Snorri had left. She hadn't wanted to leave Nicko. She had wanted to spend her life with him who was her equal, her friend, her confidant. She hadn't wanted to lose his company, to lose her happiness, but she had, and there was no going back now. It was so hard to sail away without him, not to ask Nicko to come with her. She would not stay, she missed her home, but she wanted Nicko to come home with her.
But Snorri did not ask. She held him close and tried to say goodbye. She couldn't do it, couldn't bring herself to give the moment such finality. So when Nicko said "See you later," into her hair, Snorri told herself she would return. In a few years, after she had convinced her mother, found herself, she would trade again. Snorri promised herself that she would return, and when she did, she could spend time with Nicko again. Even if he had found someone else to spend his time with, as a small part of herself hoped he would - Nicko being happy would outweigh her loneliness without him - they could still wander the market stalls together, and be friends for years to come.
And so Snorri left with her mother, even though she wished that Nicko had come as well.
Years passed, and Snorri was lonely. She decided to trade again. Snorri spent the next year gathering supplies on the Alfrun, and told no one of her plans until she was ready to leave.
It would be a familiar Journey, but that did not mean it would be easier. When Snorri was ready, she told her Mum she saw going. There was the expected fuss, and Snorri delayed her leaving for a week, in order to convince her mother. SHe wanted to part on better terms, and their relationship had been improving, it would not due to ruin it now. Her aunt, one of the ones who agreed with her mum that Snorri should not trade, but her aunt nevertheless fell ill, Snorri stayed again.
When her aunt died a few weeks later, Snorri stayed for the mourning ceremonies. She watched her small cousins, who would not see a parent until their father returned, months later, and Snorri stayed.
She wanted to go to the Castle, but the trading season was nearly over by the time she was ready again. She wanted to see Nicko, but he would have to wait another year.
She was lonely, but she occupied herself with babysitting her cousins, with studying how better to make a profit, and Snorri told herself she would leave the next year.
Snorri walked every day along the shore, and when she saw a boat on the horizon, at least two weeks before the traders were due to return, she dared not let herself hope. When Snorri pulled out her spyglass and saw the distinct make of a Castle ship. She did not let herself hope.
When Snorri walked to the boatyard, she told herself it was because she could speak the language of the Castle fairly well. The skipper would need a translator. It was not to be a translator.
When the ship was closer, Snorri raised her spyglass again. She saw, from a distance, a figure she knew well, even after years apart. The mess of light hair, the man's slight build, the familiar, unchanging dress, she even thought she spotted his sailor's braids.
Snorri let herself hope.