The Ice Hotel

The flight from Stockholm to the Kiruna Airport to get to Jukkasjärvi, where the Ice Hotel is, only took a little over an hour and a half, but boy was it a long flight. The plane between the two was tiny! We went so far North, you could practically feel the temperature drop, even on the plane. We're North of the Arctic Circle out here, which means no sunlight at all, but the Northern Lights are going on!

It's at least ten degrees colder here than in Stockholm, and it turns out, ten degrees makes a big difference! It's nine degrees out right now, which is gonna feel real warm once we're in the rooms, which they say are kept at -5! If I don't freeze to death, it's gonna be some sorta miracle, but Eric says he knows how to keep me warm... Picking out everyone's rooms was real fun, though there weren't enough for everyone, so Roman and Kris have to bunk together. Somehow, I don't think they mind! Here are some pictures, and hopefully I'll get to post more later!

The front desk. Pretty chilly looking right from the start!

The lighting's real strange cause it's all artificial!

Ain't the lobby real pretty?

Mine and Eric's Room... Isn't it all Viking-y?

Roman & Kris's Room... Nolan's gonna get jealous of those snowboobs!

Claude's Room... Still makes me laugh...

Jo's, Lucian's, and Lily's room... Cause Jo's the city girl!

Lacey, Jack, and Wes's Room... It looks the warmest!

I thought Pam's room is real pretty.

Bianca and Liam's room seemed like the one with the sturdiest bed. I'm hoping they don't break it.

Nolan and Jenny's room has a tree for Jenny, since she loves them, but I'm hoping he keeps her from licking it.

I don't think Waylon will ever feel too alone in his room.

Sailing Celebration

Tonight, Eric surprised me with a boat trip through the Stockholm Archipelago! It was gorgeous, but so cold! The ice in the water worried me, but he assured me it's perfectly safe! He had our cakes for the ceremony delivered so we could celebrate while sailing!

 

 

Oh My Goodness!

When I woke up tonight (because it's basically always night here), I woke up as Eric's wife. His WIFE!

It's so crazy to try to wrap my head around that, even after the beautiful, beautiful ceremony last night. I'm eternally bonded to Eric Northman, from now on, for the rest of my life.

The ceremony really was better than I ever could've expected. Liam did a fantastic job, and was completely serious, despite his usual demeanor. He only thought about sex a few times, and even then, it was easy enough to block him out, since I held Eric's hand through the whole thing. He was thinking about Bianca, who was obviously thinking about him too. She looked at him all mushily throughout the whole ceremony. I don't think I've ever seen her look that way at anyone before. She told him she loves him, when it was all over. I'm really happy for the two of them.

Even Brier and Jenny were kind of romantic during it. There were a few fears expressed that Kristen would go after Jenny, since she just learned to fence, but both girls teared up almost as much as I did during the ceremony. There was lots of crying, since Lacey shed a few tears too as she held onto Jack and Wes, but luckily Claude brought tissues for all, and shared them as he clung to Waylon and insisted Niall was going to kill him over the ceremony. I hope he was just being dramatic. Pam got pretty teary-eyed too, which meant a lot to me. Lily kept telling us we looked pretty, which was beyond sweet, and it was wonderful to have Lucian and JoAnna there, especially when they brought up their own bonding.

It was so meaningful having our friends and family there to support us, but through most of the ceremony, all I saw as Eric. Liam spoke for a bit, and then Eric and I got to say our vows, which I'll freely admit I cried through. Then Liam explained the meaning of the bond to everyone, and Eric and I both said, "I do." Then I repeated after Liam, and Eric bit me. He warned me that it would hurt a little, and sure it stung a bit, but I barely noticed the pain. Eric's bitten me a bunch before, usually during some very, very private moments, but this time... I didn't even think to be embarrassed others were witnessing it. It wasn't about sex, or anything like that. I was giving him my blood as a symbol of my love and commitment, and it was easy to feel through the bond what it both meant to us. When Eric closed the wounds, Liam had Eric repeat the words I had just finished, and made a small cut in his neck for me to drink from, like an equal.

He bent down for me, cause he's too tall for me to reach otherwise, and I drank from him as much as I dared. What a rush! It's always a little disorienting, and I still haven't gotten used to it, but I don't think I really want to, because then it wouldn't be so special. And it was special. Eric really, really liked it, I mean really liked it, and I got the feeling it was a little hard for him to control himself. He did, though, and so did I, though that was tough too, and Liam pronounced our bond sacred and sealed as we kissed.

It was magical, really. All of our friends and family were so happy for us. I can only smile remembering it. It seemed everyone had sex on the brain as we went back to the hotel, which means cake was put off until later tonight, which is just fine by me. Eric and I went upstairs to celebrate privately, and as he set me down on the bed, he surprised me one more time.

He knelt by the bed, and he pulled out a ring.

I was speechless.

It's beautiful, obviously, and more expensive than anything I'd ever be comfortable wearing, but it doesn't look new, either. I get the feeling that Eric's had it for a while, which just confuses me. Despite how nervous the probable price of the ring makes me, I couldn't say no. How do you say no to a ring from the man you just bonded yourself to for eternity, and promised to spend the rest of your life with? From the vampire who thinks of you as his wife?

I couldn't, of course. But the rings, the "I do"s, the vows... It's all stuff you'd expect in a wedding. And it wasn't a wedding. We're not actually married. It's don't like to think that way, not when I'm wearing his ring on my finger and Eric's thinking of me as his wife, but... I was brought up very traditionally. This wasn't a wedding. And... I want to marry him. I want to be able to think of him as my husband as much as he thinks of me as his wife. I know Eric has a point when he says that bondings are more meaningful, that they can't be dissolved with a piece of paper and a divorce, but... it's hard to change your way of thinking when that's the way you've been brought up.

Don't get me wrong. I love Eric. I'm going to spend the rest of my life with him. I'm going to do everything I would if he were my husband, and I'm going to try my hardest to think of us as married. I just... wish we could've had that traditional, white wedding too, with all our friends, with what's left of my family... Maybe it's human, and maybe it's silly. I'm not gonna say anything to him. I really am so excited about our bonding ceremony and the trip we're on, and I'm so excited to be Eric's wife.

Tonight is going to be about celebration. We'll have cake, and I think Eric's setting up some sort of surprise for our trip. He seems more excited than usual about it, so I can only imagine what it'll be. There's so much to celebrate, for us and for all of the friends that're with us. I don't think I could be more excited to share it all with them. Everything seems to be changing, and for once, it seems to be for the better!

Our Vows

Mine

Eric, the night I met you, my whole world changed. I knew it even then, but I never could've imagined how amazing it could be. You're so unlike everything I had ever known, and even though that scared me, I can't deny that I was always drawn to you. Even though I was hesitant at first, you earned my trust and my heart with every kind, caring thing you've done for me. You've protected me, you've supported me, you've trusted me, you've listened to me, and you've believed in me. You've been there for me when no one else has,even at your own expense, even when it cost you so much, you never hesitated. I made you prove yourself to me. You've shown that I can trust you every time, and you even learned to trust me. You've respected and cherished me when I've needed you the most. I know how incredibly lucky I am to have you in my life. You've celebrated with me, mourned with me, worried with me, and loved with me. You've become my everything. You're my friend, lover, confidant, protector, home, and family, and I promise to be yours for the rest of my life.

Eric's

I have desired you always, from the first night my eyes fell upon you and onward. You were unlike anything I expected to find. And you are unlike anything I have ever known. You have a strength even the strongest can admire. You let no fear best you. You are my greatest lover. Fucking you has never been boring or routine. You rise to the challenge every time I do. You are loyal, even when loyalty is not deserved. You are undeterred by the judgmental and always carry yourself with honor. You have reminded me of compassion by showing it to me. You have taught me to have faith in others by having faith in me. You have forgiven me when I have not deserved forgiveness. You have seen my moments of weakness and comforted me through them. You have given me yourself freely, while expecting nothing in return. You have loved me, despite having every reason not to. In a thousand years time, I have known none like you. No one has consumed my thoughts and vision so completely. You are something rare and special, something and someone of an impossible importance to me. You are my shelter and my hope. All that I have is yours. There is nothing I have I would not give you. Nothing I have is worth possessing without you. I will provide for you, so you do not want. I will protect you, so you fear nothing. I will trust you, when I trust nothing. I will support you, when the world falls away. And I will love you, every night of my eternity, as much as I do right now.

Our vows were sealed with blood, which we both drank, and when we got back to the hotel, Eric gave me a beautiful ring to wear as a symbol of our love.

My Bonding Dress

As soon as I saw this dress, I knew it was the one I wanted to wear when bonding with Eric. It was a little pricey for my taste, but he insisted I should wear something special, and he was right. I love the dress, and it'll make our bonding ceremony all the more special.

The Ceremony Location

 

From the moment I saw the location Eric had picked out for our ceremony, I knew it'd be a special place for us. It's just stunning. Really, it takes my breath away just to see the pictures. I couldn't wait for everyone to see what the place looks like. A conservatory seemed like the perfect option for us. This way, we can still see the snow and Sweden scenery, but we're inside where it's nice and warm, and surrounded by these beautiful plants and flowers. The location is so warm, so welcoming, and so romantic that I know we'll be back to visit for years to come.

Pre-Bonding Jitters

I think it's just now hitting me.

After tonight, I'll be Eric's wife.

Not legally, of course, and not in any way that humans really recognize, but to him. That's huge, right? I think I should be nervous or something, but I just can't sit still. I don't remember when time has passed so slowly before. There are hours and hours until the ceremony, and Claude says we need every one of them to get me ready for it, which is ridiculous because Eric will love me no matter what I look like, but you try arguing with the fairy.

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness.

I think people must be getting pretty annoyed with me. Claude keeps threatening to make me swim laps if I don't sit still, to get out some of my energy, and I just don't know what to do with myself. I feel like I should be doing something, instead of letting all these people do things for me, which still makes me awkward. This should be a bonding time with the women that are on the trip with us, but all I can think of is bonding with Eric later. I love Jenny, Pam, Lacey, Jo, and Kris, and even Bianca is growing on me, but I swear I can't focus on a word any of them are saying. All I can think is that in eight hours or so, I'll be standing in front of Eric promising to spend my life with him, and to love him forever.

I can't wait.

I don't know what forever means for us when he really does have eternity, but I do know that no one else will ever have my heart. It sounds almost silly to say when we haven't even been dating a year, though I guess people marry after less than seven months all the time. After all we've been through together, though, it feels like the time doesn't matter, that I love him with everything I am, and that it could never change.

It's hard for me to think of this as marriage without all the traditional stuff, though. I'm not walking down an aisle, I'm not wearing a white dress, my family (with the exception of Claude) isn't here, most of the people I grew up with won't be here, there won't be any rings... none of that stuff. I can feel how much this means to Eric, though, and it does mean the world to me too. I do kind of wish we were having all that traditional stuff and that my childhood friends and my family could be here too, but that doesn't make this any less meaningful.

I love Eric, and I want to spend my life with him. That matters more than anything else, and after tonight, I'll be his wife.

If only tonight would get here sooner!

Dragged to the Spa

I woke tonight to a text from Claude about how I "need" a trip to the spa before the bonding ceremony tonight. I do want to look my best for it, but the idea of people pampering me, doing things for me, makes me so, so uncomfortable. If Claude's in any way supporting this, though, I know I should indulge him. He's the only family I have here, and I'm sure Jenny, Lacey, Pam, Bianca, Jo, and Kris will enjoy the whole thing a lot, even if I don't like it. Besides, I didn't like the idea of Claude getting impatient and just poofing into my room where Eric's naked.

I'm near crawling out of my skin, I'm so excited for tonight. Claude says that means I need some exfoliating or something, but I'm just excited. I've got my dress and shoes and all that down here at the spa with me so I can get dressed without Eric seeing me. Even though it's not a wedding, Eric sees it as more significant than one, so I want to follow some of the traditions. Him not seeing me in my dress before the ceremony is one, I hope. I'm not sure what he'll be up to today, but I hope he, Brier, Liam, Waylon, Jack, Lucian, and Roman don't get into too much trouble. They're watching Weston and Lily, after all.

The bonding ceremony's gonna be late tonight, probably around when 9pm would be back in Shreveport, but that's 4 in the morning here! We'll have just around 5 hours before dawn, which is nice, and it shouldn't take longer than that. The location we got is perfect, but we had to wait until it'd be closed to the public and could be set up for the bonding, which means it'll be a little late. Not that I mind! It just means lots of coffee today. Claude says the spa is supposed to be relaxing. We'll see about that.

He's gonna start yelling if I don't hurry up and get to whatever room he's dragging to, but I'll write again in a bit!