or to please him. Much too reserved. Well, once he had her in his bed he would teach her soon enough what kind of a wife he wanted her to be.
Beside him Cynric was signaling for silence. Then, as a relative quiet fell on the hall, the king called, “Bring in the gifts.”
The hall door opened and a line of slaves came in bearing the traditional gifts of the bridegroom to his bride. There was clothing, jewelry, a strongbox, linens and blankets, and a list of the domestic animals that were to become her property. The gifts were placed ceremoniously on the floor before the high seat. Then Cynric called forth three of his eorls to witness that these gifts had indeed been conveyed by Prince Edwin to the Princess Niniane.
The three Eorls duly swore their legal witness to the transaction and returned to their places. Then Cynric signaled for Edwin and Niniane to come and stand before him. The betrothal ceremony was always concluded by a kiss on the mouth, symbol of the union of bodies that would be consummated in the marriage.
Edwin looked down into the princess’s expressionless face. She was looking at his father, not at him. Stupid cow, he thought. She had been one year in Winchester and still she did not know Saxon. “We are supposed to kiss each other,” he said to her in British.
At that she looked at him. His dark eyes narrowed, he put his hands on her shoulders, and pulling her against him, he kissed her mouth with brutal thoroughness. The hall of half-drunk thanes roared its approval.
Niniane was trembling when finally he let her go. She kept her eyes down as she returned to her place beside Guthfrid and clasped her
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