Wedding Day Groom Ritual
Ulf woke up to someone coming into his tent, he grabbed his axe from under his makeshift pillow and before he was able to strike, he saw his friend Sigurd standing there. "Calm yourself brother. I mean no harm." Sigurd chuckled before walking up closer to Ulf. "You should know not to sneak up on me Sigurd. What do you want?" "Well, since your ancestors are not here nor your father's grave, I just wanted to see if you wanted to do a morning hunt before the wedding?" Sigurd asked as he sat down in front of Ulf. Ulf already had his father's sword but the traditional way was to break into his ancestor's or father's grave in order to retrieve it. "I suppose, since we are not at home. Let's go before I have to get ready." Ulf replied as he stood up and began to tie the strings to his trousers and put on a shirt while Sigurd left waiting outside.
Armed with their quivers and bows, along with daggers and axes; Ulf and some of his men mounted the horses that they got from the kingdom and galloped into the woods nearby. On the way deeper into the forest Ulf couldn't stop himself from thinking of his future bride; what she liked or even what her feelings towards the wedding were? Would they be able to find love in this arranged union? His parents did not have to go through an arranged marriage. He was even sure that King Harald didn't have to go through it; the other thought he had was what if he did decline the offer from King Trahaearn and offered the princess to King Harald anyway? But he shook the thought of it away, Tegwen is a beauty to be cherished and held dearly not to be ruined by someone who would only throw her to the side and make her bear sons.
Coming out of his thoughts he pulls an arrow from the quiver and gently places the rear of the arrow against the string of the bow; he pulls the string back as he takes aim at his prey. With a breath in he waits for it to come closer, as his prey comes towards him and his men, he releases not only his breath but the arrow with it and instantly hitting the target. Shouts of glee were heard from beside him as he walked up to his prize. A boar, it was a big one and Ulf was proud at what he had caught. "Let's bring it back to the camp with our other prey, and we will put this at the center of the feast." Ulf shouted to his men who cheered as some held rabbits, pheasants, and a couple foxes. "It was a good hunt brother. Shall we continue?" Sigurd asked. Ulf chuckled before nodding a yes to the question. 'Maybe Tegwen would love it and enjoy that I brought a such a feast for the wedding.' Ulf thought to himself as he started to walk away.
As the sun was now all the way up into the sky, Ulf and his men went back to the camp with their killings. "Come Ulf the king said we could use his bathhouse." A man spoke as he stood next to Sigurd. "Thank you, Leif. I will head over there straight away." Ulf replied as he smiled and deep down, he started to think that this wedding wouldn't be so bad.