Chapter Twenty-One - Epilogue
Nyíl watched her children as they splashed in a calm bend of White River. Nadja shook her head at her brother, making her long, dark blonde curls bounce to and fro. She looked up and waved to Nyíl, flashing her sea-blue eyes. My father's eyes, Nyíl thought. Daron, Nyíl's son who she named after her mother's father, looked exactly like Ralof. Nadja was the name of Ralof's mother. The twins were four-and-a-half years old now.
Ralof stepped into the river behind the two. He grabbed a laughing Daron by the waist and lifted him onto his shoulders. Nadja tried to run away from them against the current.
"You can't catch me!" she proclaimed, doing her best to swim away. "Ooh a shell." Nadja dove under the water to retrieve it. She emerged triumphant and held out the white shell to Nyíl. "Mommy! For you!"
Nyíl removed her dress and lowered herself into the water in front of Nadja. There was a smooth boulder there that served nicely as an underwater seat. Nyíl's engorged belly was half submerged in the cool water. "Well, that is one beautiful shell. Are you sure I can keep it?" Nyíl asked her daughter.
"Yes!" Nadja handed the shell to Nyíl, kissed her mother's belly and swam to her brother and father who were play-fighting.
Nyíl felt the child within her kick. No matter how many times Hilde reassured her that she would likely not miscarry again after birthing two healthy children, Nyíl eagerly awaited every movement the new life within her let her feel.
Ralof approached with two wriggling cherubs in his arms. He still limped most of the time, but regular activities were not a problem for his knee, especially in the cool, gentle river. The sun lowered in the west and cast a warm glow on Nyíl's family.
"Mommy! Help!" Nadja squealed.
"The Troll got us!" Daron punched his tiny fists into Ralof's chest, pretending to fight back.
Ralof feigned an evil laugh and spun around a few times, then landed one child, then the other on the riverbank. "It's almost time for dinner," Ralof said. "Go on inside and get dry."
The children ran into the house. Hod had fashioned an extension onto one side that served as the children's bedroom. A third bed would have been an issue, but Hod said he could make a sort of stacked bed that the two older children could use, one mattress above the other. Nyíl was skeptical of the safety, but Hod showed her the sturdy bed posts and she was reassured.
Ralof sat next to his wife on the underwater boulder. She shivered and snuggled up next to him. "You've got gooseflesh," Ralof said, running his hand over her belly. He kissed the top of her head.
"I'll go in a moment," she said. His arms warmed her enough.
Ralof felt the child kick. "I think he wants out."
"He?"
"He, she, it, whoever is inside there knows they're missing out on all the fun." He rubbed the area where the kick came from.
The sky turned a brilliant pink-orange before the sun hid behind the distant mountains.
"Mommmm, we're hungry!" Daron stormed out, whining.
Nyíl grinned. Ralof stood and helped her onto the riverbank. He kissed her nose. "Come on, love."
Ralof picked up Nyíl's dress, took her hand in his, and walked her home.