There was a man named Will. He was far-travelled through all the northlands, growing wise in the old ways of Vikings. It came to pass that he settled in a strange land called “Connecticut.” There was a woman named Mollie. She was a selkie who swam along all the New England coasts and Irish isles, speaking poems of the sea. She had a good family in Connecticut. They two were great lovers of books and stories. So it was that Will came to a house of learning called the “University of Connecticut,” and one year later, Mollie did, too. They met at the fabled mead-hall named “Corleone’s” her first night at the school.

That winter, Will and Mollie spent much time together, and a great love grew between them. One day, Will said to Mollie, “There will be a feast in the Willibrew-hall this evening, will you come with us?” Mollie said yes. Then Will said “Everyone else said they cannot come, will you still come with me?” Mollie said yes. Then there was much eating of nachos.

The seasons passed to the summer after that, when Will’s birthday was near. Mollie asked, “What shall we do?” Will said, “We should go far away together.” Mollie said, “I will show you the deep woods and rocky shores of Maine.” Will said “Awesome.” On their way northbound, Will said, “Tell me the ways of Mainers.” Mollie said, “They have strange customs: Mainers eat pine cones.” Will said, “Oh, okay, I’ll try some.” Then Mollie laughed in his face. Forsooth: Mainers do not eat pine cones.

The year passed and another summer came, when it is time to travel far and wide. Mollie said, “Come with me to Ireland.” Will said yes. Their way went all along the western shore of the Emerald Isle, from south to north, from Cork to Galway, where there was great feasting and drinking and much song and fellowship with Mollie’s friendfolk. They found drunk Americans, and so they lied and said they were not from the same country. They found Irish gin with elderberries, and thus learned how gin and tonics should be truly made. They went out on the waters of the Blasket Islands and made friends with the venerable dolphin, Fungie (MIA/RIP)

There was another year, when Will had seen that all the rest of his days would be spent with Mollie. That summer, he was bound for England and she for Ireland. They swore to meet in the middle, in Wales, and from there fare over the snowy mountains, across the isles and the Irish Sea, and at last come to Dublin. Then did Will begin a secret work, for he would give Mollie a ring and wished that she knew nothing of it beforehand. With the help of his father, Will brought forth a glittering treasure that had lain un-worn nearly a hundred years. Then Will took council with Colleen, who was close to Mollie’s heart, and together they set a plan. Will guessed that Mollie had forethought that a ring might be offered up on this journey. When they found one another in Wales, he saw how keenly she watched whether he reached into his pocket or began to bend a knee. They traveled through the city of Cardiff, and Mollie watched. They went through the high valleys of Snowdonia, and still Mollie watched. They walked under the castle walls of Caernarfon by the sea, and she watched. At last, when they were on the great ship crossing the Irish Sea, standing on the deck without land in sight, Will turned to Mollie. She looked at him and felt her heart swell. And Will said, “It’s a bit windy, should we go inside?” Then did Mollie’s heart sink, fearing there would be no ring this journey. They came into Dublin, where their time was short and to be spent in the company of friends, and Mollie could not see how Will might ask her such a weighty thing then.

The saga now says the next morning they two met with Colleen at the ancient castle of Malahide, north of Dublin. By secret ways, Will had said to Colleen, “Let us walk the grounds, and when I ask if you think some spot or another would be good for a picture, be ready.” And so they three walked through the castle, then turned to the outer grounds. Will thought to take long going round them to find the best vantage. Yet at the first steps, Mollie said, “Let’s take a picture here!” And with a look, Will and Colleen knew the time had come. Amidst the picture-taking, Will suddenly dropped to a knee and brought forth the ring, saying, “Now Mollie Kervick, you must choose one of two things, whether or not you will give me your hand in marriage.” And Mollie said, “What is happening? What are you doing?!” And she did bolt. Yet in few short steps, she turned and came back to him, saying, “Sorry, I just got overwhelmed. Yes! Yes, I will marry you.” And there was a kiss, and the folk on the castle grounds did clap, and then, at last, Mollie burst into happy tears. Turning to Colleen, she said, “You knew?!”

Long have the days felt since that summer morning. Soon did Will and Mollie find that swearing love to one another forever was easy, but planning a wedding is hard. Little did Will or Mollie know that when she said yes, they were saying yes to having their wedding during the covid-times. And yet, through their hardships and fearful nights, they never doubted the wisdom of their guide, the wise words offered by the brains behind the whole operation: their cat, Pigeon.